The purpose of this study was to investigate the site-specific expression pattern and the role of chondrocyte clusters in human OA knee. Cartilage explants were obtained from 45 varus knees of medial and lateral femoral condyle undergoing total knee replacement surgery. Cartilage degeneration, number of chondrocytes, and the cell arrangement were evaluated by live/dead assay and immunohistochemical analyses with antibodies of STRO-1, FGF2, and Ki-67. Chondrocytes from medial and lateral femoral condyle were cultured to compare the potential of cell proliferation and production of cartilaginous nodules. Finally, cartilage tissue from medial femoral condyle, which included cartilage cleft with chondrocyte clusters, was observed the histological alternation. As the results, chondrocyte density adjacent to severe cartilage degeneration was highest, whereas chondrocytes in lateral femoral condyle displayed low density with single type of cells. Over 80% of these chondrocyte clusters were survived, expressing STRO-1, FGF2, and Ki-67. Furthermore, chondrocyte clusters proliferated faster and produced more cartilaginous nodules than single type of chondrocytes. Cartilage clefts involving numerous chondrocyte clusters were filled with extracellular matrix during organ culture. In conclusion, chondrocyte clusters adjacent to severe cartilage degeneration have shown completely specific characteristics with progenitor and proliferative potential. Regulating chondrocyte clusters may offer new approaches to cartilage repair and OA therapy in the future.

This new method for meniscal repair by combinative transplantation with type I collagen scaffold and infrapatellar fat pad showed meniscal regeneration and potential for suppressing inflammation.

ObjectivesIn the present study, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and suitability of the ‘Tibial Nerve Compression Test (TNCT)’ as a screening tool for lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSS).MethodsA total of 108 consecutive patients admitted to our hospital for surgical treatment or diagnosis of LSS were included in this study. Fifty healthy volunteers were examined as a control group. The severity of tenderness was scored (tenderness score) and measured on a visual analogue scale (P-VAS score). These scores were compared between the LSS and control groups. Moreover, they were compared before and after the operation among operated patients.ResultsThe positive tenderness rate was significantly higher (92.6% [100/108]) in the LSS group than in the control group (30% [15/50]). The sensitivity and specificity of TNCT (95% confidence interval) were 0.93 (0.88–0.96) and 0.70 (0.61–0.77), respectively. Positive tenderness rates and P-VAS scores were significantly higher in the LSS group (p < 0.0001). Scores on all measures significantly improved post-operatively in operated patients (p < 0.0001).ConclusionThe Tibial Nerve Compression Test is a useful screening tool for LSS diagnosis in a primary care setting.Level of evidenceLevel II, diagnostic study

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you sexually active?; If no, please indicate which option best describes the reason -pain, restricted movement, decreased libido, NA or other; If yes, does your joint problem affect your sexual health -not at all, mildly, moderately, severely, extremely; If yes, please indicate which option best describes the reason that it is affected -joint pain, restricted movement, decreased libido, NA or other. The prevalence of patients whose problematic knee/hip impeded their sexual health was reported and the reason for the discomfort was provided. The two groups are compared using the two tail t-test for normal distributed data, Mann-Whitney test for nonnormal data and the chi square test for categorical data. Each group's responses to the sexual activity questions was also described and stratified by current marriage status (civil state). Results: The TKR and THR groups had similar median (IQR) ages of 70.1 (60.5, 75.8) years and 68.2 (60.8, 75.67) years and body mass index (BMI) 29.3 (26.4, 33.9) and 28.8 (25.6, 31.5). THR's had a slightly higher proportion of females (63.4%) than the TKR group (59.6%). Both groups had similar proportions married, 63.3% for THR and 64.4% for TKR. However the proportion of patients sexually inactive in each group was significantly different, 55.0% for TKR and 69.2% for THR, p¼0.043. Of the TKR patients 3 (4.4%) reported that this was due to limited range of motion but none due to pain. In THR patients the figures were 8 (16.3%) and 5 (10.2%) respectively. In those who were sexually active, only 20.7% of TKR and 16.7% of THR reported that the arthritis did not affect their sexual function and 12% and 29.6% reported severe or extreme restriction (fig. 1).ĂFigure 1 The affect of problematic joints in sexual health Conclusion: Sexual activity is limited in patients with hip and knee arthritis awaiting joint replacement surgery. Patients with hip arthritis were less sexually active and reported more restriction in activity due to their arthritis than knee patients. This subject is deserving of more research and education for patients.