Application of Magnetic Resonance T1rho and T2 Mapping in Evaluating Cartilage Injury in Middle-aged and Elderly Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis.

Objective: To investigate magnetic resonance longitudinal relaxation time quantitative imaging (T1rho) and transverse relaxation time quantitative imaging (T2 mapping) techniques in evaluating cartilage damage in middle-aged and elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: To carry out this investigation, the researchers enrolled 65 OA patients subjects for the study. These patients were divided into 2 groups based on the severity of their OA. Thirty healthy individuals were included as the control group. All study participants underwent magnetic resonance T1rho and T2 mapping scans. OA patient scores and values from the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), T2, and a T1rho MRI measurement indicating potential early indication of bone and joint diseases from each cartilage area were compared among the OA patients as well as the control group. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between T2 and T1rho values and WOMAC scores. Results: The WOMAC scores in the mild OA group were lower than the severe OA group (P < .05). There were no significant differences in T2 and T1rho values of lateral tibial cartilage among the 3 groups (P > .05). On the other hand, the T2 and T1rho values of medial femoral, lateral femoral, and medial tibial cartilage areas increased progressively in the control, mild OA, and severe OA groups (P < .05). A Pearson analysis found a positive correlation between the T2 values of medial, lateral, and medial tibial cartilages and the WOMAC scores. Similarly, the T1rho values of these cartilage areas were also positively correlated with the WOMAC scores. Conclusion: Magnetic resonance T1rho and T2 mapping offer good evaluation value for assessing cartilage injury in middle-aged and elderly patients with knee OA. The values obtained from T1rho and T2 mapping in various areas of the cartilage show a positive correlation with WOMAC scores.

Return to Sport in Middle-aged and Older Athletes After Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty at a Mean 10-Year Follow-up: Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Return to sport is essential information when an athlete contemplates surgical intervention. Young athletes, <30 years of age, may undergo complex cartilage procedures or femoral/tibial osteotomies to successfully treat single-compartment knee osteoarthritis. Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) may offer an attractive alternative option to middle-aged/older athletes with timely return to the same sport without a lengthy rehabilitation. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if athletes are able to return to the same level of vigorous and moderate sports after fixed-bearing intramedullary nonrobotic UKA and the specific sports activities that these athletes continued to participate in at a minimum of 5 years. We hypothesized that UKA in the appropriately selected middle-aged/older athlete would yield high return to sport after UKA with high patient satisfaction. We also hypothesized that UKA would allow athletes to return to their sports of choice. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: We identified 245 patients who underwent a UKA by a single surgeon between 2003 and 2017. Athletes were included if they participated in vigorous or moderate sports, as defined by the American College of Sports Medicine, and had minimum 5-year follow-up. The primary outcome was return to vigorous or moderate sports after UKA. Secondary outcomes included the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Activities of Daily Living score, KOOS Sport and Recreation score, Lysholm score, Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) analysis, and radiographic analysis. RESULTS: An overall 169 athletes met the inclusion criteria and were evaluated for return to sports. A total of 98% (165/169) returned to vigorous or moderate sports participation. The mean ± SD time to return to sport was 5.2 ± 2.3 months in the 39- to 50-year-old cohort, 5.8 ± 3.2 months in athletes aged 51 to 64 years, and 5.2 ± 3.0 months in athletes aged ≥65 years. A total of 143 athletes had minimum 5-year clinical and radiographic follow-up (mean, 10 years; range, 5-19 years). Maintenance of vigorous and moderate sport was seen in 99% (142/143) of athletes at a mean 10 years. In athletes who participated in vigorous sports, the mean Lysholm score was 85 ± 17, and 83% reached the PASS for KOOS Sport and Recreation. Radiographic analysis revealed no evidence of implant loosening (ie, subsidence, radiolucency) or osteolysis, and limb alignment and posterior slope of the implant were within normal limits. CONCLUSION: Athletes returned to sport at a mean 5 months after UKA implantation, with 98% (165/169) participating in vigorous or moderate sports. UKA is recommended as an alternative procedure in middle-aged and older athletes with single-compartment osteoarthritis who are contemplating a return to vigorous or moderate sport.

Modulation effects of different treatments on periaqueductal gray resting state functional connectivity in knee osteoarthritis knee pain patients.

BACKGROUND: The analgesic effect of acupuncture is widely recognized, but the mechanical characteristics of acupuncture for pain relief, compared to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) and placebo medication, remain unknown. AIMS: To compare the modulation effects of acupuncture treatment with NSAIDs and placebo medication on descending pain modulation system (DPMS) in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients. METHODS: This study recruited 180 KOA patients with knee pain and 41 healthy controls (HCs). Individuals with KOA knee pain were divided randomly into groups of verum acupuncture (VA), sham acupuncture (SA), celecoxib (SC), placebo (PB), and waiting list (WT), with 36 patients in each group. VA and SA groups included ten sessions of puncturing acupoints or puncturing non-acupoints acupuncture treatment for two successive weeks. Celecoxib capsules were continuously given orally to patients in the SC group at a dosage of 200 mg daily for 2 weeks. In the PB group, patients received a placebo capsule once a day for 2 weeks at the same dosage as celecoxib capsules. In the WL group, patients did not receive any treatment. Patients underwent a resting-state BOLD-fMRI scan pre- and post-receiving the therapy, whereas HCs only underwent a baseline scan. Seed (ventrolateral periaqueductal gray, vlPAG, a key node in DPMS) based resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) was applied in the data analysis. RESULTS: All groups demonstrated improved knee pain scores relative to the initial state. There was no statistical difference between the VA and SA groups in all clinical outcomes, and vlPAG rs-FC alterations. KOA knee pain individuals reported higher vlPAG rs-FC in the bilateral thalamus than HCs. KOA knee pain patients in the acupuncture group (verum + sham, AG) exhibited increased vlPAG rs-FC with the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the right angular, which is associated with knee pain improvement. In contrast with the SC and PB group, the AG exhibited significantly increased vlPAG rs-FC with the right DLPFC and angular. Contrary to the WT group, the AG showed greater vlPAG rs-FC with the right DLPFC and precuneus. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture treatment, celecoxib, and placebo medication have different modulation effects on vlPAG DPMS in KOA knee pain patients. Acupuncture could modulate vlPAG rs-FC with brain regions associated with cognitive control, attention, and reappraisal for knee pain relief in KOA patients, compared with celecoxib and placebo medication.

Effect of Curcuma longa extract on serum inflammatory markers and MRI-based synovitis in knee osteoarthritis: secondary analyses from the CurKOA randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Curcuma longa (CL) extract is modestly effective for relieving knee symptoms in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients; however, its mechanism of action is unclear. PURPOSE: We aimed to determine the effects of CL treatment on serum inflammatory markers over 12 weeks and to explore its potential effects on synovitis assessed by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) of the knee. METHODS: Secondary analyses were conducted on the CL for knee OA (CurKOA) trial, which compared CL (n = 36) and placebo (n = 34) over 12 weeks for the treatment of knee OA. Systemic inflammatory markers (TNFα, IL6, and hsCRP) and a cartilage extracellular matrix degradative enzyme (MMP-3) were measured. A subgroup of participants (CL, n = 7; placebo, n = 5) underwent CE-MRI at baseline and a 12-week follow-up. RESULTS: Over 12 weeks, there were no between-group differences in change in hsCRP, IL-6, and TNFα levels. MMP-3 levels decreased in both CL (-1.31 ng/ml [95%CI: -1.89 to -0.73]) and placebo (-2.34 ng/ml [95%CI: -2.95 to -1.73]) groups, with the placebo group having a slightly greater decrease (1.03 ng/ml [95%CI: 0.19 to 1.88]). Most (10 of 12) sub-study participants had normal synovial thickness scores at baseline. One participant had mild synovitis in each of the placebo and CL groups. Synovitis status was stable for all except two participants, one each in the CL and placebo group, whose synovitis score increased. CONCLUSION: This is the first study that explored the effect of CL treatment on local and systemic inflammation using biochemical markers and CE-MRI outcomes on knee OA patients. Secondary analyses from this pilot study suggest that CL is unlikely to have clinically significant effects on systemic (inflammatory and cartilage) or local synovitis (CE-MRI) biomarkers compared to placebo. The mechanism of action for CL effect on pain remains unclear.

EUROVISCO Good Practice Recommendations for a First Viscosupplementation in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis.

RATIONALE: Viscosupplementation (VS) with hyaluronic acid is widely used in the management of knee osteoarthritis. There is no clear recommendation on the decision-making to achieve VS. DESIGN: Based on extensive research of the literature and expert opinion, the members of the EUROVISCO (European Viscosupplementation Consensus Group) task force were asked to give their degree of agreement with 60 issues, using a Delphi method. RESULTS: The expert panel achieved unanimous agreement in favor of the following statements: It is recommended to assess pain on a visual or 10-point numeric scale before considering VS. VS can be considered for patients with pain scores between 3 and 8. A standard x-ray must be obtained before the decision of VS. If the x-ray is normal, osteoarthritis must be confirmed by MRI or computed tomography (CT) arthrogram before considering VS. The aims of VS are relieving pain, improving function, and reducing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) consumption. The use of VS must not be considered for treating an osteoarthritis flare. VS can be envisaged as a first-line pharmacological treatment in patients having a contra-indication to NSAIDs or analgesics. VS can be considered in patients with contra-indications to arthroplasty. In the case of severe comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorders, renal failure), VS can avoid the use of potentially dangerous treatments. VS can be considered in patients receiving antiplatelet agents, vitamin K antagonists, and direct factor Xa or thrombin inhibitors. Five other statements obtained a high level of consensus. CONCLUSION: These recommendations, illustrated in a decision algorithm, have been established to help practitioners in the decision-making of knee VS.

Acupotomy by ultrasound-guided versus anatomical guidance in knee osteoarthritis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: At present, there is no systematic evaluation on whether ultrasonic-guided acupotomy is more effective compared with anatomical guidance in knee osteoarthritis. We conducted a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis to provide a method for evaluating the effectiveness and safety of acupotomy by ultrasound-guided technique. METHODS: An all-round retrieval will be performed in the following electronic journal databases from their inception to October 2022, which comprise PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang data, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, and China biomedical literature database. The following key words were used on combination with Boolean operators AND or OR: "acupotomy," "ultrasound," "knee osteoarthritis." Two authors completed the quality assessment using the Cochrane Collaborations risk of bias tool. The meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.3 software from the Cochrane Collaboration (London, UK). RESULTS: The findings of this study will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals for publication. CONCLUSION: This systematic review will provide evidence to judge whether acupotomy by ultrasound-guided technique is effective and safe for knee osteoarthritis.

Ultrasound-guided dry needling versus traditional dry needling for patients with knee osteoarthritis: A double-blind randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of ultrasound (US)-guided dry needling (DN) with traditional DN in the treatment of pain and dysfunction for patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). DESIGN: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Patients (25 male and 65 female), age 50-80 years diagnosed with KOA were recruited and randomly assigned to one of three groups in a 1:1:1 ratio for intervention: real US-guided DN with exercise therapy (G1), placebo US-guided DN with exercise therapy (G2), and exercise therapy solely (G3). G1 and G2 were blinded to the application of real or placebo US guidance by turning the monitor of US imaging out-of-view from participants' vantage points. The effectiveness of blinding was evaluated by asking the participants whether they had received real-US guided DN. The responses were assessed by Chi-square test. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Knee injury, and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscales (KOOS-pain, KOOS-symptoms, KOOS-quality-of-life (QoL)) were collected at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks by a blinded assessor. Data were analyzed by mixed model analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni correction. RESULTS: Eighty-four participants (61.26±5.57 years) completed the study. G1 achieved significant improvement in VAS at 8 weeks compared to G2 and G3 (G1 vs. G2: MD = -15.61, 95% CI [-25.49, -5.51], p = 0.001; G1 vs. G3: MD = -19.90, 95% CI [-29.71, -10.08], p< 0.001). G1 achieved significant improvement in KOOS-pain at 8 weeks compared to G2 and G3 (G1 vs. G2: MD = 9.76, 95% CI [2.38, 17.14], p = 0.006; G1 vs. G3: MD = 9.48, 95% CI [2.31, 16.66], p = 0.010). KOOS-symptoms and KOOS-QoL were not statistically significant between groups. G2 had no significant difference of the perceptions as G1 with p = 0.128. G2 were successfully blinded to placebo US-guided DN. CONCLUSION: US-guided DN with exercise therapy may be more effective than traditional DN with exercise therapy or exercise therapy alone in reduce pain of KOA.

Analysis of correlation between the consumption of beverages and the risk of radiographic knee osteoarthritis in Korean people: A cross-sectional study using the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V-1, 2).

The purposes were to analyze correlations between the frequency of beverage drinking (coffee, green tea, milk, and soft drinks) and the presence of radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) in relation to sex. We performed this study using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KHANES V-1, 2). We examined data from 5503 subjects after exclusion. We utilized the food frequency questionnaires from KHANES, and reorganized them into 2 or 3 groups according to the frequency of beverage consumption. We analyzed the relationship between radiographic knee OA and beverage consumption statistically after adjusting confounding factors with multivariable logistic regression analysis. Knee OA was inversely associated with coffee consumption only in women (P < .05). The odds ratio of knee OA was lower in those who drank at least a cup of coffee than in those who did not drink coffee in women (P for trend < .05). However, there was no significant linear trend of the odds ratio of each group in both sexes for drinking other beverages. As the coffee consumption increased, the radiographic knee OA group showed decreasing linear trend only in women. However, other beverages did not show a significant relation to the radiographic knee OA in both sexes.

Cerebral mechanism of Tuina analgesia in management of knee osteoarthritis using multimodal MRI: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The chronic pain of patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) seriously affects their quality of life and leads to heavy social and economic burden. As a nondrug therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Tuina is generally recognised as safe and effective for reducing the chronic pain of KOA. However, the underlying central mechanisms of Tuina for improving the pain of KOA are not fully understood. METHODS/DESIGN: This study will be a randomised controlled trial with a parallel-group design. A total of 60 eligible participants will be assigned to the Tuina group or healthcare education group (Education group) at 1:1 ratio using stratified randomisation with gender and age as factors. The interventions of both groups will last for 30 min per session and be conducted twice each week for 12 weeks. This study will primarily focus on pain evaluation assessed by detecting the changes in brain grey matter (GM) structure, white matter (WM) structure, and the cerebral functional connectivity (FC) elicited by Tuina treatment, e.g., thalamus, hippocampus, anterior cingulate gyrus, S1, insula, and periaqueductal grey subregions (PAG). The two groups of patients will be evaluated by clinical assessments and multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to observe the alterations in the GM, WM, and FC of participants at the baseline and the end of 6 and 12 weeks' treatment and still be evaluated by clinical assessments but not MRI for 48 weeks of follow-up. The visual analogue scale of current pain is the primary outcome. The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, Hamilton Depression Scale, and Hamilton Anxiety Scale will be used to evaluate the pain intensity, pain feeling, pain emotion, clinical symptoms, and quality of life, respectively. MRI assessments, clinical data evaluators, data managers, and statisticians will be blinded to the group allocation in the outcome evaluation procedure and data analysis to reduce the risk of bias. The repeated measures analysis of variance (2 groups × 6 time points ANOVA) will be used to analyse numerical variables of the clinical and neuroimaging data obtained in the study. P<0.05 will be the statistical significance level. DISCUSSION: The results of this randomised controlled trial with clinical assessments and multimodal MRI will help reveal the influence of Tuina treatment on the potential morphological changes in cortical and subcortical brain structures, the white matter integrity, and the functional activities and connectivity of brain regions of patients with KOA, which may provide scientific evidence for the clinical application of Tuina in the management of KOA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2000037966 . Registered on Sep. 8, 2020. DISSEMINATION: The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated through the study's website, and conferences.

A randomized, parallel control and multicenter clinical trial of evidence-based traditional Chinese medicine massage treatment VS External Diclofenac Diethylamine Emulgel for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Both massage and topically administered NSAIDs are safe and effective treatments for knee osteoarthritis (KOA); however, different massage technique sects in China caused assessment difficulties for the treatment of KOA. In order to standardize the massage techniques and procedures, we organized multi-disciplinary experts in China to acquire an evidence-based traditional Chinese medicine massage treatment of knee osteoarthritis. The purposes of this study will be to provide clinicians a complementary and alternative therapy for patients and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of evidence-based traditional Chinese medicine massage treatment of KOA compared to External Diclofenac Diethylamine Emulgel. METHODS AND DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial in which 300 participants diagnosed with KOA will be recruited and randomly allocated to either the experimental group or the control group in a ratio of 2:1. Two hundred participants will receive evidence-based traditional Chinese medicine massage 2 sessions per week for 10 weeks as the experimental group, and 100 participants will receive External Diclofenac Diethylamine Emulgel 3-4 times per day for 10 weeks as the control group. The patients in the two groups will receive follow-up at two time points at 5 weeks and 10 weeks from the beginning of treatment, respectively. The MRI scans and X-ray will be performed at baseline and at the end of the intervention. The primary outcome will be the changes in the Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Secondary outcomes will be measured by the PRO scale for knee osteoarthritis based on the concept of traditional Chinese medicine (Chinese scale for knee osteoarthritis (CSKO)), X-ray evaluation, and MRI scan evaluation. The data of WOMAC and CSKO will be analyzed at the baseline, 5 weeks, and 10 weeks from the beginning of treatment. The data from MRI scans and X-rays will be analyzed at baseline and at the end of the intervention. The significance level sets as 5%. The safety of interventions will be evaluated after each treatment session. DISCUSSION: This study will provide clinicians with much-needed knowledge for the treatment of KOA through a controlled trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800014400 . Registered on 10 January 2018.

Deep Learning-Based CT Imaging to Evaluate the Therapeutic Effects of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Therapy on Knee Osteoarthritis.

The study was aimed at analyzing the application value of deep learning-based computed tomography (CT) in evaluating the effect of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Specifically, 124 patients with KOA were selected in the test group (warm acupuncture and moxibustion) and the control group (simple acupuncture), with 62 cases in each group. Deep learning-based CT scanning was performed before and after treatment to compare the Lequesne-Mery, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC), Hospital Special Surgery (HSS), and Knee Society Score (KSS) scores as well as the overall effective rate. The results showed that the trabecular thickness, quantity, bone mineral density (BMD), connection density, structural model index, and articular cartilage thickness were different significantly between the two groups (P < 0.05). After treatment, the Lequesne-Mery was 4.78, the VAS was 0.87, and the WOMAC score was 14.89 of the test group, which were reduced (P < 0.05). The KSS and HSS scores of the test group were improved significantly after treatment (P < 0.05). The total effective rate of the test group was 85.48%, and that of the control group was 51.61%; the former was significantly higher than the latter (P < 0.05). In conclusion, acupuncture could improve the clinical effect on KOA patients, and CT scanning under deep learning algorithm could evaluate the clinical effect of acupuncture for KOA.

On the Effect of Electroacupuncture in Promoting Healing after High Tibial Osteotomy.

Purpose: To explore the clinical effect of electroacupuncture in promoting the healing of the osteotomy area after high tibial osteotomy. Methods: 50 patients with knee osteoarthritis who underwent open wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) were selected and randomly divided into the observation group and control group. The control group got the common postoperative treatment, and the observation group was added electroacupuncture from the 3rd day after the operation on the basis of the control group. The electroacupuncture acupoints were selected SP10, ST34, ST32, EX-LE2, ST40,KI6, KI3, SP6, and ST41, once a day, and 14 days were a course of treatment. And then we contrasted the index of the Lane-Sandhu X-ray score, the skin incision healing time, the swelling subsided time, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index Score (WOMAC), and Lysholm in different time. Results: The Lane-Sandhu X-ray score of the observation group was better than that of the control group at all time points (P < 0.05), and the time to achieve bone healing was about 2 weeks earlier than that of the control group. The skin healing and swelling were the subsided time in the osteotomy area. Both were better than the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The VAS score, WOMAC score, and Lysholm score of the two groups were significantly improved compared with preoperatively, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The improvement of the observation group's VAS score, WOMAC score, and Lysholm score at 1 week, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks after the end of the treatment course was better than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Electroacupuncture can quicken the healing of bone tissue and surrounding soft tissues in the osteotomy area after high tibial osteotomy, and at the same time, it can help the relief of knee joint pain and improve knee joint function.

Bone in osteoarthritis: imaging and interventions.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the recent literature on bone in osteoarthritis (OA), with a focus on imaging and intervention studies. RECENT FINDINGS: Most studies focused on knee OA; hip and hand studies were uncommon. Bone shape studies demonstrated that shape changes precede radiographic OA, predict joint replacement, and have demonstrated high responsiveness. Novel quantitative 3D imaging markers (B-score) have better characterized OA severity, including preradiographic OA status. The addition of computerized tomography-derived 3D metrics has improved the prediction of hip joint replacement when compared to radiographs alone.Recent studies of bisphosphonates for knee OA have reported no benefits on pain or bone marrow lesion (BML) size. A meta-analysis on Vitamin D supplementation in knee OA suggested minimal symptom improvement and no benefits on the structure. Cathepsin K inhibition demonstrated reduction in OA bone change progression, but with no symptom benefit. Studies of injections of bone substitutes into BMLs (subchondroplasty) have generally been small and potential benefits remain unclear. SUMMARY: Subchondral bone features are associated with pain, incidence and progression of OA. Recent studies have validated quantitative bone shape as a biomarker for OA trials. Trials of bone-targeted OA therapies have been disappointing although cathepsin K inhibition may slow structural progression.

A clinical test examination procedure to identify knee compartment overloading: A reliability and validity study using SPECT-CT as reference.

BACKGROUND: Mechanical forces and joint misalignment are considered risk factors for the development of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Early detection of KOA and distinction between lateral and medial compartment overloading (CO), might be important to inform appropriate preventative interventions. This study evaluated reliability and validity of a test battery consisting of ten clinical tests to predict knee CO. METHODS: Independent observers examined 30 participants with symptoms of KOA. Inter-rater reliability of the ten tests, as well as the anticipated CO based on the whole test battery, was determined. All participants received a SPECT-CT, which served as reference standard for CO. The agreement for CO between SPECT-CT and clinical examination was assessed to determine criterion validity. RESULTS: The Kappa coefficients (k) for the ten individual clinical tests ranged from 0.19 to 0.80. The k for determining CO was 0.52 (95% CI = 0.28-0.76). The agreement for CO between SPECT-CT and clinical examination (i.e. criterion validity) yielded a k of 0.26 (95% CI = -0.06 - 0.58). Logistic regression indicated that valgus alignment was strongly related with lateral CO. No other relationships were found between individual tests and CO. CONCLUSION: Accurate measurement of frontal plane knee angle is important to determine CO. This particular test yielded good reliability, but low validity. Reliability of the nine remaining clinical tests was fair to moderate. Criterion validity of the clinical examination to predict CO was low. Therefore, this test battery in its current form cannot be used in practice to determine CO.

[Difference of musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging of focus of knee joint tendon between patients with knee osteoarthritis and healthy subjects].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the imaging features of focus of knee joint tendon in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) by musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) technique. METHODS: One hundred KOA patients and 100 healthy subjects were included. All the KOA patients were palpated by the sequence of foot yangming meridian, foot shaoyang meridian, foot taiyang meridian and foot three yin-meridians, and the focus of knee tendon and its frequency were recorded by MSUS technique. The top-5 focus of knee tendon of KOA patients and the corresponding focus of knee tendon of healthy subjects were selected as the observation sites to compare the differences of thickness of ligament and tendon soft tissue in the extension and flexion positions of the knee joint. RESULTS: The top-5 focus of knee tendon of KOA patients were located in medial inferior patella, medial tibial condyle, inferior patella, Zusanlici and Hedingci. The thickness of ligaments and tendons in extension and flexion positions in KOA patients were thicker than that in healthy subjects (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The focus of knee joint tendon in KOA patients shows significantly thickened musculoskeletal imaging features.

Effect of acupotomy in knee osteoarthritis patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is common in China. Pharmacological therapy is not the first recommendation because of its safety issues. Nonpharmacological therapy, such as lifestyle adjustments, weight loss, muscle strengthening, and aerobic exercise programs, is strongly recommended for KOA. However, these approaches may fail due to poor patient compliance. There is a lack of high-quality randomized controlled trials of acupotomy, an effective treatment for KOA. This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of acupotomy in patients with KOA. METHODS: A total of 136 patients will be enrolled at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine and assigned to the acupotomy group or sham acupotomy group according to the block randomization scheme. Patients in the acupotomy group will receive 2 sessions of acupotomy for 2 weeks (once a week). Patients in the sham group will receive 2 sessions of sham stimulation for 2 weeks (once a week). All patients will use indomethacin cream externally. The primary outcome will be the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the secondary outcomes will be the visual analog scale (VAS) score, plantar pressure distribution test result, X-ray examination findings, musculoskeletal ultrasound findings, maximum knee circumference, joint mobility, and quality of life. Measurements will be taken at baseline, 1 week after the end of treatment, and at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups. DISCUSSION: To the best of our knowledge, this will be the first single-blind, sham-controlled study of acupotomy. The outcome assessors will also be blinded. The aim of this work is to demonstrate the efficacy of acupotomy in treating KOA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2000033047 . Registered on 18 May 2020.

Efficacy of a Deep Thermal Therapy System for Osteoarthritis of the Knee.

BACKGROUND: This study sought to assess the efficacy of a deep-tissue thermal therapy system with a resonant cavity applicator (DTT-RCA), which safely heats deep joint tissue for treating osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. METHODS: Two groups of participants were recruited. The DTT-RCA group comprised 20 knees. Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade was I and II in 8 knees (DTT-RCA I/II group) [mean age 73.3 years (standard deviation 11.4) ], III and VI in 12 knees (DTT-RCA III/IV group) [75.4 (8.6) years]. The control group comprised 13 knees [68.2 (10.8) years]. K-L grade was I in 7 knees and II in 6 knees. This group received exercise therapy. The DTT-RCA I/II group and the control group were imaged by MRI T2 mapping at baseline and 6 months to determine the area of cartilage degeneration. RESULTS: Visual Analogue Scale improved only in the DTT-RCA I/II post-intervention (p < 0.01). Japanese Orthopedic Association knee rating scores (DTT-RCA I/II: p < 0.01, control group: p < 0.01), the Japanese Knee Osteoarthritis Measure (DTT-RCA I/II: p < 0.05, control: p < 0.01), and the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (DTT-RCA I/II: p < 0.01, DTT-RCA III/IV: p < 0.05, control: p < 0.01) post-intervention. The magnitude of change did not differ significantly between the three groups. The area of cartilage degeneration did not change significantly post-intervention in the DTT-RCA I/II group, not even relative to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This was the first study to test a DTT-RCA system in patients with knee OA. The system reduced the clinical symptoms of knee OA and could potentially be effective for conservative therapy.

Association between Vitamin D and Knee Osteoarthritis: A PRISMA-Compliant Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous investigations showed inconsistent results for associations between vitamin D and knee osteoarthritis (OA). The present study aimed to make a systematic review and meta-analysis for the association between vitamin D and knee OA. METHODS: We systematically searched for articles published in the databases PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Medline, and Google Scholar through July 2019. All statistical analyses were made using STATA 12.0 software. The Q test and I2 were applied to examine heterogeneities between studies. RESULTS: The study indicated that there were no significant associations between serum levels of 25-hydroxy (OH) vitamin D and prevalence, incidence or progression of knee radiographic OA (ROA), and joint space narrowing (JSN). However, a subgroup study showed significant associations of low vitamin D levels with the progression of knee OA. Additionally, the present study showed no significant effect of vitamin D supplementation on knee OA. CONCLUSIONS: The results do not support that serum levels of 25(OH) vitamin D are associated with the risks of knee OA, except perhaps with progression of knee OA. In addition, vitamin D supplementation may not have a clinically significant effect on pain control or structure (tibial cartilage volume and JSW) progression in patients with knee OA. Longer-term clinical trials are essential to explore the effect of vitamin D supplementation on knee OA.

Computed Tomography Image Analysis of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis with Different Radiologic Characteristics Based on Iterative Reconstruction Algorithm.

OBJECTIVE: To use computed tomography image analysis of iterative reconstruction algorithm to understand effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation of quadriceps on motor function rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: After total knee arthroplasty, 104 patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. The treatment group comprised 52 patients. The quadriceps femoris was stimulated by neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and patients were required to actively extend the knee along with the current stimulation. In the second group, which received cutaneous nerve electrical stimulation, 2 sets of electrodes were placed on knee pain points. All patients participated in conventional rehabilitation and were discharged from the hospital a mean 14.89 ± 3.65 days after treatment. Visual analog scale, range of motion of knee joint, and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Score were evaluated before discharge. The mean interval between follow-up evaluations after discharge was 9.5 months. Knee Society Score and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Score were assessed during follow-up. RESULTS: Visual analog scale scores of treatment and control groups at discharge were 18.11 ± 9.66 and 16.13 ± 4.25, and active range of motion of the knee joint was 103.21° ± 15.44° and (99.21° ± 15.19°, respectively. Limitation of active knee extension in the treatment group was 1.93° ± 3.47°, which was significantly smaller than in the control group (6.26° ± 4.28°). CONCLUSIONS: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the quadriceps muscle early after total knee arthroplasty helps to improve the function of the knee extension device and accelerate functional rehabilitation. Computed tomography has found that changes in tibial subchondral bone plate and subchondral cancellous bone in patients with knee osteoarthritis are mainly due to destruction of ultrastructural homeostasis. This change may be the cause of knee osteoarthritis.

Neurological and psychological mechanisms of the specific and nonspecific effects of acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis: study protocol for a randomized, controlled, crossover trial.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture, as one of the promising non-pharmacological interventions, has been proved to be beneficial for patients. However, the magnitude of acupuncture's specific and nonspecific effects, as well as their neurological and psychological determinants, remains unclear. Therefore, this study is designed to examine the acupuncture efficacy, investigate whether the brain mechanisms between the specific and nonspecific effects of acupuncture are different, and to evaluate how psychological factors affect the acupuncture effects. METHODS: This is a randomized, controlled, crossover clinical trial. A total of 60 patients with knee osteoarthritis will receive 4 weeks of acupuncture treatment and 4 weeks of sham acupuncture treatment in a random order separated by a washout period of 2 weeks. The changes in clinical characteristics based on pain-related scales will be assessed to investigate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans will be used to identify the brain activity changes related to the specific and nonspecific effects of acupuncture. The questionnaires of psychological factors will be used to evaluate patients' psychological properties. Correlation and mediation analyses will be conducted among psychological factors, brain activity changes, and symptoms improvement to explore the neurological and psychological correlates of the acupuncture effects. DISCUSSION: This study will concentrate on distinguishing and clarifying the specific and nonspecific effects of acupuncture. The results of this study may contribute to rationally optimize the acupuncture therapies by flexible application of the specific and nonspecific effects of acupuncture. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900025807 . Registered on 9 September 2019.