Publications by authors named "Kevin Kruse"

Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), characterized by leaky neovessels emanating from the choroid, is a main cause of blindness. As current treatments for wet AMD require regular intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) biologics, there is a need for the development of less invasive treatments. Here, we designed an allosteric inhibitor of end binding-3 (EB3) protein, termed EBIN, which reduces the effects of environmental stresses on endothelial cells by limiting pathological calcium signaling.

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Massive rotator cuff tears are a common issue for patients and can be challenging to manage surgically. While the literature has shown that repair construct can affect the outcome of a rotator cuff repair, and the double-row repair is typically favored over the single-row repair for larger rotator cuff tears, the double-row repair also has some shortcomings. These shortcomings are related to the increased technical difficulty of the procedure, as well as increased costs due to the increased number of anchors used.

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Massive irreparable rotator cuff tears are difficult to treat. Disruption of the rotator cable and joint capsule leads to altered glenohumeral joint mechanics, superior migration of the humeral head, and limited overhead function. A few graft options exist for reconstruction, with limited outcomes data.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study examines the effectiveness of ultrasound in diagnosing rotator cuff tears during routine office visits, emphasizing its growing acceptance in orthopedic practice despite limited supporting literature.
  • A total of 145 patients had their preoperative ultrasound and surgical imaging analyzed by three orthopedic surgeons, focusing on the visibility of the rotator cuff tendon edges.
  • The results indicated that if the tendon edge is visible on ultrasound, it strongly predicts reparability during surgery, with a high positive predictive value of 97.6%, suggesting ultrasound could be a valuable tool in pre-surgical assessments.
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Background: Despite significant benefits, many orthopedic surgeons are hesitant to incorporate diagnostic ultrasound into their practice. This may be because of a lack of comfort, knowledge, and/or training. The purpose of this study was to analyze practice patterns regarding the use of shoulder ultrasound by orthopedic surgeons to diagnose rotator cuff tears.

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Here we describe a novel method for studying the protein "interactome" in primary human cells and apply this method to investigate the effect of posttranslational protein modifications (PTMs) on the protein's functions. We created a novel "biomimetic microsystem platform" (Bio-MSP) to isolate the protein complexes in primary cells by covalently attaching purified His-tagged proteins to a solid microscale support. Using this Bio-MSP, we have analyzed the interactomes of unphosphorylated and phosphomimetic end-binding protein-3 (EB3) in endothelial cells.

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Vascular endothelial (VE) protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) is an endothelial-specific phosphatase that stabilizes VE-cadherin junctions. Although studies have focused on the role of VE-PTP in dephosphorylating VE-cadherin in the activated endothelium, little is known of VE-PTP's role in the quiescent endothelial monolayer. Here, we used the photoconvertible fluorescent protein VE-cadherin-Dendra2 to monitor VE-cadherin dynamics at adherens junctions (AJs) in confluent endothelial monolayers.

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Vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin forms homotypic adherens junctions (AJs) in the endothelium, whereas N-cadherin forms heterotypic adhesion between endothelial cells and surrounding vascular smooth muscle cells and pericytes. Here we addressed the question whether both cadherin adhesion complexes communicate through intracellular signaling and contribute to the integrity of the endothelial barrier. We demonstrated that deletion of N-cadherin () in either endothelial cells or pericytes increases junctional endothelial permeability in lung and brain secondary to reduced accumulation of VE-cadherin at AJs.

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Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a leading cause of congenital birth defects, forms an unusual cytoplasmic virion maturation site termed the "assembly compartment" (AC). Here, we show that the AC also acts as a microtubule-organizing center (MTOC) wherein centrosome activity is suppressed and Golgi-based microtubule (MT) nucleation is enhanced. This involved viral manipulation of discrete functions of MT plus-end-binding (EB) proteins.

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Store-operated Ca entry (SOCE) mediates the increase in intracellular calcium (Ca) in endothelial cells (ECs) that regulates several EC functions including tissue-fluid homeostasis. Stromal-interaction molecule 1 (STIM1), upon sensing the depletion of (Ca) from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) store, organizes as puncta that trigger store-operated Ca entry (SOCE) via plasmalemmal Ca-selective Orai1 channels. While the STIM1 and Orai1 binding interfaces have been mapped, signaling mechanisms activating STIM1 recruitment of Orai1 and STIM1-Orai1 interaction remains enigmatic.

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Ultrasound is a versatile imaging modality that can be used by upper extremity surgeons for diagnostic purposes and guided injections. The perceptions of ultrasound for diagnosis and treatment among upper extremity surgeons and its barriers for adoption have not been formally surveyed. The purpose of this study is to determine the current usage of musculoskeletal ultrasound for diagnostic purposes and guided injections by upper extremity surgeons and their reasons for using it or not using it in practice.

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The monolayer of endothelial cells lining the vessel wall forms a semipermeable barrier (in all tissue except the relatively impermeable blood-brain and inner retinal barriers) that regulates tissue-fluid homeostasis, transport of nutrients, and migration of blood cells across the barrier. Permeability of the endothelial barrier is primarily regulated by a protein complex called adherens junctions. Adherens junctions are not static structures; they are continuously remodeled in response to mechanical and chemical cues in both physiological and pathological settings.

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Proper visualization is of paramount importance during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. We propose a technique that significantly improves the visualization of the rotator cuff when viewing from the anterolateral or lateral portals. This "panorama" view is obtained by a release of the deep layer of the deltoid fascia, which in turn increases the space between the humerus and the deltoid muscle.

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The "hidden lesion" refers to a tear of the subscapularis in the presence of an intact biceps pulley or rotator interval. Visualization of these tears during open surgery is difficult, yet even with the advancement of arthroscopy, visualization can still be challenging. Incomplete visualization of the subscapularis could lead to failure to diagnose a tear of the tendon and subsequently hinder results after shoulder surgery.

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Arthroscopic distal clavicle resection has become an increasingly popular procedure in orthopaedics, and various techniques have been published. Many of the arthroscopic distal clavicle resection techniques that have been reported require visualization from the lateral portal with an anterior working portal to perform the resection. While these techniques have reported high success rates, there is often difficulty in viewing the entire acromioclavicular joint from the 2 standard arthroscopic portals (lateral and anterior).

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Background: Since Walch and colleagues originally classified glenoid morphology in the setting of glenohumeral osteoarthritis, several authors have reported varying levels of interobserver and intraobserver reliability. We propose several modifications to the Walch classification that we hypothesize will increase interobserver and intraobserver reliability.

Methods: We propose the addition of the B3 and D glenoids and a more precise definition of the A2 glenoid.

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Background: Currently, there are many techniques used in the surgical release of elbow contracture, but no single technique has gained widespread acceptance. The purpose of this study was to report the outcomes of a lateral-column approach combined with a mini-open triceps-splitting technique for elbow contracture release.

Methods: Thirty-six patients with a mean age of 39 years were included in the study.

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Scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) is a predictable pattern of degenerative wrist arthritis that develops as a result of scapholunate dissociation. The purpose of this article is to review outcomes for the various motion-sparing surgical treatments for SLAC wrist.

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Purpose: To determine the interrater and intra-rater reliability of ultrasound (US) measurement of the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel inlet.

Methods: Three examiners of varying levels of experience performed US measurements of the CSA of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel inlet of both wrists of 11 healthy volunteers. Each examiner was blinded to the measurements of the other examiners.

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Background/purpose: Coronary stent deployment outcomes can be negatively impacted by inaccurate lesion measurement and inappropriate stent length selection (SLS). We compared visual estimate of these parameters to those provided by the CorPath 200® Robotic PCI System.

Methods: Sixty consecutive patients who underwent coronary stent placement utilizing the CorPath System were evaluated.

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Primary revascularization (PR) and thrombolytic therapy (TT) reduce infarct size and mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Electrocardiogram methods can determine the extent of myocardial salvage with different AMI therapies by comparing infarct size predicted by initial ST-segment changes and infarct size estimated by later quantitative QRS scores. In a community hospital setting, we used quantitative electrocardiogram methods to estimate infarct size and myocardial salvage associated with TT and PR amongst 50 patients presenting with inferior ST-segment elevation AMI.

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