Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Commons^™

A Program To Treat Hepatitis B In North Korea: A Model Of Antiviral Therapy In A Resource-Poor Setting, Marcia Ann Kilsby, Alice Unah Lee, Heidi Linton, David C. Hilmers

Faculty Publications

Despite the well-proven, safe and effective therapies for hepatitis B infection, delivery of treatment remains a significant challenge in resource-poor settings. Geopolitical and economic restrictions present additional difficulties in providing care in North Korea. However, treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B remains a top priority for both the North Korean Ministry of Public Health and international agencies working in North Korean hepatitis healthcare facilities. Working in partnership, a path was created to institute this much-needed program. A consortium of United States and Australian humanitarian non-governmental organizations along with generous individual and corporate donors working in concert with local and …

Orotic Aciduria, Aliah L. Fonteh

Fidei et Veritatis: The Liberty University Journal of Graduate Research

Orotic acid is an intermediate found in the pathway for pyrimidine synthesis. The mitochondrial enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) catalyzes the production of orotic acid by the conversion of the compound dihydroorotate to orotic acid. Orotic acid is commonly produced by this reaction in erythrocytes, hepatocytes, and kidney cells. Chemical modification of orotic acid in the pyrimidine pathway will generate nucleotides involved in DNA and RNA synthesis. Orotic aciduria can occur as a secondary manifestation due to a defect in an enzyme or transporter within the urea cycle, due to competitive inhibition by anti-cancer drugs such as allopurinol and 6-azauridine, or …

Human-Like Hyperplastic Prostate With Low Zip1 Induced Solely By Zn Deficiency In Rats., Louise Y. Fong, Ruiyan Jing, Karl J. Smalley, Zi-Xuan Wang, Cristian Taccioli, Sili Fan, Hongping Chen, Hansjuerg Alder, Kay Huebner, John L. Farber, Oliver Fiehn, Carlo M. Croce

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in men over 50 years of age, and there is a characteristic marked decrease in Zn content in the malignant prostate cells. The cause and consequences of this loss have thus far been unknown. We found that in middle-aged rats a Zn-deficient diet reduces prostatic Zn levels (P = 0.025), increases cellular proliferation, and induces an inflammatory phenotype with COX-2 overexpression. This hyperplastic/inflammatory prostate has a human prostate cancer-like microRNA profile, with up-regulation of the Zn-homeostasis-regulating miR-183-96-182 cluster (fold change = 1.41-2.38; P = 0.029-0.0003) and down-regulation of the Zn …

Unhealthy Lifestyle And The Risk Of Metabolic Syndrome- The Romanian Experience, Angela Cozma, Adela Sitar-Taut, Laura Urian, Adriana Fodor, Ramona Suharoschi, Crina Muresan, Vasile Negrean, Dorel Sampelean, Dumitru Zdrenghea, Dana Pop, Leucuta Daniel, Olga Hilda Orasan

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Background. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a clustering of metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Many studies have shown the influence of an unhealthy lifestyle on the risk of MetS, yet some aspects remain controversial. Aim of the study: to investigate the relationship between an unhealthy lifestyle and the risk of MetS.

Materials and Methods. The study was conducted using a sample of 181 patients, 54 (29.8%) males and 127 (70.2%) females, aged 59.95±10.8 years. The baseline survey involved the completion of structured questionnaires and clinical examination.

Results. Rural environment, lower education level, past smoking, the absence of fruit/vegetables in the …

Epidemiology Of Diabetic Foot Infection In The Metro-Detroit Area With A Focus On Independent Predictors For Pathogens Resistant To Recommended Empiric Antimicrobial Therapy, Oryan Henig, Jason M. Pogue, Raymond Cha, Paul E. Kilgore, Umar Hayat, Mahmoud Ja'ara, Raza Muhamad Ali, Salman Mahboob, Rahul Pansare, Kathryn Deeds, Bushra Joarder, Hyndavi Kandala, Sorabh Dhar, Keith S. Kaye

Department of Pharmacy Practice

Background. The polymicrobial nature of diabetic foot infection (DFI) and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance have complicated DFI treatment. Current treatment guidelines for deep DFI recommend coverage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and susceptible Enterobacteriaceae. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology of DFI and to identify predictors for DFI associated with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) and pathogens resistant to recommended treatment (PRRT).

Methods. Adult patients admitted to Detroit Medical Center from January 2012 to December 2015 with DFI and positive cultures were included. Demographics, comorbidities, microbiological history, sepsis severity, and antimicrobial use within 3 months before DFI were obtained …

Justice Served Fresh: Associations Between Food Insecurity, Community Gardening, And Property Value, Micajah Daniels, Courtney Coughenour Ph.D

McNair Poster Presentations

Numerous stakeholders in Nevada have used a variety of efforts to combat the growth of food insecurity facing Nevadans. The purpose of this research project is to understand the association between food insecurity, community gardens, and property value. Following the wealth of scholarship on these topics and data collected from community garden agencies in Southern Nevada, the research questions for this project include: (1) Where are community gardens located in SNV? (2) What efforts community gardens agencies are doing to address food insecurity (most interested in their efforts using community gardens)? (3) What are the perceptions of supports and barriers …

Geographic Differences In Obesity Prevalence And Its Risk Factors Among Asian Americans: Findings From The 2013–2014 California Health Interview Survey, Shaoqing Gong, Kesheng Wang, Ying Li, Arsham Alamian

ETSU Faculty Works

Geography disparities exist in obesity and obesity related conditions. This study aimed to examine the geographic differences in obesity prevalence and its risk factors among Asian Americans in California. Data (n = 4,000) from the 2013–2014 California Health Interview Survey were used. Obesity (≥27.5 kg/m2) was defined according to the World Health Organization Asian body mass index cut points in Asian groups. Results suggest that 66.5% of Asians lived in urban areas. Among Asian adults, obesity prevalence was highest in Filipinos (33.8%) and lowest in Koreans (12.8%). Compared to rural Vietnamese, obesity prevalence was higher for urban Vietnamese (8.3% vs. …

Cellular Senescence And Their Role In Liver Metabolism In Health And Disease: Overview And Future Directions, Matthew Schade, Jacqueline A. Sanabria, Rodrigo Aguilar, Milad Modarresi, Brad Gillon, Zach Hunter, Jacqueline Fannin, Amrita Mallick, Henri Brunengraber, Juan Sanabria

Surgery

Chronic liver disease has globally risen mainly due to a prevalent Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection rate and an epidemic of obesity. It is estimated by the year 2030, 2.2 billion people around the world will be overweight and 1.1 billion people will be obese. Diabetes and obesity are the main risk factors for the development of the metabolic syndrome and in the liver of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) which could progress to NASH related cirrhosis and liver malignancy. At present there is not effective therapy for NASH besides loss of weight and exercise. Furthermore, optimal management of HCC …

Exploring H.Pylori Seropositivity As A Risk Factor For Type 2 Diabetes, Virginia Chaidez, Yumou Qiu

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: In the US, the percentage of adults with diagnosed diabetes are higher in members of racial and ethnic minority groups compared to non-Latino Whites. Understanding why such disparities exist has been less forthcoming.

Methods: Secondary data analysis was conducted using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2000 cross-sectional data.

Results: H.pylori seropositivity was highest in Mexican Americans (43.7%), lowest in non-Hispanic Whites (18.1%). Diabetes was highest in non-Hispanic Blacks (5.9%); lowest in non-Hispanic whites (4.3%). H.pylori seropositivity was associated with greater likelihood of having type 2 diabetes (1.927, 95% CI 1.142, 3.257) compared to H.pylori negative in …

Evaluation Of Endothelial Cell Responses To Elevated Glucose, Gabriella Sugerman

Master's Theses

Developing a tissue-engineered Blood Vessel Mimic (BVM) to represent diabetic macrovascular disease could expedite design of new vascular devices specifically tailored to diabetic patients. In contribution toward this model, this thesis assessed Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cell (HUVEC) responses to high glucose conditions. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Cluster of Differentiation 36 (CD36) were selected to signify oxidative stress activity, a hallmark of diabetic macrovascular disease. Next, activity of potential reference genes B2M, HPRT1, and ACTB was assessed. All genes were found to exceed acceptable variability, so the E-ΔC T method of data analysis was selected. Next, cellular responses to high …

Niemann-Pick C1, Its Connection To Obesity, And Its Impact On Human Evolution, Joseph Joshua Castillo

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Niemann-Pick type-C disease is a rare autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease that classically presents in the first decade, leading to ataxia, vertical-gaze palsy, loss of communication skills, epileptic seizures, and eventually death. The stark reality about NPC disease underlines the important role the NPC1 protein plays in whole-body lipid homeostasis. It is no surprise, then, that the NPC1 gene has been associated with other diseases as well, such as obesity, diabetes, and Ebola virus infection. In this manuscript, a connection will be made that intertwines genetics, biochemical and molecular mechanisms, physiology, and evolutionary pressures, and will explain how a gene, discovered …

Loss Of Marv1 Promotes Chop Signaling In Mouse Liver, Shad Anthony Mitchell

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Theses and Dissertations

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a term used to define a set of metabolic diseases: obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), hyperlipidemia, hypertension, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and nonalcoholic hepatosteatosis (NASH). Those with MetS have a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Current drug treatments for MetS treat the individual pathologies associated with the diseases, rather than directly targeting MetS as a whole. We hypothesize that the inhibition of a ubiquitous lipid transporter known as ARV1 can improve pathologies associated with MetS. To test this hypothesis, we utilized liver tissue from mARV1 knockout mice fed a high-fat diet and examined …

Apoe And Alzheimer’S Disease: Neuroimaging Of Metabolic And Cerebrovascular Dysfunction, Jason A. Brandon, Brandon C. Farmer, Holden C. Williams, Lance A. Johnson

Physiology Faculty Publications

Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) is the strongest genetic risk factor for late onset Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), and is associated with impairments in cerebral metabolism and cerebrovascular function. A substantial body of literature now points to E4 as a driver of multiple impairments seen in AD, including blunted brain insulin signaling, mismanagement of brain cholesterol and fatty acids, reductions in blood brain barrier (BBB) integrity, and decreased cerebral glucose uptake. Various neuroimaging techniques, in particular positron emission topography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have been instrumental in characterizing these metabolic and vascular deficits associated with this important AD risk factor. In …

An "Exercise" In Cardiac Metabolism, Stephen C. Kolwicz Jr.

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Research has demonstrated that the high capacity requirements of the heart are satisfied by a preference for oxidation of fatty acids. However, it is well known that a stressed heart, as in pathological hypertrophy, deviates from its inherent profile and relies heavily on glucose metabolism, primarily achieved by an acceleration in glycolysis. Moreover, it has been suggested that the chronically lipid overloaded heart augments fatty acid oxidation and triglyceride synthesis to an even greater degree and, thus, develops a lipotoxic phenotype. In comparison, classic studies in exercise physiology have provided a basis for the acute metabolic changes that occur during …

Radical Social Ecology As Deep Pragmatism: A Call To The Abolition Of Systemic Dissonance And The Minimization Of Entropic Chaos, Arielle Brender

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper aims to shed light on the dissonance caused by the superimposition of Dominant Human Systems on Natural Systems. I highlight the synthetic nature of Dominant Human Systems as egoic and linguistic phenomenon manufactured by a mere portion of the human population, which renders them inherently oppressive unto peoples and landscapes whose wisdom were barred from the design process. In pursuing a radical pragmatic approach to mending the simultaneous oppression and destruction of the human being and the earth, I highlight the necessity of minimizing entropic chaos caused by excess energy expenditure, an essential feature of systems that aim …

Effects Of Mitochondrial Nadp+-Dependent Isocitrate Dehydrogenase Deficiency On Fructose-Induced Obesity In Mice, Allison Michelle Montalbano, Kaleigh Elizabeth Beane

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Obesity prevalence in the United States continues to increase and is associated with health consequences such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and hyperlipidemia. Among many contributing factors to obesity, fructose may be one of the major reasons as it disrupts the antioxidant system thereby resulting in an accumulation of reactive oxidative species and leading to obese conditions. The enzyme, isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2), reduces nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate from the TCA Cycle, hence might be implicated with not only energy metabolism but also cellular redox homeostasis. Therefore, the hypothesis was that IDH2 deficiency in mice would exacerbate hepatic lipid …

The Effects Of Polychlorinated Biphenyls Exposure On Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease : Role Of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor., Hongxue Shi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are detectable in serum of 100% of adults in US, and has been associated with fatty liver disease in epidemiological studies. PCBs are classified as either dioxin-like (DL) or non-dioxin-like (NDL) PCB based on their ability to activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). We used exposures that reflect human bioaccumulation patterns, which resembles Aroclor 1260 with a low level of the DL-PCB, PCB 126. Our aim was to determine if this exposure will activate the human and mouse AhR and examine if receptor activation influences these steatotic responses due to PCB exposures. DL-PCBs exposure-induced AhR activation in …

Characteristics Of Correctly Identified Pediatric Obesity And Overweight Status And Management In An Academic General Pediatric Clinic, Ana Morais, Joseph Kelly, James E. Bost, Susma Vaidya

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Objective: The goals of this study were to identify and characterize the rates of documentation and guideline-based management of overweight and obese children within an academic pediatric clinic.

Population/Methods: Overweight, obese, and severely obese children were identified from 7,422 well child visits in 2016 within a primary care clinic that cares for a primarily urban, minority (80% African American), and Medicaid (85%) population until the age of 12. During this 1-year study, there were 79 pediatric residents, 19 attending pediatricians, and 5 nurse practitioners who treated patients. Through a retrospective electronic medical record review, diagnosis and treatment including counseling, …

Pediatric Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus: Examining The Upward Trend, Allison Foering

Senior Honors Theses

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in pediatric onset of type II diabetes. This paper will examine elements contributing to this trend. Type II diabetes will be discussed, including related pathophysiology, manifestations, diagnosis, and complications, with differentiation between adult and pediatric onset. Possible prevention and treatment methods appropriate for pediatric patients will also be discussed, along with possible outcomes in pediatric patients that could result from this disease. Overall, this paper will provide insight on the causes of this growing trend, and ways to improve the risks imposed on pediatric patients.

Dietary Habits And Lifestyle In School-Aged Children From Bucharest, Romania, Anca Pantea Stoian, Liliana F. Andronache, Razvan Hainarosie, Dan N. Paduraru, Cristinel D. Badiu, Andreea Arsene, Claudia Mehedintu, Georgiana Ditu, Silviu M. Pituru, Cristina Orlov, Mihaela Oros, Cornelia Nitipir

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Background. This study evaluated the difference between boys and girls in terms of nutritional status, lifestyle, and dietary habits during school life.

Materials and Methods. A descriptive and observational study was conducted in 2016, in which 251 children, aged 7-17, from 3 elementary schools and a high school inBucharest,Romania, were evaluated. A questionnaire was used to assess food behavior, eating, and lifestyle habits.

Results. Boys had a significantly higher waist circumference (71.18±9) than girls (67.46±9.91) (p=0.004). Thus 27% of boys were overweight or obese compared with only 22% of the girls. Differences were also seen between the two groups in …