When the leading osteoarthritis (OA) thought leaders from across the globe recently gathered in Las Vegas, NV, experts from the UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center were there to share insights gleaned from important new research. While speaking in venues ranging from plenary sessions to poster presentations, Thurston scientists shared finding on topics ranging from how knee shape affects OA, to studies of the genetic influences on the development of OA.
Rheumatologist and researcher Amanda E. Nelson, MD, MSCR, was invited as one of seven OA experts to present to over 1,000 attendees at a plenary session on the most important clinical findings published in the past year. Her summary, resulting from a systematic review of the literature published since the previous OARSI meeting, focused on key topic areas such as the incidence and prevalence of OA, advances in OA treatments, the role of obesity in OA, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS); this work will be published as an article in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage later this year. Dr. Nelson also gave an oral presentation on her work on knee shape and OA risk.
Also making an ‘invited presentation’ at this year’s meeting was Richard Loeser, MD, who discussed key research findings related to the role of reactive oxygen species in osteoarthritis. Dr. Loeser previously received the OARSI Basic Science Research award for his work on basic mechanisms driving cartilage destruction in OA and the role of aging.
A brief summary of presentations made this year by UNC Thurston Arthritis Research Center experts included:
Oral presentations:
Amanda E. Nelson, MD, MSCR. Baseline Knee Shape Discriminates Cases Of Incident Knee Radiographic OA From Controls: A Case-Control Study Using Novel Methodology From The Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project
Richard Loeser, MD. Redox Regulation of Cell Signaling in Chondrocytes
Veronica Ulici, PhD. Osteoarthritis Induced Destabilization Of The Medial Meniscus (DMM) Is Reduced In Germ-Free Mice
Poster presentations:
Brian Diekman, PhD. Chondrocyte-Specific Loss Of The Branched Actin Mediator ARP2/3 Results In Growth Plate Fusion And Proteoglycan Loss In Articular Cartilage
John Collins, PhD. Differential Peroxiredoxin Hyperoxidation Regulates Map Kinase Signaling In Human Articular Chondrocytes
Becki Cleveland, PhD. Knee and Hip OA As Risk Factors For The Development of CVD and Diabetes In A Community-Based Longitudinal Study
Portia Flowers, PhD. Racial Differences In Performance-Based Function And Potential Explanatory Factors Among Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis