Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Flax: Food And Fiber, Madeleine K. Charney

Madeleine K. Charney

Highlights the versatile and nutritious flax plant, now cultivated worldwide.

Impact Of Accelerometer Data Processing Decisions On The Sample Size, Wear Time And Physical Activity Level Of A Large Cohort Study, Sarah Kozey Keadle, Eric Shiroma, Patty Freedson, I-Min Lee

Patty S. Freedson

Background Accelerometers objectively assess physical activity (PA) and are currently used in several large-scale epidemiological studies, but there is no consensus for processing the data. This study compared the impact of wear-time assessment methods and using either vertical (V)-axis or vector magnitude (VM) cut-points on accelerometer output. Methods Participants (7,650 women, mean age 71.4 y) were mailed an accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X+), instructed to wear it for 7 days, record dates and times the monitor was worn on a log, and return the monitor and log via mail. Data were processed using three wear-time methods (logs, Troiano or Choi algorithms) and …

Do Black-White Racial Disparities In Breastfeeding Persist In The Military Community?, Jennifer H. Lundquist, Zhun Xu, Wanda Barfield, Irma Elo

Dr. Jennifer H. Lundquist

Objective: We conduct a comparative analysis of breastfeeding behavior between military and civilian-affiliated mothers. Our focus is on African American mothers among whom breastfeeding rates are lowest. The military context may mitigate conditions associated with low breastfeeding prevalence by a) providing stable employment and educational opportunities to populations who face an otherwise poor labor market and b) providing universal healthcare that includes breastfeeding consultation. Methods: Using Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data for which we received special permission from each state to flag military affiliation, we analyze civilians and military affiliate in breastfeeding initiation using logistic regression and breastfeeding …

Predictors Of Discrepancies Between Informants’ Ratings Of Preschool-Aged Children’S Behavior: An Examination Of Ethnicity, Child Characteristics, And Family Functioning, Elizabeth Harvey, Candice Fischer, Julie L. Weieneth, Sara D. Hurwitz, Aline G. Sayer

Elizabeth (Lisa) Harvey

The present study examined predictors of discrepancies between mothers’, fathers’, and teachers’ ratings of 3-year-old children’s hyperactivity, attention problems, and aggression. Participants were families of 196 3-year-old children who took part in child and family assessments. Ethnicity was one of the most consistent predictors of discrepancies. African American mothers and fathers were more likely to rate their children’s hyperactivity, attention problems, and aggression lower than teachers. In contrast, Latina mothers were more likely to rate their children as more hyperactive and inattentive than teachers. ADHD/ODD diagnoses, parental depression, number of children, and children’s pre-academic skills were also predictive of discrepancies …

The Longitudinal Relation Between Academic/Cognitive Skills And Externalizing Behavior Problems In Preschool Children, Lindsay A. Metcalfe, Elizabeth Harvey, Holly B. Laws

Elizabeth (Lisa) Harvey

Objective—Existing research suggests that there is a relation between academic/cognitive deficits and externalizing behavior in young children, but the direction of this relation is unclear. The present study tested competing models of the relation between academic/cognitive functioning and behavior problems during early childhood Method—Participants were 221 children (120 boys, 101 girls) who participated in a longitudinal study from age 3 to 6 Results—A reciprocal relation (Model 3) was observed only between inattention and academic achievement; this relation remained controlling for SES and family stress. The relation between inattention and cognitive ability was consistent with Model 1 (cognitive skills predicting later …

Aging And The Perception Of Temporally-Interleaved Words, Karen S. Helfer, Christine R. Mason, Christine Marino

Karen S Helfer

No abstract provided.

Grammatical Treamtment And Specific Language Impairment: Neighborhood Density & Third Person Singular -S, Jill R. Hoover, Holly L. Storkel

Jill R. Hoover

The purpose of this study was to test the effect of manipulating verb neighbourhood density in treatment targeting the third person singular lexical affix. Using a single-subject experimental design, six pre-schoolers with Specific Language Impairment (SLI) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: (1) treatment with sparse verbs or (2) treatment with dense verbs in 12 sessions. The third person singular lexical affix was targeted for 12 sessions of treatment in both conditions. Treatment gain and generalization were measured as the dependent variables. Third person singular % correct change from pre-treatment to post-treatment was measured using sentence production tasks …

Perturbation Of Brachypodium Distachyon Cellulose Synthase A4 Or 7 Results In Abnormal Cell Walls, Pubudu P. Handakumbura, Dominick A. Matos, Karen S. Osmont, Michael J. Harrington, Kyuyoung Heo, Kabindra Kafle, Seong H. Kim, Tobias Baskin, Samuel P. Hazen

Tobias Baskin

Background: Cellulose is an integral component of the plant cell wall and accounts for approximately forty percent of total plant biomass but understanding its mechanism of synthesis remains elusive. CELLULOSE SYNTHASE A (CESA) proteins function as catalytic subunits of a rosette-shaped complex that synthesizes cellulose at the plasma membrane. Arabidopsis thaliana and rice (Oryza sativa) secondary wall CESA loss-of-function mutants have weak stems and irregular or thin cell walls. Results: Here, we identify candidates for secondary wall CESAs in Brachypodium distachyon as having similar amino acid sequence and expression to those characterized in A. thaliana, namely CESA4/7/8. To functionally characterize …

Modeling Colorectal Cancer As A 3-Dimensional Disease In A Dish: The Case For Drug Screening Using Organoids, Zebrafish, And Fruit Flies, Michele Markstein

Michele Markstein

This review discusses recent shifts in the understanding of colorectal cancer as a stem cell based disease, based on findings that tie patient prognosis to the presence of cancer stem cells in colorectal tumors. Currently no drugs specifically target CSCs in colorectal tumors. However, recent advances in the culturing of colorectal stem cells using mammalian organoids, zebrafish, and Drosophila offer promising avenues for anti-CSC drug discovery.

Oncogenic Transformation Of Mammary Epithelial Cells By Transforming Growth Factor Beta Independent Of Mammary Stem Cell Regulation, Karen Dunphy, Jae-Hong Seo, Daniel J. Kim, Amy L. Roberts, Luwei Tao, James Direnzo, Amanda L. Balboni, Giovanna M. Crisi, Mary J. Hagen, Thiruppavai Chandrasekaran, Kelly J. Gauger, Sallie Smith Schneider, D Joseph Jerry

Karen Dunphy

Background: Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) is transiently increased in the mammary gland during involution and by radiation. While TGFβ normally has a tumour suppressor role, prolonged exposure to TGFβ can induce an oncogenic epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) program in permissive cells and initiate the generation of cancer stem cells. Our objective is to mimic the transient exposure to TGFβ during involution to determine the persistent effects on premalignant mammary epithelium. Method: CDβGeo cells, a transplantable mouse mammary epithelial cell line, were treated in vitro for 14 days with TGFβ (5 ng/ml). The cells were passaged for an additional …

Oncogenic Transformation Of Mammary Epithelial Cells By Transforming Growth Factor Beta Independent Of Mammary Stem Cell Regulation, Karen A. Dunphy, Jae-Hong Seo, Daniel J. Kim, Amy L. Roberts, Luwei Tao, James Direnzo, Amanda L. Balboni, Giovanna M. Crisi, Mary J. Hagen, Thiruppavai Chandrasekaran, Kelly J. Gauger, Sallie Smith Schneider, D. Joseph Jerry

D. Joseph Jerry

Background: Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) is transiently increased in the mammary gland during involution and by radiation. While TGFβ normally has a tumour suppressor role, prolonged exposure to TGFβ can induce an oncogenic epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) program in permissive cells and initiate the generation of cancer stem cells. Our objective is to mimic the transient exposure to TGFβ during involution to determine the persistent effects on premalignant mammary epithelium. Method: CDβGeo cells, a transplantable mouse mammary epithelial cell line, were treated in vitro for 14 days with TGFβ (5 ng/ml). The cells were passaged for an additional …

Racial Disparities In Us Infant Birth Outcomes: A Protective Effect Of Military Affiliation?, Jennifer H. Lundquist

Dr. Jennifer H. Lundquist

Research has been unable to determine why African Americans have higher infant mortality and preterm birth prevalence than whites, even taking into account measurable social and economic differences. This is, in part, due to the difficulty of adequately measuring the impacts of racial inequality and residential segregation. As an alternative approach, this paper comparatively examines infant outcomes among military-affiliated and civilian black and white women. The military setting provides higher-than-average economic equality and universal healthcare access. Although military-affiliated populations are usually left out of most major datasets, we construct a new variable that allows us to identify military affiliation using …

The Interplay Among Preschool Child And Family Factors And The Development Of Odd Symptoms, Elizabeth Harvey, Lindsay A. Metcalfe

Elizabeth (Lisa) Harvey

Objective—The present study examined (a) the interactions between early behavior, early parenting, and early family adversity in predicting later ODD symptoms, and (b) the reciprocal relations between parent functioning and ODD symptoms across the preschool years. Method—Participants were 258 3-year-old children (138 boys and 120 girls) and their parents from diverse backgrounds who participated in a 4-year longitudinal study. Results—Early child behavior, parenting, and family adversity did not significantly interact in the predicted direction. Reciprocal relations between ODD symptoms and parent functioning were observed for maternal and paternal depression, and maternal warmth. Paternal laxness at age 4 predicted ODD symptoms …

Differential Expression Of Cancer Associated Proteins In Breast Milk Based On Age At First Full Term Pregnancy, Wenyi Qin, Ke Zhang, Beth Kliethermes, Rachel L. Ruhlen, Eva P. Browne, Kathleen F. Arcaro, Edward R. Sauter

Kathleen Arcaro

Background: First full term pregnancy (FFTP) completed at a young age has been linked to low long term breast cancer risk, whereas late FFTP pregnancy age confers high long term risk, compared to nulliparity. Our hypothesis was that proteins linked to breast cancer would be differentially expressed in human milk collected at three time points during lactation based on age at FFTP. Methods: We analyzed breast milk from 72 lactating women. Samples were collected within 10 days of the onset of lactation (baseline-BL), two months after lactation started and during breast weaning (W). We measured 16 proteins (11 kallikreins (KLKs), …

Paralemmin-1 Is Over-Expressed In Estrogen-Receptor Positive Breast Cancers, Casey M. Turk, Katerina D. Fagan-Solis, Kristin E. Williams, Joseph M. Gozgit, Sallie Smith-Schneider, Sharon A. Marconi, Christopher N. Otis, Giovanna M. Crisi, Douglas L. Anderton, Manfred W. Kilimann, Kathleen F. Arcaro

Douglas L. Anderton

Background Paralemmin-1 is a phosphoprotein lipid-anchored to the cytoplasmic face of membranes where it functions in membrane dynamics, maintenance of cell shape, and process formation. Expression of paralemmin-1 and its major splice variant (Δ exon 8) as well as the extent of posttranslational modifications are tissue- and development-specific. Paralemmin-1 expression in normal breast and breast cancer tissue has not been described previously. Results Paralemmin-1 mRNA and protein expression was evaluated in ten breast cell lines, 26 primary tumors, and 10 reduction mammoplasty (RM) tissues using real time RT-PCR. Paralemmin-1 splice variants were assessed in tumor and RM tissues using a …

The Prevalence And Identity Of Chlamydia-Specific Ige In Children With Asthma And Other Chronic Respiratory Symptoms, Katir K. Patel, Erica A. Anderson, Paul S. Salva, Wilmore C. Webley

Wilmore C Webley

Background Recent studies have confirmed the presence of viable Chlamydia in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of pediatric patients with airway hyperresponsiveness. While specific IgG and IgM responses to C. pneumoniae are well described, the response and potential contribution of Ag-specific IgE are not known. The current study sought to determine if infection with Chlamydia triggers the production of pathogen-specific IgE in children with chronic respiratory diseases which might contribute to inflammation and pathology.

Methods We obtained BAL fluid and serum from pediatric respiratory disease patients who were generally unresponsive to corticosteroid treatment as well as sera from age-matched control …

A Longitudinal Study Of The Relation Between Depressive Symptomatology And Parenting Practices, Paula A. Errazuriz, Elizabeth Harvey, Dhara A. Thakar

Elizabeth (Lisa) Harvey

This longitudinal study examined whether mothers’ depressive symptomatology predicted parenting practices in a sample of 199 mothers of 3-year-old children with behavior problems who were assessed yearly until age 6. Higher maternal depressive symptoms were associated with higher overreactivity and laxness and lower warmth when children were 6 years old. Higher maternal depressive symptoms were also related to increases in overreactivity across the preschool years. Moreover, depression and parenting practices (overreactivity and laxness) covaried over time within mothers. These results provide evidence of a strong link between maternal depression and parenting during the preschool years.

Effects Of Blocking Developmental Cell Death On Sexually Dimorphic Calbindin Cell Groups In The Preoptic Area And Bed Nucleus Of The Stria Terminalis, Richard F. Gilmore, Megan Varnum, Nancy Forger

Nancy Forger

Background: Calbindin-D28 has been used as a marker for the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN-POA). Males have a distinct cluster of calbindin-immunoreactive (ir) cells in the medial preoptic area (CALB-SDN) that is reduced or absent in females. However, it is not clear whether the sex difference is due to the absolute number of calbindin-ir cells or to cell position (that is, spread), and the cellular mechanisms underlying the sex difference are not known. We examined the number of cells in the CALB-SDN and surrounding regions of C57Bl/6 mice and used mice lacking the pro-death gene, Bax, to …

The Effects Of Aerobic Training And Age On Plasma Sicam-1, G. Many, N. Jenkins, Sarah Witkowski, J. Damsker, J. Hagberg

Sarah Witkowski

Chronic low-grade systemic infl ammation plays a role in the development of cardiovascular (CV) disease. Habitual endurance exercise training reduces the risk of CV disease in part through anti-infl ammatory mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the eff ects of age, endurance training status, and their interaction on pro-infl ammatory plasma cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of CV disease. Subjects were BMI-matched young (25 ± 3 years; endurance trained: n = 9, sedentary: n = 11) and older (62 ± 5 years; endurance-trained: n = 12, sedentary: n = 11) men. Plasma cytokine concentrations were determined by …

The Interface Between Neighborhood Density & Optional Infinitives: Normal Development And Specific Language Impairment, Jill R. Hoover, Holly L. Storkel, Mabel L. Rice

Jill R. Hoover

The effect of neighborhood density on optional infinitives was evaluated for typically developing (TD) children and children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI). Forty children, twenty in each group, completed two production tasks that assessed third person singular production. Half of the sentences in each task presented a dense verb, and half presented a sparse verb. Children's third person singular accuracy was compared across dense and sparse verbs. Results showed that the TD group was significantly less likely to use optional infinitives with dense, rather than sparse verbs. In contrast, the distribution of optional infinitives for the SLI group was independent …

Transient Pharmacologic Lowering Of Aβ Production Prior To Deposition Results In Sustained Reduction Of Amyloid Plaque Pathology, Pritam Das, Christophe Verbeeck, Lisa Minter, Paramita Chakrabarty, Kevin Felsentein, Thomas Kukar, Ghulam Maharvi, Abdul Fauq, Barbara A. Osborne, Todd E. Golde

Lisa Minter

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia among the elderly. Disease modifying therapies targeting Aβ that are in development have been proposed to be more effective if treatment was initiated prior to significant accumulation of Aβ in the brain, but optimal timing of treatment initiation has not been clearly established in the clinic. We compared the efficacy of transient pharmacologic reduction of brain Aβ with a γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI ) for 1–3 months (M) treatment windows in APP Tg2576 mice and subsequent aging of the mice to either 15M or 18M. Results: These data show that reducing …

The Role Of Family Experiences And Adhd In The Early Development Of Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Elizabeth Harvey, Lindsay A. Metcalfe, Sharonne D. Herbert, John H. Fanton

Elizabeth (Lisa) Harvey

Objective—The present study examined the role of family experiences in the early development and maintenance of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms in preschool aged children with behavior problems. Method—Participants were 199 3-year-old children with behavior problems who took part in four annual child and family assessments. Results—Children with behavior problems who were exposed to overreactive parenting practices, maternal depression, marital conflict, and lower family income tended to have more ODD symptoms 3 years later. Moreover, initial changes in paternal overreactivity, and changes in maternal depression corresponded to initial changes in ODD symptoms. Children who met criteria for ADHD at age …

Identifying Important Breast Cancer Control Strategies In Asia, Latin America And The Middle East/North Africa, John Fp. Bridges, Benjamin O. Anderson, Antonio C. Buzaid, Abdul R. Jazieh, Louis W. Niessen, Barri M. Blauvelt, David R. Buchanan

David R Buchanan

Background: Breast cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer death in women worldwide, but global disparities in breast cancer control persist, due to a lack of a comprehensive breast cancer control strategy in many countries. Objectives: To identify and compare the need for breast cancer control strategies in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East/North Africa and to develop a common framework to guide the development of national breast cancer control strategies. Methods: Data were derived from open-ended, semi-structured interviews conducted in 2007 with 221 clinicians, policy makers, and patient advocates; stratified across Asia (n = 97), Latin America …

Calibrating A Novel Multi-Sensor Physical Activity Measurement System, D. John, S. Liu, J. Saski, C. Howe, J. Staudenmayer, R. Gao, Patty Freedson

Patty S. Freedson

Advancing the field of physical activity (PA) monitoring requires the development of innovative multi-sensor measurement systems that are feasible in the free-living environment. The use of novel analytical techniques to combine and process these multiple sensor signals is equally important. This paper, describes a novel multi-sensor ‘Integrated PA Measurement System’ (IMS), the lab-based methodology used to calibrate the IMS, techniques used to predict multiple variables from the sensor signals, and proposes design changes to improve the feasibility of deploying the IMS in the free-living environment. The IMS consists of hip and wrist acceleration sensors, two piezoelectric respiration sensors on the …

Metabolic And Anthropometric Parameters Contribute To Art-Mediated Cd4+ T Cell Recovery In Hiv-1-Infected Individuals: An Observational Study, Andrea S. Foulkes, Livio Azzoni, Cynthia Firnhaber, Xiangfan Yin, Nigel J. Crowther, Deborah Glencross, Denise Lawrie, Wendy Stevens, Emmanouil Papasavvas, Ian Sanne, Luis J. Montaner

Andrea S Foulkes

Background The degree of immune reconstitution achieved in response to suppressive ART is associated with baseline individual characteristics, such as pre-treatment CD4 count, levels of viral replication, cellular activation, choice of treatment regimen and gender. However, the combined effect of these variables on long-term CD4 recovery remains elusive, and no single variable predicts treatment response. We sought to determine if adiposity and molecules associated with lipid metabolism may affect the response to ART and the degree of subsequent immune reconstitution, and to assess their ability to predict CD4 recovery. Methods We studied a cohort of 69 (48 females and 21 …

Radiation Acts On The Microenvironment To Affect Breast Carcinogenesis By Distinct Mechanisms That Decrease Cancer Latency And Affect Tumor Type, Karen Dunphy, D.H. Nguyen, H.A. Oketch-Rabah, I. Illa-Bochaca, F.C. Geyer, J.S. Reis-Filho, J.H. Mao, S.A. Ravani, J. Zavadil, A.D. Borowsky, J.D. Jeryy

Karen Dunphy

Tissue microenvironment is an important determinant of carcinogenesis. We demonstrate that ionizing radiation, a known carcinogen, affects cancer frequency and characteristics by acting on the microenvironment. Using a mammary chimera model in which an irradiated host is transplanted with oncogenic Trp53 null epithelium, we show accelerated development of aggressive tumors whose molecular signatures were distinct from tumors arising in nonirradiated hosts. Molecular and genetic approaches show that TGFβ mediated tumor acceleration. Tumor molecular signatures implicated TGFβ, and genetically reducing TGFβ abrogated the effect on latency. Surprisingly, tumors from irradiated hosts were predominantly estrogen receptor negative. This effect was TGFβ independent …

The Influence Of Part-Word Phonotactic Porbability, Holly L. Storkel, Jill R. Hoover

Jill R. Hoover

The goal of this study was to examine the influence of part-word phonotactic probability/neighborhood density on word learning by preschool children with normal vocabularies that varied in size. Ninety-eight children (age 2 ; 11-6 ; 0) were taught consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) nonwords orthogonally varying in the probability/density of the CV (i.e. body) and VC (i.e. rhyme). Learning was measured via picture naming. Children with the lowest expressive vocabulary scores showed no effect of either CV or VC probability/density, although floor effects could not be ruled out. In contrast, children with low or high expressive vocabulary scores demonstrated sensitivity to part-word probability/density …

Repression Of Mammary Stem/Progenitor Cells By P53 Is Mediated By Notch And Separable From Apoptotic Activity, Karen Dunphy, L. Tao, C. Bigelow, H. Yan, J.D. Jerry

Karen Dunphy

Breast cancer is the most common tumor among women with inherited mutations in the p53 gene (Li-Fraumeni syndrome). The tumors represent the basal-like subtype, which has been suggested to originate from mammary stem/progenitor cells. In mouse mammary epithelium, mammosphere-forming potential was increased with decreased dosage of the gene encoding the p53 tumor suppressor protein (Trp53). Limiting dilution transplantation also showed a 3.3-fold increase in the frequency of long-term regenerative mammary stem cells in Trp53−/− mice. The repression of mammospheres by p53 was apparent despite the absence of apoptotic responses to radiation indicating a dissociation of these two activities of p53. …

Association Between Hiv Replication And Serum Leptin Levels: An Observational Study Of A Cohort Of Hiv-1-Infected South African Women, Livio Azzoni, Nigel J. Crowther, Cynthia Firnhaber, Andrea S. Foulkes

Andrea S Foulkes

Background - Advanced HIV infection can result in lipoatrophy and wasting, even in the absence of ongoing opportunistic infections, suggesting that HIV may directly affect adipose tissue amount and distribution. Methods - We assessed the relationship of fat (measured using anthropometry, DEXA, MRI scans) or markers related to glucose and lipid metabolism with viral load in a cross-sectional sample of 83 antiretroviral-naïve HIV-1-infected South African women. A multivariable linear model was fitted to log10VL to assess the combined effect of these variables. Results - In addition to higher T cell activation, women with viral load greater than the population median …

Aging, Spacial Cues, And Single-Versus Dual-Task Performance In Competing Speech Perception, Karen S. Helfer, Jamie Chevalier, Richard L. Freyman

Karen S Helfer

Older individuals often report difficulty coping in situations with multiple conversations in which they at times need to "tune out" the background speech and at other times seek to monitor competing messages. The present study was designed to simulate this type of interaction by examining the cost of requiring listeners to perform a secondary task in conjunction with understanding a target talker in the presence of competing speech. The ability of younger and older adults to understand a target utterance was measured with and without requiring the listener to also determine how many masking voices were presented time-reversed. Also of …