This study aimed to explore the biological and clinical importance of dysregulated key genes in osteoarthritis (OA) patients at the cartilage level to find potential biomarkers and targets for diagnosing and treating OA. Six sets of gene expression profiles were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differential expression analysis, weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), and multiple machine-learning algorithms were used to screen crucial genes in osteoarthritic cartilage, and genome enrichment and functional annotation analyses were used to decipher the related categories of gene function. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis was performed to analyze immune cell infiltration. Correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship among the hub genes and immune cells, as well as markers related to articular cartilage degradation and bone mineralization.Aims
Methods
We attempted to characterise the biological quality
and regenerative potential of chondrocytes in osteochondritis dissecans
(OCD). Dissected fragments from ten patients with OCD of the knee
(mean age 27.8 years (16 to 49)) were harvested at arthroscopy.
A sample of cartilage from the intercondylar notch was taken from
the same joint and from the notch of ten patients with a traumatic
cartilage defect (mean age 31.6 years (19 to 52)). Chondrocytes
were extracted and subsequently cultured. Collagen types 1, 2, and
10 mRNA were quantified by polymerase chain reaction. Compared with
the notch chondrocytes, cells from the dissecate expressed similar
levels of collagen types 1 and 2 mRNA. The level of collagen type
10 message was 50 times lower after cell culture, indicating a loss
of hypertrophic cells or genes. The high viability, retained capacity
to differentiate and metabolic activity of the extracted cells suggests
preservation of the intrinsic repair capability of these dissecates.
Molecular analysis indicated a phenotypic modulation of the expanded
dissecate chondrocytes towards a normal phenotype. Our findings
suggest that cartilage taken from the dissecate can be reasonably
used as a cell source for chondrocyte implantation procedures.
Genu varum in the achondroplastic patient has a complex and multifactorial aetiology. There is little mention in the literature of the role of fibular overgrowth. Using the ratio of fibular to tibial length as a measurement of possible fibular overgrowth, we have related it to the development of genu varum. Full-length standing anteroposterior radiographs of 53 patients with achondroplasia were analysed. There were 30 skeletally-immature and 23 skeletally-mature patients. Regression analysis was performed in order to determine if there was a causal relationship between fibular overgrowth and the various indices of alignment of the lower limb. Analysis showed that the fibular to tibial length ratio had a significant correlation with the medial proximal tibial angle and the mechanical axial deviation in the skeletally-immature group. We conclude that there is a significant relationship between fibular overgrowth and the development of genu varum in the skeletally-immature achondroplastic patient.
