April 17, 2015

A Comparison of Animal Analogues to Human Cadavers for Taphonomic Research

Emily Walberg '15

Experimental studies have been developed to address the decomposition processes of both human and animal models, but limited resources have been put towards clandestine burials. These burials are considered underground or buried graves where an individual is in direct contact with the micro fauna. It has become increasingly difficult to acquire human cadavers to study the progression of decomposition and animal analogues such as porcine (pig), canine (dog), bovine (cow), and ovine (sheep) have been used in their place. This presentation will be reviewing a comparative analysis of the skeletal muscle tissue (SMT) decomposition between ovine, porcine, bovine, and human cadavers in a clandestine environment. The goal of this presentation is to determine if the animal models used by current forensic scientists are appropriate for the parameters they are researching and to what significance these models are similar to human cadavers.

Oral Antioxidant and Omega-3 Supplements as a Treatment for Dry AMD

Paige Hillesheim '15

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of acute vision loss in those over 50 years old, affecting 20-25 million people worldwide. With a rapidly increasing aging population, prevention and treatment of AMD is an increasingly important public health issue. Dry AMD is caused by oxidative stress due to high amounts of free radicals in the back of the eye. This causes gradual damage to the macula which the retina cannot keep up with repairing. Over time, wastes from this stress on the macula cause a buildup of wastes which form plaques on the macula called drusen which obstruct vision. One of the few ways this condition is treated is through the use of antioxidant supplements to counter the occurrence of oxidative stress. This TOZAL study focused on the use of vitamins A, C and E and omega-3 fatty acids to limit the risk of AMD progression while minimizing risks and side effects associated with treatment. Over the course of 24 weeks, 73 patients with dry AMD took the TOZAL supplement 3 times daily, and macular health and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were assessed on weeks 1, 2, 11, and 24. Participants taking the placebo supplement (the standard of care at the time) had an average of 1.5 lines lost over 6 months. However, those taking the TOZAL supplement improved their visual acuity by an average of 0.54 lines (p=0.045). Outcomes measuring overall macular health were not significant, and the most common side effect observed was mild gastrointestinal discomfort caused by taking the supplement without food. No severe side effects were observed. Overall 77% of treatment subjects maintained or improved their baseline acuity with very mild side effects. Though this study did not look into long-term effects, with successful treatment improving visual acuity thus far, the TOZAL supplement could be a new and more effective treatment for those with mild to moderate dry age-related macular degeneration.

Drug Binding Simulation with CYP3A4

Gabe Mast '15

Acetaminophen (APAP) is a common drug prescribed as an analgesic and an antipyretic. Enzymes in the liver are responsible for the metabolism of APAP allowing for clearance of the drug. The primary means of APAP metabolism are through glucuronidation and sulfation, however, some of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) family of enzymes can be involved in its metabolism, specifically CYP 2E1, 1A2 and 3A4. They catalyze the oxidation of APAP which produces N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), a toxic compound. CYP3A4 has a porphyrin ring that contains an iron (Fe) atom in its active site that is important for substrate chelation. The position of APAP within the active site of CYP3A4 has been determined based on the distances of the aromatic protons to the Fe atom, using NMR paramagnetic T1 relaxation. While these distances with respect to the Fe atom are defined, less is known about the amino acid residues involved in APAP binding and oxidation. Using these distances and the docking simulation capabilities of HADDOCK, theoretical APAP-CYP3A4 complexes were calculated. Though visual and comparative analysis, potentially important binding and/or catalytic residues were identified.