Center for Clinical Research : 2008 Medical Student Summer Research Proposal List

Clicking a study title will display the full project description.  Please email the listed contact for the study in which you have an interest.  Initiation of any project is subject to regulatory approvals obtained by the faculty.

• Effect of increased size of the artificial disc on the facet joint of the cervical spine: Intervertebral disc replacement was approved by the FDA in October 2005. This procedure has superseded the older practice of spinal fusion, and has done so due to the possible advantages such as pain relief and normalcy of function. While in most cases artificial disc replacement has been successful, there are numerous other cases where patients did not feel pain relief. Other studies have shown that some patients had an increase in pain, the actual reason not being clear. We hypothesize the increased artificial disc may cause the changing of the facet joint biomechanical state, and thus may lead to the pain which some patients feel. The aim of the student’s project will be to quantify any alterations on angular displacement and facet load resulting from different heights of artificial disc space.

• Fixation technique for periprosthetic femur fractures:  Numerous fixation methods have been described for the fixation of periprosthetic fractures, but there have been a very few reports in the literature regarding the use of locking plates and their outcomes for this fracture. The objective of the current study was to analyze clinically and radiographically, the results and the advantages of fixation of periprosthetic femoral fractures with a distal femoral locking plate.  The student will learn to do literature review, assist in design, perform the study,  analyze the findings, and help in writing a paper.

John L. Greenfield M.D., Ph.D.  Department of Neurology  John.Greenfield@utoledo.edu

• A novel rat model of hypoxic/hypoglycemic seizures: Stroke and cerebral hypoxia frequently result in seizures or myoclonus, disorders of excessive neuronal excitability, which may be linked to dysfunction of inhibitory GABAA receptors (GABAARs). The pharmacology of the receptor is determined by which subunits are present in the assembled receptor, hence factors that regulate the expression or assembly of GABAAR subunits into receptors can affect GABAAR pharmacology and function. We hypothesize that seizure induction by hypoxia is related to a neuronal energy deficit that leads to abnormal regulation of GABAARs.  The student will learn to handle the animals, perform drug injections and electrode implantation.  This project will determine whether a new seizure model can be generated in which the combination of hypoxia with hypoglycemia induces a consistent pattern of seizures, and then to determine the effect of these seizures on GABAAR expression and function. The student will be particularly involved in performing and monitoring the animals during the hypoxic seizure protocol.  The student will participate in the biochemical and histological techniques (immunohistochemistry, light and confocal microscopy, Western blots). 

Joe J. Hoo, M.D.  Department of Pediatrics  Joe.Hoo@utoledo.edu

• Synopsis of Diseases Included in the Newborn Screening in Ohio :  Ohio has thirty two diseases included in its newborn screening program.Some ofthe inbornerror ofmetabolismpertainingtoorganicacidsand fatty acids are extremely rare and information about them is not readily found in the common textbooks ofpediatrics, obstetrics or medicine. We contemplate writing a synopsis of those 32 diseases in a most succinct manner for the primary physicians ofNorthwestem Region of Ohio, and perhaps also for the whole state ofOhio subsequently.  The student would help in collecting the biochemical pathways, either from specialty textbooks or from the internet.  The student would also participate in writing succinct text designed for primary care physicians, who deal with pregnant women, infants and children, i.e. family physicians, obstetricians and pediatricians. 

Sankaridrug Periyasamy, Ph.D. Department of Medicine  Sankaridrug.Periyasamy@utoledo.edu

• Signaling Pathways for Cell Cycle regulation by Marinobufagenin (MBG): Findings from this laboratory suggest that MBG, an endogenous digitalis like substance, could play a role in cardiovascular remodeling that occurs in various cardiovascular diseases. Although the effect of MBG on cardiac remodeling has been studied, the role of MBG on remodeling of the vascular system has not been studied. It is well established that in several cell types including vascular smooth muscles, PI3-kinase and AKT are key mediators of cell proliferation. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to examine the potential role and mechanisms of MBG signaling through PI3-kinase/AKT pathway in cell cycle regulation using rat vascular smooth cell line, A7r5.

Ewa Skrzypczak-Jankun, Ph.D.  Department of Urology  Ewa.Skrzypczak-Jankun@utoledo.edu  

• Testing the role of a naturally occurring single nucleotide polymorphism on activity and function of human 12-lipoxygenase:  Human platelet 12-lipoxygenase (hp-12LOX) plays role in the inflammatory, cardiovascular, cancer, renal and neurodegenerative diseases. Although hp-12LOX participation in many physiological processes has been confirmed there is no progress in the development of drugs due to the lack of information about enzyme’s structure and its relation to the molecular behavior. The student project will be to create a mutant mimicking a natural variant, R261Q observed in cancer patients, and test its molecular properties vs. WT.  The student will design experiments and (upon approval) execute them utilizing/learning common biochemical techniques (expression of recombinant protein, mass spectroscopy, UV-VIS, electrophoresis, chromatography) and learn methods for protein crystallization for X-ray analysis

Akira Takashima, M.D., Ph.D.  Department of Microbiology and Immunology  Akira.Takashima@utoledo.edu

• Intravital Imaging of Langerhans Cell (LC) Behavior: We have recently developed a novel imaging system to acquire 4D images of LCs in living mice. We will record 4-dimensional images of EGFP+ LCs every 2 min for 4 h by “time-lapse” multi-photon laser scanning microscopy in anesthetized I-Ab-EGFP knock-in mice to measure spaciotemporal kinetics of individual motile activities of EGFP+ LCs. We propose to test the hypothesis that UVB radiation alters the in situ behaviors of LCs in the skinThe main objectives of this short-term project include: a) to optimize the UVB irradiation protocol, b) to record 4D images of EGFP+ LCs after UVB exposure, and c) to define behavioral responses of LCs to UVB radiation in a quantitative manner.

Marlene Welch, M.D.  Marlene.Welch@utoledo.edu

• Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) for Obesity: Common obesity is multifactorial and the pathophysiology involves a complex interplay of genes and environment.  Twin and adoptee studies suggest that up to 70% of obesity is genetic.  The genes responsible for polygenic obesity have not been identified.  The goal of this work is to dissect the complex genetic nature of obesity by identifying quantitative trait loci (QTL) linked to obesity in two inbred strains of rats with divergent obesity phenotypes. The specific aim in which the student will be involved is to genotype the remaining F2 (COP X BUF) rats in chromosomal regions identified as QTLs linked with the obese phenotype.