mTOR-dependent loss of PON1 secretion and antiphospholipid autoantibody production underlie autoimmunity-mediated cirrhosis in transaldolase deficiency.

Transaldolase deficiency predisposes to chronic liver disease progressing from cirrhosis to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Transition from cirrhosis to hepatocarcinogenesis depends on mitochondrial oxidative stress, as controlled by cytosolic aldose metabolism through the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Progression to HCC is critically dependent on NADPH depletion and polyol buildup by aldose reductase (AR), while this enzyme protects from carbon trapping in the PPP and growth restriction in TAL deficiency. Although AR inactivation blocked susceptibility to hepatocarcinogenesis, it enhanced growth restriction, carbon trapping in the non-oxidative branch of the PPP and failed to reverse the depletion of glucose 6-phosphate (G6P) and liver cirrhosis. Here, we show that inactivation of the TAL-AR axis results in metabolic stress characterized by reduced mitophagy, enhanced overall autophagy, activation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), diminished glycosylation and secretion of paraoxonase 1 (PON1), production of antiphospholipid autoantibodies (aPL), loss of CD161+ NK cells, and expansion of CD38+ Ito cells, which are responsive to treatment with rapamycin in vivo. The present study thus identifies glycosylation and secretion of PON1 and aPL production as mTOR-dependent regulatory checkpoints of autoimmunity underlying liver cirrhosis in TAL deficiency.

Differences between X-ray and MRI-determined knee cartilage thickness in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing conditions.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the effect of loading upon MRI-based mean medial femorotibial cartilage thickness (mMFT_th) and radiograph-based minimum joint space width (mJSW), and determine loading's effect on the relationship between these measures. METHODS: MRI and radiographs were analyzed of 25 knees in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing conditions. Eight subjects had a Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade of 0, indicating no evidence of radiographic OA. The rest were KL = 2 or KL = 3, indicating mild to moderate OA. The change from unloaded to loaded conditions was calculated. RESULTS: Joint space measures decreased from unloaded to loaded conditions for both radiographs (mJSW = 3.29 mm unloaded to 3.16 mm loaded, P < 0.05) and MRI (mMFT_th = 2.70 mm unloaded to 2.55 mm loaded P < 0.001). The mean absolute difference measured from radiographs was larger for the OA group than the control group, at -0.20 mm for OA vs +0.01 mm for control. Loaded X-ray and loaded MRI joint space values from our study were no better correlated to one another than loaded X-ray and unloaded MRI. CONCLUSION: Knee loading does not add a very significant value to the study of joint space on healthy knees, but loading may play a role in the study of OA knees. Unloaded MRI assessments of cartilage thickness are as correlated to loaded JSW as to loaded MRI measurements. More study is necessary to determine whether loaded MRI adds significant value to the study of OA progression.

Relationship between knee pain and the presence, location, size and phenotype of femorotibial denuded areas of subchondral bone as visualized by MRI.

OBJECTIVE: Conflicting associations between imaging biomarkers and pain in knee osteoarthritis (OA) have been reported. A relation between pain and denuded areas of subchondral bone (dABs) has been suggested and this study explores this relationship further by relating the presence, phenotype, location and size of dABs to different measures of knee pain. METHODS: 633 right knees from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) (250 men, age 61.7 ± 9.6 yrs, BMI 29.4 ± 4.7 kg/m(2)) were included. Manual segmentation of the femorotibial cartilage plates was performed on 3 T coronal fast low angle shot with water excitation (FLASHwe) images. dABs were defined as areas where the subchondral bone was uncovered by cartilage. The following measures of pain were used: weightbearing-, non-weightbearing-, moderate-to-severe-, infrequent- and frequent knee pain. RESULTS: Using pain measures from subjects without dABs as a reference, those with at least one dAB had a 1.64-fold higher prevalence ratio [PR, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.24-2.18] to have frequent and 1.45-fold higher for moderate-to-severe knee pain (95% CI 1.13-1.85). Subjects with dABs in central subregions had a 1.53-fold increased prevalence of having weightbearing pain (95% CI 1.20-1.97), especially when the central subregion was moderately (>10%) denuded (PR 1.81, 95% CI 1.35-2.42). Individuals with cartilage-loss-type dABs had a slightly higher prevalence (PR 1.13, 95% CI 1.00-1.27) of having frequent knee pain compared to individuals with intra-chondral-osteophyte-type dABs. CONCLUSION: This study supports a positive relation between femorotibial dABs and knee pain, especially when the dABs are located centrally (i.e., in weightbearing regions) or when the respective central subregion is moderately denuded.

Clinical, radiographic, molecular and MRI-based predictors of cartilage loss in knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship of baseline clinical, radiographic, molecular and MRI measures with structural progression (subregional MRI-based femorotibial cartilage loss) in knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Single knees of 75 female participants with radiographic knee OA (and 77 healthy control participants) were examined over 24 months using MRI. Subregional femorotibial cartilage thickness was determined at baseline and follow-up. Baseline clinical, radiographic, molecular (n=16) and quantitative MRI-based measures of the meniscus and cartilage, including delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI (dGEMRIC) and T2, were obtained. Differences in these baseline measures between radiographic osteoarthritic knees with longitudinal cartilage thinning (or thickening) and those with no significant change were evaluated by receiver operator characteristic analyses and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. RESULTS: The relatively strongest predictors of longitudinal cartilage thinning were reduced baseline cartilage thickness in the medial femur (area under the curve (AUC)=0.81), varus malalignment (AUC=0.77), reduced minimum joint space width and a greater radiographic joint space narrowing (JSN) score (both AUC=0.74). These remained significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons using false discovery rates. Reduced bone resorption (C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen; AUC=0.65) and a low dGEMRIC index (reflecting low proteoglycan content) in the medial tibia (AUC=0.68) were associated with longitudinal cartilage thinning, but failed to reach statistical significance after correction for multiple testing in this (small) sample. CONCLUSIONS: This exploratory study indicates that baseline molecular or MRI cartilage compositional markers may not provide better discrimination between knees with cartilage thinning and those without longitudinal change than simple radiographic measures, such as greater JSN score.

Using ordered values of subregional cartilage thickness change increases sensitivity in detecting risk factors for osteoarthritis progression.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether ordered values of (sub)regional femorotibial cartilage thickness change are superior to region-based approaches in detecting risk factors for cartilage loss in osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: 58 women with knee OA had 3 Tesla MR images acquired at baseline and 24 months. Changes in cartilage thickness (∆ThCtAB) were determined in eight medial femorotibial subregions. An ascending sort of individual ∆ThCtAB measurements was done to create "ordered values". Risk factors for cartilage loss considered were: age, BMI, anatomical knee axis (AAA), minimal (medial) joint space width (mJSW), and percent of medial tibial plateau covered by the meniscus (percent cover). All change metrics were tested for association with the risk factors using Kendall's τ and relative sensitivity of multiple tests of subregions and ordered values were compared with single metrics of change from plate and compartment summaries and the first ordered value. RESULTS: The associations between subregion ∆ThCtAB and AAA (P=0.0002), mJSW (P=0.016), and age (P=0.011) were significant, but only AAA (at α=0.05) and age (at α=0.1) remained significant after adjusting for multiple subregions. In contrast, cMFTC had P-values<0.05 for AAA (P=0.0001), mJSW (P=0.016), and meniscus subluxation (0.04). The first ordered value had significant associations with AAA (P=0.0004), mJSW (P=0.003), meniscus subluxation (P=0.02) and percent cover (P=0.031) all of which were significant at α=0.05 after adjusting for tests on multiple risk factors. CONCLUSION: Ordered values of ∆ThCtAB were more sensitive in detecting risk factors of cartilage loss than subregional ∆ThCtAB. Sensitivity was further enhanced by considering the minimum ordered value as a single test, thus not requiring adjustment for multiple tests. Using ordered values there was a significant association between ∆ThCtAB and baseline AAA, mJSW, meniscus subluxation and meniscus percent cover. This study provides an important step in validating ordered values of cartilage change.

Comparison of 1-year vs 2-year change in regional cartilage thickness in osteoarthritis results from 346 participants from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

OBJECTIVE: To compare femorotibial cartilage thickness changes over a 2- vs a 1-year observation period in knees with radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: One knee of 346 Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) participants was studied at three time points [baseline (BL), year-1 (Y1), year-2 (Y2) follow-up]: 239 using coronal fast low angle shot (FLASH) and 107 using sagittal double echo at steady state (DESS) MR imaging. Changes in cartilage thickness were assessed in femorotibial cartilage plates and subregions, after manual segmentation with blinding to time-point. RESULTS: The standardized response mean (SRM) of total joint cartilage thickness over 2 years was modestly higher than over 1 year (FLASH: -0.44 vs -0.32/-0.28 [first/second year]; DESS: -0.42 vs -0.39/-0.18). For the subregion showing the largest change per knee (OV1), the 2-year SRM was similar or lower (FLASH: -1.20 vs -1.22/-1.61; DESS: -1.38 vs -1.64/-1.51) than the 1-year SRM. The changes in total joint cartilage thickness were not significantly different in the first and second year (FLASH: -0.8% vs -0.7%; DESS: -1.3% vs -0.8%) and were negatively correlated. Analysis of smallest detectable changes (SDCs) revealed that only few participants displayed significant progression in both consecutive periods. The location of the subregion contributing to OV1 in each knee was highly inconsistent between the first and second year observation period. CONCLUSIONS: The SRM of region-based cartilage thickness change in OA is modestly larger following a 2-year vs a 1-year observation period, while it is relatively similar when an OV-approach is chosen. Structural progression displays strong temporal and spatial heterogeneity at an individual knee level that should be considered when planning clinical trials.

Change in regional cartilage morphology and joint space width in osteoarthritis participants versus healthy controls: a multicentre study using 3.0 Tesla MRI and Lyon-Schuss radiography.

OBJECTIVE: Cartilage morphology displays sensitivity to change in osteoarthritis (OA) with quantitative MRI (qMRI). However, (sub)regional cartilage thickness change at 3.0 Tesla (T) has not been directly compared with radiographic progression of joint space narrowing in OA participants and non-arthritic controls. METHODS: A total of 145 women were imaged at 7 clinical centres: 86 were non-obese and asymptomatic without radiographic OA and 55 were obese with symptomatic and radiographic OA (27 Kellgren-Lawrence grade (KLG)2 and 28 KLG3). Lyon-Schuss (LS) and fixed flexion (FF) radiographs were obtained at baseline, 12 and 24 months, and coronal spoiled gradient echo MRI sequences at 3.0 T at baseline, 6, 12 and 24 months. (Sub)regional, femorotibial cartilage thickness and minimum joint space width (mJSW) in the medial femorotibial compartment were measured and the standardised response means (SRMs) determined. RESULTS: At 6 months, qMRI demonstrated a -3.7% "annualised" change in cartilage thickness (SRM -0.33) in the central medial femorotibial compartment (cMFTC) of KLG3 subjects, but no change in KLG2 subjects. The SRM for mJSW in 12-month LS/FF radiographs of KLG3 participants was -0.68/-0.13 and at 24 months was -0.62/-0.20. The SRM for cMFTC changes measured with qMRI was -0.32 (12 months; -2.0%) and -0.48 (24 months; -2.2%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: qMRI and LS radiography detected significant change in KLG3 participants at high risk of progression, but not in KLG2 participants, and only small changes in controls. At 12 and 24 months, LS displayed greater, and FF less, sensitivity to change in KLG3 participants than qMRI.

Osteoarthritis may not be a one-way-road of cartilage loss--comparison of spatial patterns of cartilage change between osteoarthritic and healthy knees.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether longitudinal change in cartilage thickness in femorotibial subregions of knees with radiographic osteoarthritis (ROA) differs from that in healthy knees. METHODS: 3T coronal magnetic resonance (MR) images were acquired in 152 women at seven clinical centers at baseline (BL) and 24 months. Knees from 75 women with signs of ROA in either anterior-posterior or Lyon schuss radiographs were compared with those from 77 asymptomatic healthy controls without ROA to identify knees showing greater change in cartilage thickness than expected based on observations in healthy knees. The femorotibial cartilage thickness was determined in BL and follow-up MR images across five tibial and three femoral subregions in the medial/lateral compartment, respectively. RESULTS: A substantial portion of knees with ROA were classified as having longitudinal cartilage thinning (28%) or thickening (20%) in at least one medial femorotibial subregion based on comparisons to longitudinal changes observed in healthy knees; only 5% showed both subregional thinning and thickening across (different) medial subregions at the same time. Whereas the estimated proportion of Kellgren Lawrence grade (KLG) 3 knees (n=28) with significant medial cartilage thinning (46%) was substantially greater than that with cartilage thickening (18%), the estimated percentages of KLG2 knees (n=30) with significant medial thinning (20%) and thickening (23%) were similar. CONCLUSION: This exploratory study indicates that OA may not be a one-way-road of cartilage loss. Subregional analysis suggests that, compared with healthy knees, cartilage changes in ROA may occur in both directions. Medial femorotibial cartilage thickening was observed as frequently as cartilage thinning in KLG2 knees.

The effects of acute loading on T1rho and T2 relaxation times of tibiofemoral articular cartilage.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of acute loading on healthy and osteoarthritic knee cartilage T(1ρ) and T(2) relaxation times. DESIGN: Twenty subjects with radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis (OA) and 10 age-matched controls were enrolled. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition, including T(1ρ) and T(2) map sequences were performed unloaded and loaded at 50% body mass. Cartilage masks were segmented semi-automatically on registered high-resolution spoiled gradient-echo (SPGR) images for each compartment (medial and lateral). Cartilage lesions were identified using a modified Whole Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS) score. Statistical differences were explored using separate two-way (group×loading condition) Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using age as a covariate to evaluate the effects of loading on T(1ρ) and T(2) relaxation times. RESULTS: A significant decrease in T(1ρ) (44.5±3.8 vs 40.2±4.8ms for unloaded and loaded, respectively; P<0.001) and T(2) (31.8±3.8 vs 30.5±4.8ms for unloaded and loaded, respectively; P<0.001) relaxation times was observed in the medial compartment with loading while no differences were observed in the lateral compartment. This behavior occurred independent of WORMS score. Cartilage compartments with small focal lesions experienced greater T(1ρ) change scores with loading when compared to cartilage without lesions or cartilage with larger defects (P=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Acute loading resulted in a significant decrease in T(1ρ) and T(2) relaxation times of the medial compartment, with greater change scores observed in cartilage regions with small focal lesions. These data suggest that changes of T(1ρ) values with loading may be related to cartilage biomechanical properties (i.e., tissue elasticity) and may be a valuable tool for the scientist and clinician at identifying early cartilage disease.

Alignment of the medial tibial plateau affects the rate of joint space narrowing in the osteoarthritic knee.

OBJECTIVE: To determine, in serial fixed-flexion (FF) radiographs of subjects with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), the importance of, and basis for, the effect of alignment of the medial tibial plateau (MTP), as determined by the inter-margin distance (IMD), on joint space narrowing (JSN). METHODS: Baseline and 12-month X-rays of 590 knees with Kellgren and Lawrence grade (KLG) 2/3 OA from the public-release dataset of the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) were assigned to subgroups based upon IMD at baseline (IMD(BL)) and the difference between IMD(BL) and IMD(12 mos). Relationships of JSN to IMD(BL) and to the difference between IMD(BL and) IMD(12 mos) were evaluated. RESULTS: In all 590 knees, mean JSN was 0.13 ± 0.51 mm (P<0.0001) and MTP alignment and replication of IMD(BL) in the 12-month film were, in general, poor. JSN was significantly (P=0.012) more rapid in Subgroup A (IMD≤1.70 mm at both time points) than in Subgroup B (both IMDs>1.70 mm): 0.15 ± 0.43; 0.08 ± 0.47. Within Subgroup B we identified a subset, Subgroup B1, in which, although alignment was poor at both time points, the large IMD(BL) was, by chance, highly reproduced by IMD(12 mos) (difference between the two IMDs=0.01 ± 0.27 mm, NS). JSN in Subgroup B1 was 0.06 ± 0.41 mm and did not differ from that in other knees of Subgroup B (P=0.87). The standardized response mean (SRM) in all 590 knees and Subgroups A, B and B1 was 0.25, 0.34, 0.17 and 0.06, respectively. Independent of IMD(BL), JSN correlated significantly with the difference between the IMDs in the two radiographs (r=0.17, P=0.0001). CONCLUSION: Skewed MTP alignment in serial films and poor replication of IMD(BL) in the follow-up exam affect JSN measurement. The magnitude of change in joint space width (JSW) related to the poor quality of alignment that is common with the FF view jeopardizes accurate evaluation of JSN.

The association of prevalent medial meniscal pathology with cartilage loss in the medial tibiofemoral compartment over a 2-year period.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of different types of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-detected medial meniscal pathology with subregional cartilage loss in the medial tibiofemoral compartment. METHODS: A total of 152 women aged >or=40 years, with and without knee osteoarthritis (OA) were included in a longitudinal 24-month observational study. Spoiled gradient recalled acquisitions at steady state (SPGR) and T2-weighted fat-suppressed MRI sequences were acquired. Medial meniscal status of the anterior horn (AH), body, and posterior horn (PH) was graded at baseline: 0 (normal), 1 (intrasubstance meniscal signal changes), 2 (single tears), and 3 (complex tears/maceration). Cartilage segmentation was performed at baseline and 24-month follow-up in various tibiofemoral subregions using computation software. Multiple linear regression models were applied for the analysis with cartilage loss as the outcome. In a first model, the results were adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI). In a second model, the results were adjusted for age, BMI and medial meniscal extrusion. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, BMI, and medial meniscal extrusion, cartilage loss in the total medial tibia (MT) (0.04 mm, P=0.04) and the external medial tibia (eMT) (0.068 mm, P=0.04) increased significantly for compartments with grade 3 lesions. Cartilage loss in the total central medial femoral condyle (cMF) (0.071 mm, P=0.03) also increased significantly for compartments with grade 2 lesions. Cartilage loss at the eMT was significantly related to tears of the PH (0.074 mm; P=0.03). Cartilage loss was not significantly increased for compartments with grade 1 lesions. CONCLUSION: The protective function of the meniscus appears to be preserved in the presence of intrasubstance meniscal signal changes. Prevalent single tears and meniscal maceration were found to be associated with increased cartilage loss in the same compartment, especially at the PH.

Presence, location, type and size of denuded areas of subchondral bone in the knee as a function of radiographic stage of OA - data from the OA initiative.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the presence, location, type and size of denuded areas of subchondral bone (dAB) in the femorotibial joint, measured quantitatively with 3T MRI, in a large subset of OAI participants. METHODS: One knee of 633 subjects (250 men, 383 women, aged 61.7+/-9.6 y) were studied, spanning all radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) stages. dABs were determined quantitatively using segmentations of coronal FLASHwe images, representing areas where the subchondral bone was not covered by cartilage. Post hoc visual examination of segmented images determined whether dABs represented full thickness cartilage loss or internal osteophyte. RESULTS: 7% Of the knees were Kellgren & Lawrence (KL) grade 0, 6% grade 1, 41% grade 2, 41% grade 3, and 5% grade 4. 39% Of the participants (48% of the men and 33% of the women) displayed dABs; 61% of the dABs represented internal osteophytes. 1/47 Participants with KL grade 0 displayed 'any' dAB whereas 29/32 of the KL grade 4 knees were affected. Even as early as KL grade 1, 29% of the participants showed dABs. There were significant relationships of dAB with increasing KL grades (P<0.001) and with ipsi-compartimental JSN (P< or =0.001). Internal osteophytes were more frequent laterally (mainly posterior tibia and internal femur) whereas full thickness cartilage loss was more frequent medially (mainly external tibia and femur). CONCLUSIONS: dABs occur already at earliest stages of radiographic OA (KL grades 1 and 2) and become more common (and larger) with increasing disease severity. Almost all KL grade 4 knees exhibited dABs, with cartilage loss being more frequent than internal osteophytes.

Femorotibial cartilage morphology: reproducibility of different metrics and femoral regions, and sensitivity to change in disease.

This study was designed to characterize the reproducibility and sensitivity to change of magnetic resonance imaging-based cartilage morphology metrics and femoral regions of interest (ROIs), in order to provide preferable outcome measures in longitudinal studies of cartilage morphology. Test-retest acquisitions were obtained at 3 tesla (T) in 33 subjects with and without radiographic signs of osteoarthritis (OA) (reproducibility study) as well as baseline and 2-year follow-up acquisitions in 28 subjects with radiographic signs of advanced OA (sensitivity study). Cartilage was segmented in the tibia and two distinct anatomical femoral ROIs, a 'long' ROI extending 60% from the trochlear notch to the posterior end of the condyles, and a 'short' ROI extending to the intercondylar bone bridge. Coefficients of variation (reproducibility study) and standardized response means (SRMs, sensitivity study) were obtained for different morphology metrics and anatomical regions. The subchondral bone area of the long ROI was 20% greater and less variable than that of the short ROI; cartilage morphology metrics were generally more reproducible in the long ROI. Normalized cartilage volume (VCtAB) and mean cartilage thickness (over the entire subchondral bone area; ThCtAB.Me) tended to be more reproducible and more sensitive to change (SRM up to -0.62) than cartilage volume (SRM up to -0.44), cartilage thickness over the cartilaginous area (ThCcAB; SRM up to -0.48) or maximum cartilage thickness (ThCtAB; SRM up to -0.35). The long femoral cartilage ROI provided more reproducible measurements than the short one. VCtAB and ThCtAB.Me may be preferable metrics in longitudinal studies of articular cartilage adaptation or OA.

One year change of knee cartilage morphology in the first release of participants from the Osteoarthritis Initiative progression subcohort: association with sex, body mass index, symptoms and radiographic osteoarthritis status.

OBJECTIVE: The Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) is a multicentre study targeted at identifying biomarkers for evaluating the progression and risk factors of symptomatic knee OA. Here cartilage loss using 3 Tesla (3 T) MRI is analysed over 1 year in a subset of the OAI, together with its association with various risk factors. METHODS: An age- and gender-stratified subsample of the OAI progression subcohort (79 women and 77 men, mean (SD) age 60.9 (9.9) years, body mass index (BMI) 30.3 (4.7)) with both frequent symptoms and radiographic OA in at least one knee was studied. Coronal FLASHwe (fast low angle shot with water excitation) MRIs of the right knee were acquired at 3 T. Seven readers segmented tibial and femoral cartilages blinded to order of acquisition. Segmentations were quality controlled by one expert. RESULTS: The reduction in mean cartilage thickness (ThC) was greater (p = 0.004) in the medial than in the lateral compartment, greater (p = 0.001) in the medial femur (-1.9%) than in the medial tibia (-0.5%) and greater (p = 0.011) in the lateral tibia (-0.7%) than in the lateral femur (0.1%). Multifactorial analysis of variance did not reveal significant differences in the rate of change in ThC by sex, BMI, symptoms and radiographic knee OA status. Knees with Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or 3 and with a BMI >30 tended to display greater changes. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of the OAI progression subcohort, the greatest, but overall very modest, rate of cartilage loss was observed in the weight-bearing medial femoral condyle. Knees with radiographic OA in obese participants showed trends towards higher rates of change than those of other participants, but these trends did not reach statistical significance.

Regional analysis of femorotibial cartilage loss in a subsample from the Osteoarthritis Initiative progression subcohort.

OBJECTIVE: The Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) is aimed at validating (imaging) biomarkers for monitoring progression of knee OA. Here we analyze regional femorotibial (FT) cartilage thickness changes over 1 year using 3 Tesla MRI. Specifically, we tested whether changes in central subregions exceed those in the total cartilage plates. METHODS: The right knees of a subsample of the OAI progression subcohort (n=156, age 60.9+/-9.9 years) were studied. Fifty-four participants had definite radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) (KLG 2 or 3) and a BMI>30. Mean and minimal cartilage thickness were determined in subregions of the medial/lateral tibia (MT/LT), and of the medial/lateral weight-bearing femoral condyle (cMF/cLF), after paired (baseline, follow up) segmentation of coronal FLASHwe images with blinding to the order of acquisition. RESULTS: The central aspect of cMF displayed a 5.8%/2.8% change in mean thickness in the group of 54/156 participants, respectively, with a standardized response mean (SRM) of -0.47/-0.31, whereas cartilage loss in the total cMF was 4.1%/1.9% (SRM -0.49/-0.30). In the central MT, the rate of change was -1.6%/-0.9% and the SRM -0.29/-0.20, whereas for the entire MT the rate was -1.0%/-0.5% and the SRM -0.21/-0.12. Minimal thickness displayed greater rates of change, but lower SRMs than mean thickness. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the rate of cartilage loss is greater in central subregions than in entire FT cartilage plates. The sensitivity to change in central subregions was higher than for the total cartilage plate in the MT and was similar to the total plate in the medial weight-bearing femur.

Relation of regional articular cartilage morphometry and meniscal position by MRI to joint space width in knee radiographs.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the contribution of articular cartilage morphometry and meniscal position on MRI to joint space width (JSW) measured in the Lyon schuss radiograph of the knee. DESIGN: 62 obese women with knee OA and 99 non-obese female controls (mean age 56.6 years) were imaged using 3T MRI and coronal water excitation spoiled gradient echo sequences. Segmentation of femorotibial cartilage morphology and regional morphometric analysis was performed using custom software. Meniscal position was measured quantitatively in sagittal and coronal planes. Minimum space width (mJSW) was measured in the Lyon Schuss knee radiograph; Kellgren and Lawrence grades (KLG) were assigned on standing anteroposterior knee films. The relative contribution of regional cartilage thickness and meniscal position to mJSW was assessed initially in univariate models and subsequently with multivariable modelling. RESULTS: 65% of the variation in mJSW was explained by regional cartilage thickness measures, different KLG and meniscal coverage. Of these measures the medial tibia cartilage thickness measures and central region of the central medial femur (ccMF) play a consistent role in variations in mJSW observed across all KLG. Further ccMF and the addition of percent meniscal coverage to this model explains the remaining differences in mean mJSW found between those subjects with definite joint space narrowing (KLG3) and those without OA. CONCLUSION: The variation in radiographic mJSW is best described by five regional cartilage thickness measures and percent meniscal coverage. The magnitude of each measures contribution differs according to radiographic severity with more variability explained by cartilage thickness of ccMF cartilage thickness and percent meniscal coverage with more severe disease.

Subregional femorotibial cartilage morphology in women--comparison between healthy controls and participants with different grades of radiographic knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify subregional differences in femorotibial cartilage morphology between healthy controls and women with different grades of radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA). DESIGN: 158 women aged > or =40 years were studied. Weight-bearing extended anterior-posterior (AP) and Lyon schuss radiographs were obtained and the Kellgren Lawrence grade (KLG) determined. 97 women had a body mass index (BMI)< or =28, no symptoms, and were AP KLG0. 61 women had a BMI> or =30, symptoms in the target knee, and mild (KLG2=31) to moderate (KLG3=30) medial femorotibial radiographic OA in the AP views. Coronal spoiled gradient echo water excitation sequences were acquired at 3.0 Tesla. Total plate and regional measures of cartilage morphology of the weight-bearing femorotibial joint were quantified. RESULTS: KLG2 participants displayed, on average, thicker cartilage than healthy controls in the medial femorotibial compartment (particularly anterior subregion of the medial tibia (MT) and peripheral [external, internal] subregions of the medial femur), and in the lateral femur. KLG3 participants displayed significantly thinner cartilage than KLG0 participants in the medial weight-bearing femur (central subregion), in the external subregion of the MT, and in the internal subregion of the lateral tibia. These differences were generally unaffected when possible effects of demographic covariates were considered. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that in femorotibial OA regional cartilage thickening and thinning may occur, dependent on the (radiographic) disease status of the joint. These changes appear to display a heterogeneous spatial pattern, where certain subregions are more strongly affected than others.

Enhanced 'Reading the Mind in the Eyes' in borderline personality disorder compared to healthy controls.

BACKGROUND: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is partly characterized by chronic instability in interpersonal relationships, which exacerbates other symptom dimensions of the disorder and can interfere with treatment engagement. Facial emotion recognition paradigms have been used to investigate the bases of interpersonal impairments in BPD, yielding mixed results. We sought to clarify and extend past findings by using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), a measure of the capacity to discriminate the mental state of others from expressions in the eye region of the face. METHOD: Thirty individuals diagnosed with BPD were compared to 25 healthy controls (HCs) on RMET performance. Participants were also assessed for depression severity, emotional state at the time of assessment, history of childhood abuse, and other Axis I and personality disorders (PDs). RESULTS: The BPD group performed significantly better than the HC group on the RMET, particularly for the Total Score and Neutral emotional valences. Effect sizes were in the large range for the Total Score and for Neutral RMET performance. The results could not be accounted for by demographics, co-occurring Axis I or II conditions, medication status, abuse history, or emotional state. However, depression severity partially mediated the relationship between RMET and BPD status. CONCLUSIONS: Mental state discrimination based on the eye region of the face is enhanced in BPD. An enhanced sensitivity to the mental states of others may be a basis for the social impairments in BPD.

Head-to-head comparison of the Lyon Schuss and fixed flexion radiographic techniques. Long-term reproducibility in normal knees and sensitivity to change in osteoarthritic knees.

OBJECTIVE: The Lyon Schuss (LS) and fixed flexion (FF) views of the knee are superior to a conventional standing anteroposterior view in evaluating joint space narrowing (JSN) in osteoarthritis (OA). Both position the knee identically but only the LS aligns the medial tibial plateau (MTP) with the x-ray beam fluoroscopically. The present study provides the first head-to-head comparison of the LS and FF views. METHODS: At baseline and 12 months, 62 OA and 99 control knees were imaged twice on the same day with LS and FF views. Minimum joint space width (mJSW) was measured by computer and MTP alignment was assessed from the distance between anterior and posterior margins of the MTP (intermargin distance, IMD). Reproducibility of measurements of mJSW and sensitivity to change were evaluated. RESULTS: In normal knees, JSW did not vary over 12 months with either view. In OA knees, 12-month mJSN was 0.22 (0.43) mm with the LS view and -0.01 (0.46) mm with the FF view (p = 0.0002 and p = 0.92, respectively). Mean IMD was only half as large in LS as in FF views (0.9 (0.5) mm vs 1.9 (1.2) mm, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: LS and FF radiographs offer similar reproducibility in JSW measurement. However, presumably due to its superiority in aligning the MTP, the LS view is much more sensitive to JSN in OA knees.

Precision of 3.0 Tesla quantitative magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage morphology in a multicentre clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: Quantitative MRI (qMRI) of cartilage morphology is a promising tool for disease-modifying osteoarthritis drug (DMOAD) development. Recent studies at single sites have indicated that measurements at 3.0 Tesla (T) are more reproducible (precise) than those at 1.5 T. Precision errors and stability in multicentre studies with imaging equipment from various vendors have, however, not yet been evaluated. METHODS: A total of 158 female participants (97 Kellgren and Lawrence grade (KLG) 0, 31 KLG 2 and 30 KLG 3) were imaged at 7 clinical centres using Siemens Magnetom Trio and GE Signa Excite magnets. Double oblique coronal acquisitions were obtained at baseline and at 3 months, using water excitation spoiled gradient echo sequences (1.0x0.31x0.31 mm3 resolution). Segmentation of femorotibial cartilage morphology was performed using proprietary software (Chondrometrics GmbH, Ainring, Germany). RESULTS: The precision error (root mean square coefficient of variation (RMS CV)%) for cartilage thickness/volume measurements ranged from 2.1%/2.4% (medial tibia) to 2.9%/3.3% (lateral weight-bearing femoral condyle) across all participants. No significant differences in precision errors were observed between KLGs, imaging sites, or scanner manufacturers/types. Mean differences between baseline and 3 months ranged from <0.1% (non-significant) in the medial to 0.94% (p<0.01) in the lateral femorotibial compartment, and were 0.33% (p<0.02) for the total femorotibial subchondral bone area. CONCLUSIONS: qMRI performed at 3.0 T provides highly reproducible measurements of cartilage morphology in multicentre clinical trials with equipment from different vendors. The technology thus appears sufficiently robust to be recommended for large-scale multicentre trials.