Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of disability in the adult population. As a progressive
degenerative joint disorder, OA is characterized by cartilage damage, changes in the …

Evidence for a major role of genetic factors in the determination of body mass index (BMI)
comes from studies of related individuals. Despite consistent evidence for a heritable …

BACKGROUND: Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration remains a clinically important
condition for which treatment is costly and relatively ineffective. The molecular basis of …

Risk factors of low back pain are multifactorial, with many possible etiologies. Multiple risk
factors of low back pain and lower-extremity pain include physical factors, social …

Osteoarthritis (OA) has a considerable hereditary component and is considered to be a
polygenic disease. Data derived from genetic analyses and genome-wide screening of …

Purpose Early OA primarily affects articular cartilage and involves the entire joint, including
the subchondral bone, synovial membrane, menisci and periarticular structures. The aim of …

Objective The majority of genetic risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are associated with
anti–citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)–positive RA, while far fewer genetic risk factors …

It has been suggested that matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3, stromelysin-1) has an
important role in the degeneration of intervertebral discs (IVDs). A human MMP-3 promoter …

Objective To assess the genetic contribution to radiographic hip osteoarthritis (OA) by
measuring the distribution of disease features in monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins …

Intervertebral disc degeneration describes the vicious cycle of the deterioration of
intervertebral discs and can eventually result in degenerative disc disease (DDD), which is …