Purpose Low back pain (LBP) is one of the major disabling health conditions in aging societies presenting significant cost burdens to health and social care systems. Its complications and associated disability are often accompanied by mental disorders, metabolic comorbidities, changed body composition, and inflammation. However, their mutual relationships in LBP-associated disability remain unclear. Methods In the present case-control study, a self-report validated questionnaire was used to collect LBP disability data in an ethnically homogeneous Israeli Arab sample (489 males and 589 females). Body composition parameters were assessed through bioelectrical impedance analysis and plasma levels of soluble markers by EISA. Comorbidity status was assessed in personal interview and from the individual medical files. Results Our mixed multiple regression analysis identified that GDF-15 (β = 0.160, p = 2.95×10-8), vaspin (β = 0.085, p = 0.003), follistatin (β = 0.076, p = 0.001), extracellular water (β = 0.096, p = 0.001), waist hip ratio (β = 0.072, p = 0.009), mental disorders (β = 0.077, p = 0.001), and metabolic comorbidities (β = 0.059, p = 0.02) were significantly associated with LBP disability scores, when controlling for age and sex effects. Additive Bayesian network modelling further suggests that LBP disability appears to be directly influenced by age, sex, GDF-15, and extracellular water, and indirectly by mental and metabolic disorders, waist-hip ratio, and follistatin. LBP, in turn, seems to affect the vaspin levels directly. Conclusion Our data suggest the existence of a complex, age-associated, and probably hierarchical, relationship between LBP disability and mental and metabolic disorders, inflammation-related soluble markers, and body composition parameters.
Musculoskeletal pain (MSP), specifically low back pain (LBP), is often associated with several adipose tissue-derived cytokines (adipokines) and body composition, but their correlations with the LBP-related disability/severity phenotypes remain poorly understood. In this cross-sectional study, two self-reported validated questionnaires were used to collect back pain and disability data in an ethnically homogeneous family-based population sample (N = 1078). Plasma levels of relatively new adipokines, vaspin and adipsin, were detected by ELISA. Body composition parameters, including fat, skeletal muscle mass, extracellular water (ECW), and others were assessed through bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) technology. Statistical analysis was conducted, accounting for the familial composition of the sample. The multiple regression analyses with four LBP-related phenotypes as dependent variables consistently showed, for the first time, the significant associations with vaspin levels, regardless of other covariates. The odds ratios (OR)/SD ranged between 1.24 (95%CI = 1.03–1.50) and 1.33 (95%CI = 1.07–1.64), depending on the LBP phenotype. Among the tested body composition covariates, only ECW levels displayed consistent and highly significant associations with all tested LBP phenotypes (OR from 1.43, 95%CI = 1.14–1.79 to 1.68, 95%CI = 1.26–2.24). The results clearly suggest that circulating concentrations of vaspin and ECW levels could serve as biomarkers of MSP/LBP severity and complications.
BackgroundThoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms and dissection often develop in hypertensive elderly patients. At higher risk are smokers and those who have a family history of aortic aneurysms. In most affected families, the aortic aneurysms and dissection is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner with decreased penetrance and variable expressivity. Mutations at two chromosomal loci, TAA1 at 11q23 and the TAA2 at 5q13–14, and eight genes, MYLK, MYH11, TGFBR2, TGFBR1, ACTA2, SMAD3, TGFB2, and MAT2A, have been identified as being responsible for the disease in 23% of affected families.ResultsHerein, we inform on the clinical, genetic and pathological characteristics of nine living and deceased members of a large consanguineous Arab family with thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection who carry a missense mutation c.4471G > T (Ala1491Ser), in exon 27 of MYLK gene. We show a reduced kinase activity of the Ala1491Ser protein compared to wildtype protein. This mutation is expressed as aortic aneurysm and dissection in one of two distinct phenotypes. A severe fatal and early onset symptom in homozygous or mild late onset in heterozygous genotypes.ConclusionsWe found that MYLK gene Ala1491Ser mutation affect the kinase activity and clinically, it presents with vascular aneurysms and dissection. We describe a distinct genotype phenotype correlation where; heterozygous patients have mild late onset and incomplete penetrance disease compared with the early onset severe and generally fatal outcome in homozygous patients.
Objectives To clarify the potential risk factors and etiology of low back pain (LBP)‐related disability, including structural changes of the spine (spinal scoliosis) and body composition components in a population with a high prevalence of LBP. Methods In this cross‐sectional study, two self‐reported validated questionnaires were used to collect back pain and disability data in an ethnically homogeneous family‐based population sample (N = 1078). The scoliosis angle of trunk rotation was measured by a scoliometer on three spinal levels while the patient was bent forward. Body composition parameters, including relative to weight (WT), fat, relative skeletal muscle mass (SMM/WT), and total body water were determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Statistical analysis was conducted, accounting for the familial composition of the sample. Results The mixed multiple regression analyses with several LBP‐related phenotypes as dependent variables consistently showed significant independent associations with scoliosis and SMM/WT, irrespective of other covariates. The odds ratios (OR)/95% CI for scoliosis ranged between 1.40 (1.19–1.64) and 1.51 (1.27–1.80), and from 0.61(0.51–0.72), to 0.71(0.58–0.87) for SMM/WT, depending on the LBP phenotype. The genetic components of the respective correlations between the LBP‐phenotypes and scoliosis or SMM/WT were negligible. Conclusions The associations between LBP‐related conditions and postured scoliosis and SMM/WT were consistent and significant and therefore may serve as markers in predicting the development of LBP‐related disability. We interpret the origin of these correlations as the evolutionary event due to the imperfect spine anatomy adaptation to a vertical posture resulting from a quick transition to bipedalism from a quadrupedal ancestor.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.