Patients with knee osteoarthritis have altered gait and gaze patterns compared to age-matched controls: A pilot study.

PURPOSE: Although knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) sufferers are at an increased risk of falls, possibly due to impaired gait function, the associated gaze behaviour in patients with KOA are largely unknown. Thus, we compared gait and gaze behaviours characteristics between KOA patients and asymptomatic age-matched controls. RESULTS: For Timed Up and Go (TUG) and stair climb tasks, the KOA group demonstrated longer periods of gaze fixations with less frequency of fixations compared to the control group. Conversely, for the Timed up and Go Agility (TUGA) test shorter fixation and frequency patterns were observed. The KOA group presented a shorter final stride length prior to the initiation of the first step in the Stair climb assessment. In addition, for the 30m walk and dual task assessments, the average step length was significantly shorter in the KOA group compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Overall, we found altered gait and gaze behaviours are evident in KOA patients which could relate to their increased falls risk.

Redox-sensitive transcription factors play a significant role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease which is associated with significant morbidity. Redox sensitive transcription factors including NF-κB, HIF, AP-1, and Nrf2 are intimately involved in the pathogenesis of RA. The treatment of this disease is limited by the elusive nature of the pathogenesis of RA. NF-κB is crucial for the maturation of immune cells as well as production of TNFα and MMPs, which escalate RA. HIF is essential for activation of inflammatory cells, angiogenesis and pannus formation in RA. AP-1 regulates cytokine and MMP production as well as synovial hyperplasia which are key processes in RA. Nrf2 is involved with chondrogenesis, osteoblastogenesis, prostaglandin secretion and ROS production in RA. Targeting two or more of these transcription factors may result in increased efficacy than either therapy in isolation. This review will highlight the control specific mediators on these transcription factors, the subsequent effect of these transcription factors once activated, and then mesh this with the pathogenesis of RA. The elucidation of key transcription factor regulation in the pathogenesis of RA may highlight the novel therapy interventions which may prove to have a greater efficacy than those therapies currently available.

Frontal plane kinematics predict three-dimensional hip adduction during running.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate if frontal plane kinematics are predictive of three dimensional (3D) hip adduction and hip internal rotation during running. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Biomechanics laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty healthy male runners aged 18-45 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Two dimensional (2D) angles in the frontal plane (peak pelvic obliquity, peak hip adduction, peak femoral valgus, peak knee valgus and peak tibial valgus) and 3D hip adduction and hip internal rotation during stance phase of running were obtained. RESULTS: Linear regression modelling revealed that peak 2D pelvic obliquity (a drop towards the contralateral leg) and peak femoral valgus significantly predicted 88% of the variance in peak 3D hip adduction (p < 0.001). Frontal plane kinematics however, were not predictive of peak hip internal rotation in 3D (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Frontal plane kinematics, specifically contralateral pelvic drop and femoral valgus, predicted the vast majority of the variance in 3D hip adduction during the stance phase of running. This indicates that 2D video may have potential as a clinically feasible proxy for measurement of peak 3D hip adduction - a risk factor for patellofemoral pain.