HWN Suggests

Cartilage Diseases

Most diseases involving cartilage lead to dramatic changes in the ECM which can govern disease progression (e.g., in osteoarthritis), cause the main symptoms of the disease (e.g., dwarfism caused by genetically inherited mutations) or occur as collateral damage in pathological processes occurring in other nearby tissues (e.g., osteochondritis dissecans and inflammatory arthropathies). Challenges associated with cartilage diseases include poor understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis, delayed diagnoses due to the aneural nature of the tissue and drug delivery challenges due to the avascular nature of adult cartilages.

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Articles of Interest

Articular Cartilage Disorders

There are several types of articular cartilage disorders, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and chondromalacia patella. Osteoarthritis is the most common form and is characterized by the gradual breakdown of cartilage due to wear and tear over time. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the joint, leading to cartilage destruction.

Cartilage Disorders

Cartilage is the tough but flexible tissue that covers the ends of your bones at a joint. It also gives shape and support to other parts of your body, such as your ears, nose and windpipe. Healthy cartilage helps you move by allowing your bones to glide over each other. It also protects bones by preventing them from rubbing against each other. Osteoarthritis results from breakdown of cartilage.

Print Me An Ear: 3-D Printing Tackles Human Cartilage

An ear, unsurprisingly, is difficult to make from scratch. Ear cartilage is uniquely flexible and strong and has been impossible for scientists to reproduce with synthetic prostheses. If a child is born without one, doctors typically carve a replacement ear out of rib cartilage, but it lacks the wonderfully firm yet springy qualities of the original ear. And it often doesn't look so good. So why not print one?

Resources

International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation Society

The ICRS is the main forum for international collaboration in cartilaginous tissue research. We unite basis scientists, clinical researchers, physicians, and industry members interested in articular biology, its genetic basis, and regenerative medicine.

MyCartilageCare

MyCartilageCare is a support program for MACI-biopsied patients providing insurance approval coordination and treatment information

Osteoarthritis and Cartilage

Osteoarthritis and Cartilage is the official journal of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International. It is an international, multidisciplinary journal that disseminates information for the many kinds of specialists and practitioners concerned with osteoarthritis.