7 research outputs found
Effect of PMN Presence on Cancer Vascularization in Colorectal Tumors of Mice
Get PDFUlcerative colitis (UC) is a type of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), where deregulated immune responses promote exacerbated inflammation and formation of ulcers in the large intestine. IBD is also one of the high-risk factors for the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Robust neutrophil infiltration is an important feature of both UC and CRC and in both cases, disease severity is clinically correlated with elevated neutrophil numbers in the tissue. Using a preclinical mouse model of CRC (AOM/DSS) and cell sequencing analyses, the Sumagin Lab found that tumor infiltrating neutrophils promote tumor vascularization by providing metalloproteinase-14 and Osteopontin. To confirm these findings at a protein level, tumor sections from early and advanced murine colon tumors induced by AOM/DSS treatment with and without prior elimination of tumor neutrophils were stained using immunohistochemistry for MMP-14, Spp1 and VEGFa, a known angiogenic factor. While VEGFa upregulation was neutrophil-independent, detailed image analyses revealed neutrophil-dependent induction of OPN expression in the tumor stroma and MMP14 in the tumor center specifically in advance tumors, consistent with the role of these factors in tumor vascularization and the rtole of neutrophils in CRC progression
An Analysis of COVID-19 Stimulus Checks on Food Scarcity During Pre-COVID and Post-COVID Conditions In the United States
Get PDFCOVID-19 has impacted the economy on a global scale through the loss of employment and rapid decline of public health conditions, primarily with the financially vulnerable population. One aspect that has been affected by the pandemic has been food scarcity and the isolation of individuals from grocery stores and other establishments. One proposed solution has been stimulus checks from theUnited States Government that were projected to provide financial relief to be used for living expenses, food, education, healthcare treatments, or other personal matters. This study aims to analyze the impact of the stimulus checks on food scarcity in the United States by analyzing the food scarcity impact on populations in different states during the COVID-19 pandemic by focusing on stimulus check policies to see if there is any correlation. Food scarcity was used as a metric becauseof its inversely proportional relationship with COVID-19 development patterns and its direct relationship to the household income of families and individuals. Using Python libraries and plotting functions, data from the United States Census of Bureau COVID Pulse Household Survey were plotted in specific states for food scarcity percentages from March 2020 to August 2022. Resultsshow that as more stimulus checks were implemented across the pandemic, the percentage of populations in states that were impacted with food insecurity declined as dates continued in the United States as a whole. These results formulate a strong defense for stimulus checks as a method of support towards the United States in their battle to decrease food scarcity percentages as well asbolster COVID-19 relief efforts.https://digitalcommons.imsa.edu/external_student_research/1003/thumbnail.jp
A Comparative Analysis of COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Efforts in India and Mongolia through Data Visualization
Get PDFCOVID-19 vaccine allocation efforts have posed challenges and offered opportunities to alleviate the ongoing pandemic. Nations have employed varying approaches for COVID-19 vaccine distribution; in particular, Mongolia and India have differed in approaches to vaccine allocation efforts. As of June 2021, Mongolia has vaccinated more than 60% of its population, whereas India has only vaccinated about 7.5%. This disparity highlights the need for the present study, which utilizes a mixed-method approach to examine the two countries\u27 vaccine distribution strategies and COVID-19 containment policies from January to July 2021. The study has three major components: 1) policy analysis to highlight core differences between legislative approaches for containment, 2) dissemination of a survey to both nations to assess public perception of vaccine allocation and distribution efforts, and 3) mathematical vaccine modeling to analyze vaccination coverage in both countries. For the survey, 311 responses from India and 307 responses from Mongolia were analyzed using the statistical software JASP and SPSS. Results showed that Mongolian and Indian respondents had similar views regarding vaccine effectiveness, but that country and region influenced whether distance from a vaccination center was an obstacle for getting the vaccine. Policy analysis revealed key factors—such as early response policies, vaccine diplomacy, and resource allocation—had significant implications on the two nations\u27 distribution efforts. Vaccine distribution pipeline modeling was based on the critical vaccination coverage fraction in each country and revealed that India would not have enough doses to achieve critical vaccination coverage at the current rate of administration.https://digitalcommons.imsa.edu/external_student_research/1001/thumbnail.jp
A Comparative Analysis of COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Efforts in India and Mongolia through Data Visualization
Get PDFCOVID-19 vaccine allocation efforts have posed challenges and offered opportunities to alleviate the ongoing pandemic. Nations have employed varying approaches for COVID-19 vaccine distribution; in particular, Mongolia and India have differed in approaches to vaccine allocation efforts. As of June 2021, Mongolia has vaccinated more than 60% of its population, whereas India has only vaccinated about 7.5%. This disparity highlights the need for the present study, which utilizes a mixed-method approach to examine the two countries\u27 vaccine distribution strategies and COVID-19 containment policies from January to July 2021. The study has three major components: 1) policy analysis to highlight core differences between legislative approaches for containment, 2) dissemination of a survey to both nations to assess public perception of vaccine allocation and distribution efforts, and 3) mathematical vaccine modeling to analyze vaccination coverage in both countries. For the survey, 311 responses from India and 307 responses from Mongolia were analyzed using the statistical software JASP and SPSS. Results showed that Mongolian and Indian respondents had similar views regarding vaccine effectiveness, but that country and region influenced whether distance from a vaccination center was an obstacle for getting the vaccine. Policy analysis revealed key factors—such as early response policies, vaccine diplomacy, and resource allocation—had significant implications on the two nations\u27 distribution efforts. Vaccine distribution pipeline modeling was based on the critical vaccination coverage fraction in each country and revealed that India would not have enough doses to achieve critical vaccination coverage at the current rate of administration.https://digitalcommons.imsa.edu/external_student_research/1002/thumbnail.jp
Role of Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors on CMT-93 Wound Healing
No full textMatrix metalloproteinase plays an important role in wound tissue regeneration, altering the wound matrix and mediating important responses to growth including angiogenesis and vasodilation. In specific, MMP2, MMP9, and MMP14 play major roles in wound healing through the regulation of angiogenesis and activation of proangiogenic cytokines as well as regulating the influx of immune cells. To test and see how MMPs affect wound healing, CMT-93s were grown and scratched using a P200 micropipette tip to administer a serum of DMEM complete media, MMP inhibitors (ranging from MMP2, MMP9, and MMP14), and placed in treated 24-well plates. Intervals of 8 to 14 hours were counted and after, images were taken to see how relative wound density and cell migration were affected by different inhibitors. Analysis from Fiji Software revealed that MMP2i (MMP2 inhibitor) was proved to have the greatest cell migration across the wound space as well as high values in relative wound density (the percentage of tissue regenerated compared to the original wound area) followed by MMP9i and MMP14i that had similar data; vehicle subject showed significant data as well. This data demonstrates the effect MMP inhibitors could potentially have on future wound growth in cancerous tissue
