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IF Hawaii's young scientists are any example, good things can be expected in health and medicine (not to mention all other fields of science) in the years ahead. Students show
research potentialScience Fair projects include some weighty
investigations into promising medicationsBy Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.comStudents statewide tackled some weighty medical issues at the 45th Hawaii State Science and Engineering Fair the past two days at the Blaisdell Center.
Amanda Garcia, a Kamehameha Schools sophomore interested in forensic pathology, is looking for "a more natural approach" to help her grandfather cope with pain from arthritis.
She said he takes a variety of medicine. "Unfortunately, there is synergy between all the different medicines. He had to go to the hospital."
Hence, her science project: "Kukaepua'a: Anti-inflammatory Properties of Digitaria ciliarus."
Kukaepua'a, or Digitaria ciliarus, is a common weed used in Hawaiian medicine to treat inflammatory ailments such as gout and arthritic joint pain, she said.
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She induced swelling in five groups of mice and tested four different extracts of the plant, applying them topically to the mouse ears, to study the effects.All reduced the swelling, but much more research is needed before any results can help her grandfather, she said. She plans to expand the project for next year's science competition. Her teacher is Nathan Nishimura.
"By Lauren. Me, Myself and I," was the catchy title of an exhibit on cloning by Iolani School sixth-grader Lauren McNally.
Her teacher is Ellen Gaylor, and her mentor is Dr. Thomas Huan. "He told me some stuff about mice and cats and gave me background," she said.
The daughter of Drs. Peter McNally and Donna Yamada, both OB/GYNs, Lauren explored the developments, risks and benefits of cloning.
She favors therapeutic cloning for treatment of diseases but opposes the idea of human cloning. "If you clone someone, there might be certain expectations they may not have," she said.
Lauren, who has a twin brother, Steven, and an older brother, Scot, said she wants to be a doctor but has a lot of other interests right now.
Working with soil nematodes, Liang (Charlie) Wang, a senior at Waiakea High School, Hilo, studied whether antioxidants people are taking to fight diseases might have negative effects.
His exhibit was titled, "Will Excessive Concentrations of Antioxidants Prevent Programmed Cell Death in Caernohabditis elegans?"
He said too many antioxidants may prevent apoptosis, or cell suicide, which is a natural defense against free radicals, an unstable compound often blamed for cell malfunction.
He began his project last July under guidance of his teacher, Jamie Nekoba, and University of Hawaii-Hilo biology professor John Scott. He plans to major in biomedical engineering at college.
"Damnacanthal: Modulator of the Ras Oncogene in Mammalian Tumor Cells" was the tongue-twisting subject of Jill Harunaga's research.
The Kamehameha Schools senior, working with teacher Lawrence Mordan, tested damnacanthal, a chemical in the noni plant root, for effects on the growth of cancer cells.
It worked in culture, she said. "Basically, it's inducing normal morphology on cancer cells." But she can't say it would be effective without greater investigation, she said. "I don't want to put it in the body until I know it won't hurt."
Harunaga said she plans to major in biology in college and is considering medicine as a career, but "I'm keeping my options open."
These are only a few examples of the wide variety of research interests featured in medicine and health, one of many categories at the state science fair.
Exhibits dealt with such problems as anorexia, the amount of tar and nicotine in cigarettes and their effects, whether athleticism has anything to do with the brain's reaction, the effectiveness of children's sunglasses in reducing UV radiation, which fruits and vegetables contain the most vitamin C, diabetes, chiropractic care, how platinum affects cancer, air quality and many other topics.
The Hawaii Academy of Science sponsors the annual fair with contributions from many organizations, businesses and individuals.
In a message to participants, Dr. Edwin Cadman, academy president and dean of the UH medical school, said there were "wonderful examples" of both pure and applied research at the fair, "the result of inquisitive minds."
Hawaii State Science and Engineering Fair