Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Variant Of Fii Gene Plays A Critical Role In Coagulation Potential In Mexican-Americans, Hoang Anh T. Nguyen, Shuchita Vijay Jhaveri, Marcio A. Almeida, Vincent P. Diego, Satish Kumar, Juan M. Peralta, Joanne E. Curran, Bernadette W. Luu, Donna M. Lehman, Ralph A. Defronzo, Laura Almasy, Sarah Williams-Blangero, Ravi Duggirala, John Blangero, Tom Howard

Research Symposium

Background: Disruption in the balance between coagulation and bleeding can result in varying phenotypes such as hypercoagulability and can lead to the development of cardiovascular disease. In our study utilizing extended families of Mexican-Americans from South Texas, we performed a search for protein-altering variants influencing coagulation potential.

Methods: Mexican-Americans in the study were genotyped using Illumina-(human)-exome-24 chip to screen for protein-altering variants. Variants were analyzed for their association with FII activity, aPTT, and PT. Linear-mixed-model analysis was performed to estimate trait heritabilities and to interrogate single nucleotide variations (SNV) for evidence of genetic association. To control for multiple testing, associations …

Vitamin D Deficiency Among Children And Adolescents Living In Sunny South Texas, Yoscelina E. Martinez-Lopez, Margarita Faz, Beatriz Tapia, Juan C. Lopez-Alvarenga, Francisco J. Cervantes

Research Symposium

Background: Exposure to sunlight is essential to produce Vitamin D (ViD). Recent studies suggest obesity is associated with low ViD concentration. Living in South Texas with 220 sunny days a year should be enough to maintain adequate ViD levels. We aimed to analyze ViD levels and obesity in children and adolescents.

Methods: We included 1239 pediatric (1.5 to 18.8 years old) participants (primary care clinic from Laredo) with registered CDC percentiles of BMI (pBMI) and serum concentrations of ViD (Atellica™). Data are described as median (p25, p75), Loess correlation between pBMI and ViD, ANCOVA to adjust by age, sex, and …

Whole Genome Sequence Data Implicate Rbfox1 In Epilepsy Risk In Baboons, Mark Z. Kos, Melanie A. Carless, Lucy Blondell, Mary M. Leland, Koyle D. Knape, Harald H. H. Goring, Charles A. Szabo

Research Symposium

Background: Baboons exhibit a genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE) that resembles juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and may represent a suitable genetic model for human epilepsy. The genetic underpinnings of epilepsy were investigated in a baboon colony at the Southwest National Primate Research Center (San Antonio, TX) through the analysis of whole-genome sequence (WGS) data.

Methods: Baboon WGS data were obtained for 38 cases and 19 healthy controls from the NCBI Sequence Read Archive and, after standard QC filtering, two subsets of variants were examined: (1) 20,881 SNPs from baboon homologs of 19 candidate GGE genes; and (2) 36,169 protein-altering SNPs. Association tests …

Cucurbitacin D Ameliorates Benzo[A]Pyrene Induced Liver Injury Via Activation Of Nrf2 Antioxidant Pathway, Anyssa Rodriguez, Mohammed Sikander, Shabnam Malik, Fathi T. Halaweish, Meena Jaggi, Subhash C. Chauhan

Research Symposium

Background: Co-morbidity variables, such as smoking, are strongly linked to the development and progression of liver cancer. Further, benzo[a]pyrene, a major component of tobacco smoke, is highly carcinogenic and triggers liver damage. Cucurbitacin, a kind of triterpene, has a wide range of biological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. However, the precise mechanism of its hepatoprotective effects is obscure.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the cytoprotective effects of novel analog of cucurbitacin, cucurbitacin D, against benzo[a]pyrene-induced liver injury in HepG2 cells. Method: The cytoprotective efficacy of cucurbitacin D against benzo[a]pyrene-induced liver damage was …

Covid-19 And Chronic Diabetes: The Perfect Storm For Reactivation Tb?, Genesis P. Aguillón-Durán, Ericka Prieto-Martinez, Doris Ayala, Juan Garcia Jr, John M. Thomas, Juan I. Garcia, Jordi B. Torrelles, Eder Ledezma-Campos, Blanca I. Restrepo

Research Symposium

Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is predicted to have a net negative effect on tuberculosis (TB) control, with an estimated excess of 6.3 million tuberculosis cases and 1.4 million deaths by 2025. Programmatic issues like the lockdown of TB services affect all patients, while biosocial factors have a differential impact on an individual’s risk for TB or adverse TB outcomes.

Case presentation: We report three cases of incident TB after resolution of COVID-19 episodes.Coincidently, all cases shared a common risk factor: a chronic history poorly-controlled diabetes.

Conclusions: Our findings alert to the threat posed by …

Correlation Between Ct-Values And Symptoms Of Covid-19 Patients, Luis E. Fernández-Garza, A. Huitrón-Carrizales, Hugo A. Barrera-Saldaña, Raúl Rodríguez-Palacios

Research Symposium

Background: Currently available RT-PCR methods for the diagnosis of COVID-19 can give an estimate of the viral load. The cycle threshold value (Ct-value) of the PCR correlates inversely with the viral load; low Ct-values indicate high viral loads and vice versa. Higher viral loads have been seen to correlate with disease severity and infectivity. Therefore, we studied the correlation of the Ct-value of RT-PCR and the most common symptoms of COVID-19 individually.

Methods: A prospective and descriptive study was carried out with the subjects that attended our laboratory for a COVID-19 test from September 14, 2020, to January 30, 2021. …

Confusing Code Status In An 81-Year-Old Spanish-Speaking Woman: Addressing Barriers To Quality End-Of Life Care For Latinos, Vanessa E. Lopez, Chelsea H. Chang

Research Symposium

Background: End-of-life discussions present a challenge for many Hispanic families and physicians. Hesitancy to begin discussions and a language barrier hinder elderly Spanish-speaking patients and their families from making informed decisions about end-of-life care. We present a case of a confusing code status in an elderly Spanish-speaking woman with a rapidly declining condition.

Case presentation: An 81-year-old Hispanic Spanish-speaking female with a past medical history of hypertension, chronic kidney disease stage 3 and type 2 diabetes mellitus presents with generalized weakness, decreased appetite and a 10-pound weight loss over one month. She wished to be Do-Not-Intubate. Throughout her stay, she …

Comparison Of Five Commercial Kits For Sars Cov 2 Rt-Pcr Diagnosis., Carolina Rivera, Hugo A. Barrera-Saldaña, Marisol Ramirez

Research Symposium

Background: SARS-CoV-2 was identified as the causal agent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its rapid spread and huge health and economic impact prompted the development of diagnostic tests to opportunely identify affected individuals as a prerequisite to quarantine them and avoid further spreading the infection.

Methods: The following commercial RT-PCR kits, approved by our National Institute of Diagnostics and Epidemiological Reference of InDRE (from the Spanish name) were tested: Vircell (Granda, Spain), Light Mix Roche (Berlin, Germany), Logix Smart (Utah, USA), 1 Copy (Korea Republic), and RIDA GENE (Darmstadt, Germany). RNA was isolated either manually or automatically (QIAmp Viral RNA and …

Colon Cancer Presenting With Deep Venous Thrombosis (Dvt) In A Hispanic Woman, Baron S. Ekeledo, Ashika Chacko, Fatimah Bello

Research Symposium

Introduction: Incidence of colon cancer in young adults with no family history has significantly increased, leading to reevaluation of screening age. Colon cancer presents in various forms, but this case report discusses DVT as an initial presentation.

Case report: A 46-year-old Hispanic woman with history of chronic anemia secondary to dysfunctional uterine bleeding, recently on oral contraception was evaluated outpatient for complaints of neck swelling after recent COVID vaccination. CT angiogram of the neck demonstrated a left internal jugular vein thrombus. The DVT was attributed to concomitant use of COVID vaccine in a patient on OCPs. The patient started oral …

Chronic Dvt In The Setting Of A Long-Term Ivc Filter, Protein C Deficiency, And Non-Compliance, Matthew N. Parvus, Karrar Al Gburi

Research Symposium

Introduction: Inferior vena cava filters are often placed with the intention of removal and IVC filters are a temporary intervention, so leaving them in long term can present with significant risk of complications. When combined with protein C deficiency, the patient is at even greater risk.

Case: This case presents a 35-year-old Hispanic woman who presented to the emergency department for a one-week history of pain and swelling of the right leg. Past medical history includes protein C deficiency, chronic DVT, IVC filter (twelve-years ago), and venous insufficiency. Due to non-compliance, and financial difficulties, the patient didn’t continue her treatment …

Chromium Picolinate, Biotin, And Sodium Bicarbonate Combination As A Dietary Supplement In The Treatment Of Type 2 Diabetes, Luis E. Fernández-Garza, Fernando J. Lavalle, Hugo A. Barrera-Saldaña

Research Symposium

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia due to insulin resistance, which can lead to micro and macrovascular complications. The importance of glycemic control for prevention demands the need to promote accessible and safe treatments among others in the form of scientifically proven nutritional supplements. Previous studies have suggested that the consumption of bicarbonate-rich mineral water altered blood metabolites and gut microbiome which has beneficial effects on patients with T2DM. Likewise, chromium picolinate and biotin have shown usefulness in glycemic control. The objective of our study was to evaluate the supplementation with chromium picolinate, biotin, and sodium …

Childhood Cancer Survival In The Highly Vulnerable Population Of South Texas: Persistent Challenges For Adolescents And Hispanic Ethnicity, Shenghui Wu, Y. N. Liu, M. Williams, C. Aguilar, A. G. Ramirez, R. Mesa, G. E. Tomlinson

Research Symposium

Background: This study examines childhood cancer survival rates and prognostic factors related to survival in the majority Hispanic population of South Texas (STX), whereas most other population studies in childhood cancer survival focus on populations with relatively few Hispanics.

Methods: The population-based cohort study used Texas Cancer Registry data (1995-2017) to examine survival and prognostic factors.

Results: The 5-year relative survival rate for STX cancer patients diagnosed at 0–19 years was 80.3% for all races/ethnicity. Hispanics had statistically significant lower 5-year relative survival rates than non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) for male and female together diagnosed at age ≥ 5 years. When …

Characterization Of Oral Cavity And Oropharyngeal Cancer In The Texas Rio Grande Valley, Jared A. Sperling, Rachel Giese

Research Symposium

Background: Cancers of the oral cavity (OC) and oropharynx (OP) account for 3% of cancers diagnosed in the United States each year. A primary cause of death among the Hispanic population in the United States is cancer, accounting for 20% of annual mortality. The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is a medically-underserved area of South Texas with a large Hispanic population facing health disparities. In this study, we examine the incidence and mortality of OC and OP cancer in the RGV.

Methods: CDC population-level incidence and mortality rate per 100,000 of OC/OP cancer among patients in the RGV counties of Hidalgo …

Characterization Of Epithelial Growth Factor Transcripts Identified In Crotalus Atrox Venom, Ivan Lopez, Ying Jia

Research Symposium

Epithelial Growth Factor (EGF) is the primary source in regeneration and stimulation of essential fibroblasts cells commonly found in epithelium. Studies have shown that snake venom components are becoming a growing factor in treating illnesses such as cancer, muscular dystrophy, chronic pain, blood pressure, blood clotting, etc. EGF in human cells contains a promising quaternary structure that can bind to snake venom metalloproteinases, proposing a means of activating biochemical responses through protein-protein interactions to regulate unwanted cellular functions. This supports promising research in achieving a greater understanding of regulation along cellular pathways through ligands, increasing the likelihood of targeting unwanted …

Challenge Of Diagnosing And Treating A Mediastinal Mass In A Young Patient, Rosa Guedez-White, Christine E. Loftis, Ricardo Abreu

Research Symposium

Background: Germ cell tumors (GCT) are neoplasms arising in the testicles (1). Rarely these tumors can grow outside of the reproductive organs without involving them, acquiring the name of extragonadal GCT (2). Mediastinal extragonadal GCT is further divided into seminomatous, non-seminomatous (yolk sac tumor, choriocarcinoma and/or embryonal cell tumor), mature teratoma, and immature teratoma according to the histological pattern (2).

Case Presentation: 24-year-old-male patient presented to the ER with complaints of a persistent cough of one-month duration accompanied by orthopnea, pleuritic chest pain, and worsening shortness of breath. The patient denied weight loss, testicular pain, night sweats, fever, or hemoptysis. …

Cervical Cancer In Hispanic Women, Suneet Johal

Research Symposium

Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women and although the number of cases in the United States has decreased significantly, it is estimated that 14,480 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2021. With the Hispanic population being the fastest growing demographic group in the United States, Hispanic women are 40% more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer and 20% more likely to die from cervical cancer.

Case Presentation: 29-year-old Hispanic female with history of cervical cancer status post hysterectomy and chemotherapy presents with complaints of vaginal bleeding …

Biocidal Properties Of Hybrid Nanonanomaterial, Chandrasekaran Karthikeyan, Kokkarachedu Varaprasad

Research Symposium

Background: Cancer is one of the essential unpredictable diseases worldwide; simultaneously, complicated issues created are by the human health system. Especially, breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in women and is increasing remarkably in developing countries. It is a leading cause of cancer death in women, and breast cancer incidence rates are growing globally. To diagnose and treat cancer cells, different methods such as Radiation Therapy, Surgery, and Chemotherapy. These methods are high risk, more side effects, and high costs. The advanced healthcare material was developed to overcome this problem, inexpensive tools, and diagnosis of less-toxic drugs with …

Biobanking In Ne Mexico For Biomedical Research And Clinical Needs, Raúl Rodríguez-Palacios, Nathalia L. Walle-Gloria, Hugo A. Barrera-Saldaña

Research Symposium

Background: The advancement of biomedicine demands tools that translate its achievements into services to both the scientific community and the pharma/biotech industry. Biobanks are powerful tools that collect, process, store, manage, and distribute biospecimens and their associated clinical/demographic data to users carrying out studies aimed at causing a real public health impact.

For our laboratory to offer pharma/biotech companies support for their projects with the highest quality possible biospecimens we adopted the Best Biobanking Practices from ISBER (https://www.isber.org/).

Methods: As a result of the pandemics, great effort has been dedicated to help the health ecosystem through a diagnostic service for …

Barriers To Applying Guidelines For Treatment Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In The Rio Grande Valley, Carra G. Honderich, Chelsea Chang

Research Symposium

Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus affects 29.6% of adults in the Rio Grande Valley and 54% are estimated to be uncontrolled. Established and new pharmacotherapy agents are available, and guidelines exist in individualization of glycemic targets and agent selection. We present a case facing various barriers in applying these guidelines.

Case Presentation: A 54-year-old uninsured woman with past medical history of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic kidney disease stage 3, peripheral artery disease and bilateral below knee amputations presents for follow-up. She denies polyuria, polydipsia and weight changes. She reports compliance with medications and a fasting glucose range …

Bactrim, Spironolactone And Lisinopril. Stay Away! A Dangerous Cocktail For Hyperkalemia, Daniel Nwosuocha, Areeb Masood, Christian Abraham, Vanessa Sanchez, Cesar A. Peralta, Alberto E. Montalvo, Jose E. Campo Maldonado

Research Symposium

Introduction: Hyperkalemia is a potentially life-threatening complication of several medications, particularly in situations of polypharmacy. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is a first line antibiotic for outpatient treatment of MRSA for skin and soft tissue infections that can enhance the hyperkalemic effects of spironolactone and Angiotensin receptor inhibitors (ACEI).

Case Presentation: A 53-year-old female with history of HTN, stage 3 CKD, CHF, hypercholesterolemia and DM II, chronic left foot ulcer presented to our local hospital with generalized malaise, severe lower extremity weakness and heaviness of 2 days duration. She normally uses a walker but has had increasing difficulty standing from a seated position. …

Bactrim Induced Brash Syndrome In Elderly Female: A Case Report, Pooja Maknoor, Ashika Chacko, Himabindu Kolli, Nevin A. Varghese

Research Symposium

Background: BRASH syndrome is a clinical entity comprising of bradycardia, renal failure, AV blockade, shock, and hyperkalemia. It is a vicious cycle in which AV nodal blockers and hyperkalemia act synergistically to precipitate bradycardia in patients with renal dysfunction resulting in cardiovascular collapse.

Case Presentation: 89-year-old lady with history of Stage 4 CKD, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus presented with worsening generalized body weakness. On medication review, she was recently started on bactrim for treatment of a foot ulcer. Other home medications included diltiazem, lisinopril and dulaglutide. Initial vitals were significant for pulse 34, BP 90/35 mmHg and RR 19. Patient …

Awareness Of Genetic Testing For High-Risk Cancer Among Different Racial Groups In The United States, Okechukwu C. Erinne, Modupe O. Onigbogi

Research Symposium

Background: Genetic testing for high-risk cancer can provide information on personal risk of developing cancer, as well as diagnosis, prognosis and treatment once cancer has been detected.

Methods: Data for this study were obtained from the Health Information National Trends (HINTS 5, Cycle 4), conducted among U.S. adults (age ≥ 18 years) from February 24 to June 20, 2020. An equal probability sample of addresses were stratified, and an adult was selected from each household. Data analysis was conducted 3,865 respondents who completed the survey. The primary outcome was awareness of genetic testing for high-risk cancer (GTHC). We …

Automated Versus Manual Rna Isolation For The Laboratory Diagnosis Of Sars-Cov-2., Raúl Rodríguez-Palacios, Nathalia L. Walle-Gloria, Daniela Rodríguez-Casir, Hugo A. Barrera-Saldaña

Research Symposium

Background: The rapid spread and huge health and economic impact witnessed even from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the development of diagnostic tests to opportunely identify individuals infected by its causing agent, the SARS CoV-2 virus. This is a prerequisite to quarantine them to avoid further spreading the infection specially to their vulnerable co-workers and family contacts. The golden standard for pathogen detection is the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). To obtain an accurate result, it is important to carry out an optimal isolation of the viral RNA genome.

Methods: This study aimed to compare manual (kits of Qiagen …

Association Of Nutritional Status With Failure To Complete Planned Treatment In Patients With Hnscc- A Prospective Cohort Study In A Tertiary Cancer Centre In Northern India., Anshika Arora, Sunil Kumar Saini

Research Symposium

Background: To determine the association between Nutritional status of patient and the ability to complete all planned treatment in Head & Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma(HNSCC).

Materials & Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted at CRI India between 2018 and 2020. Patients diagnosed with HNSCC and planned for treatment were enrolled after written informed consent. Nutritional status was determined using- anthropometric measures and Subjective Global Assessment(SGA) scale before starting treatment. Patients were followed up for treatment details, complications and failure to complete planned treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22. Data was analyzed using parametric and non-parametric …

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: Is Coxsackie The Criminal?, Areeb Masood, Lily Chen, Paulina Vega, Henry Kwang

Research Symposium

Introduction: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is an inherited cardiomyopathy characterized by right ventricular dysfunction, which can precipitate sudden cardiac death in young adults.

Case Presentation: A 22-year-old Hispanic male with PMH of hypertriglyceridemia and exertional syncopal episodes was brought to the ED after experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest while on the treadmill. On arrival, the patient was intubated and placed on a defibrillator which detected Vfib with torsade de pointes. On arrival to ED, initial ECG revealed 1-2 mm ST depressions in leads II, III, and aVF and incomplete RBBB. Chest XR showed water-bottle-shaped cardiac silhouette. Coronary angiography demonstrated …

Apoe Polymorphism And Its Association With Dementia, Neuropsychiatric Disorders, And Demographic Factors In U.S Hispanic Population, Victoria I. Padilla

Research Symposium

In 2019, the United States Census revealed that Hispanics are the greatest minority group in the U.S, 18% of the population; in 2060, it is expected to increase by 28%. Hispanics ages 65 have one of the highest rates of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in the U.S. Studies have linked AD and other cognitive impairments, MCI, with apolipoprotein or APOE gene. APOE has also shown to increase the risk of neuropsychiatric disorders in individuals. However, there are limited studies in U.S Hispanics. This study examines the APOE gene and its associations with dementiarelated phenotypes, neuropsychiatric disorders, and demographic factors in U.S …

Apoe Gene Associated With Lipid-Related Traits In Hispanic Population, Stephanie Lozano, Manuel Lee Avila, Chun Xu

Research Symposium

Background: High levels of cholesterol have been demonstrated to cause heart disease and stroke. There is a significant research in cardiovascular disease, apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene and high cholesterol regarding non-Hispanics, but as of now there is limited research regarding APOE e4 allele associated with high levels of cholesterol in the Hispanic population. There are three types of alleles e2 being the protective allele against neurological diseases, e3 the most common type, and e4 known to be the high-risk allele for diseases. This research aims to study the correlation between APOE e4 allele and phenotypes that demonstrate a high risk …

A Survival Analysis Of High-Grade Gliomas In Sub-Himalayan Population Including The Times Of Lockdown During Covid 19 Pandemic: A Single Institutional Experience, Pooja Kalra, Meenu Gupta, Vipul Nautiyal, Ranjeet Kumar, Sanjeev Pandey, Nazia Shirazi, Brijesh Tiwari, Mushtaq Ahmad

Research Symposium

Background and Objectives: High Grade Gliomas are categorised as Grade III and IV and have high mortality rate with poor prognosis. How we should adopt clinical practice in neuro-oncology during Covid 19 Pandemic is another area of scientific exploration . Hypofractionated radiotherapy protocols can be easily utilised in high grade gliomas during Covid 19 pandemic .

Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of 147 patients with diagnosis of high-grade gliomas between January 2009 till December 2020 including Covid-19 pandemic lockdown time was done. Age , gender , KPS , symptoms , extent of surgery and use of concurrent temozolamide , were …

Antibody Mediated Targeted Drug Delivery System To Improve Immunotherapy In Pancreatic Cancer, Poornima Devi Shaji, Meena Jaggi, Murali M. Yallapu, Subhash C. Chauhan, Sheema Khan

Research Symposium

About 95% of tumor arises from epithelial cell lining ducts known to be pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, with less than 5-7% survival rate. Unfortunately, little progress has been seen in the outcomes of patients with PDAC as tumor develops high desmoplasia and chemo-resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs, such as gemcitabine (Gem). Immunotherapy has shown promising results in cancers, except pancreatic cancer due to their characteristic fibrotic tumor microenvironment. The therapies are unable to penetrate to the fibrotic tumors leading to insufficient availability of the therapeutic drugs at the tumor site. A recently identified mucin, MUC13 is aberrantly expressed in pancreatic tumors but …

A Novel Exo-Glow Nano-System For Cellular Imaging, Nycol M. Cotto Flores, Benilde Adriano, Neeraj Chauhan, Deepak S. Chauhan, Meena Jaggi, Subhash C. Chauhan, Murali M. Yallapu

Research Symposium

Background: Indocyanine green (ICG) based Near-Infrared (NIR) fluorescent imaging is an attractive and safer technique used for number of clinical applications. However, ICG tend to have poor photostability, short half-life, non-specific proteins binding, and concentration-dependent aggregation. Therefore, there is an unmet clinical need to develop newer modalities to package and deliver ICG. Bovine milk exosomes are natural, biocompatible, safe, and feasible nanocarriers that facilitate the delivery of micro and macro molecules. Herein, we developed a novel exosomes based ICG nano imaging system that offers improved solubility and photostability of ICG.

Methods: Following acetic acid based extracellular vesicles (EV) extraction method, …