Browsing by Subject "obesity"

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Association of Breakfast Intake with Obesity, Dietary and Physical Activity Behavior Among Urban School-Aged Adolescents in Delhi, India: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study
(2012-10) Arora, Monika; Nazar, Gaurang P.; Gupta, Vinay K.; Perry, Cheryl L.; Reddy, K. Srunath; Stigler, Melissa H.; Perry, Cheryl L.; Stigler, Melissa H.
In developed countries, regular breakfast consumption is inversely associated with excess weight and directly associated with better dietary and improved physical activity behaviors. Our objective was to describe the frequency of breakfast consumption among school-going adolescents in Delhi and evaluate its association with overweight and obesity as well as other dietary, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors. Methods: Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Eight schools (Private and Government) of Delhi in the year 2006. Participants: 1814 students from 8th and 10th grades; response rate was 87.2%; 55% were 8th graders, 60% were boys and 52% attended Private schools. Main outcome measures: Body mass index, self-reported breakfast consumption, diet and physical activity related behaviors, and psychosocial factors. Data analysis: Mixed effects regression models were employed, adjusting for age, gender, grade level and school type (SES). Results: Significantly more Government school (lower SES) students consumed breakfast daily as compared to Private school (higher SES) students (73.8% vs. 66.3%; p<0.01). More 8th graders consumed breakfast daily vs. 10th graders (72.3% vs. 67.0%; p<0.05). A dose-response relationship was observed such that overall prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents who consumed breakfast daily (14.6%) was significantly lower vs. those who only sometimes (15.2%) or never (22.9%) consumed breakfast (p<0.05 for trend). This relationship was statistically significant for boys (15.4 % vs. 16.5% vs. 26.0; p<0.05 for trend) but not for girls. Intake of dairy products, fruits and vegetables was 5.5 (95% CI 2.4-12.5), 1.7 (95% CI 1.1-2.5) and 2.2 (95% CI 1.3-3.5) times higher among those who consumed breakfast daily vs. those who never consumed breakfast. Breakfast consumption was associated with greater physical activity vs. those who never consumed breakfast. Positive values and beliefs about healthy eating; body image satisfaction; and positive peer and parental influence were positively associated with daily breakfast consumption, while depression was negatively associated. Conclusion: Daily breakfast consumption is associated with less overweight and obesity and with healthier dietary-and physical activity-related behaviors among urban Indian students. Although prospective studies should confirm the present results, intervention programs to prevent or treat childhood obesity in India should consider emphasizing regular breakfast consumption.
Differential susceptibility to obesity between male, female and ovariectomized female mice
(Nutrition Journal, 2009-02-17) Hong, Jina; Stubbins, Renee E.; Rebekah R. Smith; Harvey, Alison E.; nunez, Nomeli P.
Background: The prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically. A direct comparison in the predisposition to obesity between males, premenopausal females, and postmenopausal females with various caloric intakes has not been made. To determine the effects of sex and ovarian hormones on the susceptibility to obesity, we conducted laboratory studies with mice. To eliminate confounders that can alter body weight gain, such as age and food consumption; we used mice with the same age and controlled the amount of calories they consumed. -- Methods: We determined sex-specific susceptibility to obesity between male, non-ovariectomized female, and ovariectomized female mice. To compare susceptibility to gaining body weight between males and females, animals from each sex were exposed to either a 30% calorie-restricted, low-fat (5% fat), or high-fat (35% fat) diet regimen. To establish the role of ovarian hormones in weight gain, the ovaries were surgically removed from additional female mice, and then were exposed to the diets described above. Percent body fat and percent lean mass in the mice were determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). -- Results: In all three diet categories, male mice had a greater propensity of gaining body weight than female mice. However, ovariectomy eliminated the protection of female mice to gaining weight; in fact, ovariectomized female mice mimicked male mice in their susceptibility to weight gain. In summary, results show that male mice are more likely to become obese than female mice and that the protection against obesity in female mice is eliminated by ovariectomy. -- Conclusion: Understanding metabolic differences between males and females may allow the discovery of better preventive and treatment strategies for diseases associated with body weight such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Empiric Guideline-Recommended Weight-Based Vancomycin Dosing and Mortality in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteremia: A Retrospective Cohort Study
(2012-04) Hall, Ronald G., II; Giuliano, Christopher A.; Haase, Krystal K.; Hazlewood, Kathleen A.; Frei, Chistopher R.; Forcade, Nicolas A.; Brouse, Sara D.; Bell, Todd; Bedimo, Roger J.; Alvarez, Carlos A.; Frei, Chistopher R.; Forcade, Nicolas A.
No studies have evaluated the effect of guideline-recommended weight-based dosing on in-hospital mortality of patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective, cohort study of patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia receiving at least 48 hours of empiric vancomycin therapy between 01/07/2002 and 30/06/2008. We compared in-hospital mortality for patients treated empirically with weight-based, guideline-recommended vancomycin doses (at least 15 mg/kg/dose) to those treated with less than 15 mg/kg/dose. We used a general linear mixed multivariable model analysis with variables identified a priori through a conceptual framework based on the literature. Results: A total of 337 patients who were admitted to the three hospitals were included in the cohort. One-third of patients received vancomycin empirically at the guideline-recommended dose. Guideline-recommended dosing was not associated with in-hospital mortality in the univariable (16% vs. 13%, OR 1.26 [95% CI 0.67-2.39]) or multivariable (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.33-1.55) analysis. Independent predictors of in-hospital mortality were ICU admission, Pitt bacteremia score of 4 or greater, age 53 years or greater, and nephrotoxicity. Conclusions: Empiric use of weight-based, guideline-recommended empiric vancomycin dosing was not associated with reduced mortality in this multicenter study.
Empiric Guideline-Recommended Weight-Based Vancomycin Dosing and Nephrotoxicity Rates in Patients with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteremia: A Retrospective Cohort Study
(2013-02) Hall, Ronald G., II; Hazlewood, Kathleen A.; Brouse, Sara D.; Giuliano, Christopher A.; Haase, Krystal K.; Frei, Chistopher R.; Forcade, Nicolas A.; Bell, Todd; Bedimo, Roger J.; Alvarez, Carlos A.; Frei, Chistopher R.; Forcade, Nicolas A.
Previous studies have established a correlation between vancomycin troughs and nephrotoxicity. However, data are currently lacking regarding the effect of guideline-recommended weight-based dosing on nephrotoxicity in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (MRSAB). Methods: Adults who were at least 18 years of age with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia and received of empiric vancomycin therapy for at least 48 hours (01/07/2002 and 30/06/2008) were included in this multicenter, retrospective cohort study. The association between guideline-recommended, weight-based vancomycin dosing (at least 15 mg/kg/dose) and nephrotoxicity (increase in serum creatinine (SCr) by more than 0.5 mg/dl or at least a 50% increase from baseline on at least two consecutive laboratory tests) was evaluated. Potential independent associations were evaluated using a multivariable general linear mixed-effect model. Results: Overall, 23% of patients developed nephrotoxicity. Thirty-four percent of the 337 patients who met study criteria received weight-based dosing. The cohort was composed of 69% males with a median age of 55 years. The most common sources of MRSAB included skin/soft tissue (32%), catheter-related bloodstream bacteremia (20%), pulmonary (18%). Eighty-six percent of patients received twice daily dosing. Similar rates of nephrotoxicity were observed regardless of the receipt of guideline-recommended dosing (22% vs. 24%, OR 0.91 [95% CI 0.53-1.56]). This finding was confirmed in the multivariable analysis (OR 1.52 [95% CI 0.75-3.08]). Independent predictors of nephrotoxicity were (OR, 95% CI) vancomycin duration of greater than 15 days (3.36, 1.79-6.34), weight over 100 kg (2.74, 1.27-5.91), Pitt bacteremia score of 4 or greater (2.73, 1.29-5.79), vancomycin trough higher than 20 mcg/ml (2.36, 1.07-5.20), and age over 52 years (2.10, 1.08-4.08). Conclusions: Over one out of five patients in this study developed nephrotoxicity while receiving vancomycin for MRSAB. The receipt of guideline-recommended, weight-based vancomycin was not an independent risk factor for the development of nephrotoxicity.
Fatty Acid Synthase Expression Under Obese Conditions in Breast Cancer Cells
(2016-05) Lee, Gabrielle; deGraffenried, Linda A.
Purpose: In women, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death, and one in eight will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. Furthermore, studies have shown that obesity has been associated with worse prognosis in some breast cancer patients. These facts led to this study on the effects of obesity on the fatty acid synthase (FASN) in breast cancer. FASN catalyzes the formation of long-chain fatty acids such as palmitate. Palmitate is commonly used as a component of the phospholipid membrane and for energy. Other types of cancer have been shown to harness the activity of the FASN in order for increased proliferation and energy. This study has two aims: 1) To determine if obesity modulates FASN expression in breast cancer cells, and 2) To determine the mechanism behind how obesity modulates FASN. Conclusions: Exposure to sera from obese women increases the presence of FASN for energy and for membrane formation in breast cancer cells. Furthermore, cells produce various factors that increase FASN expression under hypoxic conditions.
Gene Bionetworks Involved in the Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance of Altered Mate Preference: Environmental Epigenetics and Evolutionary Biology
(2014-05) Skinner, Michael K.; Savenkova, Marina I.; Zhang, Bin; Gore, Andrea C.; Crews, David; Gore, Andrea C.
Mate preference behavior is an essential first step in sexual selection and is a critical determinant in evolutionary biology. Previously an environmental compound (the fungicide vinclozolin) was found to promote the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of an altered sperm epigenome and modified mate preference characteristics for three generations after exposure of a gestating female. Results: The current study investigated gene networks involved in various regions of the brain that correlated with the altered mate preference behavior in the male and female. Statistically significant correlations of gene clusters and modules were identified to associate with specific mate preference behaviors. This novel systems biology approach identified gene networks (bionetworks) involved in sex-specific mate preference behavior. Observations demonstrate the ability of environmental factors to promote the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of this altered evolutionary biology determinant. Conclusions: Combined observations elucidate the potential molecular control of mate preference behavior and suggests environmental epigenetics can have a role in evolutionary biology.
Healthy Rural Texas: Branding Kit
(2024-05-10) Latino Research Institute
This record contains materials used for branding in the Healthy Rural Texas study. This includes also the study’s logo (in color and in black and white), style guide, zoom and social media branding kit, and HIPAA compliant screening labels to ensure a consistent visual identity.
Healthy Rural Texas: Community Resource Guide
(2024-05-16) Latino Research Institute
This record features a community resource guide, a comprehensive packet for participants of the Healthy Rural Texas study. The community resource guide aims to enhance participant engagement and lifestyle improvement in the context of the study. It includes exercise suggestions, family activity ideas, meal recommendations, healthy recipe suggestions, and a list of community centers and businesses to visit for healthy living.
Healthy Rural Texas: Consent and Screening Forms
(2024-05-16) Latino Research Institute
This record contains consent and screening forms for Healthy Rural Texas. These include an eligibility screening form, adult consent form, child assent form, parent consent for child participation form, and a medical release form. These documents ensure ethical compliance and informed participation in the study.
Healthy Rural Texas: Dissemination
(2024-05-10) Latino Research Institute
This record contains files for dissemination of findings from the Healthy Rural Texas study. This includes Obesity Society, Community Engagement Symposium, Food and Nutrition Conference & Expo, and ICBM posters and presentations, as well as two journal articles published in Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering and JMR Formative Research.
Healthy Rural Texas: In-Person Intervention Materials
(2024-05-16) Latino Research Institute
This record consists of a series of presentations and accompanying documents developed by Y Living for the in-person intervention of the Healthy Rural Texas study. These materials are designed to guide participants on their journey to healthier living, covering essential topics such as physical fitness, balanced nutrition, and caloric management, providing foundational knowledge for lifestyle changes.
Healthy Rural Texas: IRB
(2024-05-10) Latino Research Institute
This record includes the approved IRB protocol for the Healthy Rural Texas study.
Healthy Rural Texas: Measurement
(2024-05-16) Latino Research Institute
This record includes the survey distributed to participants in the Healthy Rural Texas study. This survey records demographics, acculturation, vitals and physical health information, food security and environment, quality of life, depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and related variables.
Healthy Rural Texas: Participant Letters
(2024-05-16) Latino Research Institute
This record includes six participant letters used in the Healthy Rural Texas study. These include a Father’s Day card, holiday card, Mother’s Day card, welcome card, next step card, and an ineligible thank you card. These letters were used for maintaining engagement and communication with participants, reflecting the study’s commitment to participant relationships and ongoing involvement.
Healthy Rural Texas: Progress Report Templates
(2024-05-16) Latino Research Institute
This record contains various progress report templates for Healthy Rural Texas. This includes initial child and parent reports, child and parent progress reports, and mid-program progress reports. These templates are crucial for monitoring and documenting participant progress throughout the study, in form of quantitative data (weight, BMI, nutrition, etc.).
Healthy Rural Texas: Recruitment Training Materials
(2024-05-16) Latino Research Institute
This record contains training materials for Healthy Rural Texas, focusing on Recruitment Measurement training. It includes presentation documents vital for training study staff on the study’s overview and participant recruitment process. These materials are essential for ensuring consistent and informed practices.
Obesity enhances nongenomic estrogen receptor crosstalk with the PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways to promote in vitro measures of breast cancer progression
(Breat Cancer Research, 2013-07-23) Bowers, Laura; Cavazos, David A.; Maximo, Ilane XF; Brenner, Andrew J.; Hursting, Srphen D.; deGraffenried, Linda A.
Introduction: Epidemiological and clinical studies indicate that obesity is associated with a worse postmenopausal breast cancer prognosis and an increased risk of endocrine therapy resistance. However, the mechanisms mediating these effects remain poorly understood. Here we investigate the molecular pathways by which obesity-associated circulating factors in the blood enhance estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) positive breast cancer cell viability and growth. Methods: Blood serum was collected from postmenopausal breast cancer patients and pooled by body mass index (BMI) category (Control: 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2; Obese: ≥30.0 kg/m2). The effects of patient sera on MCF-7 and T47D breast cancer cell viability and growth were examined by MTT and colony formation assays, respectively. Insulin-like growth factor receptor 1(IGF-1R), Akt, and ERK1/2 activation and genomic ERα activity were assessed to determine their possible contribution to obese patient sera-induced cell viability and growth. To further define the relative contribution of these signaling pathways, cells grown in patient sera were treated with various combinations of ERα, PI3K/Akt and MAPK targeted therapies. Comparisons between cells exposed to different experimental conditions were made using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student's t test. Results: Cells grown in media supplemented with obese patient sera displayed greater cell viability and growth as well as IGF-1R, Akt and ERK1/2 activation relative to control sera. Despite the lack of a significant difference in genomic ERα activity following growth in obese versus control patient sera, we observed a dramatic reduction in cell viability and growth after concurrent inhibition of the ERα and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Further, we demonstrated that ERα inhibition was sufficient to attenuate obese serum-induced Akt and ERK1/2 activation. Together, these data suggest that obesity promotes greater ERα positive breast cancer cell viability and growth through enhanced crosstalk between nongenomic ERα signaling and the PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways. Conclusions: Circulating factors in the serum of obese postmenopausal women stimulate ERα positive breast cancer cell viability and growth by facilitating non-genomic ERα crosstalk with the PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways. These findings provide valuable insight into one mechanism by which obesity may promote ERα positive postmenopausal breast cancer progression and endocrine therapy resistance.
Obesity Enhances Nongenomic Estrogen Receptor Crosstalk with the PI3K/Akt and MAPK Pathways to Promote in Vitro Measures of Breast Cancer Progression
(2013) Bowers, Laura W.; Cavazos, David A.; Maximo, Ilane X. F.; Brenner, Andrew J.; Hursting, Stephen D.; deGraffenried, Linda A.; Bowers, Laura W.; Cavazos, David A.; Maximo, Ilane X. F.; Brenner, Andrew J.; Hursting, Stephen D.; deGraffenried, Linda A.
Epidemiological and clinical studies indicate that obesity is associated with a worse postmenopausal breast cancer prognosis and an increased risk of endocrine therapy resistance. However, the mechanisms mediating these effects remain poorly understood. Here we investigate the molecular pathways by which obesity-associated circulating factors in the blood enhance estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) positive breast cancer cell viability and growth. Methods: Blood serum was collected from postmenopausal breast cancer patients and pooled by body mass index (BMI) category (Control: 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m(2); Obese: >= 30.0 kg/m(2)). The effects of patient sera on MCF-7 and T47D breast cancer cell viability and growth were examined by MTT and colony formation assays, respectively. Insulin-like growth factor receptor 1(IGF-1R), Akt, and ERK1/2 activation and genomic ER alpha activity were assessed to determine their possible contribution to obese patient sera-induced cell viability and growth. To further define the relative contribution of these signaling pathways, cells grown in patient sera were treated with various combinations of ER alpha, PI3K/Akt and MAPK targeted therapies. Comparisons between cells exposed to different experimental conditions were made using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student's t test. Results: Cells grown in media supplemented with obese patient sera displayed greater cell viability and growth as well as IGF-1R, Akt and ERK1/2 activation relative to control sera. Despite the lack of a significant difference in genomic ER alpha activity following growth in obese versus control patient sera, we observed a dramatic reduction in cell viability and growth after concurrent inhibition of the ER alpha and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Further, we demonstrated that ER alpha inhibition was sufficient to attenuate obese serum-induced Akt and ERK1/2 activation. Together, these data suggest that obesity promotes greater ER alpha positive breast cancer cell viability and growth through enhanced crosstalk between nongenomic ER alpha signaling and the PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways. Conclusions: Circulating factors in the serum of obese postmenopausal women stimulate ER alpha positive breast cancer cell viability and growth by facilitating non-genomic ER alpha crosstalk with the PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways. These findings provide valuable insight into one mechanism by which obesity may promote ER alpha positive postmenopausal breast cancer progression and endocrine therapy resistance.
School Enrollment Protects Brazilian Adolescents from Overweight and Obesity, Even for Siblings in the Same Household
(University of Texas at Austin Population Research Center, 2021) Marteleto, Letícia J.; Dondero, Molly; Van Hook, Jennifer; Gama, Luiz C.D.; Donnelly, Rachel
Social-environmental determinants and geographic distribution of cardiovascular death among adults in two central Texas areas
(2012) Kauffman, Courtney; Sayegh, M. Aaron; Field, Leanne
Over the last half century, obesity has become a public health priority throughout the United States of America (U.S.). Overweight and obesity are risk factors for many cardiovascular diseases. Socio-ecological influences play a role in obesity when the built environment surrounding an individual leads to the creation of behavioral patterns in diet and exercise and affect health. The objective of this study was to investigate the geospatial distribution and social-environmental determinants of cardiovascular deaths among adults in two Central Texas areas from 2005 to 2008. It was determined by a latent growth curve analysis that area 2 increased in cardiovascular death variance while the variance of area 1 remained relatively constant over the four-year period. As social-environmental factors in area 2 became more indicative of healthier living over time, cardiovascular death became more dispersive. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that these deaths are less likely due to a specific obesity problem.