Genetics of intervertebral disc disease: A review

Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a common musculoskeletal disease affecting about 5% of all individuals. It is characterized by lumbar disc herniation, which causes nerve root irritation, either mechanically or via inflammatory mediators, and results in radiating pain, known as sciatica. Numerous studies have been conducted to identify the causes and risk factors for IVDD. Lifting heavy loads, torsional stress, and motor vehicle driving are among the best-identified environmental risk factors. However, it has become evident recently from family and twin studies that genetic factors may also be important in IVDD. This hypothesis was strengthened by the identification of two collagen IX alleles associated with sciatica and lumbar disc herniation. In addition, disc degeneration has been shown to be related to an aggrecan gene polymorphism, a Vitamin D receptor and matrix metalloproteinase-3 gene alleles. This review highlights the genetic role and occupational aspects of IVDD.     

Association of quadriceps angle with plantar pressure distribution,navicular height and calcaneo-tibial angle

ObjectiveThe aim of study was to analyze the association between Quadriceps Angle (QA) and plantar pressure, navicular height (NH), and calcaneo-tibial angle (CTA).MethodsA total of 64 volunteers (mean age: 22.25 ± 2.54 (range:19–33)) participated in this cross sectional study. EMED-m (Novel GmbH, Germany) electronic pedobarograph was employed for dynamic plantar pressure measurement using two step protocol. The angle between the vertical axis of calcaneus and the long axis of Achilles tendon for CTA. The height of navicular tubercle from the ground was measured while the subject was standing on both feet for NH. QA was measured while the subject was standing in a relaxed posture where both feet bearing equal weight.ResultsThere were significant negative correlations between QA and maximum force (MxF) under the 4th. metatarsal head (MH4). The QA was also significantly correlated with MxF and force-time integral (FTI) under the bigtoe (BT). FTI under the 3rd. metatarsal head (MH3), MH4 and 5th. metatarsal head (MH5) were significantly negatively correlated with QA. Pressure-time integral (PTI) under the MH4 and MH5 were found to be significantly negatively correlated with QA. A significant correlation was also found between QA and NH (p < 0.0001), whilst there was no correlation between QA and CTA. Regression analysis showed that NH was appeared as the major contributor for the QA (β = −0.49, p < 0.001) in the dynamic condition, followed by BT-FTI (β = 0.37, p < 0.001) and MH5-MxF (β = −0.21, p < 0.037).ConclusionThese findings may imply that the NH which can at least be controlled by appropriate shoe inserts may affect QA. This way, loading pattern of both plantar region and whole lower extremity may be altered.Level of evidenceLevel III, Diagnostic Study.     

Heterogeneous effects of obesity on mental health: Evidence from Mexico

Obesity can spread more easily if it is not perceived negatively. This issue may be more pronounced among the poor, a conjecture that we test in this paper. We start with general evidence on the concave relationship between income and obesity, both across countries and within Mexico, a country characterized by very unequal development levels and the highest obesity rate in the world. We suggest a general model that explains this stylized fact from a simple necessary condition, namely, the complementarity between nonfood consumption and health concerns. Then, we test the direct effect of overweight on mental health among Mexican women. We find a positive effect of obesity in the low consumption group and a depressing effect among the rich. This result is robust to the inclusion of a range of confounders (childhood conditions, lifestyle variables, food expenditure, and household shocks) and after instrumenting individual fatness by the variation in genetic predisposition. The complementarity between living standards and weight concerns may reflect different norms, different labor market penalties, or simply different returns to healthy time across the social spectrum.     

以胸大肌肱骨止点确定肱骨假体高度的临床体会

目的探讨胸大肌肌腱肱骨止点(pectoralismajor tendon,PMT)上缘作为半肩置换术中假体高度定位参考的临床应用。方法2014年1月至2014年12月间行切开解剖复位钢板内固定的肱骨近端骨折病例12例,男4例,女8例;年龄56~72岁,平均(65.3±5.2)岁。测量PMT上缘到肱骨头最高点的平均距离为(5.21±0.42)cm。2015年1月至2018年12月的38例老年严重肱骨近端骨折行半肩置换的患者,参照PMT上缘到肱骨头最高点的距离5.2 cm确定肱骨假体高度,男7例,女31例;年龄60~82岁,平均(72.0±6.5)岁。术后3个月拍摄双侧肱骨全长X线片并测量长度,比较双侧差异是否有统计学意义。根据对侧肱骨长度(humeruslength,HL),采用HL×0.176计算PMT到肱骨头最高点距离,与(5.21±0.42)cm比较差异是否有统计学意义。结果所有患者均随访3个月,半肩置换侧肱骨全长与对侧肱骨全长分别为(32.41±2.47)cm、(31.93±2.82)cm,比较差异无统计学意义。根据对侧HL×0.176计算PMT到肱骨头最高点距离为(5.61±2.82)cm,与(5.21±0.42)cm比较差异无统计学意义。结论PMT可以作为肱骨假体高度的可靠参照,PMT上缘到肱骨头最高点距离为(5.21±0.42)cm,可以作为参考数值之一。     

云南省七个民族学生月经初潮、首次遗精与形态发育的关系

目的 了解云南省7个民族学生月经初潮和首次遗精与形态发育之间的关系,为研究学生生长发育规律和开展青春期性教育提供依据。方法 利用2014年全国学生体质健康调研数据,分析云南省7个民族学生月经初潮和首次遗精对身高、体重、胸围和维尔维克指数的影响。结果 男生性成熟年龄晚于女生,2014年云南省7个民族女生月经初潮半数年龄最小为汉族(12.28岁)、傣族(12.40岁),最大为哈尼族(13.06岁)、傈僳族(13.04岁),男生首次遗精半数年龄最小为佤族(13.43岁)、纳西族(14.01)岁,最大为傈僳族(15.29岁)、哈尼族(14.60岁);女生来潮组的形态发育状况好于未来潮组(P值均<0.05),男生已遗精组与未遗精组的差异,只有部分项目有统计学意义。结论 应针对不同性别、种族、地域特点,适时适量进行青春期性教育,加强少数民族学生的膳食营养,改变不合理膳食结构和饮食习惯,强化体育锻炼,更好地促进学生的生长发育。     

The role of protein intake in the relationship between egg consumption and body composition in young adults. A mediation analysis

Background & aimsTo date, the literature examining the effects of whole-egg consumption on health outcomes focuses primarily on cardiovascular health markers; however, a significant gap exists in the literature about how egg consumption may influence body composition indicators. The aim of this study was to estimate the association between egg consumption and body composition indicators and to examine whether this relationship is mediated by protein intake in young adults.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted involving 355 first-year university students (aged 18–30 years) from a Spanish public university. Body composition was measured using bioimpedance and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and fitness components were determined using the course-navette test. Egg consumption and protein intake (both in g/day/kg of body weight) were determined using a 137-item Food-Frequency Questionnaire. ANCOVA models were used to test the mean differences in body composition indicators (body mass index [BMI], ratio waist circumference/height [WC/height], body fat mass percentage, and body lean mass percentage) by egg consumption categories (<1 egg/week, 1–4 eggs/week, ≥5 eggs/week). Hayes's PROCESS macro was used for mediation analyses.ResultsParticipants reporting high egg consumption (≥5 eggs/week) showed significantly lower BMI, WC/height and body fat mass percentage values and higher body lean mass percentage values than those reporting low egg consumption (<1 egg/week) (p < 0.05). However, these relationships were not maintained after adjusting for protein intake. Protein intake acted as a full mediator of the relationships of egg consumption with BMI (indirect effect [IE] = ?1.19; 95% CI [?3.33; ?0.36]), WC/height (IE = ?0.01; 95% CI [?0.04; ?0.01]) and body lean mass percentage (IE = 2.99; 95% CI [1.26; 5.73]) as a partial mediator of the relationship be-tween egg consumption and body fat mass percentage (IE = ?2.19; 95% CI [?4.92; ?0.46]).ConclusionsThe association between egg consumption and body composition is mediated by protein intake. This finding is important from a public health perspective, suggesting that higher egg consumption (≥5 eggs/week) may lead to a healthier body composition, especially due to higher protein intake.     

推拿联合针灸治疗血瘀型腰椎间盘突出症的临床疗效观察

目的:观察推拿手法联合针灸对血瘀型腰椎间盘突出症的临床疗效。方法:选取2015年6月至2017年12月秦皇岛市中医医院收治的血瘀型腰椎间盘突出症患者100例作为研究对象,按照随机数字表法随机分为对照组和观察组,每组50例。对照组接受单纯针灸治疗,观察组在对照组基础上加用脊柱推拿手法,2组均以10次为1个疗程,连续治疗2个疗程。比较2组患者治疗前、治疗3 d、10 d后JOA评分系统(Japanese Orthopaedic Association Scores,JOA)、Oswestry功能障碍指数的变化、血小板计数、血浆凝血酶原时间(PT)、活化部分凝血酶原时间(APTT)、血栓弹力图及临床总有效率的变化、腰椎疼痛评分(VAS)、血清学指标、炎性因子的变化。结果:推拿手法联合针灸可明显改善血瘀型腰椎间盘突出症的JOA评分、Oswestry功能障碍指数及凝血状态,降低患者外周血SP、NPY、IL-1β、TNF-α水平,且具有时间依赖性。结论:推拿联合针灸可明显改善血瘀型腰椎间盘突出症症状,调节患者的高凝状态,该法具有一定的时间依赖性。