Office of Research University of South Carolina 2017 Collected Abstracts: Collected abstracts that showcase research, scholarship, leadership and creative projects by undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and medical scholars representing the entire USC System. Prepared for DISCOVER USC April 21, 2017. www.sc.edu/DiscoverUSC 1 Table of Contents Undergraduate Student presentations 4 - 263 Graduate Student presentations 265 - 375 Postdoctoral Scholar presentations 375 - 388 Medical Scholar presentations 391 - 443 2 Undergraduate Students presentations 3 Abu Abdo, Nour Mentor(s): Dr. Christina Cox Maternal selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor(SSRI) use and neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis. Objectives SSRIs are the most common pharmacologic treatment for depression during pregnancy. Data suggests SSRI use during pregnancy may elicit negative effects in neonatal effects including feeding and digestive disturbances, which may ultimate- ly increase the risk of NEC. The primary objective of this study is to determine if maternal SSRI use is associated with the development of NEC in offspring. If an association is found, secondary objectives include evaluating the relationship of dose, duration, and type of SSRI to the development of infant NEC. Methods This retrospective cohort will utilize the South Carolina Medicaid Database, the South Carolina registry of births from the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), and hospital discharge records from the SC Hospital Association (SCHA) to link maternal SSRI use to offspring born between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2016. All data received will be de-identified. Data to be collected includes gestational age, birth weight, concomitant medication use in mother and offspring, maternal comorbid conditions, prenatal care, maternal smoking, alcohol use, and illicit drug use. Dose, duration, and type of SSRI will also be recorded. The primary outcome of NEC will be identified by the ICD-10 code P77.9. For analysis, a marginal regression model will be used to assess the association between the likelihood of NEC inci- dence and SSRI use after accounting for known NEC confounders including neonatal demographic data and maternal co- morbid conditions. Assistance with data analysis will be obtained through collaboration with the USC statistics department. Data/Results Data collection is ongoing. Citations 1. Potts AL, Young KL, Carter BS, Shenai JP. Necrotizing enterocolitis associated with in utero and breast milk exposure to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, escitalopram. J Perinatol. 2007;27(2):12. Adams, Jesse Mentor(s): Dr. Courtney Catledge, Dr. Robin Estrada Evaluation of lung capacity utilizing serial peak flow resulting in students from 6-12 grade participating in Band Improving lung function and addressing breathing difficulties among younger children with asthma or similar pulmonary dysfunction is a common challenge in pediatric practice. Purpose: To explore spirometry testing on middle school adoles- cents. We hypothesized that participating in the school band using wind instruments would improve lung capacity. Meth- ods: Thirteen middle school students who performed in the wind section of the band participated in the study. The project, measuring pulmonary functioning through spirometry testing, involved various components including force vital capacity (FVC) and force exertion volume in one second (FEV1). Data collection included height, weight, age, history of pulmonary issues, specific instruments played, smoke exposure, and athletic participation. Results: Upon our preliminary results in this longitudinal study, we currently have inconclusive findings based on the data gathered. There seems to be a trend within the wind instruments that demonstrates an increase in FEV1 and the ratio FEV1/FVC. With regards to the FVC, more than 50% of the participants demonstrated a decrease during post testing. Discussion: These results should be interpreted with caution due to the preliminary nature of this study. The unexpected decrease in FVC would suggest reduced expiration of air with band participation. However, this research had unique considerations and limitations. There was only one school that agreed to participate in all parts of the research. Additionally, we faced certain challenges that could have affected our data, such as improper use of the spirometer and participation in other activities that may have influenced the tested variables. 4 Adriano, Dimitri Mentor(s): Dr. Orgul Ozturk Food Stamp Timing And Negative Patterns Of Healthy Food Consumption The SNAP program (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is the largest hunger safety net initiative in the United States and has been active for many decades. It is aimed at helping low-income individuals and families to reach standard nutritional goals and avoid hunger. Nevertheless, despite its assistance reducing the effects of poverty among many American families, we would like to question if it has been doing so in the most efficient way possible. Studies suggest the majority of consumption assisted by Food Stamps happens right after the disbursement of the benefits, leaving the rest of the month partially uncovered for the beneficiary. In this project, we will try to unveil if the participants of the SNAP program are successfully reaching their necessary monthly nutritional intake. In order to address that question, we will empirically analyze national level data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure dataset). This issue is significant be- cause if the program is operating in the most efficient manner, many families will be healthier and have access to their basic nutritional needs, which could in turn accelerate their exit from the poverty cycle. In addition, a significant share of the na- tional budget is allocated towards the program, thus it is of best interest for SNAP to operate at its highest level of efficiency. Aguirre, Melissa Mentor(s): Dr. Daniel Freedman Advocating for the Future of DREAMERS Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, also known as DACA, is an executive order drafted by the Obama administration in 2012. Due to current political climate change, DACA recipients are living in constant fear of their legal status being once again threatened, however, SC representative Lyndsey Graham and IL representative Dick Durbin drafted the Bar Removal of Individuals Who Dream of Growing Our Economy Act, or Bridge Act, that would give complete protection to childhood arrivals eligible for the program. Working as an intern for SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center has expounded the importance of education on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and the many benefits of this executive order. Many people are not aware that DACA recipients actually contribute to the economy in large quantities. Removing DACA would not only be a disservice to the childhood arrivals, who are eligible and work hard to be productive members of society, but also to our economy. I organized a five-week plan with the assistance of my sorority, Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc. The five-week plan was executed in order to seek allies and supporters of DACA recipients and the DACA program. The first week, there was an informational session on what DACA is, how many people it benefits, and how it has specifically impacted South Carolina. There was also information relayed on who the representatives are for South Carolina and how to get in contact with them to push for the BRIDGE Act and a higher protection for childhood arrivals. The second week there was a panel discussion where DACA recipients from various age groups came and spoke of their experience as DACA recipients. The purpose of the event was to allow people who have a voice in the United States due to their citizenship, get exposure to the adversities these childhood arrivals have faced in order to perhaps influence them to become allies to those same childhood arrivals. The third, fourth, and fifth event have not occurred, however, there will be calling and writing parties for individuals to be able to hand- write and call their legislatures to push for the BRIDGE Act. I organize multiple events that serve to inform people of what Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival and the BRIDGE Act are, therefore, I have the ability to stress just how important it is to advocate with an individual’s state representative not just for the BRIDGE Act in protection of DACA recipients but for any social justice issue any individual finds themselves interested in. 5 Alers, Victoria Mentor(s): Dr. Mythreye Karthikeyan, Dr. Priyanka Singh Role of Inhibin in vascular permeability Ovarian cancer claims the lives of 1 in 100 women, making it the deadliest of all reproductive cancers. About 20% of ovar- ian cancers are detected at an early stage because the physical symptoms do not show until it metastasizes to other organs.i Inhibin, a member of the Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGFβ) family, is a biomarker for ovarian cancer. Prior studies have demonstrated high levels of Inhibin in cancers besides ovarian, including prostate cancer in patients. Recent studies in our lab suggest that elevated Inhibin contributes to angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from the existing blood vessels, and is critical for metastasis, with anti-angiogenic agents currently either approved or in clinical trials. However, several of these have significant toxicities for patients and thus investigating additional angiogenic