Radiographic Knee Joint Space Narrowing Research Articles

Chondroitin sulphate inhibits NF-κB activity induced by interaction of pathogenic and damage associated molecules

To evaluate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of action of Chondroitin Sulphate (CS). THP-1 macrophages were cultured with a range of sizes and concentrations of HA fragments with TLR4 (LPS in a physiologically relevant concentration determined by analyses of sera of a community clinic ascertained knee osteoarthritis (OA) cohort) or TLR2 (heat killed listeria bacteria) agonists and varying concentrations of CS in a physiologically relevant range (10-200μg/ml). We measured IL-1β release, intracellular IL-1β, proIL-1β, caspase-1 and NF-κB activity and DNA binding activity of NF-κB transcription factors from nuclear and cytoplasmic extracts. Serum LPS was significantly associated with radiographic knee joint space narrowing (JSN) (P=0.02) in the OA cohort (n=40). The priming dose of LPS used for these experiments (10ng/ml) was below the lowest serum concentration of the OA cohort (median 47.09, range 14.43-81.36ng/ml). Priming doses of LPS and HA fragments alone did not elicit an inflammatory response. However, primed with LPS, HA fragments produced large dose-dependent increases in IL-1β that were inhibitable by CS. CS did not inhibit caspase-1 activity but in physiologically achievable concentrations, attenuated NF-κB activity induced by either the TLR4 (LPS 1000ng/ml) or TLR2 agonists alone or in combination with HA fragments. LPS induced and CS significantly reduced activity of canonical NF-κB transcription factors, p65, p50, c-Rel and RelB. Subinflammatory concentrations of pathogenic (LPS, listeria) and damage associated (HA) molecules interact to induce macrophage-related inflammation. CS works upstream of the inflammasome by inhibiting activation of NF-κB transcription factors.

Relationship between soy milk intake and radiographic knee joint space narrowing and osteophytes.

The purpose of this study was to examine the cross-sectional association between dietary soy milk intake and the prevalence of radiographic knee joint space narrowing (JSN) and osteophytes (OST). Soy milk intake was assessed using a validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire and classified into three categories: never, <once a day, and ≥once a day. JSN and OST were assessed individually based on the Osteoarthritis Research Society International atlas. Multivariable logistic models were used after adjusting for potentially confounding factors. A total of 5764 subjects were included. Both the models suggested a significant inverse association between soy milk intake and OST. In model 1 (adjusted for age, body mass index, and sex), the prevalence of OST decreased in "≥once a day" category (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.28-0.98, P=0.042) and "<once a day" category (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.66-0.93, P=0.005) comparing to "never" category of soy milk intake, and the P for trend was 0.001. The outcomes were similar in model 2 (adjusted based on model 1, with additional factors of total energy intake, activity level, smoking status, alcohol-drinking status, educational background, diabetes, hypertension, and other dairy product intake) ("≥once a day" category: OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.26-0.92, P=0.026; "<once a day" category: OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.67-0.94, P=0.009), and the P for trend was 0.001. However, the significant associations between soy milk intake and JSN in both the models were not observed. Dietary soy milk intake was found to be negatively associated with OST, but not JSN, independent of some major confounding factors.

Accuracy and Reproducibility of Radiographic Knee Joint Space Narrowing Measurements Referenced to the Mid-Coronal Plane

Accuracy and Reproducibility of Radiographic Knee Joint Space Narrowing Measurements Referenced to the Mid-Coronal Plane