Articular cartilage defects of the knee: correlation between magnetic resonance imaging and gross pathology

Article Abstract:

Conventional X-rays are ineffective for assessing erosion or deterioration of cartilage tissue. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a diagnostic technique in which electromagnetic energy is used to provide images of the heart, large blood vessels, brain, and soft tissues. This diagnostic method may be useful in evaluating the condition of the joint. The effectiveness of MRI in detecting and measuring changes in the thickness and structure of cartilage tissue in the knee joint was assessed. The results were compared with observations made by gross examination of the knee joint, which involves direct examination with the naked eye. MRI was performed on knee joints taken from amputated legs; the patients were eight persons aged 62 to 89 years who had disease of the peripheral blood vessels. The joint cartilage was assessed for erosions, irregularities of the surface, and appearance. The changes in thicknesses and structure of the cartilage detected by MRI were similar to those detected by gross examination. These findings show that MRI is effective in predicting the gross appearance and thickness of the joint cartilage, and may be useful as an objective, quantitative, and noninvasive method of evaluating eroded cartilage. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Knee, Magnetic resonance imaging

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Influence of cyclic loading on the nutrition of articular cartilage

Article Abstract:

Cartilage tissue in the joints lack blood vessels and receive nutrients from the surrounding synovial fluid. The diffusion of nutrients may be enhanced by the movement of fluid in and out of the cartilage tissue during cyclic loading of the tissue, also known as pumping. The effect of pumping on the transport of solutes into cartilage tissue was assessed. Pieces of cartilage from the human thigh joint, which were obtained at autopsy, were immersed in a solution containing radioactive solutes and subjected to cyclic loading. The rate of radioactive solute transport into the cycled cartilage tissue was compared with that of cartilage tissue which was not exposed to cycling. Fluid transport did not affect the rate of transport of small solutes, such as urea and sodium iodide. Most major nutrients, such as glucose and oxygen, are small solutes and should not be affected by pumping. However, cyclic loading did alter the transport of large solutes, like the blood protein serum albumin, causing a 30 to 100 percent increase in the rate of desorption in human cartilage. These findings suggest that the lack of movement may result in insufficient nutrition of joint cartilage. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Analysis, Physiological aspects, Nutrition, Biological transport

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Increased Bcl-2/p53 in human osteoarthritic cartilage: a possible role in regulation of chondrocyte metabolism

Article Abstract:

The results of the study on the role of osteoarthritic cartilage samples in regulating chondrocyte metabolism are examined.

Italy, Diagnosis, Osteoarthritis

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