Immunohistochemical Analysis of Curcumin's Effects on Brainstem Pathways in Obesity-Induced Hypertension
(Des Moines University 2025)
After menopause, nearly 75% of women experience hypertension, which is associated with obesity and a high-fat diet. However, the molecular mechanisms linking menopause, obesity, and hypertension remains poorly understood. The rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) is a region in the brainstem responsible for regulating the sympathetic tone associated with cardiovascular function, thus it is sometimes referred to as the "pressor region of the medulla". Neurons within this region are primarily excitatory glutamatergic neurons that express N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) on their surface. Phosphorylation of these NMDARs has been shown to increase sympathetic tone, resulting in elevated blood pressure. To date, there are limited data regarding therapeutic interventions that can modulate these molecular mechanisms to reduce blood pressure in post-menopausal and obese individuals. To address this gap, we investigated curcumin, a natural compound derived from turmeric that has well-documented anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Our working hypothesis is that curcumin can attenuate phosphorylation of NMDARs in the RVLM, thereby potentially mitigating hypertension in high-fat diet conditions, particularly in ovariectomized female mice used as our post-menopausal model.
ANKI RESEARCH
(University of Central Florida 2021-2022)
The above video was created to showcase how Anki can be used as an effective studying tool.
When I transferred from Valencia College to UCF, I felt prepared to take any class that came my way. I ambitiously planned to finish my degree within a year after transferring. I quickly realized that I didn't have an efficient study strategy. Combined with the large classes, frequent assignments, and life stressors, I started scoring 70s, 60s, and even 50s on my exams. In my 3rd semester after transferring (in 2017), I realized that my lack of preparation and study techniques set me up for failure, which ultimately led me to withdraw from school. What was initially meant to be a one-semester break turned into two years, during which I gained invaluable healthcare experiences. Although I thoroughly enjoyed working and interacting with people at my daily job, I frequently found myself wishing to return to school to keep seeking the invaluable knowledge I would need to become a medical professional. Fortunately, in 2019 I re-enrolled as a student and began taking classes. I knew I needed a more robust plan of action to succeed in these courses, especially after two years of not being in a traditional classroom setting. After reading more about efficient study techniques for science courses, I came across a flashcard software called Anki. I read anecdotal feedback from medical students claiming that they used this program as their main studying tool. Since previous studying methods proved futile for me, I decided to download Anki. Since then, this program has helped me learn information better, faster, and easier; not only do I remember concepts more efficiently, but I also understand them much better and more in-depth than before. After finding out about this software, I showed it to my friends and classmates, knowing that it may transform their academic life as much as it did for me. During the summer semester of 2021, I showed my Histology professor (Dr. Bradshaw) how I study with Anki. She asked if I was interested in creating a scientific study with it, with the primary goal of answering if Anki can effectively increase exam scores and reduce testing anxiety in Histology classes. We decided to introduce Anki into the class curriculum for the Histology students in the Fall 2021 semester, tracking student performance in the class, exam anxiety levels, and their usage of the program. Several students have expressed their gratitude for introducing them to Anki, and some have reported that they've begun using it for their other classes. At the end of the semester, exam averages increased by approximately 7% compared to previous semesters. Survey data showed that students reported feeling less anxious before taking tests if they used Anki to prepare. I presented the findings of this study at the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC) in February 2022 and the Student Scholar Symposium at UCF in March 2022.
Click here to learn more about this study
TISSUE CULTURE RESEARCH
(Valencia College 2016)
Aseptic Techniques in Aloe humilis Tissue Culture
This NSF-funded research took place in 2016, and focused on finding the best aseptic methods to use for tissue culture experiments. This is important because a sterile environment is absolutely crucial when working with tissue cultures, and cultured samples are easily contaminated if the incorrect decontaminants are utilized. The findings of this research were presented at the Valencia College Research Showcase.
A picture of me with my research mentor Dr. Rick Dexter and the LSAMP program coordinator Vanessa Lopez after presenting my research poster at the Valencia College LSAMP Scholars Showcase.
