Cells Commons^™

Sexually Dimorphic Effects Of Gpnmb Modulation On Vertebral Bone Mass Regulation And Intravertebral Disc Health, Hakem Altawil, Fayez Safadi

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Osteoporosis and vertebral degeneration are major contributors to musculoskeletal morbidity, yet the molecular mechanisms regulating vertebral bone and intervertebral disc (IVD) homeostasis remain incompletely understood. GPNMB (osteoactivin) has been identified as a regulator of bone remodeling, though its role in spine health is unclear. This study evaluated the effects of GPNMB deficiency on lumbar vertebral bone microarchitecture and IVD integrity in a sex-dependent context.

Six-month-old male and female wild-type (WT) and GPNMB knockout (KO) mice were analyzed using micro–computed tomography (µCT) of lumbar vertebrae (L4–L6) and histological assessment of the L5–L6 IVD. KO males exhibited increased bone volume fraction, bone …

Morphological Variation Of The Clavicular Rhomboid Fossa: Bilateral Asymmetry, Sexual Dimorphism, And Environmental Influences, Michaela Tucker, Skylar Hall

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Morphological variation on the clavicle, specifically the rhomboid fossa, may be impacted by age, sex, laterality, and mechanical stress. Occupational stress and loading conditions lead to bone remodeling and adaptation to change, altering the costoclavicular ligament site. A sample of 94 bilateral clavicles from individuals ages 16-40 years was analyzed using computer tomography (CT) and 3-dimensional reconstruction. Clavicles were categorized into five groups: flat, smooth, elevated, depressed, and pitted. Chi-squared analyses were used to test associations between morphology and age, side, and history of strenuous lifting. Significant differences were observed between class and sex for the leftsided clavicle group. Female …

High Phosphorus Intake: The Role Of Phosphorus And Health Outcomes Through The Lens Of High Phosphorus Additive Intake, Taigen M. Mayes

Senior Honors Theses

Phosphorus is a commonly consumed mineral in the traditional human diet and plays an essential role in human physiological functions. With the use of phosphate additives, high phosphate intake has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. Phosphate is regulated in the body by a homeostasis mechanism. A disruption to the homeostasis has a link to various pathologies such as bone health, cardiovascular disease, cancers, and kidney issues. Various studies have investigated the role of phosphate and its effects on human function. Bone health, cardiovascular disease, cancer, premature aging, dementia, and kidney disease are linked with high phosphorus intake.

Soft Tissue Envelope Compromise Following Low-Side Motorcycle Accident: A Case Study And Literature Review, Steven A. Bolton, Ali Ahmad, Jonathan Rodriguez, Hooman Mir

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

Purpose: This case report details a staged approach in managing a patient who presented to the ER with a displaced proximal second phalanx fracture, extensive soft tissue damage, and diffuse fracture blistering following a motorcycle crash. This case highlights that soft tissue damage may not always correlate with severe osseous injury.

Methodology: This case is a concurrent chart review of a 40-year-old who sustained a low side motorcycle injury resulting in a minimally displaced avulsion fracture of the medial 2nd toe proximal phalanx base with extensive soft tissue damage, fracture blisters, and lower extremity edema.

Procedures: Radiographic evaluation demonstrated no …

Corticobasal Syndrome With Mixed Pathology In The Absence Of Grn Mutation: A Clinico-Pathological Case Of Ftld-Tdp With Coexisting Alzheimer’S And Lewy Body Pathology, Hugo Zamarron, David Irwin, Jeffery Phillips, Edward Lee, Matthew Tisdall, Corey Mcmillan

Research Colloquium

Background: Corticobasal syndrome (CBS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by often asymmetric fronto-pariteal and extra-pyramidal features that is traditionally associated with tauopathy, but pathological findings are heterogenous, including other forms of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and mixed pathologies of aging. We present clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic features of asymmetry in a unique patient with CBS and underlying FTLD with TDP-43 pathology (FTLD-TDP), co-occurring with other age-related pathologies.

Case Presentation: A 76-year-old man presented with progressive cognitive and motor dysfunction including asymmetric parkinsonism, left-sided dystonia and rigidity, apraxia, visuospatial impairment, and a subtle social disorder including apathy and social withdrawal. The …

Swinging Lever Mechanism Of Myosin Directly Shown By Time-Resolved Cryo-Em, David P. Klebl, Sean N. Mcmillan, Cristina Risi, Eva Forgacs, Betty Virok, Jennifer L. Atherton, Sarah A. Harris, Michele Stofella, Donald A. Winkelmann, Frank Sobott, Vitold E. Galkin, Peter J. Knight, Stephen P. Muench, Charlotte A. Scarfi, Howard D. White

Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications

Myosins produce force and movement in cells through interactions with F-actin¹. Generation of movement is thought to arise through actin-catalysed conversion of myosin from an ATP-generated primed (pre-powerstroke) state to a post-powerstroke state, accompanied by myosin lever swing²,³. However, the initial, primed actomyosin state has never been observed, and the mechanism by which actin catalyses myosin ATPase activity is unclear. Here, to address these issues, we performed time-resolved cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM)⁴ of a myosin-5 mutant having slow hydrolysis product release⁵,⁶. Primed actomyosin was predominantly captured 10 ms after …

Health Matters! Coloring And Activity Book (80-Pages), Your Very Favorite, Children's Health, Lorraine Sheldon, May Bressler

English

Health Matters! is a English-language health literacy resource designed for pediatric patients and their families. Written at an approximately 6th-grade reading level, it supports patient education through engaging coloring and activity pages.

The content covers a wide range of health and wellness topics, including body systems, nutrition, mental wellness, patient safety, and social-emotional skills such as building friendships and navigating conversations when returning to school. Developed for use in both hospital settings and the broader community, the resource promotes learning through interactive, age-appropriate activities.

This printable PDF version contains the complete collection of activities and comprises 80 pages. The resource …

La Salud Es Importante: Libro De Actividades (80-Pages), Your Very Favorite, Children's Health, Lorraine Sheldon, May Bressler

Spanish

Health Matters! is a Spanish-language health literacy resource designed for pediatric patients and their families. Written at an approximately 6th-grade reading level, it supports patient education through engaging coloring and activity pages.

The content covers a wide range of health and wellness topics, including body systems, nutrition, mental wellness, patient safety, and social-emotional skills such as building friendships and navigating conversations when returning to school. Developed for use in both hospital settings and the broader community, the resource promotes learning through interactive, age-appropriate activities.

This printable PDF version contains the complete collection of activities and comprises 80 pages. The resource …

Gene Expression Under Combined Hypoxia And Acidosis In Chondrosarcoma, Michael Stacey, Kostika Vangjeli, Christopher Osgood

Bioelectrics Publications

Chondrosarcomas are the second most common cause of bone cancer and are removed surgically with wide margins. On recurrence, they are resistant to chemo and radiation therapy and new treatment options are critically required. This tumor type produces hyaline cartilage, a cartilage normally formed under hypoxic and acidic environment due to lack of vasculature in cartilage. Paradoxically, chondrosarcomas arise in the well vascularized, oxygen rich environment of the bone. Hypoxia and acidosis are two stressors where the cellular effects are typically reported separately even though cells experience combined effects of hypoxia and acidosis. Given the mechanistic links between hypoxia and …

Use Of Antisense Oligonucleotides To Target Notch2 In Mouse Chondrocytes, Gabrielle Viviana Lanza

Honors Scholar Theses

NOTCH2 is a transmembrane receptor that is part of the Notch receptor family, known for controlling cell differentiation and function. Notch receptors play a crucial role in skeletal development and bone homeostasis. Hajdu Cheney Syndrome (HCS) is a rare monogenic disorder affecting the skeleton caused by a gain-of-function mutation in NOTCH2. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) are sequence-specific single-stranded nucleic acids that bind to target mRNA and initiate mRNA degradation. While previous work has explored the role of Notch2 ASOs in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, this paper explores the role of Notch2 and Notch2 ASOs in cells of cartilage tissue. The effect of …

Cellular Bioenergetics Regulates Cell Proliferation During Mammalian Regeneration, Sandeep Saxena

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

Mammalian system consists of stress-sensing molecules that regulates their cellular response against damage, injury and oncogenic stress. During vertebrate regeneration, cells responding to injury re-enter the cell cycle and proliferate to form new tissue. Cell cycle re-entry or arrest is at least partly regulated by cellular senescence which negatively impacts the proliferative pool of cells during regeneration. What remains unclear is whether cells in regenerating systems possess an increased propensity to proliferate and are refractory to signals that induce senescence. My thesis work has focused on how fibroblasts from the ear pinna differentially regulate healing in highly regenerative mammals (e.g., …

A Closer Look At Muscle Breakdown: An Overview Of The Causes, Complications, And Diagnostics Of Rhabdomyolysis, Jamie Holchin

Senior Honors Theses

Rhabdomyolysis is the rapid breakdown of myocytes in skeletal muscle. This condition can be triggered by a variety of things including crush injury, drugs, prolonged exercise, and venom. Although the causes can vary, the general pathophysiology of rhabdomyolysis is similar. Increased intracellular calcium ion levels instigate the breakdown of cellular and certain organelle membranes of muscle cells. Reactive oxygen species form, ATP is depleted, and the sarcoplasmic reticulum, which regulates muscle contraction, is also damaged. Necrosis ensues, leading to toxic intracellular components spreading throughout the body. Rhabdomyolysis can then lead to several complications including acute renal injury and heart arrhythmias, …

The Issue Of Skeletal Muscle Growth And Regeneration, Ayman Ghallab, Ayman Mohammed Ghallab

Dentistry

The aim of our criticism of the paper authored by Makovický and Makovický (2020) was to prevent the readers from being misinformed by a paper based on a major flaw such as confusing splitting muscle fibers with a stretch receptor.

Modulation Of Osteogenic And Myogenic Differentiation By A Phytoestrogen Formononetin Via P38mapk-Dependent Jak-Stat And Smad-1/5/8 Signaling Pathways In Mouse Myogenic Progenitor Cells, Ilavenil Soundharrajan, Da Hye Kim, Palaniselvam Kuppusamy, Ki Choon Choi

Center for Research on Environmental Disease Faculty Publications

Formononetin (FN), a typical phytoestrogen has attracted substantial attention as a novel agent because of its diverse biological activities including, osteogenic differentiation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying osteogenic and myogenic differentiation by FN in C2C12 progenitor cells remain unknown. Therefore the objective of the current study was to investigate the action of FN on myogenic and osteogenic differentiation and its impact on signaling pathways in C2C12 cells. FN significantly increased myogenic markers such as Myogenin, myosin heavy chains, and myogenic differentiation 1 (MyoD). In addition, the expression of osteogenic specific genes alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Run-related transcription factor 2(RUNX2), and osteocalcin …

Human Anatomy And Physiology I: Course Map With Expected Learning Outcomes, Carlos Liachovitzky

Open Educational Resources

This document contains a list with all the Anatomy and Physiology I expected learning outcomes organized by topics, and grouped into ten units: 1. Introduction to A&P: body plan & organization; 2. Introduction to A&P: homeostasis; 3. The chemical level of organization; 4. Levels of organization: the cellular level of organization; 5. Levels of organization: the tissue level of organization; 6. Support and movement: integumentary system; 7. Support and movement: skeletal system & articulations; 8. Support and movement: muscular system; 9. Regulation, integration, and control: nervous system; 10. Regulation, integration, and control: special senses

Each learning outcome is referred to …

Abnormal Response Of Costal Chondrocytes To Acidosis In Patients With Chest Wall Deformity, A. Asmar, Iurii Semenov, R. Kelly Jr., Michael Stacey

Bioelectrics Publications

Costal cartilage is much understudied compared to the load bearing cartilages. Abnormally grown costal cartilages are associated with the inherited chest wall deformities pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum resulting in sunken or pigeon chest respectively. A lack of understanding of the ultrastructural and molecular biology properties of costal cartilage is a major confounder in predicting causes and outcomes of these disorders. Due to the avascular nature of cartilage, chondrocytes metabolize glycolytically, producing an acidic environment. During physical activity hydrogen ions move within cartilage driven by compressive forces, thus at any one time, chondrocytes experience transient changes in pH. A variety …

Melatonin-Micronutrients Osteopenia Treatment Study (Mots): A Translational Study Assessing The Effects Of Melatonin, Strontium Citrate, Vitamin D3 And Vitamin K2 On Bone Density, Bone Turnover Markers And Health-Related Quality Of Life In Postmenopausal Osteopenic Women Following A One-Year Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial And On Osteoblast-Osteoclast Co-Cultures, Sifat Maria

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess if a novel combination of melatonin and three other natural bone-aiding micronutrients: strontium citrate, vitamins D₃ and K₂ (MSDK) could improve bone health by modulating the activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts in favor of balanced bone remodeling and by improving the overall health-related quality of life in postmenopausal osteopenic women.

Methods: The Melatonin-micronutrients Osteopenia Treatment Study (MOTS) is a translational research study that used both clinical and in vitro approaches to assess the efficacy of MSDK on bone health in women and to identify potential mechanisms for its effects. …

Understanding The Chondrogenic Potential Of Articular Chondrocytes, Krishna Sarma

Theses & Dissertations

Articular cartilage is a smooth, visco-elastic, aneural, avascular tissue made of water, an exquisitely organized framework of proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans, and collagen fibrils and articular chondrocytes. It’s beautiful organization and composition provide it with the flexibility and strength to cover, protect and lubricate the ends of long bones in a diarthrodial joint. Cartilage homeostasis relies on articular chondrocytes to translate the mechanical forces of daily activity into efficient remodeling of the extracellular matrix. Age, joint injury, or other insulting factors can progressively incapacitate articular chondrocytes, resulting in cartilage lesions that devolve to degenerative joint disease. Therefore, the central idea explored in …

The Development Of Skeletal Muscle In Young Horses: An Ultrasonography And Satellite Cell Approach, Emma K. Lavigne

Honors Scholar Theses

Muscle growth in young horses is characterized by an increase in muscle cross-sectional area, which can be accomplished through the activation and differentiation of satellite cells. Satellite cells can be stimulated or inhibited in response to different cytokines and growth factors and are key mediators of muscle hypertrophy and regeneration. The aim of this study was to investigate the growth of the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle in horses under 5 years of age and to obtain preliminary data on satellite cell behavior in foals. The area, width, height, and subcutaneous fat were measured using ultrasonography at 6-month increments over the …