Experimental progress of signal transduction pathways in knee osteoarthritis / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that signaling pathway plays an important role in the pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE: To elaborate the experimental progress of signal transduction pathway in knee osteoarthritis METHODS: A computer-based retrieval of PubMed, CNKI, VIP and Wanfang databases was performed to find the relevant literatures concerning experimental studies of signaling pathway in knee osteoarthritis. Al data were primarily screened to exclude repeated and irrelevant articles. Articles about association between knee osteoarthritis and signal pathway were included.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 51 articles were colected, including 20 in Chinese and 31 in English. It is concluded that the signal transduction pathway related to knee osteoarthritis is mainly concentrated in the two aspects: the proliferation of chondrocytes and the apoptosis of chondrocytes. The signal transduction pathways related to the proliferation of chondrocytes mainly include Notch signaling pathway and Wnt signaling pathway. SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling pathway, TLR4 signaling pathway, and MAPKs signaling pathway are associated with apoptosis in chondrocytes. Hippo-YAP signaling pathway and ERK1/2 signaling pathway have a double role in the regulation of proliferation and apoptosis of chondrocytes.

Effects of warm needling moxibustion on knee cartilage and morphology in rats with knee osteoarthritis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of warm needling moxibustion on body mass, knee cartilage andmorphology in rats with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty SD rats were randomly divided into a normalgroup, a model group, a medication group and a warm needling group, 10 rats in each one. Except the normalgroup, the rats in the remaining three groups were injected with papain to establish the model of KOA. After themodeling, rats in the model group did not receive any treatment; rats in the warm needling group were treated withwarm needling moxibustion at bilateral "Xiqian"; rats in the medication group were treated with intragastric administration of meloxicam; rats in the normal group were treated with 0. 9% NaCl solution (identical dose as medication group) and immobilized as the warm needling group. The treatment was given once a day for consecutive20 days. The body mass, scale of knee cartilage and morphological changes were observed in each group after'treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The increasing of body mass in the medication group and warm needling group was faster than!that in the model group, but slower than that in the normal group (all P<0. 05); the difference between medication group and warm needling group was not statistically significant (P>0. 05). The scale of knee cartilage in thewarm needling group and medication group was significantly lower than that in the model group (both P<0. 05),while the scale in the warm needling group was lower than that in the medication group (P<. 05). Regarding theknee morphology under micro-CT, the relief of knee degeneration and improvement of knee recovery in the warm needlinggroup were superior to those in the medication group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The warm needling moxibustion could effectively reduce the knee pain, improve the recovery of knee cartilage, which is a safe and effective treatment.</p>

Clinical efficacy comparison between electroacupuncture and meloxicam in the treatment of knee os- teoarthritis at the early and middle stage: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the clinical efficacy on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) at the early and middle stage between electroacupuncture (EA) and meloxicam.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety patients of KOA at the early and middle stage were randomized into an EA group and a meloxicam group, 45 cases in each one. In the EA group, EA was applied to Dubi (ST 35), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Liangqiu (ST 34), Heding (EX-LE 2), Xuehai (SP 10), Yan- glingquan (GB 34) and Zusanli (ST 36); the needles were retained for 20 min and EA was applied once every two days. In the meloxicam group, the meloxicam tablets were prescribed for oral administration, 7. 5 mg, once a day. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks in the two groups. The Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score, rectus femoris muscle tension, the 8-foot walking test and 5-time sit-to-stand test were adopted to observe and compare the effects in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, every item score in WOMAC was reduced after treatment (all P < 0.05), but the difference was not significant between the two groups (all P > 0.05). In the EA group, the rectus femoris tension after treatment was reduced as compared with that before treatment (P < 0.05) and the reducing result was much more apparent as compared with that in the meloxicam group (P < 0.05). For the 8-foot walking test and 5-time sit-to-stand test, the time was shortened after treatment in the two groups (all P < 0.05) and the result in the EA group was much more obvious than that in the meloxicam group (both P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both EA and meloxicam are effective in the treatment of KOA at the early and middle stage. EA improves rectus femoris tension and recovers the internal mechanics balance and the efficacy is better than that of meloxicam.</p>

Non-surgical therapy for knee osteoarthritis:effectiveness evaluation using scale and biomechanical methods / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that the non-surgical therapy for knee osteoarthritis is exactly effective, but there is a lack of scientific and rational evaluation system. OBJECTIVE:To review the evaluation methods of non-surgical therapy for knee osteoarthritis in recent 5 years. METHODS:A computer-based retrieval of PubMed, WOK, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang databases was performed to find literature related to the evaluation methods of non-surgical therapy for knee osteoarthritis. Al data were primarily screened to exclude irrelevant literature. Those literatures about the evaluation methods of non-surgical therapy for knee osteoarthritis were included. Repetitive studies and untypical reports were excluded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Total y 42 articles were col ected, including 28 in Chinese and 14 in English. The analysis results showed that the non-surgical treatment for knee osteoarthritis can improve knee function and the quality of life in patients, and have an exact effect and a good economic benefit. Therefore, exploring a scientific and reasonable evaluation method to guide the choice of clinical treatment for knee osteoarthritis is greatly significant, which can improve the efficacy of non-surgical therapy for knee osteoarthritis. Scale-based evaluation method is simple and practical, but the presence of a single scale has a lack of objectivity. The method of biomechanics or imaging has the advantages of objective, highly reliable, accurate, non-invasive and so on. In the future therapeutic evaluation system, the combination of subjective scale observation and objective indicators should be more recommended, and the evaluation methods of non-surgical therapy for knee osteoarthritis should be selected appropriately based on the difference of clinical therapy and effect.