BACKGROUNDQuantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) of articular cartilage represents a powerful tool in osteoarthritis research, but has so far been confined to a field strength of 1.5 T. The aim of the study was to determine the reproducibility and accuracy of qMRI assessments of the knee cartilage volume by comparing quantitative swine cartilage volumes of the sagittal (sag) multi echo data imagine combination water-excitation (MEDICwe) sequence and the fast low-angle shoot water-excitation (FLASHwe) sequence at 3.0-T MRI to directly measured volumes (DMV) of the surgically removed articular cartilage.

METHODSTest-retest MRI was acquired in 20 swine knees. Two sag FLASHwe sequences and two sag MEDICwe sequences (spatial resolution 0.4 mm × 0.4 mm × 1.0 mm of 3-dimension (3D) were acquired at 3-T MRI in a knee. Articular cartilage volume was calculated from 3D reformations of the MRI by using a manual program. Calculated volumes were compared with DMV of the surgically removed articular cartilage. Knee joint cartilage plates were quantified paired in order.

RESULTSIn the knee joint of swine, reproducibility errors (paired analysis) for cartilage volume were 2.5% to 3.2% with sag FLASHwe, and 1.6% to 3.0% with sag MEDICwe. Correlation coefficients between results obtained with qMRI and DMV ranged from 0.90 to 0.98 for cartilage volume. Systematic pairwise difference between results obtained with qMRI and DMV ranged from -1.1% to 2.8%. Random pairwise differences between results obtained with qMRI and DMV ranged from (2.9 ± 2.4)% to (6.8 ± 4.5)%.

CONCLUSIONSFLASHwe and MEDICwe sequences permit highly accurate and reproducible analysis of cartilage volume in the knee joints of swine at 3-T MRI. Cartilage volume reproducibility for the MEDICwe data is slightly higher than the FLASHwe data.

Animals ; Cartilage, Articular ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Swine

Cartilage surface fibrosis is an early sign of osteoarthritis and cartilage surface damage is closely related to load. The purpose of this study was to study the relationship between cartilage surface roughness and load. By applying impact, compression and fatigue loads on fresh porcine articular cartilage, the rough value of cartilage surface was measured at an interval of 10 min each time and the change rule of roughness before and after loading was obtained. It was found that the load increased the roughness of cartilage surface and the increased value was related to the load size. The time of roughness returning to the initial condition was related to the load type and the load size. The impact load had the greatest influence on the roughness of cartilage surface, followed by the severe fatigue load, compression load and mild fatigue load. This article provides reference data for revealing the pathogenesis of early osteoarthritis and preventing and treating articular cartilage diseases.
Animals ; Cartilage, Articular ; Fatigue ; Osteoarthritis/pathology* ; Pressure ; Swine

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease characterized by cartilage loss and accounts for a major source of pain and disability worldwide. However, effective strategies for cartilage repair are lacking, and patients with advanced OA usually need joint replacement. Better comprehending OA pathogenesis may lead to transformative therapeutics. Recently studies have reported that exosomes act as a new means of cell-to-cell communication by delivering multiple bioactive molecules to create a particular microenvironment that tunes cartilage behavior. Specifically, exosome cargos, such as noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) and proteins, play a crucial role in OA progression by regulating the proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, and inflammatory response of joint cells, rendering them promising candidates for OA monitoring and treatment. This review systematically summarizes the current insight regarding the biogenesis and function of exosomes and their potential as therapeutic tools targeting cell-to-cell communication in OA, suggesting new realms to improve OA management.
Apoptosis ; Cartilage/pathology* ; Cartilage, Articular/metabolism* ; Cell Communication ; Chondrocytes/metabolism* ; Exosomes/pathology* ; Humans ; Osteoarthritis/therapy*

PURPOSE: To determine the sonographic findings of degenerative change in femoral articular cartilage of the knee by comparative study of specimen sonography and pathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We obtained 40 specimens of cartilage of the femur (20 medial and 20 lateral condylar) from 20 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee who had undergone total knee replacement. The specimens were placed in a saline-filled container and sonography was performed using a 10MHz linear transducer. Sonographic abnormalities were evaluated at the cartilage surface, within the cartilage, and at the bone-cartilage interface, and were compared with the corresponding pathologic findings. In addition, cartilage thickness was measured at a representative portion of each femoral cartilage specimen and was compared with the thickness determined by sonography. RESULTS: 'Dot 'lesions, irregularity or loss of the hyperechoic line, were demonstrated by sonography at the saline-cartilage interface of 14 cartilages. Pathologic examination showed that these findings corresponded to cleft, detachment, erosion, and degeneration. Irregularities in the hyperechoic line at the bone-cartilage interface were revealed by sonography in eight cartilages and were related to irregularity or loss of tidemark, downward displacement of the cartilage, and subchondral callus formation. Dot lesions, corresponding to cleft and degeneration, were noted within one cartilage. Cartilage thickness measured on specimen and by sonography showed no significant difference (p=0.446). CONCLUSION: Specimen sonography suggested that articular cartilage underwent degenerative histopathological change. Cartilage thickness measured by sonography exactly reflected real thickness.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Bony Callus ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular* ; Femur ; Humans ; Knee* ; Osteoarthritis ; Pathology* ; Transducers ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether the gradually induced disordered occlusion can induce degenerative changes in rabbit TMJ.

METHODS27 male New Zealand Rabbits, age of 5 months were divided equally and randomly into three groups: Group A: One premolar in upper dentition at one side and another premolar in lower dentition at the other side were pulled to move medially to the anterior intrinsic space by an orthodontic string to cause the corresponding premolars not to occlude with the opposites coincidently. Group B: the sham-operating controls, all animals were treated similar to those in Group A but without pulling. At the age of 6, 7 and 8 months, three rabbits of each group were killed by deeply anaesthetizing and bilateral condyles of TMJs were excised, sectioned and stained with HE.

RESULTSThere was no significant histological difference in condylar cartilage between Group B and C. The cartilage of TMJs condyle in Group A was found with significant degenerative changes that increased with age. The thickness of cartilage of anterior and intermediate part of condyles decreased, the disturbance of continuation of hypertrophic layer appeared and part of hypertrophic layer was locally replaced by fibrous tissue. While the thickness of cartilage of posterior part of condyle increased obviously with a significant increase of the proportion of immature chondrocytes.

CONCLUSIONThe gradually induced disorder occlusion may lead to degenerative changes in rabbit condyle.

Animals ; Cartilage, Articular ; pathology ; Male ; Malocclusion ; pathology ; Mandibular Condyle ; pathology ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Temporomandibular Joint ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the evaluation of bipolar radiofrequency (RFE) chondroplasty to cartilage injure.

METHODSSixteen goats underwent resection of anterior cruciate and medial meniscus to create cartilage injured model. Bipolar frequency energy chondroplasty were performed on injured articular cartilage 3 months after operation. The left knee was regarded as sham-operated control. The zero time effects and later changes of radiofrequency on cartilage surface and chondrocytes were observed.

RESULTSAt zero time, the rough injured surface became smooth, and clefts were melted. Some chondrocytes were dead in the superficial layer, cells in deeper layer remained alive. Three months later, the surface of the articular was smoother than the sham-operated side. The histological modified Mankin' s score of cartilage was significantly higher than the sham-operated side (operated side 12 +/- 4; sham-operated side 14 +/- 5, P < 0.01). The result of Fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACs) showed that there were no obvious difference of dead chondrocyte between operated side and sham-operated side, (24 +/- 10)% and (12 +/- 1)% (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBipolar radiofrequency energy (1 grade) does not create more chondrocyte death than the sham-operated side. Bipolar radiofrequency chondroplasty is an appropriate method to treat articular cartilage injury.

Animals ; Cartilage, Articular ; injuries ; pathology ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Chondrocytes ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Goats ; Male

OBJECTIVETo trace the pathological changes of the cultured autologous chondrocytes mass after implanted in cartilage defects and investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms of the antologous chondrocytes mass transplantation in the repair of cartilage defects.

METHODSTwenty-four New Zealand white rabbits of 4 to 6 month-old and weighing more than 3.0 kg (female and male was unrestricted) were randomly divided into experiment group and the control group. For 12 rabbits of experiment group, the cartilage defects were repaired with the autologous chondrocytes mass and sealed with one piece of periosteum. Firstly, cartilage tissue of 10 to 30 mg was obtained from the shoulder of the rabbits after anaesthetized by 1 mg/kg 20% sumianxin. Then, chondrocytes were isolated from the cartilage tissue with 0.2% type II collagenase digestion and were cultured in DMEM/F-12 supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 50 microg/ml ascorbic acid-2-phosphate, 0.4 mM proline, 5 microg/ml insulin and 1 mM non-essential amino acids (NEAA) in flasks in vitro. The cells were harvested until a thin film of the cells covered the bottom of the flask could be seen with naked eyes. Then the film was collected with a curled glass stick and formed a solid mass. On this time, the animal was anaesthetized again and the full-thickness cartilage square defect of 4.0 mm x 6.0 mm was fabricated in the patellar grove of distal femur, and then the cellular mass was transplanted into the defect covered by one piece of periosteum which obtained from the upper anterior of tibia and sealed with the femoral condyles. For 12 rabbits of the control group, the defects were sealed with one piece of periosteum only. The animals were sacrificed in the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 12th weeks after the operation respectively. The histologic sections were stained with safranin O-fast green, hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and picric acid-Sirius red and immunostained for type II collagen and aggrecan.

RESULTSIn the 1st week, the transplanted cells oriented to articular surface differentiated to matured hyaline chondrocytes and excrete large amount cartilage matrix. In the 3rd week, the trend was more obvious and the periosteum was union to the cell mass. In the 12th week, the defects were repaired with hyaline-like cartilage tissue, and in the 24th week, the repair tissue turned to matured hyaline cartilage. In the control group, the defects were repaired with fibrocartilage tissues.

CONCLUSIONIt was evidenced that the defects were repaired by the autologous chondrocytes mass transplantation. The procedure was gradual and initialed from up toward joint to down to the deep of the defect.

Animals ; Cartilage, Articular ; pathology ; surgery ; Chondrocytes ; transplantation ; Female ; Knee Joint ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Rabbits ; Transplantation, Autologous

Arthroscopy has become an attractive modality in the diagnosis and treatment of joint diseases in toy breed dogs. However, the application of arthroscopy is limited by small joint space. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of a stifle lever for joint distraction during stifle arthroscopy in toy breed dogs. Paired stifles (n = 32 each) collected from 16 cadavers of toy breed dogs were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the stifle lever group or the external manipulation group. All stifles underwent arthroscopic cranial cruciate ligament transection, and the visualization of the medial meniscus was evaluated. Medial meniscal release (MMR) was then performed. Following arthroscopic examination, the success rates of MMR and damages of tibial and femoral cartilages were evaluated. Visualization of the medial meniscus was significantly better, and meniscal probing was significantly easier, in the stifle lever group than in the external manipulation group (p = 0.001). There were no significant differences between groups for MMR success or articular cartilage damage. Using the stifle lever on arthroscopic examination improved visualization and probing on the medial meniscus in toy breed dogs. The stifle lever can be used as a good modality in assessing medial meniscal pathology in toy breed dogs.
Animals ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Arthroscopy ; Cadaver ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular ; Diagnosis ; Dogs ; Joint Diseases ; Joints ; Menisci, Tibial ; Pathology ; Play and Playthings ; Stifle

The transforming growth factor-beta 1 was known as having the most important influence on chondrocytes among various growth factors, being abundant in articular chondrocytes and osteocytes. We performed in vitro monolayer cultures of human articular chondrocytes from normal and osteoarthritic patients and studied the transforming growth factor-beta 1 responsiveness of those chondrocytes. The cell-growth curve indicated that the primary osteoarthritic chondrocyte culture with transforming growth factor-beta 1 showed a more rapid growth pattern than normal chondrocytes with or without TGF-beta 1 and osteoarthritic chondrocytes without TGF-beta 1. The osteoarthritic group showed a sharp decline in growth pattern with subsequent culture. The shape of osteoarthritic chondrocytes was bigger and more bizarre compared to those of normal chondrocytes. With subsequent culture, this change became prominent. The transforming growth factor-beta 1 increased the [3H]-TdR uptake in each group. The phenotypes of chondrocytes were more clearly expressed in the normal group. The chondrocytes lost their phenotype (production of collagen type II) following subculture in each group. The transforming growth factor-beta 1 could not inhibit or delay the dedifferentiation process (loss of phenotype).
Cartilage, Articular/drug effects* ; Cartilage, Articular/cytology ; Cell Division/drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Human ; Osteoarthritis/pathology ; Reference Values ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/pharmacology*

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 mapping in quantitative evaluation of cartilage repair following matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte transplantation (MACT).

METHODSSix patients (with 9 plug cartilages) following MACT underwent MRI on a 3.0 Tesla MR scan system at 3, 6 and 12 months after the surgery. The full-thickness and zonal areas (deep and superficial layers) T2 values were calculated for the repaired cartilage and control cartilage.

RESULTSThe mean T2 values of the repaired cartilage after MACT were significantly higher than that of the control cartilages at 3 and 6 months (P<0.05), but not at 12 months (P=0.063). At 6 and 12 months, the T2 values of the superficial layers were significantly higher than those of the deep layers in the repaired cartilages (P<0.05). The zonal (deep and superficial layers) T2 values of the repaired cartilages decreased significantly over time at 6 and 12 months as compared to those at 3 months after the surgery (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONMRI T2 mapping can serve as an important modality for assessing the repair of the articular cartilage following MACT.

Cartilage, Articular ; pathology ; Chondrocytes ; transplantation ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Transplantation, Autologous