ABSTRACT
High tibial osteotomy is a reliable procedure for the correction of knee varus deformity. An opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy (OW-HTO) is the most popular technique. The results of the bone defect after opening the wedge needed special treatment to ensure bone healing. This study aims to evaluate the use of bovine-derived hydroxyapatite graft for defect filling after OW-HTO. Methods: A retrospective study was performed on all patients who received OW-HTO at Prof. Dr R. Soeharso Orthopaedic Hospital from November 2019 to December 2022. A total of 21 patients (24 knees) were included in this study. Clinical dan radiological evaluation was performed on all patients preoperative and postoperatively. The mean of the follow-up period was 12.6 months with a minimum of 4 months follow-up. Results: Primary medial uni-compartment knee osteoarthritis was the most common diagnosis, with 17 of 24 cases (70.8%). Mechanical axis deviation was changed from 31 mm medial deviation (range: 8-52 mm) to 0.45 mm medial deviation (range: 13 - (-8) mm). The anatomic tibiofemoral angle was corrected from a preoperative mean of 4.7° of varus to a mean of 5.8° of valgus postoperatively. Bone defect height was mean 15.9 mm with a range of 10-23 mm. Bone defect width was mean 46.7 mm (range: 34-60 mm). Hydroxyapatite graft integration with the host bone was found in all patients during the final follow-up period. Conclusions: Bovine-derived hydroxyapatite graft is a safe and effective material for bone defect filling in OW-HTO procedures with a high bone union rate.
ABSTRACT
Intervertebral disk degeneration (IDD) is a chronic condition brought on by various factors and mechanisms that have been linked to many deaths and illnesses. The causes of IDD involve multiple processes, including genetics, stress, cellular aging, and changes in nutrition due to the limited blood supply. Animal models play a crucial role in biomedical research and the selection of these models is based on many considerations, including the need for similarities in structure and function with humans. This is important because the etiology and pathogenesis of IDD are complex. Finding the right animal model is not an easy task. In addition to having similarities to humans, these models should also be reliable, reproducible, cost-effective, and easy to maintain. One common method of inducing IDD in animal models is needle puncture. This method is less invasive and time-consuming compared to other methods and allows for precise control over the extent and location of the injury.
ABSTRACT
The hypoxic condition is a physiological norm for various stem cells. The natural microenvironment contains lower oxygen pressures. Recent studies reported significant increases in the cultured cells' proliferation in the presence of a low oxygen pressure. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the optimum oxygen level for rabbit cruciate ligament fibroblast cells culture and Ligament Derived Conditioned Medium/LD-CM (Secretome) preparation in vitro. Materials and methods: Fibroblasts were isolated from the cruciate ligament of the rabbit's knee. Cultured of rabbit cruciate ligament Fibroblast Cells (fifth passage) were assigned to the slight (5% O2), middle (3% O2), and severe hypoxia (1% O2) groups and the normoxia (21% O2) group. Measurement of growth factors: TGF-ß1, PDGF, FGF, and VEGF in LD-CM (Secretome) used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The highest number of cultured cells were in the 5% O2 group compared to the normoxia, 1 and 3% groups. The hypoxia 5% group also had increased productions of PDGF, FGF, and VEGF proteins in LD-CM (secretome) compared to the 1, 3%, and normoxia groups. TGF-ß1 production was slightly higher in the 3 group than the 5% group. Conclusion: The hypoxic precondition of 5% oxygen was the optimum condition for ligament culture and ligament derived conditioned medium (secretome) preparation in vitro.
ABSTRACT
Background: COVID-19 can infect an asymptomatic person silently without any overt symptoms despite diffuse blood clots throughout the body. Clot formation is induced by COVID-19 associated coagulopathy that can cause a high mortality rate. D-dimer, a fairly decisive marker for the coagulopathy event, is physiologically a marker of the fibrinolysis process. The increase of D-dimers in COVID-19 cases must be followed up because it relates to the initiation of a cytokine storm. Case presentation: We report an asymptomatic patient with sudden D-dimer elevation who received anticoagulant therapy. After three days of heparin administration, D-dimer results became normal and anticoagulant therapy was stopped. However, on the 12th day, the D-dimer level rebounded back and was followed by an increase of hs-C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, IL-6, although SARS-CoV-2 PCR result became negative. A hyperglycaemic reaction and a sudden increase of HbA1C was observed in the patient. After three weeks D-dimer had returned to normal levels, and so did the other markers. The patient recovered fully and still no symptoms were obvious. Conclusion: COVID-19 patients without symptoms may be at risk of an asymptomatic coagulopathy process. The decreasing level of D-dimer erroneously cannot ensure that the coagulopathy process stops.
