APSA Journal | Spring 2023 Issue 2

Mission Statement: The mission of Temple University Main Campus

APSA is to educate undergraduates about building a career at the intersection of medicine and research, inspire students to develop the skills necessary to become active physician-scientists in healthcare and scientific advancements, and provide opportunities for networking with physician-scientists at the local, regional, and national level.

Currently, APSA aims to both help undergraduates succeed on their path to the fields of medicine and science as well as to foster a community of education, support, and discussion. This year, APSA has achieved these goals by hosting informative panels, book clubs, and member events to create a positive and educational environment

ABOUT APSA 3

MEET THE E-BOARD

Julia Ting

Co-President

Salma Mami

Co-President

Madison Wolf

Vice President

easurer

William Lugo

Ketaki Kurwalkar

Secretary

Events Coordinator

Raameen Khan

Chethan Reddy

Medical School Liaison

Medical School Liaison

Sun Ohm

Social Media Coordinator

Alexander Armstead

STARS Coordinator

Faculty Advisor

James Furmato

GRADUATE ADVISORS

My name is Daniel and I am a recent Temple graduate (class of 2021, B S in bioengineering) I am starting my MD/PhD training at Yale School of Medicine this fall and my goal is to eventually lead my own lab while working as a physician. I'm interested in both medical treatment and scientific research of cardiovascular disease and am eager to learn and apply interdiscplinary approaches and methods in my research A fun fact about me is that I speak German and Romanian

My name is Nikki and I graduated from Temple University in 2020 with a degree in Cellular&Molecular Neuroscience As an undergrad, I did research in the Patterson lab examining neuroimmune functions in age related cognitive deficits I currently work at the Stevens lab at the Broad Institute and Boston Children's Hospital where I am exploring neuroimmune interactions in normal brain development and in neurological disease. In Fall 2022, I will begin my PhD in neuroscience at Washington University at St Louis

Nikkita Salla

Daniel Jovin

INSTAGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Check out some of the posts from this year's events!

RESEARCH ABSTRACTS

This year we asked Temple undergraduates to submit short abstracts about current research they are involved in or interested in! These are some of the submissions we received.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS...

Caitlin My Hanh Le

Christalle Wilson

Faisal Shaikh

Faiz Siddiqui

Memunat Abiru

Michael Kegel

Myrna Kassem

Pheoby Kenschaft

Priya Joshi

Rachel Winter

Saamia Farooki

Salma Mami

Yusuf-Zain Ansari

Caitlin My Hanh Le

My name is Caitlin Le, and my hometown is Souderton, Pennsylvania I graduated from Souderton Area High School in 2020 and am currently in my third year studying biochemistry for my B S , with a minor in mathematics. I joined the Borguet group in December 2021 to study the catalysis of biologically relevant substrates, such as cysteine, using covalent-organic frameworks (COFs) and related materials The Borguet Group was a suitable choice to challenge my scientific inquiry and pursue my passion for working in the laboratory so that I could present my research to others.

Zirconium oxyhydroxide catalyzed oxidation of cysteine

1Department of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122

Metal oxyhydroxides (MOOHs) are metastable intermediates between metal oxides and metal hydroxides, making them promising materials in catalysis due to their high reactivity and anchoring surface hydroxyl groups. It has been reported that the hydrolysis of ZrCl4 forms zirconium oxyhydroxide (ZrOOH), which plays a key role in the detoxification of dimethyl nitrophenyl phosphate, a simulant of the toxic nerve agent Soman. In addition, ZrOOH exhibits a high degree of similarity to that of the UiO-66 metal–organic framework (MOF) node, which acts as a multifunctional catalyst in important biological reactions such as the oxidation of thiol sidechains to disulfide bridges. This led us to the hypothesis that ZrOOH can serve as a catalyst in reactions that are catalyzed by UiO-66 MOF. This work seeks to extend the impact of ZrOOH and test this hypothesis for selective disulfide bridge formation via the oxidation of thiol-containing cysteine. The process of cysteine oxidation was monitored using 1 H NMR spectroscopy and conversion percentages of cysteine to cystine were calculated. Our preliminary results show that ZrOOH leads to a conversion c.a. 96% of cysteine to cystine within 30 minutes, proving our hypothesis correct It was observed that no spontaneous self-oxidation of cysteine occurred under our experimental conditions and that the catalytic activity observed was solely due to the catalysts. However, with time, we believe that ZrOOH tends to aggregate in solution, hindering its entire catalytic potential ZrOOH loaded covalent organic framework (ZrOOH@COF) was synthesized and evaluated for its catalytic activity to achieve high catalytic surface area, as well as isolated ZrOOH catalytic sites From this heterogenous catalysis approach, it was observed that ZrOOH@COF exhibited superior catalytic efficiency compared to ZrOOH. Detailed results, analysis, and investigation will be presented in the conference.

Caitlin My Hanh Le1, Venkata Swaroopa Datta Devulapalli1, Ayan Bhattacharyya1, Sharan Dhar1, Pragalbh Sekhar1, Ramanathan Vaidhyanathan*, Eric Borguet*

Christalle Wilson

Christalle is a current senior bioengineering major on the pre-health track at Temple University She joined the Wang Lab in the Bioengineering Department in March 2022 and has been researching the effect that acidity has on the conformation of fibronectin and how that change in conformation affects the spreading and adhesion of cancer-associated fibroblast She currently has plans to start a master’s degree in biomedical science in the fall with hopes to eventually matriculate into medical school

The Effect of Acidity on the Spreading and Adhesion of Cancer-Assosciated Fibroblast

Fibronectin (FN), an extracellular matrix protein, plays a major role in cell adhesion, growth, and migration of cancer cells. Cancer cells recruit nearby fibroblasts, to become activated cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). These cancer-associated fibroblasts help assemble fibronectin and remodel the tumor microenvironment (TME) for cancer cells to escape the primary tumor. The acidic tumor microenvironment is suggested to aid in driving cancer metastasis An acidic TME is suggested to alter the conformation of FN exposing cell binding sites. A characteristic of stabilized cell binding, for enhanced actin cytoskeleton remodeling mediating cell migration, would be the recruitment and phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (pFAK). pFAK is also associated with tumor progression. This study aims to investigate if acidic microenvironments alter fibronectin conformation to enhance cancer-associated fibroblast adhesion and spreading via pFAK To study this, human dermal fibroblasts were conditioned with either normal incubated media (INC) to simulate normal fibroblast, or tumor conditioned media (TCM) to simulate cancer-associated fibroblast by exposing normal fibroblast to soluble factors from cancer cells Polyacrylamide (PAA) gels were made at 19 2 kPa to resemble the stiffness of breast cancer tumor, they were then coated with FN at pH 7.4 (mimic normal conditions), 6.9 (mimic slightly acid tumor conditions) and 6.5 (mimic very acidic tumor conditions). Normal or tumor conditioned fibroblasts were seeded on PAA gels at a density of 150 cells/mm2 coated with FN at appropriate pH for the 3 different pH conditions (6.5, 6.9, 7.4). The samples were fixed after 48 hours, immunostained for nuclei, actin and pFAK then imaged on an EVOS M7000 microscope. It is expected that samples at pH 6.9 will have a larger spread area and more adhesion presents when compared to 6 5 or 7 4 The results from this are expected to provide more insight on how the acidity of the tumor microenvironment regulates the behavior of cancer-associated fibroblasts.

Christalle Wilson1, Karin Wang1 1Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Temple University

Faisal Shaikh

Faisal Shaikh is a sophomore at Temple University's College of Science and Technology pursuing a major in Data Science and on the Pre-Med Track He aspires to enter the medical field where he can provide clinical care while conducting research His ultimate goal is to collect patient data from his cases/operations and utilize his research and Data Science skills to discover optimal methods for those respective cases With the vision of a strong research team composed of doctors and young aspiring students, Faisal aims to publish groundbreaking papers that can be accessed from anywhere by anyone Additionally, mastering the mutualism between his clinical work and research is another career objective of Faisal's, with the aim of having his discoveries and publications utilized by doctors worldwide to treat their patients beyond the lives he is saving

CerebralProtectionStrategiesForTypeAAortic DissectionRepair

FaisalShaikh,SarahKhalilMD,ErikHAnderMD,AbulKashemMD,SuyogMokashiMD 1DepartmentofSurgery,TempleUniversitySchoolofMedicine,Philadelphia,PA

Background:

Aortic dissection is a severe condition that occurs when there is a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, leading to the formation of a false lumen. Dissections that involve the ascending aorta are classified as type A aortic dissections (AAD) and require prompt intervention as untreated AAD carries a mortality rate of up to 50% within the first 48 hours Following the temporary cessation of blood flow in the arch during surgical management of type A aortic dissections (AAD) to maintain a bloodless operative field, various methods can be employed to ensure uninterrupted cerebral perfusion and thereby preserve neurological function.

Importance:

Techniques to preserve neurological function during type A aortic dissection repairs have been broadly discussed in the literature and heavily debated. Though several approaches have proven effective, there lacks consensus regarding maintaining optimal cerebral temperature This article reviews the three most common cerebral protection strategies: straight deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (sDHCA), retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP), and antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP).

Methods:

We conducted a literature search of the PubMed database between 1994-2021 to compare different neuroprotective cerebral perfusion strategies employed during open aortic arch surgery for type A dissections.

Results:

The signature characteristics of sDHCA, RCP and ACP are similar – hypothermia, with or without cerebral perfusion, though each differs by side effects. These cerebral perfusion techniques can each effectively extend operative times ACP can be performed at warmer body temperatures (2634°C) relative to sDHCA and RCP (19-22 °C), with no difference in overall adverse events

Conclusion:

sDHCA, RCP, and ACP can each be successfully utilized during arch reconstruction. Operative times and patient factors must be considered when selecting which technique to use

Faiz Siddiqui

The Role of Cardiac Lymphatics and the Immune System in Regenerative Murine Heart Models

There is growing evidence that neonatal mice in the first week of life can regenerate their hearts after injury by myocardial infarction (MI). This regenerative potential is lost by postnatal day seven, leading to common fibrotic wound healing responses seen in adult post MI hearts. The lymphatic system is involved in trafficking of immune cells which are an integral part of the wound healing response after cardiac ischemic injury; however lymphatic cell cross talk with cardiomyocytes and cardiac immune cells remains understudied. Using podoplanin (PDPN) as a marker for lymphangiogenesis, we fluorescently stained isolated PDPN positive cells 48 hours after inducing MI in wildtype mouse models at postnatal day two and day seven. We saw increased PDPN expression in the isolated cells 48 hours after MI in the day seven mouse group compared to the day two MI timepoints We also performed fluorescent staining on formalin-fixed heart sections from the same MI mouse model and timepoints. We saw increased PDPN expression in the infarct zone and border zone in the adult day seven MI heart sections compared the natal day two heart sections The upregulated podoplanin expression 48 hours after MI in the day seven mouse models suggests a dysregulated cardiac lymphatic response in non-regenerative mouse models compared to regenerative mouse models. Understanding this upregulation and finding targets to regulate PDPN expression could provide direct methods for suppressing cardiac lymphatic responses in non-regenerative hearts after ischemic heart injury and increase regenerative potential during wound healing.

Faiz Siddiqui, Mohsin Khan Cardiovascular Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple university

Memunat Abiru

Memunat Abiru is a senior Neuroscience CST major at Temple University She is an international student hailing from Nigeria but came to the US to pursue medicine. She joined the Rawls Lab in 2022 to work with glutamate drugs to combat Substance use Disorder, one of her later found passions When she is not burning the midnight oil, she enjoys watching movies and playing video games After graduation she hopes to go to Medical School in the fall

Multi Chemokine Antagonist RAP 103 Inhibits Anxiogenic Expression of Methamphetamine in Planarians Displaying Withdrawal-like Behaviors

Previous research has reported the relationship between antagonism of proinflammatory chemokines CCR2 and CCR5, and their effects on opioid analgesia. Yet, the relationship between chemokine receptor antagonism and psychostimulant-evoked behaviors remains understudied. Previous work has shown that methamphetamine exposure upregulates the expression of CCR2 and CCR5, which may have implications in sustaining methamphetamine reward reinforcement and relapse. Therefore, modulating methamphetamine-induced changes in chemokine receptor expression may serve as a suitable therapeutic target for minimizing psychostimulant reward and reinforcement RAP103 (R103), a dual antagonist of both CCR2 and CCR5, has been previously studied in the context of neuropathic pain but has yet to be explored in the context of psychostimulants. In this paper, we want to see if its chemokine blocking ability could be useful in preventing Methamphetamine addiction like behaviors in planarians. To do this, we showed the effect of R103 alone in the planarians which evoked anxiolytic behaviors, Methamphetamine withdrawal effects in the planarians and then finally the effect of R103 on planarians displaying the withdrawal like behaviors. This is all to conclude that R103 has a significant effect on the early anxiolytic expression of Methamphetamine withdrawal like behaviors in planarians but does not make any significant effect in the late depressive expression behaviors of Methamphetamine withdrawal

Abiru M1 , Wiah S1 , Milton M1 , and Rawls S1

1Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University

Michael Kegel

I am Michael Kegel and I will be graduating in the spring of 2023 with a bachelor's degree in Bioengineering and a minor in Chemistry from Temple University College of Engineering My interest in health care was inspired from my parents' work as medical professionals within the field of cardiology They would expose me to their knowledge at an early age and inspire me to work within the medical field Engineering was an interest of mine since I was younger, and I would often show interest in my Uncle's work as a mechanical engineer, who introduced me to many engineering applications Under his guidance, I often tinkered and observed how many common everyday devices worked I found myself passionate in both engineering and the medical field I found bioengineering as a discipline that would encompass my passion in engineering and the medical field My mission is to develop innovative medical tools and therapies that provide patients with a greater quality of life

The Role of pH in Chronic Wounds on Fibronectin Matrix Assembly

Michael Kegel1, Jennifer Patten1, Ghazal Bashiri1, and Karin Wang PhD1

1Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Temple University

Chronic wounds affect 6.5 million Americans annually with an expenditure of $25 billion. The two types of wound healing are acute (normal) and chronic. Acute wound healing fully completes the four stages of the wound healing process: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Chronic wound healing is stopped at the inflammation stage which impairs the wound healing process. During dermal wound repair, the underlying tissue is exposed and the microenvironmental pH level increases. In acute wounds, the pH increases to 6.5-7.5 while in chronic wounds the pH increases to 8 0-9 0 Therefore, this alkaline pH condition may be critical to disrupting the extracellular matrix assembly at the inflammation stage.

Fibronectin is a molecularly flexible glycoprotein that is involved in several stages of the wound healing process. During the inflammation stage in acute wound healing, fibronectin, with molecularly compact conformation, acts as a provisional scaffold for cells to remodel into a permanent collagen matrix. During chronic wound repair, the microenvironmental pH is alkaline, which is known to unfold fibronectin conformation However, what is unknown is if the molecular unfolding of fibronectin impacts fibril assembly rate, fibronectin matrix alignment, and the ability of the matrix to fully mature into a network for the latter stages of the wound healing process

Myrna Kassem

Myrna Kassem is a sophomore Genomic Medicine major in the honors program! I'm originally from Alexandria, Egypt but I was raised and live in South Jersey. I'm a member of Temple's Muslim Student Association, Temple Honors, and an illustrator for Grey Matters Outside of school I enjoy reading and going to new coffee shops! I really have enjoyed being a Genomic Medicine major and I hope to pursue a career in medicine & research with the goal of working in personalized medicine.

In Utero Alcohol Exposure Induces Mitochondrial DNA Damage in Developing Brain

Myrna Kassem, Nune1, Darbinian Sarkissian1

Introduction: Mitochondrial dysfunction is postulated to be a central event in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Recent studies have suggested that EtOH can cause mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage. If mtDNA is not repaired, it impairs mitochondrial function, which further increases oxidative stress and cell damage. Changes in the mtDNA repair protein 8oxoguanine DNA glycosylase-1 (OGG1) may impair the efficiency of mtDNA repair Studies of molecular mechanisms are limited by the absence of suitable human models.

Methods: We compared human and rat FAS fetal brain tissue from parallel models. Rat FAS was induced by administering a 6 7% alcohol liquid diet to pregnant dams Human fetal brain tissue (10 – 22 weeks) was collected and characterized by maternal self-reported EtOH exposure. mtDNA was isolated (QIAamp Kit) and amplified (long q-PCR/Gene Amp XL Kit) RNA expression of mitochondrial markers were assayed by qRT-PCR, using mitochondrial energy metabolism array. OGG1, was studied by qRT-PCR.

Results. We demonstrate that maternal EtOH exposure increases mtDNA damage in fetal brain tissue Mitochondrial dysfunction was also noted based on reduced mitochondrial energy metabolism markers We determined that fetal mtDNA repair, mediated by OGG1 was inhibited in fetal brain tissue following EtOH exposure. Further, we demonstrate that IGF-1 rescued neuronal cells from EtOH-mediated mtDNA damage, and OGG1 inhibition

Conclusion: We demonstrated direct correlation between EtOH exposure and mtDNA damage during development that was seen in both human and murine samples. If IGF-1 decrease can increase risk of FASD, then IGF-1 administration could prevent EtOH-caused mtDNA damage and neuronal apoptosis Our model presents an ideal platform for investigating of mitochondrial functions affected by EtOH, with direct translational potential

1Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA

Pheoby Kenschaft

Pheoby Kenschaft is expecting to graduate from the College of Public Health with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health in May of 2023 Besides being a full-time student, she is an intern at the Department of Epidemiology and Statistics for Dr. Inkyu Han. She is a dedicated, result-oriented young person seeking to leverage skills to contribute to social and environmental justice for oneself and others

Characterizing Airborne Microplastics

Pheoby Kenschaft*, Inkyu Han, PhD Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Temple University

The purpose of this literature review is significant because airborne non-tailpipe traffic-related air pollutants, including microplastics, pose a significant threat to human health and the environment. With a large movement of traffic in Philadelphia, it is crucial to improve outdoor air sampling methods to accurately measure the concentration of these pollutants. This review will provide insights into sampling devices, methods, and analytical techniques for detecting microplastics in the air, which can aid in the development of effective mitigation strategies Additionally, examining environmental factors that affect the concentration of microplastics in outdoor air will help inform policies to reduce pollution and improve public health in urban areas. This research provides valuable information to policy makers and state and local agencies responsible for regulating air quality in Philadelphia. The findings of this research can have a significant impact on their decisions related to the implementation of congestion fees and urban planning for traffic control By understanding the effects of traffic on air quality and the potential benefits of reducing traffic congestion, policy makers can make informed decisions to improve air quality and public health in urban areas.

Priya Joshi

Priya Joshi is a Biology major pursuing a Genomic Medicine Certificate at Temple University Priya is a part of the 4+4 Health Scholars Program with Lewis Katz School of Medicine and am currently conducting research at the Hybrid Archaeosomes Lab under Dr Parkson Chong at LKSOM Priya grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and one of the ways she got to know the vibrant culture of Philadelphia was through exploring various restaurants with her roommate, with whom she runs a food account. She also loves weightlifting and kickboxing to stay active Some of her other hobbies include photography, singing, and playing guitar

Characterization of Zn-DPA-Containing Liposomes as Antithrombotic Agent.

Specially designed liposomes can offer a novel way to deliver necessary proteins, peptides, genes, and antigens for therapeutic purposes. The primary goal of this study was to characterize the Zn(II) bis-dipicolylamine (Zn-DPA)-containing liposomes to gain further knowledge about their properties for use as an antithrombotic agent Several aspects of preparation were considered A homogeneous population of DPA-containing liposomes was necessary as a heterogeneous population, especially the presence of large liposome particles or lipid aggregates, can cause the loss of protective antithrombotic effects The liposomes were prepared at a temperature between 37 and 50 degrees Celsius. Organic solvents such as chloroform and ethanol were fully evaporated and removed from the liposomes As the purity of the nanoparticles for biomedical applications is crucial, filtered buffers as well as thorough cleaning procedures were utilized throughout the preparation process. The long-term storage of the liposomes was also considered; the liposome samples were placed under argon to reduce their oxidation. To avoid damage to the liposomes, which contain fluorophores, the liposomes were stored in low light conditions wrapped in aluminum foil. With proper protection and storage, the liposomes have been observed to display great stability for at least six months. In this study, the size, size distribution, zeta potential, particle concentration, and phospholipid concentration were studied through the use of Malvern NanoSight and other instruments as well as phosphate assays to characterize the Zn-DPA-containing liposomes for applications in drug delivery

Priya Joshi1, Parkson Chong1

1Hybrid Archaeosomes Lab, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA

Rachel Winter

Rachel Winter (she/they) will be graduating with honors this spring with a dual-degree in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience and Spanish Language, Literature, and Linguistics She is currently working with Dr Sara Jane Ward within the Center for Substance Abuse Research at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, where they are investigating the use of cannabinoids to mitigate pain associated with opioid withdrawal. She is passionate about ensuring people who use drugs have access to dignified and compassionate healthcare and is looking forward to pursuing a career as a physician

Opioid Withdrawal Management Using Cannabinoids

Rachel Winter1, Amanda Hughes1, Saadet Iman1, Sara Jane Ward1

1Department of Neuronal Science, Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewisk Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

Opioids are effective analgesics that are often used for the management of acute and chronic pain. Precipitated withdrawal can occur when an individual who is physiologically dependent on opioids, typically due to chronic prescription or recreational use, is administered an opioid antagonist, such as naloxone, a medication used to prevent fatal respiratory depression due to overdose. Precipitated withdrawal is intensely painful, and management of the associated symptoms is an essential aspect of providing care for someone who is experiencing withdrawal. This study aims to investigate the potential of using cannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD), novel CBD analog KLS-13019, beta-caryophyllene (BCP), and cannabigerol (CBG) to mitigate symptoms associated with precipitated opioid withdrawal It was found that mice treated with 10 mg/kg KLS-13019 or 30 mg/kg CBD, BCP, or CBG experienced the greatest reduction in jumping. This indicates that cannabinoids can be effectively used to mitigate the symptoms associated with precipitated opioid withdrawal.

SAAMIA FAROOKI

Saamia is currently a senior Biology student in the Bioinformatics 4+1 Professional Science Master's program During my undergraduate studies, I have participated in both clinical research and wet lab research. I completed over one year of clinical research at Shriners Hospital for Children Philadelphia with a focus on pediatric scoliosis research I have also done two years of wet lab research at Dr Jun Yu’s lab on Temple’s Health Science Campus, where I conducted research on the effects of MKP5 on the inflammation and plaque buildup in atherosclerosis I have also taken a research position in Dr Richard Aplenc's lab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to participate in pediatric leukemia research

Identifying Molecular Signatures of Arteriovenous Fistula Outcomes

Saamia Farooki1 , Hannah Simborio1 , Roberto Vazquez-Padron2 , Jun Yu1

1Center for Metabolic Disease Research, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine

2University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine

Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the current preferred method of vascular access for hemodialysis treatment for end stage chronic kidney disease (CKD). This treatment entails creating a point of connection between the artery and inferior vena cava (IVC) that redirects blood flow from the artery and vein that redirects blood flow into the vein, thereby increasing its blood flow. However, the AVF procedure can produce either mature or failure AVF, with morphological changes to the vasculature anatomy in the regions surrounding the AVF site. The study aims to establish a reliable AVF mouse model that mimics human pathology and identify molecular signature(s) that favor AVF maturation. MAPK, mitogenactivated protein kinases, react to various stimuli and contribute to the signaling pathway of a range of physiological responses, including inflammatory responses. MKP5, a MAPK phosphatase (MKPs), can inactivate these pathways, therefore regulating immune responses by dephosphorylating activated MAPKs. This project is focusing specifically on MKP5’s role in the vasculature changes that occur in the vein following AVF treatment.

Salma Mami

Salma Mami is a graduating Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Major with a minor in Criminal Justice She joined the Rader Laboratory during her freshman year and is interested in understanding gaps in medical diagnosis and ways to improve patient care. She also joined the Kang Laboratory this year and is studying the effect of oligodendrocyte IL-33 on microglia activity She has a strong passion for research and is looking forward to becoming a physician-scientist in the future

A genome-first approach to identify carriers of Familial Hypercholesterolemia-causing variants

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a highly penetrant monogenic condition affecting ~1:300 individuals FH is associated with lifelong LDL-C elevation and increases the risk of premature ASCVD and mortality when not adequately treated.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent to which FH is under- or mis-diagnosed in patients of a large academic medical center, using a genome-first approach

Carriers of known FH-causing variants were identified among European and African Ancestry individuals participating in a large biobank. Genomic data were matched with data extrapolated from patients' electronic health records to determine the extent to which these patients were being diagnosed

Exome sequencing was available for 41,579 individuals. Of these, 135 were carriers of a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant in one of the FH-causing genes Their median (IQR) age of enrollment into the biobank was 58 years (48-65) and 50 4% were male Only 5 2% of them were diagnosed with FH, 14 8% with hypercholesterolemia, 52 6% with other dyslipidemias, and the remaining 27 4% had no lipid-related diagnosis mentioned in their record Carriers with a diagnosis of other dyslipidemias had a higher prevalence of diabetes (p<0.001), hypertension (p=0.043), and renal disease (p=0.005). These patients also had higher triglycerides and lower HDL-C levels than carriers diagnosed with FH or hypercholesterolemia (p<0 02 for both) Carriers of African ancestry were more likely to be more obese (p<0 001), and have higher incidence of myocardial infarction (p=0 007), diabetes (p<0 001), and renal disease (p<0.001). At their more recent encounter, only 55% of those receiving treatment were on high-intensity statins and only 11% on PCSK9 inhibitors. Carriers seen by lipid specialists were significantly more likely to receive the diagnosis of FH (86%) and PCSK9 inhibitors (90%)

Our findings strongly support the statement that FH is grossly underdiagnosed and highlight the need for increased awareness and earlier universal screening for a timely diagnosis, when the presence of other risk factors masking the phenotype is minimized. These patients should be referred to lipid specialists for optimal management Appropriate strategies are needed for the communication of actionable genetic results to biobank participants

Salma Mami12, Joseph Park1, Deepak Vedamurth1, Marjorie Risman1, Daniel J Rader1, Archna Bajaj1, Marina Cuchel1

1Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA 2Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Yusuf Ansar

Yusuf Ansari is a first-year Genomic Medicine major at Temple University As an individual interested in pursuing a joint MD/PhD program, Yusuf Ansari is intensely passionate about research In addition to his current clinical work, he is a part of Dr Sudhir Kumar’s Institute for Genomic and Evolutionary Medicine (iGEM). Yusuf Ansari is currently a board member of Healthlink Society Outside of his professional life, Yusuf Ansari performs the piano He has won awards in multiple international competitions and performed at Carnegie Hall He also loves to pick up the guitar and learn some of his favorite tunes

Cerebral Protection Strategies For Type A Aortic Dissection Repair

Low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent health issue affecting over 80% of individuals worldwide and contributing to substantial economic costs. Chronic low back pain (CLBP), characterized by pain persisting for three months or longer, is often attributable to sacroiliac joint (SIJ) dysfunction. Current treatments for SIJ dysfunction include denervation and fusion techniques, with various denervation modalities available This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic neurotomy, a novel denervation technique that enables direct visualization and precise transection of nerve fibers entering the SIJ, in alleviating pain, reducing complications, and enhancing recovery success for patients with SIJ-attributable CLBP. The long-term efficacy of endoscopic neurotomy will be assessed using patientgenerated results from the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and visual analog scale (VAS) collected over the past two years. Pending results from this study have the potential to inform clinical practice and improve patient outcomes in SIJ-attributable CLBP cases

Yusuf-Zain Ansari1; Dia R Halalmeh, MD1; Amy Herrera1; Saqib Hasan, MD1 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Golden State Orthopedics and Spine (GSOS)

THANK YOU FROM APSA

Thank you to all the Temple University students who contributed their abstracts to this journal Your dedication to scientific research and your willingness to share your findings with us is truly commendable. We are thrilled to showcase the breadth and depth of your research endeavors in this journal. Your abstracts reflect a wide range of topics and approaches, and they offer valuable insights into the current state of scientific research.

We recognize that each of you has invested significant time, effort, and passion into your respective research projects, and we hope that this journal will serve as a platform to share your work with the wider scientific community.

We also want to acknowledge the important role that your mentors and advisors played in guiding and supporting your research endeavors. We appreciate their commitment to nurturing the next generation of scientists and physicians.

Finally, we want to extend our warmest congratulations to all the student authors whose abstracts have been selected for inclusion in this journal. We are proud to feature your outstanding research contributions, and we wish you continued success in your academic and professional pursuits.

Thank you for your contributions to the journal, and for your dedication to advancing scientific knowledge.

Salma Mami Co-President