Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2003

Mentors: Gretchen S. Stuart, MD, MPHTM
Jeanne S. Sheffield, MD
Department: OB/GYN
Room number: G6.234
Mail Code: 9032
Phone number: (214) 648-7949
E-mail: gretchen.stuart@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: Depo-Provera and Herpes Genitalis

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): Approval pending.

Project Type: Patient-based research.

Brief Description of Project:

Previously published research has indicated the use of Depo-Provera in animals increases the acquisition and shedding of herpes simplex virus (HSV). We propose to evaluate this association in our population.

This will be a case-control study based on interviews with patients in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Intermedidate Care Center (ICC) on the ground floor of Parkland Memorial Hospital. Approximately 70 patient case subjects and 140 control subjects will be interviewed in the ICC regarding contraceptive use, sexual behavior and sexually transmitted diseases. It is anticipated that the interviews will be completed by the end of July 2003, so the student involved can present the findings in abstract form when the summer research period is over.

The student's responsibility will primarily be interviewing subjects in the ICC, and computing data forms with laboratory results and active participation in data analysis.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

1. Kristi Moss: Hepatitis B vaccination in pregnancy (August, 2002-July, 2003).

2. Travis Brown: HIV-1 co-receptor expression and cutaneous immune response to Treponema pallidum (June-August, 2001)

3. Carolyn Lee: Recovery of herpes simplex virus in women undergoing cesarean delivery for genital herpes (June-August, 2000)

4. Ashley Hickman: Knowledge of sexually transmissible diseases in high-risk pregnancy women (June-August, 2000)

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