Early osteoarthritis is novel topic for orthopedic surgeons and its process begins immediately after joint injury. The mechanical restoration of the joint surface or ligamentous stability is not sufficient to restore the homeostatic environment in the joint, and this leads to osteoarthritis, despite mechanical stability and alignment. This book sheds light on the various mechanisms and systems involved in the gradual decline of the injured joint toward manifest osteoarthritis. Published in collaboration with ISAKOS, this volume appeals to all stakeholders in surgical orthopaedics and sports medicine.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common and most severe form of inflammatory arthritis. The pathogenesis of RA has been the subject of intense research for several decades. The prevailing hypotheses have changed over the years, and have attempted to incorporate the most recent data. Although T cells represent an important component of the cells which infiltrate the joint synovium, their contribution at a late stage of the disease remains a matter of debate. The goal of this book is to outline the major arguments and data suggesting that T cells may, or may not, be central players in the pathogenesis of chronic RA. While each of the editors and authors has his/her own bias (as will be clear by reading the respective chapters), our hope is that the readers will enjoy a complete and balanced view of the critical questions and experiments. This is not just an intellectual exercise since the direction of future therapeutic interventions depends heavily on how one interprets the pathogenesis of RA and the contribution of T cells.

Autoimmune diseases are diverse and responsible for considerable morbidity. Their etiology remains largely unknown, and current therapy with anti-inflammatory drugs is prone to adverse effects, and rarely curative. New therapies with anti-cytokine antibodies or receptors are promising, but require frequent administration of expensive protein drugs. Gene Therapy of Autoimmune Diseases comprehensively reviews research in gene therapy for autoimmune diseases with viral or non-viral vectors. Gene therapy offers the possibility of long-term, continuous delivery of a wide variety of immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, or tolerance-inducing agents. Moreover, highly specific genetically modified cells can be produced. This book discusses the most promising avenues in this exciting new field.

This book is devoted to innovative medicine, comprising the proceedings of the Uehara Memorial Foundation Symposium 2014. It remains extremely rare for the findings of basic research to be developed into clinical applications, and it takes a long time for the process to be achieved. The task of advancing the development of basic research into clinical reality lies with translational science, yet the field seems to struggle to find a way to move forward. To create innovative medical technology, many steps need to be taken: development and analysis of optimal animal models of human diseases, elucidation of genomic and epidemiological data, and establishment of “proof of concept”. There is also considerable demand for progress in drug research, new surgical procedures, and new clinical devices and equipment. While the original research target may be rare diseases, it is also important to apply those findings more broadly to common diseases. The book covers a wide range of topics and is organized into three complementary parts. The first part is basic research for innovative medicine, the second is translational research for innovative medicine, and the third is new technology for innovative medicine. This book helps to understand innovative medicine and to make progress in its realization.

This book, the third volume of the new series 'Current Directions in Autoimmunity', is the first one to exclusively focus on one disease. Written by experts in genetics and immunobiology, the articles reflect the complexity and multiple facets of the disease process but also show their convergence to a better understanding of pathogenetic mechanisms and the evolving clinical applications. The models and concepts described in this volume have implications for studies of other inflammatory diseases and are of interest not only for clinical and basic scientists devoted to the study of rheumatoid arthritis but for investigators of autoimmune diseases in general.

Many advances have occurred in the last 5 years especially in understanding genetic susceptibility factors, the role of immune response in chronic arthritis and the relationship between cellular processes that underlie inflammation and tissue damage. All these are dealt with in depth in the individual contributions. Genetics studies included illustrate how studies of HLA genes and genes controlling the autoantibody repertoire may be involved. Environmental factors are believed to be important and studies both in humans and in experimental models on the role of viral and bacterial agents are covered. The fascinating relationship between microbes, dysregulated immune responses and oncogenes are also examined. Since autoimmunity is the key aspect of the immunological response in rheumatoid arthritis, the role of antigens is re-examined as is the part played by immune T and B cells. New areas of clinical application of basic science is well presented in this book, forexample, in examining how markers of cartilage destruction may become important in monitoring disease activity. A chapter reviewing possible future novel therapies is included.