Clinical, patient-reported, radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging findings 11 years after acute posterior cruciate ligament injury treated non-surgically.

Background: Long-term consequences of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury such as persistent posterior tibial translation and risk of osteoarthritis development are unclear. Additionally, little data is available describing the natural history of structural morphology of the ruptured PCL. The purpose of the study was to determine the long-term outcome after non-operatively treated PCL injury.

Factors associated with hand bone changes in early rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: The aim of this research was to assess if hand bone mineral density (HBMD) changes associated with the appearance of erosions in early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA), compared with the population-based control group. Additionally, we tried to identify if there are novel factors that associate with HBMD and erosive changes (EC), and if they are dissimilar. The study was conducted as the data are limited.

Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for a degenerative meniscus tear: a 5 year follow-up of the placebo-surgery controlled FIDELITY (Finnish Degenerative Meniscus Lesion Study) trial.

Objectives: To assess the long-term effects of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) on the development of radiographic knee osteoarthritis, and on knee symptoms and function, at 5 years follow-up.

Design: Multicentre, randomised, participant- and outcome assessor-blinded, placebo-surgery controlled trial.

Setting: Orthopaedic departments in five public hospitals in Finland.

Relationship Between Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features and Knee Pain Over Six Years in Knees Without Radiographic Osteoarthritis at Baseline.

Objective: To explore whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features suggestive of knee osteoarthritis (OA) are associated with presence of knee pain in possible early-stage OA development.

Methods: We included 294 participants from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (mean ± SD age 50 ± 3 years; 50% women) with baseline Kellgren/Lawrence grade of 0 in both knees, all of whom had received knee MRIs at 4 different time points over 6 years (baseline, 24, 48, and 72 months). Using a linear mixed model (knees matched within individuals), we studied whether MRI features (meniscal body extrusion [in mm], cartilage area loss [score 0-39], cartilage full thickness loss [range 0-16], osteophytes [range 0-29], meniscal integrity [range 0-10], bone marrow lesions [BMLs] including bone marrow cysts [range 0-20], Hoffa- or effusion-synovitis [absent/present], and popliteal cysts [absent/present]) were associated with knee-specific pain as reported on the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire using a 0-100 scale (worst to best).

Structural abnormalities detected by knee magnetic resonance imaging are common in middle-aged subjects with and without risk factors for osteoarthritis.

Background and purpose - Few data are available regarding structural changes present in knees without radiographically evident osteoarthritis (OA). We evaluated the prevalence of findings suggestive of knee OA by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in middle-aged subjects without radiographic OA with or without OA risk factors. Patients and methods - 340 subjects from the Osteoarthritis Initiative, aged 45-55 years (51% women) with Kellgren-Lawrence grade 0 in both knees, who had 3T knee MR images were eligible.

Natural History of Intrameniscal Signal Intensity on Knee MR Images: Six Years of Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

Purpose: To assess the natural history of intrameniscal signal intensity on magnetic resonance (MR) images of the medial compartment.

Materials And Methods: Both knees of 269 participants (55% women, aged 45-55 years) in the Osteoarthritis Initiative without radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) and without medial meniscal tear at baseline were studied. One radiologist assessed 3-T MR images from baseline and 24-, 48-, and 72-month follow-up for intrameniscal signal intensity and tears.

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.

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.

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.