Submit to JCM Review for JCM Propose a Special Issue

Journal Browser

Our Modern Understanding of Osteoarthritis Pathophysiology: From a Clinical Perspective

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Orthopedics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (12 January 2024) | Viewed by 4564

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Francesca Veronesi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Complex Structure of Surgical Sciences and Technologies, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via Di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy
Interests: biocompatibility and therapeutic efficacy of biomaterials; tissue engineering techniques for regeneration of bone, cartilage and tendon tissues of scientific-industrial interest

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disorder characterized by the progressive degeneration of the cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM), which is caused by the alteration between the synthesis and degradation of its components such as collagen II (COLL II) and aggrecan, chondrocyte hypertrophy and apoptosis, subchondral bone sclerosis, and osteophyte formation and inflammation.

The current treatments mainly concern pain control and the reduction of inflammation, but no therapeutic strategies have been identified as a disease-modifying treatment that is able to reverse the loss of the cartilage ECM.

In regard to the pathophysiological process, it has been identified as a vicious circle in which cartilage degeneration and its products induce an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin 1β (IL1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), that enhance the inflammatory response and, in turn, induce the further degeneration and alteration of joint components (cartilage, synovium, and bone), accelerating the OA process.

Some studies have elucidated the role of some molecular pathways (especially those regarding inflammation) implicated in the progression of OA, but a molecular therapy for OA disease is still under study.

This Special Issue encourages the publication of papers, reviews, and original articles which focus on the study of the pathophysiology of OA in order to find pathways that regulate disease-related gene expression and favor a slowdown of OA disease, which could contribute to the better understanding of the disease and development of novel treatment strategies.

Dr. Francesca Veronesi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

osteoarthritis
inflammation
matrix degradation
pain control
disease-modifying treatment
pathophysiology

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Other

13 pages, 1997 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prokineticin 2 and Cytokine Content in the Synovial Fluid of Knee Osteoarthritis and Traumatic Meniscal Tear Patients: Preliminary Results

by Marco Turati, Silvia Franchi, Marco Crippa, Laura Rizzi, Luca Rigamonti, Paola Sacerdote, Simone Daniel Gatti, Massimiliano Piatti, Giulia Galimberti, Daniele Munegato, Giada Amodeo, Robert J. Omeljaniuk, Giovanni Zatti, Antonio Torsello and Marco Bigoni

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(13), 4330; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12134330 - 28 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1081

Abstract

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative inflammatory-based condition caused by a cascade of different intra-articular molecules including several cytokines. Among the cytokines, prokineticins (PKs) have recently been identified as important mediators of inflammation and pain. This observational study examined the potential involvement of PK2 in degenerative or traumatic knee disease. Fifteen patients presenting knee osteoarthritis (OA group) and 15 patients presenting a traumatic meniscal tear (TM group) were studied. Synovial fluid samples from affected knees were assessed for PK2, IL-10, and TNF-α using the ELISA method. At a long-term follow-up (minimum 5 years, mean = 6.1 years), patients in the TM group underwent clinical re-evaluation with PROMs (Tegner Activity Scale, IKDC, Lysholm, SKV); in addition, X-ray visualization was used to assess the presence of secondary OA. PK2 was detected in synovial fluids of both TM and OA patients and the levels were comparable between the two groups, while IL-10 levels were significantly greater in the OA group than those in TM patients. PK2 levels correlated with those of IL-10. PK2 levels were greater in blood effusions compared to clear samples, did not differ significantly between sexes, nor were they related to differences in weight, height, or injury (meniscal laterality, time since dosing). No correlation was found between PROMs and radiological classifications in patients in the TM group at final follow-up. These data are the first observations of PK2 in synovial fluid following traumatic meniscus injury. These findings suggest possible further prognostic indices and therapeutic targets to limit the development of secondary OA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Our Modern Understanding of Osteoarthritis Pathophysiology: From a Clinical Perspective)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

22 pages, 2866 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Adipose Tissue-Derived Minimally Manipulated Products versus Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review of Clinical Evidence and Meta-Analysis

by Francesca Veronesi, Luca Andriolo, Manuela Salerno, Angelo Boffa, Gianluca Giavaresi and Giuseppe Filardo

J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(1), 67; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13010067 - 22 Dec 2023

Viewed by 914

Abstract

The use of minimally manipulated adipose tissue (MM-AT) products is gaining increasing interest for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA). MM-AT represents an easy way to exploit adipose tissue properties, although clinical evidence is still limited, as well as their benefits with respect to more documented orthobiologics like platelet-rich plasma (PRP). A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of MM-AT products for knee OA management. The risk of bias of the included studies was evaluated using the Dawns and Black checklist for all the included studies and RoB-2.0 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Thirty-three clinical studies were included in the qualitative analysis: 13 prospective case series, 10 retrospective case series, 7 RCTs, 2 retrospective comparative studies, and 1 prospective comparative study. An overall clinical improvement and few minor adverse events were observed. Five RCTs comparing MM-AT and PRP injections were meta-analyzed, showing comparable results. The analysis also highlighted the limits of the literature, with only a few high-level trials and an overall low quality. Even though the current literature is still limited, the available evidence suggests the safety and overall positive results of the intra-articular injections of MM-AT products for knee OA treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Our Modern Understanding of Osteoarthritis Pathophysiology: From a Clinical Perspective)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1428 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Proprioception and Mechanoreceptors in Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Literature Review

by Francesca Salamanna, Silvio Caravelli, Laura Marchese, Melania Carniato, Emanuele Vocale, Giammarco Gardini, Giulia Puccetti, Massimiliano Mosca and Gianluca Giavaresi

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(20), 6623; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12206623 - 19 Oct 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2332

Abstract

Purpose: Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. It is frequently accompanied by high levels of persistent pain, as well as substantial impairments in function and functional capacity. This review aims to systematically analyze the changes in proprioception and related mechanoreceptors in OA patients. Methods: Studies from September 2013 to September 2023 were identified by conducting searches on the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus electronic databases following the PRISMA statement. One reviewer independently assessed and screened the literature, extracted the data, and graded the studies. The body of evidence underwent an evaluation and grading process using the ROBINS-I tool, which was specifically designed to assess the risk of bias in non-randomized studies of interventions. Results were summarized using descriptive methods. Results: A search through 37 studies yielded 14 clinical studies that were ultimately included. The primary focus of the studies was on the knee joint, particularly the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). The studies found that PCL in OA patients had impaired proprioceptive accuracy, possibly due to changes in mechanoreceptors (Ruffini, Pacini, and Golgi Mazzoni corpuscles). This suggests that dysfunctional articular mechanoreceptors, especially in severe cases of OA, may contribute to reduced proprioception. Dynamic stabilometry also identified significant proprioceptive deficits in patients with knee articular cartilage lesions, underscoring the impact of such lesions on knee proprioception. Conclusions: Literature data have shown that proprioceptive accuracy may play an important role in OA, particularly in the knee PCL and cartilage. However, the role of proprioception and related mechanoreceptors needs to be further clarified. Future studies focusing on the relationship between proprioception, OA disease, and symptoms, considering age and gender differences, and exploring OA joints other than the knee should be conducted to improve clinical and surgical outcomes in cases where proprioception and mechanoreceptors are impaired in OA patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Our Modern Understanding of Osteoarthritis Pathophysiology: From a Clinical Perspective)

► Show Figures