Pioneering study may help identify early signs of arthritis
11 Apr 2014 04:41 PM
A new research project
should lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis by enabling
doctors to identify the condition even before a patient shows any overt
clinical symptoms.
The project has been undertaken
by University College London (UCL), the Science and Technology Facilities
Council (STFC) and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) and involves
using a new technique to screen for the condition. The technique, known as
spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS), was developed at STFC’s
Central Laser Facility (CLF) at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in
Oxfordshire. The technique involves shining a laser through the skin to analyse
the chemistry of the underlying bone and has the potential to provide new
information about whether a patient is more prone to developing the
condition.
Researchers carried out a series
of tests on two types of human bone samples – some with osteoarthritis
and some matched controls without osteoarthritis(1). Using the Raman
laser technique the research found noticeable differences in the bone matrix
chemistry at the knee joint of the two sample groups, revealing that the
initial changes may be found in the bone and this could be used to identify
some patients who may have an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis long
before the condition has manifested itself as severe cartilage damage and joint
degeneration.
The other benefits of using the
Raman technique are that it provides information on both the mineral and
organic components of bone, and also does not use any ionising radiation. So
with this technology the patients are not subjected to the radiation that
normal X-ray techniques would expose them to.
Professor Allen Goodship,
Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science, UCL, commented:
“We are at an early stage in this exciting project but we are already
seeing some promising results that should help improve our knowledge about how
osteoarthritis develops. Raman spectroscopy can give us detailed information
about the make-up of the bones that we cannot get using traditional X-rays. It
is quite possible that in the future the Raman technique could be effective as
a screening tool to help identify patients who may be at risk of developing the
condition. By identifying the disease earlier, healthcare professionals can
recommend lifestyle changes that may help slow the progress of the
disease.”
Professor Tony Parker, who has
just returned to STFC from scanning patients and volunteers at RNOH, adds
“It is incredible how swiftly the project is moving forward from
laboratory to impact in just 10 years, as my father keeps telling me “old
age doesn’t come alone” and the application of new technology to
support our health is something we can all be proud of in
STFC.”
Osteoarthritis is the most
common type of arthritis in the UK and typically affects the knee, hip and
spine joints. It is estimated that around 1 million people see their GP about
osteoarthritis every year(2). For many, the condition can be
debilitating and significantly affect their quality of life.
The project has been funded by
the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) with a grant of
£1.7m.
ENDS
To talk to the STFC laser team
please contact Jake Gilmore, Media Manager, jake.gilmore@stfc.ac.uk or 07970994586.
To talk with the RNOH team
please contact 0207 478 7802 and speak with Kelly Mortlock, Peter Stilwell or
Jack Storry or emailRNOHComms@grayling.com.
- 10 human bone samples taken
from patients with osteoarthritis were compared against 10 bone samples from
people without osteoarthritis
- http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Osteoarthritis/Pages/Introduction.aspx<
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Notes for
Editors
- The Royal National Orthopaedic
Hospital is the largest specialist orthopaedic hospital in the UK, and a
recognised world leader in the field of orthopaedics. It treats more than
100,000 neuro-musculoskeletal patients a year for conditions ranging from acute
spinal injuries to chronic back pain. The century-old RNOH is planning a
£90 million redevelopment of its site in Stanmore, Middlesex, and has
launched a £15 million appeal to fund vital additional facilities and
equipment for the new hospital. Further information can be found at http://www.rnoh.nhs.uk andhttp://www.rnohcharity.org/.
- The Engineering and Physical
Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the UK’s main agency for funding
research in engineering and the physical sciences. EPSRC invests around
£800 million a year in research and postgraduate training, to help the
nation handle the next generation of technological change. The areas covered
range from information technology to structural engineering, and mathematics to
materials science. This research forms the basis for future economic
development in the UK and improvements for everyone’s health, lifestyle
and culture. EPSRC works alongside other Research Councils with responsibility
for other areas of research. The Research Councils work collectively on issues
of common concern via Research Councils UK.
- The STFC Central Laser Facility
(CLF) is a partnership between its staff and the large number of members of UK
and European universities who use the specialised laser equipment provided to
carry out a broad range of experiments in physics, chemistry and biology. The
CLF’s wide ranging applications include experiments in physics, chemistry
and biology, accelerating subatomic particles to high energies, probing
chemical reactions on the shortest timescales and studying biochemical and
biophysical process critical to life itself. http://www.stfc.ac.uk/clf/default.aspx