Digital Commons Network^™

Communities, Birth Attendants And Health Facilities: A Continuum Of Emergency Maternal And Newborn Care (The Global Network's Emonc Trial), Omrana Pasha, Robert L. Goldenberg, Elizabeth M. Mcclure, Sarah Saleem, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, Fernando Althabe, Archana Patel, Fabian Esamai, Ana Garces, Elwyn Chomba, Manolo Mazariegos, Bhala Kodkany, Jose M. Belizan, Richard J. Derman, Patricia L. Hibberd, Waldemar A. Carlo, Edward A. Liechty, K. Michael Hambidge, Pierre Buekens, Dennis Wallace, Lisa Howard-Grabman, Suzanne Stalls, Marion Koso-Thomas, Alan H. Jobe, Linda L. Wright

Community Health Sciences

Background: Maternal and newborn mortality rates remain unacceptably high, especially where the majority of births occur in home settings or in facilities with inadequate resources. The introduction of emergency obstetric and newborn care services has been proposed by several organizations in order to improve pregnancy outcomes. However, the effectiveness of emergency obstetric and neonatal care services has never been proven. Also unproven is the effectiveness of community mobilization and community birth attendant training to improve pregnancy outcomes. Methods/Design: We have developed a cluster-randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of a comprehensive intervention of community mobilization, birth attendant training and …

The Relationship Between Diet Quality And Body Composition In College Women: A Cross-Sectional Analysis, Annette Elisabeth Perkins

Theses and Dissertations

Objective. Determine the relationship between dietary quality and body weight/composition in college women. Specific emphasis was made regarding adherence to current MyPyramid guidelines, fruit, vegetable and junk food consumption.

Design/Participants. The study used a cross-sectional design. One hundred and sixty three women were recruited to participate in the study. All participants were university students (20.4 ± 1.6 y). Diet intake was measured using the Dietary History Questionnaire (DHQ) and the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) was calculated to assess diet quality. Body fat percentage was assessed using the Bod Pod and BMI was calculated using height and weight measurements. Physical activity …

High Rates Of Photobiological H2 Production By A Cyanobacteriium Under Aerobic Conditions., Anindita Bandyopadhyay, Jana Stöckel, Louis A. Sherman, Himadri B. Pakrasi

Department of Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Among the emerging renewable and green energy sources, biohydrogen stands out as an appealing choice. Hydrogen can be produced by certain groups of microorganisms that possess functional nitrogenase and/or bidirectional hydrogenases. In particular, the potential of photobiological hydrogen production by oxygenic photosynthetic microbes has attracted significant interest. However, nitrogenase and hydrogenase are generally oxygen sensitive, and require protective mechanisms to function in an aerobic extracellular environment. Here, we describeCyanothece sp. ATCC 51142, a unicellular, diazotrophic cyanobacterium with the capacity to generate high levels of hydrogen under aerobic conditions. Wild-type Cyanothece 51142 can produce hydrogen at rates as high as …

Uterine Epithelial Cell Regulation Of Dc-Sign Expression Inhibits Transmitted/Founder Hiv-1 Trans Infection By Immature Dendritic Cells, Daniel O. Ochiel, Christina Ochsenbauer, John C. Kappes, Mimi Ghosh, John V. Fahey, Charles R. Wira

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background:

Sexual transmission accounts for the majority of HIV-1 infections. In over 75% of cases, infection is initiated by a single variant (transmitted/founder virus). However, the determinants of virus selection during transmission are unknown. Host cell-cell interactions in the mucosa may be critical in regulating susceptibility to infection. We hypothesized in this study that specific immune modulators secreted by uterine epithelial cells modulate susceptibility of dendritic cells (DC) to infection with HIV-1.

Methodology/Principal Findings:

Here we report that uterine epithelial cell secretions (i.e. conditioned medium, CM) decreased DC-SIGN expression on immature dendritic cells via a transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) …

Nurse Anesthetist's Perceptions Regarding Utilization Of Anesthesia Support Personnel, Mary Ford

Theses and Dissertations

Anesthesia support personnel (ASP) provide direct support to health care providers administering anesthesia (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists [CRNAs] and anesthesiologists). Because these anesthesia providers are caring for a patient whom they cannot legally or ethically leave unattended, ASP are employed to bring them extra supplies or equipment, prepare equipment for the case, maintain and clean equipment, and generally function as directed by the anesthesia provider. Given the limited literature and importance of ASP in maintaining equipment essential to safe practice, it is necessary to describe the population to understand who is functioning in this role to insure that these individuals …

Promoting Awareness Of Healthy Eating And Physical Activity In Hispanic Women To Reduce Cancer Risk, Donaji Stelzig, Nathalie Folch, Norma Olvera

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Latino population is one of the fastest growing minority groups in the United States. As the Latino population continues to increase, chronic diseases such as cancer and obesity will increase. Thus, the development of interventions that promote awareness of healthy eating and an active lifestyle among Latinos are greatly needed. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a community-based wellness intervention for Latino women in promoting healthy eating and physical activity. Method: Twenty-four Latino women between the ages 30-65 years participated in a eight-week intervention that included nutrition education focusing on nutrition labeling, selecting healthy food …

Community Support, School Health Programs, And Effective Management On Childhood Obesity, Ling Zhu, Breanca Thomas

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

No Abstract

Community Based Nutritition Education: A Model For Raising Awareness Of Childhood Obesity, Selina M. Ahmed

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Background: Since 2003, Texas Southern University has coordinated conferences to educate Houston’s Third Ward community about strategies to combat childhood obesity. Presenters included faculty and students as speakers and activity coordinators. Participants indicated that these conferences are helpful in increasing awareness of health problems and the availability of community health resources. Purpose: To address the high rate of childhood obesity in Houston’s Third Ward and its costs in terms of health and long-term productivity on that community, faculty at Texas Southern University (TSU) coordinated annual conferences to educate community members about strategies to combat childhood obesity. Methods: Seven conferences intended …

Know Your Audience: Designing A Nutrition Education Game For Middle School Kids, Vinod Srinivasan, Lars Doucet, Christine Shimek, Cynthia A. Warren, Carol J. Spaulding, Kimberly Paulhill, Catherine J. Mcneal, John David Coppin

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: In recent years video games have emerged as potential tools to tackle obesity. Games that use motion-sensing controllers and interfaces are often used to promote physical activity. Games are also used to impart education about diet, nutrition and health. Our goal in this project is to address childhood obesity through the design, development and implementation of a video game to teach nutrition concepts to middle-school-aged children.

Method: Our target audience is middle-school students in a low-income neighborhood in Dallas. To guide us in the game design, we collected data about students’ gaming preferences through surveys, focus groups and student …

A Community-Academic Partnership To Improve Access To Healthy Foods In Low-Income Communities, Heather Kitzman-Ulrich, Mark Dehaven, Cindy Romero, Nicole Beltran

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Access to healthy foods is often limited in low-income communities and prevents the adoption of a healthy diet needed to meet national dietary recommendations, reduce chronic disease, and prevent obesity. The Healthy Harvest Community Gardening Partnership is a community-based participatory research program between faith-based organizations, academic institutions, local philanthropy, and other non-profit institutions, created in 2009 for improving access to healthy foods and quality of life through a community garden network. Methods: Healthy Harvest uses a social ecological framework combining individual, interpersonal, and community level influences into a single program, and employs a train-the-trainer approach for providing expertise in …

Middle School Students’ Understanding Of Calories, Energy Expenditure And The Nutrition Facts Panel, John D. Coppin, Catherine J. Mcneal, Carol J. Spaulding, Cynthia A. Warren, Vinod Srinivasan, Christine Shimek, Kimberly Paulhill, Lars Doucet

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

TORC Abstract

Exercise Attenuates Weight Gain And Fat Accumulation In Cd1- Mice Consuming A High-Fat Diet, Whitney L. Breslin, Kelley Strohacker, Katie C. Carpenter, Nadia H. Agha, Thomas W. Lowder, Brian K. Mcfarlin

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Background: Exercise training, in combination with a healthful diet, is a reliable method of weight loss or weight maintenance. It is unknown whether an exercise training program would sufficiently attenuate weight gain during chronic consumption of a high-fat diet. Purpose: Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of an aerobic exercise training program to prevent excessive weight gain both before and during consumption of a high-fat diet in CD-1 male mice. Methods: Mice were divided into four groups (N=10 mice/group): 4-weeks of treadmill running followed by 6-weeks sedentary (EX-SD), 4-weeks sedentary followed by 6 weeks of …

Mixed High-Fat And Stock Diet Caused A Greater Increase In Body Mass Than High-Fat Diet Alone, Katie C. Carpenter, Tiffany Davidson, Brian K. Mcfarlin

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Increased dietary palatability may lead to excess food consumption which in turn causes an excess of caloric intake and weight gain. Although most obesity studies in rodents utilize a high-fat diet, food variation, a combination of different diets for example, may actually increase body weight and fat mass beyond that of solely high-fat feeding. Purpose: To examine the changes in weight gain and body composition in mice that consume either a high-fat diet or a combination of high-fat and stock diet. Methods: 10 CD-1 male mice were randomly assigned to one of two groups based on dietary composition (N=5/group). HF …

Relationship Between Dyslipidemia And Obesity In Children, Elias Humberto Avila-Rodriguez, Armando Avila-Rodriguez, Jesús Maria Araujo-Contreras, Abelardo Camacho-Luis, Alfredo Tellez-Valencia, Nelda Mier, Luis Joel Rodríguez-Ortega, Efren Rivas-Avila

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Dyslipidemia is a general term that refers to abnormal levels of lipids. The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship among the nutritional state and the percentage of body fat with the levels of lipids in 10 to 13 year old children living in the city of Durango, Mexico. Method: The study was carried out with 823 elementary school children. The selection was done at random. The biochemical studies were done in a subpopulation of 425 children. Each child underwent the following studies: sociodemographic, anthropometric and corporal composition. After fasting overnight, a venous blood sample was obtained. …

The Impact Of Resveratrol On Diet Induced Obesity Changes In Thymic Function, Apeksha A. Gulvady, Henry P. Ciolino, Christopher A. Jolly

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Progenitor cells, produced in the bone marrow, migrate to the thymus where the thymic microenvironment plays a critical role in their differentiation and maturation into T cells. Fat accumulates in the thymus beginning at 1 year of age, causing the thymus to gradually involute as age progresses, thus resulting in a decline in the production of mature T-cells. Obesity augments thymic fat accumulation and hastens the decline in thymic output. Resveratrol, a phytoalexin produced in plants, has also been shown to regulate fat metabolism, in an attempt to reduce hepatic fat accumulation, via 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). …

Exploring Obesity Among Wheelchair Users: Bmi Vs Body Compostion, Katherine Froehlich-Grobe

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Author(s): Katherine Froehlich-Grobe, PhD1 & Richard A. Washburn, PhD2 Affiliations: 1 University of Texas School of Public Health, Dallas Regional Campus, 2 Center for Physical Activity and Weight Management, University of Kansas Purpose: Body mass index (BMI) is commonly used to indicate weight status but has been critiqued for being insensitive to body composition. Americans with disabilities have significantly higher obesity rates than those without when BMI has been used as the indicator of weight status. Examining obesity prevalence based on body composition among this group is warranted. As the life expectancy of those with disabilities has increased to approximate …

An Assessment Of Us College Food Environments: From Food Service To College Students, Lesli Biediger-Friedman, Debra Reed

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: As obesity continues to increase among adolescents and young adults in the U.S. and these populations enter college, Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs) are facing a changing set of student health issues. With these students comes an increased responsibility to address the nutritional environment of the campus. College health educators and food service programs are on the forefront of this issue and can provide important insights into the challenges and opportunities of providing and promoting healthy food options on IHLs. Method: Initially, a series of focus groups, primarily comprised of college health educators, were conducted. Topics included the discussion …

Obesity And Physical Activity Variance By Income And Ethnicity In Kansas City, Katie M. Heinrich, Ws Carlos Poston, Nui Jitnarin, Anthony Randles, Joseph Hughey, Laverne Berkel, C Keith Haddock

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Although obesity and physical activity prevalence systematically vary by income and ethnicity, it is unclear how well census data represent actual conditions. Using data from the Kansas City Built Environment and Health Study, we examined whether differences in measured obesity prevalence and self-reported physical activity would systematically vary by both census block group median income and percent ethnic minority and self-reported income and ethnicity. Methods: Participants included 586 adults; average age 45±14.7. Most participants were female (69.8%), married (51.5%), had some college or more (72.7%) and had incomes ≤$60,000 (54.6%). Households were solicited from 21 census block groups, stratified …

Lessons Learned From Juntos Y Saludables Peer-Led Parent Education, Daisy Escamilla, Desiree Acosta, Bonnie Dillon, Rebecca Adeigbe, Deborah Parra- Medina, Meizi He, Amelie G. Ramirez, Zenong Yin, Erica T. Sosa

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the quality of training received by peer educators in the Juntos y Saludables (Get Healthy Together) program. Juntos y Saludables is a multi-component childhood obesity prevention program for Head Start. Method: This study applied the peer led education approach to provide parents with education regarding healthy growth among their children. Seven parents were recruited through teachers, other parents, and the Parent Leadership Institute at a local Head Start center. Faculty and graduate assistants from local universities provided training to the parent educators in both English and Spanish. Training sessions were conducted …

Cognitive Behavior Modification And Exercise + Group Counseling For Patients After Bariatric Surgery, Janet Buckworth, Caroline Carducci, Shirley Kindrick, Dean Mikami, Dara Schuster, Katharine Stough, Bradley Needleman

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

The growing obesity epidemic is paralleled by an increasing number of bariatric surgeries. Patients lose significant weight within the first 12-18 months post-surgery with corresponding resolution of many co-morbidities. However, weight loss stabilizes after 18-24 months and 50% or more of patients eventually regain weight (Bond, Phelan, Leahey, Hill, & Wing, 2009; Magro, et al., 2008). Weight regain after loss is associated with return of co-morbidities and deteriorations in health-related quality of life and mood (Karlsson, Taft, Ryden, Sjostrom, & Sullivan, 2007). The purpose of this pilot study was to analyze the effects of a post-surgical behavioral plus counseling intervention …

Juntos Y Saludables: Outcomes Of A Peer Led Approach To Obesity Prevention For Head Start, Erica T. Sosa, Deborah Parra-Medina, Rebecca Adeigbe, Desiree Acosta, Daisy Escamilla, Meizi He, Debra Kibbe, Amelie Ramirez, Zenong Yin

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate Juntos y Saludables (Get Healthy Together), a multi-component obesity prevention pilot tailored for Mexican American Head Start children (ages 3-5). For the parent education component, researchers trained seven peer parent educators to deliver health information via afterschool parent education sessions. When parents attended the sessions, they received a take-home bag with a book and family activity to promote physical activity in the home. Method: Parent intercept interviews, focus groups, and questionnaires were collected (average 80% participation rate). Results: Average participation rate at the parent education sessions was 46% and rates varied …

Gender, Weight Loss Efforts, And Fast Food Locations: Evidence Of Differential Effect On Bmi?, Maria C. Chang, Vincent Chen, Courtney P. Winston, Luisa Franzini, Deanna M. Hoelscher

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Research on the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and proximity of fast food restaurants surrounding schools, proxy measures for fast food access, have produced mixed results. We evaluated whether gender and self-report of weight loss behaviors modified the relationship between BMI and proportion of fast food restaurants (FFRp). Method: We obtained weight and height information for 6,456 11th graders from 108 schools that participated in the 2004-2005 Texas School Physical Activity and Nutrition surveillance. Internet searches were used to determine FFRp within 0.25 and 0.50 miles from schools. FFRp was determined by dividing the number of FFR by …

Relationship Between Leptin And Obesity In Mexican Chidren, Armando Avila-Rodríguez, E.Humberto Avila-Rodríguez, Jesus M. Araujo-Contreras, Abelardo Camacho-Luis, Alfredo Tellez-Valencia, L. Joel Rodríguez-Ortega, Efrén Rivas-Avila

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: The expression and secretion of the leptin are thoroughly related with the regulation of food intake, energy balance and body fat. Obesity is defined as excess of body fat. The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship among the nutritional state and the percentage of body fat with the levels of leptin in 10 to 13 year old children living in the city of Durango, Mexico. Method: The study was carried out with 823 elementary school children. The selection was done at random. The biochemical studies were done in a subpopulation of 425 children. Each child underwent …

Health Behaviors Among Students With Different Weight Change Outcomes, Katrina Serrano, Chanam Lee, Peter S. Murano, Xuemei Zhu

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Studies have identified various behavioral and environmental factors associated with physical inactivity and unhealthy diet among children and adults. While the lifestyles of college students may be risk factors to the development of an unhealthy body weight, they have not been sufficiently studied in previous research. Utilizing the dataset collected from a larger project, Campus Environment, Diet and Activity (CEDA), this study examines physical activity (PA), dietary behaviors, and perceptions of environmental barriers among those who have lost, maintained, or gained weight after living on a campus environment for one year. Method: The pretest data (focusing on past behaviors before …

Insulin Resistance And Obesity In Mexican Youth, Jesus M. Araujo-Contreras, E. Humberto Avila-Rodriguez, Nohe Vargas-Chavez, Efren Rivas-Avila, Armando Avila-Rodriguez, Abelardo Camacho-Luis, Luis A. Sepulveda-Chapa, Nelda Mier, Alfredo Tellez-Valencia

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Although research shows that prevalence rates of insulin resistance (IR) is increasing in children, little is known about the impact of obesity in IR in Mexican youth. This study investigated the association between overweight, obesity, and insulin resistance in Mexican adolescents. Methods: Data were collected from 448 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years from a random sample of a high school student population in Durango, Mexico. After fasting overnight, blood samples were obtained from participants. Glucose, insulin, lipid profile, leptin, insulin growth factor, growth hormone, cortisol, TNF-alpha, and C-reactive protein were determined in serum. Body Mass Index (BMI) was …

Acculturation, Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, And Physical Activity In Mexican Origin Women, Daisy Y. Morales-Campos, Jennifer J. Salinas, Deborah Parra-Medina, Deanne K. Hilfinger Messias, Patricia Sharpe, Alexis M. Koskan

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Longer time in the United States (US) is associated with increased risk of obesity in Hispanic immigrants, particularly for women. Although previous research has established an association between nutrition and acculturation, little attention has focused on physical activity. In this study, we examine the associations between acculturation on Mexican origin women’s body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and report of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA).

Method: Mexican origin women ≥18 years (n=120) from South Carolina (n=60) and Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley (n=60) completed a survey and anthropometric measures. Participants reported MVPA in hours per week, country …

An Obesity Management Intervention For Hispanic Children In A Pediatric Clinic, Laura A. Rubalcava, Dorothy A. Long Parma, Deborah Parra- Medina, Cynthia M. Mojica

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Title: AN OBESITY MANAGEMENT INTERVENTION FOR HISPANIC CHILDREN IN A PEDIATRIC CLINIC: STUDY DESIGN AND BASELINE CHARACTERISTICS Authors: Laura A. Rubalcava, MA, Dorothy A. Long Parma, MD, Deborah Parra-Medina, MPH, PhD, Cynthia M. Mojica, PhD, MPH Affiliation: Institute for Health Promotion Research, Dept of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Purpose: This study describes a pediatric obesity management intervention trial in a rural Hispanic clinic. Methods: Hispanic children aged 5-14 (goal N=200) who are overweight (body mass index [BMI] 85th-94th percentile for age and gender) or obese (BMI ≥ 95th percentile) and a parent …

College Students’ Percieved Barriers And Failitators To Maintaining A Healthy Bodyweight, Timothy K. Jones, Arely Perez, Summmer R. Wilmoth, Bonnie Dillon, Lesli Biediger- Friedman, Meizi He

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

PURPOSE:

It has been evident that on average college students experienced excess weight gain as they transited from high school. The objectives of this study were to qualitatively explore college students’ perceived barriers and facilitators to maintaining a healthy bodyweight and identify the key modifiable factors underlying unhealthy behaviors.

METHOD:

The study employed photovoice (PV), a qualitative research method, in undergraduate students in South Texas. Participants took pictures and wrote descriptions of three perceived barriers and three facilitators to maintaining a healthy body weight; they were then asked to choose one of each for discussion. Eight focus groups were conducted …

Mediation And Moderation Effects Of The "5 A Day Achievement Badge" Intervention For Boy Scouts, Tracey Ledoux, Kathy Watson, Janice Baranowski, Tom Baranowski

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Title: MEDIATION AND MODERATION EFFECTS OF THE “5 A DAY ACHIEVEMENT BADGE” INTERVENTION FOR BOY SCOUTS. Authors: Tracey Ledoux, PhD, RD1, 2, Kathy Watson, PhD2, Janice Baranowski, MPH, RD2, & Tom Baranowski, PhD2 Affiliations: 1Health and Human Performance Department, University of Houston; Children’s Nutrition Research Center, USDA/ARS, Baylor College of Medicine. Purpose: To test the moderating effect of parent value for health (PVH) and mediating effects of fruit and vegetable (FV) availability, FV accessibility, child asking behavior (CAB), and FV preference changes on the relationship between program dose and change in FV consumption from an intervention that increased FV consumption …

Therapeutic Potential Of Insulin-Sensitizing Drugs In The Treatment Of Prostate Cancer With Coexisting Obesity, Alison Schwein, Mong-Hong Lee, Sai-Ching Yeung

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

TITLE: Insulin-sensitizing Drugs to Treat Obese Prostate Cancer Patients

AUTHORS: Alison Schwein, B.S.1, Dr. Mong-Hong Lee PhD2, Dr. Sai-Ching Yeung PhD, MD2

AFFILIATIONS: 1University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 2M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Purpose: Prostate cancer (PC) in obese men is more likely to cause a more aggressive disease that recurs after radical prostatectomy than in non-obese men; also, risks of advanced PC or death from PC are increased when associated with obesity. The biological mechanisms underlying the association between obesity and the progression of PC have yet to be established. Insulin resistance is associated with obesity. Insulin …