Hypertrophic scars (HTS) and keloids are challenging problems. Their pathogenesis results from an overproduction of fibroblasts and excessive deposition of collagen. Studies suggest a possible anti-scarring effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) during wound healing, but the precise mechanisms of bFGF are still unclear. In view of this, we investigated the therapeutic effects of bFGF on HTS animal model as well as human scar fibroblasts (HSF) model. We show that bFGF promoted wound healing and reduced the area of flattened non-pathological scars in rat skin wounds and HTS in the rabbit ear. We provide evidence of a new therapeutic strategy: bFGF administration for the treatment of HTS. The scar elevation index (SEI) and epidermal thickness index (ETI) was also significantly reduced. Histological reveal that bFGF exhibited significant amelioration of the collagen tissue. bFGF regulated extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and degradation via interference in the collagen distribution, the α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor-1 (TGF-β1) expression. In addition, bFGF reduced scarring and promoted wound healing by inhibiting TGFβ1/SMAD-dependent pathway. The levels of fibronectin (FN), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) collagen I, and collagen III were evidently decreased, and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and apoptosis cells were markedly increased. These results suggest that bFGF possesses favorable therapeutic effects on hypertrophic scars in vitro and in vivo, which may be an effective cure for human hypertrophic scars.

A retrospective study to evaluate the effectiveness of 3-dimensional rapid prototyping (3DRP) technology in corrective surgery for Lenke 1 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients.3DRP technology has been widely used in medical field; however, no study has been performed on the effectiveness of 3DRP technology in corrective surgery for Lenke 1 AIS patients.Lenke 1 AIS patients who were preparing to undergo posterior corrective surgery from a single center between January 2010 and January 2012 were included in this analysis. Patients were divided into 2 groups. In group A, 3-dimensional (3D) printing technology was used to create subject-specific spine models in the preoperative planning process. Group B underwent posterior corrective surgery as usual (by free hand without image guidance). Perioperative and postoperative clinical outcomes were compared between 2 groups, including operation time, perioperative blood loss, transfusion volume, postoperative hemoglobin (Hb), postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay. Radiological outcomes were also compared, including the assessment of screw placement, postoperative Cobb angle, coronal balance, sagittal vertical axis, thoracic kyphosis, and lumbar lordosis. Subgroup was also performed according to the preoperative Cobb angle: mean Cobb angle <50° and mean Cobb angle >50°. Besides, economic evaluation was also compared between 2 groups.A total of 126 patients were included in this study (group A, 50 and group B, 76). Group A had significantly shorter operation time, significantly less blood loss and transfusion volume, and higher postoperative Hb (all, P < 0.001). However, no significant differences were observed in complication rate, length of hospital stay, and postoperative radiological outcomes between 2 groups (all, P>0.05). There was also no significant difference in misplacement of screws in total populations (16.90% vs 18.82%, P = 0.305), whereas a low misplacement rate of pedicle screws was observed in patients whose mean Cobb angle was >50° (9.15% vs 13.03%, P = 0.02). Besides, using 3DRP increased the economic burden of patients (157,000 ± 9948.85 Ren Min Bi (RMB) vs 152,500 ± 11,445.52 RMB, P = 0.03).Using the 3D printing technology before posterior corrective surgery might reduce the operation time, perioperative blood loss, and transfusion volume. There did not appear to be a benefit to using this technology with respect to complication rate and postoperative radiological outcomes; however, 3D technology could reduce the misplacement rate in patients whose preoperative mean Cobb angle was >50°. Besides, it also increased the patients’ hospital cost. Therefore, future prospective studies are needed to elucidate the efficacy of this emerging technology.

Background Concerns have been raised regarding minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and its possible effect on postoperative functional recovery, complications, and survival rate after TKA. Questions/purposes We specifically asked whether MIS TKA would be associated with (1) increased operative time, (2) reduced blood loss, (3) shortened hospital stay, (4) faster recovery of ROM, (5) higher knee scores, (6) inferior component positioning, and (7) increased complications. Methods We performed a systematic literature search of randomized controlled trials between minimally invasive and standard approaches in TKA that compared operative time, blood loss, ROM, knee scores, component positioning, and complications. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 trials published from 2007 to 2009 of MIS versus standard TKA.

The USA and Western Europe clearly dominate the production of scientific publications in rheumatology. However, some smaller European countries have high scientific output relative to their size.

The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of one-stage surgical management for children with spinal tuberculosis by anterior decompression, bone grafting, posterior instrumentation, and fusion. Between January 2002 and December 2006, 15 cases with spinal tuberculosis were treated with one-stage posterior internal fixation and anterior debridement. All cases were followed-up for an average of 30.3 months (range 12-48 months). The average neurological recovery in the patients was 0.93 grades on the scale of Frankel et al. (Paraplegia 7:179-192, 1969). The average preoperative kyphosis was 36 degrees (range 19-59 degrees ), and the average postoperative kyphosis was 23 degrees (range 15-38 degrees ) at final follow-up. At final follow-up, minimal progression of kyphosis was seen, with an average kyphosis of 27 degrees (range 16-40 degrees ). An average loss of correction of 4 degrees was seen at final follow-up. One-stage surgical management for children with spinal tuberculosis by anterior decompression, bone grafting, posterior instrumentation, and fusion was feasible and effective.

Our results indicate that compared with ORIF, the percutaneous reduction, fixation and CSC grafting for treatment of DIACF might allow accelerated weightbearing activity, reduce joint stiffness and improve the patients' satisfaction.

Cell-based therapeutic intervention has emerged as a new approach to accelerate wound closure. Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), as a fascinating cell source, have received much attention in tissue repair and regeneration. In this study we evaluated the potential of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) scaffold serving as a carrier for the delivery of ASCs and investigated its therapeutic effects on wound healing. First, ASCs were isolated and characterized for multidifferentiation potential. ASCs-ADM grafts were then prepared, and ADM scaffold was shown to support the in vitro growth and proliferation of ASCs. Next, we analysed paracrine factors in conditioned medium and found that ASCs-ADM grafts secreted various cytokines, including VEGF, HGF, TGFβ and bFGF. Moreover, ASCs-ADM conditioned medium notably stimulated the migration and proliferation of fibroblasts. In vivo, we established an excisional wound model in diabetic rats which received phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), ADM or ASCs-ADM grafts, respectively. Our results demonstrated that implantation of ASCs-ADM significantly enhanced tissue regeneration and increased epithelialization, resulting in accelerated wound closure. Immunofluorescence analysis further indicated that capillary density was evidently increased in the ASCs-ADM group compared with the control or ADM group. In addition, western blot analysis showed that ASCs-ADM significantly increased the expression of angiogenic factors, which was consistent with in vitro data. Taken together, our results suggest that targeted delivery of ASCs via ADM scaffold accelerate diabetic wound healing through a paracrine mechanism, with enhanced granulation tissue formation and increased re-epithelialization and neovascularization.

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