Investigations into the Current Usage of Microorganisms in Medicine

The aim of this project was to research and understand a variety of novel methods which microorganisms are used in medicine. Investigations led to the knowledge how bacteria, fungi, and viruses are used to treat ailments ranging from colon cancer to malaria. The advanced methods which microbes are used lead one to believe that the ailments which currently harm the human population will one day be preventable

Design for an Axial Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgical Simulation

The AxiaLIF procedure is performed on the lowest level of the lumbar spine, the L5-S1 disc space, which is accessed through a 2 cm surgical incision adjacent to the coccyx. Roughly 1,600 AxiaLIF procedures have been performed in hospitals across the United States (Aryan, H. E. et al., 2008). A biomimetic spinal anatomical model was created that can allow medical professionals to hone their skills performing the AxiaLIF surgery. The model includes the lower spine, highlighting spinal discs L3 through S5, and gives the learner feedback ensuring that the user does not cause any surgical complications. To ensure biomimetic capabilities, materials were tested to see how their mechanical properties compared to those found in an actual patient

SPARC overexpression suppresses radiation-induced HSP27 and induces the collapse of mitochondrial Δψ in neuroblastoma cells

Neuroblastoma is the cause of >15% of cancer-associated mortality in children in the USA. Despite aggressive treatment regimens, the long-term survival rate for these children remains at <40%. The current study demonstrates that secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) suppresses radiation-induced expression of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) in vivo and suppresses mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ) in neuroblastoma cells. In the present study, the overexpression of SPARC in SK-N-BE(2) and NB1691 neuroblastoma cell lines suppresses radiation-induced G2M cell cycle arrest, proliferation, HSP27 expression (in vitro and in vivo) and induces the collapse of the mitochondrial Δψ. Gene ontology analysis demonstrated that the overexpression of SPARC combined with irradiation, induces the expression of dissimilar molecular function genes in SK-N-BE(2) and NB1691 cells, providing evidence of a dissimilar response signaling pathway. These results demonstrate that overexpression of SPARC suppresses radiation-induced HSP27 expression in neuroblastoma cells and the combination of SPARC and radiation induces the expression of protein 21, but suppresses neuroblastoma tumor density in in vivo mouse models. SPARC also induces mitochondrial Δψ collapse in SK-N-BE(2) and NB1691 neuroblastoma cells