Study on osteoarthritic joint: regenerative potential and disease markers

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most predominant form of arthritis. It is characterised by joint chronic pain and severe tissue degeneration that ultimately can lead to disability. Although scientists together with clinicians have identified the risk factors for the development of OA, the underlying cause has not been elucidated yet. The current treatment options for OA are focused on symptom relief rather than the prevention or reverse of degeneration. Ultimately, the afflicted joint will have to be surgically replaced with medical-grade prosthesis to restore full function. In this study we focus on tissue regeneration of bone and cartilage in joints by modulation of the resident population of stem/progenitor cells, as a new approach in the treatment of musculo-skeletal injury and degeneration. The work presented in this study addresses the presence of neurotrophins receptor OA animal model, the effect of Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) on the proliferation and differentiation of primary stem/progenitors from human hip joints affected by OA compared with stem/progenitors from healthy bone marrow, and an extensive proteomic analysis of the proteins in the EVs secreted by the previously mentioned human cell populations. The results obtained in this research project indicate that 1. OA induces a decrease in the incidence of neurotrophin receptors in the cells of the joint, 2. NT-3 has the potential to accelerate the bone tissue healing process, by stimulation of osteogenesis, and 3. the proteomic content of EVs derived from tissue with OA it can serve as indicator of the disease

Enhanced bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cell differentiation when isolated and expanded with human platelet rich plasma and differentiation media is supplemented with vitamin D

Vitamin D3 is well known to be involved in bone formation during foetal development and has been shown to be actively involved from gestational day 13 during foetal rat development [1]. Vitamin D3 and its associated enzyme 1-alpha-hydroxylase a member of the cytochrome P450 super family and encoded for by the gene CYP27B1. In this study we supplemented osteogenic media with vitamin D at a concentration of 10-4M and differentiated for 21 days with samples analysed by means of quantitative alizarin red assay and qPCR for the bone markers RUNX2, ALPL and HPRT

Utilising DOE to optimise hydrogel composition for tissue engineering

printability, biocompatibility, ideal mechanical properties, and batch-to-batch consistency. Currently there is no standardised protocol to design a functional bioink. Here, a methodology was designed to optimise hydrogel composition of Gelatin (GEL),Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and Dextran-40 (DEX), utilising the ‘Design of Experiment’ (DOE) statistical tool and rheological behaviour of each composition

Single vs replicate Real-Time PCR SARS-CoV-2 testing: Lessons learned for effective pandemic management

Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus remains a global pandemic having a serious impact on national economies and healthcare infrastructure. Accurate infection detection protocols are key to policy guidance and decision making. In this pilot study, we compared single versus replicate PCR testing for effective and accurate SARS-CoV-2 infection detection. One-Step Real-Time RT-PCR was employed for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA isolated from individual nasopharyngeal swabs. A total of 10,014 swabs, sampled from the general public (hospital admissions, A&E, elective surgeries, cancer patients, care home residents and healthcare staff), were tested using standard replicate testing. Our analysis demonstrates that approximately 19% of SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals would have been reported as false negative if single sample Real-Time PCR testing was used. Therefore, two replicate tests can substantially decrease the risk of false negative reporting and reduce hospital and community infection rates. As the number of variants of concern increases, we believe that replicate testing is an essential consideration for effective SARS-CoV-2 infection detection and prevention of further outbreaks. A strategic approach limiting the number of missed infections is crucial in controlling the rise of new SARS-CoV-2 variants as well as the management of future pandemics