Ethan
Pang
Sponsor: Padmini Sirish, Ph.D. MED: Int Med Cardiology (davis) Atrial fibrillation (AF) represents one of the most common arrhythmias seen clinically and is associated with a significant increase in morbidity and mortality. One of the main contributors to the pathophysiology for the initiation, progression, and persistence of AF is inflammation. Inflammatory infiltrates and increased serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines have been demonstrated in animal models and patients with AF. AF progression is associated with increased levels of these pro- inflammatory cytokines. Cigarette smoking is associated with an increased risk of AF. Moreover, cigarette smoke is known to increase inflammation and pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α).Therefore, it is of great clinical importance to elucidate the underlying mechanisms contributing to smoking induced inflammation in AF patients. A critical amplifier of inflammation is the NLRP3 inflammasome, which is increased in patients with AF. Here, we identify critical upstream mechanisms leading to NLRP3 inflammasome activation via endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in atrial tissues from AF patients and human induced pluripotent stem cell-atrial cardiomyocytes. These findings reveal important mechanistic insights into possible upstream targets in controlling excessive inflammation due to smoking in AF patients. Developing Anti-Racist Curricula: A Case Study on ADHD in Black Youth
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Ethan Pang
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Current research shows that Black youth face a higher risk of ADHD misdiagnosis than their White counterparts. However, medical professionals' understanding remains limited, and ADHD assessment methods must be evaluated for cultural inclusivity. This study aims to increase pre-health undergraduates' awareness of how racism in medicine and society drives health disparities and how they can advocate against racial injustices. To achieve this, we have integrated Anti-Racist Case Studies into undergraduate physiology courses. These case studies help students apply and broaden their physiology knowledge to real- world healthcare disparities. One such case involves synthesizing research on 1) the neurophysiology of ADHD, 2) the disparity in misdiagnosis rates for Black youth compared to their White counterparts, 3) and the importance of advocating for mental health and social group disparities. We will implement this case in an upper-division physiology course and conduct both quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to measure changes in pre-health students' physiology knowledge, awareness of the prevalence of healthcare disparities, and confidence to advocate for racial justice. We hypothesize that pre-health students will gain a deeper awareness of healthcare disparities and feel empowered to support those most impacted by systemic racism. Investigation of Early-Onset Aggressive Melanoma in Connemara Ponies Anushka Panjwani
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UC Davis / Neuro Physio & Behavior / 2025
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Ethan Pang