Relationship between lower limb dynamics and knee joint pain

To test the hypothesis that appropriate and timely neuromuscular control of limb motions plays an important role in the preservation of joint health, we kinematically and kinetically examined the behavior of the legs of young adult subjects at heel strike during natural walking. We compared a group of 18 volunteers, who, we presumed, were preosteoarthrotic because of mild, intermittent, activity-related knee joint pain, with 14 age-matched asymptomatic normal subjects. The two groups of subjects exhibited similar gait patterns with equivalent cadences, walking speeds, terminal stance phase knee flexion, maximum (peak) swing angular velocity, and overall shape of the vertical ground reaction. However, our instrumentation detected statistically significant differences between the two groups within a few milliseconds of heel strike. In the knee pain group, the heel hit the floor with a stronger impact in this brief interval. Just before heel strike, there was a faster downward velocity of the ankle with a larger angular velocity of the shank. The follow-through of the leg immediately after heel strike was more violent with larger peak axial and angular accelerations of the leg echoed by a more rapid rise of the ground reaction force. This sequence of events represents repetitive impulsive loading, which consistently provoked osteoarthrosis in animal experiments. We refer to this micro-incoordination of neuromuscular control not visible to the naked eye as "microklutziness."     

Efficacy study of two novel hyaluronic acid-based formulations for viscosupplementation therapy in an early osteoarthrosic rabbit model

Viscosupplementation (VS) is a therapy for osteoarthrosis (OA) consisting of repetitive intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid (HA). It is known to be clinically effective in relieving pain and increasing joint mobility by restoring joint homeostasis. In this study, the effects of two novel HA-based VS hydrogel formulations were assessed and challenged against a pure HA commercial formulation for the first time and this in a rabbit model of early OA induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT). The first formulation tested was a hybrid hydrogel composed of HA and reacetylated chitosan, a biopolymer considered to be chondroprotective, assembled thanks to an ionic shielding. The second formulation consisted of a novel HA polymer grafted with antioxidant molecules (HA-4AR) aiming at decreasing OA oxidative stress and increasing HA retention time in the articulation.ACLT was performed on rabbits in order to cause structural changes comparable to traumatic osteoarthrosis. The protective effects of the different formulations were observed on the early phase of the pathology in a full randomized and blinded manner. The cartilage, synovial membrane, and subchondral bone were evaluated by complementary investigation techniques such as gross morphological scoring, scanning electron microscopy, histological scoring, and micro-computed tomography were used.In this study, ACLT was proven to successfully reproduce early OA articular characteristics found in humans. HA and HA-4AR hydrogels were found to be moderately protective for cartilage as highlighted by μCT. The HA-4AR was the only formulation able to decrease synovial membrane hypertrophy occurring in OA. Finally, the hybrid HA-reacetylated chitosan hydrogel surprisingly led to increased subchondral bone remodeling and cartilage defect formation. This study shows significant effects of two innovative HA modification strategies in an OA rabbit model, which warrant further studies toward more effective viscosupplementation formulations.     

Arthropathy in von Willebrand's disease

Summary A 62-year-old woman with severe von Willebrand's disease and a long history of joint complaints is presented. Her history, the progressive radiological findings, the demonstration of haemarthrosis and a literature review support the view that some patients with von Willebrand's disease can suffer from an incapacitating arthropathy akin to that seen in haemophilia.     

Assessment of extensor and flexor strength in the individual gonarthrotic patient: Interpretation of performance changes

Summary The intra-session and inter-session reproducibility of knee extensor and flexor strength measurements were examined in 21 gonarthrotic subjects (ten women and eleven men). Using the Cybex 6000 dynamometer, isokinetic peak torque and total work at 30 and 120 degrees/second and isometric peak torque were measured three times on separate days within two weeks by the same examiner. The reproducibility of walking and stair climbing time measurements was also assessed. The concept of critical difference (i.e. the difference between two measurements which would be statistically significant when applied to a reference group in steady state) for the interpretation of muscle strength data obtained by monitoring individual patients is presented.Individual coefficients of variation (CV) were calculated for each muscle strength variable. Depending on the velocity and on whether peak torque or total work were measured, the median CV of intra-session and inter-session extensor strength measurements ranged from 1.5–4.9% and 7.4–10.1%, respectively. CVs for flexor strength measurements were significantly higher. Substantial variability of within subject variances were found, e.g. the 80% central range of CVs for extensor toruqe at 30 degrees/second was 2.5–29.5% (inter-session). Calculated from CVs, critical differences for inter-session measurements exceeded 30% for all muscle strength variables. Median CVs for walking and stair-climbing time were 7.0% and 4.9%, respectively.In conclusion, the large CVs and corresponding critical differences may be a major limitation in the use of muscle strength measurements in the individual gonarthrotic patient.     

Diagnostic validity (sensitivity and specificity) of panoramic X-rays in osteoarthrosis of the temporomandibular joint

Objective:

To establish the diagnostic validity of panoramic X-rays (PRx) in temporomandibular osteoarthrosis (OA) using the clinical and imaging criteria (magnetic resonance imaging, MRI) of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) as gold standards.

Methods:

Eighty-four patients with full clinical records (RDC/TMD), PRx, and MRI scans were selected. Two stomatologists evaluated the PRx for OA. The MRI findings were derived from the radiologist report. Intra/inter-examiner concordance was established. The diagnostic concordance between clinical signs and MRI was determined. Both were used as gold standards to calculate the validity of PRx in OA.

Results:

The diagnostic validity of PRx with MRI as gold standard was sensitivity?=?69·0% and specificity?=?67·9%. The diagnostic validity of PRx with clinical criteria as gold standard was sensitivity?=?61·6% and specificity =?57·9%.

Discussion:

Panoramic X-rays have scant diagnostic validity in temporomandibular osteoarthrosis when taking MRI or clinical criteria of RDC/TMD as gold standards.     

诱导型一氧化氮合酶在动物颞下颌关节软骨组织中的定位表达

目的 探讨颞下颌关节骨关节病（TMJOA）病变发展的不同阶段,诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）在软骨组织中的表达强度及在组织中的定位。方法 8只山羊分为4组。首先采用1%胶原酶注射山羊关节腔,建立TMJOA动物模型。注射胶原酶后第2、4、12、24周,分别处死2只动物。免疫组化法检测iNOS在TMJOA关节软骨组织中的表达情况。结果 对照组无iNOS表达,各实验组在软骨组织中均有iNOS表达。病变中期iNOS表达强烈,提示NO与软骨的破坏有关。在病变后期,iNOS的表达逐渐变弱。结论 iNOS在TMJOA发生发展的过程中起着重要的作用。     

玻璃酸钠配合臭氧用于膝骨性关节炎的临床疗效

目的探讨玻璃酸钠配合臭氧用于膝骨性关节炎的临床疗效。方法选择确诊为膝骨性关节炎患者93例,经知情同意后,按自愿选择原则,分为玻璃酸钠配合臭氧关节腔内注射组(联合组)与单纯臭氧组(臭氧组),分别给予玻璃酸钠配合臭氧(45μg/mL注射10 mL)膝关节腔内注射,每周1次,连续5次为一疗程。观察注射前、15、30、60、90 d患者VAS评分、治疗有效率及Lysholm膝关节功能评分评估患膝的功能改善状况。结果治疗后联合组与臭氧组VAS评分均有下降(P<0.05),联合组更明显(P<0.01);联合组总有效率为96.0%(48/50例),臭氧组为62.8%(27/43例);膝关节功能评分两组较治疗前均有增高(P<0.05),联合组增加显著(P<0.01)。结论玻璃酸钠配合臭氧用于膝骨性关节炎临床疗效显著、安全性高,值得临床推广。     

3种骨疾病患者甲襞微循环的临床研究

目的　观察股骨头坏死、退行性骨关节炎和骨质疏松患者甲襞微循环的变化情况。方法　利用微循环仪进行甲襞微循环状况检测 ,并用田氏积分法进行积分。结果　 3种骨病患者的甲襞微循环都不同程度的发生改变 ,尤以股骨头坏死和退行性骨关节炎最为严重。结论　骨疾病患者可以发生不同程度的微循环改变 ,这种改变可能是其发病机制之一。通过改善微循环可能是治疗和预防骨疾病的有效方法     

Does TGF-β play a role in degenerative temporomandibular joint diseases? A systematic review

Objectives: The objective of this review was to assess the literature for evidence investigating the role of TGF-β in temporomandibular joint disease with osteoarthritis.

Method: An electronic and manual search was carried out on the databases, MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web Of Science, and EMBASE, from 1975 to December 2015 by two independent evaluators to identify clinical and laboratory trials in English.

Results: The search produced 693 records. Following a process of selection based on certain criteria, eight articles were included.

Discussion: This systematic review suggests that TGF-β administration alone does not result in joint regeneration; other factors may be involved, such as TGF-β receptor expression ,and TGF-β receptor mutations that do not allow a correct transduction, resulting in TGF-β deficiency. The anabolism induced by this growth factor is also able to neutralize the catabolic processes that are elevated in osteoarthritis. Therefore, further studies are essential to determine how the concentration of TGF-β in the temporomandibular joints acts as a potential marker for the development of degenerative conditions.     

踝关节骨关节病注射治疗联合康复治疗对踝关节功能恢复影响的临床探讨

目的探讨踝关节腔注射治疗联合踝关节康复治疗对踝关节功能恢复疗效的影响。方法选择踝关节疼痛伴功能障碍的病人32例,随机分为两组,单纯关节腔注射组(Ⅰ组,n=16)和关节腔注射加踝关节康复治疗组(IR组,n=16)。按照试验设计和操作常规,两组均于病变踝关节腔内注入治疗药物及臭氧(40μg/ml),每周1次,共4次。IR组注射后进行踝关节康复运动项目治疗,1次/天。观察指标:①X线K-L分级评分;②VAS疼痛评分;③Mazur踝关节功能评分。结果两组组内比较结果显示,治疗后较治疗前VAS疼痛评分值明显降低,踝关节Mazur功能评分值升高(P0.05)。根据踝关节X线K-L分级,组间对比疗效结果显示,Ⅰ-Ⅱ级中,两组治疗后VAS疼痛评分值降低程度和Mazur踝关节功能评分值升高程度无统计学差异(P0.05);Ⅲ级和Ⅳ级中,IR组治疗后VAS疼痛评分分值的降低明显低于Ⅰ组(P0.05),Mazur踝关节功能评分值明显高于Ⅰ组(P0.05)。结论应用关节腔注射治疗联合踝关节康复项目治疗踝关节骨关节病可以更有效地恢复踝关节功能。