BACKGROUND Inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1 beta and IL-18 play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis and restenosis. Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) is an adaptor protein that regulates caspase-1-dependent IL-1 beta and IL-18 generation; however, the role of ASC in vascular injury remains undefined. Here, ...

The current study identified 124 lateral condylar fractures of the distal metacarpus or metatarsus over a 6-year period. Thirty were classified as displaced. Eight 30 displaced and 1/86 incomplete had concurrent sagittal axial fracture proximal sesamoid bone. A 20-degree DMPLO view is most sensitive radiographic projection to identify flexed demonstrates displacement complete fractures. Radiogr...

A group of 37 spinal cord injured (SCI) patients underwent bone density measurements at the distal and proximal end of the tibia by a special computed tomography scanner, the OsteoQuant. Fifteen of these patients had follow-up measurements while enrolled in a lower-limb exercise training program with functional electrical stimulation (FES). The pre-exercise measurements revealed a strong correl...

BACKGROUND We hypothesized that estrogen-induced acceleration of reendothelialization might be mediated in part by effects involving mobilization and incorporation of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). METHODS AND RESULTS Carotid injury was induced in ovariectomized wild-type mice receiving either 17beta-estradiol or placebo. Estradiol treatment significantly accelerated...

Repair of calvarial bony defects remains challenging for craniofacial surgeons. Injury experiments on animal calvarial bones are widely used to study healing mechanisms and test tissue engineering approaches. Previously, we identified Gli1+ cells within the calvarial sutures as stem cells supporting calvarial bone turnover and injury repair. In this study, we tested the regenerative capacity of...

Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) is a common long-term consequence of joint injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. In this study we used a tibial compression overload mouse model to compare knee injury induced at low speed (1mm/s), which creates an avulsion fracture, to injury induced at high speed (500mm/s), which induces midsubstance tear of the ACL. Mice were sacrific...