Elastic therapeutic taping (ET) has been widely used for a series of musculoskeletal diseases in recent years. However, there remains clinical uncertainty over its efficiency for knee osteoarthritis (knee OA) management. To assess the effects of ET on patients with knee OA, we investigated outcomes including self-reported pain, knee flexibility, knee-related health status, adverse events, muscle strength, and proprioceptive sensibility. Ten databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, PEDro, Research Gate, CNKI, CBM, and Wanfang were systematically searched. Eleven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 168 participants with knee OA provided data for the meta-analysis. Statistical significance was reported in four from five outcomes, such as self-related pain (during activity, MD -0.85, 95% CI, -1.55 to -0.14; P =0.02), knee flexibility (MD 7.59, 95% CI, 0.61 to 14.57; P =0.03), knee-related health status (WOMAC scale, MD -4.10, 95% CI, -7.75 to -0.45; P =0.03), and proprioceptive sensibility (MD -4.69, 95% CI, -7.75 to -1.63; P =0.003), while no significant enhancement was reported regarding knee muscle strength (MD 1.25, 95% CI, -0.03 to 2.53; P =0.06). Adverse events were not reported in any of the included trials. The overall quality of evidence was from moderate to very low. In conclusion, there is underpowered evidence to suggest that ET is effective in the treatment of knee OA. Large, well-designed RCTs with better designs are needed.

Background Sarcopenia is accompanied by a decline in muscle mass, muscle strength, and muscle function. Resistance training is the most potential training method for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. However, the conventional high-load resistance training (CRT) recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine is a challenge for older people with sarcopenia. As a novel training method, low-load resistance training combined with blood flow restriction (LRT-BFR) may elicit similar muscle mass and muscle strength gains as CRT but with less effort. The objectives of this study are to assess and compare the efficacy and safety of 12-week LRT-BFR and CRT on muscle strength, muscle performance, body composition, pulmonary function, blood biomarkers, CVD risk factors, and quality of life in community-dwelling older Chinese people with sarcopenia. Method This is a 12-week, assessor-blinded, 3-arm randomized controlled trial with a non-exercise control group. Community-dwelling people over 65 years will be screened for sarcopenia according to the diagnostic criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS). Fifty-one subjects will be randomized into a LRT-BFR group (n = 17), a CRT group (n = 17), and a no-strength training control group (n = 17). The primary outcome is lower limb muscle strength. The secondary outcomes are body composition, upper limb muscle strength, pulmonary function, blood biomarkers, CVD risk factors, and quality of life. Post-intervention follow-up will be performed for 12 weeks. These indicators will be assessed at baseline (0 week), after the 12-week intervention (12 weeks), and at follow-up (24 weeks). The adverse events will also be reported. Data will be analyzed for all participants in an intent-to-treat plan. Discussion This study is the first RCT that will systematically measure and compare the efficacy and safety of LRT-BFR and CRT in older people with sarcopenia on muscle strength, body composition, pulmonary function, blood biomarkers (inflammatory biomarkers, hormone, and growth factors), CVD risk factors, and quality of life. This study can provide an efficient and safe method to prevent the progression of sarcopenia in older people. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100042803. Registered on 28 January 2021.

A new inorganic–organic hybrid material based on polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) capped with carbazolyl substituents, octakis[3-(carbazol-9-yl)propyldimethylsiloxy]-silsesquioxane (POSS-8Cz), was successfully synthesized and characterized. The X-ray crystal structure of POSS-8Cz were described. The photophysical properties of POSS-8Cz were investigated by using UV–vis,photoluminescence spectroscopic analysis. The hybrid material exhibits blue emission in the solution and the solid film.The morphology and thermal stablity properties were measured by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and TG-DTA analysis.