Publications by authors named "Gregory H Norris"

Article Synopsis
  • Generalizable studies on population-level cancer treatment often overlook variations in individual tumors, making it challenging to predict how a patient will respond to neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) for breast cancer.
  • This research evaluates an existing biophysical simulation platform, TumorScope Predict (TS), using data from early-stage and locally advanced breast cancer patients to forecast their response to NAT.
  • Among the study cohort of 80 patients, the platform demonstrated a significant correlation between predicted tumor volumes and actual MRI-assessed volumes after treatment, highlighting its potential utility in clinical practice.
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Background & Aims: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is commonly observed in patients with type 2 diabetes, and thiazolidinediones (TZD) are considered a potential therapy for NASH. Although TZD increase insulin sensitivity and partially reduce steatosis and alanine aminotransferase, the efficacy of TZD on resolving liver pathology is limited. In fact, TZD may activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) in hepatocytes and promote steatosis.

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Milk sphingomyelin (SM), a polar lipid (PL) component of milk fat globule membranes, is protective against dyslipidemia. However, it is unclear whether ingestion of milk PLs protect against atherosclerosis. To determine this, male LDLr mice (age 6 weeks) were fed ad libitum either a high-fat, added-cholesterol diet (CTL; 45% kcal from fat, 0.

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The identification of natural bioactive compounds aimed at promoting optimal gut health and improving lipid metabolism is paramount in the prevention of chronic disease. In this review, we summarize basic science and clinical research examining the protective properties of milk sphingomyelin (SM) against dysfunctional lipid metabolism, gut dysbiosis, and inflammation. Dietary SM dose-dependently reduces the intestinal absorption of cholesterol, triglycerides, and fatty acids in cell culture and rodent studies.

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Western-style diets have been linked with dyslipidemia and inflammation, two well-known risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Dietary sphingomyelin (SM) has been reported to modulate gut microbiota, and lower serum lipids and inflammation in mice on Western-style diets. However, few studies have examined if nutritionally-relevant intake of dietary SM can impact atherosclerosis progression.

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Scope: HDL particles are protective against atherosclerosis, but may become dysfunctional during inflammation and chronic disease progression. Anthocyanin-rich foods, such as the black elderberry, may improve HDL function and prevent disease development via antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory effects. This study investigates the long-term consumption of black elderberry extract (BEE) on HDL function and atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein (apo) E mice.

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Background: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles are protective against atherosclerosis. However, HDL function is impaired in metabolic syndrome (MetS) due to low-grade inflammation and dyslipidemia. Foods containing polyphenols, such as grapes, may prevent HDL dysfunction via antioxidant or anti-inflammatory effects.

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Background: Habitual consumption of eggs has been hypothesized to positively modify biomarkers of cardiovascular disease risk through proposed antioxidant properties.

Objectives: To examine this relationship, 50 young, healthy men and women were enrolled into a randomized crossover clinical intervention.

Methods: Participants consumed either 2 eggs per day or one packet of oatmeal a day for 4 weeks, followed by a 3-week wash-out and crossed over to the alternate breakfast.

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Chronic inflammation is a common underlying factor in many major metabolic diseases afflicting Western societies. Sphingolipid metabolism is pivotal in the regulation of inflammatory signaling pathways. The regulation of sphingolipid metabolism is in turn influenced by inflammatory pathways.

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To investigate the mechanisms by which leaves (ML) modulate hepatic lipids, guinea pigs were allocated to either control (0% ML), 10% Low Moringa (LM) or 15% High Moringa (HM) diets with 0.25% dietary cholesterol to induce hepatic steatosis. After 6 weeks, guinea pigs were sacrificed and liver and plasma were collected to determine plasma lipids, hepatic lipids, cytokines and the expression of genes involved in hepatic cholesterol (CH) and triglyceride (TG) metabolism.

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The development of therapeutic approaches aimed at reducing inflammation, improving lipid metabolism, and preventing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease holds significant potential in the management of obesity-associated disease. In this review, the recent basic science and clinical research examining dietary sphingolipid intake and the prevention of dyslipidemia and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is summarized. Dietary sphingolipids have been shown to dose-dependently reduce the acute intestinal absorption of cholesterol, triglycerides, and fatty acids in rodents.

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HDL function may be more important than HDL concentration in determining risk for cardiovascular disease. In addition, HDL is a carrier of carotenoids and antioxidant enzymes, which protect HDL and LDL particles against oxidation. The goal of this study was to determine the impact of consuming 0-3 eggs/d on LDL and HDL particle size, HDL function, and plasma antioxidants in a young, healthy population.

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Western-type diets can induce obesity and related conditions such as dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis. We evaluated the effects of milk sphingomyelin (SM) and egg SM on diet-induced obesity, the development of hepatic steatosis and adipose inflammation in C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat, cholesterol-enriched diet for 10 weeks. Mice were fed a low-fat diet (10% kcal from fat) (n=10), a high-fat diet (60% kcal from fat) (HFD, n=14) or a high-fat diet modified to contain either 0.

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Background: It is not clear how oil-in-water nanoemulsions of lutein may affect bioavailability and consequently alter lipoprotein metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation.

Objective: The bioavailability as well as effects of a powdered lutein (PL) and an oil-in-water lutein nanoemulsion (NANO; particle size: 254.2 nm; polydispersity index: 0.

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High dietary fat intake can cause elevated serum and hepatic lipids, as well as contribute to gut dysbiosis, intestinal barrier dysfunction and increased circulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Dietary milk sphingomyelin (SM) has been shown to inhibit lipid absorption in rodents. We evaluated the effects of milk SM on lipid metabolism and LPS levels in C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet for 4weeks and compared it with egg SM.

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Dietary anthocyanins have been shown to reduce inflammation in animal models and may ameliorate obesity-related complications. Black elderberry is one of the richest sources of anthocyanins. We investigated the metabolic effects of anthocyanin-rich black elderberry extract (BEE) in a diet-induced obese C57BL/6J mouse model.

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