Teaching MS3 and MS4 students on their clinical rotations.

James E Van Zandt VA Medical Center

Staffing micro hospitals of LVHN in Macungie and Gilbertsville

Location: ED of Pinnacle Health system, including Harrisburg, Community General, and West Shore hospitals.

I analyzed the transcranial sonography (TCS) data of the substantia nigra (SN) to investigate SN hyperechogenecity as a potential biomarker for tracking early-onset Parkinson's disease progression. I watched the collected TCS video clips for over 20 patients, devised an alternative method for direct marking and measurements of SN planimetric area, and conducted initial statistical analysis on the dataset. I also attended weekly journal club and lab meetings to discuss certain articles relevant to ongoing projects and audited the summer neurobiology class led by Dr. Subramanian and Dr. Quynh Vo. I come back to the lab this summer to continue this project and assist with manuscript writing.

APPRISE is the State Health Insurance Assistance Program created by the PA Department of Aging to help Medicare beneficiaries understand their Medicare and assist them in making sounds decisions regarding insurance benefits. I assisted community outreach events at several senior centers in Dauphin County and enrollment clinics where we helped Medicare beneficiaries select health plans during the Annual Enrollment Period and Special Enrollment periods. I also served as translator to encourage beneficiaries who speak Vietnamese as a primary language to take advantage of APPRISE service.

This program included two components: a three-week long molecular biology and biotechnology course led by Dr. Daniel Romermo and a seven-week of focused research. During the first period, I performed experiments with Tetrahymena to observe the expression, localization of CLASP(a conserved microtubule plus-end tracking protein important in stabilizing the dynamics of microtubule formation) during their vegetative reproduction. I also created a cDNA of CLASP for sequencing.In the second period, I characterized flowering-regulating genes FT and VRN1 in pennycress that underwent vernalization to create an ideal line for use in the field.Techniques involved included primer design, PCR, gel electrophoresis, electroporation, TOPO cloning, traditional cloning, confocal microscopy, restriction digest analysis, genetic transformation with reporter genes, protein and gene BLAST, DNA/RNA extraction and purification, qPCR, and gene sequencing.

Made media, transferred explants and subcultures, and sterilized seeds.