Short-term and Long-term Efficacy Evaluation of Drug-Loaded Osteoset Artificial Bone Grafting Fusion in the Treatment of Sacroiliac Joint Tuberculosis.

Objective: To analyze the short-term and long-term efficacy of Osteoset artificial bone graft fusion mixed with rifampicin for injection in the treatment of sacroiliac joint tuberculosis. Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out on 70 patients diagnosed with sacroiliac joint tuberculosis who were admitted and underwent surgical treatment in our orthopedics department between April 2014 and May 2020. The patients were divided into three groups based on the different bone graft materials used: autogenous bone graft group (25 cases), simple lesion removal group (18 cases), and drug-loaded calcium sulfate bone graft group (27 cases). General information and surgical details of the three groups were compared. Sacroiliac X-ray and CT scans were performed at regular intervals to record pre- and post-treatment erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, bone graft fusion rates at 6, 12, and 18 months post-surgery, Majeed score for functional evaluation, and postoperative complications. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in operation time, intraoperative bleeding, and intraoperative pus removal volume among the three groups of patients (P > .05). Postoperatively, 70 patients were followed up, and the serum levels of ESR and CRP in all three groups of patients were significantly reduced at 3 months after surgery (P < .05). In the autogenous bone graft group, the bone graft fusion rates were 24.00% (6/25) at 6 months postoperatively, 76.00% (18/25) at 12 months, and 96.00% (24/25) at 18 months. In the simple lesion removal group, the bone graft fusion rates were 16.67% (3/18) at 6 months postoperatively, 27.78% (5/18) at 12 months, and 55.56% (10/18) at 18 months. In the drug-loaded calcium sulfate bone graft group, the bone graft fusion rates were 18.52% (5/27) at 6 months postoperatively, 55.56% (15/27) at 12 months, and 81.48% (22/27) at 18 months. In the autogenous bone graft group, the postoperative Majeed score averaged (91.47±4.13) points, with 13 cases rated as excellent and 10 cases rated as good, resulting in an excellent and good rate of 92.00% (23/25). The Majeed scores at 6, 12, and 18 months postoperatively were (67.19±4.22) points, (80.28±5.83) points, and (91.47±4.13) points, respectively. Among them, there were 4 excellent and 3 good cases at 6 months postoperatively, with an excellent and good rate of 28.00% (7/25). At 12 months postoperatively, there were 8 excellent and 10 good cases, with an excellent and good rate of 72.00% (18/25). At 18 months postoperatively, there were 13 excellent and 10 good cases, with an excellent and good rate of 92.00% (23/25). In the simple lesion removal group, the Majeed scores at 6, 12, and 18 months postoperatively were (59.17±3.95) points, (69.84±5.16) points, and (76.22±8.76) points, respectively. There were 2 excellent and 2 good cases at 6 months postoperatively, with an excellent and good rate of 22.22% (4/18). At 12 months postoperatively, there were 4 excellent and 3 good cases, with an excellent and good rate of 38.89% (7/18). At 18 months postoperatively, there were 5 excellent and 5 good cases, with an excellent and good rate of 55.56% (10/18). In the drug-loaded calcium sulfate bone graft group, the Majeed scores at 6, 12, and 18 months postoperatively were (63.24±4.17) points, (77.39±5.50) points, and (86.64±7.03) points, respectively. There were 3 excellent and 3 good cases at 6 months postoperatively, with an excellent and good rate of 22.22% (6/27). At 12 months postoperatively, there were 9 excellent and 7 good cases, with an excellent and good rate of 59.26% (16/27). At 18 months postoperatively, there were 10 excellent and 12 good cases, with an excellent and good rate of 81.48% (22/27). The Majeed scores for all three groups of patients showed a significant increase in the three follow-up evaluations compared to pre-treatment (P < .05). Conclusion: Drug-loaded Osteoset artificial bone graft fusion is a safe and effective method for treating bone defects after the debridement of sacroiliac joint tuberculosis lesions. It has fewer postoperative complications and achieves bone graft fusion in a shorter time compared to simple lesion removal methods.

Natural medicine delivery from 3D printed bone substitutes.

Unmet medical needs in treating critical-size bone defects have led to the development of numerous innovative bone tissue engineering implants. Although additive manufacturing allows flexible patient-specific treatments by modifying topological properties with various materials, the development of ideal bone implants that aid new tissue regeneration and reduce post-implantation bone disorders has been limited. Natural biomolecules are gaining the attention of the health industry due to their excellent safety profiles, providing equivalent or superior performances when compared to more expensive growth factors and synthetic drugs. Supplementing additive manufacturing with natural biomolecules enables the design of novel multifunctional bone implants that provide controlled biochemical delivery for bone tissue engineering applications. Controlled release of naturally derived biomolecules from a three-dimensional (3D) printed implant may improve implant-host tissue integration, new bone formation, bone healing, and blood vessel growth. The present review introduces us to the current progress and limitations of 3D printed bone implants with drug delivery capabilities, followed by an in-depth discussion on cutting-edge technologies for incorporating natural medicinal compounds embedded within the 3D printed scaffolds or on implant surfaces, highlighting their applications in several pre- and post-implantation bone-related disorders.

Chondrocytes supplemented to bone graft-containing scaffolds expedite cranial defect repair.

Critical maxillofacial bone fractures do not heal spontaneously, thus, often there is a need to facilitate repair via surgical intervention. Gold standard approaches, include the use of autologous bone graft, or devices supplemented with osteogenic growth factors and bone substitutes. This research aimed to employ a critical size calvaria defect model, to determine if the addition of chondrocytes to collagen-containing bone graft substitute, may expedite bone repair. As such, using a critical size rat calvaria defect, we implanted a collagen scaffold containing bone graft substitute (i.e., Bone graft scaffold, BG) or BG supplemented with costal chondrocytes (cBG). The rats were subjected to live CT imaging at 1, 6, 9, and 12 weeks following the surgical procedure and sacrificed for microCT imaging of the defect site. Moreover, serum markers and histological evaluation were assessed to determine osseous tissue regeneration and turnover. Live CT and microCT indicated cBG implants displayed expedited bone repair vs, BG alone, already at 6 weeks post defect induction. cBG also displayed a shorter distance between the defect edges and greater mineral apposition distance compared to BG. Summerizing, the data support the addition of chondrocytes to bone substitute, accelerates the formation of new bone within a critical size defect.

Effects of Bone Grafting and Non-Bone Grafting on Implant Stability and New Bone Formation in Patients Undergoing Maxillary Sinus Floor Elevation Combined with Bicon Short Implants.

Objective: To compare the effects of bone grafting versus non-bone grafting on implant stability and new bone formation in patients undergoing maxillary sinus floor lift combined with placement of a Bicon short dental implant. Methods: We recruited 60 patients with posterior maxillary tooth loss and insufficient jaw bone mass from December 2017 to December 2019, and the patients were divided into 2 groups in accordance with the surgical method: the bone grafted group (n = 32) and the non-bone grafted group (n = 28). Both groups underwent maxillary sinus floor elevation combined with Bicon short dental implant placement. No bone-grafting materials were used in the non-bone grafted group, and autologous bone chips mixed with Bicon bone substitute were used for bone grafting in the bone grafted group. The 2 groups were compared for their peri-implant index and periodontal bleeding index immediately after the operation, as well as at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. The study also compared the sub-sinus-membrane height, peri-implant bone density, implant stability quotient, and alveolar bone height in the implant area at 3, 6, and 12 months after the operation, as well as the implant survival rate and complications (infection, bleeding, mucosal perforation, sinus-floor cyst, and bone-graft displacement) 12 months after the operation. Results: The peri-implant index and periodontal bleeding index immediately after the operation in the bone grafted group were higher than those in the non-bone grafted group (all P < .05), but there were no significant differences in the 2 indices between the 2 groups at 3, 6, and 12 months after the operation (all P > .05). The sub-sinus-membrane height, peri-implant bone density, implant stability quotient, and alveolar bone height in the bone grafted area were higher in the bone grafted group than in the non-bone grafted group at 3, 6, and 12 months after the operation (all P < .05). Although the implant survival rate in the bone grafted group was slightly higher than that in the non-bone grafted group at 12 months after the operation, the difference was not statistically significant (P > .05). One case of mucosal perforation occurred in the bone grafted group, but there was no significant difference in the complication rate between the 2 groups (P > .05). Conclusion: The findings of this study support the use of autologous bone chips mixed with Bicon bone substitute in maxillary sinus floor elevation combined with Bicon short dental implant placement for improved implant stability and new bone formation. Further research is needed to evaluate long-term outcomes and potential complications associated with this technique.

Dual-Energy CT-based Opportunistic Volumetric Bone Mineral Density Assessment of the Distal Radius.

Background In patients with distal radius fractures (DRFs), low bone mineral density (BMD) is associated with bone substitute use during surgery and bone nonunion, but BMD information is not regularly available. Purpose To evaluate the feasibility of dual-energy CT (DECT)-based BMD assessment from routine examinations in the distal radius and the relationship between the obtained BMD values, the occurrence of DRFs, bone nonunion, and use of surgical bone substitute. Materials and Methods Scans in patients who underwent routine dual-source DECT in the distal radius between January 2016 and December 2021 were retrospectively acquired. Phantomless BMD assessment was performed using the delineated trabecular bone of a nonfractured segment of the distal radius and both DECT image series. CT images and health records were examined to determine fracture severity, surgical management, and the occurrence of bone nonunion. Associations of BMD with the occurrence of DRFs, bone nonunion, and bone substitute use at surgical treatment were examined with generalized additive models and receiver operating characteristic analysis. Results This study included 263 patients (median age, 52 years; IQR, 36-64 years; 132 female patients), of whom 192 were diagnosed with fractures. Mean volumetric BMD was lower in patients who sustained a DRF (93.9 mg/cm3 vs 135.4 mg/cm3; P < .001), required bone substitutes (79.6 mg/cm3 vs 95.5 mg/cm3; P < .001), and developed bone nonunion (71.1 mg/cm3 vs 96.5 mg/cm3; P < .001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified these patients with an area under the curve of 0.71-0.91 (P < .001). Lower BMD increased the risk to sustain DRFs, develop bone nonunion, and receive bone substitutes at surgery (P < .001). Conclusion DECT-based BMD assessment at routine examinations is feasible and could help predict surgical bone substitute use and the occurrence of bone nonunion in patients with DRFs. © RSNA, 2023 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Carrino in this issue.

Long-Term Safety of Bone Regeneration Using Autologous Stromal Vascular Fraction and Calcium Phosphate Ceramics: A 10-Year Prospective Cohort Study.

This prospective cohort study aimed to assess long-term safety, dental implant survival, and clinical and radiological outcomes after maxillary sinus floor elevation (MSFE; lateral window technique) using freshly isolated autologous stromal vascular fraction (SVF) combined with calcium phosphate ceramics. All 10 patients previously participating in a phase I trial were included in a 10-year follow-up. They received either ß-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP; n = 5) or biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP; n = 5) with SVF-supplementation on one side (study). Bilaterally treated patients (6 of 10; 3 ß-TCP, 3 BCP) received only calcium phosphate on the opposite side (control). Clinical and radiological assessments were performed on 44 dental implants at 1-month pre-MSFE, and 0.5- to 10-year post-MSFE. Implants were placed 6 months post-MSFE. No adverse events or pathology was reported during a 10-year follow-up. Forty-three dental implants (98%) remained functional. Control and study sides showed similar peri-implant soft-tissue quality, sulcus bleeding index, probing depth, plaque index, keratinized mucosa width, as well as marginal bone loss (0-6 mm), graft height loss (0-6 mm), and graft volume reduction. Peri-implantitis was observed around 6 implants (control: 4; study: 2) in 3 patients. This study is the first to demonstrate the 10-year safety of SVF-supplementation in MSFE for jawbone reconstruction. SVF-supplementation showed enhanced bone regeneration in the short term (previous study) and led to no abnormalities clinically and radiologically in the long term.

Radiographic outcome after maxillary sinus floor augmentation with allogeneic adipose tissue-derived stem cells seeded on deproteinized bovine bone mineral. A randomized controlled experimental study.

The objective was to test the hypothesis of no difference in radiographic outcome after maxillary sinus floor augmentation (MSFA) with allogeneic adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) seeded on deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) (test) compared with excipient on DBBM (control). Eighteen minipigs were assigned into three groups of six animals and euthanised after one month (T1), two months (T2), and four months (T3), respectively. Each maxillary sinus was randomly allocated to either test or control with an equal volume of graft. Computed tomography scans (CTs) after MSFA (T0) were compared with CTs after euthanasia to evaluate graft volume (GV) changes and bone density (BD) using three-dimensional measurements and Hounsfield units. GV was larger in test compared with control at T1 (P = 0.046), whereas GV was larger in control compared with test at T3 (P = 0.01). BD increased from T0 to T1-T3 (P < 0.001) with both treatments. Higher BD was observed in control compared with test at T3 (P = 0.01), while no significant difference was observed at T1 and T2. Conclusively, the present study demonstrate that allogeneic ASCs seeded on DBBM in conjunction with MSFA seemed not to improve the radiographic outcome compared with excipient on DBBM. However, radiological outcomes need to be supplemented by bone histomorphometry before definitive conclusions can be provided about the beneficial use of allogeneic ASCs seeded on DBBM in conjunction with MSFA compared with DBBM alone.

Synthesis and Characterizations of Bioactive Glass Nanoparticle-Incorporated Triblock Copolymeric Injectable Hydrogel for Bone Tissue Engineering.

Recently, injectable hydrogels have attracted much interest in tissue engineering (TE) applications because of their controlled flowability, adaptability, and easy handling properties. This work emphasizes the synthesis and characterizations of bioactive glass (BAG) nanoparticle-reinforced poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)- and poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (pNVC)-based minimally invasive composite injectable hydrogel suitable for bone regeneration. First, the copolymer was synthesized from a combination of PEG and pNVC through reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization and nanocomposite hydrogel constructs were subsequently prepared by conjugating BAG particles at varying loading concentrations. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis confirmed the controlled nature of the polymer. Various physicochemical characterization results confirmed the successful synthesis of copolymer and nanocomposite hydrogels that showed good gelling and injectability properties. Our optimal nanocomposite hydrogel formulation showed excellent swelling properties in comparison to the copolymeric hydrogel due to the presence of hydrophilic BAG particles. The bone cell proliferation rate was found to be evidently higher in the nanocomposite hydrogel than in the copolymeric hydrogel. Moreover, the enhanced level of ALP activity and apatite mineralization for the nanocomposite in comparison to that for the copolymeric hydrogel indicates accelerated in vitro osteogenesis. Overall, our study findings indicate BAG particle-conjugated nanocomposite hydrogels can be used as promising grafting materials in orthopedic reconstructive surgeries complementary to conventional bone graft substitutes in cancellous bone defects due to their 3D porous framework, minimal invasiveness, and ability to form any desired shape to match irregular bone defects.

Autogenous particulated dentin for alveolar ridge preservation. A systematic review.

PURPOSE: This review aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes of autogenous particulated dentin (APD) used for alveolar ridge preservation (ARP), evaluating volume gain, histologic/histomorphometric data, and associated complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The review followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). An automated search was made in four databases (Medline/Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) supplemented by a manual search for relevant clinical articles published before March 10th, 2022. The review included human studies of at least four patients in which extraction and subsequent ARP were performed in a single surgery. Both comparative studies and studies that assessed ARP with APD exclusively were admitted. The quality of evidence was assessed with the Cochrane bias assessment tool, the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale, and the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tool. RESULTS: Eleven studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included for descriptive analysis, with a total of 215 patients, and 337 alveoli preserved by APD, spontaneous healing (blood clot), or other bone substitutes, obtaining comparatively less vertical and horizontal resorption when APD was used. CONCLUSIONS: After dental extraction, autogenous dentin was effective in terms of volume maintenance, showing promising results in histologic/histomorphometric analysis, and a low complication rate. Nevertheless, few comparative studies with comparable parameters have been published and so more research providing long-term data is needed to confirm these findings.

Autogenous dentin combined with mesenchymal stromal cells as an alternative alveolar bone graft: an in vivo study.

OBJECTIVE: Considering the chemical and structural properties of dentin, this study was aimed at evaluating the effect of dentin matrix alone or combined with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) on postextraction alveolar bone regeneration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Wistar rats were subjected to tooth extraction with osteotomy and allocated into groups according to the graft inserted: (1) Gelita-Spon®, (2) Bio-Oss®, (3) Dentin, (4) MSC, (5) Dentin/MSC, and (6) Control. Maxillae were analyzed by means of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis, microcomputed tomography (micro-CT), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Serum levels of calcium and phosphorus were quantified. RESULTS: The Bio-Oss group showed less bone than Gelita-Spon and Dentin/MSC; no other significant differences were seen in H&E analysis. The Bio-Oss group showed higher expression of collagen type I compared to the Dentin and Dentin/MSC groups and also higher osteocalcin expression than the Dentin/MSC group. There was a tendency of higher expression of osteopontin in the MSC, Dentin, and Dentin/MSC groups and higher VEGF in the MSC group. On micro-CT analysis, the Bio-Oss and the Dentin/MSC groups exhibited greater bone volume than the Control. Serum calcium and phosphorus levels did not significantly differ between the groups. SEM analysis depicted particles of Bio-Oss and dentin in the respective groups, as well as significant cellularity in the MSC group. CONCLUSION: Autogenous nondemineralized dentin is an alternative for alveolar bone grafting, which can be improved by combination with MSC. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This work provides support for the clinical applicability of dentin graft alone or combined with MSC.

An assessment of physical properties and the viability of osteoblast-like cells of cefazolin-impregnated calcium sulfate bone-void filler.

Calcium sulfate, an injectable and biodegradable bone-void filler, is widely used in orthopedic surgery. Based on clinical experience, bone-defect substitutes can also serve as vehicles for the delivery of drugs, for example, antibiotics, to prevent or to treat infections such as osteomyelitis. However, antibiotic additions change the characteristics of calcium sulfate cement. Moreover, high-dose antibiotics may also be toxic to bony tissues. Accordingly, cefazolin at varying weight ratios was added to calcium sulfate samples and characterized in vitro. The results revealed that cefazolin changed the hydration reaction and prolonged the initial setting times of calcium sulfate bone cement. For the crystalline structure identification, X-ray diffractometer revealed that cefazolin additive resulted in the decrease of peak intensity corresponding to calcium sulfate dihydrate which implying incomplete phase conversion of calcium sulfate hemihydrate. In addition, scanning electron microscope inspection exhibited cefazolin changed the morphology and size of the crystals greatly. A relatively higher amount of cefazolin additive caused a faster degradation and a lower compressive strength of calcium sulfate compared with those of uploaded samples. Furthermore, the extract of cefazolin-impregnated calcium sulfate impaired cell viability, and caused the death of osteoblast-like cells. The results of this study revealed that the cefazolin additives prolonged setting time, impaired mechanical strength, accelerated degradation, and caused cytotoxicity of the calcium sulfate bone-void filler. The aforementioned concerns should be considered during intra-operative applications.

Impact of beam-hardening corrections on proton relative stopping power estimates from single- and dual-energy CT.

A major contributing factor to proton range uncertainty is the conversion of computed tomography (CT) Hounsfield units (HU) to proton relative stopping power (RSP). This uncertainty is heightened in the presence of X-ray beam-hardening artifact (BHA), which has two manifestations: cupping and streaking, especially in and near bone tissue. This uncertainty can affect the accuracy of proton RSP calculation for treatment planning in proton radiotherapy. Dual-energy CT (DECT) and iterative beam-hardening correction (iBHC) both show promise in mitigating CT BHA. This present work attempts to analyze the relative robustness of iBHC and DECT techniques on both manifestations of BHA. The stoichiometric method for HU to RSP conversion was used for single-energy CT (SECT) and DECT-based monochromatic techniques using a tissue substitute phantom. Cupping BHA was simulated by measuring the HU of a bone substitute plug in wax/3D-printed phantoms of increasing size. Streaking BHA was simulated by placing a solid water plug between two bone plugs in a wax phantom. Finally, the effect of varying calibration phantom size on RSP was calculated in an anthropomorphic head phantom. The RSP decreased -0.002 cm-1 as phantom size increased for SECT but remained largely constant when iBHC applied or with DECT techniques. The RSP varied a maximum of 2.60% in the presence of streaking BHA in SECT but was reduced to 1.40% with iBHC. For DECT techniques, the maximum difference was 2.40%, reduced to 0.6% with iBHC. Comparing calibration phantoms of 20- and 33-cm diameter, maximum voxel differences of 5 mm in the water-equivalent thickness were observed in the skull but reduced to 1.3 mm with iBHC. The DECT techniques excelled in mitigating cupping BHA, but streaking BHA still could be observed. The use of iBHC reduced RSP variation with BHA in both SECT and DECT techniques.

Application of vancomycin-impregnated calcium sulfate hemihydrate/nanohydroxyapatite/carboxymethyl chitosan injectable hydrogels combined with BMSC sheets for the treatment of infected bone defects in a rabbit model.

BACKGROUND: The choice of bone substitutes for the treatment of infected bone defects (IBDs) has attracted the attention of surgeons for years. However, single-stage bioabsorbable materials that are used as carriers for antibiotic release, as well as scaffolds for BMSC sheets, need further exploration. Our study was designed to investigate the effect of vancomycin-loaded calcium sulfate hemihydrate/nanohydroxyapatite/carboxymethyl chitosan (CSH/n-HA/CMCS) hydrogels combined with BMSC sheets as bone substitutes for the treatment of IBDs. METHODS: BMSCs were harvested and cultured into cell sheets. After the successful establishment of an animal model with chronic osteomyelitis, 48 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups. Animals in Group A were treated with thorough debridement as a control. Group B was treated with BMSC sheets. CSH/n-HA/CMCS hydrogels were implanted in the treatment of Group C, and Group D was treated with CSH/n-HA/CMCS+BMSC sheets. Gross observation and micro-CT 3D reconstruction were performed to assess the osteogenic and infection elimination abilities of the treatment materials. Histological staining (haematoxylin and eosin and Van Gieson) was used to observe inflammatory cell infiltration and the formation of collagen fibres at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after implantation. RESULTS: The bone defects of the control group were not repaired at 12 weeks, as chronic osteomyelitis was still observed. HE staining showed a large amount of inflammatory cell infiltration around the tissue, and VG staining showed no new collagen fibres formation. In the BMSC sheet group, although new bone formation was observed by gross observation and micro-CT scanning, infection was not effectively controlled due to unfilled cavities. Some neutrophils and only a small amount of collagen fibres could be observed. Both the hydrogel and hydrogel/BMSCs groups achieved satisfactory repair effects and infection control. Micro-CT 3D reconstruction at 4 weeks showed that the hydrogel/BMSC sheet group had higher reconstruction efficiency and better bone modelling with normal morphology. HE staining showed little aggregation of inflammatory cells, and VG staining showed a large number of new collagen fibres. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary results suggested that compared to a single material, the novel antibiotic-impregnated hydrogels acted as superior scaffolds for BMSC sheets and excellent antibiotic vectors against infection, which provided a basis for applying tissue engineering technology to the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis.

Ginger and Garlic Extracts Enhance Osteogenesis in 3D Printed Calcium Phosphate Bone Scaffolds with Bimodal Pore Distribution.

Natural medicines have long been used to treat physiological ailments where both ginger (gingerol) and garlic (allicin) are key players in immune system promotion, reduction in blood pressure, and lowering inflammation response. With their efficacy in bone healing, these compounds have great value as medicinal additives in bone scaffolds for localized treatment to support tissue formation, along with providing their natural therapeutic benefits. Utilization of 3D-printed (3DP) bone tissue engineering scaffolds as drug delivery vehicles for ginger and garlic extracts enables patient specificity in bone defect applications with enhanced osseointegration. Our objective is to understand their combined efficacy on osteogenesis when released from 3DP calcium phosphate bone scaffolds designed with a bimodal pore distribution. With a porous core and dense exterior, the resulting scaffolds have good mechanical integrity with 10 ± 1 MPa compressive strengths. Results show that ginger + garlic extracts released from bone scaffolds enhance their osteogenic potential through on site drug delivery. Both compounds exhibit exponential drug release profiles which fit Weibull distribution equations. The release of ginger extract also increases osteoblast proliferation by 59%. Both compounds show decreased osteoclast resorption activity, with a greater than 20% reduction in pit area on sample surfaces. Ginger + garlic extract induces a twofold increase in early osteoid tissue formation in vivo at week 4, in addition to a 30% increase in total bone area and a 90% increase in osteocytes with respect to control 3DP tricalcium phosphate scaffolds. Late-stage bone healing at week 10 reveals healthy angiogenic tissue, a twofold higher bone mineralization, and significant enhancement of type I collagen formation in the presence of ginger and garlic extracts. Naturally sourced ginger and garlic extracts provide osteogenic promotion and improved bone tissue in-growth in a patient-specific 3DP scaffold biomedical device for low load-bearing bone tissue engineering and dental applications.

Complete chemical and structural characterization of selenium-incorporated hydroxyapatite.

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) has long been used as synthetic bone tissue replacement material. Recent advances in this area have led to development of dual-functional bioceramics exhibiting high biocompability/osteoconductivity together with the therapeutic effect. Selenium, in that respect, is an effective therapeutic agent with promising antioxidant activity and anticancer effects. In this study, selenium-incorporated hydroxyapatite (HAp:Se) particles have been synthesized by modified aqueous precipitation method using calcium (Ca(NO3)2·4H2O) and phosphate ((NH4)2HPO4) salts and sodium selenite (Na2SeO3). The effects of selenium incorporation and post-synthesis calcination treatment (900-1100 °C) on physical, chemical properties and crystal structure of resultant HAp powders have been investigated. Complete chemical identification was performed with spectroscopical analyses including Fourier transform infrared and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to elucidate the mechanism and chemical nature of selenium incorporation in HAp. Meanwhile, detailed x-ray diffraction studies by Rietveld refinement have conducted to explain changes in the HAp crystal structure upon selenium incorporation.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Is Biological Augmentation Beneficial?

Surgical reconstruction in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures has proven to be a highly effective technique that usually provides satisfactory results. However, despite the majority of patients recovering their function after this procedure, ACL reconstruction (ACLR) is still imperfect. To improve these results, various biological augmentation (BA) techniques have been employed mostly in animal models. They include: (1) growth factors (bone morphogenetic protein, epidermal growth factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, transforming growth factor-ß, hepatocyte growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and platelet concentrates such as platelet-rich plasma, fibrin clot, and autologous conditioned serum), (2) mesenchymal stem cells, (3) autologous tissue, (4) various pharmaceuticals (matrix metalloproteinase-inhibitor alpha-2-macroglobulin bisphosphonates), (5) biophysical/environmental methods (hyperbaric oxygen, low-intensity pulsed ultrasound, extracorporeal shockwave therapy), (6) biomaterials (fixation methods, biological coatings, biosynthetic bone substitutes, osteoconductive materials), and (7) gene therapy. All of them have shown good results in experimental studies; however, the clinical studies on BA published so far are highly heterogeneous and have a low degree of evidence. The most widely used technique to date is platelet-rich plasma. My position is that orthopedic surgeons must be very cautious when considering using PRP or other BA methods in ACLR.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: An Effective Auxiliary Treatment Method for Large Jaw Cysts.

Background: To evaluate hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on infection rates and repair rates during the treatment of large jaw cysts. Methods: A prospective randomized, non-blinded, controlled clinical trial included 90 patients with jaw cysts, randomly divided into three groups. Patients were treated with enucleations and bone substitute was used in the experimental and control groups. The experimental group received HBOT. The primary predictor variable was HBOT. The infection rate, repair rate, preoperative volume of the jaw cysts, age, and sex were statistically analyzed. The Fisher exact test was used to compare the infection rate and postoperative complications. The repair rate of the bone defects was analyzed using the repeated-measures analysis of variance and the least significant difference tests. The Kendall's coefficient of concordance and Kappa statistics were calculated to evaluate the consistency between the two investigators. Results: The infection rate was 3.4% in the experimental group, 14.3% in the blank group, and 32.1% in the control group (P<0.05). The repair rate in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control and blank groups at 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that HBOT reduced the postoperative infection rate following the enucleation of large jaw cysts with bone substitute filling, and it also improved the bone repair rate.

Systemic Administration of PTH Supports Vascularization in Segmental Bone Defects Filled with Ceramic-Based Bone Graft Substitute.

Non-unions continue to present a challenge to trauma surgeons, as current treatment options are limited, duration of treatment is long, and the outcome often unsatisfactory. Additionally, standard treatment with autologous bone grafts is associated with comorbidity at the donor site. Therefore, alternatives to autologous bone grafts and further therapeutic strategies to improve on the outcome and reduce cost for care providers are desirable. In this study in Sprague-Dawley rats we employed a recently established sequential defect model, which provides a platform to test new potential therapeutic strategies on non-unions while gaining mechanistic insight into their actions. The effects of a combinatorial treatment of a bone graft substitute (HACaS+G) implantation and systemic PTH administration was assessed by µ-CT, histological analysis, and bio-mechanical testing and compared to monotreatment and controls. Although neither PTH alone nor the combination of a bone graft substitute and PTH led to the formation of a stable union, our data demonstrate a clear osteoinductive and osteoconductive effect of the bone graft substitute. Additionally, PTH administration was shown to induce vascularization, both as a single adjuvant treatment and in combination with the bone graft substitute. Thus, systemic PTH administration is a potential synergistic co-treatment to bone graft substitutes.

The Effect of Application of Combined Bovine-Derived Anorganic Bone Graft and Hemostatic Plant Extract on Bone Regeneration.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of bovine-derived anorganic bone graft (ABB) in combination with hemostatic plant extract (ABS) on bone regeneration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three bone defects were created via an extraoral approach on the mandibles of nine domestic pigs. The first defects were filled with ABS solution (0.3 mL/defect) in a transporting agent of ABB (0.3 cc/defect), whereas the second defects were filled with ABS (0.3 mL/defect) in microcapsules for controlled drug release, combined with ABB (0.3 cc/defect) again. The third defects were left empty. After a 10-week healing period and the sacrification, undecalcified sections were prepared for histomorphometric analysis. RESULTS: The mean total area of hard tissue was 29.54% ± 3.2% in the control group, 59.78% ± 5.4% in the conventional group, and 63.67% ± 4.2% in the microsphere group (P < .001). The mean area of newly formed bone was 29.54% ± 3.2% in the control group, 34.79% ± 3.9% in the conventional group, and 37.95% ± 5.3% in the microsphere group (P = .003). The mean residual graft area was 24.99% ± 2.4% in the conventional group and 25.71% ± 4.4% in the microsphere group (P = .730). CONCLUSION: The combined usage of ABS and ABB in both ways increased bone regeneration statistically. However, there was no significant difference between the two methods for ABS delivery systems in terms of new bone regeneration.