Biochemical Phenomena, Metabolism, and Nutrition Commons^™

Acafinder: Genome Mining For Anti-Crispr-Associated Genes, Bowen Yang, Jinfang Zheng, Yanbin Yin

Food for Health: Publications

Anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins are encoded by (pro)viruses to inhibit their host’s CRISPR-Cas systems. Genes encoding Acr and Aca (Acr associated) proteins often colocalize to form acr-aca operons. Here, we present AcaFinder as the first Aca genome mining tool. AcaFinder can (i) predict Acas and their associated acr-aca operons using guilt-by-association (GBA); (ii) identify homologs of known Acas using an HMM (Hidden Markov model) database; (iii) take input genomes for potential prophages, CRISPR-Cas systems, and self-targeting spacers (STSs); and (iv) provide a standalone program (https://github.com/boweny920/AcaFinder) and a web server (http://aca .unl.edu/Aca). AcaFinder was applied to mining over …

From Model Organisms To Humans, The Opportunity For More Rigor In Methodologic And Statistical Analysis, Design, And Interpretation Of Aging And Senescence Research, Daniella E Chusyd, Steven N Austad, Andrew W Brown, Xiwei Chen, Stephanie L Dickinson, Keisuke Ejima, David Fluharty, Lilian Golzarri-Arroyo, Richard Holden, Yasaman Jamshidi-Naeini, Doug Landsittel, Stella Lartey, Edward Mannix, Colby J Vorland, David B Allison

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

This review identifies frequent design and analysis errors in aging and senescence research and discusses best practices in study design, statistical methods, analyses, and interpretation. Recommendations are offered for how to avoid these problems. The following issues are addressed: (a) errors in randomization, (b) errors related to testing within-group instead of between-group differences, (c) failing to account for clustering, (d) failing to consider interference effects, (e) standardizing metrics of effect size, (f) maximum life-span testing, (g) testing for effects beyond the mean, (h) tests for power and sample size, (i) compression of morbidity versus survival curve squaring, and (j) other …

Spatial Definition Of The Human Progesterone Receptor-B Transcriptional Complex, Xinzhe Yu, Ping Yi, Anil K Panigrahi, Lance Edward V Lumahan, John P Lydon, David M Lonard, Steven J Lutdke, Zhao Wang, Bert W O'Malley

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

We report the quaternary structure of core transcriptional complex for the full-length human progesterone receptor-B (PR-B) homodimer with primary coactivator steroid receptor coactivator-2 (SRC-2) and the secondary coactivator p300/CREB-binding protein (CBP). The PR-B homodimer engages one SRC-2 mainly through its activation function 1 (AF1) in N-terminus. SRC-2 is positioned between PR-B and p300 leaving space for direct interaction between PR-B and p300 through PR-B's C-terminal AF2 and its unique AF3. Direct AF3/p300 interaction provides long-desired structural insights into the known functional differences between PR-B and the PR-A isoform lacking AF3. We reveal the contributions of each AF and demonstrate their …

Chronic Exposure To Carbon Black Ultrafine Particles Reprograms Macrophage Metabolism And Accelerates Lung Cancer, Cheng-Yen Chang, Ran You, Dominique Armstrong, Ashwini Bandi, Yi-Ting Cheng, Philip M Burkhardt, Luis Becerra-Dominguez, Matthew C Madison, Hui-Ying Tung, Zhimin Zeng, Yifan Wu, Lizhen Song, Patricia E Phillips, Paul Porter, John M Knight, Nagireddy Putluri, Xiaoyi Yuan, Daniela C Marcano, Emily A Mchugh, James M Tour, Andre Catic, Laure Maneix, Bryan M Burt, Hyun-Sung Lee, David B Corry, Farrah Kheradmand

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Chronic exposure to airborne carbon black ultrafine (nCB) particles generated from incomplete combustion of organic matter drives IL-17A-dependent emphysema. However, whether and how they alter the immune responses to lung cancer remains unknown. Here, we show that exposure to nCB particles increased PD-L1+ PD-L2+ CD206+ antigen-presenting cells (APCs), exhausted T cells, and Treg cells. Lung macrophages that harbored nCB particles showed selective mitochondrial structure damage and decreased oxidative respiration. Lung macrophages sustained the HIF1α axis that increased glycolysis and lactate production, culminating in an immunosuppressive microenvironment in multiple mouse models of non-small cell lung cancers. Adoptive transfer of lung APCs …

The Impact Of High-Intensity Interval Training On Vascular Function In Adults: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Mousa Khalafi, Mohammad Hossein Sakhaei, Fatemeh Kazeminasab, Michael E. Symonds, Sara K. Rosenkranz

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Research

Aim: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) compared with moderateintensity continuous training (MICT) or with no exercise (CON) on vascular function in adults who were free of cardiometabolic diseases and those with cardiometabolic diseases.

Methods: A search across three electronic databases including Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science was conducted through February 2022 to identify the randomized trials evaluating HIIT vs. MICT and/or CON on vascular function as measured using brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in adults. Separate analyses were conducted for HIIT vs. MICT and/or CON to calculate weighted …

Applications Of Covalent Chemistry In Targeted Protein Degradation, Dong Lu, Xin Yu, Hanfeng Lin, Ran Cheng, Erika Y Monroy, Xiaoli Qi, Meng C Wang, Jin Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) and targeted covalent inhibitors (TCIs) are currently two exciting strategies in the fields of chemical biology and drug discovery. Extensive research in these two fields has been conducted, and significant progress in these fields has resulted in many clinical candidates, some of which have been approved by FDA. Recently, a novel concept termed covalent PROTACs that combine these two strategies has emerged and gained an increasing interest in the past several years. Herein, we briefly review and highlight the mechanism and advantages of TCIs and PROTACs, respectively, and the recent development of covalent PROTACs using irreversible and …

Increased Circulating Cortisol After Vaginal Birth Is Associated With Increased Fgf19 Secretion In Neonatal Pigs, Caitlin Vonderohe, Gregory Guthrie, Barbara Stoll, Valeria Melendez Hebib, Harry Dawson, Douglas Burrin

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

The influence of birth modality (scheduled cesarean or spontaneous vaginal) on the development of the newborn has been a source of controversy in neonatology. The impact of cesarean vs vaginal birth on the development of bile acid and fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) signaling is unknown. Our aim was to determine the effect of birth modality and gestational age (preterm vs term) on plasma hormone levels, bile acid pool distribution, expression of genes in the bile acid-FXR-FGF19 pathway, and plasma levels of FGF19 at birth and on day 3 of life in neonatal pigs. Four sows underwent cesarean delivery on …

Technology-Based Obesity Prevention Interventions Among Hispanic Adolescents In The United States: Scoping Review, Erica G Soltero, Callie Lopez, Edith Hernandez, Teresia M O'Connor, Debbe Thompson

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Given that today's adolescents are digital front-runners, technology-based obesity prevention strategies are age-appropriate for this population. The use of remote and wireless technologies may be suitable for extending the reach and engagement of obesity prevention efforts among high-risk Hispanic youths, as this subgroup is disproportionately affected by barriers that limit participation in traditional, in-person interventions.

Objective: The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the intervention and sample characteristics of technology-based obesity prevention interventions among Hispanic adolescents. We also examined feasibility criteria to assess the acceptability and appropriateness of technology-based strategies among Hispanic youths.

Methods: A comprehensive search …

The Role Of Kisspeptins In Trophoblast Cell Dynamics: Comparative Studies Using The Horse And The Preeclamptic-Like Bph/5 Mouse As Animal Models, Viviane Cristine Leite Gomes

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Kisspeptins, a family of small peptides derived from the Kiss1 gene, have been described in trophoblast cell dynamics, placentation, and pregnancy outcomes. Furthermore, many other physiological functions have been attributed to kisspeptins, including neuroendocrine regulation of puberty and cyclicity, and peripheral and central regulation of metabolism and adipogenesis. Herein, studies were performed in the Blood Pressure High Subline 5 (BPH/5) mouse and the horse to further investigate the role of kisspeptins in pregnancy. The BPH/5 mouse recapitulates the main features of human preeclampsia (PE), a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy associated with maternal and fetal adverse outcomes. BPH/5 phenotypic characteristics include …

Metabolic Pathways Enriched According To Erg Status Are Associated With Biochemical Recurrence In Hispanic/Latino Patients With Prostate Cancer, Natalia L. Acosta-Vega, Rodolfo Varela, Jorge Andrés Mesa, Jone Garai, Melody C. Baddoo, Alberto Gómez-Gutiérrez, Silvia J. Serrano-Gómez, Marcela Nuñez Lemus, Martha Lucía Serrano, Jovanny Zabaleta, Alba L. Combita, María Carolina Sanabria-Salas

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: The role of ERG-status molecular subtyping in prognosis of prostate cancer (PCa) is still under debate. In this study, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) according to ERG-status to explore their enriched pathways and implications in prognosis in Hispanic/Latino PCa patients. Methods: RNA from 78 Hispanic PCa tissues from radical prostatectomies (RP) were used for RNA-sequencing. ERGhigh/ERGlow tumor groups were determined based on the 1.5-fold change median expression in non-tumor samples. DEGs with a False Discovery Rate (FDR) < 0.01 and a fold change >2 were identified between ERGhigh and ERGlow tumors and submitted to enrichment analysis in MetaCore. Survival and association analyses were performed …

Haploinsufficiency Of Cyp8b1 Associates With Increased Insulin Sensitivity In Humans, Shiqi Zhong, Raphael Chèvre, David Castaño Mayan, Maria Corlianò, Blake J Cochran, Kai Ping Sem, Theo H Van Dijk, Jianhe Peng, Liang Juin Tan, Siddesh V Hartimath, Boominathan Ramasamy, Peter Cheng, Albert K Groen, Folkert Kuipers, Julian L Goggi, Chester Drum, Rob M Van Dam, Ru San Tan, Kerry-Anne Rye, Michael R Hayden, Ching-Yu Cheng, Shaji Chacko, Jason Flannick, Xueling Sim, Hong Chang Tan, Roshni R Singaraja

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

BACKGROUND

Cytochrome P450 family 8 subfamily B member 1 (CYP8B1) generates 12α-hydroxylated bile acids (BAs) that are associated with insulin resistance in humans.

METHODS

To determine whether reduced CYP8B1 activity improves insulin sensitivity, we sequenced CYP8B1 in individuals without diabetes and identified carriers of complete loss-of-function (CLOF) mutations utilizing functional assays.

RESULTS

Mutation carriers had lower plasma 12α-hydroxylated/non–12α-hydroxylated BA and cholic acid (CA)/chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) ratios compared with age-, sex-, and BMI-matched controls. During insulin clamps, hepatic glucose production was suppressed to a similar magnitude by insulin, but glucose infusion rates to maintain euglycemia were higher in mutation carriers, indicating …

A Subpopulation Of Oxytocin Neurons Initiate Expression Of Crf Receptor 1 (Crfr1) In Females Post Parturition, Lierni Ugartemendia, Rose M De Guzman, Jing Cai, Shivakumar Rajamanickam, Zhiying Jiang, Jonathan Tao, Damian G Zuloaga, Nicholas J Justice

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Oxytocin (OT) is essential for successful reproduction, particularly during parturition and lactation. During the postpartum period, OT also influences maternal behavior to promote bonding between mothers and their newborns, and increases stress resilience. However, the mechanism by which stress influences OT neuron activity and OT release has remained unclear. Here, we provide evidence that a subpopulation of OT neurons initiate expression of the receptor for the stress neuropeptide Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF), CRFR1, in reproductive females. OT neuron expression of CRFR1 begins at the first parturition and increases during the postpartum period until weaning. The percentage of OT neurons that …

The Roles Of Sleep And Eating Patterns In Adiposity Gain Among Preschool-Aged Children, Amy R Goetz, Ishita Jindal, Jennette P Moreno, Maurice R Puyau, Anne L Adolph, Salma Musaad, Nancy F Butte, Fida Bacha

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Short sleep durations are related to risks for obesity in preschool children. However, the underlying mechanism or mechanisms are not clear.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the relationships between sleep characteristics and body composition, energetics, and weight-regulating behaviors in preschool-aged children, as well as the longitudinal associations between children's sleep and eating patterns and body composition at a 1-year follow-up.

METHODS: Data were drawn from a longitudinal study of 118 children aged 3-5 years. Sleep (duration, midpoint, regularity) and physical activity (PA) were measured by accelerometry over 6 consecutive days; total energy expenditure (TEE) was measured using the doubly labeled water …

Accounting For The Clustering And Nesting Effects Verifies Most Conclusions Corrected Analysis Of: “Randomized Nutrient Bar Supplementation Improves Exercise-Associated Changes In Plasma Metabolome In Adolescents And Adult Family Members At Cardiometabolic Risk”, Yasaman Jamshidi-Naeini, Lilian Golzarri-Arroyo, Colby J Vorland, Andrew W Brown, Stephanie Dickinson, David B Allison

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

In a published randomized controlled trial, household units were randomized to a nutrient bar supplementation group or a control condition, but the non-independence of observations within the same household (i.e., the clustering effect) was not accounted for in the statistical analyses. Therefore, we reanalyzed the data appropriately by adjusting degrees of freedom using the between-within method, and accounting for household units using linear mixed effect models with random intercepts for family units and subjects nested within family units for each reported outcome. Results from this reanalysis showed that ignoring the clustering and nesting effects in the original analyses had resulted …

Eating Disorders In Men: A Comprehensive Summary, Connor James Spratt, Liam Alexander Mackenzie Myles, Emanuele Maria Merlo

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Eating disorders (EDs) have detrimental effects on an individual’s physical and mental health, along with significant interpersonal, social and economic effects. Furthermore, men who are suffering with an ED face unique challenges with this. Men suffering with EDs have historically received little attention within ED research, diagnosis and intervention. However, the number of men suffering with these issues is significant and growing. Understanding of EDs tend to ignore male experiences, meaning many are left to suffer in silence until the ED has developed to a critical point. However, many now recognize the need to understand the issues facing men suffering …

Growth Differentiation Factor 15 Is Not Associated With Glycemic Control In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Treated With Metformin: A Post-Hoc Analysis Of Aim Study, Fei Gao, Cheng Li, Yufei Wang, Jingyi Lu, Wei Lu, Jian Zhou, Jun Yin, Xiaojing Ma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) was newly discovered to be a promising target of metformin. The study was aimed to investigate the relationship between GDF15 and glycemic control after metformin treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS: The study was a post-hoc analysis of AIM (the effect of Acarbose on glycemic variability in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using premixed Insulin compared to Metformin) study. The participants were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of metformin (MET) or acarbose (ACA) treatment combined with insulin. Serum GDF15 levels of 51 subjects from MET group and 53 subjects from …

The Family Level Assessment Of Screen Use-Mobile Approach: Development Of An Approach To Measure Children's Mobile Device Use, Oriana Perez, Anil Kumar Vadathya, Alicia Beltran, R Matthew Barnett, Olivia Hindera, Tatyana Garza, Salma M Musaad, Tom Baranowski, Sheryl O Hughes, Jason A Mendoza, Ashutosh Sabharwal, Ashok Veeraraghavan, Teresia M O'Connor

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: There is a strong association between increased mobile device use and worse dietary habits, worse sleep outcomes, and poor academic performance in children. Self-report or parent-proxy report of children's screen time has been the most common method of measuring screen time, which may be imprecise or biased.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of measuring the screen time of children on mobile devices using the Family Level Assessment of Screen Use (FLASH)-mobile approach, an innovative method that leverages the existing features of the Android platform.

Methods: This pilot study consisted of 2 laboratory-based observational …

Diabetes-Related Worries And Coping Among Youth And Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes, Lindsay Taraban, Rachel Wasserman, Viena T Cao, Sahar S Eshtehardi, Barbara J Anderson, Debbe Thompson, David G Marrero, Marisa E Hilliard

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Objective: Although mood and anxiety symptoms are common in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D), little research has described their worries across developmental stages or the strategies they use to cope with these worries. This secondary data analysis aimed to describe and characterize common T1D-related worries and coping strategies from middle childhood through young adulthood.

Methods: Twenty-three youth (9 children, 7 adolescents, and 7 young adults) completed semistructured qualitative interviews about health-related quality of life. We coded interview transcripts using thematic analysis to generate common themes of diabetes-related worries and coping strategies.

Results: Participants' worries fell into four major themes: …

Chronic Stress May Disrupt Covariant Fluctuations Of Vitamin D And Cortisol Plasma Levels And Placentome Formation In Pregnant Sheep During The Last Trimester: A Methodological Approach And Preliminary Report, Colin Wakefield

Tower Health Research Day

No abstract provided.

Sk3 In Pomc Neurons Plays A Sexually Dimorphic Role In Energy And Glucose Homeostasis, Meng Yu, Jonathan C Bean, Hailan Liu, Yang He, Yongjie Yang, Xing Cai, Kaifan Yu, Zhou Pei, Hesong Liu, Longlong Tu, Kristine M Conde, Mengjie Wang, Yongxiang Li, Na Yin, Nan Zhang, Junying Han, Nikolas A Scarcelli, Pingwen Xu, Yanlin He, Yong Xu, Chunmei Wang

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons play a sexually dimorphic role in body weight and glucose balance. However, the mechanisms for the sex differences in POMC neuron functions are not fully understood.

Results: We detected small conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) current in POMC neurons. Secondary analysis of published single-cell RNA-Seq data showed that POMC neurons abundantly express SK3, one SK channel subunit. To test whether SK3 in POMC neurons regulates POMC neuron functions on energy and glucose homeostasis, we used a Cre-loxP strategy to delete SK3 specifically from mature POMC neurons. POMC-specific deletion of SK3 did not affect body weight in either …