MicroRNAs in Neural Crest Cell Development and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Dillon Byerley Background: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) encompass a wide variety of clinical manifestations, all which are a result of varying levels of fetal alcohol exposure in utero. Some of these manifestations include disruption of neurological development, facial abnormalities, brain abnormalities, skeletal abnormalities and even some behavioral abnormalities such…
Development Featured Abstracts Neuroscience

Cord Blood Lymphatic Endothelial Progenitor Cells Exposed to Preeclampsia in Utero Prime Individuals to Form an Abnormal Lymphatic System After Birth

Samantha Pozo Navarro Background: Preeclampsia is a complex, new-onset hypertensive disorder that affects 3-8% of all pregnancies worldwide.1 In this case, hypertension is defined when the mother’s systolic blood pressure is greater than or equal to 140 mmHg and/or her diastolic blood pressure is greater than or equal to 90…
Development Featured Abstracts Reproduction

Mutations of the NOTCH1 Signaling Pathway Constitute Congenital Cardiac Anomalies in patients with Tetralogy of Fallot

My Lai Background: Tetralogy of Fallot is the one of the most common cyanotic congenital heart diseases, affecting 3 out of 10,000 infants yearly.1 Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) features 4 significant hallmarks, including ventricular septal defect (VSD), aorta overriding VSD, pulmonary stenosis, and right ventricular hypertrophy. 2,3 Current successful treatment…
Cardiology Development Featured Abstracts

HLA-G: Immune Regulation in Pregnancy and a Potential Role in Preeclampsia

Phuong-Lan Vo Background: Preeclampsia effects anywhere from 1-10% of pregnant women worldwide and ~4% of pregnancies in the United States.1 Severe preeclampsia is also linked with placental abruption, pre-mature labor, liver failure, intrauterine growth restriction, and maternal death.2 Preeclampsia pathophysiology can be characterized first by impaired invasion of the trophoblast…
Development Reproduction

Maternal Obesity Causes Elevated Maternal Interleukin 6 Concentrations Which is Associated With a Range of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Offspring

Ashley Gillen Background: According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “obesity is the most common medical condition in women of reproductive age”, with 50% of American women being classified as overweight or obese prior to pregnancy1-3. Maternal obesity increases the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders including Autism Spectrum Disorder…
Development Neuroscience