Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. XLVII. Ultrasound of the shoulder in patients with gout and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease.

Objectives: This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of ultrasound (US) morpho-structural changes in the shoulders of patients with crystal-related arthropathies, and at investigating the relationship between them and the clinical findings.

Methods: Eighty-eight patients with a crystal proven diagnosis of gout or calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) disease attending the in-patient and the out-patient clinics of four Italian Rheumatology Departments were consecutively enrolled in this multi-centre study. All patients were clinically examined by an expert rheumatologist who recorded clinical and laboratory data in addition to the presence/absence of spontaneous shoulder pain and performed the Hawkins, Jobe, Patte, Gerber, and Speed tests.

Chitosan, hyaluronan and chondroitin sulfate in tissue engineering for cartilage regeneration: a review.

Injection of hyaluronan into osteoarthritic joints restores the viscoelasticity, augments the flow of joint fluid, normalizes endogenous hyaluronan synthesis, and improves joint function. Chitosan easily forms polyelectrolyte complexes with hyaluronan and chondroitin sulfate. Synergy of chitosan with hyaluronan develops enhanced performances in regenerating hyaline cartilage, typical results being structural integrity of the hyaline-like neocartilage, and reconstitution of the subchondral bone, with positive cartilage staining for collagen-II and GAG in the treated sites.