Hyaluronic acid as a treatment for ankle osteoarthritis

Viscosupplementation refers to the concept of synovial fluid replacement with intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) for the relief of pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA). Intra-articular viscosupplementation was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1997. It is currently indicated only for the treatment of pain associated with knee OA. However, OA can occur in several of the weight-bearing joints of the foot and ankle. Ankle OA produces chronic disability that directly impacts the quality of life. There is only limited published literature relating to the use of HA in the ankle. This paper will review the authors’ experience, indications, clinical outcomes, and complications of viscosupplementation therapy in patients with ankle OA

Comparison of intra-articular injections of Hyaluronic Acid and Corticosteroid in the treatment of Osteoarthritis of the hip in comparison with intra-articular injections of Bupivacaine. Design of a prospective, randomized, controlled study with blinding of the patients and outcome assessors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although intra-articular hyaluronic acid is well established as a treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee, its use in hip osteoarthritis is not based on large randomized controlled trials. There is a need for more rigorously designed studies on hip osteoarthritis treatment as this subject is still very much under debate.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>Randomized, controlled trial with a three-armed, parallel-group design. Approximately 315 patients complying with the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be randomized into one of the following treatment groups: infiltration of the hip joint with hyaluronic acid, with a corticosteroid or with 0.125% bupivacaine.</p> <p>The following outcome measure instruments will be assessed at baseline, i.e. before the intra-articular injection of one of the study products, and then again at six weeks, 3 and 6 months after the initial injection: Pain (100 mm VAS), Harris Hip Score and HOOS, patient assessment of their clinical status (worse, stable or better then at the time of enrollment) and intake of pain rescue medication (number per week). In addition patients will be asked if they have complications/adverse events. The six-month follow-up period for all patients will begin on the date the first injection is administered.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This randomized, controlled, three-arm study will hopefully provide robust information on two of the intra-articular treatments used in hip osteoarthritis, in comparison to bupivacaine.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>NCT01079455</p

The importance of disease associations and concomitant therapy for the long-term management of psoriasis patients

It is well established that several inflammatory-type conditions, such as arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and irritable bowel disease exist comorbidly and at an increased incidence in patients with psoriasis. Psoriasis and other associated diseases are thought to share common inflammatory pathways. Conditions such as these, with similar pathogenic mechanisms involving cytokine dysregulation, are referred to as immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). Considerable evidence for the genetic basis of cormobidities in psoriasis exists. The WHO has reported that the occurrence of chronic diseases, including IMIDs, are a rising global burden. In addition, conditions linked with psoriasis have been associated with increasing rates of considerable morbidity and mortality. The presence of comorbid conditions in psoriasis patients has important implications for clinical management. QoL, direct health care expenditures and pharmacokinetics of concomitant therapies are impacted by the presence of comorbid conditions. For example, methotrexate is contraindicated in hepatic impairment, while patients on ciclosporin should be monitored for kidney function. In addition, some agents, such as beta blockers, lithium, synthetic antimalarial drugs, NSAIDs and tetracycline antibiotics, have been implicated in the initiation or exacerbation of psoriasis. Consequently, collaboration between physicians in different specialties is essential to ensuring that psoriasis treatment benefits the patient without exacerbating associated conditions

CLINICAL RHEUMATOLOGY

Observational studies suggest that statin use may be associated with lower incidence of fracture. However, there are conflicting data for their effects on bone remodeling parameters and bone mineral density (BMD). In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of simvastatin on bone metabolism and BMD in subjects with hypercholesterolemia (> 240 mg/dl). For this purpose, 32 postmenopausal osteopenic subjects who were given simvastatin treatment (20 mg/day) and not on osteoporosis treatment were included in the study. During the 1-year follow-up period, the total cholesterol level decreased from 262.1 +/- 30.9 to 202.2 +/- 30.1 mg/dl (p < 0.0001). At a period as early as the 3rd month, levels of the anabolic markers, e.g., bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) and osteocalcin (OCL), were found to be significantly increased (from 120.8 +/- 56.6 to 149.5 +/- 57.6 IU/l, p = 0.008, and from 20.8 +/- 12.6 to 34.7 +/- 118.4 mu g/l, p = 0.015, respectively) while no significant change was observed in the resorptive marker of serum N-telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX). At the 6th and 12th month, BSAP and OCL were both found to be decreased below the pretreatment values. While a significant reduction was found in BSAP levels (from 120.8 +/- 56.6 to 55.9 +/- 18.8 IU/l, p < 0.001), no significant change was observed in CTX levels after the 6-month treatment period. Parathyroid hormone showed a gradual profound increase during the follow-up period (from 62.7 +/- 41.5 to 108.4 +/- 51.7 pg/ml, p < 0.001). No significant change was found in BMD levels at the spine, femoral neck, Ward's triangle, and trochanter at the end of the 1-year follow-up period. In conclusion, simvastatin treatment showed a short-lasting anabolic effect on bone metabolism. However, this effect was lost by prolongation of therapy. The decrease in both anabolic and resorptive markers at the 6th and 12th month suggests that simvastatin affects bone metabolism mostly in favor of inhibition of the bone turnover in a long-term observation period although this inhibitory effect was not reflected in BMD

TURKIYE FIZIKSEL TIP VE REHABILITASYON DERGISI-TURKISH JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION

Objective: To evaluate the effect of low-level laser treatment (LLLT) and pulsed ultrasound (US) treatment in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and to compare the effects of both treatment modalities. Materials and Methods: 60 patients diagnosed with CTS were randomly divided into four groups as US group (group 1), placebo US group (group 2), LLLT group (group 3) and plasebo LLLT group (group 4). Both treatments were applied five days a week for three weeks. Clinical and electrophysiological assessments were performed before and 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment. Pain, hypoesthesia and handgrip strength were evaluated. The Boston Questionnaire was used to assess the severity of symptoms and functional status. Results: 52 patients with 101 hands completed the study. Demographic and electrophysiological parameters were similar in the four groups. Both pulsed US treatment and LLLT were found to provide significant improvements in clinical parameters such as pain, sensory loss, symptom severity score and functional capacity score (p0.05). In terms of clinical efficacy, pulsed US was found to be superior to LLLT (p<0.05). Conclusion: The two treatment modalities showed significant improvements in subjective clinical symptoms while no significant changes were observed in any electrophysiological parameters

JOURNAL OF UROLOGY

Purpose: We investigated sexual function in females with fibromyalgia (FM) and evaluate whether coexistent major depression (MD) has an additional negative effect on sexual function. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 female subjects were enrolled in the study, including 40 with FM only, 27 with FM plus MD and 33 healthy volunteers as a control group. The diagnosis of MD was made according to Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV interview and the Hamilton Depression Rate Scale was used to grade depression. Widespread pain and quality of life were assessed with the Lattinen Pain Scale and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, respectively. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was used to assess sexual dysfunction. Results: All subjects were comparable in age, occupation and education. Mean FSFI total score +/- SD was significantly decreased in the FM and FM plus MD groups compared with that in healthy controls (21.83 +/- 5.84 and 22.43 +/- 7.0 vs 28.10 +/- 6.52, respectively, p = 0.001). However, the FSFI score was not significantly different between patients with FM only and FM plus MD (p > 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed a negative moderate correlation between total Lattinen pain score and FSFI score in the FM only and FM plus MD groups (r = -0.366, p = 0.047 and r = -0.403, p = 0.018, respectively). FSFI score did not correlate with FIQ and HDRS scores (p > 0.05). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that female patients with FM have distinct sexual dysfunction compared with healthy controls and coexistent MD has no additional negative effect on sexual function. Thus, female subjects with FM should be evaluated in terms of sexual function to provide better quality of life

TURKIYE KLINIKLERI TIP BILIMLERI DERGISI

Objective: To investigate and compare the effects of pulse ultrasound (US) and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on wound healing. Material and Methods: Thirty-two rats were included in the study and two full-thickness skin wounds were made on dorsum area of the rats bilaterally, with a 17 mm hole-punch. The animals were divided into two groups. Pulsed US (with a power of 0.1 W/cm(2), a frequency of 1 MHz, 5 minutes daily) was applied to to the right sided wounds of Group A (n=16) and Ga-As laser (830 nm wavelength, 0.5 J/cm(2) dosage of 1 MHz frequency for 1 minute duration) was applied to right sided wounds of Group B (n=16). Left sided wound were considered as controls and same procedures were applied without any current (sham). Biochemical and histopathological evaluations were performed in each group on 7(th) and 15(th) days. Results: Inflammatory cells tended to decrease in both treatment groups on the 7(th) day, however, this finding did not reach a statistical significance (p>0.05). Fibroblasts and collagen were found to be significantly increased in the laser group when compared to the other group on the 7(th) day (p<0.05). Angiogenesis was found to be significantly increased only in the laser group when compared to the other group on the 15(th) day (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in tissue nitric oxide values between the groups although the values in the laser group tended to be higher on the 15th day (p=0.058) Conclusion: In this comparative study. LLLT was found to significantly accelerate mainly proliferative phase while pulse US had no effect on wound healing. Our results support the consideration that LLLT may constitute a beneficial treatment modality for wound healing

TURKISH JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY-TURK BIYOKIMYA DERGISI

Objectives: To evaluate whether gamma-glutamyl transferase can be used as a new novel bone resorption marker in postmenopusal osteoporotic subjects. Design and methods: 156 postmenopausal subjects were divided into three groups according to their lumbar spine T-score measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry as normal, (control group, n=56), osteopenic (n=50) and osteoporotic (n=50). Deoxypyridinoline and gamma-glutamyl transferase from urine samples and osteocalcin and bone specific alkaline phosphates from blood samples were assessed. Results: Osteocalcin and bone specific alkaline phosphates levels were increased in osteoporotic group (p0.05). No significant correlation was found between urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase and deoxypyridinoline, bone specific alkaline phosphates and osteocalcin (p>0.05). Urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase levels showed no significant correlation with neither bone mineral density nor T scores in all subjects (r=0.058 p=0.625, r=-0.074 p=0.533 respectively). Conclusions: Our primary findings did not support the suggestion that urinary g-glutamyl transferase could be used as a potential marker for bone resorption in postmenopusal osteoporotic subjects

JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL METABOLISM

In this prospective study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of simvastatin on bone metabolism and the correlation between changes in bone turnover parameters and serum cytokine levels. For this purpose, 38 postmenopausal subjects with hypercholesterolemia (>240 mg/dl), not on osteoporosis treatment, were studied. Simvastatin was started at a dose of 20 mg daily and continued for 3 months. Six patients were excluded from the study during the follow-up period. Pre- and post-treatment samples were analyzed for bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and osteocalcin (OCL), as markers of bone formation; for carboxyterminal telopeptide of collagen I (CTX), as a marker of bone resorption; and for interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) cytokine levels. Total cholesterol level was decreased from 262.1 +/- 30.9 to 210.2 +/- 35.6 mg/dl after simvastatin treatment (P < 0.0001). While no significant change was observed in serum CTX level, BAP and OCL levels were significantly increased (from 120.8 +/- 56.6 to 149.5 +/- 57.6 IU/l [P = 0.008], and from 20.8 +/- 12.6 to 34.7 +/- 18.4 mug/l [P = 0.015], respectively). In the analysis of cytokines, while no significant change was observed in IL-6 levels, the TNF-alpha level was found to be significantly decreased after simvastatin treatment (from 77.9 +/- 31.6 pg/ml to 23.5 +/- 12.6 pg/ml [P = 0.021]). Individual changes in TNF-alpha levels showed a moderate negative correlation with the individual changes in BAP and OCL levels (r = -0.550 [P = 0.001], and r = -0.497 [P = 0.004], respectively). In conclusion; 20-mg daily simvastatin treatment for 3 months significantly increased BAP and OCL levels (markers of bone formation) in hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal subjects, without affecting bone resorption. These findings support the idea that simvastatin has an anabolic effect on bone formation. Additionally, the presence of a negative correlation between TNF-alpha levels and the anabolic bone parameters suggests that a cytokine-lowering effect of simvastatin may also be involved in the remodeling process and could exert some additive beneficial effect on bone metabolism