Effect of naproxen on proliferation and differentiation of primary cell cultures isolated from human cartilage tissue.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are applied through oral, injectable or topical routes have been widely used in painful and inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases. The current study aimed to determine whether naproxen, an aryl acetic acid derivative with analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, has a toxic effect on human chondrocytes. Samples containing monolayer primary chondrocyte cultures were prepared following resection from osteochondral tissues obtained from patients with gonarthrosis. Cell viability, toxicity and proliferation and levels of stage-specific embryonic antigen-1, a precursor to human prechondrocytes, were evaluated spectrophotometrically. The results from the untreated control group were compared with those of the study groups, where naproxen was administered in varying doses (1-1,000 µM). Surface morphologies of the cells were compared using inverted light and environmental scanning electron microscopy. Treatment groups were compared by analysis of variance with Tukey's honest difference post hoc test. P<0.01 was considered to indicate a statistically significant difference. The research revealed significant changes to proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes in all treatment groups (P<0.01). Naproxen was demonstrated to suppress chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation, which may be an important factor to consider when prescribing this medication to patients.

Surgical treatment of type III acromioclavicular dislocation: Bosworth technique versus hook plating.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, it was compared the clinical results of the Bosworth technique and hook plating in acromioclavicular (AC) dislocations. METHODS: 44 patients are retrospectively evaluated in this study whom diagnosed as type III AC dislocations and treated by two different surgical methods in two different clinics. The patients were 30 males and 14 females with a mean age of 44 years (range, 18-80 years). The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the applied surgical technique. Group I comprised 25 patients to whom coracoclavicular fixation was applied by using the Bosworth technique. Group II comprised 19 patients to whom acromioclavicular fixation was applied by using hook plate. All patients are evaulated by The University of California at Los Angeles Shoulder Score (UCLA) and The disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) scoring system. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 23 months (range, 12-42 months). A statistically significant diffference was determined between the surgical groups in respect of the modified UCLA scale (p=0.012) and Quick DASH score (p=0.008). Hook plating group had better clinical results according to Bosworth group in terms of both UCLA and DASH score. A statistically highly significant negative correlation was determined between the UCLA and DASH scores (r=0.677, p=0.000). CONCLUSION: Although hook plating had better clinic outcomes compared to Bosworth technique, there is not seen difference between two groups in terms of the time of return to work. Treatment of the AC dislocation should perform early reconstruction for better reduction, fewer complications and higher levels of patient satisfaction.

Can a Biodegradable Implanted Bilayered Drug Delivery System Loaded with BMP-2/BMP-12 Take an Effective Role in the Biological Repair Process of Bone-Tendon Injuries? A Preliminary Report.

BACKGROUND: Use of biodegradable and biocompatible materials in the orthopedic surgery is gaining popularity. In this research, the rate of controlled release of a bilayered prototype biomaterial designed to promote osteoblastic and tenoblastic activity was calculated using pharmacochemical methods. METHODS: The first part of the design, composed of a sodium tetraborate, polyvinyl alcohol, and starch based hydrogel, was loaded with bone morphogenic protein-2. The second part which was composed of a sodium tetraborate, polyvinyl alcohol, and chitosan based hydrogel was loaded with bone morphogenic protein-12. Osteochondral and tendon tissue specimens were obtained from patients with a diagnosis of gonarthrosis and primary bone cells and tendon cells cultures were prepared following treatment with collagenase enzyme. Cell samples were collected from the groups by means of an invert light microscope and environmental scanning electron microscope underwent at the 1st and 21st days. The level of osteogenic differentiation was measured by the activity of alkaline phosphatase. For the statistical evaluation of the obtained data, groups were compared with post hoc Tukey test following analysis of variance. Level of significance was accepted to be <0,01. RESULTS: Both osteogenic and tenogenic stimulation were observed in the cultured specimens. In comparison to the control groups, the rate of proliferation of healthy cells was found to be higher in the groups to which the design was added (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our research is a preliminary report that describes a study conducted in an in vitro experimental setting. We believe that such prototype systems may be pioneers in targeted drug therapies after reconstructional surgeries.

Is there a treatment protocol in which platelet-rich plasma is effective?

AIM: We aimed to reveal whether there are prospective suggestions for effective and standard platelet-rich plasma applications. METHODS: We searched for clinical trials and traced all the references of incorporated documents. RESULTS: In literature, there was no study indicating which disease is treated by which mechanism of action, how much dose and content are prepared and applied, when the treatment is applied and how many cures are applied. CONCLUSION: Guides introducing which concentrations of PRP are used for which diseases are to be prepared immediately by a committee which is comprised of primarily orthopedists, clinical pharmacologists and toxicologists.

Assessing the negative impact of phenyl alkanoic acid derivative, a frequently prescribed drug for the suppression of pain and inflammation, on the differentiation and proliferation of chondrocytes.

BACKGROUND: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequently prescribed to relieve pain and inflammation. These NSAIDs have also analgesic effects and can be administered via oral, injectable, and topical routes. During inflammation, a number of synovial mediators and cytokines are released which decrease the pH level of the synovial fluid. Administration of acidic NSAIDs further decreases the pH levels and hence contributes to the destruction of the cartilage. To our knowledge, no cellular-based study regarding the chondrotoxicity of phenyl alkanoic acid derivatives on NSAIDs was conducted before. Thus, the aim of this pioneering study was to examine the effect of frequently prescribed NSAIDs, a phenyl alkanoic acid derivative, flurbiprofen, on the proliferation and differentiation of human primer chondrocyte cultures in vitro. METHODS: Primer chondrocyte cultures were prepared from osteochondral tissue obtained during surgery for gonarthrosis. Samples not exposed to the pharmacological agent were used as the control group. The samples were treated with 1, 10, 100, 250, 500, or 1000 µM of the agent for 24, 48, and 72 h. The cell viability, toxicity, and proliferation were assessed with MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) analysis and prechondrocytic precursor stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 (SSEA-1) expression using a commercial ELISA kit spectrophotometrically. The surface morphology of the samples in each group was compared using an inverted light microscope and an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). An analysis of variance was used to compare between-group differences. Tukey's honest significant difference (HSD) method (95 % confidence interval) was used to evaluate the differences and significance in averages. The alpha significance value was considered <0.01. RESULTS: Statistically significant cytotoxicity was observed in the treatment groups. NSAID had a significant negative effect on the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes as compared to the control group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Before administering phenyl alkanoic acid derivatives in the clinical setting, their role in suppressing the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes should be taken into account. Thus, caution should be given when prescribing these drugs.