Journal of Clinical Medicine

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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It has been known for some time that population aging is accelerating rapidly: according to data in the literature, in 2004, the world population over the age of 65 was 461 million, and this is expected to increase to 2 billion by 2050. This event inevitably correlates with an increase in aging-related diseases, which will require the adequate planning and delivery of health and social care. Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis rank among the major aging-related diseases, as during this process, there is a decrease in the strength and quality of bone tissue which can sometimes accompany the concomitant tissue degeneration of articular cartilage typical of osteoarthritis, which can occur both in old age and in adulthood, around 40-50 years of age. A decrease in bone mineral density, very frequently, is needed in parallel with a progressive loss of muscle mass, strength, and function, a scenario which characterizes a newly defined syndrome known as osteosarcopenia. In addition, osteometabolic disorders also include osteomalacia, characterized by a defect in matrix mineralization which means the bone lacks sufficient amounts of minerals and consequently makes it fragile and susceptible to fractures, malformations, and pain. Numerous molecular mechanisms have been identified which may be potentially involved in the onset and progression of these diseases. According to recent evidence, cellular senescence plays a key role in this context, as the accumulation of senescent cells appears to impair the ability of tissues to regenerate, establishing a state of chronic low-grade inflammation typical of these pathologies, which, associated with aging, is called inflammaging. The purpose of this Special Issue is to direct research toward a deeper understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of the major aging-related pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, focusing on the investigation of potential new mechanisms underlying the onset of these pathologies, especially those that prominently involve cellular senescence, investigating both clinical aspects, related to diagnostic and therapeutic strategies and basic science.

Prof. Dr. Umberto Tarantino
Guest Editor

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Keywords

osteoporosis
sarcopenia
osteoarthritis
osteomalacia
fragility fracture
bone biology
muscle biology
cartilage biology
cellular senescence
inflammaging
genetic/epigenetic factors in bone metabolism
therapeutic treatment
prevention strategies
clinic complications

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1040 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predictors, Protective Factors, and Adverse Outcomes of Joint Pain among Malaysian Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Findings from the LRGS-TUA Longitudinal Study

by Theng Choon Ooi, Nurul Fatin Malek Rivan, Suzana Shahar, Nor Fadilah Rajab, Munirah Ismail and Devinder Kaur Ajit Singh

J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(10), 2854; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13102854 - 12 May 2024

Viewed by 354

Abstract

Background: Joint pain has been recognized as one of the major causes of limitations in mobility, functional decline, and consequently declined quality of life in older adults. Hence, this study aimed to identify the predictors, protective factors, and adverse outcomes of joint pain in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: In this Long-term Research Grant Scheme—Towards Useful Ageing (LRGS-TUA) longitudinal study, a total of 1005 older participants aged 60 years and above who were successfully followed up after five years were included in the analysis. The participants self-reported their joint pain status at baseline and during the fifth year. Subsequently, the baseline characteristics were used to predict changes in joint pain status. Adverse outcomes related to joint pain were evaluated based on the participants’ joint pain statuses. Results: Results showed that being female, having diabetes mellitus, and higher body mass index were associated with the incidence of joint pain. Meanwhile, increased intake of pantothenic acid and higher levels of blood albumin levels were associated with recovery from joint pain. Participants with persistent joint pain at baseline and follow-up showed higher levels of depression and disability compared to individuals who never experience any joint pain. However, participants who had recovered from joint pain did not differ significantly from those without joint pain at baseline and follow-up in these measures. Conclusions: By identifying the modifiable risk factors, factors associated with recovery, and adverse outcomes related to joint pain, this study adds to current evidence that may contribute to further management strategies for joint pain in older adults. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The World of the Elderly: Aging-Related Diseases of Bone, Muscle, and Cartilage)

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12 pages, 935 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Discovering the Physio-Pathological Mechanisms of Interaction between Bone Mineral Density, Muscle Mass, and Visceral Adipose Tissue in Female Older Adults through Structural Equation Modeling

by Simone Perna, Clara Gasparri, Sabika Allehdan, Antonella Riva, Giovanna Petrangolini, Cinzia Ferraris, Davide Guido, Tariq A. Alalwan and Mariangela Rondanelli

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(6), 2269; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12062269 - 15 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1332

Abstract

This study aims to examine the relation between visceral adipose tissue (VAT), as a proxy for metabolically unhealthy obesity, muscle, as a proxy for muscle quality and sarcopenia, and bone, as a proxy for bone mineral density and osteoporosis. Other variables, such metabolic syndrome, nutritional status, number of diseases, kidney and liver function and inflammation were assessed as direct or indirect effects. This study used structural equation modeling (SEM) in a sample of 713 older women (mean age 82.1 ± 6.3). The results indicate a positive statistically significant association between bone and muscle mass (β = 0.195, <0.001) and nutritional status and muscle mass (β = 0.139, p < 0.001), but negative association between age with muscle mass (β = −0.509, p < 0.001) and nutritional status (estimates: −2.264, p < 0.001). A negative association between VAT and muscle mass was also reported (β = −1.88, p < 0.001). A negative statistically significant association was reported between bone mineral density and functional status (β = −1.081, p < 0.001), and a positive association between functional status and muscle mass (β = 9.000, p < 0.001). In addition, functional status was positively statistically associated with cognitive performance (β = 0.032, p < 0.001). The SEM method demonstrates that the VAT, muscle mass and bone mineral density are associated, but the form of the relation is different in relation to different factors, such as nutritional status, mental and functional status, age, and number of pathologies, having different impacts on metabolic outcomes. SEM is a feasible technique for understanding the complex mechanisms of frailty in the elderly. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The World of the Elderly: Aging-Related Diseases of Bone, Muscle, and Cartilage)

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