A big portion of the forum’s value of connection comes from written health research. The HSHRF Expo displays high school student research dedicated to health, which is an opportunity for peers to learn and connect through words, on a wide scale. The HSHRF encourages students to submit their health research in almost all mediums, such as proposals, literature review posters, abstracts, methodologies, reports, brief manuscripts, original articles, and more.
The HSHRF Expo
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Nepali chaupadi: A Human Rights Case Study
By: Ifra Iyoob, Palm Desert High School
In this research article, I observed the effects of the ancient practice of Nepali chaupadi on women. These effects included dehumanization, denial of education, and impacts on physical and mental health. I also explored as avenues for change.
Reviewing Kazakhstan’s Asbestos Industry As A Case Study On Worldwide Asbestos Consumption And Usage
By: Aleena Bacorro, Winsor School
Mesothelioma is a type of lung cancer that is typically caused by exposure to asbestos. Despite the proven carcinogenic effects of asbestos, many countries still produce, export, and/or import asbestos. In this review, I studied Kazakhstan, one of the world's largest asbestos producers, to better understand why a nation continues to be a part of the global asbestos production industry, and, why the asbestos industry continues to thrive. In order to do so, I read articles, analyzed death rates, and investigated economic trends. Eventually, I learned that the asbestos industry places countries in a vicious cycle where, despite the negative effects of manufacturing asbestos, nations may find that the economic advantages of continuing to export the substance outweigh the costs. The industry has trapped governments into investing in a product that, if left unchecked, can cause a mesothelioma epidemic in communities that do not yet have the means to treat it.
The Effects of antibiotics and natural extracts on the growth of staphylococcus epidermidis
By: Aleena Bacorro, Winsor School
The ultimate goal of this project, no matter the result, was to see if there were alternative, cost-effective, and/or accessible ways to treat bacterial infections that didn't require a doctor's prescription. I always knew I wanted to study Staphylococcus aureus due to its mutation into MRSA, a deadly flesh-eating bacterium. Unfortunately, due to institutional and legal restrictions, I had to substitute S. aureus for S. epidermidis, a non-pathogenic but otherwise identical bacterium. From there, I tried three substances that can be found in a local grocery store against bacitracin, an over-the-counter drug, and mupirocin, a prescription drug. Eventually, it was found that bacitracin, due to antibiotic resistance, was less effective than tea tree oil, one of the tested substances but was just as effective as the other two tested substances, if not a little less. Furthermore, despite mupirocin continuing to be the most effective substance, there is some hope that tea tree oil could be effective as well.
The Status of Breast Cancer Incidence in the United States and Asia
By: Mikayla Chan, Polytechnic School
Breast cancer, historically less common among Asian women compared to Western counterparts, is now on the rise in Asian populations. Recent studies show similar age-specific incidence rates of invasive breast cancer between Asian and US white women, suggesting converging trends. This shift is particularly notable among Asian American women, where breast cancer has become the predominant cancer type. From 1990 to 2014, breast cancer rates rose significantly among most Asian American ethnic groups, driven primarily by increases in ER-positive breast cancer. Factors such as acculturation and length of residence in the US are linked to higher breast cancer risks, with foreign-born Asian women showing lower incidence rates than their US-born counterparts. Lifestyle changes associated with Westernization, such as dietary habits and reproductive behaviors, contribute to the rising incidence.
Emerging Patterns of Breast Cancer Incidence in Asian Americans
By: Mikayla Chan, Polytechnic School
This poster aims to explore the emerging breast cancer rates specifically in Asian American females and share the importance of understanding the heterogeneity of the many Asian ethnicities. It was presented at the 2024 Annual American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) meeting.