The study suggests the potential of the novel 3D PCL scaffold augmented with MSCs as an alternative meniscal substitution, although this approach requires further improvement before being used in clinical practice.

BackgroundPosterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) ruptures are common sports injuries. One of the key controversies in PCL reconstruction is whether double-bundle reconstruction provides biomechanical and clinical outcomes superior to single-bundle reconstruction.MethodsWe performed a comprehensive search in multiple databases to evaluate the advantages of single-bundle or double bundle reconstructions in anteroposterior stability, graft tension, rotational stability, and functional outcome.ResultsBiomechanical comparisons evaluating anteroposterior stability described either no difference or increased stability in double-bundle reconstructions. Comparing these results is complicated by different graft choices, tensioning techniques, and tunnel positions. Biomechanical studies of graft tension demonstrated conflicting results regarding the optimal reconstruction technique. Seven retrospective clinical studies of single- and double-bundle reconstructions with methodological limitations reported no difference in clinical outcome.ConclusionsThe superiority of single-bundle or double-bundle posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction remains uncertain.

As a cell source with large quantity and easy access, peripheral blood mesenchymal stem cells (PBMSCs) were isolated and seeded in porcine demineralized cancellous bone (DCB) scaffolds, cultured in chondrogenic medium and evaluated for in vitro chondrogenesis. Bone marrow MSCs (BMMSCs) and articular cartilage chondrocytes (ACCs) underwent the same process as controls. The morphology, viability and proliferation of PBMSCs in DCB scaffolds were similar to those of BMMSCs and ACCs. PBMSCs and BMMSCs showed similar chondrogenesis potential with consistent production of COL 2 and SOX 9 protein and increased COL 2 and AGC mRNA expressions at week 3 but the COL 2 protein production was still less than that of ACCs. Minimal increase of hypertrophic markers was found in all groups. Relatively higher ALP and lower COL 10 mRNA expressions were found in both MSCs groups at week 3 than that in ACCs, whereas no significant difference of COL 1 and SOX 9 mRNA and MMP 13 protein was found among all groups. To conclude, PBMSCs shared similar proliferation and chondrogenic potential with BMMSCs in DCB scaffolds and could be an alternative to BMMSCs for cartilage tissue engineering. Further optimization of chondrogenesis system is needed regardless of the promising results.

Objective:A meta-analysis was performed to compare the radiographic and surgical outcomes between anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and hybrid surgery (HS, corpectomy combined with discectomy) in the treatment for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy (mCSM).Summary of background data:Both ACDF and HS are used to treat mCSM, however, which one is better treatment for mCSM remains considerable controversy.Methods:An extensive search of literature was searched in PubMed/Medline, Embase, the Cochrane library, CNKI, and WANFANG databases on ACDF versus HS treating mCSM from January 2011 to December 2017. The following variables were extracted: blood loss, operation time, fusion rate, Cobb angles of C2–C7, total complications, dysphagia, hoarseness, C5 palsy, infection, cerebral fluid leakage, epidural hematoma, and graft subsidence. Data analysis was conducted with RevMan 5.3 and STATA 12.0.Results:A total of 4 studies including 669 patients were included in our study. The pooled analysis showed that there were no significant difference in the operation time, fusion rate, Cobb angles of C2–C7, dysphagia, hoarseness, C5 palsy, infection, cerebral fluid leakage, epidural hematoma, and graft subsidence. However, there were significant difference between 2 groups in blood loss [P < .00001, SMD = −30.29 (−45.06, −15.52); heterogeneity: P = .38, I2 = 0%= and total complications [P = .04, OR = 0.66 95%CI (0.44, 0.98); heterogeneity: P = .37, I2 = 4%].Conclusions:Based on our meta-analysis, except for blood loss and total complications, both ACDF and hybrid surgery are effective options for the treatment of multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy.