Tag: Human Physiology

How the COVID-19 Pandemic Affected Rural Children’s Mental Health and Body Image.

Presenter(s): Juliana Esquivel — Human Physiology

Co-Presenter(s): Lauren Michels

Faculty Mentor(s): Claire Guidinger, Nichole Kelly

Session: (In-Person) Poster Presentation

The COVID-19 pandemic has had negative effect on children’s mental health, especially as they lost social connections transitioning from in-person education to remote learning. This study sought to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in a sample of rural Oregon children. We hypothesized that during height of the COVID-19 pandemic, children would report increased social dissatisfaction and loneliness (SDL), depression, and anxiety, and decreased body appreciation. This study included secondary analyses from a federally funded clinical trial on rural Oregon children’s health (R21HD094661 NICHD). Children filled out surveys in-person pre-COVID-19 and remotely during COVID-19 (February-April 2021) as a follow-up assessment. Paired samples t-tests compared children’s mental health pre-pandemic and during the pandemic. When comparing pre- pandemic and pandemic mental health, there were no statistically significant differences in children’s SDL, anxiety, and body appreciation (p’s>.05). There was a statistically significant difference in children’s depressive symptoms pre- (M = 0.32, SD =.18) and during the pandemic (M = .92, SD = .11). Children endorsed feeling more depressed during the COVID-19 pandemic, t(33) = 15.08, p<.001, d = .23. Given the observed increase in depressive symptoms in our sample, mental health resources in elementary schools should become more available as children now face transitioning back into a post-pandemic world.

Monitoring Infant Neurodevelopment Via the Hammersmith Neurological Exams in Cambodian Infants

Presenter(s): Katherine Dong —Human Physiology

Faculty Mentor(s): Dare Baldwin

Session: (Virtual) Oral Panel—Health and Social Science

Thiamine deficiency affects millions of infants growing up in South and Southeast Asia due to heavy cultural reliance on thiamine-poor, polished white rice as a dietary staple. Recent evidence indicates that a thiamine-deficient diet not only endangers infants’ health, but also hinders infants’ neuro-cognitive development. As part of a larger, randomized controlled trial, my thesis investigated possible benefits of maternal thiamine supplementation for protecting breastfed Cambodian infants’ neurological development. Lactating mothers were randomly assigned to four treatment groups (0, 1.2, 2.4, and 10mg daily thiamine supplement) when infants were between 2 and 24 weeks postnatal. Infants’ neurological function was measured at 2, 12, 24, and 52 weeks via the Hammersmith Neurological Examination, a field-standard clinical assessment tool. As expected, infants’ Hammersmith scores improved significantly with age. However, maternal thiamine supplementation dose did not affect infants’ Hammersmith scores. Above all, this research indicates that the basic neurological functions assessed by the Hammersmith in early infancy were relatively unaffected by maternal thiamine supplementation.

Computational Design of Peptide Binders for Detection of MMP8, a Biomarker in Periodontal Disease

Presenter: Alonso Cruz — Human Physiology

Faculty Mentor(s): Parisa Hosseinzadeh

Session: (In-Person) Oral Panel—Healthy Considerations

Periodontal Disease affects roughly 50% of Americans age 30 and older. As it turns out, there is a striking pattern in the incidence of this disease. Studies in recent years have found the protein MMP8 to be an inflammatory biomarker in Periodontal Disease. Consequently, its detection can be helpful as a preventative tool in dentistry. While the idea of an MMP8-detecting biosensor has great potential for medical applications, selective detection of MMP8 is difficult due to its similarity to other MMP proteins at its active site. To conquer this hurdle, we take a novel approach, targeting surfaces on MMP8 that are distal from the active site. Using insights from structural comparisons between MMP8 and other MMPs, we focused our efforts on the hemopexin domain, a region of MMP8 with minimal similarity to other MMPs. Modern advances in computational protein design allow us to design peptides in predefined structures that can bind to protein targets of interest, such as MMP8. We used these methods to produce a library of computationally-designed peptides. In the project’s current stage, we analyze and experimentally validate the peptides to determine the highest- performing binders to MMP8. Overall, this project presents a tremendous opportunity to combat periodontal disease, a condition that is reaching epidemic proportions. Additionally, this project provides a framework for future studies to build upon and further establish computational science’s role in the field of medicine.

Accessibility of Reproductive and Maternal Healthcare Among Female Identifying in Tunisia

Presenter: Audrey Chandler − Human Physiology

Faculty Mentor(s): Alicia DeLouize, Josh Snodgrass

(In-Person) Poster Presentation

Due to the sensitivity of the topic, research on abortion rights is minimal. The Tunisian Health Examination Survey worked to incorporate questions regarding reproductive healthcare access, to determine the relationship between abortion access and socioeconomic status. This study looked to analyze potential inequalities within Tunisian reproductive healthcare for female identifying individuals, especially those seeking elective abortion. Participants completed the Tunisian Health Examination Survey (THES) which consisted of self-reported answers to yes or no, multiple choice, and short answer questions discussing socioeconomic status, marital status, and communication efficiency with health care providers. Our goal was to enable the discussion regarding the sensitive topic of abortions and reproductive healthcare to bring attention to the limitations of accessibility from socioeconomic status.

Prolonged mild hypohydration reduces handgrip strength in females

Presenter: Shaun Brazelton − Human Physiology

Faculty Mentor(s): Christopher Chapman

(In-Person) Poster Presentation 

An overwhelming majority of studies pertaining to the effects of hypohydration, a state of low body water, on muscular strength has been performed in males. One study recently reported that passive heat-stress induced hypohydration reduces upper-body muscular strength in females. It remains unknown whether hypohydration independent of heat stress elicits similar effects in females. We tested the hypothesis that maximal voluntary isometric handgrip strength is reduced in females following prolonged mild hypohydration compared to a hydrated state (i.e., euhydrated). Six healthy, physically active females performed two randomized experimental trials following either 24 hours of fluid deprivation (HYPO) or when euhydrated (EUHY). Subjects performed three attempts of maximal voluntary isometric handgrip strength with one minute rest between sets. Handgrip strength was evaluated as the maximum force produced and as the mean value of the three attempts. There were greater reductions in body mass in HYPO vs. EUHY (EUHY: -0.6±0.6%; HYPO: -2.2±0.6%, P=0.013), indicating that the 24-hour protocol induced a mild hypohydration in HYPO. Maximal handgrip strength was reduced in HYPO compared to EUHY (EUHY: 31±3 kg; HYPO: 28±5 kg, P=0.067) and there was a trend toward reduced mean handgrip strength (EUHY: 29±4 kg; HYPO: 26±6 kg, P=0.172). These preliminary findings suggest that prolonged hypohydration caused by inadequate fluid consumption reduces handgrip strength in females.

Association between Discrimination and Drive for Muscularity in Asian and Asian American Men

Presenter: Jasmine Acree − Human Physiology 

Faculty Mentor(s): Dr. Nichole Kelly, Claire Guidinger

(In-Person) Poster Presentation 

Asian/Asian American men endorse amongst the highest rates of body dissatisfaction across racial groups. However, little research has been conducted on how experiences with race-related discrimination are connected to Asian men’s body image and related behaviors. It was hypothesized that experiences with race-related discrimination would be associated with the greater drive for muscularity, and that this association would be stronger amongst those with greater internalization of the Western masculine body ideal. Participants completed an online survey answering questions regarding their demographics, experiences with racism, drive for muscularity, and internalization of muscularity and thinness appearance ideals. The primary results showed that there was a significant, positive link between Asian/Asian American men’s experiences with both racism and microaggressions and the drive for muscularity, B’s=2.10-2.21, p’s<.001. Internalization of the thinness and muscularity appearance ideals functioned as moderators for both experiences with racism and microaggressions, with differential exacerbating and mitigating influences (B =-.17-.24, p’s<.001). Importantly, Asian/Asian American men who experienced high microaggressions and had higher internalization of the thinness ideal endorsed the most severe drive for muscularity, p<.001. These findings indicate that experiences with discrimination can lead to increased harmful behaviors aimed at achieving Western masculine body ideals.

Center of Pressure Trajectory Differences Between Shod and Barefoot Running

Presenter: Eric Pisciotta, Human Physiology

Panel: Strategies for Support & Recovery

Mentor: Chou Li-Shan, Human Physiology

Time: 1:15pm – 2:15pm

Location: Century A

The trajectory of the center of pressure (COP) has been shown to be a valid and reliable tool for assessing foot function. The purposes of this study were to quantify changes in the position of COP relative to the foot during stance, examine changes in the AP and ML excursions of the COP, and to quantify changes in the variability of the COP trajectory between shod and barefoot (BF) running conditions. Utilizing a force plate and an 8-camera motion capture system, the average AP and ML position of the COP trajectory was calculated relative to the heel marker at each instant, for each foot, in a group of ten habitually shod recreational runners. (Mean age 32.4 ± 4) The variability was also calculated and plotted in increments of 10% stance. The COP was located significantly more medially at all time points in the BF condition compared to shod running. The trajectory of the COP during the BF condition was marked by a more medial location under the foot throughout stance, a more anterior position at initial contact, and reduced AP excursion. No significant differences were found in the variability of the COP trajectory or ML excursions. This suggests, apart from the initial contact position, the dynamics of foot roll over are similar between shod and
BF conditions. The few COP differences that were observed in this study are similar to COP characteristics that have previously been shown to be related to injury. Therefore future studies should examine how or if these changes may be related to injury risk during BF running.

Altered Lung Development in Growth Restricted Offspring from Hypertensive Pregnant Rats

Presenter : Alice Rear

Mentor : Jeffrey Gilbert

Major : Biology and Human Physiology

Poster 37

Recent studies suggest that angiogenic dysregulation in utero impairs fetal pulmonary vascular development and arrests normal alveolarization, potentially contributing to the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Since reduced utero-placental perfusion (RUPP) induced hypertension is associated with angiogenic imbalance (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, sFlt-1; and vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF) in the maternal circulation and amniotic fluid, we hypothesized it would result in abnormal alveolarization, diminished pulmonary vascular development, and impaired VEGF signaling in the fetal rat lung. Fetal lung tissue and amniotic fluid were collected on day 19 of gestation from RUPP and normal pregnancies (NP). A second cohort delivered pups that were weighed at birth and lungs were collected at 10 weeks of age. Fetuses from RUPP pregnancies were smaller at day 19 (2.1 vs. 2.6 g; P<0.05) of gestation and at birth (6.1 vs. 6.7 g; P<0.05) than NP offspring. Preliminary data suggests that RUPP offspring may have reduced (20% decrease) pulmonary vascularity and alveolar simplification (45% decrease in alveolar space) when compared to normal pregnant controls. VEGF receptor-2 was decreased (48%; P< 0.05) in the lungs of day 19 RUPP offspring. These data suggest that chronic placental insufficiency has detrimental effects on the developing pulmonary vasculature and alveoli, and support the hypoth- esis that angiogenic imbalance in utero may play an important role in the pathogenesis of BPD

Investigating the Effect of Heat Shock on Lifespan and Gene Expression in C. remanei

Presenter : Sarah Mete

Mentor : Patrick Philips

Major : Human Physiology

Poster 3

Low doses of various stressors have been shown to slow the process of aging and increase tolerance to future stress in numerous organ- isms, a phenomenon known as hormesis. Previous studies conducted using C. elegans have examined heat-induced hormetic effects on lifespan; however, the presented data is conflicting and inconclusive. Studying the hormetic response to sub-lethal heat shock in C. remanei can help us understand the underlying mechanism of hormesis and its effect on lifespan in a new model organism. We pre- dicted that exposing an outbred population of C. remanei to either a mild heat stress, an acute heat shock or a combination of the two would produce a hormetic response in lifespan, observing the most beneficial response in those exposed to both treatments. The worms were raised either at 20°C, or exposed to a mild heat stress of 30°C during larval development. A subset of worms from each group were then subjected to a 36.8°C heat shock for 1 hour. We measured lifespan for each group in adult, virgin females maintained at 20°C. Surprisingly, no significant differences in lifespan were observed across the various conditions. These results stimulated the idea of us- ing RNA-sequencing to evaluate changes in gene expression to explain why no response in lifespan was observed. The sequencing data illustrated significant changes in gene expression associated with both the mild and acute heat treatments, indicating a large enough change to compensate for the heat stress but not enough to affect lifespan.

What’s in my Dust? Communicating Research Findings to Agricultural Families

Presenter : Rossmary Marquez

Major : Human Physiology

Poster 29

The collection of environmental samples represents a responsibility to return study findings to participants. However, developing appropriate and understandable messages can be challenging due to language differences and cultural differences. A previous study collected information from families living in an agricultural community about ways they may be exposed to pesticides and the impact of pesticides on the health and neurological development of their children. A total of 483 dust samples were collected over 4 years. The dust samples collected were analyzed for four organophosphate pesticides. The goal of this study was to evaluate different formats for presenting study findings to participants. Material presenting the results of pesticide concentration was developed along with materials describing methods to reduced exposure. A pilot study was designed to determine which format should be used and questions were designed to evaluate knowledge and reaction to the data. English speakers and Spanish speakers were recruited for the study. It was determined that education and language impacted people’s ability to read and understand the graphs. Higher education was associated with higher quiz scores. English speaking group scored higher. Finding the best ways to return results is still a challenge. Feedback received form the community members was utilized to design an effective and appropriate intervention material to reduce pesticide exposure and inform the families about the pesticides levels found in their homes.