Life Sciences Commons^™

Changes In Biomechanical Properties Of Chemotherapy Bone Cement After A Year In Saline Storage, Jeffrey Kushner, Nathan Tiedeken, John A. Handal, Steve Defroda, Solomon P. Samuel

Research Day

Introduction: Acrylic based bone cements are a versatile treatment modality in Orthopaedic surgery due to their wide variety of uses and tolerance to high degree of customization. Bone cement can be used to repair and stabilize pathologic fractures and may potentially prevent recurrence post tumor resection. Chemotherapeutic bone cements are favorable because they can potentially minimize systemic side effects and the need for radiation. Cements can be combined with soluble fillers such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) to optimize drug elution. Even though studies have measured the mechanical properties of bone cement in dry state, the exact change in the mechanical …

Cardioprotective Effects Of Selective Mitochondrial-Targeted Antioxidants In Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion (I/R) Injury, Regina Ondrasik, Qian Chen, Katelyn Navitsky, William Chau, On Say Lau, Issachar Devine, Tyler Galbreath, Robert J. Barsotti, Lindon H. Young

Research Day

During myocardial ischemia, coronary blood flow interruption deprives cardiomyocytes of oxygen, glucose and fatty acids. Ischemic damage is exacerbated by a burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated at reperfusion when oxygen interacts with damaged mitochondrial electron transport chains (ETC), especially uncoupled complexes I and III (Fig. 1,2). Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (Nox) activity can also release ROS, inducing additional tissue/organ damage.

Surgical intervention or thrombolytic treatments can restore coronary blood flow. However, as blood flow reestablishes, oxidative stress leads to I/R injury. Clinical treatment remains a challenge as no pharmaceutical agents effectively limit I/R-induced damage. Mitochondria are implicated …

The Role Of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (Enos) Uncoupling In Acute Hyperglycemia – Induced Oxidative Stress And Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction By Measuring Blood Nitric Oxide And Hydrogen Peroxide In Real-Time, Matthew Bertolet, Michael Minni, Robert J. Barsotti, Lindon H. Young, Qian Chen

Research Day

Acute hyperglycemia can impair vascular endothelial function in non-diabetic subjects in addition to diabetic patients. Decreased eNOS derived nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide (SO) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), are the major characteristics of vascular endothelial dysfunction. Furthermore, eNOS can change from coupled to an uncoupled status resulting in SO production instead of NO production. The role of eNOS uncoupling in acute hyperglycemia induced vascular dysfunction is unclear in vivo. In this study we hypothesized that acute hyperglycemia (200 mg/dL) would increase H₂O₂ and decrease NO …

Qol In Child Lqts Patients Compared To Cardiac Patients, Elizabeth A. Waldron, Stephanie H. Felgoise, Carmella Tress, Katherine Lawrence, Victoria L. Vetter

Research Day

Introduction:

• Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) is a life threatening geneticallyinherited cardiac arrhythmia disorder affecting approximately 1:2500 persons1, often diagnosed in childhood.

• Management of LQTS changes patients’ lifestyles which can affect quality of life (QoL). Patients have restrictions in physical activity, diet, treatment of noncardiac conditions; take daily doses of medicine and/or have implantable cardiac devices (pacemaker/defibrillator).

• General pediatirc cardiac patients show significantly worse QoL in comparison to healthy controls2,3.

• Nearly 1 in 5 with other cardiac disorders reported impaired psychosocial functioning3.

• The effects of implanted cardiac rhythm devices in cardiac patients demonstrated a significant effect …

The Effects Of Modulating Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthese (Enos) Activity And Coupling In Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (Eswl), Alexandra Lopez, Qian Chen, Brittany L. Deiling, Edward S. Iames, Lindon H. Young

Research Day

Introduction: ESWL is a clinical therapy to break down kidney and uretal stones into smaller fragments that are more easily eliminated through the urinary tract. High-energy shock waves are focused on the stone to cause shear stress and cavitation bubbles which synergistically ablate the stones. While ESWL is the preferred treatment for kidney stones over invasive surgeries, the repetitive shock waves necessary to break up the stones may also cause damage to the renal vasculature endothelium and that can lead to chronic hypertension [1]. Previous studies have found that ESWL can cause endothelial dysfunction which is characterized decreased nitric oxide …

Managing Health Worker Migration: A Qualitative Study Of The Philippine Response To Nurse Brain Drain, Roland Dimaya, Mary K. Mcewen, Leslie A. Curry, Elizabeth H. Bradley

Research Day

Background: The emigration of skilled nurses from the Philippines is an ongoing phenomenon that has impacted the quality and quantity of the nursing workforce, while strengthening the domestic economy through remittances. This study examines how the development of brain drain-responsive policies is driven by the effects of nurse migration and how such efforts aim to achieve mind-shifts among nurses, governing and regulatory bodies, and public and private institutions in the Philippines and worldwide.

Methods:Interviews and focus group discussions were conducted to elicit exploratory perspectives on the policy response to nurse brain drain. Interviews with key informants from the nursing, …

Comparison Of Chlamydia Antigen And Ad-Like Pathology In The Brains Of Balb/C Mice Following Intranasal Infection With Chlamydia Muridarum Or Chlamydia Pneumoniae, Lindsey V. Weidmann, Brian J. Balin Phd, Denah M. Appelt, Justin H. Schripsema, Christopher L. Smith, Kyle Ramsey, Christopher Scott Little

Research Day

Previous research indicates BALB/c mice inoculated with Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) demonstrated AD-like pathology which suggests that this mouse model is valid for studying the pathogenesis implicated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Studies have demonstrated that Chlamydia trachomatis (Ctr) can disseminate from its primary site of infection and plays a major role in the induction of reactive arthritis. The objectives of this lab are: (1) to identify and localize Chlamydia antigens in the brains of BALB/c mice infected with C. muridarum and (2) to determine if infection with C. muridarum induces AD-like pathology comparable to Cpn. Using mouse adapted respiratory isolates …

Pediatric Shopping Cart-Related Injuries Treated In Us Emergency Departments, 1990-2011., Keith Martin, Thiphalak Chounthirath, Huiyun Xiang, Gary A. Smith

Research Day

Background: The subject of shopping cart-related injuries has received increasing attention, leading to epidemiological studies, evaluations of morbidity, and the development of prevention programs. The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of shopping cart-related injuries among children < 15 years.

Analysis Of Autophagy And Inflammasome Regulation In Neuronal Cells And Monocytes Infected With Chlamydia Pneumoniae: Implications For Alzheimer’S Disease, Brian J. Bailin

Research Day

Objectives: Our laboratory has been studying the role of infection with the obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia pneumoniae in sporadic late-onset Alzheimer disease (LOAD). This infection may be a trigger for the pathology observed in LOAD as a function of initiating changes in gene regulation following entry of the organism into the brain. As such, we are analyzing how this infection can promote changes in autophagy and inflammasome gene regulation as both have been shown to be altered in LOAD. Methods: Human SKNMC neuronal cells and THP1 monocytes were infected in vitro for 24-72 hrs with a laboratory strain of Chlamydia …

The Role Of Nadph Oxidase In Leukocyte-Endothelial Interactions In Rat Mesenteric Postcapillary Venules, Hung Pham, Amber N. Koon, Brian Rueter, Lindon H. Young, Qian Chen

Research Day

No abstract provided.

Mapping The Interaction Of Talin:Riam Complex In Inside-Out Integrin Activation Pathway, Tejash T. Patel, Yu-­‐Chung Chang, Hao Zhang, Jinhua Wu

Research Day

Integrin signaling plays important roles in numerous biological processes including maintenance of normal cellular function and essential homeostasis. In addition, integrin signaling is also involved in the metastasis of cancer cells by changes in normal cell adhesion and migration regulation. Studies have shown that Rap1-interacting adaptor molecule (RIAM), an MRL-family protein, recruits the cytoskeletal protein talin to the plasma membrane, thereby mediating the inside-out integrin signaling. The R8 domain of talin has been identified as the RIAM binding site. Recent knock-out studies have shown that talin does not translocate to the plasma membrane without RIAM recruitment. The goal of this …

Effects Of Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidants On Real-Time Blood Nitric Oxide And Hydrogen Peroxide Release In Hind Limb Ischemia And Reperfusion, Tyler Galbreath, Qian Chen, Regina Ondrasik, Matthew Bertolet, Robert J. Barsotti

Research Day

In the body, reperfusion of ischemic tissue with blood causes the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS), in part, from damaged mitochondria leading to endothelial and organ dysfunction. Endothelial dysfunction occurs within 5 min of reperfusion, is common to all vascular beds, and is characterized by increased hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and decreased nitric oxide (NO) levels in the blood that further exacerbate reperfusion injury. Previous studies have shown that promoting endothelial NO synthase coupling during reperfusion increases blood NO and decreases blood H2O2 levels in hind limb I/R and attenuates myocardial I/R injury (1). This study specifically examines the effects …

Dissociation Of Recovery Of Muscle Activation And Force Following A Sustained Maximal Isometiric Contraction, K. E. Houle, Bryan Kantner, W. F. Brechue

Research Day

To investigate time-dependency of nervous system recovery following muscular contractions, subjects (n=10) performed two bouts (B1, B2) of sustained maximal isometric handgrip contractions separated by 10- min recovery. Force and surface EMG were collected continuously throughout contraction bouts but were analyzed at 15 sec intervals (1 sec segments). iEMG and mean power frequency (MPF) were calculated for the brachioradialis (BR), flexor carpi radialis (FCR) flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU), and flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) muscles. Muscle activation (iEMG-MPF: BR:68-20%; FCR:72-16%; FCU: 65-20%; FDP:48-50%, respectively) and isometric force (88%) decreased following B1(120-sec contraction). Following recovery, initial force of B2 was significantly less …

Cost Avoidance Of Using An Automatic Therapeutic Interchange Of Racemic Albuterol In Place Of Levalbuterol, Chad Weinhold, Christopher S. Holaway

Research Day

Purpose: To determine if any cost avoidance would occur by utilizing an automatic therapeutic interchange of racemic albuterol for levalbuterol in a health system.

Background: Levalbuterol may be prescribed in place of racemic albuterol to help decrease the adverse effects thought to be mediated by the S-enantiomer in racemic albuterol. However, a review of literature shows conflicting evidence. Additionally, the levalbuterol cost range is 3.5 to 25 times higher than the cost for racemic albuterol. With this in mind, we want to determine if a health system can avoid costs by utilizing an automatic therapeutic interchange of racemic albuterol for …

An Examination Of Physician Decision Making With Children And Adolescents Diagnosed With Long Qt Syndrome: A Qualitative Study, Julie Radico, Stephanie H. Felgoise, Allison Burns-Pentecost, Karen Gentis

Research Day

Introduction:

LQTS…

• Is a life threatening, hereditary cardiac arrhythmia disorder.
• Affects 1 in 2,000 people in the United States
• may be the cause of SIDS and unexplained death in children
• Is unpredictable.

Physicians

• Are faced with ongoing challenges in diagnosis and treatment due to unpredictability and individual patient characteristics.

Exercise Enhances Cognitive Function In Children, Daniel W. Maxwell

Research Day

Physical activity, lifestyle, and obesity play a role in cognitive maturation and function in developing children. Empirical studies on the cognitive benefits of exercise in pediatric morbidities and healthy children are numerous but lacking cohesion. The purpose of this review is to consolidate and translate recent exercise-cognition research into appropriate suggestions for exercise based on its cognitive effects in children. Articles were selected based on author-developed definitions for acuteness and chronicity of exercise, complexity of exercise, intensity, duration, and time period in which exercises were performed. It was concluded that acute and chronic exercise have initial short-term enhancement of cognitive …

Cardioprotective Effects Of Cell Permeable Nadph Oxidase Inhibitors In Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury, Issachar Devine, Qian Chen, Regina Ondrasik, William Chau, Katelyn Navitsky, On Say Lau, W. Parker, Kyle D. Bartol, B. Casey, Robert J. Barsotti, Lindon H. Young

Research Day

During myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) contributes to post-reperfused cardiac injury and contractile dysfunction. Activation of NADPH oxidase (NOX) during reperfusion generates ROS, and exacerbates I/R injury. We hypothesize that reducing ROS formation through inhibition of NOX will attenuate myocardial I/R injury in isolated perfused rat hearts subjected to I(30min)/R(45min) compared to untreated I/R hearts. The cell-permeable NOX inhibiting peptide, gp91 ds/tat (RKKRRQRRR-CSTRIRRQL-Amide, MW=2452 g/mol, 20μM, n=5), significantly improved post-reperfused cardiac function compared to controls (n=15, p

Idiopathic Colonic Varices: A Case Report And Review Of The Literature, Matthew Speicher, Michael Keegan, Kathryn Kirk

Research Day

Colonic varices appreciated on colonoscopy are extremely rare and typically indicative of portal hypertension or chronic hepatopathology. Even more rare are those cases with no underlying pathology, idiopathic colonic varices. Here we report a case of these unexplained varices.

The Utility Of Mri In Cervical Spine Clearance In Alert Blunt Trauma Patients With Cervical Spine Tenderness And Negative Ct Scan, Lindsey Perea, Marcin Jankowski, John Millili, Riad Cachecho

Research Day

Study Objective: To evaluate the utility of MRI of the cervical spine in alert blunt trauma patients with a GCS of 15 without any neurological deficits who have cervical spine tenderness and a negative CT scan.

Reducing The Stigma Of Mental Illness Among Medical Students, Victoria Lawn, Matthew Jaffa, Catherine Babbitt-Cook, Burton Mark, Jane Dumsha, Marcus G. Bell, Denah M. Appelt

Research Day

Background: The American Osteopathic Association House of Delegates Resolution 205 recommends “increased awareness of depression amongst U.S. medical students” due to the increasing body of research describing the rise of depression, burn-out and suicide ideation among medical students. There is consequently a need to understand mental health issues as a component of professional development.

Hypothesis: A student-led symposium addressing mental and emotional health topics relevant to medical students will reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. Materials and

Methods: A 2-hour student-run “Patient Perspective” session was held during the second year neuroscience block in the PCOM DO program. One week …