Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy - Volume 10, Issue 1, 2015

In this review, we analysed the role of stem cell and growth factor therapy on rotator cuff tendon repair. The injury to the rotator cuff tendons can be sustained in numerous ways and generally causes significant pain and disability to the affected individual. Following surgical repair of ruptured rotator cuff tendons re-rupture rates can be as high as 20-60%. In order to augment this repair process and to decrease the re-rupture Read More

Background: The management and treatment of ligamentous injuries within an orthopaedic population has continued to evolve throughout the last several decades. Limitations with autograft, allograft and synthetics have led to research into tissue engineering using scaffolds and mesenchymal stem cells. Objectives: This systematic review aims to examine and summarise the pre clinical in-vivo studies and limited clinical studies Read More

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and growth factors have had encouraging results in several surgical specialties. Their use in orthopaedics is increasing and has been trialed in fracture management, spinal fusion and tendon and ligament healing. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are a significant economic burden and often require surgical reconstruction. This review article used laboratory and clinical studies to evaluat Read More

Tendon and ligament injuries are common, and repair slowly with reduced biomechanical properties. With increasing financial demands on the health service and patients to recover from tendon and ligament injuries faster, and with less morbidity, health professionals are exploring new treatment options. Tissue engineering may provide the answer, with its unlimited source of natural cells that in the correct environment Read More

Achilles tendon injuries are common but complex in nature. Healing occurs via scar tissue formation leading to poor patient outcomes. Currently surgical and non-surgical treatment leads to suboptimal tendon healing and has complications. Tissue engineering is an advancing field that can either augment surgical repair or provide an alternative method for Achilles tendon repair. This article will explore the principles behind Read More

Bone tissue engineering is a promising therapeutic option to enhance tissue regeneration and repair. The development of bone tissue engineering is directly related to changes in materials technology. While the inclusion of material requirements is standard in the design process of engineered bone substitutes, it is critical to incorporate clinical requirements in order to engineer a clinically relevant device. This review focuses on Read More

Purpose: This systematic review analyzes histological scoring systems for degenerative tendon-enthesis changes, ex vivo tendon-enthesis repair and tissue-engineered tendon-enthesis repair. A secondary aim is to establish the validity and applicability of these scores to find a comprehensive and validated histological scoring system for the evaluation of tendon-enthesis tissue. Methods: We performed a systematic review of th Read More

Purpose: In the last decades, new evidences supported the relationship polymorphisms and the susceptibility to develop ligament and tendon injuries. We performed a review of the genetic factors involved in tendon and ligament injuries. Methods: A review of the literature has been performed in a systematic fashion by using the terms “sports”, “ligaments”, “injuries”, “tendon” and “genetics”. PubMed, Embase, CINA Read More

Background: Fibronectin, a large dimeric plasma glycoprotein found only in vertebrates, is a core component of several extracellular matrices. Integrin receptors regulate different cell activities. Fibronectin expression patterns in intervertebral disc have not been extensively studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of fibronectin in the different regions of the intervertebral disc, and in intervertebral discs o Read More

Objective: To evaluate the effects of VEGF, BMP-7, MatrigelTM, hyaluronic acid, in vitro cultured chondrocytes and trephination to promote and enhance the healing process of avascular meniscal tears in an animal model. Methods: A longitudinal tear was produced in the inner avascular part of the meniscus of 24 sheeps. Each tear was treated with trephination technique and suture. The animals were divided into 6 groups to r Read More

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to compare the potential for cartilage repair of fresh amniotic membrane (AM), cryopreserved AM and cryopreserved AM previously cultured with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in an in vivo sheep animal model. Methods: A full-thickness cartilage defect was surgically produced in 12 adult sheep, in the bearing region of the lateral femoral condyle. The animals w Read More

One of Nature’s gifts to mankind is mesenchymal stem cells (MSC’s). They are multipotent in nature and are present literally in every tissue. Since, they possess certain characteristics of stem cells such as self-renewal and differentiation they are known to be one of the key players in normal tissue homeostasis. This novel function of mesenchymal stem cells has been explored by scientists in the field of regenerative medicine. Read More