2019 Ruby Yearbook

A digitized copy of the 2019 Ruby, the Ursinus College yearbook.https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/ruby/1123/thumbnail.jp

A site assessment tool for inpatient controlled human infection models for enteric disease pathogens

The use of the controlled human infection model to facilitate product development and to advance understanding of host-pathogen interactions is of increasing interest. While administering a virulent (or infective) organism to a susceptible host necessitates an ongoing evaluation of safety and ethical considerations, a central theme in conducting these studies in a safe and ethical manner that yields actionable data is their conduct in facilities well-suited to address their unique attributes. To that end, we have developed a framework for evaluating potential sites in which to conduct inpatient enteric controlled human infection model to ensure consistency and increase the likelihood of success.publishedVersio

Expression of Regulatory Platelet MicroRNAs in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease

Background: Increased platelet activation in sickle cell disease (SCD) contributes to a state of hypercoagulability and confers a risk of thromboembolic complications. The role for post-transcriptional regulation of the platelet transcriptome by microRNAs (miRNAs) in SCD has not been previously explored. This is the first study to determine whether platelets from SCD exhibit an altered miRNA expression profile. Methods and Findings: We analyzed the expression of miRNAs isolated from platelets from a primary cohort (SCD = 19, controls = 10) and a validation cohort (SCD = 7, controls = 7) by hybridizing to the Agilent miRNA microarrays. A dramatic difference in miRNA expression profiles between patients and controls was noted in both cohorts separately. A total of 40 differentially expressed platelet miRNAs were identified as common in both cohorts (p-value 0.05, fold change>2) with 24 miRNAs downregulated. Interestingly, 14 of the 24 downregulated miRNAs were members of three families - miR-329, miR-376 and miR-154 - which localized to the epigenetically regulated, maternally imprinted chromosome 14q32 region. We validated the downregulated miRNAs, miR-376a and miR-409-3p, and an upregulated miR-1225-3p using qRT-PCR. Over-expression of the miR-1225-3p in the Meg01 cells was followed by mRNA expression profiling to identify mRNA targets. This resulted in significant transcriptional repression of 1605 transcripts. A combinatorial approach using Meg01 mRNA expression profiles following miR-1225-3p overexpression, a computational prediction analysis of miRNA target sequences and a previously published set of differentially expressed platelet transcripts from SCD patients, identified three novel platelet mRNA targets: PBXIP1, PLAGL2 and PHF20L1. Conclusions: We have identified significant differences in functionally active platelet miRNAs in patients with SCD as compared to controls. These data provide an important inventory of differentially expressed miRNAs in SCD patients and an experimental framework for future studies of miRNAs as regulators of biological pathways in platelets. © 2013 Jain et al

Dimethyl fumarate in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) inhibits inflammasome-mediated inflammation and has been proposed as a treatment for patients hospitalised with COVID-19. This randomised, controlled, open-label platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing multiple treatments in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 (NCT04381936, ISRCTN50189673). In this assessment of DMF performed at 27 UK hospitals, adults were randomly allocated (1:1) to either usual standard of care alone or usual standard of care plus DMF. The primary outcome was clinical status on day 5 measured on a seven-point ordinal scale. Secondary outcomes were time to sustained improvement in clinical status, time to discharge, day 5 peripheral blood oxygenation, day 5 C-reactive protein, and improvement in day 10 clinical status. Between 2 March 2021 and 18 November 2021, 713 patients were enroled in the DMF evaluation, of whom 356 were randomly allocated to receive usual care plus DMF, and 357 to usual care alone. 95% of patients received corticosteroids as part of routine care. There was no evidence of a beneficial effect of DMF on clinical status at day 5 (common odds ratio of unfavourable outcome 1.12; 95% CI 0.86-1.47; p = 0.40). There was no significant effect of DMF on any secondary outcome

Dimethyl fumarate in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) inhibits inflammasome-mediated inflammation and has been proposed as a treatment for patients hospitalised with COVID-19. This randomised, controlled, open-label platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing multiple treatments in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 (NCT04381936, ISRCTN50189673). In this assessment of DMF performed at 27 UK hospitals, adults were randomly allocated (1:1) to either usual standard of care alone or usual standard of care plus DMF. The primary outcome was clinical status on day 5 measured on a seven-point ordinal scale. Secondary outcomes were time to sustained improvement in clinical status, time to discharge, day 5 peripheral blood oxygenation, day 5 C-reactive protein, and improvement in day 10 clinical status. Between 2 March 2021 and 18 November 2021, 713 patients were enroled in the DMF evaluation, of whom 356 were randomly allocated to receive usual care plus DMF, and 357 to usual care alone. 95% of patients received corticosteroids as part of routine care. There was no evidence of a beneficial effect of DMF on clinical status at day 5 (common odds ratio of unfavourable outcome 1.12; 95% CI 0.86-1.47; p = 0.40). There was no significant effect of DMF on any secondary outcome

Groundwater Depth Overrides Tree-Species Effects on the Structure of Soil Microbial Communities Involved in Nitrogen Cycling in Plantation Forests

Microbial communities found in soil ecosystems play important roles in decomposing organic materials and recycling nutrients. A clear understanding on how biotic and abiotic factors influence the microbial community and its functional role in ecosystems is fundamental to terrestrial biogeochemistry and plant production. The purpose of this study was to investigate microbial communities and functional genes involved in nitrogen cycling as a function of groundwater depth (deep and shallow), tree species (pine and eucalypt), and season (spring and fall). Soil fungal, bacterial, and archaeal communities were determined by length heterogeneity polymerase chain reaction (LH-PCR). Soil ammonia oxidation archaeal (AOA) amoA gene, ammonia oxidation bacterial (AOB) amoA gene, nitrite oxidoreductase nrxA gene, and denitrifying bacterial narG, nirK, nirS, and nosZ genes were further studied using PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Soil fungal and bacterial communities remained similar between tree species and groundwater depths, respectively, regardless of season. Soil archaeal communities remained similar between tree species but differed between groundwater depths in the spring only. Archaeal amoA for nitrification and bacterial nirK and nosZ genes for denitrification were detected in DGGE, whereas bacterial amoA and nrxA for nitrification and bacterial narG and nirS genes for denitrification were undetectable. The detected nitrification and denitrification communities varied significantly with groundwater depth. There was no significant difference of nitrifying archaeal amoA or denitrifying nirK communities between different tree species regardless of season. The seasonal difference in microbial communities and functional genes involved in nitrogen cycling suggests microorganisms exhibit seasonal dynamics that likely impact relative rates of nitrification and denitrification

Team Based Learning In The Surgery Clerkship Impact On Student Examination Scores Evaluations And Perceptions

OBJECTIVE There is little evidence for effectiveness of team-based learning (TBL) in specialties such as Surgery. We developed and instituted TBLs in surgery clerkship and compared National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Surgery Subject Exam scores before and after implementation. We also analyzed students’ feedback for their perception of TBLs. DESIGN, SETTING, and PARTICIPATNTS The TBLs were transitioned into the curriculum during the 2013-2014 academic year. The “before” and “after” implementation periods were 2011-2013 and 2014-2016, respectively. NBME Surgery Subject Examination scores at our institution and nationally were compared using the independent samples t test. Satisfaction with the clerkship was assessed with Association of American Medical Colleges Graduate Questionnaire data. Student feedback regarding TBL was gathered at the end of each surgery rotation and were analyzed for themes, both positive and negative. RESULTS Mean NBME score was higher at our institution than nationally, both before (77.10 ± 8.75 vs. 75.20 ± 8.95, p = 0.032) and after (74.65 ± 8.0 vs. 73.10 ± 8.55, p = 0.071) TBL implementation. The mean score decreased following TBL implementation at our medical school (77.10 ± 8.75 vs. 74.65 ± 8.00, p = 0.039), but it was also lower nationally (75.20 ± 8.95 vs. 73.10 ± 8.55, p \u3c 0.001). Further, students were more likely to rate the surgery clerkship as “good and/or excellent” on the Association of American Medical Colleges Graduate Questionnaire after TBL implementation (84.6% vs. 73.7%). In qualitative assessment, learners stated that TBLs were informative, helpful in studying for the shelf exam, and viewed them as an opportunity for interactive learning, and thus requested more TBLs. Areas for improvement included reading materials, directions, and organization of sessions. CONCLUSIONS Student perception of TBL into our surgery clerkship has been both positive and provided feedback for improvement. In addition, our medical school graduates have continued to assess their surgery experience as “good” or “excellent” by a large majority. Concurrently, our NBME scores remain above the national mean. We believe our medical students benefit from a well-organized TBL and its active approach to learning during the surgery clerkship with no loss of fundamental surgery knowledge

Team Based Learning In The Surgery Clerkship Impact On Student Examination Scores Evaluations And Perceptions

OBJECTIVE There is little evidence for effectiveness of team-based learning (TBL) in specialties such as Surgery. We developed and instituted TBLs in surgery clerkship and compared National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Surgery Subject Exam scores before and after implementation. We also analyzed students’ feedback for their perception of TBLs. DESIGN, SETTING, and PARTICIPATNTS The TBLs were transitioned into the curriculum during the 2013-2014 academic year. The “before” and “after” implementation periods were 2011-2013 and 2014-2016, respectively. NBME Surgery Subject Examination scores at our institution and nationally were compared using the independent samples t test. Satisfaction with the clerkship was assessed with Association of American Medical Colleges Graduate Questionnaire data. Student feedback regarding TBL was gathered at the end of each surgery rotation and were analyzed for themes, both positive and negative. RESULTS Mean NBME score was higher at our institution than nationally, both before (77.10 ± 8.75 vs. 75.20 ± 8.95, p = 0.032) and after (74.65 ± 8.0 vs. 73.10 ± 8.55, p = 0.071) TBL implementation. The mean score decreased following TBL implementation at our medical school (77.10 ± 8.75 vs. 74.65 ± 8.00, p = 0.039), but it was also lower nationally (75.20 ± 8.95 vs. 73.10 ± 8.55, p \u3c 0.001). Further, students were more likely to rate the surgery clerkship as “good and/or excellent” on the Association of American Medical Colleges Graduate Questionnaire after TBL implementation (84.6% vs. 73.7%). In qualitative assessment, learners stated that TBLs were informative, helpful in studying for the shelf exam, and viewed them as an opportunity for interactive learning, and thus requested more TBLs. Areas for improvement included reading materials, directions, and organization of sessions. CONCLUSIONS Student perception of TBL into our surgery clerkship has been both positive and provided feedback for improvement. In addition, our medical school graduates have continued to assess their surgery experience as “good” or “excellent” by a large majority. Concurrently, our NBME scores remain above the national mean. We believe our medical students benefit from a well-organized TBL and its active approach to learning during the surgery clerkship with no loss of fundamental surgery knowledge