Nutrition Commons^™

Rejection Of African Indigenous Food: The Case Of Rwanda, Eugene Baraka

NUTR/GLST 498b: Global Research Experiences in Nutrition and Health

Rwanda has one of the highest stunting rates among children globally, and malnutrition remains one of the most pressing public health issues. Lack of diversified diets, due to colonialization and nutrition transition, is the leading cause of the double burden of malnutrition in the country where the progress to reduce undernutrition is slow and obesity rates are rapidly rising. Consumption of indigenous foods has proven to diversify diets, but very few studies have been conducted to assess which ones are available for consumption in Rwanda. The purpose of this study was to assess the availability and use of indigenous foods …

The Importance Of Nutrition And Preventing Malnutrition In Older Adults: A Literature Review And Informational Booklet, Sophie Johnson

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Over years of studying nutrition science and gerontology, there was very little information in classes that combined these two important topics. Older adults are often classified as those above the age of 65 years old. There is a growing number of older adults in the United States, which increases the need for information on how nutrition and aging are interlaced. As humans age, multiple factors can impact nutrition. Nutrition involves consuming the proper amount of nutrients to maintain body function. There are physiological, physical, socioeconomic and medication factors that can all influence nutrition status. It is important to be aware …

Intrauterine Transfer Of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids In Mother–Infant Dyads As Analyzed At Time Of Delivery, Vanessa Woodard, Melissa Thoene, Matthew Van Ormer, Maranda Thompson, Corrine Hanson, Sathish Kumar Natarajan, Maheswari Mukherjee, Ana Yuil-Valdes, Tara M. Nordgren, Arzu Ulu, Kristina Harris Jackson, Ann Anderson-Berry

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential for fetal development, and intrauterine transfer is the only supply of PUFAs to the fetus. The prevailing theory of gestational nutrient transfer is that certain nutrients (including PUFAs) may have prioritized transport across the placenta. Numerous studies have identified correlations between maternal and infant fatty acid concentrations; however, little is known about what role maternal PUFA status may play in differential intrauterine nutrient transfer. Twenty mother–infant dyads were enrolled at delivery for collection of maternal and umbilical cord blood, and placental tissue samples. Plasma concentrations of PUFAs were assessed using gas chromatography (GC‐FID). Intrauterine …

Food Sourcing And The Relationship To Height Of 6th To 7th Graders In Southern Ethiopia And Zambia, Fulxen Ignacio Bescansa Luers

NUTR/GLST 498b: Global Research Experiences in Nutrition and Health

Introduction: Zambia and Ethiopia are Sub-Saharan African countries experiencing high rates of malnutrition and stunting. This study examines food sourcing and its relationship to stunting.

Methods: Anthropometric assessment and food frequency-sourcing interviews were taken for 488 6th-7th graders in Livingstone, Zambia and Hawassa, Ethiopia. Data were analyzed using ANOVA.

Results: Most students sourced food from local markets and home gardens; however Zambian students used a greater variety of sources. Those sourcing from home gardens were significantly taller.

Discussion: Home gardening provides economic and health benefits, as well as food security. A focus on preservation and use …

Low Energy Availability With And Without A High-Protein Diet Suppresses Bone Formation And Increases Bone Resorption In Men: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study, Chaise Murphy, Laura D. Bilek, Karsten Koehler

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Suppression of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and leptin secondary to low energy availability (LEA) may contribute to adverse effects on bone health. Whether a high-protein diet attenuates these effects has not been tested. Seven men completed three five-day conditions operationally defined as LEA (15 kcal kg fat-free mass (FFM)^-1 day^-1) with low protein (LEA-LP; 0.8 g protein·kg body weight (BW)^-1), LEA with high protein (LEA-HP; 1.7 g protein·kg BW^-1) and control (CON; 40 kcal·kg FFM^-1·day^-1, 1.7 g protein·kg BW^-1). In all conditions, participants expended 15 kcal·kg …

Immunomodulatory Role Of Urolithin A On Metabolic Diseases, Ashley Mulcahy Toney, Darius Fox, Virginia Chaidez, Amanda E. Ramer-Tait, Soonkyu Chung

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Abstract: Urolithin A (UroA) is a gut metabolite produced from ellagic acid-containing foods such as pomegranates, berries, and walnuts. UroA is of growing interest due to its therapeutic potential for various metabolic diseases based on immunomodulatory properties. Recent advances in UroA research suggest that UroA administration attenuates inflammation in various tissues, including the brain, adipose, heart, and liver tissues, leading to the potential delay or prevention of the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In this review, we focus on recent updates of the anti-inflammatory function of UroA and summarize the potential mechanisms …

Anti-Nlrp3 Inflammasome Natural Compounds: An Update, Baolong Liu, Jiujiu Yu

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

The nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat related (NLR) family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a multimeric protein complex that recognizes various danger or stress signals from pathogens, the host, and the environment, leading to activation of caspase-1 and inducing inflammatory responses. This pro-inflammatory protein complex plays critical roles in pathogenesis of a wide range of diseases including neurodegenerative diseases, autoinflammatory diseases, and metabolic disorders. Therefore, intensive efforts have been devoted to understanding its activation mechanisms and to searching for its specific inhibitors. Approximately forty natural compounds with anti-NLRP3 inflammasome properties have been identified. Here, we provide an update …

Identification Of Anti-Inflammatory Vesicle-Like Nanoparticles In Honey, Xingyi Chen, Boalong Liu, Xingzhi Li, Thuy T. An, You Zhou, Gang Li, Judy Wu-Smart, Sophie Alvarez, Michael J. Naldrett, James Eudy, Gregory Kubik, Richard A. Wilson, Stephen D. Kachman, Juan Cui, Jiujiu Yu

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Honey has been used as a nutrient, an ointment, and a medicine worldwide for many centuries. Modern research has demonstrated that honey has many medicinal properties, reflected in its anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory bioactivities. Honey is composed of sugars, water and a myriad of minor components, including minerals, vitamins, proteins and polyphenols. Here, we report a new bioactive component‒vesicle-like nanoparticles‒in honey (H-VLNs). These HVLNs are membrane-bound nano-scale particles that contain lipids, proteins and small-sized RNAs. The presence of plant-originated plasma transmembrane proteins and plasma membrane-associated proteins suggests the potential vesicle-like nature of these particles. H-VLNs impede the formation and activation …

Zika Virus Infection Induces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress And Apoptosis In Placental Trophoblasts, Philma Glora Muthuraj, Prakash K. Sahoo, Madison Kraus, Taylor Bruett, Arun S. Annamalai, Aryamav Pattnaik, Siddappa N. Byrareddy, Sathish Kumar Natarajan

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection to a pregnant woman can be vertically transmitted to the fetus via the placenta leading to Congenital Zika syndrome. This is characterized by microcephaly, retinal defects, and intrauterine growth retardation. ZIKV induces placental trophoblast apoptosis leading to severe abnormalities in the growth and development of the fetus. However, the molecular mechanism behind ZIKV-induced apoptosis in placental trophoblasts remains unclear. We hypothesize that ZIKV infection induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the trophoblasts, and sustained ER stress results in apoptosis. HTR-8 (HTR-8/SVneo), a human normal immortalized trophoblast cell and human choriocarcinoma-derived cell lines (JEG-3 and JAR) were …

Exercise Shifts Hypothetical Food Choices Toward Greater Amounts And More Immediate Consumption, Karsten Koehler, Safiya E. Beckford, Elise Thayer, Alexandra R. Martin, Julie B. Boron, Jeffrey R. Stevens

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Although exercise modulates appetite regulation and food intake, it remains poorly understood how exercise impacts decision-making about food. The purpose of the present study was to assess the impact of an acute exercise bout on hypothetical choices related to the amount and timing of food intake. Forty-one healthy participants (22.0 ± 2.6 years; 23.7 ± 2.5 kg/m² , 56% female) completed 45 min of aerobic exercise and a resting control condition in randomized order. Food amount preferences and intertemporal food preferences (preference for immediate vs. delayed consumption) were assessed using electronic questionnaires with visual food cues. Compared to rest, …

Applications Of The Critical Power Model To Dynamic Constant External Resistance Exercise: A Brief Review Of The Critical Load Test, Haley C. Bergstrom, Taylor K. Dinyer, Pasquale J. Succi, Caleb C. Voskuil, Terry J. Housh

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

The study and application of the critical power (CP) concept has spanned many decades. The CP test provides estimates of two distinct parameters, CP and W0 , that describe aerobic and anaerobic metabolic capacities, respectively. Various mathematical models have been used to estimate the CP and W0 parameters across exercise modalities. Recently, the CP model has been applied to dynamic constant external resistance (DCER) exercises. The same hyperbolic relationship that has been established across various continuous, whole-body, dynamic movements has also been demonstrated for upper-, lower-, and whole-body DCER exercises. The asymptote of the load versus repetition relationship is defined …

Buy Fresh, Buy Local: Nebraska Working Together For Local Food, Margaret Milligan

Cornhusker Economics

Direct market farms in Nebraska are made up of people passionate about raising good food for their fellow Nebraskans. They grow vegetables, fruits, meat, grains, and value-added products to sell directly to consumers in their communities.

During the pandemic, these small farms have experienced restaurant sales vanishing, farmers’ market attendance de-creasing, and slots filling up at the small meat processors where they take their livestock. At the same time, there has been a renewed interest from consumers seeking reliable, transparent food produced close to home. It’s been a volatile year, and it has required quick pivoting, group coordination and action …

Reduced Mitochondrial Dna And Oxphos Protein Content In Skeletal Muscle Of Children With Cerebral Palsy, Ferdinand Von Walden, Ivan J. Vechetti Jr, Davis Englund, Vandre C. Figueiredo, Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalo, Kevin Murach, Jessica Pingel, John J. Mccarthy, Per Stal, Eva Ponten

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

AIM To provide a detailed gene and protein expression analysis related to mitochondrial biogenesis and assess mitochondrial content in skeletal muscle of children with cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD Biceps brachii muscle samples were collected from 19 children with CP (mean [SD] age 15y 4mo [2y 6mo], range 9–18y, 16 males, three females) and 10 typically developing comparison children (mean [SD] age 15y [4y], range 7–21y, eight males, two females). Gene expression (quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction [PCR]), mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to genomic DNA ratio (quantitative PCR), and protein abundance (western blotting) were analyzed. Microarray data sets (CP/aging/bed rest) were …

Serving Refugees In A Pandemic: Insights From Yazidis In The Midwest, Falah N. Rashoka M.S, Megan S. Kelley, Marc A. Garcia

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

There is a critical need for research to examine factors that hinder or facilitate access to healthcare in the context of COVID-19. The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated barriers to healthcare for marginalized communities globally, leaving many without access to needed health services. Resettled refugees, in particular, must grapple with added challenges to locating and obtaining culturally appropriate healthcare services.

Recent focus groups shed light on the experiences of Yazidi refugees in the U.S. Midwest during COVID-19. Yazidis are a historically persecuted religious and ethnic minority group from northern Iraq (Kizilhan, 2017). Many Yazidis migrated to the U.S. on Special Immigrant …

Differential Effects Of Whole Red Raspberry Polyphenols And Their Gut Metabolite Urolithin A On Neuroinflammation In Bv-2 Microglia, Ashley Mulcahy Toney, Mahaa Albusharif, Duncan Works, Luke Polenz, Stacie Schlange, Virginia Chaidez, Amanda E. Ramer-Tait, Soonkyu Chung

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Whole red raspberry polyphenols (RRW), including ellagic acid, and their gut-derived metabolite, urolithin A (UroA), attenuate inflammation and confer health benefits. Although results from recent studies indicate that polyphenols and UroA also provide neuroprotective effects, these compounds differ in their bioavailability and may, therefore, have unique effects on limiting neuroinflammation. Accordingly, we aimed to compare the neuroprotective effects of RRW and UroA on BV-2 microglia under both 3 h and 12 and 24 h inflammatory conditions. In inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and ATP stimulation after 3 h, RRW and UroA suppressed pro- inflammatory cytokine gene expression and regulated the …

Covid-19 Contagion Among Communities With Limited English Proficiency: Lesson From Volunteerism, Falah N. Rashoka M.S

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

The COVID-19 affects all communities in the United States, but its impact differs from one community to another. Undoubtedly, the vulnerable populations are more impacted than others, especially refugees and immigrants. This study seeks to understand the impact of COVID-19 on marginalized communities and the need to communicate health-related information equally. A lesson learned from observation during an ongoing pandemic, including what I learned through my volunteer work between mid-March and August 2020. The study finds that neighbors with limited English Proficiency (LEP) and limited education could quickly transfer the COVID-19 virus to another neighbor with high income and well-educated. …

The Effects Of Phosphocreatine Disodium Salts Plus Blueberry Extract Supplementation On Muscular Strength, Power, And Endurance, John Paul V. Anders, Tyler J. Neltner, Robert W. Smith, Joshua L. Keller, Terry J. Housh, F Joseph Daugherty, Michael S. Tempesta, Alekha K. Dash, Daniel J. Munt, Richard J. Schmidt, Glen O. Johnson

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of creatine supplementation for improvements in exercise performance. Few studies, however, have examined the effects of phosphocreatine supplementation on exercise performance. Furthermore, while polyphenols have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, little is known regarding the influence of polyphenol supplementation on muscular strength, power, and endurance. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of 28 days of supplementation with phosphocreatine disodium salts plus blueberry extract (PCDSB), creatine monohydrate (CM), and placebo on measures of muscular strength, power, and endurance.

Methods: Thirty-three men were randomly assigned to consume either PCDSB, CM, …

Essential Role Of Systemic Iron Mobilization And Redistribution For Adaptive Thermogenesis Through Hif2-Α/Hepcidin Axis, Jin-Seon Yook, Mikyoung You, Jiyoung Kim, University Of Nebraska-Lincoln, Rong Fan, Bhanwar Lal Puniya, Tomáš Helikar, Sophie Vaulont, Jean-Christophe Deschemin, Meshail Oklar, Liwei Xie, Manik C. Ghosh, Tracey A. Rouault, Jaekwon Lee, Soonkyu Chung

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Iron is an essential biometal, but is toxic if it exists in excess. Therefore, iron content is tightly regulated at cellular and systemic levels to meet metabolic demands but to avoid toxicity. We have recently reported that adaptive thermogenesis, a critical metabolic pathway to maintain whole-body energy homeostasis, is an irondemanding process for rapid biogenesis of mitochondria. However, little information is available on iron mobilization from storage sites to thermogenic fat. This study aimed to determine the iron-regulatory network that underlies beige adipogenesis. We hypothesized that thermogenic stimulus initiates the signaling interplay between adipocyte iron demands and systemic iron liberation, …

Brain Α-Tocopherol Concentration Is Inversely Associated With Neurofibrillary Tangle Counts In Brain Regions Affected In Earlier Braak Stages: A Cross-Sectional Finding In The Oldest Old, J. Tanprasertsuk, T.M. Scott, M.A. Johnson, L.W. Poon, P.T. Nelson, A. Davey, J.L. Woodard, R. Vishwanathan, A.K. Barbey, K. Barger, X.-D. Wang, E.J. Johnson

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Objectives: Higher vitamin E status has been associated with lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, evidence of the association of vitamin E concentration in neural tissue with AD pathologies is limited. Design: The cross-sectional relationship between the human brain concentrations of α- and γ-tocopherol and the severity of AD pathologies – neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) and neuritic plaque (NP) – was investigated. Setting & Participants: Brains from 43 centenarians (≥ 98 years at death) enrolled in the Phase III of the Georgia Centenarian Study were collected at autopsy. Measurements: Brain α- and γ-tocopherol concentrations (previously reported) …

Availability And Consumption Of Vitamin A Foods Among Southern Ethiopian And Zambian Primary Students, Trang Vuong

NUTR/GLST 498b: Global Research Experiences in Nutrition and Health

Purpose: Understand vitamin A food availability in open-air markets (OAM’s), and consumption of those foods by primary school children in southern Ethiopia/Zambia.

Methods: Conducted inventories of all consumable/potable items and interviewed 6-7th grade students about consumption of items with vitamin A.

Results: Students consumed most of the 14 vitamin A foods/items sold in OAM’s. Zambian students ate more liver, pumpkin, squash, watermelon, and wild fruits, while Ethiopian students almost never consumed squash, watermelon or wild fruits.

Conclusions: The availability of Vitamin A foods in Ethiopian and Zambian OAMs are varied; however, Zambian children reportedly eat more vitamin A foods. Nutrition …

Determinants Of Gluten-Free Diet Adoption Among Individuals Without Celiac Disease Or Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity, Kristina Arslain, Christopher Gustafson, Pratiksha Baishya, Devin Rose

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Objectives: Gluten free (GF) foods are typically less nutritious and more expensive than their gluten-containing variants, yet people without a diagnosed gluten sensitivity continue to adopt this diet. There is a lack of research about what factors drive people without Celiac disease or non-Celiac gluten sensitivity to follow the GF diet. Methods: A nationally representative sample of 2982 US residents without a diagnosed gluten sensitivity were surveyed about their attitudes, perceptions, and experiences with the GF diet. Logistic regression was used to compare respondents who were currently avoiding or had avoided gluten previously (GF consumer) to respondents who had never …

Metabolic Benefits Of Plant-Based N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids On Brown Thermogenesis, Kyung Ho Park

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

There are two essential fatty acids for humans, a-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA), which should be taken from foods to maintain health. Once incorporated into cells, ALA and LA, which are omega-3 poly unsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) and n-6 PUFA respectively, undergo elongation and desaturation to generate longer and more unsaturated fatty acids influencing inflammation and immunological responses. Numerous studies showed a dietary reduction of n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio improves cardiovascular health, inflammation, and insulin resistance. Fish oil, the main resource for n-3 PUFA, is shown to increase these health benefits. In our lab, we investigated the efficacy …

Grains, Grasses, And Tubers: Staple Carbohydrates In The Diets Of Middle School Children Of Southern Zambia And Ethiopia, Brianna Juma

NUTR/GLST 498b: Global Research Experiences in Nutrition and Health

Purpose: Survey staple carbohydrate availability in local markets, complete anthropometric assessment, and interview primary school children about carbohydrate consumption in Southern Zambia and Ethiopia

Methods: Market inventories, anthropometric assessments, and interviews of 6th and 7th grade students

Results: Ethiopians have a greater diversity of available carbohydrates, have better overall anthropometric values compared to Zambian children, and consume more nutritious and varied carbohydrate types.

Conclusions: Diversity in carbohydrate availability and consumption, as well as more nutritious options, are associated with healthier growth rates among primary school children in Southern regions of Zambia and Ethiopia.

Microrna-Mrna Co-Sequencing Identifies Transcriptional And Post-Transcriptional Regulatory Networks Underlying Muscle Wasting In Cancer Cachexia, Geysson Javier Fernandez, Juarez Henrique Ferreira, Ivan Jose Vechetti Jr, Leonardo Nazario De Moraes, Sarah Santiloni Cury, Paula Paccielli Freire, Jayson Gutierrez, Renato Ferretti, Maeli Dal-Pai-Silva, Silvia Regina Rogatto, Robson Francisco Carvalho

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Cancer cachexia is a metabolic syndrome with alterations in gene regulatory networks that consequently lead to skeletal muscle wasting. Integrating microRNAs mRNAs omics profiles offers an opportunity to understand transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory networks underlying muscle wasting. Here, we used RNA sequencing to simultaneously integrate and explore microRNAs and mRNAs expression profiles in the tibialis anterior (TA) muscles of the Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC) model of cancer cachexia. We found 1,008 mRNAs and 18 microRNAs differentially expressed in cachectic mice compared with controls. Although our transcriptomic analysis demonstrated a high heterogeneity in mRNA profiles of cachectic mice, we identified a …

Energy And Amino Acid Metabolism In Lactating Jersey Cows Consuming Feed Byproducts, Kyle Alvin Mclain

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Animal protein byproducts are high bypass proteins commonly used in the dairy industry. These bypass proteins can escape the rumen to supply additional amino acids needed to support milk and protein yield. Two of the more popular animal protein byproducts used in the dairy industry are blood meal and hydrolyzed feather meal. In the first experiment, two flow meters were compared using headbox-style calorimeters. The objectives of the first study were to test mass flow meter (MFM) and volumetric flow meter (VFM) by measuring O₂ consumption and CO₂ production and to illustrate the effects of incomplete gas recovery …

Impact Of Diet And Quality Grade On Meat Quality Characteristics And Their Relationship To Oxidative Stress, Nicolas A. Bland

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Marbling and tenderness in meat are some of the most impactful factors for the consumer eating experience. The cause of the relationship between marbling and tenderness is still unresolved. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding different types of processed corn, with or without distiller grains on oxidative stress, and how that relates to tenderness and shelf life of beef steaks of differing quality grades. Steers (n = 240) were finished on dry rolled corn (DRC), DRC + 30% dried distillers grains (DDGS), steam flaked corn (SFC), or SFC + 30% DDGS. Cattle were fed 10 …

Protein Availability And Consumption, And Stunting Rates, For Primary School Children In The Southern Regions Of Ethiopia And Zambia, Megan Wackel

NUTR/GLST 498b: Global Research Experiences in Nutrition and Health

•Stunting is common in Sub-Sahara Africa, with millions of children who are short in stature also experiencing poor overall health and development, as well as poor school performance (Semba 2016; Semba, et al., 2016). •As many as 39% of children under 5 years of age in Ethiopia’s Sidama Region (formerly SNNPR) can be classified as stunted (CSA & ICF 2016). By comparison, 29% of under 5’s in Zambia’s Southern Province have short height for age (CSA, MOH, & ICF 2018). •Low protein and essential amino acid intake, among populations of 116 countries, has been suggested as the primary cause of …

A Qualitative Analysis Of The Barriers Faced By Nursing Assistants And Medication Aides In The Care Of Dysphagia Residents, Lauren Kreuzberg

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Dysphagia refers to the symptom of difficulty in swallowing that accompanies several prevalent conditions in the older adult population, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease), stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, dementia, various cancers, and brain tumors (Allari, 2014). Many older adults who suffer from these conditions reside in nursing facilities, where most of their care is provided by certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and medication aides (MAs). However, the extent of these workers’ knowledge and competence in providing care to nursing home residents with dysphagia is vastly under-researched. The qualitative analysis investigates themes among interviews with fifteen CNAs and …

Zika Virus Induces Apoptosis In Retinal Pigmented Epithelial Cells, Madison Kraus, Philma Glora Muthuraj, Sathish Kumar Natarajan

UCARE: Research Products

Zika virus is a single-stranded positive sense RNA virus that attracted international attention in 2015 when an epidemic broke out in Brazil. This vector borne virus is transmitted by mosquitos and is especially concerning for pregnant women because the virus can affect the development of the fetus. One known complication is the destruction of infected retinal epithelial cells. The transduction of light is interrupted due to cell death and results in blind spots. Previous research has demonstrated that palmitoleate can reduce the observed levels of apoptosis in ZIKAV infected JEG-3 cells. We have also seen the protection of retinal pigmented …

Stunting And Infectious Disease In Ethiopian And Zambian Children, Alyssa Arndt

NUTR/GLST 498b: Global Research Experiences in Nutrition and Health

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether children who are malnourished/stunted are more likely to have experienced infectious disease.

METHODS: 6th and 7th students (n=546) were interviewed about health history and assessed using anthropometry.

RESULTS: Children who are short for their age also have higher rates of stunting. Malaria is the most experienced infectious disease.

CONCLUSIONS: Given that malaria was the most common infectious disease experience listed among middle school children, and that those who have experienced disease are more likely to be stunted, increased malaria prevention methods may improve the long-term health of Ethiopian and Zambian schoolchildren.