Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Inhibition Of Sars-Cov-2 Papain-Like Protease By Tanshinones, Alex Beringer

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, has highlighted the critical need for effective antiviral treatments. Three significant coronaviruses—SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2—have posed serious global health threats in the past two decades. Among them, SARS-CoV-2 has demonstrated the highest transmission and mortality rates, underscoring the urgency for innovative therapeutic strategies. This study delves into the potential of tanshinones, natural compounds derived from Salvia miltiorrhiza, as inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 PLpro enzyme. PLpro is a pivotal enzyme in the viral replication and an attractive target for antiviral drug development. By inhibiting PLpro, tanshinones may hinder viral replication …

The Effect Of Direct Current Stimulation On The Plasticity Of Cerebellar Purkinje Cell, Emily Graves

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

The cerebellum plays an essential role in movement coordination and balance, and its cortex comprises three layers: the granule cell layer, Purkinje cell layer, and molecular layer. The axons of granule cells, parallel fibers, synapse onto the dendrites of the Purkinje cell. Purkinje cells are the primary inhibitory output of the cerebellar cortex to the deep cerebellar nuclei. Damage to the cerebellum or the related pathway can lead to cerebellar ataxia. Cerebellar ataxia can include abnormal extremity movements, eye and gait incoordination, and loss of balance. Non-invasive brain therapy, transcranial direct current stimulation (DCS), has shown potential benefit to patients …

Investigation Of Movement Coordination In Reaching Through The Modulation Of The Cerebello-Thalamo-Cerebral Tract By Cerebellar Tes In Awake Mice, William Johnston

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Cerebellar ataxia is a neurological disorder that can be genetically or sporadically acquired. Ataxia is the loss of the ability to coordinate the range, rate, force, and direction of movements. Loss of gait stability, and reaching smoothness is progressively seen clinically. The non-invasive brain therapy called transcranial electric stimulation (tES) has been shown to have an impact on the behavior of humans with cerebellar dysfunction. However, the physiological and behavioral effects of tES are not well studied. Quantitative measurements were used in reaching behavior assays with head fixation using normal and ataxic mice before and after tES treatment. Frame by …

Potential Differences In Male Versus Female Lymph Nodes, Vikas Damineni

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

The lymphatic system is one of the latest anatomical organ systems to have been discovered, and as a result, it can be considered the least understood. Limited research exists on the quantitative and qualitative values of lymph nodes. The pelvic and axillary region is anatomically unique for each sex. Observing if this extends to the lymph nodes themselves will create a clearer understanding of the lymphatic system for the medical community. The present study sought to establish potential differences in male and female lymph nodes. Quantitative data of male and female lymph nodes were collected through cadaver dissection. Fifty-three cadavers …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Novel Reformulated Bioactive Paclitaxel Complexes And Considerations For Administration Via Inhalation Method For Targeted Lung Cancer Treatment, Teighlor Nicole Livingston

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Paclitaxel is a natural plant product derived from bark of the Pacific Yew Tree. The secondary metabolite has been extensively studied and developed as an anticancer agent for the treatment of ovarian, breast, and lung cancer. A significant issue with the drug is its low water solubility⏤ requiring the utilization of drug vehicles for effective drug administration. Two novel paclitaxel-containing drugs, Cu5Fe5PAC and (CUPAC)5GLU12DALB, are synthesized and tested against the National Cancer Institute’s sixty cell line panel for anticancer activity. The drugs are also analyzed using MALDI-TOF-MS, FT-IR, and 1H-NMR. One major concern with paclitaxel is the toxicity associated with …

The Role Of Bkca Channel Expression And Functional Regulation On The Development Of Pulmonary Hypertension In Type 2 Diabetic Individuals, Tahirah Nimi

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMC) maintain the vascular tone and exhibit myogenic reactivity in the pulmonary arteries. The BK_Ca channel, being the predominate K⁺ channel within the HPASMC, is important in regulating the pulmonary arterial pressure and because the BK_Ca channel’s activity can be modulated by various molecules, studies have evaluated the role that altered BK_Ca channel expression and function plays in the dysfunction of the HPASMC during type 2 diabetes (T2D). The results from those studies provided a basis for this project. In this study, cell cultures, western blot experiments, and cAMP assays …

Associating Infection By Chlamydia Pneumoniae And The Presence Of Amyloid-Β Plaques In The Brains Of Alzheimer’S Disease/Dementia Patients, Paul J. G. Carango

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Sporadic late-onset AD (LOAD) is the most common form of dementia (Woods et al, 2020). In recent years, significant attention has been given to the role of infection in the pathogenesis of late-onset AD/dementia. The Cpn pathogen has been an organism of particular focus following the seminal study Balin et. al 1998 which found that Cpn DNA was present in 90% of brains from patients diagnosed with LOAD. Subsequent immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that Cpn antigens were present in the frontal and temporal cortices of LOAD brains and that Aβ amyloid plaques found in those regions of the brain co-localize with …

Investigating The Behavioral And Neuronal Effects Of Electric Stimulation Of The Cerebellar Cortex Using Awake Mice, Madison Cohen

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Lycopene And The Mediterranean Diet On Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review, Natalie Alexis Silk

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most widespread cancers diagnosed in men in the United States and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. PCa will be a major cancer-related burden both socially and economically in the near future. It has been shown that dietary intake of natural anti-inflammatory agents are capable of inhibiting cancer progression, but due to the nature of dietary studies it is difficult to accurately conclude that diet is capable of impacting chronic diseases and mortality. This systematic review aims to collect and evaluate literature focused on PCa progression and the natural …

Allicin Stimulates The Phosphorylation Of Enosser1177 Via A Pi3k-Dependent Mechanism In Type-I Diabetic Donor Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells, Hunter Alberto Vásquez

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that deaths from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are projected to increase to approximately 52 million by the year 2030. Of these NCDs, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) constitute the number one cause of death globally and are the major source of morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes mellitus (DM). CVD manifests early in individuals with DM by way of vascular dysfunction, characterized by depressed nitric oxide (NO) production. As such, interventions to mediate the comorbidities associated with DM are being investigated.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism of …

The Effect Of Cardiopulmonary Disease On Lymph Node Hyperplasia And Structural Deviations, Yuhyun Kang

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

INTRODUCTION: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cardiac and pulmonary disease consistently rank on the top leading causes of death in the United States. Therefore, the different pathologies of the heart and lungs are studied extensively in the medical community. Current research hints at the possible association between the lymphatic system's dysfunction and cardiopulmonary disease's pathological progression. However, the effect of cardiopulmonary disease on the lymph nodes is not well known. A better understanding of the possible pathological changes to the lymphatic system associated with cardiopulmonary disease could help guide medical interventions.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to …

Ampk And Mtor Impose Dualistic Regulation Of Mitophagy And Autophagy In In Vitro Models Of Prostate Cancer, Brianne Richardson

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Prostate cancer is the abnormal growth and proliferation of previously normal cells of the prostate and has the second highest incidence in men worldwide. Physiologic manipulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a highly conserved enzyme responsible for regulation of energy homeostasis during metabolic stress, is a potential treatment, especially for metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancers. AMPK is a known inhibitor of the enzyme mTOR, the final enzyme in the PKT/AKT/mTOR pathway responsible for cell growth and proliferation signaling. The hypothesis of this project is that activation of AMPK leads to increased mTOR-dependent mitophagy and subsequent autophagy in prostate cancer cells. The …

The Role Of Autophagy In Hydrogen Peroxide- Or Methylglyoxal- Induced Cardiac Myocyte Damage, Amogh Sehgal

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Oxidative stress (e.g., increased hydrogen peroxide [H₂O₂] levels) and dicarbonyl stress (e.g. increased methylglyoxal [MG]) serve as initiators for the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and diabetic complications. Increased H₂O₂-derived free radicals and MG can be highly reactive and attack cellular components resulting in cell damage and even cell death. Normally, endogenous antioxidants and glyoxalase degrade H₂O₂ and MG, respectively. Additionally, autophagy facilitates the break-down of damaged cellular components allowing the components to be recycled by the cells. Researchers are still unclear about whether autophagy exacerbates cell damage or protects …

Establishing A Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Model In Mice And Rats Using Left Anterior Descending Artery Ligation And Isolated Heart Experiments, Alexander Papa

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of death globally, with over 730,000 cases each year in the United States alone. Factors involved in the prognosis of an MI include identification of the artery occluded, the time to reperfusion, the size of the infarct, and the degree of cardiomyocyte death. Thus, the treatment of MI typically involves targeting one or more of these factors. Timely opening of an occluded artery to reperfuse the ischemic tissue remains the mainstay treatment through either thrombolytic therapy, arterial stenting, or percutaneous coronary intervention. However, reperfusion itself may cause further damage through the generation of …

The Role Of Autophagy In Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury In Isolated Rat Hearts, Aloysius C. Ibe Ii

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Autophagy is a housekeeping process used to remove damaged cytoplasmic constituents and protein aggregates. However, a debate persists on whether autophagy is beneficial or detrimental when an ischemic/reperfusion (I/R) insult occurs in the heart. This study tested the effects of autophagy enhancers (rapamycin and trehalose) and an autophagy inhibitor (3-methyladenine) on cardiac function and infarct size after global ischemia (30 minutes) and reperfusion (45 minutes) when given prior to ischemia (pre-treatment) or at the beginning of reperfusion (post-treatment). Rapamycin (25nM) pre-treatment and post-treatment significantly restored final left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) to 75.4±9.1% and 60±5% of initial baseline respectively (both …

Preview Pal: Multimodal Learning Modules Devised To Facilitate Learning And Advance Metacognition In Graduate Students, Cierra Lewis

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

A student may possess the necessary skills to enter graduate level programs but may still struggle with metacognition and self-directed learning. The focus of this study is to provide targeted resources to graduate level students that will both facilitate learning and guide advancement of metacognitive skills. The general study design included the creation of digital learning modules for a single course, their distribution to students as well as the evaluation of student access and course performance. The learning modules, designated ‘Preview Pal’, were structured to creatively engage learners with varied learning style preferences in order to benefit all students in …

Comparing The Efficacy Of Pharmacological Preconditioning With Myristic Acid-Conjugated, Tat- Conjugated And Native Protein Kinase C Epsilon Peptide Activator In Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion (Mi/R) Models, Anahi Mcintyre

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε) activation is a central mediator of the cardioprotection conferred by myocardial ischemic preconditioning (IPC). PKCε activation via PKCε peptide activator (PKCε+, HDAPIGYD) prior to ischemia is a pharmacologic mimic of IPC. However, native PKCε+ requires the use of cell permeabilization methods, such as conjugation to known carrier peptides, for effective intracellular targeting to mitigate cardiac damage. Our study compares PKCε+ conjugated to either myristic acid (Myr- PKCε+) or transactivating (TAT) carrier peptide (YGRKKRRQRRR-CC- PKCε+) with native PKCε+ pretreatment and untreated control I/R hearts to evaluate the efficacy of these cell permeable peptide analogs in attenuating …

Topography Study Of Fixa: Generation Of A Lipid Anchored Molecular Ruler With Attached Inhibitor, Nickolas P. Buchanan

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Blood coagulation, an important hemostatic property, is directed through activation of proteolytic enzymes known as serine proteases to generate a fibrin plug. Using multiple proteases allows for localized and precise regulation of blood coagulation within the circulatory system. Factor IX, a serine protease, is a key activator in the coagulation cascade by activating Factor X. For activation of FX to occur, FIXa must be in proper conformation on the platelet surface with cofactor FVIIIa to increase enzymatic abilities of FIXa a billion-fold. Current research looks at structure and function of FIXa yet neglects structural plasticity on the membrane, with function …

Allicin Reverses Diabetes-Induced Dysfunction Of Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells, Daniel Horuzsko

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States, and is the major source of morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes mellitus. Because the incidence of diabetes continues to increase, reducing the risk of CVD in diabetes will continue to be a major focus of cardiovascular research. An early manifestation of diabetes-induced CVD is dysfunction of the vascular endothelium, as indicated by depressed production of NO. Our findings now demonstrate depressed activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in diabetes, and suggest that treating human coronary artery endothelial cells with allicin, the major bioactive organosulfur component …

Isolation And Characterization Of Soil Bacteria From Radium Springs, Ga, And Analysis Of Antibiotic Secretions Under Various Conditions, Vashishtha D. Patel

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Since the discovery of the first antibiotics, they have been a cornerstone of medical treatment for bacterial infections. With the evolution of resistance to these existing agents, it is becoming increasingly important to find novel antibiotics to maintain the level of care of modern medicine.

The Small World Initiative created at Yale University aims to tackle this problem by crowdsourcing the study of antibiotics that may be present in soil and sediment in different environments. According to the Small World Initiative, over two thirds of antibiotics originate from soil bacteria or fungi.

We aim to characterize the bacteria in …

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 And Chlamydia Pneumoniae Co-Infection In Human Astrocytes Alter Host Cell Transcription Of Adam10, Bacel And Psen1, Secretases Implicated In Alzheimer Disease, Sidra Montaha Haque

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Background Alzheimer disease includes plaques consisting of aggregates of amyloid beta (Aβ). Aβ is the product of abnormal cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by the secretases β-APP cleaving enzyme-I (BACE1), Presenilin-1 (PSEN1) and disintegrin and metalloprotcinase-10 (ADAM10). Recent studies postulate a correlation between amyloidogenic processing of APP and infection of neuronal cells by bacteria or viruses. Here we examine the ability of Herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1) and Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) to modify the expression of BACE1, PSEN1, and ADAM10 in infected astrocytes. Knowing how these two pathogens might affect the neurodegenerative pathway to Aβ may give us …

The Effects Of Resveratrol On Dbc1 & Cadherin Expression In Prostate Cancer, Micah Bower-Kaiser

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Prostate cancer (PCa) is an incredibly common disease in the United States, with approximately 170,000 new diagnoses and 30,000 deaths occurring on an annual basis. The current mainstay of treatment for PCa is known as androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which has proven to be an effective short-term option in earlier stages of the disease. Unfortunately, longer periods of ADT risk accelerating progression of the cancer to the point where 25% of all treated patients relapse to an incurable, metastatic, and highly lethal form known as castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). In approximately 60% of CRPC cases, a splice variant of androgen …

Analysis Of Gene Transcription Changes Following Chlamydia Pneumoniae Infection Of Thpl Monocytes May Have Relevance To Alzheimer's Disease, Desiré Guthier

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

There is increasing evidence that neuroinflammation caused by infectious agents is an important etiologic factor in neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD). One infectious agent that has been associated with AD is Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn). Cpn DNA can be detected within peripherally circulating mononuclear cells and there is evidence that infected mononuclear cells could be involved in chronic infection and contribute to inflammation at numerous anatomical sites, including the brain. Understanding Cpn genetic changes progressing from an acute to a chronic infection within monocytes may help to further elucidate. the role of Cpn infected monocytes with regard to …

Effect Of Putative Mitokatp Channel Blocker On Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Effects In Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells, Indranie Ramsaroop

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Heart failure and high mortality rates are associated with severe sepsis. Recently, focus has been on mitochondrial ultrastructural changes and function due to sepsis and sepsis-related pathologies. Chopra et al. (2011) has provided data showing the involvement of the mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic apoptosis cascade in regulating adult rat ventricular myocyte (ARVM) dysfunction in sepsis. Experimental endotoxemia has shown mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, membrane permeability changes and release of cytochrome C to be indicators of mitochondrial dysfunction. Outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) permeability is controlled by Bax translocation, resulting Voltage Dependent Anion Channels (VDACs) pores in the OMM and activation of mitoKATP channels …

The Role Of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (Enos) Coupling Status During Acute Hyperglycemia As Determined By Real-Time Measurements Of Blood Nitric Oxide And Hydrogen Peroxide In Rat, Matthew Bertolet

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Acute hyperglycemia can impair vascular endothelial function in non-diabetic subjects in addition to diabetic patients. Decreased endothelial-derived nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and increased concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide (SO) and hydrogen peroxide (H202), are the major characteristics of vascular endothelial dysfunction. Normally, vascular endothelial function depends on NO production from coupled endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) in the presence of 5,6,7,8- tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). By contrast, 7,8-dihydrobiopterin (BH2, Oxidized form of BH4) and/or lack ofL-arginine (coupled eNOS substrate) causes eNOS uncoupling to produce SO, which can be quickly converted to H202. The role of eNOS uncoupling in acute …

Novel Anti-Obesity Effects Of Beer Hops Compound Xanthohumol: Role Of Ampk Signaling Pathway, Janaiya S Samuels

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Obesity, a chronic disease, is a global epidemic that affects millions of lives and increases the risk of several comorbidities such as Type 2 diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Obesity is the leading cause of death globally, and is associated with an excessive accumulation of white adipose tissue (WAT). Although obesity is a serious condition, safe, long-term drug therapies are limited. A second type of adipose tissue is known as brown adipose tissue (BAT), which functions as an energy dissipater in the form of heat, as opposed to energy storing WAT. Previous research has shown that the mitochondrial …

Reduction Of Opioid Medication Use In Chronic Pain Patients By Adding Memantine: A Pilot Study, Adam J. Bertino

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

An investigational clinical research pilot study is being conducted at a nursing facility and an academic primary care office to evaluate memantine as an adjunct to opioid therapy for treatment of chronic pain. Memantine can be beneficial in reducing pain because it is an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAr) antagonist with a pivotal action in the hippocampus: it initiates long-term potentiation in the anterior cingulate cortex and forebrain. These areas of action have a high probability for reducing the affective quality of pain.

This open-label, non-randomized pilot study is designed to observe any effects which may occur during addition of memantine to …

The Role Of Nadph Oxidase Isoform 1 (Nox1) In L-Name-Induced Leukocyte-Endothelial Interactions In Rat Mesenteric Postcapillary Venules, Alita Zabrecky

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Vascular endothelial dysfunction is a component of many chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension. This dysfunction is initiated by an inflammatory response triggering an increase in leukocyte endothelial interactions. It is characterized by increased oxidative stress often associated with reduced endothelial-derived nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Activation of NADPH oxidase is a major source of oxidative stress. NADPH oxidase has five NOX and two Doux isoforms. NOX1 is expressed on vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells, but is not expressed on neutrophils. Therefore, the role of NOX1 in inflammation is not completely clear. A NOX1 selective inhibitor, 2-acetylphenothiazine …

Developing A Model System To Study The Mechanisms Of Resveratrol Inhibition Of Ar-V7 Transcriptional Activity, Sarah R. Wilson

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Prostate cancer is one of the biggest threats to men’s health in the western world and it accounts for the second largest number of male cancer-related deaths in the United States. It is well established that prostate cancer cells depend on the androgen/androgen receptor pathway. Therefore, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has become the primary treatment option for prostate cancer. Patients with metastatic prostate cancer who receive (ADT) have shown increased quality of life. However, survival benefit with ADT is reduced dramatically in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Androgen receptor (AR) continues to be functional in CRPC through various mechanisms. It is …

Mass Culturing Soil Bacteria From Radium Springs And Analysis Of Antibiotic Activity, Amanda Nguyen

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

Antibiotics have become a regularity in human life. Discovered accidentally, they proved to be vital to public health. Since then, they have become integrated into a variety of widely used products such as detergents, soaps, and clothes. Unfortunately, the overuse of antibiotics as a precautionary tool for the betterment of public health has led to an era in which bacterial strains have evolved resistance and antibiotics are becoming increasingly useless. For example, Enterococcus faecalis, one of six ESKAPE pathogens prevalent in nosocomial infections, is commonly found in the GI tract, but frequently causes infections leading to endocarditis, urinary tract infections, …