Effect of vitamin D supplementation on circulating level of autophagosome protein LC3A, inflammation, and physical performance in knee osteoarthritis.

Aberrant autophagic activity is observed in osteoarthritic joints. Vitamin D was shown to alleviate not only osteoarthritis severity, but also autophagy process. However, the influence of vitamin D on autophagy in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) remains ambiguous.

Association between Common Variants in Gene and the Susceptibility of Primary Knee Osteoarthritis.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor A () gene polymorphisms, plasma VEGFA, and the susceptibility of knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Design: A total of 404 subjects, 202 knee OA subjects and 202 healthy volunteers, were enrolled into the study. Four distinct polymorphisms of the gene were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism: -2578C/A (rs699947), -1154G/A (rs1570360), -634C/G (rs2010963), and +936C/T (rs3025039).

Cytokine Profiling and Intra-Articular Injection of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma in Knee Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease leading to joint pain and stiffness. Due to lack of effective treatments, physical and psychological disabilities caused by OA have a detrimental impact on the patient's quality of life. Emerging evidence suggests that intra-articular injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may provide favorable results since PRP comprises not only a high level of platelets but also a huge amount of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors.

A novel gelatin/chitooligosaccharide/demineralized bone matrix composite scaffold and periosteum-derived mesenchymal stem cells for bone tissue engineering.

Background: A novel biodegradable scaffold including gelatin (G), chitooligosaccharide (COS), and demineralized bone matrix (DBM) could play a significant part in bone tissue engineering. The present study aimed to investigate the biological characteristics of composite scaffolds in combination of G, COS, and DBM for in vitro cell culture and in vivo animal bioassays.

Methods: Three-dimensional scaffolds from the mixture of G, COS, and DBM were fabricated into 3 groups, namely, G, GC, and GCD using a lyophilization technique.

Telomere shortening is associated with poor physical performance in knee osteoarthritis.

Telomere length is a hallmark characteristic of ageing and age-related diseases. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of joint pain and physical disability in the elderly. Previous studies have revealed the role of telomere shortening in OA; however, the relationship between telomere length, muscle strength and physical performance in knee OA patients remains unknown.

Decreased Serum Adiponectin Reflects Low Vitamin D, High Interleukin 6, and Poor Physical Performance in Knee Osteoarthritis.

Obesity is a major contributor to deterioration of physical function toward sarcopenia in knee osteoarthritis (OA) due to its effect mediated through adipokines-derived molecules that have pro-/anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to investigate relationships of serum adiponectin, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), interleukin (IL)-6, and physical performance in knee OA patients. A total of 175 knee OA patients and 52 healthy controls were recruited.

Relationships between blood leukocyte mitochondrial DNA copy number and inflammatory cytokines in knee osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative articular disorder manifested by cartilage destruction, subchondral sclerosis, osteophytes, and synovitis, resulting in chronic joint pain and physical disability in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to investigate mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA) and inflammatory cytokines in primary knee OA patients and healthy volunteers. A total of 204 knee OA patients and 169 age-matched healthy volunteers were recruited.

Anatomical Differences Between Foot and Hand Web Space Reconstruction.

The differences in the anatomy of the foot and the hand may affect the dorsal flap design for web space reconstruction. In this study, the authors aimed to identify the differences in web space anatomy of the foot and the hand and provide a guideline of flap design for web space reconstruction in the foot and the hand. The right hands and right feet of adult volunteers were measured, including surgical landmarks (i.

Blood leukocyte LINE-1 hypomethylation and oxidative stress in knee osteoarthritis.

Aim: Joints inflammation is one of the most pathologic processes leading to the development of osteoarthritis (OA), possibly leading to genomic instability. LINE-1 is transposable elements, and alterations in LINE-1 methylation induced by 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) can cause genomic instability contributing to OA development. Herein, the present study examined associations between LINE-1 methylation, 8-OHdG, and knee OA severity.

Relative telomere length and oxidative stress in musculoskeletal tumors.

Telomeres are capped at the end of the chromosome and gradually shorten when the cell divides. When there is an oxidative stress, it can cause the DNA to be damaged. Hence, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) has been shown to be an indicator for oxidative DNA damage.

Plasma and Joint Fluid Glypican-3 Are Inversely Correlated with the Severity of Knee Osteoarthritis.

Objective: Glypican-3 possesses a possible action in regulation of bone growth and development implicated in osteoarthritis (OA) pathology. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate glypican-3 in plasma and synovial fluid of knee OA patients and to determine the possible association between glypican-3 levels and radiographic severity.

Design: A total of 80 knee OA patients and 80 healthy controls were recruited.

Adiponectin gene rs1501299 polymorphism is associated with increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament rupture.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is one the most common musculoskeletal soft tissue injuries of the knee. Although the exact mechanisms of this injury remain uncertain, genetic variants have been considered to be an intrinsic risk factor associated with ACL rupture. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine whether the adiponectin +276G/T polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to ACL rupture in a Thai population.

Do-It-Yourself Microsuture from Human Hair for Basic Microsurgical Training.

Background:  Microsuture is an essential material for basic microsurgical training. However, it is consumable, expensive, and sometimes unavailable in the microsurgical laboratory. To solve this problem, we developed a microsuture made from human hair and needle gauge.

Alu hypermethylation and high oxidative stress in patients with musculoskeletal tumors.

Background: Alu is one of the non-autonomous element retrotransposons, constituting nearly 11% of the human DNA. Methylation changes of the Alu element can cause genomic instability, a hallmark of cancer development, ultimately leading to the development of cancer. Epigenetic factors may induce the aberrant methylation of Alu and also oxidative stress.

Circulating and Synovial Fluid Heat Shock Protein 70 Are Correlated with Severity in Knee Osteoarthritis.

Objective: Heat shock proteins are molecules rapidly produced under conditions of environmental stress, and involve in protecting the cells structural integrity and function. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic destructive disorder of the joints manifested by the ongoing deterioration and loss of articular cartilage. The present study aimed to analyze circulating and synovial heat shock protein (Hsp70) values in knee osteoarthritis patients and healthy controls and to determine their relationship with the radiographic grading of the severity of knee OA.

Vitamin D Supplementation Improves Quality of Life and Physical Performance in Osteoarthritis Patients.

(1) : Lower levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) are common in osteoarthritis (OA) patients. However, the effect of vitamin D supplementation on muscle strength and physical performance remains unclear. This study will investigate the effects of vitamin D₂ supplementation on muscle strength and physical performance in knee OA patients; (2) : One hundred and seventy-five primary knee OA patients with low levels of serum 25(OH)D (<30 ng/mL) received 40,000 IU vitamin D₂ (ergocalciferol) per week for six months.

Association between leukocyte telomere length and angiogenic cytokines in knee osteoarthritis.

Aim: The aims of this study were to compare leukocyte relative telomere length (RTL) in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients and healthy controls and to investigate associations between plasma angiogenic cytokine concentrations and leukocyte RTL.

Method: Eighty knee OA patients and 60 age-matched controls were enrolled. Leukocyte RTL was assessed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

Glomus tumors of the fingers: Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor.

Glomus tumors are uncommon, benign, small neurovascular neoplasms derived from glomus bodies in the reticular dermis. Glomus bodies are found throughout the body to regulate body temperature and skin circulation; however, they are concentrated in the fingers and the sole of the foot. The typical presentation is a solitary nodule in the subungual or periungual area of the distal phalanx.

Plasma and synovial fluid inflammatory cytokine profiles in primary knee osteoarthritis.

Objective: The objective of this study is to compare inflammatory cytokine levels in primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients and healthy controls.

Methods: A total of 32 knee OA patients and 14 healthy controls were enrolled. A multiplex immunoassay was utilized for 10 cytokines in plasma and synovial fluid.

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.

Association between ADAM12 polymorphism and knee osteoarthritis in Thai population.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA), a common degenerative joint disorder in the elderly, is characterized by the destruction of articular cartilage, bony outgrowths at joint margins, and synovitis. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether there is an association between the ADAM12 (rs3740199) polymorphism and susceptibility to knee OA in a Thai population.

Methods: Genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was isolated from 200 Thai knee OA patients and 200 healthy controls.