Life Sciences Commons^™

The Impact Of Cannabidiol On Intestinal Tumorigenesis: A Pilot Study On Caco-2 Cell, Yingxue Guan

Masters Theses

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite the availability of early diagnosis and treatment options, which could potentially increase the 5-year survival rate, the accessibility of such CRC management measures remains limited due to cost barriers and uneven healthcare infrastructure globally. This underscores an urgent need for effective preventive methods and affordable treatments. Cannabidiol (CBD), a compound derived from cannabis, has garnered attention as a potential natural therapeutic agent. This study investigates the influence of CBD on the serotonin pathway and intestinal tumorigenesis. Serotonin, primarily produced in the intestine, is not only a …

The People's Food Project, Grace Barrett

Masters Theses

The architectural design of spaces offering food assistance has received little to no attention since food pantries emerged in the 1970s. Non-profit food initiatives are often sited quickly with limited resources, producing inadequate spaces unable to fully support a food insecure community, prioritize the experience of users, and create a sense of belonging. The current spaces limit services to merely food distribution. They do not take advantage of the opportunity to expand socioeconomic capital through the power of shared food experiences: growing, cooking, eating, and learning.

This thesis redefines the traditional food pantry model, responding to explorations in psychological comfort …

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 …

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 Efficacy Of Nanoemulsion-Based Delivery Systems To Improve Vitamin D3 Bioaccessibility And Bioavailability, Alagu Selvi Kadappan

Masters Theses

Vitamin D deficiency is an epidemic issue in all age groups in Western countries and that affects both skeletal and non-skeletal functions. Even with the wide application of food fortification, vitamin D deficiency tends to increase continuously. Being hydrophobic in nature, vitamin D has poor solubility; thereby it negatively affects its absorption and bioavailability when compared to other hydrophilic dietary compounds. The need to develop a novel strategy is of greater importance to enhance its bioavailability and thereby improving vitamin D level in the body.

In this study, lipid-based delivery of oil-in-water nanoemulsion (diameter < 200nm) was utilized to improve the bioaccessibility and oral bioavailability of vitamin D₃. First, we examined the …

Dental Topographic Analysis Of Maxillary And Mandibular Phyllostomid Bat Dentitions: Implications For Dietary Prediction In The Fossil Record, Colin Pellegrom

Masters Theses

Mammalian dental anatomy has evolved in accordance with the physical properties of its diet, and multiple features on each tooth have specific functions related to the breakdown of food during mastication and ingestion. Tooth structure is under tight genetic control and much of the anatomical variation in dentition across species is related to adaptation to a specific dietary regime. This diet-dentition relationship can be exploited to reconstruct mammalian diets from fossil specimens through calculation of dental topographic metrics. To date, most studies of dietary reconstruction using dental topography have focused on mandibular molars; thus, this study seeks to test whether …

The Impact Of School Nutrition Education And Physical Education Programs On Weight Status Of Obese Children Aged 5-12 Years, Lamia Alotaibi

Masters Theses

Epidemiological studies indicate that 12.5 million children and adolescents are considered obese (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Obesity is on the rise globally, and while it affects both children and adults, early measures can be taken to reduce the number of children who are obese, and therefore, come into adulthood at a higher risk for obesity-related diseases, such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and sleep apnea. There are many studies in which programs are implemented and tested for effectiveness; therefore, a systematic review of these studies that examine which factors play into overall obesity prevention and health improvements among …

Influences Of Antroquinonol And 4-Acetylantroquinonol B On Inflammatory Tumorigenesis In The Mcf-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line With Or Without Tnf-Α Stimulation, Ting-Chun Lin

Masters Theses

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common cancers among women worldwide that ~25% of new cancer cases diagnosed every year would be BC; moreover, ~15% of cancer deaths per year caused by BC makes it the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. To date, though the cause of a large proportion of BC are still unclear, recent studies have revealed that a supportive breast tissue microenvironment is critical for the development and progression of BC, especially the communication with immune cells within breast tissue. Therefore, breast inflammatory microenvironment is currently received a substantial attention in the …

Adding Increased Value To Strawberry Puree By Adding Xylo-Oligosaccharides To Improve Health, Haochen Dai

Masters Theses

Cancer is a global risk for human wellness and health. Dietary habits could profoundly affect the risk of certain cancer, such as colorectal cancer (CRC) (Platz, 2000). CRC has listed the third leading cancer among male and female in the United States (Stewart, 2014). Surprisingly, the consumption of dietary fiber has an inverse correlation with the mortality of CRC (Song, 2018). However, most Americans do not consume enough dietary fiber to meet the recommended level of dietary fiber intake (Clemens, 2012; Lee-Kwan, 2017). Hence, it is reasonable to increase the nutrient density, i.e., dietary fiber, of current food model. Xylo-oligosaccharides …

Impact Of Bodyweight On Tissue-Specific Folate Status, Genome Wide And Gene-Specific Dna Methylation In Normal Breast Tissues From Premenopausal Women, Armina-Lyn Frederick

Masters Theses

Obesity has reached an epidemic level in the United States. A number of epidemiological studies have established obesity as a critical risk factor for postmenopausal breast cancer (post-BC), whereas a reverse association holds prior to menopause. A significant scientific gap exists in understanding the mechanism(s) underpinning this epidemiological phenomenon, particularly the reverse association between obesity and premenopausal breast cancer (pre-BC). This study aimed to understand how folate metabolism and DNA methylation informs the association between obesity and pre-BC. Fifty normal breast tissue samples were collected from premenopausal women who underwent reduction mammoplasty. We developed and measured the breast tissue folate …

Knowledge, Attitudes And Behaviors Of Traditional Health Practices Among Cambodian Women (15-35 Years) Living In Massachusetts, Nan Dou

Masters Theses

Cambodian immigrants have become a large population group in the United States since late 1970s. Traditional heath practices and alcohol consumption during pregnancy and lactation have both been associated with risks of maternal and child health in previous research. However, these associations have never been investigated in the Cambodian immigrant population. The mechanism for the potential interaction is that the traditional health practice, the use of sraa t’nam, which is an alcohol concoction usually consumed during postpartum period, may increase risks for both mothers and children. Sraa t’nam is the traditional alcohol and drinking alcohol during pregnancy and while …

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 …

The Effects Of Two Different Sports Drinks On Rpe And Finishing Speed Of An Endurance Run In Highly Trained Distance Runners, Matthew J. Feldhake

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a protein-containing sport drink with a traditional non-protein sport drink has on ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and finishing speed of an half marathon. Of the possible factors that would support including protein in a sport drink the primary one was its inhibitory effect on serotonin release in the brain. This could help attenuate perceived exertion, thus allowing individuals to compete at a higher level for longer durations (Davis, Alderson, & Welsh, 2000).

This study was conducted using nine members of the Eastern Illinois University Men's Cross Country team. …

Resolution Of The Nutritional Requirements And Metabolic Profile Of Clostridium Scindens Atcc 35704, A Major Bile Acid-Dehydroxylating Anaerobe In The Human Gut, Rachana Shrestha

Masters Theses

Bile acids (cholate and chenodeoxycholate) are synthesized from cholesterol in the human liver, and secreted in small intestine for food digestion. However, a portion of these primary bile acids is converted in the colon to toxic secondary bile acids, deoxycholate and lithocholate. Secondary bile acid formation is the result of 7α-dehydroxylating anaerobes, and one of the key players in this conversion is Clostridium scindens. Interestingly, little is known about the basic physiology and nutrition of C. scindens. Therefore, the goal of this research was to understand the nutritional requirement, and determine the 7α-dehydroxylation activity and end products from …

Extractable And Non-Extractable Polyphenols From Apples: Potential Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Makenzi Gennette

Masters Theses

With diet being such a huge factor in the development of diseases, emerging research has supported that apple consumption is a promising candidate for disease prevention due to the high phenolic content it possesses. These polyphenols can be found in two forms: extractable polyphenols (EP) and non-extractable polyphenols (NEP). Polyphenols have been shown to have strong anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, but up until this point, most researchers focus on EP fractions, while NEP are neglected. After the EP extraction using acetone and acetic acid (99:1) from the Apple Boost powder, three additional extraction methods were conducted on the remaining powder …

The Role Of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake And Vitamin D In Elevated Systolic Blood Pressure, Amanda Abrams

Masters Theses

High sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake and poor vitamin D status have both been associated with increased risk of elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) in previous research. However, these associations have never been investigated in the same study population, leaving the question of a possible interaction uninvestigated. One potential mechanism for an interaction is that SSB intake may increase serum uric acid (UA) and UA may interfere with utilization of vitamin D. This study examined these relationships in a sample of men and women (n=2,875) aged 20-74 using data collected in the 2003-2006 NHANES survey. No statistically significant association was found …

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 …

Evaluation Of Berry Extracts On Intestinal Digestive Enzymes And Sugar Transporters, Jungbae Ohrenberger

Masters Theses

T2DM is a chronic disease characterized by postprandial hyperglycemia. One of the therapeutic approaches to attenuate hyperglycemia is to inhibit intestinal ɑ-glucosidase enzyme and/or suppress glucose transporters that regulate intestinal glucose transporters such as SGLT1 & GLUT2. Berries rich in polyphenol antioxidants have various health benefits. Although the antidiabetic effects of various berry extracts or berry mixture in pre-clinical and clinical studies, the underlying pathways at the molecular level is still unclear. In this study, we investigated antioxidant and antidiabetic effects of selected berry extracts by determining free radical scavenging activates, Caco-2 intestinal ɑ-glucosidase activity, glucose uptake and the gene …

Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Reduces Fat Accumulation In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Jinning Liu

Masters Theses

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), also known as epigallocatechin-3-gallate, is a polyphenol that is most abundant in tea. It has been shown from many studies that consumption of EGCG can contribute to weight loss, however, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. To determine how EGCG acts to reduce fat, an organism model Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is introduced, which is a useful animal system in exploring crucial biological mechanisms that are readily applicable to humans. In this study, different strains were raised for two days on a diet with or without 100µM and 200µM EGCG treatment: N2 (i.e., wild …

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 …

Utilizing Nutritive Sweeteners To Control Lipid Oxidation In Low Moisture Baked Goods, Samantha Vieira

Masters Theses

In this study, we determined the effect of nutritive sweeteners at 0 to 0.50 moles/kg on lipid oxidation in a model cookie system. Confocal microscopy using Bodipy 493 as a fat soluble dye showed that the fat formed a continuous phase surrounding the starch granules regardless of sugar type. The impact of glucose concentration on lipid oxidation was monitored by lipid hydroperoxides and headspace hexanal during storage at 55°C. Low concentrations of glucose (0.09) were strong inhibitors. At equal molar concentrations, reducing sugars (glucose and fructose) inhibited lipid oxidation, greater than a two months increase in lag phase compared to …

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 …

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 …

Fruit And Vegetable Intake, Attitudes, And Beliefs Of Multicultural Middle School Students In Central Massachusetts, Emily M. Harrington

Masters Theses

High fruit and vegetable (FV) intake is associated with healthy weights and decreased risk of chronic disease. Yet, adolescent FV intakes fall below national recommendations. Few studies involve racial/ethnic minority adolescents in formative research, despite their increased risk of poor FV intake. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to describe the type and frequency of FV intake of urban multicultural young adolescents, and to examine their attitudes and beliefs towards increased consumption of FV. A convenience sample (n=79) of racially diverse (e.g., 31% Hispanic/Latino, 27.4% Black/African American) grade seven students, participated in our study comprised of a self-administered survey …

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: …

Evaluation Of The Springfield Menu Program, Hannah Stenger

Masters Theses

Studies have shown that many low-income and disadvantaged Americans have a poor diet quality, which increases obesity and chronic disease risk. According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, education and income levels of Springfield residents are well below state averages, and racial diversity in Springfield has increased significantly over the past few decades. Springfield’s demographics increase the risk of health disparities in the community, and higher rates of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity are seen in Springfield. To promote healthy eating behaviors among Springfield residents, Mason Square Health Task Force (MSHTF), a Live Well Springfield (LWS) partner, created a …

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 …

Do Increases In Fruit Intake Lead To Substitutive Eating Patterns And Decreases In Overall Energy Intake In Normal Weight Adults?, Shireen Amanda Sobhani

Masters Theses

Background: It is suggested that increasing intake of fruits and vegetables may lead to decreased energy intake via substitution of higher energy-dense foods, such as snack foods (SF; i.e. candy, chips, cookies). This study investigated the impact of increasing fruit (F; grapes) intake, via increased portion size, on SF (potato chips) intake during a meal and whether increases in F intake affected total meal energy intake, via reducing SF intake (substitutive eating), in normal-weight adults. A secondary objective investigated whether the relative reinforcing value (RRV) of SF was a moderator of the substitutive relationship between F and SF.

Methods: Using …

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 …