The mechanisms involved in the disease process in arthrosis are largely unknown, with genetics, joint malalignment, overload or trauma, obesity, and aging as some of the known or suspected contributing factors. Even less well known is how these general factors are translated into disease mechanisms at the cell and tissue levels. However, it may be argued that degradation of cartilage matrix is a k

Osteoarthritis is a major cause of disability and early retirement. Yet we lack the means to diagnose the disease in its early stages or to monitor the effects of treatment on the target tissue, the joint cartilage. Neither can we identify the disease mechanisms at the tissue or cell level. Current research focuses on the use of markers of cartilage matrix metabolism in body fluids as a means to d

The ability of rabbit deep flexor tendons to restore the gliding surface and to heal, without the normal contribution of the superficial epitenon layer of the tendons, was studied by light and scanning electron microscopy. The epitenon layer was carefully removed, from defined segments of the tendons. The remaining central tendon tissue was divided, sutured and placed in diffusion chambers subcuta

Synovial fluid was collected from patients with recent knee injury and from patients with early or late stage osteoarthritis. Chondroitin sulfate-substituted aggrecan fragments present in these fluids, and in normal bovine synovial fluid, were purified by cesium chloride gradient centrifugation, enzymically deglycosylated and fractionated by gel filtration on Superose-12. Each sample contained two

High tibial osteotomy for medial gonarthrosis was performed in 28 patients (28 knees). At the time of surgery, arthroscopy was also performed and a cartilage-bone biopsy was obtained. Postoperatively, 15 patients were randomized to a cylinder plaster cast, whereas 13 patients had a hinged cast brace for early knee mobilization. At follow-up examination, two years after surgery, 16 patients accepte

We determined the concentration of proteoglycan fragments in knee joint fluid collected from knee-ligament injured patients more than 6 months after the trauma and from patients with acute pyrophosphate arthritis and arthrosis or with arthrosis only. Injured patients with normal or only mildly altered cartilage at arthroscopy and with normal radiographs, had twice the average concentration of heal

A nonimmunocompromised 32-year-old man with arthrosis of the knee participated as a placebo control in a clinical trial of intraarticular injections of hya-luronan. After the fourth weekly injection of saline, he developed a warm and swollen knee, and synovia! fluid cultures revealed growth of Candida albicans. Oral fluconazole treatment was instituted 2 weeks after onset of symptoms, but failed t

The concentration of cartilage proteoglycan fragments in knee joint fluid was measured before and after one event of physical exercise in 33 healthy athletes. Nine athletes ran on a treadmill for 60 min, 16 ran on road for 80 min and 8 played one soccer game (90 min). Before exercise, the levels of proteoglycan fragments in the athlete joint fluid were lower than in a previously analyzed reference

Objective. To determine in a cross sectional study the concentrations of stromelysin, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP), and proteoglycan fragments in knee synovial fluid (SF) at different times after injury to cruciate ligament or meniscus. Methods. Joint fluid samples were obtained from patients with knee injury diagnosed by arthroscopy. Concentrations of stromelysin-1 and TIMP-1 wer

Proteoglycan fragment concentrations in joint fluid of rabbit knees with various degrees of secondary arthrosis after meniscal resection, meniscal substitution, and anterior cruciate ligament transection, were related to the gross appearance of the articular cartilage. Knees with normal cartilage were distinguishable by the concentration of proteoglycan fragments in joint fluid from knees with art

Objective. To determine the concentrations of human stromelysin-1, collagenase, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP), and proteoglycan fragments in knee synovial fluid in patients with injury to the meniscus or anterior cruciate ligament, posttraumatic osteoarthritis, primary osteoarthritis, or pyrophosphate arthritis. Methods. Synovial fluid samples were collected from patients with knee

Objective. To determine the proteolytic fragmentation patterns and N-terminal sequence of aggrecan fragments in human synovial fluid from patients with inflammatory arthritides, joint injury, or osteoarthritis (OA). Methods. Knee synovial fluid was obtained from patients with joint injury, OA, acute pyrophosphate arthritis (pseudogout), reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or juvenile rheumato

The effects of meniscal substitution with a Dacron® or Teflon® prosthesis on rabbit knee-joint cartilage were studied by indentation tests, gross and histological inspection, analysis of proteoglycan fragments in joint fluid and an evaluation of synovial changes. Cartilage mechanics and cartilage morphology were similarly abnormal after meniscectomy and meniscal substitution. The elevated concentr

Various markers of the metabolism of articular cartilage have been identified in synovial fluid, blood, and urine of patients with osteoarthritis (OA). The joint fluid level of a cartilage-derived molecule, or its fragment, can be used as a marker of the synthesis or catabolism of that molecule in the articular surfaces within that joint. In blood and urine, on the other hand, the level of a marke

Repair of full-thickness cartilage defects of the rabbit medial femoral condyle with artificial plugs and periosteal grafts was followed for 1 year. The morphological characteristics of the neocartilage after repair and the concentration of proteoglycan fragments in the joint fluid (CPFF) were evaluated. The CPFF showed only a weak correlation to the histological score of the neocartilage. Normal

We reviewed reports that describe development of osteoarthrosis of the knee after anterior cruciate ligament or meniscus injury. the occurrence of posttraumatic osteoarthrosis varied considerably from one report to another. the literature does not lend support to the efficacy of cruciate ligament repair or reconstruction in retarding the progression of osteoarthrosis after knee injury. We encourag