Comparison between Care Strategies for Patients with Osteoarthritis of the Hands Based on the Use of Joint Protection, Assistive Technology and Exercises

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disabling disease that can affect 6% to 12% of the adult population and more than a third of people over 65 years of age. Purpose: To assess whether a group of people with hand osteoarthritis (hOA) who received different types of treatment improved their function after two years of follow-up. Method: The entire sample (n = 97) underwent three follow-up assessments regarding anthropometric parameters of the upper limbs and ability to perform functional activities. Subsequently, the sample was divided into two groups for the intervention periods, called the First Period (n = 73) and the Second Period (n = 24);the First Period kept the same protocol with orientations, and the Second Period went to an intervention with orientation strength exercises and use of orthosis. Findings: In the separate analysis of the three questions of the DASH pain module, no differences were found between the assessment moments for groups of guidelines, treatment, or symptoms. Significant effects were observed for F(2, 162) = 3.5, p = 0.033, η2 = 0.04, and interaction for moments and intervention F(2, 162) = 4.3, p = 0.016, η2 = 0.05. Implications: It can be concluded that only guidance treatment does not benefit patients with hand osteoarthritis. In contrast, guidance, exercise, and orthosis treatment can significantly improve the disease.

Combining single-cell RNA sequencing and population-based studies reveals hand osteoarthritis-associated chondrocyte subpopulations and pathways

Hand osteoarthritis is a common heterogeneous joint disorder with unclear molecular mechanisms and no disease-modifying drugs.In this study,we performed single-cell RNA sequencing analysis to compare the cellular composition and subpopulationspecific gene expression between cartilage with macroscopically confirmed osteoarthritis(n=5)and cartilage without osteoarthritis(n=5)from the interphalangeal joints of five donors.Of 105142 cells,we identified 13 subpopulations,including a novel subpopulation with inflammation-modulating potential annotated as inflammatory chondrocytes.Fibrocartilage chondrocytes exhibited extensive alteration of gene expression patterns in osteoarthritic cartilage compared with nonosteoarthritic cartilage.Both inflammatory chondrocytes and fibrocartilage chondrocytes showed a trend toward increased numbers in osteoarthritic cartilage.In these two subpopulations from osteoarthritic cartilage,the ferroptosis pathway was enriched,and expression of iron overload-related genes,e.g.,FTH1,was elevated.To verify these findings,we conducted a Mendelian randomization study using UK Biobank and a population-based cross-sectional study using data collected from Xiangya Osteoarthritis Study.Genetic predisposition toward higher expression of FTH1 mRNA significantly increased the risk of hand osteoarthritis(odds ratio=1.07,95%confidence interval:1.02–1.11)among participants(n=332668)in UK Biobank.High levels of serum ferritin(encoded by FTH1),a biomarker of body iron overload,were significantly associated with a high prevalence of hand osteoarthritis among participants(n=1241)of Xiangya Osteoarthritis Study(P-for-trend=0.037).In conclusion,our findings indicate that inflammatory and fibrocartilage chondrocytes are key subpopulations and that ferroptosis may be a key pathway in hand osteoarthritis,providing new insights into the pathophysiology and potential therapeutic targets of hand osteoarthritis.

Prevalence and Incidence of Hand Osteoarthritis and Upper Limb Complaints in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis. Correlations among Functionality, Grip Strength, Changes in Body Mass Index and Symptoms among Patients in an Educational Osteoarthritis Program

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of hand osteoarthritis (hOA) in a population with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) at baseline and one year following the administration of a multi-professional OA educational program correlating symptoms and changes in BMI with function questionnaires of the upper limbs and direct grip strength measurements. Design: Epidemiological study of the prevalence of hand OA in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire instruments (HAQ);Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand* (DASH);grip strength;and finger pinch were utilized, and the upper limbs symptoms were verified at baseline and one year following the educational program. Results: The prevalence of hOA was 23.7% at baseline and 47.4% at one year (incidence of 31.8% per year). The HAQ indicated that patients who did not alter or increased their BMI experienced worsened global strength, whereas patients who reduced BMI improved global strength (p = 0.041). Patients with higher initial BMIs experienced less improvement in the HAQ (r = -0.148, p = 0.041). The DASH results improved, but the right and left tripod grip worsened in all patients, irrespective of BMI change (p < 0.05) or symptoms at baseline and reassessment (p < 0.05). Pinch strength (right and left tripod and left pulp-pulp) was higher in patients without symptoms at baseline (p = 0.048, p = 0.045 and 0.033, respectively). Conclusions: The prevalence of hand OA increased for patients with OA undergoing an educational program irrespective of improved upper function and regardless of BMI change. Patients who decreased their BMI improved their global strength.

Rose Hip Powder That Contains the Natural Amount of Shells and Seeds Alleviates Pain in Osteoarthritis of the Dominant Hand—A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-Over Clinical Trial

Aim: A standardized preparation of seeds and shells of selected sub-species of Rosa canina L, trade name Hyben Vital, reduces discomfort from osteoarthritis of the knee and hip. This study aims to investigate the impact of the same rose-hip powder (RHP) on discomfort and the consumption of rescue medication, in patients with osteoarthritis of the hand. Methods: The double blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial included 30 patients with osteoarthritis of the dominant hand. Patients were randomly allocated to treatment with either five gram encapsulated RHP or placebo, for three months (Phase 1), after which they switched to the corresponding treatment for a further three months period (Phase 2). Before entering the study, after 3 weeks and following three months of each of the study phases, scores for pain, stiffness and general feeling of discomfort were evaluated using a 10 step categorical scale, focusing on 16 different daily activities of the hand. The consumption of rescue medication was also calculated at the beginning and at the end of each study phase. Data are based on the intention to treat. Results: At the end of Phase 1, 90% of patients in the group receiving RHP first (group A), showed a reduction in pain, as compared to 36% in the group B initially given placebo (p 0.029). In line with this observation, stiffness and the general feeling of discomfort from the disease declined during RHP treatment (p 0.032). In group A, symptom reduction was still indicated by the study subjects 3 weeks after the switch to placebo. The consumption of rescue medication such as paracetamol, codeine and tramadol also declined significantly in group A when compared to group B (p 0.013). Conclusion: The present data suggest that administration of RHP, containing seeds and shells can reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hand and consumption of rescue medication.

Targeted knockdown of PGAM5 in synovial macrophages efficiently alleviates osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis(OA)is a common degenerative disease worldwide and new therapeutics that target inflammation and the crosstalk between immunocytes and chondrocytes are being developed to prevent and treat OA.These attempts involve repolarizing pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages into the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype in synovium.In this study,we found that phosphoglycerate mutase 5(PGAM5)significantly increased in macrophages in OA synovium compared to controls based on histology of human samples and single-cell RNA sequencing results of mice models.To address the role of PGAM5 in macrophages in OA,we found conditional knockout of PGAM5 in macrophages greatly alleviated OA symptoms and promoted anabolic metabolism of chondrocytes in vitro and in vivo.Mechanistically,we found that PGAM5 enhanced M1 polarization via AKT-mTOR/p38/ERK pathways,whereas inhibited M2 polarization via STAT6-PPARγpathway in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages.Furthermore,we found that PGAM5 directly dephosphorylated Dishevelled Segment Polarity Protein 2(DVL2)which resulted in the inhibition ofβ-catenin and repolarization of M2 macrophages into M1 macrophages.Conditional knockout of both PGAM5 andβ-catenin in macrophages significantly exacerbated osteoarthritis compared to PGAM5-deficient mice.Motivated by these findings,we successfully designed mannose modified fluoropolymers combined with siPGAM5 to inhibit PGAM5 specifically in synovial macrophages via intra-articular injection,which possessed desired targeting abilities of synovial macrophages and greatly attenuated murine osteoarthritis.Collectively,these findings defined a key role for PGAM5 in orchestrating macrophage polarization and provides insights into novel macrophage-targeted strategy for treating OA.

子痫前期病人长链非编码RNA H19和长链非编码RNA HAND2-AS1表达水平与胰岛素抵抗的相关性研究

目的检测子痫前期病人胎盘组织、血清长链非编码RNA H19(LncRNA H19)与长链非编码RNAHAND2-AS1(Ln⁃cRNA HAND2-AS1)表达水平,并分析其与病人胰岛素抵抗(IR)的相关性。方法将2021年1—12月在唐山市妇幼保健院建卡的子痫前期孕妇105例作为子痫前期组,根据子痫前期孕妇严重程度分为轻度子痫前期组与重度子痫前期组,另选取同期孕周、年龄相符的健康孕妇97例作为对照组,收集所有孕妇身体质量指数(BMI)、孕周、收缩压、舒张压、空腹胰岛素(FINS)、空腹血糖(FBG)等一般资料,并计算稳态模型的IR指数(HOMA-IR);实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)法测定孕妇血清、胎盘组织中LncRNA H19,LncRNA HAND2-AS1水平;比较对照组与子痫前期组、轻度子痫前期组与重度子痫前期组间血清、胎盘组织LncRNA H19、LncRNA HAND2-AS1水平;Pearson法分析子痫前期孕妇血清、胎盘组织LncRNA H19、LncRNA HAND2-AS1与HOMA-IR的相关性。结果子痫前期组病人收缩压、舒张压高于对照组(P<0.05),且重度子痫前期病人收缩压、舒张压高于轻度子痫前期病人,孕周低于轻度子痫前期病人(P<0.05);与对照组相比,子痫前期组孕妇24 h尿蛋白、FBG[(5.84±0.97)mmol/L比(4.22±0.70)mmol/L]、FINS[(13.37±2.23)mU/L比(7.52±1.25)mU/L]、HOMI-IR水平(3.47±0.57比1.41±0.23)升高(P<0.05),且重度子痫前期孕妇24 h尿蛋白、FBG[(6.90±1.15)mmol/L比(5.24±0.85)mmol/L]、FINS[(13.97±2.32)mU/L比(13.05±2.17)mU/L]、HOMI-IR水平(4.27±0.71比3.03±0.50)高于轻度子痫前期孕妇(P<0.05);与对照组相比,子痫前期组孕妇血清、胎盘组织Ln⁃cRNA H19(2.52±1.42比1.01±0.15,3.75±0.62比1.02±0.17)与LncRNA HAND2-AS1水平(1.98±0.33比1.01±0.15,2.87±0.47比1.02±0.17)升高(P<0.05),且重度子痫前期孕妇血清、胎盘组织LncRNA H19(2.84±0.47比2.34±0.39,4.28±0.71比3.45±0.57)与LncRNA HAND2-AS1水平(2.59±0.43比1.63±0.27,3.56±0.59比2.49±0.41)高于轻度子痫前期孕妇(P<0.05);子痫前期病人血清与胎盘组织间LncRNA H19水平呈正相关(r=0.55,P<0.05),血清与胎盘组织间LncRNA HAND2-AS1水平呈正相关性(r=0.65,P<0.05)。子痫前期孕妇血清、胎盘组织LncRNA H19水平分别与HOMI-IR呈正相关(r=0.53、0.59,P<0.05);血清、胎盘组织LncRNA HAND2-AS1水平分别与HOMI-IR呈正相关(r=0.60、0.61,P<0.05)。结论子痫前期病人血清、胎盘组织LncRNA H19、LncRNA HAND2-AS1高表达,二者与IR密切相关,可能通过影响IR参与子痫前期发生发展。

Knee osteoarthritis:A review of animal models and intervention of traditional Chinese medicine

Background:Knee osteoarthritis(KOA)characterized by degeneration of knee cartilage and subsequent bone hyperplasia is a prevalent joint condition primarily affecting aging adults.The pathophysiology of KOA remains poorly understood,as it involves complex mechanisms that result in the same outcome.Consequently,researchers are interested in studying KOA and require appropriate animal models for basic research.Chinese herbal compounds,which consist of multiple herbs with diverse pharmacological properties,possess characteristics such as multicomponent,multipathway,and multitarget effects.The potential benefits in the treatment of KOA continue to attract attention.Purpose:This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the advantages,limitations,and specific considerations in selecting different species and methods for KOA animal models.This will help researchers make informed decisions when choosing an animal model.Methods:Online academic databases(e.g.,PubMed,Google Scholar,Web of Science,and CNKI)were searched using the search terms“knee osteoarthritis,”“animal models,”“traditional Chinese medicine,”and their combinations,primarily including KOA studies published from 2010 to 2023.Results:Based on literature retrieval,this review provides a comprehensive overview of the methods of establishing KOA animal models;introduces the current status of advantages and disadvantages of various animal models,including mice,rats,rabbits,dogs,and sheep/goats;and presents the current status of methods used to establish KOA animal models.Conclusion:This study provides a review of the animal models used in recent KOA research,discusses the common modeling methods,and emphasizes the role of traditional Chinese medicine compounds in the treatment of KOA.

Efficacy of stromal vascular fraction for knee osteoarthritis:A prospective,single-centre,non-randomized study with 2 years follow-up

BACKGROUND Current osteoarthritis(OA)treatments focus on symptom relief without addressing the underlying disease process.In regenerative medicine,current treatments have limitations.In regenerative medicine,more research is needed for intra-articular stromal vascular fraction(SVF)injections in OA,including dosage optimization,long-term efficacy,safety,comparisons with other treatments,and mechanism exploration.AIM To compare the efficacy of intra-articular SVF with corticosteroid(ICS)injections in patients with primary knee OA.METHODS The study included 50 patients with Kellgren-Lawrence grades II and III OA.Patients were randomly assigned(1:1)to receive either a single intra-articular SVF injection(group A)or a single intra-articular ICS(triamcinolone)(group B)injection.Patients were followed up at 1,3,6,12,and 24 months.Visual analog score(VAS)and International Knee Documentation Committee(IKDC)scores were administered before the procedure and at all followups.The safety of SVF in terms of adverse and severe adverse events was recorded.Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS Version 26.0,IBM Corp,Chicago,IL,United States.RESULTS Both groups had similar demographics and baseline clinical characteristics.Follow-up showed minor patient loss,resulting in 23 and 24 in groups A and B respectively.Group A experienced a notable reduction in pain,with VAS scores decreasing from 7.7 to 2.4 over 24 months,compared to a minor reduction from 7.8 to 6.2 in Group B.This difference in pain reduction in group A was statistically significant from the third month onwards.Additionally,Group A showed significant improvements in knee functionality,with IKDC scores rising from 33.4 to 83.10,whereas Group B saw a modest increase from 36.7 to 45.16.The improvement in Group A was statistically significant from 6 months and maintained through 24 months.CONCLUSION Our study demonstrated that intra-articular administration of SVF can lead to reduced pain and improved knee function in patients with primary knee OA.More adequately powered,multi-center,double-blinded,randomised clinical trials with longer follow-ups are needed to further establish safety and justify its clinical use.

Extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells mediate extracellular matrix remodeling in osteoarthritis through the transport of microRNA-29a

BACKGROUND Knee osteoarthritis(KOA)is a common orthopedic condition with an uncertain etiology,possibly involving genetics and biomechanics.Factors like changes in chondrocyte microenvironment,oxidative stress,inflammation,and immune responses affect KOA development.Early-stage treatment options primarily target symptom relief.Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)show promise for treatment,despite challenges.Recent research highlights microRNAs(miRNAs)within MSC-released extracellular vesicles that can potentially promote cartilage regeneration and hinder KOA progression.This suggests exosomes(Exos)as a promising avenue for future treatment.While these findings emphasize the need for effective KOA progression management,further safety and efficacy validation for Exos is essential.AIM To explore miR-29a’s role in KOA,we’ll create miR-29a-loaded vesicles,testing for early treatment in rat models.METHODS Extraction of bone marrow MSC-derived extracellular vesicles,preparation of engineered vesicles loaded with miR-29a using ultrasonication,and identification using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction;after establi-shing a rat model of KOA,rats were randomly divided into three groups:Blank control group injected with saline,normal extracellular vesicle group injected with normal extracellular vesicle suspension,and engineered extrace-llular vesicle group injected with engineered extracellular vesicle suspension.The three groups evaluation,histological detection,and immunohistochemical detection to compare and evaluate the progress of various forms of arthritis.RESULTS General behavioral observation results showed that the extracellular vesicle group and engineered extracellular vesicle group had better performance in all four indicators of pain,gait,joint mobility,and swelling compared to the blank control group.Additionally,the engineered extracellular vesicle group had better pain relief at 4 wk and better knee joint mobility at 8 wk compared to the normal extracellular vesicle group.Imaging examination results showed that the blank control group had the fastest progression of arthritis,the normal extracellular vesicle group had a relatively slower progression,and the engineered extracellular vesicle group had the slowest progression.Gross histological observation results showed that the blank control group had the most obvious signs of arthritis,the normal extracellular vesicle group showed signs of arthritis,and the engineered extracellular vesicle group showed no significant signs of arthritis.Using the Pelletier gross score evaluation,the engineered extracellular vesicle group had the slowest progression of arthritis.Results from two types of staining showed that the articular cartilage of rats in the normal extracellular vesicle and engineered extracellular vesicle groups was significantly better than that of the blank control group,and the engineered extracellular vesicle group had the best cartilage cell and joint surface condition.Immunohistochemical detection of type II collagen and proteoglycan showed that the extracellular matrix of cartilage cells in the normal extracellular vesicle and engineered extracellular vesicle groups was better than that of the blank control group.Compared to the normal extracellular vesicle group,the engineered extracellular vesicle group had a better regulatory effect on the extracellular matrix of cartilage cells.CONCLUSION Engineered Exos loaded with miR-29a can exert anti-inflammatory effects and maintain extracellular matrix stability,thereby protecting articular cartilage,and slowing the progression of KOA.

Prevalence,Characteristics and Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis in Urban Residents of Beijing,China:A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Knee osteoarthritis(KOA)is a common progressive joint disease with chronic pain and movement disorders as the main clinical features.It is a major public health problem worldwide and it imposes serious medical and economic burdens.KOA accounts for nearly four-fifths of the global Osteoarthritis burden and increases with rising obesity and age[1].There are many reasons for the change in disease prevalence and risk factors,such as urbanization,lifestyle changes,population aging,and sex imbalances.

Matrix stiffening promotes chondrocyte senescence and the osteoarthritis development through downregulating HDAC3

Extracellular matrix(ECM)stiffening is a typical characteristic of cartilage aging,which is a quintessential feature of knee osteoarthritis(KOA).However,little is known about how ECM stiffening affects chondrocytes and other molecules downstream.This study mimicked the physiological and pathological stiffness of human cartilage using polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)substrates.It demonstrated that epigenetic Parkin regulation by histone deacetylase 3(HDAC3)represents a new mechanosensitive mechanism by which the stiffness matrix affected chondrocyte physiology.We found that ECM stiffening accelerated cultured chondrocyte senescence in vitro,while the stiffness ECM downregulated HDAC3,prompting Parkin acetylation to activate excessive mitophagy and accelerating chondrocyte senescence and osteoarthritis(OA)in mice.Contrarily,intra-articular injection with an HDAC3-expressing adeno-associated virus restored the young phenotype of the aged chondrocytes stimulated by ECM stiffening and alleviated OA in mice.The findings indicated that changes in the mechanical ECM properties initiated pathogenic mechanotransduction signals,promoted the Parkin acetylation and hyperactivated mitophagy,and damaged chondrocyte health.These results may provide new insights into chondrocyte regulation by the mechanical properties of ECM,suggesting that the modification of the physical ECM properties may be a potential OA treatment strategy.

Hand Cooling Enhances the Proprioceptive Drift during Rubber Hand Illusion

Background: The neural representation of the body is easily altered by integrating multiple sensory signals in the brain. The “Rubber Hand Illusion” (RHI) is one of the most popular experimental paradigms to investigate this phenomenon. During this illusion, ownership of a rubber hand is temporarily induced. It was shown that external and continuous cooling of the palm enhanced the RHI, suggesting an association between altered the autonomic nervous system regulation and altered the sense of ownership of a specific limb. Purpose: To investigate whether artificially cooling the entire hand for a short period affects the magnitude of the illusion. Methods: Participants immersed their entire hand in cool, cold, or warm water for 1 min before the RHI procedure. Results: We found that cooling the entire hand enhanced the proprioceptive drift during the RHI but not the subjective feeling of ownership. In contrast, warming and intense cooling of the entire hand did not affect the RHI strength. Conclusion: Our results suggest that transient and moderate cooling of the entire hand was sufficient in enhancing the illusory disembodiment of one’s own hand.

Knee Osteoarthritis Progression after Distal Femur Closing Wedge Osteotomy

Background: Despite the conservative treatment of tibio-femoral osteoarthritis through realignment osteotomies, the rate of total knee replacements following an osteotomy is increasing. The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with the progression of knee osteoarthritis after a medial closing-wedge distal femoral osteotomy. Methods: Hospital-based observational study on 20 patients who underwent a medial closing-wedge distal femoral osteotomy evaluating the progression of osteoarthritis using the Kellgren and Laurence classification. The Wilcoxon test was used to compare the variation in the progressive stage of the Kellgren and Laurence classification of knee osteoarthritis preoperatively and at the final follow up. Univariate analysis made it possible to determine the factors associated with progression. The final significance threshold for statistical tests was set at 5% (p Results: Overall, the mean follow-up of 46 months ± 6.6 months, with a mean age of 43 years (range: 27 - 69 years) and a female predominance (M: F = 3/7). The progression of tibiofemoral osteoarthritis following a medial closing-wedge distal femoral osteotomy is associated with valgus or varum malalignment been a moderate valgus (OR 6.2 [1.5 - 42.7] at 95% CI;p-value = 0.02), a correction of the mechanical deviation angle with a valgus alignment (OR 2.7 [0.9 - 8.3] at 95% CI), and loss of correction (OR 3.8 [1.3 - 11.6] at 95% CI;p -value) for the lateral compartment while varus alignment (OR 1.7 [0.9 - 8.3] 95% CI, p-value = 0.05) and with rupture of the lateral cortex (OR 2.8 [1.7 - 11.5] 95% CI, p-value = 0.02) were those of the medial compartment. Conclusion: Distal femur closing wedge osteotomy does not definitively interrupt the progression of valgus knee osteoarthritis. The factors associated with the progression of this pathology are modifiable. Taking them into account when performing this surgical technique could improve the osteotomy survival curve.

Epidemiological, Clinical and Paraclinical Profile of Osteoarthritis of the Lower Limbs in Obese Patients at the Cocody University Teaching Hospital

Objective: To describe the epidemiological, clinical and paraclinical characteristics of osteoarthritis of the lower limbs in obese patients at the Cocody University Teaching Hospital. Methodology: This was an analytical cross-sectional study carried out in the rheumatology department of the Cocody UTH in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) from March 1 to April 30 2023. Patients who came for rheumatology consultation presenting with mechanical arthralgia of the lower limbs, who were obese, had radiographic images were included. All patients without radiographic images were excluded. Obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m. The Chi2 test was used to compare proportions and determine the existence of associations between osteoarthristis and obesity, obesity severity and radiographic stage of osteoarthritis as well as the functional impact. A p-value below a predefined threshold (p = 0,05) indicates a significant relationship between the variables. Result: Out of 185 patients received for osteoarthritis of the lower limbs during the study period, 136 were obese (74%). There were 115 women (84.6%) with an average age of 56.03 with a standard deviation of 12.72 years (extremes: 22 and 84 years). The main socio-professional category was the informal sector (30%). The majority of patients had a low socio-economic level (80.2%) and lived in urban areas (92.6%). The most common past medical history was hypertension (33.08%) followed by peptic ulcer disease (16.91%). Patients had a body mass index class 1 (81.6%), class 2 (15.40%) and class 3 (2.90%). The average duration of symptom progression until diagnosis was 11 months. Genu varum was the main static disorder (56.10%) and the knee joint was the dominant topography (90.4%) with a bilateral localization (80%). The average Lequesne index was greater than 8 (59.5%). The Kellgren and Lawrence radiographic stages were stage 1 (9.20%), stage 2 (46.90%), stage 3 (29.20%) and stage 4 (6.90%). The Obesity severity was significantly associated with osteoarthritis of the knee (p = 0.042). There was no statistically significant association between obesity severity and radiographic stage of osteoarthritis (p = 0.163) or functional impact (p = 0.180). Conclusion: Osteoarthritis of the lower limbs affected obese women and was dominated by stage 2 osteoarthritis of the knee (Kellgren and Lawrence). There is an association between the severity of obesity and osteoarthritis of the knee.

Acupotomy ameliorates knee osteoarthritis-related collagen deposition and fibrosis in rabbit skeletal muscle through the TGF-β/Smad pathway

Objective To investigate the effects of acupotomy on skeletal muscle fibrosis and collagen deposition in a rabbit knee osteoarthritis(KOA)model.Methods Rabbits(n=18)were randomly divided into control,KOA,and KOA+acupotomy(Apo)groups(n=6).The rabbits in the KOA and Apo groups were modeled using the modified Videman's method for 6 weeks.After modeling,the Apo group was subjected to acupotomy once a week for 3 weeks on the vastus medialis,vastus lateralis,rectus femoris,biceps femoris,and anserine bursa tendons around the knee.The behavior of all animals was recorded,rectus femoris tissue was obtained,and histomorphological changes were observed using Masson staining and transmission electron microscopy.The expression of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1),Smad 3,Smad 7,fibrillar collagen types I(Col-I)and III(Col-III)was detected using Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Histological analysis revealed that acupotomy improved the microstructure and reduced the collagen volume fraction of rectus femoris,compared with the KOA group(P=.034).Acupotomy inhibited abnormal collagen deposition by modulating the expression of fibrosis-related proteins and mRNA,thus preventing skeletal muscle fibrosis.Western blot and RT-PCR analysis revealed that in the Apo group,Col-I,and Col-III protein levels were significantly lower than those in the KOA group(both P<.01),same as Col-I and Col-III mRNA levels(P=.0031;P=.0046).Compared with the KOA group,the protein levels of TGF-β1 and Smad 3 were significantly reduced(both P<.01),as were the mRNA levels of TGF-β1 and Smad 3(P=.0007;P=.0011).Conversely,the levels of protein and mRNA of Smad 7 were significantly higher than that in the KOA group(P<.01;P=.0271).Conclusion Acupotomy could alleviate skeletal muscle fibrosis and delay KOA progress by inhibiting collagen deposition through the TGF-β/Smad pathway in the skeletal muscle of KOA rabbits.

Additional comments on extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells mediate extracellular matrix remodeling in osteoarthritis

Recently,we read an article published by the Yang et al.The results of this study indicated that engineered exosomes loaded with microRNA-29a(miR-29a)alleviate knee inflammation and maintain extracellular matrix stability in Sprague Dawley rats.The study’s results provide useful information for treating knee osteoarthritis(KOA).This letter,shares our perspectives on treating KOA using engineered exosomes for miR-29a.

Carbamazepine in osteoarthritis treatment:A novel approach targeting Nav1.7 channels

Osteoarthritis(OA)presents a growing health concern,with substantial societal and healthcare burdens.Current management focuses on symptom relief,lacking disease-modifying options.Emerging research suggests the sodium channel Nav1.7 as a pivotal target in OA treatment.Preclinical studies demonstrate carbamazepine's efficacy in Nav1.7 blockade,offering significant joint protection in animal models.However,human trials are needed to validate these findings.Carbamazepine's repurposing holds promise for OA management,potentially revolutionizing treatment paradigms.Further research is essential to bridge the gap between preclinical evidence and clinical application,offering hope for improved OA management and enhanced patient quality of life.

Recent research progress from biological perspective on the mechanism of formation of osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament injury

The anterior cruciate ligament(ACL)mainly plays a role in stabilizing the knee joint by limiting the forward translation of tibial force and rotational force at the tibial joint,and if this ligament is damaged,it will cause joint pain,limited mobility,knee instability,etc.According to related studies,the incidence of traumatic osteoarthritis(PTOA)after ACL injury is as high as 87%,although many studies have shown that patients with ACL injury are susceptible to PTOA,but the exact mechanism is currently unknown.This may be related to biological,structural,and mechanical factors caused by the ligament injury.Previous studies have shown that elevated inflammatory mediators in the joint cavity following ACL injury can lead to chondrocytes necrosis and degradation of the cartilage matrix.These potential biochemical mediators contribute to PTOA formation,and early intervention can reduce future episodes of PTOA.In recent years,many scholars have devoted themselves to studying the potential important factors and signaling pathways involved in the formation of osteoarthritis after ACL injury,and exploring its molecular mechanism,which has led to great progress in this field.This paper mainly studies and discusses the mechanism of osteoarthritis formation after ACL injury from the biological perspective.

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty vs high tibial osteotomy for knee osteoarthritis:A comparison of clinical and radiological outcomes

BACKGROUND Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty(UKA)and high tibial osteotomy(HTO)are well-established operative interventions in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.However,which intervention is more beneficial to patients with knee osteoarthritis remains unknown and a topic of much debate.Simultaneously,there is a paucity of research assessing the relationship between radiographic parameters of knee joint alignment and patient-reported clinical outcomes,preoperatively and following HTO or UKA.AIM To compare UKAs and HTOs as interventions for medial-compartment knee osteoarthritis:Examining differences in clinical outcome and investigating the relationship of joint alignment with respect to this.METHODS This longitudinal observational study assessed a total of 42 patients that had undergone UKA(n=23)and HTO(n=19)to treat medial compartment knee osteoarthritis.Patient-reported outcome measures(PROMs)were collected to evaluate clinical outcome.These included two disease-specific(Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score,Oxford Knee Score)and two generic(EQ-5D-5L,Short Form-12)PROMs.The radiographic parameters of knee alignment assessed were the:Hip-knee-ankle angle,mechanical axis deviation and angle of Mikulicz line.RESULTS Statistical analyses demonstrated significant(P<0.001),preoperative to postoperative,improvements in the PROM scores of both groups.There were,however,no significant inter-group differences in the postoperative PROM scores of the UKA and HTO group.Several significant correlations associated a more distolaterally angled Mikulicz line with worse knee function and overall health preoperatively(P<0.05).Postoperatively,two clusters of significant correlations were observed between the disease-specific PROM scores and knee joint alignment parameters(hip-knee-ankle angle,mechanical axis deviation)within the HTO group;yet no such associations were observed within the UKA group.CONCLUSION UKAs and HTOs are both efficacious operations that provide a comparable degree of clinical benefit to patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis.Clinical outcome has a limited association with radiographic parameters of knee joint alignment postoperatively;however,a more distolaterally angled Mikulicz line appears associated with worse knee function/health-related quality of life preoperatively.

Intra-articular interventions in osteoarthritis:Navigating the landscape of hyaluronic acid,mesenchymal stem cells,and plateletrich plasma

Osteoarthritis(OA)poses a substantial burden on patients,leading to pain,functional decline,and reduced quality of life.While conventional treatments focus on symptom management,disease-modifying interventions are yet to be established.This review explores the efficacy of intra-articular interventions,particularly hyaluronic acid(HA),mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs),and platelet-rich plasma(PRP),in the context of OA management.HA injections,with diverse formulations like Hylan G-F20,sodium hyaluronate,and hyaluronan,present varying outcomes,necessitating a nuanced understanding of their effectiveness and timing.MSC therapy,derived from adipose tissue,umbilical cord,or bone marrow,shows promising results in clinical improvement,with adipose-derived MSCs demonstrating efficacy in maintaining benefits over 6 mo.Conversely,bone-marrow-derived MSCs show limited effectiveness,highlighting the need for sourcespecific considerations.PRP has emerged as a superior option for long-term pain reduction and quality of life improvement,with leukocyte-poor formulations and a critical platelet count of 10 billion demonstrating optimal results.This comprehensive analysis underscores the potential of intra-articular interventions in OA management,emphasizing the need for personalized and evidence-based approaches to enhance treatment efficacy and patient outcomes.