What are the academic and demographic characteristics of orthopaedic spine surgery division chiefs?

Background: To our knowledge no analysis of academic orthopedics division chiefs (DC) exists in the current orthopedic literature. Serving as a Division Chief may be a career milestone or an opportunity to lead and transition to additional leadership roles. Our objective is to answer the following questions (1) Are there academic characteristics common to Spine divisions chiefs? (2) Are there demographic characteristics common to Spine division chiefs? (3) Do most Spine division chiefs train at certain fellowships?

Methods: Allopathic residency program websites were used to locate DC and Division Co-Chiefs (DCC).

Electromagnetic stimulation increases mitochondrial function in osteogenic cells and promotes bone fracture repair.

Bone fracture is a growing public health burden and there is a clinical need for non-invasive therapies to aid in the fracture healing process. Previous studies have demonstrated the utility of electromagnetic (EM) fields in promoting bone repair; however, its underlying mechanism of action is unclear. Interestingly, there is a growing body of literature describing positive effects of an EM field on mitochondria.

Bone morphogenic protein-2 signaling in human disc degeneration and correlation to the Pfirrmann MRI grading system.

Background Context: Back and neck pain secondary to disc degeneration is a major public health burden. There is a need for therapeutic treatments to restore intervertebral disc (IVD) composition and function.

Purpose: To quantify ALK3, BMP-2, pSMAD1/5/8 and MMP-13 expression in IVD specimens collected from patients undergoing surgery for disc degeneration, to correlate ALK3, BMP-2, pSMAD1/5/8 and MMP-13 expression in IVD specimens to the 5-level Pfirrmann MRI grading system, and to compare ALK3, BMP-2, pSMAD1/5/8 and MMP-13 expression between cervical and lumbar degenerative disc specimens.

Inhibition of the mitochondrial permeability transition improves bone fracture repair.

Bone fracture is accompanied by trauma, mechanical stresses, and inflammation - conditions known to induce the mitochondrial permeability transition. This phenomenon occurs due to opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) promoted by cyclophilin D (CypD). MPTP opening leads to more inflammation, cell death and potentially to disruption of fracture repair.