RESEARCH

There are three major accomplishments resulting from this project that significantly advance the field of TMJ biomechanics and will form the basis of a new research project. First, we have developed a high-fidelity, anatomically accurate, finite-element model of TMJ mechanics that is governed by the internal generation of muscle forces to achieve a specific functional goal (such as chewing), paralleling how functional joint motion is produced in vivo (Figure 1).

RESEARCH

Cognitive flexibility is the ability to modify pre-established behaviors, habits, learned contingencies and patterns of thought based on new information from a changing environment. This ability is significantly impaired in several psychiatric disorders that include psychosis, neurodevelopmental, and affective disorders. Cognitive dysfunction is not only an important contributor to chronicity and recurrence of symptoms; it is also a predictor of poor treatment outcome, and the cognitive impairment itself is often resistant to improvement by pharmacological or other interventions.

Increased serum uric acid or hyperuricemia is a risk factor for kidney and heart disease and gout. The uric acid transporter SLC2A9 regulates uric acid concentrations in blood by regulating uric acid reabsorption and secretion in kidneys. Alteration in the transporter activity can result in hyperuricemia thus increasing the risk for kidney disease gout and heart disease. Thus evaluating the complete variation in the SLC2A9 gene will help us gain better understanding of the mechanism in Mexican Americans as well as American Indians.

TxBiomed is testing various filovirus vaccines in order to asses their effectiveness in preventing filovirus infection.

Bone loss and fracture are leading causes of morbidity with aging. The mechanisms of age-related bone disease have not been defined. Our studies suggest that CSF-1 deficiency and increased Nox4 oxidase expression in osteocytes are key determinants of oxidant stress that impact osteocyte survival/function that is essential for bone remodeling. The long-term goal of this proposal is to delineate mechanistic pathways by which CSF-1/oxidative stress regulate osteocyte homeostasis and identify therapeutic targets to prevent bone loss with age. CSF-1 and CSF-1R are expressed by osteocytes.