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Intervertebral disc regeneration (IDR) cell therapies aim to regenerate the disc's depleted IVD cells. As an outcome, encouraging the transplanted cells' migration towards the site of damage is critical. It was determined that umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) labelled with Fe3O4@SiO2 coated polyetherimide (PEI) nanomaterials (PEI/Fe3O4@SiO2 NMs) had a repair effect on degenerative disc disease in the rat caudal vertebral. To understand more about the impact of nanomaterials on UC-MSCs, we characterized UC-MSCs labelled with PEI/Fe3O4@SiO2 NMs and tested whether UC-MSCs could repair IDR in animals. We found UC-MSCs migration was aided by the expressions of CXCR4 in the PEI/Fe3O4@SiO2-labeled UC-MSCs group, which also had improved disc height and tissue performance structure and a more significant ratio of transplanted cells. This treatment also triggered significantly enhanced IVD regeneration, as supported by higher levels of ACAN expressions, type II collagen expression, and Sox-9 expression, as well as lower levels of Il-1β, Tnf-α, and Mmp-13 at both protein levels and mRNA than the unlabeled groups. We exhibited that systemic distribution of UC-MSCs labelled with the PEI/Fe3O4@SiO2 NMs could be a suitable procedure for speeding up and enhancing clinically useful UC-MSCs therapy for IDR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to develop an ECM-derived biphasic scaffold and to investigate its regeneration potential loaded with BM-MSCs in repair of large, high-load-bearing osteochondral defects of the canine femoral head. The scaffolds were fabricated using cartilage and bone ECM as a cartilage and bone layer, respectively. Osteochondral constructs were fabricated using induced BM-MSCs and the scaffold. Osteochondral defects (11 mm diameter × 10 mm depth) were created on femoral heads of canine and treated with the constructs. The repaired tissue was evaluated for gross morphology, radiography, histological, biomechanics at 3 and 6 months after implantation. Radiography revealed that femoral heads slightly collapsed at 3 months and severely collapsed at 6 months. Histology revealed that some defects in femoral heads were repaired, but with fibrous tissue or fibrocartilage, and femoral heads with different degrees of collapse. The bone volume fraction was lower for subchondral bone than normal femoral bone at 3 and 6 months. Rigidity was lower in repaired subchondral bone than normal femoral bone at 6 months. The ECM-derived, biphasic scaffold combined with induced BM-MSCs did not successfully repair large, high-load-bearing osteochondral defects of the canine femoral head. However, the experience can help improve the technique of scaffold fabrication and vascularization.

Background: Osteoporosis is a multifactorial bone disease that progresses without notice until attaining a chronic stage. It causes socio-economic burden, higher mortality rate, and increased bone fractures. Ononin, an isoflavone present in numerous herbal Chinese medicinal formulations such as Astragali radix and red clover, has been reported to have potent therapeutic properties. Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ononin against ovariectomy(OVX)-induced osteoporosis in female rats. Materials and Methods: Ovaries were removed surgically to develop the animal model of OVX. Animals (n = 4) were grouped into control, OVX induced, OVX rats treated with ononin (10 mg/kg body weight), and OVX rats treated with 20 mg/kg body weight of ononin. Results: OVX rats treated with ononin showed improved body weight, uterus index, inflammatory and bone markers, serum lipid profile, and calcium level. Ononin downregulated the expression of estrogen (E2), acid phosphatase, and bone gamma-carboxyglutamate (Gla) protein in OVX rats. It also restored trabecular area and thickness, which was evidenced by histomorphometrical and histopathological examination. Ononin attenuated the expression of alkaline phosphatase, osterix, and Runx2 in OVX rats. Conclusion: In summary, our results suggest that ononin could be used as an ideal therapeutic agent to prevent and treat bone-associated disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Spinal-pelvic sagittal alignment is important for the diagnosis and treatment of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. However, the current study of the spine-pelvic sagittal alignment in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis is limited to the standing position. There is no relevant report on the spine-pelvic sagittal alignment under the sitting position. OBJECTIVE: To analyze imaging data of sitting-standing spine-pelvic sagittal alignment in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis, and to detennine the sagittal alignment of spine change in degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis patients from standing position to sitting position. METHODS: Totally 44 patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (12 males, 32 females; age, 50-84 years) were enrolled from Tianjin Hospital from March to September 2019. All patients took X-rays of the spine in standing and sitting positions. Through the hospital image archiving and communication system, spinal and pelvic parameters were measured, including pelvic incidence, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, lumbar lordosis, thoracic kyphosis, and sagittal vertical axis. The parameters were compared between standing posture and sitting posture. By using Pearson's correlation test, differences of relationship between spinal and pelvic parameters in standing versus sitting position were discussed. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Tianjin Hospital. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) When moving from standing to sitting pos~ion, in 44 degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis patients, pelvic tilt increased [(21.3±1 0.1 )°, (34.0±1 0.4)°, P < 0.001 [; sacral slope decreased [(31.5±8.6)°, (20.8±12. 7)°, P < 0.001]; lumbar lordosis reduced [(40.9±14.6)°, (25.8±15.0)°, P < 0.001]; sagittal vertical axis increased [(43.0±43.4), (75.0±34.8) mm, P < 0.001]; pelvic incidence and thoracic kyphosis did not significantly changed (P > 0.05). (2) Whether standing or sitting position, lumbar lordosis was correlated with other parameters (P < 0.05). When changing from standing to sitting position, the correlation between sacral slope and sagittal vertical axis disappeared (P > 0.05), but lumbar lordosis was also correlated with sagittal vertical axis (P < 0.05). (3) When the degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis patients change from standing position to sitting position, the sagittal configuration of spine pelvis shows that the pelvis rotates back around the bilateral femoral heads; the pelvis shows a backward leaning state; the physiological curvature of lumbar spine becomes shallow; and the sagittal balance axis of spine moves forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: It is still difficult to construct tissue-engineered anulus fibrosus scaffolds which have bionic structure, suitable biodegradability and good biocompatibility. OBJECTIVE: To fabricate bionic biodegradable scaffolds with polycaprolactone (PCL) and polydioxanone (PDS) and evaluate the feasibility as a tissue-engineered annulus fibrosus scaffold. METHODS: Five groups of scaffolds at different PCL/PDS proportions were prepared by malt spinning technique: PCL, PCL/PDS70/30, PCL/PDS50/50, PCL/PDS30/70, and PDS groups. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the structure and measure the fiber diameter and pore size of these prepared scaffolds. The mechanical properties and contact angle of the scaffolds were measured. The in vitro and in vivo biodegradation of the scaffolds were observation by in vitro simulation and subcutaneous implantation. The expression of inflammatory factors interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-a in the biodegraded tissues was detected. Human Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells were cultured for 7 days. Cell viability and proliferation was determined by live/dead cell staining. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Tianjin Hospital, China on March 2, 2016. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Scanning electron microscopy results showed that the thickness of the scaffold fibers was unifonn and lhe angle between fibers was 60o. The mechanical properties analysis showed that the tensile and compressive modulus of the PDS group was the lowest, which did not meet the mechanical requirements of the anulus fibrosus; the tensile and compressive modulus in the PCL group was the highest, and those in the PCL/PDS70/30 and PCL/PDS50/50 group were moderate. Hydrophilicity test showed that higher PDS proportion led to better hydrophilicity. Biodegradation test showed that the biodegradation of pure PDS and PCL/PDS30/70 was too fast, that of PCL was too slow, and that of PCL/PDS70/30 and PCL/PDS50/50 was appropriate. Analysis of inflammatory response around the biodegraded tissue showed that higher proportion of PCL in the scaffold resulted in more severe inflammatory response. CCK-8 and live/dead cell staining showed that human Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells had good proliferative activity and high survival rate in the PCL/PDS70/30, PCL/PDS50/50, and PCL/PDS30/70 groups. These results suggest that scaffolds in the PCL/PDS70/30 and PCL/PDS50/50 groups can simulate the structure of natural annulus fibrosus, have appropriate biodegradability, excellent mechanical properties and good biocompatibility, which make it a suitable candidate for tissue-engineered annulus fibrosus scaffold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]