Life Sciences Commons^™

The Effects Of Injury On Running Status And Gait Biomechanics, Kristyne Wiegand

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Over the past several decades, endurance running has grown steadily as a popular form of physical activity. Running is easily accessible, does not require expensive equipment, and can be performed without specific skill training. Individuals who run also experience health benefits like increased cardiovascular health and reduced risk of all-cause morbidity. Despite these benefits, running is also associated with high rates of musculoskeletal injury. Although researchers have attempted to identify injury risks and mitigate the incidence of running injury, there is still no consensus as to why runners become injured. Research has also attempted to identify biomechanical movement patterns that …

Changes In Hippocampal-Anterior Cingulate Cortex Interactions During Remote Memory Recall, Ryan A. Wirt

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Spatial memory is an important cognitive process that relies on extensive neural networks throughout the brain. The hippocampus (HC) is important for the formation of these memories but over time, in a process referred to as consolidation, recall becomes increasingly reliant on other brain areas. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a region within the medial prefrontal cortex, is important for spatial learning, spatial working memory, and remote memory recall, but the mechanisms underlying recall processes are still unknown. To better understand the role of the ACC and HC during memory recall, we introduced rodents into a series of spatially and …

Tree To Grass Water Use Ratios; Assessing Turfgrass’ High Water Use In The Urban Landscape, Tamara Wynne

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Water demand in the southwestern United States continues to rise. The population of the Las Vegas Valley doubled from 2000-2010 and now more than two million people call it home. The residential sector uses 60% of all water consumed in the valley. Outdoor urban landscape irrigation is responsible for 70% of all residential use. These landscapes are dominated by trees and turf grass. Although the water use of turf grass species is well studied, there are few published results about the water use of landscape trees in the desert southwest USA. To obtain a more complete picture of the tradeoffs …

Prevalence Of Aggregatibacter Actinomycetemcomitans And Fusobacterium Nucleatum Among Clinical Orthodontic Saliva Samples, Jason Robert Klingler

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Changes to the oral microflora occur when there are shifts in the levels of the numerous bacterial species. Changes in bacterial load occur in health, disease, and dental treatments such as orthodontics and can be detected through saliva. Many studies dealing with saliva have centered around detecting bacteria known for correlation with chronic periodontitis and caries. Fewer have focused on bacterial species that contribute to microbial shifts not strictly correlated with disease. Measuring the degree of disease progression or future susceptibility is not always possible with traditional clinical parameters alone.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (AA) is a bacterial strain that serves as …

Wearable Technology Devices: Heart Rate And Step Count Analysis, Jeffrey Montes

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The overarching purpose of this dissertation was to evaluate and analyze heart rate and/or step count measurements for six popular wearable technology devices: the Samsung Gear 2, FitBit Surge, Polar A360, Garmin Vivosmart HR+, Leaf Health Tracker, and the Scosche Rhythm+ in four separate conditions: free motion walking, free motion jogging, treadmill walking, and treadmill jogging. The four studies presented here utilized one test design and data collection protocol in which many measurements could be addressed simultaneously. Currently, there is no accepted standardized protocol to evaluate wearable technology devices. The test design utilized for this research series was introduced as …

Optimizing Cycle Exercise Performance During Normobaric Hypoxia Exposure, Cierra Brittany Ugale

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: The purpose of the present study was to examine whether implementing factors of OPTIMAL Theory: Enhanced Expectancies (EE), Autonomy Support (AS), and External Focus (EF) during a cycle exercise bout at a simulated altitude of 21,000 feet elevation had an effect on exercise performance and EPOC response in comparison to a control condition.

Methods: Sixteen participants (n = 8 women, n = 8 men) completed resting oxygen measurements (resting metabolic rate) between 6:00 A.M. and 8:00 A.M. Cycle exercise to fatigue at a constant workload was performed (100 W) while breathing air with reduced oxygen content to simulate exercising …

Beyond Genetics: Addressing Activity In Microbial Ecology, Scott Christopher Thomas

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The field of microbial ecology is on the cusp of another revolution, one that uses synergy to address the limitations of previous studies. My dissertation is representative of the new era of research to come, through combining the latest technological advances with established classical methods to provide a more complete understanding of microbial ecosystems. In my first study, I evaluate the conservation of central carbon metabolic pathways and activity along a temperature and diversity gradient (60-95 ℃) through the use of 16S rRNA gene amplicon data, metagenome sequencing, and position-specific 13C-labeled metabolite probing. In my second study, I provide the …

A Comparison Of Multiple Wearable Technology Devices Heart Rate And Step Count Measurements During Free Motion And Treadmill Based Measurements, Szu-Ping Lee, Jeffrey Montes, Richard Tandy, John Young, James Navalta

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Introduction: Wearable Technology Devices are used to promote physical activity. It is unknown whether different devices measure heart rate and step count consistently during walking or jogging in a free motion setting and on a treadmill. Purpose: To compare heart rate and step count values for the Samsung Gear 2, FitBit Surge, Polar A360, Garmin Vivosmart HR+, Scosche Rhythm+ and the Leaf Health Tracker in walking and jogging activities. Methods: Forty volunteers participated. Devices were worn simultaneously in randomized configurations. 5-minute intervals of walking and jogging were completed in free motion and treadmill settings with matching paces. Heart rates at …

Uptake And Persistence Of Bacterial Magnetite Magnetosomes In A Mammalian Cell Line: Implications For Medical And Biotechnological Applications., Jefferson Cypriano, Jacques Werckmann, Gabriele Vargas, Adrana Lopes Dos Santos, Karen T. Silva, Pedro Leao, Fernando P. Almeida, Dennis A. Bazylinski, Marcos Farina, Ulysses Lins, Fernanda Abreu

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Magnetotactic bacteria biomineralize intracellular magnetic nanocrystals surrounded by a lipid bilayer called magnetosomes. Due to their unique characteristics, magnetite magnetosomes are promising tools in Biomedicine. However, the uptake, persistence, and accumulation of magnetosomes within mammalian cells have not been well studied. Here, the endocytic pathway of magnetite magnetosomes and their effects on human cervix epithelial (HeLa) cells were studied by electron microscopy and high spatial resolution nano-analysis techniques. Transmission electron microscopy of HeLa cells after incubation with purified magnetosomes showed the presence of magnetic nanoparticles inside or outside endosomes within the cell, which suggests different modes of internalization, and that …

Lumen Apposing Metal Stents In Drainage Of Pancreatic Walled-Off Necrosis, Are They Any Better Than Plastic Stents? A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Studies Published Since The Revised Atlanta Classification Of Pancreatic Fluid Collections, Babu P. Mohan, Mahendran Jayaraj, Ravishankar Asokkumar, Mohammed Shakhatreh, Parul Pahal, Suresh Ponnada, Udayakumar Navaneethan, Douglas G. Adler

School of Medicine Faculty Research

Lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) are increasingly being used in the drainage of pancreatic walled-off necrosis (WON). Best choice of stent is subject to argument, and studies are varied in the reported outcomes between LAMS and plastic stents (PS) to this end. We conducted a comprehensive search of multiple electronic databases and conference proceedings including PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases (earliest inception through July 2018) to identify studies that reported on the use of LAMS and PS in WON drainage. Studies published since the release of the revised Atlanta classification for pancreatic fluid collections (2014 to current) were included …

Nutrient And Food Group Intakes Of Low-Income Pregnant Women By Race/Ethnicity, Alla M. Hill, Danielle L. Nunnery Phd, Rdn, Ldn, Alice Ammerman Drph, Jigna M. Dharod Phd

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

In an exploratory study, a convenience sample of 148 pregnant women was recruited from a WIC clinic in the southeast region of the U.S. to: 1) Examine and compare daily nutrient and food group intakes of WIC pregnant women to national guidelines, and; 2) Determine racial/ethnic differences in nutrient and food group intakes among WIC pregnant women. Women were selected for the study if they were: ≥ 18 y, in 2^nd trimester of pregnancy, and if they spoke English or Spanish as a first language. Upon recruitment, participants were interviewed to collect information on their socio-demographics, including race/ethnicity. Additionally, …

Comparison Of Cardiorespiratory Fitness Prediction Models In Young Adults Running Head: Comparison Of Vo2 Max Prediction Models, Elizabeth Ann Tanner, James W. Navalta

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Research

To compare the predictive accuracy of regression models for a non-consecutive day VO2 max/Wingate testing protocol and a same day testing protocol. Participants (N=23) completed a treadmill GXT and Wingate cycle test. Participants (n=12) completed testing on non-consecutive days (NON) and (n=11) the same day (SAME). VO2 max (L/min) and peak power (PP) were collected. Linear regression analysis of NON revealed R2=0.808 and prediction equation Ŷ=1.499+0.004X and SAME showed R2=0.861 and prediction equation Ŷ=1.407+0.003X. NON standard error of estimate (SEE) and standard error of estimate percent (SEE %) were 0.62 L/min and 15.23%, respectively. SAME SEE and SEE% were 0.34 …

Practice Variability Promotes An External Focus Of Attention And Enhances Motor Skill Learning, Lee-Kuen Chua, Maria Katrina Dimapilis, Takehiro Iwatsuki, Reza Abdollahipour, Rebecca Lewthwaite, Gabriele Wulf

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Research

Variability in practice has been shown to enhance motor skill learning. Benefits of practice variability have been attributed to motor schema formation (variable versus constant practice), or more effortful information processing (random versus blocked practice). We hypothesized that, among other mechanisms, greater practice variability might promote an external focus of attention on the intended movement effect, while less variability would be more conducive to a less effective internal focus on body movements. In Experiment 1, the learning of a throwing task was enhanced by variable versus constant practice, and variable group participants reported focusing more on the distance to the …

Hawaiian Picture‐Winged Drosophila Exhibit Adaptive Population Divergence Along A Narrow Climatic Gradient On Hawaii Island, Jon Eldon, M. Renee Bellinger, Donald K. Price

Life Sciences Faculty Research

1. Anthropogenic influences on global processes and climatic conditions are increasingly affecting ecosystems throughout the world. 2. Hawaii Island’s native ecosystems are well studied and local long‐term climatic trends well documented, making these ecosystems ideal for evaluating how native taxa may respond to a warming environment. 3.This study documents adaptive divergence of populations of a Hawaiian picture‐winged Drosophila, D. sproati, that are separated by only 7 km and 365 m in elevation. 4.Representative laboratory populations show divergent behavioral and physiological responses to an experimental low‐intensity increase in ambient temperature during maturation. The significant interaction of source population by temperature treatment …

Investigating The Dna-Binding Site For Virb, A Key Transcriptional Regulator Of Shigella Virulence Genes, Using An In Vivo Binding Tool, Monika M.A. Karney, Joy A. Mckenna, Natasha Weatherspoon-Griffin, Alexander D. Karabachev, Makensie E. Millar, Eliese A. Potoceck, Helen J. Wing

Life Sciences Faculty Research

The transcriptional anti-silencing and DNA-binding protein, VirB, is essential for the virulence of Shigella species and, yet, sequences required for VirB-DNA binding are poorly understood. While a 7-8 bp VirB-binding site has been proposed, it was derived from studies at a single VirB-dependent promoter, icsB. Our previous in vivo studies at a different VirB-dependent promoter, icsP, found that the proposed VirB-binding site was insufficient for regulation. Instead, the required site was found to be organized as a near-perfect inverted repeat separated by a single nucleotide spacer. Thus, the proposed 7-8 bp VirB-binding site needed to be re-evaluated. Here, we engineer …

Geographic And Socio-Economic Variation In Markers Of Indoor Air Pollution In Nepal: Evidence From Nationally-Representative Data, Saruna Ghimire, Shiva Raj Mishra, Abhishek Sharma, Adugna Siweya, Nipun Shrestha, Bipin Adhikar

School of Public Health Faculty Research

Background In low-income countries such as Nepal, indoor air pollution (IAP), generated by the indoor burning of biomass fuels, is the top-fourth risk factor driving overall morbidity and mortality. We present the first assessment of geographic and socio-economic determinants of the markers of IAP (specifically fuel types, cooking practices, and indoor smoking) in a nationally-representative sample of Nepalese households. Methods Household level data on 11,040 households, obtained from the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, were analyzed. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the use of fuel types, indoor cooking practices, indoor smoking and IAP with respect to …

Induction Of Met Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Down-Regulation Through Antibody-Mediated Receptor Clustering, Wenjing Li, Adam Dick, Fei Lu, Hong Sun

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Research

The proto-oncoprotein MET is a receptor tyrosine kinase that plays a key role in cancer cell growth and invasion. We have used fluorescence-tagged antibodies to activate MET in live serum-starved glioblastoma cells and monitor the fate of antibody-bound MET receptor in single cell-based assays. We found that the antibodies induced rapid and transient formation of highly polarized MET clusters on the plasma membrane and promoted the activation of MET, resembling the initial effects of binding to its ligand, HGF. However, the antibody-induced clustering and activation of MET led to the rapid removal of the receptor from cell surface and altered …

Starvation Resistance Is Associated With Developmentally Specified Changes In Sleep, Feeding And Metabolic Rate, Elizabeth B. Brown, Melissa E. Slocumb, Milan Szuperak, Arianna Kerbs, Allen G. Gibbs, Matthew S. Kayser, Alex C. Keene

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Food shortage represents a primary challenge to survival, and animals have adapted diverse developmental, physiological and behavioral strategies to survive when food becomes unavailable. Starvation resistance is strongly influenced by ecological and evolutionary history, yet the genetic basis for the evolution of starvation resistance remains poorly understood. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster provides a powerful model for leveraging experimental evolution to investigate traits associated with starvation resistance. While control populations only live a few days without food, selection for starvation resistance results in populations that can survive weeks. We have previously shown that selection for starvation resistance results in increased …

Complete Genome Sequences Of Mycobacterium Smegmatis Phages Chewbacca, Reptar3000, And Riparian, Isolated In Las Vegas, Nevada, Alicia Salisbury, Erin Cassin, Kevin Ayala-Pineda, Nicolas Barroga, Vanessa Cadiz, Ramiro Cisneros, Joseph Fersini, Tiffany Jeanite, Jonathan Juste, Juvie Ines, Gabriel Leyva, Dyanne Macalinao, Spencer Muscelli, Sophia Nhan, Gustavo S. Reyes, Heather Rhoden, Rodney Tan, Erika Torres, Krystal Tran, Georgette Uriarte-Valle, Christopher Wallace, Simon Wong, Kurt Regner, Christy Strong, Philippos K. Tsourkas

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Here, we present the complete genome sequences of Mycobacterium smegmatis phages Chewbacca, Reptar3000, and Riparian, isolated from soil in Las Vegas, NV. The phages were isolated and annotated by undergraduate students enrolled in the Phage Discovery course offered by the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Mfd Protects Against Oxidative Stress In Bacillus Subtilis Independently Of Its Canonical Function In Dna Repair, Holly Anne Martin, Katelyne E. Porter, Carmen Vallin, Tatiana Ermi, Natalie Contreras, Mario Pedraza-Reyes, Eduardo Robleto

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Background: Previous reports showed that mutagenesis in nutrient-limiting conditions is dependent on Mfd in Bacillus subtilis. Mfd initiates one type of transcription-coupled repair (TCR); this type of repair is known to target bulky lesions, like those associated with UV exposure. Interestingly, the roles of Mfd in repair of oxidative-promoted DNA damage and regulation of transcription differ. Here, we used a genetic approach to test whether Mfd protected B. subtilis from exposure to two different oxidants. Results: Wild-type cells survived tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) exposure significantly better than Mfd-deficient cells. This protective effect was independent of UvrA, a component of the canonical …

Sulphur And Carbon Isotopes As Tracers Of Past Sub-Seafloor Microbial Activity, Patrick Meister, Benjamin Brunner, Aude Picard, Michael E. Böttcher, Bo Barker Jørgensen

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Microbial life below the seafloor has changed over geological time, but these changes are often not obvious, as they are not recorded in the sediment. Sulphur (S) isotope values in pyrite extracted from a Plio- to Holocene sequence of the Peru Margin (Ocean Drilling Program, ODP, Site 1229) show a down-core pattern that correlates with the pattern of carbon (C) isotopes in diagenetic dolomite. Early formation of the pyrite is indicated by the mineralogical composition of iron, showing a high degree of pyritization throughout the sedimentary sequence. Hence, the S-record could not have been substantially overprinted by later pyrite formation. …

Electronic Measurement Of Plantar Contact Area During Walking Using An Adaptive Thresholding Method For Medilogic Pressure-Measuring Insoles, Daniel E. Lidstone, Jessica Deberardinis, Janet S. Dufek, Mohamed B. Trabia

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Research

Background: Pressure-measuring insoles have the potential to measure plantar contact area (PA) during walking. However, they are not widely used for this purpose because of the need for a reliable process that can convert the insole output into PA. The purposes of this study were to: (1) develop an adaptive-threshold method for pressure-measuring insoles that can improve the accuracy of the PA measurements during walking, and (2) experimentally assess the accuracy and generalizability of this method. Methods: A sample of 42 healthy, ambulatory, young adults (age = 24.3 ± 3.2 years, mass = 67.2 ± 16.9 kg, height = 1.63 …

Aligning Best Practices In Student Success And Career Preparedness: An Exploratory Study To Establish Pathways To Stem Careers For Undergraduate Minority Students, Kimberly D. Kendricks, Anthony A. Arment, K. V. Nedunuri, Cadance A. Lowell

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

Undergraduate minority retention and graduation rates in STEM disciplines is a nationally recognized challenge for workforce growth and diversification. The Benjamin Banneker Scholars Program (BBSP) was a five-year undergraduate study developed to increase minority student retention and graduation rates at an HBCU. The program structure utilized a family model as a vehicle to orient students to the demands of college. Program activities integrated best K-12 practices and workforce skillsets to increase academic preparedness and career readiness. Findings revealed that a familial atmosphere improved academic performance, increased undergraduate research, and generated positive perceptions of faculty mentoring. Retention rates among BBSP participants …

Building A Sustainable Agricultural Career Pipeline: Effective Recruitment And Retention Practices Used By Colleges Of Agriculture In The United States, Antoine J. Alston, Richie Roberts, Chastity Warren English

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

This national study examined effective student recruitment and retention practices used by colleges of agriculture in the United States among 1862 land-grant, 1890 land-grant, and non-land-grant institutions. Respondents reported that faculty at colleges of agriculture were primarily white. Through the analysis of sub-group percentages, the researchers found that the ethnic makeup of faculty was not reflective of the general population. The researchers found that administrators from 1862 land-grant institutions reported statistically significant differences (p < .05) regarding the use of specific strategies to target underrepresented populations in student recruitment as compared to other institutional types. Further, 1862 land-grant institutions reported statistically significant differences in student retention strategies (p < .05) as compared to other institutional types regarding the delivery of programs that aimed to retain first-year students. Based on key findings from this investigation, the authors developed the agricultural student retention model (ASRM) to help guide colleges of agriculture in improving their holistic retention program as they navigate inclusive and diverse institutional contexts. Additionally, key recruitment strategies were identified as well, that could facilitate holistic student recruitment efforts. Perhaps more significant progress can be made toward creating a sustainable agricultural workforce that is more reflective of U.S. population demographics using this model.

Planned Behavior Typologies Of Agricultural Education Teacher Educators Regarding Service Learning As A Method Of Instruction: A National Mixed Methods Study, Richie Roberts, M. Craig Edwards, Toni A. Ivey

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

This study sought to understand the service-learning beliefs and intentions of agricultural education teacher educators. We collected quantitative data through a web-based survey instrument and course syllabi. Variables yielding statistically significant relationships were analyzed using cluster analysis, which produced three unique clusters operationalized as typologies representing the planned behaviors of teacher educators regarding service learning. For example, the Optimistically Unaware expressed positive beliefs about the method, but did not understand how to integrate service learning in their teaching methods courses. Meanwhile, the Policy-Focused Decision Makers used established education policy as anchors when navigating decisions, such as whether to feature service …

Mrna, Rrna And Dna Quantitative Stable Isotope Probing With H218o Indicates Use Of Old Rrna Among Soil Thaumarchaeota, Katrina Papp, Bruce A. Hungate, Egbert Schwartz

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

RNA is considered to be a short-lived molecule, indicative of cellular metabolic activity, whereas DNA is thoughtto turn over more slowly because living cells do not always grow and divide. To explore differences in the ratesof synthesis of these nucleic acids, we used H218O quantitative stable isotope probing (qSIP) to measure theincorporation of18O into 16S rRNA, the 16S rDNA,amoAmRNA and theamoAgene of soil Thaumarchaeota.Incorporation of18O into the thaumarchaealamoAmRNA pool was faster than into the 16S rRNA pool,suggesting that Thaumarchaea were metabolically active while using rRNA molecules that were likely synthe-tized prior to H218O addition. Assimilation rates of18O into 16S rDNA …

Effects Of Ambient Air Pollution On Asthma-Related Emergency Department Visits Within The Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, Loiren E. Monardes

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The objective of this research was to evaluate the risk for asthma-related Emergency Department visits and their association with ambient air pollution within the Las Vegas metropolitan area. All data were aggregated by date and ZIP Code. The association was analyzed by applying the distributed lag non-linear model in an attempt to identify elevated concentrations of specific air pollutants

as triggers and their delayed effects (lag days). Relative Risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals were produced, while adjusting for socioeconomic status. This ecological population-based study analyzed daily asthma counts of Emergency Department visits from January 1st, 2009 to December 31st, …

Examining Environmental Hazards In Rental Homes And Habitability Laws In Clark County, Nevada, Jorge Luis Bertran

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

It is well established that home conditions are linked to the health outcomes of occupants. There are over 880,000 housing units in Clark County, Nevada; nearly half of those are renter-occupied units (ROUs). Currently, there is limited research on the characteristics of environmental hazards found in Clark County ROUs and the strength of habitability statutes created to protect tenants from substandard housing. Understanding how renters in Clark County are affected by environmental hazards in ROUs and the processes by which landlords and tenants resolve grievances related to those hazards would benefit public health. It would enhance the ability to quickly …

Prokaryotic Diversity And Aqueous Geochemistry Of Subsurface Environments Of The Death Valley Regional Flow System, Joshua David Sackett

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This dissertation summarizes over four years of effort towards the completion of a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences. The work presented in this document covers a broad range of topics, but a central unifying theme is prokaryotic life in the continental subsurface. The work presented in each chapter relied heavily on cultivation-independent methods for assessing prokaryotic communities, including prokaryotic community structure reconstruction from high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene libraries and single-cell genome analysis of novel uncultivated bacteria.

Chapter 2 examines the aqueous geochemistry and prokaryotic diversity of Devils Hole, a cavernous limnocrene and sole natural habitat for the critically endangered …

Cocoa, Postprandial Lipoproteins, And Inflammation In Type 2 Diabetes: A Secondary Data Analysis, Rickelle Tallent

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is associated with dyslipidemia and chronic low-grade inflammation, which greatly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in this population. Hyperlipidemia and inflammation in the postprandial state substantially contribute to atherosclerosis development and CVD risk, and have shown to be exacerbated by high-fat meals. Dietary cocoa is a rich source of flavanols that is associated with favorable effects on cardiovascular health, such as improvements in the lipid profile and chronic inflammation, in non-diabetic adults.

Objective: To conduct a secondary data analysis using unpublished data from a previously conducted clinical study to determine whether acute cocoa …