Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been known to be involved in multiple diverse diseases, including osteoarthritis (OA) The present study aims at exploring the biological role of lncRNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) in OA and the underlying mechanism Results showed that the expression of PVT1 was upregulated in OA chondrocytes compared with normal chondrocytes, silencing PVT1 inhibited the apoptosis of OA chondrocytes, and overexpression of PVT1 promoted the apoptosis of normal chondrocytes To further investigate the underlying mechanism, miR-488-3p was predicted to be a targeted microRNA of PVT1 Different methods, including MS2 RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), luciferase activity, and anti-AGO2 RIP, were performed to detect the interaction between PVT1 and miR-488-3p, which suggested that PVT1 negatively regulated miR-488-3p in OA chondrocytes Moreover, PVT1 promoted the apoptosis of OA and normal chondrocytes through miR-488-3p Collectively, this study revealed that lncRNA PVT1 regulated the apoptosis of chondrocytes by acting as a sponge for miR-488-3p in OA PVT1 may be considered a new therapeutic target for the treatment of OA

LncRNA PVT1 Regulates Chondrocyte Apoptosis in Osteoarthritis by Acting as a Sponge for miR-488-3p.

Synopsis Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and knee is among the leading causes of global disability, highlighting the need for early, targeted, and effective treatment. The benefits of exercise therapy in people with hip and knee OA are substantial and supported by high-quality evidence, underlining that it should be part of first-line treatment in clinical practice. Furthermore, unlike other treatments for OA, such as analgesia and surgery, exercise therapy is not associated with risk of serious harm. Helping people with OA become more physically active, along with structured exercise therapy targeting symptoms and impairments, is crucial, considering that the majority of people with hip and knee OA do not meet physical activity recommendations. Osteoarthritis is associated with a range of chronic comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and dementia, all of which are associated with chronic low-grade inflammation. Physical activity and exercise therapy not only improve symptoms and impairments of OA, but are also effective in preventing at least 35 chronic conditions and treating at least 26 chronic conditions, with one of the potential working mechanisms being exercise-induced anti-inflammatory effects. Patient education may be crucial to ensure long-term adherence and sustained positive effects on symptoms, impairments, physical activity levels, and comorbidities. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2018;48(6):439-447. Epub 18 Apr 2018. doi:10.2519/jospt.2018.7877.

https://www.jospt.org/doi/pdf/10.2519/jospt.2018.7877

Physical Activity and Exercise Therapy Benefit More Than Just Symptoms and Impairments in People With Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis

In the most recent years, an extraordinary research effort has emerged to disentangle osteoarthritis heterogeneity, opening new avenues for progressing with therapeutic development and unravelling the pathogenesis of this complex condition. Several phenotypes and endotypes have been proposed albeit none has been sufficiently validated for clinical or research use as yet. This review discusses the latest advances in OA phenotyping including how new modern statistical strategies based on machine learning and big data can help advance this field of research.

Phenotypes of osteoarthritis: current state and future implications.

Introduction: Osteoarthritis is a burdensome disease that causes progressive damage to articular cartilage. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are one of the preferred treatments for sy...

Lowering side effects of NSAID usage in osteoarthritis: recent attempts at minimizing dosage

Neuromuscular deficits are common following knee injuries and may contribute to early-onset post-traumatic osteoarthritis, likely mediated through quadriceps dysfunction. To identify how peri-articular neuromuscular function changes over time after knee injury and surgery. Systematic review with meta-analyses. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, CENTRAL (Trials). Moderate and high-quality studies comparing neuromuscular function of muscles crossing the knee joint between a knee-injured population (ligamentous, meniscal, osteochondral lesions) and healthy controls. Outcomes included normalized isokinetic strength, muscle size, voluntary activation, cortical and spinal-reflex excitability, and other torque related outcomes. A total of 46 studies of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and five of meniscal injury were included. For ACL injury, strength and voluntary activation deficits were evident (moderate to strong evidence). Cortical excitability was not affected at < 6 months (moderate evidence) but decreased at 24+ months (moderate evidence). Spinal-reflex excitability did not change at < 6 months (moderate evidence) but increased at 24+ months (strong evidence). We also found deficits in torque variability, rate of torque development, and electromechanical delay (very limited to moderate evidence). For meniscus injury, strength deficits were evident only in the short-term. No studies reported gastrocnemius, soleus or popliteus muscle outcomes for either injury. No studies were found for other ligamentous or chondral injuries. Neuromuscular deficits persist for years post-injury/surgery, though the majority of evidence is from ACL injured populations. Muscle strength deficits are accompanied by neural alterations and changes in control and timing of muscle force, but more studies are needed to fill the evidence gaps we have identified. Better characterisation and therapeutic strategies addressing these deficits could improve rehabilitation outcomes, and potentially prevent PTOA. PROSPERO CRD42019141850.

/pdf/neuromuscular-function-of-the-knee-joint-following-knee-5eg2vqx01d.pdf

Neuromuscular Function of the Knee Joint Following Knee Injuries: Does It Ever Get Back to Normal? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analyses.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of pain and disability worldwide. Despite the existence of evidence-based treatments and guidelines, substantial gaps remain in the quality of OA management. There is underutilization of behavioral and rehabilitative strategies to prevent and treat OA as well as a lack of processes to tailor treatment selection according to patient characteristics and preferences. There are emerging efforts in multiple countries to implement models of OA care, particularly focused on improving nonsurgical management. Although these programs vary in content and setting, key lessons learned include the importance of support from all stakeholders, consistent program delivery and tools, a coherent team to run the program, and a defined plan for outcome assessment. Efforts are still needed to develop, deliver, and evaluate models of care across the spectrum of OA, from prevention through end-stage disease, in order to improve care for this highly prevalent global condition.

Alexandra E. Page

Papers

Osteoarthritis: Models for appropriate care across the disease continuum