Osteoarthritis

Defintion of OA and criteria; epidemiology of OA; economics of OA; genetics of OA; pathology; paleopathology; pathogenesis of OA; intro - the concept of OA as a failure of the diarthrodial joint; biochemical and biomechanical pathogenesis; articular cartillage; biochemistry and metabolism of normal and OA cartillage; enzymatic degradation of normal and OA cartillage; matrix repair by the chrondroctye; mechanical properties of normal and OA cartillage; response of the chrondroctye to mechanical stimuli; crystals and OA; subchondral bone; synovium; synovial mediators of cartillage damage and repair in OA; synovial physiology; the neuromuscular system; muscle in osteoarthritis; clinical features of OA and standard approaches to the diagnosis; signs, symptoms, laboratory tests; radiography; the natural history and prognosis of OA; management of OA; introduction - the comprehensive approach; why does the patient with OA hurt; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; analgesics; pharmacoeconomics of the treatment of OA; topical NSAIDS; capsaicin; intra-articular therapy (hyaluronic acid, corticosteroids); physical therapy; occupational therapy; patient education - differences in perceptions of patients and physicians with respect to what is important in; treating OA; social support; depression in OA; coping strategies for the patient with OA; joint lavage; surgical treatment arthroscopy; arthoplasty; complications of arthroplasty; assessment of clinical outcomes in OA; prospects for pharmacological modification of joint breakdown in OA; advantages afforded by use of animal models; limitations of animal models for evaluation of putative DMOADs for human use; criteria for evaluating a putative DMOAD in clinical trials; assessment of changes in joint tissues in patents treated with a DMOAD - monitoring outcomes; radiography; grading systems; quantification; MRI; arthroscopy; scintigraphy; ultrasonography; molecular markers of cartillage breakdown and repair; design of clinical trials for evaluation of DMOADs and new agents for symptomatic treatment of OA.