Author: Young Investigators Review

The Young Investigators Review is Stony Brook University's undergraduate-oriented, all-inclusive science journal. Founded in 2008, our mission is to provide the student community with a way to learn more about the research currently being done on-campus by their faculty and fellow peers. We feature articles that span all fields, from Physics to Neuroscience, as well as original student research reports straight from the campus laboratories. Our journal offers aspiring talented future researchers and physicians a way to hone their science writing skills and spread word of their experiences to inspire incoming students to think about devoting their futures to the various fields of science.
Figure 1: Infant teeth were used as biomarkers to analyse metal exposure and its connection to autism.
2016-17, Biology, Health

Infant Teeth Reveal Metal Exposure Correlates with Autism

By Rideeta Raquib Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a classification of developmental disabilities characterized by changes in social communication, as well as repetitive and restricted patterns of behavior or interests. Approximately 50 percent of ASD risk is linked to genetics and the rest is attributed to environmental factors, including fetal or early childhood exposure to toxic metals and nutrient deficiencies. Researchers from The Senator … Continue reading Infant Teeth Reveal Metal Exposure Correlates with Autism

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Figure 1: A form of immunotherapy has the potential to stop allergic reactions.
2016-17, Biology

Therapeutic Technique Inactivating Allergic Response

By Rideeta Raquib Allergic reactions are common issues caused by the dysregulation of Th2 cells responses towards allergens. Normally, Th2 CD4+ T cells produce cytokines in response to allergens, and cause chronic inflammation and mucus hypersecretion, among other symptoms. Although genetics does play a role, allergic diseases, such as asthma, occur after sensitization and effector/memory T cell differentiation has taken place. Common treatment includes avoiding … Continue reading Therapeutic Technique Inactivating Allergic Response

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Figure 1: Shown here is an example of Scopulariopsis, a genus of fungi capable of living in the absence of soil, air, plant debris, and dung. A new species of this fungi was recently discovered in cotton plants in Hangzhou, China.
2016-17, Biology

Combination Therapies Reduce Treg Functions in CHC Patients

by Caleb Sooknanan ’20 Regulatory T-Cells, or Tregs, are important contributors to the development of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infections in patients. Oral antiviral agents are the most common treatments for CHC infections in most Western countries, while pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) treatment is the standard therapy in many Asian countries. PEG-IFNs are interferons that attach to polyethylene glycol molecules to trigger sustained virological responses (SVR) … Continue reading Combination Therapies Reduce Treg Functions in CHC Patients

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Figure 1: Researchers at the Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan used computational fluid dynamics (shown) to analyze the flow distribution of anticancer agent into the branches of the external carotid artery during intra-arterial chemotherapy.
2016-17, Biology, Engineering

Computational Fluid Dynamics Can Be Used to Treat Oral Cancer

by Caleb Sooknanan ’20 Surgical procedures have often been used to treat oral cancer. However, these procedures can cause oral dysfunction — often in the form of speech and breathing difficulties — and thereby harm respiratory organs. To preserve organ function, intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) has become a valuable form of treatment. IAC releases more anticancer agents into tumor-feeding arteries than intravenous systemic chemotherapy. However, anticancer … Continue reading Computational Fluid Dynamics Can Be Used to Treat Oral Cancer

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Figure 1: Pegylated-interferon (PEG-IFN) treatment is the standard therapy for chronic hepatitis C in Asian countries; it is sometimes performed as part of a combination therapy with ribavirin (RBV), but more research is needed to understand how Treg function is affected in patients.
2016-17, Biology

New Species of Fungi Discovered in Chinese Cotton Plants

by Caleb Sooknanan ’20 Dr. Xiao-Lin Li and researchers at Zhejiang University in China recently discovered a new fungal species, now identified as Scopulariopsis gossypii. The species was found in the vascular bundles of cotton plants infected by Verticillium dahlia, a pathogen of economic importance throughout the city of Hangzhou. Scientists have already associated the genus Scopulariopsis with fungi that are isolated from air and … Continue reading New Species of Fungi Discovered in Chinese Cotton Plants

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Figure 1: This is an image of a typical asthma inhaler. With further development of MPPs, the drugs within these inhalers will be more effective than they are currently.
2016-17, Medicine and Physiology

Nanoparticle Drug Delivery

Richard Liang 18’ Mucoadhesive particles (MAPs) are used as the primary method of pulmonary drug delivery since it was believed that they increase drug duration within the lungs. MAPs act by sticking to the mucus layers and are used to treat a variety of illnesses including asthma, cystic fibrosis and lung cancer. However, administered MAPs are, in reality, quickly removed from the body via physiologic … Continue reading Nanoparticle Drug Delivery

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2016-17, Health

The Effects of Insecticidal Nets on Asymptomatic Malaria in India

Caleb Sooknanan ‘20 Over the past decade, mosquitoes have been subject to many vector control strategies in order to control the spread of Malaria. Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) have been among the most effective, as their distribution has reduced global malaria morbidity by 45% since 2000. However, a large proportion of malarial infections remain asymptomatic, likely preventing malaria elimination programs from being executed to the … Continue reading The Effects of Insecticidal Nets on Asymptomatic Malaria in India

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Figure 1: This is an example of a patient that shows symptoms of vitiligo. TRM cells were found to permanently reside in the affected areas and can be the key to long-term anti-tumor immunity.
2016-17, Biology

Immunity to Future Cancers with Resident Memory T Cells

Richard Liang 18’ Skin cancer melanomas develop from melanocytes, or pigment-containing cells, and cause discoloration in various parts of the body. Patients with melanomas are also likely to develop an autoimmune disease known as vitiligo, in which the body’s immune system attacks melanocytes. This results in a patchy loss of pigmentation. Recently, in a study led by Mary Jo Turk from the Department of Microbiology … Continue reading Immunity to Future Cancers with Resident Memory T Cells

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2016-17, Biology

Integrating Synthetic Biology with Hepatogenous Diabetes Treatments

Caleb Sooknanan ‘20 Hepatogenous diabetes is a condition often characterized by the comorbid presence of type 2 diabetes with chronic liver disease. A major factor in this condition is insulin resistance (IR), an asymptomatic disease state in which impaired insulin signaling causes organ dysfunction. Current therapies that target IR are limited and generally inapplicable for patients with liver disease. Dr. Shuai Xue and researchers at … Continue reading Integrating Synthetic Biology with Hepatogenous Diabetes Treatments

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Figure 1: This is an illustration depicting the difference between healthy muscle cells (shown on the right) and muscle cells affected by muscle dystrophy (shown on the left). Due to the degeneration of the muscle cells, they will appear much smaller than usual.
2016-17, Health

Correcting Muscular Dystrophy Gene Mutations

Richard Liang 18’ Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe form of muscle degeneration that can become lethal if it affects heart muscle. It is known to be caused by mutations in the X-linked dystrophin-coding gene and thus, there has been ongoing research in correcting these mutations. Currently, there is no effective treatment for this disease. Recently, in a study led by Yu Zhang from … Continue reading Correcting Muscular Dystrophy Gene Mutations

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Figure 1
2016-17, Health

A Mechanical Thorax for CPR Simulation

Caleb Sooknanan ’20 For the past few decades, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines have been regulated on the basis of chest compression, medication procedures, and other criteria. However, the circulation generated via CPR varies with intensity and duration of compressions, which can be inconsistent. As studies evaluating such inconsistencies have been relegated to animal or computer simulations due their medical and ethical concerns, Dr. Stefan Eichhorn … Continue reading A Mechanical Thorax for CPR Simulation

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2016-17, Health

New and Revolutionary Treatment for Bacterial Infection

By Patrick Yang ’20 Bronchiectasis occurs when the lung’s bronchial tubes are permanently damaged or inflamed, leading to chest pain, coughing up blood, and large production of mucus. These damaged lung walls also make bronchiectasis patients more prone to chronic infection and, specifically, Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections, which increase mortality rates. However, previous research has shown that patients with bronchiectasis and chronic P. aeruginosa infection … Continue reading New and Revolutionary Treatment for Bacterial Infection

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