July 2019 – Page 2 – Proceedings of the Texas A&M Medical Student Grand Rounds

The Role of Placental IL-6 Signaling in MIA-induced Cerebellar Neuropathology: An Environmental Risk Factor for Autism Spectrum Disorders

July 31, 2019 Dina Sharhan

Dina Sharhan Introduction. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are multifactorial neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by varying deficits in social interaction (1). Incidence of ASD has increased dramatically over the past decade, and it is now estimated to affect 1 in 59 americans (2). Heterogeneity of ASD symptoms is thought to result from…

Neuroscience

The Role of Nrf2 in Alzheimer’s Disease

July 31, 2019 Jason Splawn

Jason Splawn Introduction. Nrf2 is a transcription factor that regulates numerous genes involved in cytoprotective processes (1). Nrf2 decreases as a function of age and is also reduced in Alzheimer’s Disease patients, although the exact mechanism for this is unknown (1). Evidence indicates that oxidative stress increases as a function…

Neuroscience

The Role of Genetic Mutations, Sodium Channel Dysfunction, and Cardiac Arrhythmia in the Pathogenesis of SIDS

July 25, 2019 Danielle Shahin

Danielle Shahin Introduction. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, describes the condition in which a baby unexplainedly dies during its first year of life.1,3 SIDS is the leading cause of death in post-neonates (28 days to 1 year), and the third leading cause of infant deaths.1,3 In 1998, SIDS was…

Cardiology

Angiogenic-Inducing Hydrogels for Improved Wound Repair of Diabetic Foot Ulcers

July 25, 2019 Rishabh Shah

Rishabh Shah Introduction. Diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disease related to impaired wound-healing conditions.1 2-3% will develop a diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) each year, and 15% will develop a foot ulcer during their lifetime.2 Even with extensive treatment, 24% to 30% of DFUs heal within 12 to 20…

Endocrinology

Dysregulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in Breast Cancer and its Manipulation as Potential for Treatment

July 25, 2019 Samuel See

Samuel See Introduction. Breast cancer is a disease in which the cells of the breast proliferate uncontrollably and is categorized into subtypes depending on the presence or absence of cell surface estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), or human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2).1 It is the most common cancer…

Cancer

Nicotine-Related Histone Acetylation at FosB Promoter Increases Susceptibility to Cocaine Addiction in Adolescents

July 25, 2019 Andrea Scott

Andrea Scott Introduction. Nicotine use is associated with long-term deleterious cognitive effects; however, many of the molecular mechanisms are unknown, specifically those with consequences during adolescence. Nicotine has a priming effect on addiction by inducing FosB, a striatal protein important in addiction. FosB accumulates in the nucleus accumbens (NAc)…

Neuroscience

Biomaterials Containing Growth Factors to Promote Neovascularization in Degenerated Bone As A Treatment for Osteonecrosis

July 25, 2019 Haydn Scherry

Haydn Scherry Introduction: Bone is a highly vascularized tissue that is susceptible to damage due to hypoxia. Conditions such as osteonecrosis arise when regions of the bone lose the blood supply that brings them nutrients and oxygen, resulting in cell death. Osteonecrosis (ON) is the cause of ~10% of the…

Orthopedics

The Effects of Obesity on Cellular Stress and mTOR Signaling in Breast Cancer

July 25, 2019 Cherokee Sauer

Cherokee Sauer Introduction. Incidence of obesity has been on the rise since the 1970’s. Obesity is a relative risk for cancer in all populations1. Free fatty acids are known to be increased in obesity blood stream. Free fatty acids can cause many downstream effects in the blood, one is specific…

Cancer

The Epigenetic Role of MicroRNA’s in Retinoblastoma Proliferation and Invasion through Targeting of the Wnt/Beta-Catenin Pathway

July 25, 2019 Varada Salimath

Varada Salimath Introduction. Retinoblastoma is the most frequently occurring pediatric ocular cancer.1 It arises from mutation in both alleles of the tumor suppressor gene Rb1 on chromosome 13, which codes for the cell cycle regulating retinoblastoma protein (pRb).2 Symptoms include leukocoria, vision loss, strabismus, and hypopyon.3 Early detection and treatment…

Cancer Featured Abstracts

The Underlying Mechanisms of Thoracic Radiation Therapy Induced Lung Diseases: Extracellular Adenosine Production by CD73

July 25, 2019 Tasfia Rouf

Tasfia Rouf Introduction: The lungs fall in the irradiation field for several thoracic cancer therapies. Radiation induced lung injury can cause acute radiation pneumonitis in the early phases of treatment and radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis during later phases. Damage to normal lung tissue plays a large role in dose limitation for…

Respiratory