The effects of hamstring stretching exercises on pain intensity and function in low back pain patients: A systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objectives: This meta-analysis aims to synthesize the available data on the effectiveness of hamstring stretching exercises in relieving pain intensity and improving function for patients with low back pain. Methods: Google Scholars, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, MEDLINE, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP were searched from inception to August 2023. We included randomized controlled trials that investigated the effectiveness of hamstring stretching exercises in patients with low back pain. The primary outcomes assessed were pain intensity, hamstring muscle flexibility, and function. Study selection, data extraction, and assessment of risk of bias were performed independently by two reviewers. Results: Our searches retrieved 344 trials, of which 14 met the inclusion criteria for this review (n = 735 participants). The combined meta-analysis showed hamstring stretching resulted in lower pain scores (standardized mean difference = -0.72, 95% confidence interval: -1.35 to -0.09; I 2 = 89%, p = 0.03) in different categories of low back pain. Subgroup analysis showed that hamstring stretching led to a larger range of motion for cases of back pain with radiating pain (standardized mean difference = 2.39, 95% confidence interval: 1.76 to 3.02; I 2 = 0%, p < 0.001). The combined meta-analysis revealed that hamstring stretching resulted in lower Oswestry Disability Index scores in comparison to regular treatment, particularly in individuals suffering from low back pain across all subtypes (mean difference = -6.97, 95% confidence interval: -13.34 to -0.60; I 2 = 95%, p = 0.03). Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrates the effectiveness of hamstring stretching exercises in reducing pain intensity in various categories of low back pain and improving the straight leg raise in patients experiencing back pain with radiating pain. Additionally, it highlights the improvement in function for patients with back pain across all subtypes.

Biomechanical analysis of trunk and lower limbs during stair activity in patients with scoliosis.

Staircases are a frequently encountered obstacle in daily life, requiring individuals to navigate ascending and descending movements that place additional demands on the trunk and lower limbs compared to walking on level surfaces. Therefore, it is crucial to examine the biomechanical characteristics of the trunk and lower limbs in individuals with scoliosis during stair activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the biomechanical differences in trunk and lower limbs during daily stair activities between patients with scoliosis and a healthy population. Additionally, the study aimed to explore the relationship between trunk abnormalities and lower limb biomechanics, providing a clinical and objective assessment basis for scoliosis. The Qualisys system, based in Gothenburg, Sweden, was employed for data collection in this study, with a sampling frequency of 150 Hz. It captured the kinematics of the trunk and lower limbs, as well as the kinetics of the lower limbs during stair ascent and descent for both the 28 individuals with scoliosis and the 28 control participants. The results indicate that scoliosis patients demonstrated significantly higher asymmetry compared to the control group in various measures during ascent and decent. These include different parts of kinematics and kinetics. Scoliosis patients demonstrate noticeable variations in their movement patterns compared to the healthy population when engaging in stair activities. Specifically, during stair ascent, scoliosis patients exhibit a seemingly more rigid movement pattern, whereas descent is characterized by an unstable pattern.

Trunk kinematic analysis of ascent and descent stairs in college students with idiopathic scoliosis: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Traditional 3D motion analysis typically considers the spine as a rigid entity. Nevertheless, previous single-joint models have proven inadequate in evaluating the movement across different spinal segments in patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS). Scoliosis significantly impairs movement functions, especially during activities such as ascending and descending stairs. There is a lack of research on the patterns of stair movement specifically for patients with IS. PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate trunk kinematics in college students with IS during stair ascent and descent tasks. A total of 56 participants, 28 with IS and 28 with healthy controls, were recruited for this case-control study. The trunk movements were analyzed using a motion analysis system that incorporated a multisegment spine model. Understanding the multi-segment spine kinematics during stair tasks can contribute to the development of effective rehabilitation programs for individuals with IS. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study. SAMPLE SIZE: Twenty-eight IS and 28 controls. OUTCOME MEASURES: Cobb angle, spinal curvature, spinal active range of motion (ROM), Kinematics. METHODS: The Qualisys system (Gothenburg, Sweden) was utilized in this study with a sampling frequency of 150 Hz. It recorded the kinematics in the thoracic, lumbar, thoracic cage, and pelvis while ascending and descending stairs for both the 28 IS individuals and the 28 control participants. Additionally, clinical parameters such as the Cobb angle, curvature of the spine, spinal range of motion (ROM), and other relevant factors were concurrently assessed among the subjects. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82205306). The authors declare no conflict of interest in preparing this article. RESULTS: The findings of this study revealed that IS individuals exhibited reduced kyphotic curvature in the sagittal plane (p<.05) when compared to the control group. In contrast, these IS patients displayed greater coronal curvature (Cobb angle) in the frontal plane and a more substantial difference in thoracic side bending range of motion in comparison to the control group (p.05). Moreover, during the ascending stair activity, IS patients showed reduced thoracic cage flexion-extension range of motion (p<.05), while displaying increased lumbar rotation range of motion and anterior-posterior pelvic tilt range of motion (p<.05) in contrast to the control group. Notably, the kinematic analysis during the descent of stairs indicated that IS patients exhibited a larger range of motion in thoracic flexion-extension, thoracic side bending, thoracic cage side bending, thoracic rotation, and thoracic cage rotation when compared to the control group (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed significant differences in trunk kinematics between the two groups during both stair ascent and descent tasks. The utilization of the "multisegment spine model" facilitates the acquisition of motion information across multiple segments of the spine in patients diagnosed with IS, effectively enhancing the assessment outcomes derived from imaging information. The three-dimensional structural deformity in the trunk affects both static and dynamic activity patterns. In different activity states, IS patients demonstrate stiff movements in certain segments while experiencing compensatory instability in others. In the future, clinical rehabilitation programs for IS should prioritize stair-related activity training.

In Silico Insights into Micro-Mechanism Understanding of Extracts of Taxus Chinensis Fruits Against Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND: The taxus chinensis fruit (TCF) shows promises in treatment of aging-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, its related constituents and targets against AD have not been deciphered. OBJECTIVE: This study was to uncover constituents and targets of TCF extracts against AD. METHODS: An integrated approach including ultrasound extractions and constituent identification of TCF by UPLC-QE-MS/MS, target identification of constituents and AD by R data-mining from Pubchem, Drugbank and GEO databases, network construction, molecular docking and the ROC curve analysis was carried out. RESULTS: We identified 250 compounds in TCF extracts, and obtained 3,231 known constituent targets and 5,326 differential expression genes of AD, and 988 intersection genes. Through the network construction and KEGG pathway analysis, 19 chemicals, 31 targets, and 11 biological pathways were obtained as core compounds, targets and pathways of TCF extracts against AD. Among these constituents, luteolin, oleic acid, gallic acid, baicalein, naringenin, lovastatin and rutin had obvious anti-AD effect. Molecular docking results further confirmed above results. The ROC AUC values of about 87% of these core targets of TCF extracts was greater than 0.5 in the two GEO chips of AD, especially 10 targets with ROC AUC values greater than 0.7, such as BCL2, CASP7, NFKBIA, HMOX1, CDK2, LDLR, RELA, and CCL2, which mainly referred to neuron apoptosis, response to oxidative stress and inflammation, fibroblast proliferation, etc.Conclusions:The TCF extracts have diverse active compounds that can act on the diagnostic genes of AD, which deserve further in-depth study.

The effect of Pilates exercise training for scoliosis on improving spinal deformity and quality of life: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: It remains unclear if Pilates is conducive to reducing spinal deformity and improving patients' quality of life (QOL) with scoliosis. The aim of this study was to systematically review the published evidence to determine whether Pilates exercise training is an efficacious therapy for scoliosis. METHODS: Searches was conducted in Medline, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Cochrane library, Baidu Scholar, and Green Medical to identify randomized studies that tested the effect of Pilates exercise training on Cobb angle, pain level, trunk range of motion (ROM), angle of trunk rotation, and QOL in idiopathic scoliosis. Separate meta-analyses were performed on the endpoints of these outcome measures. The PEDro scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. RESULTS: This review included 10 randomized controlled trials (n = 359). PEDro scores ranged from 3 to 10, with the mean score across all articles being 5.3/10 and judged to be of fair quality. The results indicated that Pilates exercises was effective in reducing Cobb angle (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.11-2.35), angle of trunk rotation (SMD = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.01-1.73), and pain level (SMD = 2.78, 95% CI = 1.55-4.01), as well as improving trunk ROM (SMD = 1.23, 95% CI = 0.45-2.00), and QOL (SMD = 3.05, 95% CI = 2.59-3.51) in patients with scoliosis. CONCLUSION: Pilates exercise training may reduce the Cobb angle and trunk rotation, relieve pain, increase trunk ROM, and improve QOL for patients with scoliosis. Due to the poor quality of the evidence, however, these results should be interpreted with caution.

Vitamin D supplementation for the improvement of vascular function in patients with chronic kidney disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of vitamin D on vascular function remains controversial in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. The aim of the present work was to perform a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin D on vascular function in CKD patients. METHODS: We searched Medline, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, the Science Citation Index, and clinical trial registries for randomized controlled trials comparing vitamin D with a placebo in CKD patients. RESULTS: We included seven trials. For flow-mediated dilation (FMD), there was no significant difference between the two groups (WMD 1.66%; 95% CI - 0.2 to 3.51, p = 0.08; with significant heterogeneity, p < 0.0001, I2 = 89%). We conducted a subgroup analysis. In the cholecalciferol group, compared with the placebo group, cholecalciferol significantly increased FMD (WMD 5.49%; 95% CI 4.36-6.62, p < 0.0001). In the 2 ug paricalcitol group, compared with the placebo group, paricalcitol significantly increased FMD (WMD 2.09%; 95% CI 1.28-2.9, p < 0.0001; without significant heterogeneity, p = 0.47, I2 = 0%). In the 1 ug paricalcitol group, there was no significant difference between the two groups. For pulse wave velocity (PWV), vitamin D significantly decreased PWV compared with the placebo (WMD - 0.93 m/s; 95% CI - 1.71 to - 0.15, p = 0.02; without significant heterogeneity, p = 0.14, I2 = 45%). For calcium (Ca) and parathyroid hormone (PTH), there was a significant difference between the vitamin D group and the placebo group. For 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], there was a significant difference between the inactive vitamin D group and the placebo group. For phosphorus (P), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), there were no significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: We speculate that vitamin D might be able to improve vascular function in CKD patients. The effect of vitamin D might be associated with its doses and earlier stages of the disease might respond better to vitamin D. Furthermore, trials with larger populations and longer durations are needed in order to provide more reliable evidence.