Vitamin D levels and bone mineral density: a prospective cross-sectional analysis of young orthopedic trauma patients at a rural United States trauma center.

Purpose: The goal of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in young orthopedic trauma patients and its impact on bone mineral density (BMD) measured through computed tomography imaging of the lumbar spine.

Methods: Conducted at a level I trauma center, this prospective cross-sectional analysis included 100 patients aged 18 to 50 years with non-fragility fractures. Vitamin D levels and Hounsfield units of the lumbar spine were recorded from computed tomography scans.

Bilateral femoral neck fractures in pregnancy suggestive of transient osteoporosis of the hip in a patient with hyperparathyroidism: a case report.

Atraumatic bilateral femoral neck fractures are rare, especially in younger patients and those without significant comorbidities. However, pregnant individuals appear to be at increased risk due to normal physiological changes in calcium balance, leading to transient osteoporosis of the hip. In these individuals, calcium and bone mineral density are generally decreased, reflecting the calcium demands of the developing fetus.

An Extended Primer Grip of Picornavirus Polymerase Facilitates Sexual RNA Replication Mechanisms.

Picornaviruses have both asexual and sexual RNA replication mechanisms. Asexual RNA replication mechanisms involve one parental template, whereas sexual RNA replication mechanisms involve two or more parental templates. Because sexual RNA replication mechanisms counteract ribavirin-induced error catastrophe, we selected for ribavirin-resistant poliovirus to identify polymerase residues that facilitate sexual RNA replication mechanisms.

Picornaviral polymerase domain exchanges reveal a modular basis for distinct biochemical activities of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases.

Picornaviral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRPs) have low replication fidelity that is essential for viral fitness and evolution. Their global fold consists of the classical "cupped right hand" structure with palm, fingers, and thumb domains, and these RdRPs also possess a unique contact between the fingers and thumb domains. This interaction restricts movements of the fingers, and RdRPs use a subtle conformational change within the palm domain to close their active sites for catalysis.

Picornavirus RNA Recombination Counteracts Error Catastrophe.

Template-dependent RNA replication mechanisms render picornaviruses susceptible to error catastrophe, an overwhelming accumulation of mutations incompatible with viability. Viral RNA recombination, in theory, provides a mechanism for viruses to counteract error catastrophe. We tested this theory by exploiting well-defined mutations in the poliovirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDRP), namely, a G64S mutation and an L420A mutation.

Surgeon Specialty Influences Referral Rate for Osteoporosis Management following Vertebral Compression Fractures.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Objective: To evaluate the referral rate for long-term osteoporosis management following vertebral compression fracture treated by different specialties at a single academic institution.

Methods: Patients undergoing vertebral cement augmentation for painful osteoporotic compression fractures from 2009 to 2014 were identified.

Bone Mineral Density and Vitamin D Level Compared to Lifestyle in Resident Physicians.

Due to the demands of resident education and long periods of time spent indoors, resident physicians may have poorer bone quality than would be expected. Forty-four resident physicians underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D level testing at our institution. Results were correlated with a survey of self-reported duty hours, physical activity, and sun exposure.

Multiple roles of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in fracture healing.

This review presents a summary of basic science evidence examining the influence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) on secondary fracture healing. Multiple studies suggest that TNF-α, in combination with the host reservoir of peri-fracture mesenchymal stem cells, is a main determinant in the success of bone healing. Disease states associated with poor bone healing commonly have inappropriate TNF-α responses, which likely contributes to the higher incidence of delayed and nonunions in these patient populations.

A review of vitamin D and its effects on athletes.

Research into vitamin D has revealed the important role it plays in a variety of biologic functions. Despite this importance, vitamin D deficiency remains one of the most underdiagnosed conditions in the world. Although no evidence exists that athletes have a higher daily requirement than the general population, vitamin D deficiency in athletic individuals has been linked to decreased physical performance and a predisposition to stress fractures.