Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2022, Integrated Bioscience

Opioids have become one of the most misused classes of prescribed medication. Synthetic opioids (e.g., fentanyl) have been responsible for most opioid overdose deaths since 2017. As this epidemic shows no signs of slowing, it is imperative to study the effects of opioids on various aspects of health including bone maintenance. Endogenous opioids (e.g., met-enkephalin) are involved in osteogenesis and bone remodeling. Exogenous opioids can interfere with bone maintenance directly through binding to osteoblasts, limiting bone formation, or indirectly through a cascade of effects limiting sex hormone production. To understand how opioids affect bone microarchitectural and biomechanical properties we first examine bone microstructure throughout the human lifespan to see natural changes occurring without the effects of opioids. Using both Synchrotron Radiation micro-Computed Tomography and confocal laser microscopy, we found bone and lacunar volume fractions to decrease with advancing age while pore diameter increased in the anterior midshaft femur. After finding how bone changes with age under normal circumstances, we sought to examine how prolonged opioid administration affected trabecular microstructure in a model organism (rabbit). We used μCT to examine the proximal tibia by anatomical quadrant (e.g., anterior, posterior). We found that morphine animals had greater bone volume fraction and less trabecular separation than controls. Fentanyl animals had significantly thicker trabeculae and increased trabecular spacing than controls. Detected differences by anatomical region followed the same overall pattern, suggesting biomechanical or anatomical variation rather than due to opioids. We finally examined overall bone strength in a non-weight bearing bone (rib) of the rabbit using uniaxial compression testing to determine how opioids affect overall mechanical competency. We found no difference in mechanical variables between opioid and control groups. Only rib span leng (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Brian Bagatto (Advisor); Janna Andronowski (Committee Co-Chair); Henry Astley (Committee Member); David Cooper (Committee Member); Christine Dengler-Crish (Committee Member); Nita Sahai (Committee Member) Subjects: Biology; Biomechanics; Histology; Pharmaceuticals; Physiology

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2022, Comparative Biomedical Sciences

Coxofemoral luxation in cattle is a common cause of severe lameness or inability to rise referred to the hip and results in decreased growth, production, and long-term survival of the animal. Numerous techniques have been utilized to stabilize the coxofemoral joint after luxation but are often ineffective due to chronicity of the injury or are not biomechanically strong enough to resist normal biomechanical forces acting on the coxofemoral joint of mature cattle. The aim of this study was to develop a toggle-pin implant to achieve coxofemoral stabilization in mature cattle. Ultimate tensile strength and elongation at failure was measured on the bovine ligament of the head of the femur to determine if the optimum implant had comparable biomechanical properties. 316 Stainless-steel cable and nylon leader line (800 Ib test) were used to create the flexible ligament portion of the implant and this was attached to a custom 316 stainless-steel pin and toggle. These configurations were distracted to failure to compare their biomechanical properties with the ligament of the head of the femur. Additionally, cadaver specimens of eight adult bovine femurs and two coxofemoral joints of calves were evaluated to determine the ideal placement of a prosthetic without significant dissection. The Stainless-steel and nylon prosthetics tested in this study were not biomechanically similar to the native ligament of the head of the femur and thus, not optimal for coxofemoral joint stabilization post luxation. Ideal placement of a prosthetic is distal to the greater trochanter with the hindlimb in slight adduction.

Committee: Joseph Lozier (Advisor); Jeffery Lakritz (Committee Member); Andrew Niehaus (Committee Member) Subjects: Livestock; Veterinary Services

BS, Kent State University, 2020, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Anthropology

For many decades, the notion that bone adapts based on mechanical loading has been utilized by bioarchaeologists, anatomists, paleontologists and many educators. Understanding how bone is altered during life is critical in making inferences about the past. For decades, the interplay between genetics and environmental factors on bone morphology has been widely debated. Wolff's Law is an outdated law that states that bone adapts to mechanical loading. Wolff's Law is not a rigorous law, it is merely a hypothesis. The concept does not take into account new discoveries that have occurred after the late 19th century: such as genetics, epigenetic factors, hormonal factors, signaling factors, the age of bone, etc. In this review, the need for a revision of the basic ideas of Wolff's “law” is demonstrated through the analysis of the previous reviews of Wolff's Law (Bertram and Swartz, 1991; Lovejoy et al., 2002; Pearson and Lieberman, 2004; Ruff et al., 2006). New studies are also investigated to further prove the major role of genetics in bone morphology (Serrat et al., 2003). Bone morphology is indeed a complex subject, and an outdated and vague disproven law should not be used to explain the effects of mechanical loading on bone remodeling. Thus, it should no longer be called Wolff's “law,” but perhaps a principle on bone functional adaptation (Bertram and Swartz, 1991; Pearson and Lieberman, 2004; Ruff et al., 2006).

Committee: Linda Spurlock PhD (Advisor); C. Owen Lovejoy PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Biology; Genetics; Morphology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1984, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects: Biology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1980, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects: Education

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2016, Medicine: Biostatistics (Environmental Health)

Primary malignant neoplasm of long bones of the lower limb, or femur cancer is a rare disease among children and adolescents. Thirty years ago the only treatment option available was amputation with a survival rate of only 10 to 20%.3 Today, amputation is used selectively and only accounts for approximately 6-10% of all primary hip or femur procedures.2,3 In this study, we wanted to assess the demographic trend analysis of hospital admissions for femur cancer, possible risk factors for amputation, and the overall hospital costs for a child with femur cancer based on procedure and severity. The nationwide Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project KIDs' Inpatient Database, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for the years 1997-2012 were utilized for this study. The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 170.7 was used to identify patients with malignant neoplasm of long bones of the lower limb.22 Data was weighted and missing states were predicted using linear regression for trend analysis and incidence rates. Classification trees analyzed amputation versus no amputation and multivariate regression assessed the cost to charge per day and total charges per day for a child with femur cancer. Approximately 6.4 per 1,000,000 children and adolescents 18 years and under in the United States are diagnosed each year with some form of femur cancer. Classification trees grouped patients into one of two categories, amputation or no amputation, based on risk factors. The results indicate a child between the ages of 15 to18 or the number of diagnosis (NDX) greater than 4 will have a higher risk of amputation. The most significant difference in the cost to charge per day for a child with femur cancer was due to age, number of diagnosis (NDX), and insurance. When the cost to charge per day is for complicated discharges only, the most significant variables are amputation and number of diagnoses.

Committee: Marepalli Rao Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Jun Ying Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Biostatistics

BS, Kent State University, 2014, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Anthropology

The proximal femur is a site of much growth and development during ontogeny. While the developmental program is primarily influenced by genetics, environmental factors such as diet and exercise level impact growth. As the trend toward obesity in developed countries continues, the frequency of the proximal femoral pathology Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE) increases. Modern levels of activity experienced by athletes greatly surpass those of ancient populations and may be related to the recent increase in the incidence of Cam Deformity, another proximal femoral pathology. This study compared an ancient population (Libben) with a modern population (Hamann-Todd) and analyzed differences in proximal femoral morphology and incidences of these pathologies. The results support the hypothesis that these pathologies are modern occurrences possibly influenced by the altered diets and activity levels of today.

Committee: Linda B. Spurlock (Advisor); C. Owen Lovejoy (Advisor); Brian Grafton (Committee Member); Paul Sampson (Committee Member) Subjects: Biology; Developmental Biology; Physical Anthropology