Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Zaire Ebolavirus: A Silent Killer, Joshua Pandian

Osmosis Magazine

In 2014, the West African country Guinea experienced a major outbreak of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) that ended in 2016. Patient zero is believed to be an 18-month old boy from a small village who received the virus from bats, a potential reservoir host. After spreading rapidly through rural areas, the virus made its way to major urban centers for the first time, significantly increasing the infection and death rates.

A Creature That Has Seen It All, Dusan Vukcevic

Osmosis Magazine

What if there was a creature that is so indecisive about its habitat, that it decides to live both in rainforests and in the Antarctic? What if this creature was taking a swim in the Mariana Trench, and warming itself up at the bottom of a mud volcano? Their appearance gave them many names, so today we call them water bears, moss piglets or simply, Tardigrades. Be that as it may, the number of their names is negligible compared to the number of harsh conditions they are able to withstand. Just how resilient are these creatures?

Pollution In The James River: Fact Or Fiction?, Emily Lekas

Osmosis Magazine

The University of Richmond receives water from the James River, part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed which covers 56% of the state. Despite UR's rank of #1 Most Beautiful Campus in the Princeton Review, it is almost impossible to walk across the bridge over Westhampton Lake without noticing its opaque brown hue and circling duckweed patches. However, bodies of water do not necessarily have to have a pleasing color and clarity to be healthy.

Letter From The Editor, Caterina Erdas

Osmosis Magazine

Dear reader,

As the Editor-in-chief, I get the honor of welcoming you to this semester 's issue of Osmosis. Welcome! For those of you who are not familiar with Osmosis, this is a student-run journal that publishes science stories: from water bears to synthetic neuron s to prehistoric skeletons. This semester, I was blown away with the talent and enthusiasm of our new and returning members. It was an honor to work with everyone, and I am excited to do it all over again next semester.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the magazine this semester, especially to my …

Osmosis Magazine - Fall 2021

Osmosis Magazine

Osmosis is a student read, led, and written publication from the University of Richmond, focusing on all aspects of healthcare and science.

Designing Accessible Ui/Ux For Epileptic Patients: A Scalable Solution For Music Therapy Delivery, Amethyst G.H. Mckenzie

Computer Science Senior Theses

How can we design an accessible, scalable UI/UX system tailored to the cognitive, visual, and motor impairments of epileptic patients, that ensures safe and effective interactions with music therapy applications? This research explores the intersection of accessibility, user-centred design, and digital health, using an iterative design process to develop and refine the SONATA app—a clinically deployable music therapy platform.

Through two prototype iterations, usability testing, and quantitative event logging, this study compares the effectiveness of structured versus flexible navigation in improving user experience. Key findings reveal that structured navigation reduces unintended detours, while progressive disclosure techniques enhance instructional clarity. Additionally, …

Consensus Recommendations For An Integrated Diagnostic Approach To Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors Arising In The Setting Of Neurofibromatosis Type 1, Calixto-Hope G Lucas, Andrea M Gross, Carlos G Romo, Carina A Dehner, Alexander J Lazar, Markku Miettinen, Melike Pekmezci, Martha Quezado, Fausto J Rodriguez, Anat Stemmer-Rachamimov, David Viskochil, Arie Perry

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Consensus recommendations published in 2017 histologically defining atypical neurofibromatous neoplasm of uncertain biologic potential (ANNUBP) and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) were codified in the 2021 WHO Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System and the 2022 WHO Classification of Tumors of Soft Tissue and Bone. However, given the shift in diagnostic pathology toward the use of integrated histopathologic and genomic approaches, the incorporation of additional molecular strata in the classification of Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1)-associated peripheral nerve sheath tumors should be formalized to aid in accurate diagnosis and early identification of malignant transformation and enable appropriate intervention …

Immunotherapy-Related Neurotoxicity In The Central Nervous System Of Children With Cancer, Jiasen He, Jeremy Connors, Andrew Meador, Shuo Xu, Heather Meador, Hong Jiang, Juan Fueyo, Candelaria Gomez-Manzano, Gregory K Friedman, Wafik Zaky, Zsila Sadighi, John M Slopis, Ali H Ahmad

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Significant gaps remain in our understanding of immunotherapy-related neurotoxicity in pediatric patients, largely because much of our knowledge comes from studies in adults. Accurately identifying the adverse effects of immunotherapy in children is also challenging, owing to variations in terminology and grading systems. Moreover, the manifestation of immunotherapy-related neurotoxicity differs greatly across different diseases, various modalities, dosages, and delivery methods. Combining immunotherapy with other treatments might improve outcomes but introduces new complexities and potential for increased toxicities. Additionally, pediatric patients with intracranial malignancy have unique responses to immunotherapies and distinct neurotoxicity compared to those with extracranial malignancy. Consequently, we must …

Cryptic Kmt2a::Afdn Fusion Due To Afdn Insertion Into Kmt2a In A Patient With Acute Monoblastic Leukemia, Qing Wei, Gokce A Toruner, Beenu Thakral, Keyur P Patel, Naveen Pemmaraju, Sa A Wang, Rashmi Kanagal-Shamanna, Guilin Tang, Ghayas C Issa, Sanam Loghavi, L Jeffrey Medeiros, Courtney Dinardo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: KMT2A rearrangements occur in ~10% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases and are critical for classification, risk stratification, and use of targeted therapy. However, insertions involving the KMT2A gene can evade detection using chromosomal analysis and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

Methods: We present a case of a 22-year-old woman with acute monoblastic leukemia harboring a cryptic KMT2A::AFDN fusion identified by RNA sequencing. Initial FISH showed a 3' KMT2A deletion, while conventional karyotyping and the automated bioinformatic pipeline for optical genome mapping (OGM) did not identify the canonical translocation.

Results: To resolve these discrepancies, metaphase KMT2A FISH (break-apart fusion …

Cryptic Kmt2a::Afdn Fusion Due To Afdn Insertion Into Kmt2a In A Patient With Acute Monoblastic Leukemia, Qing Wei, Gokce A Toruner, Beenu Thakral, Keyur P Patel, Naveen Pemmaraju, Sa A Wang, Rashmi Kanagal-Shamanna, Guilin Tang, Ghayas C Issa, Sanam Loghavi, L Jeffrey Medeiros, Courtney Dinardo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: KMT2A rearrangements occur in ~10% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases and are critical for classification, risk stratification, and use of targeted therapy. However, insertions involving the KMT2A gene can evade detection using chromosomal analysis and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

Methods: We present a case of a 22-year-old woman with acute monoblastic leukemia harboring a cryptic KMT2A::AFDN fusion identified by RNA sequencing. Initial FISH showed a 3' KMT2A deletion, while conventional karyotyping and the automated bioinformatic pipeline for optical genome mapping (OGM) did not identify the canonical translocation.

Results: To resolve these discrepancies, metaphase KMT2A FISH (break-apart fusion …

Interview With A Rocket Scientist, Alex Robertson

Osmosis Magazine

There are three examples of professions that people refer to as highly intelligent: a brain surgeon, nuclear physicist, and rocket scientist. I’ll be representing the rocket scientists with this interview with aerospace engineer Andrei Doran!

Ask Osmosis, Ryan Shah

Osmosis Magazine

Welcome to the first installment of Ask Osmosis, our new Q&A section where we answer questions about science and healthcare sent in by our wonderful and curious readers.

Thank you to everyone who sent in questions!

Computational Biology: Revealing The Secrets Of Dna, Yağmur BingüL

Osmosis Magazine

Science is exponentially growing. It gets millions of times better than its previous self each year. In 2000, when we published the first draft of the complete human genome to develop new ways to treat, cure, or even prevent the thousands of diseases that afflict humankind, it cost 3 billion dollars. Six years later, in 2006, it cost only $14 million to generate a “complete” human genome, to find out every single gene in the human DNA. And now, we can develop a complete human genome for only $1,500 - $4000.

The Hidden Faces Behind The Covid-19 Vaccine, Julia Brittain

Osmosis Magazine

When you think about the COVID-19 vaccine, the names Pfizer or Moderna probably come to mind. It’s no surprise that these companies are often mentioned in discussions of the COVID- 19 vaccine. After all, in December 2020, Pfizer-BioNTech became the first biopharmaceutical company to receive emergency use authorization for their COVID-19 vaccine from the FDA, and Moderna followed shortly after.

Letter From The Editor, Ryan Shah

Osmosis Magazine

Dear Reader,

Thank you for opening this unique issue of Osmosis Magazine! The 10th issue of UR’s premier science and healthcare magazine looks quite different from previous issues, as the Osmosis Team has disaffiliated from UR in support of the Black Student Coalition and the Protect Our Web movement. Nevertheless, Osmosis Magazine remains dedicated to our mission of sharing interesting and educational science and healthcare stories. This “mini issue”

stays true to that goal, while giving the incredible Osmosis Team something to show for their hard work this semester. If you like what you read, please feel free to share …

Osmosis Magazine - Spring 2021

Osmosis Magazine

Osmosis is a student read, led, and written publication from the University of Richmond, focusing on all aspects of healthcare and science.

Thermal Carbonization Of Biomass Wood Dust And Algae Wastes Via Microwave-Assisted H3Po4: Desirability Function And Statistical Optimization For Methylene Blue Dye Removal, Raja Razuan Raja Derisa, Hazierul F. Awang, Muhammad Hakim Azman, Intan Nur Hidayah Abdul Rashid, Ahmad Hapiz, Ruihong Wu, Abdallah Reghioua, Zaher Mundher Yaseen, Lee D. Wilson

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

This research utilized a carbonization procedure via microwave irradiation assisted by H₃PO₄ to generate a cost-effective adsorbent (CWDAG) from wood dust (WD) and algal (AG) biomass. The resulting CWDAG adsorbent was characterized for its methylene blue (MB) dye adsorption properties. The activation process employs 800 W microwave radiation for 15 min under a nitrogen gas (99.99%) atmosphere. Multiple techniques were employed to study the physicochemical properties of CWDAG, such as FTIR, XRD, FSEM-EDX, pH_pzc, and BET. Box-Behnken design (BBD) was employed to optimize the three important parameters of adsorption, as follows: A: CWDAG dosage …

Mechanisms Of Macrophage Metabolic Activation And Paracrine Wnt Signaling In The Pathogenesis Of Systemic Sclerosis, Emily Ann Morris

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology. We have previously shown that macrophages (MØs) play a critical role in its pathogenesis; however, the mechanisms driving MØ activation in SSc remain poorly understood. This dissertation investigates the molecular signaling pathways and biochemical mechanisms underlying profibrotic MØ activity in SSc.

First, I identify a novel MØ-specific effect of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), the standard-of-care treatment for SSc. While MMF is a well characterized lymphostatic, my findings demonstrate that its active metabolite, mycophenolic acid (MPA), is also capable of directly inhibiting myeloid viability and profibrotic MØ activation by suppressing de …

Cardiometabolic Benefits Of A Non-Industrialized-Type Diet Are Linked To Gut Microbiome Modulation, Fuyong Li, Anissa M. Armet, Katri Korpela, Junhong Liu, Rodrigo Margain Quevedo, Francesco Asnicar, Benjamin Seethaler, Tianna B. S. Rusnak, Janis L. Cole, Zhihong Zhang, Shuang Zhao, Adele Gagnon, Edward C. Deehan, Joao F. Mota, Jeffrey A. Bakal, Russell Greiner, Dan Knights, Nicola Segata, Stephan C. Bischoff, Laurie Mereu, Andrea M. Haqq, Catherine J. Field, Liang Li, Carla M. Prado, Jens Walter

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Industrialization adversely affects the gut microbiome and predisposes individuals to chronic non-communicable diseases. We tested a microbiome restoration strategy comprising a diet that recapitulated key characteristics of non-industrialized dietary patterns (restore diet) and a bacterium rarely found in industrialized microbiomes (Limosilactobacillus reuteri) in a randomized controlled feeding trial in healthy Canadian adults. The restore diet, despite reducing gut microbiome diversity, enhanced the persistence of L. reuteri strain from rural Papua New Guinea (PB-W1) and redressed several microbiome features altered by industrialization. The diet also beneficially altered microbiota-derived plasma metabolites implicated in the etiology of chronic non-communicable diseases. Considerable …

Structure-Function Relationship Of Ash1l And Histone H3k36 And H3k4 Methylation, Kendra R Vann, Rajal Sharma, Chih-Chao Hsu, Maeva Devoucoux, Adam H Tencer, Lei Zeng, Kevin Lin, Li Zhu, Qin Li, Catherine Lachance, Ruben Rosas Ospina, Qiong Tong, Ka Lung Cheung, Shuai Yang, Soumi Biswas, Hongwen Xuan, Jovylyn Gatchalian, Lorena Alamillo, Jianlong Wang, Suk Min Jang, Brianna J Klein, Yue Lu, Patricia Ernst, Brian D Strahl, Scott B Rothbart, Martin J Walsh, Michael L Cleary, Jacques Côté, Xiaobing Shi, Ming-Ming Zhou, Tatiana G Kutateladze

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The histone H3K36-specific methyltransferase ASH1L plays a critical role in development and is frequently dysregulated in human diseases, particularly cancer. Here, we report on the biological functions of the C-terminal region of ASH1L encompassing a bromodomain (ASH1LBD), a plant homeodomain (ASH1LPHD) finger, and a bromo-adjacent homology (ASH1LBAH) domain, structurally characterize these domains, describe their mechanisms of action, and explore functional crosstalk between them. We find that ASH1LPHD recognizes H3K4me2/3, whereas the neighboring ASH1LBD and ASH1LBAH have DNA binding activities. The DNA binding function of ASH1LBAH is a driving force for the association of ASH1L with the linker DNA in the …

Identification Of Genes Associated With Testicular Germ Cell Tumor Susceptibility Through A Transcriptome-Wide Association Study, Emilio Ugalde-Morales, Rona Wilf, John Pluta, Alexander Ploner, Mengyao Fan, Mohammad Damra, Katja K Aben, Lynn Anson-Cartwright, Chu Chen, Victoria K Cortessis, Siamak Daneshmand, Alberto Ferlin, Marija Gamulin, Jourik A Gietema, Anna Gonzalez-Niera, Tom Grotmol, Robert J Hamilton, Mark Harland, Trine B Haugen, Russ Hauser, Michelle A T Hildebrandt, Robert Karlsson, Lambertus A Kiemeney, Jung Kim, Davor Lessel, Ragnhild A Lothe, Chey Loveday, Stephen J Chanock, Katherine A Mcglynn, Coby Meijer, Kevin T Nead, Jeremie Nsengimana, Maja Popovic, Thorunn Rafnar, Lorenzo Richiardi, Maria S Rocca, Stephen M Schwartz, Rolf I Skotheim, Kari Stefansson, Douglas R Stewart, Clare Turnbull, David J Vaughn, Sofia B Winge, Tongzhang Zheng, Alvaro N Monteiro, Kristian Almstrup, Peter A Kanetsky, Katherine L Nathanson, Fredrik Wiklund, Testicular Cancer Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Transcriptome-wide association studies (TWASs) have the potential to identify susceptibility genes associated with testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs). We conducted a comprehensive TGCT TWAS by integrating genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data with predicted expression models from normal testis, TGCT tissues, and a cross-tissue panel that encompasses shared regulatory features across 22 normal tissues, including the testis. Gene associations were evaluated while accounting for variant-level effects from GWASs, followed by fine-mapping analyses in regions exhibiting multiple TWAS signals, and finally supplemented by colocalization analysis. Expression and protein patterns of identified TWAS genes were further examined in relevant tissues. Our analysis …

Pspc1 Exerts An Oncogenic Role In Aml By Regulating A Leukemic Transcription Program In Cooperation With Pu1, Juyeong Hong, Pinpin Sui, Ying Li, Kerryn Y Xu, Ji-Hoon Lee, Juan Wang, Shi Chen, Peng Zhang, Noah Wingate, Asra Noor, Yaxia Yuan, Robert Hromas, Hongwei Zhou, Karina Hamamoto, Rui Su, C Cameron Yin, Fengxi Ye, Andrés E Quesada, Jianjun Chen, Suming Huang, Daohong Zhou, M James You, Feng-Chun Yang, Jianlong Wang, Mingjiang Xu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematopoietic malignancy characterized by the blockage of myeloid cell differentiation and uncontrolled proliferation of immature myeloid cells. Here, we show that paraspeckle component 1 (PSPC1) is aberrantly overexpressed and associated with poor survival in AML patients. Using human AML cells and mouse models, we demonstrate that PSPC1 is not required for normal hematopoiesis, but it is critical and essential for AML cells to maintain their leukemic characteristics. PSPC1 loss induces robust differentiation, suppresses proliferation, and abolishes leukemogenesis in diverse AML cells. Mechanistically, PSPC1 exerts a pro-leukemia effect by regulating a unique leukemic transcription …

Drbioright 20: An Llm-Powered Bioinformatics Chatbot For Large-Scale Cancer Functional Proteomics Analysis, Wei Liu, Jun Li, Yitao Tang, Yining Zhao, Chaozhong Liu, Meiyi Song, Zhenlin Ju, Shwetha V Kumar, Yiling Lu, Rehan Akbani, Gordon B Mills, Han Liang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Functional proteomics provides critical insights into cancer mechanisms, facilitating the discovery of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. We have developed a comprehensive cancer functional proteomics resource using reverse phase protein arrays, incorporating data from nearly 8000 patient samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas and approximately 900 samples from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia. Our dataset includes a curated panel of nearly 500 high-quality antibodies, covering all major cancer hallmark pathways. To enhance the accessibility and analytic power of this resource, we introduce DrBioRight 2.0 ( https://drbioright.org ), an intuitive bioinformatic platform powered by state-of-the-art large language models. DrBioRight enables researchers …

Biological Infections Associated With Wearing Cosmetic Contact Lenses: Risks, Pathogens, And Preventative Measures: Mini Review, Lina M. Shaker, Wan Nor Roslam Wan Isahak

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Cosmetic contact lenses are increasingly favored worldwide for their ability to enhance or alter aesthetic appearance. However, their use carries a higher risk of ocular infections, particularly when proper hygiene practices are neglected. This narrative review explores the biological and clinical aspects of infections associated with cosmetic lens usage, with a focus on pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Acanthamoeba. Key factors influencing infection susceptibility include microbial adhesion, biofilm formation, reduced oxygen permeability, and the effects of cosmetic pigments. The review further evaluates the role of lens material properties, including advancements in antimicrobial materials, …

Methylene Blue Dye Removal From Aqueous Solution Using Activated Carbon Prepared From Corn Cob Stem: Kinetics, Isotherms And Mechanism Studies, Gopi Narasimha Murthy, Uttam Kumar Sahu

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

In this study, a waste-to-wealth work has been proposed where activated carbon was synthesized from waste corn cob stems and used for methylene blue (MB) dye removal. Corn cob stems activated carbon (CCSAC) had been prepared in microwave technique using H₃PO₄ as an activating agent where the impregnation ratio of corn cob stems to H₃PO₄ was 1:4. Then CCSAC characterized by FTIR, BET, XRD, SEM, EDS, and Raman spectroscopy. The CCSAC showed the mesoporous with a good surface area of 54.61 m²/g. Around 150 mg adsorbent dose, 120 min contact time, pH …

Assessing The Biological Impacts And Health Risks Of Uv Radiation In The Context Of Sustainable Development Goals: Review, Ruaa H. Abbas, Lina M. Shaker

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, while essential for certain biological processes, presents significant risks to human health and ecosystems. Increased UV exposure, driven by ozone depletion and climate change, heightens threats such as DNA damage, skin cancer, immune suppression, and eye disorders, directly aligning with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-being. Additionally, UV radiation disrupts marine and terrestrial ecosystems, impacting biodiversity and productivity, relevant to SDGs 14 and 15. This review evaluates the health and environmental impacts of UV radiation and highlights recent advancements in UV monitoring technology. Key findings reveal substantial evidence linking UV exposure to accelerated skin …

A Look In The Fast Lane, Joseph Mceachon

Osmosis Magazine

An Interview with Dr. Jeffrey Leary, M.D., Emergency Medicine, Richmond Emergency Physicians Inc.

Challenges Associated With Organ Transplants, George Qiao

Osmosis Magazine

In 1954, the first successful kidney transplant was performed by Dr. Joseph E. Murray. Since then, organ transplantation has served as a life-saving operation, as it replaces a failed organ with a healthy and functioning organ. Recent decades have experienced great success for organ transplants due to advancement in the surgical industry as well as the availability of immunosuppressive drugs that fight against organ rejection.

Conservation In A Developing Country, Melanie Lippert

Osmosis Magazine

Amour Mohammad started farming in Pemba Island, Tanzania in 1994 and soon became an icon for sustainable land management on the island. Climate change has caused droughts, salt water intrusion into farms, and nutrient runoff from the land in Pemba. Despite this, Mohammad viewed climate change not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity to be innovative.

Phage Therapy: A Fresh Look At Last Century's Candidate For Fighting Bacteria, Savannah Del Cid

Osmosis Magazine

Humanity has fought infectious bacteria for ages, but it wasn't until recently that humans began to distil chemicals from nature to fight bacteria, which we know as antibiotics. At first, bacteria were easily treated with antibiotics, such as the well-known penicillin. However, the improper and overuse of antibiotics over the decades has created the perfect environment for mutated bacteria to thrive despite antibiotic treatments. This has become a major concern for doctors and patients because the need to utilize methods beyond the pharmaceutical has not become widely apparent until now.