VOLUME 11, APRIL 2019 Volume 11, April 2019

THE EXPLORER Journal of USC Student Research

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC IN THIS ISSUE

05 38 From the Dean Research Day Abstracts Avishai Sadan, DMD, MBA Dentistry Divsion Faculty Dean Advanced Specialty Program Residents Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC Dental Hygiene Students CBY/PIBBS Graduate Students 07 Dentistry/CCMB Post-Doctoral Fellows Introduction to Undergraduate & DDS Students - Basic Sciences Research Day Undergraduate & DDS Students - Clinical Sciences Yang Chai, DDS, PhD Other Affiliated Dentistry/CCMB Researchers Associate Dean of Research Biokinesology & Physical Therapy Faculty Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC Biokinesology & Physical Therapy PhD Candidates Biokinesology & Physical Therapy PhD Students 34 Other Biokinesology & Physical Therapy Researchers Research Day Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy Faculty Schedule of Events Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy Doctoral Students 35 Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy Post-Doctoral Research Day Fellows Keynote Speakers Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy Professional Carl Kesselman Students Neema Bakhshalian Pinghui Feng Lisa Aziz-Zadeh 76 From The Editors 36 Ruhee Jaffer DDS 2019 Poster Category Awards Yeonghee Jung DDS 2020

37 78 Photo Credits Research Day Planning Committee

Photo Courtesy Mehrdad Razaghy DDS 2019 Photo Courtesy Dr. Jun Zhao Division Articles 08 20 New USC Chan Study Probes The Science Behind Curing Lights the Sensory Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure & Composite Materials Katharine Gammon Sara Kahng 10 The Therapeutic Effects of Golf 22 A Resolution for Dental Public Health Dr. George Salem & Kiran Kanwar Nirav Patel & Rajdeep Batth 12 Student Spotlight: Mehrdad Razaghy DDS ‘19 24 Caring for the Pediatric Community Ruhee Jaffer Ana Zapata Caceres & Chenxin Li 14 Understanding Skeletal Development and Disease 26 Rafael Roges: Teaching with a Purpose Simon Youn & Connor Yim Nina Bubalo & Nathan Nourian 16 The Role of Protein Deamidation in 28 Zen and the Art of GPR Program Management Viral Infections & Tumorgenesis Meredith Messerle & Abigail Heleba Teresa Nguyen

18 30 Technology-Driven Changes in Oral Surgery Education. Oral Radiography: Leading the Transformation Scott Barlow & Jiawei Li from Clinician to a Diagnostician Azzah Widatalla 32 Redifining Patient Care by Digitizing Orthodontics Meera Sravan Kumar & Neha Agarwal Avishai Sadan, DMD, MBA Dean G. Donald and Marian James Montgomery Professor of Dentistry Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC 5 FROM THE DEAN

Dear students and colleagues,

Welcome to Research Day 2019, one of the university’s only days devoted exclusively to faculty and student inquiry and discovery.

The importance of conducting research cannot be overstated. Research is our professions’ fuel, launching us into ever-exciting and sometimes unexpected directions.

Being successful in any profession will require in you an insatiable thirst for new knowledge. You must constantly consume new research, understand new technologies and be willing to evolve in the way you practice. Participating in Research Day prepares you to do just that and, better still, to be savvy scientific investigators while doing it.

As part of a research-intensive university, we at Ostrow take scientific inquiry and discovery very seriously. As many of you might know, Ostrow has consistently been one of the nation’s top-funded dental schools by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. There’s no greater vote of confidence than having this national organization believe so strongly in the work our researchers do every day.

Our commitment to research doesn’t stop there. Our colleagues at the USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy and the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy are also among their professions’ thought leaders. Last year, USC Chan — one of the nation’s top-ranked occupational therapy programs by the U.S. News & World Report — received seven new federal grants, giving Chan researchers more than $11 million in active federal grants. The USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, which has been consistently ranked No. 1 by the U.S. News & World Report since 2004 — received nine new federal grants, giving them nearly $20 million in active federal grants.

Today, I encourage each of you to not only spend time looking at your colleagues’ posters but also spend some time looking at the research presentations from the other professions as well. Try to understand what challenges they face and the ways in which they hope to overcome them. This will give you the ultimate leg-up in your careers as health care professions continue their push toward integrated, team- based care. I hope that you walk away from today having learned something new. I know I always do.

Finally, I would like to congratulate all our faculty and student researchers. I am incredibly proud of your hard work, dedication and your scientific curiosity. Your ideas today could be tomorrow’s next great breakthrough, and that is truly exciting.

Fight On!

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH DAY

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC Research Day 2019! Hosting this exciting event at the Galen Center is always a highlight of the year for me because it shows our school at its finest: our students, staff, and faculty in Dentistry, Occupational Science, Occupational Therapy, Biokinesiology, and Physical Therapy are second to none in their groundbreaking research endeavors. There has been an explosion in big data and bioinformatics in recent years. We have unprecedented opportunities to perform new studies that we could only dream about doing a few years ago.

It is our privilege as faculty to welcome students into our labs and clinics to conduct research during their time at USC.The students who take advantage of this opportunity should be applauded for taking the initiative, and I am confident it will pay dividends in whatever path their careers may take. At USC, we are strongly committed to promoting research that will lead to people being enabled to live healthier, more fulfilling lives. At Research Day, we showcase exactly this: research that tackles challenges facing health care providers and all kinds of people in their daily lives. We see clearly how our research advances can benefit our community and our world.

The most amazing thing about Research Day is how much time, hard work, skill, and patience went into creating the research represented here. It is a testament to the dedication of each one of our young researchers, as well as to their mentors who enable them to flourish. Together, we can have an incredible impact on human health as we look forward to shaping our future. Please join me in congratulating all of our students and researchers on their successes as we gather to showcase their efforts on Research Day.

Fight on!

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC 7

Yang Chai, DDS, PhD Professor George and MaryLou Boone Chair in Craniofacial Molecular Biology Director, Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology Associate Dean of Research Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of the University of Southern California 8

New USC Chan Study Probes the Sensory Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Katharine Gammon

Researchers have known for decades that babies born to mothers who drank heavily while pregnant have differences in brain function. Now, an innovative new study will test their sensory processing.

Bodison was recently awarded an administrative supplement from the National Institutes of Health to join a study currently conducted by Sowell exam- ining the interrelationships between sensorimotor integration, caregiver-reported measures of sensory processing, behavioral motor skills, and cognitive development in young children with prenatal alco- hol exposure. Sowell’s initial grant funded research that identified and studied a group of 6,000 kids ranging from birth to 12 years old with prenatal al- cohol exposure, recruited from a clinic in South Af- rica’s wine region that serves underprivileged fami- lies. Bodison will focus on a subset of these kids by taking a deeper look at their brain’s networks and Dr. Stefanie Bodison body’s abilities to process sensory information. The sparkling vineyards near Cape Town, South Africa produce some of the world’s best wines. Alcohol use around the world But there’s a darker story among the people who work and live in the sunny wineries’ shadows: Globally, prenatal alcohol exposure is the number the region has the world’s highest prevalence of one known cause of cognitive and behavioral im- fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.“The wineries pairment, Sowell explains, with effects that signifi- are the issue because the people who work in the cantly impact brain development. But the problems vines were historically paid part of their wages in related to alcohol exposure aren’t evenly distributed. wine,” says Elizabeth Sowell, Professor of Pediat- rics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. “It’s more prevalent in places like Cape Town and in the northern plains in U.S. Native American pop- There, binge drinking on weekends — yes, even ulations,” she says. “There are pockets in the world during pregnancy — is culturally acceptable. It where it’s much more prevalent than others.” makes the area uniquely valuable for studying fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and their subse- Research shows that binge drinking — for women, quent effects on childhood development. That’s defined as four or more drinks per occasion — and what Stefanie Bodison ’92, MA ’93, OTD ’10, As- regular heavy drinking put a fetus at greatest risk for sistant Professor of Research in the USC Chan severe problems, according to the National Institute Division of Occupational Science and Occupa- on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. However, even tional Therapy, plans to do. lesser amounts can cause damage.

The Explorer Journal 2019 9

Because the cultural stigma of drinking during Kids with prenatal alcohol exposure have chal- pregnancy is lower relative to that in the Unit- lenges in motor skills and self-regulation that ed States, the South African mothers were espe- can impact their academic achievements. Devel- cially forthcoming about their habits throughout oping customized interventions for a given per- the study, explains Sowell.“Here in the U.S., you son or population can make a lasting difference. don’t get as honest a reporting of drinking be- havior during pregnancy.” Even though the participants in Bodison’s study will be between 8 and 12 years old, there is still The sensory study an enormous amount of brain wiring that oc- curs during this developmental stage, says Sow- For Bodison’s new study component, 100 ell.“The big idea is to show that the intervention kids between 8 and 12 years old will undergo is changing circuitry in the brain that has an im- MRI scans in order for researchers to visual- pact on improved functioning.” ize brain structures and measure their volume, thickness and surface area. It can be tricky to Sowell points to brain research studies using MRI coax a child to stay still inside a noisy, rum- scans of young adults before and after learning a bling brain scanner, but the researchers have new skill, like juggling. “After they learn a new come up with some handy tricks.“We put them skill, you can see differences in white matter in in a mock scanner so they can get used to the the brain,” she says. “If we understand what cir- sound of the magnet moving,” explains Sowell. cuits in the brain are affected by prenatal alcohol exposure, we can then potentially target inter- Bodison will also give parents a survey that as- ventions that will have a real impact on people.” sesses their kids’ sensory systems, gathering in- formation about sensitivity to touch, movements and loud environments, for example. Bodison will be traveling to Cape Town to work directly with a small sample of the children, and admin- ister commonly-used motor skills tests.

“From a junior investigator perspective, this is a wonderful opportunity because I can do a study

where the majority is funded,” says Bodison, ac- Dr. Stefanie Bodison knowledging the expenses of brain imaging re- search. “My piece expands the scope without the cost of writing a grant.”

Building better interventions

Bodison is also an occupational therapist, and she’s interested in how the brain’s pathways and connections influence everyday activities. “Un- derstanding these brain mechanisms will help us to create interventions to improve functions in daily life,” she says.

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC 10 The Therapeutic Effects of Golf Dr. George Salem & Kiran Kanwar

Dr. George Salem playing the game. Come rain, wind, Golf swings also require large ranges mud, or injuries, these older adults of motion in the joints of the trunk, would do almost anything to get in legs, and arms; thus, swinging a club their 9-18-holes of golf. Moreover, is likely to improve dynamic flexibili- they are able to physically do things ty. Additionally, golf is often referred without hesitation that most seniors to as a “cerebral” sport because it is either cannot not do or have to do cognitively challenging. Golfers need with considerable effort and caution. to continually take into consideration The best examples of these exception- their ball position, terrain type, dis- al abilities are such daily activities as tance to the pin, wind, rain, lighting, bending over, squatting, and carefully turf conditions, and finally their pre- setting a golf ball upon a tee rising a vious experiences, before selecting mere 2 inches from the ground. which club to use and how hard to swing. Golfers also must continually At some point, perhaps while search- aul Valdez is an old- make decisions of whether to “go for R ing for his ball among the trees, a it” by trying that difficult shot or to er-adult (over 60 years) who was born “light bulb” of an idea occurred to in Los Angeles and has lived in this “play it safe” and choose an easier ap- Salem…golf play might just be the proach. Studies suggest that both ex- city all of his life. He had been toying most comprehensive exercise activity with the idea of taking golf lessons ercise and cognitively-challenging ac- that an older adult can do. How can tivities support brain health and that upon retirement. Enter USC’s Golf for that be? Golf is a multimodal physi- Healthy Aging study. It might have these beneficial effects may be magni- cal activity that requires the golfer to fied when the two are combined. been a match made in heaven, be- walk at a moderate-vigorous intensity cause, says Valdez, “I couldn’t believe while negotiating varied and uneven Moreover, golf is rarely played alone my luck!” terrain, hills, bushes, trees, water haz- but in groups of 2,3, or 4. Thus, it is What is the study about? It is the re- ards, and sand traps. When playing a “social” sport that typically includes sult of some lateral thinking by Dr. golf, one needs to generate high-ve- encouragement from fellow play- George Salem, Associate Professor locity swings which rapidly shift the ers and sometimes friendly (or not in the Division of Biokinesiology and body’s center of mass (COM) first so friendly) banter and competition. Physical Therapy. Dr. Salem is a kine- backward and then forward. Studies Studies continually demonstrate that siologist and biomechanist who has suggest that these swings require al- social engagement during exercise in- been developing and studying exer- most maximum activation of a golf- creases program adherence and over- cise interventions (e.g. yoga, resis- er’s hip muscles. The player’s COM all satisfaction. Golf play can also be tance exercise) for older adults over must then be stopped immediately “titrated” so that golfers can adjust the past 30 years. after ball contact to prevent the golfer their playing time and training in- from falling over; thus, golf continu- tensity depending upon their level of He started playing golf later in life ally challenges a golfer’s “dynamic” experience, skill, fitness, and health. after having to give up other sport balance and may improve lower-ex- For example, players can focus on activities (basketball, running, surf- tremity muscle power. Contrasting- putting alone at practice greens, ing) because of injuries, arthritis, and ly, once on the green, the golfer must swinging at a driving range (both in- other age-related physical challenges. stabilize his or her body’s COM and door and outdoor), chipping at chip & Over the course of a few months, he eliminate any unwanted movements putt facilities, and/or playing partial began playing with senior golfers who in order to achieve an accurate putt. or full rounds. Most golf courses al- also had similar physical challenges, Thus, the act of putting challenges low golfers to carry their clubs, push including osteoarthritis, “bad backs”, a golfer’s “static” balance. Further, a hand cart, or ride in an electric golf knee and hip replacements, and neu- golfers often find their wayward shots cart─ options which allow the golfer rologic, cardiovascular, and orthope- on hills, in sand traps, or up against and instructor to vary the “intensity” dic conditions. Some of his golf part- trees, sometimes requiring a combi- and “workload” of the activity. ners now include stroke survivors, nation of both static and dynamic bal- persons with Parkinson’s disease and ance to stand and hit the ball. Indeed, These observations helped Dr. Salem Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and even a cross-sectional studies have demon- formulate the question…Could golf be superior golfer with hemiparesis who strated that older golfers have better used therapeutically to improve the plays with one arm. What did all of static and dynamic balance, proprio- health and wellness of older adults these golfers have in common? An ception, and balance confidence than and persons with disabilities? To immense joy and excitement about non-golfers. answer this question and test the hy-

The Explorer Journal 2019 11

potheses that golf play improves mobility, balance, municipal golf course. He was able to obtain fund- strength, and cognition in persons not currently golf- ing for the Golf for Healthy Aging (GHA) study from ing, Dr. Salem and his two doctoral students (Andrea the World Golf Foundation and the Royal & Ancient DuBois and Nicole Marcione), developed the Golf (R&A) golf society. The GHA was the first health-relat- Intervention for Veterans Exercise (GIVE) study in ed study ever funded by the R&A, which is the world- collaboration with Dr. Steve Castle at the West Los wide governing body of golf and is associated with 143 Angeles Veterans Administration (WLAVA). The countries. The study is being conducted at the Mon- study was a 12-week golf intervention study for old- terey Park Golf Course, in Monterey Park, California er-adult male veterans (60-80 years) who did not (just east of the USC Health Sciences Campus). The currently golf. The participants met with a Profes- project is being coordinated by Ms. Kiran Kanwar and sional Golf Association (PGA) instructor twice-week- assisted by research associates Jared Moore and Hyun ly, for 90 minutes at the Heroes Golf Course at the Ji Lee. So far, 7 of 15 participants have completed the WLAVA─a nine-hole par 3 public golf course. The 10-week program with an impressive attendance of comprehensive program included complementary ex- greater than 90%, no study drop outs, and no golf-re- ercise training and dynamic warm-up exercises, golf lated adverse events. Also impressive was that none skills training (in the full-swing, chipping, putting), of these participants had ever swung a club and two of and progressive golf play. The play began with course these beginners were 80 years of age. Although only play on 2 holes and progressed to 9-holes of play by preliminary, the findings demonstrate that seniors the 12th week. Physical function, walking ability, bal- who have never played golf can safely learn to play the ance, strength, cognition and memory, were recorded sport, and that the program is compliant and improves from 10 participants at baseline and at the end of the balance, strength, mobility, walking speed, dual task 12-week program. Additionally, their total walking processing, cognition, and attention and focus. One distance, swing count, and biomechanical demands participant in the GHA study, Renee Martinez, the re- of their golf swings were documented. The findings cently retired President of the Los Angeles City College were extremely encouraging. Most importantly, all District said, “I was hoping to improve my physical of the participants completed the program while at- balance and strengthen my problem-solving skills and tending 91% of the training sessions and there were to my great surprise, these last weeks have proven to no golf-related adverse events. me that I can always succeed in a new sport when I am focused.” Hence, the program was feasible for these veterans and had excellent compliance. Reported average at- The GHA program not only assesses the benefits of tendance for other community-based group exercise golf for older adults, but is also giving two masters interventions is less than 70%. Biomechanical anal- students (Jared Moore and Hyun Ji Karen Lee) the yses revealed that the golf swing was comparable or opportunity to study important issues that aid healthy exceeded the demands of other senior fitness/exer- aging, while also learning how to use biomechanical cise activities including walking, tandem balance, and clinical tools. and chair-stand activities. Following the 12-weeks of instruction, the participants had improved dynamic Although golf has not traditionally been used thera- balance (5.9%), hip strength (6.5%), lower-extremi- peutically, there are new programs in the UK, Aus- ty power (21%), mobility (14%), walking speed (7%), tralia, Canada, New Zealand, and the US (Boston, walking endurance (9%), walking dual-task perfor- Chicago and Los Angeles) where golf is being used mance (10%), stride length (4%), working memory to address illness and disability including dementia, (16%), and attention and focus (13%). There were no Parkinson’s disease, MS, blindness, stroke, and spinal changes in grip strength or rate of hip force develop- cord injuries. In October 2018, Salem attended a spe- ment. cial session of Parliament in the UK, where a panel of experts discussed the health benefits of golf and the Just as relevant, several of the participants reported possibility of including golf among several physical how important golf had become for them, with one activities UK physicians may prescribe to improve the exclaiming that “learning to play golf had changed my health of their patients. life”. Another participant reported that because of the program he has “reconnected” with his daughter and But back to our friend Raul, who never seemed to stop now plays golf with her regularly. Also encouraging, smiling once he was actually playing some holes on the a 6-month follow-up survey revealed that 7of the 10 golf course and finding he was a pretty decent golfer. participants continued to play golf regularly. “Of course, I’m not doing this for fun or diversion. It’s for science in the hope that it benefits mankind. Well, With these impressive results, Dr. Salem sought to that’s what I tell my wife. But, I think she knows I’m optimize the golf-training program and expand its having a great time.” application to non-veterans and community-dwelling senior women and men (60-80 years old) at a local

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC 12 Student Spotlight

What drew you to research? After receiving my bachelor’s de- gree, I decided to spend a year at David Geffen School of Medicine of UCLA, doing just research. I had joined an incredible research team during my undergraduate years, working on multiple proj- ects in the field of neurosurgery; I enjoyed working with this team so much that staying an extra year was an easy decision. After start- ing my career at USC, I spent hours reading articles that support the biomimetic protocols after be- ing introduced to it by Dr. Pascal With a B.S. in biological anthropology and an extensive research background, Magne in our morphology class. It Mehrdad Razaghy achieved his long-term dream of studying dentistry at Her- was then when I realized the im- man Ostrow School of Dentistry at USC. After receiving his bachelor’s degree, portance of research and teaching he spent a year focusing on his research in the field of neurosurgery and was part of six major publications at David Geffen School of Medicine of UCLA. His as part of becoming a good clini- creativity and passion for research have influenced his path as a dental student cian. This realization and my pre- and driven him to get involved in further research projects. His focus so far has vious exposure to research pushed been on restorative techniques and dental materials. He has been part of publi- me to seek for opportunities. I had cations in the esteemed Journal of Dental Materials and International Journal the pleasure of joining Dr. Magne’s of Esthetic Dentistry and currently continues to work on more projects during research laboratory toward the end his final year of study at USC. of my first year at dental school. It was a dream come true. Since then, I have spent most of my afternoons What has been the most exciting thing for you through dental school? and weekends working on research Going from spending over a year on some research projects and making projects, alongside excellent vis- discoveries through them, to getting to apply them to my clinical cases has iting scholars from different parts been one of the most satisfying experiences at school. It is hard to explain of the world. The more I worked how enjoyable it is to be mentored by and work with Dr. [Pascal] Magne. He the more my passion for dental re- has taught me that when you are truly passionate about a profession, the de- search grew. sire to improve your knowledge and skills never ends. To me, research has been the best bridge to educating myself in the field of biomimetic dentistry. Can you tell us about your cur- I believe that becoming an excellent clinician requires not only passion and rent research projects? practice, but also research and teaching. The joy that comes with teaching for me goes hand in hand with my love for research and discovery. I feel Most of our recent projects re- so honored for being given many opportunities to lecture for dentists and volve around adhesive dentistry. students so far; experiencing this early on has been very exciting for me and Introducing clinical techniques makes me look forward to many more in the future. to decrease the interlayer gaps in composite restorations and im- The Explorer Journal 2019 13 Mehrdad Razaghy DDS ‘19 provements in dentin bonding have been my focus What are some of the clinical implications of the re- during this past year. In one of our most recent publi- search you have recently conducted? cations, we discovered a direct restorative technique that allowed us reach the fatigue resistance and over- What I love about most of the projects that we do in Dr. all quality of indirect restorations when treating large Magne’s lab is the fact that they could be immediately MOD posterior restorations. We incorporated a fiber applied in clinic. For instance, we tend to use polarized reinforced composite material as dentin replacement photography to measure the L.A.B. values, which is a and for the first time we were able to match the quality very accurate measure of the color, of samples that go of indirect or CAD/CAM approach. To have this work through different types of restorative techniques. This published in the Journal of Dental Materials was very can simply give us a map of color stability or change. exciting for me. Eventually, I was invited to present This alone becomes an additional and valuable finding this work at the USC Eleventh International Restor- to many of the studies that we do. One of our recent ative Dentistry Symposium. I felt so honored to be publications evaluated the seating accuracy of inlays, the first student who has ever lectured at this annual onlays, and overlays when luted with pre-heated com- event. posite vs. dual-cure cement. Using pre-heated com- posite as a luting agent is still very controversial for many dentists. In this study we found that not only does heated composite not prevent seating accuracy, but dual-cure luting agents can cause higher seating of inlays. In another study I mentioned already, we introduced a direct technique, by incorporation of fi- ber reinforced composite as dentin replacement, that allowed us to match the fatigue resistance and overall quality of indirect restorations when dealing with large MOD defects. This is something that can be applied in the clinic the day after, and this is the most satisfying part of research for me. Upon graduation where do you want to take your ca- reer? I would like to work as a general practitioner and grow myself in the world of restorative and adhesive dentist- ry. There is still a lot that I need to learn from working outside of a school setting. My goal is to work very hard and create clinical cases that can become great teaching tools. Teaching and giving lectures has be- come a recent obsession for me; what would all these projects and findings mean if we don’t teach and share them? I really look forward to the future and hope to be able to make my incredible mentor, Dr. Pascal Magne, proud.

Photo Courtesy Mehrdad Razaghy DDS 2019

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC 14

Understanding Skeletal Development and Disease Simon Youn and Connor Yim

After graduating from UCSB, Dr. Merrill further pursued her career in earnest by completing her Ph.D. in Biochem- istry and Molecular Biology at USC. During that time, she studied under Dr. Robert Maxson, who is one of the lead- ing experts in craniofacial development and craniosynos- tosis, a birth defect where the skull bones fuse premature- ly. She was drawn by the applicability of his research to human disease, and set out to study why craniosynostosis occurs in the genetic disorder known as Saethre-Chotzen Syndrome. Using a genetic mouse model for this disorder, she discovered that premature fusion of the skull bones is caused by disruption of a molecular fence that normal- ly keeps the cells of neighboring skull bones separated during craniofacial development.

After earning her Ph.D., Dr. Merrill completed a post-doc- toral fellowship in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. There she studied neural crest cells (NCCs), which are the precur- sors of many craniofacial bones. By transplanting NCCs between duck and quail embryos, which develop along different timetables, she showed that donor NCCs not only retain their species-specific information for bone pattern- ing, but also maintain the internal clock that determines the timing of their differentiation into bone cells. The most Dr. Amy Merrill is an Associate Professor at the Her- important concept she learned from her studies was that man Ostrow School of Dentistry and Keck School of changes in the timing of skeletal progenitor cell differenti- Medicine of USC, with a laboratory at the Center for ation can alter the shape of the craniofacial bones. Craniofacial Molecular Biology (CCMB) on USC’s Health Sciences Campus. Dr. Merrill directs a research Because Dr. Merrill had a strong desire to apply her exper- program focused on understanding craniofacial birth de- tise in developmental biology to the direct study of human fects and also teaches Problem Based Learning to dental disease, she completed a second post-doctoral fellowship students and Research Methodologies to postgraduate in Medical Genetics at Cedars Sinai Medical Center/Uni- dental students. Growing up, Dr. Merrill always had an versity of California, Los Angeles. Training under her innate curiosity for science and medicine, as her father mentors, Drs. Deborah Krakow and Dan Cohn, she gained was a cardiologist and her grandfather was an oral sur- a clinical perspective on skeletal disorders. This work was geon. However, it was her developmental biology and extremely rewarding and almost addicting for Dr. Merrill. genetics classes at University of California, Santa Bar- The idea that her research was identifying gene mutations bara (UCSB) that sparked her journey into research. She responsible for skeletal disorders and providing molecular was incredibly fascinated with how humans start off as diagnoses for patients was highly motivating for her. Dr. a fertilized egg and develop into complex systems where Merrill’s work identified the disease-causing gene muta- all different cell and tissue types work together to sup- tion for Short-rib Polydactyly Syndrome, a lethal skeletal port life. In the beginning, she started at the low end of disorder that causes babies to suffocate due to skeletal de- the totem pole in a Drosophila genetics lab making fly formities in the ribcage. One of the families participating food and logging many hours at the microscope screen- in the study had 3 of their 4 children die from the disease. ing fly mutants. Although at times tedious, this work in- By identifying the disease mutation for Short-rib Polydac- troduced her to the idea that a very small genetic change tyly Syndrome, her research pioneered a preimplantation can profoundly alter the process of development. genetic diagnosis test that this family then used to subse-

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quently birth a healthy child. It is Dr. Merrill’s Dr. Merrill was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in Spring 2018. desire to help families like these that keeps her She attributes her success to fantastic mentors, a talented research team, and working late at night and gets her up early in plain old hard work. She said that the key to overcoming the challenges in the morning. science is to follow research you are passionate about and find dedicated mentors who will help you cultivate your scientific voice. Currently, the In 2010, she was offered a position as an As- biggest challenge she faces is finding a balance between her work and fam- sistant Professor at USC, and there was nev- ily life. She has two children and believes that being a mother has made her er a doubt in her mind about whether or not a better scientist because it required her to become extremely efficient and she should come back. She has always loved goal-oriented. the collegial and collaborative environment at USC and believed it was the best place to start In the future, Dr. Merrill hopes to expand her research program and grow her her independent research program. Currently, “scientific family.” She is passionate about training the next generation of her lab is studying genetic disorders that affect scientists and wants to continue to encourage those interested in pursuing a the skeleton, and in particular, they are focused career in science. She believes that success is determined by initiative, hard on those that affect the craniofacial skeleton. work, passion, and willingness to pick yourself off the ground in the face of Their goal is to understand the mechanisms failure. Dr. Merrill’s strong work ethics, passion for science, and compas- underlying such diseases and in the process, sion for those children with rare facial differences and their families have gain a fundamental understanding of normal made her the scientist she is today. She has already accomplished so much, skeletal development. By studying rare skele- and we are excited to see her future accomplishments her at USC. tal birth defects, their research is revealing new information about cell fate choice in skeletal progenitor cells and integrated development of tendon and bone. Her thought process is that if we know a gene mutation leads to a skeletal difference, then we can assume that the gene is important to the process of skeletal devel- opment. Her approach is to model the diseases using patient-specific cells and mouse genetics.

One particular disorder Dr. Merrill’s lab is fo- cused on is Bent Bone Dysplasia Syndrome (BBDS), a lethal skeletal disorder she discov- ered with Dr. Krakow. From naming and clin- ically describing the disorder, to identifying its disease-causing mutations, to understand- ing the molecular consequences of the disease mutation, and now modeling in the disease in mice, her research on BBDS is comprehensive. The craniofacial aspect of this disorder, which includes craniosynostosis, is very severe. She hopes that her research will come full circle to reveal therapeutic options for families faced with a BBDS diagnosis, or for others who are suffering from related disorders. Dr. Merrill, as the leading expert in BBDS, is compelled to continue to study this disorder even though it is very rare. In the end, she believes that it is all about trying to make a difference, even if it’s in one person or one family. Photo Courtesy Dr. Amy Merrill Laboratory

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC 16 The Role of Protein Deamidation in Viral Infections & Tumorgenesis Teresa Nguyen

Dr. Jun Zhao is a Post- Much of Dr. Zhao’s work revolves interactions such as the activation doctoral Research Associate in the around interactions between the of pattern recognition receptors in Department of Molecular Microbi- herpesviruses and host innate im- order to restore optimal antiviral ology and Immunology at the Keck mune responses during infection immune responses to fight against School of Medicine of USC. He has and pathogenesis. One strand of Dr. the herpes simplex virus. been deeply invested in research for Zhao’s research is geared towards Branching beyond the investigation many years, since his involvement the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1); of viral-host interactions, anoth- during his undergraduate career. his team studied how the innate im- er area of Zhao’s research interest Dr. Zhao’s educational journey be- mune system antagonizes viral rep- investigates the role of protein de- gan in Shanghai, China where he lication through the activation of amidation in fundamental cellular earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Bi- a pattern recognition receptor. By processes. Specifically, his research ological Sciences at Fudan Univer- manipulating this key pattern rec- aims to examine the roles of pro-in- sity. His research focus at that time ognition receptor, the virus is able flammatory transcription factor revolved around microbiology, from to evade detection during an innate deamidation in reprogramming both biosynthetic and biomedical immune response. UL37, a protein metabolism and promoting prolif- approaches. During this time, Dr. deamidase of HSV-1, interacts with eration. Zhao discovered that this Zhao worked on genetically engi- retinoic acid-induced gene I (RIG-I), basic mechanism is tightly associat- neering thermophilic bacteria in which is a cellular receptor that rec- ed with tumorigenesis of a number order to produce a recombinant ognizes pathogenic RNA. Activation of cancers despite their different strain capable of alcohol produc- of RIG-I is crucial to the host’s in- origins. Moreover, it is highly likely tion. In addition, he investigated nate immune defense response as that oncogenic viruses exploit such the role of novel ubiquitin-activat- it recognizes double-stranded DNA deamidation to enable viral survival ing enzymes during DNA damage produced by HSV-1 infectionto trig- and tumorigenesis. Kaposi sarco- and repair. With an interest in be- ger antiviral cytokine production. ma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) coming a principal investigator and By deamidating RIG-I, the herpes- is the etiological agent of Kaposi’s further immersing himself into the virus is able to block RNA-induced sarcoma in immunocompromised field of interdisciplinary research, RIG-I signaling transduction, which patients, specifically HIV and organ Dr. Zhao made the leap and moved ultimately results in an impaired an- transplant patients. The oral cavity to the United States to pursue his tiviral immune response. This proj- is the most common site of Kapo- education at USC. He earned his ect on HSV-1 provides a foundation si’s sarcoma lesions; moreover, oral Ph.D. in Genetics, Molecular, and for understanding the fundamental Karposi’s sarcoma displays a signifi- Cellular Biology at the Keck School role of protein deamidation in regu- cantly higher viral load and poorer of Medicine of USC. Since then, he lating innate immunity during viral prognosis than other forms of the has continued his post-graduate infection. By studying virus-host in- disease. Proteins involved with the training with Dr. Pinghui Feng, who teraction, Dr. Zhao aims to expand development of tumor growth in- is the Section Chair of Infection and our capability to develop anti-viral clude NF-kB transcription factors. Immunity at the Herman Ostrow drugs that intervene in virus-host School of Dentistry of USC. TheThe ExplorerExplorer JournalJournal 20192018 17

Rel or NF-kB proteins are involved Unbeknownst to many, Dr. Zhao immune response. Consequently, in cell growth, apoptosis, and im- has a strong interest in engineer- these viral strains could serve as mune responses. When the RelA ing. His passion stems from his excellent candidates for viral vacci- subunit of an NF-kB transcription research experience on engineered nation or oncolytic cancer therapy. factor is deamidated, tumorigenesis thermophilic bacteria for alcohol Through biochemistry, viral vector and cell division are enhanced. Dr. production back in college. From and protein engineering, Dr. Zhao Zhao is currently incorporating in- those attempts, he firmly believes hopes to apply engineering princi- terdisciplinary approaches of virol- that before you can build a new ples and design concepts to trans- ogy, cell biology, and biochemistry system, you must understand the late basic findings into clinical ap- to investigate the potential role of basics. Ultimately, Dr. Zhao hopes plications. to engineer viral vectors to serve as this protein deamidation in regulat- As of Fall 2018, Dr. Zhao and his anti-viral drugs. Based on the struc- ing cellular metabolism and its role mentor, Dr. Feng, joined the Os- ture of HIV-1 glycoprotein, he has in proliferation and KSHV-associat- trow research community. With his been working on the development ed oncogenesis in the oral cavity. immense knowledge in the fields of antibody-mimetic ligands as of virology and innate immunity, novel HIV-1 neutralizing reagents Dr. Zhao plans on expanding his via protein engineering. Dr. Zhao research to focus on interactions belieevs that by understanding vi- between oral pathology and innate ...therapeutic rus-host interactions, we could gen- immunity to further investigate oral “ erate attenuated viral strains car- diseases such as oral Kaposi’s sar-

interventions can rying specific mutations that result coma. In addition, Dr. Zhao is also

in their inability to evade specific be discovered and studying how infection with her- ” immune responses and manipulate pesviruses plays a role in other oral host cells. Going back to the role of engineered to treat infections and tumorigenesis. Ul- RIG-I during HSV-1 infection, Dr. timately, he hopes that by utilizing and prevent oral Zhao mentions that by engineering our understanding of how the host a deamidation-resistant RIG-I or immune system responds to oral in- diseases. introducing a deamidase-deficient fections and the evasion strategies UL37 into the HSV-1 genome, we from the pathogens, therapeutic in- can uncouple RIG-I deamidation terventions can be discovered and from HSV-1 infection. This uncou- engineered to treat and prevent oral pling will help to restore antiviral diseases. Graphic Courtesy of Dr. Jun Zhao

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC 18 Oral Radiography: Leading the Transformation from Clinician to a Diagnostician Azzah Widatalla

pursuing her master’s degree in oral partment, where she not only taught, Radiographic examinations of radiology at the University of British but also designed and constructed, the oral cavity serves an essential Columbia. There, under her mentor the radiology curriculum for all stu- role in the diagnosis and manage- Dr. Colin Price, she discovered her dents, including the DDS, Advanced ment of dental pathologies. At the passion for diagnostic imaging. She Standing Program for International Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry loved the ability to interact with pa- Dentists (ASPID), and dental hygiene of USC, students are not only taught tients as a clinician, and also to work programs. how to capture and interpret dental individually as a diagnostician, study- radiographs, but talso how to keep ing radiographs to reveal different Dr. Radan enjoys being able to find up with the ever-changing technolog- pathologies of the oral cavity. She different ways of teaching oral radiol- ical advances in oral radiology. This believes that the most challenging ogy. Knowing that students do not all ensures students learn how to deliver part of treating a patient is the diag- learn in the same manner, she makes the safest radiographs for their pa- nosis. Therefore, if there are diagnos- sure to offer a variety of teaching tients. Through the notable efforts of tic tools that exist to aid this process, styles to ensure her courses are effec- Dr. Elham Radan, the Director of the those tools are invaluable to the prac- tive. From group learning exercises Radiology Clinic, students graduate ticing clinician. to video lectures, and from at-home as skilled clinicians, able to both di- research activities to in-person inter- agnose and treat effectively and effi- Upon completing her master’s degree, active lessons, she is able to keep her ciently. Dr. Radan worked as a teaching assis- students engaged. tant, then shortly thereafter became Born and raised in Tehran, Iran, Dr. part of the faculty at the University On top of designing the curriculum, Elham Radan was the first in her fam- of British Columbia. She attributes Dr. Radan consistently ensures the ily to pursue a career in dentistry. As her interest in teaching to her days in clinic is up to date with radiological a child, Dr. Radan was always inter- high school. As a teenager, Dr. Radan advancements. By implementing the ested drawing, highlighting her cre- was very skilled at explaining to her use of rectangular collimation instead ative nature. With an excellent overall friends difficult concepts that were of round collimation, Dr. Radan was standing as a student, sharp attention taught in the classroom. She remem- able to effectively lower patient ra- to detail, and interest in the visual bers a time when she would teach her diation exposure up to 60%. Transi- arts, Dr. Radan had all the qualities classmates mathematics, and found tioning the clinic from using film to that would enable her to thrive in any a sense of fulfillment in seeing their digital radiography allowed for im- career. Through the encouragement sense of confusion transform to a proved image quality and visibility of of her parents, Dr. Radan found that state of understanding. anatomical structures. It also allowed dentistry incorporated both her pas- students and assistants to efficiently sion for the sciences and her talents Furthering her interest in education, take radiographs of patients without in the arts. Little did Dr. Radan know Dr. Radan moved to the Los Angeles the hassle of having to develop film, that her dual interests would eventu- to work as a part-time faculty member thus allowing more time to learn other ally lead her to direct the Radiology at the Oral Radiology Department at practical skills in the clinic. UCLA. She found this job very ful- Department at the Herman Ostrow Dr. Radan first began her research School of Dentistry of USC. filling because it allowed to her to maintain a career and still have time endeavors in 2002 by publishing the After receiving her doctoral degree to raise her children. In 2012, Dr. “Evaluation of digital and geometric in dental surgery from Shahid Be- Radan started her career at the Uni- unsharpness in dental radiographs us- heshti University in Tehran, Dr. Ra- versity of Southern California as the ing an endodontic file mode” in the dan furthered her dental education by Director of the Oral Radiology De- peer-reviewed journal Oral Surgery,

The Explorer Journal 2019 19

Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, and Oral Radiolo- gy. The research explored whether or not increasing magnification or resolution of files would provide any relevant advantage in dental radiography. This is significant because at the time, data storage space was quite limited, so dentists were not able to opti- mize their data. Through this research, it was con- cluded that there was little to to be gained from larger file sizes, so clinicians were able to use smaller file sizes yet retain the same diagnostic abilities. In 2017, Dr. Radan published “Lowering the radia- tion dose in dental offices” in the Journal of the Cal- ifornia Dental Association. As each generation rede- fines what health and wellness mean to them, it also comes along with a thirstfor information. Radiation exposure has become a particular topic of interest Dr. Radan wants her students to graduate not only as clinicians but recently, and as Dr. Radan has noticed the growing also as diagnosticians. She hopes for them to leave the Herman anxiety patients feel in this regard, she is redefining Ostrow School of Dentistry with the ability to diagnose confidently exposure parameters in the dental space to ensure pa- and with the tools to enable them to answer their questions by re- tients are receiving radiation doses that align with the searching. In the future, she aspires to incorporate more advanced ALARA principle - As Low As Reasonably Achiev- modalities into the curriculum, and to ensure students see the im- able. With the introduction of more advanced modal- portance of staying up to date with the frequent changes in oral ra- ities such as 3-D cone beam computed tomography, diology. By incorporating research into her teaching, accompanied the dental clinician is now able to reduce patients’ by different learning techniques, Dr. Radan is able to effectively exposure to a minimum. instill qualities she believes will allow her students to become skill- ful dentists. Dr. Radan found that dentistry incorporated both her [ passion for the sciences and her talents in the arts. ]

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC 20 THE SCIENCE BEHIND CURING LIGHTS & COMPOSITE MATERIALS Sara Kahng

search compared the degree of conver- within the curing bulbs, and as a result, Growing up in her home sion (DC) and temperature rise between curing a molar on the right and left will country of Croatia, Dr. Alena Knezevic the traditional halogen curing units and result in an unequal cure. For example, fondly recalls wanting to be a teacher the new blue superbright LED. Re- transferring the curing unit with a violet at an early age. Upon pursuing dentist- sults showed that while the DC values light on the buccal side and a blue light ry, Dr. Knezevic found an opportunity were higher for halogen curing units on the lingual side of the right molar re- to teach others while providing care to compared to blue LEDs, the difference sults in the opposite pattern on the left her patients as well. After receiving her was negligible due to the low curing molar. As a result, the restoration will DMD at the School of Dental Medicine intensity of the newer units. Howev- not cure evenly. In order to ensure even at the University of Zagreb in Croatia, er, the blue LED’s low curing energy composite polymerization, Dr. Knezevic Dr. Knezevic pursued both her Master’s allowed for slower polymerization recommends rotating the curing light degree and PhD in Biomedical Sciences. of the composite material, ultimately after every 20-second curing interval. During that time, Dr. Knezevic active- resulting in a smaller temperature in- ly researched composite materials and crease. Less temperature increase is With the increased accessibility of curing light units and became an erudite favorable, as heat from composite po- non-certified curing units that are avail- scholar of restorative dentistry. She was lymerization can lead to pulp inflam- able on markets such as Amazon, Dr. invited to continue her research at the mation and jeopardize pulp vitality. Dr. Knezevic emphasizes the importance University of California, Los Angeles Knezevic’s findings thus confirmed the of understanding the proper use of cur- and the University of Southern Califor- superiority of blue LEDs for compos- ing lights. She explains, “With halogen nia, where she furthered her expertise and ite polymerization in preserving pul- light curing units… the halogen bulb dedicated her time as a Teaching Assis- pal health over halogen curing units. needs to be replaced because it only lasts tant in preclinical restorative and CAD/ 50 hours. With LED they can last longer, CAM dentistry courses. Dr. Knezevic Dr. Knezevic continues to expand upon but they can still decrease in intensity is currently a Clinical Assistant Profes- her previous research and how it ap- during that time. So that’s why you need sor in the Department of Restorative plies to the current third generation of to check the intensity of your light units Sciences at the Herman Ostrow School curing lights. The third generation in- every semester. The second problem is if of Dentistry of USC, where she contin- corporates both blue and violet curing you have cordless [curing lights]. So for ues to share her immense knowledge of lights. The blue light cures composite those, intensity, while the battery goes restorative dentistry with her students. with camphorquinone photoinitiators; off, can either slowly decrease or it can however, the camphorquinone pho- stay the same. It’s the same with the cell Dr. Knezevic’s most cited research stud- toinitiator is an undesirable yellow phone. The more you use it, the shorter ied the use of blue light emitting diodes color when not cured properly. Dr. the battery lifetime. So then you need to (LED) for photopolymerization of den- Knezevic explains that as a result of the charge it all the time…If you purchase tal materials. While much of restorative increased demand for different enamel the units over the counter, you don’t dentistry is often focused on the compos- shades, manufactures introduced more know how long the battery can last. And ite material itself, the study and under- translucent and bleaching shades to you don’t know if with decreasing bat- standing of curing light units is essential better resemble enamel. These materi- tery power there is decreasing blue light for ensuring optimal polymerization of als incorporate a different photoinitia- intensity.” Without proper understand- composite resin material. Proper polym- tor with a lower activation wavelength ing and usage of curing lights, the integ- erization requires sufficient radiant inten- and therefore require violet light to rity of a restoration is compromised. sity, correct wavelengths of visible light, cure. In the classroom, Dr. Knezevic When asked about the direction of fu- and an appropriate curing time. Previ- underscores the clinical implications ture research on composite materials and ously, halogen curing units with 450-470 and proper application of these units, light curing units, Dr. Knezevic delves nm wavelengths were commonly used in as manufacturers often do not explain into the topic of bulk composite. With the clinical setting for polymerization of these aspects of their products in detail. the ever-evolving market of composite composite. However, the development When asked about the significance of materials, manufactures have devel- of blue superbright LED with a 470 nm the violet and blue lights, Dr. Knezevic oped bulk composite that can be placed wavelength provided an alternative to the elucidated that the violet and blue di- in four- to five-millimeter increments, halogen curing units. Dr. Knezevic’s re- ode chips are not evenly distributed compared to the typical composite in-

The Explorer Journal 2019 21

crements of two millimeters. However, Dr. Knezevic hesitates to support this claim as most of the current research recommends no more than four millime- ter increments. Dr. Knezevic adds that traditional composites cannot be light- cured in more than two-millimeter in- crements because the violet light cannot penetrate more than two millimeters. In order to overcome this constraint, man- ufacturers include additional photoiniti- ators and alter the ratio of components in a composite in order to achieve ad- equate light-curing in bulk. Although the manufacturers claim that the bulk composites shrink less than traditional components, research shows that bulk composites continue to shrink. How- ever, more importantly, Dr. Knezevic explains that the increased mass of bulk composite results in an excess of exo- thermic heat. The resulting tempera- ture increase speeds up polymerization and slows the setting of the material.

Dr. Knezevic is a passionate researcher and educator who strives to teach her students to be informed and skilled cli- nicians. While research on composite materials and curing lights may seem esoteric at times, Dr. Knezevic hopes to make that knowledge accessible and useful for her students. Her enthusi- asm for teaching is reflected in her- in teractions with her dental students as she patiently guides them on the clinic floor. As an English teacher for Croatian elementary students during her spare time, Dr. Knezevic jokes, “I see them [dental students] as the same as the first graders…you have to repeat everything 100 times... But at the end…I’m happy to see how much you improved.” Dr. Knezevic’s dedication and commitment to her students and the dental communi- ty make her an irreplaceable part of our faculty at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry.

References Knežević, A., Tarle, Z., Meniga, A., Šutalo, J., Pichler, G., & Ristić, M. (2001). Degree of conver- sion and temperature rise during polymerization of composite resin samples with blue diodes. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 28 6, 586-91. Dr. Alena Knezevic Photo Courtesy of John Skalicky

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC 22 A Resolution for Dental Public Health

Nirav Patel & Rajdeep Batth “These are people who are physically, emotionally, socially and financially disadvantaged. By restoring their smiles, we tend to help them put their lives back on track. A healthy smile goes a long way in restoring their self-confidence and instilling a new hope in them. Some- times, I just sit with them and make them feel listened to, and that does the trick. Mutual trust and respect are the key here. This is what I teach my students. At the ‘clinic’, we make every possible effort to address one of the most fundamental human needs of the most vulnera- ble sections of our society.”

Los Angeles has a larger homeless member at the URM for a couple of population than any other city in the months, before he was offered a po- This is how Dr. Mehdi Moham- United States. Skid Row is a 50-block sition to become the Clinic Director madi describes the impact of USC’s area in downtown LA where almost at the JWCH Center in 2013. In his community clinics on Skid Row in 2,000 homeless individuals reside. own words, “it has been an eye-open- downtown Los Angeles. Dr. Mehdi Access to oral healthcare is a distant er for me to see how many people do is the Clinical Director at the John dream for many of these people and, not have access to oral care, [even] Wesley Community Health Center. obviously, is not always a prima- in a rich country like the United He is also an Assistant Professor of ry concern for them. A lot of these States and especially Los Angeles.” Clinical Dentistry at the Herman Os- individuals have problems such as His experience of working with the trow School of Dentistry of USC and substance use or mental health issues students to provide oral healthcare the Section Chair for Community that further aggravate their overall to underserved population so far has Adult Care. health. Sometimes, all they need is a been very rewarding. little nudge to help them stand back The services provided at these clinics up on their feet. With the aim of pro- consist of prophylaxis, extractions, viding comprehensive oral health restorative fillings, root canal -ther care to this population, USC operates apy, and fabrication of partial and two dental clinics in this area. complete dentures. All the services Union Rescue Mission (URM) is an provided are free and delivered by eight-chair dental clinic that opened Ostrow dentistry and dental hygiene its doors in 2000. However, owing students, under the supervision of to the huge demand for affordable expert faculty. The clinics initially dental care, a similar clinic was operated one day a week, but due to opened across the street in 2010. high demand currently operate six This second clinic, equipped with days a week. 7 chairs, is called the John Wesley After working for almost two years Community Health (JWCH) Center. at the clinic, Dr. Mehdi felt a need Dr. Mehdi started as a volunteer and to expand his knowledge. In order later worked as a part-time faculty

The Explorer Journal 2019 23 to better understand the complex part of India called Belgaum. As part nity dentistry as their career path or healthcare needs of medically com- of his rotations, saw a lot of patients participate in community projects as promised individuals, he enrolled who could not even afford more than much as their schedules allow. This in a three-year Master’s of Geriatric one meal a day, let alone access to provides an opportunity to experi- Dentistry program at USC in 2015. healthcare. He actively participated ence the positive aspects of commu- This program gave him strong mo- in community outreach by volunteer- nity practice as well as professional tivation to engage in research that ing with a mobile dentistry van. He philanthropy. will ultimately lead to improved care was amazed that performing some Dr. Mehdi enjoys the academic and for geriatric patients. His current re- simple dental procedures or just leadership aspects of his current po- search project includes a study called providing oral hygiene instructions sitions at the Ostrow School as well “Efficacy of saliva substitutes and could make a huge difference in the as the JWCH Center. He was recent- stimulants in the treatment of dry oral health of these people. ly appointed as the Section Chair for mouth.” As a faculty advisor to the student Community Adult Care. His current Elderly people mostly suffer from chapter of the American Associ- work week consists of working four dryness of mouth (xerostomia) as a ation of Public Health Dentistry days at JWCH center and one day at side-effect of certain medications. (AAPHD), Dr. Mehdi is a strong ad- a private dental office. He enjoys lis- This condition affects their quali- vocate for dental public health. He tening to music and spending quality ty of life and overall health, which always places great emphasis on the time with his 6-year old daughter, could be improved using non-phar- importance of public health dentistry. When asked what he would have macological methods. Along with a This was one of the reasons he chose done differently if given the option colleague, Dr. Mehdi reviewed ev- a career path in dentistry in the first of doing over, he answers, “never idence related to saliva substitutes place, so he could make an impact at regret your past; do not worry about to address xerostomia. This study, the population level. He advises all your future; live in the moment.” which is in the final stages now, budding dentists to choose commu- used only randomized controlled trials using placebo interventions with dry mouth patients. Another research project he has recently be- gun involves calculating the decayed missing filled surface (DMFS)- in dex of the local homeless popula- tion. The DMFS index can be used to assess the overall burden of oral health problems in a particular group of people and could subsequently be used to design programs and services to address the specific oral care needs of the population. In addition to his work at the JWCH

Center, Dr. Mehdi is the faculty ad- Dr. Mehdi visor to the Smile Project at USC and is involved in a number of com- munity-based projects. His interest in community dentistry developed when he was pursuing his dental de- gree in a small town in the southern

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC 24

Caring for the Pediatric Community [ Ana Zapata Caceres & Chenxin Li ]

Dr. Camille Nishikawa is the direc- tor of the QueensCare + USC Mo- bile Dental Program. Growing up in Los Angeles, where she was born, she maintained community health as a central piece of her career goals. She graduated from the Uni- versity of California, Los Angeles in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science and went on to pursue her passion for dentistry. She graduated from the University of Southern Cali- fornia’s Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program in 2010. During her time in dental school, Dr. Nishikawa spent most of her free time volun- teering with AYUDA and the Chil- dren’s Dental Clinic in Inglewood. She found that she really enjoyed working with children and, guided into pediatric dentistry in the first ously all year long. For those three by the advice from her mentors, she place. There are three major pedi- months, the services are set up di- decided to embark on a new journey atric community health programs rectly on elementary school grounds into the field of pediatric dentistry. at the Herman Ostrow School of work around the school schedules. She completed a pediatric residen- Dentistry of USC, each of which This program provides dental care cy in MetroHealth Medical Center serves a different community: the for children eighteen and under who in Cleveland Ohio in 2012. Her QueensCare + USC Mobile Dental within the LAC+USC area; public- passion for community health con- Program, the USC Mobile Clinic, ity and media attract children from tinued during her residency as she and the USC Neighborhood Mobile other areas, but the location of the established screening programs us- Dental Van Prevention Program. clinics themselves is limited to the ing trailers that were not being uti- LAC+USC region. Any child un- lized. She then returned to the Her- QueensCare + USC Mobile Dental der the age of 18 is eligible to re- man Ostrow School of Dentistry of Program is a partnership between ceive free comprehensive dental USC to serve as Co-Director of the LAC+USC, Herman Ostrow School care, including services that range QueensCare + USC Mobile Dental of Dentistry of USC, and Queen- from dental exams to dental fill- Program. A year later, Dr. Nishika- sCare. QueensCare + USC Mobile ings. No questions are asked (other wa became the Director. Dental Program was established in than medical history, of course). If 2001 as a response to the Los An- for some reason procedures cannot Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry geles Unified School District’s affir- be completed at the clinic, Queen- of USC is tremendously involved in mation that dental pain is the number sCare provides patients with grants the pediatric community and pediat- one reason children miss school and to complete their treatment plan at ric community health. As the chair that more than 50,000 children miss the Pediatric Clinic at the Herman of the pediatric community pro- school due to dental-related reasons. Ostrow School of Dentistry. Last grams, Dr. Nishikawa takes great QueensCare + USC Mobile Dental year, QueensCare + USC Mobile pride in her work, which keeps her Program runs for three months and Dental Program treated more than rooted and is the reason she went at two different locations simultane- 2,000 patients and completed over

The Explorer Journal 2019 25

15,000 procedures. At the moment, per clinic and 900-1,100 patients 55 patients who warranted sealant one of Dr. Nishikawa’s biggest re- are seen for comprehensive dental treatment. The Oral Health Edu- cent accomplishments is getting a care. The program opens nine to ten cation Program (OHEP) provided new state-of-the-art trailer that is times each year and moves through- 630 children with oral health in- ] currently the largest trailer in square out Southern and Central California. structions and the Anti-Tobacco Ed- footage in the nation. QueensCare + Currently, the USC Mobile Clinic ucation Program (ATEP) provided USC Mobile Dental Program has a has four trailers; one is a sterilizer 1,170 individuals with anti-tobacco total of three trailers, one with six and the other three are used to treat education. Both of these programs chairs and the other two with three patients. are affiliated with the USC NMD- chairs each. Presently, third- and VPP. In other NMDVPP signature fourth-year dental students, Ad- The third community oral health outreach events, like the Great vanced Standing Program for In- program is the USC Neighborhood American Smoke-out, USC Fami- ternational Dentists (ASPID), and Mobile Dental Van Prevention Pro- ly Weekend, and the L.A. Mayor’s second-year dental hygiene stu- gram (NMDVPP). This program is Halloween outreach event, 826 indi- dents have one-week rotations at the part of the USC Good Neighbors viduals received screenings and oral QueensCare + USC Mobile Dental Campaign. It provides free dental health education. During the health Program. Despite this high volume care to children attending USC-part- fairs, a total of 1,906 individuals ob- in student traffic, student volunteers nered schools. Dental hygiene stu- tained dental screenings, oral health are welcomed. dents rotate through this program care instructions, and nutritional to provide oral health instructions, guidance. In sum, a total of 4,947 The USC Mobile Clinic is an initia- screenings, fluoride treatments and individuals received free dental care tive undertaken by USC to improve dental sealants. The program is and preventive services through the pediatric community health. This housed in two trailers, which are USC Neighborhood Mobile Dental program is completely run and op- also used at numerous health fairs, Van Prevention Program in 2017- erated by USC and it is a required such as the Tooth Fairy Conven- 2018. rotation for all DDS candidates. The tion, the Telemundo Health Fair, USC Mobile Clinic focuses on the and the Los Angeles Times Festival These three pediatric community pediatric population, but adults may of Books. During the 2017-2018 programs directly involve dental also be evaluated and treated de- academic year, the USC NMDVPP hygiene and dental students and are pending on the needs of the commu- provided 118 patients with in-depth experiences that every dental hy- nity. This program has provided the preventive dental treatment which giene and dental student receives equivalent of over $50,000 of free included oral exams, prophylaxis, during their time at the Herman Os- comprehensive dental care. It runs fluoride varnish applications, nutri- trow School of Dentistry of USC. once a month for a week to a week tional guidance, and oral health ed- As the chair of the pediatric com- and a half. Approximately 1,900 ucation/instructions. A total of 186 munity programs, Dr. Nishikawa’s dental procedures are completed individual sealants were placed on goals are to increase and stream- line communication between these three invaluable programs as well as to identify the areas and popula- tions still in need of dental care. She works relentlessly to maximize the services that these programs pro- vide, and consequently to improve dental care for Los Angeles’s pedi- atric community. Her work carries forward USC’s banner in communi- ty outreach and we feel honored she [ ]is a Trojan. Fight on! Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC 26 RAFAEL ROGES: TEACHING WITH PURPOSE Nina Bubalo & Nathan Nourian

Dr. Rafael Roges’ path to dentistry may seem fa- miliar to some: he grew up in a dental family and admired his father’s work from a young age. “My father was one of the most influential people in my life. I always wanted to follow in his footsteps,” Ro- ges recalls. He remembers that when he was a young boy, he spent summer vacations in his fa- ther’s dental office, assisting his father by mixing amalgam. Roges chuckles as he says, “after a long day of working, he would pay me with a churro.”

Dr. Roges’ journey started in Cuba where he was born. His family was quickly uprooted to Mexico, where his mother had family, to escape the com- munist regime in hopes of a better life. Dr. Roges and his family lived in Mexico for 10 years where his father worked as a hospital dentist, treating un- derserved communities by performing basic dental work. He instilled in Roges a sense of duty to the community, to always give back when possible. These lessons would later be reflected in Dr. Rog- drug, on reported root canal pain. Traditionally, root es’ own life, as he serves as a esteemed teacher canal pain is caused by bacteria inflaming and irritat- and an education. After their time in Mexico, the ing the pulp. This study could have a huge impact on family eventually moved to America and put down the way endodontic pain is treated, as it tests the role roots. of viruses in pain associated with root canal therapy. Another clinical study is looking at the effects on ch- Dr. Roges eventually did follow in his father’s foot- lorhexidine versus calcium hydroxide as a root canal steps. He was accepted into the University of Cal- irrigant. Previous studies have shown that long-term ifornia San Francisco for dental school and later exposure to calcium hydroxide may weaken dentin, into USC’s Advanced Endodontics program, of while chlorhexidine may improve the quality of long- which he is currently the Chair. Because of this term resin bonding. This theory is being tested. Yet an- position, Dr. Roges is intimately familiar with the other study is being conducted to test the importance research happenings in the Endodontics Depart- of patency on root canal therapy. In the past, 50% of ment. Dr. Roges explains, “every endodontics res- dental schools required patency while 50% of dental ident has to choose a research project for grad- schools did not. Today, the numbers are closer to 70% uation. Although the program’s primary focus is requiring patency and 30% not requiring it. dentistry, research is still an integral part of the learning process.” In an interestingly interdisciplinary team, Dr. Roges and his brother, Dr. Ramon Roges, Director of the Residents primarily do two types of studies, name- Emergency Clinic at Ostrow, are researching shock ly clinical and retrospective. One recent clinical tri- absorbency of mouthguards. Dr. Ramon Roges works al monitored the effect of Acyclovir, an antiviral closely with the USC football team to provide mouth-

The Explorer Journal 2019 27 “I am proud to be here. I love my residents” guards for the players. Currently, they are testing a Dr. Roges is incredibly proud of the Advanced End- sandwich technique with different thicknesses of sor- odontics program and the residents themselves. bitane to reduce impact force, which is linked to con- “I am proud to be here. I love my residents,” he cussions. Dr. Roges makes the mouthguards and the gushes. The feeling, it seems, is mutual, as all the School of Engineering tests the shock absorbance residents dressed up as him for Halloween one with their machines. Dr. Roges’ goal and challenge year. The program is hugely diverse with residents is to make a mouthguard that is strong enough to from all over the world. Some hail from Los Ange- withstand the blows on the field but also comfortable les, the greater US, Spain, Japan, San Salvador, enough to ensure wearer compliance. “If they are un- Honduras, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and South Africa. comfortable,” he says, “they won’t wear it. You can The program also has an even male/female ratio. make the mouthguard withstand a fighter jet, but if they don’t wear it, it doesn’t matter.” Dr. Roges has always had a passion for teaching. After completing dental school in 1991, he became Dr. Roges is a huge proponent of the use of cone a part-time member of the Restorative Sciences beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans prior to faculty at USC, following his brother Ramon Rog- endodontic therapy. “Not only does it show the ana- es, who was already USC faculty. It was through tomical complications of a tooth and its surrounding Ramon that Dr. Roges met the second most influ- anatomy, but also trauma or fractures the tooth has ential person in his life, Dr. James Simon. Simon endured.” Dr. Roges continued by stating that CBCT became a member of the USC Endodontics faculty scans are now a staple when performing endodon- in 2000 and quickly formed a bond with Dr. Ro- tic retreatments. “The number one cause of root ca- ges, eventually becoming his mentor and lifelong nal failure is missed anatomy or missed canals,” he friend. “He was great mentor,” Dr. Roges explains, notes. With the use of CBCT, endodontists are now “a fountain of knowledge, and I’m very grateful to able to gain more information about a tooth prior to have know him.” It was through Dr. Simon that Dr. treatment, and are also able to gain retrospective in- Roges was guided into applying for an endodon- formation about why a failed root canal was not suc- tics specialty. He was accepted into USC’s End- cessful. In addition to retreatments, there are many odontic residency and shortly after graduation in other benefits to using CBCT, such as for locating the 2006, bought a practice while continuing part-time position of the mental nerve or the sinus. CBCT is teaching. However, Dr. Simon had other ideas for fantastic tool for showing anatomical complications Dr. Roges in terms of teaching. Dr. Roges realized that may arise during treatment, and it can also prove that Simon “saw in me what I couldn’t see in my- very useful in trauma cases such as root fractures. self, which was being a full time educator.” This In standard x-ray images root fractures can look hor- commitment to education would eventually pay off izontal, whereas in actuality, they can be oblique. In as Dr. Roges was appointed to an endowed pro- fact, a former advanced endodontics resident is on fessorship, one of the highest awards a university the brink of publishing a paper using information can bestow on a faculty member. He was appoint- gathered from over 1,500 CBCT scans. This study ed to the Wayne G. and Margaret L. Bemis Profes- charted anatomic changes in the location of the men- sorship in Endodontics in 2015, the endowed pro- tal foramen based on patient age and ethnicity. Such fessorship formerly held by his mentor, Dr. Simon. differences are of clinical importance but have never been documented before. Dr. Roges believes that in When not teaching, Dr. Roges has many hobbies the next 10-15 years, CBCT scans will become the outside the office. He is a car fanatic and has won standard of care before performing any root canal several car show awards. He enjoys restoring old therapy. “It’s like having a GPS in your car--it tells you cars to their former glory and occasionally works where everything is. This is a controversial opinion, with his best friend, who happens to be a mechan- but I believe it.” ic, to do so. He also enjoys boating and staying active.

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC 28 Zen and the Art of GPR Program Management

Meredith Messerle & Abigail Heleba

The science behind pilates is only one area of Dr. Dayanim’s expertise. She also happens to be the Director of the USC General Practice Residency Program and the Co-Chair of the Department of Dentistry at the LAC+USC Medical Center. A “It’s really challenging to present something so graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles School obscure and something so non-dental related of Dentistry, Dr. Dayanim went on to complete a postgradu- to a bunch of scientists,” says Dr. Rebecca ate General Practice Residency (GPR) at Veterans Affairs, Dayanim, referring to her upcoming presentation West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Hospital. Much at the American Dental Education Association like her weekly pilates sessions, Dr. Dayanim has no regrets Annual Session - Unpacking Back Pain: The about completing a GPR program. “Regardless of what kind Pilates Secret to Dental Practitioner Longevity. of program you do, the sheer number of cases you see and Her solution? “You have to bring the science the variety and the complexity is very different to what you into it.” Having suffered back spasms herself, will see in private practice, in the sense that the cases you and knowing several friends and colleagues will ultimately see in private practice maybe over your 20 who have left the dental profession due to dis- years of working, but in one year, you see cases that people ability, Dr. Dayanim is dedicated to her weekly working for 10, 20 years have just seen a couple times.” pilates sessions. She started practicing pilates According to the American Dental Association, a GPR pro- in college and earned her teaching certificate gram should provide advanced clinical and didactic training in Mat Pilates in 2015. “Pilates really saved my in general dentistry with intensive hospital experience at the back and I just really believe in what it does. I postdoctoral level. These programs can be one or two years think that if every dentist did pilates twice a in length and provide instruction and experience in the de- week, they would have such a different life!” livery of care to a wide range of ambulatory and hospitalized

The Explorer Journal 2019 29 patients. Most GPR programs are sponsored by either a Dayanim’s multitude of responsibilities as Program hospital or a hospital-affiliated institution such as a den- Director and Clinic Chair, her number one priority is tal school. GPR residents rotate through a variety of ser- the residents. “My primary goal each day is to ensure vices including general medicine, general surgery, and the residents feel supported and reach their full po- anesthesiology. Each program also includes advanced tential. I am always striving to ensure that they have training and clinical experience in preventive dentist- the best experience possible and leave each day ful- ry, periodontics, restorative dentistry, endodontics, and filled and excited to come back again the next day. oral surgery. The demand for GPRs has increased over At the end of the day - it’s all about the residents!” the years. This can be attributed to an aging population, While the residents are granted a significant amount the frequency with which patients take multiple medica- of autonomy, they are also given support and guid- tions, and the endless list of comorbidities that patients ance as needed. Dr. Dayanim does not shy away exhibit. Post-doctoral training not only gives dental from serving as a mentor. This mindset is what led practitioners more experience in a wide range of pa- to Dayanim’s personal success. “My parents were tients and cases, it also gives them the skills and con- strict on me in terms of doing well in school--it was fidence to deal with more medically complex patients. always about doing the best you could always do. USC’s GPR program is unique in that its residents see Never being ok with being average, because you a higher volume and variety of patients than other pro- can always do better than your own version of av- grams. Residents spend 12 months rotating through LAC erage,” says Dayanim. She was raised to believe + USC Hospital, Veterans Administration, and Ranchos she could do and be whatever she wanted. At the Los Amigos Hospital. These facilities provide more than same time, she never took anything for granted. It 5,000 dental patient visits per year. “Some other clinics was not just about pushing herself harder but also [are] predominantly healthy, mid 40s-mid 50s patients about showing appreciation. She always had sup- if you go into a very standard AEGD [Advanced Educa- port but had a little push to keep her moving for- tion in General Dentistry]type program. Here, because ward and this is something that has resonated with we do trauma cases, we see a lot of teenagers who’ve her, now in her program and her dental career. had trauma from bicycle accidents. Anterior esthetics, Apart from her role as GPR Program Director and which is unique in the dental world, happens so often Co-Chair of the Department of Dentistry, Dr. Daya- in private practice, so we get those cases,” says Daya- nim also finds time to give back as a leader within nim. She believes the GPR program’s unique patient the Jewish Federation Community of Professional base, resident’s autonomy, and unwavering support is Women and through Alpha Omega Fraternity (AO). what makes it one of the best programs in the country. Her involvement with AO started in dental school. Af- As the Program Director and Co-chair of the Depart- ter graduation, she became a member of the alum- ment of Dentistry, Dr. Dayanim’s role incorporates ni board and eventually served as the Los Angeles hospital, programmatic, and educational elements. Alumni President from 2015-2016. As the Co-Chair She is pulled in a multitude of directions, from imple- of the Jewish Federation Community of Professional menting infection control protocols in the dental clinic Women, Dayanim recruits women who have started to be compliant with Cal/OSHA (Division of Occupa- their own companies or women in leadership roles tional Safety and Health) and Federal standards, to to speak at community events. Their motto for the maintaining accreditation for the GPR program. “You year is “empowered women empower women” with always want to be better than what the accreditation an ultimate goal of creating a supportive and inspiring standards are because if you are just meeting the stan- network of professionals -- judging by her day job, dards, it means you are an average program,” says something Dayanim is becoming quite an expert at. Dayanim. “What are the things I can do that perhaps So, does Dr. Dayanim plan to incorporate pilates others aren’t doing yet that are more innovative? That into her GPR program curriculum? Not anytime will push ahead? That will make my program special? soon, although it’s not a bad idea. “It should be That will make people want to ask ‘Oh, how did you mandatory!” says Dayanim, only half joking. For come up with that?’ or ‘That sounds really interesting, now she will focus on her ADEA presentation, but your residents are so lucky’.” The residents certainly anything is possible with Dayanim taking the lead. are lucky. The program accepts only four students per year from approximately 70-80 applicants, and despite

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC 30 TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN CHANGES in Oral Surgery Education Scott Barlow and Jiawei Li

mechanisms of oral cancer. His publications identified Dr. Felix Kyle Yip, MS, DDS, MD is an specific proteins involved in human oral carcinogene- Assistant Professor of Clinical Dentistry in the Oral sis and elucidated the mechanism by which a human and Maxillofacial Surgery department at the Herman papillomavirus-associated oncoprotein disrupts cellu- Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. Dr. Yip grew up lar DNA repair mechanisms, leading to genetic insta- in the San Gabriel Valley, and always admired his own bility and oncogenesis. Dr. Yip also demonstrated that dentist’s ability to improve a patient’s health and well- once normal human oral keratinocytes have reached being in just one appointment. He attended UCLA for their replicative limits, a phenomenon known as repli- his Bachelor’s, Master’s in Oral Biology, and Doc- cative senescence, they adopt abnormal repair mecha- tor of Dental Surgery degrees. Directly following his nisms that contribute to genetic instability and cellular graduation from dental school, he completed a res- aging in the oral cavity. idency in Oral Surgery at USC. Dr. Yip went on to During his 6-year Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery become a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral residency at USC, Dr. Yip merged his passions for Maxillofacial Surgery, and continued his involvement scientific research and dental surgery by conducting in academia by joining USC as a faculty member. a retrospective clinical study on the use of a single, While teaching at the Herman Ostrow School of Den- non-compression superior-lateral border plate in the tistry, Dr. Yip also sees patients at the LAC + USC treatment of mandibular angle fractures. Angle frac- Medical Center and in private practice in Arcadia. tures occur in the posterior mandible, near the wisdom Dr. Yip pursued involvement in research early in his teeth, and are traditionally corrected by the Champy career. While completing his undergraduate and grad- technique: a small plate is strategically placed on the uate studies, he focused on oral biology and published top of the upper border of the mandible to ensure a number of journal articles examining the biological biomechanical retention and proper fracture healing.

The Explorer Journal 2019 31 TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN CHANGES While the Champy technique effectively fixes frac- Yip hopes to explore virtual orthognathic surgical tures, Dr. Yip demonstrated that alterations in the techniques. While 3D scanning techniques allow in Oral Surgery Education size of the plate and area of placement can improve surgeons to accurately determine where bone will treatment outcomes. At USC, a modification to the move following placement, predictions of soft Champy technique is used, in which a bigger plate tissue movement are less reliable and must be re- is placed on the side of the fracture instead of on top. searched further. He also hopes to continue to in- This lateral placement confers mechanical advantag- crease the use of patient-specific materials, such as es by better stabilizing fractures and decreasing the customized milled or printed titanium plates, in his incidence of post-surgical complications such as irri- surgeries. tation, abnormal healing, and extrusion of the plate. Dr. Yip is a strong believer in a multidisciplinary Dr. Yip believes that the ability to collect, interpret, approach to patient care. He has provided lectures and critically analyze new information is a funda- to dental students concerning odontogenic infec- mental skill for every healthcare professional. To this tions, and plans to create informative continuing end, he has incorporated research projects as part of education courses available to all students, staff, the oral surgery residency curriculum at USC. Dr. and faculty. Both by mentoring individual students Yip encourages his residents to conduct research in and serving the Ostrow community, Dr. Yip is com- disciplines including implant surgery, facial trauma, mitted to making sure that USC-educated dentists and orthognathic surgery, with the goal that that each and surgeons are not only highly skilled, but also resident presents an abstract before graduating. He possess the didactic foundation to ask the right believes that having residents present their research questions when determining the techniques and abstracts at the American Association of Oral and technologies that will best serve each individual Maxillofacial Surgeons annual national conference patient. ensures that they take an active role in advancing the field of oral surgery and the dental profession asa When asked about managing his time, Dr. Yip re- whole. As a result of these efforts, many residents marked that “it is easy to find balance in life when continue on to publish their findings in respected sci- you enjoy each aspect.” The close relationships he entific journals. forges with his residents allow him to trust them to be great clinicians, and them to trust him to provide One of Dr. Yip’s favorite aspects of the field of oral sound guidance and supervision. Outside of teach- and maxillofacial surgery is its continuous and rapid ing and practicing medicine and dentistry, Dr. Yip evolution. As surgical planning and execution shifts is a proud father of a newborn daughter, and enjoys from the use of stone models and 2-dimensional de- golf, basketball, baseball, and travel. sign to virtual and 3-dimensional computer modeling, researchers and clinicians must be willing to question their fundamental knowledge and approach their sur- geries with a new perspective. Dr. Yip believes that as technology advances, oral surgeries are simulta- neously becoming less invasive in approach and in- creasingly capable of treating complex cases. New technologies, instrumentation, and techniques have allowed existing procedures to become less surgical- ly invasive via smaller wound margins and minimal iatrogenic damage to surrounding structures, thereby decreasing postoperative pain, promoting faster heal- ing, and providing more reliable outcomes. In addi- tion, technological advancements allow complicated surgeries that were previously difficult to perform, like maxillary reconstruction using vascularized bone, to be executed with fewer complications. Dr. Yip takes it upon himself to encourage his col- leagues and residents to learn about, utilize, and im- prove upon emerging technologies. He views a life- long passion for learning as the key to a successful career in oral surgery. In future research projects, Dr.

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC 32 Photo Courtesy of Dr. Alexandra Chamberlain

Redefining Patient Care by Digitzing Orthodontics Meera Sravan Kumar & Neha Agarwal

In all of our lives, we come While doing his MS in Orthodon- treatment.’ As interesting as it across different people who tics, Dr. Sameshima met Pro- sounds, finite element analysis change and shape our future. fessor Michael Melnick, a math- is explained by Dr. Sameshima Something similar happened to ematical geneticist, who saw as “an engineering technique our very own Dr. Glenn Sameshi- the hidden talent in this young where we look at different land- ma. Born in a small town north man. Dr. Melnick was working marks or shapes and compare of San Francisco, California, he on a project that involved com- how they change over time”. He graduated with honors in math- puters and soon he realized collected cephalometric data ematics from UCLA. Although that Dr. Sameshima would be a from various malocclusion cas- he majored in math, deep down perfect match for this. Utilizing es of patients belonging to dif- he had a special interest in sci- his background in mathemat- ferent ethnic groups and studied ence. However, he wasn’t sure ics and computer programming, the changes to their faces and what he wanted to do in science Dr. Sameshima jumped into this dentition over time. Different pa- until his family dentist gave his work of cephalometric analy- rameters could also be applied interest a new direction. It was sis and started writing his own to stress in order to relate the then that he realized his interest statistical programs. He soon growth changes to the stress. in biology, combined with good switched gears and embarked hand skills, was a combination on a PhD in Craniofacial biolo- In 1993, Peter Sinclair became that would perfectly suit him as gy. His skills in this field led him the Chair of Orthodontics and a dentist. Coming from a US Air to do his dissertation on ‘Finite asked Sameshima to join as Force Academy, he received element analysis of orthodontic a full-time faculty member in a full US Air Force scholarship which helped him attend UCSF Dental School and thus realize his dream of becoming a dentist. After graduating, he worked as a dentist in the US Air Force for about 7 years, during which time he gained valuable experience in various aspects of dentistry. While doing all those rotations, he realized that he had a special interest in orthodontics. He then decided to pursue residency in Orthodontics and joined the USC Herman Ostrow School of Den- tistry.

The Explorer Journal 2019 33

1994. He was immediately put the factors associated with the USC Department of Orthodontics in charge of research and tech- same.” Whenever orthodontic the only program in the country nology in the department. He forces are placed on a tooth, with such a stellar faculty. More- computerized the department bone is resorbed on the pressure over, eight percent of the local and updated courses and sem- side of the root and deposited on chapter of the Edward H. Angle inars. In 2001, he was appointed the tension side. The root usu- Society of Orthodontists is com- as Clinic Director. He increased ally sustains ‘collateral damage’ prised of USC faculty, thus making the number of patients seen but is repaired completely after Ostrow’s one the most renowned and brought in more faculty. the forces abate. The problem programs in the US. Dr. Sameshi- Sameshima was promoted to occurs when irreversible re- ma trusts in maintaining a blend the rank of Associate Professor sorption occurs at the root apex, in teaching material by treasuring with tenure in 2002 and he be- which is not usually able to repair very senior and experienced fac- came the Chair and Program Di- itself. Beginning with two-dimen- ulty in addition to younger faculty rector in 2006. He has mentored sional periapical radiographs, he members. Being a member of the over 50 MS theses and PhDs transitioned into the advanced Council of Education for American and innumerable collaborations technology of three-dimensional Association of Orthodontists, he with visiting scholars and oth- model analysis to visualize how works on the standards of edu- er institutions. In the 1990s, he teeth move in 3D space. Mas- cation and the curriculum for the and his team published a series tering 3D technology is more residents and predoctoral pro- of articles examining the accu- difficult but can achieve superior grams. Dr. Sameshima is a highly racy of computer forecasting of results. As a pioneer in the field, sought-after speaker at interna- growth and surgical outcomes in Dr. Sameshima has published tional meetings and is considered orthodontic and craniofacial pa- twenty papers on this topic and one of the leading experts on or- tients. He has presented papers has contributed chapters to the thodontic root resorption. He is at several major scientific meet- textbooks by Graber and Moy- also involved in professional orga- ings related to dentistry, such ers. He is currently authoring a nizations in orthodontics at many as the American Association for book on the same topic. levels, including service on the Dental Research and Interna- Board of Directors of the Pacific tional Association for Dental Re- His other areas of interest in- Coast Society of Orthodontists, as search. His work with residents clude scrutinizing the claims a consultant for the ADA Council has helped several of them win about different products put on Dental Accreditation, and AAO the top prizes in orthodontic re- forward by various companies. Political Advocacy. search field. Since the companies advertise directly to the public, it is import- Talking about the change he would Dr. Sameshima has now been ant to evaluate their claims care- like to bring about in the commu- an integral part of the Herman fully. One of the studies done nity, Sameshima says “we have a Ostrow School of Dentistry of by Sameshima’s team showed lot of talented students who work USC for 30 years. When he that a certain type of orthodontic hard to get their degrees and want joined the Orthodontics pro- bracket did not reduce treatment to pursue a research career. But gram, there were no computers time, as claimed by the manufac- there are very few opportunities in the department. He greatly turer. Currently, he and his team and funding.” However, he feels expanded the use of technolo- are working on inspecting the that the School’s Research Day gy in the department. His focus accuracy of different 3D printing is a great opportunity for students has always been towards digi- machines. and young researchers to show- tizing orthodontics. Through his case their work and be recognized continuous efforts, he and his Dr. Sameshima believes that for it. Additionally, he would like to team became one of the first to dentistry cannot be learned by extend the scope of community get state-of-art equipment like confining oneself to the four dentistry and the relationship with cone beam computed tomogra- walls of the building. He encour- craniofacial biology, thus being phy scanners, model scanners, ages his residents to participate able to interact more with different and 3D printers. He aspires to in international meetings and fo- specialties and making education do away with traditional impres- cuses on keeping the curriculum and research more interdisciplin- sion materials and use intra-oral up to date. He is a strong believ- ary. Dr. Sameshima is a visionary scanners for all the patients. er of ‘quality over quantity.’ In or- who has brought about ingenious thodontics, one measure of qual- innovations. He motivates student His current domain of research ity is evaluated by the American researchers and is a continuous interest revolves around root Board of Orthodontics: less than source of inspiration for the future resorption. He says, “for an or- half the orthodontists in the US of orthodontics and dentistry. thodontist it is critical to have are board certified. With great a good understanding about pride, Dr. Sameshima boasts the effects of orthodontic forc- of his team, all of whom are es on root resorption and study board-certified members--the

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC 34 Schedule of Events April 10th, 2019

08:00 am – 9:00am Registration (Presenters and Judges) 09:00 am – 12:00 pm Poster Presentations Judging 11:30 am – 12:00 pm General Registration 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Lunch 12:30 pm – 12:45 pm Opening Remarks Randolph Hall Vice President of Research Avishai Sadan Dean Yang Chai Associate Dean of Research 12:45 pm – 01:15 pm Keynote Speaker: Carl Kesselman Dean’s Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering and Fellow in the Information Sciences Institute in the Viterbi School of Engineering

Professor of Preventive Medicine at the USC Keck School of Medicine Director of the Informatics Systems Division at ISI

01:20 pm – 01:40 pm Keynote Speaker: Neema Bakhshalian Assistant Professor of Clinical Dentistry

Division of Periodontology, Diagnostic Sciences & Dental Hygiene Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC

01:45 pm – 02:05 pm Keynote Speaker: Pinghui Feng Professor of Dentistry, Section Chair, Infection and Immunity

Division of Periodontology, Diagnositc Sciences & Dental Hygiene Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC

02:10 pm – 02:40 pm Keynote Speaker: Lisa Aziz-Zadeh

Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy

Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

University of Southern California

02:45 pm – 04:30 pm Poster Viewing 04:30 pm – 05:00 pm Award Presentations 05:00 pm – 06:00 pm Reception 03:30 pm – 05:30 pm Career Fair (Hall of Fame, South)

The Explorer Journal 2019 35 Keynote Speakers

Carl Kesselman

Dr. Carl Kesselman is a Dean’s Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering and a Fellow in the Information Sciences Institute (ISI) in the Viterbi School of Engineering and a Professor of Preven- tive Medicine in the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. He is also the Director of the Informatics Systems Division at ISI and leads the Center of Excellence for Discovery Informatics in the Michelson Center for Convergent Biosciences. He received a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engi- neering from the University of Southern California, and Bachelor’s degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University at Buffalo. He is a fellow of the Association for Comput- ing Machinery and the British Computing Society. His work in large-scale information systems has re- ceived numerous honors including the Ada Lovelace Medal from the British Computing Society. He is also a recipient of an honorary Doctorate degree from the University of Amsterdam.

Neema Bakhshalian

Dr. Neema Bakhshalian is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Dentistry in the Division of Periodontology, Diagnostic Sciences and Dental Hygiene at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. He specializes in Periodontology and implant Dentistry. In addition to completing his DDS degree, he was awarded his PhD from the Florida State University where his work focused on Bone Biology. He subsequently completed his residency and subspecialty training in Periodontology and Implant Dentistry at the University of Southern California. In 2015 he became a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. Dr. Bakhshalian has published extensively in the area of bone regeneration and tissue engineering. He is a member of several professional organizations such as the American Dental Association, American Academy of Periodontology, and the Academy of Osseointegration.

Pinghui Feng

Dr. Pinghui Feng is a Professor of Dentistry. He serves as the Section Chair of Infection and Immuni- ty in the Division of Periodontology, Diagnostic Sciences and Dental Hygiene at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. Dr. Feng obtained his PhD in Cell Biology and Biophysics at the University of Missouri and completed a postdoctoral research training Science at Harvard Medical School and an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center before joining the Keck School of Medicine. Dr. Feng’s research focuses on interaction between herpes viruses and host innate immune system during infection and pathogenesis and touches a wide range of topics that include cancer, infectious diseases, drug development and immunotherapy.

Lisa Aziz-Zadeh

Associate Professor Dr. Lisa Aziz-Zadeh trained at the University of California, Los Angeles, receiving her BA degree in psychology with a minor in neuroscience, and her PhD degree in Psychology with an empha- sis in Cognitive Neuroscience. She completed postdoctoral work with Dr. Giacomo Rizzolatti’s laboratory at the University of Parma (Italy), Dr. Richard Ivry’s laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley, and was a fellow at the UCLA Tennebaum Family Creativity Initiative. She has published numerous papers and book chapters on the mirror neuron system, embodied cognition and language. Her current work focuses on applying the neuroscience of embodied cognition to understanding disorders such as autism, dyspraxia, and motor impairment after stroke. 36 Advanced Dentistry Specialty Program Residents POSTER CBY/PIBBS Graduate Students

Post-Doctoral Fellows

Undergraduate and DDS Students - Basic Sciences Undergraduate and DDS Students - Clinical Sciences CATEGORY Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy PhD Candidates

Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy PhD Students

Occupational Science & Occuptional Therapy Doctoral Students AWARDS Dean’s Research Award

USC STEVENS CENTER FOR INNOVATION AWARDS “Most Disruptive” (Innovative) and “Best Commercial Potential” Awarded to the posters with the highest likelihood of transferring into practical use. The USC Stevens Center for Innovation is a university-wide resource for USC innovators in the Office of the Provost. Designed to harness and advance the creative thinking and breakthrough research at USC for societal impact beyond traditional academic means, they focus on the licensing of technologies, expanding industry collaborations and supporting start-ups. Their mission is to maximize the translation of USC research into products to public benefit through licenses, collaborations and the promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation.

DENTSPLY SIRONA SCADA AWARD - Student Competition for Advancing Dental Research and its Application Dentsply Sirona and the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) have joined forces to co-sponsor the Student Competition for Advancing Dental Research and its Application (SCADA), formerly known as the Student Clinicians of the American Dental Association. The SCADA program advances our collective commitment to empower the next generation of dental leaders. By showcasing students’ research, and recognizing their passion for discovery and innovation, we will fuel the future of dental care.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SECTION OF THE AADR DENTAL STUDENT RESEARCH AWARD The AADR Student Research Day Award is awarded to the best presentation at the univer- sity research day competition. The award shall be determined by the university judging committee.

DR. ANSEL WATROUS FACULTY RESEARCH AWARD

Photo Courtesy of Mehrdad Razaghy 37 POSTER PHOTO CREDITS CATEGORY

Front & Back Cover Photo Courtesy of Dr. Eva​ Janečková. Visualization of Osr2-Cre;tdTomato reporter mice at E16.5 in the soft palate region. Frontal section of the mouse head, specifically in the region of the tensor eliv palatini AWARDS muscle, which is wrapping around the pterygoid plate. Double staining of RFP (red, tdTomato signal) and MHC immunohistochemistry (green).

Photo Courtesy of Dr. ​Eva Janečková. Pages 1, 62, 75, 78

Photo Courtesy of Mehrdad Razaghy ‘19. Pages 2, 13, 36, 38, 42, 47, 55, 57

Photo Courtesy of Dr. Amy Merrill. Page 15

Photo Courtesy of Dr. Alexandra Chamberlain. Page 32

Photo Courtesy of Dr. Jian Wu. Page 37

Photo Courtesy of John Skalicky. Page 21

Photo Courtesy of Dr. Jian Wu 38 RESEARCH DAY POSTER ABSTRACTS

were paired; the pairs consis- patients wearing a non-oc- function. Our recent studies of DENTISTRY tently evaluated applicants on cluding splint. However, there herpesvirus immune evasion DIVISION the same scenario. Through were no statistically significant implicate cellular glutamine mid-January 2019, 332 appli- differences between SS worn amidotransferases (GATs) in cants were interviewed. Con- deamidating key signaling mol- 24 hours a day and a non-oc- FACULTY clusion: The MMI process was ecule. Here, we report that the cluding splint in reduction of well-received by faculty/staff rate-limiting enzyme of pyrimi- pain intensity (p=.646) or num- Poster #1 interviewers and was incorpo- dine synthesis, a trifunctional rated into the existing interview ber of responders to treatment GAT containing activity of car- Title: Learner-centered dental process without difficulty. Po- (p=.323). There were no signif- bamoyl phosphate synthetase, admissions: 1. Implementation tential outcomes of this addi- icant differences detected be- aspartyl transcarbamoylase of the multiple mini-Interview tion will be assessed over time. tween SS (worn at night or 24 and dihydroorotase (CAD), de- hours a day) and NOS in any of amidates the RelA subunit to Authors: Anita Tourah, Mah- inactivate NF-kappaB and pro- the other outcomes measured vash Navazesh, & Robin Fox Poster #2 mote aerobic glycolysis. Func- (tenderness of muscles of mas- tional screen and biochemical Background: Evaluation of Title: Flat plane appliances for tication at palpation, interincisal analysis demonstrated that cognitive skills and academic muscle-related TMD opening or clicking). Conclu- CAD deamidated RelA to ne- abilities is a significant com- sion: There is low quality of ev- gate NF-kappaB activation. In ponent of higher education Authors: Jon Delsnyder, idence to support the use of flat proliferating cells, CAD is ac- admissions. Non-cognitive at- Thomas Colina, Nagy Else- stabilization splints worn only tivated and catalyzes de novo tributes such as empathy, in- mary, Reyes Enciso, & Mariela at night or 24 hours to provide pyrimidine synthesis to meet tegrity, ethical decision-making, Padilla Guevara the metabolic need during S a reduction of pain intensity in effective communication, and phase. CAD-mediated RelA leadership skills are also desir- Purpose: The objective of this the treatment for myogenous deamidation and NF-kappaB able and important for health- study was to determine if the temporomandibular disorders. inactivation paralleled in a cell care providers, enabling them use of flat stabilization appli- Large RCTs with lower risk of cycle-dependent manner. In to adapt to their profession. ances would benefit patients bias and standardized method- addition, CAD promoted glycol- The Problem-based Learn- with myogenous temporoman- ology comparing stabilization ysis via deamidated RelA that ing (PBL) interview has been dibular disorders. Methods: splints to non-occluding splints up-regulated the expression of used by the DDS program of The studies chosen were ran- are needed to confirm these key glycolytic enzymes. Strati- the Herman Ostrow School of fication of cancer cell lines by domized controlled trials which results. Dentistry for 20 years, evalu- CAD-mediated RelA deamida- ating candidates’ communica- evaluated flat plane stabiliza- tion predicted their sensitivity tion, teamwork, and leadership tion splints (SS) versus non-oc- Poster #3 to inhibitors of glycolytic en- skills. Purpose: We added the cluding palatal splints (NOS) zymes, while a subset of can- Multiple Mini-interview (MMI) for the treatment of myogenous Title: CAD inhibits NF-kappaB cer-predisposed mutations of in September 2018 to evaluate temporomandibular disorders. activation while promoting aer- RelA promoted RelA deamida- applicants’ empathy, integrity The Cochrane Library, Med- obic glycolysis via deamidating tion and glycolytic metabolism. and ethical decision-making. line through PubMed and Web RelA This work describes a metabol- We describe implementation of ic reprogramming enabled by of Science were searched for the MMI as an admission tool Authors: Jun Zhao, Mao Tian, CAD-mediated RelA deamida- for the School. Methods: MMI studies which met the criteria Alireza Delfarah, Brian Gao, tion that underpins cell prolifer- interviewers were calibrated mentioned above. Results: Larissa Bubb, Nicholas A. Gra- ation and cancer development. and MMI scenarios were iden- Review authors assessed 544 ham, & Pinghui Feng tified. Scenarios were selected unduplicated references which from the ProFitHR Candidate were reduced to eight random- Aerobic glycolysis, better Assessment System devel- Poster #4 ized controlled clinical trials. known as “Warburg effect”, is oped by McMaster University the preferential conversion of (Canada). Results: 46 faculty Four were assessed at unclear glucose into lactate even with Title: Repeatedly applied pep- (5 Div. I; 11 Div. II; 6 Div. III; risk of bias and four were at sufficient oxygen supply, and tide film kills bacteria on dental 15 Div. IV; 7 Div. V; 2 Div. VI) high risk. Patients wearing a a hallmark of cancer cells and implant and 6 staff were calibrated as flat plane stabilization splint normal proliferating cells. The Authors: Cate Wisdom, Casey MMI interviewers. Each appli- mechanisms of metabolic re- only at night had a significantly Chen, Esra Yuca, Yan Zhou, cant was evaluated on 4 case programming during prolifer- better reduction in pain inten- Candan Tamerler, & Malcolm scenarios. Two interviewers sity (p=.015), and the subjects ation are not well understood. independently rated each ap- L. Snead had a greater chance to have Protein deamidation is emerg- plicant using a 1-5 scale. Gen- ing as a post-translational mod- Background: The rising use erally, the same interviewers a 50% or more of reduction of ification that regulates protein pain intensity (p=.037) than of titanium dental implants

The Explorer Journal 2019 39 has increased the prevalence Background: Older adults are Background: Bioactive pep- tion. One possible mechanism of peri-implant disease that living longer and experiencing tide amphiphile (PA) nanofiber by which herpesvirus promotes shortens their useful life. A multi-morbidities resulting in matrices that self-assemble in bacterial infection is through growing view of peri-implant polypharmacy. A major adverse aqueous fluids into nanoscale their notorious strategies to de- disease suggests that plaque effect of this is dry mouth. Due filaments to mimic natural ex- rail host immune responses. My accumulation and microbi- to the cost and associated side tracellular matrices. These PA laboratory has recently discov- ome dysbiogenesis triggers effects from existing cholinergic molecules create supramolecu- ered that herpesvirus hijacks a host immune inflammatory agonists, topical saliva substi- lar nanofibers with a core-shell cellular metabolic enzymes response destroying soft and tutes and stimulants have been morphology built by collapsed to inactivate innate immune hard tissues supporting the utilized as a viable alternative. hydrophobic segments and be- signaling pathways. As such, implant. Purpose: We report a Purpose: To evaluate the effi- ta-sheets. Canonical Wnt sig- viral replication is significantly water-based, non-surgical ap- cacy of saliva substitutes and naling is initiated by the inter- increased, which may also fuel proach to address peri-implant stimulants compared to place- action of Wnt ligands with the bacterial infection. I will discuss disease using a bifunctional bo in improving findings of dry Frizzled receptor and Lrp5/6 some ongoing research in the peptide film, which can be ap- mouth not caused by Sjögren’s co-receptor. Phosphorylation of laboratory. plied during the initial implant Syndrome. Methods: Four Lrp5/6 leads to cytosolic accu- placement and later, can be re- databases were searched mulation and nuclear transloca- applied to existing implants to (PubMed, Web of Science, tion of beta-catenin, to activate reduce bacterial growth. Meth- Cochrane Library and EM- target gene expression. LDL ADVANCED ods: Bifunctional peptides are BASE) through 3/2018. Only receptor protein-related factor based upon a titanium binding RCTs with dry mouth patients 6 (Lrp6) phosphorylation in raft SPECIALTY peptide (TiBP) optimally linked where interventions compared membrane domains and sub- by a spacer peptide to an anti- to placebo were included. Out- sequent internalization into sig- PROGRAM microbial peptide (AMP). Den- comes included salivary flow naling-competent vesicles (ca- tal implant surfaces covered and self-reported patient im- veolae) are essential for Wnt RESIDENTS with a bifunctional peptide film provement. The Cochrane Col- pathway activation. Purpose: kills bacteria. Further, using a laboration’s tool for assessing The requirement of caveolae simple protocol for cleaning risk of bias was used. A me- was characterized in PA-medi- Poster #8 implant surfaces fouled by bac- ta-analysis with subgroup anal- ated potentiation of canonical teria, the surface can be effec- yses was performed. Results: Wnt signaling. Methods: The Title: Dental effects on alveolar tively re-coated with TiBP-AMP A total of 348 references were caveolin-mediated endocytosis bone graft for craniofacial cleft to regain an antimicrobial state. reviewed, resulting in inclusion was inhibited, thereby blocking treatment Results: Fouling, cleansing, of seven RCTs with 257 dry the formation of caveolae. Re- re-binding was confirmed for mouth patients. Five studies sults: PA-mediated potentia- Authors: Andrew Palermo up to four cycles with a min- had high risk of bias, one un- tion of canonical Wnt signaling imal loss of binding efficacy. clear and one low risk. In two was abolished. Conclusion: Faculty advisor: Stephen Yen Conclusion: A water-based, studies, 1% malic acid topi- Caveolae is required for the Background: Secondary al- non-surgical approach to ad- cal spray increased unstim- potentiation of canonical Wnt veolar bone grafting (SABG) dress peri-implant disease us- ulated (Difference in Means signaling by PA nanofibers. is critical in the treatment of ing a bifunctional peptide film [DM]=0.096, 95% CI=0.092- craniofacial clefts with alveolar applied during the initial im- 0.100; p<0.001) andstimulated involvement. With the advent plant placement or at retreat- (DM=0.203, 95% CI=0.106- Poster #7 of cone beam computer tomo- ment for existing implants was 0.300; p<0.001) salivary flow graphic images, we can safe- demonstrated. This technology compared to placebo groups. Title: Herpesvirus infection in ly and routinely produce 3-D represents a paradigm shift in In two studies, patients using oral inflammation radiographs to evaluate the the prevention of dental im- 1% malic acid topical spray cleft prior to grafting. Purpose: plant failure while adding to the were 5.4 times more likely to Authors: Pinghui Feng The purpose of this study is to range of bioactive molecules report improvement compared evaluate the cleft-site of pa- that can be anchored to implant to placebo (95% CI=2.634- Herpesviruses are ubiquitous tients with craniofacial clefts surfaces to improve their func- 11.091; p<0.001). No signifi- in human and their infections with alveolar involvement for tion, such as osteointegration. cant improvements were found cause significant morbidity and predisposing factors that may Rebinding after fouling of a with other products. Conclu- mortality in immune-compro- compromise the graft outcome. water-based film extends con- sion: Use of 1% malic acid mised individuals, such as the Methods: CBCT’s were tak- trol over the oral microbiome topical spray seems to improve elderly or AIDS patients. Oral en (Carestream CS 9300) on composition providing a novel dry mouth compared to pla- cavity is an important com- 52 patients (ages 7-12 years non-surgical treatment for den- cebo. Quality of the evidence partment that is conducive for old) with cleft lip and palate 6 tal implants. was low due to risk of bias and herpesvirus replication and months following their second- A imprecision; further studies are dissemination. Accumulat-

ary alveolar bone graft at Chil- b needed. ing clinical studies, especially

dren’s Hospital, LA. Carestream s those from Dr. Slots’s group, Poster #5 proprietary software and Osirix t suggest that human herpesvi- MD DICOM viewer were used r a Title: Efficacy of saliva sub- ruses exacerbate periodontal to render 3-D and 2-D images Poster #6 c inflammatory diseases, such to evaluate the graft outcome stitutes/stimulants in the treat- t

as periodontitis, peri-implantitis s ment of dry mouth Title: Peptide amphiphile nano- as either type I (full bony graft), and gingivitis. We are interest- fibers potentiate canonical Wnt type II (coronal/cervical bridg- ed in the role of herpesvirus Authors: Mehdi Mohammadi, signaling through caveolae ing), type III (apical bridging) or Lydia See, Reyes Enciso, Phuu infection in the oral inflamma- type IV (full graft failure). The Han, & Roseann Mulligan Authors: Yan Zhou, Samuel I. tory diseases, with a focus on software was then used to eval- Stupp, & Malcolm L. Snead bacteria-herpesvirus interac- uate the cleft-margins for: suc-

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC 40

cedaneous canine position, ex- tra-operator reliability were de- masseter (21.3%) and bilateral Distalizer and Forsus groups. istence of impacted teeth and termined to be high (> 0.9). The superficial masseters (12.8%). The amount of Class II correc- bone loss around the teeth ad- accuracy of VBR did not differ The temporalis muscle was tion was significantly lower for jacent to the cleft-site. Results: significantly between software not a common site for a trigger Carriere Distalizer when com- The most common graft out- programs. However, statistical- point, with just one case inject- pared with Forsus appliance. come was type III followed by ly significant differences (P < ed on that site. Conclusion: Carriere Distalizer, similarly to type IV, type II and type I was 0.05) were detected between The most frequent location for Class II elastics, did not induce the least common. Statistically tooth segments (incisors, ca- a facial trigger point was the any statistically significant cor- significant results were found nines/premolars, and first mo- masseter muscle, which is jaw rection in skeletal component for canine position (p=0.0404) lars), with VBR in the posterior closer muscle. When dealing (ANB and Wits appraisal). and bone loss of adjacent teeth segments showing the least with facial pain of non-odon- Conclusion: There is a lack of (p=5.34x10-5), but not for im- accuracy. Conclusions: Virtu- togenic origin, the clinician skeletal correction induced by pacted teeth (p=0.7730). Con- al bracket removal is accurate should examine those muscles Carriere Distalizer in growing clusion: Significantly worse and reproducible when using to rule out myofascial pain. patients. Carriere Distalizer can graft outcomes were associat- the protocols established in this be effectively applied to treat- ed with tooth-related bone loss study. Both Ortho Analyzer™ ment of mild to moderate Class around the cleft margins. The and Meshmixer™ can be used II dental malocclusion over 6 results of this study suggest for the computer-aided design Poster #11 months on average, although that teeth that compromise the and manufacture of retainers. the total treatment time may be cleft margin should be extract- Title: Evaluating the efficiency prolonged. ed prior to SABG. of Carriere Distalizer: compari- Poster #10 son of Class-II appliances Title: Facial Trigger Points Lo- Authors: Kaifeng Yin, Eugene Poster #12 Poster #9 cations in Myofascial Pain Pa- Han, Jing Guo, Toshihiko Yasu- tients: Retrospective Study mura, Dan Grauer, & Glenn T. Title: Effect of different barriers Title: Assessment of 3D sur- Sameshima on output of light curing units face changes following virtual Authors: Erick Gomez-Marro- bracket removal quin, Tarun Mundluru, Mariela Faculty advisor: Glenn T. Authors: Fares Albalawi & Jin- Padilla, & Glenn Clark Sameshima Ho Phark Authors: Alexandra Cham- berlain, Andre Weissheimer, & Faculty advisor: Mariela Pa- Background: Although Carri- Faculty advisor: Jin-Ho Phark Kaifeng Yin dilla ere distalizer has been grow- ing in popularity among clinical Background: Sufficient light Faculty advisor: Andre Weis- Background: The term trigger practitioners over the last de- output is essential for prop- sheimer point in myofascial pain syn- cade, few studies are available er polymerization for dental drome involves muscle stiff- to evaluate the treatment effi- restorations. However, barrier Background: Computer-aided ness, tenderness, and pain that ciency of Carriere Distalizer for materials for infection control design and manufacturing of radiates to other areas of the Class II correction. Purpose: purposes could lead to com- orthodontic retainers from dig- body, a condition that should To evaluate the treatment effi- promised quality of light output itally debonded models can be be considered when examin- ciency of Carriere distalizer in emitted from light curing units. used to facilitate same-day de- ing a patient with facial pain of comparison to Class II inter- Purpose: To assess the effect livery. Purpose: The purpose non-dental origin. Purpose: In maxillary elastics and Forsus. of different barriers on light out- of this study was to 1) establish this retrospective study, we ex- Methods: Three groups of put emitted from LED light cur- reliable virtual bracket removal amined the trigger point loca- patients treated with Class II ing units. Methods: Five units (VBR) techniques using two 3D tion in patients with myofascial intermaxillary elastics (n=18), (LED, Valo, Ultradent) were modeling software programs pain in the masticatory mus- Carriere Distalizer (n=18), tested for light output using a and 2) assess their accuracy cles. We proposed that trig- and Forsus appliance (n=18) radiometer (Bluephase Meter and reproducibility. Methods: ger points are more frequently were collected. The data con- II). Each unit was measured The sample consisted of nine found in the mandible closing sisted of cephalometric and 10 times under nine different 3D-printed maxillary models muscles (masseter and tem- study model measurements barrier conditions: G1-without that were digitized with an intra- poralis). Methods: This study from pre- and post-treatment any barrier (control group), oral scanner for use as a con- was conducted at the Orofacial records and treatment time. G2-single layer barrier tape , trol group. The control models Pain and Oral Medicine Center, Two-tail student t test was G3- double layer barrier tape, were bonded with labial brack- with data from 47 charts of pa- used to analyze the differenc- G4-single layer syringe cover, ets and scanned. VBR was per- tients who were diagnosed with es in cephalometric and dental G5-double layer syringe cover, formed using Ortho Analyzer™ Myofascial Pain and received changes between Carriere dis- G6-single layer kitchen wrap, (3Shape A/S, Copenhagen, 1-2 trigger point injections from talizer group and Class II elas- G7-double layer kitchen wrap, Denmark) and Meshmixer™ January 2016 to December tics/Forsus group. Results: G8-single layer Valo sleeve, (Autodesk, San Rafael, CA). 2018. The results were an- All three groups showed no G9-double layer Valo sleeve. The virtually debonded models alyzed using descriptive sta- differences in the age of treat- Results: The highest light were superimposed onto the tistics with Excel. Results:In ment initiation, pre-treatment output measurements (1460.8 2 control models, and 3D Euclid- 76.6% of the cases, Myofascial cephalometric measurements mW/cm ) was recorded for the ean distances between surface Pain was included as the first and Discrepancy Index (DI). control group (G1). Light output points of superimposed models diagnosis, identifying at least The time of Class II correction was decreased in groups with were calculated for compara- one trigger point. The left su- for Carriere Distalizer was sig- one layer of barrier material tive analysis of surface changes perficial masseter muscle was nificantly shorter than that for (G6, G8, G4, G2), ranging from 2 due to VBR. Surface changes the most frequent location of Class II elastics; there was no 1387.2 mW/cm to 1367.4 mW/ 2 were expressed via color map- the trigger points (42.6%), fol- difference in the length of Class cm . The lowest light output ping. Results: Inter- and in- lowed by the right superficial II correction between Carriere measurements were measured

The Explorer Journal 2019 Abstracts ------41 Purpose: The study respective o Homa H. Za Horizontal and : Vietnamese indi Methods: Navid Nobaharestan, Nobaharestan, Navid and 37.3 and o Radiographic analysis of various distances relative to the to relative distances various aim tertiary The screws. tenting initial of effect the evaluate to is recipient site bone morphology on post-therapy changes. dimensional population includes those pa tients who had been treated Authors: Christopher Pham, Agahi, & Sanchita Mehra Shahriar advisor: Faculty deh Background: vertical resorption of the alve olar crest following tooth loss compromises functional esthetic outcomes of endos seous and implant placement. Var ious surgical techniques have been proposed the to edentulous augment as ridge, guided bone such (GBR) regeneration with However, the efficacy tenting of these screws. techniques have not been thor oughly evaluated. The primary aim of this retro radiograph to is study spective and horizontal the assess ically vertical dimensional changes in the alveolar bone following tenting and GBR with treatment screws. The secondary aim is to examine the effects of tenting the screws by the post-therapy analyzing at bone dimensional alveolar the of changes present present in 47.9% tients. of Ovoid arch the forms were pa maxilla the in common most the (60.5%). mandible and (68.0%) The mean ANB and SN-GoGn 3.1 were ly. Males and females showed mm -0.67 of value Wits mean a and -0.92 Conclusion mm respectively. viduals displayed the following dental features: primarily Class I dental, elevated overjet and overbite values compared ideal, reduced to tooth shoveling compared to previous reports, increased crossbite tion, and distribu primarily ovoid arch They forms. also demonstrated elevated ANB and steep man dibular plane angles. Poster #16 Title: guided bone regeneration with tenting screws : : ------USC Results Methods 3D printer To establish To Glenn T. : Treatment Tiffany Hudson, Tiffany Thu Purpose: An Overview of the Den Conclusions: Class I, II, and III molar tionships were rela observed in or der of decreasing The mean overjet frequency. and overbite were 3.5 mm and 2.7 mm re spectively. Tooth was exhibited in shoveling 39.5% of the sample and crossbites were an Le, & Glenn T. Sameshima T. an Le, & Glenn advisor: Faculty Sameshima Background norms have historically based been off of Caucasian ulations. pop Studies have been since conducted on a of racial groups in order to pro variety vide ethnic-specific reference norms. an overview of the dental and skeletal relationships in namese Viet individuals. Initial patient records (n=124) of immigrant or tion first genera were collected from Vietnamese-Americans a private practice in Canoga Park, CA, and used in (n=119) this study. Study models were evaluated for Angle classification, over jet, overbite, tooth crossbites, shoveling, and Lateral arch cephalograms digitally form. traced were using and Steiner Wits analyses. tive Descrip statistics were completed and compared to correspond ing data previously published on other ethnicities. cation, diagnosis and treatment treatment and diagnosis cation, planning. Compared to the oth er two groups, a higher significantly proportion of parents patients/ believed more mation infor about impacted was teeth obtained from 3D-printed models than from CBCT imag es/conventional x rays/photos only. premaxilla with impacted teeth are advantageous to commu nication with patients/parents and dental specialists. There fore, 3D printer models should be widely applied to diagnosis and treatment of dental impac tion in clinical orthodontics. Poster #15 Title: tal and Skeletal Relationships in Individuals of Ancestry Vietnamese Authors: ------The All three Glenn T. : PROMs are a Methods: Results: The purpose of the Kaifeng Yin, Toshi 3D Printing and Dental Conclusion tions. Only patients’ illas premax with impacted teeth were preserved in 3D-printed mod els. The buccal/palatal cortical bone covering the crowns the of impacted teeth moved were re during so segmentation, that the position of impact ed teeth relative to neighboring teeth was better shown 3D models. from populations-patients/parents, orthodontists, oral periodontists/ surgeons-showed acceptance rate of 3D models high in aspects of patient communi 2017). 3D reconstruction and manual segmentation conducted using Mimics were 20.0 software package. ported The STL files were ex cleaned further up with the corporated tools in Autodesk in Mesh Mixer 3.5. performed 3D using printing Formlabs SLA 3D printer was with grey 2 resin. The resolution was set at 100 test micron. To the acceptance of 3D printed maxillary models among patients/parents, thodontists, or and periodontist/ oral surgeons, we conducted a pilot survey involving 5 ques Faculty advisor: Faculty Sameshima Purpose; study is to introduce flow a using work 3D-printedpremax illa models to nosis facilitate and diag treatment planning of dental impaction in orthodontics. clinical pre-operative CBCT seven cases with filesimpacted up of per canines or central incisors were selected from advanced orthodontic clinic at University of Southern California (2016- cruitment is needed to support these findingsPROMs and of different modalities evaluate for the treatment of gingival re cession. Poster #14 Title: Impaction in Orthodontics Authors: hiko Yasumura, Jing Sameshima Guo, T. Glenn & the end of the 12-month follow up. crucial element of recognizing patient experience. Further re ------Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry School of of Ostrow Herman : Under : Barrier : Initial data Initial : : Participants Homa H. Za Results Conclusion Background Methods Julio Moreno-Aleman : The aim of this RCT . 2 Patient reported outcomed nchez á gesic use. A questionnaire will be will questionnaire A use. gesic completed by the participants at ber of analgesic tablets used by patient. each revealed high degree of variabili anal in and experience pain in ty ministered to the volunteers assess to PROMs, including pain experience. Analgesic use was num the counting by determined sion defects are currently being recruited for this days after study. the intervention, a Three vi sual analog scale was (VAS) ad sure for therapy patients for gingival defects. undergoing recession with Miller class I, II or III reces selecting appropriate therapeu tic There modality. is inadequate evidence to allow of PROMs as an comparison outcome mea (VISTA) and (VISTA) Intrasulcular tunnel ing (IST). standing patients‚Äô experience is an important determinant in gingival margins to achieve root coverage: Coronally Advanced Flap (CAF), Vestibular Incision Subperiosteal Tunnel Access of multiple defects and gingival attempt to compare recession post-operative pain of 3 modali ties for coronal advancement of was to evaluate the pa patient of (PROMs) outcomes ported re tients undergoing three different interventions for the treatment Faculty advisor: Faculty deh Purpose sion defects Authors: S measures (PROMs) experience and of three coronal pain ad treat the for methods vancement ment of multiple gingival reces Poster #13 Title: barrier materials need to be con sidered for effective polymeriza tion of dental restorations. put of light curing units. Light out Light units. curing light of put put decreases even more when barriers are placed in double lay ers. Thus, type and thickness of ranging from 1315.0 to mW/cm 1340.8 materials for purposes decrease infection the light out control for groups with double layers of G7), G5, G9, (G3, material barrier 42

with GBR and tenting screws at Poster #18 Poster #19 gate the oral microbiome in pa- USC Herman Ostrow School of tients with active lichen planus Dentistry Department of Peri- Title: Efficacy of trigger points Title: A case report of outpa- as compared to healthy control odontology. Inclusion criteria to reduce VAS in myofascial tient dental treatment for pa- patients without lichen planus. consisted of: 1) the availability pain patients: retrospective tient with CRPS utilizing deep Methods: To investigate the of pre- and post-therapy diag- study sedation/general anesthesia relationship between lichen nostic quality CBCTs, 2) treat- with an infusion of ketamine planus and oral microbiome ment performed between Janu- Authors: Tarun Mundluru, Er- status, we conducted DNA and ary 2008 to present time, 3) the ick Gomez-Marroquin, Mariela Authors: Tarun Mundluru, RNA sequencing of human sali- alveolar ridge augmentation Padilla, & Glenn Clark Mana Saraghi, & James W. va and aligned it to both human technique utilized particulate Tom and bacterial viral genomes. Faculty advisor: Glenn Clark bone with resorbable barrier We collected saliva samples Faculty advisor: James W. membrane and tenting screws. from three lichen planus cases Background: A trigger point Tom Exclusion criteria consisted is hyper irritated area locat- and three naive controls. We of: 1) alveolar bone augmen- ed in the taut band of a mus- Background: Complex region- performed an observational tation techniques not utilizing cle that on palpation radiates al pain syndrome (CRPS) is (clinical paired with genomic the combination of particulate pain. Presence of trigger point a potentially debilitating form patient information) study to bone with resorbable barrier in the muscle and radiating of neuropathic pain that often identify potential associations. membrane and tenting screws, pain is characteristic of myo- manifests following a traumat- Results: Over 1500 species 2) non-diagnostic CBCTs. fascial pain syndrome. There ic injury or surgery. CRPS is of bacteria and viruses were The CBCTs taken at pre- and are several treatment strate- also known as algodystrophy, identified in the salivary mi- post-therapy will be superim- gies to treat myofascial pain. causalgia, or reflex sympathetic crobiome using DNA and RNA posed in an imaging software Injection the local anesthesia dystrophy (RSD.) Patients de- sequencing, with unique differ- (Amira) to quantify linear and into the trigger point region is scribe unbearable burning pain ences between patients with 3-dimensional changes of the one among them. Purpose: from non-nociceptive stimuli, lichen planus and those without alveolar bone. To examine the effectiveness such as when taking a show- disease. We further charac- of the trigger point injections er or brushing against another terize 10 predominant species associated with lichen planus Poster #17 in pain reduction perceived by object. The regular tactile stim- the masticatory myofascial pain uli encountered during routine as identified in this study. Con- clusion: Certain bacterial and Title: Familiarity of California patients. Methods: This is a restorative dental procedures retrospective study conducted may not be well tolerated by a viral pathogens may play a role pediatric dentists in treating in the pathogenesis of oral li- children with ADD/ADHD at the Orofacial Pain and Oral patient with CRPS. Ketamine Medicine Center based on the infusions have been reported chen planus, thus knowledge of Authors: Tiffany Barrett & clinical data collected from Jan- to help alleviate the acute flares unique and predominant spe- Thomas Tanbonliong uary 2016 to December 2018. of CRPS symptoms. Results: cies is a necessary first-step 26 patients who received 1-2 We are presenting a case re- for informing future studies into Faculty advisor: Thomas Tan- trigger point injections were in- port of successful outpatient pathogenesis. bonliong volved in the study. Pain levels dental treatment utilizing deep were recorded using the VAS sedation/ general anesthesia Purpose: The purpose is to as- analogue scale before and af- with an infusion of ketamine Poster #21 sess the familiarity of California ter the trigger point injection. in a 35 year-old female patient pediatric dentists with the Amer- The VAS scores were com- diagnosed with CRPS who had Title: A rare case presentation ican Academy of Pediatrics and pared and statistical analysis poor intravenous access. of adenomatoid odontogenic American Academy of Child was conducted using the nor- tumour with a novel treatment and Adolescent Psychiatry mality test (Shapiro-Wilk), and approach guidelines in treating medically a paired t-test. Results: Pre- diagnosed ADD/ADHD pediat- and post-treatment VAS pain Poster #20 Authors: Tarun Mundluru, ric patients and determine rel- was measured in 26 patients. D. Pilgrim, D. Kohanchi, J. El Title: Genomic study of the ative success rates of treating Both variables passed the Khoury, Parish Sedghizadeh, & human salivary microbiome in them in pediatric dental practic- normality test (p>0.05). The Reyes Enciso patients with oral lichen planus es within office sedation proce- average reduction in pain on dures. Methods: An electronic Faculty advisor: Parish VAS scale was 1.27 units on a Authors: Tarun Mundluru, An- questionnaire was sent to 732 scale 0-10 with a standard de- Sedghizadeh California pediatric dentists. dres Stucky, Mohammad Khal- viation of 2.27 and this change ifeh, & Parish Sedghizadeh The questionnaire consisted of was statistically significant Background: Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (AOT) is an 21 questions regarding knowl- (p=0.009). Conclusions: The Faculty advisor: Parish uncommon odontogenic tumor edge with treating ADD/ADHD use of a trigger point injection Sedghizadeh pediatric patients in the dental is a successful strategy for the that originates from the odonto- office setting. Results: TBD treatment of Myofascial Pain in Purpose: To conduct a genom- genic epithelium. It is predom- Conclusion: TBD the Orofacial region, with a re- ic study assessing the salivary inantly noticed in young wom- duction on the patient’s percep- microbiome in patients with oral en, especially in the maxilla in tion of pain measured by the lichen planus. Background: association with an unerupted visual analogue scale. Lichen planus is considered permanent tooth. Radiograph- an autoimmune disease of un- ic findings usually reveal a known etiology. Recent data relatively well-defined radiolu- has implicated bacterial or viral cency ranging from unilocular infection as playing a role in the to multilocular; occasionally etiopathogenesis of lichen pla- AOT can present as a mixed nus. In this study, we investi- radiographic lesion. Results:

The Explorer Journal 2019 Abstracts ------43 Joan Beleno : According to Joanne Lee Matching organs, sav prevent rejection of liver, the transplant new recipients are immunosuppressive prescribed multiple are There medications. research studies that show the increased risks of dental cay, periodontal de disease, and oral manifestations due to im efits of alkaline mineral water deserves more attention. Poster #25 Title: ing smiles: education for liver transplant patients Authors: advisor: Faculty Sanchez Background data from the United Network for Organ there Sharing (UNOS), were transplants performed “36,527 in United States in 2018, [setting] the organ an annual record for the sixth straight year.” more dental professionals are Increasingly encountering liver patients transplant in the While transplant surgery offers dental chair. the gift of life, it also leads the to shift from end ease stage to chronic disease dis in the form of and immunosuppression other complications. To kaline kaline water benefits both the oral cavity and overall system ic health. People water with a consuming high level of TDS have shown a lower incidence of coronary (CHD) and cardiovascular dis heart ease disease (CVD). common a is water of sumption Frequent con non-pharmacologic approach used to combat dry mouth and prevent erosion. People gener saf is water bottled believe ally er than tap water, but the low pH of some bottled waters can acidic slightly While harmful. be water may not be problematic study this individuals, healthy in will reinforce the important role Dental Hygienists have in edu cating patients with dry mouth and providing safe recommen dations. With consumption an of bottled expanding water, a growing elderly suffering from xerostomia, population and an increasing number of indi diseases, systemic with viduals investigation of the health ben : ------USC Conclusion Joan Beleno Hayley Botwin, Cla pHact or pHiction: oral DENTAL HYGIENE determined by mineral content, also known as total dissolved solids (TDS). Naturally occur ring alkaline water is becoming increasingly popular worldwide as many pursue lifestyle a through healthier mindful and food beverage choices. Recent studies have shown that al Poster #24 Title: and systemic benefits of alka line water Authors: Melissa & Luna, Denise Lii, rice Luna advisor: Faculty Sanchez Alkaline mineral water is fined de aswater naturally with minerals, occurring such calcium as and magnesium, and having a pH above 7. Accord ing to the World Health Orga nization (WHO), the optimum pH of drinking water should be is pH Water 9.5. to 6.5 between trol-60)<(Predrill-60, trol-60)<(Predrill-60, trol-60, drill-90, Control-90); Con P<0.001]. PT was Control-30)<(Pre decreased according to increase in speed [Predrill-90<(Control-90, the insertion Predrill-60)

------: The : Meth Homa H. Za Purpose : Assessment of Raffie Garabedian, : Eighteen patients Treatment Treatment of multiple : Gingival Recession (GR) contributed 112 sites that met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Four blinded examiners made quantitative digital ments on clinical measure photographs. Results layers. The surface areas recession defects of of pre- and post-op images were calculat ed, using image analysis tool. Subperiosteal Tunnel Access (VISTA). Pre- and post-opera tive digital photographs superimposed were as separate ods areas were measured Adobe Photoshop using on patients treated with Vestibular Incision the outcome (primary: % sur face area of therapy coverage=RSAC) for val multiple gingi recession defects. ity of using 2D treatment the analysis analyze to means as a of gingival recession defects. Once verified, the 2D analysis was then used to determine assessment, which are available. widely more objective of the present study was to first assess the reliabil periodontal probe and recently, using 3D digital tools. more It is desirable to determine the reliability of 2D methods of Background therapeutic efficacy forgingi val recession defects has tra ditionally been conducted with Faculty advisor: Faculty deh Authors: Na Eun Chung, rampe, Robert Neema Bakhshalian, & Lac Homa H. Zadeh Title: Title: gingival recession defects with 2D analysis VISTA: Poster #22 performed and the defect was treated with mixed with bone platelet-rich plasma xenograft and platelet-rich fibrin. clinical, radiological, and tological his manifestations of the rate recurrence the Since case. was enucleation AOT, for low is male patient with that an asymptomatic mandib presented ular swelling. This case report focuses on the relatively rare We We are presenting a rare case report AOT of in a 60 year-old- 44

munosuppressants. It is there- were conducted: 1) Testing the and proliferation rate. MSC can tested after 24h water storage fore vital for liver transplant pH level of 3 popular juices; 2) be obtained from human peri- and the remaining after artificial patients to know about these identifying ingredients of juic- odontal ligament, using stan- aging by thermo-cycling (20K increased risks and challenges es through a literature review; dard culture and proper growth cycles, 5-55oC) and 6 months to their oral health. Purpose: 3) identifying those ingredi- factor. Properties of stem cells water storage. Notched edge The purpose of this research ents with benefits for good for from the periodontal ligament SBS were measured and fail- is to gauge the awareness of oral health (pH 6.8-7); and 4) (PDLSCs) are regulated by ure mode recorded. Part I: liver transplant candidates/re- Developing a juice based on various factors including tissue Adhesive performance of one cipients to the importance of the “good” ingredients yield- origin, age of donor, culture CAD/CAM material (LuxaCam) proper oral hygiene and their ing a pH of 6.8 and testing for method, inflammatory condition was evaluated using different susceptibility to dental decay, taste by 2 independent raters. and growth factors to reach the surface treatments (N=180). periodontal disease, and oral Results: The pH of 3 popular optimum efficiency. Results: Part II: Adhesive performance manifestations due to immu- juices was below 6.2, however PDLSCs isolated from the alve- of two CAD/CAM materials nosuppressants. Methods: A beneficial ingredients for good olar socket of a young healthy (N=330) were compared to six-question survey was con- oral health within these juices donor were capable of forming each other using six cements ducted in person at a local or- included blueberries, apples, cementum, PDL, and alveolar (Universalzement, RelyX Ulti- gan donation awareness event. kales, carrots, and mint. Sub- bone in vivo under certain con- mate, RelyX Unicem2, Multilink Results: A total of 48 survey re- sequently, a juice comprised of ditions. Conclusion: Recent Automix, DuoCem, Ketac Cem sponses were recorded. 83.3% these ingredients was then for- studies have utilized topical ap- Plus). Results: Part I: Early of those surveyed responded mulated adjusting the amount plication of PDLSCs in vivo and SBS was higher in sandblast- that they were not aware of the of each ingredient to achieve successfully regenerated PDL, ed groups with no significant increased oral complications a pH of 6.8 and an acceptable cementum and alveolar bone. difference among them. After due to immunosuppressants, taste. Conclusion: It is possi- This study will explore the aging, group 1f (sandblasting and 77.1% responded that they ble to develop a juice that rais- possibility of regenerating the and Monobond Plus) had the would like more information. es the pH to a beneficial level PDL, cementum, and bone and highest SBS values. Part II: Conclusion: Many transplant and tastes good. Dental profes- identifying the efficient condi- Among the six cements, Duo- candidates/recipients are un- sionals should be educated on tion and factors, to provide the cem performed best in early aware of the possible oral com- how popular juicing habits may effective periodontal treatment. SBS for both materials. After plications due to immunosup- affect oral and systemic health aging, Universalzement ranked pressants. Therefore, it is our as part of their nutritional coun- first for LuxaCam and second responsibility as dental profes- seling with patients. for Lava Ultimate. Conclusion: sionals to educate patients at CBY/ Micromechanical retention sig- our appointments and through nificantly improved the SBS to interprofessional patient edu- CAD/CAM composite materi- cation opportunities. Poster #27 PIBBS als. The choice of cement af- fected the bond strength. Title: Regenerating PDL to re- GRADUATE build optimal periodontal sup- Poster #26 port STUDENTS Poster #29 Title: The hidden oral effects of Authors: Mahdieh Kiany, juicing Maryam Salarkia, & Narega Title: Role of FGFR2 during Bargian Poster #28 development of the posterior Authors: Ryan Pham, So Yi frontal suture Shin, Jacqueline Arceo, & Vic- Faculty advisor: Joan Beleno Title: Bond strength to a novel toria Rondinella Sanchez CAD/CAM composite material Authors: Lauren Bobzin & Amy Merrill Faculty advisor: Joan Beleno Background: Periodontitis Authors: Reham Alsamman, Sanchez is an infectious disease that Neimar Sartori, Sillas Duarte, & Faculty advisor: Amy Merrill causes irreversible destruction Jin-Ho Phark Background: Juicing using of tooth- supporting tissues Background: Existing re- more fruits and vegetables eventually leading to tooth loss. Faculty advisor: Jin-Ho Phark search into the formation of cra- has gained popularity as the Periodontal inflammation has nial sutures has uncovered the preferred choice for nutrition. been successfully controlled Purpose: Part I: Evaluate the key role of Fgfr2 in regulating It is important for dental pro- through conventional thera- effect of different surface treat- cellular differentiation and pro- fessionals to understand how pies; however, the damage to ments on shear-bond strength liferation during development. the consumption of juices that the periodontium can be per- (SBS) to a novel CAD/CAM Mutations resulting in gain of may have systemic benefits manent and difficult to restore. composite. Part II: Compare function of Fgfr2 have been may negatively affect one’s Purpose: The aim of regener- the adhesive performance of shown to cause disorders such oral health. Common acidic ating periodontal treatment is six cements to two CAD/CAM as Crouzon syndrome, which and sugary juices may affect to establish the physiological composite materials. Methods: feature craniosynostosis as a enamel structures and also in- function of teeth by rebuilding Two CAD/CAM materials (Lux- prominent phenotype. Prelimi- teract with the overall pH and the periodontal supporting tis- aCam, DMG; Lava Ultimate, nary data in our lab shows that microbiome within the oral cav- sue. Methods: Different types 3M) were tested SBS. Slices ablation of Fgfr2 within neural ity. Purpose: The purpose of of stem cells including mesen- of 2mm thickness were cut and crest derived tissue results in this investigation was to identi- chymal stem cells (MSCs) and polished. Composite cylinders patency of the PF suture and fy the pH level of popular juice embryonic stem cells (ESCs) (microhybrid composite Z250, a loss of the cartilage that nor- drinks and the ingredients that have been used for periodon- 3M) were bonded to the spec- mally forms its endochondral benefit both systemic and oral tal regeneration, among which imens. Half of each group were template. Whether this defect health. Methods: 4 Phases MSCs had greater capabilities is caused by disrupted cellular

The Explorer Journal 2019 Abstracts ------45 : We We : : Our study Results Janet Mora : Type I collagen I Type : : Interactions and To To investigate role Kaushik Mukher Conclusion Amelogenin peptide-col Methods proteins at the el dentin-enam junction (DEJ) regulate the growth of organized crystals, forming a robust inter enamel face. was mixed with PBS to obtain 1mg/ml collagen col Assembled 7. pH at 1XPBS solution in were grids TEM on fibers lagen into unique cell populations at PN3.5. provides comprehensive infor mation about the heterogeneity of cell populations molars in and shed mouse new light on the tooth regeneration in future. the Poster #33 Title: lagen interactions and dentin repair Authors: jee, Gayathri Visakan, & Janet Moradian-Oldak advisor: Faculty dian-Oldak Purpose: of amelogenin-peptide in (P26) regulating i) the mineraliza tion of collagen fibers inand vitro ii) the growth of hydroxy apatite (HAP) crystals demineralized on dentin surface. a Background dentin and enamel of assembly gle cell suspension. The gle sin cell RNA sequencing was performed with system and Nextseq500 the aligned with reads Cell were Ranger. We used Seurat package mented in imple R to identify cell types major in mouse molars. Im munostaining and RNAscope in situ hybridization were performed to validate the analysis expression. gene have revealed several new cell types in the mesenchyme and epithelium of mouse Specifically, there are molars. four cell papilla dental the in populations and two cell populations in the dental follicle of mouse molars at PN3.5. Importantly, the dif ferentiation trajectory of dental papilla cells initiates at the api cal region of mouse molars at PN3.5. Furthermore, we also found that Igf signaling is tive ac in mouse molars at PN3.5. In addition, chymal cells dental gradually restrict mesen ------Re USC : Mouse mo Yang Chai Yang : The under We conclude We that Jiahui Du, Junjun : Cross-sections : We aim to identify Methods Gradual loss in fluores Comprehensive analysis tal cell populations during mo lar development is Purpose unknown. the heterogeneity of dental cell devel molar during populations opment. lars of wildtype mice at E16.5 and PN3.5 were dissected and were homogenized into sin the reverse was remineralization. seen after loss Percentage in fluorescence (ΔF) was used for quantification of data. The results are in agreement with the results from Micro-CT. Conclusion: QLF can be employed to study quan be and dentin in changes tified for better understanding of remineralization process. Poster #32 Title: of dental cell types during mo lar formation Authors: Chai Yang Jing, & Faculty advisor: Background standing of the heterogeneity of cell populations in a partic ular organ can provide prehensive com information about the mechanism regulating the physiological function of the or gan. The heterogeneity of den in growing enamel like apatite crystals on etched enamel sur face (Mukherjee et al., 2017). Methods (1.5mm thickness) of extracted mandibular third molars were used. Two windows measuring 1 mm x 1mm were created on every section using clear var nish and were examined under QLF for generating values. Samples baseline were demin eralized for 72 hours and an alyzed under QLF at intervals of 12, 48 and 72 hours. Sam ples were split into half half, was one used as control an being internal remineralized in artificial saliva, and half the other being remineralized in the presence of P26. Sodium fluo rescein dye was used at every step of analysis to complement visualization under QLF. sults: cence of dentin with respect to baseline values was observed during demineralization and ------: My : I have : To employ To : Janet Mora Results Conclusion : QLF has been Purpose Garima Sandhu, Am Garima Sandhu, Quantitative light-induced Quantitative has been shown to be effective Background routinely employed enamel to study defects, white spot lesions especially Utilization on of teeth. sodium cein fluores dye and QLF to de- monitor and root re-mineralization dentin has of also been cently re reported (I.A. Pretty 2003). al., et QLF to quantify the changes in fluorescence of coronal dentin when subjected to alization and deminer remineralization in the presence of amelogen in derived peptide (P26). P26 Poster #31 Title: fluorescence for visualization and quantification ofdentin mineral density. coronal Authors: Mora Janet & Chakraborty, rita dian-Oldak advisor: Faculty dian-Oldak state when compared to both primary human and rat samples. primary in vitro method of forebrain generating pericytes is able provide insights to into the roles pericytes play in development and maintainence of the BBB, as well as the mechanisms of with associated defects various disease. This system can used be to study pericytes of dif AD mutations, as ferent well as in diseases other to applied be volving pericytes, such as ALS and Parkinson’s. ed pericytes from AD cells patient and compared these primary to patient pericytes and controls to begin to character ize the fects pericyte-specific in AD. de identified pericyte defects that are common across patients different and mutations of AD, honing in on possible general pathways important to pericyte also have I BBB. the at function shown that the in vitro system I created is able to recapitulate in vivo conditions in both wild type state and the disease the functionally functionally and transcriptom ically, comparing to brain pericytes across different primary species. I have also generat Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry School of of Ostrow Herman

: ------By using By Methods Ruchi Bajpai : My project fo : Defects in or Methods: Methods: Casey Griffin & Ruchi & Griffin Casey Purpose Cranial pericytes derived generating forebrain pericytes I vitro. in cells crest neural from have characterized these cells enome architecture, asso and aspects these in changes the ciated with disease. I have developed a system of a unique pericyte population, with emphasis on their devel opmental source as their well transcriptome as and epig notably Alzheimer’s (AD). disease cuses on understanding what defines forebrain pericytes as of the brain. Leakiness of the BBB has recently been found neu numerous in part a play to rodegenerative diseases, most barrier (BBB), causing leakage of toxins and pathogens the into brain and the compromising immune-privileged state Background peri forebrain functional of loss cytes leads to breakdown the integrity of of the blood brain Bajpai Faculty advisor: pericyte-specific functional de Alzheimer’s disease fect in Authors: Poster #30 Title: from neural crest cells reveal a velopment and contextualizing this role both spatiotemporally and epistatically. suture defects. Completion of this study will result in greatly increased understanding of the role of Fgfr2 during suture de taining to cranial suture devel opment, and thereby improve the quality of treatment avail able to patients suffering from the neural crest derived, endo pro suture PF fused chondrally vides a distinctive opportunity to expand our knowledge per of genes known to be associat ed with cranial suture morpho genesis and osteoblast differ entiation. The unique nature of examine the effect of suture choice, fate cell on Fgfr2 loss of joint space establishment and maintenance, and expression rently clear. clear. rently a combination of histological, immunocytochemical, and se quencing techniques we will proliferation, proliferation, differentiation, or another mechanism is not cur 46

immersed in i) P26 (0.2mg/ml; homogenously differentiate to lational modifications to control dition of Ambn changes Amel 2% uranyl acetate stain) and in ectomesenchymal cells over its activity and expression. Our secondary structure in-vitro, ii) CaP solution with and with- a period of 96hr. After 96hr lab revealed novel methylation suggesting molecular interac- out P26. The collagen-peptide of differentiation the genome of Runx2 by protein arginine tions. However, evidence of di- interactions, their assembly of NCCs gets organized into methyltransferases (PRMTs). rect interactions between Amel and mineralization events were DAPI dense and less dense Our Preliminary data shows and Ambn in enamel formation observed under TEM. Human regions and all chromosomes that PRMT3 and 4 are highly remains scarce. Purpose: To molars were transversally sec- become compact. Nuclei of expressed in the osteoblast test the hypothesis that amelo- tioned into 2mm slices and NCCs undergo a 3-5 times vol- lineages and catalyze Runx2 genin and ameloblastin interact immersed in a demineralizing ume expansion within the first methylation at 4 arginine (R) during enamel development. solution. P26 was applied on 20hr of differentiation during residues 244, 253, 372 and Methods: In-vivo colocaliza- dentin slices on days 1 and 5 which massive chromatin re- 377. Sites R372 and R377 en- tion patterns between Amel- and incubated in artificial sa- distribution occurs and majority compass Smad-binding sug- Ambn were observed through liva for 10 days. Crystal mor- of the new DNA-DNA contacts gesting its role in BMP-induced immunohistochemical labeling phology and orientation of the are already established. This is osteogenesis. Purpose: My in 5-day-old mouse incisors remineralized layers were ob- followed by formation of multi project is centered around un- and quantified with Leica SP8 served using SEM and XRD. lobed nuclei which are rapid- derstanding the role of Runx2 confocal microscope. To show Results: Negatively-stained ly resolved in the final stages arginine methylation in osteo- direct interaction and to identify collagen assembled into fibers of the transition to reform the genesis. Methods: I am using the domain of Ambn binding to showing a characteristic band- spherical nucleus. Nuclear an in vitro system to examine Amel, Pierce coimmunoprecipi- ing pattern under TEM. Addi- expansion occurs without an the interaction between Runx2 tation (co-IP) kit was used. Co- tion of P26 displayed distinct increase in transposon ac- and Smad1 which will be fur- IP between recombinant amelo- spherical assemblies closely cessible DNA sites. CHD7, a ther validated in cultured cells. genin and WT Ambn, 2 Ambn aligned with the collagen fibrils. chromatin remodeling protein As the most prominent function mutants lacking exon 5 and Mineralization in the presence to be necessary for large scale of protein methylation is to con- exon 6 sequences, and various of P26 and collagen resulted genomic restructuring. 75% trol protein-protein interactions, Ambn peptides was analyzed in the formation of amorphous knockdown of CHD7 mediated I will profile the major binding using Western Blots. Results of calcium phosphate and small by shRNA completely inhibits partners involved in modulating the recombinant protein co-IPs HAP crystallites that were the nuclear expansion and the Runx2 activity and signaling re- were confirmed with native ex- densely attached to the fibril subsequent ectomesenchymal sponse, and further character- tract of porcine enamel matrix surface. Dentin slices treated in transition. Cells with CHD7 ize the role of these players in proteins. Results: Amel and P26 showed occluded surface happloinsufficiency derived osteogenic differentiation. Re- Ambn colocalize within amelo- tubules and a dense coating from CHARGE patients show sults: I anticipate that methyl- blasts and at the Tomes’ pro- of newly formed HAP crystals a similar defect in the nuclear ation of sites R372/R377 is re- cesses in developing mouse seen under SEM and XRD. expansion followed by inability quired for interaction between incisor. The sequence encoded Conclusion: P26 interacts with to upregulate key mesenchy- Runx2 and Smad1 and this by exon 5 of Ambn, specifically collagen fibrils promoting sur- mal genes. Conclusion: We complex plays a role in driving its N terminal fragment binds to face mineralization in vitro and for the first time, have identi- osteogenesis. Runx2 has been Amel. Native Amel and Ambn facilitates remineralization of fied a cellular transition during known to bind to C/EBPs, HPs, interact within in-vivo extract exposed dentin. normal development where 3D and p300 via the TD domain, of enamel matrix proteins from genome reorganization occurs which harbors the methyla- porcine second molar. Con- and have also discovered that tion sites and I expect these to clusion: We have demonstrat- a chromatin remodeler is nec- come up during binding part- ed direct Amel-Ambn binding Poster #34 essary for this 3D genome re- ners profiling. Conclusion: in-vitro between recombinant organization. Experiments are underway to proteins and in porcine native Title: Regulation of 3D genome investigate the role of Runx2 protein extract suggesting that re-organization during cell fate methylation in osteogenesis. they play a cooperative role transition during enamel formation. To- Poster #35 Authors: Kaivalya Shevade & gether they may be controlling mineralization and maintaining Ruchi Bajpai Title: Role of Runx2 arginine Poster #36 enamel prism architecture. methylation in functional inter- Faculty advisor: Ruchi Bajpai action with BMP-Smad path- Title: Amelogenin ameloblastin way interaction in developing enam- Background: 3D genome re- el matrix Poster #37 organizes when normal cells Authors: Prerna Sehgal, Yong- switch fate, respond to stimuli, chao Gou, Baruch Frenkel, & Authors: Rucha Arun Bapat, Title: 3D volumetric analysis of undergo senescence etc. Yet, Jian Xu Jingtan Su, Scott Barlow, & post-extraction maxillary sinus real time visualization of ge- Janet Moradian-Oldak floor pneumatization: A Retro- nome reorganization has re- Faculty advisor: Jian Xu spective Analysis mained a challenge. Methods: Faculty advisor: Janet Mora- We used Neural Crest Cell Background: Runx2 is the dian-Oldak Authors: Sara Elhusseini, (NCC) to Ectomesenchymal master transcription factor for Ahmed Sharaf, Jassem Alshar- Cell (EMC) transition as a mod- bone formation. Loss of Runx2 Background: Enamel matrix ah, & Homa H. Zadeh el to study the genome orga- causes embryonic lethality by proteins amelogenin (Amel) nization changes that happen incomplete mineralization of and ameloblastin (Ambn) co- Faculty advisor: Homa H. Za- during differentiation. Results: the skeleton. Because of its im- localize in the secretory stage deh When induced to differentiate portance, Runx2 is tightly reg- and their fragments continue rapidly proliferating NCCs tran- ulated by signaling pathways to colocalize in the maturation Background: Dimensional siently exit the cell cycle and such as BMP and post-trans- stage of enamel formation. Ad- changes of the alveolar ridge

The Explorer Journal 2019 Abstracts

: ------47 Con Results : Patients Ruchi Bajpai Yuhan Sun & Susan : BFLS patient NCCs : To understand the s: PHF6 protein may Background Understanding the func P26 treatment of partial clusion have a function in differentiation in inhibit many different the This function concepts. may be conduct through PHF6’s ability of binding to H3-K4Me and H3- Cit8. and going to migrate out form and many other types of cells. What’s the role of PHF6 in this process is not known PHF6 there yet. are two ePHD In do mains. Previous studies have shown that the second ePHD domain binds to non-specifically. the dsDNA what’s the function of the first yet. known not is domain ePHD However, Methods was induced in our lab in vitro to do the differentiation experi ments. Co-IP was done to find out the binding partner of the PHF6 protein. CRISPR Cas9 protein, guide RNA and a ssD NA template were co-injected into zebrafish embryos to cre ate disease model. We showed that when knock down PHF6, accelerated ferentiations dif were observed in multiple contexts, including the NCC formation and differentia tion. In vitro, PHF6 protein can 8 citrullinated and K4Me to bind (cit8) double modified histone3 through the first ePHD. In vivo, the phf6 mutant fish are gener ated and to be analysis. sion: ly demineralized dentin leads to partial recovery strength, of and enhancement tensile of mineral density. Poster #40 Title: tion of a novel histone binding protein in development Authors: Smith Faculty advisor: Purpose function of the PHF6 during protein embryonic ment. develop with Borjeson Forssman Leh mann Syndrome (BFLS) have many phenotypes mentation (hyperpig and occur in neural hypodontia) cells. crest-derived NCCs is entiating known from the neural differ plate

------USC Conclu Results: Extract Non-Cari Janet Mora Methods: Gayathri Visakan, : To : To test the hypothe Remineralization of de Background: recovery in with tensile respect to normal dentin, strength and bone mineral density gain of 9.93% from that of deminer alized dentin (n=10). Dentinal tubular occlusion and mineral deposition on dentin collagen fibers was observed. tric occlusal forces. We previously have demonstrated ability the of amelogenin inspired synthetic peptides in promot ing the re-growth of aprismat ic enamel like layer on etched enamel surface (Mukherjee et al., 2017). ed human third molars cross-sectioned to obtain were den tin slices from the superficial, and middle dentin regions. The sectioned teeth were into divided 4 groups corresponding to normal dentin, con and demineralized treatment, P26 dentin, trol. For micro-tensile strength testing hour-glass shaped test specimens, were tested under tension (Instron 5965, 0.5mm/ min) until fracture. Bone min eral density using was a commercial calculated micro-CT system (SkyScan 1174) after calibration with hydroxyapatite phantoms. Scanning electron microscopy and EDAX used to characterize were the effect of P26 Following 10 treatment. days of reminer alization in artificial saliva, P26 treatment resulted in a 53.24% Poster #39 Title: mineralized dentin by amelo P26 genin peptide Authors: Kaushik Moradian-Oldak Mukherjee, Janet & Phark, Jin-Ho advisor: Faculty dian-Oldak Purpose demin partially treating that sis peptide P26 with dentin eralized results in recovery of physical properties, and mineral density gain. from result lesions Cervical ous insult chemical and mechanical to the enamel leading to den tinal exposure. Dentin owing to its heterogenous composition poses a restorative challenge. Furthermore, dentin the is under and compressive, cervical tensile ing stresses from centric, result and eccen : ------Results : We aim Jian Xu : Protein Arginine Purpose : Our data show Nicha Ungvijanpu : Immunoprecipi Protein arginine methyl dicted methylation sites, R150 and R157, significantly altered PRMT1. with interaction MSX-1 Conclusion that PRMT1 regulates MSX-1 methylation via two sites, R150 and R157. potential methylation. to investigate ated PRMT1-medi MSX-1 methylation its and Methods functional tation significance. and were performed western to investigate blotting PRMT1 - MSX-1 and potential methylation sites interaction in vivo with 293T cells. Methyl ation of MSX-1 by PRMT1 was furthered verified with methylation in vivo method. interacts PRMT1 that found We with MSX-1 MSX-1. and Mutation methylates at two pre defects in alveolar bone incisors, and which mutation of Msx-1, a phenocopied transcrip tion factor essential for cranio facial development. Therefore, PRMT1 was proposed to reg ulate craniofacial development upstream of MSX-1. We ther demonstrated a fur moderate decrease in Msx-1 mRNA ex pression upon Prmt1 deletion, suggesting post-transcriptional mechanisms by which PRMT1 hy We controls MSX-1 activity. pothesize that PRMT1 controls arginine through activity MSX-1 methylation Authors: nya, Yongchao Gou, Stephen & Jian Xu Yen, Faculty advisor: Background Methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) is an enzyme required for the methylation arginine of majority in studies Previous body. our in our lab have shown that crani al neural crest-specific Prmt1 deletion mice exhibit cleft pal ate with 100% penetrance and Poster #38 Title: transferase 1 regulates MSX-1 Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry School of of Ostrow Herman

------: Exam : 24 Pre- and Results : Proof of principle Methods Alveolar crest exhibited severe exhibited crest Alveolar atrophy. vertical and horizontal Maxillary sinus floorat position pre- showed no and positional change post-extraction 97.2 % of the measured sites. pilot analysis feasibility demonstrated of pre- and post-extraction superimposing alve olar crest and maxillary sinus. and post-op CBCT 3D revealed 3D CBCT post-op and are changes floor sinus the that 0.10 mm in a superior position. Conclusion 2.99 in the sites and P P of maxillary molar roots, MB, DB respectively. Linear measure ments of superimposed pre-op floor vertical heightwere changes 0.62, 0.37, 0.4mm the mean and crestal bone height changes were 3.07, 3.33 and tent with linear measurements from 2D images reported Hameed, et al., by who have ob served that the mean sinus maxillary sinus floor following tooth extraction and significant dimensional changes alveolar in ridge. This the is consis ination of representative super imposed pre-op and lit very revealed images CBCT post-op the of position the in change tle pre-op and were post-op utilized images for sional analysis two-dimen of floor changes. the sinus made perpendicular to the cur vature of the maxillary arch in the center of each tooth. extracted These super-imposed The volumes of and post-op sinus and alveolar the pre-op ridge were oriented and super imposed. Cross sections were CBCTS studies were segment ed so that of discreet the maxillary sinus volumes and the alveolar ridge were created. were included in this study. The study. this in included were CBCT images were imported into 3D software Called RA AMI . Pre- and post-operative post-operative CBCTs of individuals who 24 had maxillary molar tooth extraction at USC Ostrow School of Dentistry retrospective retrospective study was to ex plore changes to the maxillary sinus floor using 3D volumetric analysis. ied. However, post extraction changes in the maxillary sinus floor have notgated. The been aim of the investi present crest following tooth extraction have been extensively stud 48

RNA-seq together with VirTect Poster #43 cessful surgery and improved DENTISTRY/ can be an effective solution for treatment of cleft soft palate. the detection of viruses from tu- Title: Signaling network regu- CCMB mor samples and can facilitate lating soft palatal muscle devel- the clinicopathologic character- opment POSTDOCTORAL ization of various types of can- Poster #44 cers with broad applications for Authors: Eva Janečková, Xia Title: Interferon-independent oncology. Han, Jifan Feng, Jingyuan Li, & FELLOWS Yang Chai antiviral activity of MAVS via the regulation of mitochondrial Faculty advisor: Yang Chai dynamics. Poster #42 Poster #41 Background: Cleft lip and/or Authors: Jessica Carriere, palate is one of the most com- Junjie Zhang, Mao Tian, Title: Detection of human pap- Title: BMP signaling in regulat- mon birth defects in humans Huichao Huang, Shu Zhang, illomavirus in cases of head ing mesenchymal stem cells in and necessitates extensive Xiaoxi Lin, Arlet Minassian, & and neck squamous cell carci- incisor homeostasis medical intervention. Substan- Pinghui Feng noma by RNA-seq and VirTect Authors: Congchong Shi, tial research has focused on Faculty advisor: Pinghui Feng Authors: Andres Stucky, Xue- Yuan Yuan, Yuxing Guo, Jun- hard palate development; how- jun Jing, Thach-Vu Ho, Xia ever, little is known about the lian Chen, Atlas Khan, Qian Background: The mitochon- Liu, Parish Sedghizadeh, Dan- Han, Jingyuan Li, Jifan Feng, & molecular signaling in the soft Yang Chai palate. The surgical correc- drion antiviral signaling (MAVS) iel Adelpour, Xi Zhang, Kai molecule relays dsRNA-in- Wang, & Jiang F. Zhong tion of cleft soft palate is very Faculty advisor: Yang Chai challenging as it involves ex- duced RIG-I/MDA5 activation to IKKα/β and TBK-1/IKKε that Faculty advisor: Jiang F. tensive repair of musculature. Background: Bone morpho- enable NF-κB- and IRF3-medi- Zhong Purpose: The objective of our genetic protein (BMP) signal- investigation is to analyze the ated transcriptional up-regula- Background: Next generation ing performs multiple essential molecular signaling involved tion, respectively. Central to the sequencing (NGS) provides functions during craniofacial in soft palate development, fo- RIG-I-MAVS antiviral pathway an opportunity to detect viral development. Methods: In this cusing on Wnt and Tgf-√ü sig- is the CARD-mediated oligo- species from RNA-seq data study, we used the adult mouse naling as well as interactions merization at the mitochondri- of human tissues, but existing incisor as a model to uncover between cranial neural crest on. Results: We report here computational approaches do how BMP signaling maintains (CNC) and mesoderm-de- that two CARD-less variants not perform optimally on clin- tissue homeostasis and regu- rived cells during this process. of MAVS, i.e., MAVS40 and ical samples. Methods: We lates mesenchymal stem cell Methods: RNAscope, immu- MAVS30, demonstrate intrinsic developed a bioinformatics (MSC) fate by mediating WNT nofluorescence, histologic antiviral activity against her- method called VirTect for de- and FGF signaling. Results: analyses of conditional knock- pesviruses. Biochemical anal- tecting viruses in neoplastic We observed a severe defect out mice Osr2-Cre;βcateninfl/ ysis indicated that MAVS40 human tissues using RNA-seq in the proximal region of the fl, Osr2-Cre; β-cateninexon-3fl/+, and MAVS30 were produced data. Here, we used VirTect adult mouse incisor after loss Osr2-Cre;Tgfbr2fl/fl and LacZ by a combination of proteolytic to analyze RNA-seq data from of BMP signaling in the Gli1+ reporter mice. Results: The cleavage and internal transla- 363 HNSCC (head and neck cell lineage, indicating that expression of Wnt and Tgf-β tion. Lacking the CARD do- squamous cell carcinoma) pa- BMP signaling is required for signaling was identified in the main, MAVS40 and MAVS30 tients and identified 22 human cell proliferation and odonto- soft palatal myogenic sites, exerted activity to impede the papillomavirus (HPV)-induced blast differentiation. Conclu- specifically in mesenchymal traffic of herpesviral capsids HNSCCs. These predictions sion: Our study demonstrated cells of CNC origin and myo- into the nucleus. Consistent were validated by manual re- that BMP signaling serves as genic cells of cranial mesoderm with this, affinity purification view of pathology reports on a key regulator that antago- origin. After conditionally delet- and mass spectrometry iden- histopathologic specimens. nizes WNT and FGF signaling ing or over-activating β-catenin tified multiple viral structural Results: VirTect showed bet- to regulate MSC lineage com- and Tgfbr2 specifically in the (tegument and capsid) proteins ter performance in recall and mitment. In addition, BMP sig- CNC-derived mesenchyme us- interacting with these CARD- accuracy compared to the two naling in the Gli1+ cell lineage ing Osr2-Cre, severe changes less MAVS. Further cell biologi- existing prediction methods is also required for the main- in soft palatal muscles were cal analyses using immunofluo- VirusFinder and VirusSeq, in tenance of quiescent MSCs, observed. Conclusion: Our rescence, immunogold labeling identifying viral sequences suggesting that BMP signaling results highlight the importance and electron microscopy indi- from RNA-seq data. The ma- is not only important for odon- of Wnt and Tgf-√ü signaling cated that MAVS isoforms were jority of HPV carcinogenesis toblast differentiation but also during soft palate development essential to induce an elonga- studies thus far have been per- plays a crucial role in provid- and suggest the significance tion of the mitochondrial net- formed on cervical cancer and ing feedback to the MSC pop- of the interaction between the work and the docking of herpes generalized to HNSCC. Con- ulation. This study highlights CNC-derived mesenchyme virions on the mitochondria, clusion: Our results suggest multiple important roles of BMP and myogenic cells as well as preventing them to pursue the that carcinogenesis of HPV-in- signaling in regulating tissue the necessity of strict regulation viral replication cycle. Further duced HNSCC and other cas- homeostasis. of Wnt expression levels during investigation revealed that the es of HNSCC involve different soft palate development. De- MAVS-mediated elongation of genes, so understanding the tailed understanding of the the mitochondria was associ- underlying molecular mecha- signaling pathways involved in ated with a nuclear transloca- nisms will have a significant im- soft palate development and tion of the fission factor DRP1, pact on therapeutic approach- associated cell-cell interactions decreasing the available pool es and outcomes. In summary, may contribute to more suc- of DRP1 in the cytoplasm to induce mitochondrial fission.

The Explorer Journal 2019 Abstracts ------49 fl/ s: Results: Janet Mora Here, applied Conclusion Osr2-Cre;Alk5 In biomineraliz Jingtan Su, Rucha Ameloblastin-cell inter Methods: signaling pathway may β mouse soft palate. We are cell membrane. A us sequence Ambn systematic of analysis ing Heliquest revealed that the cell-binding motif has a poten tial to form an amphipathic he acid amino the Remarkably, lix. sequences that form this am phipathic helix are evolutionary conserved across the mam ing systems, cell-matrix adhe sion allows cells to physically organize extracellular matrix three-dimensional (ECM) direct to the deposition of ly high ordered mineral structures. This process is commonly me diated by integrin receptors for ECM proteins including colla gens and non-collagenous pro teins in bone and dentin. While it is known that enamel has a distinct set of ECM enamel proteins, cell-matrix has adhesion thus far matic. remained enig high-resolution confocal croscopy to mouse mandibular mi tissues to show co-localization between mouse membrane Ambn surfaces. and a and Ambn recombinant Using synthet derived Ambn of series ic peptides Ambn we show that through membrane cell to binds an amino acid motif located at the N-terminal of the sequence encoded by exon 5. A mutant recombinant Ambn lacking the sequences encod protein ed by exon five lost itsto ability bind to LS8 ameloblast-like cells in E14.5 fl currently testing the of function these altered targets downstream in regulating soft ate myogenesis. pal TGF- regulate the key signaling mol ecules produced by CNC-de rived cells to regulate soft pal ate muscle formation. Poster #48 Title: action is mediated by an evolu tionary conserved amphipathic helix within exon 5 Authors: Bapat, Gayathri Janet Moradian-Oldak Visakan, & advisor: Faculty dian-Oldak Background: , ------á and Pur

Con USC kov fl/fl č : We identi Yang Chai Yang : The coordinated Results signaling pathway Osr2-Cre;Alk5 β Jifan Feng, Yuan : RNA sequence anal sequence RNA : Molecular regulatory s: Endogenous RUNX2 Endogenous s: : The aim of this study is control soft palate. Single cell RNA-sequence analysis performed was to identify signaling molecules that are enriched in the E14.5 soft palate CNC-de rived cells. altered significantly several fied cluster markers and signaling molecules in CNC-derived Background movements of the soft palate and pharyngeal muscles crucial for are speech, swallowing, pre Our hearing. and breathing vious studies suggested cranial that neural crest (CNC)-de rived cells migrate into the pri mordium of multiple myogenic sites in the craniofacial region, and are in close contact myogenic with cells at later es. Tissue-specific stag ablation of the TGF- in CNC-derived to defects cells in the leads proliferation, pattering, and differentiation of myogenic cells in the and other craniofacial muscles. tongue Therefore, we CNC-derived hypothesized cells through myogenesis palate soft regulates tissue-tissue interaction. pose to understand the mechanisms molecular controlling bet for formation muscle palate soft ter repair of soft palate defects. Methods ysis was performed pare to com gene-expression of profile E14.5 RUNX2 R4K group, and their response to the TGF-b stimu lation were dampened. clusion can be methylated by PRMT4 in mammary can interact with cells. both SMAD3 RUNX2 and p-SMAD. The of inhibition RUNX2 suppress methylation its can interaction SMAD3. Inhibition with of RUNX2 methylation can reduce the re sponse to TGF-b treatment in breast cancer cells. Poster #47 Title: mechanisms of soft palate de velopment Authors: Jane Eva Han, Xia Yuan, Chai Yang & Faculty advisor: ------: Deletion : Cell cul : Runx2 is Jian Xu : The methylation The : Results Methods Jian Qin, Yongchao : Inhibition of Runx2 RUNX2 arginine methyl Results Background and PTHrP were lower in the RUNX2 can interact with both SMAD3 and p-SMAD3, mean while the binding weaker ability was in RUNX2 tant R4K compared mu with We wildtype. generate NMuMG cells stable that overexpress wildtype or R4K RUNX2 and found the expression level of TGF-b tar get genes in lines mammary was cell R4K lower mutant group in compared with RUNX2 the MDA-MB-231 wildtype stable cell lines, group. the In baseline TGF-b-target expression genes of Serpine 377 by protein arginine methyl transferase PRMT4 and affect mam in invasion and migration mary cell. ture, western blots, mutagene sis, stable cell line generation, immunoprecipitation, real time- PCR. level of endogenous was RUNX2 reduced level was when knockdown in mam PRMT4 mary epithelial cells. under To stand the function of methylation, RUNX2 we arginine mutated (R) its and 244, 377 into 253, lysine (K), R4K. 372 Stallcup, & Jian Xu Faculty advisor: Purpose arginine methylation regulates its function in cell. breast cancer an important transcription fac tor that regulates gland development, mammary mammary cancer and bone metastasis of multiple types of cancer. previous Our research that Runx2 can be methylation revealed at arginine 244, 253, 372 and ofibroblasts decreased cardiac fibrosis, in creased differentiation, the vessel density and preserved the ventricular func tion after 8w TAC, with controls. compared Poster #46 Title: ation regulates the response to cells TGF-b in breast cancer Authors: Gou, Baruch Frenkel, Michael was performed in as both controls. lines of PRMT1 in broblasts cardiac prevented myofi the my Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry School of of Ostrow Herman - - - - - ) ------in YFP/ Tak Meth Back YFP/YFP :R26R :R26R Jian Xu flox/flox flox/flox ) and non-dele Conclusion: Conclusion: function of PRMT1 Cardiac myofibro Jiang Qian, Olan expression within the : To : defineTo the in vivo Prmt1 : Cardiac fibroblast and /+:Prmt1 knockout mouse model regulatory mechanism for in vivo : We generated an induc MCM Prmt1 ), in which the myofibroblas PnMCM/+:Prmt1flox/flox:R Pn mice to mimic phy-related the hypertro remodeling dysfunction. and Sham surgery TAC TAC surgery in Prmt1 deletion ( 26RYFP/YFP tion ( tic injured heart is inhibited by the activation of Cardiac injury was induced Perionstin-Cre. by ible Prmt1 ( myofibroblast-specific YFP to myofibroblasts.the However, in the heart is not clear. ods protein arginine ferase methyltrans 1 (PRMT1) as a new vitro cardiac fibroblasts differentiate critical contributors in myocar dial extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis during Our lab injuries. recently identified the chronic stressed hearts. ground into conversion programmed its activated myofibroblasts are Purpose roles of PRMT1 in the regulating fate conversion of cardiac fibroblasts to myofibroblasts in Xu Faculty advisor: modeling and dysfunction Authors: Jackson-Weaver, Jian Wu, Ae Jian & Ung, Sok Upadhyay, sha blast-specific deletion tein of pro arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) protects TAC-induced against ventricular re Poster #45 Title: docking of virions on the mito chondrial membrane. phosphorylation-dependent nu phosphorylation-dependent fission the of translocation clear factor DRP1, resulting in a mi tochondrial elongation and the define an intrinsic antiviral ac tivity of MAVS in host immune defense through the inhibition of mitochondrial fission via the Kε-mediated Kε-mediated phosphorylation triggering the translocation into the nucleus. en together, our findings will We We also found evidence DRP1 that underwent a TBK-1/IK 50

malian species with prismatic formation in the tooth molar and transcriptional activation. cells lead to delayed furcation enamel, but are not present in even at postnatal stage 21.5 Finally, nuclear import of RTA development. Loss of Ezh2 in mammalian or non-mammalian (PN 21.5). In addition, Lhx6 proteins of all gamma herpesvi- odontoblasts and root progen- vertebrates without prismatic mutation resulted in delayed ruses appears to be regulated itor cells resulted in normal fur- enamel. We introduce funda- epithelial protrusion contact by PFAS-mediated deamida- cation and molar development. mental principles of enamel and dentine protrusion elonga- tion. These findings uncover an Importantly, Arid1a haploinsuf- cell-matrix adhesion during tion, compromised odontoblast unexpected function of a meta- ficiency rescues root patterning amelogenesis and propose a differentiation, and increased bolic enzyme in restricting viral defect in Osr2KI-Cre;Ezh2fl/fl molecular mechanism underly- cell proliferation at the furcation replication and a key role of de- mice, indicating that Arid1a and ing the transition from non-pris- site. However, apoptosis were amidation in regulating protein Ezh2 may work antagonistical- matic to prismatic enamel that unaffected. Conclusion: Our nuclear import, expanding the ly to control the tooth furcation occurred in the mammalian results demonstrate that Lhx6 functional repertoire of protein development. Conclusions: lineage. is critical for root furcation for- deamidation in fundamental bi- Our study provides evidence mation likely via regulation of ological processes. that Ezh2 in the tooth mesen- proliferation. chyme work antagonistically Poster #49 with Arid1a to determines the root number in mouse molars. Poster #51 Title: Lhx6 is required for root Poster #50 furcation formation in molars Title: Antagonistic interaction Title: A purine synthesis en- between Ezh2 and Arid1a co- Authors: Jinzhi He, Hua Tian, Poster #52 zyme impedes nuclear import ordinates dental root patterning Jifan Feng, Yuan Yuan, Junjun of gamma-herpes viral RTA via via Cdkn2a Title: Cardiomyocyte-specific Jing, & Yang Chai deamidation deletion of PRMT1 dramatical- Authors: Junjun Jing & Yang Faculty advisor: Yang Chai ly improves heart function after Authors: Junhua Li, Simin Xu, Chai myocardial infarction (MI) Background: LIM-homeobox Jun Zhao, Junjie Zhang, Jun Faculty advisor: Yang Chai containing (Lhx) genes encode Xiao, Mao Tian, Yi Zeng, Ka- Authors: Jian Wu, Olan Jack- transcriptional regulators that tie Lee, Vera Tarakanova, Hao son-Weaver, Julia Qian, Rahul Feng & Pinghui Feng Background: EZH2 is a key Gupta, Sok Ung, Henry M. Su- play critical roles in patterning component of polycomb re- and differentiation in craniofa- cov, & Jian Xu Faculty advisor: Pinghui Feng pressive complex 2 (PRC2), cial organogenesis. Previous which is responsible for His- Faculty advisor: Jian Xu study shows that Lhx6 and Protein function is chiefly reg- tone 3 Lysine 27 trimethyla- Lhx8 double knockout mice ulated via post-translational tion (H3K27Me3). Ezh2 is re- Background: Every 39 sec- exhibit cleft palate and mo- modifications. Deamidation is quired for neural crest derived onds an American will suffer lar agenesis. However, little is emerging as a key regulatory cartilage and bone formation. for a heart attack. Protein-ar- known about the function of mechanism governing protein However, the role of Ezh2 in ginine-methyltransferase-1 Lhx6 in tooth root development. function yet its roles in funda- tooth development is unknown. (PRMT1) is a primary asym- Purpose: To explore the under- mental biology remain poorly Purpose: We aim to elucidate metric dimethyltransferase. It lying mechanisms how Lhx6 defined. Here we report that the role of Ezh2 in molar de- methylates histone H4R3 facil- controls root number by influ- a cellular purine synthesis en- velopment and its function in itating histone acetylation and encing the furcation formation. ERT2 zyme inhibits protein nuclear patterning the tooth furcation. chromatin accessibility. It also Methods: Both Lhx6-Cre import via deamidation. To Methods: Multiple transgenic methylates multiple non-his- homozygous mice (The Lhx6- ERT2 probe the role of protein deam- mouse models were generated tone proteins (e.g., SMAD6). Cre knock-in allele in these idation in biological processes, in this study: Osr2KI-Cre;Ezh- PRMT1 global knockout leads mice abolishes Lhx6 expres- fl/fl ERT2 we performed a focused screen 2 , in which Ezh2 expression to embryonic lethal. Heart-spe- sion) and Lhx6-Cre ;tdToma- for cellular glutamine amido- is lost in the tooth mesen- cific role of PRMT1 was not to mice were used in present transferases that restrict lytic chyme; DMP1-Cre;Ezh2fl/fl, in studied. Purpose: To assess study. We performed in situ replication of human Kaposi’s which Ezh2 is knocked out in the PRMT1 functions in the hybridization to analyze the ex- sarcoma-associated herpes- odontoblasts; K14-Cre;Ezh2fl/ heart under disease condition. pression pattern of Lhx6 at dif- virus (KSHV). This identified fl, in which Ezh2 is knocked Results: Cardiomyocyte-spe- ferent postnatal stages during a purine synthesis enzyme, out in epithelial cells; and cific deletion of PRMT1 was tooth root development. We phosphoribosylformyl-glycina- Gli1-CreER;Ezh2fl/fl, in which achieved by crossing Myh- analyzed the phenotypes using midine synthetase (PFAS) that Ezh2 is lost in root progeni- 6merCremer to PRMT1fl/fl mouse. microCT and histology. More- inhibits KSHV transcriptional tor cells; Osr2KI-Cre;Ezh2fl/ Left-anterior-descending-coro- over, we did immunofluorescent activation. Biochemical assays fl;Arid1afl/+, in which haploinsuf- nary-artery (LAD) ligation was staining to investigate possible indicate that PFAS deamidates ficiency of Arid1a is generated used for myocardial infarc- mechanisms. Results: We the replication transactivator in Osr2KI-Cre;Ezh2fl/fl mice. tion (MI) induction. We found found that Lhx6 expression is (RTA), a transcription factor MicroCT scanning and histo- PRMT1 was highly expressed detectable both in odontoblasts crucial for KSHV lytic replica- logical analysis were combined in the nucleus of cardiomyo- and the mesenchymal cells of tion. Mechanistically, deamida- to analyze the phenotypes of cytes and forms irregular struc- the dental papilla and dental tion of two asparagines flanking these mice. Results: When tures in the cardiomyocytes follicle during root development a classic nuclear localization Ezh2 expression was lost in at the infarction-border zone. postnatally. Lineage tracing signal impaired the binding of the tooth mesenchyme in Osr- Genetic deletion and pharma- analysis shows that Lhx6 pos- RTA to the importin complex, 2KI-Cre;Ezh2fl/fl mice, only one cological inhibition (by MS023) itive cells contribute to odonto- a molecular shuttle to the nu- root formed and the root furca- of PRMT1 both dramatically blasts, alveolar bone and peri- clear compartment, thus dimin- tion was defective. In contrast, improves the function of hearts odontal ligament cells. Loss of ishing RTA nuclear localization inactivation of Ezh2 in epithelial subjected to MI by 50% and Lhx6 resulted in no furcation

The Explorer Journal 2019 Abstracts : ------51 Conclusion Pinghui Feng Pinghui mice, radiographic +/- Na Xie, Shu Zhang, NAMPT antagonizes teg antagonizes NAMPT Twist1 enzyme-independent manner. We demonstrated that NAMPT was packaged into the and virion reduced lytic of human replication herpes simplex rus vi 1 (HSV-1). Mechanistical ly, NAMPT targets tegument two proteins, core UL36 and regenerative medicine. Poster #56 Title: ument protein incorporation to restrict herpesvirus lytic repli cation Authors: Mao Tian, Jun Zhang, Jessica Xiao, Carriere, Junjie Jun Zhao, Hao Canhua Longnecker, Huang, & Feng, Pinghui Feng Richard advisor: Faculty Metabolic pathways fuel synthesis the of macromolecules that underpin the proliferation of cells and pathogens. Metabolic enzymes propagation of are generally believed proviral. NAD to is a key cofactor be for enzymes catalyzing meta bolic reactions. We report that the rate-limiting the salvage enzyme pathway of of synthesis, NAD NAMPT, herpesvirus replication restricts in an of results showed that there were still some gaps between frontal and parietal bones in MC-GM + nomal suture however the gaps became nar cells group, rower in group MC-GM + heat inactivated nomal suture cells and MC-GM control, and two the bones were almost fused in group MC + cells nomal and blank control. After suture 3 months, the gaps still retained in MC-GM + nomal suture cells group, while the gaps peared in all disap the other groups. Histomorphometric and immu nofluorescence analysis also revealed the presence of Gli1+ cells between the bones only in MC-GM + nomal suture cells group 3 months after surgery, which implied the suture-liked structure formed. Thus, the complex hydrogels with normal suture cells enhance may suture regeneration and have a profound impact on

: ------β Re Pur USC Methods : 2 months treatment. β Yang Chai Yang : Craniosynosto Results mice using complex

Mengfei Yu, Yuan : p53 interaction with +/- mice used in surgery Regenerating sutures in : In our we study, want to , we hypothesize that p53 +/- Twist -induced EMT, we employ the -induced EMT, 3) MC-GM + heat inactivated nomal suture cells, 4) MC-GM + nomal suture cells, 5) GM + nomal suture cells. Sam MC- ples are collected at different time points. the removed surgically we after fused coronal suture structure Poster #55 Title: craniosynostosis Authors: Chai Yang & Yuan, Faculty advisor: Background deformities cranial in results sis and other pose symptoms, extensive which and recurrent surgical management lems. For prob the tissue past regeneration field decade, been has greatly improved the thriving of material since science and stem cell pose biology. regenerate the coronal suture in hydrogels with normal suture mesenchymal cells. Photo-cross-linkable methacrylate (GelMA) modified gelatin with matrigel/collagen I GM) (MC- were used as Twist scaffolds. were divided into fivewhich groups treated with control, 1) 2) blank MC-GM control, PRMT1 PRMT1 and p53 during TGF- β combination of in vitro binding assays and recombinant pro teins and cell-based analysis. Results PARP1 and p53 were PARylation detected treatment after in both TGF- 293T cells. On the A549 other hand, and PRMT1 depletion caused a de crease of PARP1 expression in A549 cells. PARP1 down knock resulted in a significant nuclear-to-cytoplasmic shift of p53. Moreover, p53 cytoplas mic translocation was more in tensive after TGF- Based on our preliminary sults is cross-regulated by and PARP1 PRMT1 in Our EMT. work presents new insights into nov may that pathways biological el and cell invasion. control EMT ------: We aim : To confirm Jian Xu : Epithelial-mes : Our in vitro data Purpose Balazs Murnyak & Methods : We found that Ambn PRMT1 and PARP1 (PRMT1)-p53 signaling trols EMT in cultured cells. con Be sides arginine methylation, p53 is also a target of poly(ADP-ri bosyl)ation by PARP-1 ADP-ribose (poly polymerase PARP1 is 1). often in various upregulated cancers and lates regu EMT. to study the crosstalk between PRMT1 and PARP1 and sess how as arginine methylation and cross-regulate poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation p53 in EMT. function whether PARP1 interacts with Faculty advisor: Background enchymal-transition (EMT) a is key biological process during also it but development, normal contexts, pathological in occurs including tumor and progression, suggests metastasis. that p53 post-trans lational Evidence modifications play an important role in the regulation of EMT and invasion. Our lab protein that revealed previously arginine methyltransferase 1 5 and have implications for bi ological events such as Ambn- cell interactions and Ambn sig naling and secretion. Poster #54 Title: crosstalk in the regulation p53 of function during al-mesenchymal-transition and epitheli invasion Authors: Jian Xu 5. Ambn-derived peptides that encompassed the from this sequence region bound to lipo somes; peptides derived from Sequence not. did regions other analysis of Ambn across ferent species dif showed exon 5 to contain a highly conserved motif with a propensity to form an amphipathic tion helix. of this sequence Dele resulted in loss of Conclusion liposome binding. suggest that Ambn binds lipid membrane directly through conserved a helical motif in exon Results binds to liposomes through a highly conserved motif exon by within encoded sequence the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry School of of Ostrow Herman : : ------: Sup Purpose Methods Janet Mora : Ameloblastin Conclusion Jingtan Su, Natalie Ameloblastin binds to light scattering to measure their measure to scattering light interactions with liposomes. ferent regions of Ambn ferent and regions ap of meth biophysical multiple plied ods including circular dichroism fluorescence, (CD), and during interaction. Trp/ of series a Ambn, used We Phe variants, deletion mutants, and peptides derived from dif pinpointing the region of mem brane interaction in Ambn and identifying changes in and Ambn in membrane structure pothesis that it interacts direct ly with membranes. To define Ambn-phospholipid membrane interactions in vitro, tracellular matrix. heparin-, and fibronectin-bind Integrin-, conserved poorly are motifs ing in Ambn, leading us to our hy aids in enamel are development poorly have understood been suggested and clude cell to adhesion to in the ex and has the potential to inter act with other enamel proteins and with cell membranes. The mechanisms by which Ambn Background (Ambn), the non-amelogenin most enamel abundant pro tein, is intrinsically disordered Faculty advisor: Faculty dian-Oldak Authors: C. Kegulian, Rucha Arun Ba pat, & Janet Moradian-Oldak Poster #53 Title: phospholipid bilayers via a he lix-forming motif for heart attack. protective mechanism will pave pave will mechanism protective the road for the use of pharma ceutical inhibition of PRMT1 as a novel therapeutic treatment key PRMT1 methylation gets who tar play essential roles in the MI-induced heart failure. Harnessing this novel cardiac the mouse heart recovery from “heart attack” induced by LAD ligation. Utilizing method, proteomics we will pinpoint the the MI-induced dilation of the left ventricle by 30% (Vs) and 20% (Vd). pression of PRMT1 facilitates 100% 100% (EF%) respectively, and also significantly decreased 52

UL37 that mesh a scaffold for cretion were impaired due to thinner dentin and impaired whole-mount skeletal prepara- viral tegumentation during lytic the disruption of autolysosome odontoblast differentiation, tions, and histological analy- replication. As such, NAMPT acidification. As a result of confirmed by Dspp staining. sis, generation of a Wnt1-Cre; competitively antagonizes the impaired lysosomal degrada- Also, the development of peri- Fgfr2M391Rfx/+ and Wnt1-Cre;F- incorporation of diverse tegu- tion, mTOR protein was aber- odontal tissue, including the gfr2M391Rfx/fx in mouse renders ment proteins into the virion, rantly increased, resulting in periodontal ligament, alveolar facial hypoplasia, craniosynos- impairing viral tegumentation mTORC1 signaling overacti- bone and cementum is arrest- tosis and synchondrosis joint and infectivity. Finally, NAMPT vation. Pharmacological inhi- ed in cKO mice. Interestingly, fusions, strongly suggesting demonstrated antiviral activity bition of hyperactive mTORC1 we found that cell proliferative that the mutation is dominant in against multiple herpesviruses rescued macrophage dysfunc- activities of cKO mice are in- mouse as in humans. Further- and loss of NAMPT rendered tion, splenomegaly and lymph- creased in the apical region more, Wnt1-Cre;Fgfr2M391Rfx/ mouse highly susceptible to adenopathy in C9orf72 mutant of dental mesenchyme. Con- fx yields a pan suture fusion herpes simplex virus infection. mice. Conclusion: Thus, Lyso- clusion: Taken together, our phenotype, strongly suggest- This study uncovers a direct somal secretion and degrada- data indicates Runx2 is indis- ing that dural Fgfr2 plays an antiviral activity of a metabol- tion are disrupted in C9orf72/ pensable for mouse molar root uncovered role in suture for- ic enzyme independent of its Smcr8 mutant macrophages development, possibly through mation. Conclusion: Nuclear biosynthetic enzymatic activi- leading to mTORC1 hyper- a cell fate change of Gli1+ root Fgfr2 plays an imperative role ty and an unprecedented host activation, inhibition of which progenitor cells from terminal in synchondrosis and suture defense mechanism targeting arrests immune dysfunction in differentiation to active prolifer- development by exerting its ef- herpesvirus tegumentation. mutant mice, providing the first ation. fects from the osteogenic fronts link between C9orf72’s cellular and dura. Overall, insights from function and its in vivo pheno- the BBDS mouse can be used type. to elucidate the endogenous Poster #57 Poster #59 and pathogenic roles of nucle- ar FGFR2 during craniofacial Title: C9orf72 or Smcr8 defi- Title: Insights from Bent Bone skeletal development. ciency disrupts lysosomal se- Poster #58 Dysplasia Syndrome: the cretion and degradation lead- mouse conditional Fgfr2M391R ing to mTORC1 hyperactivation Title: Crucial role of Runx2 in knock-in allele disrupts fibrous root development joint development, yields pan Poster #60 Authors: Qiang Shao, Mei suture fusions and craniofacial Yang, Chen Liang, Li Ma, & Ji- Authors: Quan Wen, Jifan hypoplasia Title: FGF signaling patterns an-Fu Chen Feng, Yuan Yuan, Shuo Chen, cell fate at the interface be- Thach-Vu Ho, Jingyuan Li, & Authors: Diana Rigueur & Amy tween tendon and bone Faculty advisor: Jian-Fu Chen Yang Chai Merrill Authors: Ryan R. Roberts, Purpose and Background: Faculty advisor: Yang Chai Faculty advisor: Amy Merrill Lauren Bobzin, Creighton T. Hexanucleotide repeat expan- Tuzon, & Amy Merrill sion in C9orf72 intron caus- Background: Runx2 is a well- Background: Fibroblast es the most common familial known master transcription fac- Growth Factor Receptor 2 Faculty advisor: Amy Merrill amyotrophic lateral sclerosis tor of osteogenic differentiation. (Fgfr2) regulates osteoprogen- and frontotemporal dementia There are also evidence for the itor proliferation, self-renewal Tendon and bone are joined (collectively, C9ALS/FTD). De- involvement of Runx2 in tooth and differentiation during skel- through a transitional con- spite of its reduced expression development, including odon- etogenesis, yet it remains un- nective tissue known as the in patients, C9orf72 function re- togenesis and amelogenesis. clear how the receptor distinctly enthesis. The enthesis is mor- mains to be established. Meth- However, the function of Runx2 elicits these cellular processes. phologically graded from ten- ods: Cryosectioning, Confocal during root formation remains We discovered a nuclear fea- dinous to osseous and arises image and western blot are to be clarified. Previously, our ture of FGF signaling that will from bipotent progenitors that used to examine macrophage group found that Gli1+ cells are elucidate with specificity how co-express Scleraxis (Scx) and phenotype. Results: We re- mouse molar root progenitor Fgfr2 regulates skeletogene- Sox9 (Scx+/Sox9+). While it is port that impaired lysosomal cells. Methods: Taking advan- sis from our analysis of Bent known that Scx+/Sox9+ pro- degradation and the resulting tage of this Gli1-driven Cre-me- Bone Dysplasia Syndrome genitors have the potential to mTORC1 hyperactivation are diated recombination system, (BBDS), an FGFR2-disorder differentiate into either teno- responsible for immune dys- we generated Gli1-CreERT2; where osteoprogenitor cell- cytes or chondrocytes, the de- function in C9orf72 mutant Runx2fl/fl mice in order to spe- fate decisions are biased to- velopmental mechanism that mice. Our previous work re- cifically knock out Runx2 ex- wards self-renewal. Methods spatially resolves their bipo- vealed that C9orf72 forms a pression in these root progen- & Results: We developed a tency has remained unknown. protein complex with Smcr8 itor cells, and investigated the mouse conditional knock-in Here we demonstrate that FGF (Science Advances, 2016). function of Runx2 during root of the Fgfr2M391R mutation that signaling spatially regulates Here we found that C9orf72/ formation. Results: Runx2 is causes BBDS in humans. DNA differentiation of Scx+/Sox9+ Smcr8 double knockout (KO) highly expressed in the dental sequencing of cultured primary progenitor cells in developing mice exhibited similar but more papilla and dental follicle during osteoprogenitors treated with entheses of the mammalian severe immune defects than the molar crown-to-root tran- Adeno-GFP/Cre, confirmed ef- lower jaw. We find that condi- the individual KO, including sition period. After tamoxifen ficient allele recombination. Im- tional loss of Fgfr2 in neural macrophage dysfunction, sple- induction at PN3.5, the condi- munofluorescence experiments crest-derived Scx+/Sox9+ pro- nomegaly and lymphadenopa- tional knock-out (cKO) mice further showed that the allele genitors disrupts their regional thy. In C9orf72 or Smcr8 mu- showed significant growth re- functions like that of BBDS, differentiation into tenocytes tant macrophages, lysosomal tardation and root defects. The aberrantly translocating Fgfr2 and chondrocytes, which sub- degradation, autophagosome roots of cKO mice are much to the nucleus. Via MicroCT, sequently disrupts the zonal ar- clearance, and lysosomal se- shorter than the control, with chitecture of the enthesis. We

The Explorer Journal 2019 Abstracts

------53 -/- -/- Back PRMT4 Parish These re Prx1Cre-Prmt4 Prx1Cre-Prmt4 Results: Parish Sedghizadeh : The aim of this work :Biofilms are described Conclusion: Real time monitoring of such biofilms in vitro.However, these methods are limited by high labor intensity, sampling and/or intrusive long time lags from sampling. Therefore, sen sitive, accurate, and reproducible faster methods are desir able for real time monitoring Poster #64 Title: the formation and removal biofilms of frompathogens clinical-related using ance-based technology an imped Authors: & Esmat Sodagar Faculty advisor: Sedghizadeh Purpose was to test al the efficacy of antimicrobi phonate-antibiotic novel bisphos conjugates against clinically relevant bac terial bone biofilmimpedance-based rapid pathogens a using real time cell analyzer. ground as surface-associated bacte ria surrounded by a duced self-pro extracellular Many chronic infections, par matrix. ticularly bone infections, caused by pathogenic bacteria are growing as biofilms.methods are available to study Several precursor cell lines. We generated also mice (Cre specificlimb bud for mesenchyme and early a subset of craniofacial mesen chyme) and phenotype. assessed their expression and nuclear local osteo both in increased ization blast precursor cell lines after PRMT4 osteogenesis. inducing depletion reduced ic osteogen differentiation as measured by mRNA levels of osteogenic markers. Whole mount skele tal staining of mice showed delayed ossifica tion of the sternum at which eventually E16.5, caught up by E18.5. sults suggest roles of PRMT4 in the process of differentiation in osteogenic vitro and em bryonic bone development in vivo. Investigation with alterna tive Cre lines and further cellu lar and molecular investigation are underway.

: : ------USC Results Jian Xu & Conclusion Background: We employed immu employed We To investigate the Abhijit Babaji Shinde, Babaji Abhijit Investigation of the role of role the of Investigation in vitro and in vivo approaches. Methods: nohistochemical staining and qRT-PCR to evaluate PRMT4 expression during osteogene sis as well as effect of siRNA mediated PRMT4 depletion on osteogenesis in two osteoblast PRMT4 in bone development Authors: Ba Merrill, Amy Rigueur, Diana ruch Frenkel, & Jian Xu Faculty advisors: Baruch Frenkel Purpose: role of protein arginine methyl transferase 4 (PRMT4) in bone development. PRMT4 is a member of PRMT family of enzymes which cata lyzes the methylation of nine argi residues of both histone and PRMT4 non-histone is specificallyfor potentiating known transcription by proteins. methylating and recruiting tran scription factors as well as for its role in pre-mRNA splicing. role a suggest reports Previous of PRMT4 in a vast majority of functions such as gene co-ac tivation, cell differentiation, and embryogenesis. However, its functional significance in bone development and homeostasis project this In obscure. remains we study the role of PRMT4 in bone development using both and implant position. The analysis of a representa tive sample is shown ure in 1, Fig illustrating sition superimpo of surface optical scans and CBCT images of per- and post-operative scans, which al lows for quantitative measure ments in 1. Table Superimposition of optical scans over imag CBCT surface ing is a novel technique and is feasible to make linear and 3D quantitative measurements of peri-implant bone and soft tis sues. Poster #63 Title: ------Meth Homa H. Za : The therapeutic : Runx2 plays an Diana Sedler & A A randomized controlled : Patients with a non-re aspects of the buccal contours cle size cancellous; Geistlich, Wolhusen, Switzerland) placed within the horizontal facial gap PVS graft). (no group control or impressions and CBCTs were base pre-operative at obtained line and one year after implant placement. Study models were optically scanned and exported as STL files. The DICOM and STL files were importeda 3D into image analysis software (AMIRA) and superimposed for volumetric analysis. Linear and were measurements volumetric performed to evaluate several diately placed implants is cor related with peri-implant bone and mucosal changes. ods tooth anterior maxillary storable were enrolled in Following tooth extraction, this im study. plants with sloped platform and crestal microthreads Tech Profile) were placed into (Astra extraction sockets of maxillary anterior teeth and premolars, without flap elevation. Partici pants were randomly assigned to either experimental (ABBM; group Bio-Oss large parti Authors: Homa H. Zadeh advisor: Faculty deh Background benefit of biomaterialin the horizontal added gap between the implant and alveolar bone during placement immediate remains controver sial. The aim implant of this ized controlled clinical trial random was to evaluate whether placement of anorganic bovine bone min erals in the facial gap at imme tissue homeostasis to balance proliferation as well as entiation. differ Further studies needed are to investigate the mo mechanism. cellular and lecular Poster #62 Title: trial evaluating the efficacy of grafting the facial gap at imme diately placed implants in the anterior maxilla: 3D analysis of changes bone and soft tissue as well as shifted amelogenin were to Conclusion an earlier important stage. role in regulating Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry School of of Ostrow Herman ------fl/ Pur : We ;Runx2 : Elongat ERT2 Yang Chai Yang Methods : The mouse in Results Gli1-Cre Shuo Chen, Junjun The critical role of Runx2 : To investigate the role mice, in which Runx2 is lost

apoptosis detected by TUNEL assay. The expression of den tin sialophosphoprotein (Dspp) the preodontoblast and pream eloblast regions were detect ed in the mutant mice. were There no apparent changes in ness of dentin were observed in mutant mice compared with wild type mice. A number of proliferating decreased cells in staining, and immunofluores out carried were staining cence for analysis. thick increased and enamel ed were euthanized 4 weeks after induction. The mandibles were collected and fixed. MicroCT, Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) fate of MSCs. generated fl in the Gli1+ lineage. The mice incisors is still unknown. pose of Runx2 in maintaining tissue the regulating and homeostasis that is essential for tooth velopment. However, the de func tion of Runx2 in regulating the fate of MSCs in adult mouse found that quiescent Gli1+ cells cells Gli1+ quiescent that found near the neurovascular bundle are typical MSCs. Runx2 is a runt domain transcription factor studying mesenchymal cells stem (MSCs), since life the throughout continuously it grows of the animal. Previously, we Faculty advisor: Background cisor is an excellent model for Authors: Jing, Thach-Vu Ho, Chai & Yang Title: Title: in homeostasis of the incisor mouse Poster #61 establishes a gradient of teno cyte and chondrocyte cell fate morphogenesis enthesis during via Notch signaling. crest-specific loss disrupt of Notch2 development mandibular entheses. Together of Fgfr2 that the suggest results these genitor differentiation are tightly are differentiation genitor correlated with altered expres sion of Notch pathway bers. mem Correspondingly, neural show that these changes in the gradient of Scx+/Sox9+ pro 54

of biofilms. Methods: By us- functions of accessory genes ing, breathing and hearing. The detrimental effects of mes- ing impedance measurements remain to be elucidated. We Previous studies have shown enchymal stem cells (MSCs) in microtitre plates with gold hypothesized that accessory that signaling molecules from in some reports eclipse their electrodes we assessed in real genes/genomic islands provide cranial neural crest cells are benefits in clinical application, time the antimicrobial effects critical functions to Aa to sur- important for craniofacial mus- despite their wide support and of bisphosphonate-antibiotic vive in specific growth condi- cles development. RUNX2 adoption in bone marrow trans- conjugates against bacterial tions. Purpose: To investigate deficient human patients have plantation. The heterogeneity biofilms. For experimental pur- the expression of Aa accesso- craniofacial muscle defects. of MSC populations may be poses, the following microbial ry genes/genomic islands and We hypothesize that Runx2 responsible for variation in the strains were used: S. aureus core genes in different growth is likely to regulate oropha- efficacy of MSC-based therapy. ATCC 6538, P. gingivalis ATCC conditions. Methods: Aa strain ryngeal muscle development Here we report on single-cell 33277 and Aggregatibacter D7S-1 was grown in 4 different through tissue-tissue interac- transcriptome analysis of indi- actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) conditions: as planktonic cells tion. Methods: We performed vidual MSCs at various stag- D7S1. Moxifloxacin and cip- or biofilms in enriched media, immunofluorescent staining es of differentiation and gene rofloxacin were tested as the and as biofilms in two nutri- and in situ hybridization to an- expression profile clustering in parent or control antibiotics ent-poor media RPMI and Ke- alyze the expression patterns three discrete stages of osteo- and the following experimen- ratinocyte medium. The levels of Runx2 relative to myogenic genesis, which led to the dis- tal bisphosphonate-antibiotic of transcripts were determined cells at different stages during covery of YAP1 overexpression conjugates were synthesized by RNA sequencing. Results: soft palate development. We associated with undifferentia- and tested: etidronate-carba- The median expression value generated Osr2-KIcre;Runx- ble MSCs. Further large-scale mate-ciprofloxacin and etidro- for accessory genes/genomic 2fl/fl mice to knock out Runx2 surveys of cancer genome se- nate-carbamate-moxifloxacin. islands was ~2 fold lower than in a subset of cranial neural quencing data available from Results: The MIC results using core genes. Accessory genes/ crest-derived cells. To analyse the NIH Genomic Data Com- a 16-well plate real time cell genomic islands were acti- the phenotype, we have per- mons and Oncomine database analyzer show that these new vated to a greater extent than formed microCT and histology revealed a correlation between conjugates have high antibiotic core genes in nutrient-poor analysis of the mutant mice. YAP1 overexpression and can- efficacy in comparison to the media. We also noted elevat- We also performed RNA-seq cer progression. A YAP1-spe- non-conjugated antibiotics in ed expressions of certain core analysis to identify the possi- cific pathway was inferred us- osteomyelitis preventative and genes in nutrient-poor media, ble regulating mechanisms of ing a large-scale meta-analysis eradication experiments in vi- such as genes involved in the Runx2 for soft palate muscle of 51 clinical databases across tro. Conclusion:Real time bio- biosynthesis of lipopolysaccha- formation. Results: We have 6965 patients, confirming that film analysis provides a prom- rides and cytolethal distending shown that Runx2-positive cra- YAP1-interacting networks ising tool to evaluate antibiotic toxins. Conclusion: Aa acces- nial neural crest-derived cells could contribute to the prog- therapy in clinical or clinically sory gene pool and core gene are closely associated with a nostic power and potentially relevant biofilm-mediated infec- pool exhibit distinct expression subset of myogenic progenitors serve as a therapeutic target tions. Furthermore, this class profiles. Activation of accessory during soft palate development. for cancer patients. This study of chemical conjugates, incor- genes/genomic islands and se- Osr2-KIcre;Runx2fl/fl mice have draws on the evolved mecha- porating osteoadsorptive bis- lected core genes may help Aa cleft and muscle defects in the nism of YAP1 overexpression phosphonates with high bone cope with the stress of nutrients posterior part of their soft pal- in MSCs to shed fresh light on affinity, and fluoroquinolone an- limitation and to acquire nutri- ates at newborn stage. Based cancer progression. tibiotics for bone-targeted deliv- ents via eliciting host inflamma- on the RNA-seq data analy- ery to treat osteomyelitis biofilm tory response, probably a novel sis, we have identified several Our single-cell study found that pathogens strategy of Aa to survive in its downstream targets of Runx2 increases in YAP1 levels asso- host. for regulating soft palate mus- ciated with differentiation-re- cle formation. Conclusion: sistant MSCs may impact the This study will contribute to our efficacy of MSC treatment and Poster #65 understanding of how cranial affect MSC-evolved cancer pro- Poster #66 neural crest cells guide muscle gression. Understanding of this Title: Distinct expression pat- development in the oropha- mechanism could contribute terns of Aggregatibacter acti- Title: Runx2 regulates oropha- ryngeal region. This work may predictive power to the diagno- nomycetemcomitans core and ryngeal muscle development lead to the development of bet- sis of patients. Known or novel accessory gene pools through tissue-tissue interac- ter strategies for oropharyngeal biologically active molecules tion targeting YAP1-Hippo pathway Authors: Natalia Tjokro muscle regeneration. may improve treatment for a Authors: Summer Xia Han, defined subset of patients. Faculty advisor: Casey Chen Jifan Feng, Eva Janečková, Poster #67 Thach-Vu Ho, Jingyuan Li, Jun- Background: Gram negative jun Jing, Brian Song, & Yang Title: Single-cell transcriptome periodontal pathogen Aggre- Chai analysis of differentially staged Poster #68 gatibacter actinomycetemcom- BM-MSCs reveals a cancer itans (Aa) exhibits a high de- Faculty advisor: Yang Chai progression pathway evolved Title: Function of epitheli- gree of genetic variation among in multiple cancer types um-derived Shh signaling strains. Each Aa genome con- Purpose: To investigate the during root formation sists of core genes found in all regulatory mechanisms of oro- Authors: Xuelian Chen, An- strains, and accessory genes pharyngeal muscle develop- dres Stucky, Shengwen Calvin Authors: Yuanyuan Ma, (14-23% of the genome) found ment. Background: Oropha- Li, Xi Zhang, & Jiang F. Zhong Jingyuan Li, Jifan Feng, Jun- in some but not all strains. Ac- ryngeal structures are involved jun Jing,Yuan Yuan, Xia Han, cessory genes are often orga- in daily physiological functions Faculty advisor: Jiang F. Thach-Vu Ho, Congchong Shi, nized into genomic islands. The such as speaking, swallow- Zhong Eva Janeckova, Jinzhi He, Tin-

The Explorer Journal 2019 Abstracts ------55 Back Micro Analysis Ruchi Bajpai Results: Tooth pulp Tooth of AD Methods: To test whether hu Alzheimer’s disease crest derived cells that around the endothelial wrap cells of blood vessels and are critical for stabilization of blood sels. ves However, a brain biopsy would not be ideal for patients to look for pericytes Interestingly, neural defects. crest cell derived pericytes also infiltrate the including tissue craniofacial tooth pulp. of rat brain at from different wild-type ages and AD model rats. Analysis of rodent pulp tooth from wild-type model rats. Analysis and of patient AD teeth at different ages and dis ease statuses. vasculature defects in of brains AD rats predicted from our stem cell studies and consis tent with microvasculature de fects in patient brain samples. Microvascular defects and re iso in coverage pericyte duced lated root pulp and oral cavity from the same animal models. Conclusion: rat serves as a powerful to identify pericyte defects tool that predispose patients to Alzhei mer’s disease. Terrence Town, & Ruchi Bajpai & Ruchi Town, Terrence Faculty advisor: Purpose: man tooth pulp can serve a diagnostic tool as to identify pa tients predisposed to Alzheimer’s getting disease ground: (AD) is a progressive degenerative neuro disease that most is often characterized the by accumulation of plaques amyloid and tangles. There is no cure, but neurofibrillary there are treatments that can However, progression. the slow there is no early diagnostic tool available to start treatments as early as needed. Furthermore, amyloid plaques and fibrillary tangles are neuro late signs of Alzheimer’s disease. In re cent research, pericyte defects have become focus an of AD. Pericytes important of blood-brain-barrier the are neural

: ------Pri ab USC

WDR62 Results: WDR62 By creating Conclusion Purpose Jian-Fu Chen Jian-Fu and and . However, cellular BASIC Simon Youn, Casey Methods: AND DDS deletion resulted in SCIENCES mutant mice and human and mice mutant Microvasculature defects KIF2A UNDERGRADUATE Poster #71 Title: recapitulated in tooth pulp AD model rate of Authors: Griffin, Ariana Rodriguez, Ed mond Onwukwe, Brian Leung, differentiation of NPCs. Mecha NPCs. of differentiation with interacts WDR62 nistically, and promotes CEP170‚Äôs lo calization to the basal body of primary cilia, where recruits CEP170 microtubule-depolym erizing factor KIF2A to disas semble cilia. WDR62 depletion reduced KIF2A’s basal localization, body and KIF2A enhanced expression deficits in cilium length, prolif rescued eration, and differentiation mutant of NPCs. Modeling microcephaly in ce rebral organoids and mice re veal a WDR62-CEP170-KIF2A pathway promoting cilium dis assembly, disruption of which contributes to NPC and microcephaly. depletion Faculty advisor: Background mary microcephaly is caused by neural progenitor cell (NPC) depletion due to mutations in genes encoding for centroso mal proteins including and un mechanisms molecular and derlying microcephaly, partic ularly in human NPCs, remain elusive. Wdr62 cerebral organoids. WDR62 smaller sizes of organoids and disrup the to due brains mouse tion of NPCs, including radial outer glia (oRG), a subtype of NPCs that are barely detected human for critical but rodents in neocortex growth. dis cilium retarded to led lation assembly, unusually long cilia, and delayed cell cycle progres sion leading proliferation to and decreased premature : ------Con Back Results : I utilized sin Wei Zhang, Si-Lu Modeling microceph : Using single cell RNA : The development of Methods Poster #70 Title: aly with and cerebral mice reveals organoids a CEP170-KIF2A WDR62- pathway pro moting cilium disassembly neural progenitor cells in Authors: Yang, Stephanie L. John Shao, Qiang Yang, Mei Herrlinger, Collar, Edgar Fierro, Yanhong E. Bruce Lu, Hui Liu, Aimin Shi, Herring, & Jian-Fu Chen different different cell lineages derived from either cranial neural crest cells (CNCCs) or mesoderm. Moreover, we identifiederal functional sev domains within E10.5 mandibular arch involv ing myogenic, chondrogenic and odontogenic, osteogenic lineage differentiation. clusion sequencing analysis, we have a deeper understanding of the CNCCs specification and man dibular arch patterning process in terms of its function in guid ing the differentiation. ous expression of these marker these of expression ous genes. gle cell RNA sequencing tech nique combining with in lineage vivo tracing study to into the cellular look and molecular heterogeneity of arch mandibular at different ing to stages, fill the gap try between the early patterning process later tissue formation. and We first identifieddomains in patterning E10.5 mandibular arch based on anatomical lo cations. Unsupervised cluster ing of E12.5 mandible reveals of the early mandibular and the arch specification process cell of lineages. different ground mandible is a complex process involving progenitor cell spec ification to multiplethat will form different types lineages of tissues in a spatial poral and manner. tem I’m particularly interested in the cellular molecular and components in the early mandible development. developmental early the During stage, patterning domains are established without the obvi out and guiding the formation of different tissue type the within mandible. Specifically, understand to the heterogeneity Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry School of of Ostrow Herman . ------fl/ in vivo Conclu mice has

K14-rtTA;Te Yang Chai Yang Yang Chai Yang 2l/+ : Epithelial-spe : Mammalian , respectively. K14-rtTA;Teto-cre;R fl/+ Yuan Yuan, Xia Yuan, Han, Yuan : We generated mice : To understand how : The aim of this proj in shortened roots with roots shortened in Results K14-rtTA;Teto-cre;Smo Identifying lineage spec : These data indicate that and

Purpose the patterning process shaping Authors: Chai Yang Jifan Feng, & Faculty advisor: ification domainsmandibular within arch the sequencing gle-cell RNA using sin Poster #69 Title: sustained Smo activation in ep in activation Smo sustained ithelium inhibits postnatal root development. an expanded multi-layer, “swol multi-layer, expanded an len” morphology, with ectopic Amelx expression. sion at P14.5. At PN8.5, compared to the bi-layered structure controls, HERS in in to-cre;R26SmoM naling in the dental epithelium Results abnormal Hertwig’s epithelial root sheath (HERS) formation cificdeletion of Shh and Smo at E16.5 has root no formation. However, effects con on stitutive activation of Shh sig 26SmoM2 Doxycycline rodent diet administered was every day E16.5. from with epithelial-specific loss- or gain-of-function of Shh signal ing: fl cisely controls root dental of regulation the through formation epithelial stem cell fate Methods in a dose-dependent manner. Purpose epithe how investigate to is ect lium-derived Shh signaling pre controls dental epithelial stem cell fate to regulate mation. Furthermore, root Shh for sig naling regulates root formation through epithelial-mesenchy mal interactions. BMP-mediat ed Sonic hedgehog (Shh) sig naling in the dental epithelium Background tooth root development begins after the completion of crown formation and is regulated Bridget Samuels, & Yang Chai Yang & Bridget Samuels, Faculty advisor: gwei Guo, Mengfei Yu, Chen, Shuo Quan Wen, Jiahui Du, 56

Poster #72 dicating a potential signaling conditions, including conditions network playing a role in devel- that mimic in vivo Aa infections. UNDERGRADUATE Title: Characterization of ex- opment of soft palatal muscles. pression profiles in soft palatal AND DDS muscle development Poster #74 CLINICAL Authors: Josefine Ekholm, Ai- Poster #73 leen Ghobadi, Eva Janečková, Title: 3D reconstruction of & Yang Chai Title: High throughput function- muscle defects in mouse cleft SCIENCES al analysis of Aggregatibacter soft palate Faculty advisor: Yang Chai actinomycetemcomitans genes via transposon sequencing Authors: Sara Kahng, Brian Background: The posterior Song, Thach-Vu Ho, Xia Han, region of the secondary pal- Authors: Christie Shen & Na- Jifan Feng, & Yang Chai Poster #75 ate, known as the soft palate, talia Tjokro Title: Emergency management is composed of four muscles Faculty advisor: Yang Chai Faculty advisor: Casey Chen of traumatic dental injuries in mice. The soft palate is cru- among school nurses in Long cial to several functions such Background: The soft palate Background: Gram-negative is the posterior part of the sec- Beach Unified School District, as swallowing, breathing, and CA talking. Consequently, if mus- facultative Aggregatibacter ondary palate and is involved actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) in important daily physiological cle fibers are not properly ori- Authors: Daniel Adelpour, ented and the soft palate has is a putative keystone peri- functions such as speaking, odontal pathogen that exhibits swallowing, breathing, and Chieh Tsai, Chantelle Aabedi, a cleft, these functions are & Marissa Carvalho disrupted. Although surgical complex relationships with the hearing. Soft palate malforma- procedures exist, complete host and other niche-sharing tion or clefting, is a common Faculty advisor: Julie Jenks restoration is yet to be accom- microbial species. Less than congenital craniofacial defect in plished. The comprehensive 5% of the ~2,000 protein cod- humans. Patients with soft pal- Purpose: The purpose of this network of signaling pathways ing genes in the Aa genome ate malformations often have study is to assess the knowl- pertinent to the basic muscle have been fully characterized. disorganized palatal muscles edge and ability of school development of soft palatal These unknowns present a with reduced numbers of myofi- nurses in the Long Beach Uni- muscles remains undiscov- major challenge to study the bers, which severely impair the fied School District to manage ered. Purpose: Expression pathogenesis of Aa. Toward normal functions of the soft pal- and properly treat traumatic patterns of Wnt, Shh, and Fgf that goal, transposon sequenc- ate. Purpose: 3D reconstruc- dental injuries (TDI), specifi- signaling were investigated to ing (Tn-seq) may reveal es- tion of all the muscles of the cally tooth avulsion, in school advance the knowledge of mo- sential genes for Aa infections. soft palate provides improved children, immediately after a lecular pathways involved in Purpose: To identify essential spatial visualization of the mus- lecture in handling TDI. Back- the embryonic development of genes of Aa in infections via cle deformity and can help de- ground: Dental trauma is one soft palatal muscles. Methods: Tn-seq. Methods: Tn libraries velop better clinical treatments of the important problems to Histological analysis of Ax- were established for Aa strains of patients with soft palate mal- be addressed in schools. Falls, D7S-1 and HK1651 by pub- formation. Methods: Osr2-KI- in2-LacZ and Gli-LacZ reporter fl/fl fights, and sport injuries are mice was used in addition to lished Methods. The random cre;Runx2 mutant mice show among the common causes of RNAscope (Axin2, Gli1, Etv4/5, single-insertion of the trans- reduced muscle volume in the dental trauma in schools. The Fgf receptors) and immunohis- poson was verified by sequenc- soft palate at newborn stage result from previously admin- tochemistry on C57BL/6J mice. ing. The libraries were tested in (unpublished data). Histologi- istered questionnaire to school Results: Our results showed a polymicrobial setting of Aa cal analysis of soft palate mus- nurses in the school district of abundant expression of Wnt, and another partner species. cles of both control and mutant Long Beach strongly suggests Shh, and Fgf signaling path- The input and output mutants mice was performed by paraffin that there is a need for train- ways in early embryonic devel- were analyzed by sequencing sectioning and MHC immuno- ing in the management of TDI, opment of soft palatal muscles. and compared to identify es- fluorescence staining. Images specifically avulsion amongst RNAscope co-localization with sential genes in the conditions. were taken from each section the participants. Methods: A myosin heavy chain revealed Results: Transposon libraries of the soft palate and import- lecture on the management of expression of these signal- have been developed for Aa ed into BioVis software for 3D TDI in primary and permanent ing pathways predominantly strains D7S-1 and HK1651, reconstruction. Results: The teeth was given to the partici- in cranial neural crest-derived and these mutants should con- levator veli palatini and pala- pants by a pediatric dentist. A mesenchymal cells surround- tain transposon insertions in topharyngeus muscle volumes post training questionnaire was ing the muscle fibers and also all non-essential genes. The are reduced in the mutants administered to the same pop- in myogenic cells themselves. libraries are then screened in compared to control mice. In ulation immediately after train- While Fgf signaling was con- a polymicrobial biofilm. Com- addition, the levator veli palatini ing session. The questionnaire sistently expressed through- parison of input and output mu- reveals a cleft deformity com- contains objective questions out soft palate development, tants identify putative essential pared to the continuous sling to measure the changes in at later stages, Wnt and Shh genes for Aa to persist in the formation in the control mice. participants’ knowledge in the signaling pathways were dimin- polymicrobial biofilms. The rel- Conclusion: 3D reconstruction management of TDI after the ished from CNC-derived mes- ative importance of each gene of soft palate muscles allows training. The surveys contain enchymal cells and Shh sig- for growth in a polymicrobial for better understanding of the no questions leading to any naling from myogenic cells as environment will be determined anatomical defects in the mu- identifiable data on an individ- well. Conclusion: The current by comparing the abundance tant mice, which recapitulate ual level. Results: The results study suggests that Wnt, Shh, of the mutant before and after those seen in humans, and can from the immediate post-train- and Fgf signaling pathways are growth. Conclusion: Tn-seq is be utilized as a model to devel- ing survey demonstrated signif- dynamically expressed during a versatile tool to identify func- op treatment strategies in the icant improvement (P<0.05) in soft palate development, in- tional Aa genes under different future. knowledge of TDI management

The Explorer Journal 2019 Abstracts ------57 : This : Partic : Parish : The : success Purpose Results : The association Pardis Barati Mahvar, Mahvar, Barati Pardis 10-Year 10-Year retrospective Conclusion sample size. institutional study at the versity Uni of Southern California (USC) Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry explores the asso ciation between ART, duration of treatment, cancer, and type of cancer, with medication-re 2018. Success in retention was retention in Success 2018. based on sealants of 2nd pri mary molars and of the 48 2nd primary molar sealants placed, 38 remained. Poster #79 Title: analysis of risk factors associ ated with MRONJ Authors: Amna Imran, Reyes Andrew Enciso, Sanapanya, Moham mad Khalifeh, Parish Sedghi zadeh, & Laurel Henderson Faculty advisor: Sedghizadeh Background between antiresorptive thera pies (ART), like nates bisphospho and osteonecrosis denosumab, of the and jaw been has well documented in literature. the Risk factors studied include type of ART, duration of treatment, and tors, but are limited by method other fac ological challenges, including be sealed. Each student was instructed to place a sealant as follows: Scrub tooth with tooth brush for 15 enamel seconds, with Etch 35% ic acid phosphor for 30 seconds, 15 seconds, for water with Rinse tooth Resin Sealant seconds. 30 for tooth cure Light was placed, Sealants were checked by Pe diatric Faculty. All participants cleaning. a and OHI given were No further home provided. were instructions ipants for the sealants (N=17) were identified from thenumber total of students participat clinic dental volunteer the in ing (N = 120). Of the total number of sealants placed (N=128), 48 of these were sealants placed on primary second were mo lars. of sealants was measured by retention of the sealant. Name ly, if the sealed in returning sealants patients of remained the Terra Bella clinic in March : ------USC : Not yet Purpose Gardner : Currently in : Terra Bella is Conclusion Richard Kim, Marissa Kim, Richard : Patients were select were Patients : Results A A retrospective study on Beale Background annual Ayuda free clinic destination pediatric focused providing comprehensive on den tal care to a patient population that due to financial constraints and lack of access to care underserved. is In such a popu lation, sealing primary molars may prove valuable. determine the To retention rate of sealants placed on second primary molars and it would whether be beneficial tothese molars in this population. seal Methods treat a through study the for ed ment planning process where all virgin primary and second ary molars were selected to surveys surveys were developed: one students. for one and faculty for Surveys consisted of a series of ordinal questions and ticipants were par asked to rate on a scale of one to five ranging from whether they strongly dis agreed or strongly agreed with a certain belief. These surveys were distributed to cal the faculty dentists clini and Class of 2020 dental students at the Den of School Ostrow Herman tistry. process. completed. Poster #78 Title: the retention of sealing primary 2nd molars Authors: Carvalho, & Elena Bigun Faculty advisor: : ------Re : Two : The pur Conclusion Results: Results: James Tom James Methods : Traditionally, in Purpose Kristeen Chu & Eumi Ethical numbness: an in enrolled in a dental program is the focus of a revised curricu lum of dental local anesthesia education. pose of this study is to collect preliminary data for a longitu dinal, retrospective study. The long-term goal is to the evaluate need for shifts in the dental any community paradigm to implement a consistent pro cess of informed consent start and level pre-doctoral the in ing to emphasize and stimulate a thorough discussion of versus benefit. risks damage. Complications such as hematoma, paresthesia trismus, can and by any be intraoral injection tech caused prac common once The nique. is injections peer-to-peer of tice now beingchallenged in light of ethics. Administering intraoral injections for no purpose and without a process therapeutic of informedconsent specifically violates the notions of autono my and nonmaleficence. The need for a process of informed receive to choice a and consent injections or students currently els of dental local anesthesia instruction Authors: Choi Faculty advisor: Background dental education, the lished method estab of teaching lo cal anesthesia administration to pre-doctoral dental students has involved dent injections. student-to-stu However, ad involves anesthesia ministering risks and potential for tissue among health clerks compared results follow-up 4-month the to in March 2018. After TDI training, the partici pants demonstrated significant improvement in their edge. The knowl 4-month results follow-up showed a decrease in TDI knowledge that was recov lecture. ered with the refresher Poster #77 Title: mod educational of vestigation after the training. sults from the 1-year time point demonstrated improvement in management TDI of knowledge Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry School of of Ostrow Herman ------Con Meth Back Julie Jenks First part of study Marissa Carvalho, : The purpose of this Emergency manage : Dental trauma is one : A : A lecture on the manage changes in participants’ knowl TDI of management the in edge administered immediately af ter the refresher lecture. questionnaire The contains objec tive questions to measure the ing session. A refresher ing A lecture session. was given 1 the initial questionnaire, and a year was questionnaire following post-training tist. A post training naire question was administered to the same population both immedi and ately, 4 months after train ods per and primary in TDI of ment manent teeth was given to the participants by a pediatric den the school district of Pasadena suggests that there is a need for routine follow-up training in the management of TDI. dental trauma in schools. The result from previously admin istered questionnaire to health clerks and school nurses in of the important problems be addressed in schools. Falls, to fights, and sportamong injuriesthe common causes of are cally tooth avulsion, in school children, immediately after, a after year 1 and 4 after, months lecture in handling TDI. ground nurses and health the Pasadena clerks Unified in School District to manage dental traumatic injuries (TDI) specifi Purpose study is to assess the edge knowl and ability of school Daniel Adelpour, Tsai Aabedi, & Chieh Chantelle Faculty advisor: health clerks in Pasadena Uni CA fied School District, Authors: Title: Title: ment of traumatic dental inju ries among school nurses and knowledge.‬‬‬ Poster #76 iarize/train iarize/train them to handle TDI After TDI properly. training, the participants demonstrated sig nificant improvement in their sults in October clusion: 2018. suggested need for CE cours es for school nurses to famil among among participants compared to the pre-training survey re 58

lated osteonecrosis of the jaw stent was carved out in dental inoculated with Enterococcus superimposed in Adobe Pho- (MRONJ) in the robust USC stone and scanned with the faecalis and were incubated in toshop. The areas of denuded patient population. Dentists 3Shape dental scanner. Orth- microaerophilic condition for 48 root surfaces were measured frequently treat patients who oanalyzer software was used hours. The teeth were randomly in each picture and compared have ART and improved risk to smooth out surface irregu- allocated to 5 groups: 1) sodium between the 2 time-points. To analyses may aid in prevent- larities and add an extra bump hypochlorite 2.5%, 2) chlorhex- assess the percentage of root ing morbidity in the dental set- layer to overcorrect the nasal idine gluconate 2%, 3) Satureja coverage, a non-parametric ting. Methods: Our electronic projection and compensate for khuzistanica 0.31 mg/ml, 4) Sa- longitudinal model was run. health records between 2007 post-treatment shrinkage. The tureja khuzistanica 0.62 mg/ml, Results: The model found a and 2017 were queried with file was converted to STL for- 5) positive control. Dentin chips highly significant difference Oracle database management mat and modified with Fusion collected with H-type files into (p<0.0001) between the de- software by an Information 360 software to add a connec- trypticase soy agar plates and o luded root surface pre- and Technology Data Analyst for tor and nasal holes to the vir- incubated in 35 C/5% CO2 for post-operative. The pre values inclusion in this study. Inclusion tual stent. The custom nasal 48 hours. Colony forming units were found to be significantly criteria comprised patients of stent was printed on a Moonray (CFU) was counted. Results: higher (median of 10056.00 any sex, age, ethnicity, depart- printer using NextDent Ortho in 1, 2, 3, 4 groups, total CFU pixels) as compared to post ment of care, or duration of IBT resin (Sprintray, Los Ange- was minimum and there were (median of 1295.00 pixels). treatment with a history of ART. les, CA). Results: The printed significantly different, between Conclusion: The present Exclusion criteria comprised stent is soft and flexible, has a positive control and other study revealed that A-PRF can any patients who did not take connector to prevent accidental groups. Disinfection activity of effectively decrease the denud- ART, who had osteoradione- inhalation of the stent, and has experimental groups: Group 1: ed root surface when used in crosis, or who were involved the additional bump of material 99.93, Group 2: 99.49, Group gingival augmentation proce- in a University MRONJ study. to support the nose. to ensure 3 and 4: 99.97. Conclusion: dures. Hence, it can be an ideal Statistical analyses were per- that the breathing hole The na- Satureja khuzistanica 0.31 mg/ alternative to connective tissue formed using SPSS. Results: sal hole is wide enough to insert ml appears to be an intracanal graft. Additionally, with this new Statistically significant associ- a suction bulb. Conclusion: It irrigant instead of sodiuhypo- technique patients experienced ations were identified between is possible to 3D print custom chlorite and chlorhexidine glu- decreased pain, swelling and type of ART taken and MRONJ nasal stents. Our next step is conate. recovery time. Longer term fol- (Chi-square: p<.001), can- to scan the nose and create a low-ups and controlled clinical cer and MRONJ (Chi-square: mirror of the image of the good trials are necessary to compare p<0.001), type of cancer and side without a cleft deformity to Poster #82 A-PRF and connective tissue MRONJ (Chi-square: p<0.001), provide a model for creating the graft efficacy. and duration of treatment with nasal stent Title: Advanced platelet-rich ART and MRONJ (independent fibrin for soft tissue augmenta- t-test: p<0.001). Conclusions: tion USC MRONJ patients have Poster #83 Poster #81 taken mostly alendronate for Authors: Nathan A. Nouria, osteoporosis treatment, have Title: Can the direct approach Title: Evaluate the antimicro- Micah Tabanfar, Neema cancer, and have a history of be as promising as indirect bial activity of Satureja khuz- Bakhshalian, & Alexandre-Amir taking ART for (±SD) 5.64 ± when restoring large MOD de- istanica against Enterococcus Aalam 4.94 years. fects? faecalis in human root canals and compared its antimicrobial Faculty advisor: Neema Authors: Mehrdad Razaghy, effectiveness with sodium hy- Bakhshalian Luciana Mara Soares, & Pas- pochlorite 2.5% and chlorhexi- Poster #80 Background: Connective tis- cal Magne dine gluconate 2% sue graft is the gold standard Title: 3D printing of custom na- Faculty advisor: Pascal for soft tissue augmentation sal stents for babies with cleft Authors: Shiva Mishaeel & Magne and root coverage procedures. lip and palate Reihane Zare However, morbidity of the do- Background: Restoring large Authors: Lauren Yen, Yasumu- Faculty advisor: Afshin Azimi nor area is a concern. There- MOD defects can be chal- ra Toshihiko, Jeff Hammoudeh, fore, several other materials lenging due to polymerization Lori Howell, William Magee, Purpose: The purpose of this have been used for soft tissue shrinkage stresses. Purpose: Mark Urata, & Stephen Yen in vitro study was to evaluate augmentation. Advanced plate- To compare mechanical perfor- the antimicrobial activity of let-rich fibrin (A-PRF) is a type mance and enamel-crack pro- Faculty advisor: Stephen Yen Satureja khuzistanica against of platelet concentrate which pensity of direct, semi-direct, Enterococcus faecalis in hu- can be used as an autogenous and CAD/CAM approaches Background: After primary re- man root canals and compared graft material for this proce- for large MOD composite res- pair of the lip and nose in infants it’s antimicrobial effectiveness dure. Purpose: The aim of in restorations. Methods: 45 with cleft lip and palate, nasal with, sodium hypochlorite 2.5% this retrospective study was to extracted maxillary molars un- stents are used to support the and chlorhexidine gluconate evaluate the efficacy of A-PRF derwent standardized slot-type nose after the repair. Current- 2%. Methods: Fifty extracted, in root coverage procedure us- preparation (5-mm depth and ly, generic nasal stents are be- single-root, mature, human ing a 2D image analysis proto- bucco-palatal width) includ- ing used in the United States. premolar teeth with single col. Methods: Twelve patients ing immediate dentin sealing Purpose: This pilot project will canal were prepared to stan- who underwent full-mouth gin- (Optibond FL) for the inlays (30 test whether we can design a dardize specimens.the smear gival augmentation procedure teeth). Short-fiber reinforced custom nasal stent to improve layer,was removed and the using A-PRF were included in composite resin (EverX Poste- nasal symmetry and 3D print it samples translate in to brain the study. The digital intra-oral rior covered by Gradia Direct out of FDA approved materials. heart infusion broth and were photographs from pre- and Posterior) was used for the Methods: A model of a nasal autoclaved then,samples were 24 months post-therapy were direct approach, Gradia Direct

The Explorer Journal 2019 Abstracts

: ------59 β1 Conclusion Alex K. Wong K. Alex : The purpose : : Animals were : Head and neck ) mRNA, indicating in indicating mRNA, ) Purpose : Postsurgical lymph β1 Methods a reproducible model of head and neck lymphedema, as ev idenced by significant changes in clinical, histological, and mo lecular outcomes. ference, maximum face width, and head and neck fat content on MRI. Lymphatic was drainage measured at day indocyanine 60 green via (ICG) lym after which animals phography, were sacrificedical for and histolog molecular Results analysis. edema was observed 94% of the time in group the experimental (17/18). Compared controls, to experimental mals experienced ani growth significant in neck circumference max P<0.0001), change, (12% imum face width (10% change, P=0.0003), and (18% change, P=0.04). Experi fat volume mental animals had significant as drainage lymphatic slower ly measured by ICG (P<0.05), clearance and subcutis thickness on histology 83% greater subcuta indicating (P=0.0083), Finally, expansion. tissue neous experimental animals had 66% greater relative expression of transcription growth factor- (TGF- creased fibrosis. combined that demonstrate We lymphatic injury in rats leads to Vorobyova, Vorobyova, Yang Chai, & Alex K. Wong Faculty advisor: Background lymphedema (HNL) is a disfig uring complication of head and neck cancer treatment. Animal models of and pharmacologic test to used lymphedema are microsurgical therapies, which can offer compared improved to servative results standard therapies. However, con no animal model for HNL has been described in the literature to date. of this study is to describe the first reproducible rat model for HNL. split into 2 groups: 1) 18 exper combined received rats imental lymphatic injury lymph via node resection cervical and ra diation therapy, 2) 18 rats control received sham Outcomes surgery. included measurements of biweekly neck circum

------fl/ β fl/fl Pur Gli1- USC condi RNA

Conclu fl/fl Results: mice dis

fl/fl Methods: Gli-CreER;Tgfbr2 . Gli-CreER;Smo Giulia Daneshgaran, An experimental ani Gli-CreER;Smo The main purpose of this of purpose main The Our preliminary data in reporter mice. and

Title: Title: mal model for head and neck lymphedema Authors: Connie B. Paik, Cooper, Wan Jiao, Sun Michael Young N. Park, Tea Jashashvili, Ivetta histology of fl tional knockout mice and LacZ Gli-CreER;Tgfbr2 play impaired 2 odontogenesis months after tamoxifen jection whereas in their dentino genesis and amelogenesis are increased. The activity in the area proliferation of cervical loop where TACs ed are is decreased, locat both mesenchyme in and the epithelium, resulting in premature entiation differ of odontoblasts and ameloblasts mice showed similar but more severe phenotypes. sion: dicate the importance of Tgf- and Shh signaling in regulating stem cell niche and homeostasis consequently odontogen esis. Further experiments are necessary to exact elucidate role in this their process and regulation of MSC fate. Poster #86 they continually grow through out the entire lifespan of these rodents through epithelial activity and stem of cells mesenchymal (MSCs) located the at proximal end This of continuous incisor. replacement of cells makes the mouse inci sor a perfect model for study ing this complex mechanism. Along with the importance MSCs of in regeneration and tis sue homeostasis, it is also cru cial to understand the microen vironments where these cells reside. The progeny of MSCs are transit (TACs). The amplifying rate of transition TAC and subsequent cells MSC to rate of TAC proliferation odontoblasts into differentiation and or dental pulp cells maintains the incisor homeostasis. pose: study is to explore the largely that network signaling unknown well as MSCs of fate the guides as their niche. scope, immunofluorescence, : ------Results s: Exten s: Yang Chai Yang : to build a de Mice incisors are incisors Mice CCMB Conclusion Arman Ohanyan, Eva Ohanyan, Arman : Kinematic innova OTHER Purpose Molecular signaling reg AFFILIATED AFFILIATED DENTISTRY / DENTISTRY RESEARCHERS Poster #85 Title: ulating mesenchymal stem cell niche in mouse incisor Authors: Chai Yang Janečková, & Faculty advisor: Background: truly unique in terms growth of their and development, as practice and performance. For able is patient the time, first the to transport the device, rapidly deploy it and play Beethoven with the use of the foot pedal. the foot pedal and be controlled be and pedal foot the by tongue pressure. Different pressure-sensing were tested, and a hard acrylic switches shell and soft mouthguard ma terial overlay was used to em bed and insulate the wires and sensors from saliva. The de Ardu an to connected was vice ino computer controlling a mo to wheel metal a rotates that tor engage and disengage the pia pedal. no school and home at testing sive has proven the design piano daily sturdy withstand to enough for this pianist who music, Baroque in competitions has won but could not venture into later Classical and Romantic music requiring the sostenuto piano pedal. vice that can control the piano pedal with tongue Methods pressure. tion and design, including electro-mechanical focus intra-oral upon sensor and water-proofing. sensitivity In August 2018, a device was made that could adapt quickly to any piano, apply pressure to him control of the piano pedal through an oral pressure sens ing device. Prior to this inven tion, other groups unsuccess fully tried to produce a device Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry School of of Ostrow Herman ------s. All . Shrink Samuel Results Conclusion : After meeting Axel Ochoa, Carlos A A novel, orally-controlled master machinist and a CHLA orthodontist set out to give legs, a group of students engineering based at State University California Los Angeles, a professor of engineering, a Background a talented young pianist lost who motor control of his lower Wieland Faculty advisors: Yen Landsberger & Stephen Authors: Sanchez, Jonathan za, Curtis Young, Sam Lands Mendo berger, Stephen Yen, & John Title: Title: pi paraplegic a assist to device anist to use piano foot pedals Poster #84 restorations performed as good as performed restorations as inlays when a short-fiber re inforced composite resin base was used. three restorative yielded techniques excellent performance mechanical above physiolog ical masticatory loads. Direct ues did not differ significantly (Life Table analysis, p>.05) at 1,775N, 1,900N, and 1,675N, respectively. (Kaplan Meier P>.05), ranged between 87% (direct) to 93% (semi-direct, CAD/CAM). Simi larly, fatigue-to-failure test val direct, semi-direct, and CAD/ CAM inlays, respectively. Sur vival to was similar for all three acceleratedgroups fatigue test at 30-degree angle on the palatal cusp. age-induced cracking were 47%, 7%, rates and 13% for cycles each) until fracture to a or maximum of 185,000 cy cles. Survived specimens were subjected to fatigue-to-failure ing with a load of 200N (5,000 cycles), followed of 400, by 600, 800, 1000, 1200, stages and 1,400N (maximum 30,000 enamel cracks were tracked by transillumination photography. Cyclic axial isometric chewing (5-Hz) was simulated, start All inlays were adhesively lut ed with light-curing composite resin (preheated Gradia Direct Posterior). Shrinkage-induced Posterior Posterior for the and Cerasmart semi-direct, composite res in blocks for CAD/CAM inlays. 60

how to use animal models to subgroup represents 10.7% of pothesized that Tcf12-Twist1- gain a better understanding of the population. Results: SFB hedgehog axis is important to soft palate clefting.Given the and PCM deficiencies showed maintain adult cranial suture advancements in biology and a declining trend, with rates patency postnatally through biomedical engineering, we decreasing from 21% to 5% of mediating Gli1+ mesenchymal are confident that combining the class population. Declining stem cells. Results: We con- our new knowledge of regula- trends are also present, in this firmed that Gli1+ cells reside in tory mechanisms of soft pal- sub-group, with 1st attempt fail the middle region of adult mice ate development with tissue rates NB1 decreasing from 7% using Td-Tomato reporter mice engineering will achieve im- to 0%; NB2 decreasing from and tested to see if Tcf12 is ex- Poster #87 proved treatment outcomes for 9% to 0%; and WREB de- pressed in adult mice cranial patients with soft palate clefts. creasing from 3% to 0%. Late suture. Then to test the role of Title: Regulatory mechanisms grads also present a declining Tcf12 and Twist1, we generate of soft palate development and trend, decreasing from 10% of Tcf12 and Twist1 with Gli1-Cre, malformations Poster #88 the eligible class population to used double flox and knockout 1%. D1 and D2 deficiencies are mutant mice, and induced the Authors: Jingyuan Li, Gabri- Title: Deficiency identification not a barrier to performance mice with tamoxifen. Our over- ela Rodriguez, Xia Han, Eva and impact on performance on NB1, NB2, WREB or OTG. all results conclude that after a Janečková, Sara Kahng, Brian measures in learner-centered Conclusions: With the early number of weeks, the coronal Song, & Yang Chai education identification of deficiencies, suture narrowed and there was and intervention, our learn- no obvious suture fusion with- Faculty advisor: Yang Chai Authors: Jennifer Jordan & er-centered pedagogy does not in the span of four to fourteen Mahvash Navazesh limit performance on external weeks. Cleft palate is a common con- measures (NB1, NB2, WREB) genital birth defect that signifi- Faculty advisor: Mahvash or cumulative experiences cantly compromisesthe quality Navazesh leading to OTG. Poster #90 of affected babies’ lives. Caus- es of cleft palate are numer- Purpose: This study aims to re- Title: Modeling the develop- ous,including multiple genetic veal student deficiency trends ment of the mouse mandible and environmental factors. Our in the biomedical, behavior- Poster #89 study looked atregulation of al or pre-clinical components Authors: Jerry Ruvalcaba, soft palate development, which of a Learner-Centered (LC) Title: Role of Twist1 and Tcf12 Yuan Yuan, Zoe Johnson, & remains largely unknown. Cleft program, using admissions in postnatal cranial suture pa- Yang Chai ofthe soft palate leads to mis- parameters, including ethnic- tency maintenance orientation of several muscles, ity, gender, age, educational Faculty advisor: Yang Chai causing oropharyngealdefi- background, pre-dental GPA Authors: Karen Agustin-Rodri- Background: With the pletho- ciency and adversely affecting or performance on standard- guez, Jinzhi He, & Yang Chai ra of craniofacial diseases that speech, swallowing, breathing, ized exams, and their relation- are present all over the world, it and hearing. Importantly, we ship to achievement of on-time Faculty advisor: Yang Chai is crucial to be able to trace the show that anatomy, function, graduation (OTG), 1st attempt Background: Cranial sutures development of these illnesses. and development of soft pala- pass on National Board Den- play an important role in the de- To be able to do this, a road- talmuscles are similar between tal Exams Part 1 (NB1) or Part velopment of the skull. Cranial map of normal development is humans and mice, rendering 2 (NB2), and WREB. Back- sutures act as articulations that necessary. The development of the mouse an excellent mod- ground: Responding to chang- hold the cranial bone togeth- mandible is a complex process el for investigating molecular es in technology, student need, er, absorb mechanical force, involving progenitor cell specifi- and cellular mechanisms of national and state board exam- which protects the osteogen- cation to multiple lineages that soft palate clefts. Cranial neu- ination, and evolving accredita- ic tissues and the underlying will form different types of tis- ral crest-derived cells (CNCCs) tion standards, the pre-doctoral bone, and it’s the site where sues in a spatial and temporal provide important regulatory dental program has progressed cranial bone growth occurs. In manner. With this, we sought to cues to guide myogenic pro- from a Problem-Based Learn- order for the cranial suture to create a map of features, which genitors to differentiate into ing (PBL) pedagogy, to an inte- function, it must stay unfused take shape through the differ- muscles in the soft palate. grated LC model, utilizing PBL and stay in the patent state until ent developmental stages of Signals from the palatal epi- group learning and pre-clini- the sutures close. In 1997, two the mice mandible. Methods: thelium also play key roles via cal module experiences in D1 groups detected the function Through immunostaining, RNA tissuetissue interactions medi- and D2. Allowing for curricu- mutations in TWIST1 gene from scope, and micro CT scans, ated by TGF-β, Wnt, Fgf, and lar changes 2005-2010, the Saethre-Chotzen syndrome we were able to collect images Hh signaling molecules and pre-doctoral dental classes of patients, which concludes that of the different stages of mice their inhibitors. Additionally, 2015 to 2018 share the most suture fusion is a process of mandible development, and transcriptional regulators such comparable curriculum mod- ossification. From the given from this drew the differences as Dlx5 have been associat- els for assessment. Methods: information, Twist1 might im- over time. Results: At stage ed with a subset of muscles in Data includes admission demo- pose a negative impact on the E12.5, we were able to detect the soft palate, suggesting how graphics, scores for D1 and D2 process of bone formation. structures such as tooth bud, these known regulatory net- DPBL Structure, Function and Recently, our laboratory found dental mesenchyme and Meck- works may achieve functional Behavior (SFB), and pre-clini- that Gli1+ cells are mesenchy- el’s cartilage through histology specificity in regulating muscle cal modules (PCM). Population mal stem cells in adult mice analysis, and through staining formation. Finally, we highlight includes pre-doctoral dental cranial suture and are mostly in of the osteogenic markers such some of the animal models that classes 2015 – 2018 (N=578), the mid-suture region and most as Runx2, we found out that correlate with specific subtypes and assesses a sub-group importantly, Twist1 impacts the the mandible bone primordium of soft palate clefts in humans of students with deficiencies Gli1+ stem cells. Our group hy- forms at the same stage. Also, and provide perspective on (N=62), in trimesters 1 - 6. This

The Explorer Journal 2019 Abstracts ------61 : This Stephen Yen Stephen Stephen Yen Stephen : We present a : It is difficult to : Originally, we Conclusion Vincent Lu, Mark Vincent Lu, Mark : We adapted this : The Cl III malocclu Use of TADs and seg Methods presentations. Authors: Urata, Jeffrey Dennis-Duke Hammoudeh, Yamashita, Yen Stephen & Faculty advisor: Background for TADs for TADs was placed mesial to the incision line; the posterior bands were on the first maxillary molars. A segmentalteotomy os was made the between anterior bands. The and direction conebeam with of out worked was cuts posterior CT images of the inter-radicu lar spaces. After a three days period of consolidation, the an terior segment was distracted. Results sion was corrected by creating that site distraction the in space dental resolve to used be could crowding. technique is an alternative LeFort to I maxillary osteotomy in patients who may have either relapsed from prior surgery or LeFort in patients who I are unwilling to go through an or thognathic surgery. Poster #95 Title: mental osteotomies to reshape the maxillary arch in with difficult patients cleft lip and palate Authors: Urata, Jeffrey Dennis-Duke Hammoudeh, Yamashita, Yen Stephen & Faculty advisor: Background developed anterior distraction maxillary osteogenesis as a way to correct Cl III malocclu sions in patients who suffered trauma to the Purpose anterior teeth. strategy as a to novel treat patients strategy who have III Cl malocclusion with resistant scar tissue and dental crowd ing. series of three used patients who this correct novel the strategy cleft-related Cl malocclusion. to III Rapid expansion screws were rotated palatal 90 degrees to make a device that could elongate in the an The deminsion. posterior terior anterior bands and a wire loop

------and USC

Results Ruchi Bajpai : Cerebrovascular : While this did not Varsha Neelakantan, Varsha : I used shRNA to Understanding Understanding the role Anterior segmental dis for treating AD. for treating Poster #94 Title: traction to correct Cl III maloc clusion and crowded maxillary dental dentition. have revealed a cohort of gene Alzhei with associated variants mer’s diseases. While labs are studying the effects of many these variants in AD affected cells like neurons, astrocytes and microglia, I was interested in understanding if AD genes have specific roles in pericyte biology and vascular Methods health. knockdown APP, and APOE in DYRK1A, primary brain human pericytes. Conclusion affect pericyte prolifer viability, ation, migration or expression of common pericyte proteins they resulted in a con specific sistent and reproducible defect in pericyte-endothelial crosstalk. pericyte In particular, cells induced upregulation of gam ma-catenin a junction protein required to maintain a barrier was compromised. stable This DYR that indication an is result K1a and APP may be involved in pericyte function pericyte and specific that defectsdue to are multiple targets potential as serve could genes which Poster #93 Title: of APP and in DYRK1A human brain pericyte Authors: Bajpai Casey Griffin, & Ruchi Faculty advisor: Background dysfunction and leaky brain blood- barrier have emerged as early indicators of Alzheimer’s disease. Loss of/defective peri cytes, which are critical com ponents of the cerebrovascular unit, leads to the breakdown of have studies Animal barrier. the shown that defective pericytes accelerate AD like in pathology models of AD. Thus, genes affecting pericyte function viability or may contribute to AD Various patients. in progression studies including familial cases, analysis of patients with AD Down’s syndrome or GWAS, - - - : 100 lateral Jeny Mary Results and : There is a : The result showed result The : The objective is to Methods Melika Haghighi, Comparison between airway space. in exploring options. treatment plan cephalograms University from used Ajman the to and skeletal pharyngeal study non-growing airways malocclusion patients between in 18-25 in both aged males and females. Conclusion that there significant is a between statistically the malocclusions. three Those skeletal skeletal class II malocclusion with have difference significantly decreased to compare airway different space skeletal malocclusion in to prove the importance of the screening patient of importance prior to orthognathic Purpose: surgery. study the pharyngeal airways of subjects with skeletal class malocclusion III class II, class I, using McNamara’s The Analysis. purpose of this to study help is verify the between relationship skeletal malocclusion and pharyngeal airway in order to help Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons and orthodontists George Background significant correlation between obstruction of craniofacial airways growth Orthognathic and pattern. been surgery regularly performed treat has to dentofacial which as well, has an effect on deformities posterior airway space. Narrow airways can result in impaired respiration, airway obstruction, mouth breathing, sleep apnea, and permanent present study defect. is designed and The through crosstalking with Wnt signaling pathway. Poster #92 Title: the pharyngeal airway in space patients with skeletal class I,II, and class III malocclusion using McNamara analysis Authors: & Jeny Mary George Prya Dey, advisor: Faculty Fgf signaling in the dental epi de root tooth regulates thelium velopment via epithelial-mes enchymal interaction, possibly Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry School of of Ostrow Herman ------To Taken Taken Specif Methods: Yang Chai Yang The Fgf signal Results: Conclusion: Jingyuan Li, Quan Epithelium-derived Fgf with the decreased cell prolif eration. together, our data suggest that and dental mesenchyme of the apical region. At the molecular level, Wnt signaling are activities also reduced, in parallel during root development. With out Fgfr2 in the dental epithe lium, cell proliferative activities are decreased in both HERS ly, ly, loss of Fgfr2 in the epithelium dental causes HERS formation abnormal and leads to early disappearance of HERS epithelium affects root forma tion and results in short roots in adult K14-rtTA;Teto-Cre;F gfr2fl/fl mice. Morphological cline promoter approach allows that inducible attenuation of Fgf signaling. dental the in Fgfr2 of ablation ic explore the role of Fgf signaling Fgf of role the explore in the dental epithelium during tooth root formation, we used an rtTA transactivator/tetracy mechanism of how the epithe lium-derived Fgf signaling con trols tooth root formation is still largely unknown. able in controlling the crown-to- the controlling in able regulation the via transition root of HERS formation during mo lar development. However, the following crown development. Previous studies have shown that Fgf10 signaling in the den tal mesenchyme is indispens opment, dental epithelial cells known as the Hertwig’s epithe lial root sheath (HERS) play a critical role in root formation diating epithelial-mesenchymal interactions that are crucial for organogenesis, such as tooth formation. During tooth devel Faculty advisor: Background: ing pathway is involved in me Authors: Wen, Tingwei Guo, Thach-Vu Ho, Jifan Feng, Yuan Yuan, & Chai Yang signaling controls tooth formation via epithelial-mesen root chymal interaction Poster #91 Title: to form at E15, and grew into shape gradually. with MicroCT with imaging MicroCT analysis, calcified bone structure started 62

align the maxillary segments the treatment outcomes of the DPNCCs were obtained from when the alveolar cleft is more modified nasal stent on NAM the swine incisor and expand- BIOKINESIOLOGY than the width of a tooth. In appliance by beta titanium ed over 2 weeks. A 3cm defect this poster, we present cases wire with decreased shaping was made in the calvaria, an & that combine segmental oste- force on soft tissue and nasal injury so large that it will not otomies with TADs to reshape cartilage to correct the nasal naturally heal over the course PHYSICAL the upper arch. Purpose: To deformity. Methods: A 3-week of our study (12 weeks). The THERAPY demonstrate the novel use old bilateral cleft lip and palate cultured DPNCCs were trans- of dentoalveolar surgery and neonatal male presented in the planted into the injury. To co- FACULTY orthodontics to solve difficult orthodontic clinic for presur- erce DPNCCs to differentiate clinical problems with cleft lip gical orthopedic treatment. A into functional osteoblasts Poster #98 and palate. Methods: Large silicone impression was taken upon transplantation, we com- alveolar defects were corrected for fabrication of molding plate. bined them with nanoparticles Title: Psychometric Proper- by placing TADs in segments, The nasal stents were made of of hydroxyapatite and trical- ties of the Chronic Headache segmental alveolar osteoto- 0.030-inch round beta titani- cium phosphate (HA/TCP). Self-Efficacy Scale (CHASE) mies and constriction of the um wire and shaped as swan Results: Dense, cortical bone alveolar defect with orthodon- neck. Results: In total, NAM was regenerated with DPNCCs Authors: Lisa Baek, Meghan tic appliances in patients with treatment was ten visits based and the HA/TCP nanoparticles Lamothe, Jenna Hankard, Er- cleft lip and palate ages 8-12 on the weekly adjustment. The in vivo, but to improve the qual- ica Sigmund, Lori Ginoza, Lori to move segments of maxillary columella was centered and ity and structure of the regen- A. Michener, & Federico Pozzi bone containing teeth through elongated from 0.5mm to 5mm, erated bone, we are designing the cleft defect and to create Prolabium length increased a 3D-printed osteoconductive Background: Chronic head- room for a crowded dentition. from 5mm to 11mm, alveolar scaffold made from HA/TCP aches affect approximately 4% The segments of bone moved cleft size reduced from 11mm and a biodegradable polymer. of the population and have a Conclusion: We have suc- along orthodontic archwires. to 2mm. The symmetry of lower debilitating impact on activities We present a series of three lateral alar cartilage and nasal cessfully regenerated cortical bone in the swine calvaria us- of daily living (ADL’s). Higher patients. Results: The un- tip projection were improved self-efficacy, or the belief in usually large cleft spaces were significantly. Conclusion: This ing dental pulp-derived mesen- closed with segmental distrac- modified nasal stent made by chymal stem cells and HA/TCP. one’s ability to manage and tion, there was a successful beta titanium wire provides This research advancement control headaches, is cor- grafting of the alveolar cleft, lighter soft tissue molding force. represents a unique opportuni- related with lower depression, and the archform was nor- This novel approach achieved ty to utilize MSC-mediated tis- anxiety, and physical symp- malized and coordinated with maximum treatment outcomes. sue regeneration in improving toms in patients with chronic lower dental archform. Conclu- care for human patients with headaches. CHASE is a 14- sion: Segmental osteotomies calvarial CSDs. item patient report scale de- helped to treat cleft defects Poster #97 veloped to identify and mea- greater than a cm in width. Title: MSC-mediated regen- sure the self-efficacy related eration of swine calvarial criti- to elements of daily activities in patients with chronic head- Poster #96 cal-size defect using a 3D-print- ed scaffold aches. Purpose: To evaluate Title: Correcting nasal defor- the psychometric properties of mity for infant born with cleft lip Authors: Zoe Johnson, Xiang- CHASE. Methods: Participants and palate by modified nasal jia Li, Yuan Yuan, Yong Chen, & (n=21) diagnosed by a neurolo- stent supported by beta titani- Yang Chai gist with chronic headaches or um wire on Nasoalveolar Mold- migraine were included in the ing appliances Faculty advisor: Yang Chai study. Participants completed the CHASE, Headache Man- Authors: Xuanyu Lu & Ste- Background: Incidents of head agement Self-Efficacy Scale phen Yen trauma, congenital defects, (HMSE), Headache Impact disease, and tumor resection Test-6 (HIT-6), Global Rating of Faculty advisor: Stephen Yen often leave patients with large, Change (GROC), and Patient full-thickness calvarial defects Acceptable Symptom State Background: Presurgical cleft that are incapable of healing on (PASS) at three time points: lip and palate orthopedics is their own. These critical-sized initial encounter, post-24 to aim to reduce the severity of defects (CSDs) are currently 72 hours, and post-12 weeks. the initial cleft deformity. The treated by surgeons using met- Statistical analyses were per- Nasoalveolar Molding (NAM) al or plastic implants, which are formed to determine validity, re- technique utilizes wire and inconvenient for the patient and liability, standard error of mea- acrylic nasal stents attached inferior architecturally to natu- surement, minimal detectable to an intraoral denture, which ral bone. There is a significant change, and responsiveness is used to mold the nasal car- need for improved treatment of of the scale. Results: Prelimi- tilages, premaxilla, and alve- critical-size calvarial defects. nary results indicate excellent olar bridges into normal form Purpose: In this study we used reliability and acceptable valid- and position during the neo- dental pulp neural crest mesen- ity, error, and responsiveness natal periods. Commonly, the chymal stem cells (DPNCCs) to when compared to other reli- nasal stent is fashioned from regenerate bone in a calvarial able and valid headache-based 0.036-inch stainless steel wire CSD, forgoing the use of met- outcome measures (HIT6, attached on the intraoral ap- al or plastic implants and bone HMSE). Participant recruit- pliance. Purpose: Assess grafts. Methods: Autologous ment continues in order to ful-

The Explorer Journal 2019 Abstracts

------63 Conclusion: Barbara Sar : Infants born very born Infants : Jeongah (Jane) Kim, : 12 infants born FT : Determine if infants Exploratory learning to months corrected age ipated partic in the scaffolded Day 1: a task. 2-min Baseline, spon taneous kicking, followed an by 8-min during Mobile which the condition, tivated mobile when ac the infant either lifted foot vertically individualized over an threshold. Day Poster #102 Title: encourage selective leg move ment in infants born and very preterm full-term Authors: Sungwoo Park, Linda Fetters, & Barbara Sargent Faculty advisor: gent Background preterm (VPT) are at increased risk for motor impairments. In previous research, infants born gen VPT, not but (FT), full-term erated more selective hip-knee movements when with interacting a kick-activated Purpose mobile. born FT and scaffolded mobile VPT task, and in learn our fants who learn the task exhibit increased selective movements hip-knee and exploratory foot increased Methods movements. and 10 infants born VPT at 4 to identify three predictive distinct networks and for phase. Finally, to better under each stand the plasticity underlying the predictive functional nectivity con of the discovery task, we developed a novel intracor tical Paired Associative Stimu lation (iPAS) paradigm aimed along connectivity increasing at a specific rs-EEG intracortical circuit. Results of our paradigm demonstrated feasibility iPAS can significantly increase that spe a of connectivity functional cific resting-state fronto-motor circuit compared to two arate sep controls. uncov to able were we Overall, er the learning processes and neural substrates with associated a discovery task and de neuromodulatory future a velop method that may better define the causal tween relationships the brain be and behavior in relation to the learning of a motor skill. : ------USC Purpose Carolee J. Our results indi Discovery tasks : In individuals with with individuals In : Andrew Hooyman, Individuals with recur with Individuals The learning process and process learning The Results: covery task exist within the hu man brain. Using resting-state Electroencephalography EEG) (rs- we performed a brain analysis of every feasible whole rs-EEG functional connectivity pair to predict exploration, ex ploitation and retention of the discovery task. We were able modulation Authors: Jason J. Kutch, Nicolas weighofer, Sch Beth James Gordon, E. & Carolee Winstein J. Fisher, Faculty advisor: Winstein Background: are an under investigated area be may which learning motor of highly relevant to our understanding of overall how humans learn motor skills. The purpose of our into research complex discovery is tasks three-fold: First, we aimed to better understand the learning suc with associative processes cessful learning of a discovery task. cate that optimal performance on the task requires initial high levels of exploration followed by adequate exploitation to ac quire and then retain maximum success. Second, we wished to better understand where the processes of exploration, dis a of retention ex and ploitation matic matic coordination was gorized cate into 4 patterns the using vector coding Results: approach. rent LBP showed a decrease in muscle activation as well as trunk in-phase pattern they are out of when pain. However, they achieve this by means of increased pelvis-only pattern, as opposed to ti-phase a demonstrated higher by an the back-healthy controls. Those with recurrent LBP also were less adaptive to varying widths step in their Conclusion trunk control. recurrent low back pain, symp a in result not did remission tom of state back-healthy a to return trunk control. Poster #101 Title: neural substrates linked to discovery task and a a future for

------Re Methods: Kornelia Basic fea : Low back pain This study aims to in to aims study This Hai-Jung Steffi Shih Trunk Trunk control in and out Similar to the results Conclusion: through gait cycle. Trunk kine rent low back pain. Five individuals with recurrent LBP were tested both back- Eleven episode. an in of out and healthy controls were also test walking of consisted Testing ed. on a treadmill with a 5 different prescribed step real-time width visual feedback. Sur using face electromyography (EMG) of bilateral longissimus and ki nematic data of the thorax and pelvis were captured at 1500 and EMG 125 Hz, respectively. data were normalized to peak gait activation and averaged Faculty advisor: Kulig Background (LBP) has al become health issue due a to its high recurrence glob rate and disabling nature. Research investigating whether altered trunk persists control beyond symptom du ration is warranted, as it may contribute to future recurrence. Purpose: vestigate trunk kinematic coor dination and muscle activity in and out of an episode of recur of SMA and M1 appeared to be to appeared M1 and SMA of later The muscle-independent. alization of FDI in the left cer ebellum may be due to single com FDI of innervation cortical pared to EO. Poster #100 Title: of an episode of recurrent low back pain Authors: & Kornelia Kulig a whole-brain functional con nectivity analysis utilizing rest ing-state fMRI (rs-fMRI). FDI The connectivity map was of compared to M1 SMA. sults: for EO, in SMA FDI is more connected representation to basal ganglia and cerebellum while primary somatosensory and parietal cortex are connected more to M1.Slight differ ences in observed lateralization in FDI were compared to EO. tures of differential connectivity (fMRI) (fMRI) were used to map FDI representations in SMA. The FDI representations M1 were and then used as seeds in Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry School of of Ostrow Herman

------Methods: Beth E. Fish We We previously This is an ongo Determine the brain Alaa M. Albishi, Ja THERAPY Functional connectivity & PHYSICAL & PHYSICAL PHD CANDIDATES BIOKINESIOLOGY Transcranial Transcranial magnetic stimula tion and task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging M1/SMA M1/SMA networks Purpose: for networks for EO. M1 and SMA rep resentations of FDI. al execution. hypothesized Therefore, that M1 network we for FDI compared to SMA net work will be less distinct than ecution or postural stabilization while a hand muscle such as first dorsal interosseous (FDI) is mainly recruited for volition tion in SMA is more connected to postural control areas. It is well established that EO be recruited can for movement ex found that the representation of representation the that found EO in M1 is more connected to areas responsible for volitional representa EO while execution ry motor area (M1) compared to the functional connectivity of EO represented in the supple We (SMA). area motor mentary Background: showed a distinct connectivity of external oblique functional (EO) represented in the prima Faculty advisor: er the trunk: same or different? the trunk: same or different? Authors: son J. Kutch, & Beth E. Fisher Poster #99 Title: for a hand muscle compared to ment of chronic headaches. outcome measures. This scale means a clinicians provide may to assess self-efficacy and be manage the to specific haviors ability, acceptable validity error, error, validity acceptable ability, and moderate responsiveness when compared to other headache-based valid and able reli sponsiveness sponsiveness of the CHASE. Conclusion: ing study with preliminary reli excellent indicate that sults re ly assess measurement reliability, error, validity, and re 64

2-3: a 10-min Mobile condi- years old) underwent biome- Participants wore a full-body breast cancer patients were tion, during which the threshold chanical assessment of run- harness for safety and walked randomized to either HIIT or height was increased. Learning ning (7 miles/hour), strength along a 10-meter walkway control (CON) groups. The HIIT was quantified as mobile active evaluation, and computed to- at 1.45 m/s. Mineral oil was group participated in an 8-week time (MAT) ratio, the duration mography. Peak hip adduction placed on the force platform HIIT intervention occurring 3 that infants activated the mo- and peak knee valgus during to induce an unexpected slip. times per week on a cycle er- bile. Selective movement was the deceleration phase of run- Onset of EMG activity was gometer. The CON group was quantified as the hip and knee ning were calculated. Hip ab- determined when the slip trial offered the HIIT intervention angle correlation coefficient ductor strength was normalized EMG activity levels exceeded after 8 weeks. At baseline and (Hip-Knee CC). Exploration to body mass. Pelvis width was baseline trial activity by 1 SD week 9, endothelial function was quantified as the trajecto- determined as the distance be- for at least 50 ms. Onset of was assessed using FMD. ry space of the foot markers. tween bilateral hip joint centers head acceleration was derived FMD was measured from the Mixed regression models us- (Bi-HJC). Pearson correlations from the forehead marker and brachial artery diameter at ing repeated measures were were used to determine the as- was determined by when the baseline and 1min after cuff used to test differences of the sociations among kinematics, head acceleration exceeded deflation. Repeated measures variables between Baseline strength, and morphology vari- baseline trial activity by 2 SDA ANOVA was performed to as- and the Last Day Mobile con- ables. Results: Hip abductor one-way ANOVA was used to sess changes in endothelial dition. Results: FT and VPT strength was not significantly compare differences in the on- function. Results: At baseline, groups demonstrated learning associated with either peak hip set timing of the muscles of in- the HIIT group (n=15) and CON (increased MAT ratio, p<.01). adduction (r=-0.189, p=0.577) terest and head acceleration. group (n=15) groups did not FT Learners (n=9) and VPT or peak knee valgus (r=-0.336, Results: No significant dif- differ by age (46.9±9.8 years), Learners (n=7) demonstrated p=0.313). In contrast, the Bi- ferences were found in onset BMI (31.0±7.5 kg/m2), and more selective movements (de- HJC distance was significantly timing of the left deltoid (63.8 ± systolic/diastolic blood pres- creased Hip-Knee CC, p<.05). associated with both peak hip 9.6 ms) and right tibialis anteri- sure (116.1±11.8/72.3.9±5.6 FT and VPT Learners demon- adduction (r=0.665, p=0.026) or (61.6 ± 8.1 ms). Neuromus- mmHg). Post-exercise, FMD strated increased exploration and peak knee valgus (r=0.618, cular onsets were significantly significantly increased from (increased space, p<.01). Con- p=0.043). Conclusion: The earlier than the onset of head baseline in the HIIT group (wk clusion: These findings are width of the lower pelvis, as op- acceleration (239 ± 66.7 ms). 0: 12.6±6.8%, wk 9: 16.9±8.1%; consistent with our hypotheses posed to hip abductor strength, Conclusions: Corrective neu- 19.8%) when compared to that infants born FT and VPT was associated with frontal romuscular responses of the baseline and the CON group learn the task, and that Learn- plane hip and knee kinemat- upper and lower extremities (P<0.05). FMD significantly ers generate more selective ics. This suggests that muscle preceded the onset of head decreased from baseline (wk movements and explorations. strengthening may have limited acceleration. It is unlikely that 0: 13.0±4.3%, wk 9: 6.1±2.8%; influence on correcting frontal the vestibular system is re- -21.9%) in the CON group plane excessive kinematics in sponsible for initiating correc- (P<0.05). Conclusion: HIIT runners. tive responses during a slip. improved endothelial function Poster #103 in breast cancer patients un- dergoing. Larger randomized Title: Pelvis width predicts trials are needed to establish frontal plane hip/knee kinemat- Poster #104 Poster #105 the optimal exercise strategy ics during running to attenuate chemotherapy-in- Title: Are slip-induced compen- Title: Effect of exercise on duced cardio-toxicities on en- Authors: Jia Liu, Kristi L. Lew- satory responses coordinated endothelial function during dothelial function. ton, & Christopher M. Powers by the vestibular system? breast cancer chemotherapy Faculty advisor: Christopher Authors: Jonathan Lee, Chris- Authors: Kyuwan Lee, Irene M. Powers topher Asplund, Sarah Ruegg, Kang, Joanne E. Mortimer, & Poster #106 Lauren Vera, & Christopher M. Christina M. Dieli-Conwright Background: Excessive hip Powers Title: Can golf influence gait adduction and knee valgus Faculty advisor: Christina M. speed and cognition in older during running have been re- Faculty advisor: Christopher Dieli-Conwright adults? ported to contribute to knee M. Powers injuries. These movement Purpose: We sought to deter- Authors: Nicole Marcione, An- impairments are thought to Background: The vestibular mine the effects of an 8-week drea Du Bois, Steven Castle, & be the result of hip abductor system may be responsible HIIT intervention on vascular George Salem weakness, but studies have for initiating corrective reac- endothelial function in breast shown that strength is a weak tions to slips as the semicircu- cancer patients undergoing Faculty advisor: George Sa- predictor. Another factor that is lar canals, and the utricle and anthracycline chemotherapy. lem likely contributory is the pelvis saccule, are sensitive to an- Background: Anthracycline morphology. Specifically, a wid- gular and linear accelerations chemotherapy is a cardio-tox- Background: Gait speed and er pelvis may necessitate that of the head, respectively. Pur- ic regimen by nature and may cognition are important predic- the femur to adduct relative to pose: To compare the timing of contribute to cardiovascular tors of successful aging. Both pelvis to maintain the center head acceleration to the onset disease mortality by reducing slow gait speeds and cognitive of mass over the base of sup- of upper and lower extremi- vascular endothelial function decline are associated with port during running. Purpose: ty muscle responses during in breast cancer patients. poor health outcomes, including To determine the associations a slip. Methods: Ten healthy High intensity interval train- hospitalization, falls, institution- among hip abductor strength, adults participated. EMG of ing (HIIT) has been shown alization and death. Exercise pelvis width and frontal plane the left deltoid and right tibialis to increase endothelial func- interventions can improve both hip and knee kinematics during anterior were obtained using tion compared to moderate gait and cognitive performance running. Methods: 11 healthy surface electrodes. Kinematic intensity exercise in patients in older adults. Golf is a multi- recreational runners (18-45 data were obtained at 150 Hz. with obesity. Methods: Thirty modal, cognitively-challenging

The Explorer Journal 2019 Abstracts ------65 In Six Results: Carolee J. Conclusion: Purpose: Little atten Methods: Rini Varghese, Rob Preserved Preserved temporal retic hand. Conversely, patient with RHD preserved coupling of this time-point. The left hemisphere might play a crucial role in synchronizing the temporal structure between hands during bimanual move ments, which is disrupted damage to the left hemisphere. by one or two visual targets in frictionless a 2D workspace with out online visual feedback. In 8 experimental conditions, target with manipulated was distance in 4 unimanual (6 and 14 for cm left and right hand) and bimanual conditions. 4 Bimanual conditions consisted of metric sym (6-6 and 14-14 cm left and right hands) and asym for metric distances tar far the to moving hand right (6-14 mov hand with left with 14-6 or, get, ing to the far target). We found that in non-disabled adults, for all ditions bimanual (symmetric con and asym metric), right-hand movements almost always the started left hand, but after both reached peak velocity synchro hands Right nously. hand movements also always terminated the left hand, except after when the right hand traveled to the target far in the asymmetric con dition. Participant showed with large deviations LHD from synchrony of the time-to-peak velocity for all bimanual ditions con with hand the always leading non-paretic the pa Poster #109 Poster Title: coupling after right but not left stroke hemisphere Authors: ert L. Sainburg, James E. Gor don, & Carolee J. Winstein Faculty advisor: Winstein Background: tion has been paid sphere-specific to deficits hemi manual in bi control. this pilot study, interlimb we temporal tested coupling, a if well-studied empirical phenom enon (Kelso, 1979), is entially influenced differ by the side of stroke lesion. right-hand dominant non-dis abled adults and stroke survivors—1 left 2 (LHD) chronic and 1 right hemisphere dam aged (RHD)—performed manual aiming bi movements to : ------USC : 3D : The : To com Methods Patellar Patellar Ten Results Conclusion Purpose don stress was quantifiedpeak as MPS which the elongates reflects that stress tensile the tendon. Peak MPS was iden tified within the region of inter est. Elements that represented were interface bone-tendon the disregarded. peak MPS for the person with PT was 57.4 MPa and was lo and proximal posterior, at cated medial part of the tendon. This symptoms of area common a is in persons with control subject, peak MPS PT. was For the 45.7 MPa and located at ante rior, middle and medial part of the tendon. that models FE subject-specific take into consideration extremity lower kinematics appears to be capable of differentiated con healthy from PT with those focus will research Future trols. on determining the underlying biomechanical and anatomical predictor(s) of elevated patellar tendon stress in persons with PT. Background: Background: dinopathy (PT) among jumping is athletes. Ex common cessive patellar tendon ing load has been considered primary cause the of Although PT. altered lower extremity biome chanics may contribute to PT, few studies have comprehen sively examined the influence of lower extremity biomechan ten patellar of context the in ics don stress. pare peak maximum principal ten patellar the in (MPS) stress don during single-leg landing task between a person with PT and a person without PT using 3D subject-specific finitement ele (FE) Modeling. Participants underwent mechanical and bio MRI assess ments. 3D subject-specific FE models of the tibiofemoral and patellofemoral joints were cre ated, simulating the 3D kinematics knee at the time of peak knee extensor moment during single-leg landing. Patellar ten ------: Consis : Here, we Christopher Results : These results Purpose Kyung-Mi Park, :We :We asked six male Estimation of Patellar trol of force. Poster #108 Title: Tendon Stress ject-Specific Using Finite Sub Analysis Element Authors: Joyce H. Keyak, & Christopher M. Powers Faculty advisor: M. Powers Conclusion suggest that changes in force variability due to visual back feed manipulation are directly related more to visuomotor task requirements than the dif ferent psychological states that Also, these results they induce. confirm previous observations that individual participants may produce physiologically distinct responses to various types of visual feedback manipulation, spring a as serve should which board for future investigation to better understand precise con each of three visual feedback conditions, which differed the amount of in available visual information. tent with previous findings, the amplitude of force variability is reduced in all subjects infor error visual of amount the when mation is increased. However, there existed considerable in ter-individual variability across conditions in measures of the sensitivity of feedback (as proprioceptive per ical tremor) physiolog and the attention level (as of per heart rate). that quantifies their interactions potential is currently because critical is gap This ing. lack all factors are pendent. often interde attempt to quantify such inter actions by amount of manipulating visual error informa the tion available to Methods participants. subjects to perform constant, isometric force production with their wrist flexorstheir at 10% maximal of voluntary traction. con They performed 15-s trials in ten random order for ical states. However, previous studies have focused on how individual factors amplitude affect of force the and variability, an integrative approach Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry School of of Ostrow Herman ------: The Meth Francisco J. Purpose : The level of pre : Participants in Akira Nagamori, : 2x2 (Time*Group) Effects of visual feedback feedback visual of Effects : Gait speed and cognition various factors such as visual error correction, tive feedback, propriocep and psycholog Background cision with which people control can their force depends on cisco J. Valero-Cuevas Faculty advisor: Valero-Cuevas manipulation of precision and psychological states Authors: Christopher M. Laine, & Fran Poster #107 Title: indepedence and quality of life. improved activity, activity, may improve physical and cognitive function, ing to lead attenuated risk for poor health outcomes, maintaining nitive performance, compared to CON. These results provide evidence that golf, as a nitively-challenging cog physical to-post intervention changes. Conclusion the 12-week golf training pro gram improved gait and cog that INT significantly improved STGS, their pre-to-post 6MWT, and NIH-C Fluid. DTGS, CVLT, CON had no significant pre- CVLT CVLT (p=0.01), Fluid and Cognition (p=0.06) NIH-C a had trend towards Post-hoc significance. t-tests demonstrated Mixed ANOVA Mixed ANOVA revealed signif icant time*group for interactions 6MWT (p=0.02), (p=0.05), STGS DTGS (p=0.01), Verbal Verbal Learning Test and (CVLT) National Institute Toolbox-Cognition Health Results (NIH-C). (6MWT), fast single-task speed gait (STGS), fast dual-task gait speed (DTGS) with a sub traction by 3s task, California pated in a 12-week golf training golf 12-week a in pated program (2 x weekly; 90 per min session). All completed six-minute walk test participants were measured in intervention groups (CON) control and (INT) (n=20) before and after a 12- week period. The INT partici of a 12-week golf intervention on walking performance cognition in older adults. and ods physical activity. physical activity. purpose of the present was study to examine the influence 66

Poster #110 Poster #111 body angular momentum. times the population standard deviation, while previous RT lit- Title: Knee moments during Title: Impact of modifying spa- erature suggests a 0.68 mean squatting: influence of tibia and tiotemporal asymmetry on dy- effect size. Improvements in trunk orientation namic balance during walking Poster #112 vascular compliance were post-stroke promising. Conclusions: N/A Authors: Rachel K. Straub, Title: Cerebrovascular mech- Adam J. Barrack, Jordan Can- Authors: Sungwoo Park, anisms of cognitive enhance- non, & Christopher M. Powers Chang Liu, Natalia Sánchez, ment after periodized resis- Julie K. Tilson, Sara J. Mulroy, tance Training Poster #113 Faculty advisor: Christopher & James M. Finley M. Powers Authors: Timothy R. Macau- Title: Corticomotor excitability Faculty advisor: James M. lay, Judy Pa, Dominique Dun- of gluteus maximus is associat- Background: A long-held theo- Finley can, Jason Kutch, Lirong Yan, ed with landing mechanics ry regarding squatting mechan- Christianne Lane, & E. Todd ics is that the knees should Background: Neurological im- Schroeder Authors: Yo Shih, Beth E. not pass the toes to minimize pairments such as stroke, often Fisher, & Christopher M. Pow- knee loading. However, it is result in asymmetric walking Faculty advisor: E. Todd ers also known that a forward trunk patterns. It is often thought that Schroeder posture can lessen knee ex- reducing asymmetry may im- Faculty advisor: Christopher tensor demands. A limitation prove balance and reduce fall Background: Resistance M. Powers of previous studies in this area risk as spatiotemporal asym- training (RT) is recommended is that the influence of trunk metries are negatively correlat- for older adults for its putative Background: Inadequate use or shank position has been ed with clinical assessments of role in the protection against of the hip during functional studied in isolation. Purpose: balance post-stroke. However, sarcopenia, but its effects on tasks has been linked to knee To determine which segment the acute effects of changing brain health have been less- injury. Altered motor control (trunk vs shank) is most influ- asymmetry on dynamic bal- well studied. Demonstrating has been speculated to under- ential with respect to predict- ance during walking have yet rapid health benefits following lying this movement behavior. ing the knee extensor moment to be examined. Purpose: The high-intensity RT may improve Transcranial magnetic stimu- during squatting. Methods: Ki- goal of this work is to deter- the clinical utility of such inter- lation (TMS) is a method that nematic and kinetic data were mine how manipulation of step ventions for cognitive health. In can probe the corticomotor obtained from 16 participants length asymmetry influences addition, further investigations excitability (CME) of the cor- during the execution of 8 dif- dynamic balance during walk- are necessary to understand ticospinal pathway for a spe- ferent back squat conditions ing post-stroke. Dynamic bal- the mechanisms that link skel- cific muscle and therefore is a in which the tibia and trunk ori- ance can be measured by the etal muscle physiology and method to investigate brain-be- entations were manipulated. whole-body angular momen- function with brain morphology havior relationships. Purpose: Regression analysis was con- tum in the sagittal plane with and neuroplasticity. Purpose: To determine the association ducted to identify the individ- respect to the body’s center of The overall goal of this project between CME of the gluteus ual relationships between the mass representing the forward is to investigate the effects of maximus (GM) and the hip ex- knee extensor moment and the and backward body rotation. periodized RT on cognition and tensor moment (HEM) during trunk and shank, respectively. We hypothesized that partici- overall brain health in older single-leg drop-jump (SDJ). To identify the best predictor(s) pants would decrease WBAM adults. Methods: We will apply Methods: Thirty-two partici- of the knee extensor moment, when walking more symmet- strength and conditioning prin- pants (17 females, 15 males) stepwise multiple regression rically and increase WBAM ciples and advanced neuroim- underwent TMS assessment was implemented. Results: In- when walking with exaggerated aging techniques to a 12-week of the gluteus maximus and creased shank orientation was asymmetry. Methods: A total of periodized RT intervention. biomechanical assessment of associated with an increase in 6 individuals post-stroke partic- The overall goal is to investi- a SDJ. The peak slope of the the knee extensor moment (R2 ipated in this study and walked gate changes in fluid cognition input-output curve (IOC) of mo- = 0.25, p < 0.001). Conversely, on a treadmill for three minutes and cerebrovascular function tor-evoked potential was used increased trunk orientation was each with and without visual in 23 healthy older adults 60- as the outcome measure of associated with a decrease in feedback of their natural step 80 years of age, serving as CME of GM. The average HEM the knee extensor moment (R2 length asymmetry. Next, they their own controls, and explore during the stance phase of SDJ = 0.50, p < 0.001). For stepwise walked for three minutes each the mechanisms that mediate was calculated to represent the regression, trunk orientation in a symmetric and exaggerat- these effects. The NIH Toolbox use of hip extensors. Pearson’s entered first and accounted for ed asymmetric condition. We Cognition Battery and Arterial product moment correlation the greatest proportion of vari- measured the peak-to-peak Spin Labeling (ASL) MRI will was used to examine the as- ance in the knee extensor mo- range of WBAM over a gait be used to assess changes in sociation between the CME of ment, R2 = 0.50. Shank orienta- cycle as metrics of dynamic cognition and cerebrovascular the GM and the HEM. Results: tion entered second, R2 = 0.53, balance. Results: Participants function, respectively. Potential Significant correlation was and explained an additional 3% increased the peak-to-peak mechanisms of benefit, such as found between the peak slope of the variance. Conclusion: range of WBAM in both the physical capacity, body compo- of the IOC of GM and the aver- The trunk and shank have an symmetric and exaggerated sition, and blood marker levels, age HEM during SDJ (r=0.45, opposing relationship with the asymmetry trials. This sug- will be investigated for associ- p=0.01). Conclusion: The use knee extensor moment during gests that any deviations from ations with brain adaptations. of the the hip extensors is asso- squatting. However, sagittal their natural level of asymmetry Results: One female pilot par- ciated with the strength of the plane trunk posture appears to reduced their dynamic balance. ticipant (68 years old) success- descending neural drive along be more influential. Conclusion: Our results sug- fully completed the periodized the corticomotor pathway of gest that the gait modifications RT intervention and all testing GM. This suggests that altered necessary to reduce asymme- procedures without adverse motor control may play a role in try may acutely impair balance events. Her fluid cognition com- movement behavior thought to control by increasing whole posite score increased by 1.6 be contributory to knee injury.

The Explorer Journal 2019 Abstracts : ------67 Results Beth A. Smith Smith A. Beth : Twelve infants : Our preliminary Marcelo R. Rosales, : Our purpose is to Identifying predictive Methods Proposed Method for Identify ing Predictive Gaze: First, we will identify a stable gaze as 3 frames (0.1s) of no eye move ment. Then, we predictive will versus identify non-predic tive gazes. A predictive is gaze defined as having a stable David Kayekjian, Nina Bradley, A. Smith & Beth advisor: Faculty Purpose propose a identifying methodology predictive gaze for infants in using head eye tracking mounted during a gency contin learning task. Our goal is to identify infants whether demonstrate or predictive not gaze when they learn a motor task. participated in a learning contingency task where movement of their right leg resulted in robot kicking a a ball with its left leg. Head mounted eye-track ing (Positive of position the estimate to used Science) was the infant’s gaze throughout the task. interns Trained coded where the infant was anal frame-by-frame a through looking ysis of the video data In (Elan). addition, infants were egorized cat as learners demonstrate if a leg they movement frequency of 1.5 times greater the of phase contingency the in task compared to the baseline. tromyography tromyography placed on Soleus and Tibialis the Anterior of the dominant limb. In our participants, of an adoption IFA resulted in reduced motor cortical inhibition relative to adoption of an EFA narrow during and single-limb-stance. Furthermore, the participants exhibited greater tion co-contrac while ly focusing internal during Conclusion single-limb-stance. findings suggest that adoption of an internal focus of attention may reduce cortical inhibition and increase lower muscular extremity co-contraction during stance, particularly in the most posture. challenging standing Poster #117 Title: gaze in mounted eye tracking infants using head Authors: : ------USC on aver on : These o Purpose Beth E. Fish : Previous re Conclusion Alexander J. Garbin, : 2 healthy adult par Determining brain-be to stand quietly with an IFA or EFA. While cortical standing, inhibition motor was quanti fied via the combinedperipheral use of electrical tion and stimula transcranial magnet ic stimulation. Co-contraction index was measured via elec search adopting has an internal focus results attention in (IFA) a non of shown optimal neuromuscular pattern that consisting of increased and reduced inhibition cortical motor muscle co-contraction during simple force production tasks. However, neither of these vari ables of have been examined during a valid more task such IFA instructions ecologically as are commonly standing. utilized in clinical practice and bio and neural concomitant the mechanical changes may lead to increased fall risk. To characterize (motor cortical the inhibition) and biomechanical neural tion) changes following internal (co-contrac vs. external focus of attention (EFA) instructions during different delivered standing pos tures. Our results will support future work that aims to under stand how focus of may attention impact older adults falling. of concern excessive an with Methods ticipants stood with a narrow- base-stance or stance while being single-limb- instructed hip internal rotation (4 rotation internal hip age) and an increase in the hip external rotator moment (0.07 Nm/kg). preliminary results that cueing patients with FAIS suggest to activate their gluteus maxi mus may be protective against femoroacetabular impingement and provide functional benefits flex hip deep requiring tasks in ion. Poster #116 Title: havior changes secondary to an internal focus during stand ing Authors: Stephanie N. & Yassa, Beth E. Fisher Faculty advisor: er Background

------. High . o Conclu Symp Methods: Christopher Increasing glu To determine if tar Jordan Cannon & Background: Our results demonstrate Gluteus maximus activa Results: resulted in a reduction in peak constrained squat to maximum depth (self-selected width and foot position). stance Next, in the position, participants same were in unconstrained structed to increase maximus activation to approxi gluteus mately 15% of their maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). The hip internal rota rota external hip and angle tion tor moment were calculated at the point of maximum hip flex ion. teus maximus activation from 7.6% MVIC to 14.0% MVIC to angles greater than 90 than greater angles to hip flexion angleswith hip combined internal rotation duce the pro highest contact pres The surfaces. articular on sures gluteus maximus has been im plicated as a muscle of interest population in given the its FAIS ability to produce hip external rotation during tasks requiring deep hip Kinematic, flexion. kinetic, and data EMG were collected patients with from confirmed FAIS. 3 Two different squat variations were performed. First, an un Christopher M. Powers Faculty advisor: M. Powers Purpose: geted gluteus maximus vation acti influencesplane hip kinematics and kinet transverse ics in persons with femoroace tabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) during a task. deep squat tomatic bony impingement thought is to occur during activ ities in which the hip is flexed pared to the SAME. sion: that changes in environmental contexts may negatively influ ence locomotor skill learning in people with PD. Poster #115 Title: biomechanics hip improves tion in femoroacetabular impinge ment syndrome Authors: the SAME, the PD group main tained the success rate. In the was rate success the SWITCH, reduced in the PD group while similar in the HO group com Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry School of of Ostrow Herman ------The James M.

Results: People with & Here, we used novel used we Here, Aram Kim & James THERAPY PHYSICAL PHYSICAL Influence of Parkinson’s PHD STUDENTS BIOKINESIOLOGY creased in both groups on Day 1, accompanied by decreases in 2 Day On magnitude. error in ditory feedback. The SWITCH consisted of different colors of the environment. in practice during rate success errors. On Day 2, participants completed retention tests the same in (SAME) and ent differ (SWITCH) VR without au ing successful provided We auditory feedback performance. that scaled with the magnitude and direction of performance crossing. Each obstacle one of was three heights and each height was associated with range a of foot clearance defin walking on a treadmill. Partic ipants were instructed to step over obstacles while achieving target foot clearance during PD and older adults (HO) prac ticed stepping over 180 virtual obstacles viewed head-mounted through a display while obstacle negotiation learning in VR to investigate CDL in peo ple with PD and healthy adults. On Day 1, six participants with finger sequence learning, PD it is with people whether unclear exhibit CDL during locomotion. Methods: skill. This problem is referred to referred is problem This skill. as context-dependent learning (CDL). Although people PD with demonstrate CDL during in different environmental con texts than practicing environ ments, even when the context is not directly relevant to the Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) de teriorate motor skill expression M. Finley Faculty advisor: Finley disease on context-dependent VR locomotor learning in Authors: Poster #114 Title: 68

gaze on the reward stimuli prior dination within each series of 25%, SS+25%, and SS+50% dard deviation, (SD)) amount of to its activation. All other gazes sautés. Results: A significant for 2minutes at each speed. caregiver provided intervention are defined as non-predictive. increase in CAV during weight Data were collected during was 43.41 (±28.39) minutes per Results: For each infant, we acceptance was found in the last 30 seconds and analyzed day. The mean (SD) percentage will determine if infants who post-exertion series of sautés for 6 strides per limb. KextMmt of completed days was 75.1% learned the task used predic- compared to the series before were calculated during loading (±31.5%). Mean (SD) of per- tive gaze based on our crite- performing choreography (ES = response of gait. Between limb centage of completed time was ria. Conclusion: Detection 0.50). There was no difference symmetry indices were calcu- 151.1% (±94.3%). Conclusion: of predictive gaze using head in transition phase CAV (ES = lated as (peak knee extensor Our average time of 43 minutes mounted eye tracking appears 0.03) or propulsion phase CAV moment SX)/(peak knee ex- provided per day is similar to feasible. To date, 3 coders (ES = 0.19). Conclusion: After tensor moment NSX). Effect a previous infant intervention have coded 1 video using the exertion, dancers demonstrat- sizes (ES) were calculated to study (Morgan et al, 2016). So gaze definitions described here ed a more variable interlimb estimate magnitude of mean far, some families have com- and we are assessing inter-rat- force coordination only during difference between conditions. pleted much more than the er reliability. Our next step is to weight acceptance. We sug- Results: Increased KextMmt prescribed intervention while finalize our gaze definitions. gest that the increased coordi- at faster speed (ES_SX:1.18, others have completed much nation variability during weight ES_NSX:1.37), decreased less than prescribed. These are acceptance is tied to the need KextMmt at slower speed preliminary results, as our goal to retain consistent interlimb (ES_SX:2.18, ES_NSX:2.19) in is 12 infants. Next steps include Poster #118 coordination in the perfor- both SX and NSX knees. Knee completing data collection and mance-determining transition loading symmetry improved at testing the effectiveness of the Title: Exertion from dance cre- phase. faster speeds (ES:1.65). Con- intervention. ates phase-specific alterations clusion: Faster gait speed on of interlimb force coordination treadmill increases knee load- ing for each limb and between Authors: David Ortiz, Hai-Jung Poster #119 Steffi Shih, Amanda Yamagu- limb knee loading symmetry OTHER following ACLr. chi, & Kornelia Kulig Title: The influence of gait BIOKINESIOLOGY speed on sagittal plane knee Faculty advisor: Kornelia mechanics post-ACLr & Kulig Poster #120 Authors: Meagan Chow, Car- PHYSICAL Background: To date, coor- ole Gong, & Susan Sigward Title: Adherence to a home ex- dination studies featuring the ercise program to encourage THERAPY lower extremity have only in- Faculty advisor: Susan Sig- leg movements vestigated reciprocal motion. It ward RESEARCHERS is vital not to overlook the im- Authors: Weiyang Deng, portance of bipedal coordina- Background: Following ante- Marcelo Rosales, & Beth A. tion patterns at the whole limb rior cruciate ligament recon- Smith level. A recent study delved struction (ACLr) individuals ex- Poster #121 into this area by analysing in- hibit asymmetric sagittal plane Faculty advisor: Beth A. Smith terlimb ground reaction force mechanics during gait; char- Title: Trunk and tibia orienta- (GRF) coordination pattern acterized by decreased knee Purpose: Our purpose here is tions influence hip/knee mo- differences between dancers extensor moments (KextMmt) to report adherence to a daily ment ratios during squatting and non-dancers. Compared in surgical (SX) limb. This strat- caregiver-provided interven- to non-dancers, dancers dis- egy present during early re- tion to encourage infant leg Authors: Adam J. Barrack, Ra- played more tightly controlled habilitation persists long term. movements in infants at risk for chel K. Straub, Jordan Cannon, coordination of the forces This is problematic as under- developmental disability. Meth- & Christopher M. Powers during the transition phase of loading is attributed to progres- ods: Six infants with a median sautés, which was critical to sion of knee osteoarthritis. As adjusted age of 204 days at Faculty advisor: Christopher performance. Purpose: This such they are considered mal- the first visit participated (min: M. Powers preliminary study investigates adaptive. Their permanence 84, max: 271). We worked with how GRF coordination during suggests current rehabilitation caregivers to determine a daily Background: Sagittal plane sautés, a rate-controlled dance protocols don’t restore knee exercise program to encourage trunk and shank orientations jump, changes due to exertion. mechanics. Manipulation of gait increased amount and vari- have been shown to inde- Methods: Vector coding was speed increases knee loading ability of infant leg movements pendently modulate extensor used to analyse interlimb force in healthy individuals; however, (goal = 2 exercises, 3-5 times moments at the hip and knee coordination during ground it is not known how speed in- each day, 3-5 minutes each in the barbell back squat. How- contact, which was subdivided fluences knee loading or sym- time). Adherence was opera- ever, the relative influence of into three phases. Coupling metry following ACLr. Purpose: tionally defined as percentage trunk and tibia orientations on angle between bilateral ground Determine effects of gait speed of completed days (number the muscular demands of the reaction forces was determined on KextMmt and between limb of days when the total time of hip and knee extensors is un- and coupling angle variability symmetry. Methods: 6 Individ- the prescribed intervention was known. Purpose: To determine (CAV) was calculated via cir- uals following ACLr (5months met divided by the total number if the relative orientation of the cular standard deviation. In this - 8years) walked on an instru- of possible days) and percent- trunk and tibia in the sagittal analysis, CAV is the jump-to- mented treadmill with 2 force age of completed time (total plane (TR-SH) can be used to jump variability of the relative platforms (age: 24.3±1.2, sex: time completed divided by pre- approximate the relative de- magnitude of force between 5F). Participants walked at scribed time) using logbooks mand of the hip and knee ex- limbs at successive time points. self-selected speed (SS), 2 kept by caregivers. Results: All tensors across a wide range Therefore, it characterizes fluc- slower and 2 faster speeds in infants received 2 to 5 visits, at of squatting techniques. Meth- tuations in interlimb force coor- 25% increments: SS-50%, SS- monthly intervals. Mean (stan- ods: Kinematic and kinetic data

The Explorer Journal 2019 Abstracts 69 ------Con : No Results : After baseline After : : Lagree Fitness E. Todd Schroeder, : The purpose of this : Results demonstrate Methods Osteogenic response af exercise offers high-intensity, low impact workouts that com bine resistance, ma pilates on training core and endurance, chines. This is an alternative to traditional weight bearing sistance re training; however, it’s unknown whether this training method has osteogenic effects Overall adherence was 96.4%. Overall adherence was 96.4%. Load asymmetry significantly reduced was treadmill from Baseline to Post not on the Overground >0.05). (p Training stance symmetry (F = 8.498, p = 0.002) significantly improved on Post Training but was sustained not at Follow Up. clusion that this combined intervention was feasible. Despite limited gains in load symmetry on the treadmill, individuals improved stance symmetry overground, paradigm this that indication an walk improving in effective was ing performance measured im mediately after training. Poster #125 Title: ter six months of high-intensity, low impact exercise Authors: Alberto F. Vallejo, & Malcolm Jones Background spatiotemporal spatiotemporal aspects of gait. Purpose study was to evaluate feasibil ity and preliminary efficacy of a five-day intervention that com bined TPAD training with visu al feedback and task-specific overground training to promote improved force symmetry and in individuals stance stroke. post assessments, participants re ceived one-hour of practice for Training days. consecutive five sessions included visual feed back during overground by followed training TPAD treadmill gait training. Load and stance symmetry were reassessed af (Post-Train intervention the ter ing) and again one-week later (Follow-up). Safety, perceived exertion, and adherence were also recorded. adverse events were ed. report Mean (SD) of exertion (3.61 perceived (0.23)) was low change significantly not did and throughout the intervention. : ------USC Con ; Stag 2 Results Carolee J. . Mean values 2 : Gait asymme Lauri Bishop, Isirame Bishop, Lauri : BF was associated Reducing gait asymmetry gait Reducing greater intensity than conven tional approaches. after However, robotic training, the user is often learned unable skills to outside device. of transfer the The assist promotes device (TPAD) tethered pelvic weight shifting yet allows ers us to independently navigate clusion with bone resorption biomark ers in overweight and BCS. Therefore, obese high BF may further contribute to poor bone health caused by cancer-relat ed treatments. Targeting with lifestyle interventions BF may be important to consider during cancer survivorship, in to improve bone order health among overweight/obese BCS. Poster #124 Title: post-stroke: A feasibility and preliminary efficacy study Authors: Omofuma, Joel Agrawal, & Lori Quinn Stein, Sunil Faculty advisor: Winstein Background tries are common after stroke and often persist despite con ventional rehabilitation. bots Ro provide training at a sedentary, sedentary, overweight/obese BCS (BMI ≥ 25 es kg/m I-III) were included. fat percent was Body obtained from a whole-body scan using Dual the Energy X-Ray tiometry Absorp (DEXA; iDXA, Lunar Fairfield, Connecticut). GE Osteocalcin and BSAP enzyme-linked using measured were immunosorbent assays fasting from blood samples. son;s Pear correlations were to used assess the association be tween body fat each bone biomarker. percent and years 53.5±10.4 were BCS The old, postmenopausal Hispanic (55%) (60%), with a BMI of 33.5±5.5 kg/m for BF and biomarkers bone were resorption as BF 36.9%ÔDZ4.9, follows: osteocalcin 12.2±3.25 ng/ml, and 16.15±4.5 ng/ml. BSAP There were strong correlations BF and between osteocalcin (r=0.723; p<0.001) and between BF and p<0.001). (r=0.819; BSAP : ------Con : All par All : Purpose Christina M. One hundred Results Obesity-induced Kaylie Zapanta, Kyu Association between : Golf is a multimodal, Methods: BCS. with bone resorption and deg indi obese Therefore, radation. viduals with high body fat (BF) may experience reductions in bone mineral density and increased risk (BMD) of fracture. Breast cancer survivors (BCS) often experience increased BF due to cancer treatments, thus may be more bone susceptible resorption than non-can to cer The populations. purpose of this study was to determine whether BF was associated with and in BSAP overweight/obese osteocalcin Title: Title: bone resorption and body biomarkers fat overweight and percentage obese in breast cancer survivors Authors: wan Lee, Nathalie Christina M. Dieli-Conwright Sami, & Faculty advisor: Dieli-Conwright Background: reductions in osteocalcin and bone-specific alkalineassociated are (BSAP) phatase phos study. study. Little time is spent con trolling balance in quiet stand ing during explain golf, why no changes which were seen may in COP range or velocity during a semi-tandem balance task. Future studies should in vestigate changes in dynamic balance following a golf inter vention and/or more challeng ing static balance tasks. Poster #123 AP directions. directions. AP ticipants were able to stand for on seconds 30 of maximum the all trials. There were no signifi cant differences from baseline to post testing for COP range or mean velocity in the ML or AP direction. There were var ied individual sults, participant however, re most did change not from baseline. clusion dynamic activity that may have more pronounced effects on a dynamic balance task than the static balance task used in this measured measured in nine older, tary veterans mili while completing a semi-tandem balance task. COP range and mean velocity were calculated for the and ML Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry School of of Ostrow Herman : ------: COP was : The pur George J. Conclusion : Aging is associ Methods Purpose Jared L. Moore, An : Across all squat con Effect Effect of a golf interven AP AP directions following a golf intervention in older, veterans. military balance. inves to was study this of pose tigate COP range and velocity changes in the and ML mean Golf is a multimodal, dynamic activity that encompasses wide range of a movement pat terns and could help improve through alterations in center of pressure (COP) control in the medio-lateral (ML) and rior-posterior ante (AP) directions. ated with decreased which balance is in with increasing turn fall associated paired balance risk. can be Im shown Faculty advisor: Salem Background drea M. DuBois, Nicole cione, Hyun Mar J. Lee, Steven C. Castle, & George J. Salem tion on center of pressure con trol Authors: Poster #122 Title: whether a particular squat tech squat particular a whether nique is hip extensor biased or knee extensor biased. The relationship between sag ittal plane trunk orientation can and be shank an acceptable inference used as to as when the sagittal plane angle trunk exceeded plane the shank angle for both ex sagittal amined depths. and 90 degrees (p<0.001) knee of flexion, respectively. The squat was deemed to be extensor hip biased (HKR > 1.0) Results ditions, TR-SH explained 67% and 71% of the variance in the HKR at 60 degrees (p<0.001) verse dynamics. Linear regres sion was used to evaluate the association between indepen dent and dependent variables. were controlled. The hip/knee extensor moment ratio (HKR) at 60 and 90 degrees of knee flexion was calculated using in conditions conditions in which tibia trunk orientations were and manip ulated. Foot position, bar posi width stance and load, bar tion, were were obtained from 8 male and the during participants female 8 execution of 8 different squat 70

on bone similar to traditional re- to 45 and 90o. Methods: Kine- of motion (ROM), extensor sistance training. Purpose: To matics were calculated using moment impulse (exMI), pow- OCCUPATIONAL provide insight, we assessed standard three-dimensional er absorption (pAb) and gen- changes in bone after six motion analysis procedures. eration (pGn) were calculated SCIENCE & months of the high-intensity La- Twenty-five healthy soccer during deceleration (foot con- gree training in men and wom- players performed sidestep tact to peak knee flexion) and OCCUPATIONAL en. Methods: 31 healthy partic- cuts as fast as possible to 45 propulsion (peak knee flexion ipants, began a 6 month, 3x per and 90o. Inter-joint coordina- to toe-off) phases of the sec- THERAPY week, 25 minute group training tion was quantified from joint ond hop. Three trials were FACULTY course. Participants completed angle-angle plots using vec- averaged. Results: Mixed lumbar spine, bilateral hip, total tor coding. Coordination was design MANOVA was used to body bone, and total body soft classified into patterns (an- compare kinematics and kinet- tissue scans on a GE Lunar ti-phase, in-phase, proximal, ics between joint (ankle, knee Poster #128 iDXA at baseline. 23 partici- or distal phase) at each point and hip) and phase (deceler- pants complied with the train- across stance. The frequency ation and propulsion). During Title: Infants at risk for ASD: ing commitment necessary to of each pattern was identified deceleration, ROM and pAb early intervention focus group receive post training iDXA scan during 0-35%, 36-75%, and 76- was greatest at knee than hip findings within 10 days of completing 100% of stance. Median rank (p<0.00) and ankle (p<0.00). Authors: Emily Schulze, Lau- 72 training sessions. There- differences in frequency were extMI was greatest at knee ren Teague, & Grace Baranek fore, we analyzed data from 19 compared between cut angles and hip than ankle (p<0.00). women and 4 men (45.1 ± 20.9 for each phase using Wilcox- During deceleration, ROM Background: Early signs of au- year of age), weight (150.5 ± on signed-rank tests (α≤0.05). was greater at knee (36.2±6.4) tism spectrum disorder (ASD) 41.5 lb), height (66.5 ± 6.5 in) Results: Lesser proximal coor- than hip (11.3±3.6;p<0.00) can be identified in children as who received both scans. Re- dination (during 0-35%), lesser and ankle (29.3±9.5; p<0.00). young as 6-9 months, but only sults: There were significant in-phase coordination (during extMI was greater at knee 42-55% of pediatricians screen changes (Leg BMC:p=0.035) or 36-75%), and greater in-phase (.24±.08;p<0.00) and hip for ASD during the first 2 years. changes that approached sig- and lesser anti-phase coordina- (.26±.09;p<0.00) than an- Occupational therapists (OTs) nificance (Arm BMD:p=0.125 tion (during 76-100%) were ob- kle (.19±.06). Knee pAb o often work with young children ) in bone that accompanied served for 45 compared to 90 . (.83±.30) was greater than with various neurodevelopmen- significant increases in mus- Conclusion: Previous data ankle (.70±0.3;p=0.04) and tal conditions, including children cle (Arm LMT:p=0.009) or in- suggests that the hip may play hip (.30±.2;p<0.00). During showing signs of ASD despite creases in muscle mass that a different role during cutting propulsion, knee ROM other reasons for referral. Thus, approached significance (Total to smaller and larger angles (34.5±7.7) was greater than OTs are well positioned to ini- LMT:p=0.069). Conclusion: and illustrate a differing pattern ankle (14.7±8;p<0.00). extMI tiate ASD screening. Purpose: These changes could be prom- of engagement in the frontal was different between all joints 1) Understand the role of OTs in ising for the total body, the legs, plane. These data suggest that (.31±.05, .19±.05 and .08±.07, identifying and intervening with and the arms; however, a study different coordination patterns ankle, knee and hip, respec- infants and toddlers at risk of with more participants is nec- are employed to achieve the in- tively; all p<0.00). Conclusion: ASD; 2) Learn about OTs’ con- essary to confirm this. For this creased demands of cutting to The triple hop is a multi-joint fidence in their knowledge of protocol, in this sample, there greater angles. task limited to interpretation best practices on early identifi- were no significant osteogenic of overall limb performance. cation and intervention for ASD; effects on the hips and lumbar The dominant role of the ankle 3) Determine the readiness spine typically of importance in during the propulsion phase Poster #127 and capability of OTs within osteopenic populations. may allow for similar hop dis- early intervention (EI) to utilize tances despite knee impair- Title: Characterization of sag- ASD screening tools clinical- ments. ittal plane demands during a ly. Methods: Two semi-struc- Poster #126 triple hop task tured 90-minute focus groups were conducted with 13 Los Title: Hip & trunk coordination Authors: Nicole Schwery, Sara Angeles-based OTs (inclu- during cutting maneuvers in Almansouri, Neama Neamat, & sion: ≥1 year of clinical EI ex- skilled athletes Susan Sigward perience). Focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed, Authors: Richard Mercer, Faculty advisor: Susan Sig- and analyzed using a hierar- Kathryn Havens, & Susan Sig- ward chal coding scheme. Results: ward Three themes emerged. First, Background: Clinical hop participants had varying under- Faculty advisor: Susan Sig- tests use distance hopped as standings of the difference be- ward metric for recovery after knee tween screening and diagnosis injury. Given that it is a multi- of ASD, often using the terms Background: Large differenc- joint task it may not be sensi- interchangeably. Second, par- es are observed in frontal plane tive to deficits in knee mechan- ticipants collectively expressed kinematics and kinetics at the ics. Purpose: To understand pride in OT’s versatile role on hip but not the trunk when cut- the demands across the joints EI teams, which allows them to ting to different angles, which this study compared ankle, address family needs unmet by suggests coordination of hip knee and hip sagittal plane other providers. Lastly, partici- and trunk mechanics is angle mechanics during a triple hop pants shared personal-, provid- specific. Purpose: This study task. Methods: Kinematics er-, and system-level barriers quantified coordination be- and kinetics were collected on to addressing ASD in EI. Con- tween the frontal plane hip and 81 healthy female athletes us- clusion: To support the role of trunk kinematics during cutting ing 3D motion analysis. Range

The Explorer Journal 2019 Abstracts

: ------71 Methods : To : identify To : Using a Shawn C. Conclusions: : Using sonog Results Purpose Buwen Yao, Kayla Dynamic evaluation of changes of the MN and explore and MN the of changes associations with demograph ic characteristics. The MN of 169 healthy volun teers was evaluated with nographic so imaging. Shape the of MN was recorded in three categories during resting, grip specific needs. Participants were satisfied with overall app usability but noted various functionalities requiring improvement. User feedback will support continued app re finement inlarge-scale testing. preparation for Poster #132 Title: median nerve shape in the car pal tunnel Authors: Gan, Annie Lee, & Shawn C. Roll Faculty advisor: Roll Background raphy, we can identify median nerve (MN) shape, sliding and changes that occur during grip ping/pinching. These nerve chronic to related be may factors injuries; however, limited evi dence exists regarding this as sociation. the shape, sliding and dynamic follow-up follow-up using the Health In formation Technology Usabili ty Evaluation Scale (HITUES) tailored to their assigned fea ture and via focus group inter views (arranged by feature). specialty five-point Likert (strongly dis agree=1; strongly participants’ agree=5), combined all over ratings (M±SD) of usability feature on HITUES sions were: dimen impact (3.6±1.3), usefulness (3.5±1.3), of use (4.6±0.7), ease and (3.8±1.2). control Participants report ed confidence operatingapp, increased self-awareness the of sedentary behaviors, feeling and inspired PA into to daily life. integrate The feature addressing PA knowledge and barriers was rated potential highly for on long-term impact (4.7±1.0). Requested improve ments included clarity structions, feedback of on errors, in and flexibility to accommodate ------o, ñ : At Pur USC age x̄ : Twelve Stacey Conclusion Results : Sedentariness in Sedentariness : Britney Cari : A : A convenience sam A A preliminary usability : To examine the usabil specialty feature and activity-tracking a component core to beta test for two weeks. Spe cialty features addressed sed entary activity, aging views, or PA knowledge and app of evaluations Participants’ barriers. components were assessed at Title: Title: evaluation of a physical activity smartphone application for old er adults. Authors: Jeanine Blanchard, & Stacey Schepens Niemiec Faculty advisor: Schepens Niemiec Background older adults is associated with health poor and disease chronic outcomes. ployed approaches to Commonly increase em physical activity (PA) niors rarely translate into in long- se term behavior change. Using smartphone apps to boost old er adults’ PA remains untapped largely despite potential to improve engagement. PA pose ity of features comprising a PA app prototype for older adults. Methods ple (n=13; 12 female; age=71.9) of underactive older adults was recruited from dependent-living in communities. one assigned were Participants and PubMed with search terms such as: infant, sensory, velopment, at risk, autism, de and processing. studies met the inclusion teria cri (at risk infants 0 and between 24 months of age). The literature suggests that at risk infants exhibit greater defensiveness tactile as well as creased difficulty in with auditory and visual processing. Differ ences in sensory reactivity can have progressive and cascad ing effects on infants’ occupa tions, with high risk infants dis playing greater challenges with adaptive and feeding, sleeping, motor skills. risk infants display difficulties with modulation of tactile, au ditory, and visual which processing impact everyday occu pations. Poster #131 : ------

Methods and can Grace Ba : To : review To cur FitSitt & : Sensory dys Allison Phillips & SCIENCE THERAPY Purpose STUDENTS Sensory differences in in in differences Sensory DOCTORAL OCCUPATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL with their environment, and in terpret input to inform actions. Early sensory development is critical to later development of higher order functions, such as language and cognition in in fants. rent literature examining early sensory development among infants considered at risk ND, for particularly preterm diagnosed sibling a with infants and with ASD, as compared normative to a sample. A literature search was ducted using con Google Scholar Background function is with often negative associated children outcomes with for mental disorders (ND), neurodevelop includ ing those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Studies show that sensory systems are fully functional at birth, with sensory development beginning in ute ro and continuing our throughout lifetime, with special signif icance throughout the first few years of life. Sensory systems allow infants to make sense of the world around them, interact Poster #130 Title: fants at risk for neurodevelop mental disorders Authors: Grace Baranek Faculty advisor: ranek totype for older adults. Lessons Lessons adults. older for totype learned from this process will drive further testing velopment and of de be applied to other studies of health device development. gathering gathering user data in an eco logically valid context, several challenges arose in evaluating a dynamic seating system pro Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry School of of Ostrow Herman

: : ------Re Con FitSitt —that Purpose Methods did not FitSitt Activ Sitting, Activ FitSitt : Older adults Stacey L. Schepens : Despite the value of Lessons learned from in- prototype. : Several challenges, or has proposed a dynamic age=74.6) tested the testing and sive logistical required planning. exten clusion participants’ participants’ evaluation of the envisioned product. Single pro totype availability: having only one prototype prolonged user to early-stage Functionality: development. yet include all functioning com ponents, which constrained tory, data collection tory, quality and accuracy was variable. Trans portability: component were unstable parts and bulky due ganized by theme, arose from in-home prototype testing. In- the-wild environment: labora a by without afforded control the chair and oriented to was interview follow-up A tures. its fea conducted after two days. sults Chair placement was selected based on participants’ routines sitting and available space. Participants were fitted to the FitSitt Seven older adults (5 females; x̄ home. in hours 48 for prototype scale development. les and challenges the Discuss sons learned from early-stage, in-home user testing of the first in any room. In vivo, prototype gain to recommended is testing insight into product and acceptability usability prior to full- facilitates stepping movements to interrupt sedentariness, usable is across the entire and day, is versatile for placement a behavior strongly linked chronic disease. to Inc. seating system— ana Bendetson, & Roger Leib ana Bendetson, & Roger Background spend 80% of their day sitting, seating system prototype seating system prototype Authors: Eli Niemiec, Matthew Niemiec, Poster #129 Title: dynamic a of testing user home OT in EI practice. OT how to mitigate barriers to ser vice bolster delivery, education on screening procedures, and capitalize on the fluid nature of OTs OTs in early ASD further screening, research is needed on 72

Poster #135 ping, and pinching as ovoid, al engagement (Mak, 2017). been widely reported. How- angular, or irregular. Amount Purpose: This study assesses ever, the impact of low-level Title: Relationships between of nerve sliding during gripping how participation in sport occu- sensory features (e.g., motion, therapist and client actions was qualitatively categorized pations correlates with sleep modality) on attention patterns during sensory integration ther- into three levels. The associ- hygiene and DMN connectivi- toward non-social stimuli in apy ations between these factors ty in typically developing (TD) ASD has not been comprehen- and demographic data were children, and children with ASD sively studied. Purpose: We Authors: Cristin M. Holland, analyzed using Chi-square and developmental coordina- aimed to examine 1) how the Erna I. Blanche, & Barbara L. tests. Results: Participants tion disorder (DCD). Methods: sensory properties of non-so- Thompson were primarily female (84.6%) Data from 24 participants ages cial stimuli impact the allocation with an average age of 24.6 9-15 were analyzed. The Child of attention; 2) how patterns of Faculty advisor: Grace Ba- years and average BMI of 23.3 Behavior Checklist (CBCL; attention associate with clin- ranek kg/m2. During gripping, 74.3% Achenbach, 1991) was qual- ical sensory profiles. Meth- of participants experienced a itatively coded for sport oc- ods: Forty children with ASD, Background: Sensory inte- shape change in the MN. The cupations. Responses were typically development (TD), gration therapy (SIT) is wide- proportion of MN ovoid shape compared across groups and or developmental delay (DD) ly employed by occupational in resting (43.6%) decreased to related to Family Inventory of ages 4 to 13 years were includ- therapists (OTs) for clients 23.0%/27.1% during gripping/ Sleep Habits (FISH; Malow et ed. Parents reported child’s with autism spectrum disorder pinching, and angular shape in- al., 2009) scores. DMN seed sensory response patterns (ASD), and research provides creased from 34.2% to approx- connectivity analysis from rest- via the Sensory Experiences support for SIT as an effective imately 50%. Sliding in about ing-state functional magnet- Questionnaire, v3.0. Children intervention for improving sen- half of MNs was independent of ic resonance imaging (fMRI) completed a passive-viewing sory-related and functional dif- surrounding tendons. Hispanics data were correlated with FISH eye-tracking task designed to ficulties. However, research on had higher frequency of ovoid scores. Results: The ASD measure attention to non-social therapists’ activities in relation MN in the non-dominant hand group had higher mean FISH stimuli; six novel objects with to clients’ behaviors has been than irregular/angular shapes scores than the TD group, al- interesting visual and auditory limited to small time increments as compared to non-Hispanics though this difference was not qualities were presented. Re- during intervention sessions. (p = 0.020). Participants who significant (p=0.08). Forty per- sults: Fixation durations were Purpose: The goal of this study were overweight/obese had cent of participants identified longer for stimuli with motion/ was to investigate relationships no/less sliding movement of swimming as a preferred sport, sound in ASD and TD. No con- between child outcomes and the MN than did participants in and these participants had sig- dition effect for the number of therapist behaviors during SIT. other BMI ranges (p = 0.016). nificantly higher FISH scores fixations; however, ASD fixated Methods: SIT intervention Conclusions: Functional hand than those who did not name significantly fewer times than sessions involving OTs (n=7) use produced shape changes swimming (p=0.03). In the ASD DD and TD across conditions. and their clients (n=9) aged 18 and compression on the MN. group, FISH scores were posi- ASD and TD fixated longer at to 60 months with ASD were Ethnicity was associated with tively related to connectivity of spinning items. Significant as- videotaped in two Los Ange- shape, while BMI was associ- regions of the DMN (p<0.05). sociations were found between les area occupational therapy ated with amount of MN slid- Conclusion: Participants who hyperresponsiveness and at- clinics. Videotapes were an- ing. Identifying individual MN reported swimming as a pre- tention under various stimulus alyzed retrospectively using changes may assist in predict- ferred sport demonstrated sig- conditions in ASD after cor- continuous sampling behavior ing injury risk. nificantly higher FISH scores recting the moderation effect of coding with Observer XT 14.1. than non-swimmers. In the hyporesponsiveness.Conclu- Individualized coding schemas ASD group, higher FISH scores sions: Stimuli with extra senso- were created in collaboration were associated with increased ry features produced facilitatory with SIT experts for child (190 Poster #133 DMN functional connectivity. effects on visual attention for all behaviors relevant to sensory Results provide an implica- groups. Children with ASD gen- processing, ASD symptomol- Title: Occupation, sleep hy- tion for a relationship between erally fixated fewer times and ogy, and general impression giene, and neural connectivity swimming, sleep, and neural longer, indicating “sticky atten- scores) and therapist (140 be- in autism spectrum disorder connectivity in ASD. Data col- tion.” In contrast, children with haviors related to facilitated lection is ongoing. DD looked at the objects more activities, social interactions, Authors: Christiana Butera, briefly and frequently regard- and general impression scores Emily Kilroy, Cristin Zeisler, less of the spinning feature. on therapeutic modes and type Sharada Krishnan, Gina Go- Hyperresponsiveness seems of play). Pearson correlations sparini, Laura Harrison, & Lisa Poster #134 to associate with the aberrant were employed to explore re- Aziz-Zadeh attention patterns in ASD, while lationships between child im- Title: Patterns of attention to proved outcomes and therapist Faculty advisor: Lisa Aziz-Za- other factors (e.g., cognition) non-social stimuli in children behaviors during intervention. deh may be taken into account in with autism spectrum disorder developmentally-delayed chil- Results: Child eye contact and shared affect, social reci- Background: Sleep prob- Authors: Claire Yun-Ju Chen, dren. procity, and engagement were lems are common in children Clare Harrop, Maura Saba- positively correlated with ther- with autism spectrum disorder tos-DeVito, John Bulluck, & apist feedback and behaviors (ASD) and insufficient sleep ex- Grace Baranek acerbates the severity of ASD that promoted challenge, prob- symptoms (Park et al., 2012). Faculty advisor: Grace Ba- lem-solving or planning. Child Sleep quality impacts neural ranek engagement and social reci- networks, including the default procity were positively correlat- mode network (DMN; De Havas Background: Aberrant atten- ed with collaboration between et al., 2012), which is important tion patterns in autism spec- client and therapist. Conclu- for elements of occupation- trum disorders (ASD) have sion: Results indicate impor-

The Explorer Journal 2019 Abstracts

------73 ín : As Results: Sharon A. Conclusion: Methods : Research on oral on Research : Daniella C. Flor : This study examined Oral health experiences (n=8 neurotypical, n=10 ASD) were interviewed twice for ap proximately 1-2.5 hours each session. Interviews were tran scribed verbatim and analyzed by 3 coders using in vivo and thematic coding schemas identify patterns throughout the to Poster #139 Title: of Latinos with children with & without disabilities Authors: dez, Elizabeth Pyatak, inique Dom H. Baezconde Como, Lourdes & Cermak, Sharon A. Garbanati Faculty advisor: Cermak Background care has shown that are more likely to have misper Latinos ceptions about oral health, and less likely to have dental access care to than the population. general To date, research has explored minimal the oral health experiences of Latinos. Purpose oral health related beliefs, and attitudes, practices in no Lati families with children and with Autism Spectrum without Disorder (ASD). study qualitative larger a of part Latino 18 care, oral in-home on families with a child aged 6-12 tional analyses were performed performed were analyses tional to measure the concurrent va lidity. T-tests examined differ ences in student status, and sex, students with and without learning differences. Results are currently pending analysis and will be presented on the poster at the research presentation. Participation is goal the in occupational ultimate that measure a is WCPA-S The therapy. may be used for college dents stu who are struggling with organizing and planning their everyday activities. This study aims to provide support for the tool a as WCPA-S the of validity that can be used to provide in formation to help difficulties understand facedstudents through its by college tion-focused occupa assessment students’ planning and organi of zational abilities. ------USC Meth : Gain an Sharon A. Executive func Purpose Eddie Chu, Margaret Weekly Weekly calendar plan Participants included 160 ods: graduates and undergraduates aged 18-30. Participants com pleted a demographics Behaviour WCPA-S, Rating form, In ventory of Executive Function, Zoo Map Test, and Dysexec utive Questionnaire. Correla Authors: Goodfellow, Rashelle Nagata, Ty Amy Kim, Yeh, & Sharon A. Cermak Faculty advisor: Cermak Background: tions (EF) are skills the necessary cognitive mance of for goal-directed tasks. perfor They are critical to successful engagement in everyday tivities. ac tion Executive can dysfunc negatively person’s impact ability to a learn in dif ferent contexts and complete everyday activities. The Week ly Calendar Planning is (WCPA) a Activity new standardized assessment to measure EF in the context of a real-world task for adults. understanding of the utility clinical of assessing in (WCPA-S) version the WCPA-Student Examine EF. the validity of the WCPA-S by exploring its rela of measures other with tionship differentiate to ability its and EF college students with and with out learning differences. on their outcome: Reduce Dis ruptive Behaviors (37.5%) and Increase Desired (62.5%). Behaviors The majority of overwhelming the studies were single-subject (86%) case study and multiple baseline designs, five were randomized control group studies and six were hybrid a study design. Of those, thirty-one studies (35%) were doctoral dissertations. Conclu sion: The studies provide ev idence that social stories feasible are and effective in facil itating positive social interac tions, promoting independence and regulation, behavior change for individuals and eliciting ASD. with Poster #138 Title: ning activity: validity lege-aged students in col : ------Methods Sharon A. : To system : Social stories Delaney Hudak, Purpose A A scoping review of so ulation term- [(Autis* OR ASD OR Asperger*)] AND interven tion term- [(“Social Stories” OR Narra Social OR Story” “Social tive)] were considered. Article titles, abstracts, and full texts were independently reviewed by two reviewers; a viewer assisted during conflicts third re until consensus was met. Re sults: The systematic produced search 450 abstracts, with 88 articles meeting criteria. inclusion Primary one outcomes into sorted were study each of of two macro-categories based been a number of reviews eval reviews of number a been uating the quality and efficacy of social story interventions for individuals with ASD, the sults re of previous publications have highlighted the disparate outcomes of social search. story re atically evaluate, identify, and synthesize studies social story interventions utilizing geting tar behavior change in in dividuals with ASD. A search of five databases tar geting social stories was con ducted and articles with pop Dominique H. Como, Margaret Goodfellow, & Sharon A. Cer mak Faculty advisor: Cermak Background are a widely tion for individuals used with Autism interven Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and have been shown to be cessful in suc decreasing inappro increasing and behaviors priate academic abilities, social skills, and participation in activities. self-care While there have consumed consumed more than water. Conclusion: considering frequently in novel is research This the influence of culture, family, diet, performance patterns and systemic restrictions on cASD. care practices for Latino oral Poster #137 Title: cial stories for individuals with autism Authors: Ing the environment or activity Last needs. child’s the meet to ly, the food journals were beverages revealed cariogenic that Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry School of of Ostrow Herman ------To ex Sharon A. Dental care Purpose: Dominque H. Como, :The interviews yield The anatomy of oral care ners who facilitate activities and activities facilitate who ners Modifications described chang to enforcing self-care activities. Two themes pertaining to oral carepractices were observed in the videos: Parents-as-Part by the child, and “It’s a Battle” described parents relationship habits care oral child’s their with due to disagreements related described parents’ feelings of isolation,“Wait, there’s the as tooth-brushing portrayed more” only routine often performed tos were analyzed for content and overlapping food patterns. Results ed three themes: “Estoy sóla” of the child’s meals. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed, videos were blindly coded, and pho terviews to identify the factors influencing oral health, videos of the child’s tines, and oral a photo food journal care rou drenwith Autism drenwith (cASD). Meth ods: This qualitative study Latino of families with cASD (6- 12 years) (n=10) included in oral health. plore the factors that serve as barriers or facilitators to care practices oral of Latino chil ters on factors like diet, culture, diet, like factors on ters systemic barriers that contrib ute to successful home-based oral care and that may affect groups (i.e., Latinos, are (ASD)) Disorders Spectrum Autism at increased risk for oral health disparities. Little research cen Background: is the most health prevalent need in the unmet US. Under represented and underserved A. Cermak, & Lucía I. Floríndez I. Lucía & Cermak, A. Faculty advisor: Cermak spectrum disorders Authors: Daniella C. Floríndez, Sharon Poster #136 Title: habits of children with autism during intervention to enhance outcomes. “just right challenge” is critical to child engagement. activ Results therapists’ guide help can ities and therapeutic use of self tance tance of alliance, and the suggest that the therapist-child 74

data. Results: The themes Vul- levels of AL have been asso- ICA-AROMA. Components masks, and motor scores of nerability/Mistrust, “We have ciated with negative outcomes of 47 participants were man- individuals with chronic stroke. to put our children first,” and including several health issues ually classified for signal and Lesion load was calculated as Acculturation/Cultural Prac- (Seeman, 1997). Methods: A noise components (Griffan- the percent overlap between tices summed how the Latino conception of occupational bal- ti et al, 2017) and compiled the lesion mask and the fol- families discussed oral care. ance was proposed here utiliz- into a training data set using lowing regions: M1, supple- Parents described fear of the ing the neuroendocrine concept FIX. Trained automated iden- mentary motor area (SMA), dentist as a key factor inhibit- of allostatic load as its basis. tification of signal vs. noise pre-supplementary motor area ing receipt of dental care. Par- Literature from various fields components in the remaining (preSMA), ventral and dorsal ents also discussed prioritizing including neuroendocrinology, data was then performed. Re- premotor cortex (PMv & PMd), the dental needs of their chil- integrative medicine, and psy- sults: Qualitative analysis of and primary somatosensory dren over their own oral care chology were drawn from. This the motion correction results cortex (S1). Backward step- needs due to costs. Families model will be used as the basis showed higher accuracy in wise elimination was used to also shared cultural influences for future empirical testing. Re- the detection of task-correlat- determine the best predictor of on oral care habits that were sults: Occupational imbalance ed motion and multi-band ac- motor scores among all ROIs, learned from their varied up- can in part be conceptualized quisition artifacts by FIX over starting with a full linear mixed bringing. Conclusion: Latinos’ as an excessive amount of time ICA-AROMA. Cross-validation effects model with each ROI, experiences of oral health are spent in an endocrinologically showed FIX maintained 94.2% age, and sex as fixed effects, influenced by factors related to stressed state and/or an in- detection accuracy. FIX signifi- and site as a random effect. their cultural identities, family sufficient time in restful states, cantly identified more signal Results: The selected model structures, and barriers to oral which could lead to AL accrual. in participants with minimal retained the following fixed ef- care. Understanding the oral Conclusion: A neuroendocrine motion (p=0.0215), and more fects: SMA (F=11.45, β= -1.52, health beliefs and experiences model of occupational balance noise in those with high motion p=0.00089); PMv (F=6.08, of Latino parents is critical for would help to advance our un- (p=0.02). Conclusion: Training β= -0.29, p=0.015); and PMd developing targeted prevention derstanding of the conditions of FIX with manually classified (F=7.51, β= 1.08, p=0.0068). programs to meet the needs of lifestyle balance. data provides a more robust Model fit values are as fol- the population. and flexible approach to filter- lows: full model (AIC=-68.5; ing noisy signals in task-based conditional R2=0.52); selected fMRI data. While the hand model (AIC=-74.12; condition- Poster #141 classification is subjective, ad- al R2=0.51). Conclusion: This Poster #140 ditional raters or blind sample work suggests that lesion load Title: Comparison of two auto- rating could overcome the ca- of CST projections originating Title: Neuroendocrine model of mated motion correction strate- veat of single-rater bias. from specific higher-order mo- occupational balance gies in autism neuroimaging tor regions beyond M1 may be Authors: Raymond Hernandez Authors: Aditya Jayashankar, informative for predicting motor outcomesOCCUPATIONAL following stroke. Laura Harrison, Christiana Poster #142 Faculty advisor: Beth Pyatak Butera, Emily Kilroy, Jonas Ka- THERAPY & plan, & Lisa Aziz-Zadeh Title: Corticospinal tract le- Purpose: To explain the con- sions of various origins predict OCCUPATIONAL cept of allostatic load and ar- Faculty advisor: Lisa Aziz-Za- stroke motor outcome gue that its implications warrant deh SCIENCE consideration of a new model Authors: Kaori L. Ito & Sook- of occupational balance, the Background: Motion artifacts Lei Liew POST-DOCTORAL Neuroendocrine Model of Oc- have a significant effect on cupational Balance, which is the interpretation of functional Faculty advisor: Sook-Lei FELLOWS not meant to replace but rath- MRI (fMRI) data, especially in Liew er complement existing con- children with ASD, who tend ceptions of lifestyle balance. to move more than controls Background: The amount of Background: A general endo- during scanning (Pardoe, Hiess overlap between the cortico- crinological conceptualization & Kuzniecky, 2016). Manual spinal tract and a stroke lesion of stress is utilized here where classification of artifacts is time (CST lesion load, CST-LL) is it is defined as a state in which consuming; automated classifi- one of the strongest known Poster #143 there is a perceived or actual cation is a desirable motion-cor- predictors of post-stroke motor threat to homeostasis, accom- rection strategy. Purpose: To outcomes. Most research on Title: Identifying an optimal panied by a physiological stress implement and compare the CST-LL has focused on projec- sampling method to estimate response resulting in effects automated performance of (1) tions originating from the prima- postural risk including an increase in arous- ICA-AROMA (Pruim, 2015) and ry motor cortex (M1), but other al and vigilance (Chrousos, (2) FIX (Salim-Khorshidi, 2014; higher-order cortical motor ar- Authors: Kryztopher D. Tung, 2009). Stressors in this broad- Carone, 2017). ICA-AROMA eas also have projections that Nancy A. Baker, Yoko E. Fu- er view include psychosocial works off a predefined training contribute to the CST. Damage kumura, Jane L. Forrest, & stressors, physical movement, set, while FIX can be trained to such areas may contribute to Shawn C. Roll highly motivating tasks, and on acquired data. Methods: motor deficits following stroke. cognitive demands (Epel et al., Data of 58 subjects ages 8-15 Purpose: We evaluate wheth- Faculty advisor: Shawn C. 2018). Excessive amounts of (22 ASD), each performing two er CST-LL from various motor Roll this more general stress is be- passive tasks, were prepro- origins predicts motor perfor- lieved in the neuroendocrinolo- cessed using FSL (Jenkinson, mance. Methods: We used Background: The Rapid Up- gy literature to result in meta- 2012). After ICA of all prepro- ATLAS, a publicly available per Limb Assessment (RULA) bolic wear and tear, also known cessed data, motion correction multi-site database, to obtain is an ergonomic assessment as allostatic load (AL). Higher was done with the unalterable 170 anatomical MRIs, lesion tool used to screen for risk of musculoskeletal injury due to

The Explorer Journal 2019 Abstracts 75 ------Conclu Infants and toddlers ex Additionally, Additionally, children in lower socioeconomic status diag of age later have brackets (SES) nosis for autism as compared to higher SES peers, indicating a lack of access to and knowl edge about developmental ser vices. Finally, these are deprived of play children opportuni ties that support development and family bonding. sion: periencing homelessness are an underserved be must that needs unique with population considered when screening, developing diagnostic, and in tervention practices. This liter ature review lays the empirical foundation for a needs assess ment related to development in homeless youth. ------Re USC To review To Grace Ba : The prevalence A A literature review Purpose: Emily Campi, Amy Children experiencing SCIENCE Supporting development STUDENTS THERAPY & THERAPY PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL risk for children homelessness experiencing begins prena tally; homeless mothers more likely to give birth are to low birth weight or preterm babies, who are at higher risk for neu rodevelopmental disorders. of children (0-18) ing homelessness experienc in the U.S. night ≥1 for million 2.5 numbers per year. 20,964 people expe rience homelessness with their families on any night in Califor nia. 51% of children in shelters and transitional facilities are <6 at are children These old. years developmental poor for risk high outcomes. literature on homelessness-re lated risks to development and explore barriers to tion in developmental services. participa Methods: using PubMed Scholar included search and terms Google such as: homelessness infancy, children, and and/or trau ma. Studies with over participants age 18 or children expe riencing homelessness without caregivers were excluded. sults: homelessness have high rates of stressful life events age=3.05), (aver trauma symptoms (average=1.05), and emotion/ above (28% problems behavior clinical cut-off; 18%=normative expected rate). Developmental Poster #145 Title: in young children experiencing homelessness: a literature re view Authors: Zhao, & Grace Baranek Faculty advisor: ranek Background ------: Be : To : Alone, : Methods Purpose : The NIH’s Re (TD motor). Performance was best when all three were combined, with domains accuracy at 88% for ASD and DCD and 97% for TDs, supporting addition of the a sensorimotor do main to the RDoC. combinations thereof. Perfor mance during a repeated strat ified k-fold cross validation of the different classifiers for pre dicting group membership (one versus rest, e.g., ASD versus DCD and TD) was compared. Results & Conclusion the original performed RDoC best category overall, accuracy with ranging (DCD) from to 90% (TD). 86% However, the sensory and motor classifi ers alone still performed above chance, with accuracy ranging from 70% (ASD motor) to 90% controls, we learning used to machine classify these three each groups according of to psychological measures that map onto the domains original and RDoC onto sensorimo tor functioning. havioral data were separately aged children 68 from collected DCD). 16 ASD, 28 TD, (24 8-17 Measures were mapped onto motor, sensory, sup and Multiclass domains. RDoC original port vector machine classifiers were created for each of these domains separately as well as mental health across six mains: do negative and valence positive systems, systems, cognitive social arousal and processes, tems, regulatory and, recently, sensorim sys otor systems. test the improved ability of the children distinguishing in RDoC with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—who have both sorimotor and sen social deficits— against children with primarily motor deficits (developmental coordination disorder, and typically DCD) developing (TD) Background (RDoC) Criteria Domain search aims to describe biological and psychological functioning in Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry School of of Ostrow Herman

: ------Pur : TWA : Four Conclusion Lisa Aziz-Za Lisa Results Methods Laura Harrison, Sensorimotor domain im domain Sensorimotor : The goal of this study Faculty advisor: Faculty deh Jayashankar, Jayashankar, Priscilla Ryann Ring, MacMurdo, Aziz-Zadeh & Lisa Authors: Anastasiya Kats, Butera, Christiana Emily Kilroy, Aditya Poster #144 Title: proves original RDoC classifi ASD from DCD cation of ety of work settings. ing variability across sampling methods and sizes will help to meth efficient most the identify vari a to applied be can that od a valid sampling method would be a viable substitute for TWA the RULA. Development a of robust dataset demonstrat 0.2 of the TWA. Further itera sample various evaluating tions sizes is ongoing. that indicate results Preliminary RULA RULA across the four students ranged from 3.38 to 4.26. Pre liminary sampling averages us ing 10 samples were all within positions. Each method compared to the was TWA using a paired samples t-test and per cent difference. Three sampling methods were evaluated: equivalent interval and samples, random samples, random samples within clock postural shift lasting for more than 15 seconds occurred. time-weighted A average (TWA) RULA score was calculated. utes on average). RULA was continuously scored the entire across session, the score updating when a significant giene students were video re corded from three angles while performing hand scaling during patient clinic visits (88.97 min RULA RULA across a long time-peri od that accurately represents overall risk. right-handed female dental hy in posture across pose time. was to identify an optimal sam pling method for applying the a work task overall risk. to No method exists approximate for score RULA a estimating for work requiring frequent shifts working working posture. The RULA is during once applied traditionally 76 STUDENT FROM RESEARCH GROUP THE SRG EDITORS

To our fellow students, faculty, and staff

We are extremely honored to present to you the Eleventh Edition of The Explorer Journal of USC Student Research. This year has been particularly exciting for research and innovation here at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, the Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, and The Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy.

We would like to acknowledge the wonderful efforts of all our fellow classmates and faculty that are engaged in research, and who continue to make meaningful breakthroughs for our profession. Our keynote speakers this year truly showcase the efforts our community is making towards advancing science. Now, more than ever we highly encourage all our fellow students to pursue research. There are so many exciting opportunities available here at USC.

The success of Research Day would not be possible without the immense support we have received from our faculty advisors Dr. Yang Chai, Dr. Parish Sedghizadeh, and the entire Research Day planning committee. Our Student Research Group thrives on the encouragement and support we have received from our faculty advisors.

Thank you, and Fight On! Ruhee Jaffer & Yeonghee Jung 2019 2018- 77

THE EXPLORER JOURNAL OF USC STUDENT RESEARCH VOLUME 11

Presidents / Editors in Chief Vice President Secretary Ruhee Jaffer Azzah Widatalla Teresa Nguyen Yeonghee Jung Student Research Involvement Photography Editors Faculty Advisors Director Henry Yim Yang Chai, DDS, PhD Sara Kahng Jiawei Li Parish Sedghizadeh, DDS, MS

Senior Editor Bridget Samuels, PhD

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC 78

RESEARCH DAY RESEARCH DAY PLANNING 2019 COMMITTEE

Yang Chai, DDS, PhD Parish Sedghizadeh, DDS, MS Donna Castillo Jaime Gonzalez Patty Gutierrez Linda Hattemer Thach-Vu Ho Lynn Matsumoto Barbara Roddy Raquel Saez Bridget Samuels, PhD Oshawa Smith

2019 APRIL 10,

The Explorer Journal 2019 79

All views are of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the student body of the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC nor of the editors of the Explorer Journal, unless such statements have been officially adopted by the University. The Explorer Journal editorial board reserves the right to reduce, revise or reject any material submitted for publication. Articles and photos published in the Explorer Journal are the property of the Explorer Journal and may be reproduced or reprinted only after written permission has been granted. The ed- itors and founder reserve the right to accept, reject, discontinue or edit any article, letter, or abstract submitted for publication.

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC