Factors affecting the choices of adoption/non-adoption of future technologies during coronavirus pandemic.

The literature describes the potential for using future services technologies in public health emergencies. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic is resulting in unparalleled challenges to healthcare services in almost all countries, requiring innovative methods of practicing across health professions. Factors affecting pharmacists' choice of telemedicine adoption/non-adoption are yet to be examined, especially in Italy.

Early Experience Managing a High-volume Academic Orthopaedic Department During the Coronavirus Pandemic in New York City.

Our orthopaedic surgery department at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine is located within the Bronx, a borough of New York City, and serves a densely populated urban community. Since the beginning of the novel coronavirus outbreak in New York City, the medical center was forced to rapidly adapt to the projected influx of critically ill patients. The aim of this report is to outline how our large academic orthopaedic surgery department adopted changes and alternative practices in response to the most daunting challenge to public health in our region in over a century.

CITED2 mediates the mechanical loading-induced suppression of adipokines in the infrapatellar fat pad.

Adipokines secreted from the infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP), such as adipsin and adiponectin, have been implicated in osteoarthritis pathogenesis. CITED2, a mechanosensitive transcriptional regulator with chondroprotective activity, may modulate their expression. Cited2 haploinsufficient mice (Cited2 ) on a high-fat diet (HFD) exhibited increased body weight and increased IPFP area compared to wild-type (WT) mice on an HFD.

CITED2 mediates the cross-talk between mechanical loading and IL-4 to promote chondroprotection.

Osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis is mediated largely through the actions of proteolytic enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 13. The transcriptional regulator CITED2, which suppresses the expression of MMP13 in chondrocytes, is induced by interleukin (IL)-4 in T cells and macrophages, and by moderate mechanical loading in chondrocytes. We tested the hypothesis that CITED2 mediates cross-talk between IL-4 signaling and mechanical loading-induced pathways that result in chondroprotection, at least in part, by downregulating MMP13.

Correction to: Green tea polyphenol treatment is chondroprotective, anti-inflammatory and palliative in a mouse posttraumatic osteoarthritis model.

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported an error in Figs. 2C and 5C.

Exosomes: biology, therapeutic potential, and emerging role in musculoskeletal repair and regeneration.

Exosomes are nanovesicles secreted from cells that play key roles in intercellular communication. They carry unique content derived from parental cells and are capable of transferring this cargo between cells. The role and function of exosomes largely depends on the origin and functional status of the parental cells.

Procyanidins Mitigate Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis by, at Least in Part, Suppressing Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Signaling.

Procyanidins are a family of plant metabolites that have been suggested to mitigate osteoarthritis pathogenesis in mice. However, the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. This study aimed to determine whether procyanidins mitigate traumatic injury-induced osteoarthritis (OA) disease progression, and whether procyanidins exert a chondroprotective effect by, at least in part, suppressing vascular endothelial growth factor signaling.

Curcumin slows osteoarthritis progression and relieves osteoarthritis-associated pain symptoms in a post-traumatic osteoarthritis mouse model.

Background: Curcumin has been shown to have chondroprotective potential in vitro. However, its effect on disease and symptom modification in osteoarthritis (OA) is largely unknown. This study aimed to determine whether curcumin could slow progression of OA and relieve OA-related pain in a mouse model of destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM).

Autoimmune response to transthyretin in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common pediatric rheumatological condition. Although it has been proposed that JIA has an autoimmune component, the autoantigens are still unknown. Using biochemical and proteomic approaches, we identified the molecular chaperone transthyretin (TTR) as an antigenic target for B and T cell immune responses.

Strain-induced mechanotransduction through primary cilia, extracellular ATP, purinergic calcium signaling, and ERK1/2 transactivates CITED2 and downregulates MMP-1 and MMP-13 gene expression in chondrocytes.

Objective: To determine the strain-induced signaling pathways involved in regulating the transactivation of the transcription regulator Cbp/p300 Interacting Transactivator with ED-rich tail 2 (CITED2) and downstream targets in chondrocytes.

Methods: Primary human chondrocytes or C28/I2 chondrocytic cells were subjected to various strain regimes. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to treadmill running.

Consequences of metabolic and oxidative modifications of cartilage tissue.

A hallmark of chronic metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and metabolic syndrome, and oxidative stress, as occurs in chronic inflammatory and degenerative conditions, is the presence of extensive protein post-translational modifications, including glycation, glycoxidation, carbonylation and nitrosylation. These modifications have been detected on structural cartilage proteins in joints and intervertebral discs, where they are known to affect protein folding, induce protein aggregation and, ultimately, generate microanatomical changes in the proteoglycan-collagen network that surrounds chondrocytes. Many of these modifications have also been shown to promote oxidative cleavage as well as enzymatically-mediated matrix degradation.

Green tea polyphenol treatment is chondroprotective, anti-inflammatory and palliative in a mouse post-traumatic osteoarthritis model.

Introduction: Epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol present in green tea, was shown to exert chondroprotective effects in vitro. In this study, we used a post-traumatic osteoarthritis (OA) mouse model to test whether EGCG could slow the progression of OA and relieve OA-associated pain.

Methods: C57BL/6 mice were subjected to surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) or sham surgery.

Factors that influence intent to adopt a hearing aid among older people in Italy.

Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent health impairments associated with ageing in developed countries, and it can result in social, emotional and communication dysfunction. Hearing loss in Italy is increasing, yet, despite the availability of free hearing aids and access to qualified community-based health professionals specialising in audiology services, their uptake remains low (about 15%-20%). This paper presents an investigation of the possible reasons why older people in Italy resist adopting a hearing aid.

Molecular analysis of chromium and cobalt-related toxicity.

Occupational and environmental exposure to Co and Cr has been previously linked to a wide array of inflammatory and degenerative conditions and cancer. Recently, significant health concerns have been raised by the high levels of Cr and Co ions and corrosion products released by biomedical implants. Herein, we set to analyze the biological responses associated with Co and Cr toxicity.

Nutraceuticals: potential for chondroprotection and molecular targeting of osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease and a leading cause of adult disability. There is no cure for OA, and no effective treatments which arrest or slow its progression. Current pharmacologic treatments such as analgesics may improve pain relief but do not alter OA disease progression.

Age-related carbonylation of fibrocartilage structural proteins drives tissue degenerative modification.

Aging-related oxidative stress has been linked to degenerative modifications in different organs and tissues. Using redox proteomic analysis and illustrative tandem mass spectrometry mapping, we demonstrate oxidative posttranslational modifications in structural proteins of intervertebral discs (IVDs) isolated from aging mice. Increased protein carbonylation was associated with protein fragmentation and aggregation.

The role of accountable care organizations in delivering value.

The goal of Accountable Care Organizations is to improve patient outcomes while maximizing the value of the services provided. This will be achieved through the use of performance and quality measures that facilitate efficient, cost-effective, evidence-based care. By creating a network connecting primary care physicians, specialists, rehabilitation facilities and hospitals, patient care should be maximized while at the same time delivering appropriate value for those services provided.

Annexin A2 binds to endosomes following organelle destabilization by particulate wear debris.

Endosomal functions are contingent on the integrity of the organelle-limiting membrane, whose disruption induces inflammation and cell death. Here we show that phagocytosis of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene particles induces damage to the endosomal-limiting membrane and results in the leakage of cathepsins into the cytosol and NLRP3-inflammasome activation. Annexin A2 recruitment to damaged organelles is shown by two-dimensional DIGE protein profiling, endosomal fractionation, confocal analysis of endogenous and annexin A2-GFP transfected cells, and immunogold labelling.

Mechanotransduction and cartilage integrity.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by the breakdown of articular cartilage that is mediated in part by increased production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and aggrecanases (ADAMTS), enzymes that degrade components of the cartilage extracellular matrix. Efforts to design synthetic inhibitors of MMPs/ADAMTS have only led to limited clinical success. In addition to pharmacologic therapies, physiologic joint loading is widely recommended as a nonpharmacologic approach to improve joint function in osteoarthritis.

Mediators of the inflammatory response to joint replacement devices.

Joint replacement surgery is one of the success stories of modern medicine, restoring mobility, diminishing pain and improving the overall quality of life for millions of people. Unfortunately, wear of these prostheses over time generates debris, which activates an innate immune response that can ultimately lead to periprosthetic resorption of bone (osteolysis) and failure of the implant. Over the past decade, the biological interactions between the particulate debris from various implant materials and the immune system have begun to be better understood.

Dendritic cell-mediated in vivo bone resorption.

Osteoclasts are resident cells of the bone that are primarily involved in the physiological and pathological remodeling of this tissue. Mature osteoclasts are multinucleated giant cells that are generated from the fusion of circulating precursors originating from the monocyte/macrophage lineage. During inflammatory bone conditions in vivo, de novo osteoclastogenesis is observed but it is currently unknown whether, besides increased osteoclast differentiation from undifferentiated precursors, other cell types can generate a multinucleated giant cell phenotype with bone resorbing activity.

Endosomal damage and TLR2 mediated inflammasome activation by alkane particles in the generation of aseptic osteolysis.

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene is widely used as a bearing surface in prosthetic arthroplasty. Over time the generation of implant-derived wear particles can initiate an inflammatory reaction characterized by periprosthetic inflammation and ultimately bone resorption at the prosthetic bone interface. Herein we present evidence that the different sized particles as well as the different length alkane polymers generated by implant wear leads to a two component inflammatory response.

Immunogenecity of modified alkane polymers is mediated through TLR1/2 activation.

Background: With the advancement of biomedical technology, artificial materials have been developed to replace diseased, damaged or nonfunctional body parts. Among such materials, ultra high molecular weight alkane or modified alkyl polymers have been extensively used in heart valves, stents, pacemakers, ear implants, as well as total joint replacement devices. Although much research has been undertaken to design the most non-reactive biologically inert polyethylene derivatives, strong inflammatory responses followed by rejection and failure of the implant have been noted.

Cemented internal fixation for supracondylar femur fractures in osteoporotic patients.

Seventeen, supracondylar femur fractures in 15 severely osteoporotic patients (average age, 81.9 years) were treated with a 95 degree supracondylar plate and dynamic compression screw supplemented with intramedullary methyl methacrylate and massive cancellous bone graft harvested from the distal femoral metaphysis. Interfragmentary compression and rigid fracture fixation was obtained in all cases with the use of the A-O compression device.

Clostridium perfringens and Staphylococcus epidermidis polymicrobial septic arthritis. A case report.

Septic arthritis caused by Clostridium perfringens is extremely rare. Previously there has been only one report of Clostridium perfringens in combination with an aerobe causing septic arthritis. This report presents a 23-year-old man with a mixed aerobic/anaerobic septic arthritis treated with intravenous antibiotics and repeated surgical drainage.