2014 SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM STUDENT ABSTRACTS This page left blank 2 Contents Preface………………………………………………………… 5 Acknowledgements ………………………………………… 7 Lab Research Ownership …………………………………. 9 Index Medical Students ………………………………………... 11 Undergraduate Students ……………………………….. 12 International Medical Students ………………………… 13 Abstracts – Medical Students …………………………… 14 Abstracts – Undergraduates ……………………………. 105 Abstracts – International Medical Students ……..…….. 144 3 This page left blank 4 Preface The University of Texas Medical School at Houston (UTMSH) Summer Research Program provides intensive, hands-on laboratory research training for MS-1 medical students and undergraduate college students under the direct supervision of experienced faculty researchers and educators. These faculty members’ enthusiasm for scientific discovery and commitment to teaching is vital for a successful training program. It is these dedicated scientists who organize the research projects to be conducted by the students. The trainee’s role in the laboratory is to participate to the fullest extent of her/his ability in the research project being performed. This involves carrying out the technical aspects of experimental analysis, interpreting data and summarizing results. The results are presented as an abstract and are written in the trainees’ own words that convey an impressive degree of understanding of the complex projects in which they were involved. To date, more than 1,800 medical, college, and international medical students have gained research experience through the UTMSH Summer Research Program. Past trainees have advanced to pursue research careers in the biomedical sciences, as well as gain an appreciation of the relationship between basic and clinical research and clinical practice. UTMSH student research training is supported by a grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and/or by financial support from the Dean and the departments and faculty of the medical school and School of Dentistry. Biomedical science education remains a vital and integral part of our nation’s interests. The UTMSH Summer Research Program, and the dedication of our faculty and administration exemplify the institution’s commitment to training and educating the future leaders in our biomedical scientific communities. Gary C. Rosenfeld, Ph.D. Director, Summer Research Program Assistant Dean for Educational Programs 5 This page left blank 6 Acknowledgements This publication marks the completion of the twenty-fifth year of The University of Texas Medical School at Houston (UTMSH) Summer Research Program. The longevity and success of the program are rooted in the overwhelming support received from the deans, faculty, staff and students of the medical school. Indicative of this support is the administrative assistance and financial support for the Program’s college and medical students provided by UTMSH. Sincere appreciation is expressed to Dean Giuseppe Colasurdo M.D. and Patricia M. Butler, M.D., Associate Dean, Office of Educational Programs who continue to ensure the yearly success of the Summer Research Program. Major financial assistance for medical students has also been provided through short term research grants by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK; 5 T32 DK007676) and the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS; 5 T35 NS064931). Negotiated cooperative agreements with several international medical schools have been set up to offer tailored research programs at UTMSH for selected foreign medical students who interact fully with the other students in the Summer Research Program. The success of the Summer Research Program depends primarily on the faculty who volunteer to mentor the trainees. These dedicated educators organize and guide the research projects that includes for each student data analysis, preparation of an abstract and public presentation of results. Our sincere appreciation to all faculty mentors. 7 This page left blank 8 Lab Research Ownership Publication and/or Disclosure Each student participating in this program is required to read, agree to, and sign this disclosure form. The original signed copy is on file in the Summer Research Program office; the student and their faculty mentors are each furnished with a copy. “In reference to the laboratory research you will perform this coming summer through The University of Texas Medical School at Houston’s Summer Research Program, you are required to comply with the standard restrictions regarding participation in the Summer Research Program: “All of your laboratory research is CONFIDENTIAL and although your abstract will be available through our website, you cannot independently disclose or publish any research findings or data in any form (including at meetings or conferences) without the express prior written approval of The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. If you wish to submit your abstract to any third party, you must first contact your faculty mentor no less than three (3) weeks prior to any deadlines in order to obtain the necessary written approvals. “Because your research was generated from ideas and funds that originated with your faculty mentor and The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, ownership of any data generated by you during the Summer Research Program belongs to The University of Texas Medical School at Houston or the Principle Investigator (PI).” 9 This page left blank 10 Medical Students Page Page Last Name First Name Last Name First Name # # Albach Erik 15 Litwin Rob 60 Arizpe Azael 16 Lund Sarah 61 Arrey Eliel 17 Madden Eric 63 Ayers John 18 Mendoza Carolina 64 Bahr Alden 19 Michael Alen 65 Baycroft Alixandra 20 Moses Maya 66 Bishop Ryan 21 Obiano Ogechukwu 67 Bondre Ioana 22 Orr Amberly 68 Carlile Catherine 23 Oyeniyi Blessing 69 Chang Courtney 24 Park Adam 70 Dakshinamoorthy Janani 25 Patel Nina 72 Deal Morgan 26 Peirce Charles 73 Doyle Nathan 27 Pham Justin 75 Drake Ryan 29 Philip Justin 76 Evans Kimberly 30 Podolnick Jason 77 Flanders Samuel 31 Reyes Noelle 78 Forouzan Parsha 32 Rezigh Alec 79 Garrett Keenan 34 Riggs Kayla 80 Gaston Elizabeth 36 Sakhuja Shruti 81 Ghosn Jean 37 Sallman Mary Alice 82 Gibson Micah 38 Schatz Benjamin 84 Grand Alexandra 39 Semple Jill 86 Gray John 40 Steward Joshua 87 Griffin Connor 42 Talley Julia 89 Haj-Ismail Nadia 43 Thai Hong 90 Harding Jonathan 44 Tolbert Jessica 92 Hicks Rachel 45 Tsau Joshua 94 Jacks Amy 46 Van Y-vu Robert 95 Jackson William 48 Virani Farrukh 97 Jung Jinwoo Peter 49 Wawrose Richard 98 Kale Alixandra 50 Wells Michael 99 Karagas Nicholas 52 Wilkerson Jacob 100 Kennamer-Chapman Ross 53 Xue Yunfeng 102 Li Yuanteng 54 Yan Kevin 103 Linscheid Stephanie 56 Zelnick Pamela 105 Liras Ioannis 58 11 Undergraduate Students Page Page Last Name First Name Last Name First Name # # Actor Jonas 108 Nolen Maegan 128 Alexander Alexander 109 Ozuna Joyce 129 Amaefule Chibuzo 110 Patel Anjali 130 Ansari Afreen 111 Price Katherine 131 Barrows Caitlynn 112 Saenz Ryan 132 Berenson Adam 113 Schlosberg Ira 133 Brooks Sarah 115 Skalley Caroline 134 Cassidy Daniel 116 Soares Jana 135 Chen Qingzheng 117 Spencer Robert 136 Cho Nicholas 118 Syzmanski Scott 137 Flores Erika 119 Tarkunde Yash 138 Gong Shaina 120 Thomas-Payne Idell 139 Howorth Hillary 121 Truong Tai 140 Jin Wei 122 Tseng Luke 141 Kovach Melia 123 Wu Julie 142 Le Ngoc-Bao 124 Zhao Qianhao 143 Li-Geng Tony 125 Zhao Ruonan 144 Mitaro Emily 126 Zhao Sarah 145 Mvoula Lord 127 12 International Medical Students Page Last Name First Name # Akiyama Shinichiro 147 He Yipei 149 Huang Min 150 Kanamori Kohei 151 Li Xiaoxi 152 Ma Cheng 153 Miyahara Keigo 154 Sun Jialin 155 Zhao Wenchuo 156 13 Medical Students 14 2014 Summer Research Program Office of Educational Programs Medical Student ABSTRACT The Effect of Body Mass Index on the Types and Frequency of Cervical Spine Injury ERIK ALBACH The University of Texas at Houston Medical School Class of 2017 Sponsored by: Susanna C. Spence, MD, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Supported by: Susanna C. Spence, MD, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology; The University of Texas at Houston Medical School – Office of the Dean Key Words: Cervical spine, injury mechanism, patient risk factors Cervical spine injuries are considered high risk and are prevalent in trauma centers nationwide occurring in approximately 3.5% of all trauma patients. Because of their relatively common occurrence and the gravity of associated complications, it is not unusual that cervical spine injuries have been the subject of previous studies analyzing high risk patient groups and related mechanism of injury. However, the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the risk of sustaining a cervical spine injury has been largely understudied. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the frequency and types of cervical spine injuries at Memorial Hermann Hospital in relation to mechanism of injury and patient BMI. By determining the frequency of cervical spine injuries in relation to mechanism of injury and patient BMI, we hope to help clinicians better diagnose and treat cervical spine injuries. Approximately 8,000 cases of all ages, both genders, and all general health statuses arriving at Memorial Hermann ER or Memorial Hermann Children’s ER for initial trauma workup from January 2013 to December 2013 will be reviewed. Patients were excluded from the study if the cervical spine CT scan was a follow-up of a previous injury or if the patient’s examination was a repeat of a CT scan already in the study. As of October 3, 2014, 1,693 cervical spine CT scans without contrast were reviewed and classified based on 1) Positive/negative injury; 2) Injury type; 3) Injury mechanism; 4) Patient age, gender, ethnicity, BMI; and 5) Additional factors that predispose the patient to injury. Of the 1,693 cases reviewed, 147 patients were found to have positive cervical spine CT resulting in an 8.682% positive cervical spine injury rate.