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Wave Goodbye

Can't believe that this is it. Nine months have flown by, and now I hold a masters degree. It was truly a pleasure getting to know each of my classmates and the pharmacology faculty. The last month was filled with presentations and studying for Cell Control exams. I had the pleasure of presenting how both long term- and short term stress can have an impact on memory. In short, acute stressors help enhance memory by mechanisms that are still not quite understood. Conversely, long term stress will have the opposite effect. This is seen in patients with Cushing's disease who often complain of frequent forgetfulness or a lack of memory retention. 
In neuropharmacology, I discussed ketamine’s role in treating PTSD. Ketamine is a drug we encountered several time through out the year. Its main therapeutic action is to act as a sedative for anesthesia. However, subtherapeutic doses have been shown to enhance memory by increasing BDNF leaves which can be reduced from cortisol release. At the  optimal subtherapeutic dose of 15 mg/kg, we see an enhanced reversal of PTSD-like symptoms. Exceeding this dose, on a molecular level there is also a change in gene expression but we begin to see slight sedative effects which suggested that ketamine must be delivered at a specific dose for PTSD treatment.
Lastly, my presentation for environmental signaling, I discussed how decomposition of the postmortem body which has been preserved with formaldehyde causes pollution to the soil and water we consume. The amount of energy spent and the chemicals used for the burial and embalming process alone causes an environmental hazard, and we as a people should find alternative route for burial. More “green” options include shrouded the body with biodegradable materials and opting out of the embalming process to reduce chemicals in the soil or to consider alkaline hydrolysis (a green cremation). 
Although my efforts have come to an end with the pharmacology program, I am definitely not done as I embark on the road less traveled now that MCAT studies will begin to take off. Once again, it has truly been a pleasure and I am grateful to have been afforded this opportunity.

 April hours: 0

 Semester hours: 27

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