Goal Of Ongoing Research Research Articles

Genetic Risk Scores for the Clinical Rheumatologist.

The advent of genome-wide sequencing and large-scale genetic epidemiological studies has led to numerous opportunities for the application of genetics in clinical medicine. Leveraging this information toward the formation of clinically useful tools has been an ongoing research goal in this area. A genetic risk score (GRS) is a measure that attempts to estimate the cumulative contribution of established genetic risk factors toward an outcome of interest, taking into account the cumulative risk that each of these individual genetic risk factors conveys. The purpose of this perspective is to provide a systematic framework to evaluate a GRS for clinical application. Since the initial polygenic risk score methodology in 2007, there has been increasing GRS application across the medical literature. In rheumatology, this has included application to rheumatoid arthritis, gout, spondyloarthritis, lupus, and inflammatory arthritis. GRSs are particularly relevant to rheumatology, where common diseases have many complex genetic factors contributing to risk. Despite this, there is no widely accepted method for the critical application of a GRS, which can be a particular challenge for the clinical rheumatologist seeking to clinically apply GRSs. This review provides a framework by which the clinician may systematically evaluate a GRS. As genotyping becomes more accessible and cost-effective, it will become increasingly important to recognize the clinical applicability of GRSs and identify those of the highest utility for patient care. This framework for the evaluation of a GRS will also help ensure reliability among GRS research in rheumatology, thereby helping to advance the field.

An overview of the role of monoamine oxidase-B in Parkinson’s disease: implications for neurodegeneration and therapy

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by both non-motor and motor symptoms, due to the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. Monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitors are essential in the treatment of PD, as they increase dopamine levels and could potentially slow down the progression of the disease. MAO-B inhibitors block the ability of the enzyme to degrade dopamine in the brain. MAO-B inhibitors work by inhibiting this enzyme, which raises dopamine levels and helps reduce motor symptoms, such as akinesia and stiffness in the muscles. In addition to their impact on dopamine levels, MAO-B inhibitors may possess neuroprotective properties. Research indicates that these inhibitors can shield neurons from the harmful byproducts of dopamine breakdown, such as dihydroxy acetaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide. This neuroprotective effect could potentially slow the progression of PD and protect against neuronal damage. MAO-B inhibitors are effective in treating both advanced and early stages of PD. They are recommended as initial treatments for individuals with early PD and can also be used as supplementary therapy in advanced PD to assist in managing motor complications. Additionally, MAO-B inhibitors have shown promise for the treatment of non-motor symptoms of PD, such as fatigue and sleep disturbances. MAO-B inhibitors are an important class of drugs for the treatment of PD, offering both symptomatic relief and potential disease-modifying effects. The goal of ongoing research and development of MAO-B inhibitors is to enhance their safety and selectivity profiles, which could lead to improved treatment approaches for PD and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Differences in Performance and Conductivity Persistence of New Reduced Graphene Oxide Air Filter Materials before and after Eliminating Static Electricity.

Improving the filtration efficiency of air filter materials is an ongoing research goal. This study conducted in-depth research on a new reduced graphene oxide air filter material, and the differences in its performance and conductivity durability before and after eliminating static electricity were tested and analyzed. The results showed that the filtration efficiency of the reduced graphene oxide air filter material significantly decreased after eliminating static electricity. The maximum decrease in filtration efficiency was observed at a filtration velocity of 0.8 m/s, with PM10 > PM1.0 > PM2.5. In this case, the filtration efficiency decreased by 11.8%, 7.98%, and 7.17%, respectively. The maximum difference in filtration efficiency of 0.29 μm particulates was about 12.7%. Eliminating static electricity slightly increased the resistance (2.5~15.5 Pa). In addition, the new reduced graphene oxide air filter material exhibited good conductivity and stability after continuous testing. This study provides data support for the application of subsequent electrification sterilization, reference values for multi-angle applications, and the development of new composite air filter materials.

Does discontinuing bleomycin due to toxicity increase the risk of lymphoma progression? Real-life data from a homogeneous population of advanced stage Hodgkin lymphoma

Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) is often curable with ABVD therapy and improving outcomes is a main goal of ongoing research. Bleomycin-associated pneumonitis (BAPT) is a potentially life-threatening complication that necessitates bleomycin discontinuation. We conducted this study on a homogenous cohort of advanced stage HL treated only with ABVD for frontline therapy to assess if bleomycin discontinuation increases the risk of lymphoma progression. After the exclusion of patients who received radiotherapy or other drugs, 106 and 28 patients in the six-cycle ABVD and BAPT groups respectively had similar survival curves for progression and death with a 49-month median follow-up. PFS rates were also very similar at two and four years from diagnosis with 2-year PFS rates of 83.9% and 82.1% (RR = 1.1 95%CI = 0.45–2.2). Outcome comparisons were also similar between the two groups when stratified according to early response assessment with PET/CT. Patients who discontinued bleomycin due to toxicity did not experience an increased risk of progression compared to patients who completed six ABVD cycles.

К вопросу об определении возраста при разработке методики расследования преступлений с участием несовершеннолетних

The aspects relevant to criminalistic theory related to the definition of the concept of “age”, laid down in legislation and theory, and which can have a significant impact on the development of methods for investigating crimes involving minors as a basic one on the basis of the commonality of the subject of research, are considered. It is established that the existing approaches to the definition of such a category as age, both in science and from the position of the legislator, are not ideal, and do not meet all the goals of ongoing research where age is the main object of research, since they use only part of the existing characteristics to determine age. The analysis of the current legislation made it possible to demonstrate the lack of unity in determining age and the presence of attempts to take into account the nature of regulated legal relations as the basis for determining age. It is revealed that in view of the fact that it is age as a characterizing category that affects many aspects in the study of the personality of a minor within the framework of the investigation of crimes with their participation methodology, it should form the basis of the behavioral mechanisms of the subject of the considered methodology as the most influential element. The conclusion is made about the relevance of using a conditional approach when characterizing such a criterion as the age of a minor, due to the insufficiency and impossibility of meeting all the needs facing the forensic methodology, using only a chronological concretized (absolutely formal) approach. Determining the meaning of age and a clear understanding of the patterns of psychological development dependent on it, affecting the possibility of involving a minor in criminal activity, allowed us to reflect the complexity of the study of this category. This is especially true within the framework of the rule of law, when the basis of its development, strengthening and prosperity determines the ability of the younger generation to follow the legal rules and boundaries existing in society. Various issues of the influence of age on the possibility of using this category in order to identify, disclose and investigate crimes involving minors have been studied. Multitasking is justified in the study of the age of a minor involved directly or indirectly in criminal activity, as the main element in personality characteristics. The emphasis is placed on the need for an integrated approach to the study of age, as the only true and satisfying the needs of both the forensic theory and the practice of investigating cases underlying the development of the investigation methodology under study.

Octenidine Versus Dispase Gels for Wound Healing After Cryosurgery Treatment in Patients with Basal Cell Carcinoma.

For a specific group of patients with basal cell carcinoma (small, low risk), cryosurgery could be the suggested treatment, which results in the formation of an ulcer in the lesion area. The proteolytic enzymes' contribution to the wound healing is an ongoing research goal. Preclinical animal experiments in the Laboratory of the Pharmaceutical Technology Department of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens have showed that a dose of 5U/mL of dispase gel after the formation of tissue rashes, significantly promoted wound healing. Herein, a feasibility study in 16 patients enrolled by the First Department of Dermatology of Andreas Syggros Hospital was designed: 5U/mL of dispase gel (once every 3days) versus a drug reference containing octenidine (daily administration). The evaluation of the healing effect, safety, and tolerance was done on days 1 (cryosurgery), 2, 7, 21, and 60. The study end point was considered either the ulcer complete healing or the eighth week since treatment initiation. Wound healing was faster with dispase gel and hemoglobin reduced rapidly after the seventh day. Yet, hydration was higher in the control group. Our non-parametric analysis provides evidence that the dispase gel shows faster healing compared to the reference drug, in humans, meriting further investigation in larger human sample sizes before massive production of the product.

Internet addiction: A summary towards an Integration of Current Knowledge and broad Perspectives

The internet originated as a neutral device that was predominantly created to bring ease to the lives of people by making available all the information needed for the growth and prosperity of human beings, but the misuse of this communication medium has created a lot of challenges and the internet addiction is one of them. Internet addiction is a rapidly growing phenomenon exhibiting alarming prevalence rates and a widely recognized problematic condition around the world. Preliminary findings have shown that the unrestrained availability of this communication medium has unfetteredly increased the rate of various complications including psychological disturbances, neurological problems, and social issues. Moreover, it has accelerated the probability of those having an underlying psychological disorder being at serious risk of becoming addicted to the internet, therefore, it has stirred a hot topic of discussion among the mental health communities. The aim of this paper was to deliberately provide a brief overview of the theoretical considerations and ongoing research on internet addiction. A detailed review analysis was performed addressing the types of internet addiction, epidemiology, comorbidities associated with the excessive use of the internet, and different treatment options. Moreover, future areas of research were highlighted stressing the significance of reaching a consensus on characterizing primary features of internet addiction, and an outlook on the future goals of ongoing research has been demonstrated.

Non-target molecular network and putative genes of flavonoid biosynthesis in Erythrina velutina Willd., a Brazilian semiarid native woody plant.

Erythrina velutina is a Brazilian native tree of the Caatinga (a unique semiarid biome). It is widely used in traditional medicine showing anti-inflammatory and central nervous system modulating activities. The species is a rich source of specialized metabolites, mostly alkaloids and flavonoids. To date, genomic information, biosynthesis, and regulation of flavonoids remain unknown in this woody plant. As part of a larger ongoing research goal to better understand specialized metabolism in plants inhabiting the harsh conditions of the Caatinga, the present study focused on this important class of bioactive phenolics. Leaves and seeds of plants growing in their natural habitat had their metabolic and proteomic profiles analyzed and integrated with transcriptome data. As a result, 96 metabolites (including 43 flavonoids) were annotated. Transcripts of the flavonoid pathway totaled 27, of which EvCHI, EvCHR, EvCHS, EvCYP75A and EvCYP75B1 were identified as putative main targets for modulating the accumulation of these metabolites. The highest correspondence of mRNA vs. protein was observed in the differentially expressed transcripts. In addition, 394 candidate transcripts encoding for transcription factors distributed among the bHLH, ERF, and MYB families were annotated. Based on interaction network analyses, several putative genes of the flavonoid pathway and transcription factors were related, particularly TFs of the MYB family. Expression patterns of transcripts involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and those involved in responses to biotic and abiotic stresses were discussed in detail. Overall, these findings provide a base for the understanding of molecular and metabolic responses in this medicinally important species. Moreover, the identification of key regulatory targets for future studies aiming at bioactive metabolite production will be facilitated.

System Engineering for Project Organization

The theory of systems allows to organize to more efficient management of the development and changes of the project. Classification of M. Jackson for classification of various practices of the systems approach was used for research and analysis. The paper deals with the use of systematic approach in organization management to enhance efficiency in project progress and change management. Based on the classification of M. Jackson different applications of systematic approach are examined and analyzed. A case study of soft system thinking is described. The goal of ongoing research is development of a method to evaluate the effectiveness of project teams at HES MEPhI. The efforts involved application of soft systems methodology and yielded a unified methodology comprising tools and approaches of more efficient management of project teams. The merger of the soft systems methodology and evolution of developed tools into a combined methodology, its deployment in the practice of managing project teams in the field of education provides the launching site for its further extrapolation to other fields where project teams operate.
 Keywords: system approach, project teams, education, soft systems thinking, organizational cybernetics, changes, management, efficiency, project, team

Discharge Estimates for Ungauged Rivers Flowing over Complex High-Mountainous Regions based Solely on Remote Sensing-Derived Datasets

Reliable information about river discharge plays a key role in sustainably managing water resources and better understanding of hydrological systems. Therefore, river discharge estimation using remote sensing techniques is an ongoing research goal, especially in small, headwater catchments which are mostly ungauged due to environmental or financial limitations. Here, a novel method for river discharge estimation based entirely on remote sensing-derived parameters is presented. The model inputs include average river width, estimated from Landsat imagery by using the modified normalized difference water index (MNDWI) approach; average depth and velocity, based on empirical equations with inputs from remote sensing; channel slope from a high resolution shuttle radar topography mission digital elevation model (SRTM DEM); and channel roughness coefficient via further analysis and classification of Landsat images with support of previously published values. The discharge of the Lhasa River was then estimated based on these derived parameters and by using either the Manning equation (Model 1) or Bjerklie equation (Model 2). In general, both of the two models tend to overestimate discharge at moderate and high flows, and underestimate discharge at low flows. The overall performances of both models at the Lhasa gauge were satisfactory: comparisons with the observations yielded Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NSE) and R2 values ≥ 0.886. Both models also performed well at the upper gauge (Tanggya) of the Lhasa River (NSE ≥ 0.950) indicating the transferability of the methodology to river cross-sections with different morphologies, thus demonstrating the potential to quantify streamflow entirely from remote sensing data in poorly-gauged or ungauged rivers on the Tibetan Plateau.

Aging and Neuroinflammatory Disorders: New Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets.

Chronic neuroinflammation is a common feature of the pathogenic mechanisms involved in various neurodegenerative age-associated disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and dementia. In particular, persistent low-grade inflammation may disrupt the brain endothelial barrier and cause a significant increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines and immune cells into the cerebral tissue that, in turn, leads to microglia dysfunction and loss of neuroprotective properties. Nowadays, growing evidence highlights a strong association between persistent peripheral inflammation, as well as metabolic alterations, and neurodegenerative disorder susceptibility. The identification of common pathways involved in the development of these diseases, which modulate the signalling and immune response, is an important goal of ongoing research. The aim of this review is to elucidate which inflammation-related molecules are robustly associated with the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Of note, peripheral biomarkers may represent direct measures of pathophysiologic processes common of aging and neuroinflammatory processes. In addition, molecular changes associated with the neurodegenerative process might be present many decades before the disease onset. Therefore, the identification of a comprehensive markers panel, closely related to neuroinflammation, could be helpful for the early diagnosis, and the identification of therapeutic targets to counteract the underlying chronic inflammatory processes.

Estimating the magnitude of clinical benefit of local therapy in patients with DCIS

DCIS represents a heterogeneous disease with a wide range of outcomes according to biology. Without treatment, it is estimated that only 20–30% of DCIS will progress to invasive cancer. Long-term outcomes following treatment are at least as favorable as those for some other early stage cancer types such as prostate cancer, for which active surveillance is routinely offered as a standard of care option. However, active surveillance has not yet been tested in relation to DCIS. Worldwide, there are three international trials (LORIS, COMET, LORD) which are evaluating whether DCIS with favorable biologic features may be managed with close monitoring, with treatment only undertaken upon disease progression. These trials will determine whether there may be some women with low-risk DCIS who do not substantially benefit from treatment and who could thus be safely managed with close surveillance. If active monitoring for DCIS is deemed to be safe and feasible, additional work must be done to optimally implement this approach, involving effective communication between patients and their physicians about the risks and benefits of treatment versus surveillance. Importantly, these treatment decisions must take into account patient factors such as risk tolerance, age, and competing causes of mortality.Tailoring treatment to biology for early screen-detected cancers such as DCIS is an important goal of ongoing research. An improved understanding of the biology and clinical implications of this heterogeneous disease will improve the overall health and quality of life for hundreds of thousands of future women who will be diagnosed with DCIS.

Shining a light on the photo-sensitisation of organic-inorganic hybrid polyoxometalates.

Finding new ways of using visible light (or, more specifically, solar irradiation) to drive commercially significant and/or challenging chemical processes is an ongoing research goal. Polyoxometalates (POMs) are discrete, metal-oxide clusters which are cheap, robust and easily synthesised but can also act as versatile molecular building blocks, allowing for astonishing variety in their structures and properties. In particular, the rich redox chemistry and inherent photo-activity of POMs makes them attractive for use in a variety of photochemical applications, however POMs characteristically only absorb strongly in the UV region. In this perspective, we discuss the various strategies which have been employed in order to sensitise POMs to visible light, with a particular focus on hybrid inorganic-organic POM species. We will discuss the two clear photo-activation mechanisms which have been developed to date and provide an outlook on some of the possible future directions of the field.

From Otic Induction to Hair Cell Production: Pax2EGFP Cell Line Illuminates Key Stages of Development in Mouse Inner Ear Organoid Model.

Producing hair cells of the inner ear is the major goal of ongoing research that combines advances in developmental and stem cell biology. The recent advent of an inner ear organoid protocol-resulting in three-dimensional stem cell-derived tissues resembling vestibular sensory epithelia-has sparked interest in applications such as regeneration, drug discovery, and disease modeling. In this study, we adapted this protocol for a novel mouse embryonic stem cell line with a fluorescent reporter for Pax2 expression. We used Pax2EGFP/+ organoid formation to model otic induction, the pivotal developmental event when preplacodal tissue adopts otic fate. We found upregulation of Pax2 and activation of ERK downstream of fibroblast growth factor signaling in organoid formation as in embryonic inner ear development. Pax2 expression was evident from the EGFP reporter beginning at the vesicle formation stage and persisting through generation of the sensory epithelium. The native ventralizing signal sonic hedgehog was largely absent from the cell aggregates as otic vesicles began to form, confirming the dorsal vestibular organoid fate. Nonetheless, cochlear- or vestibular-like neurons appeared to delaminate from the derived otic vesicles and formed synaptic contacts with hair cells in the organoids. Cell lines with transcriptional reporters such as Pax2EGFP/+ facilitate direct evaluation of morphological changes during organoid production, a major asset when establishing and validating the culture protocol.

Numerical analysis of high speed wind tunnel flow disturbance measurements using stagnation point probes

Since supersonic test facilities have tunnel noise that strongly influences boundary layer transition experiments, the determination of tunnel noise is of great significance to properly evaluate and interpret experimental results. The composition of tunnel noise, which consists of acoustic, entropy and vorticity modes, highly influences the boundary layer receptivity. The measurement of the separate modes is a major goal of ongoing research. In this study, the properties of stagnation point probes for a newly developed modal decomposition method for tunnel noise are investigated by direct numerical simulation. Pressure and heat flux responses of a stagnation point probe to various entropy and acoustic mode input functions are analysed to investigate how tunnel noise is perceived by corresponding sensor types. The interaction of the incident mode and the shock wave upstream of the probe is analysed and the resulting wave pattern in the subsonic region between shock wave and probe is evidenced. It is found that pure incident acoustic or entropy modes cause acoustic and entropy waves downstream of the shock wave whose strengths differ depending on the incident mode. The resulting wave pattern downstream of the shock wave is determined by postshock acoustic waves propagating bidirectionally between shock wave and probe. Formulating a model equation linking pressure and heat flux fluctuations to the initially caused postshock acoustic and entropy wave, a criterion for the applicability of stagnation point probes measuring pressure and heat flux fluctuations in the new modal decomposition method can be deduced: to distinguish between the incident mode types based on their pressure and heat flux signal the perception of initially generated entropy waves downstream of the shock wave by the heat flux sensor is crucial. The transfer function between entropy waves and heat flux is shown to have low pass filter characteristics and the cutoff Strouhal number could be estimated by control theory. The analysis of the frequency response to continuous incident waves corroborated this cutoff Strouhal number.

Geometry-based diffraction auralization for real-time applications in environmental noise

Geometrical acoustics has become the number one choice in a variety of different virtual acoustics applications, especially if physics-based sound field synthesis at real-time rates is desired. The procedures for interactive auralization on the one hand and calculation of room impulse responses as well as outdoor noise prediction on the other hand are converging if not already merely differ in resolution of parameters, i.e., number of rays or order of image sources. When it comes to diffraction effects at geometrical boundaries, however, the discrepancy between model accuracy and calculation efficiency is still high due to the great computational effort required for geometrical path analysis and propagation simulation. The overall goal of ongoing research in this field aims at closing the gap between the two worlds: making diffraction effects audible in a Virtual Reality application with respect to correct physical sound propagation and true reproduction that is required for serious applications in acoustic consulting business and for research, primarily for outdoor noise situations.

In Vivo Mn-Enhanced MRI for Early Tumor Detection and Growth Rate Analysis in a Mouse Medulloblastoma Model

Mouse models have increased our understanding of the pathogenesis of medulloblastoma (MB), the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor that often forms in the cerebellum. A major goal of ongoing research is to better understand the early stages of tumorigenesis and to establish the genetic and environmental changes that underlie MB initiation and growth. However, studies of MB progression in mouse models are difficult due to the heterogeneity of tumor onset times and growth patterns and the lack of clinical symptoms at early stages. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is critical for noninvasive, longitudinal, three-dimensional (3D) brain tumor imaging in the clinic but is limited in resolution and sensitivity for imaging early MBs in mice. In this study, high-resolution (100 μm in 2 hours) and high-throughput (150 μm in 15 minutes) manganese-enhanced MRI (MEMRI) protocols were optimized for early detection and monitoring of MBs in a Patched-1 (Ptch1) conditional knockout (CKO) model. The high tissue contrast obtained with MEMRI revealed detailed cerebellar morphology and enabled detection of MBs over a wide range of stages including pretumoral lesions as early as 2 to 3 weeks postnatal with volumes close to 0.1 mm3. Furthermore, longitudinal MEMRI allowed noninvasive monitoring of tumors and demonstrated that lesions within and between individuals have different tumorigenic potentials. 3D volumetric studies allowed quantitative analysis of MB tumor morphology and growth rates in individual Ptch1-CKO mice. These results show that MEMRI provides a powerful method for early in vivo detection and longitudinal imaging of MB progression in the mouse brain.

Superhydrophilic surface modification of fabric via coating with nano-TiO2 by UV and alkaline treatment

Increasing the hydrophilicity of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fabric has been an ongoing research goal. In this study, a rapid, environmentally friendly, and highly efficient method for modifying the surface of PET fabric is presented. In a solution of 30g/L nano-TiO2, 50g/L H2O2, and 30g/L NaOH, PET fabric was modified to become superhydrophilic by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (1000W) for only 30–40min. The water contact angle of the modified PET fabric was decreased to 0°, and the water absorption rate of the modified PET fabric was increased from 85% to 104%. The capillary rise height increased from 0.2cm to 6.2cm, and the spraying rating decreased from 4 to 1. The crease recovery angles of modified PET fabrics were reduced by only 1.2–8.8%. The mechanical and physical properties of the modified PET fabric remained good. Compared to the surface of unmodified PET fabric, scanning electron microscopy showed that the surface of the modified PET fiber was rough and covered by a layer of other materials. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed the materials on the surface of modified PET fibers likely included COOH and OH groups. X-ray diffraction demonstrated the formation of crystalline material. Finally, differential scanning calorimetry thermograms showed that the modification process slightly improved the thermostability of PET fibers.

Non-small cell lung cancer - genetic predictors

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancer that is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Several predictive markers have been found in NSCLC patients to date but only a few are currently used for tailored therapy. PubMed and Web of Science online databases were used to search review and original articles on the most important predictive markers in NSCLC. EGFR activating mutations (exons 18 to 21) and EML4-ALK rearrangement are clinically important markers able to select NSCLC patients which benefit from EGFR or ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (gefitinib, erlotinib, crizotinib). Other markers, such as KRAS mutation, EGFR T790M mutation and C-MET amplification, are responsible for resistance to these inhibitors. Overcoming of this resistance as well as discovery of new potential markers and inhibitors is the main goal of ongoing research and clinical trials in NSCLC.

Post-traumatic Arthritis: An Update

ABSTRACTPost-traumatic arthritis (PTA) is a frequent cause of disability following trauma of weight-bearing joints and is associated with significant physical impairment and loss of function. The development of PTA often occurs after an articular fracture. Currently, the only treatment option available to orthopaedic surgeons in the management of an acute articular fracture is anatomic fracture reduction. The complex pathway involved in the development and progression of PTA after articular injury, however, remains unknown and largely unstudied. Proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-ƒÑ (TNF-ƒÑ) are upregulated in injured and degenerative joints and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PTA. The central goal of ongoing research is to understand the sequence of biologic events¡Xdistinct from mechanical disruption of the joint surface¡Xthat cause progressive joint degeneration and ultimately the development of PTA. Promising new interventions on the molecular level have been shown to slow or halt the progression of these adverse events in animal models.Lewis JS Jr, Mangiapani DS, Furman BD, Kraus VB, Guilak F, Olson SA. Post-traumatic Arthritis: An Update. The Duke Orthop J 2013;3(1):32-35.