Reduced rates of primary joint replacement for osteoarthritis in Italian and Greek migrants to Australia: the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study

Introduction  

Racial and ethnic disparities in rates of total joint replacement have been described, but little work has been done in well-established migrant groups. The aim of this study was to compare the rates of primary joint replacement for osteoarthritis for Italian and Greek migrants to Australia and Australian-born individuals.     

Association between occupation and knee and hip replacement due to osteoarthritis: a case-control study

Introduction  

The objective of this study was to examine the association between occupation and osteoarthritis (OA) leading to total knee (TKR) or hip (THR) joint replacement.     

An in vivo investigation of the initiation and progression of subchondral cysts in a rodent model of secondary osteoarthritis

Introduction  

Subchondral bone cysts (SBC) have been identified in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) as a cause of greater pain, loss of cartilage and increased chance of joint replacement surgery. Few studies monitor SBC longitudinally, and clinical research using three-dimensional imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is limited to retrospective analyses as SBC are identified within an OA patient cohort. The purpose of this study was to use dual-modality, preclinical imaging to monitor the initiation and progression of SBC occurring within an established rodent model of knee OA.     

Adiposity and hand osteoarthritis: the Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity study

Introduction

Obesity, usually characterized by the body mass index (BMI), is a risk factor for hand osteoarthritis (OA). We investigated whether adipose tissue and abdominal fat distribution are associated with hand OA.

Methods

The Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity (NEO) study is a population-based cohort aged 45 to 65 years, including 5315 participants (53% women, median BMI 29.9 kg/m²). Fat percentage and fat mass (FM) (kg) were estimated using bioelectrical impedance analysis. The waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was calculated. In 1721 participants, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) (cm²) were assessed using abdominal MR imaging. Hand OA was defined according to the ACR criteria.Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for the association of fat percentage, FM, WHR, VAT and SAT with hand OA using logistic regression analyses per standard deviation, stratified by sex and adjusted for age.

Results

Hand OA was present in 8% of men and 20% of women. Fat percentage was associated with hand OA in men (OR 1.34 (95% CI 1.11 to 1.61)) and women (OR 1.26 (1.05 to 1.51)), as was FM. WHR was associated with hand OA in men (OR 1.45 (1.13 to 1.85)), and to a lesser extent in women (OR 1.17 (1.00 to 1.36)). Subgroup analysis revealed that VAT was associated with hand OA in men (OR1.33 (1.01 to 1.75)). This association increased after additional adjustment for FM (OR 1.51 (1.13 to 2.03)).

Conclusions

Fat percentage, FM and WHR were associated with hand OA. VAT was associated with hand OA in men, suggesting involvement of visceral fat in hand OA.     

Does an increase in body mass index over 10 years affect knee structure in a population-based cohort study of adult women?

Introduction  

Although obesity is a modifiable risk factor for knee osteoarthritis (OA), the effect of weight gain on knee structure in young and healthy adults has not been examined. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI), and change in BMI over the preceding 10-year period, and knee structure (cartilage defects, cartilage volume and bone marrow lesions (BMLs)) in a population-based sample of young to middle-aged females.     

Limited educational attainment and radiographic and symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional analysis using data from the Johnston County (North Carolina) Osteoarthritis Project

Introduction  

Applying a cross-sectional analysis to a sample of 2,627 African-American and Caucasian adults aged ≥ 45 years from the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project, we studied the association between educational attainment and prevalence of radiographic knee osteoarthritis and symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.     

Diet-induced obesity differentially regulates behavioral, biomechanical, and molecular risk factors for osteoarthritis in mice

Introduction  

Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of osteoarthritis in both weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing joints. The mechanisms by which obesity influences the structural or symptomatic features of osteoarthritis are not well understood, but may include systemic inflammation associated with increased adiposity. In this study, we examined biomechanical, neurobehavioral, inflammatory, and osteoarthritic changes in C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet.     

Oestrogen is important for maintenance of cartilage and subchondral bone in a murine model of knee osteoarthritis

Introduction  

Oestrogen depletion may influence onset and/or progression of osteoarthritis. We investigated in an ovariectomized mouse model the impact of oestrogen loss and oestrogen supplementation on articular cartilage and subchondral bone in tibia and patella, and assessed bone changes in osteoarthritis development.     

Association between meniscal tears and the peak external knee adduction moment and foot rotation during level walking in postmenopausal women without knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study

Introduction  

Meniscal injury is a risk factor for the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis, yet little is known about risk factors for meniscal pathology. Joint loading mediated via gait parameters may be associated with meniscal tears, and determining whether such an association exists was the aim of this study.     

Serum keratan sulfate transiently increases in the early stage of osteoarthritis during strenuous running of rats: protective effect of intraarticular hyaluronan injection

Introduction  

Osteoarthritis is influenced by genetic and environment factors, including mechanical stress; however, the relationship between running and the development of osteoarthritis remains a matter of controversy. We investigated whether osteoarthritic change could be obtained in a rat strenuous running model, whether serum keratan sulfate in rats could be detected by HPLC and was associated with onset or progression of osteoarthritis, and whether hyaluronan injection suppressed development of osteoarthritis and elevation of serum keratan sulfate.     

Exercise therapy for the management of osteoarthritis of the hip joint: a systematic review

Introduction  

Recent guidelines pertaining to exercise for individuals with osteoarthritis have been released. These guidelines have been based primarily on studies of knee-joint osteoarthritis. The current study was focused on the hip joint, which has different biomechanical features and risk factors for osteoarthritis and has received much less attention in the literature. The purpose was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the exercise programs used in intervention studies focused solely on hip-joint osteoarthritis, to decide whether their exercise regimens met the new guidelines, and to determine the level of support for exercise-therapy interventions in the management of hip-joint osteoarthritis.     

Validation of an LC-MS/MS method to determine five immunosuppressants with deuterated internal standards including MPA

Background  

Therapeutic drug monitoring of immunosuppressive drugs in organ-transplanted patients is crucial to prevent intoxication or transplant rejection due to inadequate dosage. The commonly used immunoassays have been gradually undergoing replacement by mass spectrometry, since this physical method offers both a higher sensitivity and specificity. However, a switch should be carefully considered because it is a challenging procedure and needs to be thoroughly validated.     

A functional difficulty and functional pain instrument for hip and knee osteoarthritis

Introduction  

The objectives of this study were to develop a functional outcome instrument for hip and knee osteoarthritis research (OA-FUNCTION-CAT) using item response theory (IRT) and computer adaptive test (CAT) methods and to assess its psychometric performance compared to the current standard in the field.     

Relationship between patient-reported disease severity in osteoarthritis and self-reported pain, function and work productivity

Introduction  

Understanding the relationship between patient-reported osteoarthritis (OA) severity and other patient-reported outcomes in the real-world clinical setting can provide a basis for appropriate patient management. The objective of this study was to determine how patient-reported OA severity correlates with patient-reported outcomes including pain, function and productivity.     

Intra‐articular injection of autologous adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease and is considered to be the fourth leading cause of disability and the second cause of inability to work in men. Recently, adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD‐MSCs) came into focus for regenerative medicine as a promising tool for the treatment of OA. The administration of stem cells into impaired joints results in pain relief and improves quality of life, accompanied by restoration of hyaline articular cartilage.

Methods

In the present study, nine patients (including two patients with bilateral symptoms) diagnosed with osteoarthritis (International Knee Documentation grade B in 5 and grade D in six knees) were treated using a single injection of AD‐MSCs at a concentration of 0.5–1.0 × 10⁷ cells and were followed up for 18 months. During follow‐up, all the cases were evaluated clinically by Knee Society score (KSS), Hospital for Special Surgery knee score (HSS‐KS), Tegner–Lysholm (T–L) score and visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain, as well as by plain radiography and by magnetic resonance imaging visualization with 2D Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) score assessment.

Results

Significant improvement of all four clinical scores was observed within the first 6 months (KSS for 41.4 points, HSS‐KS for 33.9 points, T–L score for 44.8 points, VAS of pain from 54.5 to 9.3) and improvement persisted throughout the rest of the follow‐up. MOCART score showed significant cartilage restoration (from 43 ± 7.2 to 63 ± 17.1), whereas radiography showed neither improvement, nor further joint degeneration.

Conclusions

The results obtained in the present study provide good basis for prospective randomized controlled clinical trials with respect to the use of AD‐MSCs in the treatment of osteoarthritis.     

Changes in serum and synovial fluid biomarkers after acute injury (NCT00332254)

Introduction  

Acute trauma involving the anterior cruciate ligament is believed to be a major risk factor for the development of post-traumatic osteoarthritis 10 to 20 years post-injury. In this study, to better understand the early biological changes which occur after acute injury, we investigated synovial fluid and serum biomarkers.     

Adiponectin associates with markers of cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis and induces production of proinflammatory and catabolic factors through mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways

Introduction  

Adiponectin is an adipokine that regulates energy metabolism and insulin sensitivity, but recent studies have pointed also to a role in inflammation and arthritis. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association and effects of adiponectin on inflammation and cartilage destruction in osteoarthritis (OA).     

The association between leptin,interleukin-6, and hip radiographic osteoarthritis in older people: a cross-sectional study

Introduction  

The associations between leptin, interleukin (IL)-6, and hip radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) have not been reported, and their roles in obesity-related hip OA are unclear. The aim of this study was to describe the associations between leptin, IL-6, and hip radiographic osteoarthritis (ROA) in older adults.     

Functional neural differentiation of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells using bFGF and forskolin

Background  

Adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from adipose tissue have the capacity to differentiate into mesenchymal as well as endodermal and ectodermal cell lineage in vitro. We characterized the multipotent ability of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hADSCs) as MSCs and investigated the neural differentiation potential of these cells.