Get your research on!

So, I am entering my fifth year as an undergraduate student. I changed my major quite a few times from biology to clinical laboratory sciences to nursing back to general biology. During my turbulent 5 years, I somehow missed the memo that in order to go to enter a science graduate program, one must have research experience. Don't miss out! Undergraduate research is exciting and fulfilling; it is truly the first step to becoming a scientist.

However, getting an undergraduate research opportunity is difficult. How do you obtain the research opportunity that you need to achieve your goals? Unfortunately, it is probably too late for me to obtain a research position. However, if you start early, you can get one. There are some steps that makes this process easier.

1. Talk to your professors

Your professors will never know who you are if you do not introduce yourself to them. When you start your first semester, try to get to know your instructors. They can provide valuable advise and act as your mentor for your college experience. The thing about college is this: a college degree does not necessarily guarentee employment. In order to obtain employment post-graduation, networking with your current instructors is essential. In this economy, getting a position is all about who you know and what you do to get there. Companies are generally not seeking out college graduates; you must meet them on their own turf. Getting in touch with company representatives will be much easier if you establish a solid rapport with your professors.

How do you get to know your professors? Try some of the following techniques.

First of all, sit in the front row. Faculty recognize students who are genuinely paying attention in class. If you are sitting in the front row every day avidly taking notes on their lecture, your professors will notice and become familiar with your face.

Ask questions during class. Its scary to speak out in a big lecture hall, but if you ask questions, your teacher will notice you. Asking questions shows that you are paying attention. Teachers like students that pay attention in class and ask thoughtful questions. They are not just talking to the air; professors want to engage their students. Asking your professor insightful questions shows that you are not just paying attention, but that you are understanding what they are saying and want to know more.

Go to test review sessions. Again, if you are diligently taking notes during non-mandatory review sessions, that shows that you value your grade and want to learn.

Finally, approach your teacher about research opportunities. Odds are, your professor will either be conducting research and may need your help or will know another professor who does. Even if they have no leads on research to offer you, they will still know that you are interested.

So, what are you waiting for? Go out there and get some research experience! But remember, don't get discouraged if you don't succeed the first time you seek out a research opportunity. You have many semesters ahead of you, and by starting early you will get a research opportunity eventually. Persistence is key.

Have you already followed these steps and are still having trouble finding research to work on? Check out some of these great websites with summer research programs for undergraduates:

1. http://biology.uoregon.edu/SPUR/
2. http://www.mayo.edu/mgs/programs/summer-undergraduate-research-fellowship
3. http://www.cse.emory.edu/sciencenet/undergrad/SURE/SURE.html
4. http://www.medschool.lsuhsc.edu/genetics/summer_student_program.aspx

Coffee Shops and Study Carrels

Where do you study?

Studying at home can be difficult. Your bed is right there, all warm and inviting and ready to sleep in. The dog wants to go for a walk. You suddenly feel inspired to cook a gourmet meal for 5 when you have not cooked anything in the past 2 years. Basically, when you are at home, anything seems more appealing than doing homework. 

So what are some good places to study? I find that I work more efficiently around others who are also engaged in studious activities. Get some friends together, and the first person to get all their homework done gets a free coffee from the group. Studying doesn't have to be lame.

I like to study at the coffee shop. Zotz is my personal favorite; its located on Oak street right past the Ra Shop. Check it out. This is the one coffee shop in New Orleans where I can walk in and grab a cup of regular coffee. Their dark roast is the best in the city. Don't forget to tip the barista; they make each and every cup with gothic love. 

The interior of the Zotz is zany and artsy. Once a shotgun double, the building now houses mismatched furniture of all types. Employee drawings decorate the pastry case. One drawing proudly proclaims, "Ask for lemons, because by god, we got 'em!" Local art covers the walls, including photographs, oil paintings, and sculpture. Naked mannequins stare eerily from dark corners. There are dozens of lamps sitting around for customers to grab to illuminate their study materials. Chairs range from old rockers, grammar school chairs, to abandoned car seats. Each table has its own funky vibe. 

What are some of your favorite places to study? Let me know. 

Fun things to do on a college student's budget

All studying and no play makes Jane A. Student a very dull girl. But what fun activities can you engage in when you are already borrowing money to pay for school? Here are some fun times on a budget:

Board game night

Have some friends come by for a board game night. Check that shelf in the junk room at your parent's house; I'll bet you'll unearth a Scrabble box on the top shelf or a Taboo kit in the corner. Set up a tournament using 2 or 3 different games. Or, try my personal favorite, Smart Ass. While playing Smart Ass, the person to shout out the correct answer to the trivia question first wins. It's a great game, and Smart Ass has multiple trivia categories so that everyone can participate. 

Movie screening

Get all dressed up, and have your friends come over for a movie screening. Get popcorn and candy; make a real day of it. Try renting movies from the library; they often have DVDs you can borrow for free. Another great low-budget choice is Red Box or the 5 dollar bin at Walmart. Make it a themed party; watch "The Thin Man", an old black and white film, and get ready for some laughs as you lounge around in posh 1940s clothing. Have a scary movie screening and get your brother to jump out at guests during the scary part. There are many ways to make this fun. 

Video game contest

Hold a Super Mario Smash Brothers or Halo tournament. Play car racing games against one another. Pull out your old DDR pad and start playing again. Try Rock Band.

BYOB house party

Instead of gathering all of your party supplies by yourself, get each guest to bring something. Set up some of the previous activities around your house for your guests to play. Add in activities of your own.

Public art tour

New Orleans has several public art exhibits to see. Visit the NOMA website for a list of art in public places. Take a New Orleans fish tour. Go see some of the new bead poodle statues that have been popping up all over town. See if your university has an art gallery; go see what great work by your peers.

Walk in the park

Go for an old-fashioned nature hike. Look for different bird and butterfly species. Bonus: hiking is a work out, killing two birds with one stone. Read a great book underneath a nice, shady tree. 

Go on a cemetery tour

Bike through natural trails (or the urban jungle if you have no bike trails close to you.)

Play pool

Most pool halls and bars have a pool table that takes 50-75 cents per game. This a great, yet cheap option for fun. One of my favorite bars in Ruston, the Q Stick, used to have free pool every Wednesday  Check for local pool specials in your area.

Play cards

Get out UNO and Old Maid. Play poker for snacks. Play ERS--Egyptian Rats Screw. There are dozens of different card games to choose from. 

Go swimming

Most universities have a swimming pool. Ask your Residential Advisor where it is.

Campus Hide and Seek

Think you're too old to play? A great way to get oriented to a new college campus is to play campus hide and seek. Get a big group together to play, and set parameters (no going inside buildings; main campus only; etc.) It is more fun to play at night when its easier to hide. Get some seniors to play and have them partner with freshman and transfer students. 

Throw a potluck dinner

Have each person contribute a dish, and dinner is served at a reasonable price! Don't have a kitchen to cook it in? I bet your dorm does. Ask your RA where it is.

Dress up

In college, I never get to dress up anymore. Sometimes I dress up just to do it. Get out your old prom dress and get ready for a formal night out with your friends. Do your nails and hair together.

I hope this list helps you get started. Cheers!

Disease Profile: Type I Hypersensitivity Reactions

Have you ever wondered why some of your friends carry around epi pens? What are allergies, anyway?

Allergic reactions, also known as hypersensitivity reactions, are divided into four classes. To sum up, in the case of an allergic reaction, your body's immune system is identifying "self" molecules as "foreign" and firing off an immune attack against its own cells. Most of what we typically think of as "allergic reactions" include those in the first category, type I hypersensitivity. 

 Hypersensitivity Type I

Cases of type 1 hypersensitivity include localized reactions, e.g., allergic rhinitis (hay fever), atopic dermatitis (eczema),  food allergies, hives, and asthma, and systemic reactions, which may lead to life-threatening anaphylaxis.

What Happens at the Cellular Level:

Overview:

An allergic reaction is triggered by exposure to an allergen, which is usually a harmless antigen such as pollen, dust, peanuts, etc. Immunoglobulin Epsilon (IgE) binds to high affinity FC receptors (FcεR1) expressed on mast cells and basophils. Mast cells and basophils degranulate, or release, cytokines (such as histamine) which leads clinical symptoms (hives, asthma attack, swelling, itching…) and in severe cases may cause anaphylactic shock.

In Detail:

In type I hypersensitivity, an individual's immune system responds to an allergen, a small, usually harmless molecule, by identifying it as a pathogen and activating an Immunoglobulin Epsilon (IgE) antibody-mediated immune response.

This reaction occurs in 3 chronological phases, the sensitization phase, the activation phase, and the effector phase.

During the sensitization phase, IgE antibodies are produced in response to an antigenic stimulus and bind to specific receptors on mast cells and basophils. IgE antibody production is T-cell dependent, meaning TH2s (T-Helper Cell type 2) must be present in order for the antibody to be produced.  TH2 cells produce Interleukin 4 (IL-4) and IL-13 cytokines that are essential to activate IgE antibody production. IgE levels appear to be much higher (as many as 10 times) in atopic, or allergic, individuals. TH1 cells usually maintain lower levels of IgEs via secreting interferon gamma (Inf γ).

During the activation phase, IgE antibodies bind to mast cells and/or basophils, causing these cells to release their granules, which contain early mediators―histamine, heparin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), and late mediators―cytokines IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13; leukotrienes; and arachidonic acid.

During the effector phase, the combined pharmacologic effects of these chemicals produce symptoms of an allergic reaction including increased vascular permeability, the constriction of smooth muscle, and an influx of basophils via early and late mediators.

Early mediators of type I hypersensitivity reactions include histamine, heparin, and TNFα. Histamine binds to a variety of cells via H1, H2, and H3 receptors. Histamine binds to H1 on  capillary endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells, causing systemic vasodilation and increased cell permeability which leads to inflammation. Antihistamines, common allergy OTC medications such as Benadryl, Claritin, and Zyrtec, block these H1 receptors to reduce inflammation. Heparin increases blood flow. TNFα increases production of cell adhesion molecules (CAMS) that act on capillary endothelial cells to increase macrophage extravasation from the blood into the infected tissue, furthering inflammation.

Late phase mediators  are released in a second wave of degranulation six to eight hours later. These mediators include cytokines IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, leukotrienes, and arachidonic acid. IL-4 is essential for IgE production, and IL-5 and IL-13 attract other leukocytes, especially basophils, which increase inflammation. Arachidonic acid activates two oxidative pathways, the cyclooxygenase pathway and the lipooxygenase pathway.

In the cyclooxygenase pathway, prostaglandins and thromboxanes are produced which further inflammation, causing bronchial constriction and chemotaxis. Aspirin, ibuprofin, and other antiinflammatory medications work on this pathway to decrease inflammation.

In the lipooxygenase pathway, leukotrienes cause intense smooth muscle contraction, including bronchoconstriction. This pathway is believed to be responsible for most cases of anti-histamine resistant asthma.

TH2 cells are also activated by these late phase mediators, and they will speed up B cell conversion into plasma cells that then release more IgE. TH2 cells also release cytokines that further inflammation by attractin more eosinophils, basophils, and neutrophils to the site of infection. Eosinophils cause major damage to local tissue because they release deadly eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, eosinophil catioonic protein, and major basic protein. All of these chemicals are toxic to the surrounding tissue and stimulate degranulation of any other mast cells in the vicinity, exacerbating the problem.

How do you treat these type I hypersensitivity reactions? Firstly, prevent patient exposure to the allergen. Secondly, pharmacologic interventions may be administered. These include the following:

1.       Inhalers - decrease or prevent mast cell degranulation

2.       Corticosteroids - block many genes in many types of cells, including cytokines from immune cells

3.       Sodium chromoglycate - treats asthma; prevents both the immediate and late phase mediators following bronchial provocation with allergen

4.       Epinephrine - treats the life-threatening symptoms of anaphylaxis by directly reversing the effects of histamine by relaxing smooth muscle and decreasing vascular permeability; stops mast cell degranulation, dilates your bronchioles, reforms tight junctions between capillary endothelial cells, and increases blood pressure.

Patients may also be given desensitization shots, an immunologic intervention, to anergize t cells.

Want more information? Here's a cool video to get you started: 

IgE Mediated Type I Hypersensitivity

Also, check out these webpages:

1. For an academic view, go here: http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/ghaffar/hyper00.htm

2. For a more generalized view, go here: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/136217-overview

The Medical Route:The Take-Home HIV Test

Forrest Gump is one of my favorite movies. Watching Forrest blithely travel through decades of US history certainly has its moments of hilarity. It touches on the Desegregation, the War in Vietnam, and, of course, AIDS. When Forrest goes to visit Jenny at her apartment and learns he has a son, Jenny also mentions that she is ill.

Jenny Curran: Forrest, I'm sick.
Forrest Gump: What, do you have a cough due to a cold?
Jenny Curran: I have some kind virus. And the doctors don't, they don't know what it is. And there isn't anything they can do about it.
Forrest Gump: You could come home with me. Jenny, you and little Forrest could come stay at my house in Greenbow. I'll take care of you if you're sick.
Jenny Curran: Would you marry me, Forrest?
Forrest Gump: [pause] Okay.

Forrest, the loveable character that he is, promises to take care of her. This touching reunion between Forrest and Jenny also subtley conveys the enormity of the creeping AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. AIDS, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, was discovered in 1981 when doctors began to investigate an increase in cases of Karposi's Sarcome, an extremely rare type of cancer, and Pneumocystitis carinii, a rare fungal oppurtunistic infection that causes pneumonia presented. The CDC formed a task force on Karposi's sarcoma and orther rare oppurtunistic infection. At this time, the AIDS stigma grew its first shoot. Dr Curran of the CDC Karposi's Syndrome reportatedly this message to the New York Times in 1981:

"The best evidence against contagion is that no cases have been reported to date outside the homosexual community or in women"

Of course, this statement was wrong. Just a few months later, cases of AIDS were reported in injecting drug users. But the stigma stuck. It lingers even today. Not only is AIDS still associated with members of the GLBT community, misconceptions of HIV transmission linger as well. There are 3 ways an individual can contract AIDS: injection, sexual contact, and maternal-fetal transmission. However, many individuals still believe that AIDS may be transmitted via fomites (toilet seats, bathroom counters, etc.), personal contact (hugging, holding hands, etc.), or simply by living in the same house with an infected individual. These stigmas prevent people from getting tested because they are afraid they will be associated with the disease.

According to the CDC, there are approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. that have HIV and approximately 240,000 of them are unaware of their status. Those who do not know they are HIV positive are disproportionately responsible for the 50,000 new HIV infections that occur each year.

 

Hopefully, the new OraQuick Test will provide the privacy patients desire when getting tested.

The newly-FDA approved over-the-counter test is the only of its kind. How does it work? The user simply swabs the inside of their mouth to test for HIV antibodies. The test delivers results in 20 minutes.

When a person is infected with HIV, their body produces antibodies to help fight the disease. These antibodies recognize specific disease proteins called antigen proteins. These antigen proteins are presented by antigen-presenting plasma cells. T cells recognize these antigen proteins and activate the body’s immune responses. These antibodies circulate through the blood. They can also be found in a fluid in your mouth near the gum line known as oral mucosal transudate (OMT). After the individual swabs an OMT sample, the sample may be tested on an indicator strip for HIV antibodies via an enzyme that binds to them, which results in a color change when positive.

The OraQuick test could decrease the prevalence of new HIV infection simply through patient awareness. However, there is one fly in the ointment. According to a New York Times article on the subject, users have an 8% chance of false positive results. When using this test, be sure to get your results confirmed by a doctor.

Despite this glitch, the test is still an enormous breakthrough. One big reason to get tested is to get AIDS patients on antiviral drugs as soon as possible. According to The New York Times, AIDS/HIV patients placed on retroviral drugs lowers their transmission rate by 96%. This test will also hopefully help more patients receive care.

Undergraduate Opportunity--Send an Original Research Report to the Undergradute Research Community

While I was looking for some insight into how the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) works, I stumbled across the Undergraduate Research Community's website. In addition to a very well-written article on treatment options for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and HIV, I found a community dedicated to publishing undergraduate research articles.

The Undergraduate Research Community (URC) prints an annual research Journal named the Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences. The URC invites students of participating institutions to submit original research reports to their journal in order to match undergradute students with research experience to graduate biology programs. Talk to your school about participating. I know I'll be emailing my department head at UNO. Apparently, if your college of sciences department head agrees, they must email the URC to become affiliated.

If you would rather not talk to teachers--scary, I know--any undergraduate student can sign up as an author on the Council of Undergraduate Research website. Once you fill out a curriculum vitae (a form detailing past research experience and other papers authored), your name, information, and future research reports will be in that registry for graduate school recruiters to see. These recruiters can contact you from there.

The URC also holds an annual research conference for authors to present posters on their original research. So what are you waiting for? Go sign up at the URC's registry and look good for grad school! If nothing else, check out the gold mine of scientific information found in the journal articles. Here are some good ones I thought you might like:

1. Analysis on the Use of siRNA for HIV Treatment: An Investigative Report, Onyedika Moghalu, Alexia Joseph, Duk Hyung, Girum Worku, University of Maryland here

2. The Effect of Gasoline Prices on College Students’ Expenditures Meghan Alford, Sherri Farrell, Centearia Roby, Sheree Staples, Sheri Lokken Worthy*, Mississippi State University here

3. SAT Coaching in Unlikely Places: Offering Achievement Test Preparation to Students with Academic and Economic Need, Tracey Cannova, Mary Beth Schaefer*, St. John’s University here

4. Service Learning: Designing Across the Life Span, Kimber L. Abair, B. Jeanneane Wood*, Jamie Schramski here

5. Apgar Scores and Oxygenation Levels: A Comparison of Vaginal and Cesarean Section Modes of Delivery, Allison Holt, Patricia Ravert*, Brigham Young University here

So go check out those submission guidelines! And now to think about research topics...