Browsing by Subject "Nutrition"
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Item Dietary Quality In The United States: An Evaluation Of The American Diet Using The Mediterranean Diet Index(2003-12-01) LaFontaine, Laura Jean; Sejong BaeLaFontaine, Laura Jean, Dietary Quality in the United States: An Evaluation of the American Diet Using the Mediterranean Diet Index. Master of Public Health (Epidemiology), December 2003, 69 pp., 10 tables, 3 figures, reference list, 92 titles. Mediterranean Diet Index (MDI) score is positively associated with increased longevity in diverse populations. High scores are characterized by high intake of fruit, vegetables, legumes, fish, and grains; low intake of meat and dairy; moderate alcohol intake; and high monounsaturated to saturated fat ratio. Dietary quality 7,772 individuals ages 2 and older in the NHANES 1999-2000 sample was assessed using the MDI. Mean MDI scores were low overall and across all population groups. Highest mean scores (3.03-3.13) were observed in children 2-3 and adult men; lowest scores (2.76-2.77) were observed in adolescents. High scores were associated with foreign-born status, higher education level, increasing age in adults, and decreasing age in children.Item Does a Community Health Worker Program Work among Latino Communities?(2003-12-01) Medina, Amanda Y.; Hector Balcazar; Claudia S. Coggin; Francisco Soto MasMedina, Amanda Y., Does a Community Health Worker Program Work among Latino Communities? Master of Public Health (Community Health), Dec 2003, 77 pp., 8 tables, 5 illustrations, bibliography, 70 titles. The study’s goal was to investigate if and what makes a community health worker (CHW) education program work among Latino participants. First, the author developed a conceptual model to explain why a CHW program might effectively reach Latino communities. Second, the study tested the effectiveness of a CHW program, Salud Para Su Corazon of North Texas, by examining participants’ self-reported healthy behaviors from before and immediately after education. Third, the study examined potential CHW program components that predicted healthy behavior scores. These findings showed that pledging to the program and positive program evaluations predicted participants’ scores. Past research and theories are in congruent with all these findings.Item Eating Disorders: Best Age for Education and Prevention(2004-05-01) Chasmawala, Jayshri R.; Susan Franks; Susan Eve; Muriel MarshallChasmawala, Jayshri R., Eating Disorders: Best Age for Prevention and Education. Master of Public Health (Dual Degree D.O./M.P.H.), May 2004, 22 pp., 11 tables, 6 illustrations, references, 16 titles. Objective: This study attempts to determine the best age to design a prevention program to prevent the development of eating disorders based on adolescents’ behavior and attitudes towards eating disorders. Methods: Forty students aged 11-17 answered a self-reported questionnaire regarding dieting and weight, identification of emotional states, and general awareness of eating disorders. Age group divided the sample: 13 years of age and younger; and 14 years of age and older. Multivariate analyses were performed to determine existence of any differences between the populations. Results: An overall difference in the age groups exists with statistic significance. The difference in mean values of interoceptive awareness is statistically significant between the age groups. Conclusion: Interoceptive Awareness, not awareness level of eating disorders, is more indicative of the best age for prevention. Younger age children may benefit more from prevention due to lack of emotional maturity which leads to higher risk of development of eating disorders.Item EFFECTS OF NUTRITION AND WEIGHT PERCEPTIONS ON DIETARY PATTERNS IN HISPANIC YOUTH(2013-04-12) Waverka, RachaelPurpose: Increasing obesity rates continue to be a prevalent problem among Hispanic youth. This study applies Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs to evaluate how weight perceptions and nutritional beliefs are associated with dietary behaviors in Hispanic youth. Understanding dietary behaviors from a TPB perspective can guide obesity prevention efforts in this high-need population. Methods: FIT for Health is an 8 week, on-going medical and graduate student run obesity prevention program for Hispanic families with an overweight (BMI% > 85th) child (ages 8 - 10 years). Baseline data was collected on 55 children (45% female; 45.5% > 95th BMI%; mean age = 9.18 ? 1.36, 58.2 % Hispanic) that included the SPAN self-report questionnaire which measured youth's nutrition behavior and attitudes. Results: Correlational analyses found that perception of weight status was significantly associated with consuming less unhealthy foods (r = 0.35; p = 0.01), and not associated with consuming healthy foods (r = .16; p = .24). Nutrition attitudes were not significantly associated with healthy (r = 0.10; p = 0.54) or unhealthy (r = -0.04; p = 0.80) dietary patterns. Conclusions: These findings indicate that in Hispanic youth, a perception of being overweight is associated with dietary behaviors to reduce unhealthy food consumption. Attitudes towards weight status may provide potential intervention strategies for obesity prevention programs in minority youth.Item Effects of Testosterone on Obesity-Related Cardiac Hypertrophy and Fibrosis(2009-08-01) Wilson, Ana Kaye; Joan F. Carroll; James L. Caffrey; Robert T. MalletWilson, Ana Kaye. Effects of testosterone on obesity-related cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. Master of Science (Integrative Physiology), August 2009, 71 pp, 3 tables, 6 figures. Both testosterone and obesity are known to increase renin-angiotensin system activity, leading to cardiovascular dysfunction. This study determined the interactive effects of obesity and testosterone on left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac fibrotic factors. Male New Zealand White rabbits were fed a lean or 10% added fat diet. After 12 weeks, fat-fed rabbits exhibited increased left ventricular weight (6.05±0.16 vs. 4.75±0.10 g, respectively, p≤0.05) and cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area compared to lean rabbits (372.3±19.0 vs. 305.0±13.4μm2, respectively; p≤0.01). These effects were attenuated by both castration and treatment with the angiotensin type 1 receptor blocker, losartan. Obese rabbits did not exhibit increased myocardial collagen as expected. However, castration and losartan treatment increased matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity in obese rabbits. Despite the effects of castration hypertrophy and MMP-2 activity, castration did not attenuate plasma renin activity of aldosterone. These data suggest that testosterone contributes to obesity-related left ventricular hypertrophy and decreases collagen degradation, independent of renin activity.Item Endurox R4® & Gatorade®: Effects of Recovery Drinks After Prolonged Glycogen-Depleting Exercise(1999-06-01) Williams, Michael Brandon; Raven, Peter B.; Smith, Michael; Shi, XiangrongWilliams, Michael B., Endurox R4® & Gatorade®: Effects of Recovery Drinks After Prolonged Glycogen-Depletion Exercise. Master of Science (Biomedical Sciences, Integrative Physiology), June, 1999, 73 pp., 2 tables, 18 figures, references. Purpose: Eight high-fit (bicycle Vo2max=62.4 ± 1.10 ml·kg-1·min-1) male cyclists, aged 28.4±1.65 yrs, performed a two-hour endurance bicycle exercise to achieve depletion of skeletal muscle and liver glycogen. During recovery, Endurox R4 Recovery Drink®, or Gatorade®, was ingested to investigate their relative restorative capacities to enable further exercise. Methods: Each subject performed two days of testing: one for each drink presented in random order. On each testing day, the twelve-hour fasted subject performed a two-hour cycling exercise bout at 75% VO2max followed by one to three five-minute sprints at 85% VO2max. At the end of the exercise blood glucose concentrations were 3.98±0.138 mmol/L. A four hour recovery period ensued in which the subject was given 24-ounces of the recovery drink. A performance test at 85% VO2max to exhaustion was then conducted. Ventilatory responses were collected breath-to-breath, while venous blood samples were measured for oxidation products, glucose and insulin concentrations. Results: The recovery phase showed significant increases in both plasma glucose and serum insulin following Endurox R4 Recovery Drink® ingestion as compared to Gatorade®. There was a significant increase in time to exhaustion (+55%) following Endurox R4 Recovery Drink® during the performance ride compared to Gatorade®. Final oxidation products following Endurox R4 Recovery Drink® ingestion were significantly decreased as compared to Gatorade® ingestion, in that Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substrates (T-BARS) were significantly decreased. Conclusions: These data indicate that the Endurox R4 Recovery Drink®, when compared to Gatorade®, significantly enhanced recovery from glycogen-depleting exercise. In addition, Endurox R4 Recovery® Drink decreased the formation of final oxidation products, when compared to Gatorade®.Item Enhancing the Care of the Elderly; An Educational Intervention to Improve Nutritional Knowledge of Nursing Home Staff(1998-06-01) Cummings, Dana; Gilbert Ramirez; Claudia Coggin; Antonio ReneCummings, Dana M., Enhancing the Care of Elderly; an Educational Intervention to Improve Nutritional Knowledge of Nursing Home Staff. Master of Public Health, June 1998, 81 p.p., 5 tables, bibliography, 15 titles. Gross deficiencies exist in the quality and quantity of health care personnel taking care of the aged (Hersch, 1989). Eighty to ninety percent of nursing home staff are untrained aides paid the minimum wage to care for one of the sickest and frailest populations in the United States (Patenaude, 1997). The purpose of this study was to determine if short term nutrition education, utilizing principles for adult learners, would result in knowledge improvement in nursing home staff. An interactive, participatory instructional model was implemented into an existing structure of regular staff inservices to answer this question. To test the effectiveness of the intervention a questionnaire was developed using items from previously validated instruments. Using three nursing homes in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, a total of 157 pre-test and 132 post-test questionnaires were completed. A significant increase in overall knowledge from 80.6% at baseline to 96.1% at post-test was found (p [less than] .001). Participants also showed a significant (p [less than] 0.001) overall increase in knowledge for each of the three learning domains; patient care related to nutrition, food and fluid intake of residents, and eating. These findings suggest that employing short-term education to nursing home staff, using principles for adult learners, can improve nutritional knowledge significantly.Item Enhancing the nutritional status of an older population: an educational intervention to improve the nutrition knowledge of persons over 60 living in a rural Texas community(2002-05-01) Lane, Bridget M.Lane, Bridget M., Enhancing the nutritional status of an older population: an educational intervention to improve the nutrition knowledge of persons over 60 living in a rural Texas community. Master of Public Health (Health Administration), May, 2002, 61 pp., 8 tables, references, 41 titles. A four session nutrition education promotion program was developed and implemented for a group of seniors in a rural Texas community to enhance the nutritional status of persons over 60 through educational intervention to improve nutrition knowledge. Nutrition knowledge was measured using pre-tests and post-tests (before and after short-term nutrition education). No statistically significant differences were observed between pre/post test results, although there was a directional improvement in several aspects of test performance. Nutrition education programs that can effectively translate healthy dietary recommendations into understandable concepts can result in improvements in nutrition knowledge, and possibly have a positive influence on dietary behaviors and health markers.Item Food Fundamentals(Health Fundamentals, 1918-01-01) Bean, Elijah D.O.A discussion of food based on experience, from the view point of an osteopathic physician together with a study of ill-health caused by wrong habits of living. 2nd ed. 177 p. ; 20 cm.Item Medical Gymnastics and Massage in General Practice(P. Blakiston's Son & Co., 1926-01-01) Dobbie, Mina; Arvedson, J.Item Meta-analysis: Effects of Opuntia Species(2000-05-01) Garcia, Anna R.; John Licciardone; Gilbert Ramirez; FongGarcia, Anna R., Meta-analysis: Effects of Opuntia species. Master of Public Health (Epidemiology), May, 2000, 73 pp., 10 tables, 10 figures, references, 62 titles. The Mexican American population is more susceptible to diabetes mellitus due to a number of risk factors. The earliest recorded treatments for diabetes mellitus involved the use of natural plants. Opuntia species are any member of the genus Opuntia of Cactus family and who are native to the Western Hemisphere. In order to determine the efficacy of Opuntia species as a hypoglycemic agent in non-insulin dependent diabetics, a meta-analysis was conducted to analyze the identified studies. In addition, insulin and the presence of a dose-response relationship upon ingestion of Opuntia were investigated. A statistically significant reduction in serum glucose was found after the ingestion of 500 grams of Opuntia species. Additional studies are needed to determine the mechanism of hypoglycemic action and to further investigate the properties of Opuntia species.Item Obesity and Risk of Stroke in NHANES I Follow Up Study(2002-12-01) Soman, Ashwini; Umed Ajani; Antonio Rene; Karan SinghSoman, Ashwini, Obesity and risk of stroke in NHANES-I follow-up study, Masters of Public Health (Epidemiology), December 2002. 79pp., 20 tables, 3 illustrations, bibliography, 46 titles. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the US. Role of obesity as an independent risk factor has been relatively well established for coronary heart diseases but not for stroke. Purpose of this study was to assess long-term risk of stroke due to obesity measured at baseline. The research was conducted using First National Nutritional Health and Examination Survey and its follow ups. Overall, increased risk of stroke was observed in obese individuals (BMI [greater than] 30 kg/m2). Similar association was observed in different subgroups of race, gender, those with or without diabetes and cardiovascular disease.Item Physical Culture Classics: Building Vitality(E.R. Dumont, 1909-01-01) Fleming, WilliamItem Physical Culture Classics: Pertinant Statements by the Masters(E.R. Dumont, 1909-01-01) Fleming, WilliamItem Physical Culture Classics: Prevention and Cure of Disease by Natural Methods(E.R. Dumont, 1909-01-01) Fleming, WilliamItem Physical Culture Classics: Strength From Exercise and Diet(E.R. Dumont, 1909-01-01) McFadden, Bernarr; Treloar, Albert; Merrilles, Charles; Fleming, WilliamItem Pilot Project Evaluation: Keep It Healthy - An Obesity-Prevention and Lifestyle-Modification Non-Profit Organization(2007-05-01) Bhatia, Shimona R.; Coggin, Claudia; Urrutia-Rojas, Ximena; Bae, SejongBhatia, Shimona R., Pilot Project Evaluation: Keep It Healthy- An Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle-Modification Non-Profit Organization. Master of Public Health (Community Health), May 2007, 120 pp., 3 tables, 5 illustrations, references, 66 titles. This study was a secondary data set analysis and pilot-project evaluation of the Keep It Healthy non-profit organization. The eighteen-week program, which twenty-one qualifying participants completed, included dietary counseling, physical activity groups and classes as well as nutritional education. Overall, there was a significant (p-value [less than] 0.05) increase in fruit and vegetable consumption per day. There was also an increase in the days per week and minutes per day spent engaging in various levels of physical activity. There was also a significant decrease of average weight (164.10 to 169.49 pounds) and average body mass index (BMI) (30.04 to 29.14) of the group over the eighteen-week program.Item Role of Adenosine in Acute Hibernation of Guinea-Pig Myocardium(1995-08-01) Gao, Zhi-Ping; H. Fred Downey; James L. Caffrey; Patricia A. GwirtzGao, Zhi-Ping, Role of Adenosine in Acute Hibernation of Guinea-Pig Myocardium Doctor of Philosophy (Biomedical Sciences), August, 1995; 111 pp; 3 tables; 15 figures, bibliography, 158 titles. Myocardial hibernation is a state of depressed contractile function and energy demand during chronic ischemia. When coronary flow is restored, depressed contractile function can partially or completely recover to the pre-ischemic level, and ischemic injury of the myocardium in not evident. This project tested the hypothesis that endogenous adenosine mediates hibernation in guinea-pig myocardium. Isolated working guinea-pig hearts, perfused with glucose fortified Krebs-Henseleit buffer, were subjected to global low-flow ischemia. Left ventricular performance and cytosolic energy level were assessed. Lactate and purine nucleotides were measured in venous effluent. Heart were perfused with [U-14C]glucose to investigate the role of adenosine on glucose metabolism in myocardium. Left ventricular function in untreated hearts decreased by 80% and remained stable during ischemia, and completely recovered upon reperfusion. Neither adenosine receptor blockade with 8-p-sulfophenyl theophylline (8-SPT; 20 μM) nor ecto 5’-nucleotidase inhibitor αβ-methylene adenosine 5’-diphosphonate (AOPCP; 50μM) affected left ventricular function either ischemia or during reperfusion. Cytosolic energy level fell by 67% at 10 min ischemia in untreated hearts, but subsequently recovered to the pre-ischemic level despite continued ischemia. Adenosine receptor blockade increased cytosolic energy level at 10 min ischemia relative to untreated hearts, but blunted the subsequent rebound of phosphorylation potential. Moreover, 8-SPT doubled ischemic lactate release. Adenosine receptor blockade also increased glucose uptake during pre-ischemia and hypoperfusion, but did not stimulate glucose oxidation. Crossover plots of glycolytic intermediates revealed that phosphofructokinase, a key rate-controlling step in glycolysis, was activated by adenosine receptor blockade in both pre-ischemic and hibernating myocardium. We conclude that 1) activation of adenosine receptors results in recovery of cytosolic energy level of moderately ischemic working myocardium, but this energetic recover is not solely responsible for post-ischemic contractile recovery; 2) endogenous adenosine attenuates anaerobic glycolysis during myocardial hibernation by blunting phosphofructokinase activity.Item STUDENT RUN COMMUNITY-BASED OBESITY PROGRAM FOR HISPANIC FAMILIES(2013-04-12) Momoh, JanePurpose: Hispanic children and adults have experienced significant rates of weight gain and associated health disparities. Although there are numerous effective weight loss programs for children, less is known about programs for low-income, ethnic minorities. This study examined the effects of an on-going student run program to improve weight in primarily Hispanic families with an overweight child (Body Mass Index (BMI) % > 85th; ages 7 - 10 years). A student-run advisory board managed recruitment, data collection, and facilitated an 8-week group program that focused on diet and physical activity delivered in both English and Spanish. The aim of this research is to examine the difference post-intervention in nutrition, physical activity, and BMI among children engaged in the FIT for Health program. Methods: Self-report questionnaires were collected at baseline and post-intervention to evaluate changes in diet and physical activity behaviors. Also, height and weight measures were collected at baseline and post-intervention to calculate child's BMI percentile. The study variables included eating behavior, BMI percentile, knowledge on nutrition, and physical activity. Univariate analysis was used for descriptive statistics and a dependent (paired) t-test was used to estimate the mean difference between baseline and post-intervention. Results: Baseline and 12-week post-intervention data were collected on 55 children (52% male; mean BMI = 26.6 ? 4.6; 73% > 95th BMI%; mean age = 9.2 ? 1.37, 74% Hispanic) and parents (79% females; mean age = 22 ? 7.4; 26% had a high school education or some college/technical education). Results showed a difference in unhealthy (p < 0.01) and healthy eating behavior (p < 0.01) between baseline and post-intervention. No difference was observed in BMI percentile or physical activity. Conclusions: Findings from this study provide preliminary support for a student-run family-based weight management program for improving dietary behaviors in overweight children. Also, results from this study suggests that a collaborated effort between medical and public health graduate students is a promising strategy for developing sustainable weight management program for underserved children.Item The Effect of Late-Life Antioxidant Supplementaion on Brain Function(2007-10-01) Shetty, Ritu A.; Forster, Michael J.; Sumien, Nathalie; Singh, MeharvanShetty, Ritu A., The effect of late-life antioxidant supplementation on brain function. Doctor of Philolosophy (Biomedical Sciences), October, 2007, 229 pp., 5 tables, 18 figures, bibliography, 284 titles. Purpose: Aging is associated with mild to moderate loss in brain function over time. These functional losses are thought to involve reversible changes disrupting important cellular signaling processes. One of the theories that proposes to explain the reversible losses of function is the ‘oxidative stress’ hypothesis of aging. According to the oxidative stress hypothesis, there is an inherent cellular imbalance between production of oxidants and antioxidative defenses that increases with age and that leads to an increase in oxidative damage to macromolecules that are involved in crucial cell functions. Previous studies have established a link between these cellular changes associated with aging and the impairments in cognitive and psychomotor function. Further it has also been suggested that dietary interventions can modulate the level of oxidative stress, reducing oxidative damage and perhaps even ameliorate age-related dysfunction. Most interventions have been implemented relatively early in life and maintained until old age. However, the current studies were based on the rationale that interventions initiated in late-life could potentially lower oxidative damage and thereby alter cellular components responsible for functional impairments. Methods: In study I, separate groups of young (4 months) and old mice male C57BL/6 (18 months) were fed a control diet or a diet supplemented with low (105 mg/kg/day) or high (368 mg/kg/day) concentrations of CoQ10 for a period of 15 weeks. After 6 weeks on the diets, the mice were subjected to a battery of age-sensitive behavioral tests. In study II, separate groups of male C57BL/6 young mice aged 3-4 months and old mice 17-18 months (total of n=124) were fed ad libitum either a control diet (cyclodextrin in base diet), or the same diet supplemented with D- α-tocopheryl acetate (Toc) (200 mg/kg body wt/day), or with CoQ10 (148 mg/kg body wt/day) or a diet containing a combination of CoQ and Toc (200 mg/kg body wt/day + 148 mg/kg body wt/day) for a period of 13-14 weeks. In both studies mice were subjected to a battery of behavioral tests that required utilization of various component of memory and learning and sensorimotor reflexes. Results: In study I, low CoQ10 failed to improve cognitive and psychomotor function in old mice. However, the high CoQ10 marginally helped the old mice to navigate in the swim maze task with greater efficiency than control mice but did not affect their performance in probe trials. Conversely, the high CoQ10 diet selectively impaired the spatial performance in young mice in probe trials. The results from study I indicated that intake of CoQ10 initiated in late-life had minimal beneficial effects on behavior function. In study II, an age-associated decline of behavioral functioning was observed; however CoQ10 treatment failed to improve the performance of mice in any of the age-sensitive tests. Moreover, young mice supplemented with a high CoQ diet performed poorly in the probe trial in a swim maze task, suggesting a possible deleterious effect. The results from study II indicated that there was a significant improvement in performance of old mice in the coordinated running and the learning ability in discriminated avoidance task when supplemented with Toc or with a combination of CoQ10 and Toc. Conclusions: In conclusion, these studies suggest that benefits of single antioxidant supplementation when initiated late in life are limited; however dietary supplementation with a combination of antioxidants has a greater impact in reversing age-related decline in behavioral function.