Osteoarthritis and cartilage
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Osteoarthr. Cartil. · Jul 2007
In vivo T(1rho) and T(2) mapping of articular cartilage in osteoarthritis of the knee using 3 T MRI.
Evaluation and treatment of patients with early stages of osteoarthritis (OA) is dependent upon an accurate assessment of the cartilage lesions. However, standard cartilage dedicated magnetic resonance (MR) techniques are inconclusive in quantifying early degenerative changes. The objective of this study was to determine the ability of MR T1rho (T(1rho)) and T(2) mapping to detect cartilage matrix degeneration between normal and early OA patients. ⋯ Our results suggest that both in vivo T(1rho) and T(2) relaxation times increase with the degree of cartilage degeneration. T(1rho) relaxation time may be a more sensitive indicator for early cartilage degeneration than T(2). The ability to detect early cartilage degeneration prior to morphologic changes may allow us to critically monitor the course of OA and injury progression, and to evaluate the success of treatment to patients with early stages of OA.
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Osteoarthr. Cartil. · Jun 2007
Randomized Controlled TrialThe efficacy, safety and carry-over effect of diacerein in the treatment of painful knee osteoarthritis: a randomised, double-blind, NSAID-controlled study.
To evaluate the efficacy, safety and carry-over effect of diacerein, in comparison to piroxicam, in the treatment of Thai patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA). ⋯ Diacerein was as effective as piroxicam in reducing pain and improving function but, unlike piroxicam, displayed a carry-over effect and a better safety profile.
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Osteoarthr. Cartil. · Jun 2007
Intra-articular injection of the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor parecoxib attenuates osteoarthritis progression in anterior cruciate ligament-transected knee in rats: role of excitatory amino acids.
Our present study examined the effect of intra-articular cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor parecoxib on osteoarthritis (OA) progression and the concomitant changes in excitatory amino acids' (EAAs) levels of the anterior cruciate ligament-transected (ACLT) knee joint dialysates. ⋯ This study shows that intra-articular injection of COX-2 inhibitor parecoxib inhibits the ACLT-induced OA progression; it was accompanied by a reduction of glutamate and aspartate concentration in the ACLT joint dialysates. From our present results, we suggested that intra-articular parecoxib injection, in addition to the anti-inflammatory effect, inhibiting the EAAs' release, may also play a role in inhibiting the traumatic knee injury induced OA progression.
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To investigate the role of sex hormones in cartilage degradation and progression of osteoarthritis (OA) in a murine model induced by destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM). ⋯ Sex hormones play a critical role in the progression of OA in the murine DMM surgical model, with males having more severe OA than females. Intact females had more OA than OVX females, indicating that ovarian hormones decrease the severity of OA in the female mice. Male hormones, such as testosterone, exacerbate OA in male mice as demonstrated by the fact that ORX mice experienced less OA than intact males, and that addition of DHT to ORX males was able to counteract the effect of castration and re-establish severe OA.
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Osteoarthr. Cartil. · Jun 2007
Randomized Controlled TrialA 3-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a highly optimized, capacitively coupled, pulsed electrical stimulator in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.
To investigate the efficacy and safety of a capacitively coupled, pulsed electrical stimulation device in treating knee osteoarthritis (OA). ⋯ A highly optimized, capacitively coupled, pulsed electrical stimulus device significantly improved symptoms and function in knee OA without causing any serious side effects.