A prospective database evaluating the outcomes of knee osteotomy procedures

Poster presented at the 2017 Health Sciences Research Day which was organized and sponsored by the University of Missouri School of Medicine Research Council and held on November 9, 2017.Conclusion: This database provides numerous opportunities for analysis. Utilization of this information will enhance the management of knee osteotomy patients and help to improve patient outcomes. Long term follow-up of this patient cohort will continue to provide meaningful data over time

What is the location and extent of pathology in surgical cases of chronic biceps tendinopathy undergoing subpectoral bicep tenodesis?

The proximal aspect of the long head of the biceps brachii (LHBB) has long been implicated as a pain generator in the shoulder. Biceps tenodesis is one surgical treatment option for refractory biceps tendonitis. The purpose of this study was to examine the tendinopathic changes in the intra-articular segment of long head of the biceps tendon as well as all three zones of the bicipital tunnel in a cohort of patients with chronic refractory biceps symptoms

A multicenter study investigating factors that influence initiation of return to sport functional testing following ACL reconstruction

Despite advances in surgical technique and rehabilitation following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, re-injury rates after return to play (RTP) are high. There remains controversy over the most effective criteria utilized to initiate RTP functional testing following ACL reconstruction. The purpose of this study is to investigate factors that influence provider decision to initiate RTP functional testing

Overutilization of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of moderate to severe osteoarthritis

Advanced imaging is a major driver of health care expenditures. Magnetic resonance imaging provides advantages over radiography because of its ability to visualize soft tissues within the knee joint. The clinical relevance of these findings in osteoarthritis, however, is not well understood. For example, MRI can detect meniscal tears, but these are frequent findings in patients with osteoarthritis, with no difference in prevalence among those with and without symptoms. In addition to concerns about excessive cost, it is possible that patients may undergo unnecessary procedures due to MRI findings. A randomized placebo-controlled trial showed no benefit of arthroscopy for osteoarthritis. Our goal was to examine how prevalent this practice is at this institution, and to examine the characteristics of physicians who ordered these MRIs. Our hypothesis is that many providers order MRI for evaluation of osteoarthritis before referring to an orthopedic surgeon, and that providers with higher levels of training are less likely to order these unnecessary MRIs

FAK is required for axonal sorting by Schwann cells

Signaling by laminins and axonal neuregulin has been implicated in regulating axon sorting by myelin-forming Schwann cells. However, the signal transduction mechanisms are unknown. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) has been linked to α6β1 integrin and ErbB receptor signaling, and we show that myelination by Schwann cells lacking FAK is severely impaired. Mutant Schwann cells could interdigitate between axon bundles, indicating that FAK signaling was not required for process extension. However, Schwann cell FAK was required to stimulate cell proliferation, suggesting that amyelination was caused by insufficient Schwann cells. ErbB2 receptor and AKT were robustly phosphorylated in mutant Schwann cells, indicating that neuregulin signaling from axons was unimpaired. These findings demonstrate the vital relationship between axon defasciculation and Schwann cell number and show the importance of FAK in regulating cell proliferation in the developing nervous system

Plasmon-enhanced light-driven water oxidation by a dye-sensitized photoanode

Dye-sensitized photoelectrosynthesis cells (DSPECs) provide a basis for artificial photosynthesis and solar fuels production. By combining molecular chromophores and catalysts with high surface area, transparent semiconductor electrodes, a DSPEC provides the basis for light-driven conversion of water to O2 and H2 or for reduction of CO2 to carbon-based fuels. The incorporation of plasmonic cubic silver nanoparticles, with a strongly localized surface plasmon absorbance near 450 nm, to a DSPEC photoanode induces a great increase in the efficiency of water oxidation to O2 at a DSPEC photoanode. The improvement in performance by the molecular components in the photoanode highlights a remarkable advantage for the plasmonic effect in driving the 4e-/4H+ oxidation of water to O2 in the photoanode

A donor-chromophore-catalyst assembly for solar CO2 reduction

We describe here the preparation and characterization of a photocathode assembly for CO2 reduction to CO in 0.1 M LiClO4 acetonitrile. The assembly was formed on 1.0 μm thick mesoporous films of NiO using a layer-by-layer procedure based on Zr(IV)–phosphonate bridging units. The structure of the Zr(IV) bridged assembly, abbreviated as NiO|-DA-RuCP22+-Re(I), where DA is the dianiline-based electron donor (N,N,N′,N′-((CH2)3PO3H2)4-4,4′-dianiline), RuCP2+ is the light absorber [Ru((4,4′-(PO3H2CH2)2-2,2′-bipyridine)(2,2′-bipyridine))2]2+, and Re(I) is the CO2 reduction catalyst, ReI((4,4′-PO3H2CH2)2-2,2′-bipyridine)(CO)3Cl. Visible light excitation of the assembly in CO2 saturated solution resulted in CO2 reduction to CO. A steady-state photocurrent density of 65 μA cm−2 was achieved under one sun illumination and an IPCE value of 1.9% was obtained with 450 nm illumination. The importance of the DA aniline donor in the assembly as an initial site for reduction of the RuCP2+ excited state was demonstrated by an 8 times higher photocurrent generated with DA present in the surface film compared to a control without DA. Nanosecond transient absorption measurements showed that the expected reduced one-electron intermediate, RuCP+, was formed on a sub-nanosecond time scale with back electron transfer to the electrode on the microsecond timescale which competes with forward electron transfer to the Re(I) catalyst at t1/2 = 2.6 μs (kET = 2.7 × 105 s−1)

Return to sport soccer after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: ISAKOS consensus

Many factors can affect the return to pivoting sports, after an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Prehabilitation, rehabilitation, surgical and psychological aspects play an essential role in the decision to return to sports. The purpose of this study is to reach an international consensus about the best conditions for returning to sports in soccer-one of the most demanding level I pivoting sports after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction

Integrin-mediated axoglial interactions initiate myelination in the central nervous system

All but the smallest-diameter axons in the central nervous system are myelinated, but the signals that initiate myelination are unknown. Our prior work has shown that integrin signaling forms part of the cell–cell interactions that ensure only those oligodendrocytes contacting axons survive. Here, therefore, we have asked whether integrins regulate the interactions that lead to myelination. Using homologous recombination to insert a single-copy transgene into the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (hprt) locus, we find that mice expressing a dominant-negative β1 integrin in myelinating oligodendrocytes require a larger axon diameter to initiate timely myelination. Mice with a conditional deletion of focal adhesion kinase (a signaling molecule activated by integrins) exhibit a similar phenotype. Conversely, transgenic mice expressing dominant-negative β3 integrin in oligodendrocytes display no myelination abnormalities. We conclude that β1 integrin plays a key role in the axoglial interactions that sense axon size and initiate myelination, such that loss of integrin signaling leads to a delay in myelination of small-diameter axons