OBJECTIVE: To explore relationship between intramuscular fat content of quadriceps femoris and clinical severity of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: Totally 30 KOA patients were selected from February 2021 to June 2021, including 6 males and 24 females, aged with an average of (64.20±9.19) years old, and body mass index (BMI) was (24.92±3.35) kg·m-2. Patients were divided into relative severe leg (RSL) and relative moderate leg (RML) according to severity of pain on visual analogue scale(VAS). Musculoskeletal ultrasound was used to collect muscle images of quadriceps muscles on both sides of the patient, and Image J was used to analyze echo intensity (EI) of each muscle. Both VAS and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) were used to assess pain and function. Quadriceps muscle EI on both sides of patients was compared. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to analyze correlation between quadriceps muscle EI value between RSL and RML, and linear regression was used to analyze relationship between each muscle EI and VAS and WOMA scores of patients. RESULTS: The EI of RSL lateral vastus lateralis (VL) was 123.78±36.25 and RSL vastus medialis (VM) was 109.46±30.36 which were significantly higher than those of 108.03±31.34 and 93.32±26.04 of RML (P<0.05), but there was no statistical significance in EI values of rectus femoris (RF) on both sides (P>0.05). EI values of VL and VM on both sides were significantly correlated (P<0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between VM EI value and VAS score in RSL and RML (P<0.05). VM EI values in RSL were positively correlated with total WOMAC (P<0.05), and VM VL EI values in RML were positively correlated with total WOMAC score (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Intramuscular fat content of quadriceps is closely related to severity of clinical symptoms in KOA patients, and the most obvious one is VM. Therefore, the intramuscular fat content of quadriceps may be an objective indicator to evaluate severity of KOA patients. At the same time, reducing intramuscular fat content of the quadriceps muscle of KOA patients may be a new direction for the prevention and treatment of KOA.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Quadriceps Muscle/physiology* ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/diagnosis* ; Pain ; Body Mass Index ; Muscle Strength/physiology* ; Knee Joint

Humans ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; diagnosis ; therapy

To evaluate the effect of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) invigorating spleen unit therapy on inflammatory markers of osteoarthritis(OA) patients by random walk model. The patient information was collected by the data processing system of medical records of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In-patient information of the department of rheumatology of the hospital between June 2012 and December 2016 was collected and summarized. Based on the use of traditional Chinese medicine decoction and hospital-prepared compound Qiyi Capsules(Xinfeng Capsules),the patients were divided into the unit therapy group and the simple endotherapy group. The random walk model was used to evaluate the effect of traditional Chinese medicine invigorating spleen unit therapy on TCM spleen therapy unit(ESR) and high sensitive C reactive protein(hs-CRP). A total of 3 517 cases of OA patients met the study requirements. The simple endotherapy group had 1 771 cases(50. 36%),while the unit therapy group had 1 746 cases(49. 64%). The baseline data analysis showed that the general information of the cases,the TCM oral intake frequency and the core prescription information had no statistically significant difference,with comparability. The unit therapy group showed the maximum ESR stochastic volatility at 924,walking step number of 1 771,forward walking growth rate at 0. 264 5,ratio at3. 78,random fluctuation power law at 0. 306 5± 0. 076 8,positive increase rate of comprehensive evaluation index at 0. 264 5,and comprehensive evaluation index record number of 1 771; whereas the simple endotherapy group showed the maximum ESR random fluctuation value at 478,walking step number of 1 399,forward walking growth rate at 0. 152 4,ratio at 6. 56,random fluctuation power law at 0. 347 4±0. 101 7,positive increase rate of comprehensive evaluation index at 0. 152 4,and comprehensive evaluation index record number of 1 399. The unit therapy group showed the maximum hs-CRP random fluctuation value at 391,walking step number of1 081,forward walking growth rate at 0. 178 1,ratio at 5. 62,random fluctuation power law at 0. 343 6±0. 094 7,positive increase rate of comprehensive evaluation index at 0. 178 1,and comprehensive evaluation index record number of 1 081; while the simple endotherapy groups showed the maximum hs-CRP random fluctuation value at 210,walking step number of 797,forward walking growth rate at0. 113 2,ratio at 8. 83,random fluctuation power law at 0. 382 6±0. 109,positive increase rate of comprehensive evaluation index at0. 113 2,and comprehensive evaluation index record number of 797. According to our department of rheumatism,there was a longrange correlation between the two groups in the comprehensive evaluation index and the intervention measures. TCM spleen strengthening unit therapy has a better effect in alleviating the inflammatory index of OA than traditional Chinese medicine.
Biomarkers ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Inflammation ; diagnosis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Osteoarthritis ; drug therapy ; Spleen

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent degenerative joint disease involving joint cartilage and its surrounding tissues. OA is the leading cause of pain and disability worldwide. At present, there are no disease-modifying OA drugs, and the primary therapies include exercise and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs until total joint replacement at the end-stage of the disease. METHODS: In this review, we summarized the current state of knowledge in genetic and epigenetic associations and risk factors for OA and their potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications. RESULTS: Genome-wide association studies and analysis of epigenetic modifications (such as miRNA expression, DNA methylation and histone modifications) conducted across various populations support the notion that there is a genetic basis for certain subsets of OA pathogenesis. CONCLUSION: With recent advances in the development of genome editing technologies such as the CRISPR-Cas9 system, these genetic and epigenetic alternations in OA can be used as platforms from which potential biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis, drug response, and development of potential personalized therapeutic targets for OA can be approached. Furthermore, genome editing has allowed the development of “designer” cells, whereby the receptors, gene regulatory networks, or transgenes can be modified as a basis for new cell-based therapies.
Biomarkers ; Cartilage ; Diagnosis ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenomics ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Genetics ; Genome ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Histones ; Humans ; Joint Diseases ; Joints ; MicroRNAs ; Osteoarthritis ; Precision Medicine ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Transgenes

The diagnostic criteria for sequential rapidly destructive coxarthrosis remain unclear and this condition is rarely reported in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Here, we report a case of an HIV-infected 73-year old female who experienced hip joint destruction. The patient was diagnosed with HIV in 2012 (at age 68 years) and began continuous treatment with nucleoside reverse transcriptase and protease inhibitors. Twenty-nine months after her HIV diagnosis, the patient experienced osteonecrosis of the right hip and underwent a total hip arthroplasty (THA). Twelve months post right-hip THA, X-ray results showed good outcomes. Eight months later (20 months post THA), however, osteolysis of the left femoral head was detected upon radiological exam and THA of the left hip was performed; chronic inflammation and fibrosis were identified in the resultant biopsy. Favorable results were obtained at 3 months after the second surgery.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Femur Head ; Fibrosis ; Head ; Hip ; Hip Joint ; HIV ; Humans ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Osteoarthritis, Hip ; Osteolysis ; Osteonecrosis ; Protease Inhibitors ; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes, and the complications of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) using a fixed bearing prosthesis after 5-year follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six knees (25 patients) that underwent fixed bearing UKA between May 2003 and August 2011 were included. The subjects were 3 males (3 knees) and 22 females (23 knees), and the average age was 63.5 years. The preoperative diagnosis was osteoarthritis (23 knees) and osteonecrosis (3 knees). The mean follow-up duration was 67 months (from 60 to 149 months). The clinical evaluation included pre- and postoperative American knee society knee and function score, and range of motion. The radiology evaluation included standing antero-posterior, lateral view, and fluoroscopic film to analyze the postoperative alignment and osteolysis. RESULTS: The mean American Knee Society knee score and function score were improved from 42.0 and 57.5 to 87.9 and 85.0, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean preoperative and postoperative range of motion was 132.9° and 132.5°, respectively. The mean femorotibial angle were varus 0.5° preoperatively and valgus 2.2° postoperatively. A radiolucent line was observed in 2 knees; one knee had a stable implant, while in the other knee, patellofemoral arthritis was identified during UKA. Diffuse pain of the knee joint with tenderness of the medial joint line was identified at the follow-up, so conversion to total knee arthroplasty was recommended. No other complications, such as osteolysis, infections, postoperative stiffness, and dislocation, were encountered. CONCLUSION: The midterm results of fixed bearing UKA were clinically and radiologically satisfactory.
Arthritis ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee* ; Diagnosis ; Dislocations ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Male ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteolysis ; Osteonecrosis ; Prostheses and Implants ; Range of Motion, Articular

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term clinical results and survivorship of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) in patients younger than 60 years of age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and six cases of medial UKA with a minimum follow-up of 10 years were selected for this study. There were 80 patients and the preoperative diagnosis was osteoarthritis in all cases. The mean age of the patients was 54.2 years and the mean duration of follow-up was 12.1 years. Clinical assessments were performed using the Knee Society clinical rating system, and a survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The mean knee and function scores improved from 52.8±8.4 points and 56.6±10.6 points preoperatively to 85.4±9.1 points and 84.7±10.4 points at the last follow-up, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean range of motion was recovered from 130.7° to 132.8° at the last follow-up. Complications occurred in 20 cases (16.7%) and the most prevalent complication was mobile bearing dislocation (n=9, 7.5%). The 10-year survival rate was 92.8% when conversion to total knee arthroplasty was defined as failure, whereas 89.3% when failure was defined as all revision surgeries. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term clinical results of UKA were satisfactory in patients under 60 years of age. Therefore, UKA could be a useful method for the treatment of medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee in patients younger than 60 years of age.
Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Diagnosis ; Dislocations ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Methods ; Osteoarthritis ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression level of serum matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3) in early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) patients with normal C-reaction protein (CRP) or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and the significance in disease assessment. METHODS: In the study, 133 cases of early RA patients, 25 osteoarthritis (OA) patients and 60 healthy controls in Peking University People's Hospital from 2011 to 2015 were included. The RA patients were further divided into 4 groups according to levels of CRP and ESR: 88 patients with increased CRP and increased ESR, 15 patients with normal CRP and normal ESR, 17 patients with normal CRP but increased ESR, and 13 patients with increased CRP but normal ESR. All the clinical information of the patients was collected, and the serum MMP3 levels of both patients and healthy controls were detected by enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The serum MMP3 level of RA patients with normal CRP and/or normal ESR [(72.89±6.34) μg/L] was obviously higher than that of OA patients [(42.87±4.14) μg/L] (P=0.002) and healthy controls [(31.62±2.88) μg/L] (P<0.001). The serum MMP3 levels of the patients with normal CRP and normal ESR [(47.04±9.64) μg/L] were higher than those of the healthy controls, and there was statistical significance between the two groups (P<0.05). The serum MMP3 levels of the patients with increased CRP but normal ESR [(94.18±9.11) μg/L] and the patients with normal CRP but increased ESR [(79.42±10.60) μg/L] were both higher than those of the OA patients and healthy controls, and there was obvious statistical difference (P<0.05). In the early RA patients with normal CRP and/or normal ESR, the serum MMP3 level was positively correlated with the CRP level (r=0.336, P=0.024). The positive rate of MMP3 in the patients with normal CRP and/or normal ESR was 44.44%, higher than the positive rate of CRP (28.89%) and the positive rate of ESR (37.78%). In these early RA patients, the positive rate was 52.94% in the patients with normal CRP but increased ESR and 53.85% in the patients with increased CRP but normal ESR. CONCLUSION The detection of the serum MMP3 level was significant in the assessment of early RA patients within 2-year duration who had normal CRP or ESR value.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/diagnosis* ; Blood Sedimentation ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 3/blood* ; Osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND: Paget's disease of bone leads to change in the shape and size of the bone and results in reduced bone strength, leading to the complications of deformity, arthritis, and fracture. Due to unknown reasons, Paget's disease is rare in Asian descendants. We report the cases of Paget's disease who visited our institute for 15 years and reviewed the literatures. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and radiograms of 8 patients (6 female and 2 male) who were diagnosed as Paget's disease of bone. Diagnosis was confirmed by typical radiological feature in the involved skeletons and/or pathologic findings. RESULTS: Pelvis, skull and spine were three most frequently involved bones. All involved bones in our cases showed changes in shape and trabecular pattern which resulted in bowing of lower extremity, secondary osteoarthritis, compression fracture of spine and enlargement of skull. Mean follow time was 4.71 years and all patient were treated bisphosphonate (BP). Use of BP controlled the level of serum alkaline phosphatase level effectively. CONCLUSIONS: We have reviewed eight patients who were previously diagnosed as Paget's disease of bone in our institute. We could identify typical radiologic and clinical findings such as bowing deformity of long bone, secondary osteoarthritis, compression fracture and osteomyelitis of mandible that deteriorated the quality of their living.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Arthritis ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Diagnosis ; Diphosphonates* ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Mandible ; Medical Records ; Osteitis Deformans ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteomyelitis ; Pelvis ; Retrospective Studies ; Skeleton ; Skull ; Spine

Breastfeeding is associated with many health benefits to the mother but the association between osteoarthritis (OA) is not known. Menopause, a state of rapid estrogen loss, is associated with OA. To test whether lactation, another physiological state of low estrogen status, is associated with OA, a nationally representative dataset National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2012 was analyzed. Information of OA diagnosis history and lactation for at least one month was self-reported by women 50 years and older that had given birth to at least one child. Women that breastfed for less than one month had a higher proportion of those that were 60 years and older, Hispanic (than non-Hispanic Black), and higher current/self-reported greatest body mass index. Women that breastfed for one month or longer had a higher proportion of those that had 3 or more children, higher poverty-income ratio, were post-menopausal and performed vigorous physical activity. Weighted percentage of OA patients was 22%, and did not differ between the two groups. However, when logistic regression was performed adjusting for multiple covariates, lactation for one month or longer was positively associated with OA. Women that breastfed for one month or longer had an adjusted odds ratio of 1.21 (95% confidence interval, 1.05–1.40) for OA compared to those that breastfed for less than one month. The results indicate that women that breastfed for at least one month have a higher risk of OA than women that delivered a child but breastfed for less than one month.
Adult* ; Body Mass Index ; Breast Feeding* ; Child ; Dataset ; Diagnosis ; Epidemiology ; Estrogens ; Female ; Hispanic Americans ; Humans ; Insurance Benefits ; Lactation ; Logistic Models ; Menopause ; Mothers ; Motor Activity ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Odds Ratio ; Osteoarthritis* ; Parturition