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Objective: This study aims to identify different biomarkers of Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) using untargeted metabolomics screening. Materials and Methods: In a case-control study, serum samples from MPS patients (n = 19) and healthy controls (n = 10) were analyzed using reverse-phase liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry quadrupole time-of -flight (MS-QTOF). The resulted raw data was processed with Progenesis QI data analysis software. The HMBD database was used to identify the metabolites based on their fold change (>1.2), variable importance plot (>1) with P < 0.05. MetaboAnalyst 5.0 was used to generate metabolic network analysis for all identified metabolites. Results: The MPS group reported significantly higher pain on visual analog scale when compared with control while most of the other routine blood chemical profiles were not different. Twenty-seven metabolites were analyzed and identified with untargeted metabolomics analysis which could distinguish MPS patients from healthy controls. Inosine and chenodeoxycholic acid were abundant in the MPS group, whereas the others were low. Metabolites were divided into three categories: lipids, nucleotides, and organic compounds. Possible MPS metabolites included lysoSM (sphingomyelin), lysoPC (lysophosphatidylcholine), lysoPE (lysophosphatidylethanolamine), triglyceride, and inosine. Conclusion: These metabolite profiles, including glycerophospholipids mechanism and purine metabolism, indicate that the inflammatory process might be related to the mechanisms of MPS. A larger sample size, a different trigger point location, and modifications in therapy afterward should all be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to preliminarily evaluate effect on physical properties of shoulder joints and cognitive function after practicing Rue-si-dad-ton, a Thai traditional exercise using the postures of the hermit doing body contortion which still lacks systematically conducted evidence-based regarding its benefits., Material and Method: Thirty-seven participants who have routinely worked on computer at least 3 hours per day were recruited and randomized into intervention (n = 19) or control group (n = 18). Physical effect on shoulder joints was evaluated by measuring shoulder range of motion (ROM) and evaluating shoulder function with the American Shoulder & Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form. Cognitive function was determined by Verbal Fluency Test, Trail Maker B Test, and Digit Span Test. Both study groups were assessed by all tests at the beginning and at the end of study by blinded assessors. The intervention group performed 3 postures of Rue-si-dad-ton exercise (an hour per day for 4 days by a well-trained instructor) before thefinal measurement., Results: Only left and right shoulder flexion of the intervention group (p-value = 0.006 and 0.010 respectively) showed significant increment compared with the control group using ANCOVA test with baseline adjusted as covariate. Other variables, including joint and cognitive function, indicated no significant changes between groups. No complications from exercise were found during the study, Conclusion: Rue-si-dad-ton may safely help improve range of joint motion with potential benefit for joint and cognitive function. Additional extensive studies with adequate number of participants and longer period of exercise are warranted.

Purpose: To study the efficacy of traditional Thai massage (TTM) versus conventional physical therapy (PT) programs in treating muscle spasticity, functional ability, anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QoL) in Thai stroke patients., Methods: This randomized controlled trial with a blinded assessor was carried out at the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Siriraj Hospital (Bangkok, Thailand). The study included 50 stroke (onset ≥ 3 months) outpatients experiencing spasticity at the elbow or knee muscles at a grade of ≥ 1+ on the modified Ashworth Scale who were ≥ 50 years old and able to communicate. The subjects were randomly allocated to the treatment group receiving TTM (24 subjects) or the control group receiving the PT program (26 subjects). Both groups received treatment (either TTM or PT) twice a week for 6 weeks. Spasticity grade, functional ability, anxiety, depression, and QoL were measured at Week 0 and Week 6., Results: At Week 6, the percentage of patients whose modified Ashworth Scale score had decreased by at least one grade was not statistically significant between the two groups. Both TTM and PT groups experienced a significant increase in functional ability and QoL, but no difference was found between the groups. Anxiety and depression scores showed a decreasing trend in the TTM group., Conclusion: This preliminary report showed no evidence that TTM differed from the PT program in decreasing spasticity. However, both interventions may relieve spasticity, increase functional ability, and improve QoL after 6 weeks. Only TTM can decrease anxiety and depression scores. Further studies with adequate sample size are necessary.