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Musculoskeletal Diseases: Inflammation, Degeneration or Mechanical Stress

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2025 | Viewed by 1940

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Musculoskeletal disorders are conditions that may result from hereditary, congenital, or acquired pathological states. Their features may vary in nature, but all of them affect bones, joints, connective tissues, and muscles.

With aging, these tissues gradually are subjected to degeneration due to biological and mechanical stress. Other factors that may influence the development of these pathologies are inflammation, infections, mechanical traumas, and toxic metabolic diseases. Musculoskeletal disorders also are the most costly and disabling conditions in developing countries. Loss of function and chronic pain are the primary mechanisms that lead to disability and work loss. This Special Issue aims to invite reviews and original articles that focus on musculoskeletal disorders, both hereditary and acquired. The collection places a particular emphasis on the molecular pathways affecting joints and connective tissues, as well as the properties and composition of the extracellular matrix.

Dr. Gianluigi Pasta
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • musculoskeletal diseases
  • inflammation
  • degeneration
  • mechanical stress
  • aging

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

19 pages, 1516 KiB  
Review
The Mechanism by Which Estrogen Level Affects Knee Osteoarthritis Pain in Perimenopause and Non-Pharmacological Measures
by Huiying Zhao, Fan Yu and Wei Wu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(6), 2391; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26062391 - 7 Mar 2025
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Abstract
Perimenopausal women have fluctuating estrogen levels, which often trigger a range of symptoms of perimenopausal syndromes as estrogen levels decrease. Changes in perimenopausal estrogen levels are closely related to pain in knee osteoarthritis (KOA), which has long been a research area of great [...] Read more.
Perimenopausal women have fluctuating estrogen levels, which often trigger a range of symptoms of perimenopausal syndromes as estrogen levels decrease. Changes in perimenopausal estrogen levels are closely related to pain in knee osteoarthritis (KOA), which has long been a research area of great interest in perimenopausal women. In recent years, it has been found that perimenopausal estrogen levels have an important role in KOA pain, namely, that estrogen can affect KOA pain through the regulation of inflammatory responses, inhibition of cellular senescence and apoptosis, and modulation of neurotransmitters, which may provide new ideas for KOA treatment. This study aims to describe the mechanism of estrogen level on knee osteoarthritis pain in perimenopause and related non-pharmacological measures, such as physical therapy, physical factor therapy, traditional Chinese medicine, and diet, which can provide a reference for the study and treatment of pain in perimenopausal women with KOA. Full article
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11 pages, 672 KiB  
Review
The Role of Temperature on Inflammation and Coagulation: Should We Apply Temperature Treatments for Hemophilic Arthropathy?
by Alice Maria Brancato, Laura Caliogna, Alessandra Monzio Compagnoni, Elena Cornella, Camilla Torriani, Micaela Berni, Liliana De Felice, Eugenio Jannelli, Mario Mosconi and Gianluigi Pasta
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(5), 2282; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26052282 - 4 Mar 2025
Viewed by 630
Abstract
Hemophilic arthropathy (HA) is a complication of hemophilia, which is a genetic disorder characterized by a deficiency in blood clotting factors. HA is characterized by joint damage with inflammatory responses, pain, and movement limitations due to recurrent bleeding in the joints. The inflammatory [...] Read more.
Hemophilic arthropathy (HA) is a complication of hemophilia, which is a genetic disorder characterized by a deficiency in blood clotting factors. HA is characterized by joint damage with inflammatory responses, pain, and movement limitations due to recurrent bleeding in the joints. The inflammatory reactions contribute to the activation of coagulation factors, which can exacerbate bleeding and further damage the affected joints. Therefore, the interaction between inflammation and coagulation plays a crucial role in the progression and complications of HA. Management strategies often focus both on inflammation and coagulation to alleviate symptoms and preserve joint function. Temperature can influence the inflammatory response and coagulation. The aim of this work was to understand how temperature management can positively or negatively influence the HA. We have carried out a narrative review of the available literature. This review explores the impacts of temperature on biological processes, and it discusses the possible clinical implications for the HA treatment. Our research shows that cold exposure has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, while heat is linked to pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Both hot and cold treatments are ill-advised for hemophilia patients. Heat stimulates neo-angiogenesis, and cold hampers coagulation, posing risks for increased bleeding in individuals with hemophilia. Full article
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