Clinical value of ankle flexion and extension exercises combined with a psychological intervention in knee osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Considering the limited effectiveness of clinical interventions for knee osteoarthritis (KOA), it is necessary to continue to explore appropriate and effective treatment strategies to improve the condition of KOA patients. AIM: To clarify the influence of ankle flexion and extension exercises combined with a psychological intervention on the psychological status and activities of daily living (ADLs) of patients with KOA. METHODS: The research participants were 116 KOA patients admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between May 2019 and May 2022, including 54 patients receiving routine treatment, care and psychological intervention (control group) and 62 patients additionally treated with ankle flexion and extension exercises (research group). The two groups were comparatively analyzed in terms of psychological status (Self-rating Anxiety/Depression Scale, SDS/SAS), ADLs, knee joint function (Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale), pain (Visual Analog Scale, VAS), fatigue (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, MFI), and quality of life (QoL; Short-Form 36 Item Health Survey, SF-36). RESULTS: After evaluation, it was found that the postinterventional SDS, SAS, VAS, and MFI scores in the research group were significantly reduced compared with the baseline (before the intervention) values and those of the control group, while the postinterventional Lysholm, ADL and SF-36 scores were markedly elevated. CONCLUSION: Therefore, ankle flexion and extension exercises are highly effective in easing negative psychological status, enhancing ADLs, daily living ability, knee joint function and QoL, and relieving pain and fatigue in KOA patients, thus warranting clinical promotion.

The role of MCP-1-CCR2 ligand-receptor axis in chondrocyte degradation and disease progress in knee osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common arthritic disease and multifactorial whole-joint disease. Interactions of chemokines and OA is inadequately documented. RESULTS: In vivo and in vitro studies were conducted to investigate monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and receptor chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2 (CCR2) in chondrocyte degradation and cartilage degeneration. Chondrocytes from 16 OA patients and 6 normal controls were involved in this study. After stimulation of MCP-1, the expression of MCP-1 and CCR2 increased significantly (P < 0.001) and the expression of MMP-13 also increased (P < 0.05). MCP-1 stimulation also induced (or enhanced) the apoptosis of OA chondrocytes (P < 0.05). Additionally, the degradation of cartilage matrix markers (metalloproteinase 3 and 13, MMP3 and MMP13) in the culture medium of normal chondrocytes was also assessed. Furthermore, intra-articular injection of MCP-1 in mouse knees induced cartilage degradation and the CCR2 antagonist did not impede cartilage destroy in rats knees of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) model. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate that the MCP-1-CCR2 ligand-receptor axis plays a special role in the initiation and progression of OA pathology. Patients with ambiguous etiology can gain some insight from the MCP-1-CCR2 ligand-receptor axis.

The role of MCP-1-CCR2 ligand-receptor axis in chondrocyte degradation and disease progress in knee osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common arthritic disease and multifactorial whole-joint disease. Interactions of chemokines and OA is inadequately documented. RESULTS: In vivo and in vitro studies were conducted to investigate monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and receptor chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2 (CCR2) in chondrocyte degradation and cartilage degeneration. Chondrocytes from 16 OA patients and 6 normal controls were involved in this study. After stimulation of MCP-1, the expression of MCP-1 and CCR2 increased significantly (P < 0.001) and the expression of MMP-13 also increased (P < 0.05). MCP-1 stimulation also induced (or enhanced) the apoptosis of OA chondrocytes (P < 0.05). Additionally, the degradation of cartilage matrix markers (metalloproteinase 3 and 13, MMP3 and MMP13) in the culture medium of normal chondrocytes was also assessed. Furthermore, intra-articular injection of MCP-1 in mouse knees induced cartilage degradation and the CCR2 antagonist did not impede cartilage destroy in rats knees of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) model. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate that the MCP-1-CCR2 ligand-receptor axis plays a special role in the initiation and progression of OA pathology. Patients with ambiguous etiology can gain some insight from the MCP-1-CCR2 ligand-receptor axis.