2008 Projects

VI-MED is an interactive computer-simulated hospital environment created in 2007 to enhance nursing student education. The goal of VI-MED is to train students in the application of classroom knowledge in a clinical setting without the attached risk to clinical training. The current version of VI-MED is functional but not yet scalable, and its evaluation and assessment component is primitive. Currently, the focus of the project is redesigning and expanding the system architecture in ways that will allow the addition of new disorders, interventions, and faculty input. This is accomplished by the implementation of a database that includes four main subsystems: a medical encyclopedia of disorders and corresponding interventions, a population model with appropriate demographics for each disorder, a student profile subsystem with logs of each user's games and an evaluation of their performance, and a faculty interaction subsystem through which the disorders encountered by the students can be altered. The results permit educators to reinforce classroom training and evaluate the in-game actions of their students. Overall, this is an upgrade introducing customizability, scalability, and the broadened use of physiological concepts.

In this paper we utilize computational technology, Gromacs and Constraint logic programming (CLP), in determining how Superoxide dimutase (SOD) properly folds and misfolds into a mutated state SOD1. SOD, a protein found in most eukaryotic cells, catalyzes the dismutation of harmful superoxide radicals into peroxides. Its misfolded state is hypothesized to cause familial Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS) due to accumulation of mutated SOD1. We looked at several versions of software such and decided Gromacs for simulation and ECLiPSe for CLP. Gromacs, visually illustrates the protein and confirms laboratory results with its strong analysis tools. ECLiPSe focuses primarily on predicting the protein folded state with its high-level modeling and interfaces to third-party solvers. In a parallel effort, we applied laboratory work to analyze the folding properties of the bovine strain of the protein Cu-Zn Superoxide dismutase (SOD1) through protein degeneration (with guanidine) and applying the lab data towards tertiary models. Tyrosine fluorescence was used to track the progress of SOD folding and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) was used to track the progress of the binding of the two identical SOD chains. Using these two methods reveals whether SOD folds and binds in a single step or whether multiple steps exist. Together, these multiple approaches give us a better understanding of the physical and chemical characteristics of the SOD1 protein along with its folding process.

Seventeen beta-estradiol (estrogen/E2) and progesterone are major sex steroids, which are known to play a key role in early development and growth. In fact, a critical balance between estrogen and progesterone is important to maintain normal body function throughout the human life span. In the uterus, estrogen is known to promote proliferation of endometrial cells. In addition, estrogen also helps to maintain mammary cells in the breast during adulthood. Progesterone contributes to the proliferation of endometrial cells, and therefore maintains and regulates the menstrual cycle. In order to understand the developmental effects of sex steroids and their molecular mechanisms of hormone regulation, we used embryonic stem cells (ESCs) as a model system, which mimic early embryonic development and differentiation. We hypothesized that sex steroids could interfere with ESC proliferation and differentiation. In this study, we investigated estrogen, progesterone, and their anti-hormones ICI and RU486 in ESCs. The preliminary results indicated that both estrogen and progesterone inhibited the proliferation of ESCs in the presence or absence of the anti-hormone. When embryoid bodies (EBs) prepared from ESCs were treated with estrogen, it caused a two-fold increase in proliferation when compared with the control. However, EBs exposed to retinoic acid, a potent teratogen, and treated with progesterone showed 28% greater proliferation of cells when compared to the control. Immunohistochemical analysis showed an increased expression of estrogen receptors in retinoic acid treated EBs by estrogen. Studies are in progress to confirm the results of preliminary studies using immunological and Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) methods. Our studies suggest that ESCs may be used for the investigation of molecular mechanisms of hormone regulation in normal and cancer cells, which may lead to develop novel strategies for treating breast cancer.

Various medical imaging techniques exist to detect the early development of tissue damage. However, a widely commercialized device that can be easily used and is cost-effective is still needed. Through a literature review, we examined ultrasound, microwave tomography, and ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. Out of these techniques, UWB is the most promising since it has the capability to detect small adjustments in dielectric properties, which can change with minor alterations in perfusion and internal pressure. In addition, UWB has the potential to become an easily accessible technology to hospitals. Using a software called FEKO, we attempted to simulate ultra-wideband pulses propagating through computer-modeled tissue layers. However, FEKO is not able to simulate the timed pulses characteristic of UWB. This problem is better suited for the program XFdtd where we recreated our tissue model. Using XFdtd, we want to show that UWB is a novel and viable technique in detecting tissue injury.

Supplemental oxygen is one of the most widely used therapies for people admitted to the hospital. Oxygen therapy helps to maintain the blood oxygen saturation of a patient. Patients on supplemental oxygen span the age groups, from premature infants to seniors suffering from respiratory failure. Oxygen therapy is also frequently used for patients with chronic lung disease who live at home. In fact, one million chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients are currently on supplemental oxygen in the United States. In all cases oxygen delivery is regulated manually by either the patient or caregiver. Currently, no device is available to automatically regulate oxygen flow to a patient. Research has shown that automatic control of oxygen delivery is more effective at maintaining optimal oxygen saturation than manual control. In addition, automatic control of oxygen delivery can ease the workload of nurses and other caregivers. We propose a self-regulating device that adjusts the oxygen flow to a patient based on his or her present oxygen saturation level. The oxygen saturation is measured by pulse oximetry. This measurement is received by a microcontroller which appropriately adjusts the oxygen flow to a patient using an electronic proportional valve. The proposed device is portable, cost effective, and user-friendly; thus it could be widely used in the hospital and at home.