Automated analysis of rabbit knee calcified cartilage morphology using micro-computed tomography and deep learning

Structural dynamics of calcified cartilage (CC) are poorly understood. Conventionally, CC structure is analyzed using histological sections. Micro-computed tomography (µCT) allows for three-dimensional (3D) imaging of mineralized tissues; however, the segmentation between bone and mineralized cartilage is challenging. Here, we present state-of-the-art deep learning segmentation for µCT images to assess 3D CC morphology. The sample includes 16 knees from 12 New Zealand White rabbits dissected into osteochondral samples from six anatomical regions: lateral and medial femoral condyles, lateral and medial tibial plateaus, femoral groove, and patella (n = 96). The samples were imaged with µCT and processed for conventional histology. Manually segmented CC from the images was used to train segmentation models with different encoder–decoder architectures. The models with the greatest out-of-fold evaluation Dice score were selected. CC thickness was compared across 24 regions, co-registered between the imaging modalities using Pearson correlation and Bland–Altman analyses. Finally, the anatomical CC thickness variation was assessed via a Linear Mixed Model analysis. The best segmentation models yielded average Dice of 0.891 and 0.807 for histology and µCT segmentation, respectively. The correlation between the co-registered regions was strong (r = 0.897, bias = 21.9 µm, standard deviation = 21.5 µm). Finally, both methods could separate the CC thickness between the patella, femoral, and tibial regions (p < 0.001). As a conclusion, the proposed µCT analysis allows for ex vivo 3D assessment of CC morphology. We demonstrated the biomedical relevance of the method by quantifying CC thickness in different anatomical regions with a varying mean thickness. CC was thickest in the patella and thinnest in the tibial plateau. Our method is relatively straightforward to implement into standard µCT analysis pipelines, allowing the analysis of CC morphology. In future research, µCT imaging might be preferable to histology, especially when analyzing dynamic changes in cartilage mineralization. It could also provide further understanding of 3D morphological changes that may occur in mineralized cartilage, such as thickening of the subchondral plate in osteoarthritis and other joint diseases.     

Quantitative bone imaging biomarkers to diagnose temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis

Bone degradation of the condylar surface is seen in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA); however, the initial changes occur in the subchondral bone. This cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate 23 subchondral bone imaging biomarkers for TMJ OA. The sample consisted of high-resolution cone beam computed tomography scans of 84 subjects, divided into two groups: TMJ OA (45 patients with TMJ OA) and control (39 asymptomatic subjects). Six regions of each mandibular condyle scan were extracted for computation of five bone morphometric and 18 grey-level texture-based variables. The groups were compared using the Mann–Whitney U-test, and the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was determined for each variable that showed a statically significance difference. The results showed statistically significant differences in the subchondral bone microstructure in the lateral and central condylar regions between the control and TMJ OA groups (P <  0.05). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for these variables was between 0.620 and 0.710. In conclusion, 13 imaging bone biomarkers presented an acceptable diagnostic performance for the diagnosis of TMJ OA, indicating that the texture and geometry of the subchondral bone microarchitecture may be useful for quantitative grading of the disease.     

Disengagement of tibial insert locking pin in total knee arthroplasty - A rare failure case report

Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) has seen many advancements over the years. One such advancement is development of locking mechanism for polyethylene insert in modular implants. It aims to reduce micro motion and wear problems. Disengagement of locking pin from insert after primary TKA without trauma is rare complication. The author describes a rare case of disengagement of the polyethylene insert locking pin in primary total knee arthroplasty. Disengagement of the locking clip was observed 8 months after index operation without any trauma.     

膝骨关节炎中医药系统生物学研究述评＊

膝骨关节炎（Knee Osteoarthritis， KOA）属于临床难治性疾病，其高发病率、高致残性给国民健康、社会发展造成了沉重的负担。在这种不利局面下，中医药在KOA的临床防治上发挥了巨大的作用，其根据“辨证施治”理念的指导对患者采用个体化治疗往往能够取得良好的临床疗效 。然而中医学在传统认知上作为经验医学的集成，现有的KOA中医药基础研究结果尚未完全阐明其客观化、现代化的属性，阻碍了中医药防治KOA科学内涵的揭示以及全面、系统的临床研究的开展和新药研发，如何开展完善、合理、可行的基础研究以进行KOA中医药客观化和现代化探索成为研究者不得不解决的重大难题。随着系统生物学知识结构和研究手段的完善与更新，其与中医药的结合已经成为阐释并创新中医药理论内核、突破中医药研究瓶颈的重要方法。本文通过总结、分析目前KOA中医药基础研究的现状与不足，突出系统生物学在目前KOA中医药研究中的关键作用及应用趋势，以期为今后KOA的中医药研究和发展提供新的思路与对策。     

膝骨性关节炎患者平衡功能障碍及其影响因素分析

目的 探讨膝骨性关节炎（KOA）患者平衡功能及其相关影响因素。方法 选取2014年12月至2017年9月合肥市第二人民医院骨科收治的单膝受累30例KOA患者为观察对象,采用平衡测试仪对患者进行平衡功能检测,比较健、患侧测试完成耗时及平均轨迹误差,收集患者体质量指数、K-L分级、疼痛指数、美国膝关节协会评分（KSS）等指标,利用多元回归分析上述指标对患者平衡功能的影响。结果 患者健、患侧平衡指标比较,患侧平均轨迹误差值（46.63±25.30）%大于健侧值（40.77±23.85）%,差异有统计学意义（t=-2.299,P<0.05）;多元回归分析示：KSS临床评分对睁眼时前-后平均运动速度（t=-2.593,P<0.05）及重心摆动轨迹长度（t=-2.178,P<0.05）的影响具有统计学意义,对两者变异的解释比例分别为19%、15%,而疼痛指数对闭眼轨迹长度/睁眼轨迹长度比（Romberg值长度比）的影响具有统计学意义（t=-2.641,P<0.05）,解释比例为20%。结论 KOA患者存在平衡功能障碍;膝关节疼痛指数及KSS临床评分对于评估KOA患者平衡功能障碍具有重要意义。     

关刺配合手法治疗对老年膝骨性关节炎疼痛程度和运动功能的影响

目的 观察经筋关刺法配合郑氏手法治疗老年膝骨性关节炎疼痛程度和运动功能的影响.方法 将68例老年膝骨性关节炎患者随机分为实验组(经筋关刺及郑氏手法组)与对照组(普通电针组).以临床疗效、Lysholm评分、膝HSS评分为观察指标,比较两组治疗方法对膝关节疼痛程度和运动功能的影响.结果 疗效评估:实验组有效率94.1%,优于对照组.Ly-sholm评分项目:闭锁感、肿胀度、楼梯攀爬得分均得到较大程度的改善,且实验组优于对照组(P<0.05).膝HSS评分项目:疼痛、功能、活动度得到较大程度的改善,且实验组优于对照组(P<0.05).结论 经筋关刺法配合郑氏手法发挥了良好的协同效应,恢复膝关节周围力学的平衡,能更有效的改善老年患者的膝关节疼痛程度及运动功能,适合老年患者,对老年膝骨性关节炎有显著疗效.     

依托考昔联合盐酸氨基葡萄糖治疗膝关节骨性关节炎的疗效分析

目的探讨依托考昔联合盐酸氨基葡萄糖治疗膝关节骨性关节炎的疗效。方法选取2016年2月至2017年8月在我院治疗的膝关节骨性关节炎患者112例,采用随机数字表法将患者分为依托考昔治疗组(n=37)、盐酸氨基葡萄糖治疗组(n=40)和联合治疗组(n=35),观察各组治疗疗效、WOMAC评分、关节滑液肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、基质金属蛋白酶-3(MMP-3)、MMP-9、MMP-13和不良反应。结果联合治疗组临床疗效优于依托考昔治疗组和盐酸氨基葡萄糖治疗组(P<0.05),其总有效率为94.29%;联合治疗组治疗后疼痛评分、僵硬评分、功能障碍评分及WOMAC总分分别为(11.57±2.82)分、(3.48±1.77)分、(30.05±8.96)分和(45.18±9.27)分,明显低于依托考昔治疗组和盐酸氨基葡萄糖治疗组(P<0.05);联合治疗组治疗后TNF-α、MMP-3、MMP-9和MMP-13分别为(30.12±9.22)pg/ml、(101.02±20.33)ng/ml、(32.28±10.05)ng/ml和(156.38±18.38)ng/ml,明显低于依托考昔治疗组和盐酸氨基葡萄糖治疗组(P<0.05);依托考昔治疗组和盐酸氨基葡萄糖治疗组治疗后疼痛评分、僵硬评分、功能障碍评分、WOMAC总分、TNF-α、MMP-3、MMP-9和MMP-13比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);三组不良反应发生率比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论依托考昔联合盐酸氨基葡萄糖治疗膝关节骨性关节炎的疗效较好,同时可抑制TNF-α的释放和基质金属蛋白酶表达。     

Pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate in the management of knee osteoarthritis

Introduction: Chondroitin Sulfate (CS) is a drug which is available as pharmaceutical-grade and nutriceutical-grade products, with important variations in preparation, composition, purity and therapeutic effects. Previous studies using pharmaceutical-grade CS suggested that the compound improves pain and function and delays structural progression in knee osteoarthritis (OA), whereas discrepant results were observed when lower grade preparations were investigated.

Areas covered: The recently published chondroitin versus celecoxib versus Placebo Trial (CONCEPT) assessed the symptomatic effect of pharmaceutical-grade CS 800 mg/day in symptomatic knee OA.

Expert opinion: This prospective, randomized, 6-month, 3-arm, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo and celecoxib (200 mg/day) – controlled trial involved 604 patients aged above 50 years with primary knee OA. This study showed that CS is superior to placebo and similar to celecoxib in reducing pain and improving function in Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1–3 patients supporting the role of pharmaceutical-grade CS as a potential first-line treatment for the management of patients with mild to moderate knee OA.