Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Functional Neuroimaging Techniques To Examine Falls And Cognition In Older Adults: A Systematic Review, Tia M. Seleem, Raphael Gabiazon

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Falls in older adults have been attributed to impaired cognition. There is potential for neuroimaging techniques to understand the biological components that are involved in the cognitive processes pertaining to falls. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review was to analyze how functional neuroimaging can be used to examine the relationship between falls and cognition among older adults. The following five electronic databases were selected to identify peer-reviewed articles in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: 1) Medline (via OVID), 2) PsycINFO (via OVID), 3) CINAHL (via EBSCO), 4) EMBASE (via OVID), and 5) Pubmed. …

The Effects Of Gases From Food Waste On Human Health: A Systematic Review, Paulina Rudziak

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Food waste is an everyday activity in many developed countries; however, the risks from emissions are either not acknowledged or poorly regulated in many food waste plants worldwide. The literature lacks a systematic review that gives a thorough overview of the effects of food waste emissions on human health, directly affecting physiology and indirectly affecting human health through environmental health effects. The aim of this study is to address this gap to support decision-makers in public health when inspecting food waste facilities and the surrounding areas. To inform this systematic review, the four databases, Web of Science, OVID, EMBASE, and …

Real-World Outcomes Of Virtual More Than Words®: A Program For Parents Of Autistic Children, Katarina Miletic

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Research suggests that parent-mediated interventions for autistic children can improve their communication. The Hanen Centre’s More Than Words^® Program (HMTW) is delivered by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and teaches parents strategies to support their child’s social communication and play skills. The COVID-19 pandemic required The Hanen Centre to quickly shift HMTW to a virtual model without any previous empirical research. To date, only one small study has evaluated the effectiveness of the virtual model of HMTW. Our research aimed to further investigate the virtual HMTW program, including outcomes for both parents and children. We found that children increased their communicative …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Speech-Language Pathology Interventions For Autistic Children And Youth, Lauren Choi

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) play a crucial role in the delivery of support services for autistic children and youth by improving outcomes such as language, communication and social interaction. However, a recent systematic review of assessment and intervention practices found a paucity of clinical guideline documents aiding SLPs in the provision of services to autistic individuals (Choi, Cardy & Binns, submitted). Our project aims to support the development of a guidance document that uses a co-production model approach to best meet the needs of autistic persons. We are using a three-pronged approach incorporating research, community input and partnerships with autistic self-advocates …

Understanding Virtual Care Uptake In The Context Of Clinical Audiology: An Implementation Evaluation Using The Normalization Process Theory, Shruthi Sundararaman

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

This study aimed to measure the systematic and theory-based implementation of virtual audiology care specific to innovative hearing aid follow-up appointments delivered by audiologists during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Shadow Pandemic: A Systematic Review On The Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Children And Adolescents Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder., Nasong A. Luginaah

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

No abstract provided.

Wellness Study: Functional Visual Outcomes In Eye Disease Patients Following The Covid-19 Pandemic, Andrew Maher

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused delays in health services and medical appointments, affecting approximately one in three Canadian adults. Elderly eye disease patients experienced delays in treatment for eye conditions including cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal diseases. The impact of these delays on functional visual outcomes and general health rating of elderly patients is not well understood. As part of the Wellness Study, we aimed to investigate the pandemic-related impacts on functional vision and general health rating in an elderly eye patient population in London, Ontario.

Compassion Fatigue In Healthcare Professionals During Covid-19: Scoping Review Protocol, Lucy Hui, Christina Oleynikov, Sheila Boamah, Anna Garnett

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to the healthcare system. With the sudden increase in workload, under-resourced facilities, and evolving healthcare practices, healthcare professionals are faced with a great psychological burden. Compassion is a crucial component to providing safe and quality care. However, the effects of the prolonged exposure to high-stress environments during COVID-19 on compassion fatigue remains understudied. This scoping literature review was conducted with the goal of answering two questions: (1) What research has been undertaken on compassion fatigue among healthcare providers over the course of COVID-19, and, (2) how did compassion fatigue among healthcare providers impact …

Unmasking The Silent Killer To Heart Health: An Evaluation Of Cardiometabolic Risk And Screening In Outpatient Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation, Luxshmi Nageswaran

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Objective: 1) Determine the prevalence of cardiometabolic disease (CMD) risk factors in Canadian outpatients with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D); and 2) Augment CMD screening practices to reflect evidence-based guidelines using quality improvement initiatives.

Design: Chart audit of consecutive outpatients with SCI/D assessed after discharge from Parkwood Institute between October 2020 to December 2021 (n=78). Data collected included presence of and evidence-based screening for 4 CMD risk factors – obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus. Definitions for presence of these 4 CMD risk factors were established using clinical practice guidelines for persons with SCI/D.

Results: All CMD risk …

Walkability For Older Adults With Age-Related Vision Loss In London, Ontario, Emily Laliberte

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of International Experiential Learning On Career Trajectories: A Scoping Literature Review, Nishta Mehta

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Preparing graduates for their future beyond the classroom is of importance in today’s society, where the employment landscape is ever-changing and expanding globally. However, recent research suggests that knowledge acquisition is insufficient, and it must go part and parcel with the development of lifelong skills in problem-solving, critical reflection, and adaptability to support successful career trajectories. Experiential learning (EL) is understood as enticing students to think critically about learning through the application of knowledge using transferable skills in contexts beyond the university. This is especially true for international learning experiences. Nevertheless, despite over a decade of EL, neither professors nor …

Does Aerobic Intensity Level In Standard Physical Therapy Relate To Change In Walking Endurance In Patients With Stroke?, Yunyi Yan

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Aerobic exercise is critical in improving muscle strength, balance, and gait in stroke rehabilitation; higher dosage of exercise, in the form of increased physiotherapy(PT) duration, step counts, is associated with greater motor recovery. We sought to explore whether aerobic intensity level in one PT session is associated with the change in walking endurance; we hypothesized that higher levels of aerobic intensity, younger age, and being male would relate to greater improvement in walking endurance for individuals with stroke.

In this study, sixty-four individuals with stroke, aiming at improving walking performance, were recruited. Walking endurance was assessed by the Six-Minute Walk …

A Collaborative Approach To Caring For Refugees In The Covid-19 Pandemic, Sara Mojdehi

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

With higher cases rates, it is clear that newcomer and refugee populations in Ontario have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. These vulnerable populations generally work in settings that increase their risk of infection and do not offer sick leave (ICES, 2021). In addition, overcrowded and multigenerational housing make it difficult for these individuals to adhere to self-isolation guidelines. Language and cultural barriers among refugee populations have also limited their access to information about the virus, making it challenging to follow public health measures (ICES, 2021).

The increased likelihood of an outbreak in these communities manifested itself in London, …

Exploring Digital Transformation In Dentistry At The Ssmd Dental Clinic, Aliaa Abdelmeguid

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Digital transformation in healthcare includes an array of digital technologies that are rapidly transforming every domain of healthcare. Digital transformation has had a massive influence on Dentistry as common practices in the field continue to shift from traditional methods to digitally backed processes. This impacts not only dental practices but also dental education required to train dentists for a digital future. Regardless of this impact, adopting digital tools and techniques in healthcare practice and in education remains a significant challenge to accomplish successfully. This research aims to explore and tackle the barriers of adopting Intraoral Cameras within the SSMD Clinics …

Investigating The Effects Of Pu.1 And Cebpα Co-Transfection On B16bl6 Melanoma Cells, Sherry Chen

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

No abstract provided.

The Validity Of A Smartphone App (Myrecovery©) To Serve As Proxy For Activity Level In Athletes, Nicole K. Bryant, Alan Getgood, Trevor Birmingham, Ryan Degen, Kevin Willits, Robert Litchfield, J. Robert Giffin

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Background: When investigating the effectiveness of interventions to prevent recurrence of sports injuries, measuring exposure time (the time an athlete is at risk of injury) is crucial. The most accurate method of measuring exposure time involves hiring personnel to stand field side during practices and games to record minutes at risk. However, this does not capture other activities in which the athlete may take part that are not part of their formal sport that may put them at risk of re-injury. Another means to collect this data is to ask the athlete to self-report exposure. However, self-report diaries are often …

The Use Of The 129xe Mri Ventilatory Adc Approach For The Evaluation Of Emphysema Progression, Keeirah Raguram

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Hyperpolarized gas pulmonary MRI provides the identification of biomarkers of various obstructive lung diseases such as emphysema. However, emphysema progression is able to cause increasing unventilated lung areas which likely excludes the estimates of the largest apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). As such, longitudinal observation of the emphysema progression using hyperpolarized gas MRI-based ADC can be problematic, masking the severity of emphysema. The ventilatory ADC (vADC) method, which is the combination of static-ventilation (SV) and ADC measurements, adapted for ¹²⁹Xe MRI should aid to provide an accurate assessment of the emphysema-progression. Moreover, the SV measurements providing the gas-distribution should remain …

Producing And Measuring Oscillatory Shear In A Novel Microfluidic Chip, Sanaz Lordfard, Daniel Lorusso, Tamie L. Poepping, Hristo N Nikolov, Kayla Soon, Stephen Sims, Jeffrey Dixon, David Holdsworth

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Purpose: To demonstrate the effectiveness of a novel microfluidic device mimicking oscillatory blood flow, allowing cell biologists to examine how endothelial cells respond to a range of oscillatory shear stress levels.

Methods: The microfluidic chip consists of a circular-shaped reservoir, leading to a rectangular channel that is examined under a microscope. The plunger is connected to a speaker system and oscilloscope, allowing the plunger to apply a range of frequencies (5-60Hz) and voltages (5-10 V, leading to a variety in oscillation amplitudes) to the reservoir region. 1.1 um fluorescent particles diluted in distilled water were used for tracking. Processing was …

Matrix Optimization Of Zno For Mass Spectrometry Imaging Of Small Neurochemicals In Rat And Mouse Brain Tissue, Natalie B. Merola, Juan Pablo Galindo Lazo

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Testing experimental parameters in order to optimize ZnO nanoparticles as a matrix for low molecular weight neurochemicals in rat and mouse brain tissue.

Mistranslating Trnas Alter The Heat Shock Activation By Hsf1, Rebecca Dib

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Translation, or the production of protein from an mRNA blueprint, is among the most fundamental processes to life as we know it. tRNAs are essential to accurate translation, as they decode the codons of mRNA and recruit corresponding amino acids. Variant tRNAs with anticodon mutations can decrease translational fidelity by recruiting the incorrect amino acid, an aberrant process known as mistranslation. When proteins are produced with incorrect amino acid sequences, they may misfold. The heat shock response functions to alleviate cellular stress caused by misfolded proteins, either by refolding or targeting misfolded proteins for degradation. Hsf1 acts as a transcriptional …

A Review Of Accessibility And Return To Sport (Covid-19) Policy In Provincial And Territorial Sport Organizations Across Canada, Elias Boussoulas

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Issues with lack of accessibility in sport for those with both physical and mental disabilities have been prevalent throughout Canada. In order to understand and address these concerns, we must first review the provincial and territorial sport structure as well as accessibility policy in each provincial/territorial sport organization across Canada.

As a result of COVID-19, many provincial and territorial sport organizations found challenges in returning to play successfully while following provincial and territorial phased plans.The setbacks and restrictions put in place created a difficult environment for organizations to return to play, and without a sport-specific Return to Sport plan many …

Improving Governance In Ontario Health Teams, Mausam Vadakkayil

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

The aim of this research brief is to provide recommendations on how Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) can incorporate the three key functions of successful health systems, priority setting, performance monitoring, and accountability, within their governance structure.

Synthesis And Characterization Of Cr-Znga2o4 And Eu-Ca3(Po4)2 Composite, Benjamin Hulme

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

No abstract provided.

Assessing Cognitive Health Outcomes In Anca-Associated Vasculitis Patients, Ruo Yan Chen

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a rare and life-threatening autoimmune disease with severe complications. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is thought to be rare, however, the prevalence of neuropsychiatric complications have been reported in 30-60% of AAV cases. Studies looking at the cognitive health outcomes of AAV patients with CNS involvement have noted cognitive impairment as a significant contributor to reduced quality of life with unique challenges in care and treatment. The data collected from this primary output could be combined with global assessments of cognitive function as well as the application of advanced imaging tools to study …

Metabolomic Approach For Earlier Diagnosis Of Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury, Steven Xiu, James (Yong Jin) Lim

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent complicated by its dose-limiting nephrotoxicity. This commonly presents as acute kidney injury (AKI), which is characterized by a reversible decline in kidney function. AKI is currently diagnosed by increased serum creatinine (SCr) levels, but this rise in SCr is delayed limiting diagnosis to when significant renal damage has already occurred. Currently, there are no known biomarkers capable of predicting or diagnosing early-stage cisplatin-induced AKI. Metabolomics was used to identify novel predictive/early diagnostic biomarkers for cisplatin-induced AKI. We hypothesized that differences in metabolic profiles will be able to predict and/or diagnose cisplatin-induced AKI prior to rise …

Methodological Challenges In Pharmacoeconomic Submissions For Cancer Drug Reimbursement In Canada From 2019-2021, Nupur Krishnan

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada, carrying a mortality rate of 1 in 4 Canadians. As new therapeutic options are developed, high drug costs place a huge burden on patients and the healthcare system. Due to budget limitations, not all pharmaceuticals can be publicly funded, so difficult decisions must be made for which drugs are funded and in what contexts. The pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review (pCODR) evaluates submissions for new oncological pharmaceuticals to make reimbursement recommendations. Comprehensive analyses assessing limitations in recent oncology drug submissions have not yet been performed. The objective of this project, therefore, was …

Motor Learning By Observing The Movements Of A Computer-Animated, Human-Like Actor And A Non-Limb Observational Video, Mudia Iyayi

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Our project is looking at the phenomenon of observational motor learning using a two-joint robotic manipulandum (robotic arm). When someone learns a new motor skill (i.e. throwing a football to a wide receiver) the brain must make and map an internal model of the forces required for that movement. The plasticity of the brain in constructing these representations is termed “motor learning” and can occur through physical practice or—for the purposes of our investigation—observation. Previous studies have used videos of human actors learning new skills to drive motor learning in the observer, however, it is not known what components of …

Auditory Sensory Filtering And Development In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Hiruthika Ravi, Ala Seif, Ryan A. Stevenson

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Sensory filtering is the process of separating and distilling relevant sensory information from irrelevant, which in turn greatly reduces the quantity of sensory information that is fully processed and leads to significant increases in efficiency. Atypical sensory filtering can result in sensory hypo- or hypersensitivity — atypical sensory filtering and hypo/hypersensitivity have been observed in people with autism. Atypical sensory filtering contributes to canonical symptoms in Autism.

Sensory filtering can be measured in a few different ways, one of which is the Acoustic Startle Response (ASR). ASR is a reflexively produced muscular reaction to sudden auditory stimuli.

Our study aims …

The Effect Of Type 1 Diabetes On The Metabolic Response To Exercise, Theres Tijo

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disorder that results in insufficient endogenous insulin production. Regular exercise has numerous health benefits for individuals with T1DM, however, most insulin-dependent diabetics avoid physical activity due to the fear of exercise-induced hypoglycemia (low blood glucose/BG).

The risk of hypoglycemia in this population may be partly due to lower liver glycogen stores which is a major source of blood glucose during exercise. However, the mechanism that leads to lower glycogen stores in T1DM is unknown.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an acute bout of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise …

Scrna Seq Analysis Of Ebv+ Associated Gastric Cancer, Eric Wang

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

No abstract provided.