Aims: This meta-analysis and systematic review aimed to comprehensively investigate the effects of vitamin K supplementation on bone mineral density (BMD) at various sites and bone metabolism in middle-aged and older adults.Methods: The databases of PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were thoroughly searched from inception to July 2023.Results: The results revealed that vitamin K supplementation increased BMD at the lumbar spine (p = 0.035). Moreover, the pooled effects demonstrated a notable increase in carboxylated osteocalcin (cOC) (p = 0.004), a decrease in uncarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) (p < 0.001), and no significant effect on total osteocalcin (tOC) (p = 0.076). Accordingly, the ratio of cOC to ucOC (p = 0.002) significantly increased, while the ratio of ucOC to tOC decreased (p = 0.043). However, there was no significant effect of vitamin K supplementation on other bone metabolism markers, such as cross-linked telopeptide of type 1 collagen (NTx), bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), and procollagen I N-terminal propeptide (PINP). Subgroup analysis revealed that vitamin K notably enhanced bone health in females by increasing lumbar spine BMD (p = 0.028) and decreasing ucOC (p < 0.001). Vitamin K, especially vitamin K2, exhibited effects on maintaining or increasing lumbar spine BMD, and influencing the balance of cOC and ucOC.Conclusion: This review suggests that the beneficial effects of vitamin K supplementation on bone health primarily involve enhancing the carboxylation of OC rather than altering the total amount of OC.Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2024;13(12):750–763.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of tumor cells that play crucial roles in driving tumor recurrence, metastasis, and resistance to therapies, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Growing evidence suggests that interactions between CSCs and immune cells, particularly tumor-associated macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and regulatory T cells, create a supportive tumor microenvironment conducive to immune evasion and chemoresistance. Understanding these intricate crosstalk mechanisms, mediated via cytokines, exosomes, and metabolic intermediates, is crucial for the development of effective therapeutic strategies. Here, we comprehensively review recent progress on CSC-immune cell crosstalk, highlighting key signaling pathways and molecular targets. Furthermore, we discuss promising clinical strategies combining conventional therapies with interventions targeting CSC-immune interactions, aiming to enhance immunotherapy efficacy and overcome therapeutic resistance in cancer patients.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between dietary patterns and bone health in the elderly, and to guide the elderly to establish a reasonable dietary pattern and improve bone health.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 544 elderly individuals aged 60 and above in rural areas of Qingdao. Dietary patterns were analyzed using factor analysis. A logistic regression model was employed to assess the relationship between dietary patterns and osteoporosis. The correlation between body composition and T-score was analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation method in the R software.Results: A total of four main dietary patterns were identified in this study, which included a balanced dietary pattern, a high-protein dietary pattern, a condiment dietary pattern, and a snack dietary pattern. After adjusting for potential confounding factors (age, residence status), it was found that a high-protein dietary pattern was positively correlated with bone health at the Q3 level (OR (95%CI) 0.435(0.190, 0.997), but not correlated at the Q4 level. The high-protein dietary pattern was significantly positively correlated with several body composition parameters, including intracellular fluid, extracellular fluid, total body water, protein, muscle mass, minerals, fat-free mass, skeletal muscle, left-hand muscle mass, right-hand muscle mass, and trunk muscle mass (all P < 0.05). Additionally, these body composition factors were positively correlated with osteoporosis T-scores.Conclusion: There is a correlation between dietary patterns and osteoporosis; a moderate amount of the high-protein dietary pattern is beneficial to the bone health of the elderly.

Aims: The repair process of ligament ruptures is a complex phenomenon involving three stages: early, repair, and remodelling. This study aimed to investigate the cellular and genetic aspects related to the repair and healing of ligament ruptures using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tissues.Methods: A comprehensive examination was conducted on ACL tissues from three healthy individuals and three patients with ligament ruptures at different timepoints (one week, three weeks, and six months post-injury). A deep gene expression analysis was performed on 83,195 cells obtained from the six cases, and immunohistochemistry techniques were used to identify cell types.Results: In this study, tenocytes and fibroblasts in ligament tissues were distinctly identified for the first time. Moreover, a total of ten cell populations were discovered in ACL tissues, comprising tenocytes, fibroblasts, macrophages, stromal cells, T cells, endothelial cells, B cells, epithelial cells, chondrocytes, and monocytes. Further analysis of the tenocyte populations revealed ten distinct subtypes, highlighting the diversity of tenocytes in human ACL tissues.Conclusion: The identification of multiple specialized tenocyte populations in human ACL tissues sheds light on potential avenues for advancing research in cell therapy for ligament injuries. These findings provide valuable insights into the cellular components involved in the repair and healing processes of ligament ruptures, paving the way for future investigations in this field.Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2025;14(6):539–550.