Risk Assessment of the Progression of Early Knee Osteoarthritis by Collagen Neoepitope C2C: A Longitudinal Study of an Estonian Middle-Aged Cohort.

One of the unmet needs to be addressed is prognostic biomarkers for early knee osteoarthritis (kOA). We aimed to study the association of urinary collagen type-II C-terminal cleavage neoepitope (uC2C) with the emergence and progression of kOA. The longitudinal data of 330 subjects (aged 32-60 years) from an Estonian population-based cohort were used.

Cartilage collagen neoepitope C2C in urine as an integrative diagnostic marker for early knee osteoarthritis.

Objective: To investigate the suitability of urinary collagen type-II C-terminal cleavage neoepitope (uC2C) as a marker for early knee osteoarthritis (kOA).

Design: We examined 302 Estonian subjects (mean age, 49 years): 186 subjects with and 20 control subjects without knee symptoms, and 96 patients treated by arthroscopy. For the latter, cartilage lesions were characterized using Société Francaise d'Arthroscopie (SFA) scores.

Evaluation of correlation of articular cartilage staining for DDR2 and proteoglycans with histological tissue damage and the results of radiographic assessment in patients with early stages of knee osteoarthritis.

Objective: To determine, if staining of articular cartilage for proteoglycans (natural element of healthy and functioning cartilage) and discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) (a protein associated with articular cartilage degradation) is correlated with histological tissue damage or radiographic assessment score in patients with early stages of knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Method: 40 patients, with early stage OA were enrolled, from whom the biopsies for histological and immunohistochemical studies were obtained from edge of the femoral condyle during the arthroscopy. Semi-quantitative computer based analysis was used to evaluate the proportion of staining in histological sections.

Two Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in ADAM12 Gene Are Associated with Early and Late Radiographic Knee Osteoarthritis in Estonian Population.

Objectives. To investigate associations of selected single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ADAM12 gene with radiographic knee osteoarthritis (rKOA) in Estonian population. Methods.

The ADAM12 is upregulated in synovitis and postinflammatory fibrosis of the synovial membrane in patients with early radiographic osteoarthritis.

Objective: To investigate the possible association between ADAM12 (disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain12) expression in the synovium and the histological synovitis of patients with radiographic knee osteoarthritis (rKOA).

Methods: The synovial biopsy samples were harvested from 44 subjects with chronic knee complaints during arthroscopy. In all subjects, the radiographs of both knee joints were performed for rKOA assessment.

The value of cartilage biomarkers in progressive knee osteoarthritis: cross-sectional and 6-year follow-up study in middle-aged subjects.

To determine the possible diagnostic and prognostic value of cartilage biomarkers in early-stage progressive and nonprogressive knee osteoarthritis (OA) in a population-based cohort of middle-aged subjects with chronic knee pain. Design tibiofemoral (TF) and patellofemoral (PF) radiographs were graded in 128 subjects (mean age at baseline, 45 ± 6.2 years) in 2002, 2005, and 2008.

The prevalence and progression of radiographic knee osteoarthritis over 6 years in a population-based cohort of middle-aged subjects.

Details of the development of early knee osteoarthritis (OA) are largely unknown. The prevalence and progression of radiographic knee OA over 6 years in middle-aged subjects with chronic knee pain is investigated. In a prospective population-based study, tibiofemoral (TF) and patellofemoral (PF) radiographs were graded in 128 subjects (mean age 45 ± 6.

Large scale replication study of the association between HLA class II/BTNL2 variants and osteoarthritis of the knee in European-descent populations.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and a major cause of disability. This study evaluates the association in Caucasian populations of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) mapping to the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) region and deriving from a genome wide association scan (GWAS) of knee OA in Japanese populations. The frequencies for rs10947262 were compared in 36,408 controls and 5,749 knee OA cases from European-descent populations.

Impact of cryopreservation on serum concentration of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-7, TIMP-1, vascular growth factors (VEGF) and VEGF-R2 in Biobank samples.

Background: Blood biomarkers are subject to pre-analytical variability. In many cases, the stability of important new tissue biomarkers during freeze cycles and storage has not been studied sufficiently.

Methods: To test the stability of matrix metalloproteinases-7 (MMP-7) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMP-1), vascular growth factors (VEGF) and VEGF-receptor, serum samples were frozen and then thawed up to six times.

Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies confirms a susceptibility locus for knee osteoarthritis on chromosome 7q22.

Objectives: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent form of arthritis and accounts for substantial morbidity and disability, particularly in older people. It is characterised by changes in joint structure, including degeneration of the articular cartilage, and its aetiology is multifactorial with a strong postulated genetic component.

Methods: A meta-analysis was performed of four genome-wide association (GWA) studies of 2371 cases of knee OA and 35 909 controls in Caucasian populations.

Genetic variation in the SMAD3 gene is associated with hip and knee osteoarthritis.

Objective: Smad3 (or, MADH3) is a key intracellular messenger in the transforming growth factor beta signaling pathway. In mice, Smad3 deficiency accelerates growth plate chondrocyte maturation and leads to an osteoarthritis (OA)-like disease. We undertook this study to investigate the role of genetic variation in SMAD3 in the risk of large-joint OA in humans.

Association between ultrasonographic findings and bone/cartilage biomarkers in patients with early-stage knee osteoarthritis.

Little is known regarding the association between ultrasonographic (US) findings and biomarkers of bone and cartilage in individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA). We investigated (1) US findings in early-stage knee OA and (2) the association between US findings and bone/cartilage biomarkers. A population cohort aged 35-55 years (n = 106) with early-stage knee OA was investigated.

Urinary osteocalcin and other markers of bone metabolism: the effect of risedronate therapy.

Objective: Serum osteocalcin (S-OC) is widely used as an index of bone formation. However, there is evidence that some urinary fragments of OC reflect resorption and might be useful in monitoring antiresorptive therapy. Here, we report 6-month changes in urinary midfragments of osteocalcin (U-MidOC) and other bone turnover markers in response to risedronate treatment.