September Grad Student Seminar

Please join us on September 22 at noon in ERB 203 for the first BME Student Seminar of the fall semester. Our goal is to create a laid-back environment where BME grad students can share their research and get feedback from their peers. Lauren Mangano will present “Local Thickening of the Growth Plate with Injury.” Come by to learn about her work, provide feedback, and (of course) enjoy lunch with your peers.

When: Tuesday, September 22, 12:00-1:30pm
Where: ERB 203
RSVP so we can order enough food

Presenter: Lauren Mangano, Elise Morgan Lab
Local Thickening of the Growth Plate with Injury

Injury to the growth plate is associated with premature growth arrest and growth disturbance, including shortening of the injured limb and angular deformities. Developing successful, less invasive treatments for growth plate injury has been impeded by incomplete understanding of the features of the injury response that cause these growth problems. Radiographic evidence indicates that the growth disturbances are associated with formation of bony bridges at the injury site; however, conflicting reports exists as to how these bony bridges form. Histological evidence has revealed disorganized chondrocyte columns and increased growth plate thickness in the region of the growth plate adjacent to the injury site, suggesting that local changes in cellular activity is may contribute to angular deformities. Using contrast-enhanced micro-computed tomography (CECT) for cartilage imaging, local changes in the cartilaginous and osseous tissues in the healing growth plate can be examined robustly with quantitive, three-dimensional measurement.
The goal of this study was to quantify spatial changes in the morphology and composition of the growth plate that occur in response to injury. The specific objectives were: 1) to quantify local changes in growth plate thickness and CECT attenuation (indicative of glycosaminonglycan (GAG) content (cite)) adjacent to the injury site; 2) to quantify the amount of bone formed within the growth plate following injury.

Fall 2015 Schedule:
Thursday, October 15: Samer Bou Jawde, Bela Suki Lab
Tuesday, November 3: Nitinun Bell Varongchayakul, Amit Mellar Lab
December TBA: Sign up!