Category: Health

Caption: Mice brains are similar to humans, with study results suggesting that sleep disturbances can lead to the formation of neurodegenerative plaques.
2016-17, Health

Sleep disturbances may play a role in Alzheimer’s pathogenesis

Aaradhana Natarajan, 2020 Alzheimer’s Disease is a neurodegenerative condition that has recently become a popular focus for research. As a result, scientists are now aware that the accumulation of amyloid-β-peptide oligomers (AβOs) play a central role in Alzheimer’s pathogenesis. However, the effect of sleep disturbances on Alzheimer’s risk is relatively underknown. This knowledge gap spurred Dr. Grasielle Kincheski and her team at the Federal University … Continue reading Sleep disturbances may play a role in Alzheimer’s pathogenesis

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
Figure 1: Defensiveness is a common symptom of ASD, manifesting in anxiety, social deficits, or other behavioral and psychological symptoms.
2016-17, Health, Psychology

A Potential Mechanism Explaining Tactile Defensiveness in Autism

By Anna Tarasova ’19 Hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli is frequently an aspect of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and can lead to defensiveness against touch and other sensory stimuli. This can contribute to hyperactivity and lead to inattention, learning difficulties, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and many other symptoms of autism. Although the mechanism of this phenomenon has long been unknown, Dr. Cynthia He and her colleagues at … Continue reading A Potential Mechanism Explaining Tactile Defensiveness in Autism

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
Figure 1: Fetus at 9-10 weeks estimated gestational age (EGA)
2016-17, Biology, Health

New Discoveries in Fetal Immune Response Capacity

By Anna Tarasova ’19 The immune system of a fetus differs significantly from that of an infant or adult. During the second trimester of pregnancy, a fetus’s immune system is able to recognize antigens, or foreign cells, and conduct an immune response using dendritic cells. Dendritic cells are antigen-presenting cells (APC), which means that they place antigens along with specific receptors on their cell surface … Continue reading New Discoveries in Fetal Immune Response Capacity

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
Figure 1: Oleic acid, found in olive oil, plays a role in cancer prevention.
2016-17, Health

Compound Found In Olive Oil Found to Prevent Cancer

By Rideeta Raquib MicroRNAs or miRs are small non-coding RNAs that guide gene regulation, such as the expression of their target mRNAs in a complex with ribucleoproteins called miRNPs. Inhibition of translation or a decrease in mRNA can cause miR-mediated downregulation of gene expression. Deregulation of microRNAs is associated with development of pathological illnesses including cancer. A potential tumor suppressor, miR-7, is regulated at both … Continue reading Compound Found In Olive Oil Found to Prevent Cancer

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
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

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
Figure 1:
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

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
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

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
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

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
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

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
Figure 1. Artificially sweetened drinks are connected to a greater risk for stroke and dementia.
2016-17, Health

Sugary Drinks vs. Healthy Brains

By Taylor Ha ’18 Many American consumers regularly indulge in hundreds of sugar- and artificially- sweetened name brand drinks: Coke, Sprite, Fanta soda, and Hawaiian punch, to name a few. However, routine consumption of such drinks is associated with cardiometabolic diseases, which can amplify stroke and dementia risk. And according to new research published on April 20, 2017, avid soda, fruit juice, and overall sweet … Continue reading Sugary Drinks vs. Healthy Brains

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
Figure 1. High dosages of vitamin C are selectively toxic to cancer cells and can enhance cancer therapies.
2016-17, Health

Vitamin C Enhances Cancer Therapy

By Patrick Yang ’20 Ascorbate, or vitamin C, is a potential anti-cancer agent when paired with chemotherapy. Scientists hypothesize that ascorbate’s curative powers stem from its ability to produce hydrogen peroxide, which reduces iron to form free radicals – highly reactive molecules that damage DNA and cause cell death. Since aggressive cancers have unusually large intracellular iron pools that support cancer spread and growth, ascorbate … Continue reading Vitamin C Enhances Cancer Therapy

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment
Caption: A mathematical model predicts sleep patterns impacted by artificial light and socially established schedules.
2016-17, Health

Model Predicts Sleep Patterns

Meghan Bialt-DeCelie – ’19 Rapid modernization has had an impact on the hours that humans are active, disrupting natural and established rhythms. A team led by Anne Skeldon, PhD, developed a mathematical model that shows the effect of factors like artificial light on the human circadian rhythm and sleeping habits. The mathematical model included three factors involved in sleep regulation: mutual inhibition of wake and … Continue reading Model Predicts Sleep Patterns

Unknown's avatarYoung Investigators ReviewLeave a comment