Failure of conventional anti-inflammatory therapies in osteoarthritis (OA) underlines the insufficient knowledge about inflammatory mechanisms, patterns and their relationship with cartilage degradation. Considering non-linear nature of cartilage loss in OA, a better understanding of inflammatory milieu and MMP status at different stages of OA is required to design early-stage therapies or personalized disease management. For this, an investigation based on a synovium-synovial fluid (SF) axis was planned to study OA associated changes in synovium and SF along the progressive grades of OA. Gene expressions in synovial-biopsies from different grades OA patients (N = 26) revealed a peak of IL-1β, IL-15, PGE2 and NGF in early OA (Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) grade-I and II); the highest MMP levels were found in advanced stages (KL grade-III and IV). MMPs (MMP-1, 13, 2 and 9) abundance and FALGPA activity estimated in forty SFs of progressive grades showed the maximum protein levels and activity in KL grade-II and III. In an SF challenge test, SW982 and THP1 cells were treated with progressive grade SFs to study the dynamics of MMPs modulation in inflammatory microenvironment; the test yielded a result pattern, which matched with FALGPA and the protein-levels estimation. Inflammatory mediators in SFs served as steering factor for MMP up-regulation. A correlation-matrix of IL-1β and MMPs revealed expressional negative correlation.

Macrophage polarization is a steering factor of osteoarthritis (OA) progression. Synovial fluid (SF) obtained from OA patients with different Kellgren–Lawrence grades (KL grades) holds several proinflammatory factors and was hypothesized to induce macrophage differentiation and polarization by providing the needed microenvironment. U937 cells and peripheral-blood-mononuclear-cell-derived monocytes (PBMC-derived CD14+ cells) were induced with SFs of progressive KL grades for 48 h, and the status of the differentiated cells was evaluated by cell surface markers representing M1 and M2 macrophage phenotypes. Functional viability assessment of the differentiated cells was performed by cytokine estimation. The fraction of macrophages and their phenotypes were estimated by immunophenotyping of SF-isolated cells of different KL grades. A grade-wise proteome analysis of SFs was performed in search of the factors which are influential in macrophage differentiation and polarization. In the assay on U937 cells, induction with SF of KL grade III and IV showed a significant increase in M1 type (CD86+). The percentage of M2 phenotype (CD163+) was significantly higher after the induction with SF of KL grade II. A Significantly higher M1/M2 ratio was estimated in the cells induced with KL grade III and IV. The cell differentiation pattern in the assay on PBMC-derived CD14+ cells showed a grade-wise decline in both M1 (CD11C+, CD86+) and M2 phenotype (CD163+). Cytokine estimation specific to M1 (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IFN-γ) and M2 (IL-4 and IL-10) macrophages corelated with the differentiation pattern in the U937 cell assay, while it did not reveal any significant changes in the PBMC-derived CD14+ cells assay. SF cells’ immunophenotyping showed the highest percentage of CD14+ macrophages in KL grade II; CD86+ and CD163+ cells were minimal in all KL grades’ SFs. The proteome analysis revealed significantly expressed MIF, CAPG/MCP, osteopontin, and RAS-related RAB proteins in KL grade III and IV samples, which are linked with macrophages’ movement, polarization, and migration-behavior. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that SF in OA joints acts as a niche and facilitates M1 phenotype polarization by providing a proinflammatory microenvironment.

Atlantooccipital assimilation is a partial or complete congenital fusion between the atlas and the base of the occiput. Most patients with atlas assimilation are asymptomatic, but some may present with neurological problems such as myelopathy. We present the case of a 37-year-old woman who presented with neck and occipital pain, episodic neck stiffness, and dizziness. Medical imaging revealed complete atlantooccipital assimilation associated with basilar invagination, atlantoaxial subluxation, and predisposing anterior spinal cord compression. The patient was treated non-operatively with medications, cervical interferential therapy, and a rigid cervical orthosis.

Ewing’s Sarcoma (ES) is a highly malignant bone tumour. It may involve any part of the skeleton but the most frequent parts are the ilium and diaphysis of femur and tibia (Alfeeli et al., 2005; Zhu et al., 2012). Primary ES of the spine is extremely rare (Yan et al., 2011). It accounts for only 3.5 to 14.9 percent of all primary bone sarcomas. The age of presentation ranges from 12 to 24 years (median 21 years) (Ferguson, 1999; Sharafuddin et al., 1992; Klimo Jr. et al., 2009). We report an unusual case of primary ES of the spine in a two-year-old boy, who presented to us with paraparesis and features of cauda equina syndrome. MRI scan showed a tumour mass arising from the pedicle of L4 vertebra invading the spinal canal. Tc-99 bone scan showed increased tracer uptake in L4 vertebra and normal tracer uptake elsewhere in the skeleton. After reaching the diagnosis of a space occupying lesion invading the lumber spinal canal, we performed a decompressive laminectomy and a biopsy was sent which confirmed the diagnosis of ES. Immunohistochemistry showed tumour cells staining positive for CD-99 (specific stain for ES). Gene testing showed an EWS-FLI 1 chimera. Surgery was followed by good improvement in motor signs. The child was then referred to a specialized oncotherapy centre for further treatment, radiation, and chemotherapy. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to report primary ES of the spine at the age of two years.

A lipoma containing mature osseous elements is called osteolipoma. This article describes a giant osteolipoma fixed to the periosteum of the greater trochanter of the femur. A seventy-year-old woman presented with a large subcutaneous mass in the right buttock which had been present for six years. On local examination, a giant mass that was ovoid, firm, non-tender, well demarcated, subcutaneous, and relatively fixed to the greater trochanter was palpated in the right buttock. A medical imaging and fluoro-deoxy-glucose (FDG) bone scan revealed a large lipomatous and metabolically active lesion arising from the periosteum of the greater trochanter of femur. The excisional mass of 17 × 8 × 7 cm³ was well encapsulated and had an osseous basal portion. Cut sections of the mass revealed mainly yellow fatty tissue surrounded by a thin fibrous capsule with numerous interlacing thin lamellar bony structures. The definitive pathological diagnosis was osteolipoma without evidence of malignancy. No recurrence was observed at eight months follow-up. Osteolipoma with an osseous basal portion is rare. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice and the prognosis is good. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an unusual giant osteolipoma fixed to the periosteum of the greater trochanter of the femur.