SISTER (Sisters Inspiring Sisters to Engage in Relevant Diabetes Self-Care) Diabetes Study: Protocol for diabetes medical nutrition therapy randomized clinical trial among African American women.

Background: African American (AA) women with type 2 diabetes (T2D) carry disproportionate diabetes-related morbidity and mortality burdens. Diabetes medical nutrition therapy (MNT) improves glycemic, blood pressure, and cholesterol control, all critical in preventing and reducing diabetes complications. Yet, MNT does not address low motivation for dietary intake management, which is frequently reported among AA women with T2D living in the Southeastern US.

Development of strategies for community engaged research dissemination by basic scientists: a case study.

As depicted in the translational research continuum, dissemination of research findings to past research participants and the community-at-large is integral to improving health outcomes. Blocks in translation exist in which poor dissemination is a major contributor. Limited progress has been made on how to engage basic scientists at T1 and T2 phases to meaningfully disseminate study findings to community.

Training researchers in dissemination of study results to research participants and communities.

Dissemination of research beyond the academic community is an ethical responsibility of researchers and necessary in translational research to help ensure the uptake of research findings to improve health outcomes. Often, partnerships between community and academicians do not include research dissemination plans, possibly reflecting researchers not knowing how to create these plans. This manuscript details the development process of a research dissemination training module for academicians and researchers.

Psychometric evaluation of the short version of the Personal Diabetes Questionnaire to assess dietary behaviors and exercise in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Patients with diabetes and of lower socioeconomic status have difficulty adhering to dietary recommendations. Practical and effective tools assessing self-management behaviors are needed to help evaluate interventions tailored to the needs of individual patients or population groups. This study examined the psychometric properties of a short 11-item version of the Personal Diabetes Questionnaire scale (PDQ-11) using data from the Public-Private Partnership to Improve Diabetes Education trial.

Two-year follow-up study of a group-based diabetes medical nutrition therapy and motivational interviewing intervention among African American women.

Objectives: To assess the 2-year efficacy of a combined medical nutrition therapy and motivational interviewing (MI) pilot study intervention and factors that influenced long-term dietary self-care.

Research Design And Methods: Pilot study participants, African American women with type 2 diabetes, completed a 2-year follow-up study visit, including clinical assessments and completion of a dietary self-care questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to evaluate differences between baseline and 2-year follow-up clinical and dietary self-care outcomes.

Diabetes Education, Specialty Care, and Self-Care Advice among Obese African American Women with Type 2 Diabetes.

Objective: Healthy People 2020 (HP2020) includes benchmarks for diabetes management. The objective of our study was to describe diabetes management among African American women, a patient group that carries a disproportionate diabetes burden.

Participants: African American women with type 2 diabetes enrolled in dietary and weight management interventions.

Patients', caregivers', and providers' perceived strategies for diabetes care.

Objectives: To explore strategies to improve type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) self-management among low-income and minority groups.

Methods: Focus groups centered on T2DM self-care behaviors were conducted using convenient sample of patients with T2DM (N = 17), caregivers (N = 5) and healthcare providers (N = 15).

Results: Patients and caregivers perceived strategies included improving patient-provider communication, providers' accessibility and compassion, and flexible clinic hours.

Identification of patient-centered outcomes among African American women with type 2 diabetes.

Aims: African American women carry a disproportionate diabetes burden, yet there is limited information on strategies to identify outcomes women perceive as important intervention outcomes (patient-centered outcomes). This study presents a brief strategy to solicit these outcomes and to describe outcomes identified using the highlighted strategy.

Methods: Thirty-four African-American women with type 2 diabetes were enrolled in group-based, diabetes/weight management interventions.

Growth patterns in children with sickle cell anemia during puberty.

Background: Previous studies of children with homozygous sickle cell anemia (SCA) show impaired growth and maturation. The correlation of this suboptimal growth with metabolic and hematological factors during puberty is poorly understood.

Procedure: We studied a group of pre-adolescent children with SCA (19 males, 14 females) and healthy controls (16 males, 15 females) matched for race, sex, body size, and pubertal development.

Validity of a multisensor armband in estimating 24-h energy expenditure in children.

Unlabelled: Physical activity (PA) and energy expenditure (EE) in children are frequently assessed using portable activity monitors. Algorithms used to predict EE by these monitors are often based on adult populations and may not be accurate for children.

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of the SenseWear Pro Armband (SWA) for assessing EE in African American children during treadmill exercise, sedentary activities, rest, sleep, and total 24-h EE, using indirect room calorimetry (IRC) as a reference standard.

Defects in postabsorptive plasma homeostasis of fatty acids in sickle cell disease.

Background: The chronic hemolytic anemia experienced by sickle cell disease (SCD) patients leads to adverse effects on oxygen transport by the blood and to a decrease in oxygen availability for peripheral tissues. Limited tissue oxygen availability has the potential to modify events of intracellular metabolism and, thus, alter lipid homeostasis.

Methods: The impact of SCD on plasma fatty acid homeostasis was determined in 8 African American SCD patients and in 6 healthy African American control subjects under postabsorptive conditions and during a 3-hour IV infusion of a nutrient solution containing lipid, glucose, and amino acids.

Energy expenditure, inflammation, and oxidative stress in steady-state adolescents with sickle cell anemia.

Sickle cell anemia (HbSS) is characterized by hypermetabolism, chronic inflammation, and increased oxidative stress, but the relationship between these factors is undefined. In this study, we examined indicators of inflammatory process and markers of oxidative damage and their impact on resting energy expenditure (REE) in stable HbSS adolescents (n = 35) and healthy controls carrying normal hemoglobin genotype (HbAA) (n = 39). C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell (WBC) count, and proinflammatory cytokines were measured as markers of inflammation and 2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-15-F2t-isoprostane (F2-IsoPM) as a marker of oxidative stress.

Dietary vitamin A has both chronic and acute effects on vitamin A indices in lactating rats and their offspring.

To further investigate the effect of dietary vitamin A (VA) intake on milk VA concentrations and pup VA status, female rats were fed 2 concentrations of VA [0 (n = 9) or 50 micromol/kg diet (n = 10)] during pregnancy and lactation. Plasma retinol concentrations were significantly higher (30-40%) during lactation than before pregnancy or after weaning but were not influenced by dietary VA. In rats fed VA, VA concentrations during lactation were significantly higher in milk (1.