Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease and the most common orthopedic disorder. A vast majority of the social OA burden is related to hips and knees. The prevalence of knee OA varied across studies and such differences are reflected by the heterogeneity of data reported by studies conducted worldwide. A complete understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying this pathology is essential. The OA inflammatory process starts in the synovial membrane with the activation of the immune system, involving both humoral and cellular mediators. A crucial role in this process is played by the so-called “damage-associated molecular patterns” (DAMPs). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may be a promising option among all possible therapeutic options. However, many issues are still debated, such as the best cell source, their nature, and the right amount. Further studies are needed to clarify the remaining doubts. This review provides an overview of the most recent and relevant data on the molecular mechanism of cartilage damage in knee OA, including current therapeutic approaches in regenerative medicine.

Osteoporosis is the most prevalent skeletal disorder, a condition that is associated with significant social and healthcare burden. In the elderly, osteoporosis is commonly associated with sarcopenia, further increasing the risk of fracture. Several imaging techniques are available for a non-invasive evaluation of osteoporosis and sarcopenia. This review focuses on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), as this technique offers the possibility to evaluate bone mineral density and body composition parameters with good precision and accuracy. DXA is also able to evaluate the amount of aortic calcification for cardiovascular risk estimation. Additionally, new DXA-based parameters have been developed in recent years to further refine fracture risk estimation, such as the Trabecular Bone Score and the Bone Strain Index. Finally, we describe the recent advances of a newly developed ultrasound-based technology known as Radiofrequency Echographic Multi-Spectrometry, which represent the latest non-ionizing approach for osteoporosis evaluation at central sites.

To determine the short-term intra-operator precision and inter-operator repeatability of radiofrequency echographic multi-spectrometry (REMS) at the lumbar spine (LS) and proximal femur (FEM). All patients underwent an ultrasound scan of the LS and FEM. Both precision and repeatability, expressed as root-mean-square coefficient of variation (RMS-CV) and least significant change (LSC) were obtained using data from two consecutive REMS acquisitions by the same operator or two different operators, respectively. The precision was also assessed in the cohort stratified according to BMI classification. The mean (±SD) age of our subjects was 48.9 ± 6.8 for LS and 48.3 ± 6.1 for FEM. Precision was assessed on 42 subjects at LS and 37 subjects on FEM. Mean (±SD) BMI was 24.71 ± 4.2 for LS and 25.0 ± 4.84 for FEM. Respectively, the intra-operator precision error (RMS-CV) and LSC resulted in 0.47% and 1.29% at the spine and 0.32% and 0.89% at the proximal femur evaluation. The inter-operator variability investigated at the LS yielded an RMS-CV error of 0.55% and LSC of 1.52%, whereas for the FEM, the RMS-CV was 0.51% and the LSC was 1.40%. Similar values were found when subjects were divided into BMI subgroups. REMS technique provides a precise estimation of the US-BMD independent of subjects’ BMI differences.

This review examines the latest advancements in compositional and quantitative cartilage MRI techniques, addressing both their potential and challenges. The integration of these advancements promises to improve disease detection, treatment monitoring, and overall patient care. We want to highlight the pivotal task of translating these techniques into widespread clinical use, the transition of cartilage MRI from technical validation to clinical application, emphasizing its critical role in identifying early signs of degenerative and inflammatory joint diseases. Recognizing these changes early may enable informed treatment decisions, thereby facilitating personalized medicine approaches. The evolving landscape of cartilage MRI underscores its increasing importance in clinical practice, offering valuable insights for patient management and therapeutic interventions. This review aims to discuss the old evidence and new insights about the evaluation of articular cartilage through MRI, with an update on the most recent literature published on novel quantitative sequences.

Computed tomography (CT) arthrography is a quickly available imaging modality to investigate elbow disorders. Its excellent spatial resolution enables the detection of subtle pathologic changes of intra-articular structures, which makes this technique extremely valuable in a joint with very tiny chondral layers and complex anatomy of articular capsule and ligaments. Radiation exposure has been widely decreased with the novel CT scanners, thereby increasing the indications of this examination. The main applications of CT arthrography of the elbow are the evaluation of capsule, ligaments, and osteochondral lesions in both the settings of acute trauma, degenerative changes, and chronic injury due to repeated microtrauma and overuse. In this review, we discuss the normal anatomic findings, technical tips for injection and image acquisition, and pathologic findings that can be encountered in CT arthrography of the elbow, shedding light on its role in the diagnosis and management of different orthopedic conditions. We aspire to offer a roadmap for the integration of elbow CT arthrography into routine clinical practice, fostering improved patient outcomes and a deeper understanding of elbow pathologies.