Publications by authors named "Alexa K Pius"

Background: Corticosteroids provide well-established therapeutic benefits; however, they are also accompanied by adverse effects on bone. Metformin is a widely used medication for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Recent studies have highlighted additional therapeutic benefits of metformin, particularly concerning bone health and oxidative stress.

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Background Context: Lumbar decompression and lumbar fusion are effective methods of treating spinal compressive pathologies refractory to conservative management. These surgeries are typically used to treat different spinal problems, but there is a growing body of literature investigating the outcomes of either approach for patients with lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis and stenosis. Different operations are associated with different risks and different potential needs for reoperation.

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Joint replacement is a common surgery and is predominantly utilized for treatment of osteoarthritis in the aging population. The longevity of many of these implants depends on bony ingrowth. Here, we provide an overview of current techniques in osteogenesis (inducing bone growth onto an implant), which is affected by aging and inflammation.

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Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) trauma and ACL reconstruction (ACLR) are associated with the loss of strength and function of the muscles that span the knee joint. The underlying mechanism associated with this is not completely understood.

Purpose: To determine whether the duration of tourniquet use during ACLR has an effect on knee extensor muscle contractile function and size at the cellular (ie, fiber) level 3 weeks after surgery and at the whole-muscle level at 6 months after surgery.

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Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a disease in which inadequate blood supply to the subchondral bone causes the death of cells in the bone marrow. Decalcified histology and assessment of the percentage of empty lacunae are used to quantify the severity of ONFH. However, the current clinical practice of manually counting cells is a tedious and inefficient process.

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Anterior cruciate ligament injury and reconstruction (ACLR) affects articular cartilage thickness profiles about the tibial, femoral, and patellar surfaces; however, it's unclear whether the magnitudes of change in cartilage thickness, as well as the locations and areas over which these changes occur, differ between males and females. This is important to consider as differences exist between the sexes with regard to knee biomechanics, patellofemoral pain, and anatomic alignment, which influence risk of an index and repeated injury. Subjects underwent ACLR with a bone-patella tendon-bone autograft.

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Background: Decreasing the number of prescription opioids has been a leading strategy in combating the opioid epidemic. In Vermont, statewide and institutional policies have affected prescribing practices, resulting in a 40% decrease in postoperative opioid prescribing. The optimal approach to postoperative opioid prescribing remains unknown.

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