Publications by authors named "P R Messmer"
Article Synopsis
- Hutchison-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the LMNA gene, leading to rapid aging and serious health issues, including bone density loss and a shorter life span.
- In studies using Lmna progeria mice, researchers analyzed bone mineralization and found similarities in mineral content across various ages but noted a higher number of empty osteocyte lacunae, indicating bone deterioration.
- The findings highlighted significant reductions in bone volume and abnormal growth plates in Lmna mice, suggesting that bone dysplasia occurs due to problems in bone formation despite normal turnover rates.
Article Synopsis
- Vitamin C is crucial for bone health, with low levels linked to a higher risk of fractures.
- Using advanced imaging techniques, the study compared bone structure and mineral density in mice with and without Vitamin C supplementation.
- Results showed that Vitamin C deficiency significantly reduced bone thickness and volume, especially in female mice, indicating its important role in bone formation and mineralization.
Article Synopsis
- Using quantitative backscattered electron imaging (qBEI), researchers analyzed osteocyte lacunae in bone samples from people under and over 30 years old, finding significant age-related differences in their density and porosity.
- The study identified that older individuals have a 20% reduction in osteocyte characteristics and established reference data for diagnosing bone conditions, highlighting how mineral density declines with age.
Hyperthyroidism causes secondary osteoporosis through favoring bone resorption over bone formation, leading to bone loss with elevated bone fragility. Osteocytes that reside within lacunae inside the mineralized bone matrix orchestrate the process of bone remodeling and can themselves actively resorb bone upon certain stimuli. Nevertheless, the interaction between thyroid hormones and osteocytes and the impact of hyperthyroidism on osteocyte cell function are still unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn Immokalee, Florida, farmworkers returning for the fall harvest season and students returning to school for in-person classes combined to create fertile ground for a new outbreak of COVID-19 (ciw-online, 2020). In response to this situation, the goal of this service-learning experience was to provide health screenings and health education to migrant workers and their families in Immokalee, a rural medically underserved community. In the first immersion, RN-BSN students provided educational programs in three churches, at Boys & Girls Club and Pace Center for Girls, reaching 984 migrant workers and their families.
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