“Purpose of review

Osteoarthritis is the most c


“Purpose of review

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of rheumatologic disease, with numerous factors increasing the risk of developing the condition; calcification of cartilage is common place in osteoarthritis.

Regardless of these risk factors, certain disorders predispose individuals to developing arthritis. Pathologic mechanisms in cartilage calcification and advances in their understanding are reviewed alongside metabolic and endocrine arthritis.

Recent findings

There is growing evidence suggesting that changes in chondrocytes and the extracellular environment both contribute to the calcification. Further evidence suggests that signaling cascades that are involved in physiological mineralisation are involved in the pathological process(es); data in mouse models continue to add weight to these hypotheses and correlate with human Anlotinib inhibitor osteoarthritis data. Recent study of rare forms of arthritis is adding useful information selleck chemical that may help understand joint diseases in the general population and how therapies may be targeted.

Summary

There is little doubt that calcium-containing crystals are involved in the osteoarthritis process contributing both biomechanically and biochemically. Understanding the processes involved

provides important therapeutic opportunities. Furthermore, important information is often discovered in studying rare conditions in which these pathologies are inevitable.”
“Study Design. Randomized clinical trial.

Objective. To perform

a cost-utility analysis using actual cost data from a randomized clinical trial of patients over 60 years old who underwent posterolateral fusion using either rhBMP-2/ACS or iliac crest bone graft (ICBG).

Summary Background Data. Bone morphogenetic protein selleck chemicals llc has been shown to be an effective bone graft substitute for spine fusion. However, a clinical trial-based economic analysis of rhBMP-2/ACS compared with iliac crest bone graft has not been done.

Methods. Patients over 60 years old requiring decompression and posterolateral fusion were randomized to rhBMP-2/ACS (n = 50) or ICBG (n = 52). A dedicated hospital coder and research nurse tracked each patient to determine direct costs of inpatient care and all postoperative healthcare encounters up to 2 years after surgery. Preoperative and 2-year-postoperative SF-6D utility scores for each patient were determined. A decision tree was created, which included the probability of complications, need for additional treatments and revision surgery; and the costs associated with initial surgery and treatment for complications and additional treatment for continued spine symptoms; and utility scores.

Results. The mean total 2-year cost for care (excluding complication and additional spine treatment costs) was $34,235 in the ICBG group and $36,530 in the rhBMP-2/ACS group.

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