Life Sciences Commons^™

Influences Of High-Fat Diet And Antrodia Camphorata In Early Life On Intestinal Tumorigensis Later In Life, Ting-Chun Lin

Doctoral Dissertations

Young-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) is a growing public health concern globally due to the increasing prevalence of westernized lifestyles during childhood and adolescence. Meanwhile, there have been reports of health-promoting effects, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, associated with Antrodia camphorata (AC), a unique fungus native to Taiwan. This study aimed to investigate the impact of early-life high-fat diet (HF) and AC supplementation on intestinal tumorigenesis in young adulthood, using APC^1638N mice. Additionally, the study aimed to determine the role of Turicibacter, a probiotic negatively associated with diet-induced obesity, in colorectal tumorigenesis, and to explore the anti-cancer mechanism …

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 …

Bifidobacterial Metabolism Of Fucosylated Human Milk Oligosaccharides Influences Structure And Function Of The Infant Gut Microbiome, Liv R. Dedon

Doctoral Dissertations

Human milk contains human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) that are indigestible and pass intact through the infant gastrointestinal tract where they are available for microbial metabolism. HMOs incorporate the same monosaccharide building blocks but vary structurally in primary sequence of monomeric components. Primary sequences are further diversified by degree of polymerization, branching, and secondary modifications such as fucosylation. Fucosylated HMOs (fHMOs) are highly abundant and can account for over 30% of total HMOs. Infant-colonizing Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis (B. infantis) possesses a specialized gene cluster conveying the ability to metabolize fHMOs. This study presents an in-depth analysis of B. …

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 …

Vitamin A Rich Foods Consumption Of Women And Children From Selected Region In Uganda, Joyce Nankumbi

Doctoral Dissertations

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) remains a public health concern in low- and middle-income countries. Young children and women in the reproductive age group, particularly pregnant and lactating women, continue to experience vitamin A deficiency resulting in the risk of morbidity and mortality. Efforts to combat vitamin A deficiency have been tested with some success especially with school-based vitamin A supplementation programs. However, cost issues and reaching the most vulnerable individuals presents a formidable challenge. Globally, food-based approaches have been identified as a sustainable and effective strategy in improving vitamin A status and alleviating VAD. This dissertation provides an overview of …

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 …

Formation, Characterization, And Utilization Of Multilayer Nanoemulsions In Foods, Jorge L. Muriel Mundo

Doctoral Dissertations

Multilayer coatings have been proposed as a promising nanotechnology for improving the performance of emulsion-based products in numerous research fields. In foods, these multilayer coatings can be used to improve the encapsulation and protection of bioactive ingredients in delivery systems during storage and passage through the gastrointestinal tract (1, 2). Therefore, there is strong interest in understanding the formation, properties, and performance of these novel coatings. Multilayer coatings are formed by layer-by-layer electrostatic deposition of oppositely charged biopolymers, such as proteins and polysaccharides. A better understanding of the formation and properties of biopolymer multilayer coatings could lead to …

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 …

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 …

The Association Of The Inflammatory Potential Of Diet With Inflammation And Depression Among U.S. Adults: Nhanes 2005-2010, Deniz Azarmanesh

Doctoral Dissertations

Depression affects 8% of adults in America. Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression. The economic burden in the U.S. is $83 billion in direct (e.g., pharmaceutical) and indirect costs (e.g., absenteeism from work). The etiology of depression includes non-modifiable (e.g., genetics) and modifiable risk factors (e.g., diet). Depression is concurrent with an increase in inflammatory biomarkers, such as c-reactive protein (CRP). Emerging research suggests that a pro-inflammatory diet may increase odds of experiencing depression. The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) assesses the inflammatory potential of diet. According to our narrative review of the current literature in Chapter …

Improving Chinese Mothers’ Health Literacy: A Wechat Intervention, Qiong Chen

Doctoral Dissertations

The health literacy and eHealth literacy of women during the reproductive age is crucial, as it can affect their health and the health of their children. Promoting health literacy is essential to achieve mothers’ empowerment by improving access to and capacity of using health information effectively. However, functional, interactive, and critical health literacy and eHealth literacy have never been assessed among Chinese women. The first study during this dissertation assessed functional, interactive, and critical health literacy and eHealth literacy among 421 of Chinese mothers with children under 3 years old. The results revealed overall less than optimal level of health …

Multi-Level Barriers To Art Adherence Among Hiv-Infected Women In Rural Eswatini: A Mixed Methods Approach, Nozipho Becker

Doctoral Dissertations

Eswatini has the highest global prevalence of HIV despite universal access to free treatment. Lack of compliance continues to be a significant challenge for HIV care and management programs throughout the country. Studies investigating barriers to antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, particularly in women, who are the most vulnerable to HIV infections, are limited. The disproportionate impact of HIV on women can be attributed to multiple risk factors at the individual, household, and community/structural levels. Women living in rural settings are particularly at risk as a result of socio-cultural and environmental vulnerabilities such as oppressive traditional practices, intimate partner violence, and …

The Prevention Of Obesity-Associated Colorectal Cancer Via Dietary Suppression Of Inflammation-Driven Wnt-Signaling, Jinchao Li

Doctoral Dissertations

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. A number of population studies have established that modifiable lifestyle factors such as obesity plays an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis. In the United States, more than one-third of adults are obese and obesity prevalence rates have no sign of decrease. Therefore, the development of effective strategies to prevent obesity-induced CRC is a public health priority. This study aimed to investigate whether genetic or dietary strategies can prevent obesity-induced CRC and determine the potential molecular mechanisms underlying the prevention effects of these strategies. We used …

Micronutrient Status And Telomere Length In Adult Men And Women., Christy S. Maxwell

Doctoral Dissertations

Background: Telomeres are the noncoding nucleotide sequences at the end of eukaryotic chromosomes, serving to protect DNA during mitotic division. Given their guanine-rich structure, telomeres are highly susceptible to oxidative damage often mediated by inflammation. Recently, telomere attrition and dysfunction have been associated with age-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and certain cancers. Several modifiable risk factors have also been associated with shortened telomere length, including physical inactivity, obesity, stress, smoking, and poor diet. Objective: We examined the relations between vitamin B₁₂ status, folate status, and iron status, relative to telomere length in …

Combination Regimens Using Dietary Components For The Chemoprevention Of Colorectal Cancer And Inflammation, Christina Dimarco-Crook

Doctoral Dissertations

ABSTRACT COMBINATION REGIMENS USING DIETARY COMPONENTS FOR THE CHEMOPREVENTION OF COLORECTAL CANCER AND INFLAMMATION September 2018 CHRISTINA DIMARCO-CROOK, B.S., IMMACULATA UNIVERSITY M.S., DREXEL UNIVERSITY Ph.D., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor Hang Xiao Dietary components have been found to effectively modulate multiple deregulated signaling pathways associated with the initiation and progression of carcinogenesis and inflammation in cellular and animal models. However, clinical studies have shown mixed results when examining the efficacy of individual dietary components, perhaps suggestive of the synergism that exists between multiple components within a particular food and the diet as a whole. Additional research is needed …

Epigenetic Modification Of Vitamin D-Induced Gene Expression In Human Colorectal And Breast Cancer Cell Lines, Sharmin Hossain

Doctoral Dissertations

Epigenetics is the study of the regulation of genes that is not dependent on nucleotide sequence. This may include heritable changes in gene activity and expression but also those that are not heritable. In recent years, epigenetic researchers have made great strides in understanding the molecular mechanisms behind cellular functions in response to diet, exercise, and other lifestyle modifications, like methylation, histone modification etc. It is now known that the epigenome is critical to healthy human development in addition to genetics, and dietary factors can modulate epigenetic alterations in cells. The classic view of cancer etiology is that genetic alterations …

Understanding Food Literacy And Its Use In A Technology-Driven Nutrition Education Program For Adolescents., Catherine A. Wickham

Doctoral Dissertations

One in three adolescents in the U.S. is overweight or obese. The dietary habits of this population are concerning as few meet current dietary recommendations for consuming fruits and vegetables. Equally troubling among this group is the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and the lack of physical activity. Studies that investigate the link between nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors have shown mixed results and new methods to investigate this relationship are needed. Food literacy is a new term that has risen out of the health and nutrition literacy fields. Food literacy seeks to examine the complex relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and …

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 …

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 …

Macronutrients And The Risk Of Premenstrual Syndrome, Serena C. Houghton

Doctoral Dissertations

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects 8-20% of reproductive-aged women, impacting work, family, and social interactions. Limitations in available PMS treatments, including side effects and limited medication efficacy, indicate the need for improved prevention. Modifiable risk factors for prevention of PMS include dietary factors. Several micronutrients have been identified as risk factors, but there has been little evaluation of macronutrients. Thus, the research aim was to examine prospectively whether macronutrient consumption was associated with PMS development among a subset of women enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Study II cohort. Chapter 1 evaluates the association of fat intake and PMS risk. Among 3,638 …

Chemopreventive Effects Of Polymethoxyflavones, Xian Wu

Doctoral Dissertations

Colon cancer is one of the major global public health issues, which severely threatens human health. Polymethoxyflavones (PMFs), a unique class of flavonoids, are abundantly and almost exclusively found in the peel of sweet oranges (Citrus sinensis) and mandarin oranges (Citrus reticulata). Nobiletin (NBT) is a major citrus flavonoid that has shown various health benefits, including anti-inflammation and anti-carcinogenesis. To better understand the chemopreventive effects of NBT, we systematically investigated the inhibitory effects of dietary NBT on colitis-associated colon carcinogenesis in azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-treated mice. We found that oral administration of NBT effectively decreased …

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 …

Association Of Dietary Factors With Menstrual Cycle Characteristics, Radhika Natarajan

Doctoral Dissertations

Abnormal menstrual cycle length, pattern and bleed duration are associated with reduced fecundity and increased risk of miscarriage. The menstrual cycle is governed by the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis, and nutritional factors may affect menstrual characteristics by influencing the HPO axis. Identifying these factors may lead to cost effective ways to improve reproductive outcomes. In a cross-sectional analysis of 164 18- to 30-year-old women, we examined the association of adiposity, dietary fat intake and vitamin D status with menstrual cycle characteristics. Adiposity was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA); dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and fasting venous …

Gestational Diabetes, Infant Feeding Practices, And Early Indicators Of Obesity Risk In A Sample Of Mother-Infant Dyads In The U.S., Kimberly N. Doughty

Doctoral Dissertations

Research suggests that the trajectory to obesity and its associated metabolic disorders begins early in life. Prenatal exposure to maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with increased risk, while breastfeeding is associated with reduced risk. Breastfeeding may influence obesity risk by preventing rapid postnatal weight gain. Mothers with gestational diabetes may not breastfeed as intensely as healthy mothers, potentially exacerbating the risk to their infants. We conducted three distinct investigations related to gestational diabetes, breastfeeding, and infant weight gain. All used data from the U.S. Infant Feeding Practices Study II. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate associations between …

Physicochemical And Toxicological Assessment Of Antimicrobial Ε-Polylysine-Pectin Complexes, Cynthia L. Lopez Pena

Doctoral Dissertations

ε-Polylysine is an appealing FDA-approved, all natural antimicrobial biopolymer effective against a wide range of microorganisms. Its implementation is greatly limited by its strong cationic charge, which has been linked to instability in food systems, perceived astringency and bitterness, and the ability to inhibit lipid digestion. Previous studies have shown that controlled complexation of ε-polylysine with anionic pectin is able to prevent instability and astringency in simplified model food systems, while maintaining the antimicrobial character of polylysine. Isothermal titration calorimetry, micro-electrophoresis, microscopy, and turbidity analyses of the stability of electrostatic pectin-polylysine complexes in the presence of strongly anionic κ-carrageenan, and …

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 …

Exploring Novel Environmental Link To Obesity: Role Of Parabens In Adipogenesis In Vitro And In Vivo, Pan Hu

Doctoral Dissertations

Parabens are a group of alkyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid that include methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and benzylparaben. Paraben esters and their salts are widely used as preservatives in cosmetics, toiletries, food, and pharmaceuticals. Humans are exposed to parabens through the use of such products from dermal contact, ingestion, and inhalation. The extent of the exposure is reflected by the frequent detection of these compounds in urine samples in the general population. Moreover, parabens have been detected in human serum, milk, placental tissues and breast tumor tissues. Parabens have been shown to preserve estrogenic/antiandrogenic effects, and can activate peroxisome proliferator-activated …

Calcium And Leucine Modulation Of Airway Inflammation, Patricia Louise Brown

Doctoral Dissertations

Over the past several decades the prevalence of obesity and asthma have increased in a parallel fashion. Recent studies reported a positive relationship between the two disorders that may in fact be causal. Although the link between obesity and asthma has become widely recognized, the underlying pathophysiological connection is not elucidated. Increased markers of inflammatory and oxidative stress are present in obesity and asthma suggesting the link is immunological. The systemic inflammation observed in obesity may potentially initiate adverse affects in the airways. Previous studies have shown that consumption of dairy foods (rich in calcium and leucine) suppress 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (calcitriol) …