Category: Year

2024-25, Biology, COVID-19, Health and Medicine, Immunology

Unraveling Long COVID: The Silent Impact of Reinfection

Tiffany Ang, Class of 2026 Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), or “Long COVID,” refers to ongoing or new symptoms that persist at least three months after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Common symptoms include chest pain, cognitive dysfunction, shortness of breath, brain fog, headache, and fatigue. A study by Dr. Luft from Stony Brook University investigated the association between SARS-CoV-2 re-infection and the incidence of PASC among … Continue reading Unraveling Long COVID: The Silent Impact of Reinfection

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2024-25, Genetics, Molecular Biology, physiology

Osmotic Stress Alters Circadian Rhythm

Asher Agarwal, Class of 2027 The circadian rhythm regulates many physiological processes via transcriptional feedback loops involving proteins such as Bmal1 and Clock. Circadian rhythm is closely tied to cell-cycle progression, and disruptions in one can affect the other. Hypoosmotic stress causes water to rush into a cell, triggering changes in gene regulation to adapt to the stress. Caveolae, protein invaginations in the cell membrane, … Continue reading Osmotic Stress Alters Circadian Rhythm

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2024-25, Degenerative Disease, Disease, Health, mental health, Psychology

Can a Change in Diet Improve Non-Motor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Patients?

Asher Agarwal, Class of 2027 Parkinson’s disease (PD), the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease, is caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, a region important for the modulation of motor control. The classic triad of Parkinson’s symptoms is tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia (slowness of movement). Recent research has been investigating the gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms associated with Parkinson’s. Evidence suggests the existence … Continue reading Can a Change in Diet Improve Non-Motor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Patients?

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2024-25, Biology, Cancer, Cellular and Molecular Science, Disease, Health and Medicine, Molecular Biology

Linking Stress with Poor Cancer Prognosis

Sean Krivitsky, Class of 2026 Stress is a common response many experience amidst various physical, emotional, or psychological challenges. Beyond its significant short-term impacts, chronic stress has been demonstrated to impact cognitive function as well as the health of various systems within the body, including the immune system. Cancer patients in particular often fall victim to chronic stress, which, in turn, has been associated with … Continue reading Linking Stress with Poor Cancer Prognosis

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2024-25, Biology, Cellular and Molecular Science, General Neuroscience, Health, Health and Medicine, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience

Flavonoids to the Rescue: Combating Age-Related Neurodegeneration

Sean Krivitsky, Class of 2026 Neurodegeneration, which is often associated with aging, leads to the development of serious diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, that afflict more than 50 million people worldwide. In addition to their devastating impact, neurodegenerative diseases are particularly problematic regarding their prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment. One of the primary factors underlying the development of neurodegenerative diseases is mitochondrial dysfunction. This … Continue reading Flavonoids to the Rescue: Combating Age-Related Neurodegeneration

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2024-25, Brain, General Neuroscience, Neuroscience

Ghrelin Recruits the Endocannabinoid system to modulate food reward 

Kang Lai, Class of 2026 Ghrelin, a hormone secreted by the stomach, increases appetite through the activation of growth hormone secretagogue receptors (GHSR), primarily in the hypothalamus and ventral tegmental area (VTA). These are key regions of the brain responsible for reward and motivation due to an abundance of dopamine-releasing neurons. Another player in the food reward system is a family of lipid molecules called … Continue reading Ghrelin Recruits the Endocannabinoid system to modulate food reward 

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2024-25, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Disease, Health and Medicine, Machine Learning

Pixels to Prognosis: Using AI for Neuroradiologic Analysis

Kaylie Huang, Class of 2027 The role of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is one of curiosity and contention, as studies have shown its potential in early detection and prevention through near-perfect analysis of medical images. Researchers from the Department of Radiology at Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) investigated the accuracy of AI interpretations of CT head angiograms, or imaging of the brain’s blood vessels, … Continue reading Pixels to Prognosis: Using AI for Neuroradiologic Analysis

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2024-25, Ecology, Natural World

Food or Foe: How Food Neophobia Bars Propensity for Insect Consumption

Kaylie Huang, Class of 2027 Creepy crawly insects are not commonly regarded as appetizing and are often avoided at first glance. However, insects are considered a delicacy in many parts of the world. Proteins from animal sources are becoming increasingly limited, causing a shift towards insects as a possible alternative. Insects are rich in nutritional value, including proteins, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and even … Continue reading Food or Foe: How Food Neophobia Bars Propensity for Insect Consumption

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2024-25, Health, Health and Medicine, well-being

Sizzling Steak On The Perfect Iron-Cast Pan: A Meat Lover’s and Anemic’s Dream Meal

Sajia Athai, Class of 2026 Scrolling through TikTok and finding mukbangs and cooking vlogs of young adults making steak and eggs has now become the norm. Everyone loves a good steak, especially if they’re iron-deficient and love meat. Research reveals that using iron cast pans can increase the amount of iron people consume from their foods, leading to positive impacts on iron supplementation. Led by … Continue reading Sizzling Steak On The Perfect Iron-Cast Pan: A Meat Lover’s and Anemic’s Dream Meal

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2024-25, Cellular and Molecular Science, Molecular Biology

From Cooking Up Lab Reports to Setting Up Petri Dishes

Sajia Athai, Class of 2026 All organisms possess a myriad of mechanisms associated with homeostasis and osmotic adjustment to regulate water flow and content. The Photosynthesis Lab Report —an integral component of the BIO 205 course—allows students to test different variables such as salinity on function of chloroplasts under osmotic stress. In a similar study conducted on a much larger scale, a group of researchers … Continue reading From Cooking Up Lab Reports to Setting Up Petri Dishes

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2024-25, Cellular and Molecular Science, Health and Medicine, Medicine and Physiology

Implementation of Nitric Oxide Protein and Signaling Pathways for Prevention of Bacterial Infection in Medical Implants

Eimaan Bilal, Class of 2028 Many individuals rely on medical implants to improve their quality of life, but such internal devices are prone to bacteria attaching to the implant’s surfaces. This can create a biofilm that produces an exopolysaccharide matrix, increasing one’s risk for certain chronic infections and resistance to antibiotics. It has been hypothesized that biofilm regulation could be achieved by targeting how biofilms … Continue reading Implementation of Nitric Oxide Protein and Signaling Pathways for Prevention of Bacterial Infection in Medical Implants

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2024-25, Health, Health and Medicine, Medicine and Physiology, well-being

Are Low-Income Consumers Informed about the Health Risks of Processed Foods?

Eimaan Bilal, Class of 2028 The amount of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in developed countries has been rising, contributing to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes. The World Health Organization suggests limiting UPF consumption, due to their high concentrations of fat, salt, and sugar. However, past studies have shown that socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals with lower income and education are likely to adhere … Continue reading Are Low-Income Consumers Informed about the Health Risks of Processed Foods?

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