Osteoarthritis and cartilage
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Osteoarthr. Cartil. · Dec 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyA randomized placebo-controlled trial comparing the efficacy of etoricoxib 30 mg and ibuprofen 2400 mg for the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis.
We compared the efficacy of etoricoxib 30 mg to placebo and ibuprofen 2400 mg for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and knee. ⋯ Treatment with etoricoxib 30 mg q.d. provides superior efficacy vs placebo and comparable clinical efficacy vs ibuprofen 2400 mg (800 mg t.i.d.) for the treatment of OA of the hip and knee.
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Osteoarthr. Cartil. · Dec 2007
Modulation of TGF-beta signaling by proinflammatory cytokines in articular chondrocytes.
The normal structure and function of articular cartilage are the result of a precisely balanced interaction between anabolic and catabolic processes. The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family of growth factors generally exerts an anabolic or repair response; in contrast, proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 1 beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) exert a strong catabolic effect. Recent evidence has shown that IL-1beta, and TNF-alpha, and the TGF-beta signaling pathways share an antagonistic relationship. The aim of this study was to determine whether the modulation of the response of articular chondrocytes to TGF-beta by IL-1beta or TNF-alpha signaling pathways occurs through regulation of activity and availability of mothers against DPP (Drosophila) human homologue (Smad) proteins. ⋯ IL-1beta or TNF-alpha exerted a suppressive effect on Smad3/4 DNA-binding activity in human articular chondrocytes, as well as on TGF-beta-induced stimulation of Smad3/4 DNA-binding activity and Smad2/3 phosphorylation in human OA and bovine articular chondrocytes. IL-1beta partially reversed the increase in TGF-beta-stimulated Smad7 mRNA or protein levels suggesting that Smad7 may not be involved in the suppression of TGF-beta signaling induced by IL-1beta or TNF-alpha in articular chondrocytes. The balance between the IL-1beta or TNF-alpha and the TGF-beta signaling pathways is crucial for maintenance of articular cartilage homeostasis and its disruption likely plays a substantial role in the pathogenesis of OA.
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Osteoarthr. Cartil. · Dec 2007
The short-term therapeutic effect of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 on collagenase-induced lumbar facet joint osteoarthritis in rats.
To determine whether an intra-articular injection of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) alleviates cartilage degradation in a rat model of osteoarthritis (OA) of the lumbar facet joint. ⋯ This study demonstrates the potential efficacy of rhBMP-2 in the alleviation of arthritic changes in a rat model of OA of the lumbar facet joint. However, treatment with a high dosage of rhBMP-2 caused adverse side effects in some animals.