Type 2 diabetes is a major risk factor in cardiovascular disease especially ischemic heart disease. The American Diabetes Association advocates that all diabetics are at risk for coronary myocardial infarctions (MI). Restoration of blood flow to the area of the myocardium that has undergone ischemia is the most important therapeutic goal in treating MI. However, restoration of blood to the myocardium contributes to further damage to the ischemic area. This phenomenon is known as ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury. Previous studies have found that experimentally induced diabetic animals are more susceptible to I-R injury compared to non-diabetic animals. One reason why diabetic hearts may be more susceptible to I-R injury may be due to the increased oxidative stress in diabetics. Diabetics also suffer from increased blood coagulation possibly due to increased thrombin activity. Thrombin, independent of its role in coagulation, may be contributing to additional myocardial damage following ischemia. This dissertation describes three experiments: First, determine if a non-thrombogenic dose of thrombin impairs cardiac recovery and compliance in isolated non-diabetic rat hearts using a red cell perfusate following 30 minutes of global ischemia. Second, determine if type 2 diabetic rats exhibit increased platelet microparticle formation (PMP), increased thrombin activity and increased coagulability. Third, determine if MI's were larger in diabetic rat hearts compared to non-diabetics and if vitamin E reduced MI size and improve cardiac function following coronary artery occlusion. We found that a non-thrombogenic thrombin dose significantly reduced recovery from global I-R and reduced myocardial compliance. Thrombin may act as a contributing factor in cardiovascular pathology independent of its role in coagulation. We found that thrombin production is increased 30 fold in type 2 diabetic rats compared to non-diabetic rats and PMP production is significantly increased in diabetics possibly resulting in a hypercoagulable state. Finally, we show that MI's are significantly larger in type 2 diabetic hearts compared to non-diabetics. Treatment with Vitamin E significantly reduced MI size and improved left ventricular function in treated diabetic rats compared to non-treated rats. These results help to explain the increased cardiovascular injury seen in the diabetic heart. Vitamin E may be a useful adjuvant to help diabetics reduce oxidative stress, minimizing cardiac damage done by oxidation compounds and activated blood coagulation components in the diabetic heart.

Pasta was produced from soft wheat supplemented with cowpea. Acid detergent fiber values increased from 0.4% in the soft wheat pasta (SWP) to 1.1% in the 30% cowpea pasta (CP). Cowpea supplementation provided an increase in total and available lysine from 42 to 113% and 39 to 117%, respectively. Chemical scores for preschool children increased from 56 in the SWP to 89 in the 30% CP. For school children the 20% CP provided a score of 102. The in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD) of cowpea was lower than that of soft wheat; as a result cowpea reduced the IVPD of SWP from 84% to a value of 78% for the 30% CP. The protein content of SWP was 10.9% while the CP ranged from 11.3 to 14.2%. Considering IVPD values, SWP contained 9.2% digestible protein and CP from 9.2 to 11.1%. After cooking, only the 30% CP displayed trypsin inhibitor activity. Upon visual examination, cowpea improved the color of SP making it comparable to the durum semolina control (DSC) but lacking its translucency. A sensory panel reported no difference in acceptability among treatments. Cooked weights were similar to the SWP, except with 30% replacement when a decrease was observed. CP, after 10 minutes of cooking demonstrated reduced loss as supplementation was increased. After 20 minutes all treatments had similar cooking loss compared to the SP. All treatments displayed cooking quality results significantly different from the DSC.

There is a lack of knowledge on the effect of an oral stimulation program, prior to the introduction of oral feeding, in preterm infants who are less than 30 weeks gestational age. The objective of this study was to assess whether a prefeeding oral stimulation program enhances the oral feeding performance of preterm infants born between 26--29 weeks gestational age. / A randomized trial was carried out. Thirty-two infants completed the study. The experimental group received the oral stimulation program. The control group received the sham stimulation program. The outcome measures were defined as: time to attain independent oral feeding, overall intake, rate of milk transfer (ml/min), maturation of sucking and length of stay at the hospital. / The experimental group attained independent oral feeding faster and demonstrated consistently greater overall intake and rate of milk transfer than the control group, as their oral feeding regimen was advanced. These findings are attributed in part to a more mature sucking pattern observed in the experimental group. There was no difference in length of stay at the hospital between the two groups. / This study demonstrates that an early oral stimulation program can enhance the development of sucking. This supports the concept that development of sucking is dependent on both physiological maturation and external experiences. Such a program may be included in neonatal developmental care plans because it is safe, simple and inexpensive.

Smoking and low fruit and vegetable intake (LFVI) are correlated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer, two leading causes of death in Canada and the U.S. The prevalence of smoking in Canadian and U.S. female adolescents has risen in the past ten years. Recent surveillance data also show that Canadian and U.S. female adolescents consume levels of fruit and vegetables far below national recommendations. The correlates of current smoking and LFVI among adolescent girls were investigated in a secondary data analysis of a multi-stage, stratified, cluster sample school survey of 13 and 16 year-old girls in Quebec, called the Quebec Children and Adolescent Health and Social Survey (QCAHS). Data were collected from 80.2% of eligible 13 year-old females and 81.4% of eligible 16 year-old females. Multivariate logistic analysis was used. Our results could be used to identify adolescent females at increased risk for smoking and LFVI. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

<p> The purpose of this project was to develop a garden-enhanced nutrition curriculum for educators of students in the fourth and fifth grades. The goals of this curriculum were to provide literature related to farm-to-school initiatives, to increase educators&rsquo; and students&rsquo; knowledge about farm-to-school programs through an evidence-based nutrition education curriculum, and to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among the students. </p><p> The curriculum, Let&rsquo;s Grow!, was created addressing perceived barriers that prevent the implementation of school gardens that may further encourage fruit and vegetable intake in children. Though intended to specifically reach students in Los Angeles, the curriculum may be used outside this urban setting. </p><p> The curriculum consists of nutrition lessons and gardening activities relating to topics identified from literature reviews. An expert-review panel reviewed the curriculum, having critiqued the literature, and provided feedback. Evaluation forms for the curriculum were created to assess the overall value of the program.</p>

No description available.

<p> The purpose of this study was to assess user preference of three smartphone applications, My Net Diary, My Fitness Pal, and Lose It. Applications across different smartphone platforms were used. Specifically the study evaluated users' view regarding the app's (a) convenience, (b) satisfaction with the nutrient analysis reports, and (c) perceived behavior change.</p><p> Participants (n=50) were obtained from Introductory Nutrition Classes at California State University, Long Beach and assigned an app to use for a duration of2 weeks. After that time an email was sent including a link to the Survey Monkey questionnaire. The results, using ANOVAs, indicated no significant differences between the apps in users' view regarding (a) convenience, (b) satisfaction with the nutrient analysis reports, and (c) perceived behavior change. The insignificant results could be attributed to the fact that these apps are widely popular and cited on top 10 lists. Further study is warranted. </p>

<p> Participation in a resistance training program requires proper nutrition timing to gain the results desired. The purpose of this research is to determine if there are strength gain differences in women when the timing of consuming a BCAA plus carbohydrate supplement is manipulated. The study will consist of a four week training program. Subjects will meet for three sessions per week and consist of 10-20 strength trained women. Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of three groups. One group consumed the BCAA-CHO supplement during exercise, one group consumed the BCAA-CHO supplement immediately after exercise and the other group consumed a placebo. Each session will consist of a five minute warm up followed by a periodized strength training program. The three groups will be compared to determine if there is a difference in strength and muscle hypertrophy when the ingestion time of BCAA-CHO differs.</p>

<p> Population based descriptive studies, clinical trials, and evidence analysis of the literature have identified regular breakfast consumption as opposed to breakfast omission, as a habit independently associated with a more healthy weight. Recent studies have identified differences in insulin sensitivity and satiety hormones between breakfast eating and skipping groups, which help to explain the association between breakfast consumption and weight regulation. Evaluation of fasting insulin sensitivity, behavior, and the postprandial satiety response between breakfast groups were used to further elucidate the physiologic response to skipping breakfast. </p><p> First, through a review of the literature the proposed physiologic response to consuming breakfast as well as omitting breakfast is presented. A connection is made between the satiety hormone response and key components of the breakfast meal, which include composition, caloric load, energy density, volume, and time of day. The review findings suggest that breakfast consumption as opposed to breakfast omission stimulates a physiologic response that may help promote a healthy body weight. </p><p> Chapter 2 examines if self reported habitual breakfast skipping was related to fasting insulin resistance in a sample of 321 adults. Participants completed a questionnaire that focused on eating occurrences throughout the day and were then classified by how frequently they ate breakfast. Breakfast eating was related to fasting insulin and HOMA2-IR, both before and after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and exercise. These data suggest that fasting insulin resistance is affected by breakfast omission, and supports previous intervention studies that report a decline in postprandial insulin action after breakfast omission. </p><p> Chapter 3 evaluates the relationship between cognitive perception and the satiety hormone response. In a crossover intervention, satiety hormones (insulin and GLP-1), the hunger hormone ghrelin, and subjective ratings of meal satisfaction and eating behavior were compared before and after a low or high fiber breakfast meal. We found that reported perceptions of meal satisfaction, the perception of the breakfast meal, and the behavioral description of cognitive restraint can influence the physiologic regulation of satiety hormones measured in response to meal ingestion. Further evaluation of food consumption habits should consider cognitive perception as it may be important for optimal satiety and influence food intake regulation. </p><p> Lastly, chapter 4 was a cross-sectional study to assess the hormones insulin, leptin, GLP-1, and glucagon following a standard lunch meal in 30 women who were habitual breakfast eaters or habitual skippers. We found clear differences in circulating hormones between breakfast eaters and breakfast skippers even though all participants had similar hormone values at the start of the protocol. Our data further support the idea that regularly eating breakfast promotes changes in the postprandial pattern of satiety hormones.</p>

<p> The child care setting represents a crucial environment for infants and children to establish healthy feeding practices in order to prevent overweight and obesity. The objective of this research was to investigate the association between parental care (PC) and child care (CC) on infant feeding practices, food consumption, nutrient intake and growth in infants receiving Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC) assistance. Our hypothesis was that unhealthy feeding practices would be more common in CC compared to PC thus leading to greater weight for length (WFL) and weight for age (WFA) z-score at 1 year of age for infants in CC. This study sampled 105 infants aged 2 to 8 months of age from the Champaign Urbana WIC office from October 2009-August 2011. Mothers completed a 3-day food record and survey at the time of recruitment to assess their infant's feeding practices, nutrient intake, health status, and demographic characteristics. Baseline and follow-up weight and length for these children within the first year of age were collected from the WIC office.</p><p> The major differences in demographic characteristics of the study sample included child care hours per week, maternal employment, household income, and single parent home by CC use. Infants in CC had an average of 29 hours of care per week compared to the 0.64 hours in the PC group (p&lt;0.01). A larger (p&lt;0.01) percentage of mothers were employed in the CC group (73.9%) compared to the PC group (22%). However, the household income was greater (p&lt;0.01) in the PC group ($15,986 &plusmn; $10,284 PC vs $9,967&plusmn; $7,489.5 CC). In addition, there was a higher (p=0.04) percentage of single parents in the CC group (30.5 % PC vs. 50% CC).</p><p> Breastfeeding duration and age of solid food introduction did not differ between care type. Breastfeeding duration was on average 2.3 months while average solid food introduction was 4.4 months. No differences were observed between PC and CC infants in the rates of formula introduction. When comparing food consumption at the time of recruitment, there were no differences in the number of servings per day of food groups, but the CC group showed lower consumption of formula (p=0.03) and breast milk (p=0.18) compared to PC.</p><p> Energy intake did not differ between care type after adjusting for feeding practices and child, maternal and household characteristics. However, there was a pattern of greater energy intake in the PC group. Child age (&beta;=34.8, p&lt;0.01) and number of servings of infant formula (&beta;=86.0, p&lt;0.01) were the strongest predictors of energy intake. There was greater (p=0.05) calcium intake in the CC group (788 mg CC vs. 742 mg PC). Otherwise, there were no differences in macro or micronutrient intakes between CC and PC.</p><p> For growth measures, infants in PC had a significantly greater change in WFL (&beta;=2.06, p=0.05) and WFA (&beta;=1.69, p=0.01) z-score and a greater follow-up z-score, after adjusting for feeding practices and child, maternal and household characteristics. There were no differences by care type in the length for age (LFA) z-score over the first year of life. </p><p> The strongest predictors of the change in WFL z-score were PC use (&beta;=2.06, p=0.05), maternal pre-pregnancy BMI (&beta;=0.14, p&lt;0.01), birth order (&beta;=1.63, p&lt;0.05), maternal age (&beta;=-0.34, p&lt;0.01), birth weight (&beta;=-1.77, p=0.06), non-Black/African American (&beta;=3.09, p=0.02) and male gender (&beta;=-2.12, p=0.06). Change in WFA z-score was significantly affected by CC use (&beta;=1.69, p=0.01), lower birth weight (&beta;=-1.74, p&lt;0.01), greater pre-pregnancy BMI (&beta;=0.09, p&lt;0.01), and less servings of infant formula (&beta;=-0.53, p=0.05). Change in LFA was unaffected by CC use (&beta;=1.69, p=0.11), but significantly affected by lower pre-pregnancy BMI (&beta;=-0.04, p=0.04) and black race (&beta;=-2.54, p=0.05).</p><p> Thus, we concluded that CC use did not affect feeding practices, overall nutrient intake or LFA z-scores for infants receiving WIC assistance. There was significantly greater calcium intake in the CC group. CC use also showed a trend of less formula and breast milk. Infants in PC had a statistically greater change in WFL and WFA compared to those in CC. The main finding in this study is that CC use may have influenced differences in the change in WFL and WFA z-scores, but not overall infant feeding practices, nutrient intake and LFA z-score. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to explore the role of CC use on feeding practices, nutrient intake and growth.</p>