Search Results (516)

Background: Reports on subchondral bone mechano-structure in individuals with various stages of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) are limited and often conflicting in contemporary literature. Our study aimed to assess differences in subchondral trabecular bone mechano-structure across late KOA stages in a homogenous group of patients with varus malalignment (confirmed by negative hip-knee-ankle-angle values). Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included micro-computed tomography scanning and Vickers micro-hardness testing of 90 bone samples (30 femoral and 60 tibial) collected from 15 adult patients with primary KOA undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The Kellgren–Lawrence grading system was used to assess the severity of KOA lesions in the included individuals, and bone samples were divided into the following groups: moderate KOA (42 samples from seven patients, age: 70 ± 7 years, females: 3/7) and end-stage KOA (48 samples from eight patients, age: 70 ± 6 years, females: 5/8). Results: Our data revealed site-specific sclerotic alterations in subchondral trabecular bone mechano-structure (thicker trabeculae, coupled with higher bone mineral content and increased bone micro-hardness) in individuals with end-stage KOA compared to moderate KOA, supporting its role in KOA pathogenesis beyond the exclusive cartilage degeneration effect. Our data also revealed that most heterogeneous subchondral trabecular mechano-structure was present in bone samples obtained from the medial part of the tibial and femoral condyle, revealing the substantial effect of mechanical loading during varus knee malalignment. Conclusions: Observed site-specific alterations in subchondral bone mechano-structure in individuals with end-stage KOA supported the role of subchondral sclerosis in primary KOA pathogenesis beyond its exclusive effect on cartilage degeneration. Full article

South China carp (Cyprinus carpio rubrofuscus) with low bone mineral density (BMD), characterized by softened bones and wavy ribs, were identified during paddy field aquaculture. This study investigated the association between bone status and muscle traits by comparing muscle texture, nutritional composition, histology, ultrastructure, and proteomic profiles between low-BMD fish (BMD-low, ≤0.02 g/cm²) and normal-BMD fish (BMD-normal, ≥0.04 g/cm²). Compared with the BMD-normal group, the BMD-low group showed significantly lower muscle resilience and chewiness, significantly higher iron content, and significantly lower methionine and histidine contents (p < 0.05). Histological analysis revealed increased muscle fiber density, reduced muscle fiber cross-sectional area, and greater intramuscular lipid accumulation in the BMD-low group (p < 0.05). Ultrastructural observations further showed myofibrillar disorganization and elongated sarcomeres and A-bands (p < 0.05). Proteomic analysis identified 21 differentially expressed proteins, including up-regulated desmin a and down-regulated nebulin. KEGG enrichment indicated that these proteins were mainly involved in the cytoskeleton in muscle cells, calcium signaling, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. These findings provide new insights into the relationship between bone status and muscle quality in South China carp and support future quality evaluation and selective breeding. Full article

Background/Objectives: Plant-based diets are increasingly adopted by families with young children, yet their potential effects on bone development and metabolic regulation during early childhood remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to evaluate body composition, bone mineral density (BMD), biochemical markers of bone turnover, and adipokine profiles in healthy children aged 5–6 years adhering to lacto-ovo-vegetarian or omnivorous diets. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in a well-characterized cohort of 90 healthy normal-weight children consuming either lacto-ovo-vegetarian or omnivorous diets. Body composition and bone mineral density were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and circulating markers of bone formation, resorption, and adipokines were determined using ELISA methods. Correlation analyses were performed to examine the relationships between anthropometric variables, bone parameters, and adipokines. Results: No significant differences were observed between vegetarian and omnivorous diets in anthropometric characteristics, bone mineral content (BMC), or BMD, indicating comparable skeletal status. However, vegetarian children exhibited significantly higher levels of bone turnover markers, including bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) (p = 0.023) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) (p = 0.035), and a lower osteocalcin OC/CTX-I ratio (p = 0.027). These findings may suggest a subtle imbalance in bone remodeling dynamics in these children, although their clinical significance remains uncertain. Additionally, higher levels of carboxylated osteocalcin (Gla-OC) (p = 0.022) and an increased carboxylated to undercarboxylated OC (Gla-OC/Glu-OC) ratio (p = 0.005) were observed in vegetarian children. Among adipokines, vegetarian children showed lower HMW adiponectin levels (p = 0.05) and a lower HMW/total adiponectin ratio (p = 0.012). Correlation analyses revealed distinct metabolic patterns between groups. In vegetarian children, bone parameters were primarily associated with lean mass, indicating the predominant role of mechanical factors in skeletal development. In contrast, omnivorous children demonstrated a more integrated relationship between bone indices and adipokines. Conclusions: In conclusion, while a lacto-ovo-vegetarian balanced diet supports normal bone mass in early childhood, it may be associated with subtle alterations in bone metabolism and its regulatory pathways, including adipokine profiles. These findings highlight the importance of adequate dietary planning and underscore the need for longitudinal studies to determine long-term effects on bone status. Full article

The search for a healthy diet has increased the consumption of kale, a vegetable recognized for its high nutritional value, mineral content, and antioxidant properties. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient in this context, acting in energy transfer and root development, which favors productivity and product quality. This study evaluated the effect of two phosphorus sources, bone meal (BM) and thermophosphate Yoorin^® (TY), and five phosphorus (P₂O₅) doses (0, 160, 320, 480, and 640 kg ha⁻¹) on kale yield and quality. The experiment used a randomized complete block design with four replications and ten treatments in a 2 × 5 factorial arrangement in a protected environment over a cycle of 155 days after transplanting. Marketable yield with BM reached an estimated maximum of 1.54 kg plant⁻¹ at 525 kg ha⁻¹ P₂O₅ (54% over control), while TY showed a linear increase up to 1.57 kg plant⁻¹ (59%). Photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant activity, ascorbic acid, and total phenolic compounds fitted quadratic models, with gains of up to 36%, 73%, 51%, and 57%, respectively. Contents of P, K, Ca, and Fe increased significantly with P doses, with Fe gains reaching 110–180%. Phosphate fertilization with BM, a renewable P source, increases kale yield and nutritional quality, highlighting its potential for organic farming systems. Full article

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with systemic alterations in body composition, including muscle mass loss and fat redistribution, which may influence patient-reported outcomes. However, the independent contribution of bioimpedance-derived parameters, particularly phase angle, to quality of life (QoL) remains unclear. Methods: This exploratory pilot study included 75 clinically stable patients with moderate-to-severe COPD (GOLD stages II–III). Body composition was assessed using segmental multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis with the InBody 770 system. Evaluated parameters included fat-free mass (FFM), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), percent body fat (PBF), visceral fat area (VFA), extracellular water-to-total body water ratio (ECW/TBW), bone mineral content (BMC), and phase angle (PhA). Quality of life was assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Associations between body composition parameters and QoL domains were analyzed using Spearman correlation analysis and multivariable linear regression models. Results: Despite a median body mass index (BMI) within the normal range (23.4 kg/m²), body fat mass exceeded reference values in both men and women. Fat-free mass and skeletal muscle mass were located near the lower range of expected values. Correlation analysis demonstrated predominantly weak associations between body composition parameters and QoL domains. Significant positive correlations were identified between the psychological QoL domain and fat-free mass (ρ = 0.238, p = 0.041), skeletal muscle mass (ρ = 0.240, p = 0.040), basal metabolic rate (ρ = 0.236, p = 0.043), and bone mineral content (ρ = 0.249, p = 0.033). In multivariable regression models, fat-free mass and skeletal muscle mass demonstrated consistent positive associations with both physical and psychological QoL domains. Whole-body and segmental phase angle parameters did not demonstrate significant associations with QoL outcomes. Conclusions: In patients with COPD, BMI alone may inadequately reflect underlying alterations in body composition. Muscle-related parameters, particularly fat-free mass and skeletal muscle mass, demonstrated more consistent associations with physical and psychological aspects of quality of life than obesity-related indicators. These findings suggest that bioelectrical impedance analysis may provide additional clinically relevant information beyond BMI when assessing body composition and quality of life in patients with COPD. Full article

C. c. rubrofuscus is an economically important species in South China. During breeding, some individuals develop skeletal softening, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, five-month-old C. c. rubrofuscus were classified into a hard-bone group and a softened-bone group based on X-ray radiography. A systematic comparison was then conducted between the two groups, including analyses of external morphology, skeletal morphology, vertebral bone mineral density (BMD), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels in serum and bone tissue, bone histology, and the expression of autophagy-related genes and proteins. The prevalence of the softened-bone phenotype was approximately 14% in the cultured population. Compared with the hard-bone group, the softened-bone group showed significantly lower vertebral BMD, significantly increased serum Ca levels, significantly decreased serum P levels, and markedly reduced Ca and P contents in bone tissue. In addition, varying degrees of deformity were observed in the ribs, caudal intermuscular spines, and urostyle. Histological examination further revealed severe skeletal malformations in the softened-bone group, characterized by irregular cortical bone thickness in the ribs and pterygiophores, together with a significantly reduced osteocyte density. Meanwhile, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) levels were significantly increased, whereas sequestosome 1 (p62) levels were significantly decreased. The upregulated expression of autophagy-related genes suggested dysregulated autophagy, which may contribute to osteocyte loss. Collectively, these results indicate that the softened-bone phenotype in C. c. rubrofuscus is not associated with obvious changes in external body morphology. However, disrupted Ca-P homeostasis, together with altered autophagy, may impair osteocyte viability and bone mineralization, ultimately leading to bone softening and skeletal deformity. These findings provide a theoretical basis for further investigation of the mechanisms underlying bone softening and deformity in C. c. rubrofuscus and for the genetic improvement and selective breeding of cyprinid fish to reduce the occurrence of the softened-bone trait. Full article

Due to the constant need to develop biocompatible materials with osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties, the main objective of this study was to evaluate and characterize the carbon fiber obtained from fiber polyacrylonitrile textile carbon fiber (PAN), in the different forms: non-activated carbon fiber felt (NACFF) and activated carbon fiber felt (ACF) with silver (Ag-ACF), gold (Au-ACF), copper (Cu-ACF), palladium (Pd-ACF) and platinum (Pt-ACF), on the cell behavior and osteogenesis of mesenchymal cells. For characterization: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and Raman analysis. In vitro analysis was performed on rat mesenchymal stem cells. For each experimental group, 5 wells (n = 5) were made where cell proliferation (CP): cell viability (CV), mineralization nodule formation (MNF), total protein content (PT) and alkaline phosphatase activity (APC) were quantified, and cell morphology was analyzed by direct fluorescence, genotoxicity and cell interaction by SEM. The data passed the normality test and was followed by the one-way ANOVA test, followed by the Tukey test, using the conventional significance level of 5%. All the samples were statistically similar in terms of cell proliferation, except for the Ag-ACF group in relation to the control group (C). For cell viability, C obtained greater viability than the other groups, while ACF obtained a statistical difference and was superior to the Ag-ACF, Cu-ACF, Pt-ACF groups, being statistically similar to the Au-ACF and Pd-ACF groups. In the evaluation of ACP, the Ag-ACF and Cu-ACF groups were lower than the C, and other groups; for the characterization tests Au-ACF and Pd-ACF showed a more homogeneous metal distribution compared to the other groups. Cu-ACF and Ag-ACF showed some toxicity and low induction of osteoblastic differentiation. Although platinum showed relative cellular viability, a high micronucleus count was reported for this ion. In conclusion, ACF has the potential to be developed as a future biomaterial with good cell viability. Carbon fibers incorporated with gold and palladium ions showed potential for future application as supports for bone repair. Full article

Bone health in highly trained female athletes is critical for performance and long-term wellbeing, yet systematic evidence regarding seasonal changes remains limited. The main objective of this systematic review (PROSPERO ID: 420251230393) is to determine changes in bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) across the sport macrocycle in highly trained female athletes, encompassing both elite and collegiate (NCAA) populations. Six databases were searched for studies published between 2010 and 2025, with inclusion requiring female athletes, BMD/BMC measurements, and longitudinal assessment across a macrocycle. Fourteen studies involving 522 premenopausal athletes were included, with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements conducted approximately six months apart. Study quality was assessed using the NIH Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies and indicated a predominantly good quality. Five studies reported no significant change in BMD/BMC, five demonstrated improvements, three reported mixed findings across sports or athlete subgroups, and one reported a significant decline. Only two studies attempted to account for all three primary confounders—menstrual cycle status, dietary intake, and physical activity monitoring—while seven reported no confounding variables. While bone health appears largely maintained across the sport macrocycle in highly trained premenopausal female athletes, these findings should be interpreted cautiously given the inadequate confounder reporting, heterogeneous sport exposures, variability in skeletal sites measured, and inconsistent measurement timing. Future research must comprehensively assess these variables alongside sport-specific skeletal measurements to identify athletes at risk of bone health deterioration. Full article

Background and Objectives: The contribution of body composition to muscle weakness and physical performance in older adults remains incompletely defined. This study aimed to evaluate the discriminative capacity of total and segmental body composition variables to identify muscle weakness and low physical performance in older adults. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 268 community-dwelling older adults (72.2 ± 8.2 years; 81.3% women). Body composition (lean mass, fat mass, and bone mineral content [BMC], total and segmental) was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Muscle weakness was assessed by handgrip strength (≤27 kg in men; ≤16 kg in women), and low physical performance by the Short Physical Performance Battery ≤8. Sex-stratified receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed. Results: No significant differences were found between sexes for age (p = 0.307) or body mass index (p = 0.892). However, men exhibited significantly higher waist circumference (105.2 ± 11.9 vs. 97.8 ± 12.4 cm; p < 0.001) and handgrip strength (30.3 ± 6.8 vs. 18.3 ± 4.6 kg; p < 0.001) than women. Regarding body composition, men presented higher total lean mass (50.4 ± 6.9 vs. 37.2 ± 4.6 kg; p < 0.001) and total bone mineral content (2666 ± 483 vs. 1940 ± 286 g; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Body composition variables showed higher discriminative capacity for muscle weakness than for low physical performance. The ability of lean mass and BMC to identify low physical performance was modest in both sexes, suggesting that structural body composition variables alone may be insufficient to discriminate complex functional impairment in older adults. Full article

The poultry industry generates large amounts of protein- and mineral-rich by-products that remain underutilized. This study investigated the use of chicken skin protein hydrolysate and chicken bone protein–mineral mass (PMM) as functional ingredients in emulsified poultry sausages. The hydrolysate was characterized by a high protein content (52.25%) and high water- and fat-binding capacity (142% and 125%, respectively), while the PMM served as a source of protein and minerals with stable physicochemical and rheological characteristics. These ingredients were incorporated into sausage formulations at different substitution levels. Partial replacement of poultry meat increased protein and mineral content and affected key technological properties, including water-binding capacity, emulsion stability, cooking loss, and shear force. Moderate inclusion levels were associated with a more cohesive protein matrix, lower cooking losses, and improved structural stability, whereas excessive substitution resulted in increased firmness and less favorable sensory characteristics. Among the tested formulations, the combination of 18% PMM and 4% protein hydrolysate showed the most balanced technological and sensory performance. The findings suggest that poultry by-products processed into functional ingredients may have potential for application in value-added sausage formulations. Full article

Marine byproducts generated from seafood processing represent valuable reservoirs of structurally and functionally distinct biomolecules, whose composition reflects species, habitat, and processing history. This systematic review identified which marine byproducts have been most extensively studied between 2020 and 2025, with emphasis on their composition, valorisation, and suitability for tracing their geographic origin. Following the PRISMA protocol, 6443 publications were initially retrieved, of which 96 peer-reviewed studies were included for data extraction and analysis. The five most frequently investigated byproducts—skin, bones, scales, shells, and roe—were identified as rich sources of proteins (collagen and gelatin), minerals (hydroxyapatite and calcium carbonate), polysaccharides (chitin), lipids (notably polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)), and vitamin B12. Collagen properties, particularly imino acid content, hydroxylation degree, crosslinking density, and thermal stability, correlate more strongly with environmental temperature than taxonomy, supporting their potential as markers for tracing geographic origin. The mineral fractions, dominated by hydroxyapatite in bones and scales, or calcium carbonate in shells, provided complementary inorganic fingerprints based on calcium-to-phosphorus ratios, carbonate substitution, trace element composition, and thermal analyses. While the lipid profile alone could not completely discriminate fish roe, proteomic techniques, such as MALDI-TOF MS, make it possible to reliably identify species. Collectively, these byproducts offer complementary organic and inorganic markers that support integrated strategies that allow tracing their origin and fostering their sustainable valorisation, overcoming a key technical bottleneck for their use. However, their large-scale conversion into market-ready products remains limited by technical complexity, process variability, and cost-related constraints. Full article

Thai black-boned chickens, a native genetic resource valued for their dark-pigmented meat and blood with reputed functional properties, generally exhibit slower growth than commercial broilers. The potential for selective breeding to enhance growth performance while maintaining their unique nutritional and functional characteristics remains unclear. We compared growth performance and nutritional profiles of breast meat and blood between a genetically selected line and an unselected control, and evaluated sex and tissue effects. Two lines were reared under identical management (n = 200 chicks). Body weight (BW) was recorded from hatch to 16 wk; average daily gain (ADG) and breast circumference (BrC) were calculated at 0–4, 0–8, 0–12, and 0–16 wk and at 8, 12, and 16 wk, respectively. At 16 wk, 48 birds (12/sex/line) were sampled for proximate nutrients and amino acids in breast meat and whole blood. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA. The selected line outperformed the unselected line across all growth traits. Mixed-sex BW rose from 33.10 g at hatch to 1456.21 g at 16 wk versus 30.26 g to 1228.81 g in controls (18–19% higher at market age). ADG was greater in the selected line at every interval (14.27 vs. 11.24 g/day at 0–16 wk), with the largest advantage during 12–16 wk. BrC was consistently larger in genetically selected line (average 26.98 vs. 24.81 cm at 16 wk). Sex dimorphism was evident, with males showing the greatest response. Nutrient analyses showed higher total energy and fat contents in selected breast meat, whereas blood cholesterol and minerals (Na, Ca, Fe) levels were lower, particularly in the unselected line. Amino-acid profiling revealed higher concentrations of key essential amino acids (lysine, threonine, Branched-Chain Amino Acids; BCAAs) and major non-essentials (glutamic, aspartic acids) in the breast muscle of the selected line; most amino acids were greater in muscle than blood, with significant line × tissue interactions. Genetic selection substantially improved growth rate, breast development, and nutritional quality of breast meat while altering mineral and cholesterol distribution between tissues. These gains support selective breeding as a practical strategy to enhance productivity and functional values in black-boned chickens. Full article

Background: Bone health and brain function may be closely interconnected through a complex bone–brain axis. The relationship between bone mineral density (BMD), vertebral perfusion, marrow composition, cerebral perfusion, brain volume, and cognitive decline, however, remain incompletely understood. Methods: Ninety-nine female subjects (mean age 65.00 ± 5.00 years) with clinically suspected mild cognitive impairment underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, carotid ultrasound, and multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and lumbar spine to measure BMD, bone perfusion, marrow fat content as well as cerebral perfusion, cerebral volume, cerebral white matter burden and large vessel atherosclerosis. Cognitive function was assessed using the Hong Kong Montreal Cognitive Assessment (HK-MoCA). Bone, cerebral, vascular, and cognitive measures were correlated using Spearman correlation coefficients and compared in group comparisons. Results: Lower BMD was correlated with reduced subcortical cerebral blood flow (CBF) (r = 0.27, p = 0.031) and lower total brain parenchymal volume (r = 0.25, p = 0.021). Reduced bone marrow perfusion and increased marrow fat content were also associated with lower total brain parenchymal volume (r = 0.24, p = 0.023 and r = −0.26, p = 0.025). Subjects with the lowest L3 vertebral body perfusion or highest marrow fat content had significantly reduced total brain and hippocampal volumes (p = 0.029–0.049) compared with those with the highest perfusion or lowest marrow fat content. Conclusions: This study shows an association between lower BMD, reduced vertebral perfusion, and increased marrow fat with reduced brain parenchymal volumes and reduced brain perfusion. Further studies are warranted to clarify these relationships and explore the underlying shared mechanisms affecting bone health and cerebral microvascular and structural brain changes. Full article

Background: Excess body fat during growth has been associated with impaired bone development; however, evidence on the influence of total and regional body fat on bone mineral content (BMC) in physically active youth remains limited. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the association between total and regional body fat and BMC in children and adolescent athletes. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 109 children and adolescents aged 9 to 18 years participating in different sports (indoor volleyball, beach volleyball, swimming, track and field, and basketball). Bone mineral content assessed by DXA and normalized by height (BMC/Height) for the total body less head (TBLH), lumbar spine (L1–L4), and femoral neck was considered the dependent variable. Total and regional (android and gynoid) body fat percentages obtained by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were treated as independent variables. Associations were examined using multivariable linear regression adjusted for biological and training-related covariates. Results: Total body fat (β = −0.014; p < 0.05), android fat (β = −0.011; p < 0.05), and gynoid fat (β = −0.014; p < 0.05) were significantly and inversely associated with lumbar spine BMC/Height. No associations were observed between total, android, or gynoid fat percentage and TBLH or femoral neck BMC/Height (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The inverse and site-specific association of total, android, and gynoid fat with lumbar spine BMC/Height highlights the greater susceptibility of this skeletal site to adiposity-related detriments, underscoring the importance of site-specific monitoring of bone mineral content, even among physically active youth. Full article

Neuropeptide VF (NPVF) is a member of the RFamide family of peptides and is suggested to be involved in homeostatic regulations. However, direct evidence is sparse. Here, we generated a NPVF knockout mouse model to comprehensively investigate its role in energy and glucose homeostasis controls. We show that while male Npvf^−/− mice on chow were WT-like at both room temperature (RT 22 °C) and thermoneutrality (TN 28 °C) with regards to body weight, body composition, and the parameters involved in energy homeostasis, female Npvf^−/− mice exhibit significantly reduced water intake at RT and TN regardless of food access, significantly increased the femur bone mineral content at RT and reduced the adiposity at TN. Strikingly, sex differences are absent under high-fat diet (HFD) conditions, with Npvf deletion leading to hyperphagia and increased weight gain in both sexes. Furthermore, Npvf^−/− mice on chow at RT exhibit normal glucose tolerance and insulin action for both sexes. On a HFD or at TN, Npvf^−/− mice display improved and impaired insulin action in females and males, respectively, with female Npvf^−/− mice at TN further showing an improved glucose tolerance. Collectively, these findings establish NPVF as a key regulator of energy and glucose metabolism with sex dimorphism, and are critically dependent on environmental and nutritional factors. Full article