Genicular Artery Embolization, Radiofrequency Ablation, and Corticosteroid Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Using Randomized Clinical Trial Data.

Many patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) have symptoms that are refractory to traditional nonsurgical treatments, such as intraarticular corticosteroid (CS) injection, but are not yet eligible are not yet eligible for or decline surgery. Genicular artery embolization (GAE) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are emerging adjunctive or alternative minimally invasive treatments. The purpose of this study was to perform a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) comparing CS therapy, GAE, and RFA for the treatment of symptomatic KOA using a Markov model based on a de novo network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized control trials.

Quantifying Oligomer Populations in Real Time during Protein Aggregation Using Single-Molecule Mass Photometry.

Protein aggregation is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases. The early stages of the aggregation cascade are crucial because small oligomers are thought to be key neurotoxic species, but they are difficult to study because they feature heterogeneous mixtures of transient states. We show how the populations of different oligomers can be tracked as they evolve over time during aggregation using single-molecule mass photometry to measure individually the masses of the oligomers present in solution.

Sequence-dependent mechanics of collagen reflect its structural and functional organization.

Extracellular matrix mechanics influence diverse cellular functions, yet surprisingly little is known about the mechanical properties of their constituent collagen proteins. In particular, network-forming collagen IV, an integral component of basement membranes, has been far less studied than fibril-forming collagens. A key feature of collagen IV is the presence of interruptions in the triple-helix-defining (Gly-X-Y) sequence along its collagenous domain.

Environmentally Controlled Curvature of Single Collagen Proteins.

The predominant structural protein in vertebrates is collagen, which plays a key role in extracellular matrix and connective tissue mechanics. Despite its prevalence and physical importance in biology, the mechanical properties of molecular collagen are far from established. The flexibility of its triple helix is unresolved, with descriptions from different experimental techniques ranging from flexible to semirigid.