Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, progressive, multifactorial disease resulting in a progressive loss of articular cartilage structure and function that is most common in middle-aged and older patients. OA is involved in the loss of extracellular matrix and cartilage as well as cell number decreases within the matrix, especially in the further stages of the disease. The immune system plays a pivotal role in the pathomechanism of this condition. Both humoral and cellular mediators contribute to cartilage destruction, abnormal bone remodeling, synovitis, and joint effusion. The increasing prevalence of this disease has led to a growing interest in using animal models as the primary way to broaden the knowledge of the pathogenesis of OA and possible therapies at each stage of disease development. This review aims to describe the signs, pathogenesis, and classification of OA as well as discuss the advantages and disadvantages of some animal models. The currently used treatment methods include mesenchymal stem cells, exosomes, gene therapies, and blood-derived products. In addition, exogenous growth factors, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), platelet lysate, and autologous conditioned serum (ACS) are discussed with the application of tissue engineering techniques and biomaterials.

Background: The management of spinal deformities diagnosed before the age of 10 is critical due to the child’s development, skeletal system, and growth mechanism. Magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGRs) are a surgical treatment option for the growing spine. The aim of this study was to analyze the radiological findings of patients treated with MCGRs for early-onset scoliosis (EOS) of various etiologies. We hypothesized that the MCGRs could provide acceptable long-term radiographic results, such as an increase in the T1–T12 and T1–S1 height and significant overall deformity correction. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 161 EOS patients with a combined total of 302 MCGRs inserted at five institutions between 2016 and 2022 with a mean follow-up of at least two years. The Cobb angle of the major curve (MC), thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), and T1–T12 and T1–S1 height measurements were assessed before, after, and during the follow-up. Results: Among the 90 female and 71 male patients, there were 51 neurological, 42 syndromic, 58 idiopathic, and ten congenital scoliosis etiologies. Of the patients, 73 were aged under six years old. The mean follow-up time was 32.8 months. The mean age at placement of the MCGRs was 7 years and that at the last follow-up after fusion surgery was 14.5 years. The mean MC before the initial surgery was 86.2°; following rod implantation, it was 46.9°, and at the last follow-up visit, it was 45.8°. The mean correction rate among the etiology subgroups was from 43% to 50% at follow-up. The mean TK was noted as 47.2° before MCGR implantation, 47.1° after MCGR placement, and 44.5° at the last follow-up visit. The mean T1–T12 height increased by 5.95 mm per year, with a mean T1–S1 height of 10.1 mm per year. Conclusions: MCGR treatment allowed for an average correction of the curvature by 50% during the period of lengthening, while controlling any deformity and growth of the spine, with a significant increase in the T1–T12 and T1–S1 values during the observation period. MCGR treatment in EOS carries a risk of complications. While congenital and syndromic EOS often have short and less flexible curves in those groups of patients, single rods can be as effective and safe. Definitive fusion results in the mean final coronal correction between the start of MCGR treatment and after undergoing PSF of approximately 70%. The mean T1–T12 spinal height increased by 75 mm, while the T1–S1 spinal height gained a mean of 97 mm.

Osteomyelitis, a severe bone infection, poses a significant therapeutic challenge in both human and veterinary medicine, especially due to the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Conventional treatments, including surgical debridement and systemic antibiotics, often prove inadequate due to the ability of bacteria to form biofilms and evade host immune responses. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), such as LL-37 and β-defensins, have emerged as a promising alternative therapeutic strategy. AMPs exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, including efficacy against resistant strains, and possess immunomodulatory properties that can promote bone regeneration. This article comprehensively reviews AMP applications in treating osteomyelitis across both human and veterinary medicine. We discuss diverse therapeutic approaches, including free AMPs, their conjugation with biomaterials such as collagen and chitosan to enhance delivery and stability, and the development of AMP-based nanoparticles. Furthermore, we analyze preclinical and clinical findings, highlighting the efficacy and safety of AMPs in combating osteomyelitis in both human and animal patients. Finally, we explore future perspectives and challenges, such as optimizing delivery, stability, and efficacy, while minimizing cytotoxicity, and in translating AMP-based therapies into clinical practice to effectively manage this debilitating disease.

Background: Leg length discrepancy (LLD) is a common problem in the daily clinical practice of pediatric orthopedists. Surgical treatment using LLD temporary epiphysiodesis with eight-plate implants is a minimally invasive, safe, and well-tolerated procedure that provides good treatment effects with a relatively low percentage of complications. The main aim of this retrospective study was to determine the effect of epiphysiodesis on the shape of the proximal tibia. Methods: The retrospective study was based on medical records from 2010 to 2019. Radiographs taken before the epiphysiodesis and at 6-month intervals until the end of the treatment were investigated. A total of 60 patients treated for LLD were included in the study (24 girls, 36 boys). They were divided into three groups depending on the duration of the LLD treatment: group I (18 months), group II (30 months), and group III (42 months of treatment). Radiological parameters were assessed, including the roof angle (D), the slope angles (α and β), and the specific parameters of the tibial epiphysis, namely LTH (lateral tubercle height), MTH (medial tubercle height), and TW (tibial width). Results: The roof angle decreased in all the groups, which was accompanied by an increase in the β or α angle. LTH, MTH and TW also increased, and the differences before and after the treatment for the treated legs were statistically significant in all the studied groups. The greatest change in the shape of the articular surface of the proximal tibia occurred after 42 months of treatment. Conclusions: The study showed that epiphysiodesis affects the proximal tibial articular surface over prolonged treatment. Thus, there is a need for future long-term follow-up studies to elucidate the potential effects of LLD egalization.

The genus Aldrovanda is a Palaeogene element containing a single extant species, Aldrovanda vesiculosa L. This aquatic carnivorous herb has a very wide range of distribution, natively covering four continents; however, it is a critically endangered aquatic plant species worldwide. Previous studies revealed that A. vesiculosa had an extremely low genetic variation. The main aim of the present paper is to explore, using chemometric tools, the diversity of 16 A. vesiculosa populations from various sites from four continents (Eurasia, Africa, Australia). Using chemometric data as markers for genetic diversity, we show the relationships of 16 A. vesiculosa populations from various sites, including four continents. Phytochemical markers allowed the identification of five well-supported (bootstrap > 90%) groups among the 16 populations sampled. The principal component analysis data support the idea that the strongly related African (Botswana) and Australian (Kimberley, NT, NW Australia) populations are the most distant ones, separated from the European and Asian ones. However, considering the five Australian populations sampled, three are nested within the Eurasian group. The chemometric data are correlated positively with the geographical distances between the samples, which suggests a tendency toward isolation for the most distant populations.

Background: Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) refers to spinal deformities that develop and are diagnosed before the age of 10. The most important goals of the surgical treatment of EOS are to stop the progression of curvature, achieve the best possible correction, preserve motion, and facilitate spinal growth. The objectives of this multicenter study were to analyze the risk of complications among patients with EOS treated using magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGRs) and assess the patients’ and their parents’ quality of life after diagnosis and treatment with a minimum two-year follow-up. Methods: Patients given an ineffective nonoperative treatment qualified for surgery with MCGRs. This study involved 161 patients (90 females and 71 males) who were classified according to the etiology of curvature. The intraoperative and postoperative complications and those that occurred during the continuation of treatment with MCGRs were recorded and analyzed. The 24-item Early-Onset Scoliosis Questionnaire (EOSQ-24) was used to evaluate the patients’ quality of life and satisfaction with the treatment. Results: Implant-related complications requiring instrumentation revision were recorded in 26% of the patients. Medical complications occurred in 45% of the population. The EOSQ-24 revealed a significant improvement in the average scores during the follow-up. Conclusions: The treatment of early-onset scoliosis with MCGRs carries 66% risks of incurring medical and mechanical complications, the latter 26% of patients requiring revision procedures. Children with neuromuscular scoliosis, females, and with curvature greater than 90 degrees are at a higher risk of developing complications. Limiting the number of elective surgeries necessitated to prolong the instrumentation and treatment process for patients with MCGRs can greatly enhance their quality of life and satisfaction throughout the follow-up period.