deletion increases osteoblast maturation and bone mass accrual in adult male mice.

Osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases are prevalent in the aging population. While bone has the capacity to regenerate throughout life, bone formation rates decline with age and contribute to reduced bone density and strength. Identifying mechanisms and pathways that increase bone accrual in adults could prevent fractures and accelerate healing.

Inhibition of Phlpp1 preserves the mechanical integrity of articular cartilage in a murine model of post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

Objective: Phlpp1 inhibition is a potential therapeutic strategy for cartilage regeneration and prevention of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). To understand how Phlpp1 loss affects cartilage structure, cartilage elastic modulus was measured with atomic force microscopy (AFM) in male and female mice after injury.

Methods: Osteoarthritis was induced in male and female Wildtype (WT) and Phlpp1 mice by destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM).

Inflammatory Processes Affecting Bone Health and Repair.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this article is to review the current understanding of inflammatory processes on bone, including direct impacts of inflammatory factors on bone cells, the effect of senescence on inflamed bone, and the critical role of inflammation in bone pain and healing.

Recent Findings: Advances in osteoimmunology have provided new perspectives on inflammatory bone loss in recent years. Characterization of so-called inflammatory osteoclasts has revealed insights into physiological and pathological bone loss.

Transforming entomology to adapt to global concerns: 2021 student debates.

The 2021 Student Debates of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) were held at the Annual Meeting in Denver, CO. The event was organized by the Student Debates Subcommittee (SDS) of the Student Affairs Committee (SAC). The theme of the 2021 Student Debates was "Transforming Entomology to Adapt to Global Concerns", with 3 topics.

Atomic Force Microscopy Micro-Indentation Methods for Determining the Elastic Modulus of Murine Articular Cartilage.

The mechanical properties of biological tissues influence their function and can predict degenerative conditions before gross histological or physiological changes are detectable. This is especially true for structural tissues such as articular cartilage, which has a primarily mechanical function that declines after injury and in the early stages of osteoarthritis. While atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to test the elastic modulus of articular cartilage before, there is no agreement or consistency in methodologies reported.

GIRK3 deletion facilitates kappa opioid signaling in chondrocytes, delays vascularization and promotes bone lengthening in mice.

Long bones are formed and repaired through the process of endochondral ossification. Activation of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling pathways is crucial for skeletal development and long bone growth. G protein-gated inwardly-rectifying K (GIRK) channel genes are key functional components and effectors of GPCR signaling pathways in excitable cells of the heart and brain, but their roles in non-excitable cells that directly contribute to endochondral bone formation have not been studied.

A scaffold-free approach to cartilage tissue generation using human embryonic stem cells.

Articular cartilage functions as a shock absorber and facilitates the free movement of joints. Currently, there are no therapeutic drugs that promote the healing of damaged articular cartilage. Limitations associated with the two clinically relevant cell populations, human articular chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem cells, necessitate finding an alternative cell source for cartilage repair.

Pleckstrin homology (PH) domain and Leucine Rich Repeat Phosphatase 1 (Phlpp1) Suppresses Parathyroid Hormone Receptor 1 (Pth1r) Expression and Signaling During Bone Growth.

Endochondral ossification is tightly controlled by a coordinated network of signaling cascades including parathyroid hormone (PTH). Pleckstrin homology (PH) domain and leucine rich repeat phosphatase 1 (Phlpp1) affects endochondral ossification by suppressing chondrocyte proliferation in the growth plate, longitudinal bone growth, and bone mineralization. As such, Phlpp1 mice have shorter long bones, thicker growth plates, and proportionally larger growth plate proliferative zones.

FLIm-Guided Raman Imaging to Study Cross-Linking and Calcification of Bovine Pericardium.

Bovine pericardium (BP) is a vascular biomaterial used in cardiovascular surgery that is typically cross-linked for masking antigenicity and enhance stability. There is a need for biochemical evaluation of the tissue properties prior to implantation to ensure that quality and reliability standards are met. Here, engineered antigen removed BP (ARBP) that was cross-linked with 0.

Residential carbon monoxide detector failure rates in the United States.

There are more than 38 million residential carbon monoxide detectors installed in the United States. We tested 30 detectors in use and found that more than half failed to function properly, alarming too early or too late. Forty percent of detectors failed to alarm in hazardous concentrations, despite outward indications that they were operating as intended.

Functional outcomes after laryngopharyngectomy with anterolateral thigh flap reconstruction.

Background: We examined speech and swallowing outcomes and complications in patients with anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap reconstruction of cervical esophageal defects.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 29 patients treated with laryngopharyngectomy and ALT flap reconstruction at The University of Texas M. D.

Functional outcomes after circumferential pharyngoesophageal reconstruction.

Objective: To determine functional speech and swallowing outcomes, morbidity, and complication rates after reconstruction of circumferential pharyngoesophageal defects using a jejunal versus an anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 58 patients with circumferential pharyngoesophageal defects, 27 with ALT flap reconstruction, and 31 with jejunal interposition.