Abstracts From the First Annual Research Day Hosted by the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Novi, Michigan, May 15, 2023.

The Spartan Medical Research Journal (SMRJ) is pleased to publish abstracts from the First Annual Research Day hosted by the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM), held in Novi, Michigan, on May 15, 2023. Sponsored by MSUCOM, the Statewide Campus System (SCS), and Research, Innovation, and Scholarly Engagement (RISE), this event showcased a total of 139 selected research abstracts following a meticulous blinded review by the MSUCOM Research Day Planning Committee and SMRJ editorial staff. These abstracts were subsequently presented at the MSUCOM First Annual Research Day in 2023, with awards for exceptional oral and poster presentations conferred on May 15, 2023. Of the 139 presentations that were ultimately chosen, 45 authors consented and elected to have their abstracts published in SMRJ. The abstracts from 2023 encompass a wide array of contemporary medical and clinical subjects, incorporating a variety of research designs that cover basic science, clinical research, case reports, medical education, and quality improvement. While abstracts offer concise overview of research projects or presentations, they do not permit a comprehensive evaluation of the scientific rigor employed in the respective works. Although these abstracts offer preliminary results that may necessitate further refinement and validation, they serve a vital function in disseminating novel research concepts and advancements in the discipline of medicine. This knowledge-sharing promotes meaningful dialogue among researchers, clinicians, and educators, thereby making a valuable contribution to the collective body of knowledge in the fields of medical sciences and osteopathic medicine. Andrea Amalfitano, DO, PhD Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Professor of Pediatrics, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Professor, BioMolecular Science Gateway Editor-in-Chief, Spartan Medical Research Journal (SMRJ) MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine- Statewide Campus System C. Patricia Obando S., PhD Associate Dean and DIO, Graduate Medical Education Associate Professor- MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine- Statewide Campus System Rana Ismail, PhD, MSc, CPHQ Director of Research Editor, Spartan Medical Research Journal (SMRJ) MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine- Statewide Campus System Francis Akenami, BMLS, PhD, MSc, FIMLS Managing Editor Spartan Medical Research Journal (SMRJ) MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine- Statewide Campus System.

Yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae BYT45 lacking the cation extrusion systems ENA1-5 and NHA1 is suitable for the characterization of TASK-3 potassium channel antagonists.

Finding new potential antagonists of potassium channels is a continuing task. TASK potassium channels operate over a large physiological range of membrane voltages, why they are thought to contribute to the excitability and resting potential of mammalian membrane potentials. Additionally, they are regulated by extracellular stimuli like changes in pH and K+ concentrations. TASK malfunctions are associated with diseases, which makes them popular targets for the search of new antagonists. Identification of channel inhibitors can be a time-consuming and expensive project. Here, we present an easy-to-use and inexpensive yeast system for the expression of the two-pore domain K+ channel TASK-3, and for the characterization of TASK-3 antagonists. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain BYT45 was used to express guinea pig TASK-3. The system allowed the expression and characterization of TASK-3 at variable pH values and K+ concentrations. Three known TASK-3 antagonists have been tested in the BYT45 yeast system: PK-THPP, ZnCl2 and Bupivacaine. Their inhibitory effect on TASK-3 was tested in solid and liquid media assays, and half maximal inhibitory concentrations were estimated. Although the system is less sensitive than more refined systems, the antagonistic activity could be confirmed for all three inhibitors.

THE HUMAN MICROBIOTA: THE ROLE OF MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES IN HEALTH AND DISEASE / La microbiota humana: comunidades microbianas en la salud y en la enfermedad

During the last decade, there has been increasing awareness of the massive number of microorganisms, collectively known as the human microbiota, that are associated with humans. This microbiota outnumbers the host cells by approximately a factor of ten and contains a large repertoire of microbial genome-encoded metabolic processes. The diverse human microbiota and its associated metabolic potential can provide the host with novel functions that can influence host health and disease status in ways that still need to be analyzed. The microbiota varies with age, with features that depend on the body site, host lifestyle and health status. The challenge is therefore to identify and characterize these microbial communities and use this information to learn how they function and how they can influence the host in terms of health and well-being. Here we provide an overview of some of the recent studies involving the human microbiota and about how these communities might affect host health and disease. A special emphasis is given to studies related to tuberculosis, a disease that claims over one million lives each year worldwide and still represents a challenge for control in many countries, including Colombia.

En las últimas décadas ha incrementado nuestro conocimiento sobre la gran cantidad de microorganismos que conviven con nosotros, comunidades que colectivamente se conocen como la microbiota humana. El número de microorganismos que conforman la microbiota supera el número de células del cuerpo humano por un factor de diez aproximadamente y aporta un gran repertorio de genes y procesos metabólicos. La diversidad de la microbiota humana y su potencial metabólico brindan al hospedero una serie de funciones que complementan sus procesos y a su vez pueden influir sobre la salud del ser humano en formas que apenas se empiezan a conocer. La microbiota varía desde el nacimiento hasta la vejez del individuo, con características que dependen del sitio corporal, del estilo de vida y del estado de salud del hospedero. El reto actual es aprovechar el conocimiento derivado de la identificación y caracterización de estas comunidades microbianas para entender cómo funcionan estos microorganismos y cómo pueden influir de forma positiva o negativa sobre la salud del humano. En este documento ofrecemos una revisión general de algunos estudios recientes sobre la microbiota humana y su posible efecto en el hospedero en términos de salud y bienestar. Igualmente, se mencionan estudios sobre microbiota y su posible asociación con la tuberculosis, una enfermedad que todavía cobra más de un millón de vidas anualmente a nivel mundial y cuyo control todavía representa un gran reto en varios países del mundo, incluido Colombia.

Resolution of the direct interaction with and inhibition of the human GLUT1 hexose transporter by resveratrol from its effect on glucose accumulation.

Resveratrol acts as a chemopreventive agent for cancer and as a potential antiobesity and antidiabetic compound, by leading to reduced body fat and improved glucose homeostasis. The exact mechanisms involved in improving hyperglycemic state are not known, but most of the glucose uptake into mammalian cells is facilitated by the GLUT hexose transporters. Resveratrol is structurally similar to isoflavones such as genistein, which inhibit the glucose uptake facilitated by the GLUT1 hexose transporter. Here we examined the direct effects of resveratrol on glucose uptake and accumulation in HL-60 and U-937 leukemic cell lines, which express mainly GLUT1, under conditions that discriminate transport from the intracellular substrate phosphorylation/accumulation. Resveratrol blocks GLUT1-mediated hexose uptake and thereby affects substrate accumulation on these cells. Consequently, we characterized the mechanism involved in inhibition of glucose uptake in human red cells. Resveratrol inhibits glucose exit in human red cells, and the displacement of previously bound cytochalasin B revealed the direct interaction of resveratrol with GLUT1. Resveratrol behaves as a competitive blocker of glucose uptake under zero-trans exit and exchange kinetic assays, but it becomes a mixed noncompetitive blocker when zero-trans entry transport was assayed, suggesting that the binding site for resveratrol lies on the endofacial face of the transporter. We propose that resveratrol interacts directly with the human GLUT1 hexose transporter by binding to an endofacial site and that this interaction inhibits the transport of hexoses across the plasma membrane. This inhibition is distinct from the effect of resveratrol on the intracellular phosphorylation/accumulation of glucose.

The comorbidity of substance abuse and depressive symptoms in Costa Rican adolescents.

Patterns of comorbidity between depressive symptoms and substance use were examined simultaneously in community and clinical-based samples of 5268 Costa Rican adolescents, ages 12-20, through a series of descriptive, ANCOVA and logistic regression analyses. Groups surveyed included high school students, street youth, and youth in treatment for substance abuse problems. Results revealed significant group differences in substance use and significant correlations between depressive symptoms and problems with alcohol and drugs. The association between depressive symptoms and overall substance use involvement was significant for all youth, but strongest for female street youth. Logistic regression analyses revealed that depressive symptoms were associated with increased odds of specific substance use for all three groups, though in the case of street youth and youth in treatment, these associations only were observed in males. Analyses of covariance indicated that problems with drugs and alcohol differed across group and sex. Youth in treatment had more problems with drugs and alcohol than other groups. Among street youth, males had more problems with drugs than females. This study provides a unique cross-cultural perspective on the comorbidity of depression and substance use among youth, and allows for comparative analyses between community and clinical-based participants.

The PACARDO research project: youthful drug involvement in Central America and the Dominican Republic.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the occurrence and school-level clustering of drug involvement among school-attending adolescent youths in each of seven countries in Latin America, drawing upon evidence from the PACARDO research project, a multinational collaborative epidemiological research study. METHODS: During 1999-2000, anonymous self-administered questionnaires on drug involvement and related behaviors were administered to a cross-sectional, nationally representative sample that included a total of 12,797 students in the following seven countries: Costa Rica (n = 1,702), the Dominican Republic (n = 2,023), El Salvador (n = 1,628), Guatemala (n = 2,530), Honduras (n = 1,752), Nicaragua (n = , 419), and Panama (n = 1,743). (The PACARDO name concatenates PA for Panamá, CA for Centroamérica, and RDO for República Dominicana). Estimates for exposure opportunity and actual use of alcohol, tobacco, inhalants, marijuana, cocaine (crack/coca paste), amphetamines and methamphetamines, tranquilizers, ecstasy, and heroin were assessed via responses about questions on age of first chance to try each drug, and first use. Logistic regression models accounting for the complex survey design were used to estimate the associations of interest. RESULTS: Cumulative occurrence estimates for alcohol, tobacco, inhalants, marijuana, and illegal drug use for the overall sample were, respectively: 52%, 29%, 5%, 4%, and 5%. In comparison to females, males were more likely to use alcohol, tobacco, inhalants, marijuana, and illegal drugs; the odds ratio estimates were 1.3, 2.1, 1.6, 4.1, and 3.2, respectively. School-level clustering was noted in all countries for alcohol and tobacco use; it was also noted in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Panama for illegal drug use. CONCLUSIONS: This report sheds new light on adolescent drug experiences in Panama, the five Spanish-heritage countries of Central America, and the Dominican Republic, and presents the first estimates of school-level clustering of youthful drug involvement in these seven countries. Placed in relation to school survey findings from North America and Europe, these estimates indicate lower levels of drug involvement in these seven countries of the Americas. For example, in the United States of America 70% of surveyed youths had tried alcohol and 59% had smoked tobacco. By comparison, in these seven countries, only 51% have tried alcohol and only 29% have smoked tobacco. Future research will help to clarify explanations for the observed variations across different countries of the world. In the meantime, strengthening of school-based and other prevention efforts in the seven-country PACARDO area may help these countries slow the spread of youthful drug involvement, reduce school-level clustering, and avoid the periodic epidemics of illegal drug use that have been experienced in North America.

The PACARDO research project: youthful drug involvement in Central America and the Dominican Republic

OBJETIVO: Estimar el grado en que el consumo de drogas se produce y muestra una concentración en el nivel escolar entre adolescentes que asisten a la escuela en siete países de América Latina. Los datos presentados provienen del proyecto de investigación PACARDO, estudio epidemiológico conjunto multinacional. MÉTODOS: En el período de 1999­2000, se aplicaron cuestionarios anónimos autoadministrados sobre el consumo de drogas y conductas afines a una muestra transversal, representativa de la población nacional, que se compuso de un total de 12 797 estudiantes en los siguientes siete países: Costa Rica (n> 1 702), El Salvador (n> 1 628), Guatemala (n> 2 530), Honduras (n> 1 752), Nicaragua (n> 1 419), República Dominicana (n> 2 023) y Panamá (n> 1 743). (El nombre de PACARDO combina la PA de Panamá, la CA de Centroamérica y la RDO de República Dominicana). Se calcularon las oportunidades de exposición y el consumo de alcohol, tabaco, sustancias inhaladas, marijuana, cocaína (crack/pasta de cocaína), anfetaminas y metaanfetaminas, tranquilizantes, éxtasis y heroína sobre la base de las respuestas dadas a preguntas acerca de la edad en que se tuvo la oportunidad de probar cada una de las drogas, y en que se probó cada una de ellas, por primera vez. Para estimar las asociaciones de interés se aplicaron modelos de regresión logística con arreglo a la complejidad de la encuesta. RESULTADOS: Las siguientes fueron las frecuencias estimadas acumulativas del consumo de alcohol, tabaco, sustancias inhaladas, marijuana y drogas, respectivamente, en toda la muestra: 52%, 29%, 5%, 4% y 5%. Comparados con las mujeres, los varones fueron más propensos a consumir alcohol, tabaco, sustancias inhaladas, marijuana y drogas; las razones de posibilidades estimadas fueron, respectivamente, 1,3; 2,1; 1,6; 4,1 y 3,2. En todos los países se observó una concentración del consumo de alcohol y tabaco en el nivel escolar; el consumo ilegal de drogas también mostró una concentración escolar en Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala y Panamá. CONCLUSIONES: Este informe arroja nueva luz sobre las experiencias de los adolescentes con la droga en Panamá, en los cinco países centroamericanos de tradición española, y en la República Dominicana. En él se presentan las primeras estimaciones del grado en que se concentra en las escuelas el consumo de drogas entre la juventud de estos siete países. Cuando se examinan a la luz de los resultados de encuestas escolares...