Cartilage Morphology Research Articles

Quantification of cartilage and subchondral bone cysts on knee specimens based on a spectral photon-counting computed tomography

Spectral photon-counting computed tomography (SPCCT) is a new technique with the capability to provide mono-energetic (monoE) images with high signal to noise ratio. We demonstrate the feasibility of SPCCT to characterize at the same time cartilage and subchondral bone cysts (SBCs) without contrast agent in osteoarthritis (OA). To achieve this goal, 10 human knee specimens (6 normal and 4 with OA) were imaged with a clinical prototype SPCCT. The monoE images at 60 keV with isotropic voxels of 250 × 250 × 250 µm3 were compared with monoE synchrotron radiation CT (SR micro-CT) images at 55 keV with isotropic voxels of 45 × 45 × 45 µm3 used as benchmark for cartilage segmentation. In the two OA knees with SBCs, the volume and density of SBCs were evaluated in SPCCT images. In 25 compartments (lateral tibial (LT), medial tibial, (MT), lateral femoral (LF), medial femoral and patella), the mean bias between SPCCT and SR micro-CT analyses were 101 ± 272 mm3 for cartilage volume and 0.33 mm ± 0.18 for mean cartilage thickness. Between normal and OA knees, mean cartilage thicknesses were found statistically different (0.005 < p < 0.04) for LT, MT and LF compartments. The 2 OA knees displayed different SBCs profiles in terms of volume, density, and distribution according to size and location. SPCCT with fast acquisitions is able to characterize cartilage morphology and SBCs. SPCCT can be used potentially as a new tool in clinical studies in OA.

Effects of Mongolian Medicine Sengdeng-4 in Rabbit Knee Osteoarthritis Model

Objectives: Seng ldeng-4(SD-4) has a long history of use in Mongolian medical clinics for the treatment for rheumatic disorders. The objective of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of SD-4 on rabbits with knee osteoarthritis induced by Hulth’s method.Methods: SD-4 (0.428and 0.857g·kg-1) or Zhuangguguanjie pill (0.514g·kg-1) were orally administered in rabbits for four weeks after the induction of knee osteoarthritis using Hulth’s method. Inflammation factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, and NO) and histopathological lesions in the knee joint were examined by ELISA and HE is staining. The expression of type II collagen mRNA in the articular cartilage was detected using real-time qPCR.Results: SD-4 ameliorated the articular lesion damage caused by Hulth’s method in rabbits and reduced the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and NO. The qPCR results showed that the mRNA expression of type II collagen (COL2) and miRNA-140 gene in the model group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P&lt;0.01), while SD-4 treatment significantly elevated their expressions in the articular cartilage.Conclusion: SD-4 can improve articular cartilage morphology and inflammation by regulating miRNA-140 and COL2 gene expressions, and thus ameliorating knee osteoarthritis of rabbits induced by Hulth’s method.

A Unique Cartilage Morphology of the Femoral Head-Neck Junction in Patients with Femoroacetabular Impingement

A Unique Cartilage Morphology of the Femoral Head-Neck Junction in Patients with Femoroacetabular Impingement

Morpho-histological Study of the Nictitans Gland and Cartilage in Dogs and Cats in Sulaimani Province

This comparative study aims to assess the differences in the third eyelid gland and cartilage morphology and histology between dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and cats (Felis catus). Twenty nictitans membranes were collected from 20 adult dogs and 20 adult cats. The nictitans membranes were dissected to examine the structure, shape, and positions of the nictitans gland and cartilage. Histologically, the samples were fixed in 10% neutral buffer formalin and then prepared for H&amp;E stains. Generally, in both species, the cartilage consists of a long, slender body, and pigmented large dorsal and small ventral wings. The cartilage had a curving shape that resembled the eyeball's curvature and had two surfaces; palpebral and corneal or bulbar surface. At the basal end of the corneal surface, there are several lymph nodes aggregates. In the dogs, the nictitans cartilage was longer and slenderer than in the cats. The body of the cartilage was wrapped by a spherical and light pink nictitans gland in the dogs while the cats had oval nictitans gland. Microscopically, the nictitans gland in the dogs was composed of a compound tubuloacinar gland whereas; in cats, it was composed of a compound acinar gland. There was no difference histologically in the intralobular and the interlobar septa between species, the isogenous group of chondrocytes was higher in cats Vs. the dogs that showed few in number. In conclusion, the nictitans gland and cartilage were varied in their anatomical and histological structure. This should help researchers make preparations to prevent negative impacts and could help them investigate changes made more pronounced by disease conditions.

Modified tragus edge incision and transmasseteric anteroparotid approach to condyle reconstruction.

This study aimed to analyze the application value of a modified tragus edge incision and transmasseteric anteroparotid approach to condyle reconstruction. Condyle reconstruction was performed in 16 patients (9 females and 7 males) with modified tragus edge incision and transmasseteric anteroparotid approach. After regular follow-up, the function of condyle reconstruction was evaluated by clinical indicators, such as parotid salivary fistula, facial nerve function, mouth opening, occlusal relationship, and facial scar. The morphology of rib graft rib cartilage was evaluated by imaging indicators, such as panoramic radiography, CT, and three-dimensional CT image reconstruction. At 6-36 months postoperative follow-up, all patients had good recovery of facial appearance, concealed incisional scar, no parotid salivary fistula, good mouth opening, and occlusion. One case had temporary facial paralysis and recovered after treatment. Radiographic evaluation further showed that costochondral graft survived in normal anatomic locations. The modified tragus edge incision and transmasseteric anteroparotid approach can effectively reduce parotid salivary fistula and facial nerve injury in condylar reconstruction. The surgical field was clearly exposed, and the incision scar was concealed without increasing the incidence of other complications. Thus, this approach is worthy of clinical promotion.

Accurate volume alignment of arbitrarily oriented tibiae based on a mutual attention network for osteoarthritis analysis.

Damage to cartilage is an important indicator of osteoarthritis progression, but manual extraction of cartilage morphology is time-consuming and prone to error. To address this, we hypothesize that automatic labeling of cartilage can be achieved through the comparison of contrasted and non-contrasted Computer Tomography (CT). However, this is non-trivial as the pre-clinical volumes are at arbitrary starting poses due to the lack of standardized acquisition protocols. Thus, we propose an annotation-free deep learning method, D-net, for accurate and automatic alignment of pre- and post-contrasted cartilage CT volumes. D-Net is based on a novel mutual attention network structure to capture large-range translation and full-range rotation without the need for a prior pose template. CT volumes of mice tibiae are used for validation, with synthetic transformation for training and tested with real pre- and post-contrasted CT volumes. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the different network structures. Our proposed method, D-net, achieves a Dice coefficient of 0.87, and significantly outperforms other state-of-the-art deep learning models, in the real-world alignment of 50 pairs of pre- and post-contrasted CT volumes when cascaded as a multi-stage network.

Intraarticular Implantation of Autologous Chondrocytes Placed on Collagen or Polyethersulfone Scaffolds: An Experimental Study in Rabbits.

Hyaline cartilage has very limited repair capability and cannot be rebuilt predictably using conventional treatments. This study presents Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI) on two different scaffolds for the treatment of lesions in hyaline cartilage in rabbits. The first one is a commercially available scaffold (Chondro-Gide) made of collagen type I/III and the second one is a polyethersulfone (PES) synthetic membrane, manufactured by phase inversion. The revolutionary idea in the present study is the fact that we used PES membranes, which have unique features and benefits that are desirable for the 3D cultivation of chondrocytes. Sixty-four White New Zealand rabbits were used in this research. Defects penetrating into the subchondral bone were filled with or without the placement of chondrocytes on collagen or PES membranes after two weeks of culture. The expression of the gene encoding type II procollagen, a molecular marker of chondrocytes, was evaluated. Elemental analysis was performed to estimate the weight of tissue grown on the PES membrane. The reparative tissue was analyzed macroscopically and histologically after surgery at 12, 25, and 52 weeks. RT-PCR analysis of the mRNA isolated from cells detached from the polysulphonic membrane revealed the expression of type II procollagen. The elementary analysis of polysulphonic membrane slices after 2 weeks of culture with chondrocytes revealed a concentration of 0.23 mg of tissue on one part of the membrane. Macroscopic and microscopic evaluation indicated that the quality of regenerated tissue was similar after the transplantation of cells placed on polysulphonic or collagen membranes. The established method for the culture and transplantation of chondrocytes placed on polysulphonic membranes resulted in the growth of the regenerated tissue, revealing the morphology of hyaline-like cartilage to be of similar quality to collagen membranes.

Combined effect of anterior cruciate ligament injury and age on knee articular cartilage morphology and quality

Breaking the capacity barrier in intercalation-type anode materials for lithium-ion batteries while preserving other essential electrochemical properties remains a significant challenge. Here, using perovskite SrVO3 as a model, we demonstrate the feasibility of employing defect engineering to provide extra active sites for electrochemical reactions. Defective SrxVO3-δ samples with a unique amorphous-crystalline dual-phase structure are successfully prepared by regulating the nonstoichiometric Sr/V ratio and using a non-equilibrium solution combustion strategy to alleviate nucleation. The dual-phase SrxVO3-δ electrodes, which take advantage of both the high defect concentration advantage of amorphous and the high electrical/ionic conductivity of crystalline, give a high specific capacity of 508 mAh/g at a safe potential of 1.0 V vs. Li/Li+, showing a 40% increase over SrVO3 electrodes and outperforming most state-of-the-art intercalation-based anodes. In addition, when coupling with LiFePO4 cathode, the SrxVO3-δ electrodes can operate over 10,000 cycles with 91% capacity retention, overcoming the limited structural stability exhibited in typical defective electrodes. The study demonstrates the viability of modulating the crystallinity in intercalation-based anodes to enhance electrochemical performance and paves the way for the advancement of Li-ion battery technology.

Mechanistic studies in Drosophila and chicken give new insights into functions of DVL1 in dominant Robinow syndrome.

The study of rare genetic diseases provides valuable insights into human gene function. The autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive forms of Robinow syndrome are genetically heterogeneous, and the common theme is that all the mutations lie in genes in Wnt signaling pathways. Cases diagnosed with Robinow syndrome do survive to adulthood with distinct skeletal phenotypes, including limb shortening and craniofacial abnormalities. Here, we focus on mutations in dishevelled 1 (DVL1), an intracellular adaptor protein that is required for both canonical (β-catenin-dependent) or non-canonical (requiring small GTPases and JNK) Wnt signaling. We expressed human wild-type DVL1 or DVL1 variants alongside the endogenous genome of chicken and Drosophila. This design is strategically suited to test for functional differences between mutant and wild-type human proteins in relevant developmental contexts. The expression of variant forms of DVL1 produced a major disorganization of cartilage and Drosophila wing morphology compared to expression of wild-type DVL1. Moreover, the variants caused a loss of canonical and gain of non-canonical Wnt signaling in several assays. Our data point to future therapies that might correct the levels of Wnt signaling, thus improving skeletal growth.

2D versus 3D MRI of osteoarthritis in clinical practice and research.

Accurately detecting and characterizing articular cartilage defects is critical in assessing patients with osteoarthritis. While radiography is the first-line imaging modality, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most accurate for the noninvasive assessment of articular cartilage. Multiple semiquantitative grading systems for cartilage lesions in MRI were developed. The Outerbridge and modified Noyes grading systems are commonly used in clinical practice and for research. Other useful grading systems were developed for research, many of which are joint-specific. Both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) pulse sequences are used to assess cartilage morphology and biochemical composition. MRI techniques for morphological assessment of articular cartilage can be categorized into 2D and 3D FSE/TSE spin-echo and gradient-recalled echo sequences. T2 mapping is most commonly used to qualitatively assess articular cartilage microstructural composition and integrity, extracellular matrix components, and water content. Quantitative techniques may be able to label articular cartilage alterations before morphological defects are visible. Accurate detection and characterization of shallow low-grade partial and small articular cartilage defects are the most challenging for any technique, but where high spatial resolution 3D MRI techniques perform best. This review article provides a practical overview of commonly used 2D and 3D MRI techniques for articular cartilage assessments in osteoarthritis.

Congenital Malformations of the Cricoid Cartilage: Upper Airway Obstruction and Treatment Strategy.

To review treatment and outcomes in patients with congenital cricoid cartilage malformation. Retrospective analysis of patients with diagnosis of congenital cricoid malformation (CCM) treated in a single tertiary pediatric referral center between 1985 and 2022. Patients were grouped according to the morphology of the cricoid cartilage that was diagnosed during endoscopy. We reviewed the treatment strategy(s), decannulation rate, complications, and functional outcomes. Twenty-nine patients were grouped into four morphological subtypes of cricoid cartilage: 10 patients had a hypoplastic cricoid, eight had an elliptic shape, five had severe anterior thickening, and six an accentuated V-shape posterior cricoid plate. Twenty-four patients underwent surgery, and five were closely followed up without surgical treatment. Eight patients had a tracheostomy prior to surgery, and the majority had a hypoplastic cricoid. Most patients (20 out of 24) required additional procedures postoperatively to achieve an age-appropriate airway. Thirteen patients needed endoscopic dilatation(s) and granulation tissue removal; four needed more aggressive treatment, and three patients required revision open surgery. Decannulation was achieved after a median of 4.5 months in all previously tracheostomized patients. Endoscopy at the last follow-up showed an age-appropriate airway in 27 patients; 20 patients had normal oral feeding, and 11 patients had a normal voice. Endoscopy is important to diagnose CCM and most of the time patients would need only watchful waiting. In this report, surgery was required for patients who continued to remain symptomatic and had a compromised airway. The type of surgery depends on the type of cricoid malformation and the grade of stenosis. 4 Laryngoscope, 133:3185-3191, 2023.

The influence of different sports on cartilage adaptations: A systematic review

Molecular composition and structural adaptation are changes in the cartilage tissue after different stimuli. Sports activities with different loads at different angles, speeds, and intensities can modify the molecular composition of the articular cartilage, hence it is crucial to understand the molecular adaptations and structural modifications generated by sports practice and this review aims to synthesize the current evidence on this topic. A systematic search until July 2022 was performed on the database Medline, Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science with a collection of 62,198. After the screening process, the included articles were analyzed narratively. Thirty-one studies have been included in the analysis. From the results emerged that running, swimming, ballet and handball were not correlated with detrimental structural or molecular cartilage adaptation; instead, soccer, volleyball, basketball, weightlifting, climbing, and rowing showed signs of cartilage alteration and molecular adaptation that could be early predictive degeneration's signs. From the included studies it came to light that the regions more interested in morphological cartilage changes were the knee in athletes from different disciplines. In conclusion, different sports induce different cartilage modifications both at a molecular and structural level and it is important to know the risks correlated to sports to implement preventive strategies.

Effects of different acupuncture and moxibustion methods on articular cartilage morphology and NF-κB p65/NLRP3 pathway in rats with knee osteoarthritis

To compare the effects of filiform needling, electroacupuncture (EA) and moxibustion on articular cartilage morphology and nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) p65/ Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) pathway in rats with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Wistar rats were randomly divided into blank control， model, filiform needling, EA and moxibustion groups, with 8 rats in each group. The KOA model was established by injecting sodium iodoacetate into the right knee cavity. Filiform needling, EA and moxibustion groups were treated with the right side of "Dubi" (ST35) and "Neixiyan" (EX-LE5), and were given filiform needling, EA and mild moxibustion therapies for 15 min respectively, once every other day, for a total of 4 weeks. The diameter of the right knee joint was observed. The ultrastructure of knee chondrocytes was observed by transmission electron microscope. The contents of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 were determined by ELISA. The expression levels of NF-κB p65, NLRP3, apoptosis-related speckle like protein (ASC) and TNF-α in knee cartilage were dectected by Western blot. Compared with the blank control group, the right knee joint cavity was narrowed, chondrocytes were constricted significantly, mitochondria were moderately swollen, the diameter of the right knee was increased, and the contents of serum TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-18 were increased (P<0.01), the expressions of NF-κB p65, NLRP3 and TNF-α in knee cartilage were increased (P<0.01) while the expression of ASC was decreased (P<0.01) in the model group.Compared with model group, the narrowed knee joint cavity and chondrocyte injury were improved， knee diameter decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the content of serum TNF-α and the expression of NLRP3 in knee cartilage were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01) in 3 treatment groups; the contents of serum IL-1β and IL-18, and the expression of TNF-α in knee cartilage were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), while the expression of ASC in knee cartilage was increased (P<0.01) in EA and moxibustion groups; the expression of NF-κB p65 in knee cartilage was decreased (P<0.01) in moxibustion group. Compared with EA group, the content of serum IL-18 was decreased (P<0.05) in moxibustion group. Filiform needling, EA and moxibustion can all reduce the formation of knee osteophytosis in KOA rats, alleviate joint cavity narrowing, improve the ultrastructure of articular cartilage, reduce the level of inflammatory factors, regulate the NF-κB p65/NLRP3 pathway. Moxibustion has the most obvious regulatory effect among the 3 treatment methods.

Microstructural adaptations of the subchondral bone are related to the mechanical axis deviation in end stage varus oa knees.

Recent studies highlighted the crucial contribution of subchondral bone to OA development. Yet, only limited data have been reported on the relation between alteration to cartilage morphology, structural properties of the subchondral bone plate (SBP) and underlying subchondral trabecular bone (STB). Furthermore, the relationship between the morphometry of the cartilage and bone in the tibial plateau and the OA-induced changes in the joint's mechanical axis remains unexplored. Therefore, a visualisation and quantification of cartilage and subchondral bone microstructure in the medial tibial plateau was performed. End stage knee-OA patients with varus alignment and scheduled for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) underwent preoperative fulllength radiography to measure the hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA) and the mechanical-axis deviation (MAD). 18 tibial plateaux were μ-CT scanned (20.1 μm/voxel). Cartilage thickness, SBP, and STB microarchitecture were quantified in 10 volumes of interest (VOIs) in each medial tibial plateau. Significant differences (p < 0.001) were found for cartilage thickness, SBP, and STB microarchitecture parameters among the VOIs. Closer to the mechanical axis, cartilage thickness was consistently smaller, while SBP thickness and STB bone volume fraction (BV/TV) were higher. Moreover, trabeculae were also more superior-inferiorly oriented, i.e. perpendicular to the transverse plane of the tibial plateau. As cartilage and subchondral bone changes reflect responses to local mechanical loading patterns in the joint, the results suggested that region-specific subchondral bone adaptations were related to the degree of varus deformity. More specifically, subchondral sclerosis appeared to be most pronounced closer to the mechanical axis of the knee.

Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Implants for the Treatment of Focal Chondral Defects of the Knee in Animal Models: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Osteoarthritis remains an unfortunate long-term consequence of focal cartilage defects of the knee. Associated with functional loss and pain, it has necessitated the exploration of new therapies to regenerate cartilage before significant deterioration and subsequent joint replacement take place. Recent studies have investigated a multitude of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) sources and polymer scaffold compositions. It is uncertain how different combinations affect the extent of integration of native and implant cartilage and the quality of new cartilage formed. Implants seeded with bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMSCs) have demonstrated promising results in restoring these defects, largely through in vitro and animal studies. A PRISMA systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted using five databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and CINAHL) to identify studies using BMSC-seeded implants in animal models of focal cartilage defects of the knee. Quantitative results from the histological assessment of integration quality were extracted. Repair cartilage morphology and staining characteristics were also recorded. Meta-analysis demonstrated that high-quality integration was achieved, exceeding that of cell-free comparators and control groups. This was associated with repair tissue morphology and staining properties which resembled those of native cartilage. Subgroup analysis showed better integration outcomes for studies using poly-glycolic acid-based scaffolds. In conclusion, BMSC-seeded implants represent promising strategies for the advancement of focal cartilage defect repair. While a greater number of studies treating human patients is necessary to realize the full clinical potential of BMSC therapy, high-quality integration scores suggest that these implants could generate repair cartilage of substantial longevity.

Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Inhibits Inflammation and Promotes Chondrocyte Activity in Knee Arthritis Rats

This study intends to assess whether BMSCs inhibits inflammation and promotes chondrocyte activity in knee arthritis. 36 SD rats were randomly assigned into group H, group K, group M and group B. The rat models of knee arthritis were established in Group K, group M and group B. After modeling, BMSCs were infused into rats in group B and methotrexate to rats in group M for 6 weeks followed by analysis of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1 levels, morphology of knee cartilage, chondrocyte activity and the expression of NO, ERα and cGMP protein. H&amp;E staining found that the surface of knee cartilage in group H was smooth and the morphology of chondrocytes was normal. In group K, bone fissure was formed on articular cartilage surface, and the hyperplasia of deep cells was disorder. The surface of articular cartilage in group B and M gradually became smooth. Compared to group H, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1 levels in group K were increased (P &lt; 0.05); their levels in group M and group B were decreased relative to K group (P &lt; 0.05). Compared to group K, chondrocytes activity in groups H, M and B was increased (P &lt; 0.05). NO, ERα and cGMP levels were decreased in knee cartilage of group K relative to H group (P &lt; 0.05) and increased in group M and group B (P &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, BMSCs can down-regulate IL-6, IL-1 and TNF-α, enhance chondrocytes activity, and up-regulate the levels of NO, ERα and cGMP, thus providing a new idea for treating knee arthritis.

Clinical evaluation of platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of early and middle stage knee osteoarthritis under 3.0T MRI T2 mapping sequence

Objective: To quantitatively evaluate the clinical effect of platelet-rich plasma(PRP) intra-articular injection for early and middle stage knee osteoarthritis(KOA) treatment by 3.0T MRI T2 mapping sequence. Methods: Clinical data of 26 patients with early or middle stage KOA who received treatment from April to December 2021 at Department of Orthopaedic Surgery,the Second Affiliated Hospital,Zhengzhou University were retrospectively analyzed. In total, 8 patients were male and 18 were female,with age of (66.4±12.0)years(range:51 to 94 years). Four patients were bilateral KOA and 22 patients were unilateral KOA.All patients received PRP intra-articular injection. Patients underwent 3.0T MRI T2 mapping sequence scanning pre-treatment,3-month-after and 6-month-after treatment respectively. Those were used to measure and compare T2 values of medial and lateral femoral articular surface and patellofemoral articular surface. Visual analogue scale(VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score were recorded and evaluated. The results were analyzed using repeated measure ANOVA followed by Bonferroni multiple comparison test.The correlation between WOMAC scores and T2 values at pre-treatment and 6 months post-treatment was analyzed using Pearson correlation test. Results: After treatment, the patients' International Cartilage Regeneration＆Joint Preservation Society(ICRS) classification were partly improved(one case improved from grade Ⅲ to grade Ⅱ, one case improved from grade Ⅱ to grade Ⅰ),and all patients generally improved after treatment in clinical symptoms. Compared with pre-treatment,VAS and WOMAC scores of grade Ⅰ,Ⅱ,and Ⅲ of 6-month after treatment were declined significantly(all P<0.05).The T2 values of articular cartilage declined to varying degrees(the decrease in T2 values was about 2.06 ms in grade Ⅰ, 2.66 ms in grade Ⅱ, and 3.72 ms in grade Ⅲ).Three-month (VAS:4.8±1.3,WOMAC:21.5±4.0) and 6-month (VAS:4.2±1.4,WOMAC:17.2±2.9) after treatment, the VAS and WOMAC score were significantly higher than those before treatment (VAS:6.0±1.2, WOMAC:29.0±2.3) (F=48.846, F=346.746;both P<0.01). Multiple comparisons showed a statistically significant difference between pre-treatment and post-treatment VAS (P<0.01) and it also was significantly different between 3-month and 6-month post-treatment (P<0.01).At 3- and 6-month after treatment,WOMAC scores were significantly different from before treatment.And it also was significantly different between 3-month and 6-month post-treatment (P<0.01).There was a statistically significant improvement in T2 values of patellofemoral articular surface, medial and lateral femoral articular surface at pre-treatment((44.64±4.02)ms,(44.17±3.64)ms and(43.53±3.91)ms) and 3-month ((43.19±3.91)ms,(43.24±3.34)ms and (42.47±3.80)ms), 6-month ((41.49±3.64)ms,(41.83±3.15)ms and (41.10±3.42)ms) after treatment(F=148.845,F=73.657,F=86.268;all P<0.01).The results of the multiple comparisons showed a statistically significant difference in the T2 values of medial and lateral femoral articular surface and patellofemoral articular surface at each time point(all P<0.01).The Pearson correlation analysis suggested that the WOMAC score at pre-treatment was positively correlated with the medial condyle (r=0.856,P<0.01) and the patellofemoral joint surface T2 values (r=0.840,P<0.01);The WOMAC score at 6-month post-treatment was positively correlated with the medial condyle (r=0.731,P<0.01) and the patellofemoral joint surface T2 values (r=0.691,P<0.01). Conclusions: In the treatment of early and mid-stage KOA,MRI T2 mapping sequences are able to indicate the integrity of cartilage morphology and quantitatively evaluate cartilage repair. PRP has a good therapeutic effect on cartilage repair and reconstruction.

CHANGES IN ARTICULAR CARTILAGE OF THE HIP JOINT INDUCED BY ACETABULAR LABRUM DAMAGE.

The aim: Histological studies of hip joint cartilage after articular labrum resection. Materials and methods: Articular labrum of hip joint was excised in adult rabbits. In 1,5 and 4 months, the histology of the joint was studied. The condi¬tion of the cartilage after reverse fixation of labrum was separately investigated. The morphology of the joint was assessed according to the OARSI scale and morphometric measurements. Results: The morphology of hip joint cartilage was changed after labrum resection including chondrocyte injury, cell heterogeneity and chondrocyte clus¬tering, less signs of fibrosis. Cartilage erosion was correlated with grade of OARSI scale, but not necessarily with cartilage thickness. The extracellular matrix / chondrocyte ratio was more significant indicator of cartilage condition than multipoint analysis of cartilage thickness. Conclusions: Injury of acetabular labrum cause change morphology of joint cartilage, which observed in the dynamics. In animal model the cartilage injury scoring scales are more accurate in long term studies while early changes can be interpreted with limitations.

Application of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Nasal Tip Reconstruction with Medpor Prosthesis

Objective: To observe the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on reducing ear cartilage absorption and nasal tip complications after nasal tip plasty with medpor prosthesis. Methods: During the conventional medpor rhinoplasty, PRP was injected locally around the tip and columella of the nose with medpor material. The morphology of the nasal tip cartilage and the shape of the nasal tip were observed at least 1 year after the surgery, and the status of cartilage absorption was judged. The statistical differences between the control group and the experimental group were analyzed by χ²-test. Results: After observation for 1 year, a total of 71 cases underwent conventional medpor rhinoplasty, of which 21 cases had cartilage resorption, and 10 cases had a prominent shape of the nasal tip prosthesis that required repair; In the platelet-rich plasma treatment group, there were 18 cases, 1 case of cartilage absorption, and 0 case requiring repair. There are significant statistical differences in clinical practice. Conclusion: PRP can significantly reduce the absorption of ear cartilage, maintain the appearance of the nasal tip, and improve the satisfaction of patients with medpor prosthesis rhinoplasty.

Dynamic visualisation and measurement of cartilage morphology by magnetic resonance imaging-based knee kinematics

Dynamic visualisation and measurement of cartilage morphology by magnetic resonance imaging-based knee kinematics