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Activity Of Prefrontal Cortex Subpopulations During Operant Alcohol Selfadministration, Grant Collins, H. Mejia Gomez, Faith Maxwell, Jessica M. Patel, Michael Salling Oct 2022

Activity Of Prefrontal Cortex Subpopulations During Operant Alcohol Selfadministration, Grant Collins, H. Mejia Gomez, Faith Maxwell, Jessica M. Patel, Michael Salling

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states, ‘according to the 2019 [National Survey on Drug Use and Health], 14.5 million (nearly 15 million) people ages 12 and older1 (5.3 percent of this age group2 ) had [alcohol use disorder (AUD)].’ The DSM-5 criteria for AUD includes compulsive drinking behavior.3 The prefrontal cortex (PFC) has roles in decisionmaking, response inhibition, and drug seeking and likely plays a role in compulsive alcohol drinking. However, the specific circuitry involved is unknown. There are two PFC circuits implicated in response inhibition or ‘stop’ behavior: PFC projections to the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) and …


Prolonged Administration Of Kappa Opioid Agonist Difelikefalin Retains Its Efficacyon The Diuretic Response, Ashlyn Y. Anderson, Luke E. Beckendorf, Daniel R. Kapusta Oct 2022

Prolonged Administration Of Kappa Opioid Agonist Difelikefalin Retains Its Efficacyon The Diuretic Response, Ashlyn Y. Anderson, Luke E. Beckendorf, Daniel R. Kapusta

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

RATIONALE: Disease states exhibiting high amounts of edema, including congestive heart failure, hepatic cirrhosis, and hypertension, are often treated with a combination of diuretics to reduce water retention in the body. Patients treated with the loop diuretic furosemide face an increased risk for developing adverse conditions, such as hyponatremia and hypokalemia and with time loss of diuretic efficacy (diuretic resistance). In contrast, the kappa opioid agonist difelikefalin produces a sodium sparing diuresis by inhibiting hypothalamic neurons responsible for the secretion/release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) located in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Consequently, inhibition of ADH release increases urine output by increasing …


Retinal Degeneration In Mice Devoid Of Membrane-Type Frizzled-Related Proteinor Adiponectin Receptor 1 Results In Selective Fatty Acid Synthesis Impairments, Alise J. Aucoin, Marie-Audrey Kautzmann Guerin, William Gordon, Eric Prestenburg, Jeff Ji, Rasangi Perera, Nicolas Bazan Oct 2022

Retinal Degeneration In Mice Devoid Of Membrane-Type Frizzled-Related Proteinor Adiponectin Receptor 1 Results In Selective Fatty Acid Synthesis Impairments, Alise J. Aucoin, Marie-Audrey Kautzmann Guerin, William Gordon, Eric Prestenburg, Jeff Ji, Rasangi Perera, Nicolas Bazan

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Abnormal lipid metabolism is the derivation of multiple retinal degenerative and blinding diseases. The membrane-type frizzled-related protein (MFRP), and adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1) were shown to be vital to the maintenance of a healthy retinal lipidome. The two mice models of retinal degenerations Mfrprd6 and Adipor1 -/- resulted in a reduction of phospholipids containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6) and very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC-PUFAs). In a pathway involving the ω-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6), the fatty acid elongase-4 (ELOVL4) elongates the fatty acid 28:6 into VLC-PUFAs, which are precursors to potent neuroprotective …


The Effects Of Alcohol Consumption On Metabolic Factors In The Alive-Ex Study Participants, Meva Beganovic, Stefany D. Primeaux Oct 2022

The Effects Of Alcohol Consumption On Metabolic Factors In The Alive-Ex Study Participants, Meva Beganovic, Stefany D. Primeaux

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Alcohol consumption among people living with HIV (PLWH) is common and increases the risk for metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and diabetes. Adiponectin is an adipokine, produced in adipocytes, that protects against insulin resistance by increasing insulin sensitivity and thus may play a preventative role against the development of metabolic disease. Previous studies have demonstrated an inconsistency regarding the impact of alcohol consumption on adiponectin levels. In a cross-sectional analysis of participants enrolled in the ALIVE-Ex Study, we did not find a significant relationship between at-risk alcohol use, as measured by Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score, in …


In-Depth Analysis Of Next-Generation Sequencing (Ngs) And Bioinformatics Results In Pediatric Adgrv1 Compound Heterozygotes, Sloane Clay, Adele Evans, Chindo Hicks, David Otohinoyi Oct 2022

In-Depth Analysis Of Next-Generation Sequencing (Ngs) And Bioinformatics Results In Pediatric Adgrv1 Compound Heterozygotes, Sloane Clay, Adele Evans, Chindo Hicks, David Otohinoyi

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Genetic diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) using NGS proves challenging when encountering multigenic, multiallelic variants of uncertain significance (VUS). These VUS make it difficult to provide anticipatory guidance regarding progressive disorders such as Type II Usher syndrome (SNHL at birth and retinitis pigmentosa in the second decade of life). With genetic testing companies are identifying, reporting, and reclassifying VUS at a rapid pace; there is a need for in depth-analysis and interpretation. For example, VUS in ADGRV1, a gene implicated in Type II Usher Syndrome, may be inherited in a compound heterozygous manner and misinterpreted as benign, when in …


The Fecal Position: Tracking Progressive Dna Repeat Expansion Via Stool Dna Extraction, Margaret Conrad, Hayley Ulloa, Ed Grabczyk Oct 2022

The Fecal Position: Tracking Progressive Dna Repeat Expansion Via Stool Dna Extraction, Margaret Conrad, Hayley Ulloa, Ed Grabczyk

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Friedreich Ataxia is a progressive DNA repeat expansion disease. Examining DNA repeat expansion in mouse models require sacrificing the mouse and taking samples of organs. The obvious non-lethal targets, such as ears, tails, and blood do not have levels of repeat expansion comparable to internal organs. However, recent publications suggest that stool may be a suitable non-lethal candidate for tracking repeat expansion over time. Stool DNA may allow researchers to monitor the effect of interventions aimed at slowing DNA repeat expansion over time without harming the mouse. A commercial kit was first used to extract DNA from feces without success. …


Development Of Genetic Strategies To Treat Vision Loss In Usher Syndrome Type 1c (Ush1c), Dongjoon (Jason) Kim, Inga Kristaponyte, Bhagwat Alapure, Katelyn Robillard, Wadih Zein, Robert Koenekoop, Maria Reinoso, Jennifer J. Lentz Oct 2022

Development Of Genetic Strategies To Treat Vision Loss In Usher Syndrome Type 1c (Ush1c), Dongjoon (Jason) Kim, Inga Kristaponyte, Bhagwat Alapure, Katelyn Robillard, Wadih Zein, Robert Koenekoop, Maria Reinoso, Jennifer J. Lentz

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Background: Usher Syndrome (Usher) is the most common genetic cause of deaf-blindness, characterized by the loss of hearing, vestibular function, and vision. Three clinical types (USH1- 3) and 10 genes are associated with the disease. USH1 is the most severe with congenital severeprofound sensorineural hearing loss and vestibular areflexia, and childhood onset of retinitis pigmentosa. Mutations in the USH1C gene account for 6-15% USH1, however USH1C c.216G>A (216A) accounts for nearly all USH1 cases in the Acadian populations in U.S. and Canada. The 216A splicing mutation results in a truncated harmonin protein, and photoreceptor and cochlear hair cell dysfunction. …


Comparing Roche Linear Array® To Next Generation Sequencing For Hpv Genotype Identification, Luke Konur, Ashley Winters, Brock Williams, Meng Luo, Melody Baddoo, Jennifer Cameron Oct 2022

Comparing Roche Linear Array® To Next Generation Sequencing For Hpv Genotype Identification, Luke Konur, Ashley Winters, Brock Williams, Meng Luo, Melody Baddoo, Jennifer Cameron

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is known to be a causative agent in most cervical neoplasia, thus identifying HPV in a patient’s cervical swab is an important step in detecting risk for cervical cancer and preventing further development. The Linear Array Genotyping Test (LA) from Roche is a colorimetric reverse line blot hybridization array that detects 37 genotypes of HPV. The LA has been the standard assay used in research for HPV genotyping over the past two decades and has recently been discontinued. Newer highthroughput assays like Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) have broadened the variety of HPV types that can be …


Translational Investigation Of Sex Differences In Alcohol Analgesic Efficacy: Comparison Across Preclinical And Clinical Domains, Sumin Lee, Noor Alrashed, Erin Davis, Jessica A. Cucinello-Ragland, Patricia E. Molina, Scott Edwards Oct 2022

Translational Investigation Of Sex Differences In Alcohol Analgesic Efficacy: Comparison Across Preclinical And Clinical Domains, Sumin Lee, Noor Alrashed, Erin Davis, Jessica A. Cucinello-Ragland, Patricia E. Molina, Scott Edwards

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Although chronic pain affects over 220 million Americans and significantly contributes to both the development and maintenance of alcohol use disorder (AUD), there is an alarming gap in knowledge regarding the mechanisms underlying the anti-nociceptive effects of alcohol. The goals of the current project were to: 1) relate self-reported pain rating in people living with HIV (PLWH) and 2) investigate neuroadaptations in the phosphorylation status of excitatory and inhibitory protein markers produced by alcohol in the central amygdala (CeA) and the insula in an animal model of chronic inflammatory pain. Towards our first goal, we asked participants in the New …


Novel Varienta Related To Protein S And Folate Deficiency In A Female Patient, Alaa Malik, Diana Polania-Villanueva, Manoj Kumar, Jone Garai, Jovanny Zabaleta, Rinku Majumder Oct 2022

Novel Varienta Related To Protein S And Folate Deficiency In A Female Patient, Alaa Malik, Diana Polania-Villanueva, Manoj Kumar, Jone Garai, Jovanny Zabaleta, Rinku Majumder

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Protein S (PS) is a multifunctional protein that exists in a free and bound form in plasma. The free form of PS acts as an anticoagulant in plasma. Traditionally, PS’s role in coagulation is described as a cofactor for Activated Protein C (APC) or Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor (TFPI). Both pathways result in decreased thrombin generation and ultimately reduced fibrin formation. Recently, it has been discovered that PS directly inhibits Factor IXa (FIXa), and thereby directly reduces thrombin generation. PS deficiency is a life-threatening condition that can result in an increased risk for developing disseminated intravascular coagulation or venous thromboembolism …


Relationship Between Depression And Cognitive Impairment In Patients With Multiple Sclerosis, Alexandra Nguyen, Yazmeen Allen, Natalie Thayer, Shannin Moody, Deidre Devier Oct 2022

Relationship Between Depression And Cognitive Impairment In Patients With Multiple Sclerosis, Alexandra Nguyen, Yazmeen Allen, Natalie Thayer, Shannin Moody, Deidre Devier

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune, neurodegenerative disease characterized by chronic inflammation and demyelination of the brain and spinal cord. This deterioration of the central nervous system leads to a wide range of motor, cognitive, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Each patient varies in symptom profile and disease course. However, cognitive impairment has been found in roughly half of all people with MS regardless of MS subtype. This may present as deficits in attention, information processing speed, executive function, and visuospatial perception. This impairment may interfere with basic and instrumental activities of daily living, vocational status, and social functioning; all of …


The Effects Of Obesity And Estrogen Based Contraceptive Use On Protein S Levels And Clotting Function In Pre-Menopausal Women, Daniel Ruppert, Alaa Malik, Manoj Kumar, Rinku Majumder Oct 2022

The Effects Of Obesity And Estrogen Based Contraceptive Use On Protein S Levels And Clotting Function In Pre-Menopausal Women, Daniel Ruppert, Alaa Malik, Manoj Kumar, Rinku Majumder

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Protein S (PS) is an essential natural anticoagulant whose deficiency is a major contributor to acquired hypercoagulability [1]. Acquired hypercoagulability causes myocardial infarction, stroke, and deep vein thrombosis in millions of individuals [2]. Many factors affect plasma PS level; most prominently, the female hormone estrogen alters PS level by suppressing PS gene transcription via the estrogen receptor α (ERα) [3]. Thus, women who use estrogen-based oral contraceptive agents (OCA) experience a decrease in PS level. This contraceptive-induced PS decrease enhances the risk of thrombosis by 3-fold (4). Decreased plasma PS is also associated with obesity; obesity elevates the risk of …


Mismatch In Mice And Men, Ryan Schroeder, Hayley Ulloa, Alan Williams, Ed Grabczyk Oct 2022

Mismatch In Mice And Men, Ryan Schroeder, Hayley Ulloa, Alan Williams, Ed Grabczyk

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Friedreich ataxia is a progressive degenerative neuromuscular disease that is caused by the expansion of a repetitive region of DNA, composed of three nucleotide repeats (GAA•TTC). Expansion of the DNA occurs throughout the lifespan of the patient and has been linked to the activity of specific DNA mismatch repair proteins. Disease onset occurs when the expansion increases in size beyond a certain threshold, silencing the gene and causing progressive ataxia, diabetes mellitus, and cardiomyopathy. These symptoms are linked to an increased repeat number observed within the heart, pancreas, and brain relative to other tissues within an individual. Friedreich ataxia is …


The Effect Of Nicotine Inhalation On Taste Receptor Gene Expression And Fungiform Papillae Density, Chloe Sterling, Jolie Primeaux, Jason Gardner, Stefany Primeaux Oct 2022

The Effect Of Nicotine Inhalation On Taste Receptor Gene Expression And Fungiform Papillae Density, Chloe Sterling, Jolie Primeaux, Jason Gardner, Stefany Primeaux

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

BACKGROUND: Smoking is one of many acquired causes of smell and taste disorders. The effect on taste may be due to cigarette smoke causing a gustatory disturbance through changing the form, quantity, and vascularization of taste buds. Nicotine’s negative impact on taste buds is elicited through aversive sensory effects like oral irritation and pain as well as bitter taste. Taste buds are located on fungiform, circumvallate, and foliate papillae found on the tongue. Taste receptor cells can be stimulated by one of five basic taste qualities, which are sweet, bitter, umami (savory), salty, and sour. More recently, fat has been …


Effect Of Mitochondrial Ros In Binge Etoh Bone Toxicity, Bretton Urban, Kyler Pisciotta, Alexandra Denys, Kim Pedersen, Martin J. Ronis Oct 2022

Effect Of Mitochondrial Ros In Binge Etoh Bone Toxicity, Bretton Urban, Kyler Pisciotta, Alexandra Denys, Kim Pedersen, Martin J. Ronis

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

The molecular basis of ethanol (EtOH) toxicity on bone turnover has yet to be fully understood. It is known that chronic consumption increases bone resorption by osteoclast activation while at the same time decreasing bone formation by downregulating osteoblast functions. Our previous work indicated oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation having a role, as dietary antioxidants such as N-acetyl cysteine partially blocked EtOH-induced bone loss in female mice. Mitochondria are a source of ROS such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. MitoTEMPO is a superoxide dismutase mimic that accumulates in mitochondria and scavenges superoxide radicals. Our aim was to …


The Characterization Of Rodent Diet Influences On Ethanol Consumption In Mice, Selby White, Franciely Paliarin, Evan Dore, Cameron Gabriel, Rajani Maiya Oct 2022

The Characterization Of Rodent Diet Influences On Ethanol Consumption In Mice, Selby White, Franciely Paliarin, Evan Dore, Cameron Gabriel, Rajani Maiya

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

The gut-brain axis is a distinct, yet uncharacterized tract of the nervous system that provides direct communication between the myenteric and the central nervous systems. The gut-brain axis is implicated in numerous underlying pathological phenomena, such as depression, Parkinson’s disease, and autoimmune disorders. Signaling along the gut-brain axis is primarily mediated by the Vagus nerve, which projects to the Nucleus Tractus Solitarius (NTS). From the NTS, projections link to higher order brain structures, namely reward regions, such as the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, Locus Coeruleus and the Prefrontal cortex. Alcohol Use Disorder is a complex and widespread disease with …


Chronic Binge Alcohol Impairs Myoblast Differentiation: Role Of Microrna-206, Peter Bergeaux, Brianna Bourgeois, Patricia E. Molina, Liz Simon Oct 2022

Chronic Binge Alcohol Impairs Myoblast Differentiation: Role Of Microrna-206, Peter Bergeaux, Brianna Bourgeois, Patricia E. Molina, Liz Simon

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Background: With recent advances in antiretroviral therapy, people living with HIV (PLWH) now have a near-normal life expectancy. As such, PLWH experience aging-related comorbidities, such as metabolic disorders and frailty earlier in life than the general population. At-risk alcohol use is twice as likely in PLWH compared to the general population and alcoholic myopathy occurs in 40- 60% of people with an alcohol use disorder. Previous studies demonstrate that chronic binge alcohol (CBA) in simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected rhesus macaques causes decreased myoblast differentiation and downregulation of microRNA-206 (miR-206) in skeletal muscle. Additionally, lower miR-206 expression is associated with increased …


The Role Of Traf3ip2 In The Progression Of Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy, Nicholas R. Harris, Joshua M. Edavettal, Jason D. Gardner Oct 2022

The Role Of Traf3ip2 In The Progression Of Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy, Nicholas R. Harris, Joshua M. Edavettal, Jason D. Gardner

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy (ACM) manifests in humans after excessive alcohol consumption and is characterized by ventricular dilation and cardiac function impairment. Previous studies have identified deterioration of mitochondrial homeostasis, increased oxidative stress, and inflammation as mechanisms of ACM development. However, little is known of the molecular mechanism of ACM. Here, we focus on the role of TRAF3IP2, a proinflammatory cytoplasmic adapter protein, in the pathogenesis of ACM. Previous work suggests TRAF3IP2 is a master regulator of inflammation; thus, being a potential therapeutic target. In this study, we used a mouse model of chronic plus binge alcohol feeding described by the NIAAA. …


The Effects Of Mitochondrial Catalase Overexpression On Alcohol-Induced Skeletal Toxicity, Kyler Pisciotta, Bretton Urban, Alexandra Denys, Kim Pedersen, Martin J. Ronis Oct 2022

The Effects Of Mitochondrial Catalase Overexpression On Alcohol-Induced Skeletal Toxicity, Kyler Pisciotta, Bretton Urban, Alexandra Denys, Kim Pedersen, Martin J. Ronis

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Alcohol induces deleterious effects on the quantity and quality of bone in the skeleton. The mechanism of these effects is believed to be through increased concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within bone cells. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a form of ROS that is converted to water (H2O) and oxygen (O2) by the enzyme catalase. Our previous studies have demonstrated that nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX) enzymes 2 and 4 are contributors of ROS within the cellular environment of bone; however, selective knockout of these enzymes did not lead to complete protection against alcohol’s inhibition of osteoblastogenesis and upregulation …


The Heart Of The Matter: Cardiac Specific Discrepancies Between Human And Mouse Models Of Friedreich Ataxia, Katherine Copenhaver, Ed Grabczyk Oct 2021

The Heart Of The Matter: Cardiac Specific Discrepancies Between Human And Mouse Models Of Friedreich Ataxia, Katherine Copenhaver, Ed Grabczyk

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Friedreich Ataxia (FRDA) is a relentlessly progressive neurodegenerative disease that manifests with multiple symptoms, which may include progressive gait and limb ataxia, loss of vibratory and position sense, progressive motor weakness, diabetes mellitus, and scoliosis. This condition also affects the heart, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the cause of death in approximately 60% of patients. FRDA is a DNA repeat disorder, caused by the somatic expansion of GAA•TTC repeats within the first intron of the frataxin (FXN) gene. This leads to decreased FXN mRNA expression. The length of the repeat tract correlates with the severity of FRDA symptoms and inversely with …


Demographics Of Periprosthetic Joint Infection Rates, Katelynn Donnelly, Abigail Erwin, Andrew Chapple, Peter Krause, Vinod Dasa Oct 2021

Demographics Of Periprosthetic Joint Infection Rates, Katelynn Donnelly, Abigail Erwin, Andrew Chapple, Peter Krause, Vinod Dasa

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Introduction: Risk factors for periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) following total joint arthroplasties (TJAs) include patient demographics and comorbidities such as age, gender, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes. 1 However, there is insufficient research analyzing the number of PJIs in certain racial subsets of the population despite the presence of disparities due to race that still exists in orthopedics today. 2 The purpose of this study is to investigate if PJI rates differ by race, as well as other patient demographics. This may uncover valuable information on how race relates to PJIs which is frequently unaccounted for in other studies. This …


Lack Of Demographic Information In Tha/Tka Randomized Controlled Trial Publications, Katelynn Donnelly, Hannah Theriot, John Bourgeois, Andrew Chapple, Peter Krause, Vinod Dasa Oct 2021

Lack Of Demographic Information In Tha/Tka Randomized Controlled Trial Publications, Katelynn Donnelly, Hannah Theriot, John Bourgeois, Andrew Chapple, Peter Krause, Vinod Dasa

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Introduction: The impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) has been documented in orthopedic literature. However, there is a lack of data on the inclusion of these variables in orthopedic studies. Our aim was to investigate how many THA and TKA randomized controlled trials (RCTs) report SDOH variables such as race, ethnicity, insurance, income, and education within the manuscript. Methods: A literature review was conducted on a PubMed search for RCTs published from 2017-2019 in 4 major orthopedic journals which routinely publish on total joint arthroplasty: JBJS, Journal of Arthroplasty, CORR, and Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. The inclusion criteria, THA/TKA RCTs …


Peripheral Immune Cell Pro- And Anti-Nociceptive Gene Expression In Chronicbinge Alcohol Administered Siv-Infected Rhesus Macaques, Michael Dubic, Liz Simon, Patricia Molina Oct 2021

Peripheral Immune Cell Pro- And Anti-Nociceptive Gene Expression In Chronicbinge Alcohol Administered Siv-Infected Rhesus Macaques, Michael Dubic, Liz Simon, Patricia Molina

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

People living with HIV (PLWH) have a 2-fold higher prevalence of chronic pain compared to the general population. Reports in the literature indicate that alcohol consumption to self-medicate pain may increase the incidence of at-risk alcohol use. Chronic alcohol use, HIV infection, and anti-retroviral therapy (ART) all independently lead to altered pain states, yet the underlying pathophysiology is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to explore the utility of peripheral blood mono nuclear cells (PBMCs) as indicators of alcohol-, ART-, and HIV- associated alterations in pro and anti- nociceptive pathways in a relevant preclinical model of HIV-infection. Four- …


Demographics Of Periprosthetic Joint Infections Rates, Katelynn Donnelly, Abigail Erwin, Andrew Chapple, Peter Krause, Vinod Dasa Oct 2021

Demographics Of Periprosthetic Joint Infections Rates, Katelynn Donnelly, Abigail Erwin, Andrew Chapple, Peter Krause, Vinod Dasa

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Introduction: Risk factors for periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) following total joint arthroplasties (TJAs) include patient demographics and comorbidities such as age, gender, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes. However, there is insufficient research analyzing the number of PJIs in certain racial subsets of the population despite the presence of disparities due to race that still exists in orthopedics today. The purpose of this study is to investigate if PJI rates differ by race, as well as other patient demographics. This may uncover valuable information on how race relates to PJIs which is frequently unaccounted for in other studies. This study aims …


Impaired Aicd In Senescent Cd8 T-Cells: Cell Death Pathwayselectivity & The Effects Of Alcohol, Nabil Essajee, I Welsh, Pm Mcternan, David A. Welsh, Robert W. Siggins Oct 2021

Impaired Aicd In Senescent Cd8 T-Cells: Cell Death Pathwayselectivity & The Effects Of Alcohol, Nabil Essajee, I Welsh, Pm Mcternan, David A. Welsh, Robert W. Siggins

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Background: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is prevalent in People Living with HIV (PLWH). Chronic alcohol use and HIV infections are both stressors that can accelerate the onset of cellular senescence, a pro-inflammatory phenotype associated with unhealthy ageing and contributor to the phenomenon known as “inflamm-aging.” Furthermore, it has been observed that in senescent cells, there is an impairment of Activation-Induced Cell Death (AICD). The mechanism of impairment of AICD in senescent cells remains unknown. The goal of our research is to investigate by which pathway of cell death (apoptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis) senescent cells are susceptible by analyzing markers of senescence …


Neurobiological Consequences Of Chronic Binge Alcohol Exposure And Ovariectomy On Markers Of Hippocampal Plasticity In Siv-Infected Rhesus Macaques, Taylor Fitzpatrick-Schmidt, Larry B. Coleman, Kimberly N. Edwards, Liz Simon, Patricia E. Molina, Scott Edwards Oct 2021

Neurobiological Consequences Of Chronic Binge Alcohol Exposure And Ovariectomy On Markers Of Hippocampal Plasticity In Siv-Infected Rhesus Macaques, Taylor Fitzpatrick-Schmidt, Larry B. Coleman, Kimberly N. Edwards, Liz Simon, Patricia E. Molina, Scott Edwards

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has profound impacts on the central nervous system, including HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). HIV-associated cognitive deficits can be further exacerbated by alcohol consumption1 . With the rising prevalence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) in females, understanding the neurobiological impact of AUD and HIV infection in this population is increasingly important 2 . The hippocampus is part of the brain’s limbic system and plays prominent roles in both cognition and affective regulation. Thus, investigating hippocampal neuroadaptations in the context of comorbid HIV infection and AUD is critical for understanding the mechanisms of neurocognitive and affective impairment …


Short-Term High Fat, High Sucrose Diet Increases Markers Associated With Hepaticlipid Accumulation In Rhesus Macaques, Eden Gallegos, Liz Simon, Patricia Molina Oct 2021

Short-Term High Fat, High Sucrose Diet Increases Markers Associated With Hepaticlipid Accumulation In Rhesus Macaques, Eden Gallegos, Liz Simon, Patricia Molina

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Self-reported data collected from our clinical cohort, the New Orleans Alcohol Use in HIV (NOAH), shows that a significant number of people living with HIV (PLWH) consume a suboptimal diet as determined by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Consumption of a high fat, high sucrose diet (HFSD), known as a Western Diet contributes to metabolic dyshomeostasis and development of metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. At-risk alcohol consumption, HIV-infection, and consumption of a HFSD independently can lead to liver disease. Thus, PLWH with at risk alcohol consumption and consuming a HFSD may have increased risk for liver pathology. Alcoholic …


Female Mice Are Protected From Chronic Inhaled Nicotine-Induced Pulmonaryhypertension Via A Sex Hormone-Independent Mechanism, Idanis Z. Garcia, Nicholas D. Fried, Anna K. Whitehead, Eric Lazartigues, Xinping Yue, Jason D. Gardner Oct 2021

Female Mice Are Protected From Chronic Inhaled Nicotine-Induced Pulmonaryhypertension Via A Sex Hormone-Independent Mechanism, Idanis Z. Garcia, Nicholas D. Fried, Anna K. Whitehead, Eric Lazartigues, Xinping Yue, Jason D. Gardner

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Introduction: Cigarette smoking has declined in the United States, but e-cigarettes use increased by 46.2% in young adults and 77.8% in high school students between 2017-2018. Little is known about the long-term health implications of these nicotine-containing devices, but cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, which are the primary cause of death in industrialized countries. Our group previously demonstrated that chronic inhaled nicotine induces pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right ventricular (RV) remodeling in male mice, but female mice exposed to nicotine failed to develop PH, suggesting a sex difference. This led us to hypothesize …


Alcohol Metabolism Negatively Affects Early Atdc5 Chondrocyte Differentiationindependent Of Nox4 Expression, Hardy Hang, Alexandra Denys, Martin J. J. Ronis Oct 2021

Alcohol Metabolism Negatively Affects Early Atdc5 Chondrocyte Differentiationindependent Of Nox4 Expression, Hardy Hang, Alexandra Denys, Martin J. J. Ronis

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Alcohol (ethanol) abuse is a widely recognized risk factor in the development of several diseases. Previous studies in our lab have shown that ethanol induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in osteogenic cells, which results in oxidative damage, skeletal dysfunction, and osteoporosis. Moreover, ethanol inhibits epiphyseal plate proliferation in longitudinal bones and affects chondrocyte function, which results in shorter bones. In osteogenic cells, a major source of ethanol-mediated ROS is derived from NADPH oxidases (NOXs). However, it remains uncertain if ROS produced by NOXs during alcohol metabolism result in impaired chondrocyte function and differentiation. In this study, we investigated if …


Interactions Of Mglur1/5 Transmission And Crf Signaling Following Adolescentalcohol Exposure & Adult Stress, John M. Lacey, Eleanor Holmgren, Tiffany Wills Oct 2021

Interactions Of Mglur1/5 Transmission And Crf Signaling Following Adolescentalcohol Exposure & Adult Stress, John M. Lacey, Eleanor Holmgren, Tiffany Wills

Medical Student Research Poster Symposium

Alcohol exposure in adolescence serves as a strong predictor of alcohol use disorder (AUD) in adulthood. Adolescence is time when alcohol drinking is commonly initiated and recent data points to sex differences in this consumption, with females consuming more alcohol during adolescence than males. Understanding the long-term consequences of adolescent alcohol exposure on neurocircuitry and behavior may help us identify the factors that increase AUD risk. Negative affect and stress are known to be common triggers for alcohol relapse and are also thought to be more powerful drivers for female drinking compared to male, whom are more likely to drink …