2015 SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM STUDENT ABSTRACTS This page left blank 2 Contents Preface………………………………………………………… 5 Acknowledgements ………………………………………… 7 Lab Research Ownership …………………………………. 9 Index List of Medical Students ………………………………... 11 List of Undergraduate Students ……………………….. 12 List of International Medical Students ………………… 13 Abstracts – Medical Students …………………………… 14 Abstracts – Undergraduates ……………………………. 118 Abstracts – International Medical Students ……..…….. 163 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 1,900 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 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 Associate Dean for Educational Programs 5 This page left blank 6 Acknowledgements This publication marks the completion of the twenty-sixth year of The University of Texas Medical School at Houston’s (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., Vice 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 a short term research grant by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK; 5 T32 DK007676). 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 # # Abdelaziz Abed 15 Lahiri Sharmistha 64 Ahn Stephanie 16 Liu Victor 66 Aria Alexander 17 Lopez Carmen 67 Beach Richard 18 Martin Clay 69 Benoist Logan 19 McMenemy Madison 70 Bowers Kyle 20 Minifee Chris 72 Caldwell Kelly 21 Minzenmayer Andrew 73 Carroll Melanie 22 Mitchell Nicholas 74 Carter Dalton 23 Mitchell Thomas 75 Covey Sarah 25 Nguyen Justin 76 Dean Riley 26 Patel Sagar 77 Deleija Juan 28 Peery Travis 78 Diffley Michael 29 Poi Tyler 79 Ding Karen 30 Price James 81 Dooley Matthew 32 Riojas Justin 83 Dursteler Amy 33 Rivas Orlyn 85 Eguia Arturo 34 Rivera Marvin 86 Emelogu Ikenna 35 Rosales Santillan Monica 87 Engelhardt Margaret 36 Royalty Samantha 88 Freemyer Benjamin 37 Sadd Corey 90 Gants Shavonia 38 Schiffer Walter 91 Gibson Anthony 40 Schrock Nicole 92 Gonzalez Adam 42 Schroeder Andrew 94 Grable Cullen 43 Sharp Bruce 95 Gu Joshua 44 Shaw Jacob 97 Ha Lina 45 Tewari Ankita 99 Henchcliffe Blake 46 Valilis Evangelia 101 Hildebrandt Aubrey 47 van Brummen Alexandra 102 Ho Kim-Trang 48 Villegas Natacha 104 Howard Ericka 49 Wang Margaret 105 Huang Neal 50 Warren Benjamin 106 Hurley Matthew 52 Webb Ashley 107 Hurling Jermaine 53 Wheeler Austin 109 Huynh Jonathan 55 Wu Joanna 110 Igbinoba Randy 56 Xiao Albert 111 Jenner Zachary 57 Yanney Rayce 112 Johnson Margaret 59 Yao Chen 114 Jones Neal 60 Yazdani Laila 115 Karim Tahseen 61 Zuniga Joshua 117 Karnes Paden 62 11 Undergraduate Students Page Page Last Name First Name Last Name First Name # # Alexander Alex 119 Ozguc Fatma 140 Awano Ebore 120 Patlan Mario 141 Barahona Kelvin 121 Pernik Mark 142 Borden Kylie 122 Rae Meredith 143 Chen (Wu) Alissa 123 Raina Abe 144 Costantini Matteo 124 Rivera Angel 145 Devakottai Sundar 126 Rodriguez Efrain 147 Dinh Nhi 127 Rogers John 148 Do Megan 128 Schnupp Trevor 149 Estrada Darlene 129 Schwab Cara 150 Folkerts Madeline 130 Sheena Brittney 151 Gadot Ron 131 Tseng Luke 152 Haeberle Heather 132 Tucker Sara 153 Hanif Sarah 133 Westerman Kimberly 154 Hayes Jane 134 Won Michelle 155 Hsiao Thomas 135 Yang Grace 156 Jeong Suhyun 136 Yin Caroliina 157 Kissoon Kimberley 137 Youn Sean 159 Landis Henry 138 Zhou Allen 161 Ling Han 139 12 International Medical Students Page Last Name First Name # Chen Yongyan 164 Hayashi Atsushi 165 Higashi Saki 167 Jiang Hongyue 169 Li Guilin 171 Lin Wei Ting 172 Saijo Saki 173 Sun Le 174 Wang Yiman 175 Xie Yizhao 177 Xu Yunze 178 Yamazaki Ai 179 Zhao Zhicong 180 14 Medical Students 14 2015 Summer Research Program Office of Educational Programs Medical Student ABSTRACT Comparing Osteocalcin in Older Trauma Patients who Suffered Fractures Based on Type 2 Diabetes Status Abed Abdelaziz The University of Texas at Houston Medical School Class of 2018 Sponsored by: Catherine Ambrose, PhD, Department of Orthopedic Surgery; Nahid Rianon, MD, DrPH, Department of Internal Medicine – Geriatric and Palliative Medicine Supported by: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2T35DK007676-22 Key Words: Diabetes, Fracture Risk, Osteocalcin, Preventative Care Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are at an increased risk of fracture. There is currently no consistent indicator of this risk. Fractures in T2D patients with non-osteoporotic bone density levels have led to discussions about investigating markers of bone turnover, e.g., osteocalcin, as an indicator of the fracture risk in the diabetic population. Osteocalcin is an osteoblast-specific secreted protein that is a marker of bone turnover and formation. Previous studies have shown osteocalcin levels to be decreased in T2D patients compared to non-diabetics. The hypothesis was that mean total osteocalcin levels in the fracture patients with T2D would be significantly lower than those without diabetes. The project involved a cross-sectional study of Memorial Hermann trauma patients who were at least 50 years of age and suffered a femoral, acetabular, or vertebral fracture between March 2012 and May 2015. Patients were grouped into diabetic and non-diabetic groups based on a positive diabetes diagnosis in their medical