The treatment of articular cartilage defects seems to be one of the greatest challenges in modern orthopaedics. From a medical point of view there are 3 main goals to achieve for cartilage trauma treatment: restoration of the joints motion, pain relief and elimination/delay of the onset of osteoarthritis. Treatment can be divided into conservative (including pharmacotherapy, arthrocentesis and physiotherapy) and surgical. The last comprises reparative techniques, regenerative methods and symptomatic treatment. While both are focused on reconstruction of the damaged cartilage, the difference lies in the type of filling tissue. Reparative techniques include: drilling of the subchondral bone, spongiolisation, abrasion, mictrofracture, and autologous matrix induced chondrogenesis (AMIC). Regenerative methods contain: periosteal and perichondral grafts, mosaicplasty, autologous chondrocyte implantation and matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI). Nowadays tissue engineering, including gene therapy, is emerging as one of the key approaches to cartilage treatment and holds promises for new achievements and better outcomes of many cartilage diseases and traumas.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of inorganic and organic forms of Zn on the expression of cytokines (IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-17

The aim of the review was to describe a complex microstructure and biomechanical properties of the articular cartilage as well as a current review of its pathologies encountered in veterinary practice. The articular cartilage with its unique features: complex microarchitecture, significant mechanical durability and elasticity, lacking blood, lymphatic vessels, and innervation, seems to stand in contradiction to the laws of biology. It can be involved in a vast majority of diseases, from osteoarthrosis as a result of natural aging process to more complex in nature like osteochondromatosis. The primary role of articular cartilage is to provide the surface for movement in any single joint in the body. Therefore, its diseases lead to physical impairment and deterioration of the quality of life. Treatment of articular cartilage poses a formidable challenge in both modern human and animal medicine.

The use of probiotics in sows during pregnancy and lactation and their impact on the quality of colostrum and milk, as well as the health conditions of their offspring during the rearing period, are currently gaining the attention of researchers. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of Bokashi formulation on the concentrations of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the serum of sows during pregnancy, in their colostrum and milk, and in a culture of Con-A-stimulated polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) isolated from the colostrum. The study was conducted on 60 sows aged 2–4 years. EM Bokashi were added to the sows’ feed. The material for the study consisted of peripheral blood, colostrum, and milk. Blood samples were collected from the sows on days 60 and 114 of gestation. Colostrum and milk samples were collected from all sows at 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, and 168 h after parturition. The results indicate that the use of Bokashi as feed additives resulted in increased concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6, which increase the protective capacity of the colostrum by stimulating cellular immune mechanisms protecting the sow and neonates against infection. At the same time, the increased concentrations of cytokines IL-4, IL-10, TGF-β, and of immunoglobulins in the colostrum and milk from sows in the experimental group demonstrate the immunoregulatory effect of Bokashi on Th2 cells and may lead to increased expression of regulatory T cells and polarization of the immune response from Th1 to Th2.

Trueperella pyogenes is an opportunistic pathogen causing purulent infections in pigs and other animal species. T. pyogenes infections in pigs are local and/or generalized depending on the immune status of the animals, their individual susceptibility and environmental factors. The occurrence of these infections on pig farms causes substantial economic losses in breeding and rearing. In sows from the breeding herd, the disease leads to infertility, embryonic death, abortion, and disorders of the menstrual cycle and lactation. Mastitis is the major cause of losses in piglets. Disorders of the musculoskeletal system, including inflammatory polyarthritis, fractures and degenerative joint disease results in the culling of animals with high breeding value. In other technological groups, multi-organ inflammations and movement disorders dominate, leading to a reduction of the slaughter value and elimination of pigs from breeding. Understanding of the clinical and pathological aspects of T. pyogenes infections in pigs will enable the development of effective methods of combating this disease on pig farms