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Retinoic Acid, Insulin, And Cycloheximide Alter Glycogen Homeostasis In Differentiating L6 Myoblasts, Aaron Armstrong

Doctoral Dissertations

Glycogen synthesis in skeletal muscle (SM) is responsible for the majority of post-prandial glucose disposal in healthy individuals. In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), compromised skeletal muscle glycogen synthesis contributes to hyperglycemia. L6 rat SM cells can develop insulin resistance with prolonged insulin stimulation and provide an in vitro model for mechanistic dysfunction in glycogen homeostasis. SM glycogen is synthesized by glycogen synthase (GS) in response to insulin stimulation. Canonically, insulin signaling increases GS activity through inhibition of its Ser641 regulator glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) by protein kinase B (AKT). Proximal insulin signaling activates AKT via Ser473 phosphorylation which proceeds …

Switching Palmitoyl And Oleoyl Positions In Sn-2 And Sn-3 Of A Triacylglycerol Led To Differential Body Weight Gain Rates And Hepatic Gene Expressions In Mice Fed A High-Fat Diet, Xinge Hu

Masters Theses

Alterations of triacylglycerol (TAG) are associated with metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. The fatty acyl groups in a TAG molecule determine its characteristics from melting temperature to digestion and absorption. We hypothesize that the TAG fatty acyl position affects the body weight (BW) gain and lipid metabolism in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD, 36 % w/w diet). Six-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to 3 dietary groups, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-oleoylglycerol (PPO), 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-oleoylglycerol (POP), and chow control. The food intake and BW were measured daily during 6 weeks of treatment. The PPO group had significantly higher food intake, caloric …

Metabolism In The Colonocyte: Where Bacteria And Diet Meet, Bohye Park

Doctoral Dissertations

The host-microbiome interaction and the functions of microbial-derived metabolites, including butyrate, are important in colon health. Butyrate is the preferred energy source in colonocytes and has multiple physiological functions in the colon. A metabolic shift in colonocytes toward increased glucose utilization from butyrate oxidation is followed by several critical genetic modifications in cancerous colonocytes. Moreover, it has been suggested that the gut-microbiota composition is influenced by environmental factors, such as diets and the host's physiological status. Therefore, an understanding of the role of colonocyte metabolism toward impacting the host-microbiota commensal relationship would be an important step in understanding the functional …

The Studies Of Effects Of Vitamin A Status On Type 2 Diabetes In Zucker Diabetic Fatty Rats And Retinoic Acid On Glucose Transporter 4 Expression In L6 Cells, Tiannan Wang

Doctoral Dissertations

The epidemic of metabolic diseases such as diabetes has become a public health concern. Previous research data from our lab have shown that vitamin A (VA) status and retinoic acid (RA), a metabolite of VA, contribute to the glucose and lipid metabolism in the body and cells. As the skeletal muscle contributes to metabolic homeostasis, the effects of VA signaling system on its glucose metabolism are worth to be investigated. Here in this dissertation, the following two projects were carried out to study the VA’s role in the control of metabolism. (1) The effects of VA status on the development …

Effects Of N-3 Pufa-Derived Epoxides Combined With Seh Inhibition On Brown Adipose Tissue And Brown Adipocytes In Obesity, Yang Yang

Doctoral Dissertations

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has become a promising target for obesity treatment and prevention. However, effective dietary factors to promote BAT mass and function have not been identified. 17,18-epoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (17,18-EEQ) and 19,20-epoxydocosapentaenoic acid (19,20-EDP) are two prominent epoxy fatty acids (EpFAs) produced from n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), respectively. EpFAs are quickly metabolized to less active diols by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). In this dissertation, the effects of an sEH inhibitor (t-TUCB) (which stabilizes EpFAs) alone or combined with n-3 EpFAs on thermogenic activity in the BAT and brown adipocytes in …

Novel Insights Into The Role Of Pyruvate Kinase M2 In Podocyte Homeostasis And Function, Mohammed Alquraishi

Doctoral Dissertations

Background: Renal diseases are major health concerns and among the top ten leading causes of death in the US. A large number of these diseases are characterized by deterioration in glomerular structure and function, leading to reduced filtration capacity and proteinuria. Glomerulus podocytes are epithelial cells that maintain glomerular integrity and act as a defense mechanism against proteinuria. Recent advances in renal research suggested a novel role of glycolysis and its related enzymes, pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) in particular, in the progression of renal diseases. However, the precise role of PKM2 in podocyte homeostasis and its contribution to glomerular function …

Using A Cognitive Behavioral Approach In Individual Counseling With Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery, Nina Marie Ditommaso

Doctoral Dissertations

Morbid obesity is linked to physical and psychological well-being. Bariatric surgery has shown tremendous success with rapid weight loss in the patient population with morbid obesity. These patients experience issues with weight regain post-surgery, which can be linked to psychological and social factors. Despite this, mental health counseling is rarely offered in bariatric surgery programs. The primary investigator used a six-session Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach in individual counseling with patients following bariatric surgery. The primary investigator used a single case research design to treat four participants. The primary investigator measured the effectiveness of a six-session CBT treatment, assessing for …

Roles Of Select Cytochrome P450 Epoxygenases In Brown Adipogenesis, Katherine Marie Graham

Masters Theses

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has recently emerged as a novel target for obesity treatment and prevention. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) epoxygenases, primarily CYP2J and CYP2C isoforms, produce epoxy fatty acids (EpFAs), which have been suggested to play important roles in the regulation of white adipogenesis and obesity. However, adipocyte-specific expression of CYP epoxygenases has not been extensively analyzed, and the roles of CYP epoxygenases in brown adipogenesis remain unexplored. In this study, we examined mRNA levels of Cyp2j and Cyp2c isoforms during murine and human brown and white adipocyte differentiation and in various adipose tissue depots of high-fat diet (HFD)-fed and …

The Effects Of Retinoic Acid And Insulin On Glycogenesis In Hl1c Hepatoma Cells, Addison J. Bond, Guoxun Chen Dr.

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Food Acquisition Strategies Within Theresienstadt Ghetto: An Analysis Of Oral Testimonies, Jaime L. Marquis

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Breastfeeding Knowledge, Attitudes, Previous Exposure And Future Intention Of Undergraduate Students In Honduras, Mariana Rendon

Masters Theses

Background: In Honduras, over 95% of mothers initiate breastfeeding but less than a third meet the World Health Organization recommendation to exclusively breastfeed through 6 months. Understanding the breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, prior exposure and future intent of young adults may provide significant insight into the relatively low exclusivity rates reported in the Honduran population and may be important targets for future interventions in this population. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore these concepts among young adults in Honduras.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe, identify, and explore any relationships between demographics, breastfeeding …

Pkm2 Influences The Metabolic Fate Of Butyrate In Colorectal Cancer Cells, Megan Louise Pence

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Adult Caregiver Health Literacy And Child Body Mass Index Outcomes In A Childhood Obesity Intervention Program, Natalie Renee Cross

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Secondary Data Analysis: Associations Between Breastfeeding Intention And Accurate Body Size Estimation Among A Female, First-Time College Student Population., Katherine Dabney Powell

Masters Theses

Background: Intentions towards feeding a future child may develop prior to conception. The Theory of Planned Behavior suggests that internal and external factors contribute to behavioral intentions. Among pre- and post-natal populations, negative body image has been identified as a potential barrier to breastfeeding intention. Though negative body image is of concern among young adult females, little is known about how this may relate to future breastfeeding intentions.

Research Objective: To explore possible relationships between intention to breastfeed, accuracy of body size estimation (BSE), and body size satisfaction (BSS) among a sample of freshman undergraduate females, and to identify other …

Butyrate, A Major Bacterial-Derived Metabolite: Understanding Of Butyrate Metabolism In Cancerous Colonocytes, Anna Han

Doctoral Dissertations

The prohibitory effects of dietary fiber in colorectal cancer have been identified, although the detailed mechanism of this beneficial effect remain unclear. Butyrate, a fermentation metabolite of fiber, has anti-cancer properties by inhibiting cell proliferation and increasing cell apoptosis in cancer cells. A major mechanism, whereby butyrate exerts anti-cancer effects in colorectal cancer, is its role as an HDAC inhibitor. Moreover, it has been suggested that the metabolic fate of butyrate is significantly related to its role as an HDAC inhibitor. Therefore, understanding butyrate metabolism in cancerous colonocytes sheds important light on how butyrate has its selective and inhibitory effects …

Beneficial Effects Of Naringenin And Indomethacin On White And Brown Adipocytes, Jamie Ann Kearns

Masters Theses

As obesity continues to grow and medical costs in the United States are estimated at $147 billion annually, novel ways to prevent and treat obesity are needed. One approach is to promote thermogenesis to improve energy balance by increasing the activities of thermogenic brown and beige adipocytes.

Naringenin, a citrus flavanone, has been shown to act as anti-inflammatory and lipid lowering agent as well as activate PPARgamma. However, it is unclear whether it can activate thermogenic activity in white adipocytes, i.e., promote formation of beige adipocytes. Indomethacin (INDO) is an FDA approved drug used to treat pain related to inflammation …

Effect Of Varying Rumen Degradable And Undegradable Protein On Milk Production And Nitrogen Efficiency In Lactating Dairy Cows Under Summer Conditions, Jeffrey D. Kaufman

Masters Theses

The objective is to determine the effect of reducing nitrogen input through feeding low rumen degradable protein (RDP) and rumen undegradable protein (RUP) proportions on milk production, nitrogen efficiency and metabolism in heat-stressed cows. Forty-eight mid-lactating, Holstein cows were assigned to treatments using a randomized block design in a 2x2 factorial arrangement of treatments (n = 12/treatment). Treatments included two levels of RDP (10 and 8%) and two levels of RUP (8 and 6%). From d 1 to 21, a common diet (10% RDP-8% RUP) was fed to cows followed with their respective treatment diets fed from d 22 to …

Development, Implementation And Evaluation Of A Pilot Intervention: Promoting Breast Milk Expression In A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Katherine Marie Bower

Doctoral Dissertations

Background: Very preterm infants receiving breast milk experience better health outcomes compared to formula fed infants. However, these infants often lack the ability to coordinate sucking and swallowing and are unable to breastfeed at delivery. Consequently, mothers of very preterm infants must initiate milk expression. While these mothers demonstrate high milk expression initiation rates, continuation of this behavior until infant discharge from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a significant challenge.Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to gain an understanding of mothers’ experiences expressing milk for their very preterm infants in a Level III NICU and to …

Long-Term Treatment With Insulin And Retinoic Acid Increased Glucose Usage In L6 Muscle Cells Via Glycogenesis, Matthew Ray Goff

Doctoral Dissertations

Skeletal muscle glucose metabolism can affect whole body glucose homeostasis significantly. Vitamin A (VA) plays a role in a number of physiological functions including glucose metabolism. However, its role in skeletal muscle glucose metabolism has not been well established. Insulin controls glucose metabolism in the skeletal muscle via the regulations of glucose uptake, glycogenesis, and glycolysis. We hypothesize that insulin and VA signaling pathways may converge to regulate glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle. Here, the effects of retinoic acid (RA) alone and in combination with insulin on glucose utilization in rat L6 muscle cells were studied. L6 cells were treated …

Farm-To-Preschool In East Tennessee: Evaluation Of A Small-Scale Farmer’S Market At A Childcare Center On Household Fruit And Vegetable Availability And Preschoolers’ Consumption Of Fruits And Vegetables, Jade Morgan Parry

Masters Theses

Background: Most preschool-aged children do not consume an adequate amount of fruits and vegetables (F&V). Accessibility to F&V and parental influence are important factors in determining fruit and vegetable consumption in preschool-aged children. The incorporation of farmer’s markets at childcare centers as part of a farm-to-preschool program provides an opportunity to increase access to F&V and engage parents in supporting positive changes in their children’s dietary behaviors. Gaps in the farm-to-preschool literature include a lack of well-designed intervention trials that include a control group and rigorous evaluation tools.

Methods: This was a pilot study with a quasi-experimental, pre-test, post-test …

An Online Study Of Undergraduates' Knowledge, Awareness, And Attitudes Of Preconception Care, Kelly Jean Crusenberry

Masters Theses

Background: The majority of pregnancies in the United States are unplanned. Health status and health-related behaviors such as poor nutrition, alcohol consumption, and/or tobacco use, occurring prior to conception, have been linked to poor obstetric outcomes for mothers and their offspring, many of which can result in lifelong challenges. Knowledge, awareness, and attitudes can be predictors of health-related behaviors, and preconception care and education may reduce risk of some of these poor obstetric outcomes. Undergraduate students are at an increased risk for many of these risky behaviors and for unplanned pregnancies, as compared to older individuals. However, little is known …

The University Of Tennessee’S Campus Environment: Health Status, Perception, And Its Effect On Health-Related Behaviors, Alexandra L. Otto

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Brown And Beige Adipocytes: Effects Of Inflammation And Nutritional Intervention, Jiyoung Bae

Doctoral Dissertations

Recent findings of brown adipocytes and brown-like or beige adipocytes, capable of dissipating energy as heat, in adult humans have promised new hope for obesity treatment and prevention. Understanding of the regulation of brown and beige adipocytes will provide novel strategies to reach the goal. Pattern recognition receptors (PRR) are responsible for inflammation in adipose tissue, which leads to adipose dysfunction and obesity associated chronic diseases. It has been shown that PRR activation induces inflammation, leading to insulin resistance in white adipocytes and white adipose tissue (WAT). However, the roles of PRR activation in brown adipocytes and brown adipose tissue …

Associations Of Cooking Self-Efficacy And Frequency Of Icook-4h Youth Participants With Dietary Quality And Bmi At Baseline, Amber Donaldson Ford

Masters Theses

Background: With increased obesity has come increased ready-made and fast food consumption and decreased homemade food consumption. Previous studies have shown associations between cooking self-efficacy (SE) and cooking frequency (CF) with dietary quality and weight status. Cooking interventions have shown positive associations with dietary outcomes, such as increased fruit and vegetable intake and decreased fast food consumption. There is still much unknown about SE and CF, especially among youth.

Objective: The objective of this project was to determine baseline SE and CF and the associations with dietary quality and body mass index (BMI) of youth enrolled in iCook 4-H.

Methods: …

The Use Of Videoconferencing For Lactation Consultation: A Cross-Sectional Survey Of Acceptance Among Independent Samples Of Mothers And Infant Fathers/Maternal Partners In The United States, Mona F. Habibi

Doctoral Dissertations

Background: Breastfeeding is a health behavior encouraged by Healthy People 2020. However, an important barrier to breastfeeding is limited access to specialized support if needed. The use of videoconferencing technology to increase access to the relatively small number of professionals trained to manage breastfeeding issues may ultimately assist with increasing breastfeeding duration and exclusivity rates. Understanding the perceived acceptability of videoconferencing technology among potential users is a critical first step in developing effective interventions.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were 1) to assess the relationship between acceptance of remote lactation consultation using videoconferencing and a) acceptance subscales, b) maternal …

Manipulating Adipose Tissue Fatty Acid Oxidation To Reduce Fatness In Broiler Chickens, Tania Emmanuelle Torchon

Masters Theses

Compared to rodents, broiler chickens, those reared for meat, are an attractive model for studies of adipose biology, and obesity development in children. The broiler chicken lacks the gene for uncoupling protein 1, the hallmark for brown adipose tissue making them a useful model to study lipid metabolism in white adipocytes. Two studies were performed to investigate if white adipose tissue had the metabolic ability for fatty acid oxidation (FAO), and to investigate the effects of dietary fatty acids on abdominal fat development of young broiler chickens as a model for childhood obesity. In study one, chickens were fasted for …

The Effect Of Perceived Healthy And Unhealthy Commercials On Intake Of Perceived Healthy And Unhealthy Snack Foods In Normal Weight, College-Aged, Dietary Restrained Women, Seletha Ann Periman

Masters Theses

Background: Exposure to various types of food cues via television commercials may enhance consumption of different foods, particularly in females who engage in cognitive efforts to control food intake (i.e., restrained eaters). However, it is unknown if food-related commercials differing in health perceptions impact on intake of foods with differing health perceptions. This study investigated the effect of viewing “healthy” or “unhealthy” food commercials on intake of “healthy” and “unhealthy” snack foods in healthy weight, dietary-restrained, college-aged women.

Methods: Using a 3 x 2 between-subjects design (factors of commercial type [“healthy” foods, “unhealthy” foods, and non-food-related] and snack food type …

Exploring Connections Between Prenatal Physical Activity And Breastfeeding, Emily Alexandria Tucker

Masters Theses

Women who decide to engage in prenatal physical activity are giving themselves, and their child, an advantage over those who are not physically active during pregnancy; not only are there significant health benefits for mothers, but also there are great benefits for the unborn child. Breastfeeding is another important decision parents make that can impact the future health of their children. There has been extensive research on the benefits of both prenatal physical activity and breastfeeding, but the connection between the two is unclear. The purpose of this grounded theory study was to identify potential connections between factors influencing women’s …

My Painted Plate: Nutrition-Related Art Enhances The Effects Of Nutrition Education, Abby Helene Forman

Masters Theses

Background: A few studies have shown that art–based nutrition education (primarily in the form of theater) can increase nutrition knowledge and change behavior. Little research exists on the use of visual arts in nutrition education programs. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact on children’s nutrition knowledge, self-efficacy, and behavior, of using visual art and differing levels of intensity of art activities in nutrition education.

Methods: The study used a three-armed cluster randomized control trial design with three time points. Children ages 8-12, at 6 different summer camps in Knoxville, Tennessee, attended the My Painted Plate program. …

Nutrition Marketing On The Front-Of-Package: 2007-2014, Ana Elizabeth Hoffmann

Masters Theses

Objective: The objectives of this research were to describe the proportion of packaged foods with front-­‐of package nutrition marketing or marketing to children that were high in saturated fat, sodium, and/or sugar content, and to delineate changes in the proportions of these foods from 2007 to 2014.

Methods: Front-­‐of-­‐pack nutrition marketing, child marketing, and nutrient criteria from the Nutrition Facts Label on all packaged food items in a large Midwestern supermarket were recorded in 2007 (n = 5,500) and again in 2014 (n = 6,324). Products were coded as high/not high in saturated fat, sodium, and/or sugar according to agreed …