Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Commons^™

Defining Lipedema’S Molecular Hallmarks By Multi-Omics Approach For Disease Prediction In Women, Leon G Straub, Jan-Bernd Funcke, Nolwenn Joffin, Chanmin Joung, Sara Al-Ghadban, Shangang Zhao, Qingzhang Zhu, Ilja L Kruglikov, Yi Zhu, Paul R Langlais, Ruth Gordillo, Karen L Herbst, Philipp E Scherer

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Lipedema is a chronic disease in females characterized by pathologic subcutaneous adipose tissue expansion and hitherto remains without druggable targets. In this observational study, we investigated the molecular hallmarks of lipedema using an unbiased multi-omics approach. We found adipokine dysregulation in lipedema patients participating in a cross-sectional clinical study (ClinicalTrial.gov, NCT02838277), pointing towards the adipocyte as a key player. Analyses of newly generated transcriptomic (SRA, PRJNA940039) and proteomic (ProteomeXchange, PXD058489) datasets of early- and late-stage lipedema samples revealed a local downregulation of factors involved in inflammation. Concomitantly, factors involved in cellular respiration, oxidative phosphorylation, as well as in mitochondrial …

The Maturity-Onset Diabetes Of The Young (Mody) Calculator Overestimates Mody Probability In Hispanic Youth, Guido Alarcon, Anh Nguyen, Angus Jones, Beverley Shields, Maria J Redondo, Mustafa Tosur

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Context: The applicability of the maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) risk calculator to non-White European populations remains unknown.

Objective: We aimed to test its real-world application in Hispanic youth.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of Hispanic youth (< 23 years) with diabetes (n = 2033) in a large pediatric tertiary care center in the United States. We calculated MODY probability for all subjects, splitting them into 2 cohorts based on the original model: individuals who were started on insulin within 6 months of diabetes diagnosis (Cohort 1) and those who were not (Cohort 2).

Results: Cohort 1 consisted of 1566 individuals (median age [25p, 75p]: 16 [13, 19] years, 49% female), while Cohort 2 comprised 467 youth (median age [25p, 75p]: 17 [15, 20] years, 62% female). The mean MODY probability was 5.9% and 61.9% in Cohort 1 and Cohort 2, respectively. The mean probability for both cohorts combined was 18.8%, suggesting an …

Present And Future Of Microbiome-Targeting Therapeutics, Lauren E Lynch, Rachel Lahowetz, Christian Maresso, Austen Terwilliger, Jason Pizzini, Valeria Melendez Hebib, Robert A Britton, Anthony W Maresso, Geoffrey A Preidis

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

A large body of evidence suggests that single- and multiple-strain probiotics and synbiotics could have roles in the management of specific gastrointestinal disorders. However, ongoing concerns regarding the quality and heterogeneity of the clinical data, safety in vulnerable populations, and the lack of regulation of products containing live microbes are barriers to widespread clinical use. Safety and regulatory issues must be addressed and new technologies considered. One alternative future strategy is the use of synthetic bacterial communities, defined as manually assembled consortia of two or more bacteria originally derived from the human gastrointestinal tract. Synthetic bacterial communities can model functional, …

Changes In The Fxr-Cistrome And Alterations In Bile Acid Physiology In Wilson Disease, Clavia Ruth Wooton-Kee, Hari K Yalamanchili, Islam Mohamed, Manal Hassan, Kenneth D R Setchell, Monica Narvaez Rivas, Ayse K Coskun, Vasanta Putluri, Nagireddy Putluri, Prasun Jalal, Michael L Schilsky, David D Moore

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Wilson disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder that results in excessive hepatic copper, causing hepatic steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver failure. Previous studies have revealed dysregulation of many farnesoid X receptor (FXR) metabolic target genes in WD, including the bile salt exporter pump, the major determinant of bile flow.

Methods: We tested the hypothesis that the FXR-cistrome is decreased in Atp7b-/- mice in accord with dysregulated bile acid homeostasis.

Results: FXR binding within Atp7b-/- mouse livers displayed surprising complexity: FXR binding was increased in distal intergenic regions but decreased in promoter regions in Atp7b-/- versus wild-type mice. …

The Impact Of Narratives And Active Video Games Among Black And Hispanic Children With Overweight And Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Amy S Lu, Tom Baranowski, Tiago V Barreira, Amy Fleischman, Melanie C Green, Shirley Y Huang, I-Min Lee, Lynne L Levitsky, Farzad Noubary, Debbe Thompson

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Overweight and obesity disproportionately affect Black and Hispanic children who also play more video games. Narratives, coupled with home-based active video games (AVGs), may enhance PA and mitigate these disparities. This study tested the effect of narrative-enhanced home-based AVGs among predominantly Black and Hispanic children with overweight and obesity.

Methods: This 6-month three-group RCT recruited 135 children aged 7-14 from pediatric clinics in Boston, MA (January 2020 - May 2022) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were randomized into: [Narrative + AVG], receiving an Xbox/Kinect with six AVGs interspersed with a narrative animation Ataraxia (72 episodes over six months), which …

“Non-Markovian” And “Directional” Errors Inhibit Scientific Self-Correction And Can Lead Fields Of Study Astray: An Illustration Using Gardening And Obesity-Related Outcomes, Jon Agley, Sarah E Deemer, David B Allison

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Herein we coin the terms non-Markovian error and biased Markovian error to describe categories of scientific errors for which general progress within a field of study may be unlikely to result in scientific self-correction. We provide examples of such errors and show their impact on studies about gardening and obesity.

The Joint Association Of Diet Quality And Sleep Regularity With Incident Cardiovascular Disease In The Multi-Ethnic Study Of Atherosclerosis, Kaitlin S Potts, Claire Veldkamp, Alexis C Wood, Erin D Michos, Raymond Noordam, Tianyi Huang, Susan Redline, Heming Wang

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background/objectives: Diet quality and sleep regularity both influence cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and may influence each other, but there is scarce evidence for their joint or interacting associations in relation to CVD. We assessed these associations in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Methods: Participants free of CVD with valid diet and sleep measures in 2010-2013 were included and followed through 2020 for detection of incident CVD (188 events detected over 8.8 years among 1782 participants; 55% women). Sleep timing and duration regularity were assessed via the intra-individual SD of sleep onset time and duration across 5- to 7-day actigraphy. …

Global Dna Methylation Differences Involving Germline Structural Variation Impact Gene Expression In Pediatric Brain Tumors, Fengju Chen, Yiqun Zhang, Wei Li, Fritz J Sedlazeck, Lanlan Shen, Chad J Creighton

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

The extent of genetic variation and its influence on gene expression across multiple tissue and cellular contexts is still being characterized, with germline Structural Variants (SVs) being historically understudied. DNA methylation also represents a component of normal germline variation across individuals. Here, we combine germline SVs (by short-read sequencing) with tumor DNA methylation across 1292 pediatric brain tumor patients. For thousands of methylation probes for CpG Islands (CGIs) or enhancers, rare and common SV breakpoints upstream or downstream associate with differential methylation in tumors spanning various histologic types, a significant subset involving genes with SV-associated differential expression. Cancer predisposition genes …

Dietary Intake Of Protein By Food Source And Incident Hypertension Among Diverse Us Adults: The Mesa Study, Ji Yun Tark, Ruosha Li, Bing Yu, Alexis C Wood, Nikhil S Padhye, Marcia C De Oliveira Otto

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Dietary guidelines recommend adequate protein intake from diverse sources for optimal blood pressure; however, its role in hypertension risk remains unclear. We examined prospective associations of protein intake and diversity, overall and by source, with hypertension risk in the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) study.

Methods and results: Among 2294 participants aged 45 to 84 years without hypertension at baseline, total, animal, and plant protein intake was assessed using a 120-item food frequency questionnaire. Protein diversity was evaluated using count and the dissimilarity index. Over a 9-year median follow-up, 1356 hypertension cases were identified through blood pressure measurements and …

Author Correction: Predictive Equation Derived From 6,497 Doubly Labelled Water Measurements Enables The Detection Of Erroneous Self-Reported Energy Intake, Rania Bajunaid, Chaoqun Niu, Catherine Hambly, Zongfang Liu, Yosuke Yamada, Heliodoro Aleman-Mateo, Liam J Anderson, Lenore Arab, Issad Baddou, Linda Bandini, Kweku Bedu-Addo, Ellen E Blaak, Carlijn V C Bouten, Soren Brage, Maciej S Buchowski, Nancy F Butte, Stefan G J A Camps, Regina Casper, Graeme L Close, Jamie A Cooper, Richard Cooper, Sai Krupa Das, Peter S W Davies, Prasangi Dabare, Lara R Dugas, Simon Eaton, Ulf Ekelund, Sonja Entringer, Terrence Forrester, Barry W Fudge, Melanie Gillingham, Annelies H Goris, Michael Gurven, Asmaa El Hamdouchi, Hinke H Haisma, Daniel Hoffman, Marije B Hoos, Sumei Hu, Noorjehan Joonas, Annemiek M Joosen, Peter Katzmarzyk, Misaka Kimura, William E Kraus, Wantanee Kriengsinyos, Rebecca Kuriyan, Robert F Kushner, Estelle V Lambert, Pulani Lanerolle, Christel L Larsson, William R Leonard, Nader Lessan, Marie Löf, Corby K Martin, Eric Matsiko, Anine C Medin, James C Morehen, James P Morton, Aviva Must, Marian L Neuhouser, Theresa A Nicklas, Christine D Nyström, Robert M Ojiambo, Kirsi H Pietiläinen, Yannis P Pitsiladis, Jacob Plange-Rhule, Guy Plasqui, Ross L Prentice, Susan B Racette, David A Raichlen, Eric Ravussin, Leanne M Redman, John J Reilly, Rebecca Reynolds, Susan B Roberts, Dulani Samaranayakem, Luis B Sardinha, Analiza M Silva, Anders M Sjödin, Marina Stamatiou, Eric Stice, Samuel S Urlacher, Ludo M Van Etten, Edgar G A H Van Mil, George Wilson, Jack A Yanovski, Tsukasa Yoshida, Xueying Zhang, Alexia J Murphy-Alford, Srishti Sinha, Cornelia U Loechl, Amy H Luke, Herman Pontzer, Jennifer Rood, Hiroyuki Sagayama, Dale A Schoeller, Klaas R Westerterp, William W Wong, John R Speakman

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

A Cluster Randomized Trial Of Xylitol Chewing Gum For Prevention Of Preterm Birth: The Ppax Trial, Gregory C Valentine, Kathleen M Antony, Haleh Sangi-Haghpeykar, Alexis C Wood, Rose Chirwa, Saukani Petro, Mary Dumba, Deborah Nanthuru, Cynthia Shope, Jesse Mlotha-Namarika, Jeffrey Wilkinson, Joshua Aagaard, Ellen J Aagaard, Maxim D Seferovic, Judy Levison, Peter Kazembe, Kjersti M Aagaard

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Maternal periodontal disease is associated with preterm and low-birthweight deliveries, but randomized trials of likely efficacious treatments (e.g., dental scaling and root planing) during pregnancy have not reduced these adverse outcomes. As an alternative, we hypothesized that periconception initiation of xylitol chewing gum would reduce the occurrence of preterm or low-birthweight deliveries among a historical high-prevalence population in Malawi.

Methods: We conducted an open-label, parallel-enrollment, matched-pair, cluster-randomized, controlled clinical trial across eight health centers (sites) in and around Lilongwe, Malawi. Sites were paired by anticipated delivery volume and randomized to prenatal and oral health education alone (active control) or …

Project Gender Nutriscope: Methods Of A Mixed Methods, Community-Engaged Study Design To Explore The Nutritional Needs Of Transgender And Gender-Diverse Youth And Young Adults., Heather E Schier, Krithika Chetty, Shivakriti Induri, Liam Gallagher, Miriam Knopp, Julie Kennel, Whitney Linsenmeyer, Avery M Anderson, Matthew Adkins, Irene E Hatsu, Janna D Stephens, Carolyn Gunther

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

OBJECTIVE: Despite growing evidence of distinct nutrition-related experiences and disparities, transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) youth and young adults are an underrepresented population in nutrition research. This paper describes the methods and study design from Project Gender NutriScope, a study that will explore the nutritional needs of TGD youth and young adults.

DESIGN: Parallel convergent cross-sectional mixed methods; community-engaged.

SETTING: A purposive sample will be recruited in a Midwest city through clinics, youth organizations, and a large state university.

PARTICIPANTS: Transgender and gender-diverse youth and young adults aged 13-24 years.

INTERVENTION: Findings from this formative study will be used to inform …

Diet And Survival After A Diagnosis Of Ovarian Cancer: A Pooled Analysis From The Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium, Christina M Nagle, Torukiri I Ibiebele, Renhua Na, Elisa V Bandera, Daniel Cramer, Jennifer A Doherty, Graham G Giles, Marc T Goodman, Gillian E Hanley, Holly R Harris, Allan Jensen, Susanne K Kjaer, Alice Lee, Valerie Mcguire, Roger L Milne, Bo Qin, Jean Richardson, Naoko Sasamoto, Joellen M Schildkraut, Weiva Sieh, Kathryn L Terry, Linda Titus, Britton Trabert, Nicolas Wentzensen, Anna H Wu, Andrew Berchuck, Malcolm C Pike, Celeste Leigh Pearce, Penelope M Webb, Multidisciplinary Ovarian Cancer Outcomes Group And Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Prognosis after a diagnosis of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer is poor. Some studies have suggested modifiable behaviors, like diet, are associated with survival but the evidence is inconsistent.

Objectives: This study aims to pool data from studies conducted around the world to evaluate the relationships among dietary indices, foods, and nutrients from food sources and survival after a diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Methods: This analysis from the Multidisciplinary Ovarian Cancer Outcomes Group within the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium included 13 studies with 7700 individuals with ovarian cancer, who completed food-frequency questionnaires regarding their prediagnosis diet. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) …

Gastroesophageal Reflux And Gastrointestinal Symptoms After Metabolic And Bariatric Surgery In Adolescents: An 8-Year Follow-Up Analysis, John B Rode, Suhail A Zeineddin, Jane C Khoury, Todd M Jenkins, Stephanie R Sisley, Anita P Courcoulas, Justin R Ryder, Marc P Michalsky, Thomas H Inge

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Importance: Vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) are the most commonly performed metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) procedures in adolescents and adults. Despite their safety and effectiveness, there is concern over postoperative gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS), especially gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (GERS), in those undergoing VSG.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term prevalence of GIS in adolescents who underwent RYGB or VSG.

Design, setting, and participants: This is a prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study at five academic referral centers in the United States. Patients were enrolled from February 28, 2007, through December 30, 2011. The analysis included 228 adolescents: 161 …

Adipose Progenitor Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Suppress Macrophage M1 Program To Alleviate Midlife Obesity, Qing Zhou, Jia Gao, Guorao Wu, Chenwei Wang, Yan Yang, Teng Huang, Yi Wang, Tiantian Yue, Zhichao Gao, Hao Xie, Fei Xiong, Ke Xiang, Tuying Yong, Wanguang Zhang, Tongtong Zhang, Wen Kong, Cai Chen, Shu Zhang, Qilin Yu, Xuemei Fan, Shiwei Liu, Yanjun Liu, Cong-Yi Wang

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Among different age groups, middle-aged individuals are particularly susceptible to obesity, with a 22% higher risk of all-cause mortality. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we identify adipose progenitor cells (APCs) in the white adipose tissue (WAT) of middle-aged subjects as potential causes of midlife obesity. Specifically, the extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from APCs display an impaired ability to mitigate the inflammaging of adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) in middle-aged individuals. Mechanistically, these EVs, lacking miR-145-5p, fail to suppress the expression of L-selectin in ATMs, thereby facilitating their M1 program via the NF-κB signaling pathway. In contrast, EVs …

Genetic Associations With C-Peptide Levels Before Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis In At-Risk Relatives, Taylor M Triolo, Hemang M Parikh, Mustafa Tosur, Lauric A Ferrat, Lu You, Peter A Gottlieb, Richard A Oram, Suna Onengut-Gumuscu, Jeffrey P Krischer, Stephen S Rich, Andrea K Steck, Maria J Redondo

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Objective: We sought to determine whether the type 1 diabetes genetic risk score-2 (T1D-GRS2) and single nucleotide polymorphisms are associated with C-peptide preservation before type 1 diabetes diagnosis.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 713 autoantibody-positive participants who developed type 1 diabetes in the TrialNet Pathway to Prevention Study who had T1DExomeChip data. We evaluated the relationships of 16 known single nucleotide polymorphisms and T1D-GRS2 with area under the curve (AUC) C-peptide levels during oral glucose tolerance tests conducted in the 9 months before diagnosis.

Results: Higher T1D-GRS2 was associated with lower C-peptide AUC in the 9 months before …

Exploring Profiles Of Fathers Integrating Food And Physical Activity Parenting Practices, John A Jimenez-Garcia, Louise C Mâsse, Robert L Newton, Salma M Musaad, Alicia Beltran, Teresia M O'Connor

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Objective: This study aims to identify fathers' profiles integrating food parenting practices (FPP) and physical activity parenting practices (PAPP).

Design: We analysed cross-sectional data. The fathers completed the reduced FPP and PAPP item banks and socio-demographic and family dynamics (co-parenting and household responsibility) questionnaires. We identified fathers' profiles via latent profile analysis. We explored the influence of social determinants, child characteristics and family dynamics on fathers' profiles using multinomial logistic regression.

Setting: Online survey in the USA.

Participants: Fathers of 5-11-year-old children.

Results: We analysed data from 606 fathers (age = 38 ± 8·0; Hispanic = 37·5 %). Most fathers …

Body Composition And Its Outcomes And Management In Multiple Sclerosis: Narrative Review, Ariel Kidwell-Chandler, Justin Jackson, Brenda Jeng, Stephanie L Silveira, Lara A Pilutti, Paul R Hibbing, Robert W Motl

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: There is emerging interest in obesity and its prevalence, outcomes, and management in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Body mass index (BMI) is the traditional marker of obesity in MS, whereas body composition, inclusive of specific body tissue compartments (e.g., fat, bone, and muscle), is often overlooked despite its relevance.

Objective: This narrative review (a) underscored the use and utility of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) as an accurate and reliable measure of body composition; (b) thematically analyzed and synthesized the current evidence regarding body composition (using DEXA); and (c) determined gaps to be addressed in future research. Methods: …

Insulin Clearance At Randomisation And In Response To Treatment In Youth With Type 2 Diabetes: A Secondary Analysis Of The Today Randomised Clinical Trial, Kristen J Nadeau, Silva A Arslanian, Fida Bacha, Sonia Caprio, Lily C Chao, Ryan Farrell, Kara S Hughan, Maria Rayas, Melinda Tung, Kaitlyn Cross, Laure El Ghormli

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Aims/hypothesis: Insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinaemia are core features leading to beta cell failure in youth-onset type 2 diabetes. Insulin clearance (IC) is also a key regulator of insulin concentrations, but few data exist on IC in youth-onset type 2 diabetes. In a secondary analysis of our Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth (TODAY) randomised clinical trial, we investigated potential sex-, race-, ethnicity- and treatment-related differences in IC in youth-onset type 2 diabetes and aimed to identify metabolic phenotypes associated with IC at baseline and in response to metformin, metformin plus a lifestyle intervention, and metformin …

Pskh1 Kinase Activity Is Differentially Modulated Via Allosteric Binding Of Ca2+ Sensor Proteins, Christopher R Horne, Toby A Dite, Samuel N Young, Lucy J Mather, Laura F Dagley, Jared L Johnson, Tomer M Yaron-Barir, Emily M Huntsman, Leonard A Daly, Dominic P Byrne, Antonia L Cadell, Boaz H Ng, Jumana Yousef, Dylan H Multari, Lianju Shen, Luke M Mcaloon, Gerard Manning, Mark A Febbraio, Anthony R Means, Lewis C Cantley, Maria C Tanzer, David R Croucher, Claire E Eyers, Patrick A Eyers, John W Scott, James M Murphy

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Protein Serine Kinase H1 (PSKH1) was recently identified as a crucial factor in kidney development and is overexpressed in prostate, lung, and kidney cancers. However, little is known about PSKH1 regulatory mechanisms, leading to its classification as a “dark” kinase. Here, we used biochemistry and mass spectrometry to define PSKH1’s consensus substrate motif, protein interactors, and how interactors, including Ca2+ sensor proteins, promote or suppress activity. Intriguingly, despite the absence of a canonical Calmodulin binding motif, Ca2+-Calmodulin activated PSKH1 while, in contrast, the ER-resident Ca2+ sensor of the Cab45, Reticulocalbin, Erc55, Calumenin (CREC) family, Reticulocalbin-3, suppressed PSKH1 catalytic activity. In …

Regulating Chemoresistance And Cancer Stemness: The Cdh17-Yap Pathway In Distinct Cellular States Of Lung Cancer Ctc Clusters, Zujun Que, Dan Qi, Yun Yang, Wang Yao, Jiajun Liu, Yan Li, Yuanyuan Yu, Luyao Wang, Fangfei Li, Ge Zhang, Erxi Wu, Jianhui Tian

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Drug resistance in metastatic lung cancer significantly contributes to patient mortality. This study explores the role of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), the precursors to metastasis, in driving this resistance. We aim to delineate the unique biological traits of CTC clusters in lung cancer and elucidate the mechanisms underlying their resistance to chemotherapy.

Methods: We used an ultralow adsorption plate to establish a CTC suspension culture system. Comparisons between adherent and suspension cultures of CTC-TJH-01 cells were made via Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), western blot, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry assays to evaluate cell proliferation, drug resistance, and cancer stemness. The …

Red Meat Consumption And Hypertension: An Updated Review, Tara S Allen, Michael Najem, Alexis C Wood, Danielle J Lee, Lorena S Pacheco, Lori B Daniels, Matthew A Allison

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Hypertension (HTN) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The global prevalence of HTN and related CVD mortality continues to rise. The development of HTN is influenced by genetic predisposition and modifiable risk factors, including diet. One area of ongoing debate is the relationship between red meat consumption and risk of HTN.

RECENT FINDINGS: Processed red meat has become increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis and morbidity of HTN, though randomized control trials comparing HTN-related outcomes associated with red meat subtypes have yielded heterogenous results. This review summarizes the existing relevant literature and highlights the methodological …

Snap Participation As A Moderator Of Food And Nutrition Security And Combined Cardiometabolic Conditions: A Mixed Regression Approach, Maha Almohamad, Ruosha Li, Natalia I Heredia, Jayna M Dave, Eric E Calloway, Anjail Sharrief, Shreela V Sharma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: To examine the relationships between food security, nutrition security, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation, and cardiometabolic outcomes, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or diabetes, among low-income U.S. individuals.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 486 participants (April–June 2021) assessed food and nutrition security and cardiometabolic outcomes. Mixed-effects logistic regression models adjusted for covariates and included a random effect for state of residence. Moderation analyses evaluated SNAP participation’s impact.

Results: Very low food security was associated with higher odds of having at least one cardiometabolic condition, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or diabetes (AOR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.04–3.69; p = 0.04). SNAP …

The Misalignment Of Incentives In Academic Publishing And Implications For Journal Reform, Jennifer S Trueblood, David B Allison, Sarahanne M Field, Ayelet Fishbach, Stefan D M Gaillard, Gerd Gigerenzer, William R Holmes, Stephan Lewandowsky, Dora Matzke, Mary C Murphy, Sebastian Musslick, Vencislav Popov, Adina L Roskies, Judith Ter Schure, Andrei R Teodorescu

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

For most researchers, academic publishing serves two goals that are often misaligned-knowledge dissemination and establishing scientific credentials. While both goals can encourage research with significant depth and scope, the latter can also pressure scholars to maximize publication metrics. Commercial publishing companies have capitalized on the centrality of publishing to the scientific enterprises of knowledge dissemination and academic recognition to extract large profits from academia by leveraging unpaid services from reviewers, creating financial barriers to research dissemination, and imposing substantial fees for open access. We present a set of perspectives exploring alternative models for communicating and disseminating scientific research. Acknowledging that …

Dairy Consumption And The Colonic Mucosa-Associated Gut Microbiota In Humans-A Preliminary Investigation, Ellie Chen, Nadim J Ajami, Donna L White, Yanhong Liu, Shawn Gurwara, Kristi Hoffman, David Y Graham, Hashem B El-Serag, Joseph F Petrosino, Li Jiao

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Dairy consumption has been associated with various health outcomes that may be mediated by changes in gut microbiota.

Methods: This cross-sectional study investigated the association between the colonic mucosa-associated gut microbiota and the self-reported intake of total dairy, milk, cheese, and yogurt. A total of 97 colonic mucosal biopsies collected from 34 polyp-free individuals were analyzed. Dairy consumption in the past year was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. The 16S rRNA gene V4 region was amplified and sequenced. Operational taxonomic unit (OTU) classification was performed using the UPARSE and SILVA databases. OTU diversity and relative abundance were compared …

Prediction Models Of Basal Energy Expenditure In Children And Adolescents Across The Bmi Spectrum Based On Room Calorimetry: A Cross-Sectional Cohort Study, Maurice Puyau, Roman Shypailo, Nancy F Butte, Salma Musaad, Fida Bacha

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Existing equations for prediction of basal energy expenditure (BEE) may not be accurate in children with overweight or obesity (OW/OB).

Objectives: We aimed to develop BEE prediction equations applicable to children and adolescents across a wide BMI spectrum using gold standard room calorimetry.

Methods: We measured weight, height, waist and hip circumferences, body composition (DXA), and BEE (whole room calorimetry) in a cross-sectional cohort of 1155 healthy children, 5-19 years of age. 67% of the males and 51% of the females were classified as OW/OB. We applied multiple linear regression analyses to develop BEE prediction models for each sex. …

Association Between Maternal Stress And Child Sleep Quality: A Nationwide Echo Prospective Cohort Study, Sarah Dee Geiger, Aruna Chandran, Marie L Churchill, Maxwell Mansolf, Cai Zhang, Salma Musaad, Courtney K Blackwell, Stephanie M Eick, Dana E Goin, Susan Korrick, Akram Alshawabkeh, Patricia A Brennan, Carrie V Breton, Jose F Cordero, Sean Deoni, Viren D'Sa, Anne L Dunlop, Amy J Elliott, Assiamira Ferrara, Arlene Keddie, Monique Lebourgeois, Kaja Z Lewinn, Daphne Koinis-Mitchell, Maristella Lucchini, Sara S Nozadi, Thomas O'Connor, Yeyi Zhu, Emily Zimmerman, Susan L Schantz

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Childhood sleep quality is associated with physical, cognitive, and behavioral health and predicts later sleep quality; it has many determinants, including developmental exposures.

Objectives: To examine associations between maternal stress during pregnancy and childhood sleep quality and determine whether postnatal stress mediates the association.

Method: Data from the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes cohort were used. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) T-scores were the exposure measure. Outcome measures were preschool Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) sleep syndrome scale and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Sleep Disturbance Parent Proxy short form 4a (PSD4a) T-scores at ages 4-8 years. Linear mixed-effects regression …

Sex-Specific Astrocyte Regulation Of Spinal Motor Circuits By Nkx61, Navish A Bosquez Huerta, Zhung-Fu Lee, Eun-Ah Christine Song, Junsung Woo, Yi-Ting Cheng, Debosmita Sardar, Ozlem Sert, Ehson Maleki, Kwanha Yu, Ekin Su Akdemir, Kaitlyn Sanchez, Juyeon Jo, Matthew N Rasband, Hyun Kyoung Lee, Akdes Serin Harmanci, Benjamin Deneen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Astrocytes exhibit diverse cellular and molecular properties across the central nervous system (CNS). Recent studies identified region-specific transcription factors (TF) that oversee these diverse properties; how sex differences intersect with region-specific transcriptional programs to regulate astrocyte function is unknown. Here, we show that the TF Nkx6.1 is specifically expressed in ventral astrocytes of the spinal cord and that its deletion results in sex-specific effects on astrocyte morphology. Astrocytes from males exhibit enhanced morphological complexity, accompanied by increased motor function and cholinergic synapses. In contrast, female astrocytes exhibit reduced complexity and no changes in motor function. Mechanistically, we found that Nkx6.1 …

The Adiponectin-Pparγ Axis In Hepatic Stellate Cells Regulates Liver Fibrosis, Shangang Zhao, Qingzhang Zhu, Wang-Hsin Lee, Jan-Bernd Funcke, Zhuzhen Zhang, May-Yun Wang, Qian Lin, Bianca Field, Xue-Nan Sun, Guannan Li, Mbolle Ekane, Toshiharu Onodera, Na Li, Yi Zhu, Christine M Kusminski, Terry D Hinds, Philipp E Scherer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are key drivers of local fibrosis. Adiponectin, conventionally thought of as an adipokine, is also expressed in quiescent HSCs. However, the impact of its local expression on the progression of liver fibrosis remains unclear. We recently generated a transgenic mouse line (Lrat-rtTA) that expresses the doxycycline-responsive transcriptional activator rtTA under the control of the HSC-specific lecithin retinol acyltransferase (Lrat) promoter, which enables us to specifically and inducibly overexpress or eliminate genes in these cells. The inducible elimination of HSCs protects mice from methionine/choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced liver fibrosis, confirming their causal involvement in fibrosis development. We generated …

Correlates Of Inaccuracy In Reporting Of Energy Intake Among Persons With Multiple Sclerosis, Stephanie L Silveira, Brenda Jeng, Barbara A Gower, Gary R Cutter, Robert W Motl

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) are interested in diet as a second-line approach for disease management. This study examined potential variables that correlate with inaccuracy of self-reported energy intake (EI) in adults with MS.

METHODS: Twenty-eight participants completed two assessment appointments within a 14-day period that included a standard doubly labeled water (DLW) protocol for estimating total energy expenditure (TEE). The participants reported their EI using the Automated Self-Administered 24 h (ASA24) Dietary Assessment Tool. The primary variables of interest for explaining the discrepancy between TEE and ASA24 EI (i.e., inaccuracy) included cognition (processing speed, visuospatial memory, and verbal …