Volumetric Wear Analysis of Meniscus Degeneration

Meniscus degeneration is highly prevalent with over 56% of individuals above the age of 70 years impacted [1]. This degeneration is a pathological breakdown or wearing of meniscal fibrous tissue which can result in knee pain and lead to osteoarthritis [2,3]. In order to develop effective treatments and preventative strategies for meniscus degeneration, researchers need an accurate method to quantify meniscal wear, yet, no method currently exists. The objective of this research was to develop and validate a process for characterizing meniscus volumetric wear using a surrogate model of known dimensions. The surrogate model was scanned via a 3D optical scanner to generate a volumetric rendering of the model before and after wear occurred. An open-source software, CloudCompare, was then used to computationally evaluate volume loss of the surrogate model. The process was repeated at varying wear depths, and the percentage error between real-life measured volumes and CloudCompare calculated volumes was determined to be \u3c2% when measuring 1086 mm3 of wear. This study has developed and validated a novel methodology that can be used to help identify the physical and biochemical factors that lead to meniscus degeneration and thereby help advance treatment and prevention strategies of this prevalent disease. References [1] Englund, M. et. al. Incidental Meniscal Findings on Knee MRI in Middle-Aged and Elderly Persons, N Engl J Med. 359 (2008) 1108-1115. [2] Fischenich, Kristine M. et. al. Effects of degeneration on the compressive and tensile properties of human meniscus, Journal of Biomechanics. 48 (2015) 1407-1411. [3] Howell R, Kumar NS, Patel N, Tom J. Degenerative meniscus: Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment options. World J Orthop. 5 (2015) 597-602

Design and rationale of a pilot randomized clinical trial investigating the use of a mHealth app for sarcoidosis-associated fatigue

Fatigue is the most reported symptom in patients with sarcoidosis (SPs) and is a significant predictor of decreased quality of life that is strongly associated with stress and negative mood states. Few medications exist for treating fatigue in SPs, and outpatient physical rehabilitation programs are limited by availability and cost. Sarcoidosis in the US predominantly impacts minorities and underserved populations who are of working age and often have limited resources (e.g., financial, transportation, time off work) that may prevent them from attending in-person programs. The use of mobile health (mHealth) is emerging as a viable alternative to provide access to self-management resources to improve quality of life. The Sarcoidosis Patient Assessment and Resource Companion (SPARC) App is a sarcoidosis-specific mHealth App intended to improve fatigue and stress in SPs. It prompts SPs to conduct breathing awareness meditation (BAM) and contains educational modules aimed at improving self-efficacy.Herein we describe the design and methods of a 3-month randomized control trial comparing use of the SPARC App (10-min BAM twice daily) to standard care in 50 SPs with significant fatigue (FAS ≥22). A Fitbit® watch will provide immediate heartrate feedback after BAM sessions to objectively monitor adherence. The primary outcomes are feasibility and usability of the SPARC App (collected monthly). Secondary endpoints include preliminary efficacy at improving fatigue, stress, and quality of life. We expect the SPARC App to be a useable and feasible intervention that has potential to overcome barriers of more traditional in-person programs