The use of synovial fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells (SFMSCs) obtained from patients with degenerative arthropathy may serve as an alternative therapeutic strategy in osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). For treatment of OA and RA patients, autologous transplantation of differentiated MSCs has several beneficial effects for cartilage regeneration including immunomodulatory activity. In this study, we induced chondrogenic differentiation of SFMSCs by inhibiting protein kinase A (PKA) with a small molecule and microRNA (miRNA). Chondrogenic differentiation was confirmed by PCR and immunocytochemistry using probes specific for aggrecan, the major cartilaginous proteoglycan gene. Absorbance of alcian blue stain to detect chondrogenic differentiation was increased in H-89 and/or miRNA-23btransfected cells. Furthermore, expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and MMP-2 was decreased in treated cells. Therefore, differentiation of SFMSCs into chondrocytes through inhibition of PKA signaling may be a therapeutic option for OA or RA patients.

Dental infections and maxillary sinusitis are the main causes of osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis can occur in all age groups, and is more frequently found in the lower jaw than in the upper jaw. Systemic conditions that can alter the patient's resistance to infection including diabetes mellitus, anemia, and autoimmune disorders are predisposing factors for osteomyelitis. We report a case of uncommon broad maxillary osteonecrosis precipitated by uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic maxillary sinusitis in a female patient in her seventies with no history of bisphosphonate or radiation treatment.

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Purpose The study examines the correlation between internal carotid artery(ICA) stenosis and retinal parameters in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR). The objective is to determine potential links between the degree of ICA stenosis and various retinal parameters, providing insight into associated risk factors. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of 68 patients (136 eyes) diagnosed with bilateral proliferative diabetic retinopathy between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2021. We assessed the presence and severity of carotid artery stenosis using neck CTA and CDUS, and classified the degree of ICA stenosis into a four-grade system based on the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial(NASCET) criteria by CTA and a grayscale panel determined by CDUS. To simplify the analysis, we categorized the degree of stenosis into two groups: group 1 corresponds to stenosis at the normal level, while group 2 includes stenosis at or above the mild level. We then performed OCT and OCTA to examine SFCT, RNFL thickness, GCIPL thickness, VD, and FAZ area in each group. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the correlation between the degree of carotid artery stenosis and various retinal parameters. Specifically, we compared the retinal parameters between group 1 and group 2 using appropriate statistical tests. The p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The mean age of this study patients were 62.55 years. Among them, significant differences were observed between group 1 and 2 in terms of total VD (13.73 ± 3.21, 11.53 ± 3.37, respectively; p = 0.003), FAZ area (0.53 ± 0.62, 0.56 ± 0.84, respectively; p = 0.002), total RNFL thickness (97.87 ± 5.542, 95.04 ± 4.10, respectively; p = 0.013) and temporal RNFL thickness (82.46 ± 27.74, 71.75 ± 20.18, respectively; p = 0.019). RNFL thickness showed statistically significant thinning in group 2 with severe degree of ICA stenosis, decreasing to 71.75 ± 20.19 µm (p = 0.019). Apart from age, there were notable distinctions observed in hyperlipidemia and total cholesterol levels, as well as in IOP measurements. Specifically, the IOP values exhibited significant variations (61.5 ± 10.58 vs. 66.7 ± 7.52, p = 0.003), (15.20% vs. 50%, p = 0.002), (224.97 ± 151.64 vs. 164.41 ± 115.62, p = 0.019), (15.78 ± 7.08 vs. 14.2 ± 2.62, p = 0.042). In contrast, no significant differences were found between group 1 and group 2 in terms of SFCT, central VD, average GCIPL and thickness of the superior, nasal, and inferior RNFL. Conclusions The study findings highlight retinal changes, such as an increased FAZ area, decreased total VD, and a total and thinner temporal RNFL, which suggest the need for carotid artery evaluation in patients. These findings have important clinical implications for the need for carotid work up in pateints with PDR.

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