About 27 million Americans suffer from arthritis, and more than three million of those cases result from a joint injury, often in the knee, that provokes slow and steady cartilage deterioration.

A new study from MIT suggests that a steroid drug currently used to treat inflammatory diseases could also prevent osteoarthritis from ever developing in those people, if given soon after the injury.

“In essence, it’s repurposing an existing drug,” says Alan Grodzinsky, senior author of the study, a professor of biological, mechanical and electrical engineering, and the director of MIT’s Center for Biomedical Engineering.

Grodzinsky and his colleagues report their findings in the Sept. 2 issue of the journal Arthritis Research and Therapy. Other authors of the paper are Yihong Lu, a recent MIT biological engineering PhD recipient, and Christopher Evans, the Maurice Edmond Mueller Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School.

Severe joint injuries are more common in younger people, who are likelier to participate in sports such as basketball or skiing in which they are at a higher risk of tearing ligaments such as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Military service and car accidents are also common sources of joint injuries in young people.

In most cases, the patient is treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling. Weeks or months later, they might have surgery to stabilize the joint.

In about 50 percent of those cases, the patient’s cartilage steadily breaks down after the injury, eventually leading to arthritis, says Martin Lotz, professor of molecular and experimental medicine at the Scripps Research Institute, who was not involved in this study. Currently there is no way to prevent this cartilage degradation.

“There’s an opportunity here,” Lotz says of the MIT strategy of immediate intervention. “If you go in during this time, you would not only improve joint pain and swelling, you could actually reduce the risk of arthritis developing.”

In the new study, the MIT researchers tested the effects of glucocorticoids — steroids that can help reduce swelling and pain in arthritic joints. Doctors have been prescribing such drugs to treat chronic rheumatoid arthritis in the elderly for decades.

The researchers experimented on human and bovine cartilage tissue. First they damaged the tissue, then flooded it with inflammatory proteins called cytokines, which are typically released after a joint injury. Cytokines hasten cartilage breakdown.

In damaged tissue treated immediately with the glucocorticoid dexamethasone, cartilage breakdown was halted. The drug also worked when given a day or two after the injury, which is important because people who suffer joint injuries might not get to see a doctor right away, Grodzinsky says.

The researchers don’t yet know if dexamethasone could reverse cartilage damage that has already occurred, but plan to test that in future studies. They are also planning animal studies to determine how many joint treatments are necessary to maintain the protective effect. If those animal studies yield positive results, the findings could be rapidly translated to human treatments, Grodzinsky says, because the drug is already approved for human use.

The research team also investigated how dexamethasone exerts its protective effects. Though the process is not yet fully understood, they found some evidence that it blocks the degradation of aggrecan, a protein-carbohydrate complex that is a major structural and biomechanically functional component of cartilage. Appropriate drug delivery localized to joint cartilage is also under study.
This story is republished courtesy of MIT News (http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching.

Provided by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (news : web)


Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting roughly 10% of Canadians. This degradation of the joints is painful and crippling, especially when it affects the knee. Although there are viable OA treatment options, they are short-lived and can have serious side-effects. According to Lawson Health Research Institute's Dr. Robert Petrella, principal investigator in the COR1.0 study, the next generation of OA treatment has arrived.

When patients have OA in the knee, the fluid in their joint breaks down, causing pain and preventing natural shock absorption. To treat this condition, gel-like substances called "viscosupplements" are injected into the knee. This acts as a supplement for the fluid loss and provides temporary pain relief. In the COR1.0 study, Dr. Petrella and his colleagues compared Synvisc-One, the leading market viscosupplement for OA in the knee, to Hydros-TA Joint Therapy. Hydros-TA is a unique dual-action treatment combining steroids within a viscosupplement. It is believed to provide faster acting, longer lasting pain relief than either treatment alone.

To compare and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of both treatments, Dr. Petrella and his team conducted a double-blinded, multi-center clinical trial. Across eight sites in Canada, Belgium, and The Netherlands, a total of 98 patients were given a single injection and then monitored for six months. Results show trends suggesting Hydros-TA provides superior pain relief and improved function, causes fewer adverse events, and has a higher overall response rate. For patients, this could mean greater, more consistent pain relief with faster onset.

"Patients are really searching for better options for osteoarthritis therapy," Dr. Petrella explains. "Hydros-TA takes effect very quickly and lasts longer than other available therapies, allowing patients to achieve and sustain a higher quality of life."

Dr. Petrella and Carbylan BioSurgery Inc., the makers of Hydros-TA, are planning a larger multi-center trial to take place in the United States next year.

Dr. Petrella is the Assistant Director for Aging, Rehabilitation, and Geriatric Care (ARGC) at Lawson Health Research Institute, the Beryl and Richard Ivey Research Chair in ARGC at The University of Western Ontario, and a physician at St. Joseph's Health Care London. He is also the Medical Director of the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, and currently holds a CIHR Chair in "Healthy Lifestyles: Healthy Aging." Dr. Petrella is also a Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, Medicine (Division of Cardiology), and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and the School of Kinesiology at The University of Western Ontario.

Lawson Health Research Institute. As the research institute of London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph's Health Care, London, and working in partnership with The University of Western Ontario, Lawson Health Research Institute is committed to furthering scientific knowledge to advance health care around the world. www.lawsonresearch.com

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It's of a swamp house on a bayou and has a Louisiana feel to it. Maybe it's because I spent a lot of time with my grandmother and her house was full of them. If she could kick the ball they way she liked to kick me in the knee, I'd see to it she played for my team every time. I have a friend who collects these and I found one that depicts leopards and gave it to her for her birthday. It's called First Trolley to Van Nuys and shows the center of a town filled with people. It's too bad my parents didn't let her play football with us. I personally don't have any of these in my collection, since I like to collect pieces that I can relate to. It's called Alligator Fisher and I'm thinking about getting because it reminds me of my cajun heritage, most of my family is from Louisiana.. I don't know whose smile is bigger, the one in the painting or the one on my face every time I look at it. I'll find someone to give it to.One of the most famous American artists is Thomas Chambers. It was painted in 1988 by Reverend Howard Finster and is done in vibrant colors and also depicts the buildings in the market like an ice cream parlor and the Hotel Van Nuys. One of my favorites that she had was done by John Roeder.There is a water scene that I really like painted in 1940.There is a subcategory of folk art paintings that depict the world of black Americans. Still, they are a joy to behold.The painting that has touched me the most features a sad little girl and is called A Letter From My Mother. I don't.....

This story is republished courtesy of MIT News (http://web. “There’s an opportunity here,” Lotz says of the MIT strategy of immediate intervention. The researchers experimented on human and bovine cartilage tissue." Dr. Appropriate drug delivery localized to joint cartilage is also under study.Dr. Cytokines hasten cartilage breakdown. Although there are viable OA treatment options, they are short-lived and can have serious side-effects. If those animal studies yield positive results, the findings could be rapidly translated to human treatments, Grodzinsky says, because the drug is already approved for human use. Petrella and his team conducted a double-blinded, multi-center clinical trial. About 27 million Americans suffer from arthritis, and more than three million of those cases result from a joint injury, often in the knee, that provokes slow and steady cartilage deterioration. First they damaged the tissue, then flooded it with inflammatory proteins called cytokines, which are typically released after a joint injury. Joseph's Health Care London. www. Petrella is the Assistant Director for Aging, Rehabilitation, and Geriatric Care (ARGC) at Lawson Health Research Institute, the Beryl and Richard Ivey Research Chair in ARGC at The University of Western Ontario. Grodzinsky and his colleagues report their findings in the Sept.edu/newsoffice/), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching.0 study, the next generation of OA treatment has arrived. Currently there is no way to prevent this cartilage degradation. Across eight sites in Canada, Belgium, and The Netherlands, a total of 98 patients were given a single injection and then monitored for six months.” In the new study, the MIT researchers tested the effects of glucocorticoids — steroids that can help reduce swelling and pain in arthritic joints. It is believed to provide faster acting, longer lasting pain relief than either treatment alone., the makers of Hydros-TA, It was painted in 1988 by Reverend Howard Finster and is done in enamel. I have a friend who collects these and I found one of a woman reclining in a hammock. It's a beautiful painting but it's just too depressing to hang anywhere. Still, they are a joy to behold.My sister also shares my love for folk art. I spent a lot of time playing in my tree house, that the trees in the picture appealed to me so much. Now we're very close.I have loved folk art paintings since I was a child. When she died, she left me the painting and it hangs in a place of honor over my fireplace mantle. One of my favorites that she had was done by John Roeder. I personally don't have any of these in my collection, since I like to collect pieces that I can relate to.One of the most famous American artists is Thomas Chambers. She looked so relaxed, that I could imagine what it felt like to lie there myself. It is done in vibrant colors and also depicts the buildings in the market like an ice cream parlor and the Hotel Van Nuys..There is a subcategory of folk art paintings that depict the world of black Americans. It's of a swamp house on a bayou and has a Louisiana feel to it.The painting that has touched me the most features a sad little girl and is called A Letter From My Mother. If she could kick the ball they way she liked to kick me in the knee, I'd see to it she played for my team every time.There is a water scene that I really like painted in 1940. I don't know whose smile is bigger, the one in the painting or the

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About 27 million Americans suffer from arthritis, and more than three million of those cases result from a joint injury, often in the knee, that provokes slow and steady cartilage deterioration.

A new study from MIT suggests that a steroid drug currently used to treat inflammatory diseases could also prevent osteoarthritis from ever developing in those people, if given soon after the injury.

“In essence, it’s repurposing an existing drug,” says Alan Grodzinsky, senior author of the study, a professor of biological, mechanical and electrical engineering, and the director of MIT’s Center for Biomedical Engineering.

Grodzinsky and his colleagues report their findings in the Sept. 2 issue of the journal Arthritis Research and Therapy. Other authors of the paper are Yihong Lu, a recent MIT biological engineering PhD recipient, and Christopher Evans, the Maurice Edmond Mueller Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School.

Severe joint injuries are more common in younger people, who are likelier to participate in sports such as basketball or skiing in which they are at a higher risk of tearing ligaments such as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Military service and car accidents are also common sources of joint injuries in young people.

In most cases, the patient is treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling. Weeks or months later, they might have surgery to stabilize the joint.

In about 50 percent of those cases, the patient’s cartilage steadily breaks down after the injury, eventually leading to arthritis, says Martin Lotz, professor of molecular and experimental medicine at the Scripps Research Institute, who was not involved in this study. Currently there is no way to prevent this cartilage degradation.

“There’s an opportunity here,” Lotz says of the MIT strategy of immediate intervention. “If you go in during this time, you would not only improve joint pain and swelling, you could actually reduce the risk of arthritis developing.”

In the new study, the MIT researchers tested the effects of glucocorticoids — steroids that can help reduce swelling and pain in arthritic joints. Doctors have been prescribing such drugs to treat chronic rheumatoid arthritis in the elderly for decades.

The researchers experimented on human and bovine cartilage tissue. First they damaged the tissue, then flooded it with inflammatory proteins called cytokines, which are typically released after a joint injury. Cytokines hasten cartilage breakdown.

In damaged tissue treated immediately with the glucocorticoid dexamethasone, cartilage breakdown was halted. The drug also worked when given a day or two after the injury, which is important because people who suffer joint injuries might not get to see a doctor right away, Grodzinsky says.

The researchers don’t yet know if dexamethasone could reverse cartilage damage that has already occurred, but plan to test that in future studies. They are also planning animal studies to determine how many joint treatments are necessary to maintain the protective effect. If those animal studies yield positive results, the findings could be rapidly translated to human treatments, Grodzinsky says, because the drug is already approved for human use.

The research team also investigated how dexamethasone exerts its protective effects. Though the process is not yet fully understood, they found some evidence that it blocks the degradation of aggrecan, a protein-carbohydrate complex that is a major structural and biomechanically functional component of cartilage. Appropriate drug delivery localized to joint cartilage is also under study.
This story is republished courtesy of MIT News (http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching.

Provided by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (news : web)


Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting roughly 10% of Canadians. This degradation of the joints is painful and crippling, especially when it affects the knee. Although there are viable OA treatment options, they are short-lived and can have serious side-effects. According to Lawson Health Research Institute's Dr. Robert Petrella, principal investigator in the COR1.0 study, the next generation of OA treatment has arrived.

When patients have OA in the knee, the fluid in their joint breaks down, causing pain and preventing natural shock absorption. To treat this condition, gel-like substances called "viscosupplements" are injected into the knee. This acts as a supplement for the fluid loss and provides temporary pain relief. In the COR1.0 study, Dr. Petrella and his colleagues compared Synvisc-One, the leading market viscosupplement for OA in the knee, to Hydros-TA Joint Therapy. Hydros-TA is a unique dual-action treatment combining steroids within a viscosupplement. It is believed to provide faster acting, longer lasting pain relief than either treatment alone.

To compare and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of both treatments, Dr. Petrella and his team conducted a double-blinded, multi-center clinical trial. Across eight sites in Canada, Belgium, and The Netherlands, a total of 98 patients were given a single injection and then monitored for six months. Results show trends suggesting Hydros-TA provides superior pain relief and improved function, causes fewer adverse events, and has a higher overall response rate. For patients, this could mean greater, more consistent pain relief with faster onset.

"Patients are really searching for better options for osteoarthritis therapy," Dr. Petrella explains. "Hydros-TA takes effect very quickly and lasts longer than other available therapies, allowing patients to achieve and sustain a higher quality of life."

Dr. Petrella and Carbylan BioSurgery Inc., the makers of Hydros-TA, are planning a larger multi-center trial to take place in the United States next year.

Dr. Petrella is the Assistant Director for Aging, Rehabilitation, and Geriatric Care (ARGC) at Lawson Health Research Institute, the Beryl and Richard Ivey Research Chair in ARGC at The University of Western Ontario, and a physician at St. Joseph's Health Care London. He is also the Medical Director of the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, and currently holds a CIHR Chair in "Healthy Lifestyles: Healthy Aging." Dr. Petrella is also a Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, Medicine (Division of Cardiology), and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and the School of Kinesiology at The University of Western Ontario.

Lawson Health Research Institute. As the research institute of London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph's Health Care, London, and working in partnership with The University of Western Ontario, Lawson Health Research Institute is committed to furthering scientific knowledge to advance health care around the world. www.lawsonresearch.com

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