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

Abnormal Gene Expression Patterns Are Implicated in the Development of Tetralogy of Fallot and Can Be Studied For Prenatal Diagnosis

June 22, 2023 Talha Akram

Talha Akram Background: Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common birth defects in the world1. Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) makes up 7-10% of CHD cases in the U.S., resulting in over 1,600 ToF cases annually according to the CDC2. ToF does not have a cure, and 75% of infants…

The Role of Apoptosis Dysregulation in the Etiology of Anencephaly

June 22, 2023 Uma Reddy

Uma Reddy Background: Anencephaly is a neural tube defect that results in the absence of the cranium with key aspects of the brain such as the cerebrum, cerebellum, and basal ganglia missing.1 It has a 100% fatality rate for fetuses or neonates.2 The cause is related to the failure of…

Development

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

June 22, 2023 Samantha Pozo Navarro

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

June 22, 2023 My Lai

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

June 22, 2023 Phuong-Lan Vo

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 Stress Causes Alterations in Fetal Neurodevelopment Through Epigenetic Changes

June 21, 2023 Jessika Harris

Jessika Harris Background: Maternal stress has been linked to preterm births, low birth weights, and decreased gray matter volumes in the prefrontal cortex, temporal lobe, and cerebellum, which can be predictors of increased risk for cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems in children.2 Epigenetic pathways likely play a role in mediating…

Development Featured Abstracts

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

June 6, 2023 Ashley Gillen

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

3D Planning & Printing in Craniosynostosis Surgeries

June 28, 2022 Narainsai Reddy

Narainsai Reddy Introduction: Craniosynostosis involves the premature fusion of cranial sutures at birth.1 It follows Virchow’s law which states that growth is restricted to the perpendicular plane of the affected suture, and compensatory skull growth occurs parallel to affected sutures.2 Surgical intervention is usually indicated and might include cranial vault…

Development Engineering Medicine

Elucidating the Mechanisms of Long-Gap Tracheoesophageal Fistula in Neonates: A Review of Current Literature

June 28, 2022 Samuel Razmi

Samuel Razmi Introduction: Traditionally in human embryogenesis, the esophagus and trachea develop side by side and separate at around weeks four to six. Tracheoesophageal fistula is a rare birth defect (1:3500-4500) that occurs when the esophagus and trachea anastomose during embryogenesis1,2,3. In extremely rare cases (1:20,000), the gap between the…

Development Engineering Medicine

Short-Chain Fatty Acids May Mediate the Effects of Maternal Malnutrition on Fetal Neurodevelopmental Outcomes via Regulation of HDAC4 Expression

June 23, 2022 Anne Waddle

Anne Waddle Introduction. In 2019, one-third of women of childbearing age were considered obese.1 Maternal malnutrition, including obesity, high-fat diet, and low-fiber diet, is associated with many neurodevelopmental disorders.2 Gut microbiota dysbiosis may play a mechanistic role in pathogenic pregnancy outcomes because of its role in the production of short-chain…

Development Gynecology