bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vitamin D3 content of fortified yogurt and milk as determined for the USDA National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program (NFNAP)
Authors: Holden Joanne M. , Patterson Kristine Y , Exler Jacob , Horst Ronald L , Lemar Linda E , Phillips Katherine M. 
Published: June 2021

In response to recent interest in vitamin D composition of foods, USDA‐NDL is updating and expanding data in the National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. In 2007, the USDA sampled vitamin D3 fortified yogurt and milk from 12 and 24 supermarkets, respectively, selected from a nationwide statistical sampling. The four types of yogurt collected were from two national manufacturers while the milk samples were processed in dairies in the vicinity of the supermarkets. The samples along with QC material were analyzed for vitamin D3 by HPLC with UV detection. All of the yogurt samples met the label claim (15% or 20%DV). Three of the four types of yogurt had vitamin D3 values at 100 ‐ 150% of label claim, with the fourth type above 150% but not exceeding 175%. Each serving of yogurt had 1.6 to 3.0 µg vitamin D3. Five types of fortified milk were collected; skim, 1%, 2%, whole and 1% chocolate. All the products should provide 25%DV of vitamin D3 / 8 oz serving (2.6 µg). Actual vitamin content varied from zero to 47%DV, nearly double the label claim. Overall, about 77% of the products fell within or very close to the expected 100 ‐ 150% of label, however, about 17% of the values were lower than 100%. The vitamin D content of milk was more variable than yogurt. Accurate, current data for vitamin D are important to the assessment of intake by the US population.Support by USDA, NIH #Y1CN5010 and the Beverage Institute for Health & Wellness (Coca‐Cola)
Adherence to 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans was associated with reduced progression of coronary‐artery atherosclerosis in women with established coronary artery disease
Authors: Imamura Fumiaki , Jacques Paul F , Herrington David M , Dallal Gerard E , Lichtenstein Alice H 
Published: June 2021

Criterion‐based dietary indices generally have an untested assumption that all index components have equal health contributions. This assumption was tested for the association between adherence to 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) and atherosclerosis progression, using data from 225 postmenopausal women with established heart disease in the Estrogen and Atherosclerosis Progression Trial conducted between 1996 and 2000. At the baseline and endpoint, diameters of coronary arteries were measured by quantitative angiography. Adherence to the key DGA recommendations was measured by the DGA Adherence Index (DGAI), where each component was weighted equally, and the modified DGAI (wDGAI), where each component was weighted by its relation to atherosclerosis progression. By mixed model regression analyses, the DGAI was found not associated with atherosclerosis progression (p=0.44). In contrast, wDGAI was inversely associated; one standard deviation difference of wDGAI was related to 0.049 mm less narrowing of coronary arteries (p=0.004). Adherence to the DGA recommendations assigned differential weights based on their relationships with the outcome was significantly associated with reduced atherosclerosis progression. Assuming equity of associations of all DGA recommendations with health outcomes may limit our ability to identify relationships of the DGA with chronic disease prevention.Grant Funding SourceU.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (No. 58‐1950‐7‐707)
Zinc status affects DNA damage and oxidative stress in healthy adult men
Authors: Song Yang , Chung Carolyn S , Bruno Richard S , Traber Maret G , Brown Kenneth H , King Janet C 
Published: June 2021

Zinc plays an important role in the maintenance of DNA integrity and antioxidant defense in cells. Our lab has shown in rats that zinc depletion increases DNA damage and perturbs oxidative stress. In the current human dietary intervention study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of zinc depletion and repletion on DNA damage, oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses in humans. Total 9 healthy men with daily zinc intake >11mg/d were recruited. Subjects underwent three consecutive dietary periods: baseline (2 wks, 11mg Zn/d), zinc‐depletion (0.6 mg Zn/d for 1 wk and 4 mg Zn/d for 5 wks), and zinc‐repletion (4 wks, 11 mg Zn/d). DNA damage in peripheral blood cells, plasma oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses were assessed at different time points. Human dietary zinc depletion caused a significant increase in DNA strand breaks in peripheral blood cells (P<0.05), but did not alter lipid peroxidation, as indicated by plasma F2‐isoprostanes. The increased DNA strand breaks were reduced to baseline levels following zinc repletion (P<0.05). Although plasma tocopherol levels significantly increased after zinc depletion, plasma total antioxidant capacity and erythrocyte SOD were not changed. This is first study that demonstrates increases in DNA with human zinc depletion and suggests that zinc may be essential for maintaining DNA integrity in humans. This work is supported by the NCBA (KHB) and USDA 2005‐35200‐15439 (EH).Grant Funding SourceNCBA (KHB) and USDA 2005‐35200‐15439
The Association between Alcohol Consumption and Diabetes Risk is Independent of Dietary Pattern
Authors: Imamura Fumiaki , Lichtenstein Alice H , Meigs James B , Dallal Gerard E , Jacques Paul F 
Published: June 2021

The ability to interpret epidemiologic relations of diet and disease risk is limited due to potential residual confounding by correlated dietary components. Assessing dietary patterns by factor analysis or partial least squares may overcome this limitation. To examine confounding by dietary pattern as well as standard risk factors and selected nutrients, the longitudinal association of alcohol consumption with 7‐year risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was analyzed by Cox‐proportional hazard model in 2,879 healthy adults enrolled in Framingham Offspring Study. After adjusting for standard risk factors, consumers of ≥9.0 drink/week had a significantly lower risk of T2DM compared to abstainers (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.27, 0.81). Adjusting for selected nutrients little impacted the HR, whereas adjusting for dietary pattern variables by factor analysis significantly shifted the HR away from null (HR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.17, 0.64) by 40.0% (95% CI: 16.8, 36.4%, P=0.002). Dietary pattern variables by partial least squares showed the similar results. Therefore, the observed inverse association, consistent with past studies, was confounded by dietary patterns, which was not corrected by adjusting for individual nutrients. The data suggest alcohol intake, and not dietary patterns associated with alcohol intake, is responsible for the observed inverse association with T2DM risk.Grant Funding SourceU.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (No. 58‐1950‐7‐707)
Long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids inhibit infectivity of Apicomplexan parasites
Authors: Lee Jennifer Hanbyul , McAllister Milton M. , Kuhlenschmidt Theresa B. , Kuhlenschmidt Mark S. 
Published: June 2021

Cryptosporidium parvum, Toxoplasma gondii, and Plasmodium gallinaceum are parasitic pathogens of the phylum Apicomplexa. These parasites commonly infect a variety of vertebrate species and can produce life‐threatening diseases, especially in the immunocompromised. Previously, we have shown that certain, colostrum‐derived, long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (L‐PUFA) inhibit C. parvum sporozoite‐host‐cell invasion. In the studies reported here, we show linolenate or oleate but not elaidic acid, the trans isomer of oleate, inhibits both C. parvum sporozoite and T. gondii tachyzoite infectivity in vitro. Similarly, linolenate also blocked in vivo infectivity of T. gondii tachyzoites and P. gallinaceum sporozoites. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest linolenate or oleate but not elaidic acid, block gliding motility of T. gondii tachyzoites and C. parvum sporozoites. While these data suggest that certain L‐PUFAs represent possible therapeutic nutriceuticals, they clearly serve as useful reagents to probe what may be a common mechanism of host‐cell invasion by Apicomplexan parasites.Grant Funding SourceUSDA
Wild Blueberry (V. angustifolium) Consumption Alters the Composition and Structure of Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR)
Authors: Kristo Aleksandra S. , Malavaki Christina J. , Lamari Fotini N. , Karamanos Nikos K. , Klimis‐Zacas Dorothy J. 
Published: June 2021

The effect of wild blueberries on the composition and structure of GAGs was examined in twenty, 12 week‐old SHRs, fed a control (C) or blueberry‐enriched diet (B) for nine weeks. Thoracic aortae were defatted with methanol/chloroform solution (1:1 v/v), digested with pronase and assayed for total sulfated GAGs and uronic acid content. Aortic specimens from each diet group were pooled together and fractionated on a DEAE‐Sephacel column with a NaCl linear gradient. Identification and characterization of pooled uronic acid‐positive fractions was determined with cellulose acetate electrophoresis, treatment with specific GAG lyases and high performance capillary electrophoresis. A significant decrease in total sulfated GAGs was documented in the SHR‐B, 12.58 ± 0.20 vs. 13.72 ± 0.20 µg/mg aorta in the SHR‐C, p=0.05. Three different GAG populations were identified; hyaluronic acid (HA), heparan sulfate (HS) and galactosaminoglycans (GalAGs). There was a 25% and 10% increase in HA and HS, respectively, and a 13% decrease in GalAGs in the SHR‐B as compared to SHR‐C group. The changes in the SHR aortic GAG profile produced by wild blueberry consumption may alter cellular signal transduction pathways and subsequently affect the biomechanical milieu of the vascular endothelium.This work was supported by a USDA/CSREES (WBANA) Grant and a Greek State Scholarship Foundation Fellowship (IKY).Grant Funding SourceWBANA, IKY
Effects of diets naturally high or low in conjugated linoleic acid on measures of health in women
Authors: Brown Andrew William , Trenkle Allen H , Beitz Donald C 
Published: June 2021

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) consumption purportedly alters body composition, glucose tolerance, lipoprotein distributions, and other health markers, though reports are often contradictory or inconclusive. The present study aimed to determine if CLA in a natural food matrix alters selected markers of health by presenting isocaloric, nutritionally complete diets containing 31% energy from lipid, 13% energy from protein, and 54% energy from carbohydrates that contained either products naturally high in CLA (1.17 g/d) from pasture‐fed cattle or naturally low in CLA (0.35 g/d) from grain‐fed cattle to 18 generally healthy women age 20‐39 y in a parallel arm study. Incorporation of products of pasture‐fed origin enriched with CLA resulted in no differences in insulin sensitivity, body composition, circulating lipids, nor other measured disease risk factors as compared with the commercial, low CLA diet. We conclude that a diet naturally enriched with a 3.5 fold increase in CLA by incorporation of products from pasture‐fed cattle added no measured health benefits when compared to the low CLA diet.Grant Funding SourceUSDA‐CSREES no. 2001‐38640‐10270
Mitochondrially targeted vitamin E decreases diet‐induced fat deposition in C57BL/6 mice through normalizing mitochondrial oxidative stress and function
Authors: Mao Gaowei , Kraus George , Spurlock Michael , Beitz Donald 
Published: June 2021

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a novel modified vitamin E (MitoVit E) that can penetrate mitochondria for minimization of reactive oxygen species on mitochondrial function, animal growth and obesity. Sixty‐four male 9 weeks old C57BL/6J mice, after being fed a high fat diet (60 kcal% from fat) for 5 weeks, were assigned randomly to 4 groups. Group I and II were fed a low fat diet (10 kcal% from fat) and a high sucrose diet (20 kcal% from sucrose), respectively, with each group gavaged with drug vehicle (0.9% NaCl solution); Group III and IV were fed the same diet of Group I and II, respectively, with each group gavaged 40 mg MitoVit E/kg body weight. Gavage was conducted every other day for 5 weeks. We showed that high sucrose diet significantly resulted in increased inguinal (p=0.0225) and epididymal (p=0.0004) fat deposition and increased urinary isoprostane (p=0.0006), all of which were normalized by MitoVit E. MitoVit E significantly decreased H2O2 production (p<0.05) and increased ATP production (p<0.05) from the isolated mitochondria in the liver but not in the muscle. Superoxide dismutase in the plasma was also improved by the MitoVit E (p=0.0143). These data indicated that oxidative stress resulting from high fat/high sucrose diets contributed to mitochondrial dysfunction and fat deposition, which, however, can be improved by mitochondrially targeted MitoVit E.Funding: USDAGrant Funding SourceUSDA
Undergraduate Bioinformatics: Evaluating the effectiveness of a short lab module compared to a semester long course
Authors: Matejka Stephanie L , Soundararajan Madhavan , Bailey Cheryl 
Published: June 2021

At large universities and some smaller institutions, not all undergraduate biochemistry majors are involved in a research project. This is unfortunate, since the scientific method and research process provide excellent learning opportunities. The Joint Genome Institute (JGI) has launched a pilot project where students annotate microbial genomes and fundamental metabolic pathways. The JGI integrated microbial genome platform, IMG/ACT, provides an interface for students to analyze genes and pathways and report their findings. This project emulates the research experience and results in new knowledge available for other scientists. This year is the second offering of a specialized semester‐long bioinformatics course that focuses on this initiative. We have also tested the effectiveness of broadening the experience by introducing a short annotation module into an existing biochemistry lab course. Both implementation types can be evaluated through surveys and confidence of project results. This compares the effectiveness of both the semester long course and the shorter lab module.Funded by the Department of Energy.
An interactive method for teaching anatomy of the human eye for ophthalmology rotations using suid eyes
Authors: Kivell Tracy L , Doyle Sara K. , Madden Richard H , Mitchell Terry , Sims Ershela 
Published: June 2021

Much research has shown the benefits of additional anatomical learning and dissection beyond the first year of human gross anatomy during postgraduate medical training. We have developed an interactive method for teaching second‐year medical students in their ophthalmology rotation at Duke University School of Medicine. We provide review lectures on the detailed anatomy of the adult human eye and orbit as well as the development of the eye. This is followed by an anatomical demonstration of the human orbit and eye on a prosected human cadaver, projecting the dissection of the detailed anatomy onto a computer screen. Each student then dissects a fresh suid eye under a regular‐strength microscope, identifying the external musculature and focusing on the detailed anatomy of the internal eyeball. The anatomy and size of the suid eye is comparable to that of the human and thus this method provides students a valuable learning opportunity to dissect anatomy that is most often not preserved or unidentifiable in the human cadaver.Grant Funding SourceNSF
Role of a flexible loop in the mechanism of desulfonation by alkanesulfonate monooxygenase
Authors: Xiong Jingyuan , Ellis Holly R 
Published: June 2021

The alkanesulfonate monooxygenase (SsuD) catalyzes the oxidation of alkanesulfonate to aldehyde and sulfite in the presence of O2 and FMNH2 provided by an FMN reductase (SsuE). Studies have shown that SsuD activity is completely abolished with amino acid substitutions of Arg297 located on a flexible loop. The flexible loop is proposed to close over the active site when substrates bind. In the presence of substrates, wild‐type SsuD is less susceptible to rapid proteolysis by trypsin, whereas SsuD variants of Arg297 are less protected. These results suggest that Arg297 may facilitate loop closure over the active site with the binding of substrates.Investigations were performed to evaluate loop movement and the role of Arg297 in facilitating loop closure. Phe261 located on the loop was mutated to Trp to generate a fluorescent probe to monitor loop movement. F261W SsuD variant showed a higher fluorescence intensity than wild‐type, supporting the use of this variant as a fluorescent probe. Fluorescence stopped‐flow experiments and substrate titrations were performed with wild‐type and F261W SsuD in order to assess the rate of loop closure. Similar experiments were performed in the presence of SsuE to determine the effect of SsuE and SsuD interactions on the loop movement. The results of these studies provide insight into the role of loop dynamics in the mechanism of desulfonation.Work was supported by NSF Grant MCB0545048.
The Effects of Serine on Local Motions in 3‐Phosphoglycerate Dehydrogenase
Authors: Falk Bradley , Bell Ellis 
Published: June 2021

3phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase catalyzes the first committed step in serine biosynthesis and the tetrameric enzyme is allosterically inhibited by serine binding to an regulatory domain some 60A from the active site. To investigate the role that ligand induced changes in local motion may play in serine inhibition, local flexibility has been studied using limited proteolysis approaches of both the native protein and a D264N mutation that we have previously shown lacks serine inhibition but binds serine normally. These studies are complemented by an analysis of temperature factors from the crystal structures of native and serine inhibited enzyme and an analysis of the effects of serine on the strength of subunit interactions by dynamic light scattering in the presence and absence of guanidine hydrochloride. Together these approaches shown serine induced changes in local flexibility of the protein rather than simple rotation of rigid domains.This research is supported by a Grant from the National Science Foundation: MCB 0448905 to EB
Using Research in a First Year Biology Class to Promote Critical Thinking
Authors: Bell Ellis 
Published: June 2021

In their first semester students interested in majoring in the life sciences take an "Introduction to Biological Thinking" class to expose them to critical thinking and research questions and skills as well as some basic chemistry and biology. In the early part of the semester students are also introduced to the primary literature. Using National Science Foundation funded research on Malate Dehydrogenase, students learn how to analyze clustal results, develop a hypothesis and design a mutant to test the hypothesis. The students write a proposal and conduct the research before giving a presentation of the outcomes of the work. In the early part of the course and at the end of the course students are assessed for their understanding of what it takes to develop a hypothesis and design appropriate experiments to test the hypothesis and on their ability to use the primary literature. Significant gains in these skills are found. A number of the students go on to start independent research projects with faculty, and over 90% of the students indicate that they have a much better appreciation for what it takes to do science.This research is supported by a Grant from the National Science Foundation: MCB 0448905 to EB
Muscle Regeneration utilizing ECM, MSCs and mechanical loading
Authors: Farrar Roger P. , Song Tae J , Hammers David W , Merritt Edward K , Walters Thomas J 
Published: June 2021

Previously we, (Merritt et al, 2008), reported that an implantation of a decellularized extracellular cellular matrix (ECM) into a skeletal muscle defect of 1 x 1 cm of the lateral gastrocnemius (GAST) of Lewis rats, would stimulate partial recovery of muscle function. With an ECM repair, the maximal force of the lateral GAST with a defect was 80.7% ± 8.4, 77.4% ± 4.2, and 84.0% ± 3.6 of the non‐operated limb at 7,14 and 28 days. These data suggest that after 28 days of recovery from a defect injury, the lateral GAST does not recover full functionality. In the current study we infused bone marrow derived mesenchymal cells (MSCs) into the defect area with an inserted ECM and mechanically loaded the muscle utilizing the ladder climb training regime described by (Lee et al, 2004). These rats underwent resistance training every third day for 6 weeks. The resistance‐trained GAST with the ECM and infused MSCs demonstrated total recovery of mass and function with values of 1220 ±30mg and tetanic specific tension, 21.1±1.1 (N/cm2), X±SEM, respectively. These values were not different than the contralateral lateral head of the GAST of the rats that underwent resistance training. They are, however, significantly greater than defect muscles of sedentary rats with ECM and infused MSCs (Merritt et al 2009).Funded in part by a DOD grant, DAMD W81XWH‐06‐1‐0540, to RPF
A novel method to quantify contribution of electrical restitution to alternans of repolarization in cardiac myocytes: A simulation study
Authors: Traxel Stuart Joseph , Patwardhan Abhijit 
Published: June 2021

There is evidence that alternans of repolarization, i.e. a beat to beat alternation in the action potential duration (APD), is a precursor to ventricular fibrillation. Electrical restitution is considered important in predicting the onset of alternans in cardiac myocytes. Restitution predicts action potential duration (APD) based on the preceding diastolic interval (DI). Determining how much restitution contributes to alternans is not possible with existing methods. We used mathematical models and control of DI using a novel pacing protocol to quantify DI dependent contribution to alternans. Using the canine ventricular model (CVM), we paced at one end of the simulated tissue and found the DI dependent contribution as a rate of increase in the amplitude of alternans as a function of tissue length. Through manipulation of different ionic currents, we compared the new method with standard and dynamic restitution to quantify the contribution of different ionic currents towards DI independent and dependent components. When the L‐type calcium current was altered, we found non‐conformal changes between standard restitution and our method at a controlled DI value of 30 msec. These results suggest that the new method allows for unmasking of features of mechanisms of alternans not seen with current methods.Supported by grant CBET 0730450 from the National Science Foundation.