Topic Review
Current Advances in Regeneration of Degenerated Articular Cartilage
Functional ability is the basis of healthy aging. Articular cartilage degeneration is amongst the most prevalent degenerative conditions that cause adverse impacts on the quality of life; moreover, it represents a key predisposing factor to osteoarthritis (OA). Both the poor capacity of articular cartilage for self-repair and the unsatisfactory outcomes of available clinical interventions make innovative tissue engineering a promising therapeutic strategy for articular cartilage repair. Significant progress was made in this field; however, a marked heterogeneity in the applied biomaterials, biofabrication, and assessments is nowadays evident by the huge number of research studies published to date. Accordingly, this entry assimilates the most recent advances in cell-based and cell-free tissue engineering of articular cartilage and also focuses on the assessments performed via various in vitro studies, ex vivo models, preclinical in vivo animal models, and clinical studies in order to provide a broad overview of the latest findings and clinical translation in the context of degenerated articular cartilage and OA.
  • 920
  • 11 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Role of Tissue Nonspecific Alkaline Phosphatase beyond Mineralization
Tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) is a key enzyme responsible for skeletal tissue mineralization. It is involved in the dephosphorylation of various physiological substrates, and has vital physiological functions, including extra-skeletal functions, such as neuronal development, detoxification of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an anti-inflammatory role, bile pH regulation, and the maintenance of the blood brain barrier (BBB). TNAP is also implicated in ectopic pathological calcification of soft tissues, especially the vasculature. Although it is the crucial enzyme in mineralization of skeletal and dental tissues, it is a logical clinical target to attenuate vascular calcification.
  • 860
  • 01 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Complex Lymphatic Anomalies
Complex Lymphatic Anomalies (CLA) are characterized by idiopathic boney lesions caused by abnormal lymphatic invasion. The lymphatic network is a one-way system mainly responsible for maintaining fluid homeostasis, lipid absorption, and immune surveillance. CLAs include four diseases with overlapping and distinct clinical features: Gorham-Stout Disease (GSD), General Lymphatic Anomaly (GLA), Kaposiform Lymphangiomatosis (KLA), and Central Conducting Lymphatic Anomaly (CCLA).In order to highlight the known bone involvement of each CLA, their osteopathic phenotypes are described and illustrated below.
  • 853
  • 17 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Foot/Ankle Prostheses Design Approach
There are different alternatives when selecting removable prostheses for below the knee amputated patients. The designs of these prostheses vary according to their different functions. These prostheses designs can be classified into Energy Storing and Return (ESAR), Controlled Energy Storing and Return (CESR), active, and hybrid. This paper aims to identify the state of the art related to the design of these prostheses of which ESAR prostheses are grouped into five types, and active and CESR are categorized into four groups. Regarding patent analysis, 324 were analyzed over the last six years.
  • 843
  • 29 Jun 2021
Topic Review
MDM2 Amplified Sarcomas
Murine Double Minute Clone 2, located at 12q15, is an oncogene that codes for an oncoprotein of which the association with p53 was discovered 30 years ago. The most important function of MDM2 is to control p53 activity. The sarcomas that typically have an amplification of MDM2.
  • 762
  • 29 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Quantitative Sensory Testing and Pressure Pain Threshold
Several published articles have shown that quantitative sensory testing (QST) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) are useful in the analysis of neck/shoulder and low back pain. A valid reference for normal PPT values might be helpful for the clinical diagnosis of abnormal tenderness or muscle pain. However, there have been no reliable references for PPT values of neck/shoulder and back pain because the data vary depending on the devices used, the measurement units, and the area examined. 
  • 737
  • 20 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Oligonucleotide Therapies in Treating Arthritis
Oligonucleotide therapeutics represent an emerging but highly promising class of therapeutics to treat inflammatory joint disease. Although yet to be successfully tested in clinical trials for arthritis treatment, data from preclinical experimental models of arthritis provide evidence that the intra-articular delivery of oligonucleotides can modify OA disease pathology, by reducing synovitis, preventing sclerotic bone formation and protecting from cartilage damage. Importantly, since oligonucleotide therapeutics are based on gene sequences, they are expected to act specifically on the target gene, and thus may be considered less likely to have off-target effects and to elicit adverse side effects.
  • 730
  • 23 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Ultrasound in Medial Epicondylalgia and Medial Elbow Pain
Medial epicondylalgia (ME), commonly known as “the golfer’s elbow”, typically develops in individuals who perform repetitive forearm movements and weight-bearing activities. It accounts for up to 20% of all epicondylitis cases and is most prevalent in particular sports and occupations.
  • 721
  • 18 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Fresh osteochondral allograft for knee Osteochondritis Dissecans
Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is an incompletely understood joint disorder affecting a broad spectrum of patients, but is most prevalent in adolescents and young adults. It is the end result of the aseptic separation of an osteochondral fragment with the gradual fragmentation of the articular surface and results in an osteochondral defect. The incidence of OCD is estimated to be approximately 15 to 30 per 100,000 patient-years. OCD lesions are most frequently seen in the knee. Reconstructive techniques for OCD of the knee are typically necessary when either non-operative or reparative/regenerative operative treatments fail, or when the OCD is irreversible. Although a limited number of low-level evidence studies concening the use of fresh osteochondral allograft in the treatment of the OCD as reconstructive technique are available in previous research, satisfactory clinical results and survival rates of the reconstruction are reported.
  • 709
  • 22 Nov 2021
Topic Review
MSCs for Osteoarthritis Treatment
Osteoarthritis (OA) has traditionally been known as a “wear and tear” disease, which is mainly characterized by the degradation of articular cartilage and changes in the subchondral bone. Despite the fact that OA is often thought of as a degenerative disease, the catabolic products of the cartilage matrix often promote inflammation by activating immune cells. Current OA treatment focuses on symptomatic treatment, with a primary focus on pain management, which does not promote cartilage regeneration or attenuate joint inflammation. Since articular cartilage have no ability to regenerate, thus regeneration of the tissue is one of the key targets of modern treatments for OA. Cell-based therapies are among the new therapeutic strategies for OA. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been extensively researched as potential therapeutic agents in cell-based therapy of OA due to their ability to differentiate into chondrocytes and their immunomodulatory properties that can facilitate cartilage repair and regeneration.
  • 708
  • 21 Jul 2021
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