bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cardiometabolic risk factors in Puerto Rican adults
Authors: VanRompay Maria I. , Castaneda‐Sceppa Carmen , McKeown Nicola M , Ordovas Jose M , Tucker Katherine L 
Published: June 2021

Puerto Ricans have prevalent type 2 diabetes (T2D), but few studies have examined this population. We classified 1289 Puerto Rican adults in the Boston area, aged 45 to 75 years, by T2D, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and normal fasting glucose (NFG). We found high prevalence of T2D (39%) and IFG (24%), which were associated with lower education and physical activity, and greater lipid‐lowering and antihypertensive medication use, relative to NFG. Overall obesity (BMI = 30) and central obesity (waist circumference (WC) > 102 cm, men; > 88 cm, women) were prevalent, and higher with T2D (67.2% and 79.3%, respectively) and IFG (57.3% and 70.4%) than NFG (43.9% and 61.2%, each P < 0.0001). Of the total sample, 59‐73% had low HDL cholesterol (= 40 mg/dl men; = 50 women), 33‐70% hypertriglyceridemia (= 200 mg/dl), and 12‐32% both low HDL and hypertriglyceridemia. Of those with T2D, 73.6% had HbA1c = 7%, and 66.3% systolic blood pressure = 130 mmHg, despite frequent use of oral hypoglycemic (55.5%), insulin (25.9%) and antihypertensive medications (76.3%). Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) was significantly associated with BMI and WC and, inversely, with HDL in those with IFG and NFG. Interventions to improve the risk profile in this group are needed.This study was supported by NIH PO 5P01‐AG023394 and by the USDA, Agriculture Research Institute agreement number 58‐1950‐7‐707.
Effect of high omega‐3 fatty acid diet on markers of breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women
Authors: Orr Lindsay Rae , Redmon J Bruce , Kurzer Mindy S , Raatz Susan K 
Published: June 2021

ObjectiveThe primary objective is to determine whether diets designed to increase plasma omega‐3 fatty acid (n3) levels (a low fat diet, with or without n3), will affect sex hormone distribution in postmenopausal women in a direction associated with reduced risk of breast cancer.MethodsWe are conducting a well‐controlled feeding study to evaluate dietary fat and fatty acid effects. The diets tested in 8 week feeding periods include a "high risk" American diet (40% fat) (HF), a low fat diet (20% fat) (LF) and a low fat diet with 3% n3 (23% fat) (LFn3). Plasma estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), estrone sulfate (E1‐S), testosterone (T), androstenedione (AS), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) from baseline and 8 weeks of each diet were analyzed by radio‐immunoassay for 10 participants.ResultsSHBG levels were significantly increased at 8 weeks with LFn3 compared to LF (p < 0.05), and there was a trend for decreased DHEAS level at 8 weeks with LFn3 compared to LF (p < 0.15). A trend for increased E2 was observed with HF compared to both LF and LFn3 at 8 weeks (p < 0.15).ConclusionsPreliminary data suggest that LFn3 alters estrogen metabolism in a direction associated with reducing breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women.This study was supported by DOD W81XWH‐06‐1‐0778, DOD W81XWH0410448, NIH/NCRR MO1‐00400.Grant Funding SourceDOD W81XWH‐06‐1‐0778, DOD W81XWH0410448, NIH/NCRR MO1‐00400
Momordica charantia improves body weight and glucose tolerance in mice fed high fat diet.
Authors: Pina Fatima , Brown Angela , Luebcke Emily , Perkins‐Veazie Penny , Clarke Stephen , Kuvibidila Solo , Hill Molly , Lightfoot Stanley , Smith Brenda , Lucas Edralin 
Published: June 2021

Obesity and diabetes are major public health concerns in the US and worldwide. A high fat diet contributes significantly in the development of these diseases. Momordica charantia (MC), also known as bitter melon, is a widely consumed vegetable in Asia and has hypoglycemic properties. This study compared the effects of freeze‐dried MC with the PPARγ agonist‐ rosiglitazone (rosi), and the known PPARα agonist‐ fenofibrate (feno), on body weight and glucose using a mouse model of diet‐induced obesity. Eight wk old male C57BL/6 mice were randomized to 8 dietary treatment groups (n=20/group): control diet (ad lib), control diet (pair fed), high fat (HF) diet, HF + 1% MC (w/w), HF + 10% MC (w/w), HF+1% MC seeds (w/w), HF + rosi (50mg/kg diet), and HF + feno (500mg/kg diet) for 8 wks. Significant differences in body weights were observed within one week of beginning the experimental diet. The final body weights of mice receiving the 10% MC were similar to the mice receiving the control diet (ad lib). Rosiglitazone and 1% MC were not able to reduce body weight; however, fenofibrate and MC seeds mildly reduced body weight. HF fed mice exhibited the highest percent body fat. Interestingly, 10% MC prevented the increase in adiposity due to high fat diet. A high fat diet containing 10% MC, similar to rosiglitazone, normalized blood glucose after a glucose tolerance test. Fenofibrate caused an enlargement of liver which was not observed in other treatment groups. The mechanism by which MC modulates glucose and body weight warrants further investigation. (Supported by USDA, #2008‐35200‐18692)Grant Funding SourceUSDA
Characterization of porcine betaine homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) and betaine homocysteine methyltransferase ‐2 (BHMT2) genes
Authors: Ganu Radhika Sudhir , Garrow Timothy A , Sodhi Monika , Schook Lawrence B 
Published: June 2021

Betaine homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) and BHMT‐2 methylate homocysteine using betaine or S‐methylmethionine, respectively. These enzyme activities are found only in the liver of adult rodents, but in the liver and kidney of adult humans and pigs. Using a pig model, we seek to understand the developmental expression pattern of these enzymes in different porcine organs. Immunohistochemical staining revealed the presence of BHMT in adult liver and kidney cortex, as reported earlier, and also in fetal lungs (aged days 30, 60, 84, 90, 105). Full length cDNA of BHMT and BHMT‐2 were cloned and sequenced, and the 5' and 3' UTRs were amplified using RLM‐RACE. BHMT has a longer 5' and 3' UTR, consisting of 77 and 1142 nucleotides, whereas BHMT‐2 consisted of 17 and 893 nucleotides respectively. The predicted primary sequences of BHMT and BHMT‐2 contain 407 and 363 amino acids, respectively, and share 78% amino acid identity. Relative to BHMT‐2, BHMT has two additional regions of amino acid sequence; a 9 amino acid sequence (86‐94) in the N‐terminal region, and 34 amino acid sequence (373‐407) at the carboxy terminus. Preliminary sequencing results identified two isoforms of liver BHMT gene resulting from alternative splicing of 5' UTR. BHMT enzymes are organ/developmental stage‐dependent and further sequence analysis might reveal new splice variants that result in different protein functions.Grant Funding SourceUSDA AG 2008‐34480‐19328 & USDA‐ARS 538 AG58‐5438‐7‐317l
Cloning and characterization of 3‐hydroxyacyl‐CoA dehydrogenase from Micrococcus luteus WIUJH20
Authors: Huang Jenq‐Kuen , Dhungana Babu R , Robinson Stephanie A , Wen Lisa 
Published: June 2021

Soapstock is a by‐product of edible oil refining process with low cash value. It is rich in oleic and linoleic acids which can be converted to value‐added compounds by certain microorganisms. Nocardia cholesterolicum NRRL 5767 (N. cholesterolicum NRRL 5767) is a well‐known microbe that can transform oleic acid to 10‐hydroxyoctadecanoic acid (10‐HOOD, 85%) and 10‐oxo‐octadecanoic (10‐OXOD, 10%). The 10‐OXOD contaminant complicates downstream purification of 10‐OHOD. The conversion reactions are catalyzed by oleate dehydrogenase and secondary alcohol dehydrogenase. The long‐term goal is strain improvement of N. cholesterolicum NRRL 5767 by blocking 2‐ADH to create an industrially useful microbe for the production of 10‐OHOD from oleic acid. M. luteus was used for 2‐ADH purification due to its lack of oleate hydratase which hampered the purification of 2‐ADH from N. cholesterolicum NRRL 5767.The 2‐ADH from M. luteus WIUJH20 has been purified to homogeneity and its N‐terminal sequence determined. Using BLAST search tool, the 2‐ADH gene has been identified as belonging to the 3‐hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase superfamily. The gene has been amplified by PCR and cloned into pGEX2T. The recombinant 2‐ADH protein has been overexpressed in E. coli, purified, and its Km and Vmax determined.Supported in part by grants from USDA CSREES 04‐35504‐14712 and 02‐015470.
The Effects of Loop Mutations on the Activity and Regulation of Malate Dehydrogenase
Authors: Hedrick Shannon , Bell Ellis 
Published: June 2021

Malate Dehydrogenase catalyzes the reversible reduction of Oxaloacetate using NADH, a reaction that plays a critical role in both cytosolic and mitochondrial metabolism. The reaction is regulated by both substrate inhibition and by citrate both of which appear to involve subunit communication in the homodimeric enzyme. To investigate the role that various turn regions in the molecule play in both catalysis and regulation we have, based upon clustal analysis, designed a variety of mutations to probe the role of specific residues in three specific turn regions, two near the subunit interface [residues 91‐95 and residues 203‐209‐ which appear to interact across the subunit interface] and one near the active site [residues 124‐129]. The mutations are expressed using a pQE vector and the proteins purified using Ni‐NTA resin. Initial rate kinetic studies show that various mutants affect Vmax, Km(NADH), Km(Oxaloacetate) or the substrate inhibition observed at high oxaloacetate concentrations as well as the ability of citrate to regulate the activity. The results further implicate subunit interactions as a critical component of the activity and regulation of the enzyme.Supported by NSF Grant MCB 0448905 to EB
Pre‐partum nutrition extremes impair post‐partum maternal glucose utilization in sheep
Authors: McKnight Jason R. , Satterfield M. Carey , Bazer Fuller W. , Spencer Thomas E. , Wu Guoyao 
Published: June 2021

This study determined whether malnourishment and obesity during gestation affect post‐partum maternal glucose utilization. At 120 days prior to gestation, ewes had free access to feed (induction of obesity) or received 100% of NRC nutrient requirements (control group). Beginning on day 45 of gestation, 50% of the obese ewes were restricted to 65% of NRC nutrient requirements. Following parturition, all but 6 ewes (who remained to have free access to feed) were re‐alimented to 100% of NRC nutrient requirements. At post partum day (PPD) 1 and 150, a glucose tolerance test was administered to ewes. At PPD 1 and 150, glucose uptake by both the obese and nutrient‐restricted (NR) ewes was impaired (P<0.05) in comparison with control ewes. Concentrations of glucose in plasma were greater (P<0.05) for NR and obese ewes than control ewes at 10 min post glucose administration, as well as at 15 min for NR ewes and at 30 min for obese ewes. These results indicate that both nutritional extremes negatively reduce glucose utilization by mothers and that this problem cannot be ameliorated by realimentation over a period of 5 months post‐partum. Supported by NIH and USDA grants and TAMU Faculty of Nutrition.Grant Funding Source: NIH and USDA
High Fat Diet Induces Expression of Cell Cycle Control Gene p16 In the Liver of Obesity Prone Rats Through Epigenetic Modifications
Authors: Zhang Xiyuan , Pan Yuan‐Xiang 
Published: June 2021

ObjectivesProliferation of cells is important in the repair and growth of tissues. Our bodies' ability to regenerate tissues decreases as we age. Because of ongoing epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes, it's important to find out if high fat diet affects liver regenerate function in obese population.MethodsObesity Prone (OP) and Obesity Resistant (OR) rats were fed with high fat diet containing 45 kcal% fat, 35 kcal% carbohydrate and 20 kcal% protein for 3 months. To investigate whether cell cycle control genes were affected by high fat diet, livers from both OP and OR rats were collected and used to isolate RNA, protein, and chromatin. Quantitative real‐time PCR, Western blot and chromatin immunoprecipitation were performed for the analysis of the cell cycle genes.ResultsOur analysis demonstrates for the first time that high fat diet causes a five‐fold increase of p16 (Ink4a) mRNA (p=0.03) in the liver of male OP rats. Acetylation of histone H4, but not H3, at the promoter region is also significantly increased in male OP rats (p=0.003), which may reveal the molecular mechanism of p16 up‐regulation.ConclusionsExpression of p16 (Ink4a) increases with age in tissues. Significant increase of p16 expression level in the liver of OP rats by high fat diet suggests that high fat diet may lead to an decline in the regenerative capabilities of the liver maintained by p16 (Ink4a).Grant Funding Source: USDA
Comparison of sodium and potassium intake and excretion: Results from the AMPM Validation Study
Authors: Rhodes Donna G , Clemens John C , Murayi Theophile , Moshfegh Alanna J 
Published: June 2021

Due to their relationship to hypertension, reliable assessments for sodium and potassium intake in populations are important. Although a 24hr urinary excretion for each nutrient is believed to provide the best estimate of intake, few studies have used these biomarkers to evaluate the accuracy of a dietary instrument. The purpose of this research is to compare self‐reported dietary intake of sodium and potassium and their corresponding 24hr urinary excretion in the US Department of Agriculture Automated Multiple‐Pass Method (AMPM) Validation Study. The AMPM, used to collect 24hr recalls in What We Eat in America, NHANES, was validated in a large doubly labeled water study and shown to reduce bias in the collection of energy intakes in a study population that included 524 men and women, aged 30–69 years. Using data from subjects (n=465) who completed at least one 24hr dietary recall plus collected a complete 24hr urine during the same period, the validity of sodium and potassium intake is assessed. Reporting accuracy, calculated as the ratio of reported intake to that estimated from the corresponding urinary biomarker, is 0.88 for sodium and 0.95 for potassium. For sodium only, there is a decrease (p<0.5) in reporting accuracy between normal weight and obese individuals; 0.99 vs. 0.75, respectively. Estimations of sodium intake are adjusted for discretionary use of salt in cooking but do not quantify salt added at the table.Funding source for this study: ARS, USDA
Mapping of peptides and proteins in Leech (Hirudo medicinalis) by Mass Spectrometry Imaging
Authors: Sistla Srinivas , Bruand Jocelyne , Ghassemian Majid , Bafna Vineet , Gaasterland Terry , Salzet Michel , Macagno Eduardo 
Published: June 2021

Mass Spectrometry imaging (MSI) can be used to obtain the expression profiles of proteins and peptides in various biological tissues under different experimental conditions. In this study, we employed MSI to map the temporal and spatial distributions of many individual molecules in the range of m/z from 1kD to ~10kD in the embryo of the medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis). Distributions with specific characteristics such as selective expression in the central nervous system or localized expression in certain areas of the body wall were selected for further analysis. For sequence identification, leech protein/peptide embryo extracts were prepared using different conditions and run on LC ESI QTOF and on LC MALDI instruments. Peaks corresponding to masses associated with selected distributions were sequenced using database dependent and denovo methods. An interesting example of peptides identified in this manner are proteolytic fragments from histones, protease inhibitors like cystatins and other proteins that have a role in the innate immune system of lower invertebrates.First and second author contributed equally Supported by NSF Grant DBI‐0852081
Effects of allosteric ligands on the folded‐unfolded transitions in GDH: Combining experimental and mathematical modeling approaches
Authors: Lekova Virzhiniya , Bell Ellis 
Published: June 2021

Bovine glutamate dehydrogenase catalyzes the oxidative deamination of L‐Glutamate using NAD(P). The enzyme is extensively regulated by a variety of ligands, including the purine nucleotides ADP and GTP. The current study investigates the effect of cofactor substrates and allosteric regulators on the cooperative unfolding of GDH using both empirical and mathematical modeling approaches. Denaturation using varying concentrations of guanidine hydrochloride was monitored using the fluorescence of the three tryptophan residues per subunit. In addition to these equilibrium measurements, kinetics of the fluorescence changes were used to resolve the detectable unfolding intermediates. The kinetic data at intermediate guanidine hydrochloride concentrations was shown to fit to a 3 exponential decay consistent with an unfolding pathway involving intermediates. The shift in wavelength of maximum emission in the equilibrium experiments, which is due to unfolding, was modeled with nonlinear fit of a sigmoidal curve. The developed mathematical model is a useful tool to quantify the effect of ligands on the cooperativity of unfolding and stability of the protein. The results demonstrate that both cofactors increase the cooperativity of unfolding, with negligible effects on stability.This work is supported by NSF Grant MCB 0448905 to EB
Food and nutrient intakes of Native Hawaiian, Filipino and White children and their caregivers
Authors: Novotny Rachel , Vijayadeva Vinutha , Grove John , Gittelsohn Joel , Murphy Suzanne 
Published: June 2021

This study examined ethnic differences in food and nutrient intake of children and their caregivers in Hawaii. Caregiver‐child pairs were randomly selected from four low income communities with a high proportion of Native Hawaiian children. Socio‐demographic data and one 24 hour food recall (using a modified USDA five‐step multiple pass method) were collected from each pair (n = 156 pairs: 18 White, 28 Filipino, 110 Native Hawaiian). SAS Proc GLM, ANCOVA, CANCORR and M test were used for data analysis. All models adjusted for season. Community, material style of living and caregiver education were not significant in models, and were dropped from final models. Significant ethnic differences in intakes were (always White higher than either Filipino or Native Hawaiian): 1. children: yogurt food group, 2. caregiver's: whole grain, fruit, meat and cheese food group; calcium, potassium, folate and vitamin C nutrient; and dairy and total fat Healthy Eating Index (HEI). Only caregiver nutrient intake differences remained after adjusting for dairy food group intake. Three multivariate caregiver models testing of the effect of ethnic group on food groups combined, nutrient intakes combined, and HEI component scores combined was significant only for nutrient intakes (p=0.004) and HEI component scores (p=0.01). Funding: USDA 2004‐35215‐14252, Hawaii Department of Health 436851.Grant Funding Source: MARC
The Role of Methionine Residues in Activity and Subunit Communication in Malate Dehydrogenase
Authors: Billue Farren , Bell Ellis 
Published: June 2021

Malate Dehydrogenase is a dimeric enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of malate to oxaloacetate in a reaction involving both a hydride transfer [to NAD] and a proton abstraction. The enzyme demonstrates kinetic evidence for the involvement of subunit interactions in the catalytic activity and regulation [by citrate] but little is know concerning the mechanism of communication between the two active sites in the dimer. The subunit interface contains three conserved methionine residues [M62, M64 & M91] that are in close proximity to residues from the opposing subunit [P59, L63, Y273 & I88 as well as between M66 on one subunit and M62 & M91 on the opposing subunit]. These residues together with a Methionine close to the active site [M128] have been mutated using QuikChange mutagenesis to a variety of different amino acids to test their role in subunit communication and catalytic activity. The his‐tagged proteins are expressed, purified using Ni‐NTA affinity chromatography and characterized by MALDI‐tof and Circular Dichroism. The strength of subunit interactions is assessed using guanidine hydrochloride dissociation followed by dynamic light scattering. Initial rate kinetic studies demonstrate changes in both Vmax and Km of various mutants as well as indicating changes in citrate regulation of the protein.This work is supported by NSF Grant MCB 0448905 to EB and an HHMI summer stipend to FB
The Role of G51 and I140 in Glyoxasomal Malate Dehydrogenase
Authors: Jones Rachel , Gruner Rachel , Bell Ellis 
Published: June 2021

Glyoxysomal Malate Dehydrogenase is an enzyme that is crucial to the Krebs Cycle. Clustal analysis determined that G51 and I140 are completely conserved residues in gMDH. G51 is close to P119, and we hypothesized that mutatation to alanine or serine would displace the proline impacting the active site loop. I140 appears to interact with non polar residues around it. To assess the role of these hydrophobic interactions, I140 was mutated to glutamine. Mutants were created using Stratagene® QuickChange protocol. Expressed protein was purified using Ni‐NTA chromatography and kinetic constants were obtained by fitting the data to a Michaelis Menten Equation to give Km and Vmax. G51mutants had higher activity than that of the native gMDH, however the serine mutant affected OAA and Citrate binding, but had no effect on NADH. G51A impacted only NADH binding. The I140Q mutant had a much lower activity and exhibited weaker NADH binding but tighter OAAbinding. This research is being incorporated into multiple lessons appropriate for grades 6–8 in a public school setting to illustrate experimental design and how to properly follow the scientific method, and illustrate the structure and reactivity of molecules.This work is supported by NSF Grant MCB 0448905 to EBWe would also like to thank ASBMB for funding through its k12 teacher program.
Estimates of Body Composition in Drug Naïve Asymptomatic HIV‐infected Rural Kenyan Women
Authors: Ernst Judith Ann , Ettyang Grace , Katschke Adrian , Lewis Brian , Neumann Charlotte 
Published: June 2021

ObjectiveBioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), as a method to estimate fat free mass (FFM) and % body fat (%BF), is compared to the anthropometric (Anthro) method using skinfold (SF) and body circumference (BC) measures in HIV‐infected women in rural Kenya.MethodsIn 138 women, (WHO Stage 1 or 2; CD4 > 250 cells/uL), height, weight, SF, BC and BIA were obtained with standardized procedures. Fat area of the arm (MAFA), muscle area of the arm (MAMA), thigh (MTMA), calf (MCMA) and sum of SF were calculated from standard equations using BC and SF. Estimates of FFM, %BF and total body water (TBW) from BIA measures of resistance were calculated with standard equations.ResultsThe mean (SD) for age, BMI and CD4 was 36.4(7.5) yrs, 22.3(3.6); 11% < 18.5, and 492(191) cells/uL, respectively.
Anthro compared to BIA for estimates of lean and fat mass

Anthro
MAMA
MTMA
MCMA
MAMA
MAFA
Sum
SF

BIA
FFM
FFM
FFM
TBW
%BF
%BF
__

r
0.61
0.70
0.71
0.65
0.84
0.87
__

All correlations p<0.001

ConclusionsBIA, when compared to the method using anthropometry measures, has a strong relationship to fat and lean mass, at baseline, in drug naïve asymptomatic HIV‐infected rural Kenyan women enrolled in an 18 month randomized controlled field trial that measures the impact of added protein and energy on body composition. Supported in part by USAID Grant No. PCE‐G‐00‐98‐00036‐00 and 1R01HD57646‐01A1 (CFDA #93.865)