The dose-dependent effects of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium (ADSC-CM) were compared with those of shockwave (SW) therapy in the treatment of early osteoarthritis (OA). Anterior cruciate ligament transaction (ACLT) with medial meniscectomy (MMx) was performed in rats divided into sham, OA, SW, CM1 (intra-articular injection of 100 μL ADSC-CM into knee OA), and CM2 (intra-articular injection of 200 μL ADSC-CM) groups. Cartilage grading, grading of synovium changes, and specific molecular analysis by immunohistochemistry staining were performed. The OARSI and synovitis scores of CM2 and SW group were significantly decreased compared with those of the OA group (p < 0.05). The inflammatory markers interleukin 1β, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling and matrix metalloproteinase 13 were significantly reduced in the CM2 group compared to those in the SW and CM1 groups (p < 0.001). Cartilage repair markers (type II collagen and SRY-box transcription factor 9, SOX9) expression were significantly higher in the CM2 group than in the other treatment groups (p < 0.001; p < 0.05). Furthermore, inflammation-induced growth factors such as bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), BMP5, and BMP6 were significantly reduced in the treatment groups, and the CM2 group showed the best results among the treatments (p < 0.05). In conclusion, ADSC-CM and SW ameliorated the expression of inflammatory cytokines and inflammation-induced BMPs to protect the articular cartilage of the OA joint.

This study aimed to determine the mechanism of ketamine-induced cystitis without metabolism. A total of 24 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into control, ketamine, and norketamine groups. To induce cystitis, rats in the ketamine and norketamine groups were treated with intravesical instillation of ketamine and norketamine by mini-osmotic pump, which was placed in subcutaneous space, daily for 24 h for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, all rats were subjected to bladder functional tests. The bladders were collected for histological and pathological evaluation. Compared to control, ketamine treatment demonstrated an increase in the bladder weight, high bladder/body coefficient, contractive pressure, voiding volume, collagen deposition, reduced smooth muscle content, damaged glycosaminoglycan layer, and low bladder compliance. Compared to ketamine, norketamine treatment showed more severe collagen deposition, smooth muscle loss, damaged glycosaminoglycan layer, and increased residual urine. Intravesical administration of ketamine and norketamine induced cystitis with different urodynamic characteristics. Norketamine treatment caused more severe bladder dysfunction than ketamine treatment. Direct treatment of the bladder with norketamine induced symptoms more consistent with those of bladder outlet obstruction than ketamine cystitis. Detailed studies of cellular mechanisms are required to determine the pathogenesis of ketamine cystitis.