Autophagy is a process the primary role of which is to clear up damaged cellular components such as long-lived proteins and organelles, thus participating in the conservation of different cells. Osteoporosis associated with aging is characterized by consistent changes in bone metabolism with suppression of bone formation as well as increased bone resorption. In advanced age, not only bone mass but also bone strength decrease in both sexes, resulting in an increased incidence of fractures. Clinical and animal experiments reveal that age-related bone loss is associated with many factors such as accumulation of autophagy, increased levels of reactive oxygen species, sex hormone deficiency, and high levels of endogenous glucocorticoids. Available basic and clinical studies indicate that age-associated factors can regulate autophagy. Those factors play important roles in bone remodeling and contribute to decreased bone mass and bone strength with aging. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms involved in bone metabolism related to aging and autophagy, supplying a theory for therapeutic targets to rescue bone mass and bone strength in older people.

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Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effects of progressive postural control exercise (PPCE) vs core stability exercise (CSE) in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods: A total of 34 young-adult participants with CLBP were randomly assigned to two groups (the PPCE group and the CSE group). They received instructions for two different exercise training regimens persisting over 8 weeks. Before, after, and at 6 months after the intervention, the participants were evaluated on the basis of pain intensity (VAS), degree of dysfunction (ODI and RMDQ), contractility of transversus abdominis (TrA) and lumbar multifidus (MF), as well as the ability to control static posture.Results: There was no significant difference between the results of the PPCE group and the CSE group. At the 6-month follow-up after the 8-week treatment, the scores of VAS, ODI, and RMDQ in the two groups decreased significantly compared to before (p \ 0.05). The percentage change in thickness of bilateral TrA and left MF (p \ 0.05) was elevated and the sway area of center of pressure during static stance tasks with eyes opened (p \ 0.05) was decreased in both groups. Conclusion: In the short term, PPCE provides positive effects similar to those of core stability exercise in patients with CLBP. The effective mechanism of PPCE might be the consequence of neuromuscular plasticity and adaptation adjustments. PPCE enriches the choices of treatment for CLBP. Clinical Trial Registration: The trial was registered at www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR2100043113.

BackgroundNon-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) is a multifactor disorder with high prevalence rate of people all around the world. Lumbar paraspinal muscle (LPM) plays an important role of spine stabilization. However, the electrical properties of LPM in the patients were unclear. Aim to explore the electrical properties of bilateral LPM between patients with NSCLBP and healthy controls (HC), the study was designed to applied electrical impedance myography (EIM) technique to measure the LPM.MethodsA total of thirty participates (15 in NSCLBP group, 15 in HC group) were instructed to have each side of LPM measured at the rest state and the maximum volunteer contraction (MVC) state. Then measured the EIM parameters of LPM at L4/5 level by a multi-frequency device. Each measurement repeated three times. The EIM parameters at 50 kHz, 100 kHz, 200 kHz current frequencies were enrolled into the statistical analysis.ResultsAt the three current frequencies, parameters in the right side of LPM had not significantly difference from the left (P>0.05, respectively). Resistance (R) of LPM in NSCLBP group was larger than that in HC group (P<0.05, respectively), phase angle (PA) in NSCLBP group was smaller than that in HC group (P<0.05, respectively) and there was no difference of the reactance value between the two groups (P>0.05, respectively). At 50 kHz, relationships between the EIM parameters and geometric parameters of LPM were not significant in NSCLBP group or HC group (P>0.05, respectively).ConclusionThe electrical properties of bilateral LPM in young adults with NSCLBP were different from those of healthy individuals regardless of any current frequency. The ultrasound parameters of LPM, however, showed no significant difference between young patients with NSCLBP and healthy participants. EIM measurement might be more sensitive than rehabilitative ultrasound for NSCLBP in young adults.Trial registrationThe Chinese Clinical trial registration number: ChiCTR2100043113.

BackgroundLumbar paraspinal muscle (LPM) is important in spinal stabilization in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). However, the electrical properties of LPM in patients with CLBP remain unclear. Electrical impedance myography (EIM) is a novel and non-invasive technique that provides a simple quantitative evaluation of electrical properties of the LPM.PurposeThis study aimed to apply EIM to assess the electrical properties of the LPM between patients with CLBP and healthy control (HC).MethodsThirty participants (15 CLBP participants; 15 healthy controls) were enrolled in the study. Participants in the CLBP group were asked to complete the visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) to assess the pain intensity and disability in daily life. Independent sample t-tests were adopted to analyze the basic characteristics between the two groups. At 5, 50, 100, and 200 kHz current frequencies, the electrical properties were measured on each side of the LPM. The EIM parameters of resistance (R), reactance (X), phase angle (PA), and Z value were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), with age as covariate. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient analysis was applied to explore the relationships between the questionnaires and the EIM parameters.ResultsThe R and Z values of bilateral LPM in the CLBP group were significantly larger than those in the HC group; the PA decreased and the X did not change at these four tested current frequencies. At 5 kHz, Z and R on the right side were non-significantly different between patients and HCs. Correlation analysis showed that at 50 kHz, ODI and RDQ scores correlated negatively with the R of the bilateral LPM (r = 0.523, r = 0.581, respectively; p &lt; 0.05). RDQ scores correlated positively with the PA of the right LPM (r = 0.521, p &lt; 0.05).ConclusionThe electrical properties of the bilateral LPM differed between CLBP participants and healthy individuals, regardless of the different frequencies used. These altered electrical properties of the LPM in the patients with CLBP correlated to some extent with disability in daily life.