Background Understanding interactions between bone and muscle based on endocrine factors may help elucidate the relationship between osteoporosis and sarcopenia. However, whether the abundance or activity of these endocrine factors is affected by age and sex or whether these factors play a causal role in bone and muscle formation and function is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the association of serum bone- and muscle-derived factors with age, sex, body composition, and physical function in community-dwelling middle-aged and elderly adults. Methods In all, 254 residents (97 men, 157 women) participated in this cross-sectional study conducted in Japan. The calcaneal speed of sound (SOS) was evaluated by quantitative ultrasound examination. Skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) was calculated by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Grip strength was measured using a dynamometer. Gait speed was measured by optical-sensitive gait analysis. Serum sclerostin, osteocalcin (OC), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), myostatin, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRACP-5b) concentrations were measured simultaneously. The difference by sex was determined using t test. Correlations between serum bone- and muscle-derived factors and age, BMI, SOS, SMI, grip strength, gait speed, and TRACP-5b in men and women were determined based on Pearson’s correlation coefficients. Multiple regression analysis was performed using the stepwise method. Results There was no significant difference with regard to age between men (75.0 ± 8.9 years) and women (73.6 ± 8.1 years). Sclerostin was significantly higher in men than in women and tended to increase with age in men; it was significantly associated with SOS and TRACP-5b levels. OC was significantly higher in women than in men and was significantly associated with TRACP-5b levels and age. IGF-1 tended to decrease with age in both sexes and was significantly associated with SOS and body mass index. Myostatin did not correlate with any assessed variables. Conclusions Sclerostin was significantly associated with sex, age, and bone metabolism, although there was no discernable relationship between serum sclerostin levels and muscle function. There was no obvious relationship between OC and muscle parameters. This study suggests that IGF-1 is an important modulator of muscle mass and function and bone metabolism in community-dwelling middle-aged and elderly adults.

The key finding of the present study suggests that sarcopenia is a risk factor for falling in older adults who are living independently even after adjustment for previous falls and confounding factors. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 2124-2130.

No abstract

We report a case of a 65-year-old man with rare prostatic stromal sarcoma in which suprapubital radical prostatectomy was performed, but neither chemotherapy nor radiation therapy were administered before or after the operation. The well-circumscribed tumor, measuring 5 cm in diameter, showed a homogeneous white grayish cut surface with a hard consistency. Histopathologically, the tumor consisted mainly of medium-sized rounded cells with a sarcomatous and epithelioid appearance intermingled with collagen fiber. Hyalinized foci were also noted in the tumor. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the tumor cells were diffusely positive for vimentin and focally positive for progesterone receptor and CD34, but not for EMA, cytokeratin or estrogen receptor. No recurrence or distant metastasis of the tumor has occurred in 8 years of follow up. The tumor was diagnosed as prostatic stromal sarcoma (PSS) showing epithelioid differentiation and of a progesterone-dependent nature. Possible favorable nature of the PSS might be expected after complete resection.

Background/purposeDysphagia may worsen due to fatigue of the infrahyoid and suprahyoid muscle groups as a result of repetitive swallowing during a meal. We investigated the hypothesis that meal consumption may reduce tongue strength and endurance in older adults (OAs).MethodsTongue–palate pressure, oral diadochokinesis, repetitive saliva swallowing, and surface electromyography activity before and after a meal were measured in 23 young adults (YAs) and 23 OA volunteers.ResultsThere was a statistically significant difference in both tongue pressure and the number of voluntary swallows between YAs and OAs. Peak tongue pressure was significantly lower in OAs than YAs both before and after meal consumption. The most notable finding was that the first time interval (the time from test initiation to the beginning of the first swallow) was prolonged after meal consumption only in OAs, whereas the first time interval showed no difference between YAs and OAs before meal consumption with reference to the repetitive saliva swallowing test. The initiation of swallowing was prolonged by both meal consumption and aging; there was a significant interaction between these two factors. The number of repetitions of the monosyllable/pa/was statistically similar between YAs and OAs before meal consumption, but it was significantly lower in OAs after meal consumption.ConclusionAging leads to declining tongue pressure and motor function of the lips. It is possible that swallowing function declines in older individuals when meal consumption is prolonged, especially at the end of mealtime, as a result of their efforts in mastication and swallowing.

Background Muscle and bone interactions might be associated with osteoporosis and sarcopenia. Urinary pentosidine and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) might affect muscle and bone interactions. It is unclear whether these biomarkers are affected by age and sex or play a role in muscle and physical functions. We aimed to investigate the association between urinary pentosidine and serum 25(OH)D levels with muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance in community-dwelling adults. Methods Two-hundred and fifty-four middle-aged and elderly adults were enrolled. There was no significant difference in age between 97 men (75.0 ± 8.9 years) and 157 women (73.6 ± 8.1 years). The skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), grip strength, and gait speed were assessed. The urinary pentosidine level was measured. We evaluated the association of urinary pentosidine and serum 25(OH)D levels with age and sex (student’s t-test) and correlations between biomarker and each variable (Pearson’s correlation coefficients). Multiple regression analysis was performed with grip strength and gait speed as dependent variables and with age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), speed of sound (SOS), SMI, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), 25(OH)D, and pentosidine as independent variables using the stepwise method. Results The urinary pentosidine level was negatively correlated with grip strength, gait speed, eGFR, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in men and with SOS, grip strength, and gait speed in women. The serum 25(OH)D level was positively correlated with IGF-1 in women and grip strength in men. Grip strength was associated with age, height, and pentosidine in men and height and pentosidine in women. Gait speed was associated with age, BMI, and pentosidine in men and age, height, and pentosidine in women. Conclusion Urinary pentosidine levels are significantly associated with grip strength and gait speed and may serve as a biomarker of muscle and bone interactions.

Background Patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) may be at high risk of falls due to various factors. No effective fall risk assessments or fall prevention measures have been performed for patients with LSS because only a few studies have evaluated falls in these patients. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and preoperative predictors of falls within 12 months of surgery in patients with LSS. Methods In this prospective study of 82 consecutive preoperative patients with LSS, preoperative demographic data, previous fall history, leg pain, low back pain, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores, lower extremity muscle strength, walking speed, grip strength, and muscle mass were assessed at baseline. Falls were assessed at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after surgery. Participants were categorized as fallers and non-fallers and baseline variables were compared. Binomial logistic regression was used to identify predictors of falls within 12 months of surgery. Results Seventy-four patients (90.2%) completed the 12-month follow-up after surgery, of whom 24 patients (32.4%) experienced falls. A higher proportion of fallers were female and had a history of falls compared to non-fallers. Fallers had a significantly lower JOA score and a higher HADS-depression score compared to non-fallers. Fallers had significantly lower tibialis anterior muscle strength, gait speed, grip strength, and skeletal muscle mass index. Fallers had a higher prevalence of low muscle mass compared with non-fallers. The presence of low muscle mass was significantly predictive of falls within 12 months of surgery (odds ratio, 4.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–19.63). Conclusions Patients with LSS have a high incidence of falls after surgery and preoperative low muscle mass may be a predictor of postoperative falls.

No abstract