Digital Commons Network^™

Processed Food As A Risk Factor For The Development And Perpetuation Of Crohn's Disease-The Enigma Study, Gina L. Trakman, Winnie Y.Y. Lin, Amy L. Hamilton, Amy L. Wilson-O'Brien, Annalise Stanley, Jessica Y. Ching, Jun Yu, Joyce W.Y. Mak, Yang Sun, Junkin Niu, Yinglei Miao, Xiaoqing Lin, Rui Feng, Minhu Chen, Nitin Shivappa Mbbs, Mph, Ph.D., James R. Hébert Scd, Mark Morrison, Siew C, Ng, Michael A. Kamm

Faculty Publications

(1) Background: Developing countries have experienced a rapid recent rise in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) incidence and emerging evidence suggests processed foods and food additives may predispose one to the development and perpetuation of Crohn’s disease (CD). The aim of this study was to evaluate processed food and food additive intake in CD patients and controls, in Australia (high CD incidence), Hong Kong (intermediate incidence) and mainland China (emerging incidence). (2) Methods: In 274 CD patients (CD), 82 first-degree relatives (FDR), 83 household members (HM) and 92 healthy unrelated controls (HC) from Australia (n = 180), Hong Kong (HK) (n …

Validity Of An Abbreviated Individual Water Insecurity Experiences (Iwise-4) Scale For Measuring The Prevalence Of Water Insecurity In Low- And Middle-Income Countries, Hilary J. Bethanancourt, Edward A. Frongillo Jr. Ph.D., Sera L. Young

Faculty Publications

The 12-item Water Insecurity Experiences Scales provide high resolution, cross-context equivalent data on household and individual water insecurity. A 4-item, 1-minute version of the Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE-4) Scale has proven useful for understanding the prevalence of household water insecurity experiences when limited resources preclude the use of the HWISE-12 Scale. Herein, we tested the validity of an analogous four-item version of the Individual Water Insecurity Experiences Scale (IWISE-4) for measuring the prevalence of individual water insecurity when limited resources prevent implementation of the IWISE-12 Scale. We used data from adults in 31 low- and middle-income countries (n …

Effects Of Caffeine, Methylliberine, And Theacrine On Vigilance, Marksmanship, And Hemodynamic Responses In Tactical Personnel: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial, Harry P. Cintineo, Marissa L. Bello, Alexa J. Chandler, Thomas D. Cardaci, Bridget A. Mcfadden, Shawn M. Arent

Faculty Publications

Background

Tactical athletes require fast reaction times (RT) along with high levels of vigilance and marksmanship performance. Caffeine has been shown to improve these measures but also results in increased blood pressure and jitteriness. Research on other purine alkaloids, such as methylliberine and theacrine, has suggested they do not increase blood pressure or jitteriness to the same extent, but their impact on tactical performance is unknown.

Methods

A between-subjects, randomized, placebo-controlled design was used to test the effects of placebo (PLA), 300 mg caffeine (CAF), and a combination of 150 mg caffeine, 100 mg methylliberine, and 50 mg theacrine (CMT) …

Adolescent-Reported Household Food Insecurity And Adolescents' Poor Mental And Physical Health And Food Insufficiency In Kenya, Amanda S. Mcrell, Maryah S. Fram, Edward A. Frongillo Jr.

Faculty Publications

Background

Objectives

Methods

Strengthening Causal Inference From Randomised Controlled Trials Of Complex Interventions, Jef L. Leroy, Edward A. Frongillo Jr. Ph.D., Bezawit E. Kase, Silvia Alonso, Mario Chen, Ian Dohoo, Lieven Huybregts, Suneetha Kadiyala, Naomi M. Saville

Faculty Publications

Researchers conducting randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of complex interventions face design and analytical challenges that are not fully addressed in existing guidelines. Further guidance is needed to help ensure that these trials of complex interventions are conducted to the highest scientific standards while maximising the evidence that can be extracted from each trial. The key challenge is how to manage the multiplicity of outcomes required for the trial while minimising false positive and false negative findings. To address this challenge, we formulate three principles to conduct RCTs: (1) outcomes chosen should be driven by the intent and programme theory of …

Association Of Body Mass Index And Plant-Based Diet With Cognitive Impairment Among Older Chinese Adults: A Prospective, Nationwide Cohort Study, Fang Liang, Jialin Fu, Gabrielle Turner-Mcgrievy Ph.D., Rd, Yechuang Wang, Nan Qiu, Kai Ding, Jing Zeng, Justin B. Moore, Rui Li

Faculty Publications

To examine the association of body mass index (BMI) and a plant-based diet (PBD) with cognitive impairment in older adults, this cohort study used data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), a national, community-based, longitudinal, prospective study in China. Cognitive function was evaluated via the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Diet was assessed using a simplified food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and PBD patterns were estimated using the overall plant-based diet index (PDI), the healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI), and the unhealthful plant-based diet index (uPDI). BMI was measured objectively during the physical examination. Cox proportional hazard models and restricted …

Changes Overtime In Perinatal Management And Outcomes Of Extremely Preterm Infants In One Tertiary Care Romanian Center, Diana Ungureanu, Nansi Boghossian, Laura Mihaela Suciu

Faculty Publications

Background and Objectives: Extremely preterm infants were at increased risk of mortality and morbidity. The purpose of this study was to: (1) examine changes over time in perinatal management, mortality, and major neonatal morbidities among infants born at 25⁰–28⁶ weeks’ gestational age and cared for at one Romanian tertiary care unit and (2) compare the differences with available international data. Material and Methods: This study consisted of infants born at 25⁰–28⁶ weeks in one tertiary neonatal academic center in Romania during two 4-year periods (2007–2010 and 2015–2018). Major morbidities were defined as any of …

School And Community Drivers Of Child Diets In Two Arab Cities: The Scale Protocol And Innovative Tools To Assess Children's Food Environments, Hala Ghattas Ph.D., Zeina Jamaluddine, Aline Semaan, Nehmat El-Helou, Gloria Safadi, Tatiana Elghossain, Christelle Akl, Shady Elbassuoni, Ali Chalak, Jalila El Ati

Faculty Publications

Background

In the context of the rapid nutrition transition experienced by middle-income countries of the Arab region, children and adolescent's food choices and dietary behaviors are early risk factors for the development of non-communicable diseases. Assessment of factors influencing food choices among this age group is challenging and is usually based on self-reported data, which are prone to information and recall bias. As the popularity of technologies and video gaming platforms increases, opportunities arise to use these tools to collect data on variables that affect food choice, dietary intake, and associated outcomes. This protocol paper describes the SCALE study (School …

School And Community Drivers Of Child Diets In Two Arab Cities: The Scale Protocol And Innovative Tools To Assess Children’S Food Environments, Hala Ghattas Ph.D., Zeina Jamaluddine, Aline Semaan, Nehmat El-Helou, Gloria Safadi, Tatiana Elghossain, Christelle Akl, Shady Elbassuoni, Ali Chalak, Jalila El Ati, The Scale Research Group

Faculty Publications

Background

In the context of the rapid nutrition transition experienced by middle-income countries of the Arab region, children and adolescent’s food choices and dietary behaviors are early risk factors for the development of non-communicable diseases. Assessment of factors influencing food choices among this age group is challenging and is usually based on self-reported data, which are prone to information and recall bias. As the popularity of technologies and video gaming platforms increases, opportunities arise to use these tools to collect data on variables that affect food choice, dietary intake, and associated outcomes. This protocol paper describes the SCALE study (School …

Sexual Stature Difference Fluctuations In Pre- And Post-Black Death London As An Indicator Of Living Standards, Emily J. Brennan, Sharon Dewitte

Faculty Publications

Objectives: The degree of sexual stature difference (SSD), the ratio of male to female height, is argued to be an indicator of living standards based on evidence that physical growth for males is more sensitive to environmental fluctuations. In a resource-poor environment, the degree of SSD is expected to be relatively low. The aim of this study is to comparatively assess SSD in medieval London in the context of repeated famine events and other environmental stressors before the Black Death (BD) and the improved living conditions that characterized the post-Black Death period.

Methods: To test the hypothesis that a poor …

Assessment Of Vitamin D Among Male Adolescents And Young Adults Hospitalized With Eating Disorders, Jason M. Nagata, Anna Grandis, Paola Bojorquez-Ramirez, Anthony Nguyen, Amanda E. Downey, Kyle T. Ganson, Khushi P. Patel, Vanessa I. Machen, Sara M. Buckelew, Andrea K. Garber

Publications

PURPOSE: Medical complications of eating disorders in males are understudied compared to females, as is the case of vitamin D deficiency. The aim of this study was to assess vitamin D levels among male and female adolescents and young adults hospitalized for medical complications of eating disorders. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed electronic medical records of patients aged 9-25 years (N = 565) admitted to the University of California, San Francisco Eating Disorders Program for medical instability, between May 2012 and August 2020. Serum vitamin D (25-hydroxy) level was assessed at admission as was history of prior calcium, vitamin D, or …

Pathways To Food Insecurity In The Context Of Conflict: The Case Of The Occupied Palestinian Territory, Tracy Kuo Lin, Rawan Kafri, Weeam Hammoudeh, Suzan Mitwalli, Zeina Jamaluddine, Hala Ghattas Ph.D., Rita Giacaman, Tiziana Leone

Faculty Publications

Background: Conflict reduces availability of production input and income, increases the number of days households had to rely on less preferred foods, and limits the variety of foods eaten and the portion size of meals consumed. While existing studies examine the impact of conflict on different food security measures (e.g., Food Consumption Score, Food Insecurity Experience Scale), the relationship between these measures as well as their relationship with political, economic, and agricultural factors remain under explored. Food insecurity may not only be an externality of conflict but also food deprivation may be utilized as a weapon to discourage residency in …

Circadiomics: Circadian Omic Web Portal, Muntaha Samad, Forest Agostinelli, Tomoki Sato, Kohei Shimaji, Pierre Baldi

Faculty Publications

Circadian rhythms are a foundational aspect of biology. These rhythms are found at the molecular level in every cell of every living organism and they play a fundamental role in homeostasis and a variety of physiological processes. As a result, biomedical research of circadian rhythms continues to expand at a rapid pace. To support this research, CircadiOmics (http://circadiomics.igb.uci.edu/) is the largest annotated repository and analytic web server for high-throughput omic (e.g. transcriptomic, metabolomic, proteomic) circadian time series experimental data. CircadiOmics contains over 290 experiments and over 100 million individual measurements, across >20 unique tissues/organs, and 11 different species. Users are …

Natural Products Inhibitors Of Monoamine Oxidases—Potential New Drug Leads For Neuroprotection, Neurological Disorders, And Neuroblastoma, Narayan D. Chaurasiya, Francisco León Ph.D., Ilias Muhammad, Babu L. Tekwani

Faculty Publications

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are an important class of drugs prescribed for treatment of depression and other neurological disorders. Evidence has suggested that patients with atypical depression preferentially respond to natural product MAOIs. This review presents a comprehensive survey of the natural products, predominantly from plant sources, as potential new MAOI drug leads. The psychoactive properties of several traditionally used plants and herbal formulations were attributed to their MAOI constituents. MAO inhibitory constituents may also be responsible for neuroprotective effects of natural products. Different classes of MAOIs were identified from the natural product sources with non-selective as well as selective …

Influence Of Guideline Operationalization On Youth Activity Prevalence In The International Children’S Accelerometry Database, Catherine Gammon, Andrew J. Atkin, Kirsten Corder, Ulf Ekelund, Bjorge Herman Hansen, Lauren B. Sherar, Lars Bo Anderson, Sigmund Anderssen, Rachel Davey, Pedro C. Hallal, Russell Jago, Susi Kriemler, Peter Lund Kristensen, Soyang Kwon, Kate Nothstone, Russell R. Pate Ph.D., J. O. Salmon, Luis B. Sardinha, Esther M.F. Sluijs

Faculty Publications

Introduction

The United Kingdom and World Health Organization recently changed their youth physical activity (PA) guidelines from 60 min of moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA) every day, to an average of 60 min of MVPA per day, over a week. The changes are based on expert opinion due to insufficient evidence comparing health outcomes associated with different guideline definitions. This study used the International Children’s Accelerometry Database to compare approaches to calculating youth PA compliance and associations with health indicators.

Methods

Cross-sectional accelerometer data (n = 21,612, 5–18 yr) were used to examine compliance with four guideline definitions: daily …

Should I Stay Or Should I Go? South Carolina's Nonlawyer Judges, Christel Purvis

South Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

A Nursing-Driven Delirium Protocol, Alexandria Gray Bridges

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Delirium is a common, often preventable, condition in hospitalized patients and is associated with increased complications, worse outcomes, increased risk of death, and increased health care costs. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to determine if, utilizing a nursing-driven, non-pharmacological intervention, based on the NICE Guidelines, can decrease the incidence of delirium. Methods: Using the Iowa Model of Evidenced Based Practice to Promote Quality Care (Iowa Model), an EBP project was implemented. Patients were identified as being at risk of delirium using The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) and these patients received the non-pharmacologic intervention as part of …

Assessing The Readiness Of Chf Patients To Use The Medisafe App To Increase Medication Adherence, Janet Lynn Kubas

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Heart failure (HF) is a complex cardiovascular disease that affects 6.2 million Americans and is associated with high morbidity and mortality, with almost 400,000 deaths annually. Medication adherence in HF can lower the risk of death and rehospitalization. As many as 46% of heart failure patients have medication nonadherence. The 2021 Update to the 2017 American College of Cardiology Expert Consensus Decision Pathway for Optimization of Heart Failure Guidelines recommends smartphones or other mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps) for medication adherence tracking. Purpose: This evidence-based practice project aimed to assess the readiness of HF patients admitted to an …

Improving Self-Efficacy In Heart Failure Care, Tracy Bennett Mcleod

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Heart Failure contributes significantly to the morbidity and mortality of the adult population and is one of the leading causes of 30-day readmissions. The cost of heart failure is a substantial healthcare burden. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to determine if implementing the “Rise Above Heart Failure” educational program would improve heart failure knowledge, weight monitoring, and reduced re-admission rates in heart failure patients. Methods: A pre-test and post-test survey named The Dutch Heart Failure Knowledge Scale was utilized. Van der Wal, Jaarsma, Moser, and Van Veldhuisen (2005) developed this questionnaire to evaluate patients' knowledge. The …

Physical Activity And Breast Cancer Prevention Among Asian American Women, Jingxi Sheng

Theses and Dissertations

Asian Americans (AsAm) comprise about 7% of the United States population and are the only racial group for whom cancer is the leading cause of death. Breast Cancer (BrCa) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in this population, with the highest incidence in the age of 45-49 years, which is 30 years younger than for non-Hispanic Whites. The incidence of BrCa has been increasing for over three decades in AsAm.

Physical activity (PA) is a modifiable protective factor for BrCa. Unfortunately, AsAm women have a low PA prevalence of meeting PA recommendations. The increased BrCa risk, younger age at diagnosis, …

Sports Nutrition- And Strength And Conditioning-Based Interventions To Bolster Health And Human Performance In Male And Female Tactical Personnel, Harry Paul Cintineo

Theses and Dissertations

Military and law enforcement personnel are required to possess sufficient physical and cognitive fitness to perform their official duties. Tactical athletes must have fast reaction times (RT), high levels of various aspects of muscular performance, including power, strength, and endurance, as well as high anaerobic and aerobic capacities. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate acute sports nutrition and chronic strength and conditioning strategies to improve health and human performance in tactical athletes, including law enforcement officers, active-duty military service members, and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets and midshipmen.

The first study tested the effects of a combination …

Trajectories, Prevention Strategies, And Health Impacts Of Perinatal Depression, Sabrina Karim

Theses and Dissertations

Background

Perinatal depression is one of the most common and underdiagnosed obstetric complications. Extant research on perinatal depression is mostly focused on white women and women who are not at risk for depression. Little is known about the trajectories, prevention strategies and adverse outcomes of perinatal depression among high-risk populations, for example, women with overweight and obesity or women of color or low socioeconomic status.

Purpose

Our study examined the longitudinal trajectories of perinatal depression, effect of a behavioral lifestyle intervention on perinatal depression and association between prenatal physical activity and perinatal depression among women with overweight and obesity. We …

Sex Differences And Potential Non-Invasive Treatments For Calcific Aortic Valve Disease, Henry Pascal Helms

Theses and Dissertations

Calcific Aortic Valve Disease (CAVD) is a progressive heart disease that ranges from aortic valve sclerosis to aortic valve stenosis. It is characterized by intense calcification and compromised valve function. CAVD affects 25% of people older than 65 and 50% of people older than 85. These rates are expected to increase in the United States due to higher levels of obesity and diabetes, as well as an aging population. CAVD is the leading cause of valve replacement surgery. Annual healthcare costs for these valve replacements are currently estimated to be approximately 2 billion dollars. There are currently no medications approved …

Disproportionate Discipline: Race/Ethnic And Gender Disparities In Rates Of Lunch Detentions And Subjectivity In Teachers’ Reasons For Those Punishments, Paul Michael Fram

Theses and Dissertations

The intent of school discipline policies, practices, and procedures is to shape student behavior to create an optimal learning environment for all students. However, school discipline falls short of this goal because it is rife with race/ethnic and gender disparities. These disparities contribute to inequitable academic and life outcomes that plague, in particular, African American children. This dissertation addresses these disparities through a thematic literature review, a quantitative analysis of inequities in rates of lunch detention, and a mixed methods analysis of subjectivity in reasons for lunch detention.

The literature review explains the problematic aspects of school discipline, the racial …

Dying Of Pestilence: Gender, Stature, And Mortality From The Black Death In 14th Century Kyrgyzstan, David Wayne Hansen Ii

Theses and Dissertations

Bioarchaeological studies have provided important information about mortality patterns during the Second Pandemic of Plague, including the Black Death, but to date have focused exclusively on European contexts. This study represents a temporal and spatial expansion of plague bioarchaeology, focusing on Central Asia, the origin of the Second Pandemic. I examine the relationship between stature, gender, and plague mortality during an outbreak of plague at two fortified settlements in northern Kyrgyzstan in 1338-39, the earliest archaeological sites known to contain victims of the Black Death in Eurasia.

Stature is frequently used in bioarchaeology as a proxy for exposures to developmental …

Food Insecurity Resilience Of Refugee Families In The United States: A Qualitative Study, Maryam Suliman Alhabas

Theses and Dissertations

Refugee families living in the United States often encounter a number of challenges while trying to build a new home and maintain their household food security. Refugee families at high risk of experiencing food insecurity in the resettlement country. Food insecurity among US refugee families is a major public health concern as it adversely impacts their health and wellbeing, since it affects dietary intake and mental health and associated with illness, poor nutrition, and obesity. Little is known about what happens when refugee families face food insecurity experience, and the role of their social contexts in that experience. The objective …

Living With Ulcerative Colitis: Exploring Dietary Inflammatory Intake, Physical Activity, And Methods To Manage The Burden Of Illness, Kelli E. Dubois

Theses and Dissertations

Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a chronic illness under the umbrella of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). IBD is becoming a global health issue as incidence rates are rising throughout the world. UC is characterized by chronic inflammation and ulcerations in the colon’s mucosal lining due to abnormal inflammatory and immune system responses. Patients with UC experience a range of gastrointestinal and extraintestinal symptoms as well as psychosocial challenges throughout the course of illness that generate a significant burden on daily life. Periods of active disease, or flares, present exacerbations of disease symptoms and the greatest burden on daily functioning, yet disease …

Association Between Postpartum Weight Retention And The Dietary Inflammatory Index, Nyrobi Tyson

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The objective of this thesis is to examine the relationship between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), measured during the postpartum period, and postpartum weight retention.

Setting and Participants: We used the Infant Feeding Practices Study (IFPS) II (n=5000), a longitudinal study of women from late pregnancy through their infant’s first year of life conducted between 2005 and 2007. Survey topics included feeding practices, infant health, food allergies, sleeping arrangements, mother’s employment, childcare, and mother’s dietary intake.

Main Outcomes: Postpartum weight retention (PPWR) was calculated in kilograms by subtracting self-reported body weight at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postpartum …

Impact Of A Novel Marine Algae Supplement On Inflammatory And Immune Response After High-Intensity Exercise, Caroline Sara Vincenty

Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: High-intensity exercise (HIE) can damage the musculotendon complex and impact the immune response, which may result in post-exercise inflammation and reductions in strength and performance. Sufficient rest and recovery will improve muscular resilience against future damaging bouts, however HIE with minimal durations of rest are common in athletic competitions that facilitate persistent inflammation and immune dysregulation. Marine algae-derived fucoidans (MA) have previously shown promise to mitigate pro-inflammatory and immune dysregulation responses, however it has not been investigated in the context of HIE. The purpose of this research is to investigate the safety and efficacy of MA on markers of …

Relationships Among Sleep, Physical Activity, And Weight Status In Children And Adolescents, Agnes Bucko

Theses and Dissertations

Sleep and physical activity are both associated with multiple behavioral and metabolic health outcomes, and both behaviors have been linked to the development of weight status. Recent estimates suggest that many children are not meeting sleep recommendations or participating in adequate levels of physical activity, which may be related to the high prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity. Much of the research assessing these relationships has focused on adults and older children, and has relied on parent- or child-reported, cross-sectional research in predominantly White samples. Little work has focused on these relationships in very young children. Although more research has …