Medical and Health Sciences

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) states that adults aged 45 to 75 not at increased risk for colorectal cancer (CRC) should be screened once every ten years. Literature shows three out of ten adults don’t adhere to CRC screening guidelines due to socioeconomic status, fear of screening methods, affordability, and other inhibitors. Insufficient information is available on improving ... Read More

The course of treatments for HIV has been revolutionized by the development of antiretroviral drugs. However, in many instances, these drugs induce toxicity via mitochondrial dysfunction and the release of neurotoxins, and long-term toxicity remains an area of worry for people living with HIV. Our objective is to develop a humanized mouse model to study the toxic effects of HIV ... Read More

Leishmaniasis, a tropical disease, poses significant challenges due to the unreliability, toxicity, and cost of current treatments. Addressing this, a novel treatment approach is under investigation, focusing on 5-chloro-1,3-benzoxazol-2-amine, a promising compound identified through the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative's Open Synthesis Network. This molecule is undergoing rigorous testing, including Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Infrared Spectroscopy, to verify its ... Read More

Melanoma is a highly malignant form of skin cancer originating from melanocytes, cells responsible for pigment production, and there exist limited treatments for the disease. Monobenzyl ether of hydroquinone (MBEH), approved as a treatment for Vitiligo, targets the melanogenic pathway of melanin synthesis through its conversion into a toxic product by tyrosinase. Due to its toxicity at concentrations to get ... Read More

The capsaicin receptor TRPV1 is expressed in pain-sensing neurons and has been an attractive drug target for pain control. However, its physiological function such as regulating normal body temperature and heat sensation made TRPV1-targeting drug development challenging. Previous studies showed that the protein tyrosine phosphatase enzyme SHP-1 can modulate TRPV1 in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG). Our aim was to ... Read More

We are developing an innovative nanoparticle-based photosensitizer aimed at enhancing photodynamic therapy (PDT) for cancer, addressing key challenges such as low light penetration and oxygen deficit in tumors. We synthesized a new photosensitizer, Y2O3:Eu@SiO2, featuring a europium-doped yttrium oxide core within a silica shell, and assessed its properties and functionality through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dihydroethidium (DHE) assays. Our ... Read More

As a barrier to the external environment, the skin serves as the body’s primary mechanism for physical and chemical defense, thermoregulation, and fluid retention. In both tissue homeostasis and wound repair, layers of skin form as cells migrate upward following proliferation and differentiation in the basal layer. Metabolism maintains physiological activity, with inhibited function in diseases such as diabetes leading ... Read More

This research investigates the impact of light on sleep and circadian rhythm in adolescents and young adults. Light serves as a primary regulator of circadian rhythms, influencing sleep-wake cycles and overall health. By synthesizing findings from various studies, we explore the effects of light intensity, duration, and wavelength on sleep patterns and circadian timing. Studies demonstrate a gradual shift towards ... Read More

Despite being one of the most influential parasitic diseases in developing countries, schistosomiasis has historically been treated as an orphan disease. To date, one drug, praziquantel, exists for its treatment. However, praziquantel sees faults in its effects on juvenile worms and has been proven to be susceptible to developed resistance in schistosomes. Most current developments towards new treatment for schistosomiasis ... Read More

Cochlear implants have benefited hearing-impaired patients by providing a medium through which they can perceive sound. However postoperative dissatisfaction remains an issue amongst a significant proportion of patients. Studies suggest that patient dissatisfaction may be attributable to a lower top-down processing ability amongst certain patients with cochlear implants. However testing their processing ability is difficult considering that patients with cochlear ... Read More

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), an interruption of spinal axons, impacts millions of people, and can lead to quadriplegia and damage to essential respiratory pathways. To date, it is medically irreversible. Recent animal studies suggest that Intermittent Hypoxia (IH) and exercise training are effective treatments. IH, or exposure to low oxygen levels, has been shown to trigger phrenic long term facilitation ... Read More

Metformin is used to treat Diabetes, a disease that plagues people worldwide. Metformin binds to the MF8 ligand, and strengthening that binding affinity indicates that there is less need for more doses of the medication. Computational drug design was used due to its cost- effectiveness and ability to display certain molecules while also saving time for researchers. Utilizing the SeeSAR ... Read More

The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (RB1) is a vital tumor suppressor gene. It prevents the cell from transitioning to the S phase from G phase by inhibiting E2F activity which limits cell proliferation and facilitates a stable exit from the cell cycle. Inactivation of RB1 thus allows for the expression of genes necessary for the cell cycle to progress and results ... Read More

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many individuals and the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infections has varied significantly across age groups. Pregnant people were especially vulnerable and at higher risk of more severe infections. We investigated epidemiologic trends of SARS-CoV-2 cases in pregnant people compared to trends in children and adults in Chicago. We identified positive SARS-CoV-2 pregnancies (March 2020-November 2022) at ... Read More

Adenoviruses are frequently employed in clinical studies for oncolytic virotherapy and gene therapy, as well as for delivering genes to different cell types. The adenovirus family consists of non-enveloped DNA viruses with a linear genome of 30–38 kb. The use of human serotype 5 of species C adenovirus vectors is advantageous for delivering genes into a variety of dividing and ... Read More

The main public health initiatives to address the pandemic of lethal opiate overdoses have been to increase availability of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Despite expanded access, studies have demonstrated the existence of community-level barriers. To date, none have looked at MOUD availability in Chicago. In this project, we analyzed the availability of suboxone films, Narcan/naloxone, and naloxone standing ... Read More

Background: Some patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) experience acute kidney injury (AKI) or other conditions requiring dialysis as a treatment to support failing kidneys. Machine learning on electronic health record (EHR) data holds promise for tasks such as helping clinical teams with planning and for prognostic purposes.

Methods: Here we investigate the likelihood of a patient’s next-day dialysis ... Read More

Aging and neurological disorders lead to neurodegeneration that decreases memory function. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has emerged as a potential solution by stimulating neurons with electricity to enhance neuronal activity during memory tasks. This study hypothesizes that DBS improves memory when targeted towards deficient memory encoding states due to state-dependent effects by influencing brain networks related to semantic organization. This ... Read More

Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by parasites of the Leishmania genus. The disease is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, such as parts of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. Leishmaniasis is caused by the bite of infected sandflies, which transmit the parasites during their blood-feeding process. It starts out with an infected sandfly biting a mammalian host, ... Read More

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare degenerative neuromuscular disease that affects motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Several recent studies have focused on a link between ALS and exposure to environmental toxins such as microplastics and herbicides. To simulate the potential effects of microplastics on a functioning nervous system, we introduced Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) to the ... Read More

Bile is essential to digestion because it solubilizes fats for absorption in the intestine. The rate-limiting step in bile acid synthesis is the addition of hydroxyl at the C-7 position of cholesterol by the hepatic enzyme Cholesterol 7-alpha hydroxylase (CYP7A1). The gene CYP7A1 is regulated by the Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR), which activates the Small Heterodimer Partner (SHP) suppressing CYP7A1. ... Read More

Opioid misuse is a significant public health challenge in the US, with escalating impacts on emergency medical services and emergency departments. Patients with opioid misuse are often treated as a homogenous population when there are likely subgroups that may influence optimal clinical care. This study aims to investigate and identify these latent groups among patients with opioid misuse. A sample ... Read More

Leishmaniasis is an infectious, neglected tropical disease that needs further funding for research purposes. Leishmaniasis is a parasite associated with neglected populations who experience poor domestic sanitary conditions, weak immune systems, malnutrition, and lack of financial resources. In majority of cases, this disease is fatal if left untreated. Treatments and therapies have shown a lack of effectiveness over the disease ... Read More

After stroke, patients experience significant loss in performing activities of daily living (ADL) such as reach-and-grasp. The paresis mainly affects the side of the body contralateral to the lesion and slight deficits to the ipsilesional side, causing an asymmetry in impairment. However, we lack a comprehensive understanding of how functional reach-to-grasp is impaired following stroke, especially during bi-manual tasks. This ... Read More

Atopic dermatitis (AD; eczema) is a chronic skin disorder characterized by inflammation, itching, and compromised skin barrier function. Pathogenesis involves genetic factors, immune dysregulation, and skin barrier ceramide alterations. This research project explores the relationship between the ceramide de novo pathway and AD severity. Severity was determined serially based on assessing erythema, scaling, edema, and erosion using a 12-point scale ... Read More

The epidermal compartment of skin balances proliferation for tissue self-renewal and terminal differentiation for essential barrier function. This study examines how keratinocytes, the cells that comprise the epidermis, build a barrier as they become terminally differentiated. To assess the function of the epidermal barrier, we used an epithelial voltohmmeter (EVOM2) to measure the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER, Ω⋅cm2) of keratinocyte ... Read More

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine the efficiency and stability of introducing natural killer (NK) cells in the existing immunotherapy for melanoma cancer known as LAG-3 CD223. NK cells are already in use for HIV immunotherapy, however, are not available in current cancer treatments. Including NK cells can allow the body to develop a natural means to attack ... Read More

In cancer treatment, nano-scintillators have emerged as crucial for advancing X-ray-activated therapy. These innovative materials possess a unique ability to convert X-ray radiation into visible light, enhancing the effectiveness of treatment and reducing damage to healthy tissues. This paper provides an in-depth exploration of the synthesis and characterization of nano-scintillators designed explicitly for this purpose. It delves into various fabrication ... Read More

Painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is a debilitating complication of diabetes with patients suffering from a painful, burning sensation in their extremities. Available treatments have limited effect in masking the pain without addressing the underlying mechanisms of the disease, which are currently poorly understood. Keratinocytes are in close proximity to cutaneous nerve terminals, enabling bidirectional communication between keratinocytes and cutaneous nerves. ... Read More

Approximately 10% of breast cancers are hormone-receptor-positive. Despite the array of available drugs for metastatic breast cancer, ribociclib stands out as one of the most potent options, particularly effective against HER2- breast cancer. However, its efficacy is countered by notable side effects including liver issues, neutropenia, skin reactions, and cardiac/respiratory problems. This research project aimed to computationally design molecules derived ... Read More

Single ventricular defects are a type of congenital heart disease that can be treated through the Fontan Procedure, where a conduit is implanted connecting the inferior vena cava (IVC) to the pulmonary artery (PA). Native vasculature grows over time, whereas the synthetic conduit does not. This study focused on the growth of the PA over time, resulting in conduit shape ... Read More

Changes in the physical characteristics of cancer cells are a hallmark of tumorigenesis, and understanding how these changes affect tumor progression can provide novel therapeutic insights. Prior studies have discovered that increasing cancer cell stiffness reduces metastatic burden by activating cytotoxic T lymphocytes. MRTFA and MRTFB are two transcription factors that cause the stiffening of cancer cells, and preliminary data ... Read More

Skin is a vital organ that protects us from harmful substances including chemicals and bacteria. The epidermis, the outermost layer of skin, is in equilibrium between proliferation and differentiation to maintain tissue regeneration and barrier function, respectively. This equilibrium is largely dictated by calcium levels. Our study aims to understand the proliferation of keratinocyte skin cells in response to different ... Read More

The purpose of this design investigation was to create three user-friendly artificial intelligence (AI) models, specifically convolutional neural networks (CNNs), each designed using different and novel techniques for brain tumor detection from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans. These models aimed to assist medical professionals in overcoming inefficiencies, reducing human error, and surpassing existing models in accuracy by addressing various gaps ... Read More

Prosthetic foot stiffness is typically prescribed based on a person's weight and activity level, which may not be optimal for a particular patient. This study investigates how different prosthetic foot stiffness levels affect foot-ankle roll-over shape. The aim is to enhance gait function and prosthetic design for transfemoral prosthesis users. The study mechanically characterized the keel and bumper components on ... Read More

Breast cancer is a significant public health concern, with varying incidence and mortality rates among different demographic groups. Recent studies suggest a potential association between air pollution and breast cancer rates, prompting our investigation within specific Chicago areas from 2015 to 2021. Analyzing data from Metopio, across 77 community areas, we focused on PM2.5 as the primary air pollution variable. ... Read More

Machine learning applications in diagnosing and predicting seizure symptoms among high-risk patients are critical to prevent life-threatening injuries. Despite existing research achieving near-perfect accuracies in controlled environments, existing models often falter in clinical settings and wearable devices, resulting in high false alarm rates and lower prediction success for Tonic-Clonic seizures. The OpenSeizureDatabase has revolutionized training models by incorporating previously unavailable ... Read More

Bladder exstrophy and neuropathic bladder are conditions that lead to dysfunctional bladder function, which congenital malformations or conditions may cause. Current surgical treatment can lead to a variety of complications, sparking a need for recreating bladder tissue to repair bladder function. During the study utilizing neonatal mesenchymal stem cells (nMSCs)-seeded elastomeric Poly(1,8-octanediol-co-citrate) (POC) scaffolds, rats underwent an approximate 50% bladder ... Read More

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) affecting over 90 countries today. Visceral Leishmaniasis, is the most serious form of Leishmaniasis. Current treatment is shown to be toxic such as Liposomal amphotericin and no vaccine or medicine prevents or reduces infection. The project is partnered with Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi). The purpose of this project was to use ... Read More