Osteoarthritis today: Lost in translation?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent joint disease that is associated with pain, loss of function, and high direct and indirect economic costs. The current therapeutic options are inadequate, providing only a moderate symptom relief without the possibility of disease modification. While treatment options and personalized medicines are increasing for many complex diseases, OA drug development has been impeded by the advanced state of disease at the time of diagnosis and intervention, heterogeneity in both symptoms and rates of progression, and a lack of validated biomarkers and relevant outcome measures. This review article summarizes the OA landscape, including therapies in development as potential OA treatments, potential biomarkers undergoing evaluation by the US Food and Drug Administration, and a summary of current OA treatment guidelines, with a particular focus on the knee OA.     

Flavocoxid is as effective as naproxen for managing the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee in humans: a short-term randomized,double-blind pilot study

Flavocoxid (Limbrel), a proprietary mixture of flavonoid molecules (baicalin and catechin), was tested against a traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, naproxen, for the management of the signs and symptoms of moderate osteoarthritis (OA) in humans. Discomfort and global disease activity were used as the primary end points, and safety assessments were also taken for both treatments as a secondary endpoint. In this double-blind study, 103 subjects were randomly assigned to receive either flavocoxid [500 mg twice daily (BID)] or naproxen (500 mg BID) in a 1-month onset of action trial. Outcome measures included the short Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index, subject Visual Analogue Scale for discomfort and global response, and investigator Visual Analogue Scale for global response and fecal occult blood. Both flavocoxid and naproxen showed significant reduction in the signs and symptoms of knee OA (P ≤ .001). There were no statistically detectable differences between the flavocoxid and naproxen groups with respect to any of the outcome variables. Similarly, there were no statistically detectable differences between the groups with respect to any adverse event, although there was a trend toward a higher incidence of edema and nonspecific musculoskeletal discomfort in the naproxen group. In this short-term pilot study, flavocoxid was as effective as naproxen in controlling the signs and symptoms of OA of the knee and would present a safe and effective option for those individuals on traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. A low incidence of adverse events was reported for both groups.     

Observation on 108 Normal Ophthalmic Arteries in 80 Patients by Digital Subtraction Angiography

By digital subtraction angiography(DSA), the authors made observations on 108 normal ophthalmic arteries in 80 patients with regard to the origins, courses, branching, morphology and anastomoses of the vessels. The merits and demerits of DSA in observing the ophthalmic artery were discussed. Eye Science 1994; 10: 157- 162.     

论河北省卫生系统办公自动化管理系统

系统采用基于TCP/IP协议的国际互联网为基础,采用B/S结构,客户端采用IE浏览器,服务器端采用WINDOW2000的IIS作为服务器。其主要功能:工作督办、工作信息、电子邮件、收文、发文、图书管理、档案管理、车辆管理、日程管理、待办事宜、电子论坛、考勤管理等。     

OA学术期刊的出版规范及其版权管理

【目的】 勘察国际OA期刊的OA实践及其期刊政策声明,为我国OA期刊建设提供借鉴。【方法】 以DOAJ图情类期刊为研究对象,调查并分析期刊的出版形式如发行媒介、出版周期、收费情况等,以及存档政策、许可条款、OA模式等版权管理政策。【结果】 揭示OA期刊在出版频率、APC、OA模式方面出现的新形式、新模式,分析OA期刊在可访问性、透明性和开放性方面存在的问题。【结论】 OA已经成为学术期刊发展的必然方向,在版权管理方面仍处在初级阶段,认证环节较为混乱,现阶段处于多模式探索尝试阶段;OA期刊的出版管理应在保持适度灵活性的同时,着力加强规范建设。     

The Functional Status of the ACL in Varus OA of the Knee: The Association With Varus Deformity and Coronal Tibiofemoral Subluxation

BackgroundThe present article analyzes the association of the functional anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) status and the overall varus deformity and coronal tibiofemoral subluxation (CTFS) in varus OA of the knee.MethodsOne hundred consecutive knees with varus OA in 84 patients were prospectively included. Knees were divided into two groups, in accordance with the ACL status (functionally sufficient or insufficient). All included patients were potential candidates for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty with predominantly medial compartment OA. Knees with Kellgren/Lawrence ≥ grade 3 in the lateral compartment were excluded leaving 79 knees to be included in this study. Mechanical varus deformity and CTFS were evaluated on AP radiographs and valgus stress radiographs, and compared between the two groups.ResultsKnees with a functionally insufficient ACL had significantly more varus deformity on hip-to-ankle AP standing radiographs (P = .001) and on valgus stress radiographs (P = .017). CTFS on AP standing radiographs was significantly higher (P = .045) in knees with a functionally insufficient ACL. Seventy-three percent (8/11) of the ACL-insufficient knees had a varus deformity of ≥10° and 64% (7/11) of ACL-insufficient knees had CTFS ≥ 6mm. By contrast, only one patient (2%, 1/41) with an insufficient ACL had< 10° varus deformity and a CTFS of < 6mm.ConclusionFunctional ACL insufficiency in osteoarthritic varus knees is associated with greater varus deformity and more advanced CTFS. Seventy-three percent of ACL-insufficient knees had a varus deformity of ≥10° and 64% of ACL-insufficient knees a CTFS of ≥ 6mm. In the work-up for medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, functional ACL insufficiency is likely in knees with varus deformity of ≥10° and CTFS of ≥ 6mm.     

四环素对实验性骨关节炎MMP-1、NO及PGE_2的作用

研究表明,四环素类药物可阻止胶原分解,干扰软骨细胞分化,改善软骨损伤,对骨关节炎(OA)有一定保护作用[1],但具体机制尚不清楚.OA的发生发展与多种因子如前列腺素E2(PGE2)、一氧化氮(NO) 密切相关;金属蛋白酶-1(MMP-1)是一种新型的OA标志物.