Digital Commons Network^™

Spatial And Pregnancy-Related Changes In The Protein, Amino Acid, And Carbohydrate Composition Of Bovine Oviduct Fluid, Beatriz Rodríguez-Alonso, Veronica Maillo, Omar Salvador Acuña, Rebeca López-Úbeda, Alejandro Torrecillas, Constantine A. Simintiras, Roger Sturmey, Manuel Avilés, Patrick Lonergan, Dimitrios Rizos

Faculty Publications

Knowledge of how the biochemical composition of the bovine oviduct is altered due to the oviduct anatomy or the presence of an embryo is lacking. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of (І) oviduct anatomy and (ІІ) embryo presence on oviductal fluid (OF) protein, amino acid, and carbohydrate composition. Cross-bred beef heifers (n = 19) were synchronized and those in standing estrus were randomly allocated to a cyclic (non-bred) or pregnant (artificially inseminated) group. All heifers were slaughtered on Day 3 after estrus. The oviducts ipsilateral to the corpus luteum from each animal were isolated, …

The 21st Century Agriculture: When Rice Research Draws Attention To Climate Variability And How Weedy Rice And Underutilized Grains Come In Handy, Noraikim Mohd Hanafiah, Muhamad Shakirin Mispan, Phaik Eem Lim, Niranjan Baisakh, Acga Cheng

Faculty Publications

Rice, the first crop to be fully sequenced and annotated in the mid-2000s, is an excellent model species for crop research due mainly to its relatively small genome and rich genetic diversity. The 130-million-year-old cereal came into the limelight in the 1960s when the semi-dwarfing gene sd-1, better known as the “green revolution” gene, resulted in the establishment of a high-yielding semi-dwarf variety IR8. Deemed as the miracle rice, IR8 saved millions of lives and revolutionized irrigated rice farming particularly in the tropics. The technology, however, spurred some unintended negative consequences, especially in prompting ubiquitous monoculture systems that increase agricultural …

Social Adversity, Sleep Characteristics, And Elevated Blood Pressure Among Young Adult Black Females, Jewel Scott Phd, Rn, Fnp-C, Susan Silva, Leigh Ann Simmons

Faculty Publications

Purpose: We examined whether sleep characteristics and adverse social exposures were associated with elevated blood pressure (BP) in young adult black women. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of existing data from 581 black females who participated in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). Adverse social exposures included child abuse, discrimination, perceived stress, social isolation, and subjective social status. Self-reported sleep characteristics were measures of duration, latency, continuity, and snoring. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the influence of social exposures and sleep characteristics on BP. Results: Among the women (mean age=29.1 years), 32.4% had …

When Agencies Make Criminal Law, Brenner M. Fissell

Faculty Publications

The nondelegation doctrine prohibits a legislature from delegating its power to an administrative agency, yet it is famously underenforced—even when the delegation results in the creation of criminal offenses (so-called “administrative crimes”). While this practice appears to scandalize the hornbook presumption that legislatures alone define criminal offenses, it has long been ratified by the Supreme Court and has received little scholarly attention. The few commentators who have addressed administrative crimes highlight the intuition that criminal sanctions are uniquely severe and thus deserving of a more rigorous nondelegation analysis, but they stop there. They do not precisely link the severe aspects …

Implementing Policy, Systems, And Environmental Change Through Community Coalitions And Extension Partnerships To Address Obesity In Rural Louisiana, Denise Holston, Jessica Stroope, Melissa Cater, Michelle Kendall, Stephanie Broyles

Faculty Publications

Community coalitions and agents funded by the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center's Healthy Communities program implemented multilevel obesity prevention interventions in 3 rural parishes (ie, counties) with an obesity prevalence of 40% or higher. The Healthy Communities coalitions appraised local health concerns through needs assessments and community forums. On the basis of local needs and the evidence base, the coalitions identified and implemented policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) strategies and supporting education to promote healthy behavior change among residents, overcoming barriers in the process. Interventions varied by parish but included Complete Streets implementation plans, healthy retail initiatives, play space improvements, …

Icope A Multi-Level, Cluster Randomized, 36-Month, Parallel-Group Study To Assess The Efficacy Of Hiv Disclosure Intervention In Hiv Parental Disclosure Among Parents Living With Hiv In China, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Shan Qiao Ph.D., Yuejiao Zhou

Faculty Publications

Objectives: Parents living with HIV who disclose their HIV status to their children could benefit from the parental HIV disclosure. However, it is also very challenging because of persistent stigma and discrimination against HIV. This report describes the study design and protocol of the “Interactive Communication with Openness, Passion, and Empowerment (iCOPE)” randomized controlled trial aimed at assisting parents living with HIV in conducting culturally and developmentally appropriate disclosure to their uninfected children in China through trainings among both parents living with HIV and healthcare providers.

Methods: A total of 791 parents living with HIV with children aged between 6 …

Practitioner Perceptions Regarding The Practices Of Soccer Substitutes, Samuel P. Hills, Jon N. Radcliffe, Martin J. Barwood, Shawn M. Arent Ph.D., Cscs*D, Fissn, Facsm, Fnak, Carlton B. Cooke, Mark Russell

Faculty Publications

Despite empirical observations suggesting that practitioners value the use of substitutions during soccer match-play, limited research has sought to substantiate such claims. This study used online surveys to assess the perceptions of practitioners within professional soccer about the use and practices of substitutes. Thirty-three practitioners completed one of two surveys (each requiring both open and closed questions to be answered), depending upon whether their primary role related mostly to tactical (‘tactical practitioners’; n = 7) or physical (‘physical practitioners’; n = 26) aspects of player/team management. Thematic content analysis of responses identified four higher-order themes: ‘impact of substitutions’, ‘planning and …

Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carriers Are Not Required For Adipogenesis But Are Regulated By High-Fat Feeding In Brown Adipose Tissue, Jasmine A. Burrell, Allison J. Richard, William T. King, Jacqueline M. Stephens

Faculty Publications

© 2020 The Obesity Society. Objective: The objectives of this study were to assess the role of mitochondrial pyruvate carriers (MPCs) in adipocyte development in vitro and determine whether MPCs are regulated in vivo by high-fat feeding in male and female C57BL/6J mice. Methods: This study utilized small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown to assess the requirement of MPC1 for adipogenesis in the 3T3-L1 model system. Treatment with UK-5099, a potent pharmacological MPC inhibitor, was also used to assess the loss of MPC activity. Western blot analysis was performed on adipose tissue samples from mice on a low-fat diet or a high-fat …

Review: Enhancing Intramuscular Fat Development Via Targeting Fibro-Adipogenic Progenitor Cells In Meat Animals, X. Li, X. Fu, G. Yang, M. Du

Faculty Publications

© 2019 The Animal Consortium. In the livestock industry, subcutaneous and visceral fat pads are considered as wastes, while intramuscular fat or marbling fat is essential for improving flavor and palatability of meat. Thus, strategies for optimizing fat deposition are needed. Intramuscular adipocytes provide sites for lipid deposition and marbling formation. In the present article, we addressed the origin and markers of intramuscular adipocyte progenitors-fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs), as well as the latest progresses in mechanisms regulating the proliferation and differentiation of intramuscular FAPs. Finally, by targeting intramuscular FAPs, possible nutritional manipulations to improve marbling fat deposition are discussed. Despite recent …

Perinatal Maternal Antibiotic Exposure Augments Lung Injury In Offspring In Experimental Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia, Kent A. Willis, David T. Siefker, Michael M. Aziz, Catrina T. White, Naiha Mussarat, Charles K. Gomes, Amandeep Bajwa, Joseph F. Pierre, Stephania A. Cormier, Ajay J. Talati

Faculty Publications

Copyright © 2020 the American Physiological Society. During the newborn period, intestinal commensal bacteria influence pulmonary mucosal immunology via the gut-lung axis. Epidemiological studies have linked perinatal antibiotic exposure in human newborns to an increased risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia, but whether this effect is mediated by the gut-lung axis is unknown. To explore antibiotic disruption of the newborn gut-lung axis, we studied how perinatal maternal antibiotic exposure influenced lung injury in a hyperoxia-based mouse model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We report that disruption of intestinal commensal colonization during the perinatal period promotes a more severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia phenotype characterized by increased …

Hot-Water Baths, Biologicals And Re-Curing Effects On Rhizopus Soft Rot During Sweetpotato Packing, R. R. Sweany, D. H. Picha, C. A. Clark

Faculty Publications

Rhizopus soft rot (RSR) caused by Rhizopus stolonifer is one of the most devastating postharvest diseases of sweetpotato. It causes greatest losses when sweetpotatoes are removed from storage, washed and packed for marketing. The disease has been managed effectively by prophylactic application of synthetic fungicides on the packing line. However, there is increasing demand for alternative management strategies that do not rely on prophylactic use of synthetic fungicides. While curing immediately after harvest is a standard industry practice, re-curing after storage is not widely practised for postharvest disease management. In this study, the use of hot-water baths, biocontrol agents and …

Maize Yield In Smallholder Agriculture System-An Approach Integrating Socioeconomic And Crop Management Factors, Sudarshan Dutta, Somsubhra Chakraborty, Rupak Goswami, Hirak Banerjee, Kaushik Majumdar, Bin Li, M. L. Jat

Faculty Publications

Yield gaps of maize (Zea mays L.) in the smallholder farms of eastern India are outcomes of a complex interplay of climatic variations, soil fertility gradients, socio-economic factors, and differential management intensities. Several machine learning approaches were used in this study to investigate the relative influences of multiple biophysical, socio-economic, and crop management features in determining maize yield variability using several machine learning approaches. Soil fertility status was assessed in 180 farms and paired with the surveyed data on maize yield, socio-economic conditions, and agronomic management. The C&RT relative variable importance plot identified farm size, total labor, soil factors, seed …

Trans-Disciplinary Responses To Climate Change: Lessons From Rice-Based Systems In Asia, Jon Hellin, Jean Balié, Eleanor Fisher, Ajay Kohli, Melanie Connor, Sudhir Yadav, Virender Kumar, Timothy J. Krupnik, Bjoern Ole Sander, Joshua Cobb, Katherine Nelson, Tri Setiyono, Ranjitha Puskur, Pauline Chivenge, Martin Gummert

Faculty Publications

Climate change will continue to have a largely detrimental impact on the agricultural sector worldwide because of predicted rising temperatures, variable rainfall, and an increase in extreme weather events. Reduced crop yields will lead to higher food prices and increased hardship for low income populations, especially in urban areas. Action on climate change is one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 13) and is linked to the Paris Climate Agreement. The research challenge posed by climate change is so complex that a trans-disciplinary response is required, one that brings together researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers in networks where the lines between …

Evaluation Of Ultraviolet (Uv-C) Light Treatment For Microbial Inactivation In Agricultural Waters With Different Levels Of Turbidity, Achyut Adhikari, Katheryn J. Parraga Estrada, Vijay S. Chhetri, Marlene Janes, Kathryn Fontenot, John C. Beaulieu

Faculty Publications

Produce growers using surface or well water to irrigate their crops may require an appropriate water treatment system in place to meet the water quality standard imposed by FSMA Produce Safety Rule. This study evaluated the potential of using ultraviolet (UV-C) treatment in reducing the microbial population in agricultural water. Waters with turbidity levels ranging from 10.93 to 23.32 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) were prepared by mixing pond water and well water. The waters were inoculated with a cocktail of generic Escherichia coli (ATCC 23716, 25922, and 11775) and then treated with UV-C light (20–60 mJ/cm2). All tested doses of …

Plumage Patterns: Ecological Functions, Evolutionary Origins, And Advances In Quantification, Nicholas A. Mason, Rauri C.K. Bowie

Faculty Publications

Birds exhibit remarkable variation in plumage patterns, both within individual feathers and among plumage patches. Differences in the size, shape, and location of pigments and structural colors comprise important visual signals involved in mate choice, social signaling, camouflage, and many other functions. While ornithologists have studied plumage patterns for centuries, recent technological advances in digital image acquisition and processing have transformed pattern quantification methods, enabling comprehensive, detailed datasets of pattern phenotypes that were heretofore inaccessible. In this review, we synthesize recent and classic studies of plumage patterns at different evolutionary and organismal scales and discuss the various roles that plumage …

Agricultural And Finance Intervention Increased Dietary Intake And Weight Of Children Living In Hiv-Affected Households In Western Kenya, Lisa M. Butler, Shiva Bhandari, Phelgona Otieno, Sheri D. Weiser, Craig R. Cohen, Edward A. Frongillo Jr.

Faculty Publications

We tested whether a multisectoral household agricultural and finance intervention increased the dietary intake and improved the nutritional status of HIV-affected children. Two hospitals in rural Kenya were randomly assigned to be either the intervention or the control arm. The intervention comprised a human-powered water pump, microfinance loan for farm commodities, and training in sustainable farming practices and financial management. In each arm, 100 children (0-59 mo of age) were enrolled from households with HIV-infected adults 18-49 y old. Children were assessed beginning in April 2012 and every 3 mo for 1 y for dietary intake and anthropometry. Children in …

Disruptive Innovation: Impact For Practice, Policy, And Academia, Heather V. Nelson-Brantley, K. David Bailey, Joyce Batcheller, Laura Caramanica, Bret Lyman, Francine Snow

Faculty Publications

The 2019 Association for Leadership Science in Nursing International Conference, Disruptive Innovation, was held in Los Angeles, California, with attendees from 30 US States, Canada, Brazil, and China. Presenters discussed the need for nurse leaders to advocate for health equity, lead evidence-based innovation, how robots and other technology are generating disruptive innovations in healthcare, and building strong academic-practice partnerships to address nursing workforce challenges. This article will report on these important insights.

A Transcriptional Regulatory System Of The S. Cerevisiae Ole1 Gene Responds To Fatty Acid Species And Intracellular Amount, And Not Simply Membrane Status, Marshall Willey, Matthew Ochs, Clara Schriemer, Virginia Mcdonough

Faculty Publications

We examined the effects of unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) species and their concentration on the expression of OLE1, which encodes the stearoyl CoA desaturase, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We controlled the amount of UFA taken up by the cell by varying the concentration of tergitol in the medium. When cultured with 1 mM fatty acid in 0.1% tergitol, cells took up much more fatty acid than when cultured with the same concentration of fatty acid at 1% tergitol, although the amount incorporated was dependent on UFA species. For each fatty acid tested, we found that the higher uptake (0.1% tergitol condition) …

Social, Economic, And Political Events Affect Gender Equity In China, Nepal, And Nicaragua: A Matched, Interrupted Time-Series Study, Tuan T. Nguyen, Ashley Darnell, Amy Weissman, Edward A. Frongillo Jr., Roger Mathisen, Karin Lapping, Timothy D. Mastro, Mellissa Withers

Faculty Publications

: Progress in gender equity can improve health at the individual and country levels.: This study's objective was to analyze recent trends in gender equity and identify historical and contextual factors that contributed to changes in gender equity in three countries: China, Nepal, and Nicaragua.: To assess gender equity trends, we used the Gender Gap Index (GGI) from the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report (2006-2017). The GGI incorporated data on economic participation, educational attainment, health, and political empowerment for almost 150 countries. We selected China, Nepal, and Nicaragua because of their major changes in GGI and diversity in …

Nutrition Intervention Using Behavioral Change Communication Without Additional Material Inputs Increased Expenditures On Key Food Groups In Bangladesh, Andrea M. Warren, Edward A. Frongillo, Phuong H. Nguyen, Purnima Menon

Faculty Publications

Background

Behavioral change communication (BCC) promotes skills and knowledge to improve infant and young child feeding, but without additional material inputs, recipients must develop strategies to translate knowledge into action. Using data from the Alive & Thrive initiative in Bangladesh (2010–2014), we aimed to test whether households receiving the intensive intervention (opposed to the nonintensive intervention) increased expenditures on key foods for mothers and children (e.g., foods that were promoted by the intervention and also changed in maternal and child diets).

Methods

The intensive intervention provided interpersonal counseling, community mobilization, and mass media campaigns to promote breastfeeding and complementary feeding. …

A Role For Oncostatin M In The Impairment Of Glucose Homeostasis In Obesity, Irene Piquer-Garcia, Laura Campderros, Siri D. Taxerås, Aleix Gavaldà-Navarro, Rosario Pardo, María Vila, Silvia Pellitero, Eva Martínez, Jordi Tarascó, Pau Moreno, Joan Villarroya, Rubén Cereijo, Lorena González, Marjorie Reyes, Silvia Rodriguez-Fernández, Marta Vives-Pi, Carles Lerin, Carrie M. Elks, Jacqueline M. Stephens, Manel Puig-Domingo, Francesc Villarroya, Josep A. Villena, David Sánchez-Infantes

Faculty Publications

© 2019 Endocrine Society 2019. Context: Oncostatin M (OSM) plays a key role in inflammation, but its regulation and function during obesity is not fully understood. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of OSM with the inflammatory state that leads to impaired glucose homeostasis in obesity. We also assessed whether OSM immunoneutralization could revert metabolic disturbances caused by a high-fat diet (HFD) in mice. Design: 28 patients with severe obesity were included and stratified into two groups: (1) glucose levels /dL and (2) glucose levels >100 mg/dL. White adipose tissue was obtained to examine OSM …

Methanol Leaf Extract Of Momordica Charantia Protects Alloxan-Induced Hepatopathy Through Modulation Of Caspase-9 And Interleukin-1Β Signaling Pathways In Rats, Sunday Oluwaseun Ofuegbe, Ademola Adetokunbo Oyagbemi, Temidayo Olutayo Omobowale, Aduragbenro Deborah Adedapo, Abiodun Emmanuel Ayodele, Momoh Audu Yakubu, Oluwafemi O. Oguntibeju, Adeolu Alex Adedapo

Faculty Publications

Background and Aim: Momordica charantia is a highly valued plant, widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions. The plant is reported to have a wide range of medicinal uses. This study was designed to explore the ameliorative potential of M. charantia methanol leaf extract in alloxan-induced diabetic animal model with a particular focus on the liver. Materials and Methods: Hepatoprotective effect of methanol leaf extract of M. charantia was assessed in alloxan-induced toxicity in 50 rats divided into five groups (A-E) (n=10). Group A normal control, Group B was toxicant group, and Group C animals received glibenclamide treatment while …

Current Trends In The Pharmacotherapy Of Cataracts, Segewkal H. Heruye, Leonce N.Maffofou Nkenyi, Neetu U. Singh, Dariush Yalzadeh, Kalu K. Ngele, Ya Fatou Njie-Mbye, Sunny E. Ohia, Catherine A. Opere

Faculty Publications

Cataracts, one of the leading causes of preventable blindness worldwide, refers to lens degradation that is characterized by clouding, with consequent blurry vision. As life expectancies improve, the number of people affected with cataracts is predicted to increase worldwide, especially in low-income nations with limited access to surgery. Although cataract surgery is considered safe, it is associated with some complications such as retinal detachment, warranting a search for cheap, pharmacological alternatives to the management of this ocular disease. The lens is richly endowed with a complex system of non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants which scavenge reactive oxygen species to preserve lens …

Can Athletes Be Tough Yet Compassionate To Themselves? Practical Implications For Ncaa Mental Health Best Practice No. 4, Andreas Stamatis, Paul J. Deal, Grant B. Morgan, Jeffrey S. Forsse, Zacharias Papadakis, Sarah Mckinley-Barnard, Eric M. Scudamore, Panagiotis Koutakis

Faculty Publications

Recent tragic events and data from official NCAA reports suggest student-athletes’ wellbeing is compromised by symptoms of mental health (MH) disorders. Self-compassion (SC) and mental toughness (MT) are two psychological constructs that have been shown effective against stressors associated with sports. The purpose of this study was to investigate SC, MT, and MH in a NCAA environment for the first time and provide practical suggestions for MH best practice No.4. In total, 542 student-athletes participated across Divisions (Mage = 19.84, SD = 1.7). Data were collected through Mental Toughness Index, Self-Compassion Scale, and Mental Health Continuum–Short Form. MT, SC (including …

Can The Fut 2 Gene Variant Have An Effect On The Body Weight Of Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery? - Preliminary, Exploratory Study, Natalia Komorniak, Alexandra Martynova-Van Kley, Armen Nalian, Wiktoria Wardziukiewicz, Karolina Skoniecznaa-Zydecka, Daniel Styburski, Joanna Palma, Bartosz Kowalewski, Krzysztof Kaseja, Ewa Stachowska

Faculty Publications

Background: The FUT2 gene (Se gene) encoding the enzyme α-1,2-L-fucosyltransferase 2 seems to have a significant effect on the number and type of bacteria colonizing the intestines. Methods: In a group of 19 patients after bariatric surgery, the polymorphism (rs601338) of FUT2 gene was analyzed in combination with body mass reduction, intestinal microbiome (16S RNA sequencing), and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) measurements in stools. Results: Among the secretors (Se/Se polymorphism of the FUT2 gene rs601338, carriers of GG variant), correlations between waist-hip ratio (WHR) and propionate content and an increase in Prevotella, Escherichia, Shigella, and Bacteroides were observed. On …

Evaluation Of Global Health Capacity Building Initiatives In Low-And Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review, Hady Naal, Maria El Koussa, Melissa El Hamouch, Layal Hneiny, Shadi Saeh

Faculty Publications

Background Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are in dire need to improve their health outcomes. Although Global Health Capacity Building (GHCB) initiatives are recommended approaches, they risk being ineffective in the absence of standardized evaluation methods. This study systematically reviews evaluation approaches for GHCB initiatives in LMICs. Methods We searched the Medline (OVID), PubMed, Scopus, and Embase.com databases for studies reporting evaluation of a GHCB initiative in a LMIC from January 1, 2009 until August 15, 2019. To differentiate them from intervention, prevention, and awareness initiatives, included articles reported at least one approach to evaluate their learning modality. We excluded …

Soil Shear Strength Losses In Two Fresh Marshes With Variable Increases In N And P Loading, R. Eugene Turner, Christopher Swarzenski, James E. Bodker

Faculty Publications

We measured soil shear strength (SSS) from 2009 to 2018 in two hydrologically distinct freshwater marshes dominated by Panicum hemitomon after nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) were applied to the surface in spring. The SSS averaged over 100-cm depth in the floating and anchored marshes declined up to 30% throughout the profiles and with no apparent differences in the effects of the low, medium, and high N + P dosing. Plots with only N or P additions exhibited significant changes in SSS at individual depths below 40 cm for the anchored marsh, but not the floating marsh. The average SSS …

Mother-Child Dyadic Influences Of Affect On Everyday Movement Behaviors: Evidence From An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study, Chih-Hsiang Yang, Jimi Huh, Tyler B. Mason, Britni R. Belcher, Martina Kanning, Genevieve F. Dunton

Faculty Publications

Background

Research has shown that affect is associated with everyday movement behaviors in children and adults. However, limited work to date has investigated dyadic influences of momentary affect on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time among children and their mothers using ecological momentary assessment (EMA).

Methods

Mothers and their children (eight to 12-years-old at baseline) from the Los Angeles metropolitan area participated in a longitudinal study with six semi-annual measurement waves across three years. During each measurement wave, mothers and children reported momentary negative and positive affect via a custom smartphone-based EMA application across seven days (randomly sampled up …

Vitamin D3 Supplementation And Stress Fractures In High-Risk Collegiate Athletes - A Pilot Study, Kevin Williams, Christian Askew, Christopher Mazoue, Jeffrey Guy, Toni M. Torres-Mcgehee, J Benjamin Jackson Iii

Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D is paramount to bone health and little is known about vitamin D's role in the prevention of stress fractures in high-risk athletes. This study consists of a prospective, cross-sectional analysis accompanied by a retrospective review for control comparison of vitamin D3 supplementation in high-risk athletes. Our hypothesis is that supplemental vitamin D3 treatment will decrease the occurrence of stress fractures in high-risk collegiate athletes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 118 NCAA Division I athletes were recruited from 6 high-risk collegiate teams. Blood draws in August and February established baseline 25(OH)D levels. Subjects with serum 25(OH)D <30 ng/mL were supplemented with 50,000 IU of vitamin D3/week for 8 weeks. Treated subjects were re-tested to ensure serum 25(OH)D levels rose to sufficient status. All enrolled subjects were monitored for the development of stress fractures. A 5-year retrospective chart review of athletes from the same sports teams was conducted to determine the incidence of any reported stress fractures in the past. RESULTS: Prospective: 112 of the 118 enrolled subjects were tested in August. Sixty-one demonstrated vitamin D sufficiency (40.2 ng/mL ±8.28) and 51 were either insufficient or deficient (22.7 ng/mL ±4.89). Of the 118 enrolled subjects, 104 were tested in February. Fifty-six demonstrated vitamin D sufficiency (40.7 ng/mL ±9.47) and 48 were insufficient or deficient (21.6 ng/mL ±5.87). Two stress fractures were diagnosed amongst our cohort of 118 student athletes (1.69%). Retrospective: 34 stress fractures were diagnosed in 453 subjects from 01/2010-05/2015 (7.51%). Amongst our athletic teams, the cross-country team specifically demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in stress fracture incidence (p<0.05). We also found a statistically significant reduction in stress fracture incidence amongst the current overall cohort compared to our retrospective cohort (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In our population, almost half of the tested athletes proved to be vitamin D deficient. Hypovitaminosis D was prevalent throughout the winter months compared with the summer. With vitamin D3 supplementation, the stress fracture rate in our overall cohort demonstrated a statistically significant decrease from 7.51% to 1.65% (p=0.009).

Improving Natural Product Research Translation: From Source To Clinical Trial, Barbara C. Sorkin, Adam J. Kuszak, Gregory Bloss, Naomi K. Fukagawa, Freddie Ann Hoffman, Mahtab Jafari, Bruce Barrett, Paula N. Brown, Frederic D. Bushman, Steven J. Casper, Floyd H. Chilton, Christopher S. Coffey, Mario G. Ferruzzi, D. Craig Hopp, Mairead Kiely, Daniel Lakens, John B. Macmillan, David O. Meltzer, Marco Pahor, Jeffrey Paul, Kathleen Pritchett-Corning, Sara K. Quinney, Barbara Rehermann, Kenneth D.R. Setchell, Nisha S. Sipes, Jacqueline M. Stephens, D. Lansing Taylor, Hervé Tiriac, Michael A. Walters, Dan Xi, Giovanna Zappalá, Guido F. Pauli

Faculty Publications

© 2019 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology While great interest in health effects of natural product (NP) including dietary supplements and foods persists, promising preclinical NP research is not consistently translating into actionable clinical trial (CT) outcomes. Generally considered the gold standard for assessing safety and efficacy, CTs, especially phase III CTs, are costly and require rigorous planning to optimize the value of the information obtained. More effective bridging from NP research to CT was the goal of a September, 2018 transdisciplinary workshop. Participants emphasized that replicability and likelihood of successful translation depend on rigor in experimental design, …