Biochemical Phenomena, Metabolism, and Nutrition Commons^™

Parent-Perceived Neighbourhood Environment, Parenting Practices And Preschool-Aged Children Physical Activity And Screen Time: A Cross-Sectional Study Of Two Culturally And Geographically Diverse Cities, Ester Cerin, Anthony Barnett, Tom Baranowski, Rebecca E Lee, Robin R Mellecker, Yi Nam Suen, Jason A Mendoza, Deborah I Thompson, Teresia M O'Connor

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

BACKGROUND: Preschool-aged children's physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST) are important health-related behaviours likely influenced by PA opportunities, parental perceptions of neighbourhood safety and parenting practices pertaining to PA and ST. How these factors interact to impact on young children's PA and ST, and whether their effects are generalisable across cultures and geographical location is not known. This study addressed these knowledge gaps by conducting pooled analyses of comparable data from two culturally and geographically diverse samples - Chinese parent-child dyads from an ultra-dense city (Hong Kong, China) and Latino parent-child dyads from a low-density city (Houston, USA).

METHODS: …

The Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus: Watchdog Of Whole-Body Glucose Homeostasis, Longlong Tu, Makoto Fukuda, Qingchun Tong, Yong Xu

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

The brain, particularly the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH), has been long known for its involvement in glucose sensing and whole-body glucose homeostasis. However, it is still not fully understood how the brain detects and responds to the changes in the circulating glucose levels, as well as brain-body coordinated control of glucose homeostasis. In this review, we address the growing evidence implicating the brain in glucose homeostasis, especially in the contexts of hypoglycemia and diabetes. In addition to neurons, we emphasize the potential roles played by non-neuronal cells, as well as extracellular matrix in the hypothalamus in whole-body glucose homeostasis. Further, …

Evaluation Of A Circadian Rhythm And Sleep-Focused Mobile Health Intervention For The Prevention Of Accelerated Summer Weight Gain Among Elementary School-Age Children: Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Study, Jennette P Moreno, Hafza Dadabhoy, Salma Musaad, Tom Baranowski, Debbe Thompson, Candice A Alfano, Stephanie J Crowley

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: The i♥rhythm project is a mobile health adaptation of interpersonal and social rhythm therapy designed to promote healthy sleep and behavioral rhythms among 5-8-year olds during summer for the prevention of accelerated summer weight gain.

Objective: This pilot study will examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the i♥rhythm intervention. This will ensure that the research protocol and procedures work as desired and are acceptable to families in preparation for the fully powered randomized controlled trial. The proposed study will examine the willingness of participants to participate in the intervention and determine whether modifications to the intervention, procedures, …

Fibroblast Growth Factor 15/19 Expression, Regulation, And Function: An Overview, Greg Guthrie, Caitlin Vonderohe, Douglas Burrin

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Since the discovery of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-19 over 20 years ago, our understanding of the peptide and its role in human biology has moved forward significantly. A member of a superfamily of paracrine growth factors regulating embryonic development, FGF19 is unique in that it is a dietary-responsive endocrine hormone linked with bile acid homeostasis, glucose and lipid metabolism, energy expenditure, and protein synthesis during the fed to fasted state. FGF19 achieves this through targeting multiple tissues and signaling pathways within those tissues. The diverse functional capabilities of FGF19 is due to the unique structural characteristics of the protein and …

Pattern Differentiation And Tuning Shift In Human Sensory Cortex Underlie Long-Term Threat Memory, Yuqi You, Lucas R Novak, Kevin J Clancy, Wen Li

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The amygdala-prefrontal-cortex circuit has long occupied the center of the threat system 1, but new evidence has rapidly amassed to implicate threat processing outside this canonical circuit 2-4. Through non-human research, the sensory cortex has emerged as a critical substrate for long-term threat memory 5-9, underpinned by sensory cortical pattern separation/completion 10,11 and tuning shift 12,13. In humans, research has begun to associate the human sensory cortex with long-term threat memory 14,15, but the lack of mechanistic insights obscures a direct linkage. Towards that end, …

Reno-Protective And Immune Effects Of Growth Differentiation Factor 15 In Obesity-Related Kidney Disease, Jessie T. Sullivan

Honors Thesis

According to the World Health Organization, worldwide obesity has tripled since 1975 and is still on the rise, putting people at a higher risk of some cardiovascular diseases and kidney disease. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a stress-responsive cytokine that has been studied recently for its role in multiple biological processes and diseases. The member of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-b) family has been investigated as a therapeutic agent and biomarker for obesity and associated cardiovascular diseases, stroke, diabetes, osteoarthritis, cancer, and kidney disease. Studies have shown the anti-inflammation, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetic effects of GDF15, but few have …

Regulation Of Pancreatic Cancer Progression By Micronutrients, Chunbo He

Theses & Dissertations

Cancer cells rely on altered metabolism to support their uncontrolled proliferation under harsh conditions. Understanding the mechanisms of how metabolic alterations support tumor growth may provide a way to enhance current therapies. Vitamins are micronutrients that our body needs in small quantities but are essential for health maintenance. A number of metabolic processes relevant to cancer initiation and progression are also regulated by vitamins. Here, our studies showed that pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells display an aberrant metabolism of vitamin B6 (VB6) to support their fast proliferation. VB6 was highly demanded and rapidly metabolized by PDAC cells. Depletion of VB6 …

Improvement Of Memory Loss Through Dietary Intervention In The Assisted Living And Rehabilitative Settings, Alexander Swartz, Martin Forsberg

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

• The ketogenic diet is a popular, controversial diet that fuels the brain through beta-oxidation of fatty acids and production of ketone bodies, the most populous of which is betahydroxybutyrate (BHB).

• The ketogenic diet consists of 70-80% fats, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% carbohydrates.

• Medically, the ketogenic diet is utilized in patients with epilepsy and recommended by some physicians to improve general health through weight loss and insulin sensitivity.

• Key factors of neurodegeneration include glucose hypometabolism, oxidative damage, and neuroinflammation.

• Studies have shown that with ingestion of exogenous ketones alone, or endogenous ketonemia through a ketogenic diet, there is: …

Elucidating Human Milk Oligosaccharide Biosynthetic Genes Through Network-Based Multi-Omics Integration, Benjamin P Kellman, Anne Richelle, Jeong-Yeh Yang, Digantkumar Chapla, Austin W T Chiang, Julia A Najera, Chenguang Liang, Annalee Fürst, Bokan Bao, Natalia Koga, Mahmoud A Mohammad, Anders Bech Bruntse, Morey W Haymond, Kelley W Moremen, Lars Bode, Nathan E Lewis

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) are abundant carbohydrates fundamental to infant health and development. Although these oligosaccharides were discovered more than half a century ago, their biosynthesis in the mammary gland remains largely uncharacterized. Here, we use a systems biology framework that integrates glycan and RNA expression data to construct an HMO biosynthetic network and predict glycosyltransferases involved. To accomplish this, we construct models describing the most likely pathways for the synthesis of the oligosaccharides accounting for >95% of the HMO content in human milk. Through our models, we propose candidate genes for elongation, branching, fucosylation, and sialylation of HMOs. Our …

Characterizing The Roles Of Cannabinoid Receptor 1 & 2 In Zebrafish Behavior, Metabolism, And Seizure-Induced Activity, Kayci Kimmons

Honors Theses

Epileptic disorders like Dravet Syndrome require novel studies to determine the most ideal treatment. New research linking the endocannabinoid system (ECS) to epileptic disorders is arising, but there is still much to be discovered about the function and regulatory impact of the endocannabinoid system and its receptors in epilepsies like Dravet. In this study, knockout models of larval and adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) were used to investigate the roles of cannabinoid receptors 1 & 2 in behavior, brain mitochondrial metabolism, and seizure-induced activity following exposure to THC and CBD. Larval zebrafish which lacked cannabinoid receptor 1 exhibited increased …

Associations Of Lifestyle And Sociodemographic Factors With Dietary Supplement Use In College Students, Sydney Chratian

Senior Honors Projects

Background: Dietary supplement use has been shown to be significantly prevalent in the United States, especially among the young adult population. Studies have reported increasing use of dietary supplements among college students in the US. However, little research has investigated the sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics associated with dietary supplement use in this population.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of dietary supplement use and sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics associated with dietary supplement use in college students and examine the attitudes and beliefs of college students on dietary supplements.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted …

Anthropometric Measures Correspond With Functional Motor Outcomes In Females With Rett Syndrome, Kathleen J Motil, Suzanne Geerts, Fran Annese, Jeffrey L Neul, Tim Benke, Eric Marsh, David Lieberman, Steven A Skinner, Daniel G Glaze, Peter Heydemann, Arthur Beisang, Shannon Standridge, Robin Ryther, Jane B Lane, Lloyd Edwards, Alan K Percy

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Objective: To characterize growth and anthropometric measurements in females with Rett syndrome and compare these measurements with functional outcomes.

Study design: We obtained longitudinal growth and anthropometric measurements from 1154 females with classic and atypical Rett syndrome seen between 2006 and 2019 in the US Natural History Study. We calculated the Clinical Severity Score, Motor Behavior Assessment score, and arm and leg muscle areas and recorded the functional assessments of arm and hand use and ambulation. We compared growth and anthropometric variables from females with Rett syndrome in regard to normative data. We analyzed Clinical Severity Score, Motor Behavior Assessment, …

Organ Fat In Latino Youth At Risk For Type 2 Diabetes, Janiel L Pimentel, Kiley B Vander Wyst, Erica G Soltero, Armando Peña, Houchun H Hu, Smita S Bailey, Amber Pokorney, Stephanie L Ayers, Ana Martinez Valencia, Micah L Olson, Gabriel Q Shaibi

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Purpose: Obesity in youth increases the risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D) and elevated abdominal adipose tissue and organ fat may be particularly deleterious. The purpose of this study was to examine associations among measures of adiposity including total, visceral, and organ fat (hepatic and pancreatic) and whether these measures were independently associated with glycemia in Latino youth at risk for diabetes.

Methods: Latino adolescents (47 boys and 32 girls, 13.7 ± 1.4 years) with obesity (BMIz 2.3 ± 0.3) were assessed for total fat by DXA and visceral and organ fat by 3 T magnetic resonance imaging. Glycemic indicators …

Sustainability Via Active Garden Education: The Sustainability Action Plan Model And Process, Rebecca E Lee, Jacob Szeszulski, Elizabeth Lorenzo, Anel Arriola, Meg Bruening, Paul A Estabrooks, Jennie L Hill, Teresia M O'Connor, Gabriel Q Shaibi, Erica G Soltero, Michael Todd

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Sustainability of intervention programming is challenging to achieve under real world conditions, since few models exist and many studies do not plan far beyond the funding period. Programming content in early care and education centers (ECECs) is often driven by guidelines. However, implementation is very sensitive to contextual factors, such as the setting and implementer (teacher) characteristics. This paper presents the model, definitions, and methodology used for the sustainability action plan capitalizing on a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, developed for a multi-site, multi-level garden-based childhood obesity prevention study, Sustainability via Active Garden Education (SAGE). The Ecologic Model of Obesity …

Toll-Like Receptor 1 Locus Re-Examined In A Genome-Wide Association Study Update On Anti-Helicobacter Pylori Igg Titers, Suk Yee Lam, Michiel C Mommersteeg, Bingting Yu, Linda Broer, Manon C W Spaander, Fabian Frost, Stefan Weiss, Henry Völzke, Markus M Lerch, Ben Schöttker, Yan Zhang, Hannah Stocker, Hermann Brenner, Daniel Levy, Shih-Jen Hwang, Alexis C Wood, Stephen S Rich, Jerome I Rotter, Kent D Taylor, Russell P Tracy, Edmond K Kabagambe, Marcis Leja, Janis Klovins, Raitis Peculis, Dace Rudzite, Liene Nikitina-Zake, Girts Skenders, Vita Rovite, André Uitterlinden, Ernst J Kuipers, Gwenny M Fuhler, Georg Homuth, Maikel P Peppelenbosch

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background & aims: A genome-wide significant association between anti-Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) IgG titers and Toll-like receptor (TLR1/6/10) locus on 4p14 was demonstrated for individuals of European ancestry, but not uniformly replicated. We re-investigated this association in an updated genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis for populations with low gastric cancer incidence, address potential causes of cohort heterogeneity, and explore functional implications of genetic variation at the TLR1/6/10 locus.

Methods: The dichotomous GWAS (25% individuals exhibiting highest anti-H pylori IgG titers vs remaining 75%) included discovery and replication sampls of, respectively, n = 15,685 and n = 9676, all of European …

Skeletal Muscle Mass Recovery Early After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation In Patients With Advanced Systolic Heart Failure, Amanda R Vest, William W Wong, Joronia Chery, Alex Coston, Laura Telfer, Matthew Lawrence, Didjana Celkupa, Michael S Kiernan, Gregory Couper, Masashi Kawabori, Edward Saltzman

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Patients with advanced systolic heart failure are at risk of unintentional weight loss and muscle wasting. It has been observed that left ventricular assist device (LVAD) recipients gain weight after device implantation, although it is unknown whether this represents skeletal muscle mass gains. We aimed to determine whether skeletal muscle mass increases early during LVAD support.

Methods: We prospectively recruited 30 adults with systolic heart failure ±21 days from LVAD implantation. Participants underwent whole-body dual X-ray absorptiometry to measure fat free mass, appendicular lean mass (ALM, lean mass in the arms and legs) and fat mass. Dual X-ray absorptiometry …

Targeting Metabolic Adaptations To Anti-Angiogenic Therapy In Ovarian Cancer, Deanna M. Glassman, Deanna Glassman

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

ABSTRACT

Background: Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. Despite modest clinical improvements with anti-VEGF antibody (AVA) therapy, adaptive resistance is nearly ubiquitous and additional therapeutic options are limited. A dependence on glutamine metabolism, via the enzyme glutaminase (GLS), is a known mechanism of adaptive resistance.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of a glutaminase inhibitor as a means of exploiting the metabolic vulnerability of glutamine dependence that develops as a result of adaptive resistance to AVA therapy.

Experimental Design: We used a glutaminase inhibitor (GLSi) synthesized at MD Anderson Cancer Center for all in vitro and in vivo experiments. …

The Tca Cycle As A Nexus Of Metabolic Vulnerabilities In Cancer, Sunada Khadka

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Uncontrolled proliferation of cancer cells necessitates rewiring of metabolic pathways to meet biosynthetic and bioenergetic demands of proliferation and fortify redox homeostasis. An increasing body of literature suggests that mitochondrial metabolism (tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) and oxidative phosphorylation) is imperative for cancer cell growth and proliferation. The scope of the works presented in this dissertation is to explore the importance of mitochondrial metabolism, and primarily the TCA cycle—the anabolic factory of cancer cells and leverage it as a targetable vulnerability in cancer. Cancer cells consume anabolic nutrients that are used to generate biosynthetic precursors in the TCA cycle. Continuous efflux …

Severe Hypoxia Up-Regulates Gluconeogenesis In Daphnia, Morad C. Malek

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Hypoxia is a significant low oxygen state that has complex and diverse impacts on organisms. In aerobes, various adaptive responses to hypoxia are observed that vary depending on the level of oxygen depletion and previous adaptation, hence the continued attention to hypoxia as an important abiotic stressor. Adaptive responses to hypoxia are primarily governed by the hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), which activate downstream genetic pathways responsible for oxygen transport and metabolic plasticity. In aquatic habitats, oxygen availability can vary greatly over time and space. Therefore, aquatic organisms’ adaptation to hypoxia is likely pervasive, especially in genotypes originating from waterbodies prone to …

A D2 To D1 Shift In Dopaminergic Inputs To Midbrain 5-Ht Neurons Causes Anorexia In Mice, Xing Cai, Hailan Liu, Bing Feng, Meng Yu, Yang He, Hesong Liu, Chen Liang, Yongjie Yang, Longlong Tu, Nan Zhang, Lina Wang, Na Yin, Junying Han, Zili Yan, Chunmei Wang, Pingwen Xu, Qi Wu, Qingchun Tong, Yanlin He, Yong Xu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Midbrain dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) neurons regulate motivated behaviors, including feeding, but less is known about how these circuits may interact. In this study, we found that DA neurons in the mouse ventral tegmental area bidirectionally regulate the activity of 5-HT neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), with weaker stimulation causing DRD2-dependent inhibition and overeating, while stronger stimulation causing DRD1-dependent activation and anorexia. Furthermore, in the activity-based anorexia (ABA) paradigm, which is a mouse model mimicking some clinical features of human anorexia nervosa (AN), we observed a DRD2 to DRD1 shift of DA neurotransmission on 5-HT