Search

Osteoarthritis (OA) is represented by the accumulation and adhesion of M1 macrophages into synovium tissues in the joint microenvironment and subsequent inflammatory response. Cordycerebroside A, a cerebroside compound isolated from Cordyceps militaris, exhibits anti-inflammatory activity, but has not yet been examined in M1 macrophages during OA disease. Our results indicate higher expression of M1 macrophage markers in synovium tissue from OA patients compared with normal healthy controls. Records from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data set and our clinic samples revealed higher levels of ICAM-1 (a critical adhesion molecule during OA disease) and CD86 (a M1 macrophage marker) in OA synovial tissue than in healthy tissue. The same effects were found in rats with OA induced by anterior cruciate ligament transaction (ACLT). We also found that cordycerebroside A inhibited ICAM-1 synthesis and antagonized M1 macrophage adhesion to OA synovial fibroblasts by inhibiting the ERK/AP-1 pathway. Thus, cordycerebroside A displayed novel anti-arthritic effects. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Here we report a higher level of M1 macrophage markers and ICAM-1 in synovium tissue from OA patients compared with normal healthy controls by using GEO data set and our clinic samples. The same effects were revealed in rats with OA induced by ACLT. Cordycerebroside A significantly suppressed ICAM-1 production and diminished M1 macrophage adhesion to OA synovial fibroblasts. Therefore, cordycerebroside A exhibited novel anti-OA functions.

Helminthostachys zeylanica (HZ), which is also called "Dao-Di-U-Gon" in Taiwan, has anti-inflammatory and antiedema effects and is commonly used to treat edema in patients with fractures. The ugonin K component of HZ can induce osteogenesis and promote bone mineralization, its therapeutic effect, however, its therapeutic effect remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of HZ on functional recovery in patients with ankle fractures requiring surgical treatment.A double-blinded, randomized, controlled study was conducted. A total of 45 patients with ankle fractures requiring surgical treatment were assigned to either the control group (n = 23 patients), which received the oral administration of HZ placebo 1.0 g t.i.d. for 42 days continuously, or to the treatment group (22 patients), which received HZ for 42 days.The serum amino-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (PINP) levels were similar in the first assessment (V1) between the control (45.90 ± 16.31 ng/mL) and treatment groups (52.61 ± 21.02 ng/mL; p = 0.240); the differences in PINP level between the third assessment (V3) and V1 were greater in the treatment group (35.84 ± 24.56 ng/mL) than in the control group (16.34 ± 11.97 ng/mL; p = 0.002). Radiographic healing time (RHT) was 9.09 ± 1.15 weeks in the treatment group, which was shorter than the 9.91 ± 0.79 weeks (p = 0.012) in the control group.Oral administration of HZ for 42 days can increase serum PINP level and reduce the RHT. Therefore, HZ can be used to treat patients with ankle fractures requiring surgical treatment. However, a larger sample size is needed in future studies.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by the infiltration of a number of proinflammatory cytokines into the joint microenvironment. Betulin is a natural analogue of betulinic acid, a lupane-type pentacyclic triterpene that displays many important biological activities, including anti-inflammatory activity, although the effects on inflammatory cytokine production in OA are unknown. Analyses of samples from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset and our own clinical samples revealed higher levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) in OA synovial tissue compared with normal healthy tissue. This was also the case in synovial tissue from normal healthy rats and rats subjected to anterior cruciate ligament transaction (ACLT)-induced OA. High-throughput screening of inflammatory cytokines in betulin-treated OA synovial fibroblasts (OASFs) identified TNF-α and IL-1β as potential targets of betulin. Further analyses found that betulin suppresses TNF-α and IL-1β production in OASFs by inhibiting mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling cascades. Betulin shows promise for the treatment of OA.

Isolated intraosseous gouty invasion is a rare presentation of gout. Although most patients will have a history of gouty arthritis or hyperuricemia, others will have an insidious onset of local pain, tenderness without significant swelling, or inflammation. Surgical debridement is the mainstay of treatment for intraosseous tophus formation.

Lipoma may occasionally be found within the muscle, which is the intramuscular, infiltrating lipoma. Intramuscular, infiltrating lipoma is an uncommon lesion, and local recurrence can be expected if the surgical margin is not clear. We report 8 patients in a 2-year period diagnosed with intramuscular, infiltrating lipoma who were treated by marginal excision combined with wide excision in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital. The surgical results were satisfactory, and no local recurrence was noted in an average follow-up period of 40 months. Surgical excision is the best way to treat the symptomatic intramuscular, infiltrating lipoma. Careful preoperative evaluation and complete tumor excision with clear margins are most important to ensure successful surgical results.