Objective We aimed to characterize severity and occurrence of knee osteoarthritis (OA), and effects of age, sex, body weight, and reproductive status on population-level normal variation in this condition in the baboon, a natural model of human knee OA. Methods We visually inspected articular cartilage of distal right femora of 464 baboons (309 females, 155 males) and assigned an OA severity score (comparable to a modified Outerbridge score) from 1 = unaffected to 4 = advanced OA (eburnation). Presence/absence of osteophytes was recorded. We tested for significant effects of age, sex, weight, and, in females, reproductive status (pre-, peri-, or post-menopausal) on OA. When appropriate, analyses were repeated on an age-matched subset (153 of each sex). Results Knee OA was more frequent and severe in older animals (p < 0.0001), but significant age variation was apparent in each severity grade. Sex differences within the younger and older age groups suggest that males develop knee OA earlier, but females progress more quickly to advanced disease. There is a strong relationship between reproductive status and OA severity grade in females (p = 0.0005) with more severe OA in peri- and post-menopausal female baboons, as in humans. Conclusions Idiopathic knee OA is common in adult baboons. Occurrence and severity are influenced strongly by reproductive status in females, and by sex with regard to patterns of disease progression – providing an animal model to investigate sex-specific variation in OA susceptibility in which the environmental heterogeneity inherent in human populations is vastly reduced.
Purpose There is a growing population of survivors of childhood cancer at risk for late effects that can affect their overall quality of life. There is evidence that they have inadequate knowledge about their diagnosis, treatment, and subsequent late effects. A randomized study was conducted to determine if a portable credit card-sized plastic card, the "Survivor Healthcare Passport," improved the survivor's knowledge of diagnosis, treatment, risks, and follow-up care. The study included 126 patients 2 years post-end of cancer treatment and took place at the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Survivorship Clinic. Methods Patients attending the UCSF Survivorship clinic were randomized to receive or not receive a passport at their first survivorship clinic visit. Each groups' knowledge of diagnosis, treatment history, and follow-up needs was assessed at three time points with a questionnaire. Results Patients who received the passport distributed immediately after their visit demonstrated improved and sustained knowledge compared with survivors who did not receive the passport until more than 4 months later. Conclusion Enhancing a survivor's knowledge is an important endeavor and a continual challenge for practitioners in survivorship clinics. This portable educational tool helps improve patient knowledge of their cancer, therapy, and follow-up needs. By providing a tangible card that is quick and easy to access, survivors have access to their treatment late effects and follow-up needs that can also be shared with other healthcare providers.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is characterized by mandibular condyles, capsule, lateral pterygoid, articular surface of the temporal bone, ligaments, and articular disc. For this study the focus is complex articular disc attachments. The main component of the disc is fibrocartilage while its extracellular matrix (ECM) is predominantly composed of collagen type II, sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and proteoglycans. The purpose is to use histological techniques to investigate components of TMJ disc attachments and quantify constituents of the disc using biochemical assays. Microscopic investigation of attachments provides information to understanding the mechanics of the TMJ disc and an understanding of the relationship between disc and attachments. Six (6) fresh un‐embalmed TMJ disc‐attachment complexes were dissected from willed body donors. TMJ discs were further dissected into five regions and disc attachments were dissected into six regions to emulate a previous study by Willard et al (2011), which used porcine TMJ. Histology and biochemical assays were performed on each region to quantify ECM components. Histological analysis provided information on distribution of components in the complex.Grant Funding Source: None
Approximately 200,000 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur in the United States per year. This ligament is also the most commonly injured ligament of the knee joint. Surgical reconstruction using autografts from the patient is the main method of treatment to date; however, cadaver tendon allografts may also be used. A less invasive and more promising method for repair is ligament engineering. Growth factors, a proper matrix, and suitable cells, are a few of the necessary components of a ligament construct.A common protocol to engineer a ligament is to use ACL fibroblasts and to seed them into a matrix or scaffold that allows the creation of a similar tissue. However, to date no successful construct has been engineered. In order for an engineered construct to be successful and resemble a human ACL, an understanding of the cellular components of the ACL fibroblasts is necessary. The existence and role of the cellular components in the human ACL allows for the ligament to maintain its mechanical. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate every aspect of this tissue, including using reliable biomarkers to properly characterize human ACL fibroblasts. In this study, we aim to establish a combination of biomarkers specific to these fibroblasts using the method of immunohistochemistry.The central hypothesis of this study is that the biomarkers of interest, vimentin, fibronectin, alpha‐smooth muscle actin(α‐SMA), Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1 (FGFR1), and collagen III will be a suitable and reliable combination of markers to characterize anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) fibroblasts because 100% of the cells are expected to stain positive for these biomarkers by the method of immunohistochemistry.Our results indicate that none of the biomarkers were detected in cells at a rate of 100%. Fibronectin and collagen III abundance in the ECM made it difficult to determine specific production by an isolated fibroblast. However, both biomarkers were detected in abundance by fluorescence intensity. FGFR1 and vimentin stained positive in over 50% of cells, but less than 95%. Alpha‐SMA was more variable due to two of the ligaments having 0% of cells stain positive for this biomarker. However, samples that did show expression of alpha‐SMA stained over 46% of cells.
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