OBJECTIVE: Vertebral fractures are the most common osteoporotic fractures occurring due to low bone mineral density, as well as other risk factors. The aim of the paper is to investigate risk factors for vertebral osteoporotic fracture occurrence in

Objective: This pilot study aimed to determine the correlation of metabolic syndrome (MetS), its components, and increased LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and total cholesterol levels with osteoarthritis (OA). In addition, our goal was to establish the association between MetS and the degree of handicap measured by the Lequesne index of functionality and severity of knee osteoarthritis. Materials and methods: The pilot study included 25 subjects with knee OA and 19 subjects without knee OA. All subjects were menopausal or premenopausal women. MetS was diagnosed according to the National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III. OA was diagnosed if Kellgren-Lawrence ≥ 2. Results: MetS was detected in 80% of subjects with OA. In the non-OA group, MetS was detected in 26% of subjects. The difference in MetS prevalence between the two groups was significant (p=0.000). The presence of each MetS component was significant in the OA group, except for central obesity, which presence was marginally significant (p=0.054). Prevalence of increased total (p=0.019) and LDL cholesterol (p=0.000) was also significant in the OA group. A significant difference between OA and the non-OA group was detected in the prevalence of all five MetS components (p=0.016). In the OA group, the Lequesne index of functionality and severity of knee osteoarthritis was not significantly altered between subjects with and without MetS. Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome, its components, increased LDL, and total cholesterol are correlated with osteoarthritis in premenopausal and menopausal women. MetS is not correlated with the degree of handicap in the knee joint measured by the Lequesne index.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), which enhances osteoclast activity and bone resorption, is one of the key inflammation mediators in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to assess the influence of yearlong TNF-α inhibitor application on bone metabolism. The study sample comprised 50 female patients with RA. Analyses involved the osteodensitometry measurements obtained using a “Lunar” type apparatus and the following biochemical markers from serum: procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), beta crosslaps C-terminal telopeptide of collagen type I (b-CTX) by ECLIA method, total and ionized calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone and vitamin D. Analyses revealed changes in bone mineral density (BMD) at L1–L4 and the femoral neck, with the difference in mean BMD (g/cm²) not exceeding the threshold of statistical significance (p = 0.180; p = 0.502). Upon completion of 12-month therapy, a significant increase (p < 0.001) in P1NP was observed relative to b-CTX, with mean total calcium and phosphorus values following a decreasing trend, while vitamin D levels increased. These results suggest that yearlong application of TNF inhibitors has the capacity to positively impact bone metabolism, as indicated by an increase in bone-forming markers and relatively stable BMD (g/cm²).

(1) Background: The influence of different factors on balance in adolescence is assessed by conducting functional balance tests that examine its different components. (2) Materials and methods: The study sample comprised 110 healthy adolescents of both sexes, aged 12–18 years. Single Leg Stance with Eyes Open (SLS-EO) and Eyes Closed (SLS-EC) tests were conducted to evaluate static balance, whereas the Functional Reach Test (FRT) and Lateral Reach Test (LRT) were performed to establish functional stability limits. The influence of sex, age, demographic factors, anthropometric characteristics, participation in sports activities, and trunk extensor muscle endurance (Biering–Sorensen test) on balance performance was determined through correlational and univariate linear regression analyses. (3) Results: Older age (Beta [β] = 0.247; 95% CI [0.75, 5.20]; p < 0.01) and better trunk extensor muscle endurance (β = 0.224; 95% CI [0.015, 0.13]; p < 0.05) were significant predictors of the SLS-EO results, while younger age (β = −0.219; 95% CI [−1.32, −0.11]; p < 0.05) and higher muscle percentage (β = 0.237; 95% CI [0.06, 0.48]; p < 0.05) emerged as significant predictors of LRT performance, and greater bone mass was a significant predictor of FRT results (β = 0.444; 95% CI [3.62, 8.17]; p < 0.01). However, none of the independent variables was a statistically significant predictor of the SLS-EC results. (4) Conclusions: The current study found that age, trunk extensor muscle endurance, muscle percentage, and bone mass are significant predictors of different balance components, suggesting that balance is task-specific.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, fibrotic, and fatal interstitial lung disease (ILD) of unknown etiology that primarily affects the elderly. Patients with IPF suffer from a heavy symptom burden and usually have a poor quality of life. Dyspnea and dry cough are predominant symptoms of IPF. Although pain is not considered one of the main symptoms of IPF, it can occur for a variety of reasons, such as hypoxia, coughing, muscle and nerve damage, deconditioning, and steroid use. The prevalence of pain in IPF patients varies greatly, ranging from around 30 to 80%, with the prevalence being estimated mostly among patients in the end-of-life period. It manifests itself in the form of muscle pain, joint discomfort, or back and chest pain. Approaches to the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain in patients with IPF include pharmacological and non-pharmacological measures that are also important to optimize the treatment of other symptoms (dyspnea and cough) and the optimal treatment of comorbidities. Given the scarcity of data on this symptom in the literature, this article summarizes what is currently known about the etiology and treatment of musculoskeletal pain in IPF.

Introduction. Hand osteoarthritis is a joint degenerative disease characterized by hand deformities affecting the hand strength and function, leading to greater disability and increased healthcare utilization. The objective of this study was to estimate the impact of different risk factors on the incidence of hand osteoarthritis. Material and Methods. The study was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted at the Special Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases Novi Sad, Serbia, during a one year period (2017 - 2018). It included 100 postmenopausal women aged 60 to 70 years presenting with pain in the hands ? 3 according to the visual analogue scale. All respondents were divided into two groups, according to radiographic findings graded using the Kellgren-Lawrence scale. Risk factors responsible for the development of hand osteoarthritis were examined and the research procedure included medical history data, physical examination of the hand joints, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory tests. Statistical processing and analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences ver. 25. Results. Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in relation to positive family history of degenerative changes in the hand joints (p = 0.000), as well as in relation to metabolic syndrome (p = 0.001). Conclusion. A positive family history of degenerative changes of the hands and presence of metabolic syndrome are significant risk factors for the development of hand osteoarthritis.