Nutrition Commons^™

Common Aav Gene Therapy Vectors Show Nonselective Transduction Of Ex Vivo Human Brain Tissue, J P Mcginnis, Joshua Ortiz-Guzman, Maria Camila Guevara, Sai Mallannagari, Benjamin D W Belfort, Suyang Bao, Snigdha Srivastava, Maria Morkas, Emily Ji, Angela Addison, Evelyne K Tantry, Sarah Chen, Ying Wang, Zihong Chen, Kalman A Katlowitz, Jeffrey J Lange, Melissa M Blessing, Carrie A Mohila, M Cecilia Ljungberg, Guillermo Aldave, Ali Jalali, Akash Patel, Sameer A Sheth, Howard L Weiner, Shankar Gopinath, Ganesh Rao, Akdes Serin Harmanci, Daniel J Curry, Benjamin R Arenkiel

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

The ability to deliver a therapeutic sequence to a specific cell type in the human brain would make possible innumerable therapeutic options for some of our most challenging diseases; however, studies on adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector tropism have generally relied on animal models with limited translational utility. For this reason, establishing the tropism of common adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors in living human brain tissue serves as an important baseline for further optimization, as well as a determination of human brain cell types transduced by clinically approved gene therapy vectors AAV2 and AAV9. We have adapted an

Determining Accurate Pore Structures Of Polypropylene Membrane For Ecmo Using Fe-Sem Under Optimized Conditions, Makoto Fukuda, Yoshiaki Nishite, Eri Murata, Koki Namekawa, Tomohiro Mori, Tsutomu Tanaka, Kiyotaka Sakai

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Long-term ECMOs are expected to be put into practical use in order to prepare for the next emerging severe infectious diseases after the novel coronavirus pandemic in 2019-2023. While polypropylene (PP) and polymethylpentene (PMP) are currently the mainstream materials for the hollow fiber membranes of ECMO, the PP membrane coated with a silicone layer on the outer surface has also been commercialized. In this study, we sought a method to accurately observe the detailed pore morphologies of the PP membrane by suppressing irreversible changes in the morphology in SEM observation, which is a general-purpose observation with higher resolution. As a …

Co-Designing A Digital Nutrition Intervention For Individuals With Severe Mental Illness Using The Behaviour Change Wheel, Ciara O'Sullivan, Tara Coppinger, Indika Dhanapala, Alison Merrotsy

Publications

Title: Co-Designing a Digital Nutrition Intervention for Individuals with Severe Mental Illness Using the Behaviour Change Wheel

Purpose: This study aims to develop a digital nutrition intervention for individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) residing in high-support mental health hostels, using a theoretically informed co-design approach.

Design/methodology/approach: This study will employ a participatory, mixed-methods approach, incorporating Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) to ensure user-centred intervention design. The Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) guides the selection of intervention functions, Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs) and delivery methods. The study will consist of three phases: (1) Preparation, (2) Co-Design, and (3) Finalisation.

Findings: Data …

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, …

Correlations Between Social Media, Body Image Perceptions, And Disordered Eating Prevalence In Postpartum Women: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study, Hannah Smith

Master's Theses

Postpartum women are a high-risk population for body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behavior due in part to the plethora of hormonal and physiological changes. Despite this, research examining this issue among postpartum women remains limited.

This pilot cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between social media use, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating behavior among women up to 13 months postpartum. For this study, the following research questions were asked: Is high social media usage associated with higher levels of disordered eating among women up to 13 months postpartum? Is the association between social media usage and disordered eating mediated by a …

Bile Acid Regulation Of Xenobiotic Nuclear Receptors On The Expressions Of Orosomucoids In The Liver, Ji Ho Suh, Inyoung Cheon, Hyun-Jung Jung, Sung Ho Lee, Mi Jeong Heo, Matthew Deberge, Clavia Ruth Wooton-Kee, Kang Ho Kim

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR) are xenobiotic nuclear receptors activated by various xenobiotics, drugs, hormones, and bile acids (BAs). Upon activation, these nuclear receptors play critical roles in regulating systemic energy homeostasis. However, precise mechanisms through which CAR and PXR influence systemic metabolism remain incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the impact of CAR and PXR on the liver-secreted hormone (i.e., hepatokine) expressions in response to BA stress such as cholic acid (CA) feeding. Our analysis revealed that several BA-activated genes, including the well-known CAR/PXR target, aldo-keto reductase family 1, member B7 (Akr1b7 …

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 Effect Of Whole Fruits High In Anthocyanins On Markers Of Glycemic Control In Women, Sophia C. Johnson

Master's Theses

Cardiometabolic diseases are a significant health burden worldwide and remain the leading cause of death among adults in the United States. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a central component of cardiometabolic dysfunction and substantially increases the risk for cardiovascular disease. As women enter the post-menopausal period, significant declines in estrogen levels lead to a heightened risk of T2DM in this population. Observational and experimental evidence has shown potential for fruits high in anthocyanins (ACs) to reduce the risk of T2DM and improve glycemic control. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the current research on whole fruits high in ACs …

Associations Between Vitamin D Deficiency And Sociodemographic Factors, Lifestyle Behaviors, And Metabolic Conditions: A Cross-Sectional Study From The Hnnhs In Greece, Asmae Mohamad Sadek

Theses

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is a widespread global health concern associated with various sociodemographic, lifestyle, dietary, and metabolic factors. While previous studies examined VDD in Greece, few provided a comprehensive analysis across multiple determinants using representative national data. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of VDD among Greek adults and to examine its associations with sociodemographic, dietary, behavioral, and metabolic variables using data from the Hellenic National Nutrition and Health Survey (HNNHS). A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among 978 adults (≥19 years) from the HNNHS. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations < 20 ng/mL were defined as deficient and ≥20 ng/mL as normal. The median age of participants was 40.2 years, and 62.0% were female. The overall prevalence of VDD was 46.0%, with the highest rate observed among adults aged ≥60 years (62.2%). VDD was significantly associated with older age (p < 0.001), retirement status (62.9% among retired; p < 0.001), low and sedentary physical activity (32.7% and 32.6% vs. 50.8% among highly active; p < 0.001), higher HDL (median 52.0 vs. 49.0 mg/dL among VDD vs Normal; p = 0.001), elevated serum calcium (median 9.4 vs. 9.2 mg/dL among VDD vs Normal; p = 0.020), and lower insulin levels (median 7.5 vs. 8.0 μIU/mL among VDD vs Normal; p = 0.044). Dietary intake (total energy and macronutrients) and body composition were not significantly associated with VDD. In the multivariate model, significant independent predictors of VDD included being retired (AOR = 2.383; 95% CI: 1.596–3.558; p < 0.001), having higher serum calcium levels (AOR = 1.563; 95% CI: 1.078–2.266; p = 0.019), and higher HDL levels (AOR = 1.016; 95% CI: 1.005–1.027; p = 0.001). Physical activity level was also a key determinant; participants classified as sedentary or low active had significantly higher odds of deficiency compared to highly active individuals (AOR = 0.468; 95% CI: 0.319–0.690; p < 0.001). This counterintuitive result may be influenced by factors such as increased indoor physical activity, and warrants further investigation. Dietary intake and body composition were not significantly associated with VDD. The findings underscore the importance of incorporating sociodemographic and lifestyle factors into prevention strategies. Interventions should particularly focus on older adults, retired individuals, even if they have higher HDL and calcium levels, and are physically active.

Social Eating Role In Ultra-Processed Food Consumption Among Urban Young Adults: The 2018 Indonesian Food Barometer, Imas Arumsari, Nabilla Ayusyah Putri, Siti Nur Lulu Lathifah, Gita Aisyah Astrid Rosalba, Helda Khusun, Judhiastuty Februhartanty, Rahmatika Nur Aini

Kesmas

This study investigated the differences in ultra-processed food (UPF), fruit, vegetable, and total fat consumption in different aspects of social eating among urban young adults. This cross-sectional study used the 2018 Indonesian Food Barometer dataset with 180 participants aged 18–25 years living in urban areas from 6 provinces in Indonesia. The data on social eating (cooking habits, eating out, and eating alone), UPF, fruits, and vegetables were obtained from an extended 24-hour food recall interview. The Mann-Whitney U test (CI 95%) was employed for data analysis. This study found that groups with less frequent cooking habits tended to have more …

Mechanisms Of Placental Impairment And The Upregulation Of Fetuin-B During Maternal Undernourishment, Mia Camilliere

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Proper nutrition is crucial during pregnancy to support fetal and placental development. Failure to meet these nutritional needs can result in adverse health outcomes for both mother and baby. Despite its high prevalence in underdeveloped countries, maternal undernourishment is a public health issue worldwide. There are several possible causes of maternal undernourishment, and these can occur alone or in combination, such as poor access to nutrition, hyperemesis gravidarum, and drug use. This condition can adversely affect placental development and function to the extent of placental insufficiency, perturbing the entire pregnancy. The placenta is responsible not only for hormonally and physically …

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.

Multicomponent Parenteral Lipid Emulsions Do Not Prevent Liver Injury In Neonatal Pigs With Obstructive Cholestasis, Greg Guthrie, Caitlin Vonderohe, Valeria Meléndez Hebib, Barbara Stoll, Douglas Burrin

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Biliary atresia (BA) is a pediatric liver disease that often necessitates parenteral nutrition (PN) to support growth due to impaired liver function. While soy-based lipid emulsions (SLE) are commonly used in PN, they may contribute to cholestatic liver injury. In contrast, mixed lipid emulsions (MLE) show promise in preventing cholestasis in infants without BA, potentially by restoring bile flow. However, their effectiveness in patients of complete bile duct obstruction, as seen in BA, remains uncertain. To explore the potential benefits of MLE in BA, we utilized a neonatal pig model of bile duct ligation (BDL). Pigs underwent either BDL or …

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. …

Renal Patients’ Perception Of Self-Efficacy Through Rapport And Trust With Registered Dietitians, Michelle Denise Broussard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

End stage renal disease requires dietary education and behavior modifications to manage the condition. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the role of rapport and trust between the patients and registered dietitians and its impact on self-efficacy. The study was implemented over 12 weeks in multi-site dialysis units in urban Georgia. The health belief model was used as the framework to explain the participants’ desire toward self-efficacy. Data were obtained for the 14-item Health Care Relationship Trust scale and the self-efficacy scales and analyzed using multiple linear regression. A convenience sample of 125 patients between the ages …

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 …

Kid Eats App: Supporting Parents And Children Cooking Together, Amy S. Muise, Gabrielle A. Longo, Pamela N. Martinez, Umekia R. Taylor, Linda E. Torv, Barbara A. Chamberlin

Journal of Extension

Kid Eats is a free app for iPad encouraging children and parents to cook together at home using fruits and vegetables. A preliminary study with parents and children showed children enjoyed using the app and that it provided useful information to support children’s involvement in the kitchen, including guidance around safety concerns. Every family in the study voluntarily completed at least one of the recipes with their child at least once following the in-person activity. Parents reported that their children actively asked to cook the recipes from the app and felt the app helped increase their time spent cooking with …

Evaluation Of Broiler Performance And Processing Metrics Through Sodium Bisulfate Application To Litter And Varying Inclusions In Feed, Samantha Suzanne Plocher

Theses and Dissertations

Poultry producers must continuously evaluate current practices and determine new ones to further optimize broiler production. Sodium bisulfate (SB) is used as a poultry litter amendment (SBL), but also in human food to control pH; thus, initiating interest for SB in feed (SBF) for performance and gut health benefits. This thesis utilized common diets varying in SBF (Chapters II and III) and SBL (Chapter II; SBL1- d 0 and SBL2 – d 0 and 18) to optimize 40 d broiler performance, litter quality, and d 41 processing metrics. For Chapter II, d 0 SBL1 dramatically lowered litter pH, while minimally …

Evaluating The Efficacy Of Functional Feed Additives In Broilers With Or Without A Live Coccidiosis Vaccine Challenge, Dalton Gerard Dennehy

Theses and Dissertations

Functional feed additives, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and phytogenics, have seen increased usage in commercial poultry production due to their ability to improve growth performance, meat yield, and overall health status. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of functional feed additives in broilers with or without an enteric challenge induced via a live coccidiosis vaccine (LCV). In the first study (Chapter II), broilers were raised on used litter without an LCV challenge and fed varying levels of a multi-strain Bacillus-based probiotic in the starter phase (1x or 2x dose). Reduced performance was observed in early …