Simultaneous Bilateral T, T, and T Relaxation Mapping of Hip Joint With 3D-MRI Fingerprinting.

Background: Three-dimensional MR fingerprinting (3D-MRF) has been increasingly used to assess cartilage degeneration, particularly in the knee joint, by looking into multiple relaxation parameters. A comparable 3D-MRF approach can be adapted to assess cartilage degeneration for the hip joint, with changes to accommodate specific challenges of hip joint imaging.

Purpose: To demonstrate the feasibility and repeatability of 3D-MRF in the bilateral hip jointly we map proton density (PD), T, T, T, and ∆B in clinically feasible scan times.

Peri-Arthroscopic Management of Immunosuppressive Medications in Patients with Rheumatic Disease A Survey of Practice Trends Among Rheumatologists and Sports Medicine Orthopedic Surgeons.

Purpose: Rheumatologists and orthopedic surgeons frequently collaborate on difficult decisions regarding perioperative management of immunosuppression in rheumatic disease patients, balancing risk of postoperative infection with risk of disease flares. Current evidence-based guidelines pertain specifically to arthroplasty, thus we sought to understand the trends and common practices regarding peri-arthroscopic use of immunosuppression.

Methods: Rheumatologists and sports medicine surgeons, from a variety of New York hospitals and serving a broad range of demographics, were surveyed on immunosuppressive medication management in rheumatic disease patients undergoing arthroscopic surgeries.

Postoperative complications in rheumatic disease patients undergoing arthroscopy on immunosuppression.

Background: There are currently no guidelines on peri-arthroscopic management of immunosuppressive (IS) treatment in rheumatic disease patients.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to characterize the rheumatic disease patient population undergoing arthroscopy, compare the incidence of postoperative complications among patients who either remained on IS perioperatively, held IS perioperatively or were not on IS at baseline, and compare the incidence of postoperative complications by rheumatic disease type, medication type, and procedure.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of all arthroscopic sports medicine surgeries in patients with a rheumatic disease diagnosis at our institution over an 11-year period.

Serum proteomic panel validated for prediction of knee osteoarthritis progression.

Objective: To further validate a serum proteomics panel for predicting radiographic (structural) knee OA progression.

Design: Serum peptides were targeted by multiple-reaction-monitoring mass spectrometry in the New York University cohort (n ​= ​104). Knee OA progression was defined as joint space narrowing ≥1 in the tibiofemoral compartment of one knee per study participant over a 24-month follow-up.

Genicular Artery Embolization for Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: Interim Analysis of a Prospective Pilot Trial Including Effect on Serum Osteoarthritis-Associated Biomarkers.

Purpose: To characterize the safety, efficacy, and potential role of genicular artery embolization (GAE) as a disease-modifying treatment for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Materials And Methods: This is an interim analysis of a prospective, single-arm clinical trial of patients with symptomatic knee OA who failed conservative therapy for greater than 3 months. Sixteen patients who underwent GAE using 250-μm microspheres and had at least 1 month of follow-up were included.

A cell-type-specific error-correction signal in the posterior parietal cortex.

Neurons in the posterior parietal cortex contribute to the execution of goal-directed navigation and other decision-making tasks. Although molecular studies have catalogued more than 50 cortical cell types, it remains unclear what distinct functions they have in this area. Here we identified a molecularly defined subset of somatostatin (Sst) inhibitory neurons that, in the mouse posterior parietal cortex, carry a cell-type-specific error-correction signal for navigation.

Susceptibility of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 mutations to Whipple's disease.

Objectives: Whipple's disease (WD) results from infection of the bacteria Tropheryma whipplei (TW). This disease is characterized by macrophage infiltration of intestinal mucosa and primarily affects Caucasian males. Genetic studies of host susceptibility are scarce.

Pathological tissue formation and degradation biomarkers correlate with patient reported pain outcomes: an explorative study.

Background: The lack of disease modifying drugs in Osteoarthritis (OA) may be attributed to the difficulty in robust response based on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) linked to drug mechanism of action. Joint tissue turnover biomarkers are associated with disease progression. A subset of patients has elevated serum levels of CRP metabolite (CRPM).

Genicular artery embolization for treatment of knee osteoarthritis pain: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is a novel, minimally invasive procedure for treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA). This meta-analysis investigated the safety and effectiveness of this procedure.

Design: Outcomes of this systematic review with meta-analysis were technical success, knee pain visual analog scale (VAS; 0-100 scale), WOMAC Total Score (0-100 scale), retreatment rate, and adverse events.

Postoperative flares and peri-arthroscopic management of immunosuppressive medications in patients with rheumatic disease.

Purpose: To determine the rate and characteristics of postoperative flares in rheumatic disease patients undergoing arthroscopic surgery, and the role of perioperative immunosuppression (IS) management in preventing or provoking these exacerbations.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of arthroscopic surgeries in patients with rheumatologic disease over 11 years. Patients taking IS at baseline and those without were matched 1:1 using propensity scores on age, sex, rheumatic disease type, and procedure complexity.

Efficacy of guselkumab, a selective IL-23 inhibitor, in Preventing Arthritis in a Multicentre Psoriasis At-Risk cohort (PAMPA): protocol of a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled multicentre trial.

Introduction: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a complex, immune-mediated disease associated with skin psoriasis that, if left untreated, can lead to joint destruction. Up to 30% of patients with psoriasis progress to PsA. In most cases, psoriasis precedes synovio-entheseal inflammation by an average of 5-7 years, providing a unique opportunity for early and potentially preventive intervention in a susceptible and identifiable population.

Efficacy and safety of colchicine for the treatment of osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention trials.

Objective: Colchicine, an approved treatment for gout, has been trialed in many diseases including osteoarthritis (OA) due to its anti-inflammatory effects. However, its efficacy and safety remain unclear in OA. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of colchicine for the treatment of OA.

Low incidence and transient elevation of autoantibodies post mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in inflammatory arthritis.

Objectives: Autoantibody seroconversion has been extensively studied in the context of COVID-19 infection but data regarding post-vaccination autoantibody production is lacking. Here we aimed to determine the incidence of common autoantibody formation following mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) and in healthy controls.

Methods: Autoantibody seroconversion was measured by serum ELISA in a longitudinal cohort of IA participants and healthy controls before and after COVID-19 mRNA-based immunization.

Perioperative Management of Immunosuppressive Medications in Rheumatic Disease Patients Undergoing Arthroscopy.

Purpose Of Review: This manuscript reviews relevant prior literature regarding management of immunosuppressants in patients with rheumatic diseases around the time of orthopedic surgery, highlighting important considerations specifically regarding arthroscopy.

Recent Findings: Utilization rates of arthroscopic surgery in patients with rheumatic diseases are on the rise, as immunosuppressive treatment options enable them to lead more active lives and hence experience more injuries. Physicians regularly manage patients' glucocorticoids and conventional synthetic and biologic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs around the time of orthopedic surgery, aiming to minimize infection risk while optimizing disease control.

14-3-3 epsilon is an intracellular component of TNFR2 receptor complex and its activation protects against osteoarthritis.

Objectives: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease; however, the indeterminate nature of mechanisms by which OA develops has restrained advancement of therapeutic targets. TNF signalling has been implicated in the pathogenesis of OA. TNFR1 primarily mediates inflammation, whereas emerging evidences demonstrate that TNFR2 plays an anti-inflammatory and protective role in several diseases and conditions.

Current Epidemiology and Risk Factors for the Development of Hand Osteoarthritis.

Purpose Of Review: Hand osteoarthritis (hand OA), the most common peripheral arthritis in the world, is less studied than osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and hip. However, it is uniquely situated to offer novel insight into OA as a disease process by removing weight-bearing as a confounder of systemic disease mechanisms. Here we review the epidemiology of hand OA and key risk factors for its development.

Methotrexate hampers immunogenicity to BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in immune-mediated inflammatory disease.

Objective: To investigate the humoral and cellular immune response to messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccines in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) on immunomodulatory treatment.

Methods: Established patients at New York University Langone Health with IMID (n=51) receiving the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination were assessed at baseline and after second immunisation. Healthy subjects served as controls (n=26).

Methotrexate Hampers Immunogenicity to BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine in Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Disease.

Objective: To investigate the humoral and cellular immune response to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) on immunomodulatory treatment.

Methods: Established patients at NYU Langone Health with IMID (n=51) receiving the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination were assessed at baseline and after second immunization. Healthy subjects served as controls (n=26).

Periostin loss-of-function protects mice from post-traumatic and age-related osteoarthritis.

Background: Elevated levels of periostin (Postn) in the cartilage and bone are associated with osteoarthritis (OA). However, it remains unknown whether Postn loss-of-function can delay or prevent the development of OA. In this study, we sought to better understand the role of Postn in OA development and assessed the functional impact of Postn deficiency on post-traumatic and age-related OA in mice.

A low cartilage formation and repair endotype predicts radiographic progression of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease with multiple endotypes. A hallmark of OA is loss of cartilage; however, it is evident that the rate of cartilage loss differs among patients, which may partly be attributed to differential capacity for cartilage repair. We hypothesize that a low cartilage repair endotype exists and that such endotypes are more likely to progress radiographically.

Imaging of OA - From disease modification to clinical utility.

Multiple disease-modifying osteoarthritis drug (DMOAD) trials were done in the last two decades, but no pharmacological agent has yet been approved by regulatory agencies as an effective therapy to date. Given the fact that we have seen the recent discontinuation of several late-stage drug development trials, a careful strategy is needed in formulating a plan for a successful DMOAD trial - including the various roles of imaging. This narrative review article will summarize how imaging is utilized in osteoarthritis from the perspective of disease modification to clinical utility.

The combination of an inflammatory peripheral blood gene expression and imaging biomarkers enhance prediction of radiographic progression in knee osteoarthritis.

Objective: Predictive biomarkers of progression in knee osteoarthritis are sought to enable clinical trials of structure-modifying drugs. A peripheral blood leukocyte (PBL) inflammatory gene signature, MRI-based bone marrow lesions (BML) and meniscus extrusion scores, meniscal lesions, and osteophytes on X-ray each have been shown separately to predict radiographic joint space narrowing (JSN) in subjects with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (SKOA). In these studies, we determined whether the combination of the PBL inflammatory gene expression and these imaging findings at baseline enhanced the prognostic value of either alone.

A Standardized, Pragmatic Approach to Knee Ultrasound for Clinical Research in Osteoarthritis: The Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project.

Objective: This study sought to develop and employ a comprehensive and standardized ultrasound (US) protocol and scoring atlas for the evaluation of features relevant to knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in a community-based cohort in the United States, with the goals of demonstrating feasibility, reliability, and validity.

Methods: We utilized data from the fourth follow-up (2016-2018) of the Johnston County OA Project, which includes individuals with (~50%) and without radiographic KOA. All participants underwent standardized knee radiography and completed standard questionnaires including the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS).