High-Intensity Interval Training, but Not Whole-Body Cryostimulation, Affects Bone-Mechanosensing Markers and Induces the Expression of Differentiation Markers in Osteoblasts Cultured with Sera from Overweight-to-Obese Subjects.

Although there have been some clinical observations made, the mechanistic effects on bone metabolism of whole-body cryostimulation and high-intensity interval training (HIIT), either alone or in combination, are still debated. Here, we have investigated their effects on circulating osteo-immune and bone metabolic markers (osteopontin, osteocalcin, sclerostin, dikkopf-related protein 1, and fibroblast-growth factor 23) and their potential effects on osteoblast differentiation and function, , by treating SaOS-2 osteoblast-like cells with the sera obtained from the subjects who had undergone the different interventions or untreated control subjects. Sixty-seven inactive, overweight-to-obese participants (body mass index = 31.

Long non-coding and circular RNAs in osteoporosis: Translation to clinical practice.

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) belong to a class of untranslated nucleic acids involved in regulation of gene expression. ncRNAs are categorized as small (<200 ribonucleotides in length), i.e.

Enhanced molecular release from elderly bone samples using collagenase I: insights into fatty acid metabolism alterations.

Background: Bone is a metabolically active tissue containing different cell types acting as endocrine targets and effectors. Further, bone is a dynamic depot for calcium, phosphorous and other essential minerals. The tissue matrix is subjected to a constant turnover in response to mechanical/endocrine stimuli.

Plasma microRNA signature associated with skeletal muscle wasting in post-menopausal osteoporotic women.

Background: Skeletal muscle mass wasting almost invariably accompanies bone loss in elderly, and the coexistence of these two conditions depends on the tight endocrine crosstalk existing between the two organs, other than the biomechanical coupling. Since the current diagnostics limitation in this field, and given the progressive population aging, more effective tools are needed. The aim of this study was to identify circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) as potential biomarkers for muscle mass wasting in post-menopausal osteoporotic women.

A novel methodological approach to simultaneously extract high-quality total RNA and proteins from cortical and trabecular bone.

Molecular differences between cortical and trabecular bone, of relevance to understanding the pathophysiological basis of bone diseases, can be determined only through effective isolation methods for RNA and proteins. Here we present a TRIzol-based method, which combines bone pulverization and homogenization to extract simultaneously total RNA and proteins from human cortical and trabecular bone from the same carrot. RNA integrity and purity were determined as the 260/280 nm and 260/230 nm absorbance ratios and the 28S/18S rRNA ratio.

Impact of 12-Week Moderate-Intensity Aerobic Training on Inflammasome Complex Activation in Elderly Women.

Aging often associates with a chronic low-grade inflammatory status that can be consequent to the activation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the downstream NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and causes a chronic secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Since exercise has known anti-inflammatory effects, we investigated the effect of Nordic walking training on inflammasome activation and downstream effectors in elderly women. A population of elderly women was divided into EXP ( = 29) that completed 12 weeks of the moderate-intensity aerobic training program and CTRL ( = 29), performing no activity.

Circulating Carboxylated Osteocalcin Correlates With Skeletal Muscle Mass and Risk of Fall in Postmenopausal Osteoporotic Women.

Background: Bone and skeletal muscle represent a single functional unit. We cross-sectionally investigated body composition, risk of fall and circulating osteocalcin (OC) isoforms in osteoporotic postmenopausal women to test the hypothesis of an involvement of OC in the bone-muscle crosstalk.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-nine non-diabetic, non-obese, postmenopausal osteoporotic women (age 72.

A seven week observational analysis of clinical activities in a North Italian orthopaedic hospital during the second wave of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: far from usual volumes, but different from the first wave.

Purpose: We previously described the radical changes occurred in an orthopaedic hospital in Milan (Italy) during the first SARS-CoV-2 pandemic outbreak. Currently, during the second wave, the situation is still far from normality. Here we describe the changes that took place, and are still ongoing, in the clinical practice.

A Physically Active Status Affects the Circulating Profile of Cancer-Associated miRNAs.

Circulating miRNAs are ideal diagnostics and prognostics biomarkers in cancer since altered levels of specific miRNAs have been associated to development/progression of several cancers. Physical activity is a recognized preventive strategy against several cancers, but it may also modify the baseline levels of cancer-associated miRNAs and, hence, may act as a confounding pre-analytical variable. This study aimed at understanding whether physical activity-dependent changes in cancer-associated circulating miRNAs profile could act as a confounding variable.

Changes in 25-(OH) Vitamin D Levels during the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak: Lockdown-Related Effects and First-to-Second Wave Difference-An Observational Study from Northern Italy.

Background: We investigated the changes in 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25-(OH)D] concentrations values, during the first and the second pandemic waves and the impact of the lockdown periods, with their different approaches to home confinement, among different age groups.

Methods: Daily cloud-modified vitamin D UV dose (UVDVC), for the area of interest (Milano, Italy), was obtained. Single-center 25-(OH)D determinations from 40,996 individuals in a 2019 (pre-pandemic), 32,355 individuals from 1 January to 31 August 2020 (containing the first pandemic wave) and 27,684 individuals from 1 June to 30 November 2020 (containing the second wave) were compared to investigate both the effect of the lockdown on vitamin D status and the association between 25-(OH)D and SARS-CoV-2 positivity.

Effect of collection matrix, platelet depletion, and storage conditions on plasma extracellular vesicles and extracellular vesicle-associated miRNAs measurements.

Objectives: The interest around circulating extracellular vesicles and their cargo in diagnostics has greatly increased; however, several pre-analytical variables affect their determination. In this study, we investigated the effects of sample matrix, processing, and plasma storage delay and temperature on extracellular vesicles and their miRNA content.

Methods: Blood was collected from 10 male volunteers in dipotassium ethylendiaminotetraacetate-coated tubes (KEDTA), either with plasma-preparation tube (PPT) or without (K2E) gel separator.

Operating room efficiency and timing during coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak in a referral orthopaedic hospital in Northern Italy.

Purpose: The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak affected health care systems at different levels with important consequences on health, economy, and social structures. This paper aims to analyse the impact on surgical block utilisation and efficiency in an orthopaedics reference centre in Northern Italy.

Methods: The timeframe chosen for the current analysis was April 2020, to be compared with the corresponding period in 2019.

Changes of clinical activities in an orthopaedic institute in North Italy during the spread of COVID-19 pandemic: a seven-week observational analysis.

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic is importantly affecting the orthopaedic practice all over the world with Northern Italy being the first European area that faced the worst scenario. In this study, the changes in clinical practice occurred in an orthopaedic center in Milan are described.

Methods: Number and type of admissions, outpatients cancelled and preserved, emergency room, and intensive care unit activities have been analyzed in the timeframe of seven weeks since the beginning of the pandemic (from February 24th to April 10th) and compared with the same period in 2019.

Disruption of Arthroplasty Practice in an Orthopedic Center in Northern Italy During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has put strain on many healthcare systems around the world, with important consequences. The aim of this paper is to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hip and knee arthroplasties in an Italian high-volume orthopedic center, located in the region of the country first and worst affected by the Coronavirus.

Methods: Data from an institutional database were retrospectively analyzed to obtain the number of hip and knee arthroplasties performed from February 24 to April 10 2020.

Study of the preanalytical variables affecting the measurement of clinically relevant free-circulating microRNAs: focus on sample matrix, platelet depletion, and storage conditions.

Introduction: Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as potential biomarkers. However, the lack of preanalytical and analytical standardization limits their use. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of different miRNAs in plasma according to different collection and storage conditions.

Differences in Osteoimmunological Biomarkers Predictive of Psoriatic Arthritis among a Large Italian Cohort of Psoriatic Patients.

(1) Background: In literature it is reported that 20-30% of psoriatic patients evolve to psoriatic arthritis over time. Currently, no specific biochemical markers can either predict progression to psoriatic arthritis or response to therapies. This study aimed to identify osteoimmunological markers applicable to clinical practice, giving a quantitative tool for evaluating pathological status and, eventually, to provide prognostic support in diagnosis.

Normalization strategies differently affect circulating miRNA profile associated with the training status.

MicroRNAs are fine regulators of the whole-body adaptive response but their use as biomarkers is limited by the lack of standardized pre- and post-analytical procedures. This work aimed to compare different normalization approaches for RT-qPCR data analyses, in order to identify the most reliable and reproducible method to analyze circulating miRNA expression profiles in sedentary and highly-trained subjects. As the physically active status is known to affect miRNA expression, they could be effective biomarkers of the homeostatic response.

Free Circulating miRNAs Measurement in Clinical Settings: The Still Unsolved Issue of the Normalization.

Circulating molecules that are released into the circulation in response to specific stimuli are considered potential biomarkers for physiological or pathological processes. Their effective usefulness as biomarkers resides in their stability and high availability in all the biological fluids, combined with the limited invasiveness of intervention. Among the circulating molecules, miRNAs represent a novel class of biomarkers as they possess all the required characteristics such as sensitivity, predictivity, specificity, robustness, translatability, and noninvasiveness.

Serum calprotectin as a marker of ultrasound-detected synovitis in early psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis: results from a cross-sectional retrospective study.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the correlation between serum calprotectin and clinical and ultrasonographic (US) variables in early-onset psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and controls with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: In a retrospective cross-sectional study, including PsA and matched RA patients, 44 joint counts (TJC, SJC), calprotectin, ESR and CRP were measured. US of wrists and MCPs 1-5 was performed, with grey-scale (GS) and power Doppler (PD) scored 0-3 at each site, summed in a total score.

A DIC Based Technique to Measure the Contraction of a Skeletal Muscle Engineered Tissue.

Tissue engineering is a multidisciplinary science based on the application of engineering approaches to biologic tissue formation. Engineered tissue internal organization represents a key aspect to increase biofunctionality before transplant and, as regarding skeletal muscles, the potential of generating contractile forces is dependent on the internal fiber organization and is reflected by some macroscopic parameters, such as the spontaneous contraction. Here we propose the application of digital image correlation (DIC) as an independent tool for an accurate and noninvasive measurement of engineered muscle tissue spontaneous contraction.

The Proteolytic Systems of Muscle Wasting.

Skeletal muscle represents one of the most plastic tissues of our body thanks to the presence of heterogeneous population of myofibers that confer to skeletal muscle the functional plasticity necessary to modulate its morpho-fuctional properties in response to a wide range of external factors. Thus, alteration in fiber type composition represents a major component in muscle wasting associated with muscle diseases. Several mechanisms have been proposed to account for the alteration in the morpho-functional properties of skeletal muscle under pathological conditions.