Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

High Risk Human Papilloma Virus (Hpv) And The Relationship With Cervical Cancer In The Lower Rio Grande Valley (Lrgv) And The Mexico Border, Miroslava Gomez-Garza, Noe Garza, Desiree Garza, Ihsan Salloum

Research Symposium

Background: HPV infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. It is transmitted through sexual relations, skin-to-skin or mucous membrane contact, and by direct vertical transmission from mother to child (at birth). The highest prevalence is in women of 20 to 30 years. Risk factors include early initiation of sexual intercourse, having multiple sexual partners, immunosuppressed status, tobacco use, low socioeconomic level, and long-term use of oral contraceptives. More than 85% of deaths from cervical cancer (CC) occur in low- and middle-income countries. Approximately, 200 types of HPV have been identified, according to the degree of pathogenicity, they …

Exploring Adhd, Sleep Disorders, And Asthma Comorbidities In Pediatric Patients With Autism Or Epilepsy: A Retrospective Analysis In The Rio Grande Valley, Miguel A. Quintanilla, Karina Y. Zamora, Sowmya Duddu, Maria Sophia Zaraspe Malbas, Allison J. Mcadams, Julia Paz, Kelsey Baker

Research Symposium

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and epilepsy are common neurodevelopmental conditions that can significantly impact the health of a child. It is widely known that children with ASD or epilepsy are often at a higher risk of suffering from other health conditions like ADHD, sleep disorders, and even asthma. Additionally, such children may be at greater risk for these comorbidities when combined with a high body mass index (BMI). Children in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) are particularly vulnerable due to limited healthcare resources and the alarmingly high prevalence of obesity in the area. This study aimed to determine whether …

Balancing Nutrients For The Seen And Unseen: A Study Of The Nitrate Levels At The University Of Richmond, Courtney Simpson, Nathan Winiarski

Osmosis Magazine

The Westhampton Lake is one of the University of Richmond’s most beautiful features. Though, when studied, the lake is a more complex ecosystem than it appears. While students can easily identify birds, reptiles, and fish, we often fail to recognize the importance of microscopic organisms and their role in nutrient reduction.

The Visionaries Of Today Are The Leaders Of Tomorrow, Ryan Cvelbar

Osmosis Magazine

Facebook has undergone big changes recently, most notably its name change to Meta. But perhaps the most rousing is its work in developing the Metaverse. Mark Zuckerberg’s Metaverse promises a future where people can immerse themselves in any virtual world of their choosing through virtual reality (VR) headsets like Oculus. Although being able to travel anywhere in the world, real or makebelieve, from the comfort of your home may sound like a dream, the current state of the Metaverse is rudimentary and more like that of a video game interface rather than an augmented reality experience.

The Catalytic Life Of Dr. Maud Menten, Emily Lekas

Osmosis Magazine

Although she is most famous for her work on enzyme kinetics, Dr. Maud Menten achieved the impossible in multiple areas of her life. She pursued and earned a scientific education in a time when no one wanted women to find passion in anything other than the home. Her discoveries have greatly impacted the scientific community and will continue to do so as long as there are those who are compelled to understand the natural world as she did. In addition to her accomplishments as a scientist, Menten also excelled in the humanities. Her life story provides us with many lessons …

The Octopus: An Alien On Earth, Jack Dupuy

Osmosis Magazine

Imagine scientists discover a new creature that can change colors at will and blend into any background. It can also shapeshift to imitate other species of animals. It even has arms that can smell and taste! Thankfully, this intelligent, alien creature cannot wreak havoc on earth’s soil, but it is not a figment of our wildest imagination. This creature lives in our oceans…

Breaking Myths: Do Artificial Sweeteners Help With Weight Loss?, Ruby Nguyen

Osmosis Magazine

Countless foods and beverages draw the average consumer in by sticking the label “sugar-free” on their packaging, knowing that many people want a healthier diet and lifestyle. However, science says that sugar substitutes don’t seem to help with weight loss. Diet culture makes eating fewer calories synonymous with eating healthy. The 20g protein, 10g fiber, and 0g sugar granola bar is good but reaching for that sugary chocolate chip cookie is naughty. Putting the milkshake back on the shelf and grabbing the kombucha is a sign of willpower.

Being The Best You, In Space Out Of This World Self-Care, Rachel Decker

Osmosis Magazine

The world we live in is a dangerous place, full of uncertainties that fill us with anxiety and stress. Beyond our world, space is also full of dangers: UV radiation, microgravity, and, potentially the worst of all, being stuck in a small space doing the same thing with the same handful of people for months. Astronauts undergo years of mental and physical training for the chance to go beyond the world as we know it. How do astronauts take care of themselves amidst all these dangers?

The Footprints Disrupting Pre-Historic American Archeology, Caterina Erdas

Osmosis Magazine

Bold claims that 60 ancient footprints in White Sands National Park in New Mexico are over 21,000 years ago, published broadly in 450 news outlets, are unconvincing to key archeologists of prehistoric America.

The Unhappy Triad, Isabel Dilandro

Osmosis Magazine

Growing up, sports are a central fixture in many people’s lives. A 2019 study showed that in America alone over half of youths aged 6-17 report participating in organized sports (Sports & Fitness Industry Association, 2020). Sports teach leadership, teamwork, dedication, and tenacity. But, with these valuable life lessons come injuries that have the potential to leave lasting impact. Knee injuries are particularly well known - and for good reason. These nasty impairments can leave a player recovering for, at the very least, the better half of a year. A particularly infamous group of sprains, known as the unhappy triad, …

Letter From The Editor, Caterina Erdas

Osmosis Magazine

Dear reader,

I am always surprised by how quickly the spring semester flies by. Thank you for curiously opening this issue of Osmosis during this crazy time. I hope our articles can delight and distract you. I will miss using this magazine to productively procrastinate as I did for three years. Being the Editor-in Chief-has been an honor, and I am thankful to everyone who contributed. Happy reading!

- Caterina Erdas, a lifelong Osmosis reader

Osmosis Magazine - Spring 2022

Osmosis Magazine

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

Under The Surface: A Rare Case Of Morphea In The Rio Grande Valley, Miguel A. Lopez, Jared Hensley, Maria Villegas

Research Symposium

Localized scleroderma, also referred to as “morphea,” is a rare autoimmune disorder that occurs in an estimated one out of 10,000 patients per year. Research on the demographics of morphea has shown an increased prevalence in female patients. Its presentation may consist of skin lesions confined to the epidermis and dermis that appear erythematous and bruise-like, with signs of central skin tightening or sclerosis; deeper lesions may be identified as edematous, erythematous plaques in the absence of well-defined borders. A subtype named “En coup de sabre,” exists among the classification of “linear morphea” and presents with a linear induration either …

Maternal Health And Congenital Heart Defects: Investigating Ventricular Septal Defects In South Texas Region 11, Miguel A. Lopez, Sophia Moon, Jonathan M. Hebert, Padmanabhan Rengasamy

Research Symposium

Congenital heart defects are a known risk factor for early childhood mortality and can be traced to poor maternal health, a crisis plaguing the South Texas region. This perspective research project utilizes previously computed data on the prevalence of ventricular septal defects (VSD) in South Texas region 11 combined with a comprehensive literature review to investigate the correlation between both maternal obesity and diabetes with VSD. Current literature supports a significant association between maternal diabetes and VSD, with one Russian study reporting an eight to nine fold increased risk in VSD in children born to diabetic mothers. By contrast, the …

Artificial Neurons: The Next Step In Artificial Intelligence, Ryan Cvelbar

Osmosis Magazine

One source believes that the future of the technology industry is in AI stating, “by 2030 AI could elevate global GDP 14% from $14 to $15 trillion”5. However, finding the key to achieving optimal AI efficiency while minimizing energy requirements has proven to be quite the challenge. ... The significance of this artificial neuron is that it has the potential to make AI more energy efficient.

Let’S Worm In To The Guinea Worm Disease, Rachel Decker

Osmosis Magazine

Imagine living with another organism in your body, cohabiting for months before you are even aware of its presence. Slowly, a lesion starts to form on your leg. The lesion grows bigger everyday, starting at a couple millimeters but growing up to a couple centimeters. The burning sensation starts with the lesion and can only be dimmed by submerging your leg in water. Suddenly, a worm emerges from the lesion along with pus and blood. The patient is infected with Guinea Worm Disease.

The Science Of Tattoos, Isabel Dilandro

Osmosis Magazine

From face paint to temporary stick-on tattoos, children are taught that art on bodies is something beautiful and playful, associated with memories of fun and joy. Why is it then that tattoos get such an infamous reputation? The answer is pretty simple: tattoos are not temporary. But why? How does the ink get there? How does it stay put? In order to understand this process a bit more, it is important to have a basic understanding of the skin’s structure and function.

New Discovery Of Trans-Cortical Vessels (Tcvs) Sheds Light On Skeletal Blood Circulation, Franklin Wetmore

Osmosis Magazine

Weeks went by in which I didn’t address the blunt, gripping pain on my inner shin. Now, I was sitting on a paddleboard in the middle of a lake in Suffolk, Virginia. It was almost midnight and the air was cool and breezy. I pressed two fingers into the side of my tibia just to remind myself the shock was there. I feared for what I had done to myself.

Late! I’M Late For A Very Important Physics Update I’M Late! I’M Late For A Very Important Physics Update, Caterina Erdas

Osmosis Magazine

Modern physics is my only class where half the students are consistently late. It’s not a forgivable one or two minutes late, but five to fifteen. I say this as a culprit myself; I slept in late on the third day of class and didn’t go. It’s ironic, considering we spend a good portion of lecture re-defining time.

The Asu Tribe And Customs, Isabel Dilandro

Osmosis Magazine

Chandra Thapar, an Indian anthropologist, dedicated a portion of his career to the study of foreign cultures and how they relate to his native country. One in particular caught his specific attention due to its similarities in the reverence of a sacred animal, akin to how the cow is sacred to India. See below a short consolidation of his findings:

The tribe Dr. Thapar studied is called the Asu and is found on the North American continent north of the Tarahumara of Mexico.

Kennewick Man: A Rare Window Into Prehistoric Life In North America, Jack Dupuy

Osmosis Magazine

What would you do if you found a human skull on the banks of the James River? On July 28, 1996, two college students stumbled across a skull on the banks of the Columbia River in Kennewick, Washington. They believed it was a murder victim at first, but archeologists and scientists discovered that the skull was part of a nearly complete, 9,000 year-old skeleton.

Zaire Ebolavirus: A Silent Killer, Joshua Pandian

Osmosis Magazine

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

A Creature That Has Seen It All, Dusan Vukcevic

Osmosis Magazine

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

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

Osmosis Magazine

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

Letter From The Editor, Caterina Erdas

Osmosis Magazine

Dear reader,

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

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

Osmosis Magazine - Fall 2021

Osmosis Magazine

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

An Endocrine Enigma: The Implications Of Pembrolizumab Therapy, Miguel A. Lopez, Mario Trujillo Acosta, Jose Romero Villarreal Calderon, Laura Garcia

Research Symposium

Disorders of the endocrine system are a potential complication of cancer treatment despite newer immunotherapy agents holding promise to improve patient outcomes. Breast cancer in particular requires pharmacologic intervention based on the receptor positivity. For example, a triple negative workup often requires neoadjuvant therapy with the newer immunotherapy agent pembrolizumab. Clinicians should be aware of the potential adverse effects of this drug, most notably adrenal insufficiency. This case follows a 52 year old hispanic female patient with a history of triple negative left sided breast cancer on immunotherapy with pembrolizumab, who presented to the emergency department after a syncopal episode …

Comparing Radiation Therapy To Non-Radiation Treatments For Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Anthony Alanis, Kory Punch, Alex Zuo

Research Symposium

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma primarily affecting the skin, with subtypes including mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to compare the efficacy of radiation therapy (e.g., total skin electron beam therapy, localized radiation) versus non-radiation treatments (e.g., chemotherapy, immunotherapy) in adults with CTCL. Comprehensive searches were conducted in databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Ovid MEDLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov, and EU Clinical Trials Registry, focusing on studies published in English within the last five years. Primary outcomes include response rate, disease-free survival, overall survival, and quality of …

Exercise And Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Risks, Benefits, And Safety - A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Arif Albulushi, Qasim Al Abri, Ahmed Tawfek, Ahmed Reza Bagheri, Said Al-Hinai

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is often associated with conservative exercise recommendations due to the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). However, emerging evidence suggests that tailored exercise programs may provide significant benefits to HCM patients. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the impact of different types and intensities of exercise on clinical outcomes and quality of life in HCM patients, assessed the role of exercise in preventing disease progression and arrhythmias, and determined the safety and efficacy of structured exercise programs tailored to individual risk profiles.

A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and relevant cardiology journals. …

The Unusual Suspect - Herpes Zoster As The Culprit For Severe Abdominal Pain. A Case Report., Edward Lovering, Ahmad Asif, Sean Sheih, Samuel B Holzman, Yani Zhang

Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives

Reactivation of herpes zoster leading to disseminated and visceral organ involvement is an uncommon phenomenon and almost always associated with immunocompromised patients. Visceral herpes zoster is a challenging diagnosis to make as patients typically present with severe abdominal pain which precedes the typical rash of herpes zoster. We describe the case of a 68-year-old female who presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain and was subsequently diagnosed with disseminated herpes zoster and found to have underlying monoclonal gammopathy.