The influence of zinc status on the expression of p53, the human tumor suppressor gene, as well as other proteins that may be involved in p53 stability were examined in hepatoblastoma cells (HepG2). Cells were cultured in the zinc-depleted and supplemented media. Chelex 100 resin, a divalent ion-chelating resin, was used to deplete zinc from fetal bovine serum FBS. The Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) with 10% chelexed FBS, containing 0.2 μmol/L and 0.4 μmol/L zinc added were termed the zinc deficient ZD0.2 and ZD0.4 media, respectively. The other media consisted of the zinc-normal (ZN), zinc-adequate (ZA), and zinc supplement (ZS) groups, contained 4, 16, and 32 μmol/L zinc, respectively. Cells growth was depressed only in ZD0.2 cells to 78% of ZN cells. As compared to ZN cells, cellular zinc levels were reduced 67% and 56% in ZD0.2 and ZD0.4, respectively, but increased 84% and 127% in ZA and ZS cells, respectively. Nuclear p53 levels were almost 100% and 40% higher in ZD0.2 and ZD0.4 cells, respectively, than ZN cells. In contrast, p53 mRNA abundance was increased 40% in ZD0.4 cells and depressed 60% in ZD0.2 cells as compared with ZN cells. No differences in nuclear p53 protein and p53 mRNA levels were observed among ZN, ZA, and ZS cells. Total cellular and nuclear p21 protein, a major downstream p53 target, as well as p21 mRNA levels were markedly reduced in ZD0.2 and ZD0.4 cells, but were not altered in ZA and ZS cells, when compared to ZN cells. Mdm2 protein, which modulates p53 nuclear export and degradation, was more than twofold higher in the nuclear of ZD0.2 and ZD0.4 cells as compared to ZN cells. In contrast, Mdmx, known to bind Mdm2 and interfere with Mdm2-dependent p53 nuclear export, was depressed in the cytoplasm but not in the nucleus of ZD0.2 and ZD0.4 cells as compared with ZN cells. Moreover, c-Abl, capable of binding mdm2 and enhancing its nuclear accumulation in a p53-independent manner, was not alter in the total but lower in the nucleus of ZD0.2 and ZD0.4 cells than in ZN cells. However, the amount of Mdm2 bound to p53 was depressed and that bound to Mdmx and c-Abl were increased in ZD0.2 and ZD0.4 cells. In zinc deficiency, the reduced binding of Mdm2 to p53 may have resulted from the observed enhanced phosphorylation of p53 at serine 15 and 392, and Mdm2 tyrosine phosphorylation. Most importantly, the accumulation of nuclear p53 in ZD0.2 and ZD0.4 may have resulted from the marked reduction in the nuclear p300, a platform for bringing Mdm2, p53, and other factors together, for p53 nuclear export and degradation.

This study assesses the nutritional status of Sudanese adolescent girls and examines the determinants of this nutritional status. To represent distinctive socioeconomic classes, the sample included 767 subjects, 11-18 year-old students attending private and public schools in Khartoum (the capital). Anthropometric measurements revealed that there are no significant differences in the heights of the girls in the two schools. However, underweight is common among public school girls (25%), while overweight is common among the private school girls (23%). Questionnaire data showed that the strongest determinants of the girl's nutritional status were whether she attained menarche, her health, mother's estimated weight, whether her mother drives a car and whether her father owns a car. Prevalence of weight changing behavior was common (at the time of the study, 28% were trying to gain weight and 20% were trying to lose weight). A tendency toward normal body weight was detected. Intentions of the girls to change their weights were strongly affected by the girl's body mass index as well as her poor body image. Family influences (advice, encouragement and attempts of parents to change their own weight) were found to play a big role in the girl's decisions to change her weight. Sudanese adolescent girls from both private and public schools are concerned about their body weight. Thus, this study provides information that can be used to enhance nutrition interventions targeting Sudanese adolescent girls.

Phosphate plays a critical role in the body as a constituent of bone and tooth for body development, and as a urinary buffer for pH in body acid-base balance regulation. The phosphorus level in blood in human is between 3.0 to 4.5 mg/dl. When the blood phosphate concentration is lower than 2.5 mg/dl, the person develops hypophosphatemia. When the blood phosphate concentration is higher than 4.5 mg/dl, the person develops hyperphosphatemia. It is critically important for the body to control the phosphate level in blood and maintain the phosphate homeostasis. The kidney and the intestine are the important sites to regulate phosphate homeostasis. This dissertation research was to explore the transporter gene(s) involved in the intestinal sodium-dependent phosphate absorption in human and to investigate the role of sodium-phosphate (NaPi) transporters in phosphate homeostatic regulation. The research was performed to test the hypothesis that the sodium-dependent phosphate (NaPi) cotransporter is involved in the phosphate absorption in intestine and various physiological regulators modulate the activity of this transporter. A cDNA encoding a novel human small intestinal Na⁺-P i transporter was isolated from a human intestinal cDNA library. This cDNA encodes a 689 amino acid polypeptide which is different from the renal NaPi cotransporters. This human intestinal NaPi cotransporter gene was mapped to human chromosome 4p15.1--p15.3 by the F̲luorescence I̲n-S̲itu H̲y̲bridization (FISH) method. The human intestinal NaPi cotransporter gene structure was studied by screening a human genomic DNA library. This gene contains 12 exons and 11 introns. There were two transcription initiation sites identified by primer extension. In vivo and in vitro studies showed that the intestinal NaPi cotransporter gene expression is regulated by EGF and vitamin D3. EGF inhibits NaPi-cotransporter gene expression, while vitamin D3 stimulates NaPi-cotransporter gene expression. From these studies, I concluded that the intestinal sodium-dependent phosphate absorption is mainly mediated by intestinal NaPi cotransporters (NaPi-IIb), and this transporter is modulated by various physiological regulators in order to maintain the phosphate homeostasis.

Copper (Cu) deficiency was induced in rats and Hep G2 cells by the use of a Cu-deficient diet and a cupruretic chelator, respectively. In the rat liver, Cu-deficiency did not alter the apo A-I mRNA abundance, but shifted significant amounts of mRNA to translationally more active fractions. These findings indicated that an increase in translational efficiency may contribute to the increase in hepatic apo A-I synthesis observed in Cu-deficient rats. In Hep G2 cells, Cu-depletion elevated the cytoplasmic apo A-I mRNA abundance by 1.5-fold. A 2.5-fold increased transcription rate and a 2-fold accelerated mRNA decay were also established in Cu-depleted cells. These changes appeared to be specific to Cu depletion, because they were reversed by Cu repletion. Moreover, the cytoplasmic mRNA abundance of HNF-4, a major transcription activator of apo A-I gene, was elevated by 1.6-fold in Cu-depleted cells. Thus the elevated cellular apo A-I mRNA level may have resulted from an accelerated mRNA turnover, and subsequently contributed to the enhanced apo A-I synthesis and secretion observed in Cu-depleted cells. Zinc (Zn) deficiency was induced in animals and Hep G2 cells by the use of Zn-deficient diet and medium, respectively. Plasma HDL apo A-I levels was reduced 18% in hamsters and 13% in rats. Whereas Zn repletion normalized plasma apo A-I to the control level in hamsters and increased it by 34% in rats. No treatment difference was detected in the intestinal apo A-I mRNA abundance in both species, although the hepatic abundance was reduced by 18% and 55% in Zn-deficient hamsters and rats, respectively. Subsequent Zn-repletion normalized the mRNA abundance to the control level in hamsters and elevated it by 41% in rats. As compared to control Hep G2 cells, the cellular Zn content and apo A-I mRNA abundance were reduced by 55% and 20% in Zn-depleted cells, but increased by 64% and 11% in Zn-supplemented cells, respectively. Furthermore, Zn-repletion completely normalized the effects of Zn-depletion. Thus the depletion of hepatic Zn content may cause the reductions in hepatic apo A-I mRNA abundance and plasma apo A-I pool observed in Zn deficiency.

<p> Overconsumption of food and drink can lead to overweight and obesity, which in turn can lead to chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Current data show that two-thirds of the adult population in the United States is overweight or obese. A research study was conducted at the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a sample of 148 students. The goal of the study was to examine the relationships between weight status, self-reported eating behavior, and temporal discounting. To assess these constructs, self-reported eating behavior measures and a temporal discounting measure (which assesses impulsivity and the ability to delay gratification) were used. </p><p> The first hypothesis proposed higher BMI would be significantly related with greater impulsivity as determined by temporal discounting rates. The second hypothesis proposed that higher BMI would be significantly related with increased eating-related disinhibition, decreased diet restricting, decreased healthful habits, and increased hunger-related behavior. The third hypothesis proposed that individuals with greater impulsivity would report increased eating-related disinhibition, decreased diet restricting, decreased healthful habits, and increased hunger-related behavior. </p><p> In evaluating the first hypothesis, the study results found no significant relationship between BMI and impulsivity (determined by temporal discounting rates) for this sample. However, for the second hypothesis, it was concluded that an increase in BMI was weakly related to an increase in dietary restraint (i.e, meal planning) and eating-related disinhibition (i.e., not being able to stop eating or keep oneself from eating). The study results for the third hypothesis also concluded that as impulsivity increase was weakly related to an increase in hunger-related behavior and feelings (i.e., feeling hungry; eating related to hunger). </p><p> Overall, it was expected that there would be stronger correlations between BMI, self-reported eating behavior, and temporal discounting rates. Further research is needed to understand better the relationship between obesity and temporal discounting.</p>

<p> The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of the Stoplight Diet on triglyceride (TO) levels. Additionally, this study investigated the efficacy by mode of intervention (Usual Care MOVE!, ASPIRE-Group, ASPIRE-Phone). Specifically, this study examined the percent change in TO levels by: (a) percent change in the consumption of "red" foods and (b) mode of intervention (Usual Care MOVE!, ASPIRE-Group, ASPIRE-Phone).</p><p> In this study, 84 purposely selected participant log books were collected from the three ASPIRE-VA study groups: Usual Care MOVE!, ASPIRE-Group, and ASPIRE-Phone. Among those selected, 18 were excluded from this study due to incomplete meal records (3 or more entire days missing) or absent TO measurements, thus resulting in a total of 66 participants who were analyzed; 27 from ASPIRE-Phone, 22 from ASPIRE-Group, and 17 from Usual Care MOVE!. Data on participants' TO levels and dietary intake of red foods was analyzed at baseline and 3 months which was then coded and entered into SPSS (version 20.0, 2012).</p>

<p> Abstract not available.</p>

We investigated the ability of CYP2D6 to catalyze dextromethorphan O-demethylation in acetonitrile, chloroform, cyclohexane, and dichloromethane. Interestingly, in acetonitrile 20% activity was recovered. / We next carried in vitro studies on the inhibitory effect of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide on human P450s involved in drug metabolism (CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, CYP2E1 and CYP3A4). At their therapeutic level, nicotinic acid inhibits CYP2D6 (Ki = 19 +/- 4 mM) whereas nicotinamide inhibits CYP2D6 (Ki = 3.8 +/- 0.3 mM), CYP2E1 (Ki = 13 +/- 8 mM) and CYP3A4 (Ki = 13 +/- 3 mM). / Finally, we have analyzed the different fractions (flavonoids and terpenoids) of a standardized Ginkgo biloba extract (EBG761) for their inhibition of the same human P450s as above. Our study shows that the flavonoidic fraction strongly inhibits these enzymes, especially CYP2C9 (Ki = 4.6 +/- 0.6 mM).

<p> The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate the effectiveness of three weight loss intervention methods on change in behavior and weight status among participants. Specifically, this study examined the differential effectiveness of intervention type on changing consumption of "red light foods," "yellow light foods," and "green light foods" from baseline to three months. This thesis also examined the differential effectiveness of intervention type on changing weight status of participants from baseline to three months. A total of 68 food logs with the corresponding participant anthropometric measurements were analyzed for this thesis. Results showed that participants in the ASPIRE group + phone had a significant change in red food consumption compared to that of the MOVE! group. A significant change in yellow food consumption was also found for ASPIRE group + phone compared to those of the ASPIRE phone only group. A relationship between weight status and intervention type was not found. This thesis shows that the Stoplight diet coupled with a small changes approach is beneficial for changing food choices leading to a decrease in caloric intake and potential weight loss.</p>

<p> The high prevalence and high costs of overweight or obesity in the United States, especially among veterans, presents a need for implementation of an effective weight loss program. Currently, Veteran Affairs hospitals use a weight loss and health promotion program called MOVE!, which has had problems with implementation and attendance. A new program called Aspiring to Lifelong Health in VA (ASPIRE) uses the Stop Light Diet (SLD) and the small change approach, and has been associated with significant weight loss and attainable implementation practices. This study reviews a 7 day food journal and weight change for 73 participants from both the MOVE! and ASPIRE programs within a three month time span. Particularly, change in consumption of foods based on the SLD categories and weight change were analyzed among participants in the two programs. Both programs resulted in significant weight loss (baseline to 3 months). The ASPIRE program was associated with an increase in "green foods," or fruits and vegetables, whereas the MOVE! program was not. When implementing a weight loss and health promotion program for the veteran population, a program using the concept of the SLD as well as providing a coach for the participants to set small and attainable dietary goals, using the small change approach, may help the participants increase their intake of fruits and vegetables, and decrease their intake of high calorie high fat foods in order to ultimately improve health and increase the chance for weight loss.</p>