Hypoxia-inducible factor-2α induces expression of type X collagen and matrix metalloproteinases 13 in osteoarthritic meniscal cells.

Objectives: To evaluate whether Hypoxia-inducible factor-2α (HIF-2α) regulates expression of endochondral ossification-related molecules in human OA meniscus.

Methods: Expressions of HIF-2α, type X collagen (COL10), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in non-OA and OA menisci were analyzed by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Meniscal cells from OA patients were treated with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and gene expression was analyzed.

Expression of tenocyte lineage-related factors in regenerated tissue at sites of tendon defect.

Background: The healing mechanism of ruptured or injured tendons is poorly understood. To date, some lineage-specific factors, such as scleraxis and tenomodulin, have been reported as markers of tenocyte differentiation. Because few studies have focused on tenocyte lineage-related factors with respect to the repaired tissue of healing tendons, the aim of this study was to investigate their expression during the tendon healing process.

Chondrogenic capacity and alterations in hyaluronan synthesis of cultured human osteoarthritic chondrocytes.

During osteoarthritis there is a disruption and loss of the extracellular matrix of joint cartilage, composed primarily of type II collagen, aggrecan and hyaluronan. In young patients, autologous chondrocyte implantation can be used to repair cartilage defects. However, for more elderly patients with osteoarthritis, such a repair approach is contraindicated because the procedure requires a large expansion of autologous chondrocytes in vitro leading a rapid, perhaps irreversible, loss of the chondrocyte phenotype.

Role of S100A12 in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.

S100A12 is a member of the S100 protein family, which are intracellular calcium-binding proteins. Although there are many reports on the involvement of S100A12 in inflammatory diseases, its presence in osteoarthritic cartilage has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of S100A12 in human articular cartilage in osteoarthritis (OA) and to evaluate the role of S100A12 in human OA chondrocytes.

Inflammatory effect of advanced glycation end products on human meniscal cells from osteoarthritic knees.

Objective: To investigate the inflammatory effects of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) through the receptor for AGE in meniscal cells from osteoarthritic knees, and examine effects of hyaluronan (HA) on AGE-induced inflammation.

Methods: Meniscal cells from human osteoarthritic knees were cultured with or without glycolaldehyde-AGE-bovine serum albumin and 800 kDa HA. The amount of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) protein was determined using an enzyme immunoassay system.

Is latero-medial patellar mobility related to the range of motion of the knee joint after total knee arthroplasty?

Diminished range of motion (ROM) of the knee joint after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is thought to be related to reduced patellar mobility. This has not been confirmed clinically due to a lack of quantitative methods adequate for measuring patellar mobility. We investigated the relationship between patellar mobility by a reported quantitative method and knee joint ROM after TKA.

New secure suture relay technique for arthroscopic Bankart repair without making an additional working portal.

Bankart repair is more frequently performed arthroscopically these days. To do this, an additional working portal is usually necessary, especially for repair of the badly damaged labrum or capsular ligaments using various types of relay techniques. We have devised a suture relay technique to perform arthroscopic Bankart repair using suture anchors without making any additional working portal.