Proprioception-related gene mutations in relation to the aetiopathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis: A scoping review

Since idiopathic scoliosis is a multifactorial disorder, the proprioceptive defect is considered one of its etiological factors. Genetic studies have separately revealed this relationship, yet it remains indeterminate which specific genes that related to proprioception contributed to the initiation, progression, pathology, and treatment outcomes of the curvature. A systematic search was conducted on four online databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Academic search complete. Studies were included if they involved human or animal subjects with idiopathic scoliosis and evaluated with proprioceptive genes. The search period was the inception of the database to February 21, 2023. Four genes (i.e., Ladybird homeobox 1 [LBX1], Piezo type mechanosensitive ion channel component 2 [PIEZO2], Runx family transcription factor 3 [RUNX3], and neurotrophin 3 [NTF3]) investigated in 19 studies were included. LBX1 has confirmed the correlation with the development of idiopathic scoliosis in 10 ethnicities, whereas PIEZO2 has shown a connection with clinical proprioceptive tests in subjects with idiopathic scoliosis. However, curve severity was less likely to be related to the proprioceptive genes. The potential pathology took place at the proprioceptive neurons. Evidence of proprioception-related gene mutations in association with idiopathic scoliosis was established. Nevertheless, the causation between the initiation, progression, and treatment outcomes with proprioceptive defect requires further investigation.

Timely Revisit of Proprioceptive Deficits in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES

The present review aimed to summarize the evidence regarding differences in proprioception between children with and without adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

METHODS

Seven electronic databases were searched from their inception to April 10, 2021. Articles were included if they involved: (1) AIS patients aged between 10 and 18 years, (2) measurements of proprioceptive abilities, and (3) comparisons with non-AIS controls. Animal studies, case reports, commentaries, conference proceedings, research protocols, and reviews were excluded. Two reviewers independently conducted literature screening, data extraction, risks of bias assessments, and quality of evidence evaluations. Relevant information was pooled for meta-analyses.

RESULTS

From 432 identified citations, 11 case-control studies comprising 1121 participants were included. The meta-analyses showed that AIS participants displayed proprioceptive deficits as compared to non-AIS controls. Moderate evidence supported that AIS participants showed significantly larger repositioning errors than healthy controls (pooled mean difference = 1.27 degrees, P < .01). Low evidence substantiated that AIS participants had significantly greater motion detection threshold (pooled mean difference = 1.60 degrees, P < .01) and abnormal somatosensory evoked potentials (pooled mean difference = .36 milliseconds, P = .01) than non-AIS counterparts.

CONCLUSIONS

Consistent findings revealed that proprioceptive deficits occurred in AIS patients. Further investigations on the causal relationship between AIS and proprioception, and the identification of the subgroup of AIS patients with proprioceptive deficit are needed.

Cross-cultural adaptation of Cantonese (Hong Kong) Oswestry Disability Index version 2.1b

PURPOSE

Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was established by Fairbank in 1989 to assess functional disabilities in low back pain (LBP). It was last updated in 2019 as ODI version 2.1b (ODI AU_2.1b). ODI was first translated into Simplified Chinese Oswestry Disability Index (CODI) in 2008 by Lue. The construct validity, internal consistency, level of agreement and the floor and ceiling effects of CODI were found unclear by Yao in 2016. This study will verify how well the adapted Cantonese-Hong Kong Oswestry Disability Index version 2.1b (HKCODI) aligns with ODI AU_2.1b in the Southern Chinese population.

METHODS

The translation of ODI AU_2.1b was performed according to guidelines from MAPI Research Trust and American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Psychometric properties of HKCODI were tested statistically by Pearson's correlation, Cronbach's Alpha and Intraclass  Correlation  Coefficient (ICC).

RESULTS

A total of 200 subjects (109 males, 91 females) aged from 15 to 85 (mean age = 58.91) with LBP scored from 3/10 to 10/10 in the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were recruited in the Occupational Therapy Department of a tertiary referral center. HKCODI demonstrated strong construct validity in comparing with Hong Kong Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (HKRMDQ) (r = 0.666, p = 0.000), Short Form Health Survey (SF-36)  Physical Composite Summary (- 0.700, p = 0.000) and VAS (0.487, p = 0.000). Excellent internal consistency and test-retest reliability were confirmed with Cronbach's Alpha of 0.997 and ICC of 0.993 at 95% confidence level.

CONCLUSION

Cross-cultural adaptation of ODI AU_2.1b has been translated and validated as   HKCODI and Item-8 (Sex Life) was suggested to skip for patient older than 60. HKCODI is a fully self-administered and highly reliable tool in assessing the functional disability of patients with LBP in the Southern Chinese population.

Isokinetic and isometric lifting capacity of Chinese in relation to the physical demand of job

The aim of the study was to formulate normative data for the lifting capacities of a normal Chinese population, in order to establish a basic foundation for further studies and to investigate the relationship between individual attributes including age, gender, height, weight, job physical demand and each type of lifting capacity. Isokinetic and isometric lifting strength at low, waist and shoulder assessment levels were measured using the LIDO Workset II based on a sample of 93 normal Chinese adults (63 men and 30 women) between the ages of 21-51. The 50th percentile score for adult Chinese female's lifting strength was 17.71% lower than the American female while the adult Chinese male's lifting strength was 14.94% lower than the American male. Lifting forces were higher in the 20-40 year age group. The isometric work mode had considerable impact on the lifting capacities, with shoulder level having the highest lifting capacities. The gender and body weight had a significant positive correlation to lifting capacity while job physical demand had a moderate correlation. Age and body heights were weakly correlated to lifting capacity.