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Background. Virtual reality (VR) is a frequently used intervention for the rehabilitation of individuals with neurological disorders. Purpose. The aims of this review were to identify the short-term effect of VR on balance and to compare it with the effect of active interventions in individuals with Parkinson disease (PD). Data Sources. Searches for relevant articles available in English were conducted using the MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database databases from inception until March 2019. Study Selection. All randomized controlled trials comparing the effect of training with VR and the effect of training without VR on balance in individuals with PD were included. Data Extraction. Two authors independently extracted data, assessed the methodological quality, and evaluated the evidence quality of the studies. Data Synthesis. Fourteen randomized controlled trials including 574 individuals were eligible for qualitative analyses, and 12 of the studies involving 481 individuals were identified as being eligible for meta-analyses. Compared with active interventions, the use of VR improved the Berg Balance Scale score (mean difference = 1.23; 95% CI = 0.15 to 2.31; [I.SUP.2] = 56%). The Dynamic Gait Index and Functional Gait Assessment results were also significant after the sensitivity analyses (mean difference = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.12 to 1.26; [I.SUP.2] = 0%). Both provided moderate statistical evidence. However, the Timed 'Up & Go' Test and the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale did not differ significantly. Limitations. Publication bias and diversity in the interventions were the main limitations. Conclusions. Existing moderate evidence of the effectiveness of VR with the Berg Balance Scale, Dynamic Gait Index, and Functional Gait Assessment for individuals with PD was promising. Although the differences did not reach the clinically important change threshold, VR was comparable to active interventions and could be considered an adjuvant therapy for balance rehabilitation in individuals with PD., Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common progressive debilitating neurodegenerative disorder worldwide. The standardized incidence rate of PD is 8 to 18 per 100,000 person-years. The incidence of PD [...]

Objective Low-frequency vibration accelerates cartilage degeneration in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) rat model. In this article, we investigated whether whole-body vibration (WBV) increases cartilage degeneration by regulating tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in KOA.Design Proteomics analysis was used to filter candidate protein from synovial fluid (SF) in KOA people after WBV. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to estimate changes in TNF-α levels in SF. The C57 mice and TNF-α knock-out mice were sacrificed for the KOA model and WBV intervention. The cartilage was tested by ELISA, histology, terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL), immunohistochemistry, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Luciferase activity test in vitrostudy was conducted to confirm the relationship between TNF-α and the candidate protein.Results Differentially expressed proteins were enriched in the glycolytic process, glucose catabolic, and regulation of interleukin-8 (IL-8) secretion processes. Phosphoglycerate kinase, triosephosphate isomerase 1, T cell immunoglobulin- and mucin-domain-containing molecules 2, fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH), and TNF were the hub node. TNF-α expression increased in SF after WBV (P< 0.05). The cartilage was more degenerated in the TNF-α−/−mice group compared to controls. A significant change was observed in collagen II and FAH (P< 0.05). TNF-α expression improved in C57 mice (P< 0.05). Apoptosis of chondrocytes was inhibited in TNF-α−/−mice by the TUNEL test. Luciferase activity significantly increased in TNF-α + FAH-Luc cells (P< 0.05).Conclusion A novel mechanism underlying WBV-triggered cartilage degeneration was found in KOA that demonstrated the critical regulatory function of TNF-α and FAH during WBV.