ORCID Profile
0000-0002-6181-9904
Current Organisations
Xi'an Jiaotong University
,
Umeå Universitet
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Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2007
DOI: 10.1016/J.ULTRASMEDBIO.2007.04.004
Abstract: In osteoporosis, changes in tissue composition and structure reduce bone strength and expose it to fractures. The current primary diagnostic technique, i.e., dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, measures areal bone mineral density (BMD) but provides no direct information on trabecular structure or organic composition. Although still poorly characterized, ultrasound techniques may bring about information on bone composition and structure. In this study, relationships of 2.25-MHz ultrasound speed, attenuation, reflection and backscattering with composition of human trabecular bone (n=26) were characterized experimentally, as well as by using numerical analyses. We also determined composition of the trabecular s le (fat and water content, bone volume fraction) and that of the calcified matrix (mineral, proteoglycan and collagen content of trabeculae). In experimental analyses, bone volume fraction and mineral content of the calcified matrix were the only determinants of BMD. Further, bone volume fraction served as the strongest determinant of ultrasound parameters (r=0.51-0.87). In numerical simulations, density and mechanical properties of the calcified matrix systematically affected ultrasound speed, attenuation, reflection and backscattering. However, partial correlation coefficients revealed only low associations(|r|<or=0.4) between the composition of calcified matrix and ultrasound parameters in experimental measurements. To conclude, the content and structure of calcified matrix, rather than its composition, affect more significantly acoustic properties of healthy trabecular bone.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.ULTRASMEDBIO.2010.02.015
Abstract: During the last decade, a major effort has been devoted to developing surgical methods for repairing localized articular cartilage lesions. Despite some promising results no ultimate breakthrough in surgical cartilage repair has been achieved. Improvements in repair techniques would benefit from more sensitive and quantitative methods for long-term follow-up of cartilage healing. In this study, the potential of a new ultrasound technique for detecting the compositional and structural changes in articular cartilage after surgery, using recombinant human type II collagen gel and spontaneous repair was, investigated. Rabbit knee joints containing intact (n = 13) and surgically (n = 8) or spontaneously (n = 5) repaired tissue were imaged in situ at 6 months after the operation using a clinical intravascular high-frequency (40 MHz) ultrasound device. Based on the ultrasound raw data, ultrasound reflection coefficient (R), integrated ultrasound reflection coefficient (IRC), apparent integrated backscattering coefficient (AIB) and ultrasound roughness index (URI) were determined for each s le. URI was significantly higher in both repair groups than in intact cartilage (p < 0.05). The reflection parameters (R and IRC) were significantly lower in surgically repaired cartilage (p < 0.05) than in intact cartilage. Furthermore, AIB was significantly higher in surgically repaired cartilage than in intact tissue (p < 0.05). To conclude, the integrity of the rabbit articular cartilage repair could be quantitatively evaluated with the nondestructive ultrasound approach. In addition, clinically valuable qualitative information on the changes in cartilage integration, structure and composition could be extracted from the ultrasound images. In the present study, the structure and properties of repaired tissue were inferior to native tissue at 6 months after the operation. The applied ultrasound device and probes are FDA approved and, thus, applicable for the quantitative in vivo evaluation of human articular cartilage.
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Date: 30-01-2007
DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/52/4/024
Abstract: The delayed gadolinium enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC) technique is the only non-invasive means to estimate proteoglycan (PG) content in articular cartilage. In dGEMRIC, the anionic paramagnetic contrast agent gadopentetate distributes in inverse relation to negatively charged PGs, leading to a linear relation between T1,Gd and spatial PG content in tissue. In the present study, for the first time, contrast agent enhanced peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) was applied, analogously to dGEMRIC, for the quantitative detection of spatial PG content in cartilage. The suitability of two anionic radiographic contrast agents, gadopentetate and ioxaglate, to detect enzymatically induced PG depletion in articular cartilage was investigated. First, the interrelationships of x-ray absorption, as measured with pQCT, and the contrast agent solution concentration were investigated. Optimal contrast agent concentrations for the following experiments were selected. Second, diffusion rates for both contrast agents were investigated in intact (n=3) and trypsin-degraded (n=3) bovine patellar cartilage. The contrast agent concentration of the cartilaginous layer was measured prior to and 2-27 h after immersion. Optimal immersion time for the further experiments was selected. Third, the suitability of gadopentetate and ioxaglate enhanced pQCT to detect the enzymatically induced specific PG depletion was investigated by determining the contrast agent concentrations and uronic acid and water contents in digested and intact osteochondral s les (n=16). After trypsin-induced PG loss (-70%, p<0.05) the penetration of gadopentetate and ioxaglate increased (p<0.05) by 34% and 48%, respectively. Gadopentetate and ioxaglate concentrations both showed strong correlation (r=-0.95, r=-0.94, p<0.01, respectively) with the uronic acid content. To conclude, contrast agent enhanced pQCT provides a technique to quantify PG content in normal and experimentally degraded articular cartilage in vitro. As high resolution imaging of e.g. the knee joint is possible with pQCT, the present technique may be further developed for in vivo quantification of PG depletion in osteoarthritic cartilage. However, careful in vitro and in vivo characterization of diffusion mechanics and optimal contrast agent concentrations are needed before diagnostic applications are feasible.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2012
DOI: 10.1016/J.JBIOMECH.2011.11.049
Abstract: In clinical arthrographic examination, strong hypertonic contrast agents are injected directly into the joint space. This may reduce the stiffness of articular cartilage, which is further hypothesized to lead to overload-induced cell death. We investigated the cell death in articular cartilage while the tissue was compressed in situ in physiological saline solution and in full strength hypertonic X-ray contrast agent Hexabrix(TM). S les were prepared from bovine patellae and stored in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium overnight. Further, impact tests with or without creep were conducted for the s les with contact stresses and creep times changing from 1 MPa to 10 MPa and from 0 min to 15 min, respectively. Finally, depth-dependent cell viability was assessed with a confocal microscope. In order to characterize changes in the biomechanical properties of cartilage as a result of the use of Hexabrix™, stress-relaxation tests were conducted for the s les immersed in Hexabrix™ and phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Both dynamic and equilibrium modulus of the s les immersed in Hexabrix™ were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those of the s les immersed in PBS. Cartilage s les immersed in physiological saline solution showed load-induced cell death primarily in the superficial and middle zones. However, under high 8-10 MPa contact stresses, the s les immersed in full strength Hexabrix™ showed significantly (p<0.05) higher number of dead cells than the s les compressed in physiological saline, especially in the deep zone of cartilage. In conclusion, excessive loading stresses followed by tissue creep might increase the risk for chondrocyte death in articular cartilage when immersed in hypertonic X-ray contrast agent, especially in the deep zone of cartilage.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.MEDENGPHY.2013.03.010
Abstract: To investigate the effect of threose-induced collagen cross-linking on diffusion of ionic and non-ionic contrast agents in articular cartilage. Osteochondral plugs (Ø=6mm) were prepared from bovine patellae and ided into two groups according to the contrast agent to be used in contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) imaging: (I) anionic ioxaglate and (II) non-ionic iodixanol. The groups I and II contained 7 and 6 s le pairs, respectively. One of the paired s les served as a reference while the other was treated with threose to induce collagen cross-linking. The equilibrium partitioning of the contrast agents was imaged after 24h of immersion. Fixed charge density (FCD), water content, contents of proteoglycans, total collagen, hydroxylysyl pyridinoline (HP), lysyl pyridinoline (LP) and pentosidine (Pent) cross-links were determined as a reference. The equilibrium partitioning of ioxaglate (group I) was significantly (p=0.018) lower (-23.4%) in threose-treated than control s les while the equilibrium partitioning of iodixanol (group II) was unaffected by the threose-treatment. FCD in the middle and deep zones of the cartilage (p<0.05) and contents of Pent and LP (p=0.001) increased significantly due to the treatment. However, the proteoglycan concentration was not systematically altered after the treatment. Water content was significantly (-3.5%, p=0.007) lower after the treatment. Since non-ionic iodixanol showed no changes in partition after cross-linking, in contrast to anionic ioxaglate, we conclude that the cross-linking induced changes in charge distribution have greater effect on diffusion compared to the cross-linking induced changes in steric hindrance.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2003
DOI: 10.1016/S0301-5629(02)00708-1
Abstract: The unknown and variable speed of sound may impair accuracy of the acoustic measurement of cartilage properties. In this study, relationships between the speed of sound and cartilage composition, mechanical properties and degenerative state were studied in bovine knee and ankle cartilage (n = 62). Further, the effect of speed variation on the determination of cartilage thickness and stiffness with ultrasound (US) indentation was numerically simulated. The speed of sound was significantly (n = 32, p < 0.05) dependent on the cartilage water content (r = -0.800), uronic acid content (per wet weight, r = 0.886) and hydroxyproline content (per wet weight, r = 0.887, n = 28), Young's modulus at equilibrium (r = 0.740), dynamic modulus (r = 0.905), and degenerative state (i.e., Mankin score) (r = -0.727). In addition to cartilage composition, mechanical and acoustic properties varied significantly between different anatomical locations. In US indentation, cartilage is indented with a US transducer. Deformation and thickness of tissue are calculated using a predefined speed of sound and used in determination of dynamic modulus. Based on the simulations, use of the mean speed of sound of 1627 m/s (whole material) induced a maximum error of 7.8% on cartilage thickness and of 6.2% on cartilage dynamic modulus, as determined with the US indentation technique (indenter diameter 3 mm). We believe that these errors are acceptable in clinical US indentation measurements.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 23-03-2012
DOI: 10.3109/03091902.2012.663054
Abstract: The aim of this study was to compare sensitivity of ultrasound and optical coherence tomography (OCT) techniques for the evaluation of the integrity of spontaneously repaired horse cartilage. Articular surfaces of horse intercarpal joints, featuring both intact tissue and spontaneously healed chondral or osteochondral defects, were imaged ex vivo with arthroscopic ultrasound and laboratory OCT devices. Quantitative ultrasound (integrated reflection coefficient (IRC), apparent integrated backscattering coefficient (AIB) and ultrasound roughness index (URI)) and optical parameters (optical reflection coefficient (ORC), optical roughness index (ORI) and optical backscattering (OBS)) were determined and compared with histological integrity and mechanical properties of the tissue. Spontaneously healed tissue could be quantitatively discerned from the intact tissue with ultrasound and OCT techniques. Furthermore, several significant correlations (p < 0.05) were detected between ultrasound and OCT parameters. Superior resolution of OCT provided a more accurate measurement of cartilage surface roughness, while the ultrasound backscattering from the inner structures of the cartilage matched better with the histological findings. Since the techniques were found to be complementary to each other, dual modality imaging techniques could provide a useful tool for the arthroscopic evaluation of the integrity of articular cartilage.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2009
DOI: 10.1016/J.JOCA.2008.05.012
Abstract: X-ray imaging of articular cartilage using anionic contrast agents has been introduced for quantification of tissue glycosaminoglycan (GAG) concentration. In this in vitro study we investigated diffusion and equilibrium distribution of an anionic contrast agent in human articular cartilage and related the results to tissue composition and integrity. Osteochondral cylinders (d=4.0mm, n=24) were prepared from femoral medial condyles (FMCs, cartilage thickness 2.13+/-0.54 mm, mean+/-standard deviation [SD]), and tibial medial plateaus ([TMPs]1.99+/-0.38 mm) of human cadaver knees. S les were immersed for 24h at room temperature in 21 mM concentration of anionic contrast agent Hexabrix. The X-ray absorption maps and profiles were measured before immersion, and after every 2h of immersion using clinical peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). An increase in X-ray attenuation along cartilage depth, indicating a characteristic density profile increasing from superficial to deep tissue, could be seen in pQCT images acquired without contrast agent. The complete diffusion of the contrast agent into cartilage took more than 12h. However, the uronic acid concentration correlated with the contrast agent concentration in femoral cartilage (r=-0.76, n=12, P=0.004) as early as after 2h of immersion, and the linear correlation was virtually unchanged during the remaining 22 h. Similarly, the histological tissue integrity (Mankin score) correlated positively with the contrast agent concentration in tibial cartilage (r=+0.75, P=0.005) after 2h of immersion. The X-ray absorption profiles before immersion, i.e., without the contrast agent, and after 24h of immersion were significantly correlated (r=-0.76+/-0.34, mean+/-SD). Although the complete contrast agent diffusion into human articular cartilage in vitro took more than 12h, significant apparent correlations were revealed between the spatial proteoglycan (PG) and contrast agent distributions already after 2h of immersion. At the stage of incomplete penetration, however, the spatial contrast agent concentration distribution cannot directly reflect the true PG distribution as the Donnan equilibrium has not been reached. However, in degenerated cartilage the diffusion rate increases. Obviously, this can lead to the reported correlation between the bulk PG content and the bulk contrast agent concentration already at the early stages of diffusion.
Publisher: SPIE-Intl Soc Optical Eng
Date: 11-09-2012
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Date: 13-10-2014
DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/59/21/6537
Abstract: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been applied for high resolution imaging of articular cartilage. However, the contribution of in idual structural elements of cartilage on OCT signal has not been thoroughly studied. We hypothesize that both collagen and chondrocytes, essential structural components of cartilage, act as important light scatterers and that variation in their concentrations can be detected by OCT through changes in backscattering and attenuation. To evaluate this hypothesis, we established a controlled model system using agarose scaffolds embedded with variable collagen concentrations and chondrocyte densities. Using OCT, we measured the backscattering coefficient (µb) and total attenuation coefficient (µt) in these scaffolds. Along our hypothesis, light backscattering and attenuation in agarose were dependent on collagen concentration and chondrocyte density. Significant correlations were found between µt and chondrocyte density (ρ = 0.853, p < 0.001) and between µt and collagen concentration (ρ = 0.694, p < 0.001). µb correlated significantly with chondrocyte density (ρ = 0.504, p < 0.001) but not with collagen concentration (ρ = 0.103, p = 0.422) of the scaffold. Thus, quantitation of light backscattering and, especially, attenuation could be valuable when evaluating the integrity of soft tissues, such as articular cartilage with OCT.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 2007
DOI: 10.1080/03008200601044128
Abstract: Chondroitin sulfate is the major constituent of cartilage. Inadequate sulfate availability results in the production of undersulfated proteoglycans. In osteoarthritis, there is a net loss of articular cartilage proteoglycans. Theoretically, it is possible that during the progress of disease undersulfated glycosaminoglycans are synthesized producing proteoglycans with poorer biological properties. In this study, we tested whether in early human osteoarthritic articular cartilage (Mankin's score of 2 and 3) or more advanced disease (Mankin's score over 3), there are proteoglycans that contain a higher relative amount of nonsulfated chondroitin disaccharide isomer in their chondroitin sulfate chains by analyzing the molar ratios of chondroitin sulfate disaccharide isoforms with fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis. Our results indicated that the nonsulfated disaccharide of chondroitin sulfate formed in average only 1-2% of the total chondroitin sulfate. More important, the molar ratio of nonsulfated disaccharide did not appear to be increased in the osteoarthritic articular cartilage. We conclude that undersulfation of articular cartilage proteoglycans is not present in the human osteoarthritic joint.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 15-12-2013
Abstract: We investigated the effects of freeze-thawing on the properties of articular cartilage. The reproducibility of repeated biomechanical assay of the same osteochondral s le was first verified with 11 patellar plugs from 3 animals. Then, 4 osteochondral s les from 15 bovine patellae were ided into 4 groups. The reference s les were immersed in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) containing proteolysis inhibitors and biomechanically tested before storage for further analyses. S les of group 1 were biomechanically tested before and after freeze-thawing in PBS in the absence and those of group 2 in the presence of inhibitors. S les of the group 3 were biomechanically tested in PBS-containing inhibitors, but frozen in 30% dimethyl sulfoxide/PBS and subsequently tested in PBS supplemented with the inhibitors. Glycosaminoglycan contents of the s les and immersion solutions were analyzed, and proteoglycan structures examined with SDS-agarose gel electrophoresis. Freeze-thawing decreased slightly dynamic moduli in all 3 groups. The glycosaminoglycan contents and proteoglycan structures of the cartilage were similar in all experimental groups. Occasionally, the diffused proteoglycans were partly degraded in group 1. Digital densitometry revealed similar staining intensities for the glycosaminoglycans in all groups. Use of cryopreservant had no marked effect on the glycosaminoglycan loss during freeze-thawing. The freeze-thawed cartilage s les appear suitable for the biochemical and biomechanical studies.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2003
DOI: 10.1016/S1063-4584(03)00154-7
Abstract: We have previously developed a handheld ultrasound indentation instrument for the diagnosis of cartilage degeneration. The instrument has been demonstrated to be capable of quantifying mechanical and acoustic properties of enzymatically degraded and normal bovine articular cartilage in vitro and in situ. The aim of this study was to investigate the sensitivity of the instrument to distinguish between normal and spontaneously degenerated (e.g., in osteoarthrosis) articular cartilage in vitro. Thirty articular cartilage s les were prepared from the bovine lateral patellae: 19 patellae with different degenerative stages and 11 patellae with visually normal appearance. Cartilage thickness, stiffness (dynamic modulus) and ultrasound reflection from the cartilage surface were measured with the handheld instrument. Subsequently, biomechanical, histological and biochemical reference measurements were conducted. Reproducibility of the measurements with the ultrasound indentation instrument was good. Standardized coefficient of variation was < or =6.1% for thickness, dynamic modulus and reflection coefficient. Linear correlation between the dynamic modulus, measured with the ultrasound indentation instrument, and the reference dynamic modulus was high (r=0.993, n=30, P 0.64, n=30, P<0.05) with the cartilage composition and histological or mechanical properties. The instrument was superior compared to visual evaluation in detecting tissue degeneration. This study indicates that the ultrasound indentation technique and instrument may significantly improve the early diagnosis of cartilage degeneration. The results revealed that visual evaluation is insensitive for estimating the structural and mechanical properties of articular cartilage at the initial stages of degeneration.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.ULTRASMEDBIO.2014.03.016
Abstract: Ultrasound imaging has been proposed for diagnostics of osteoarthritis and cartilage injuries in vivo. However, the specific contribution of chondrocytes and collagen to ultrasound scattering in articular cartilage has not been systematically studied. We investigated the role of these tissue structures by measuring ultrasound scattering in agarose scaffolds with varying collagen and chondrocyte concentrations. Ultrasound catheters with center frequencies of 9 MHz (7.1-11.0 MHz, -6 dB) and 40 MHz (30.1-45.3 MHz, -6 dB) were applied using an intravascular ultrasound device. Ultrasound backscattering quantified in a region of interest starting right below s le surface differed significantly (p < 0.05) with the concentrations of collagen and chondrocytes. An ultrasound frequency of 40 MHz, as compared with 9 MHz, was more sensitive to variations in collagen and chondrocyte concentrations. The present findings may improve diagnostic interpretation of arthroscopic ultrasound imaging and provide information necessary for development of models describing ultrasound propagation within cartilage.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2007
DOI: 10.1016/J.MEDENGPHY.2006.09.007
Abstract: Mechanical properties of bone are determined not only by bone mineral density (BMD), but also by tissue trabecular structure and organic composition. Impedance spectroscopy has shown potential to diagnose trabecular bone BMD and strength, however, the relationships between organic composition and electrical and dielectric properties have not been systematically investigated. To investigate these issues organic composition of 26 human trabecular bone s les harvested from the distal femur and proximal tibia was determined and compared with relative permittivity, loss factor, conductivity, phase angle, specific impedance and dissipation factor measured at wide range (50 Hz to 5 MHz) of frequencies. A strong linear correlation was found between the relative permittivity at 1.2 MHz and trabecular bone fat content (r = -0.85, p or = 0.69). Variation in bone tissue collagen content was strongly related to the relative permittivity measured at 1.2 MHz (r = 0.64), but only moderately to other parameters. Glycosaminoglycan content showed no significant relations with any investigated electrical parameters. The present study indicates that if the trabecular bone composition is known, the relationships presented in this study could facilitate calculation of current field distribution, e.g. during electrical stimulation of osteogenesis. On the other hand, our results suggest that permittivity measured at low ( 100 kHz) frequencies could be used, e.g. during implant surgery, for prediction of trabecular bone water or fat contents, respectively.
Publisher: SPIE-Intl Soc Optical Eng
Date: 14-03-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2009
DOI: 10.1016/J.ULTRASMEDBIO.2009.03.002
Abstract: Mechanical properties of articular cartilage may be determined by means of mechano-acoustic indentation, a clinically feasible technique for cartilage diagnostics. Unfortunately, ultrasound speed varies in articular cartilage during mechanical compression. This can cause significant errors to the measured mechanical parameters. In this study, the strain-dependent variation in ultrasound speed was investigated during dynamic compression. In addition, we estimated errors that were induced by the variation in ultrasound speed on the mechano-acoustically measured elastic properties of the tissue. Further, we validated a computational method to correct these errors. Bovine patellar cartilage s les (n = 7) were tested under unconfined compression. Strain-dependence of ultrasound speed was determined under different compressive strains using an identical strain-rate. In addition, the modulation of ultrasound speed was simulated using the transient compositional and structural changes derived from fibril-reinforced poroviscoelastic (FRPVE) model. Experimentally, instantaneous compressive strain modulated the ultrasound speed (p < 0.05) significantly. The decrease of ultrasound speed was found to change nonlinearly as a function of strain. Immediately after the r loading ultrasound speed was found to be changed -0.94%, -1.49%, -1.84%, -1.87%, -1.89% and -2.15% at the strains of 2.4%, 4.9%, 7.3%, 9.7%, 12.1% and 14.4%, respectively. The numerical simulation revealed that the compression-related decrease in ultrasound speed induces significant errors in the mechano-acoustically determined strain (39.7%) and dynamic modulus (72.1%) at small strains, e.g., at 2.4%. However, at higher strains, e.g., at 14.4%, the errors were smaller, i.e., 12.6% for strain and 14.5% for modulus. After the proposed computational correction, errors related to ultrasound speed were decreased. By using the correction, with e.g., 2.4% strain, errors in strain and modulus were decreased from 39.7% to 7.2% and from 72.1% to 35.3%, respectively. The FRPVE model, addressing the changes in fibril orientation and void ratio during compression, showed discrepancy of less than 1% between the predicted and measured ultrasound speed during the r compression.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.JOCA.2012.12.004
Abstract: Recombinant human type II collagen (rhCII) gels combined with autologous chondrocytes were tested as a scaffold for cartilage repair in rabbits in vivo. Autologous chondrocytes were harvested, expanded and combined with rhCII-gel and further pre-cultivated for 2 weeks prior to transplantation into a 4 mm diameter lesion created into the rabbit's femoral trochlea (n = 8). Rabbits with similar untreated lesions (n = 7) served as a control group. Six months after the transplantation the repair tissue in both groups filled the lesion site, but in the rhCII-repair the filling was more complete. Both repair groups also had high proteoglycan and type II collagen contents, except in the fibrous superficial layer. However, the integration to the adjacent cartilage was incomplete. The O'Driscoll grading showed no significant differences between the rhCII-repair and spontaneous repair, both representing lower quality than intact cartilage. In the repair tissues the collagen fibers were abnormally organized and oriented. No dramatic changes were detected in the subchondral bone structure. The repair cartilage was mechanically softer than the intact tissue. Spontaneously repaired tissue showed lower values of equilibrium and dynamic modulus than the rhCII-repair. However, the differences in the mechanical properties between all three groups were insignificant. When rhCII was used to repair cartilage defects, the repair quality was histologically incomplete, but still the rhCII-repairs showed moderate mechanical characteristics and a slight improvement over those in spontaneous repair. Therefore, further studies using rhCII for cartilage repair with emphasis on improving integration and surface protection are required.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 02-2009
DOI: 10.1080/02841850802572526
Abstract: Background: Contrast agent-enhanced computed tomography may enable the noninvasive quantification of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content of articular cartilage. It has been reported that penetration of the negatively charged contrast agent ioxaglate (Hexabrix) increases significantly after enzymatic degradation of GAGs. However, it is not known whether spontaneous degradation of articular cartilage can be quantitatively detected with this technique. Purpose: To investigate the diagnostic potential of contrast agent-enhanced cartilage tomography (CECT) in quantification of GAG concentration in normal and spontaneously degenerated articular cartilage by means of clinical peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Material and Methods: In this in vitro study, normal and spontaneously degenerated adult bovine cartilage ( n=32) was used. Bovine patellar cartilage s les were immersed in 21 mM contrast agent (Hexabrix) solution for 24 hours at room temperature. After immersion, the s les were scanned with a clinical pQCT instrument. From pQCT images, the contrast agent concentration in superficial as well as in full-thickness cartilage was calculated. Histological and functional integrity of the s les was quantified with histochemical and mechanical reference measurements extracted from our earlier study. Results: Full diffusion of contrast agent into the deep cartilage was found to take over 8 hours. As compared to normal cartilage, a significant increase (11%, P .05) in contrast agent concentration was seen in the superficial layer of spontaneously degenerated s les. Significant negative correlations were revealed between the contrast agent concentration and the superficial or full-thickness GAG content of tissue (| R| 0.5, P .01). Further, pQCT could be used to measure the thickness of patellar cartilage. Conclusion: The present results suggest that CECT can be used to diagnose proteoglycan depletion in spontaneously degenerated articular cartilage with a clinical pQCT scanner. Possibly, the in vivo use of clinical pQCT for CECT arthrography of human joints is feasible.
No related grants have been discovered for Mikko Lammi.