Quantificiation of soft tissue integrity related to knee osteoarthritis

骨关节炎（OA）是一种使人衰弱的疾病，影响了大约300万人，或10%的加拿大人。尽管许多研究人员假设膝关节内机械负荷的改变与骨关节炎的进展之间存在联系，但没有明确的公式表明这种联系。此外，大多数人认为OA是一种仅影响关节软骨的疾病，而实际上关节中的所有组织都受到疾病的影响。本提案中概述的研究将检查一些较少研究的膝关节软组织的变化，如关节囊和半月板，以改变结构和对载荷的机械反应。组织样本将从动物模型中获得，以允许对疾病进展进行时间控制，从最初的损伤到导致退行性OA。样本将通过检查整个膝关节的医学成像技术进行分析，以及最先进的小组织样本双轴测试。生化和组织学分析也将进行量化组织成分和组织。这项工作可能有助于量化OA发生的机械退化和组织结构组织之间的联系。一旦我们对这种关系有了更好的了解，我们就能更好地进行早期干预，并改善这种影响如此多加拿大人的疾病的治疗选择。

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating disease affecting approximately three million, or 10% of Canadians. Although many researchers have hypothesized a link between altered mechanical loading within the knee joint and osteoarthritis progression, no definitive formula for this connection has been made. In addition, most people believe OA is a disease that affects articular cartilage alone, when in fact all tissues in the joint are modified by the disease. The research outlined in this proposal will examine the changes to some of the lesser studies soft tissues of the knee joint such as the joint capsule and meniscus, for both altered structure and mechanical response to loading. The tissue samples will be obtained from an animal model, to allow for a time controlled look at the disease progression, from the initial injury that leads to degenerative OA. Samples will be analyzed through medical imaging techniques examining the entire knee joint, as well as state-of-the art small tissue sample biaxial testing. Biochemical and histological analyses will also be conducted to quantify tissue constituents and organization. This work may help to quantify a link between the mechanical degradation and tissue structural organization that occurs with OA. Once we have an improved understanding of this relation, we will be in a better position to intervene earlier, and with improved treatment options for this disease affecting so many Canadians.