Editorial Commentary: Decreased hip ligament thickness in patients with dysplasia may contribute to hip instability, above and beyond associated acetabular under coverage.

Hip dysplasia is a pathomorphological deformity that leads to decreased acetabular coverage and hip instability. Many different radiographic measurements have been explored to characterize hip dysplasia, including the lateral center edge angle (LCEA), femoro-epiphyseal acetabular roof (FEAR) index, and Tonnis angle. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers three-dimensional characterization of the hip pathomorphology that may be more detailed than two-dimensional radiographs, as well as a modality that is free of radiation. Recent research shows that dysplastic hips are associated with significantly thinner ligament thickness compared to non-dysplastic hips. The iliofemoral ligament (IFL) is the most important hip capsular structure and helps to stabilize the hip joint, particularly in hip extension and external rotation. Differences in IFL thickness may help to explain why those with dysplasia are more prone to hip instability, above and beyond their acetabular under coverage. This reiterates the need for routine capsular closure and/or plication in patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome in order to prevent further instability.

Peptoids advance multidisciplinary research and undergraduate education in parallel: Sequence effects on conformation and lipid interactions.

Peptoids are versatile peptidomimetic molecules with wide-ranging applications from drug discovery to materials science. An understanding of peptoid sequence features that contribute to both their three-dimensional structures and their interactions with lipids will expand functions of peptoids in varied fields. Furthermore, these topics capture the enthusiasm of undergraduate students who prepare and study diverse peptoids in laboratory coursework and/or in faculty led research. Here, we present the synthesis and study of 21 peptoids with varied functionality, including 19 tripeptoids and 2 longer oligomers. We observed differences in fluorescence spectral features for 10 of the tripeptoids that correlated with peptoid flexibility and relative positioning of chromophores. Interactions of representative peptoids with sonicated glycerophospholipid vesicles were also evaluated using fluorescence spectroscopy. We observed evidence of conformational changes effected by lipids for select peptoids. We also summarize our experiences engaging students in peptoid-based projects to advance both research and undergraduate educational objectives in parallel.