Anderson Payne, Noah Dyer |
Back to the Future: Using Modern Technology to Observe the Living Fossil
The American Horseshoe Crab, Limulus polyphemus, is a marine arthropod that is nearly threatened. This unique invertebrate spans from the Atlantic Coast of the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Populations of this species are in decline due to a variety of factors, including overfishing, collection for the biomedical industry, and habitat loss. iNaturalist is an increasingly utilized smartphone application allowing crowdsourced species identification. We assessed if iNaturalist could be used to help observe habitats, population numbers, behaviors, and natural history trends in this species of conservation concern. Across 1,150 observations, a majority were observed on beaches with few in the water and vegetated areas. Approximately 80% of the observed specimens were adults and the latter 20% were juveniles. Furthermore, there was variation in whether specimens were alive or deceased (53% Live; 39% Dead). iNaturalist is an effective conservation tool and should be implemented in future population monitoring of this living fossil.
Mentors: Dr. Shem Unger and Dr. Mark Rollins
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Lauren Bopp |
The Predicted Nuclear Localization Sequence for Satb2 is Not Functional
A hallmark of life is its ability to regulate the expression of its genes in response to heritable and environmental cues. One mechanism used by eukaryotic cells to achieve this is organizing their DNA into tightly condensed regions called heterochromatin, and loosely arranged regions called euchromatin. These structures are the result of the activity of chromatin architectural proteins, including members of the SATB (Special AT-rich Binding protein) family. Satb2 regulates osteogenesis, and loss of function mutants within Satb2 are linked to Glass syndrome - also known as SATB2-associated syndrome - a rare human neurogenetic disorder clinically marked by developmental delay, cleft palate, and dental and skeletal anomalies. Satb2 is localized to the nucleus, but no functional Nuclear Localization Sequence (NLS) has been identified thus far. Here we demonstrate that a predicted NLS located at aa 613-616 is not necessary for the nuclear import of an mCherry-Satb2 fusion protein in HeLa cells. Truncation analysis reveals that the aa 1-58 is unexpectedly necessary for the nuclear import of an EGFP-Satb2 fusion protein in HeLa cells. That region is not predicted to contain a traditional NLS, but it shares sequence homology with a non-traditional NLS located on Satb1. We are currently investigating whether that region is necessary for the nuclear import of Satb2.
Mentor: Dr. Brett Schofield
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Amna Khan |
Effect of Sex of Co-Twin on Late Embryonic and Fetal Loss in Sheep
A previous study suggested that ewes born with a male co-twin had greater embryonic mortality than ewes born with a female co-twin. This percentage of loss was determined by comparing the ovulation rate to the number of lambs born, excluding fertilization failure or late embryonic or fetal loss. Late embryonic and fetal mortality is often underestimated in domestic animals and contributes to economic loss in the sheep industry. These types of losses are due to a variety of factors but how a ewe’s in-uterine exposure to either a male or female co-twin affects late embryonic or fetal loss is unknown. Pregnancy diagnosis using ultrasonography was conducted on approximately day 35 to 50 of gestation in 1,096 sheep at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station from 2015 to 2017 representing either purebred or hybrid mixes of Polypay, Suffolk, Targhee, and Rambouillet breeds. Late embryo or fetal counts were then compared to corresponding lambing records. Differences in pregnancy and lambing rate, number of fetuses and lambs born per ewe, and percentage of total (complete pregnancy loss) and partial (reduction of litter size only) loss occurring in ewes born with a male or female co-twin will be determined by ANOVA using the PROC MIXED and GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. We hope that examining this effect on losses occurring from the early placental period to birth will provide greater insight on how interaction with a co-twin in utero may potentially affect reproduction in the adult ewe.
Mentor: Dr. Alison Brown
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Catherine Kerns |
Inflammatory Bowel Disease and the Development of Cancer
The prevalence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in older adults has been increasing since 2001. IBD is an inflammatory disease along the gastrointestinal tract. The inflammation of the tract lining can be present in the upper gastrointestinal tract, small intestines, and large intestines including the colon and rectum. The causes are still unknown. However, stress, diet, and heredity all are factors that may affect the severity. The two types of IBD are Crohn’s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC). Both are characterized by diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, fatigue, and weight loss. The main difference between the two is the presence of ulcers or sores along the lining of the colon and rectum in UC. One suspected cause of IBD is an imbalance in gut bacteria. Some gut bacteria can activate an inflammatory and/or immune response. Others limit the inflammatory response to keep function normal. However, if there is an imbalance, inflammation can occur unregulated. What is scary about IBD is that it can lead to the development of cancer, especially colon cancer. This is usually caused by oxidative damage to DNA. This is because immune cells that are related to inflammation release chemicals that are harmful. These chemicals build up during chronic inflammation. The damage to DNA can cause mutations that ultimately lead to tumor formation. Treatment of IBD usually entails the suppression of immune and inflammatory responses. The immunosuppression treatment also increases the risk of developing cancer. These risks only get higher as patients age. With that, many patients will have to be treated for both IBD and cancer at some point.
Mentor: Dr. Tracy Davis
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Ellis Counts |
The True Pain in Pancreatitis
In the United States, approximately 275,000 people are hospitalized annually due to acute pancreatitis with hospitalization costing over $30,000 per person. Pancreatitis is the leading cause of gastrointestinal-related hospitalizations. Pancreatitis occurs when injury to the pancreas activates acinar cells, macrophages, and neutrophils which produce cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, and IL-8 to activate the inflammatory cascade to cause inflammation of the pancreas. Causes of pancreatitis include gallstone disease, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercalcemia, trauma or injury to the abdomen, and heavy alcohol use. Signs and symptoms of pancreatitis include upper abdominal pain that may radiate to the back, vomiting, nausea, fever, and rapid pulse. Blood tests, abdominal ultrasounds, CT scans, MRIs, endoscopic ultrasounds, and stool tests are used in the diagnosis of pancreatitis. Receiving treatment for pancreatitis is important because acute pancreatitis strongly correlates with multi-organ failure and pancreatic necrosis and can cause serious complications such as kidney failure, breathing problems, infection, malnutrition, diabetes, and pancreatic cancer. Currently, there are no drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of pancreatitis which makes maintenance therapy the current treatment if it doesn’t resolve on its own. Maintenance therapy includes immediate IV fluids, medication for pain management, diet changes, and potentially pancreatic procedures. In 2022, the FDA approved Panoquell-CA1 which is now the first drug to treat pancreatitis in dogs which is crucial in future treatments and research for pancreatitis in humans. Further research is needed to find an effective treatment for pancreatitis in humans.
Mentor: Dr. Tracy Davis
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Kiara Rillera |
Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: An Inflammatory Disease of the Lungs
Lungs are sensitive organs, designed primarily to breathe in oxygen. Inhaling other substances other than oxygen causes harm to your lungs. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is an interstitial lung disease which is brought on by inhaling particles or microorganisms such as mold, bacteria, chemical, and metals. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis causes inflammation in the terminal bronchioles, the alveoli, and the interstitium. Symptoms of the disease include cough, dyspnoea, and fatigue. Researchers have suggested that pre-existing genetic susceptibility or certain environmental factors can increase the risk of developing the disease after the individual has been exposed to the antigen. The most common antigens are thermophilic actinomycete species, fungi, and bird proteins. Upon exposure to the antigen, airway epithelium secrete a variety of substances, such as mucins and defensins, and mediators, such as cytokines and oxygen radicals to produce an inflammatory response. The inflammatory response is mediated by immune complexes in acute onsets and by Th1 and Th17 T cells in chronic cases. Lymphocytes appear within 24-48 hours after exposure to the antigen, and express activation markers like interleukin-2. Macrophages and neutrophils also play a role in the onset of HP. Neutrophils accumulate in the lungs and cause the production of oxygen-free radicals, which can cause damage to the tissues. Soluble antigens bind to IgG, triggering the activation of alveolar macrophages which release inflammatory and chemotactic factors. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis has a wide range of offending antigens, and because of this can often go unnoticed or misdiagnosed.
Mentor: Dr. Tracy Davis
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Collins Lagroon |
Determination of the Chemical Composition of a Variety of Seeds
Studies have shown that herbs can have various essential oils and fatty acids that can be important to the human body. It is hypothesized that those same essential oils and fatty acids would be present in the seeds of the herbs. To determine the composition of these seeds, the seeds were ground into a fine powder and the components of interest were extracted with hexane through reflux. After extraction, analysis of components and quantities was completed using a Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) and the creation of calibration curves. Many different herbs were tested, and the results were compared to values found in literature for seeds and plants. Some seeds showed similar composition to that of the fully-grown plant. Other seeds did not show the compounds that were expected from the analysis of the full plant. The results will be discussed along with future research.
Mentor: Dr. Heather Clontz
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Grace Fongemy, Annika la Sofia Hakovirta |
Predictors of Purpose Among Emerging Adults in College: An Exploratory Analysis of the Importance of Relational Supports and Experiential Learning
College is an important context for emerging adults to cultivate developmental assets, solidify vocational plans, and develop meaningful relationships (Pfund et al., 2020). National data from Gallup has highlighted key experiences that positively impact a student’s experience while at college and their life after graduation (Seymour & Lopes, 2015). These “Big Six” experiences, including relationships with faculty and mentors and participation in high-impact practices, predict student success. Similarly, both theory and research underscore the importance of relationships, active engagement, and exploration in cultivating a sense of purpose and long-term aims (e.g., Liang et al., 2016), yet little work has examined the cumulative and relative value of these experiences in explaining purpose development in college (Pfund, 2020).
The present study examined the predictive value of the “Big Six” for the development of purpose among college students. We examine the combined impact of these experiences and their unique predictive value on sense of purpose. We made no hypotheses about the relative importance of each predictor in explaining purpose. Data was drawn from an annual survey of students at a small, liberal arts university in the Southeast region of the US. The survey was administered online at the end of the spring semester and included questions regarding campus experiences and psychosocial development. We used the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (Steger et al., 2006) to examine commitment to a sense of purpose. We also utilized student demographic data as well as data on relationships and experiential learning to measure the “Big Six” experiences. Specifically, students indicated the extent to which they believed they had a professor who cared about them as a person and whether they had a professor who made them excited about learning. Students also indicated if they had a mentor, if they had completed a semester-long project, were involved in campus extracurricular activities, and if they had an internship. Scores were summed across the experiences to create an index with scores ranging from 0 to 6. Due to too low student participation in internships, we focus on scores on a revised “Big Five” scale without internships.
The sample in the present study is primarily White (70.3%) and female (59.3%). Over half of students (56.6%) reported at least two of the “Big Five”, whereas only 6% percent of students had all five experiences and 5% of students had none. Results indicated that higher scores on the index were predictive of a greater sense of purpose in life (β=.259, p < .001), controlling for student demographics. We entered each relational and experiential learning variable as a separate predictor in another set of models. These results, in general, indicated that relational variables were more powerful predictors of purpose. Findings suggest that colleges should encourage relationships among students, faculty, and staff through opportunities within and outside of the classroom.
Mentor: Dr. Terese Lund
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Sarah Burchfield |
Protecting a Legacy: The Killing of Wolves in Yellowstone National Park and Beyond
Wolves are crucial to the environment and ecosystem. Wolves serve us by providing healthier generations of prey populations by hunting prey with disease and illness, regulating the spread within herds. Wolves play huge parts in the traditions of many native cultures. They have coexisted with wolves for centuries, and these tribes respect wolves for their strength and family bonds. Wolf protections are once again in danger. Recently in February 2021, Wisconsin held a wolf hunt that eliminated greater than twenty percent of the wolf population in just sixty-three hours. Producing an average of one wolf killed every seventeen minutes. The purpose of this paper is to inform the public about the importance of wolves to our society. There is a war on wolves that must be stopped immediately. These animals have been put on and taken off the endangered species list many times. Each time they are removed, they are mercilessly slaughtered to near extinction again and finally put back on the list. This chaotic cycle has waged its war for longer than any other in history. Just recently the wolves were once again removed, and their still fragile population numbers were damaged. If these wolves are not saved, and their fragile numbers increased, wolves in Yellowstone National Park and beyond will cease to exist. The killing of wolves in Yellowstone and beyond is inhumane and affects both the environmental and social aspects surrounding wolves.
Mentor: Dr. Kristina Duemmler
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Jayci Scheff |
Effectiveness of Crude Antibiotics From Soil Isolates
Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest problems facing healthcare worldwide. As more patients become infected with resistant pathogens, the need for new antibiotics is greater now than ever. Students across the globe have teamed up with their instructors and fellow research scientists to mine soil samples for novel antibiotic-producing bacteria through the Tiny Earth Research Studentsourcing Initiative. Bacteria were isolated from soil collected from the embankment of a tributary on the Wingate University campus, using a soil dilution plating technique on two solid agar media types, ½ Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) and Reasoner’s 2 Agar (R2A). The purpose of this research as part of Tiny Earth was to investigate the diversity of the soil microbiome and find novel antibiotic-producing bacteria. The media diversity index ranged from 0.60 to 0.15, which indicated a high species diversity of the soil bacteria at the tributary embankment site. The antibiotic-producing frequency for TSA was 36.4%, and 40% for R2A. Six Antibiotic-producing isolates were morphologically characterized once purified by the 4-way streak technique and observed after Gram staining. Three isolates (#18, #19, and #24), producing broad-spectrum antibiotics effective against ESKAPE pathogen-safe relatives, were further characterized via biochemical fingerprint and identified via their 16S rRNA gene sequence. These isolates’ antibiotics were crudely extracted using ethyl acetate, resuspended in methanol, and the screens against ESKAPE-safe relatives were repeated using the top-agar method and eukaryotic cells to determine the selective toxicity of the antibiotics; these assays are ongoing. Periodically, water-saturated soils with diverse nutrient cycling have an incredible microbial diversity that contains novel bacterial strains of the genera Bacillus, Streptomyces, and Serratia, with broad-spectrum antibiotics effective against ESKAPE pathogens.
Mentor: Dr. Debra Davis
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Sarah Starnes |
Synthesis and Analysis of pH Dependent Cobalt (II) Sulfamate
The purity of a chemical compound that is being sold, is very important for the buyer. Cobalt (II) Sulfamate can be synthesized and mass-produced for commercial sale. Chemical manufacturing company, Wingate Advance Materials in Monroe, NC, found that their solid cobalt (II) sulfamate was turning green instead of the expected dark red after drying. The green compound is not expected to be created and raises the question: is the green compound cobalt (II) sulfamate, and if so, what is causing it to turn green? Cobalt (II) sulfamate was synthesized using the company’s procedure with varying pH levels of 3,4,5,6, and 7. After the compounds were dried over several days, EDTA titrations were performed on a sample from each pH level, a solid piece of the green compound, and a tumbled piece of red cobalt (II) sulfamate that had turned gray. It is found that a pH of 3 or 4 offers the best conditions with no green compound. A pH of 5, 6, and 7, produces the unwanted green compound. The cobalt (II) sulfamate solid was hard to break up due to the increase in strength from a low pH to a high pH. It was determined the green and gray compounds are not cobalt (II) sulfamate. To identify these compounds an x-ray diffractometer is needed. *This research remains ongoing.
Mentor: Dr. James Hall
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Isaiah Mcphee |
Extraction of Chlorothalonil from the Soil
Is it possible for treated lumber to contaminate the soil with the compounds used to treat it? This question has been asked before and is the baseline for this research. The methods used are derived from a paper involved in observing the leeching characteristics of chlorothalonil in different types of soils. This paper specifically investigates the adsorption of chlorothalonil, its ability to stick to the surface of the soil as opposed to absorbing it. Regardless, the extraction methods and Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) specifications are derived from this paper. Where the original research stopped at the soil, the current research is meant to be expanded to the plant itself, based on whether or not the compound is present in soil samples.
Mentor: Dr. Stacey Hutchinson
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Alexis Carrino |
Endometriosis
Is there pain in your uterus, but have no idea why it is happening? Endometriosis is when cells similar to the lining of the uterus grow outside of the uterus. It effects nearby organs such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Cysts are able to form in the ovaries. Surrounding tissue can become irritated, which will then cause scar tissue and adhesions in the body. It can also cause pelvic tissues and organs to stick together. When the cells attach themselves to the lining of the pelvis and go through changes, the patches of endometriosis thicken and do shed but they have nowhere to go, this causes inflammation in the uterus. Symptoms of Endometriosis is painful periods, pain with intercourse, pain with bowel movements, excessive bleeding, and infertility. Possible causes for Endometriosis are retrograde menstruation, transformation of peritoneal cells, embryonic cell transformation, surgical scar implantation, endometrial cell transport, and immune system disorder. Some ways to help/treat Endometriosis would be over-the-counter medication as in, aspirin, ibuprofen, or even prescribed prescriptions. There is also hormonal therapy which tries to stop ovulation for as long as possible to help ease the pain for as long as they can. There is also surgery that will remove the cells which will relieve pain and could allow pregnancy for some women. In some cases, removing the ovaries is the only option if it is that severe. Some other treatments could be Chinese medicine, nutritional approaches, homeopathy, allergy management, and immune therapy. Endometriosis can lead to a decrease in life expectancy because it causes severe pain, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and infertility. As a community we can raise awareness, set up referral systems, strengthen capacity of health systems to diagnose early, increase research as much as we can, and improve access to reproductive health for women.
Mentor: Dr. Tracy Davis
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Michaela Hues, Kassidy Robinson |
Portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh
This is a multimedia portrait of the great Sir. Walter Raleigh. He was born in England in 1552 and rose to the top of society with his good looks and charm. Raleigh became a favorite of Queen Elizabeth ā
and accomplished many things by her side. Sir Walter has many notable achievements including his poetry, his search for El Dorado - the city of gold, and discovering land and leaving his namesake behind.
Raleigh was the queen’s man, through and through. He was the captain of the queen's guard, and he could often be found wearing her colors of black and white. He wrote many different poems to the Queen, comparing her to the goddess of the moon. He funded several different voyages, ultimately landing on what we know as Roanoke Island. He established the first English colony in America, but it disappeared without a trace and still remains a mystery today. Raleigh N.C. is named in his honor.
This portrait depicts Raleigh with a near transparent face, allowing the viewer to see snippets from his poem The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd. His handsome features are still clearly displayed, and combined with his curly brown hair they really speak for themselves. Raleigh is wearing a collar customary to the royalty at that time. It is a reddish shade and done in watercolor to hint at the mode of his death – death by decapitation. His hat (which was a frequent accessory for sailors in that time period) is cloth, speaking to his wealth. He has a white feather in his cap, common to birds found near shore. His shirt is purple to hint at his near royalty status, as a favorite of the queen; and naturally his coat is black and white – the colors of Queen Elizabeth ā
. Finally the background is done in charcoal, to give the portrait a hazy/smoky feel because it is said that Raleigh popularized the use of tobacco in England.
The goal of this portrait was to capture the different facets of Sir Walter Raleigh’s life and personality. The mediums of acrylic, watercolor, pen, cloth, and charcoal worked together to form this masterpiece.
Mentor: Dr. Charlene Bregier
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Nathan Kintu |
Sir Walter Raleigh
Sir Walter Raleigh's life was the subject of our research as. We created a portrait of him that appropriately represented him based on numerous aspects of his life. In order to convey his role as a planner and a queen's favorite, I produced my piece using vibrant colors, peacock symbolism, and maintained the pencil grid.
Mentor: Dr. Charlene Bregier
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Carissa Simpson, Stephanie Magallanes |
Detecting Protein Dimerization Using a Split-YFP System
A basic property of life is the ability to regulate genes in response to environmental conditions. Eukaryotic cells do this partially through the organization of their DNA into tightly condensed regions called heterochromatin and loosely arranged regions called euchromatin. Genes located in heterochromatin tend to be silent, while those in euchromatin tend to be expressed. These patterns of organization are achieved through the activity of chromatin architectural proteins including Satb1 and Satb2. Most DNA binding proteins have the ability to bind to each other as homodimers, however, the homology between Satb1 and Satb2 mean that they may be able to form a Satb1/Satb2 heterodimer. We are testing this possibility using a Split-YFP system, where the front half of the YFP fluorescent protein is attached to one protein and the back half is attached to a second protein. Although each half of YFP is not fluorescent, they can associate with each other to restore fluorescence if they are held close together. This would only happen if the proteins they are attached to (Satb1 and Satb2) themselves are able to bind to each other.
Mentor: Dr. Brett Schofield
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Emma Ahrens |
Fetal Microchimerism in Sheep: Determining Patterns of Fetal Cell Transfer in the Ewe During Pregnancy and Beyond
Fetal cells are able to cross the placenta into the maternal circulation during pregnancy in domestic animals and recently shown to remain in solid tissues after parturition. However, the quantity of fetal cells in the maternal circulation during and after pregnancy is not known. Quantitative changes in fetal DNA in maternal blood have been reported during pregnancy in the ewe, but the number of fetal cells in the maternal circulation during and after pregnancy has not been determined. The aim of this study was to develop a technique that would allow the quantification of male cells in maternal blood samples of ewes during and after pregnancy using qPCR. Blood samples were taken from three rams and the buffy coat from each sample was removed, washed and diluted to 1:20 with PBS. White blood cells were then counted using a hemocytometer (WBC x 106 per mL per ram). An in-vitro model was designed by serially diluting a known amount of ram blood ranging from 106 to 10-1 WBC per mL into ewe blood. Serial dilutions were created for each ram and the buffy coat was extracted from each sample and extracted for DNA. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to identify the SRY gene based on the presence of male DNA in the buffy coats of serial dilutions. A standard curve was then created using an SRY primer pair and TaqMan probe against a known amount of ram WBC. Our primer pair and probe were sensitive enough to detect approximately 10,000 male WBC per mL of blood. This technique has allowed us to begin preliminary analysis of the quantity of male WBC remaining in blood samples of ewes taken during pregnancy and time periods after parturition.
Mentor: Dr. Alison Brown
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Dustin Truong |
Crohn's Disease Presentation
Inflammatory bowel illness (IBD) includes Crohn's disease (CD). Tissues in the digestive tract swell, which causes stomach discomfort, severe diarrhea, exhaustion, weight loss, and malnutrition. People with CD may experience inflammation in many parts of their gastrointestinal system, most frequently the small intestine. This inflammation frequently penetrates the innermost layers of the intestine.
Crohn's disease is thought to initially be brought on by a virus or bacteria, although this has yet to be determined by researchers. When the immune system battles an invasive bacterium or environmental stimuli, immune cells attack digestive tract cells as part of an unusual immune response. Given that CD is more prevalent in families, genes may contribute to an individual's increased risk of developing the condition. Age, ethnicity, NSAID use, and cigarette smoking are more prevalently seen in CD patients.
The complicated alteration of the inflammatory response that drives the progression of CD includes changes to the intestinal mucosa barrier's innate immunity as well as remodeling of the extracellular matrix via increased production of adhesion molecules including MAcCAM-1 and metalloproteins. CD is an autoimmune disease. Other autoimmune diseases linked to Crohn's disease are, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus, and asthma.
There is no proven treatment for CD, but anti-inflammatory drugs, immune system suppressors, and antibiotics can significantly lessen symptoms. Therapies, such as exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) and individualized food-based diet (CD-TREAT) can even result in long-term remission and inflammatory healing. A person's social life can be significantly impacted by Crohn's disease in addition to its medical symptoms, including discrimination, body image issues, and mental health. With medication and therapy, many CD sufferers can lead productive lives.
Mentor: Dr. Tracy Davis
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