August 2019 – Proceedings of the Texas A&M Medical Student Grand Rounds

Apolipoprotein E4 Induced Neuronal Hyperactivity and Alzheimer’s Disease

August 25, 2019 Amy Chung

Amy Chung Introduction. Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is responsible for 50-75% of dementia cases and is one of the leading causes of death in the world1. It affects individuals over the age of 65 and clinical presentation includes worsening progressive impairment of cognition and function.…

Neuroscience

The Suppressive Activities via FoxP3 Demethylation in Oral, epicutaneous, and Sublingual Peanut Immunotherapies

August 19, 2019 Katie Litman

Katie Litman Introduction. Food allergies in the US increased dramatically over the past decade, affecting 8% of Americans. Peanut allergies are a lifelong and life-threatening problem.1 They progress quickly (<2hrs) and have become the leading cause of anaphylaxis/death related to food allergy in the US.1 Methods. 6-8 week old BALB/c(H-2d)…

Immunology

Mechanisms Regulating Th17 T Cells Implicated in the Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Conditions Like Arthritis

August 19, 2019 Jacob Moser

Jacob Moser Introduction. Many chronic inflammatory diseases like asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and many others owe their pathogenicity to ‘typical’ inflammatory cytokines like TNFa, and can be targeted clinically by widely used drugs like Adalimumab (Humira). But recently discovered types of asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and others that did not respond adequately…

Targeted Chemical Modification of BACE-1 Inhibitors: One Step Closer to the Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease

August 6, 2019 Sara Yasrebi

Sara Yasrebi Introduction. Alzheimer’s Disease is the 6th leading cause of U.S. deaths. and of the top 10, it is the only one without a known cause or cure.1 This age-related neurodegenerative disease is caused by the action of b-secretase (BACE-1) on APP instead of a-secretase, inducing the formation and…

Featured Abstracts Neuroscience

The Role of Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis in Alzheimer Disease

August 6, 2019 Michael Woolley

Michael Woolley Introduction. Alzheimer disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in the United States1. As many as 5 million new cases are diagnosed each year, and that number is expected to increase as the Baby Boomer generation ages2. Despite years of research in search of effective treatments, nothing…

Featured Abstracts Microbiology Neuroscience

TGF-beta Signal Transduction in Fibrosis Associated with Open Angle Glaucoma

August 6, 2019 Michelle Won

Michelle Won Introduction. Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) affects 70 million patients worldwide and is the second leading cause of blindness. POAG is primarily characterized by disruption of aqueous outflow, leading to high interocular pressure (IOP), causing progressive degeneration of retinal ganglion cells1.The TGF-b family of cytokines is known to increase…

Neuroscience

The Role of IL-15, IL-1-beta, and IL-6 in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

August 6, 2019 Alyssa Woltemath

Alyssa Woltemath Introduction: Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury occurs in 1 to 6 births for every 1,000 live term births4. Researchers worked to understand the pathogenesis mechanism of HIE by upregulation and downregulation of IL-1b, IL-6 and IL-15. Interleukin-1b is produced by activated macrophages2. IL-6 is a cytokine that induces maturation…

Immunology Neuroscience

The Role of CD4 T Lymphocytes in Bicuspid Aortic Valve Associated Inflammation and Aortic Aneurysm

August 6, 2019 Kevin Windecker

Kevin Windecker Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is one of the most common types of congenital heart malformations1,2 and occurs in 0.5–2% of the population worldwide3. In this condition, the aortic valve, which typically is comprised of three leaflets, consists of only two1,2,3. BAV is associated with serious complications such as…

Cardiology Immunology

Deleterious Effects of General Anesthetic Agents on the Developing Brain via Actions on the mTOR Signaling Pathway

August 6, 2019 Brian Scot Welborn II

Brian Scot Welborn II Introduction. Neuronal synaptogenesis is the most sensitive neurodevelopment period. It begins around 20 weeks of gestation and continues throughout adolescence. Repeated or long-term exposure to general anesthetic agents may have a significant impact on synaptogenesis and neuroapoptosis in the developing brain1,2. The neurotoxic effects of general…

Neuroscience

The Use of Anesthetic Agents for Non-Anesthetic Purposes: Ketamine as an Alternative for Treatment-Resistant Depression

August 6, 2019 Devon Weidner

Devon Weidner Introduction. Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD) affects 1% of individuals in the US and 30% of depressed patients1. Patients with treatment resistant depression are those who have been unsuccessful with treatment from two different classes of antidepressants for a sufficient duration of time and dosage2. Treatment for these patients…

Featured Abstracts Neuroscience