(1) Background: Lower levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) are common in osteoarthritis (OA) patients. However, the effect of vitamin D supplementation on muscle strength and physical performance remains unclear. This study will investigate the effects of vitamin D2 supplementation on muscle strength and physical performance in knee OA patients; (2) Methods: One hundred and seventy-five primary knee OA patients with low levels of serum 25(OH)D (<30 ng/mL) received 40,000 IU vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) per week for six months. Body composition, muscle strength, physical performance, serum 25(OH)D level, leptin, interlukin-6 (IL-6), parathyroid hormone (PTH), protein carbonyl, and metabolic profile were analyzed; (3) Results: Baseline mean serum 25(OH)D levels in knee OA patients was 20.73 ng/mL. Regarding baseline vitamin D status, 58.90% of patients had vitamin D insufficiency, and 41.10% had vitamin D deficiency. After vitamin D2 supplementation for six months, mean serum 25(OH)D level was 32.14 ng/mL. For post-supplementation vitamin D status, 57.10% of patients had vitamin D sufficiency and 42.90% had vitamin D insufficiency. From baseline to six months, there was a significant increase in mean serum 25(OH)D level (p < 0.001), while mean LDL cholesterol (p = 0.001), protein carbonyl (p = 0.04), and PTH (p = 0.005) all significantly decreased. Patient quality of life (SF-12) and pain (visual analog scale, VAS) both improved significantly from baseline to the six-month time point (p = 0.005 and p = 0.002, respectively). Knee OA patients demonstrated significant improvement grip strength and physical performance measurements after vitamin D2 supplementation (p < 0.05); (4) Conclusions: Vitamin D2 supplementation for six months reduced oxidative protein damage, decreased pain (VAS), improved quality of life, and improved grip strength and physical performance in osteoarthritis patients.

Serum leptin levels were correlated with low vitamin D, reduced muscle strength and functional impairment, suggesting that serum leptin might serve as a biomarker reflecting physical performance in OA patients.

Telomere length is a hallmark characteristic of ageing and age-related diseases. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of joint pain and physical disability in the elderly. Previous studies have revealed the role of telomere shortening in OA; however, the relationship between telomere length, muscle strength and physical performance in knee OA patients remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of telomere length and physical performance in patients with knee OA. A total of 202 patients with knee OA and 60 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The quality of life was assessed using Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index and Short Form Health Survey. The skeletal muscle mass was examined using bioelectrical impedance analysis, while the muscle strength was analyzed using hand grip force and isometric knee extension force. The physical performance of patients with knee OA was also investigated using gait speed, Timed up and go test (TUGT), Sit to stand test and 6-min walk test (6MWT). Blood leukocyte relative telomere length (RTL) was assessed using real time quantitative PCR. The mean blood leukocyte RTL in knee OA subjects was significantly lower compared with healthy controls (P<0.001). Knee OA patients with RTL values in the lowest quartile had a slow gait speed (P=0.006) and prolonged TUGT time (P=0.03). Multivariate regression analyses and multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, waist circumference, body mass index, fat mass, skeletal muscle index and the total WOMAC demonstrated that gait speed, TUGT and 6MWT were associated with longer RTL (P-trend<0.05). These findings suggested that poorer physical performance was associated with shorter RTL. Therefore, leukocyte telomere length and physical performance tests, especially gait speed, TUGT and 6MWT, could predict the health status and quality of life in patients with knee OA.

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This study was carried out to evaluate sensitivity, specificity, and test cutoff score to predict cardiorespiratory fitness by using the 2-min step test (2MST) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellites (DM). The associa-tion of the 2MST and physical fitness tests including a 6-min walk test (6MWT), a 5 time sit-to-stand test (FTSST), and leg strength in the form of a leg performance test were also investigated. This study was cross-sectional and conducted in 100 type 2 DM patients. Patients were screened through health questionnaires, medical illness, general char-acteristics, and physical fitness tests; 2MST, 6MWT, FTSST, and leg strength. Blood was collected for assessment of fasting blood sugar and lipid profiles. The number of steps in the 2MST was positively cor-related with the distance of the 6MWT (<i>r</i>=0.6995, <i>p</i><0.0001) and leg strength (<i>r</i>=0.4292, <i>p</i><0.0001). 2MST was negatively correlated with time to perform the FTSST (<i>r</i>=-0.405, <i>p</i><0.0001). Moreover, this study established the optimal cutoff score of the 2MST at ≤61 steps with 92.24% sensitivity, and 81.36% specificity to predict cardiorespiratory fitness in type 2 DM patients. Our findings indicate that the 2MST may be used as a predictor for walking capacity, leg strength, and ability to change position from sitting to standing in type 2 DM. In addition, this result may imply that patients with type 2 DM performing the 2MST at less than 61 steps was significantly associated with decreased cardio-respiratory fitness.

Post-COVID-19 pandemic, most universities changed their educational model from online courses to onsite learning, allowing students to attend regular face-to-face classes. These changes can cause stress in students, which affects physical fitness. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between stress levels and physical fitness in female university students. The participants were 101 female university students, 18–23 years of age. All participants completed the Suan Prung Stress Test-60 (SPST-60). The physical fitness test included body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, as well as musculoskeletal fitness. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the associations between SPST-60 scores and physical fitness. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. We found a negative correlation between the sources of stress scores, here environment, and maximal oxygen consumption (β = −0.291; 95% CI, −0.551, −0.031). We also found that symptoms of stress scores in the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems were positively associated with waist-hip circumference ratio (WHR) (β = 0.010; 95% CI, 0.002, 0.017 and β = 0.006; 95% CI, 0.000, 0.012, respectively). Moreover, the symptoms of stress, here emotion, were positively associated with the WHR (β = 0.005; 95 %CI, 0.001, 0.009) and negatively associated with upper extremity muscle strength (β = −0.005; 95% CI, −0.009, 0.000). The results of this study confirmed the associations between stress levels in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era and WHR, maximal oxygen consumption, and upper extremity muscle strength. As a result, stress reduction or prevention alternatives should be considered in order to maintain physical fitness and prevent stress disorders.

Purpose: Sensory neurons expressing calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) innervate most joint structures including synovial membrane, ligaments and subchondral bone. CGRP contributes to peripheral sensitization and inflammation, and evidence suggests a role for CGRP in the pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis (OA). This study measured and compared CGRP levels in plasma and synovial fluid (SF) from OA patients and matched healthy controls. Analyses were performed to determine if CGRP levels correlated with available clinical and radiographic parameters from the OA patients. Finally, descriptive statistics were performed to summarize the frequency for different ranges of fold change of OA SF over plasma CGRP levels. Methods: Plasma collected in EDTA-tubes and knee SF collected in red top tubes (N ¼ 145 paired samples), from OA patients being assessed for knee pain and/or joint replacement were obtained from the Indiana University Methodist Research Institute Biorepository Program. Similarly prepared plasma (N ¼ 51) and SF (N ¼ 10), unpaired samples from healthy volunteers, were obtained from additional repositories. CGRP levels were assessed by an in-house, sensitive CGRP quantitation assay validated for plasma and SF in the pg/ml range. The assay detected both

Objectives Low back pain (LBP) is the most prevalent musculoskeletal condition. Superficial heat has been utilized for decades to alleviate the symptoms; however, there has been no study of the effect of rice grain and Thai herbal hot packs using a microwave method in persons with low back pain. The purpose of this study was to compare pain scale scores and back extensibility with rice grain and Thai herbal hot packs with standard hot packs in individuals with LBP. Methods Forty participants with LBP were stratified using a random sampling method into two groups: a rice grain and Thai herbal hot pack group (n=20) and a standard hot pack group (n=20). Twenty-minute duration treatments were given. Each patient was followed-up 6 times (3 times per week for 2 weeks). Pressure pain threshold (PPT) and back extensibility were measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Thai Oswestry low back pain disability index. Results VAS scores and the Thai Oswestry low back pain disability index in both groups were reduced significantly (p < 0.05). PPT and back extensibility were significantly increased after rice grain and Thai herbal hot pack and hot pack treatment (p < 0.05). After treatments, PPT with rice grain and Thai herbal hot pack was significantly higher than the standard hot pack group. (p < 0.05). Conclusions Rice grain and Thai herbal hot pack may be considered as an alternative method for relieving pain and improving pressure pain threshold and back extensibility in persons with LBP. Chiang Mai Medical Journal 2021;60(1):75-86. doi 10.12982/CMUMEDJ.2021.07