Certainty of the Global Burden of Disease 2019 Modelled Prevalence Estimates for Musculoskeletal Conditions: A Meta-Epidemiological Study

Potential mechanism of tea for treating osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis

Osteoporosis (OP), osteoarthritis (OA), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are common bone and joint diseases with a high incidence and long duration. Thus, these conditions can affect the lives of middle-aged and elderly people. Tea drinking is a traditional lifestyle in China, and the long-term intake of tea and its active ingredients is beneficial to human health. However, the mechanisms of action of tea and its active ingredients against OP, OA, and RA are not completely elucidated. This study aimed to assess the therapeutic role and related mechanisms of tea and its active ingredients in OP, OA, and RA. Moreover, it expanded the potential mechanisms of tea efficacy based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. Results showed that tea has potential anti-COX properties and hormone-like effects. Compared with a single component, different tea components synergize or antagonize each other, thereby resulting in a more evident dual effect. In conclusion, tea has great potential in the medical and healthcare fields. Nevertheless, further research on the composition, proportion, and synergistic mechanism of several tea components should be performed.

Proprioception and Mechanoreceptors in Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Literature Review

PURPOSE

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. It is frequently accompanied by high levels of persistent pain, as well as substantial impairments in function and functional capacity. This review aims to systematically analyze the changes in proprioception and related mechanoreceptors in OA patients.

METHODS

Studies from September 2013 to September 2023 were identified by conducting searches on the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus electronic databases following the PRISMA statement. One reviewer independently assessed and screened the literature, extracted the data, and graded the studies. The body of evidence underwent an evaluation and grading process using the ROBINS-I tool, which was specifically designed to assess the risk of bias in non-randomized studies of interventions. Results were summarized using descriptive methods.

RESULTS

A search through 37 studies yielded 14 clinical studies that were ultimately included. The primary focus of the studies was on the knee joint, particularly the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). The studies found that PCL in OA patients had impaired proprioceptive accuracy, possibly due to changes in mechanoreceptors (Ruffini, Pacini, and Golgi Mazzoni corpuscles). This suggests that dysfunctional articular mechanoreceptors, especially in severe cases of OA, may contribute to reduced proprioception. Dynamic stabilometry also identified significant proprioceptive deficits in patients with knee articular cartilage lesions, underscoring the impact of such lesions on knee proprioception.

CONCLUSIONS

Literature data have shown that proprioceptive accuracy may play an important role in OA, particularly in the knee PCL and cartilage. However, the role of proprioception and related mechanoreceptors needs to be further clarified. Future studies focusing on the relationship between proprioception, OA disease, and symptoms, considering age and gender differences, and exploring OA joints other than the knee should be conducted to improve clinical and surgical outcomes in cases where proprioception and mechanoreceptors are impaired in OA patients.

Effects of a Therapeutic Exercise Protocol for Patients with Chronic Non-Specific Back Pain in Primary Health Care: A Single-Group Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Back pain is highly prevalent; in Spain, it produces a very high economic cost and the scientific evidence supporting treatments shows low to moderate evidence for exercise. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a therapeutic group exercise protocol in reducing pain intensity and disability in patients with back pain in primary health care setting.

METHODS

A total sample of 149 patients who suffered from chronic non-specific back pain was selected. Patients received a therapeutic exercise protocol, including auto-mobilization exercises for the neck and lumbar regions, as well as core stabilization exercises. Pain intensity and disability were evaluated before and after the therapeutic exercise protocol.

RESULTS

Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were shown in pain intensity and disability for patients with non-specific neck and low-back pain, with an effect size from moderate to large.

CONCLUSIONS

A therapeutic exercise protocol may provide beneficial effects upon disability and pain intensity in patients with chronic non-specific back pain, including neck and low-back pain conditions In addition, It could be considered for inclusion as a back-pain-approach program in primary healthcare.

Mood instability and low back pain: a mendelian randomization study

Objective

Low back pain is a prevalent and debilitating condition worldwide, with significant implications for individuals' quality of life and productivity. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between mood instability and the risk of developing chronic low back pain, using a rigorously designed mendelian randomization methodology.

Method

The study incorporated both univariate and multivariate mendelian randomization to analysis the causal relationship between mood instability and the risk of developing chronic low back pain. The data on mood instability from the Integrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU) opened Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) project (IEU-opened GWAS project). Data on low back pain were collected from two sources: One source is the IEU open GWAS project (discovery data). Another source is a GWAS meta-analysis (replication data). Inverse variance weighted method, weighted median method, MR-Egger regression, and mendelian randomization pleiotropy residual sum and outlier method were used for mendelian randomization analysis.

Result

The univariable mendelian randomization analysis shows a statistically significant correlation between mood instability and the risk of low back pain. Several methods were performed, including inverse variance weighting (discovery data: odds ratio = 3.544, 95% confidence interval = 1.785-7.039, p = 0.000; replication data: odds ratio = 3.167, 95% confidence interval = 2.476-4.052, p = 0.000), MR-Egger (discovery data: odds ratio = 7.178, 95% confidence interval = 0.057-909.525, p = 0.429; replication data: odds ratio = 2.262, 95% confidence interval = 0.580-8.825, p = 0.246), weighted median (discovery data: odds ratio = 2.730, 95% confidence interval = 1.112-6.702, p = 0.028; replication data: odds ratio = 3.243, 95% confidence interval = 2.378-4.422, p = 0.000), MR-PRESSO (discovery data: odds ratio = 3.544, 95% confidence interval = 1.785-7.039, p = 0.001; replication data: odds ratio = 3.167, 95% confidence interval = 2.476-4.052, p = 0.000) methods. The results were consistent across these methods. The results obtained from discovery data are consistent with those obtained from discovery data. In the multivariable mendelian randomization, after adjusting for various covariates such as body mass index, current tobacco smoking, alcohol intake frequency, Total body bone mineral density, and vigorous physical activity, there is a consistent correlation between mood instability and chronic low back pain.

Conclusion

This study provides robust evidence supporting a causal relationship between mood instability and the development of low back pain. Our findings suggest that addressing mood instability may play a crucial role in prevention and management strategies for individuals experiencing low back pain.