Objective To explore the effect of basic fibroblast growth(bFGF)combined with the collagen sponge-chondrocytes complex on the repair of articular cartilage defects through cartilage(tissue engineering.)Methods Chondrocytes which were taken from three days old New Zealand immature rabbits,were cultured in vitro,then were seeded onto the collagen sponge.The spongechondrocytes complex were transplanted into full-thickness defects.The rabbits were divided into four groups: control groups,collagen sponge-chondrocytes complex transplantation groups,bFGF-treated groups,bFGF combined with complex-treated groups.The rabbits were killed at different weeks of post-operation.The macroscopic,histologic and electron microscopic evaluations were performed. Results There were significant differences in the repair of defects between combined application groups and complex transplantation groups at 12 weeks after operaion.The former were superior to the latter.There were no differences at 20 weeks after operation.Typical cartilage tissue was formed.There were no differences between control and bFGF-treated groups in different time,but the repaired tissues were not the same: the former were covered with fibrous tissue,the latter with both fibrous tissue and cartilage tissue. Conclusions bFGF promotes the repair of articular cartilage defects in the cartilage tissue engineering.

A total of 52 patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis were randomly assigned into platelet-rich plasma (PRP) (n =28) or corticosteroid (n =24) group.The visual analog pain scale (VAS) and Mayo elbow score had no significant difference between two groups within 1 week post-treatment.However,VAS and Mayo elbow score improved more significantly in PRP group versus corticosteroid group at Month 1 and 6 post-treatment (P ＜ 0.05).The PRP trigger point injection treatment of elbow lateral epicondylitis achieved clinical outcomes and it was superior to glucocorticoid treatment.