Multi-Omics Integrative Analyses Identified Two Endotypes of Hip Osteoarthritis.

(1) Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a heterogeneous disorder, and subgroup classification of OA remains elusive. The aim of our study was to identify endotypes of hip OA and investigate the altered pathways in the different endotypes. (2) Methods: Metabolomic profiling and genome-wide genotyping were performed on fasting blood.

Gut Microbiomics of Sustained Knee Pain in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis.

Objective: To examine whether gut microbes were associated with postsurgery-sustained knee pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) by a gut microbiomics approach.

Methods: Patients receiving total knee replacement (TKR) because of primary knee OA were recruited. Sustained knee pain status at ≥ 1 year after TKR was defined by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC).

Genomic heterozygosity is associated with a lower risk of osteoarthritis.

Background: Genomic heterozygosity has been shown to confer a health advantage in humans and play a protective role in complex diseases. Given osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly polygenic disease, we set out to determine if an association exists between OA and genomic heterozygosity.

Results: End-stage knee and hip OA patients and healthy controls were recruited from the Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) population.

Genetic Variants of the Beta-Adrenergic Receptor Pathways as Both Risk and Protective Factors for Retinopathy of Prematurity.

Purpose: There is strong evidence that genetic factors influence retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a neovascular eye disease. It has been previously suggested that polymorphisms in the genes involved in β-adrenergic receptor (ADRβ) pathways could protect against ROP. Antagonists for the ADRβ are actively tested in clinical trials for ROP treatment, but not without controversy and safety concerns.

Osteoarthritis year in review 2023: metabolite and protein biomarkers.

Objective: To highlight the advances over the past year in metabolite/protein biomarkers for osteoarthritis (OA).

Method: A literature search of five databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Ovid Medline, and Embase was performed for studies on metabolite/protein/peptide/biochemical markers for OA published between April 1st, 2022 and March 31st, 2023. Records were then screened to include only original research articles using directly collected human specimens, in English language, and with full text available.

Individual participant data meta-analysis of metabolomics on sustained knee pain in primary osteoarthritis patients.

Objectives: Knee pain is the major driver for OA patients to seek healthcare, but after pursuing both conservative and surgical pain interventions, ∼20% of patients continue to report long-term pain following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study aimed to identify a metabolomic signature for sustained knee pain after TKA to elucidate possible underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Two independent cohorts from St John's, NL, Canada (n = 430), and Toronto, ON, Canada (n = 495) were included in the study.

Serum Metabolomic Signatures for Knee Cartilage Volume Loss over 10 Years in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent joint disorder characterized by joint structural pathological changes with the loss of articular cartilage as its hallmark. Tools that can predict cartilage loss would help identify people at high risk, thus preventing OA development. The recent advance of the metabolomics provides a new avenue to systematically investigate metabolic alterations in disease and identify biomarkers for early diagnosis.

Mass spectrometry-based proteomics identify novel serum osteoarthritis biomarkers.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a slowly developing and debilitating disease, and there are no validated specific biomarkers for its early detection. To improve therapeutic approaches, identification of specific molecules/biomarkers enabling early determination of this disease is needed. This study aimed at identifying, with the use of proteomics/mass spectrometry, novel OA-specific serum biomarkers.

Restricting Branched-Chain Amino Acids within a High-Fat Diet Prevents Obesity.

Obesity is a global pandemic, but there is yet no effective measure to control it. Recent metabolomics studies have identified a signature of altered amino acid profiles to be associated with obesity, but it is unclear whether these findings have actionable clinical potential. The aims of this study were to reveal the metabolic alterations of obesity and to explore potential strategies to mitigate obesity.

Lipidomic Profiling Identifies Serum Lipids Associated with Persistent Multisite Musculoskeletal Pain.

Lipid mediators have been suggested to have a role in pain sensitivity and response; however, longitudinal data on lipid metabolites and persistent multisite musculoskeletal pain (MSMP) are lacking. This study was to identify lipid metabolic markers for persistent MSMP. Lipidomic profiling of 807 lipid species was performed on serum samples of 536 participants from a cohort study.

Metabolomic signatures for the longitudinal reduction of muscle strength over 10 years.

Background: Skeletal muscles are essential components of the neuromuscular skeletal system that have an integral role in the structure and function of the synovial joints which are often affected by osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of this study was to identify the baseline metabolomic signatures for the longitudinal reduction of muscle strength over 10 years in the well-established community-based Tasmanian Older Adult Cohort (TASOAC).

Methods: Study participants were 50-79 year old individuals from the TASOAC.

Prediagnostic consumption of vitamin D, calcium and dairy products and colorectal cancer survival: results from the Newfoundland Colorectal Cancer Registry Cohort Study.

Vitamin D, Ca and dairy products are negatively associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence, but little is known of their influence on CRC survival. To investigate prediagnostic intakes of vitamin D, Ca and dairy products for their relevance to CRC prognosis, we analysed 504 CRC patients enrolled in the Newfoundland Colorectal Cancer Registry Cohort Study who were diagnosed for the first time with CRC between 1999 and 2003. Follow-up for mortality and cancer recurrence was through April 2010.

The role of metabolomics in precision medicine of osteoarthritis: How far are we?

Objectives: A narrative review on recent published studies of metabolomics in osteoarthritis (OA) with the focus on how the metabolomic findings help stratify OA patients in precision medicine.

Design: A narrative review based on selected population-based metabolomics studies in OA.

Results: PubMed search resulted in a total 139 articles on metabolomics of OA.

Association Between Gut Microbiota and Symptomatic Hand Osteoarthritis: Data From the Xiangya Osteoarthritis Study.

Objective: Systemic inflammatory factors have been implicated in symptomatic hand osteoarthritis (OA). Gut microbiome dysbiosis promotes systemic inflammation. The aim of this study was to examine the association between the gut microbiome and the presence of symptomatic hand OA in a population-based study.

Clinical relevance of biochemical and metabolic changes in osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial disease with huge phenotypic heterogeneity. The disease affects all tissues in the joint, and the loss of articular cartilage is its hallmark. The main biochemical components of the articular cartilage are type II collagen, aggrecan, and water.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor may play a protective role in osteoarthritis.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent form of arthritis and the major cause of disability and overall diminution of quality of life in the elderly population. Currently there is no cure for OA, partly due to the large gaps in our understanding of its underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a procytokine that mediates pleiotropic inflammatory effects in inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Association Between Epidemiological Factors and Nonresponders to Total Joint Replacement Surgery in Primary Osteoarthritis Patients.

Background: While total joint replacement (TJR) is the most effective treatment for end-stage osteoarthritis (OA), one-third of patients do not experience clinically important improvement in pain or function following the surgery. Thus, it is important to identify factors for nonresponders and develop strategies to improve TJR outcomes.

Methods: Study participants were patients who underwent TJR (hip/knee) due to OA and completed the WOMAC before and on average 4 years after surgery.

Sphingomyelin is involved in multisite musculoskeletal pain: evidence from metabolomic analysis in 2 independent cohorts.

Metabolic dysfunction has been suggested to be involved in musculoskeletal pain; however, few studies have identified metabolic markers associated with multisite musculoskeletal pain (MSMP). This study sought to identify metabolic marker(s) for MSMP by metabolomic analysis. The Tasmanian Older Adult Cohort Study (TASOAC) provided the discovery cohort with the Newfoundland Osteoarthritis Study (NFOAS) providing the replication cohort.

Endotypes of primary osteoarthritis identified by plasma metabolomics analysis.

Objective: To identify endotypes of osteoarthritis (OA) by a metabolomics analysis.

Methods: Study participants included hip/knee OA patients and controls. Fasting plasma samples were metabolomically profiled.

Metabolomic analysis coupled with extreme phenotype sampling identified that lysophosphatidylcholines are associated with multisite musculoskeletal pain.

Musculoskeletal pain often occurs simultaneously at multiple anatomical sites. The aim of the study was to identify metabolic biomarkers for multisite musculoskeletal pain (MSMP) by metabolomics with an extreme phenotype sampling strategy. The study participants (n = 610) were derived from the Newfoundland Osteoarthritis Study.

Phenylalanine Is a Novel Marker for Radiographic Knee Osteoarthritis Progression: The MOST Study.

Objective: To identify plasma markers associated with an increased risk of radiographic knee osteoarthritis(OA) progression using a metabolomics approach.

Methods: Study participants were from the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST) and were categorized into 2 groups based on the presence of baseline radiographic OA. Subjects in group 1 had unilateral knee OA and subjects in group 2 had bilateral knee OA.

Differential correlation network analysis identified novel metabolomics signatures for non-responders to total joint replacement in primary osteoarthritis patients.

Introduction: Up to one third of total joint replacement patients (TJR) experience poor surgical outcome.

Objectives: To identify metabolomic signatures for non-responders to TJR in primary osteoarthritis (OA) patients.

Methods: A newly developed differential correlation network analysis method was applied to our previously published metabolomic dataset to identify metabolomic network signatures for non-responders to TJR.

Metabolomics Signature for Non-Responders to Total Joint Replacement Surgery in Primary Osteoarthritis Patients: The Newfoundland Osteoarthritis Study.

Although total joint replacement (TJR) surgery is considered as the most effective treatment for advanced osteoarthritis (OA) patients, up to one-third of patients reported unfavorable long-term post-operative pain outcomes. We aimed to identify metabolic biomarkers to predict non-responders to TJR using a metabolomics approach. TJR patients were recruited and followed-up at least 1-year post-surgery; TJR outcomes were assessed by Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain and function subscales.