Increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor is associated with hypertrophic ligamentum flavum in lumbar spinal canal stenosis.

Lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSCS) is the most common spinal disorder in elderly patients, causing low back and leg pain, radiculopathy, and cauda equina syndrome. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent regulator of many cellular functions including proliferation, differentiation, wound healing, and angiogenesis. The present study aimed to investigate the pattern of VEGF expression in the ligamentum flavum (LF) of patients with LSCS.

Relationship of plasma and synovial fluid vascular endothelial growth factor with radiographic severity in primary knee osteoarthritis.

Purpose: Recent evidence suggests that angiogenesis and inflammation contribute to the development and progression of osteoarthritis (OA). The purpose of this study was to investigate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in plasma and synovial fluid of patients with knee OA and to determine the relationship of VEGF levels with disease severity in knee OA.

Methods: A total of 100 subjects were enrolled in this study (80 knee OA patients and 20 healthy controls).

Hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum in lumbar spinal canal stenosis is associated with increased bFGF expression.

Purpose: A prospective study was undertaken to investigate basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression in hypertrophic ligamentum flavum (LF) from patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSCS) and to determine whether there was a correlation of bFGF expression with LF thickness.

Methods: Twenty patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis were enrolled in this study. bFGF mRNA and protein expressions in LF were analyzed using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively.

Correlation between plasma and synovial fluid basic fibroblast growth factor with radiographic severity in primary knee osteoarthritis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate plasma and synovial fluid basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) levels in patients with primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) and to evaluate the correlation between bFGF levels and disease severity.

Methods: Thirty-five patients with knee OA and 15 healthy individuals were recruited into this study. Knee OA grading was performed according to the Kellgren-Lawrence classification.

Association of plasma and synovial fluid interferon-γ inducible protein-10 with radiographic severity in knee osteoarthritis.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate interferon-γ inducible protein-10 (IP-10) concentrations in plasma and synovial fluid of patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and to analyze their relationship with disease severity.

Design And Methods: Forty OA patients and 15 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. OA grading was performed according to the Kellgren-Lawrence criteria.