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Increasing Histidyl Dipeptides In Skeletal Muscle Preserves Muscle Mass And Function In Heart Failure., Mamata Hiraman Chaudhari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Heart failure is a systemic disease associated with multiple comorbidities, such as skeletal muscle wasting and cardiopulmonary disease. Muscle wasting in heart failure patients is a severe comorbidity associated with decreased exercise capacity and poor quality of life. Previous reports show that oxidative stress is increased in the skeletal muscle of heart failure patients, which can directly lead to muscle wasting. However, antioxidant intervention in these patients was unable to improve cardiac function and consequently had no effect on muscle wasting. Although oxidative stress is the primary driver of skeletal muscle atrophy, no attempt has been made to examine …

Diabetes And Hypertension Frequencies And Trends In The Health Districts Of Sololá, Alejandro Cerón, Sophie Perfetto, Ana Textor, Sidona Alemayehu, Emilia Alvear Escobar, Adele Beard, Sarah Berson, Rachel Bryant, Jennifer Calzontzi, Rylee Castro, Eva Cress Palencia, Jake Czarnecki, Jordyn Epstein, Nikki Harris, Patience Hinojos, Max Hippisley, Erin House, Jackson Hullett, Nathan Johnson, Amelie King, Saule Lankelyte, Juan Loya, Ashley Mackenzie, Ilana Mighdoll, Molly Morrill, Maria De Jesus Ramos Jimenez, Lilly Teklemedhin, Joseph Trujillo, Lauren Verachtert, Nathan Verachtert, Violet Vreeland, Alex Welch, Jada Wright

Anthropology: Undergraduate Student Scholarship

This report was prepared by the students, Graduate Teaching Assistants, and instructor of “The Social Determination of Health” class taught in the fall of 2025 at the University of Denver. The report was prepared for Dr. Luis Pablo Méndez, of the Vice Ministry of Health Regulation, Surveillance and Control, of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance of Guatemala. The work used the following guiding question: How can available data about service production can be used to inform the planning process for the implementation of the Global Hearts Initiative’s HEARTS technical package in the Distrito de Redes Integradas de …

Optimizing Endothelial Cell Specific Polymersome-Based Atheroprotective Therapies, Ally C. Brawner

All Theses

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the United States and the world. Every year, billions of dollars are spent in the US alone for direct treatments of this disease, especially on prescription medicines like statins. However, these medications have been unable to curtail global mortality rates, partially because they do not target the entirety of atherosclerotic pathophysiology. A key area of this pathophysiology is that atheroprone arteries typically include pro-inflammatory endothelial cells that exhibit decreased levels of apoAI-mediated cholesterol efflux and an increased release of adhesion molecules, such as VCAM-1. The objective of my project …

Defining The Causal Contribution Of The Gut Microbiota To Cardiomyopathy Pathogenesis As A Basis For Developing Microbiome-Targeted Therapies, Xu Shi

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, placing substantial clinical and economic burdens on society. Although advances in therapy have improved patient outcomes, the biological mechanisms that drive HF onset and progression remain incompletely understood. Increasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiota, the trillions of microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract, plays a key role in some forms of heart disease, especially cardiovascular disease. Moreover, gut microbial dysbiosis has been associated with systemic inflammation, metabolic imbalance, and immune dysregulation, all of which contribute to the pathophysiology of HF. Cardiomyopathy, a primary disorder of the heart …

Overview Of Huntington's Disease And Emerging Treatment Strategies: A Narrative Review, Alexis J. Vega, Gabriel V. Hernandez, Pearse A. O'Malley, Connor J. Robin, Amanda N. Parra, Giustino Varrassi, Sahar Shekoohi, Alan D. Kaye

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant, progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by a cytosine-adenine-guanine trinucleotide repeat expansion in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. The symptoms of HD include severe motor dysfunction, cognitive issues, and emotional dysregulation. These combined issues are not only debilitating but also lead to depression/anxiety, increased suicide rates, and caregiver burnout. Our narrative review summarizes several recent studies examining the efficacy and differences among emerging treatment strategies for HD. A systematic search of peer-reviewed literature was conducted, focusing on recent studies that describe molecular genetic manipulation of the HTT gene/huntingtin protein. The results of our narrative review reveal …

Impact Of Intravenous Drug Use On Neck Abscess Outcomes: 30-Day Readmission & 5-Year Survival Rates, Elliott Sina, Bryce Hambach, Eric Mastrolonardo, Sruti Tekumalla, Meghan Crippen, Richard A. Goldman

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: Injection drug use (IDU) is a known risk factor for neck abscesses, often requiring urgent surgical intervention by acute-care Otolaryngologists. However, data on the prevalence and long-term outcomes of IDU-related neck abscesses are limited. This study investigates differences in 30-day readmission rates and 5-year all-cause mortality between patients with and without a history of IDU hospitalized for neck abscesses.

METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study utilizing the TriNetX national clinical database. Patients hospitalized for neck abscesses (ICD-10: L02.11) were categorized into two cohorts: IDU (current/previous) and non-IDU. Demographics, 30-day readmission rates, and 5-year survival were analyzed. 1:1 Propensity …

Phosphorylation At S1288 Of Leukemia Associated Rhogef (Larg/Arhgef12) Induces Plasma Membrane Localization And Promotes Binding And Activation Of Rhoa, Won Seok Yang, Neda Z. Ghanem, Steven D. Scahill, Maisel J. Caliva, Hannah Röttig, Annika Fitz, Michelle L. Matter, Joe W. Ramos

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Leukemia-associated RhoGEF (LARG) is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) known for its specificity toward Ras homolog family member A (RhoA). LARG plays a crucial regulatory role in various cellular processes such as migration, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis by facilitating the exchange of GDP to GTP on RhoA. Phosphorylation of LARG at S1288 by ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (RSK2) promotes RhoA activation. However, the precise mechanism remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate the essential role and mechanism by which S1288 phosphorylation facilitates LARG-mediated invasiveness in response to epidermal growth factor (EGF). Upon EGF stimulation, RSK2 phosphorylates LARG at S1288, thereby promoting …

Dna Methylation Markers Of Insulin Resistance Surrogate Measures In The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities (Aric) Study, Jeewoen Shin, Jan Bressler, Megan L Grove, Michael Brown, Elizabeth Selvin, James S Pankow, Myriam Fornage, Alanna C Morrison, Chloé Sarnowski

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Insulin resistance (IR) is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Associations between DNA methylation (DNAm) and IR have been less studied in African ancestry (AA) populations than those of European ancestry (EA). We aimed to identify associations between whole blood DNAm and IR in up to 1,811 AA and 964 EA participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. We quantified IR using three surrogate measures: the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG), and the triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI). We used ancestry-stratified linear regression models to conduct epigenome-wide association …

Health Outcomes Of Sarcopenia: A Consensus Report By The Outcome Working Group Of The Global Leadership Initiative In Sarcopenia (Glis), Charlotte Beaudart, Julian Alcazar, Ivan Aprahamian, John A. Batsis, Yosuke Yamada, Carla M. Prado, Jean Yves Reginster, Dolores Sanchez-Rodriguez, Wee Shiong Lim, Marc Sim, Stephan Von Haehling, Jean Woo, Gustavo Duque

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The Global Leadership Initiative in Sarcopenia (GLIS) aims to standardize the definition and diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia into one unifying, common classification. Among other actions to achieve this objective, the GLIS has organized three different working groups (WGs), with the WG on outcomes of sarcopenia focusing on reporting its health outcomes to be measured in clinical practice once a diagnosis has been established. This includes sarcopenia definitions that better predict health outcomes, the preferred tools for measuring these outcomes, and the cutoffs defining normal and abnormal values. The present article synthesizes discussions and conclusions from this WG, composed of 13 …

Is Maternal Diabetes During Pregnancy Associated With Neurodevelopmental, Cognitive And Behavioural Outcomes In Children? Insights From Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis In Ten Birth Cohorts, Rachelle A. Pretorius, Demetris Avraam, Mònica Guxens, Jordi Julvez, Jennifer R. Harris, Johanna Thorbjornsrud Nader, Tim Cadman, Ahmed Elhakeem, Katrine Strandberg-Larsen, Hanan El Marroun, Serena Defina, Tiffany C. Yang, Rosie Mceachan, John Wright, Jesús Ibarluzea, Loreto Santa-Marina, Juana Mari Delgado, Marisa Rebagliato, Marie Aline Charles, Chloe Vainqueur, Silvia Maritano, Daniela Zugna, Wen Lun Yuan, Barbara Heude, Rae Chi Huang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Growing evidence shows that dysregulated metabolic intrauterine environments can affect offspring’s neurodevelopment and behaviour. However, the results of individual cohort studies have been inconsistent. We aimed to investigate the association between maternal diabetes before pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with neurodevelopmental, cognitive and behavioural outcomes in children. Methods: Harmonised data from > 200 000 mother-child pairs across ten birth cohorts in Europe and Australia were available. Mother-child pairs were included for analysis to determine whether GDM was recorded (yes or no) and whether at least one neurodevelopmental, cognitive and behavioural outcome was available in children aged 3 to 13 …

Exercise For Postmenopausal Bone Health – Can We Raise The Bar?, Shejil Kumar, Cassandra Smith, Roderick J. Clifton-Bligh, Belinda R. Beck, Christian M. Girgis

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose of Review: This review summarises the latest evidence on effects of exercise on falls prevention, bone mineral density (BMD) and fragility fracture risk in postmenopausal women, explores hypotheses underpinning exercise-mediated effects on BMD and sheds light on innovative concepts to better understand and harness the skeletal benefits of exercise. Recent Findings: Multimodal exercise programs incorporating challenging balance exercises can prevent falls. Emerging clinical trial evidence indicates supervised progressive high-intensity resistance and impact training (HiRIT) is efficacious in increasing lumbar spine BMD and is safe and well-tolerated in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis/osteopenia. There remains uncertainty regarding durability of this load-induced …

Interpretive Prediction Of Hyperuricemia And Gout Patients Via Machine Learning Analysis Of Human Gut Microbiome, Jia Wei Tang, Alfred Chin Yen Tay, Liang Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Hyperuricemia (HUA) and gout result from imbalances in uric acid metabolism and are closely associated with the gut microbiota. Advanced analytical methods facilitate the exploration of microbiota complexity. In this study, 16S rRNA sequencing data from stool samples of 233 patients were thoroughly collected. Machine learning (ML) and Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) interpretability algorithms were applied to identify core taxa and predict the metabolic functions. The results revealed that the high-contribution core taxa identified by SHAP in each group, such as Oscillospiraceae_UCG-005 and Rhodococcus provided the basis for ML prediction. Among the five classification models, Random Forest (RF) achieved the …

Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin And Fibrinogen-To-Albumin Ratio Are Indicators Of Kidney Disease In Sickle Cell Disease Patients With Microalbuminuria: A Multicentre Case-Control Study In Ghana, Stephen Twumasi, Enoch Odame Anto, Christian Obirikorang, Richard Kobina Dadzie Ephraim, Benedict Sackey, Vivian Paintsil, Richard Owusu Ansah, Alfred Effah, Allwell Adofo Ayirebi, Angela Opoku, Godfred Yawson Scott, Leslie Osei, Joyce Duku, Emmanuel Asafo Adjei, Lilian Antwi Boateng

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is present in secondary granules of neutrophils and it is a relatively newly recognized marker of kidney diseases. The fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) is a marker of inflammation but its diagnostic value has not been determined in sickle cell disease patients with kidney diseases. This study investigated the diagnostic roles of serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (sNGAL) and FAR for kidney diseases in steady-state adult sickle cell disease (SCD) patients. Methods: This study employed a prospective case-control design and recruited 104 SCD participants and 80 non-SCD patients. Participants’ information was thoroughly documented using a structured questionnaire and …

Gender Differences In Healthy Eating Index As Informed By The Awareness Of Diagnosis Of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease, Wei Ting Lin, Madeline Novack, Suthat Liangpunsakul, Chiung Kuei Huang, Hui Yi Lin, Po Hung Chen, Tung Sung Tseng, Peng Sheng Ting

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: Dietary quality is a driver of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Men and women often have different levels of adherence to medical advice, but the effect of gender on adherence to dietary advice as a function of awareness of MASLD is understudied. We aim to investigate the differences in diet quality between men and women who are aware of their diagnosis of MASLD compared to their undiagnosed counterparts. Methods: We utilized the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017–2020 to identify a nationally representative sample of subjects with MASLD, 127 of whom reported a diagnosis of MASLD (diagnosed …

Dietary Fiber Modulates Gut Microbiota And Lipid Metabolism Ameliorating Alzheimer's Pathology In 5xfad Mice, Yuhai Zhao, Christopher M. Taylor, Walter J. Lukiw, Nicolas G. Bazan

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

The gut-brain axis plays a critical role in maintaining neuronal integrity and influencing the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we investigated how commonly consumed dietary fibers modulate gut microbiota, lipid metabolism, and AD pathology in 5xFAD mice. Male mice were fed either fiber-free (FF) or fiber-plus (FP; 1% cellulose, 2% pectin, 2% inulin) diets for five months, followed by integrated analyses of gut microbiota (16 S rRNA sequencing), fecal lipid metabolites (LC-MS/MS), and neuropathological and behavioral outcomes. FP diets markedly altered microbial composition, characterized by increases in Muribaculaceae, Ileibacterium, and Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group and reductions in Faecalibaculum and Coriobacteriaceae …

Guide For Selecting Experimental Models To Study Dietary Fat Absorption, Andromeda M. Nauli, Ann Phan, Karen Mai, Kathleen Tran, Surya M. Nauli

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Dietary fat absorption is a complex, multi-step process involving digestion, enterocyte uptake, intracellular trafficking, re-esterification, and transport via lipoproteins into circulation. Because dietary fat absorption plays a central role in lipid homeostasis, metabolic syndrome, and fat malabsorption disorders, its study has a broad biomedical significance. However, experimental investigation of this process is technically challenging due to the short lifespan of enterocytes, the dual lymphatic and portal transport routes, and the need to trace the metabolic fate of absorbed lipids. This review summarizes and critically evaluates the major experimental systems used to study dietary fat absorption, highlighting their respective strengths, limitations, …

Epidemiology Of Metabolic Syndrome In Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Population-Level Cohort Study From The United States, Aakash Desai, Himsikhar Khataniar, Jana G. Hashash, Priya Sehgal, Francis A. Farraye, Gursimran S. Kochhar

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological data on metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are limited.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the United States (US) Collaborative Network (TriNetX) to obtain data for patients with IBD between 2010 and 2023. The primary aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of MetS in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Prevalence was further characterized by age, sex, race, disease location, IBD medications, history of surgery, and IBD phenotype.

RESULTS: Among 100,890 patients with IBD, metabolic syndrome (MetS) affected 34.4% overall (UC 32.4%, CD 34.3%). Prevalence rose sharply …

High Phosphorus Intake: The Role Of Phosphorus And Health Outcomes Through The Lens Of High Phosphorus Additive Intake, Taigen M. Mayes

Senior Honors Theses

Phosphorus is a commonly consumed mineral in the traditional human diet and plays an essential role in human physiological functions. With the use of phosphate additives, high phosphate intake has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. Phosphate is regulated in the body by a homeostasis mechanism. A disruption to the homeostasis has a link to various pathologies such as bone health, cardiovascular disease, cancers, and kidney issues. Various studies have investigated the role of phosphate and its effects on human function. Bone health, cardiovascular disease, cancer, premature aging, dementia, and kidney disease are linked with high phosphorus intake.

Association Of Obesity Severity With Cardiometabolic And Renal Disease Burden In The United States, Florina Corpodean, Michael Kachmar, Shengping Yang, Steven B. Heymsfield, Peter T. Katzmarzyk, Philip R. Schauer, Michael W. Cook, Vance L. Albaugh

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Objective This study examined the association between obesity severity and cardiometabolic and renal disease, using BMI as a surrogate for obesity severity. Methods This is a cross-sectional study using data from the United States Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 2011–2023. Survey-weighted logistic regression estimated odds ratios (OR) for the diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, kidney disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, and coronary artery disease among increasing BMI categories. Results Higher BMI was associated with increased odds of all conditions. For BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2, odds were notably elevated for diabetes (OR 8.32; 95% CI: 7.78–8.91), hypertension (OR 6.07; 95% CI: …

Repetitive Head Impacts: Definitional Challenges, Clinical Implications, And Research Directions, Amanda Rabinowitz, Allie Tracey, Yevgeniya Sergeyenko

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Faculty Papers

Purpose of Review: Repetitive head impacts (RHI)—repeated head trauma that may or may not result in clinically identified injury—are a growing public health concern due to links with neurodegenerative disease and long-term dysfunction. This review aimed to synthesize current knowledge of RHI and evaluate methodological challenges that limit conclusions about its clinical consequences. Recent Findings: Emerging studies highlight associations between RHI and cognitive, emotional, and functional outcomes across vulnerable populations including athletes, military personnel, and survivors of intimate partner violence. However, definitional ambiguity, difficulties in measuring exposure, and population-specific confounds continue to hinder progress. Clinical approaches emphasize individualized assessment and …

Epigenetic Landscape In Lysosomal Storage Disorders: Mechanisms And Modulation, Andrés Felipe Leal, Harry Pachajoa, Shunji Tomatsu

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are rare substrate-accumulating diseases primarily characterized by mutations in genes encoding proteins involved in lysosomal function, most of which have enzymatic activity. Resulting lysosomal dysfunction leads to the overaccumulation of non- or partially degraded substrates. While it is true that enzyme deficiency is the primary cause of LSDs, the epigenetic alterations in DNA methylation, miRNA expression, and histone modifications appear to be critical mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of LSDs. As epigenetic marks are, in most cases, reversible, their study becomes vital to developing strategies aimed at reversing epigenome alterations. Although classical therapeutic alternatives aim to …

Editorial: Bridging Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, And Metabolic Dysfunction In Brain Disorders, Ansab Akhtar

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

We present this Special Issue of Brain Sciences, titled "Role of Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Metabolic Dysfunction in Neurodevelopmental and Neurodegenerative Diseases: Pharmacological Targets and Therapeutic Interventions", which brings together research and review articles that explore the molecular crosstalk between neuroinflammatory, oxidative stress, and metabolic pathways underlying both neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders [...].

Strengthening The Utah Diabetes Cook Along Program For Statewide Extension Delivery: Curriculum Refinement And Randomized Controlled Trial, Carrie Durward

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Alcohol And Metabolic Stress Synergize To Dysregulate Mitochondrial Health And Lipid Metabolism; Evidence From A Hepatocyte Spheroid Model, Eden M. Gallegos, Kaitlin Couvillion, Drake Darden, Keishla Rodriguez-Graciani, Patricia E. Molina, Liz Simon

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and alcohol-associated liver disease frequently co-occur, manifesting as MetALD. Understanding the hepatocyte-specific effects of alcohol and metabolic stressors is critical to uncovering mechanisms of synergistic injury. This study evaluated the individual and combined effects of ethanol, sugars, and saturated/monounsaturated fats on hepatocyte lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial function using a 3D human HepaRG spheroid model. HepaRG spheroids were treated with ethanol (50 mm), sugar (glucose and fructose), and fatty acids alone or in combination for 10 d. The combination of ethanol (E) and metabolic (sugar and fat, SF) stressors (ESF) synergistically increased triglyceride content …

Evaluation Of Integrative Oncology Modalities For Symptom Management: A Mascc/Sio Global Survey, Alexandre Chan, Reem Nasr, Daniela Arcos, Dalia Kagramanov, Chioma Asuzu, Ting Bao, Yin Ting Cheung, Jung Hye Kwon, Judith Lacey, Richard T. Lee, Maryam Lustberg, Beatrice M. Ohaeri, Santosh Rao, Enrique Soto-Perez-De-Celis, Claudia M. Witt, Ana M. Lopez

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: With growing evidence pointing towards the potential of integrative oncology modalities (IOM) in addressing cancer and cancer-treatment related symptoms, research on IOM utilization and implementation is warranted. This study examines global stakeholder perspectives on integrative oncology (IO) utilization for supportive cancer care.

METHODS: Members of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) and the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) completed a survey on the utilization of IOM for supportive cancer care. Descriptive statistics were used to assess demographic data, IOM usage patterns, IOM education, and financial considerations for utilizing IOM.

RESULTS: Among 344 participants representing eight geographical …

Losing Focus In The Age Of Tik Tok: Clinical Evidence For Policy Action On Social Media Use, Megan Conefrey, Robert Griffin

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Tracking Livestock Heart Rate & Location Using Long-Range Radio Networks. An Immediate Solution For Farms Without Reliable Wi-Fi, Dermott Harkin, Martin Bradley

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Voices Matter: Tackling Accentism In Ireland. A Study Addressing Accent-Based Discrimination Awareness In Education, Sadhbh Reddington, Victoria Graham, Holly Jordan, Mairead Moriarty

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Income Inequality And Attitudes Towards Immigrants – How Increased Inequality Drives Division, Niamh Anderson, Vincent O'Sullivan

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Supporting Single Parents: How Loneliness And Self-Stigma Can Impact Single Parents And Their Quality Of Life, Alana Powell, David Mothersill

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.