Age, gender, height and weight in relation to joint cartilage thickness among school-aged children from ultrasonographic measurement

Abstract

Background Among school-age children, the decrease of cartilage thickness (Cth) with increasing age is well known. However, the influence of body mass index (BMI), height or weight on Cth has not been revealed. Here in, we aim to establish an age- and gender-specific Cth standard reference among Asians and investigate the possible prestige of BMI, height and weight. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed in healthy Asian children. Bilateral knees, ankles, wrists, second metacarpophalangeals (MCPs) and proximal interphalangeals (PIPs) were measured using ultrasound. The children’s height, weight and BMI were also recorded for later adjustment. Results A total of 200 school age Asian children (including 86 girls and 114 boys, aged between 5 to 13 years-old) were investigated. Cth differences were observed in the knees, ankles, wrists, MCPs and PIPs between sexes (p < 0.05), with girls having thinner cartilage thickness. While Cth decreases with increasing age (p < 0.0001, 0.039, 0.001, 0.023, 0.091 in girls’ knees, ankles, wrists, MCPs and PIPs and p = 0.002, 0.001, < 0.0001, 0.001, 0.045 in boys’, respectively). Our data showed that weight, height and BMI are not the main factors contributing to Cth. A formula to calculate gender-specific cartilage thickness for Asian school age children is suggested. There was no difference in Cth after adjusting for height or weight between Asian or Caucasian group. Conclusions A formula to calculate gender-specific cartilage thickness for Asian school age children is suggested. Height, weight and BMI were not the major contributor for Cth among school age children.

Sex-dependent variation in cartilage adaptation: from degeneration to regeneration

“…In healthy children, cartilage thickness in the knee differs significantly between sexes, with girls having thinner cartilage than boys [ 14 , 15 ]. Weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) contribute to cartilage thickness, but age is the leading contributor among school age children [ 14 ]. Physical activity benefits tibial cartilage volume [ 16 ].…”

Branched poly‐l‐lysine for cartilage penetrating carriers

“…Fluorescent images in Figure 3a show that after 24 h of exposure, the BPL molecules penetrated further into the cartilage tissue; that is, we found a penetration depth for G0, G1, and G2 BPL molecules of 1550 ± 50 μm, 1710 ± 30 μm, and 1620 ± 25 μm, respectively (Figure 3c). These results suggest that despite the changes in molecular architecture (i.e., branching, PEGylation) and surface charge, all of the different BPL molecules significantly penetrated into the cartilage explant by 24 h; that is, to depths that are on the same order of magnitude as human cartilage tissue thickness 21–23 …”

“…These results suggest that despite the changes in molecular architecture (i.e., branching, PEGylation) and surface charge, all of the different BPL molecules significantly penetrated into the cartilage explant by 24 h; that is, to depths that are on the same order of magnitude as human cartilage tissue thickness. [21][22][23] To further characterize the electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged cartilage ECM and the positively charged BPL molecules, we performed a desorption assay by incubating the BPL-absorbed cartilage explants in 1Â or 10Â phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and measuring the amount of BPL molecules released into the solution as a function of time for up to 4 days. The results showed that around $20% of G0 BPL molecules and 10%-15% of all other BPL molecules, including the PEGylated G1 and G2 molecules, were desorbed from the cartilage explants in 1Â PBS after 4 days (Figure 4a-c).…”

“…Transport of molecules, including nanocarriers, within the cartilage tissue is governed by properties such as size, shape, and surface charge, where the latter strongly influences the cartilage‐binding properties of the nanocarriers and their retention within the tissue 15,20 . An optimal net positive charge that enables weak, reversible interactions with the cartilage tissue is necessary for the nanocarriers to penetrate through the full‐thickness cartilage tissue, which is ~3 mm for human articular joint cartilage 21–23 . Additionally, the nanocarriers should be able to support high drug loading such that adequate amounts of drug can be delivered with a lower concentration of cationic materials, which are often cytotoxic 24 .…”

Ultrasound‐guided determination demonstrates influence of age, sex and type of sport on medial femoral condyle cartilage thickness in children and adolescents

“…The impact of mechanical stress and physical activity on the thickness and volume of cartilage has been subject of research for decades [3,9,15,20,29,38,47]. The effect and influence of sex, growth, weight and body composition on the thickness of the articular cartilage in school-aged children has been reported in several studies [12,19,30,41].…”