Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Direct Measurement Of Supra-Physiological Levels Of Ascorbate In Plasma Using A Nanophotometer, Bailey Wetherell, Jordan W. Witmer, Brett A. Wagner, Juan Dub, Joseph J. Cullen, Garry R. Buettner

Research in the Capitol

High dose intravenously administered vitamin C (ascorbate) is currently being tested in clinical trials as an adjuvant to current standard of care therapies in a variety of cancers. Intravenous infusion is used with a goal to achieve supraphysiological ascorbate concentrations in blood of at least 20 mM, 300 to 500 times normal healthy concentrations (0.04-0.08 mM). These trials need quick and easy access to information on the levels of ascorbate achieved in the blood to make clinical decisions. Previous methods that quantify ascorbate levels in blood require extensive preparation, time, and materials that may not always be present in clinical …

Disparities In Infant Mortality: Are Sociocultural Risk Factors Shaped By Institutionalized Racism? [Poster], Madison Grimm

Research in the Capitol

The United States has one of the highest infant mortality rates among countries with similar economies. In addition, significant disparities are present between races within this health indicator. According to the CDC, the infant mortality rate in 2013 among non-Hispanic whites was 5.06 infant deaths per 1,000 live births; the infant mortality rate for Black Americans was 11.11 - more than double. The purpose of this research is to explore a) sociocultural risk factors for disparities in infant mortality rates and b) whether institutionalized racism contributes to those risk factors. The social ecological model will be used as a theoretical …

Use Of Epidural Anesthesia During Labor Increasing The Risk Of Emergency Cesarean Procedures: An Integrative Literature Review, Maya Rodriguez

Grace Peterson Nursing Research Colloquium

Abstract

Background: Epidural anesthesia, a pain relief used during labor, causes many risks to vaginal labor yet, most, if not all, doctors will administer it if requested. The main consequence of this pain medication that this paper will focus on is emergency cesarean sections, which lead to a multitude of issues in itself.

Objectives: This study is an integrative review aimed to strive to better understand the risks of both mentioned above, as well as use this information to better educate pregnant women.

Method: Many data bases were searched with the keywords epidural anesthesia, risks, and cesarean …

Corporate Social Responsibility In The Health Care Sector, Dina Siniora

Graduate Student Research Symposium

The challenge for the health care sector is to continually explore ways to ensure that the welfares of individual patients remain the utmost primacy and simultaneously promote health care equity via corporate socially responsible activities (CSR). There is an essential need to truly embrace CSR and ethical principles that would promote equal distribution of health care resources. Relevant CSR activities would be achieved by making the most significant health problems in a given society a priority of health care organizations. CSR in health care applied to hospitals and pharmaceutical companies should promote shared values and common ethical principles in new …

The Recognition Of Hpv Infection As A Risk Factor For Cardiovascular Disease In Men, Hayley Stettner

Graduate Student Research Symposium

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. Strains 16 and 18 are causes of cervical, anogenital, and oropharyngeal cancer. A study found a nearly 3-fold increase in incidence of cardiovascular (CV) events, i.e. stroke and myocardial infarction (MI), in HPV-infected women. HPV-16 and 18 contain protein E6 that binds to p53 tumor suppressor protein, which aids in regulating atherosclerosis, and causes p53 protein degeneration. Additional studies have linked absence of p53 protein to accumulation of atherosclerosis in the body, which is the leading cause of CV events. Presented is a case of a 55-year old male …

The Safety And Efficacy Of Ondansetron In The Treatment Of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Rebecca Stark

Graduate Student Research Symposium

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by recurrent intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that cause significant anxiety and distress, leading to repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that an individual feels driven to perform. The symptoms of OCD can range from mild to so severe that it can be incapacitating to an individual’s life. Treatment is often prescribed, including both pharmacological and behavioral therapy. Overall, 70% of patients starting treatment experience a significant improvement; however, there is still a portion of patients with severe OCD that do not respond to first and second-line treatment plans. We present the case of a 62-year-old-male …

P03. Role Of Prefrontal Cortical Dopamine Transmission In Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder And Opiate Addiction Vulnerability, Jingjing Li

Western Research Forum

Background

PTSD and opiate addiction share strong co-morbidity and the inability to suppress obtrusive memory recall related to either stressful or rewarding experiences may be an underlying neuropsychological feature triggering PTSD and/or addiction. Our previous research has shown that dopamine (DA) transmission in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) strongly modulates emotional memory formation: activation of the DA D4 receptor (D4R) strongly potentiates the emotional salience of normally non-salient fear memories whereas DA D1 receptor (D1R) activation blocks the behavioural recall of fear memory. Thus, while intra-PFC D4 transmission strongly controls the acquisition of emotional memory, D1 transmission is selectively involved in …

P01. Examining The Community Food Environments For Elementary School-Aged Children In The City Of London And Middlesex County, Ontario, Catherine Dubreck

Western Research Forum

Background: Childhood obesity is a growing public health issue. In Canada, one in four children/youth are overweight or obese. Research suggests diet plays a crucial role in childhood obesity, and that prevalence rates of overweight or obesity among children in a neighborhood may relate to area socioeconomic characteristics and other environmental factors. The community nutrition environment (e.g., the type, location, and accessibility of food outlets) can influence dietary habits.

Methods: Using ArcGIS, public and private elementary school addresses were geocoded, food outlets were mapped, and both junk food outlet density and the modified retail food environment index were …

P19. Head Impacts In Youth Soccer Are Comparable To American Football, Alexandra B. Harriss, Aakash Naik, Dave Walton, James P. Dickey

Western Research Forum

Head Impacts in youth soccer are comparable to American Football

Alexandra Harriss¹, Aakash Naik¹, David M. Walton², James P. Dickey¹

School of Kinesiology¹, School of Physical Therapy², Western University, London, Canada

Background: Research has unequivocally demonstrated that females and youth soccer players are at a significant high risk of concussion. Recently, concerns for “heading” have been raised due to possible adverse neurological effects. While head impact accelerations and rotations have been investigated in American football, head impacts in youth soccer have not been rigorously studied. The purpose is to …

P23. Elucidation Of The Signaling Pathway Of Mertk, Kyle Taruc

Western Research Forum

Background

Mer Tyrosine Kinase (MERTK) is a receptor which mediates efferocytosis – removal of apoptotic cells by phagocytes such as macrophages. MERTK plays a critical role in homeostasis, with mutations in MERTK associated with the development and progression of atherosclerosis, the buildup of cholesterol-laden plaque in the sub-arterial space. Indeed, one MERTK allele is associated with 66% (heterozygous) to 75% (homozygous) protection from atherosclerosis, while other alleles and SNP’s pre-dispose to atherosclerosis and autoimmunity. Complications resulting from atherosclerosis, including heart attack and stroke, are currently the second leading cause of mortality in Canada. Despite the importance of MERTK in atherosclerosis …

P27. Acute Impact Of An Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Stimulus On Human Neurophysiological Function - Magnetophosphene Perception, Cadence M. Baker

Western Research Forum

Background: Magnetophosphenes are classified as colourless, flickering lights that are perceived with closed eyes in the dark, and upon exposure to a magnetic field (MF). Uncertainties exist involving the MF threshold for magnetophosphene perception.

Methods: Forty subjects will be enrolled in this experiment aiming to provide a frequency-response curve of magnetophosphene perception under MF exposure. Subjects will sit in a whole head MF exposure device wearing a 64-channel MRI-compatible EEG cap. Subjects will be exposed to a MF with a frequency of 5-300 Hz, in the form of an increasing flux density ramp (increasing magnetic field flux density from 0-100 …

P30. Optimizing Current Steering In Deep Brain Stimulation For Treating Parkinsonian Axial Motor Symptoms, Daphne Hui

Western Research Forum

Background: The proposed study will investigate deep brain stimulation (DBS), of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) to improve gait dysfunctions in advanced Parkinson’s Disease (PD). DBS requires implantation of electrodes into the brain that contain contacts where current traverses to stimulate neurons. Imprecise electrode implantations are inherent in surgical implantation; thus, contributing to the elusiveness of DBS on gait.

Methods: The proposed investigation will divide current between two contacts to receive 0, 30, 50, 70, or 100% of current, to find the best combination to improve gait. Gait changes associated with fractional combinations will be visually assessed with clinical scales, and …

P33. Design And Evaluation Of An Escherichia Coli Biomarker For Indication Of Ph, Kevin X. Zhou, Luana Langlois, Ashmita Singh, John Prince

Western Research Forum

Measuring pH is one of the most commonly used techniques in both the laboratory as well as the field due to its importance in a multitude of biochemical processes. Traditional methods of measuring pH may be highly developed in accuracy and precision but often involve disruption of the environment. Biological markers offer an alternative that allows for long-term pH monitoring. This innovative approach allows for vast applications such as in the manufacturing, food processing and research industries. Under moderate acidic conditions, the asr (acid shock RNA) gene is highly inducible and has been demonstrated to be crucial for growth at …

P34. The Effects Of Standing Desks On Classroom Performance Of University Students, Siobhan Smith

Western Research Forum

Background:

It is well established that there are many health risks associated with prolonged sedentary time.¹ Unfortunately, research conducted on university students is limited but yet they experience excessive periods of sitting time during class and while studying.

Methods:

Recently, we investigated the effect of sitting, dynamic sitting, and standing desks on classroom performance of university students.² Participants performed three 3-minute classroom simulations, one for each of the three desks. The order of the desks and simulations were randomized. Each of the simulations included a different typing and memory task.

Results:

Results showed no significant difference in the …

P35. Investigating The Effect Of Maternal Immune Activation On Sensory Filtering, Social Behaviour And Attention, Faraj Haddad

Western Research Forum

Background

Altered brain development is associated with many neuropsychiatric disorders like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia. Environmental insults can interfere with neurodevelopment, and a prominent example is maternal infection during pregnancy. Epidemiological studies show that children born to mothers who were infected during pregnancy display a higher risk of developing ASD and schizophrenia, and this effect is mainly due to the maternal immune response. Polyinosinic-polycytidilic acid (Poly I:C) is a double stranded RNA molecule that mimics viral markers and elicits an immune response. When injected in pregnant rodents, this model produces offspring that exhibit core symptoms of ASD and …

A Novel Hybrid Imaging System To Aid In Surgical Decision Making, Lawrence Yip, Madeleine Van De Kleut, Ivan Kosik, Astrid Chamson-Reig, Jeffrey Jl Carson

Western Research Forum

Background:

Breast cancer accounts for 25% of all cancer cases among women. In breast-conserving surgery, a common treatment, the tumour is excised with a healthy tissue margin. However, detection of the margin can be difficult. Current techniques to guide excision are often insufficient, and re-excision can occur up to 25% of the time.

Methods:

Photoacoustic imaging is a hybrid imaging modality that combines the advantages of optical imaging and ultrasound while using safe non-ionizing light. This project involves the development of a novel imaging system with a new scanner design to overcome common limitations and provide images to aid in …

Parental Quality Of Life 10 Years After Their Child’S Epilepsy Diagnosis, Klajdi Puka, Kathy Nixon Speechley

Western Research Forum

Background: Although the long-term course of childhood epilepsy is favorable in terms of seizure control, patients often face debilitating cognitive and psychosocial deficits that persist even after seizure remission. Pediatric epilepsy also has a large impact on the family and has been shown to be associated with diminished quality of life (QOL) among parents. However, the long-term outcome of parental QOL is unknown. This study aimed to 1) evaluate parental QOL 10 years after their child was diagnosed with epilepsy and 2) identify epilepsy-, child- and family-related characteristics associated with diminished parental QOL.

Methods: Data were derived …

Pulmonary Surfactant Fortified With Cath-2 As A Novel Therapy For Bacterial Pneumonia, Brandon J. Baer

Western Research Forum

Background: Bacterial pneumonia is a leading cause of death worldwide, with high mortality rates persisting even after antibiotic treatment. Current treatments for pneumonia involve administration of antibiotics, however after the bacteria are killed they release toxic substances that induce inflammation and lung dysfunction. Host defense peptides represent a potential solution to this problem through their ability to down regulate inflammation. However, effective delivery to the lung is difficult because of the complex branching structure of the airways. My study addresses this delivery problem by using exogenous surfactant, a pulmonary delivery vehicle capable of improving spreading of these peptides throughout the …

The Effects Of Intrauterine Growth Restriction (Iugr) On The Pulmonary Surfactant And Lung Injury, Reza Khazaee

Western Research Forum

The Effects of Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) on the Pulmonary Surfactant and Lung Injury

Khazaee R¹, McCaig LA², Hardy D¹, Yamashita CM², Veldhuizen, RAW²

Department of Physiology and Pharmacology¹, Western University, London, ON, Canada. Lawson Health Research Institute², London, ON, Canada

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is defined as severe lung dysfunction that occurs after an insult to the lung such as an infection. The lung dysfunction in ARDS is due to alterations to surfactant, a lipid-protein mixture coats the inside of the lung and …

I Am More Than My Label, Taylor L. Teichman, Enid Melendez

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

This workshop will offer experiential activities for youth allies to explore the foundational intersections between LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness and sexual violence. Introducing a framework of concrete tools, participants will identify at least three core resiliency factors of LGBTQ youth and be able to identify at least three concrete components for fostering community-wide support for these youth.

Cognitive Impairment And Music Therapy, Sanjib Dey, Anne Lee

Discovery Day (formerly Post & Beyond)

Cognitive impairment has been found to be a key variable in the overall impact on physical and mental health in the elderly. Cognitive impairment has also been found to have a significant impact on mobility, depression and social isolation. This study will examine if patient engagement in music therapy (MT) has a greater effect on increased cognitive function; specifically improvement in short term memory than engagement in physical activity alone in residents residing in nursing homes. Music has been found to enhance autobiographic memories, emotion(s), cognitive stimulation and learning, physical improvement as well as increasing social interaction. Physical activity has …

Preference Assessment Of Teacher Behaviors For Students With Autism And Resulting Behaviors, Diane Grzebyk

Discovery Day (formerly Post & Beyond)

With the rising prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), studies must seek to evaluate enriched, innovative teaching experiences for this growing population. Preference assessments are widely used to evaluate favored edibles, objects and activities for children with ASD. Less research has been conducted regarding children’s preferences for staff. Since children with ASD spend a large part of their day with teachers in their schools or therapeutic environments, it seems fitting that they would develop a preference for teachers. If students develop preferences for teachers, it would also make sense that these preferences may have an effect on the student’s behavior. …

Comfort Room, Azra Hadzibajramovic, Tricia Bunai

Discovery Day (formerly Post & Beyond)

Abstract The administration of anxiety drugs is associated with a superfluity of side effects (National Institutes of Mental Health, 2016). The use of comfort rooms have been shown to be an effective means to reduce anxiety in hospitalized non-psychotic psychiatric patients thus reducing the need for pro re nata (prn) medication administration (Steward, Robson, Chaplin, Quirk & Bowers, 2012). A comfort room is a designated space designed to provide a calming environment and are furnished with items that are physically comfortable as well as pleasing to the senses in order to provide a refuge that is stress free (New York …

The Pharmacological And Cognitive Effects Of Propranolol On Cd-1 Mice, Jennifer Hindieh

Discovery Day (formerly Post & Beyond)

The Pharmacological and Cognitive Effects of Propranolol on CD-1 Mice Jennifer Hindieh, William Hoefer, Grace Rossi, Christopher McAllister Long Island University Post Campus, Psychology Department, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Currently, 31 million people in the United States have chronic kidney disease; with high blood pressure being the 2nd leading cause of kidney disease, and about 70 million people in the United States have high blood pressure. The importance of studying the conditions becomes more prevalent as the average individual, of recent times, has a diet consisting of preservatives, artificial ingredients, which in turn leads to a more consistent …

Spatial Memory Decreased By Ghrelin Antagonist, Birgitte Hovland

Discovery Day (formerly Post & Beyond)

Ghrelin is known as the hunger hormone. Ghrelin is a peptide hormone, which is produced in the stomach to regulate appetite. When the stomach is empty ghrelin is produced, and when the stomach is stretched secretion stops. Ghrelin has also been linked to long-term potentiation and cognition. Specifically, previous research on ghrelin agonists has shown enhancement on spatial memory performance. This study seeks to find if the same results will be achieved with a ghrelin antagonist. Instead of using an agonist, we will produce ghrelin organically by food restriction, and then administer ghrelin antagonist to counter the effects of the …

Polyvagal Theory Improves Dental Desensitization Programs For Children With Intellectual Disability, Lindsay Miller

Discovery Day (formerly Post & Beyond)

Children with intellectual disabilities (ID) often avoid or escape dental procedures. Dental professionals typically resort to restraints, sedation or general anesthesia, which are dangerous, alter results and may increase future problem behaviors. Desensitization programs can increase patient compliance. The Polyvagal theory, proposed by Stephen Porges, focuses on the prevention of biological setting events such as stress responses. The purpose of our research is to determine if a Polyvagal intervention would improve cooperation with dental procedures for individuals with a diagnosis of ID. The participants for this study were two children with a diagnosis of ID and Autism Spectrum Disorder and …

Understanding The Psychological Impact Of Pediatric Whole Exome Sequencing Results On Parents, Rachel Rabin

Discovery Day (formerly Post & Beyond)

The field of genetics and genomics is continuing to expand as technology becomes more accessible in a clinical setting. The use of whole exome sequencing (WES) has rapidly increased and many individuals now have diagnoses that would not have been made, or made as quickly, through traditional forms of genetic testing. WES has proven to produce a high diagnostic yield, and has led to the discovery of new pathogenic mutations, which can potentially identify novel genetic conditions. Although WES has ended the diagnostic odyssey for many individuals, little research has been conducted examining the psychosocial outcomes for individuals and their …

Decision Regret And Correlation With Results Amongst Parents Of Children Who Have Undergone Whole Exome Sequencing, Emily Rosen

Discovery Day (formerly Post & Beyond)

Whole exome sequencing (WES) is pushing its way to the forefront of genetic testing strategies amongst both adults and children with complex disease. For affected individuals that have phenotypes that do not point to a specific causative gene, or have had previous inconclusive test results, WES is proving itself to be extremely useful in a clinical setting. WES is the most comprehensive genetic testing currently available, leading to a conclusive test result for approximately 25- 30% of individuals, many of whom have had prior, inconclusive evaluations. However, since this test is new in the clinical realm, little research exists examining …

Does Cultural Integration Determine Genetic Testing For Deafness?, Jaime Tramontana

Discovery Day (formerly Post & Beyond)

Hearing loss, one of the most common birth defects in the United States, affects approximately three to four in every 1,000 newborns. Although hearing loss can be genetic, environmental or a combination of both, genetics accounts for most cases of congenital or early childhood hearing loss. Various cultures, such as the hearing, hard-of hearing, and Deaf cultures, have diverse attitudes toward genetic testing, particularly prenatal genetic testing, for deafness. As one of the core tenets of genetic counseling is a nondirective approach toward patient care, sensitivity to cultural heritage, values, and mediated variation allows the genetic counselor to ensure their …

Eating Disorders: Identifying, Assessing, And Treatment, Valerie M. Miranda

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

This presentation will address DSM-V criteria for feeding and eating disorders, demographics for eating disorders, long-term medical issues associated with eating disorders, assessment measures for feeding and eating disorders, and resources for the community. Being able to identify, assess, and treat eating disorders within the children and adolescent population is crucial in their long-term physical development and mental health as eating disorders typically begin in mid-adolescence.