Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Association Between The Gnb3 Rs5443 C/C Genotype And Obesity Phenotypes In Taiwanese Individuals, Ling-Yi Xiao, Zi-Lun Lai, Yang-Di Su, Szu-Yun Wang, Nia-Jia Zheng, Po- Ren Hsueh

BioMedicine

Background: The prevalence of obesity has increased significantly over the

years, and its health concerns cannot be underestimated. Obesity not only

causes potential mobility limitations in daily life but also increases the risk of

developing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and other health

conditions. While an imbalanced diet and lack of exercise are well-known

causes of obesity, genetic patterns also influence its development. Although the GNB3 gene is known to be involved in lipid metabolism and fat cell

differentiation, studies have shown inconsistent associations between a

common single nucleotide polymorphism of GNB3 (c.825C>T, rs5443) and

obesity across different populations. Therefore, …

Impact Of An 8-Week Personalized Exercise Program On Health-Related Fitness Parameters, Michelle Castro, Jasmeen Fajardo-Lopez, Major Martin, Raejone Lucas, Brock Niceler Md, Yunsuk Koh

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Introduction: A routine exercise program has been recommended across all demographic groups to improve cardiovascular health, muscle function, cognitive function, and mental health. Purpose: This study examined how personalized exercise affects health-related fitness parameters. Method: A total of 17 patients (age=42.88±12.89 years, male=1, and females=16), attending the fitness program at a regional hospital, were recruited. A health-related fitness battery test, including cardiorespiratory endurance, resting heart rate and blood pressure, motor fitness, musculoskeletal fitness, flexibility, body composition, and balance, was administered at the pre- (week 0), mid- (week 4), and post-study (week 8) periods. Results: Body fat (%) significantly decreased by …

Exercise Training Attenuates Cd8 T Cell Exhaustion, But Not Glucose Intolerance, Following Weight Cycling, Okechukwu K. Oforka, Emily C. Lavoy, Heather L. Caslin

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Obesity increases the risk of glucose intolerance and CD8 T cell exhaustion, which indicates an impaired immune function. While weight loss mitigates these risks, most individuals regain weight (weight cycling), which worsens both conditions. Exercise training protects against glucose intolerance and attenuates T cell exhaustion, but its protective role during weight cycling remains unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine whether exercise training can prevent glucose intolerance and attenuate CD8 T cell exhaustion following weight cycling in mice. METHODS: Forty-eight C57Bl/6 mice were used for the study. Lean and obese groups were elicited using diet. …

Sex Differences In Carbohydrate Quality: Assessing The Carbohydrate-To-Fiber Ratio In Middle-Aged Hispanic Adults, Cristina Graña Gedrange, Mia I. Perez, Marcela Guadiana, Nicole Cantu, Jose M. Moris

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Hispanic adults in the United States face disproportionate rates of cardiometabolic disease, yet sex-specific disparities in diet quality remain understudied. PURPOSE: To determine diet quality among middle-aged Hispanic adults, assessing carbohydrate quality based on the carbohydrate-to-fiber ratio (CFR) and protein density as indicators of metabolic risk. METHODS: A total of 30 males and 49 females between 40 to 70 years old participated in a cross-sectional analysis of body composition and dietary behavior. Participants underwent girth measurements, a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan, and completed a paper-based 3-day dietary recall log. Dietary data were manually entered by researchers using an …

Neuroendocrine Effects Of Exogenous Adropin Administration On The Hypothalamic Pituitary Testicular Axis In Male Rats, Ersen Eraslan, Ayhan Tanyeli̇, Mustafa Can Güler, Asli Özbek Bi̇lgi̇n, Fazi̇le Nur Eki̇nci̇ Akdemi̇r, Eli̇f Polat, Seli̇m Çomakli, Nezahat Kurt, Tuğba Bal Taştan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Obesity impairs male fertility through metabolic dysfunction, oxidative stress, and disruption of the hypothalamic– pituitary–testicular (HPT) axis. Adropin (ADR), a peptide hormone whose circulating levels are reduced in obesity, plays emerging roles in metabolic homeostasis; however, its involvement in reproductive endocrine regulation remains unclear. The present study was conducted in healthy, nonobese male rats and aimed to investigate the neuroendocrine and testicular effects of exogenous ADR administration, focusing on circulating reproductive hormones, hypothalamic regulatory peptides, and testicular antioxidant pathways.

Materials and methods: Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomized into control, sham, low-dose ADR (4 μg/kg/day), and high-dose ADR (40 …

Community Participatory Co-Design And Development Of A Digital Diabetes Prevention Education Program For Hispanic Families With Obesity: Mixed Methods Study, Sandra Mihail, Marbelly Partida, Lizette Villanueva, Debbe Thompson, Teresia M O'Connor, Salma M Musaad, Maria J Redondo, Erica G Soltero

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Digital health interventions (DHIs) can extend the reach of disease prevention interventions; however, few are evidence-based, theoretically grounded, or developed for high-risk youth and families. Co-design approaches engage end users in the design and development of the DHI, which can lead to increased accessibility and engagement.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the adaptation of an evidence-based diabetes prevention program for remote, digital delivery.

Methods: The adaptation of the in-person intervention was guided by a modified Inclusive Digital Health Intervention Design to Promote Health Equity framework and conducted in collaboration with Hispanic adolescents (n=23) with obesity (BMI ≥95th percentile) …

Myokine Sirpα Exacerbates Kidney Disease In Diabetes, Jiao Wu, Elisa Russo, Daniela Verzola, Qingtian Li, Helena Zhang, Bhuvaneswari Krishnan, David Sheikh-Hamad, Zhaoyong Hu, William E Mitch, Sandhya S Thomas

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Mechanisms responsible for skeletal muscle kidney crosstalk have not been defined. We have determined that a circulating mediator, signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα), impairs intracellular insulin-mediated functions. To elucidate the effect of myokine SIRPα on diabetic kidney disease (DKD), flox mice and muscle-specific (m-specific) SIRPα-KO mice were subjected to an obesity-induced model of diabetes, high-fat diet (HFD; 60%) or insulin-deficient hyperglycemia model, streptozotocin (STZ), and were subsequently exposed to anti-SIRPα monoclonal antibodies. In the obesity-induced diabetic mice, serum SIRPα increased. Genetic deletion of muscle SIRPα protected against obesity and improved intracellular insulin signaling in muscle and adipose tissue, with reduced …

Demographic And Clinicopathologic Factors Associated With Colorectal Adenoma Recurrence, Usman Ayub Awan, Qingyuan Song, Kristen K Ciombor, Adetunji T Toriola, Jungyoon Choi, Timothy Su, Xiao-Ou Shu, Kamran Idrees, Kay M Washington, Wei Zheng, Wanqing Wen, Zhijun Yin, Xingyi Guo

2020-Current year OA Pubs

IMPORTANCE: Current colorectal surveillance guidelines emphasize adenoma characteristics but overlook temporal, racial, and sex-based heterogeneity in recurrence risk, a gap that limits equitable and personalized care.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the associations of demographic factors, obesity, and adenoma features with recurrence risk over time in a large longitudinal surveillance cohort.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective cohort study included adults who underwent their first colonoscopic polypectomy between January 1990 and July 2024 at a tertiary medical center.

EXPOSURES: Demographic variables included race and ethnicity, sex, obesity (body mass index >30), family history of colorectal cancer (CRC) or polyps, and age at …

Cardiometabolic Parameter Change By Weight Regain On Tirzepatide Withdrawal In Adults With Obesity: A Post Hoc Analysis Of The Surmount-4 Trial, Deborah B Horn, Bruno Linetzky, Melanie J Davies, Luke J Laffin, Hui Wang, Madhumita A Murphy, Sarah Zimner-Rapuch, Eva Lau, Avigdor D Arad, Clare J Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: In the SURMOUNT-4 trial, most adults with obesity who had tirzepatide withdrawn following a 36-week treatment regained weight. The association between the degree of weight regain and cardiometabolic parameters after tirzepatide withdrawal is unknown.

Objective: To assess changes in cardiometabolic parameters by degree of weight regain after withdrawal of tirzepatide.

Design, setting, and participants: This post hoc analysis of the SURMOUNT-4 trial included tirzepatide-treated participants with 10% or greater weight reduction at week 36 initially randomized to placebo. Data were collected from March 2021 to May 2023, and data were analyzed from February 2024 to March 2025.

Interventions: After …

Prediabetes Associates With Musculoskeletal Alterations Independent Of Total Body Adiposity, Alan Fappi, Clifton J Holmes, Chao Cao, Vasavi Shabrish, Aman P Aher, Karen Shen, Paul K Commean, Dwight A Towler, Dominic N Reeds, Gretchen A Meyer, Bettina Mittendorfer

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Excess adiposity is a major risk factor for insulin resistance, prediabetes, and Type 2 diabetes and increases the risk for sarcopenia and osteosarcopenia later in life. It has been proposed that altered metabolic function and musculoskeletal status in people with obesity are directly linked, presumably because they share common pathophysiological mechanisms. However, the effect of metabolic dysfunction, independent of adiposity, on musculoskeletal status is unknown.

METHODS: We performed a comprehensive assessment of musculoskeletal status in people with overweight/obesity and prediabetes (n = 12; 72% women; age: 67 ± 6 years; weight: 81 ± 11 kg; mean ± SD) and …

The Long-Term Effectiveness Of The Anti-Obesity Medication Phentermine (Leap) Trial: Rationale, Design, And Baseline Characteristics, Caroline Blackwell Young, Emily Rives, Kimberly A Gudzune, Byron C Jaeger, Courtney G Simmons, Brian N White, Stephanie A Hooker, Deborah B Horn, Deborah R Young, Jennifer Vesely, Amanda Velazquez, Catherine Price, Shelly D Cook, Katy Martin-Fernandez, Galina Inzhakova, Nicholas M Pajewski, Jamy D Ard, Kristina H Lewis

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Current clinical practice guidelines support the long-term use of pharmacotherapy for obesity treatment. Historically, phentermine has been one of the most prescribed obesity medications (OMs), however, its long-term efficacy and safety have never been evaluated in a randomized trial as its market approval predates such requirements. Here we describe the design, rationale, and baseline characteristics for a 24-month, double-blind, randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy, cardiovascular risk, and safety of phentermine in adults with overweight or obesity.

Methods: This multicenter trial will compare outcomes among participants randomized to phentermine 24 mg daily versus placebo for 24 months. All participants …

Baseline Characteristics In The Synchronize™-2 Randomized Phase 3 Trial Of Survodutide, A Glucagon Receptor/Glp-1 Receptor Dual Agonist, For Obesity In People With Type 2 Diabetes, Sean Wharton, Carel W Le Roux, Biykem Bozkurt, Elke Platz, Gabriele Bleckert, Samina Ajaz Hussain, Martina Brueckmann, Elena Startseva, Isabel M Kloer, Lee M Kaplan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Aims: Survodutide is an investigational glucagon receptor/glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor dual agonist that has shown promise for treating obesity and its complications in Phase 2 trials. Two double-blind, randomized, global Phase 3 trials are designed to assess the efficacy and safety of survodutide for treatment of obesity-SYNCHRONIZE™-1 in people with obesity without type 2 diabetes (T2D) and SYNCHRONIZE™-2 in people with obesity and T2D. This paper describes the baseline characteristics of participants in SYNCHRONIZE-2 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT06066528).

Materials and methods: Participants aged ≥18 years with a body mass index (BMI) ≥27 kg/m2 and T2D were randomized 1:1:1 to weekly subcutaneous …

The Hidden Link Between Endometriosis And Obesity: A State-Of-The-Art Review, Shefali N Desai, Christina C Reed, Yamely Mendez, Qiannan Yang, Xiaoming Guan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Endometriosis remains an under-researched disease with a wide range of symptoms. Endometriosis reduces a woman's quality of life and professional productivity, yet its exact causes, risk factors, and treatment have yet to be elucidated. Body mass index and endometriosis have been observed to be inversely related; however, this relationship may only be a correlation rather than a causation. Obesity may play a role in the inflammation and cell proliferation associated with endometriosis through the complex signaling pathways of adipokines. A literature review was done on endometriosis and obesity to gain insight and synthesize knowledge about opportunities to improve endometriosis care, …

Circulating Fatty Acid Binding Protein 4 (Fabp-4) Concentrations And Mortality In Individuals With Colorectal Cancer In The European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer And Nutrition Study, Thu Thi Pham, Katharina Nimptsch, Krasimira Aleksandrova, Mazda Jenab, Veronika Fedirko, Anja Olsen, Anne Tjønneland, Claire Cadeau, Gianluca Severi, Matthias B Schulze, Renée Turzanski Fortner, Verena Katzke, Claudia Agnoli, Carlotta Sacerdote, Rosario Tumino, Simona Signoriello, Camino Trobajo-Sanmartín, Jesús-Humberto Gómez, María-Dolores Chirlaque, Maria-Jose Sánchez, Marta Crous-Bou, Anne May, Alicia Heath, Dagfinn Aune, Elisabete Weiderpass, Tobias Pischon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Human fatty acid binding protein‐4 (FABP‐4), a protein elevated in obesity that promotes colon cancer cell invasiveness and metastasis, may be associated with higher mortality in individuals with colorectal cancer (CRC) and may serve as a mediator of the obesity–mortality association in these individuals. We used a causal diagram to inform covariate selection and applied Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for CRC‐specific, non‐CRC‐specific, and all‐cause mortality by FABP‐4 levels measured in baseline blood samples from 1371 incident CRC cases from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort. Competing risk analyses were adapted for CRC …

The Global Cancer Crisis: A Review Of Growing Burden, Deepening Inequality And Initiatives For Prevention And Early Detection, Charles Yankah, Jonathan Nwiloh, Carlos Mestres, Abdelmalek Bouzid, Tom Mwambu, Andrew Duncan, Mohamed Debieche, Samuel Omokhodion, Uvie Onakpoya, Matthias Angres

General Surgery, East Africa

Cancer constitutes one of the most urgent global health crises, with over 20 million new cases diagnosed annually worldwide, claiming 10 million lives. This devastating burden disproportionately affects vulnerable populations: 75% of cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries despite these regions having lower reported incidence rates. Lung cancer leads the global toll, representing 12% of all cases but 19% of deaths, followed by breast cancer (12% of cases) and colorectal cancer (9.6%). A stark geographical inequity defines the cancer landscape—while wealthy regions such as North America, Northern Europe and Australia report the highest incidence rates, Africa and Latin …

Induction Of Yin Yang 1 (Yy1) Overexpression In Mature Adipocytes Promotes Dysfunctional Adipose Tissue And Systemic Insulin Resistance In Mice, Line Pedersen, Christy M Gliniak, Thomas Myhre Dale, Qingzhang Zhu, Chao Li, Jan-Bernd Funcke, Clair Crewe, Jiahui Luo, Lauren Palluth, Yi Zhu, Philipp E Scherer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The ubiquitous transcription factor Ying Yang 1 (YY1) plays a fundamental role in multiple biological processes and is believed to regulate up to 10 % of all human genes. In thermogenic brown adipose tissue, YY1 has been linked to controlling mitochondrial gene expression and regulating cellular oxidative respiration, protecting against diet-induced obesity and alterations in energy balance. The role of YY1 in non-thermogenic, white adipose tissue, on the other hand, remains largely unknown. Here, we show that adipocyte-specific induction of YY1 promotes dysfunctional adipose tissue and systemic insulin resistance in mice. Long-term YY1 induction in mature adipocytes leads to reduced …

Circulating Metabolites, Genetics And Lifestyle Factors In Relation To Future Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes, Jun Li, Jie Hu, Huan Yun, Zhendong Mei, Xingyan Wang, Kai Luo, Marta Guasch-Ferré, Xikun Han, Buu Truong, Jordi Merino, Chengyong Jia, Miguel Ruiz-Canela, Casey M Rebholz, Eun Hye Moon, Taryn Alkis, Guning Liu, Jie Yao, Xiyuan Zhang, Bianca C Porneala, Jordi Salas-Salvadó, Thomas J Wang, Josée Dupuis, Elizabeth Selvin, Xiuqing Guo, Shilpa N Bhupathiraju, Jennifer A Brody, Yongmei Liu, Alexis C Wood, Kari E North, Su Yon Jung, Ching-Ti Liu, Nona Sotoodehnia, Simin Liu, Lesley F Tinker, A Heather Eliassen, Joann E Manson, Jose C Florez, Robert E Gerszten, Clary B Clish, Liming Liang, Rozenn N Lemaitre, Katherine L Tucker, Stephen S Rich, Jerome I Rotter, Miguel Angel Martínez-González, Kathryn M Rexrode, James B Meigs, Eric Boerwinkle, Robert C Kaplan, Frank B Hu, Bing Yu, Qibin Qi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The human metabolome reflects complex metabolic states affected by genetic and environmental factors. However, metabolites associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk and their determinants remain insufficiently characterized. Here we integrated blood metabolomic, genomic and lifestyle data from up to 23,634 initially T2D-free participants from ten cohorts. Of 469 metabolites examined, 235 were associated with incident T2D during up to 26 years of follow-up, including 67 associations not previously reported across bile acid, lipid, carnitine, urea cycle and arginine/proline, glycine and histidine pathways. Further genetic analyses linked these metabolites to signaling pathways and clinical traits central to T2D pathophysiology, including …

Multilevel Analysis Of The Food And Physical Activity Environment And Adult Obesity Across U.S. Counties And States, Ann Mary Abraham, Michael D Swartz, Alexandra E Van Den Berg, Stephen H Linder

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Adult obesity rates have risen steadily across the United States over the past decade, with more than 40% of adults affected. Persistent geographic and demographic disparities exist in obesity prevalence across the nation. While prior research has examined individual or environmental associated factors of obesity, limited studies have addressed both physical activity and food environments across the nation using multilevel approaches. This cross-sectional ecological study (2014-2024) used a two-level random intercept model to assess the association between county- and state-level factors and adult obesity prevalence across over 3000 U.S. counties nested within 51 states. County-level associated factors included food insecurity, …

Obesity And Long Covid: Intersecting Epidemics?, Michael Gottlieb, Huihui Yu, Ji Chen, Erica S. Spatz, Nicole L. Gentile, Rachel E. Geyer, Michelle Santangelo, Caitlin Malicki, Kristyn Gatling, Kelli N. O'Laughlin, Kari A. Stephens, Joann G. Elmore, Lauren E. Wisk, Michelle L'Hommedieu, Robert M. Rodriguez, Juan Carlos C. Montoy, Ralph C. Wang, Kristin L. Rising, Efrat Kean, Jonathan W. Dyal, Mandy J. Hill, Arjun K. Venkatesh, Robert A. Weinstein, Inspire Group

Jefferson Center for Connected Care Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Obesity affects over 10% of the world population and has significant public health implications. With rising recognition of the long-term effects of Long COVID (LC) coupled with new agents to facilitate weight loss, it is critical to understand the influence of obesity on LC. This study assessed the association of obesity with rates of LC and degree of LC-related mental and physical health outcomes among participants up to three years after initial infection.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, multisite study of participants with SARS-CoV-2 infection from 12/11/2020–8/29/2022, with data collected through 4/2/2024. Surveys included validated tools for physical and …

Maturity-Onset Diabetes Of The Young (Mody) In A Racially/Ethnically Diverse Pediatric Population, Shilpi Relan, Guido Alarcon, Danielle Guffey, Charles G Minard, Mary E Fang, Kelly Timmons, Rona Y Sonabend, Mustafa Tosur, Maria J Redondo, Jennifer E Posey

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Context: Current practice guidelines recommend considering a diagnosis of maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) in patients with diabetes with an affected parent but without typical features of type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Objective: To test if these criteria apply to a real-world cohort of racially/ethnically diverse children with diabetes.

Methods: We performed a retrospective case review of electronic medical records of youth diagnosed with MODY in a large academic pediatric hospital in Southwestern United States. Cases were ascertained based on the identification of a molecular diagnosis of MODY.

Results: We studied 50 genetically confirmed cases of MODY: 60% …

Epigenome-Wide Association Study Meta-Analysis Of Bmi In African Americans, Kendra Ferrier, Mariaelisa Graff, Iain R Konigsberg, Maggie Stanislawski, Heather M Highland, Laura M Raffield, April P Carson, Eric Boerwinkle, Jill M Norris, Chris R Gignoux, Audrey E Hendricks, Sridharan Raghavan, Kari E North, Kristin L Young, Anne E Justice, Matthew A Allison, Mathew J Budoff, Silva Kasela, François Aguet, Joshua J Joseph, Charles Kooperberg, Stephen S Rich, Jerome I Rotter, Ethan M Lange, Leslie A Lange

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Despite considerable advances in identifying risk factors for obesity, gaps remain in our understanding about its etiology. Genetic variants explain only a small portion of variation in obesity-related traits such as body mass index (BMI). Epigenetic regulation, which controls gene expression and is influenced by environmental and genetic factors, may account for additional variability in BMI. Epigenetic studies of BMI have largely been conducted in European ancestry populations, despite the disproportionate burden of obesity in African Americans (AAs). We conducted a sex-stratified BMI epigenome-wide association study meta-analysis in AA participants from the Jackson Heart Study (n = 1,604) and …

Efficacy And Safety Of Semaglutide In Adults Without Diabetes Who Are Overweight Or Obese, Rebecca Petty

The PA Department Journal of Medical Science

INTRODUCTION:

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders and contributes to the leading cause of death in the US — heart disease. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (RAs) have recently emerged as a treatment option for obesity. The purpose of this clinical review is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of semaglutide in adults without diabetes who are overweight or obese.

METHODS:

PubMed was searched using a precise search strategy and the key terms “semaglutide,” “weight loss,” and “without diabetes.” Results were filtered and narrowed using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Four high-quality studies were …

The Gut Microbiome’S Effect On Metabolic Syndrome, Kayla Turner

The PA Department Journal of Medical Science

Introduction: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a chronic condition characterized by insulin resistance and low-grade inflammation. The purpose of this review is to focus on pre-/pro/symbiotic supplementation as a means of improving MetS parameters in place of pharmacological intervention.

Methods: PubMed was searched with the terms “metabolic syndrome”, “obese”, “obesity”, “overweight”, “insulin resistance”, “insulin sensitivity”, “probiotic”, “symbiotic”, and “bifidobacter*”. Operators and filters narrowed the results down to 55 results, 4 of which were picked due to their relevance and quality.

Results: The 4 articles chosen were RCT and a systematic review that explored the Bifidobacterium genus in relationship to the MetS …

Childhood Factors That Affect Adult Obesity In Ohio And Mississippi, Rhea Lal, Danielle Wolford

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Over 40% of adults in the United States struggle with obesity. While several social determinants of health have been tied to obesity, only limited research on the effect of childhood education, food environments, and physical activity resources on a state-wide level has been conducted. It is imperative that we identify connections between obesity, associated comorbidities, education, and SDoH as these will inform improvements in national social structures and healthcare systems. States Ohio (OH) and Mississippi (MS) differ in high school completion rates, food access, and exercise opportunities yet both states continue to experience rising adult obesity rates. This study analyzed …

Influence Of Obesity And Insulin Resistance With Hepatic Steatosis On The Human Plasma Lipidome, Max C Petersen, Gordon I Smith, Aaron M Armando, Xiong Su, Oswald Quehenberger, Edward A Dennis, Samuel Klein

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Insulin resistance accompanied by hepatic steatosis is a common complication of obesity. In an effort to identify plasma lipids that could be biomarkers or causes of insulin resistance with steatosis in people with obesity, we evaluated the plasma lipidome in three distinct groups separated by adiposity, hepatic steatosis, and insulin sensitivity, assessed by using the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp procedure: i) insulin-sensitive lean (ISL, n = 13); ii) insulin-sensitive obese (ISO, n = 14); and iii) insulin-resistant obese with hepatic steatosis (IROS, n = 13). We evaluated 759 complex lipid species in 16 subclasses (including phospholipids, glycerolipids, sphingolipids, acylcarnitines, and cholesteryl esters) …

The Treatment Of Obesity In The Context Of The Obesity Paradox In Patients With Heart Failure: A Narrative Review, Pamela L. Alebna, Sarah Martey, Anurag Mehta, Carl J. Lavie, Salvatore Carbone

EVMS School of Health Professions Faculty Publications

Purpose of review

While excess adiposity is a known risk factor for incident heart failure ( HF), once the condition is established, observational data suggest that increased body mass index (BMI) may confer a survival advantage. This paradox has emphasized the underlying roles of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and body composition, particularly lean mass (LM), in influencing clinical outcomes.

Recent findings

In this review, we explore the multifaceted nature of the obesity paradox in HF, with a focus on emerging anti-obesity incretin-mimetic therapies, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and dual GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonists. These agents …

Weight Bias Education In Medical Training: Insights From Stakeholder Perspectives, Tracy L. Olivier, Lisa K. Diewald, Stephanie H. Felgoise, Austin Kanyuh, Renata Brito-Cherrin, Margaret Brace, Gail E. Furman, Rebecca Shenkman

PCOM Scholarly Works

Introduction: Weight bias among physicians remains a significant barrier to equitable healthcare for patients with obesity. One possible contributing factor is the absence of a structured curriculum addressing weight bias within medical education. Methods: This project explored medical students’ and faculty members’ understanding of weight bias and identified gaps within the medical school curriculum. Participants’ responses were subsequently used to inform the development of e-learning modules for implementation within a medical school curriculum. Semi-structured focus groups were conducted with stakeholders, including medical students and faculty from a private osteopathic school of medicine. Transcripts of these discussions were analyzed using Colaizzi’s …

Vitamin D Status During Pregnancy Modulates The Effect Of Pre-Pregnancy Obesity On Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Risk: A Birth Cohort Study, Ali H. Ziyab, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Reem Al-Sabah, Majeda S. Hammoud, Saeed Akhtar

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Objective:

To determine whether gestational vitamin D status modulates the effect of pre-pregnancy obesity on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk while stratifying by maternal age.

Design:

Birth cohort.

Setting:

A major maternity hospital in Kuwait.

Participants:

Pregnant women in their second/third trimester of gestation were enrolled. Pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) was categorized as under/normal weight (< 25.0), overweight (25.0 to < 30.0), and obesity (≥30.0). Gestational 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were categorized as deficiency (< 50 nmol/L) or insufficiency/sufficiency (≥50 nmol/L). GDM status was ascertained according to international guidelines. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using logistic regression.

Results:

Data from 957 pregnant women were analyzed, with GDM affecting 166 (17.4%) pregnancies. Pre-pregnancy obesity and gestational vitamin D deficiency was ascertained in 275 (28.7%) and 533 (55.7%) pregnant women, respectively. The association between pre-pregnancy obesity and GDM risk differed according …

Kinase Signaling In Liver Disease Via Clinical-Trial-On-A-Pamchip: A Distinctive Methodology For Drug Mechanisms And Personalized Medicine, Zachary A. Kipp, Evelyn A. Bates, Genesee J. Martinez, Wang-Hsin Lee, Sally N. Pauss, Terry D. Hinds, Jr.

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

The utilization of extensive datasets, such as those generated by DNA or RNA sequencing, has become a central focus in drug discovery and personalized medicine (PerMed). Nonetheless, these datasets are constrained by the absence of protein-functionality testing, which affects physiological responses. In this study, we employed PamGene PamStation technology to quantify protein function by kinase activity across more than 500 signaling pathways from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Using proteins derived from nine patients and five human HCC cell lines for drug discovery and the clinical trial-on-a-chip approach, we developed comprehensive PerMed scores from the PamStation data to differentiate individual …

Increasing Awareness Of Obesity And Its Associated Risks In Adults, Esther E. Bayode

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Obesity is a significant and growing public health concern in a metropolitan area of North Carolina, reflecting statewide and national trends. With 36% of adults in North Carolina classified as obese, the condition contributes to chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. This project targeted adults aged 18 and older within a local faith-based community, where preliminary findings showed a strong association between elevated body mass and increased chronic disease burden. To address this issue, a two-session educational intervention was implemented in partnership with a religious organization to increase knowledge about obesity, its causes, associated risks, …