Interdisciplinary – Page 50 – UROP Spring Symposium 2021

Interdisciplinary

Genetic Impact on Low Diversity Microbiomes in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), a term that is used to generalize Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn’s Disease, is a disorder that involves chronic inflammation in the digestive tracts. UC is restricted to the colon, while Crohn’s disease can involve all segments of the GI tract. The pathogenesis of IBD is still unclear but several proposed mechanisms are being investigated which lead to a loss of homeostatic host-microbe interaction in the GI tract. Our study focuses on one of those mechanisms whereby a mutation in a gene that encodes an NADPH oxidase called Duox2 might lead to a loss of host-microbe homeostasis in the gut. In addition, we aim to better understand the possible environmental and hereditary factors that may contribute to IBD. Our study aimed to recruit 100 sibling pairs to take a survey that asked questions about diet, sleep, exercise, and their living environment. One of the siblings had IBD while the other was a control subject. Each sibling pair had a first degree relative with IBD, indicating a possible genetic component (e.g., Duox2 mutation). There was a parallel study conducted in Taiwan to also compare differences in ethnicity. Through our survey, we predicted that results will show trends among families who have IBD. The second phase of the study, identified patients who may be more likely to have a mutation in the Duox2 gene by screening for congenital hypothyroidism known to share a common genetic risk gene in Duox2. By collecting a blood and stool sample from families, we predict that we will be able to better understand the determinants of genetics, environment, and gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of IBD.

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The effect of statins on the progression of Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver due to causes unrelated to excessive alcohol consumption. Around 25% of the global population is affected by NAFLD, with some countries having even higher rates.[1] However, most people with this condition are just suggested to change their lifestyle.[2] Often associated with these underlying causes are cardiovascular disease (CVD) and high cholesterol levels, which the class of drugs known as statins are often prescribed to help treat. Statins have been shown to lead to some liver injury and therefore they have not been a popular medication physicians consider for NAFLD.[3] Thus, the aim of this study will be to explore the impact of statins on treating the progression of NAFLD. While some studies have been performed on the effects of statins on liver disease associated with varying causes,[4] it is not well-known what effect these medications have on the progression of NAFLD. Some have suggested that there is a beneficial effect in reducing the time it takes the disease to progress[5,6] and generally improving liver blood tests,[7] but there are not many systematic reviews synthesizing all recent data. Our goal is to conduct an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of the current literature investigating the effects of statins on NAFLD to determine the consensus on whether these medications do have a beneficial effect in disease progression. To investigate this relationship, we used Cochrane Library, PubMed, and EMBASE to gather all the references, utilizing the Boolean search method to collect the past research studies using all keywords relating to NAFLD and statins. The relevant, qualified studies were then compiled into EndNote X9, and Microsoft Excel and R statistical software were used to conduct a formal meta-analysis (i.e., inclusion of forest plot, funnel plot, etc.). The data is expected to show that statins do help improve the condition of NAFLD patients due to decreasing the build-up of fat and improving NAFLD test scores. The implications of this study will allow for physicians to more easily reject or approve of the use of statins in NAFLD treatment.

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