• Cartilage
• Chronic pain
• Loss of flexibility
• Pain
• Risk factors
• Tenderness

• Humans
• Female
• Osteoarthritis, Knee/diagnosis
• Osteoarthritis, Knee/therapy
• Quality of Life
• Postural Balance
• Treatment Outcome
• Time and Motion Studies
• Exercise Therapy/methods
• Pain
• Collagen

• cartilage
• exercise
• irisin
• joint motion
• lubricin
• muscles
• osteoarthritis
• tribology

• PIACERI - NATURE-OA 20-22 University of Catania

• Safety
• hyaluronic acid
• intra-articular injection
• knee
• osteoarthritis

• Cohort Studies
• Humans
• Hyaluronic Acid/adverse effects
• Injections, Intra-Articular
• Knee Joint
• Osteoarthritis, Knee/drug therapy
• Prospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome

• FOXO1
• PGC-1α.
• Phosphocreatine
• SIRT1
• hydrogen peroxide
• osteoblastic activities

Whole-body vibration (WBV) is commonly applied in exercise and rehabilitation and its safety issues have been a major concern. Vibration measured using accelerometers can be used to further analyze the vibration transmissibility. Optimal bending angles and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) evaluations have not been sufficiently explored to mitigate the adverse effect. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate the effect of various knee flexion angles on the transmissibility to the head and knee, the RPE during WBV exposure, and the link between the transmissibility to the head and the RPE. Sixteen participants randomly performed static squats with knee flexion angles of 90, 110, 130, and 150 degrees on a WBV platform. Three accelerometers were fixed on the head, knee, and center of the vibration platform to provide data of platform-to-head and platform-to-knee transmissibilities. The results showed that the flexion angle of 110 degrees induced the lowest platform-to-head transmissibility and the lowest RPE (p < 0.01). A positive correlation between RPE and the platform-to-head transmissibility was observed. This study concluded that a knee flexion of about 110 degrees is most appropriate for reducing vibration transmissibility. The reported RPE could be used to reflect the vibration impact to the head.

• RPE
• exercise
• knee
• subjective measurement
• vibration

• Exercise
• Humans
• Muscle, Skeletal
• Physical Exertion
• Posture
• Range of Motion, Articular
• Vibration

• X-ray diffraction
• bone mineral density
• bone nanocomposites
• bone remodeling
• glucocorticosteroids
• osteoporosis
• whole body vibration

For decades, the osteogenic effect from different physical activities on bone in rodents remained uncertain. This literature review presents for the first time the effects on five exercise models (treadmill running, wheel running, swimming, resistance training and vibration modes) in three different experimental rat groups (males, females, osteopenic) on bone quality. The bone parameters presented are bone mineral density, micro-architectural and mechanical properties, and osteoblast/osteocyte and osteoclast parameters. This review shows that physical activities have a positive effect (65% of the results) on bone status, but we clearly observed a difference amongst the different protocols. Even if treadmill running is the most used protocol, the resistance training constitutes the first exercise model in term of osteogenic effects (87% of the whole results obtained on this model). The less osteogenic model is the vibration mode procedure (31%). It clearly appears that the gender plays a role on the bone response to swimming and wheel running exercises. Besides, we did not observe negative results in the osteopenic population with impact training, wheel running and vibration activities. Moreover, about osteoblast/osteocyte parameters, we conclude that high impact and resistance exercise (such jumps and tower climbing) seems to increase bone formation more than running or aerobic exercise. Among the different protocols, literature has shown that the treadmill running procedure mainly induces osteogenic effects on the viability of the osteocyte lineage in both males and females or ovariectomized rats; running in voluntary wheels contributes to a negative effect on bone metabolism in older male models; whole-body vertical vibration is not an osteogenic exercise in female and ovariectomized rats; whereas swimming provides controversial results in female models. For osteoclast parameters only, running in a voluntary wheel for old males, the treadmill running program at high intensity in ovariectomized rats, and the swimming program in a specific ovariectomy condition have detrimental consequences.

• bone macro and microarchitecture
• bone quality
• mechanical properties
• osteocyte/osteoclast
• physical exercise
• rats

The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic, immune-mediated disorders of the digestive tract. IBD is considered to be a risk factor for developing osteoporosis; however current literature on this matter is inconsistent.

To assess prevalence and development of osteoporosis and low bone mineral density (BMD), and its risk factors, in IBD patients.

Systematic review of population-based studies. Studies were identified by electronic (January 2018) and manual searches (May 2018). Databases searched included EMBASE and PubMed and abstracts from 2014-2018 presented at the United European Gastroenterology Week, the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation congress, and Digestive Disease Week were screened. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they investigated either the prevalence of osteoporosis or osteopenia and/or risk factors for osteoporosis or low BMD in IBD patients. Studies on children under the age of 18 were excluded. Only population-based studies were included. All risk factors for osteoporosis and low BMD investigated in any included article were considered. Study quality and the possibility of bias were analysed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale.

Twelve studies including 3661 IBD patients and 12789 healthy controls were included. Prevalence of osteoporosis varied between 4%-9% in studies including both CD and UC patients; 2%-9% in studies including UC patients, and 7%-15% in studies including CD patients. Among healthy controls, prevalence of osteoporosis was 3% and 10% in two studies. CD diagnosis, lower body mass index (BMI), and lower body weight were risk factors associated with osteoporosis or low BMD. Findings regarding gender showed inconsistent results. CD patients had an increased risk for osteoporosis or low BMD over time, while UC patients did not. Increased age was associated with decreased BMD, and there was a positive association between weight and BMI and BMD over time. Great heterogeneity was found in the included studies in terms of study methodologies, definitions and the assessment of osteoporosis, and only a small number of population-based studies was available.

This systematic review found a possible increase of prevalence of osteoporosis in CD cohorts when compared to UC and cohorts including both disease types. Lower weight and lower BMI were predictors of osteoporosis or low BMD in IBD patients. The results varied considerably between studies.

• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Osteoporosis
• Systematic review
• Epidemiology
• Bone mineral density

• Bone Density
• Child
• Colitis, Ulcerative/epidemiology
• Humans
• Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/complications
• Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/epidemiology
• Osteoporosis/diagnostic imaging
• Osteoporosis/epidemiology
• Prevalence
• Risk Factors

• Chondrocytes
• HOTAIR
• Osteoarthritis
• lncRNAs

The extracellular matrix (ECM) comprises of many structural molecules that constitute the extracellular environment. ECM molecules are characterized by specific features like diversity, complexity and signaling, which are also results of improvement or development of disease mediated by some physiological changes. Several drugs have also been used to manage diseases and they have been reported to modulate ECM assembly, including physiological changes, beyond their primary targets and ECM metabolism. This review highlights the alteration of ECM environment for diseases and effect of different classes of drugs like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, immune suppressant drug, steroids on ECM or its components. Thus, it is summarized from previously conducted researches that diseases can be managed by targeting specific components of ECM which are involved in the pathophysiology of diseases. Moreover, the drug delivery focused on targeting the ECM components also has the potential for the discovery of targeted and site specific release of drugs. Therefore, ECM or its components could be future targets for the development of new drugs for controlling various disease conditions including neurodegenerative diseases and cancers.

• Disease
• Drug target
• Extracellular matrix
• Pharmacotherapeutics

• HIF-1α
• Hypoxia
• JNK
• Osteoclastogenesis
• Osteocyte apoptosis
• caspase-3

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common disease, which seriously affects the daily life of the elderly. Currently, no traditional or drug therapy has been shown to explicitly block the progression of OA. Salidroside (Sal) is a bioactive component of Rhodiola rosea, which has many beneficial effects on human health. However, the role and mechanism of Sal in OA have not been reported.

We established an anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT)-induced OA Rat model. The rats were divided into five groups (n = 10): Control group; ACLT group; ACLT + Sal (12.5 mg/kg) group; ACLT + Sal (25 mg/kg) group; ACLT + Sal (50 mg/kg) group.

The study showed that Sal could significantly promote the proliferation of chondrocytes in OA rats induced by ACLT and restore the histological alteration of cartilage. Besides, Sal upregulated the levels of Collagen II and Aggrecan, and downregulated the level of MMP-13. Furthermore, Sal could reduce the number of CD4+IL-17⁺ cells and decrease the levels of IL-17, IKBα and p65, while elevating the number of CD4+IL-10⁺ cells and the level of IL-10. The decrease of IL-17 further inhibited the dissociation of IKBα to p65, thus reducing the release of TNF-α and VCAM-1. Taken together, Sal alleviates cartilage degeneration through promoting chondrocytes proliferation, inhibiting collagen fibrosis, and regulating inflammation and immune responses via NF-κB pathway in ACLT-induced OA Rats.

Collectively, our study investigates the role and mechanism of Sal in OA, which lays a foundation for the application of Sal in OA.

• NF-κB
• cartilage degeneration
• collagen fibrosis
• immune responses
• inflammation
• osteoarthritis
• salidroside

• DMM
• NLRP3
• OA
• Rapamycin
• autophagy

• MMP-1
• MMP-13
• MMP-2
• MMP-9
• arthroplasty
• lubricin
• matrix metalloproteinases
• osteoarthritis
• tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases
• vEGF

• Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide
• disease progression
• hyaluronic acid injection
• knee osteoarthritis

• Cartilage, Articular/diagnostic imaging
• Disease Progression
• Female
• Humans
• Hyaluronic Acid/metabolism
• Interleukin-1beta/genetics
• Interleukin-1beta/metabolism
• Male
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 3/metabolism
• Middle Aged
• Neuroprotective Agents/metabolism
• Osteoarthritis, Knee
• Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide/metabolism
• Synovial Fluid/metabolism
• Synoviocytes/metabolism

• Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation, China
• Foshan Medical Science and Technology Project

• body height
• bone density
• cheese
• children
• dairy product
• growth and development
• milk
• yogurt

• Adolescent
• Adolescent Health
• Animals
• Bone Density/drug effects
• Bone and Bones/drug effects
• Calcium, Dietary/pharmacology
• Child
• Child Health
• Dairy Products
• Diet
• Dietary Proteins/pharmacology
• Feeding Behavior
• Humans
• Milk/chemistry
• Vitamin D/pharmacology
• Vitamins

As most of the existing whole-body vibration (WBV) training programs provide vertical or rotatory vibration, studies on the effects of horizontal vibration have rarely been reported. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of WBV in the horizontal direction on balance and gait ability in chronic stroke survivors.

This study was designed as a randomized controlled trial. Twenty-one stroke survivors were randomly allocated into 2 groups (whole-body vibration group [n=9] and control group [n=12]). In the WBV group, WBV training in the horizontal direction was conducted for 6 weeks, and a conventional rehabilitation for 30 min, 3 days per week for a 6-week period, was conducted in both the WBV and control groups. Outcome variables included the static balance and gait ability measured before training and after 6 weeks.

On comparing the outcome variables before and after training in the WBV group, significant differences were observed in the cadence and single support time of gait ability. However, there were no significant differences in other variables, including velocity, step length, stride length, and double support time. In addition, after training, no significant differences in all variables were observed between the 2 groups.

The results of this study suggest that WBV training in the horizontal direction has few positive effects on balance and gait function in chronic stroke survivors. However, further investigation is needed to confirm this.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of moderate physical activity (MPA) on the expression of osteoarthritis (OA)-related (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MMP-13) and anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective (IL-4, IL-10, lubricin) biomarkers in the synovium of an OA-induced rat model. A total of 32 rats were divided into four groups: Control rats (Group 1); rats performing MPA (Group 2); anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT)-rats with OA (Group 3); and, ACLT-rats performing MPA (Group 4). Analyses were performed using Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) staining, histomorphometry and immunohistochemistry. In Group 3, OA biomarkers were significantly increased, whereas, IL-4, IL-10, and lubricin were significantly lower than in the other experimental groups. We hypothesize that MPA might partake in rescuing type B synoviocyte dysfunction at the early stages of OA, delaying the progression of the disease.

• interleukins
• lubricin
• osteoarthritis
• physical activity
• synovium

• Animals
• Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries/complications
• Cytokines/metabolism
• Disease Models, Animal
• Interleukin-10/metabolism
• Interleukin-1beta/metabolism
• Interleukin-4/metabolism
• Interleukin-6/metabolism
• Male
• Osteoarthritis, Knee/metabolism
• Osteoarthritis, Knee/prevention & control
• Physical Conditioning, Animal/methods
• Rats
• Synoviocytes/metabolism
• Transcription Factors/metabolism
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism

• Triennial Research Plan 2016-2018 University Research Project Grant, University of Catania- BIOMETEC

• Finite element modelling
• Knee osteoarthritis
• Post-bracing effects
• Quantitative imaging
• Unloader knee brace

The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of Tai chi (TC) as an adjuvant treatment for osteopenia and primary osteoporosis.

We went through eight databases to identify relevant randomized controlled trials that compared TC with a control group. The primary outcome was osteoporosis-related fractures (fracture incidence). Meta-analyses and trial sequential analyses (TSA) were conducted using RevMan 5.3 and TSA 0.9.

Fifteen randomized controlled trials involving a total of 857 patients were included in the analyses. No trials reported primary outcome; however, bone mineral density (BMD) values differed significantly in subgroup 1 (TC vs no treatment; weighted mean difference [WMD] =0.05 g/cm², 95% CI 0.03 to 0.07; P<0.00001; P for heterogeneity =0.22, I²=22%) and subgroup 2 (TC vs conventional treatments; WMD =0.16 g/cm², 95% CI 0.11 to 0.21; P<0.00001; P for heterogeneity =0.008, I²=75%). In addition, two trials compared TC with conventional treatments, which found a significant difference in bone gla protein (standardized mean difference =−1.18, 95% CI −1.66 to −0.70; P<0.00001; P for heterogeneity =0.58, I²=75%). The results of the BMD were confirmed by TSA. Also, TC may have a certain effect on the relief of osteoporotic pain (WMD = −2.61, 95% CI −3.51 to −1.71; WMD = −1.39, 95% CI −2.01 to −0.77). However, it did not promote the quality of life, level of serum calcium, serum phosphorus, and also had no effect on bone turnover markers.

Although there is no study monitoring fracture incidence, TC may be beneficial for patients in improving BMD values, level of bone gla protein, and relieving osteoporotic pain. However, due to the low methodological quality, current evidence for treating osteopenia and primary osteoporosis through TC is insufficient.

• Tai chi
• evidence based medicine
• osteopenia
• primary osteoporosis
• trial sequential analyses

• Cognitive function
• Osteoarthritis
• Physical activity
• Sedentary behaviour

• Actigraphy/instrumentation
• Aged
• Biomechanical Phenomena
• British Columbia
• Cognition
• Exercise
• Exercise Therapy/methods
• Female
• Fitness Trackers
• Humans
• Knee Joint/physiopathology
• Male
• Memory, Episodic
• Memory, Short-Term
• Middle Aged
• Neuropsychological Tests
• Osteoarthritis, Knee/diagnosis
• Osteoarthritis, Knee/physiopathology
• Osteoarthritis, Knee/psychology
• Osteoarthritis, Knee/therapy
• Proof of Concept Study
• Range of Motion, Articular
• Recovery of Function
• Sedentary Behavior
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome

• F14-03974 Canadian Institutes of Health Research
• Jack Brown and Family Alzheimer's Research Foundation

• arthrose
• genou
• gonarthrose
• gonarthrosis
• hydrogen sulfide
• intra-articulaire
• intra-articular
• knee
• meniscectomy
• methylprednisolone
• méniscectomie
• osteoarthritis
• sulfure d’hydrogène

Homoisoflavanone-1 is a natural compound that may be extracted from the Chinese medicinal herb Polygonatum odoratum, which has pronounced antioxidant activities. The present study reports that homoisoflavanone-1 significantly inhibited tumor cell growth and induced apoptosis in A549 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells in a dose-dependent manner. Homoisoflavanone-1 arrested the cell cycle at the G2/M stage, which was associated with an increase in the accumulation of phosphorylated (p-)p38, p38, p53, and p-cyclin dependent kinase (Cdc)2 proteins, as well as a decrease in Cdc2 expression. In addition, treatment with homoisoflavanone-1 increased the levels of active caspase-3 and decreased Poly ADP-ribose polymerase, which was accompanied by a reduction in the B-cell lymphoma-2/Bak ratio and consequently, apoptosis. Furthermore, homoisoflavanone-1 increased the expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related proteins, including PERK, ATF4 and GADD34 in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, homoisoflavanone-1 induced apoptosis in A549 cells by regulating the mitochondria-caspase-dependent and ER stress pathways and resulted in G2/M arrest by activating the p38/p53 signaling pathway. These findings suggest that homoisoflavanone-1 extracted from Polygonatum odoratum may function as a cancer-suppressing agent and has potential as a novel therapeutic method against NSCLC.

• A549 cells
• apoptosis
• homoisoflavanone-1
• immunoblot

• Apoptosis
• MMP-13
• NADPH oxidase 4
• p38 MAPK

• Adult
• Apoptosis/drug effects
• Cells, Cultured
• Chondrocytes/metabolism
• Chondrocytes/pathology
• Female
• Glucocorticoids/pharmacology
• Humans
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 13/genetics
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 13/metabolism
• NADPH Oxidase 4/genetics
• NADPH Oxidase 4/metabolism
• Phosphorylation
• Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism
• Signal Transduction
• Young Adult
• p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics
• p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism

• apoptosis
• cell viability
• long non-coding RNA ROR
• osteoarthritis
• p53

• Articular
• CCN3/Nov
• Cartilage phenotype
• Chondrocytes
• Osteoarthritis

• Animals
• Cartilage, Articular/metabolism
• Cartilage, Articular/pathology
• Cell Differentiation/drug effects
• Cells, Cultured
• DNA Transposable Elements/genetics
• Extremities/pathology
• Gelatin/chemistry
• Glycoproteins/metabolism
• Humans
• Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate/chemistry
• Iodoacetic Acid
• Male
• Mice
• Nephroblastoma Overexpressed Protein/metabolism
• Osteoarthritis/metabolism
• Osteoarthritis/pathology
• Phenotype
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Recombinant Proteins/pharmacology
• Tenascin/metabolism

• Chronic musculoskeletal degenerative diseases
• Inflammation
• Osteoarthritis
• Signaling pathways
• Small molecule
• Tendinopathy

• Articular cartilage
• Cartilage matrix
• Mechanical vibration
• Osteoarthritis
• Ovariectomized rats
• Strontium ranelate

• 4-Phenylbutyric acid
• Endoplasmic reticulum stress
• Glucocorticoid
• Osteoblasts

• Animals
• Apoptosis/drug effects
• Butylamines/pharmacology
• Caspase 3/metabolism
• Cell Line
• Dexamethasone/adverse effects
• Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP
• Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress/drug effects
• Glucocorticoids/adverse effects
• Humans
• Mice
• Mitochondria/drug effects
• Mitochondria/metabolism
• Osteoblasts/drug effects
• Osteoblasts/metabolism
• Osteoblasts/pathology
• Phenylbutyrates/pharmacology
• Thapsigargin/pharmacology

• Adipose tissue
• Apoptosis
• Cartilage
• Chondrocytes
• Collagen cell carrier scaffold
• Lubricin
• Mesenchymal stem cells
• RUNX2
• Regeneration

• AGE
• BIOMECHANICS
• CARTILAGE
• CYTOKINES
• OSTEOARTHRITIS

• Biomechanics
• Bone regeneration
• Bone remodelling
• Bone volume (BV)
• Fracture healing
• Histology
• Micro-CT (μCT)
• Tissue mineral density (TMD)

• Inflammation
• Joint injury
• Lubricin
• Osteoarthritis
• Pro-inflammatory cytokines

Osteoarthritis is the most common human arthritis characterized by degeneration of articular cartilage. Several studies reported that levels of human cartilage glycoprotein chitinase 3-like-1 (CHI3L1) are known as a potential marker for the activation of chondrocytes and the progression of Osteoarthritis (OA), whereas lubricin appears to be chondroprotective. The aim of this study was to investigate the co-expression and co-localization of CHI3L1 and lubricin in normal and osteoarthritic rat articular cartilage to correlate their modified expression to a specific grade of OA. Samples of normal and osteoarthritic rat articular cartilage were analyzed by the Kellgren–Lawrence OA severity scores, the Kraus’ modified Mankin score and the Histopathology Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) system for histomorphometric evaluations, and through CHI3L1 and lubricin gene expression, immunohistochemistry and double immuno-staining analysis. The immunoexpression and the mRNA levels of lubricin increased in normal cartilage and decreased in OA cartilage (normal vs. OA, p < 0.01). By contrast, the immunoexpression and the mRNA levels of CHI3L1 increased in OA cartilage and decreased in normal cartilage (normal vs. OA, p < 0.01). Our findings are consistent with reports suggesting that these two glycoproteins are functionally associated with the development of OA and in particular with grade 2/3 of OA, suggesting that in the future they could be helpful to stage the severity and progression of the disease.

• CHI3L1
• Immunohistochemistry
• Lubricin
• Osteoarthritis
• anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT)
• mRNA

• Animals
• Bone Marrow Cells/cytology
• Bone Marrow Cells/metabolism
• Cartilage/metabolism
• Cell Differentiation
• Cells, Cultured
• Chondrogenesis
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Glycoproteins/biosynthesis
• Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism
• Humans
• Knee Joint/physiopathology
• Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation/methods
• Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism
• Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
• Proteoglycans/biosynthesis
• Proteoglycans/metabolism
• RNA, Messenger/metabolism
• Rats
• Rats, Transgenic
• Regeneration
• X-Ray Microtomography

Physical activity covers not just sports but also simple everyday movements such as housework, walking and playing. Regular exercise has a great importance in maintaining good health, indeed inactivity is a risk factor for different chronic diseases. Physical exercise can play a crucial role in the treatment of rheumatic diseases, optimizing both physical and mental health, enhancing energy, decreasing fatigue and improving sleep. An exercise program for patients with rheumatic diseases aims to preserve or restore a range of motion of the affected joints, to increase muscle strength and endurance, and to improve mood and decrease health risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle. In this editorial I describe the benefits of the exercise on physical limitations and fatigue in rheumatic diseases that seem to have a short and long-term effectiveness. A literature review was conducted on PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar using appropriate keywords based on the present editorial.

• Physical activity
• Physiatric rehabilitation therapy
• Rheumatic diseases
• Flexibility training
• Home exercise program
• Knee osteoarthtritis