Signs Of Osteoarthritis Research Articles

Allograft to bone-tunnel integration in a canine anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction model: a comparison study of allograft preparation methods

The procedure of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) allograft preparation can be divided into fresh-frozen method (FF-allograft) or freeze-dried method (FD-allograft). This study aims to biomechanically and histologically compare the graft to bone tunnel integration between the two allografts. In-vitro results indicated that FF-allograft and FD-allograft showed excellent biocompatibility and biomechanics, while FD-allograft showed a denser collagen fiber arrangement than FF-allograft and autograft. Then, in-vivo preformation of the FF-allograft, FD-allograft, and autograft on bone tunnel integration was evaluated via a canine ACL reconstruction model. In-vivo results indicated that no signs of infection or osteoarthritis were shown in the femur-graft-tibia complexes, but more vascularity and synovitis formed around the implanted FF-allograft. Micro-computed tomography showed that peri-graft bone in the FF-allograft group was significantly increased and remodeled compared with the FD-allograft group; Histologically, the FF-allograft group exhibited similar graft-bone tunnel healing to the FD-allograft group. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining showed significantly more osteoclasts presented in the FD-allograft group compared to the FF-allograft group. Meanwhile, a significantly higher failure load was shown in the FF-allograft group when compared with the FD-allograft group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the FF-allograft integrated more firmly into the bone tunnel than the FD-allograft when used in ACL reconstruction.

Early signs of osteoarthritis in differing rat osteochondral defects.

Preclinical models of osteochondral defects (OCDs) are fundamental test beds to evaluate treatment modalities before clinical translation. To increase the rigor and reproducibility of translational science for a robust "go or no-go," we evaluated disease progression and pain phenotypes within the whole joint for two OCD rat models with same defect size (1.5x 0.8 mm) placed either in the trochlea or medial condyle of femur. Remarkably, we only found subtle transitory changes to gaits of rats with trochlear defect without any discernible effect to allodynia. At 8-weeks post-surgery, anatomical evaluations of joint showed early signs of osteoarthritis with EPIC-microCT. For the trochlear defect, cartilage attenuation was increased in trochlear, medial, and lateral compartments of the femur. For condylar defect, increased cartilage attenuation was isolated to the medial condyle of the femur. Further, the medial ossicle showed signs of deterioration as indicated with decreased bone mineral density and increased bone surface area to volume ratio. Thus, OCD in a weight-bearing region of the femur gave rise to more advanced osteoarthritis phenotype within a unilateral joint compartment. Subchondral bone remodeling was evident in both models without any indication of closure of the articular cartilage surface. We conclude that rat OCD, placed in the trochlear or condylar region of the femur, leads to differing severity of osteoarthritis progression. As found herein, repair of the defect with fibrous tissue and subchondral bone is insufficient to alleviate onset of osteoarthritis. Future therapies using rat OCD model should address joint osteoarthritis in addition to repair itself.

The worn knee

Early osteoarthritis in patients between 35 and 65 years of age is mostly observed following previous cartilage, meniscus, and bone or ligament injuries. The expectations individuals have regarding their physical abilities have increased over the past few decades. Patients who despite relevant non-surgical treatment still experience knee pain are often a challenge for primary care. The purpose of this review is to provide non-orthopaedic surgical colleagues with an overview of the surgical assessment and treatment for young patients (&lt; 65 years) with early signs of osteoarthritis of the knee.

DYNAMICS OF ANTHROPOMETRIC AND PHYSICAL MARKERS OF SARCOPENIC OBESITY IN ELDERLY PERSONS WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE HIP IN THE PROCESS OF PHYSICAL THERAPY

Purpose: to determine the effect of a physical therapy program on anthropometric and physical indicators of elderly people with osteoarthritis of the hip, which occurs against the background of sarcopenic obesity. Material. 68 elderly people with osteoarthritis of the hip and sarcopenic obesity and 36 of their healthy peers (control group) were examined. Representatives of the comparison group (33 persons) corrected the signs of osteoarthritis according to the clinical guideline "Osteoarthrosis". Representatives of the main group (35 persons) were engaged in a physical therapy program for six months. Its goal was: reduction of pain and discomfort in the hip; improvement of the amplitude of movements in the hip, joints of the lower limbs, spine; optimization of general mobility and motor stereotype; decrease of body weight; facilitating activities of daily living; improvement of geriatric status. The physical therapy was implemented in rehabilitation center and in the form of telerehabilitation. It included kinesitherapy, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation of the lower limbs and lower back; massage, kinesiological taping of the hip, thigh and lower back muscles; a course of shock wave therapy of the hip, nutritional correction, education of patients and their family members. The effectiveness of the program was evaluated by the dynamics of anthropometry (mass, body mass index, waist and hip circumferences and their ratio), body composition (fat content, muscle tissue, visceral fat), sarcopenia markers (hand dynamometry, Short Physical Performance Battery). Results. Application of the physical therapy program led to a decrease in body weight in patients of the main group: in men by 5.4 kg, in women by 4.51 kg, p&lt;0.05. Corresponding changes occurred in body mass index, and the women of the main group reached the level of overweight. The dynamics of the abdominal nature of obesity also changed: the decrease in waist circumference in men was 8.3 cm, in women - 5.9 cm, which had a favorable effect on the ratio of waist and hip circumferences. A decrease in the severity of the signs of sarcopenia in main group persons was confirmed by the results of a statistically significant increase in the content of muscle tissue both in men (from 22.17±1.30% to 28.12±1.09%) and in women (from 19, 01±1.20% to 23.44±1.15%). The content of visceral fat in the subjects of the main group decreased by almost 25%. The content of adipose tissue in the whole body decreased in men from 42.29±1.73% to 34.50±1.22%, in women – from 46.53±1.19% to 40.57±1.57%. The increase in hand dynamometry results in women was from 13.48±1.14 kg to 17.22±0.56 kg, in men - from 19.80±1.07 kg to 26.15±1.01 kg. The complex nature of the physical therapy program contributed to the improvement of performance of all Short Physical Performance Battery subtests in the main group, and the improvement of its total score was 35.5% (from 6.49±0.53 points to 10.07±0.44 points, p&lt;0, 05). Patients of the comparison group, who underwent rehabilitation according to the standard program for the correction of osteoarthritis, did not show improvement in the studied indicators of anthropometry and markers of sarcopenia (p&gt;0.05). Conclusions. Elderly patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and sarcopenic obesity require the development of physical therapy programs taking into account and correcting the specifics of each condition, which will increase the overall effectiveness of rehabilitation measures.

Maternal high-fat high-sugar diet impairs bone quality and strength but not cartilage in aging mice.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent aging disorder of synovial joints and recent work suggests that a parental high-fat diet increases OA severity following joint injury in offspring. We hypothesized that a maternal high-fat high-sugar (HFHS) diet would promote spontaneous osteoarthritis-related cartilage and bone changes in 1-year-old offspring. Female C57BL/6 J mice were placed on either a chow control or HFHS diet for 6 weeks before mating to a chow-fed C57BL/6 J male and maintained on their assigned diets throughout pregnancy and lactation. Male and female offspring were weaned onto a chow diet, raised to 1 year of age, and evaluated for cartilage and bone changes indicative of OA. However, offspring did not show early signs of OA as measured by histological Mankin scoring, mechanical testing of the pericellular matrix, histological synovitis scoring, or subchondral bone thickening as measured by microcomputed Tomography. On the other hand, male offspring from HFHS-fed dams had reduced trabecular bone quality in the tibial metaphysis and decreased cortical thickness. Although maternal HFHS diet did not impact trabecular or cortical bone quality in tibias of female offspring, the radii of these animals had decreased cortical thickness, increased medullary area, and impaired breaking strength compared to those of control-fed dams. Finally, we evaluated bone quality and strength in male and female F2 offspring and found that the grandmaternal diet modestly impacted radial bone geometry but not strength. Together these results suggest that maternal HFHS diet impairs F1 offspring skeletal integrity in a sex and bone site-specific manner.

Evaluation of an automated laminar cartilage T2 relaxation time analysis method in an early osteoarthritis model.

A fully automated laminar cartilage composition (MRI-based T2) analysis method was technically and clinically validated by comparing radiographically normal knees with (CL-JSN) and without contra-lateral joint space narrowing or other signs of radiographic osteoarthritis (OA, CL-noROA). 2D U-Nets were trained from manually segmented femorotibial cartilages (n = 72) from all 7 echoes (AllE), or from the 1st echo only (1stE) of multi-echo-spin-echo (MESE) MRIs acquired by the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI). Because of its greater accuracy, only the AllE U-Net was then applied to knees from the OAI healthy reference cohort (n = 10), CL-JSN (n = 39), and (1:1) matched CL-noROA knees (n = 39) that all had manual expert segmentation, and to 982 non-matched CL-noROA knees without expert segmentation. The agreement (Dice similarity coefficient) between automated vs. manual expert cartilage segmentation was between 0.82 ± 0.05/0.79 ± 0.06 (AllE/1stE) and 0.88 ± 0.03/0.88 ± 0.03 (AllE/1stE) across femorotibial cartilage plates. The deviation between automated vs. manually derived laminar T2 reached up to - 2.2 ± 2.6ms/ + 4.1 ± 10.2ms (AllE/1stE). The AllE U-Net showed a similar sensitivity to cross-sectional laminar T2 differences between CL-JSN and CL-noROA knees in the matched (Cohen's D ≤ 0.54) and the non-matched (D ≤ 0.54) comparison as the matched manual analyses (D ≤ 0.48). Longitudinally, the AllE U-Net also showed a similar sensitivity to CL-JSN vs. CS-noROA differences in the matched (D ≤ 0.51) and the non-matched (D ≤ 0.43) comparison as matched manual analyses (D ≤ 0.41). The fully automated T2 analysis showed a high agreement, acceptable accuracy, and similar sensitivity to cross-sectional and longitudinal laminar T2 differences in an early OA model, compared with manual expert analysis. Clinicaltrials.gov identification: NCT00080171.

DOES TOTAL HIP ARTHROPLASTY BENEFIT PATIENTS WITH MINIMAL RADIOLOGICAL OSTEOARTHRITIS?

There is some evidence to suggest that outcomes of THA in patients with minimal radiographic osteoarthritis may not be associated with predictable outcomes. The aim of this study was to:Assess the outcome of patients with hip pain who underwent THA with no or minimal radiographic signs of osteoarthritis,Identify patient comorbidities and multiplanar imaging findings which are predictive of outcome,Compare the outcome in these patients to the expected outcome of THA in hip OA.A retrospective review of 107 hips (102 patients, 90F:12M, median age 40.6, IQR 35.1–45.8 years, range 18–73) were included for analysis. Plain radiographs were evaluated using the Tonnis grading scale of hip OA. Outcome measures were all-cause revision; iHOT12; EQ-5D; Oxford Hip Score; UCLA Activity Scale; and whether THA had resulted in the patient's hip pain and function being Better/Same/Worse.The median Oxford Hip Score was 33.3 (IQR 13.9, range 13–48), and 36/107 (33.6%) hips achieved an OHS≥42. There was no association between primary hip diagnosis and post-operative PROMs. A total of 91 of the 102 patients (89.2%, 93 hips) reported that their hip pain and function was Better than prior to THA and would have the surgery again, 7 patients (6.8%, 10 hips) felt the Same, and 4 patients (3.9%, 4 hips) felt Worse and would not have the surgery again.Younger patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty with no or minimal radiographic osteoarthritis had lower postoperative Oxford Hip Scores than the general population; though most felt symptomatically better and knowing what they know now, would have surgery again. Those with chronic pain syndrome or hypermobility were likely to benefit less. Those with subchondral cysts or joint space narrowing on CT imaging were more likely to achieve higher functional scores and satisfaction.

Does the distal radioulnar joint orientation influence the outcome of ulnar shortening osteotomy: a retrospective study.

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of ulnar shortening osteotomy. A total of 66 patients treated with an ulnar shortening osteotomy for a primary or post-traumatic ulnar impaction syndrome were included, with a median follow-up time of 75 months.There was a positive correlation between the sigmoid notch angle and the final QuickDASH score, but no correlation with final range of motion, grip strength or pain level. Radiological signs of osteoarthritis of the distal radioulnar joint were seen in 20% of patients, yet there was no correlation between the development of distal radioulnar joint osteoarthritis and the sigmoid notch angle. No symptomatic distal radioulnar joint osteoarthritis was observed.Ulnar shortening osteotomy is a good option to treat patients with ulnar impaction syndrome regardless of the distal radioulnar joint angle.Level of evidence: IV.

Hip joint motion amplitude control based on exponential product formula

Background: Handball is a team sport, and during a game, there is a lot of direct squabbling and close contact between the players. Objective: The goal of the research is to determine how handball training affected several aspects of physical fitness. The study also investigates the relationship between playing handball, passive hip range of motion (ROM), and the development of radiologically detectable hip osteoarthritis (OA) in formerly elite handball players. The research employed the exponential product algorithm for evaluating bilateral radiographs to classify and diagnose hip OA. This technique most likely evaluated subchondral sclerosis, osteophyte formation, joint space narrowing, and other radiological signs of OA in the individuals’ hip joints. Methods: The relationship among the risk of hip OA in long-term top handball players is explored, as well as the connections among hip ROM, OA, and pain. The research was conducted using a sample size of 20 ex-professional handball players and 39 control subjects. Information on demographics, loading patterns during exercise, and history of lower limb joint injury were gathered via a questionnaire. The inclusion criteria for individuals consisted former professional handball players with significant elite-level competitive experience, as well as control subjects with no background of high-impact sports. Confounding characteristics such as age, gender, and previous lower limb joint injuries were carefully controlled for using extensive demographic and injury history evaluations. To identify and categorize hip OA, bilateral radiographs were analyzed using the exponential product algorithm. The goniometer was used to assess the bilateral passive hip ROM. Long-term participation in elite handball at a high level was found to have a strong correlation with the hip development of osteoarthritis (OA). Sixty percent of handball players had been identified with OA in at least one hip joint, compared to only thirteen percent of control patients. Results: Hip flexion and medial rotation in the handball players were significantly decreased, whereas abduction, extension, and lateral rotation were increased considerably compared to the control values. When doing daily activities, the hip joints of the handball players with OA were less painful than those of the OA-afflicted control participants. Retired handball players seem to be at a much higher risk than the general population for developing early hip OA. Conclusion: The repetitive nature of handball-specific movements may result in anomalies that are seldom seen in the general population, which makes diagnosing pain and discomfort a challenging diagnostic challenge for sports physicians.

Increased femoral cartilage thickness in acne patients using isotretinoin: could it be a sign of early osteoarthritis?

Vitamin A derivatives have inhibitory effects on cartilage tissue, such as decreasing chondrocyte proliferation and collagen synthesis, and increasing the loss of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. Therefore, isotretinoin (a vitamin A derivative) may play a role in the pathogenesis of cartilage-related diseases like osteoarthritis by affecting the balance of cartilage tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distal femoral cartilage thickness in acne patients under the systemic isotretinoin therapy and to determine whether it constitutes a risk factor for the development of osteoarthritis. The study included 52 patients (42 female, 10 male, mean age 23.31 ± 3.89 years) who were prescribed systemic isotretinoin for acne and completed at least 3 months of treatment, along with 45 healthy controls ((35 female, 10 male, mean age 23.85 ± 4.77 years). Bilateral distal femoral cartilage thickness was measured by ultrasonography before isotretinoin treatment and after the completion of the third month of treatment. After treatment, a statistically significant increase was found in the thickness of the right medial, right lateral, left medial, left lateral, and left intercondylar cartilage (p = 0.014, 0.012, 0.019, 0.027, 0.002, respectively). There was also an increase in the right intercondylar cartilage thickness, but this was not statistically significant (p = 0.1). Systemic isotretinoin seems to make cartilage thicker. The increase in femoral cartilage thickness observed after short-term isotretinoin treatment might be an indicator of very early-stage osteoarthritis. Extended follow-up studies with larger participant pools are necessary to substantiate this result.

Clinical, radiological and dynamic CT results of scapholunate intercarpal ligamentoplasty for scapholunate dissociation

A clinical, radiological and four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) assessment of the outcomes of scapholunate intercarpal ligamentoplasty (SLICL) was done with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Twenty-nine patients (23 men and 6 women) with a mean age of 40 years (22–57) who had chronic scapholunate dissociation were treated with the SLICL procedure. There were 18 cases of dynamic instability and 11 of static instability. The patients were evaluated with a mean follow-up of 61 months (24–94). SLICL significantly reduced pain and increased grip strength and wrist function. On radiographs, the mean static and dynamic scapholunate gaps as well as the scapholunate and radiolunate angles improved significantly. The dorsal scaphoid displacement was always corrected. 4DCT after surgery provided a more precise analysis of the SLICL’s effectiveness at restoring intracarpal alignment. Correction of the DISI deformity and dorsal scaphoid displacement was confirmed. SLICL restored a normal variation in the scapholunate gap (range value) during radioulnar deviation movement without systematically reducing the distance between the bones (mean and maximum values) which remained pathological in wrists with static instability but not in those with dynamic instability. At the final follow-up, no patients had signs of osteoarthritis due to ScaphoLunate Advanced Collapse. Level of evidenceIII.

In the Acute Phase of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture: Quantitative Assessment of Matrix Changes and Correlation between Different States of Meniscus and Adjacent Cartilage.

Cartilage and meniscus are important structures that maintain the health of the knee joint. Early detection of changes in the internal components of cartilage and meniscus before morphological changes occur is essential to prevent and delay the development of osteoarthritis (OA). This study was designed to determine the changes in the matrix composition of morphologically intact cartilage and meniscus during the acute phase of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture, as well as the effect of different states of meniscus (intact or tear) on adjacent cartilage during the acute phase. This cross-sectional study compared and analyzed 50 patients in the acute phase of ACL rupture who underwent surgical treatment and 66 age-, weight- and height-matched healthy volunteers from May 2022 to May 2023 at our institution. Mean T2 relaxation times and effect sizes in different regions of tibiofemoral articular cartilage and meniscus were compared between the two groups using the Mann-Whitney nonparametric t-test, and correlations between different meniscal states and adjacent cartilage were analyzed. Both in the lateral and medial compartments of the knee, T2 relaxation times were significantly higher in all subregions of cartilage and meniscus in the ACL rupture group (p < 0.05), and the site of injury was predominantly centered in the medial compartment (femur, p = 0.000; tibia, p = 0.000; anterior horn, p = 0.000). In the respective compartments, the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus showed a significant positive correlation with the mid-cartilage of the femoral and tibial (r = 0.566, p = 0.035; r = 0.611, p = 0.02); and the posterior horn of the medial meniscus showed a significant positive correlation with the posterior tibial cartilage (r = 0.668, p = 0.018). During the acute phase of ACL rupture, the internal composition of the cartilage and meniscus undergoes significant changes, even if the morphology is intact. More importantly, the state of the meniscus significantly affects the internal composition of the adjacent cartilage. This is an early warning sign of OA, which should be closely monitored and carefully managed in clinical practice.

Long-term outcomes after capitate fractures: a median 16-year follow-up.

The long-term effects of a capitate fracture are unknown. The aim of this study was to assess both clinical and radiological long-term outcomes after a capitate fracture. From a cohort of 526 consecutive patients with post traumatic radial sided wrist pain, 23 were identified diagnosed with a capitate fracture. 16 of these (11 males and 5 females) with a median age at injury of 17.5 years (range 11-27 years) were eligible for a follow-up after a median of 16 years (range 8 to 17 years). In this study patients were examined using conventional radiographs, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the time of injury and with CT at the follow-up. At follow-up radiological signs of osteoarthritis were graded in four stages and clinical outcome was evaluated by measuring range of wrist motion and grip and pinch strength. The subjective outcome was assessed using DASH and PRWE questionnaires. Five patients had isolated capitate fractures and 11 had concomitant fractures, 10 of which had a simultaneous scaphoid fracture. 14 patients had been treated non-surgically in a cast and two patients were treated surgically. None of the fractures were visible on conventional radiographs at the time of injury. At follow-up all fractures had healed without signs of avascular necrosis. In one patient, CT examination revealed osteoarthritis between the capitate and lunate. This did not cause clinical symptoms. Functional impairments and pain scores were low: median DASH score 0, median PRWE 3 and median VAS pain score 0. We found no impairment in range of motion or grip and pinch strength. At a median of 16-year follow-up, patients with a capitate fracture report normal self-assessed hand function as well as good wrist motion and strength. The risk of development of posttraumatic arthritis in the joints around the capitate is low.

A prospective, randomised, controlled, double blinded, cross-over study on the effect of a single session of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on signs of hip osteoarthritis in dogs

BackgroundCanine coxofemoral joint osteoarthritis is a common, painful and debilitating condition. The objective of this study was to evaluate if any measurable changes in pain or lameness occurred in this patient group immediately after a single treatment with pulsed electromagnetic field therapy. Eight dogs with coxofemoral joint osteoarthritis presenting with signs of pain and lameness were prospectively recruited to this randomised, controlled, double blinded, cross-over study. Subjects attended the research facility on two occasions for one active and one placebo treatment with pulsed electromagnetic field therapy. The immediate effect of one pulsed electromagnetic field therapy treatment on pain and lameness was measured subjectively with the Helsinki Chronic Pain Index and Visual Analogue Scale and objectively using a pressure sensitive walkway.ResultsA statistically significant difference (P = 0.03) for change in stride length in the affected limb was recorded for subjects between the active and placebo treatments with pulsed electromagnetic field therapy. Within the active treatment results, there was a statistically significant change in the measurement for reach (P = 0.04) and stride length (P = 0.047) which got shorter in the affected limb post treatment. For the subjective outcome measures, there was no statistically significant difference between the active and placebo treatments for the evening of the treatment day or the next morning from pre-treatment values. Within the placebo treatment results a statistically significant change (improvement) was detected in Visual Analogue Score (P = 0.03) between pre-treatment and the next morning values.ConclusionsThe findings of this study do not show demonstrable improvement in owner assessed pain levels or temporospatial performance in dogs with coxofemoral joint osteoarthritis immediately after a single application of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy.

Favourable clinical outcomes and low revision rate after M-ACI in adolescents with immature cartilage compared to adult controls: Results at 10 years.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term survival, patient-reported outcomes (PROs)and radiographic results of matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte implantation (M-ACI) in adolescents with immature cartilage and compare them to adult controls. A retrospective matched-pair analysis was performed comparing the PRO after M-ACI for focal cartilage defect of the knee in cartilaginous immature adolescents to mature adults. Groups were matched for sex, body mass index, defect site and size, symptom duration and the number of previous knee surgeries. Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and the Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART 2.0) scores were assessed at least 60 months postoperatively. Patient acceptable symptomatic state (PASS) and clinical response rate in KOOS and KOOS subscores were calculated. A total of 54 patients were matched. At a mean of 96 months (65-144 months), no surgical complications, graft hypertrophy or reoperations were noted in the cohorts studied. Adolescents showed superior PROs at the final follow-up (76.9 ± 14.1 vs. 66.4 ± 15.0, p = 0.03) and were significantly more likely to achieve PASS (74.1% vs. 55.6%; p = 0.02) compared to the adult cohort. The KOOS subscale analysis showed long-term benefits for adolescents in terms of symptom improvement, pain reduction, activities of daily living, sports and quality of life (p < 0.05). None of the patients in the adolescent group showed graft hypertrophy on magnet resonance imaging or signs of osteoarthritis on radiographs at long-term follow-ups. M-ACI is an effective treatment for chondral defects of the knee in patients with immature cartilage with low revision rates and high patient satisfaction over the long term. Adolescents showed comparable clinical and radiographic results in the short and medium term, with slightly more favourable, clinically relevant functional results in adolescents in the long term. M-ACI can be safely used in adolescents, and consideration should be given to expanding the indication to include these patients. Level III.

Intra-articular injection of modified citrus pectin and hyaluronate gel induces synergistic effects in treating osteoarthritis

We previously found that modified citrus pectin (MCP), an inhibitor of pro-inflammatory factor Galectin-3 (Gal-3), has significant anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective effects. In this study, a hyaluronate (HA) gel-based sustained release system of MCP (MCP-HA) was developed as an anti-inflammatory agent for chronic inflammation for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. The MCP-HA gel was injected into the knee joint cavities of OA rabbit models induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) or modified Hulth method once a week for five weeks. We found that MCP-HA could improve the symptoms and signs of OA, protect articular cartilage from degeneration, suppress synovial inflammation, and therefore alleviate OA progression. Proteomic analysis of the synovial fluid obtained from the knee joints of OA rabbits revealed that MCP-HA synergistically regulated the levels of multiple inflammatory mediators and proteins involved in metabolic pathways. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the MCP-HA shows a synergistic effect of HA and MCP by modulating both inflammation and metabolic processes, thereby alleviating OA progression. The MCP-HA sustained release system has promising potential for long-term use in OA treatment.

A Preliminary Protocol of Radiographic Image Processing for Quantifying the Severity of Equine Osteoarthritis in the Field: A Model of Bone Spavin

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the tarsal joint, also known as bone spavin, is a progressive joint disease that increases in severity with age. It is a significant cause of hind limb lameness, leading to a deterioration in the quality of life of horses, particularly in old age. In this study, the tarsal joints of 20 older horses aged 15 to 35 years were radiographically imaged and processed using the computed digital absorptiometry (CDA) method for bone mineral density (BMD) assessment. The radiological signs of bone spavin were scored on a scale ranging from normal (0) to severe OA (3), and the examined joints were grouped according to the severity of OA. The percentage of color pixels (%color pixels), representing successive steps on the scale of X-ray absorption by a density standard, differed between the steps in a BMD characteristic manner for each group. Furthermore, two examined ranges of relative density allowed for the distinction of joints affected by severe OA from other joints, while another two ranges allowed for the differentiation of joints affected by moderate and severe OA from normal joints. The proposed color annotation-assisted decomposition of radiological images based on the CDA protocol shows promise for advancing research on the quantification of radiological signs of OA. This approach could be valuable for monitoring the progression of the disease in older horses.

Biomechanics of Bruxism Potentially Determine the Sites of Severe TMJ Osteoarthritis

The objective of this study was to assess the osteoarthritis (OA) disease severity in 47 temporomandibular joints (TMJs) using a validated scale for gross signs of OA while noting the specific sites for profound disease on the donor condyle and fossa. A disease severity score of Grade 0–4, representing absent to severe disease, was awarded to each specimen’s condyle and fossa by two blinded investigators who have demonstrated interrater reliability. The mandibular fossa was more pathological compared to the mandibular condyle (* p = 0.001). When the deepest focal lesions were qualitatively assessed, it was demonstrated that the mandibular fossa was more severely degenerated than the articular eminence in 58% of donors. In this subpopulation, 74% of the severe mandibular fossa pathology was seen on the deep articular surface. When the articular eminence was the most severely degenerated region of the fossa, it was equivalently likely to see severe focal lesions on the lateral eminence (35%) or equally distributed across the entire eminence (35%). The greatest disease severity was discovered in sites of overloading, which may be associated with paranormal mandibular movements and potentially bruxism. Patients with bruxism produce significant translational movements (grinding) in the upper joint compartment and heavy vertical loading (clenching). Theoretically, this amplifies pressure and inflammation on the lateral articular surfaces and in the deep fossa.

Removal of the infrapatellar fat pad and associated synovium benefits female guinea pigs in the Dunkin Hartley model of idiopathic osteoarthritis.

Several tissues contribute to the onset and advancement of knee osteoarthritis (OA). One tissue type that is worthy of closer evaluation, particularly in the context of sex, is the infrapatellar fat pad (IFP). We previously demonstrated that removal of the IFP had short-term beneficial effects for a cohort of male Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs. The present project was designed to elucidate the influence of IFP removal in females of this OA-prone strain. It was hypothesized that resection of the IFP would reduce the development of OA in knees of a rodent model predisposed to the disease. Female guinea pigs (n=16) were acquired at an age of 2.5 months. Surgical removal of the IFP and associated synovium complex (IFP/SC) was executed at 3 months of age. One knee had the IFP/SC resected; a comparable sham surgery was performed on the contralateral knee. All animals were subjected to voluntary enclosure monitoring and dynamic weight-bearing, as well as compulsory treadmill-based gait analysis monthly; baseline data was collected prior to surgery. Guinea pigs were euthanized at 7 months. Knees from eight animals were evaluated via histology, mRNA expression, and immunohistochemistry (IHC); knees from the remaining eight animals were allocated to microcomputed tomography (microCT), biomechanical analyses (whole joint testing and indentation relaxation testing), and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Fibrous connective tissue (FCT) replaced the IFP/SC. Mobility/gait data indicated that unilateral IFP/SC removal did not affect bilateral hindlimb movement. MicroCT demonstrated that osteophytes were not a significant feature of OA in this sex; however, trabecular thickness (TbTh) in medial femorae decreased in knees containing the FCT. Histopathology scores were predominantly influenced by changes in the lateral tibia, which demonstrated that histologic signs of OA were increased in knees containing the native IFP/SC versus those with the FCT. Similarly, indentation testing demonstrated higher instantaneous and equilibrium moduli in the lateral tibial articular cartilage of control knees with native IFPs. AAS of multiple tissue types associated with the knee revealed that zinc was the major trace element influenced by removal of the IFP/SC. Our data suggest that the IFP/SC is a significant component driving knee OA in female guinea pigs and that resection of this tissue prior to disease has short-term benefits. Specifically, the formation of the FCT in place of the native tissue resulted in decreased cartilage-related OA changes, as demonstrated by reduced Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) histology scores, as well as changes in transcript, protein, and cartilage indentation analyses. Importantly, this model provides evidence that sex needs to be considered when investigating responses and associated mechanisms seen with this intervention.

The difference in radiographic findings in the distal limbs of working Lipizzan horses, used for dressage or driving.

Lameness originating from the distal limb is common in sport horses and can vary depending on the dynamics of movement and the surface, with differences in shoeing exacerbating this variability. Driving horses work primarily on hard surfaces (pavement), whereas dressage horses work primarily on soft surfaces (riding arenas with sand). Driving horses are traditionally shod with small fixed studs made of hard metal, which are attached to the horseshoe at 4 points, while dressage horses are shod with a simple horseshoe. We investigated the hypothesis that there is a difference in the pathological radiographic findings of the distal limbs between driving and dressage horses. The variability in the stable management and training program was minimized by including horses from the same farm. Twenty horses in a driving training program and 20 horses in a dressage program were included in the study. Radiographs of the both front feet were obtained and quantitatively evaluated for radiographic changes by three surgery/diagnostic imaging specialists. Interrater reliability was measured, and multivariate analysis was performed to compare differences in pathological radiographic findings of the distal limbs between the two groups. Kendal's concordance coefficient indicated an agreement among raters (Kw ≠ 0) for all observations. Radiographic signs of degenerative joint disease of the distal interphalangeal joint were more common in the group of driving horses compared to dressage horses. Our hypothesis was confirmed, as there were significant pathological differences between groups in distal articular margin of middle phalanx, joint space narrowing, and irregular joint surface of the middle phalanx.