Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Reducing Food Scarcity: The Benefits Of Urban Farming, S.A. Claudell, Emilio Mejia

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Urban farming can enhance the lives of communities and help reduce food scarcity. This paper presents a conceptual prototype of an efficient urban farming community that can be scaled for a single apartment building or an entire community across all global geoeconomics regions, including densely populated cities and rural, developing towns and communities. When deployed in coordination with smart crop choices, local farm support, and efficient transportation then the result isn’t just sustainability, but also increasing fresh produce accessibility, optimizing nutritional value, eliminating the use of ‘forever chemicals’, reducing transportation costs, and fostering global environmental benefits.

Imagine Doris, who is …

Folate Deficiency Modifies The Risk Of Cin3+ Associated With Dna Methylation Levels: A Nested Case–Control Study From The Ascus-Col Trial, María C. Agudelo, Samuel Agudelo, Attila Lorincz, Arianis Tatiana Ramírez, Kelly Melisa Castañeda, Isabel Garcés-Palacio, Arnold H. Zea, Chandrika Piyathilake, Gloria Ines Sanchez

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Purpose: To our knowledge, there are very few studies evaluating if the levels of folate modify the risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 and higher (CIN2+ and CIN3+) associated with the levels of HPV genome methylation, two cofactors related to single carbon metabolism and independently associated with cervical cancer in previous studies. We conducted a case–control study nested in a three-arm randomized clinical pragmatic trial (ASCUS-COL trial) to evaluate the risk of CIN3+ associated with methylation levels according to serum folate concentrations. Methods: Cases (n = 155) were women with histologically confirmed CIN2+ (113 CIN2, 38 CIN3, and 4 …

Vitamin D Status Of Anabaptist Children In Southwestern Ontario, Canada, Janis A. Randall Simpson, Natalee Miller, Taylor Hartwig, Jane Leach, Melissa Purdy, Emily Roth, Victoria Mok Siue, Cynthia Soulliere, Jacqui Tam, Ann Watt

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

The objective was to determine vitamin D status of Old Order Anabaptist children in rural Southwestern, Ontario, Canada, given concerns of community healthcare professionals. Fifty-two children (2.5 months - 6.5 years) (56% female) were recruited. Finger prick blood spot (BSp) samples were analyzed for 25-hydroxy (OH) vitamins D2 & D3 (BSp25(OH)D). Three-day food records were evaluated using Dietary Reference Intakes and Canada’s Food Guide (CFG) (Bush, et al. 2007). Compared to national Canadian data: mean BSp25(OH)D concentrations (78±31 nmol/L) were similar; a slightly smaller proportion (0% vs 2%) were at risk of deficiency (<30 nmol/L) or had inadequate status (4% vs 7%) (<40 nmol/L); and 10% vs 1% had BSp25(OH)D higher than 125 nmol/L. BSp25(OH)D was significantly associated (r2=0.358; p=0.001) with total vitamin D intake. From food alone, vitamin D intake was 68±39 IU/day, lower than the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of 600 IU/day, and intakes were all below the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) of 400 IU. Even including supplemental vitamin D, 87% were below the EAR (total intake=213±194 IU/day). No children had vitamin D intakes greater than the Upper Limit. Servings of milk and alternates were 1.6±0.8/day (CFG=2/day). Unfortified farm milk was consumed by 88% of children and 89% received a vitamin D supplement. Results were comparable to recent Canadian data suggesting that most children have adequate vitamin D status. Nevertheless, these findings support the need to encourage appropriate vitamin D intake (from food and supplements) to achieve the RDA for Old Order Anabaptist children in these communities. [Abstract by authors.]

Relation Of Salivary Alpha-Amylase (Saa) Concentration To Fatigue Biomarkers In Palm Oil Office Workers In Jambi Province: Preliminary Study, David Kusmawan, Willia Novita Eka Rini, Wahyu Indah Dewi Aurora

Makara Journal of Science

The salivary α-amylase (sAA) concentration has a potential role as a biological indicator of occupational fatigue. This study aimed to determine the levels of sAA and its influencing factors. This research used a cross-sectional design with a sample of 40 office staff respondents at PT. X (Persero). Mental workload (MWL), sleep quality, and occupational fatigue were measured using the NASA-Total Load Index (TLX), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Industrial Fatigue Research Committee, respectively. Meanwhile, the basic sAA levels was measured through the sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method using the Bioenzy® Kit Assay. Descriptive analysis showed that the workers were mostly …

A Literature Review On Thermogenesis As A Prospective Obesity Treatment, Kellyn Sheppard

Senior Honors Theses

The disease of obesity has quickly escalated from an epidemic to a worldwide pandemic in the last few decades, and viable treatment methods are being investigated with urgency. One such treatment method is increased induction of the thermogenesis pathway that is active in brown adipose tissue. This pathway is typically activated in mammals when they are exposed to cold temperatures for extended periods of time but can also be induced exogenously. Thermogenesis is a metabolically inefficient process that occurs in the mitochondria of a cell, meaning it uses substrate energy without generating ATP. The inefficiency of this process allows excess …

Effects Of Dimerization On The Deacylase Activities Of Human Sirt2., Jie Yang, Nathan I Nicely, Brian P Weiser

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Faculty Scholarship

Human sirtuin isoform 2 (SIRT2) is an NAD+-dependent enzyme that functions as a lysine deacetylase and defatty-acylase. Here, we report that SIRT2 readily dimerizes in solution and in cells and that dimerization affects its ability to remove different acyl modifications from substrates. Dimerization of recombinant SIRT2 was revealed with analytical size exclusion chromatography and chemical cross-linking. Dimerized SIRT2 dissociates into monomers upon binding long fatty acylated substrates (decanoyl-, dodecanoyl-, and myristoyl-lysine). However, we did not observe dissociation of dimeric SIRT2 in the presence of acetyl-lysine. Analysis of X-ray crystal structures led us to discover a SIRT2 double mutant (Q142A/E340A) that …

Green Tea Supplementation: An Effective Lifestyle Modification For Cholesterol Management, Samuel J. Nemati

MSN Capstone Projects

Hypercholesterolemia is an insidious disease and the leading factor to the deadliest killer in the United States – cardiovascular disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023a). Over 85 million American adults suffer from elevated cholesterol, and treatment can prove challenging and may require multiple modalities outside just pharmaceutical intervention – such as dietary and other lifestyle changes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023b; Goldman, 2023). Green tea – among the most common teas consumed worldwide – exerts a uniquely antihyperlipidemic and cardioprotective effect that suggests its consideration as a potentially-viable nonpharmacological option for hypercholesterolemia (Harvard Health Publishing, 2012; …

Chronic Stressors, Obesity Pathogenesis, And The Moderating Effect Of Internalized Weight Stigma; A Quantitative, Illinois Study, Karyn Byrne

Dissertations

The obesity epidemic is a ‘wicked’ problem with a complex web of determinants and outcomes. While generally higher for minoritized populations, prevalence rates manifest in surprising, nonlinear patterns. There is no consensus regarding treatment protocols or mitigation efforts, except that current efforts remain largely ineffective. Much research evidence that a profusion of determinants of health support obesity pathogenesis through various physiological processes and mechanisms, including the allostatic load, mitochondria functioning, the gut microbiome, and epigenetics. Intervening to support markers of the allostatic load (immunity, inflammation, and metabolic health) may provide a more effective treatment outcomes than traditional approaches, which tend …

Investigating The Effects Of Subchronic Dietary Zinc Supplementation On Diet-Induced Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease., Oluwanifemi Esther Bolatimi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Zinc deficiency is associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Previous studies show zinc supplementation improves steatosis, but its therapeutic effects in established MASLD remain unclear. We developed a model to characterize the effects of zinc supplementation on high-fat diet (HFD) induced MASLD and hypothesized established MASLD would be attenuated. Mice were fed control diet or HFD for 12 weeks and then grouped into normal or zinc-supplemented diets for 8 additional weeks. At euthanasia, plasma and liver tissues were collected for phenotypic analysis. Twelve weeks of HFD altered glucose clearance and body composition. Eight weeks of subsequent zinc supplementation …

Investigation Of Heterocyclic Amines And N-Acetyltransferase 2 Genetic Polymorphism In The Dysregulation Of Hepatic Energy Homeostasis: A Gene-Environment Approach., Kennedy M Walls

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are mutagens generated when cooking meat for prolonged periods of time or until well-done. Recent epidemiological studies reported significant associations between dietary HCA exposure and insulin resistance and type II diabetes. However, no previous studies have examined if HCAs, independent of meat consumption, contributes to pathogenesis of insulin resistance or metabolic disease. It is well known that HCAs require hepatic bioactivation by cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) and N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2). NAT2 expresses a well-defined genetic polymorphism in humans that, depending on the combination of NAT2 alleles, correlate to rapid, intermediate, or slow acetylator phenotypes that exhibit differential …

Ethanol Dysregulates Sirt1-Mediated Lipogenic Signaling Pathways Through Α4*-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors In Hepatocytes., Caitlin Christina Wilkerson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a broad spectrum of diseases ranging from steatosis to severe hepatic cirrhosis, none of which have any FDA approved therapies. Downregulation of hepatic Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) activity by ethanol has been shown to lead to an upregulation of the pro-lipogenic gene targets under its jurisdiction, resulting in increased lipogenesis and triglyceride accumulation. It was hypothesized that ethanol acts on α4*-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α4*-nAChRs) in hepatocytes to decrease Sirt1 expression, which ultimately dysregulates lipid metabolic homeostasis. Ethanol’s effects were investigated in cultured AML12 hepatocytes and in WT primary mouse hepatocytes acutely exposed to ethanol. Consistent with …

Standardized Total Fitness Scores And Phase Angle In Cancer Survivors, Paulette Yamada, Trevor Short

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 4: Issue 1, Article 20, 2023. Cancer treatment can lead to decrement in all components of fitness. Exercise can attenuate these effects and build fitness. Exercise program design for this population continues to evolve with high-intensity interval training at the forefront. Phase angle (PhA) is an indirect measure of cellular health and function and is associated with fitness, health, and reduced disease severity. Continued exploration spurs an emerging question: What type of training should be used to maximize improvements in PhA? We provide a visualization of a cancer rehabilitation fitness profile and present …

Weight Loss In Obese Adults On The Ketogenic Diet, Abigail Velasquez

Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner

The ketogenic diet is a successful and sustainable diet for obese adults to lose weight. One aim of this project is to provide evidentiary support for the ketogenic diet. An additional aim is to disseminate up to date literature to primary care providers in order to offer the ketogenic diet as a sustainable option for weight loss, to reverse disease risk, and, essentially, regain optimal health.

“Cost-Effective Markers To Identify Metabolically Healthy/Unhealthy Individuals And Their Future Risk For Cardiovascular Disorders”, Shobha C Ramachandra, Akila Prashant, Akshitha Shivanna, Ananth Koushik Bhujanga, Syeda Meherunnisa, Prashant Vishwanath

International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

Background: With the rising prevalence of metabolically healthy obese, it becomes essential to identify markers to differentiate them from metabolically unhealthy obese and their future risk for cardiovascular disorders (CVD). The study aims to identify suitable markers for risk stratification of metabolically healthy/unhealthy individuals and their risk for CVD. Method: Total 84 individuals aged 18-60 years of age without any comorbidities were enrolled. Their demographic details along with anthropometric measurements were noted. The biochemical parameters like fasting glucose, insulin, lipid profile, and serum adipokines were estimated. Insulin resistance (IR) markers and atherogenic indices were calculated. The data were analyzed on …

Conformational Ensemble-Dependent Lipid Recognition And Segregation By Prenylated Intrinsically Disordered Regions In Small Gtpases., Mussie K Araya, Alemayehu A Gorfe

Journal Articles

We studied diverse prenylated intrinsically disordered regions (PIDRs) of Ras and Rho family small GTPases using long timescale atomistic molecular dynamics simulations in an asymmetric model membrane of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylserine (PS) lipids. Here we show that conformational plasticity is a key determinant of lipid sorting by polybasic PIDRs and provide evidence for lipid sorting based on both headgroup and acyl chain structures. We further show that conformational ensemble-based lipid recognition is generalizable to all polybasic PIDRs, and that the sequence outside the polybasic domain (PBD) modulates the conformational plasticity, bilayer adsorption, and interactions of PIDRs with membrane lipids. …

Follow-Up Care After Metabolic Surgery – A Prospective Study In The North-Eastern Region Of Romania, Sorina Boariu, Ana Maria Scutariu, Adrian Cureniuc, Anamaria Meuca, Roxana Adriana Stoica, Anca Mihaela Pantea Stoian, Delia Reurean Pintilei

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Background. Anti-obesity therapeutic strategies are continuously evolving. Bariatric procedures or metabolic surgery are among the most effective and long-lasting therapies for obesity and its complications. Our objective was to investigate the clinical and biological evolution after metabolic surgery in a group of patients from North-Eastern Romania and to evaluate a nutritional intervention plan for this population. Materials and Methods. Our clinic surveyed 50 patients who received nutritional counselling before and after bariatric surgery. The patient's weight loss, metabolic markers, and lifestyle changes from January to December 2021 were recorded. SPSS Statistics v.18 was used for statistical analyses. Results and Discussions. …

Gene By Environment Interaction And Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease In Mexican American Patients With Depression, Khalid Sheikh, Vincent P. Diego, Sandra L. Laston, Eron G. Manusov, Sarah Williams-Blangero, John Blangero

Research Colloquium

Knowledge of genetic and environmental (G x E) interaction effects on metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of G x E interaction effects on MAFLD in Mexican Americans in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV). The environment examined was depression as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). We examined potential G x E interaction in the phenotypic expression of MAFLD, including hepatic steatosis and hepatic fibrosis, using variance component models and likelihood-based statistical inference. Significant G x E interactions were identified for hepatic fibrosis x BDI-II. These findings provide …

[Dataset] Comparison Of Intermittent Fasting And Voluntary Wheel Running On Physical And Cognitive Abilities In High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Rats, Chaya Gopalan, Paige Niepoetter, Carolyn Butts-Wilmsmeyer, Sai Medavaka, Avery Ogle, Sheyenne Daughrity, Elizabeth Hackmann, Saruveish Mogan, Oskar Lenz

Applied Health Faculty Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

Regular physical activity is a proven routine for weight management in addressing obesity. Another method that has gained attention for its health benefits is intermittent fasting (IF). Physical and cognitive abilities while on these routines are poorly understood in the obese population. Sixty-five male Sprague Dawley rats at 7 weeks of age were subjected to diet-induced obesity by feeding a high-fat diet (HFD) or a standard diet (SD) for 8 weeks, after which behavioral testing was performed to detect any changes in physical and cognitive abilities. Rats from the HFD-fed (now considered obese) and SD-fed groups were then subjected to …

Dpyd Pathogenic Variants Associated With Fluoropyrimidines Toxicity, Diana Cristina Pérez-Ibave, Noé Israel Oliva-García, Irasema Ramos-Martínez, Francisco Javier Villarreal Alvarado, Valeria Jimena Gómez Ordaz, Jonatán Isaí Cortes Alfaro, Carlos Horacio Burciaga-Flores, Juan Francisco González-Guerrero, Oscar Vidal-Gutiérrez, Maria De Lourdes Garza-Rodriguez

Research Symposium

Background: Genetic variants in dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase gene (DPYD) coding for the key enzyme (DPD) of fluoropyrimidines (FPs) catabolism. DPYD contributes to the development of severe FPs-related toxicity, and pathogenic DPYD variants detection reduces side effects and complications associated with FP-toxicity. The allelic frequency of these variants in the Mexican population is currently unknown.

Methods: The study was carried out at the Centro Universitario Contra el Cáncer (CUCC) of the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL) in Monterrey México. Genomic DNA was isolated from 154 subjects using the QIAamp DNA Blood Midi kit (QIAGEN) following the manufacturer's recommendations. We …

Familial Chylomicronemia Syndrome: A Family Case Report In U.S./Mexico Border By Cediamet, Carlos E. Maldonado, Carlo Hector, Mariana Mendez, Claudia Munguia-Cisneros, Leonel Vela, Juan Carlos Lopez Alvarenga

Research Symposium

Primary familiar hyperchylomicronemia syndrome (FHS) is an extremely rare autosomal recessive condition. In 80% of cases is a result of a mutation in lipoprotein lipase, meanwhile, the 20% is a malfunctioning enzyme due to APOC2, APOA5, LMF1, or GP1HBP1. It is estimated FHS affects 3000 to 5000 individuals globally, with no correlation by sex or race. We are presenting a family with FHS in Reynosa, Mexico.

The index patient was a male 36 years old who attended the CEDIAMET clinic after his 6th episode of acute pancreatitis. He has triglycerides 1300 mg/dl and CT scan with Balthazar C score. He …

Oral Dosages Of The Nsaid Aspirin Decreased The Growth Rate Of Species Found In The Human Gut Microbiome Including Akkermansia Muciniphila, Bacteroides Fragilis, Clostridium Sordellii, And Clostridium Difficile, Wyatt H. Greenbaum, Garrett J. Greenbaum, Anna Spiezio

PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas

Over past few decades, new insight has been revealed in the scientific community about the importance of the human gut microbiome relating to general health. It is known that imbalances in the species that reside in the human gut can cause organism-wide problems in humans. When prescribing or injecting oral medications, the thought of the downstream effects on the gut microbiome are not always considered. By exposing known healthy members of the gut; Akkermansia muciniphila, Bacteroides fragilis, Clostridium sordellii, and Clostridium difficile to the Aspirin, this study attempted to provide insight into the effects of the drug on bacterial growth. …

Effect Of Calorie Restriction On The Expression Of Sirtuin1 As An Antiaging Biomarker, Raya Makarim Penantian, Radiana Dhewayani Antarianto, Novi Silvia Hardiany

Makara Journal of Science

Calorie restriction (CR) is the most effective method for delaying aging and preventing the onset of age-related diseases. Sirtuins constitute a family of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent histone deacetylases. Their activity can be regulated by NAD⁺/NADH levels, which are influenced by nutrient intake, a variable acted upon by CR. This review elaborates on the link between CR and sirtuin1 (SIRT1). It retrieved articles from several sources, such as ClinicalKey, PubMed, and ScienceDirect. It discusses the up-to-date knowledge of how SIRT1 acts as a nutrient sensor and regulator of molecular mechanisms. These mechanisms include the control of the cell …

Direct Modulators Of K-Ras-Membrane Interactions, Johannes Morstein, Rebika Shrestha, Que N Van, César A López, Neha Arora, Marco Tonelli, Hong Liang, De Chen, Yong Zhou, John F Hancock, Andrew G Stephen, Thomas J Turbyville, Kevan M Shokat

Journal Articles

Protein-membrane interactions (PMIs) are ubiquitous in cellular signaling. Initial steps of signal transduction cascades often rely on transient and dynamic interactions with the inner plasma membrane leaflet to populate and regulate signaling hotspots. Methods to target and modulate these interactions could yield attractive tool compounds and drug candidates. Here, we demonstrate that the conjugation of a medium-chain lipid tail to the covalent K-Ras(G12C) binder MRTX849 at a solvent-exposed site enables such direct modulation of PMIs. The conjugated lipid tail interacts with the tethered membrane and changes the relative membrane orientation and conformation of K-Ras(G12C), as shown by molecular dynamics (MD) …

Antibiotic-Induced Gut Dysbiosis And Cognitive, Emotional, And Behavioral Changes In Rodents: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Shivdeep S. Hayer, Soonjo Hwang, Jonathan B. Clayton

Food for Health: Publications

There are previous epidemiological studies reporting associations between antibiotic use and psychiatric symptoms. Antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis and alteration of microbiota-gut-brain axis communication has been proposed to play a role in this association. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we reviewed published articles that have presented results on changes in cognition, emotion, and behavior in rodents (rats and mice) after antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis. We searched three databases—PubMed, Web of Science, and SCOPUS to identify such articles using dedicated search strings and extracted data from 48 articles. Increase in anxiety and depression-like behavior was reported in 32.7 and 40.7 percent of the …

Antibiotic-Induced Gut Dysbiosis And Cognitive, Emotional, And Behavioral Changes In Rodents: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Shivdeep S. Hayer, Soonjo Hwang, Jonathan B. Clayton

Food for Health: Publications

There are previous epidemiological studies reporting associations between antibiotic use and psychiatric symptoms. Antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis and alteration of microbiota-gut-brain axis communication has been proposed to play a role in this association. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we reviewed published articles that have presented results on changes in cognition, emotion, and behavior in rodents (rats and mice) after antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis. We searched three databases—PubMed, Web of Science, and SCOPUS to identify such articles using dedicated search strings and extracted data from 48 articles. Increase in anxiety and depression-like behavior was reported in 32.7 and 40.7 percent of the …

Sex-Dependent Effects Of Intestinal Microbiome Manipulation In A Mouse Model Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Harpreet Kaur, Suba Nookala, Surjeet Singh, Santhosh Mukundan, Kumi Nagamoto-Combs, Colin K. Combs

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Mechanisms linking intestinal bacteria and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are still unclear. We hypothesized that intestinal dysbiosis might potentiate AD, and manipulating the microbiome to promote intestinal eubiosis and immune homeostasis may improve AD-related brain changes. This study assessed sex differences in the effects of oral probiotic, antibiotics, and synbiotic treatments in the AppNL-G-F mouse model of AD. The fecal microbiome demonstrated significant correlations between bacterial genera in AppNL-G-F mice and Aβ plaque load, gliosis, and memory performance. Female and not male AppNL-G-F mice fed probiotic but not synbiotic exhibited a decrease in Aβ plaques, microgliosis, brain …

Hla-Ii Alleles Influence Physical And Behavioral Responses To A Whey Allergen In A Transgenic Mouse Model Of Cow's Milk Allergy, Danielle L. Germundson, Suba Nookala, Nicholas A. Smith, Yassmine Warda, Kumi Nagamoto-Combs

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

The symptoms of food allergies vary significantly between individuals, likely due to genetic determinants. In humans, allergy development is initiated by antigen-presenting cells via class II human leukocyte antigen (HLA-II). The HLA-II gene is highly polymorphic, and its allelic variance is thought to influence the susceptibility of individuals to a particular allergen. However, whether antigen presentation by different HLA-II variants contributes to symptom variation is not clear. We hypothesized that HLA-II allelic variance affects symptom phenotypes, including immediate physical reactions and delayed behavioral changes, in individuals with food hypersensitivity. To test our hypothesis, male and female mice of three transgenic …

Comparative Polar And Lipid Plasma Metabolomics Differentiate Kshv Infection And Disease States, Sara R. Privatt, Camila Pereira Braga, Alicia Johnson, Salum J. Lidenge, Luke Berry, John R. Ngowi, Owen Ngalamika, Andrew G. Chapple, Julius Mwaiselage, Charles Wood, John T. West, Jiri Adamec

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a neoplastic disease etiologically associated with infection by the Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). KS manifests primarily as cutaneous lesions in individuals due to either age (classical KS), HIV infection (epidemic KS), or tissue rejection preventatives in transplantation (iatrogenic KS) but can also occur in individuals, predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), lacking any obvious immune suppression (endemic KS). The high endemicity of KSHV and human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) co-infection in Africa results in KS being one of the top 5 cancers there. As with most viral cancers, infection with KSHV alone is insufficient to induce tumorigenesis. …

The Combined Effects Of Physical Exercise And Cognitive Training On Gait Speed And Primary Motor Cortex Metabolism In Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A 1h-Mrs Analysis, Jack Thomas Emsey Elkas

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transitional stage before dementia. Altered gait in MCI has been associated with progression to dementia. Using magnetic resonance spectroscopy, a relationship between primary motor cortex (M1) neurochemistry and dual task gait speed has been reported in MCI. Interventional research suggests exercise, cognitive training, and vitamin D supplementation may benefit MCI, yet the combined effect of these treatments on gait speed and M1 metabolism is unknown. Participants with MCI (N=75) were assigned to one of five intervention arms and dual task cost on gait speed and M1 metabolism was assessed before and five months after …

Homeobox Transcription Factor Hbxa Influences Expression Of Over One Thousand Genes In The Model Fungus Aspergillus Nidulans, Sandesh S. Pandit, Jinfang Zheng, Yanbin Yan, Sophie Lorber, Olivier Puel, Sourabh Dhingra, Eduardo A. Espeso, Ana M. Calvo

Food for Health: Publications

In fungi, conserved homeobox-domain proteins are transcriptional regulators governing development. In Aspergillus species, several homeobox-domain transcription factor genes have been identified, among them, hbxA/hbx1. For instance, in the opportunistic human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus, hbxA is involved in conidial production and germination, as well as virulence and secondary metabolism, including production of fumigaclavines, fumiquinazolines, and chaetominine. In the agriculturally important fungus Aspergillus flavus, disruption of hbx1 results in fluffy aconidial colonies unable to produce sclerotia. hbx1 also regulates production of aflatoxins, cyclopiazonic acid and aflatrem. Furthermore, transcriptome studies revealed that hbx1 has a broad effect on …