Biochemical Phenomena, Metabolism, and Nutrition Commons^™

Characterization Of Two Zygnema Strains (Zygnema Circumcarinatum Sag 698-1a And Sag 698-1b) And A Rapid Method To Estimate Nuclear Genome Size Of Zygnematophycean Green Algae, Xuehuan Feng, Andreas Holzinger, Charlotte Permann, Dirk Anderson, Yanbin Yin

Food for Health: Publications

Zygnematophyceae green algae (ZGA) have been shown to be the closest relatives of land plants. Three nuclear genomes (Spirogloea muscicola, Mesotaenium endlicherianum, and Penium margaritaceum) of ZGA have been recently published, and more genomes are underway. Here we analyzed two Zygnema circumcarinatum strains SAG 698-1a (mating +) and SAG 698-1b (mating −) and found distinct cell sizes and other morphological differences. The molecular identities of the two strains were further investigated by sequencing their 18S rRNA, psaA and rbcL genes. These marker genes of SAG 698-1a were surprisingly much more similar to Z. cylindricum (SAG 698-2) than to SAG 698-1b. …

Characterization Of Two Zygnema Strains (Zygnema Circumcarinatum Sag 698-1a And Sag 698-1b) And A Rapid Method To Estimate Nuclear Genome Size Of Zygnematophycean Green Algae, Xuehuan Feng, Andreas Holzinger, Charlotte Permann, Dirk Anderson, Yanbin Yin

Food for Health: Publications

Zygnematophyceae green algae (ZGA) have been shown to be the closest relatives of land plants. Three nuclear genomes (Spirogloea muscicola, Mesotaenium endlicherianum, and Penium margaritaceum) of ZGA have been recently published, and more genomes are underway. Here we analyzed two Zygnema circumcarinatum strains SAG 698-1a (mating +) and SAG 698-1b (mating −) and found distinct cell sizes and other morphological differences. The molecular identities of the two strains were further investigated by sequencing their 18S rRNA, psaA and rbcL genes. These marker genes of SAG 698-1a were surprisingly much more similar to Z. cylindricum (SAG 698-2) than to SAG 698-1b. …

Characterization Of Two Zygnema Strains (Zygnema Circumcarinatum Sag 698-1a And Sag 698-1b) And A Rapid Method To Estimate Nuclear Genome Size Of Zygnematophycean Green Algae, Xuehuan Feng, Andreas Holzinger, Charlotte Permann, Dirk Anderson, Yanbin Yin

Food for Health: Publications

Zygnematophyceae green algae (ZGA) have been shown to be the closest relatives of land plants. Three nuclear genomes (Spirogloea muscicola, Mesotaenium endlicherianum, and Penium margaritaceum) of ZGA have been recently published, and more genomes are underway. Here we analyzed two Zygnema circumcarinatum strains SAG 698-1a (mating +) and SAG 698-1b (mating −) and found distinct cell sizes and other morphological differences. The molecular identities of the two strains were further investigated by sequencing their 18S rRNA, psaA and rbcL genes. These marker genes of SAG 698-1a were surprisingly much more similar to Z. cylindricum (SAG 698-2) than to SAG 698-1b. …

Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Confers Metabolic Improvements By Reducing Intestinal Bile Acids And Lipid Absorption In Mice, Lili Ding, Eryun Zhang, Qiaoling Yang, Lihua Jin, Kyle M Sousa, Bingning Dong, Yangmeng Wang, Jui Tu, Xiaoxiao Ma, Jingyan Tian, Hongli Zhang, Zhipeng Fang, Ana Guan, Yixin Zhang, Zhengtao Wang, David D Moore, Li Yang, Wendong Huang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) is a highly effective bariatric surgery that sustainably treats obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the underlying mechanisms governing its metabolic benefits remain unclear. In this study, we have used four different genetically modified mouse lines to understand the link between bile acid circulation and metabolic effects of VSG. Instead of directly activating the nuclear bile acid receptor farnesoid X receptor (Fxr) in the liver or intestine, VSG reduces intestinal levels of bile acids, thereby decreasing fat absorption in the intestine. Given the rising popularity of bariatric surgeries to treat obesity and associated T2D, the …

Investigation Of Equine In Vivo And In Vitro Derived Metabolites Of The Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (Sarm) Acp-105 For Improved Doping Control, Malin Nilsson Broberg, Heather Knych, Ulf Bondesson, Curt Pettersson, Scott Stanley, Mario Thevis, Mikael Hedeland

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) have anabolic properties but less adverse effects than anabolic androgenic steroids. They are prohibited in both equine and human sports and there have been several cases of SARMs findings reported over the last few years. The aim of this study was to investigate the metabolite profile of the SARM ACP-105 (2-chloro-4-[(3-endo)-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-8-yl]-3-methylbenzonitrile) in order to find analytical targets for doping control. Oral administration of ACP-105 was performed in horses, where blood and urine samples were collected over a time period of 96 h. The in vivo samples were compared with five in vitro incubation models encompassing …

Association Of Baseline Characteristics With Insulin Sensitivity And Β-Cell Function In The Glycemia Reduction Approaches In Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness (Grade) Study Cohort, Neda Rasouli, Naji Younes, Kristina M Utzschneider, Silvio E Inzucchi, Ashok Balasubramanyam, Andrea L Cherrington, Faramarz Ismail-Beigi, Robert M Cohen, Darin E Olson, Ralph A Defronzo, William H Herman, John M Lachin, Steven E Kahn

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: We investigated sex and racial differences in insulin sensitivity, β-cell function, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 3,108 GRADE (Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness Study) participants. All had type 2 diabetes diagnosedβ-cell function were evaluated using the HOMA of insulin sensitivity and estimates from oral glucose tolerance tests, including the Matsuda Index, insulinogenic index, C-peptide index, and oral disposition index (DI).

RESULTS: The cohort was 56.6 ± 10 years of age (mean ± SD), 63.8% male, with BMI 34.2 ± 6.7 kg/m

CONCLUSIONS: In the …

Parenteral Lipid Emulsions Induce Unique Ileal Fatty Acid And Metabolomic Profiles But Do Not Increase The Risk Of Necrotizing Enterocolitis In Preterm Pigs, William Yakah, Pratibha Singh, Joanne Brown, Barbara Stoll, Doug Burrin, Muralidhar H Premkumar, Hasan H Otu, Xuesong Gu, Simon T Dillon, Towia A Libermann, Steven D Freedman, Camilia R Martin

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a manifestation of maladaptive intestinal responses in preterm infants centrally medicated by unattenuated inflammation. Early in the postnatal period, preterm infants develop a deficit in arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid, both potent regulators of inflammation. We hypothesized that the fatty acid composition of parenteral lipid emulsions uniquely induces blood and intestinal fatty acid profiles which, in turn, modifies the risk of NEC development. Forty-two preterm pigs were randomized to receive one of three lipid emulsions containing 100% soybean oil (SO), 15% fish oil (MO15), or 100% fish oil (FO100) with enteral feedings over an 8-day protocol. Blood …

Fructan-Sensitive Children With Irritable Bowel Syndrome Have Distinct Gut Microbiome Signatures, Bruno P Chumpitazi, Kristi L Hoffman, Daniel P Smith, Ann R Mcmeans, Salma Musaad, James Versalovic, Joseph F Petrosino, Robert J Shulman

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Dietary fructans may worsen gastrointestinal symptoms in children with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Aim: To determine whether gut microbiome composition and function are associated with childhood IBS fructan-induced symptoms.

Methods: Faecal samples were collected from 38 children aged 7-17 years with paediatric Rome III IBS, who previously completied a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled crossover (fructan vs maltodextrin) trial. Fructan sensitivity was defined as an increase of ≥30% in abdominal pain frequency during the fructan diet. Gut microbial composition was determined via 16Sv4 rDNA sequencing. LEfSe evaluated taxonomic composition differences. Tax4Fun2 predicted microbial fructan metabolic pathways.

Results: At baseline, 17 fructan-sensitive …

Overview Of Breath Testing In Clinical Practice In North America, Buford L Nichols, Robert D Baker, Susan S Baker

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Human breath is an easily, noninvasively obtained substance. It offers insight into metabolism and is used to diagnose disaccharide malabsorption, infection, small bowel bacterial over growth, and transit times. Herein, we discuss the readily available clinical breath tests, how they function, how they are administered and interpreted and some pitfalls in their use.

Rationale And Design Of The Baylor Infant Twin Study-A Study Assessing Obesity-Related Risk Factors From Infancy, Shabnam R Momin, Mackenzie K Senn, Scott Buckley, Neil R M Buist, Manisha Gandhi, Amy B Hair, Sheryl O Hughes, Kelly R Hodges, William C Lange, Maria A Papaioannou, Mimi Phan, Robert A Waterland, Alexis C Wood

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Early childhood (0-3 years) is a critical period for obesity prevention, when tendencies in eating behaviors and physical activity are established. Yet, little is understood about how the environment shapes children's genetic predisposition for these behaviors during this time. The Baylor Infant Twin Study (BITS) is a two phase study, initiated to study obesity risk factors from infancy. Data collection has been completed for Phase 1 in which three sub-studies pilot central measures for Phase 2. A novel infant temperament assessment, based on observations made by trained researchers was piloted in Behavior Observation Pilot Protocol (BOPP) study, a new …

Intestinal Stem Cell-Derived Enteroids From Morbidly Obese Patients Preserve Obesity-Related Phenotypes: Elevated Glucose Absorption And Gluconeogenesis, Nesrin M Hasan, Kelli F Johnson, Jianyi Yin, Nicholas W Baetz, Lea Fayad, Vadim Sherman, Sarah E Blutt, Mary K Estes, Vivek Kumbhari, Nicholas C Zachos, Olga Kovbasnjuk

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: The mechanisms behind the efficacy of bariatric surgery (BS) for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes, particularly with respect to the influence of the small bowel, remain poorly understood. In vitro and animal models are suboptimal with respect to their ability to replicate the human intestinal epithelium under conditions induced by obesity. Human enteroids have the potential to accelerate the development of less invasive anti-obesity therapeutics if they can recapitulate the pathophysiology of obesity. Our aim was to determine whether adult stem cell-derived enteroids preserve obesity-characteristic patient-specific abnormalities in carbohydrate absorption and metabolism.

METHODS: We established 24 enteroid lines …

Parenteral Fish-Oil Containing Lipid Emulsions Limit Initial Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Host Immune Responses In Preterm Pigs, William Yakah, David Ramiro-Cortijo, Pratibha Singh, Joanne Brown, Barbara Stoll, Madhulika Kulkarni, Berthe C Oosterloo, Doug Burrin, Krishna Rao Maddipati, Raina N Fichorova, Steven D Freedman, Camilia R Martin

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Multicomponent lipid emulsions are available for critical care of preterm infants. We sought to determine the impact of different lipid emulsions on early priming of the host and its response to an acute stimulus. Pigs delivered 7d preterm (n = 59) were randomized to receive different lipid emulsions for 11 days: 100% soybean oil (SO), mixed oil emulsion (SO, medium chain olive oil and fish oil) including 15% fish oil (MO15), or 100% fish oil (FO100). On day 11, pigs received an 8-h continuous intravenous infusion of either lipopolysaccharide (LPS—lyophilized Escherichia coli) or saline. Plasma was collected for …

Agrp Neurons Trigger Long-Term Potentiation And Facilitate Food Seeking, Chunmei Wang, Wenjun Zhou, Yang He, Tiffany Yang, Pingwen Xu, Yongjie Yang, Xing Cai, Julia Wang, Hesong Liu, Meng Yu, Chen Liang, Tingting Yang, Hailan Liu, Makoto Fukuda, Qingchun Tong, Qi Wu, Zheng Sun, Yanlin He, Yong Xu

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Sufficient feeding is essential for animals' survival, which requires a cognitive capability to facilitate food seeking, but the neurobiological processes regulating food seeking are not fully understood. Here we show that stimulation of agouti-related peptide-expressing (AgRP) neurons triggers a long-term depression (LTD) of spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic current (sEPSC) in adjacent pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons and in most of their distant synaptic targets, including neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT). The AgRP-induced sEPCS LTD can be enhanced by fasting but blunted by satiety signals, e.g. leptin and insulin. Mice subjected to food-seeking tasks develop similar neural plasticity in AgRP-innervated …

Microbiome For Mars: Surveying Microbiome Connections To Healthcare With Implications For Long-Duration Human Spaceflight, Virtual Workshop, July 13, 2020, Michael Lapelusa, Dorit Donoviel, Sergio E Branzini, Paul E Carlson, Stephanie Culler, Amrita K Cheema, Rima Kaddurah-Daouk, Denise Kelly, Isabelle De Cremoux, Rob Knight, Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, Stephen L Mayo, Sarkis K Mazmanian, Emeran A Mayer, Joseph F Petrosino, Keith Garrison

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The inaugural "Microbiome for Mars" virtual workshop took place on July 13, 2020. This event assembled leaders in microbiome research and development to discuss their work and how it may relate to long-duration human space travel. The conference focused on surveying current microbiome research, future endeavors, and how this growing field could broadly impact human health and space exploration. This report summarizes each speaker's presentation in the order presented at the workshop.

Stunting And Combined Overweight With Stunting Among Schoolchildren In Kuwait: Trends Over A 13-Year Period, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Nawal Alqaoud, Reem Sharaf Alddin, Faheema Alanezi, Monica Subhakaran, Anne Dumadag, Ahmed N. Albatineh

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the sex- and age-specific trends of stunting and combined overweight with stunting among schoolchildren over a 13-year period in Kuwait. Subjects and Methods: The Kuwait Nutrition Surveillance System objectively measured the height of 172,573 schoolchildren (5–19 years) over a 13-year period (2007–2019). Data on gender and date of birth were extracted from school records. Stunting was defined as height 2 standard deviations (SD) below the World Health Organization growth reference median. Logistic regression models were used to examine the trends of stunting over the study period while stratifying by gender. Results: In males, the …

The Role Of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor In Leukemia Trafficking, Shaw Powell

Theses and Dissertations--Medical Sciences

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a signaling protein involved in inducing and regulating endothelial cell proliferation and function (Duffy et al 2000). VEGF is also involved in cancer progression, as it induces vascular permeability and promotes angiogenesis to tumor laden areas, giving cancer cells critical oxygen and nutrients (Hoeppner et al.,2012. Studies indicate VEGF prevents lymphoblast apoptosis, which may contribute to leukemia formation and enable the proliferation of leukemic cells (Duffy et al 2000). Ongoing research seeks to further examine VEGF in leukemia, using a rag2:GFP-Myc expressing transgenic zebrafish as the animal model of T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL). …

Mitochondrial Aspects Of Neuronal Pathology In Triple-Transgenic Alzheimer’S Disease Mice, John Zachary Cavendish

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a fatal, progressive neurodegenerative disease afflicting millions of people in the United States alone and is the only one of the top leading causes of morbidity and mortality with no effective disease-modifying therapies. It is the most common form of dementia, affecting one in three people over the age of 85. While the hallmarks of the disease include accumulation of beta-amyloid-based extracellular plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau-based intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, treatment strategies centered on removing or mitigating these components of AD have all failed in humans. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been increasingly recognized as an early and consistent …

Neural Stem Cell Metabolic Changes In The Presence Of Interferon-Gamma, Dylan Mckibben

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Spinal cord injury results in significant disability and health care costs due to an inability of the mature central nervous system to regenerate. One potential therapy would be implantation of neural stem cells to the injury site and stimulation of their differentiation to mature neurons. Previous work has shown that the cytokine interferon-gamma can promote this process; however, the signaling pathways induced in neural stem cells have not been well-defined. This proposal examines neural stem cell metabolic responses to signaling induced by interferon-gamma. Two questions will be answered: i) What specific metabolic pathway is activated to guide neural stem cell …

Pre-Clinical Advancements In Biomarkers, Tools, And Therapeutics For A Metabolic Neurodegenerative Disease, Zoë Simmons

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Glycogen is the storage form of glucose and a highly important substrate for cellular metabolism. Characterization of the enzymes and mechanisms of glycogen metabolism began over 70 years ago and over the last 20 years, a previously unknown protein called laforin has emerged as an important contributor to glycogen metabolism homeostasis. Multiple labs demonstrated that laforin is a glycogen phosphatase and mutations in the gene encoding laforin cause the formation of aberrant glycogen-like aggregates called Lafora bodies (LBs). LBs are cytoplasmic, water-insoluble aggregates that drive neurodegeneration and early death in Lafora disease (LD) patients. The direct relationship between mutated laforin, …

Probiotic Vsl#3 Treatment Reduces Colonic Permeability And Abdominal Pain Symptoms In Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Prapaporn Boonma, Jordan M Shapiro, Emily B Hollister, Shyam Badu, Qinglong Wu, Erica M Weidler, Bincy P Abraham, Sridevi Devaraj, Ruth Ann Luna, James Versalovic, Margaret M Heitkemper, Tor C Savidge, Robert J Shulman

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Little is known regarding the clinical impact of treatment and treatment duration of probiotic VSL#3 on gut and microbiome function in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). As part of a safety trial, we assessed the effect of VSL#3 treatment duration on abdominal pain, stooling, gut permeability, microbiome composition and function.

Methods: Adults with IBS were randomized into an open label trial to receive the probiotic VSL#3 for 4 or 8 weeks. Adverse events, abdominal pain, and stooling patterns were recorded daily. Gut permeability, fecal bile acid levels, and microbiome composition were profiled at baseline and after treatment.

Results: Fifteen subjects …