Abstract: The present invention includes a method for determining whether a subject diagnosed with osteoarthritis is at increased risk for progression to severe osteoarthritis within 12-24 months, the method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a blood sample; (b) measuring in the blood sample prepared in step (a) a level of DNA methylation; (c) comparing the DNA methylation level(s) measured in step (b) to a control blood sample level(s) of DNA methylation, and (d) identifying the subject as being at increased risk for progression to severe osteoarthritis within 12-24 months when the DNA methylation is increased by at least 2 fold as compared to the control blood level(s) of DNA methylation.

Abstract: The present invention includes composition and methods for preventing, reducing or eliminating progression of osteoarthritis in a human patient comprising identifying a human patient in need of treatment for progression of osteoarthritis associated with an altered intestinal flora; and providing the human patient with a composition comprising at least one of: Actinobacteria actinomycetales; Actinobacteria coriobacteriia; Coriobacteriia coriobacteriales; Bacilli bacillales; Bacilli lactobacillales Clostridia clostridiales; one or more agents that increase an amount of the Actinobacteria actinomycetales; Actinobacteria coriobacteriia; Coriobacteriia coriobacteriales; Bacilli bacillales; Bacilli lactobacillales Clostridia clostridiales in the intestinal flora of the human patient; or one or more agents that decrease the amount of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes clostridia bacteria in an intestinal flora of the human patient bacteria in an intestinal flora of the human patient to prevent, reduce or eliminate progres

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for determining whether a subject diagnosed with osteoarthritis is at increased risk for progression to severe osteoarthritis within 12-24 months, the method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a blood sample; (b) measuring in the blood sample prepared in step (a) a level of DNA methylation; (c) comparing the DNA methylation level(s) measured in step (b) to a control blood sample level(s) of DNA methylation, and (d) identifying the subject as being at increased risk for progression to severe osteoarthritis within 12-24 months when the DNA methylation is increased by at least 2 fold as compared to the control blood level(s) of DNA methylation.