Combinatorial phenethyl isothiocyanate and withaferin A targets multiple epigenetics pathways to inhibit MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells.

Background: Epigenetic phytochemicals are considered as an efficacious and safe alternative to synthetic drugs in drug discovery. In this regard, combinatorial interventions enable simultaneously targeting various neoplastic pathways to eradicate multiple tumorigenic clones. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of the epigenetic-modifying compounds phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) and withaferin A (WA) alone and in combination on cancer hallmarks and miRNome profiles of breast cancer (BC) cells in addition to their impact on multiple epigenetic regulatory pathways.

dCas9-HDAC8-EGFP fusion enables epigenetic editing of breast cancer cells by H3K9 deacetylation.

Epigenetic editing is thriving as a robust tool for manipulating transcriptional regulation and cell fate. Despite its regulatory role in gene downregulation, epigenetic editing with histone deacetylation has been sparsely studied, especially in the context of cancer. In this current study, we have reconstructed a dCas9-HDAC8-EGFP fusion to perform histone deacetylation on the promoter of the ESR1, TERT and CDKN1C genes for the first time in breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 as well as in HEK293T cells.

A novel combinatorial approach using sulforaphane- and withaferin A-rich extracts for prevention of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer through epigenetic and gut microbial mechanisms.

Estrogen receptor-negative [ER(-)] mammary cancer is the most aggressive type of breast cancer (BC) with higher rate of metastasis and recurrence. In recent years, dietary prevention of BC with epigenetically active phytochemicals has received increased attention due to its feasibility, effectiveness, and ease of implementation. In this regard, combinatorial phytochemical intervention enables more efficacious BC inhibition by simultaneously targeting multiple tumorigenic pathways.

Improvements in nutrition knowledge among adults with physical disabilities: A program evaluation of the mindfulness, exercise, and nutrition to optimize resilience (MENTOR) program 2020-2021.

Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funds a quality improvement (QI) health promotion telewellness program for adults with physical disabilities.

Objective: The nutrition component of the parent program, Mindfulness, Exercise, and Nutrition to Optimize Resilience (MENTOR) program, from 2020 to 2021, was evaluated to assess changes in nutrition knowledge of people with physical disabilities.

Methods: This was a quasi-experimental program evaluation by pre-post survey of participating adults with physical disabilities.

Evaluation of food security status, psychological well-being, and stress on BMI and diet-related behaviors among a sample of college students.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate food insecurity on body mass index (BMI) and diet-related behaviors among college students and whether psychological well-being (PWB) and stress levels mediate this relationship.

Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study.

Methods: Data from 1439 students from the American College Health Association National College Health Assessment III (Fall 2020) were used.

Adapting an evidence-based physical activity questionnaire for people with physical disabilities: A methodological process.

Background: Practitioners and researchers often adapt tools, practices, and programs to meet the needs of culturally diverse population groups, but do not consider populations with disability. While there is some research on guidelines for adapting evidence-based programs, there is no systematic process for adapting survey instruments. Rather than creating separate instruments for people with physical disabilities (PWD), it is critical that instruments are designed to capture data on people with and without disabilities for comparison purposes.

Dietary inflammation score is associated with perceived stress, depression, and cardiometabolic health risk factors among a young adult cohort of women.

Background And Aims: One of the most pressing issues in the field of cardiometabolic disease is the growing co-occurrence of poor mental health. A whole foods-based, hypothesis-driven dietary inflammation score (DIS) was created to better understand the association between dietary patterns, inflammation, and physiological health. However, this diet quality scoring method has not been observed in young adults, nor has its association with mental health been observed.

The Data Behind Popular Diets for Weight Loss.

Both scientific evidence and popular diet trends have sought to identify the ideal diet for weight loss with strategies focused on either restricting carbohydrates or fat. While there is a strong physiologic rationale for either carbohydrate restriction or fat restriction to achieve a calorie deficit needed for weight loss, evidence from randomized controlled trials suggest either type of diet is effective for weight loss. The level of adherence, rather than macronutrient content, is the driver of successful weight loss.

Serum syndecan-4 correlates with blood pressure and cardiovascular parameters but not proinflammatory markers in healthy older women.

Aging is accompanied by a low-grade proinflammatory status that plays a role in age-related vascular alterations. Syndecan-4 (SDC4) is a key component of the endothelial glycocalyx, and its extracellular domain can be shed by matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). In vitro studies demonstrated that MMP-9-mediated shedding of SDC4 is induced by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α) in human endothelial cells.

Daily 100% watermelon juice consumption and vascular function among postmenopausal women: A randomized controlled trial.

Background And Aims: Watermelon juice is a rich food source of cardioprotective compounds such as arginine, citrulline, and lycopene. Preventative interventions are warranted as risk of cardiovascular disease increases among women after menopause, and age alone is an independent risk factor for vascular dysfunction. Thus, this study evaluated the effects of 100% watermelon juice on measures of vascular function.

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Validity of Self-Report Dietary Assessment in Adults with Multiple Sclerosis: Comparison with Doubly Labeled Water Measured Total Energy Expenditure.

Background: Diet is a modifiable behavior of interest in multiple sclerosis (MS); however, measures of diet in persons with MS have not been vetted for feasibility, acceptability, and validity.

Methods: This cross-sectional study examined the Automated Self-Administered 24-H (ASA24) Dietary Assessment Tool in 30 persons with MS and 15 healthy control (HC) participants. Participants were prompted to complete six ASA24 recalls and undergo a standard doubly labeled water (DLW) protocol.

Transcriptional circuitry atlas of genetic diverse unstimulated murine and human macrophages define disparity in population-wide innate immunity.

Macrophages are ubiquitous custodians of tissues, which play decisive role in maintaining cellular homeostasis through regulatory immune responses. Within tissues, macrophage exhibit extremely heterogeneous population with varying functions orchestrated through regulatory response, which can be further exacerbated in diverse genetic backgrounds. Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) offer comprehensive understanding of cellular regulatory behavior by unfolding the transcription factors (TFs) and regulated target genes.

Nano-Vesicle (Mis)Communication in Senescence-Related Pathologies.

Extracellular vesicles are a heterogeneous group of cell-derived membranous structures comprising of exosomes, apoptotic bodies, and microvesicles. Of the extracellular vesicles, exosomes are the most widely sorted and extensively explored for their contents and function. The size of the nanovesicular structures (exosomes) range from 30 to 140 nm and are present in various biological fluids such as saliva, plasma, urine etc.

Effects of weight loss during a very low carbohydrate diet on specific adipose tissue depots and insulin sensitivity in older adults with obesity: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Insulin resistance and accumulation of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) place aging adults with obesity at high risk of cardio-metabolic disease. A very low carbohydrate diet (VLCD) may be a means of promoting fat loss from the visceral cavity and skeletal muscle, without compromising lean mass, and improve insulin sensitivity in aging adults with obesity.

Objective: To determine if a VLCD promotes a greater loss of fat (total, visceral and intermuscular), preserves lean mass, and improves insulin sensitivity compared to a standard CHO-based/low-fat diet (LFD) in older adults with obesity.

Integrative Network Biology Framework Elucidates Molecular Mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 Pathogenesis.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) is a respiratory illness caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). While the pathophysiology of this deadly virus is complex and largely unknown, we employ a network biology-fueled approach and integrate multiomics data pertaining to lung epithelial cells-specific co-expression network and human interactome to generate Calu-3-specific human-SARS-CoV-2 nteractome (CSI). Topological clustering and pathway enrichment analysis show that SARS-CoV-2 target central nodes of host-viral network that participate in core functional pathways.

Evaluation of a ketogenic diet for improvement of neurological recovery in individuals with acute spinal cord injury: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Therapies that significantly improve the neurological and functional recovery of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) are still urgently needed. The ketogenic diet (KD) has been shown to improve forelimb motor function in an SCI rat model, likely by reducing inflammation and cell death in the spinal cord. Furthermore, our recent pilot study in patients with SCI showed that, compared with a standard hospital diet (SD), 5 weeks of KD started during acute care improved upper extremity motor function and reduced serum levels of a neuroinflammatory blood protein.

Assimilation, Acculturation, and Allostatic Load in U.S.- and Foreign-Born Hispanics.

The present study assessed how the adaptation to American culture by United States (U.S.)-born and foreign-born Hispanics living in the U.

Physiological Significance of Discrimination on Stress Markers, Obesity, and LDL Oxidation among a European American and African American Cohort of Females.

Background: Factors underlying physiological reactions from perceived discrimination and its relation to adverse health outcomes are not completely understood. The main purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that experiences of discrimination (recent and lifetime) correlate with biomarkers of stress, oxidative stress, and obesity among adult females.

Method: Data on 62 females who self-identify as African American (AA; n = 31) or European American (EA; n = 31) aged 21-45 years were included.

Physical Function and Strength in Relation to Inflammation in Older Adults with Obesity and Increased Cardiometabolic Risk.

Background: Inflammation is implicated in functional decline and the development of disability in aging. This study aimed to investigate the association of inflammation with physical function and muscle strength in older adults with obesity and increased cardiometabolic risk.

Design: In baseline assessments from the CROSSROADS randomized controlled trial, serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were assayed in 163 older adults (37% males, 24% African American, BMI 34±3, age 70±5yrs) with hypertension, dyslipidemia and/or diabetes.

Modified eating in the absence of hunger test is associated with appetitive traits in infants.

Background: Appetite traits and feeding practices have been linked to children's weight status. For example, eating in response to food cues (high food responsiveness (FR)), and poor regulation of intake (low satiety responsiveness (SR)), increase risk for obesity. Appetitive traits of infants, and feeding practices, are typically measured by parent-report.

Randomized trial of weight loss in primary breast cancer: Impact on body composition, circulating biomarkers and tumor characteristics.

Obesity adversely impacts overall and cancer-specific survival among breast cancer patients. Preclinical studies demonstrate negative energy balance inhibits cancer progression; however, feasibility and effects in patients are unknown. A two-arm, single-blinded, randomized controlled weight-loss trial was undertaken presurgery among 32 overweight/obese, Stage 0-II breast cancer patients.

Utilizing a low-carbohydrate/high-protein diet to improve metabolic health in individuals with spinal cord injury (DISH): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Metabolic disorders (e.g., impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes) are more prevalent in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) than able-bodied individuals.

Beyond efficacy: a qualitative organizational perspective on key implementation science constructs important to physical activity intervention translation to rural community cancer care sites.

Purpose: To identify constructs relevant to implementation of evidence-based physical activity (PA) behavior change interventions for rural women cancer survivors from an organizational perspective.

Methods: During the development of a PA intervention implementation toolkit, 11 potential interventionists and 19 community and organizational stakeholders completed focus groups stratified by role. Narratives were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded for Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) constructs.

Dietary Energy-Density and Adiposity Markers Among a Cohort of Multi-ethnic Children.

Background: Evidence suggests that the association between dietary energy density (DED) and body composition in children is different than in adults. The purpose of this study was to measure if DED differed by race/ethnicity and if DED was associated with adiposity markers in children.

Methodology: Dietary intake and body composition were measured in a multi-ethnic sample of 307 children aged seven to 12 (39% European American, EA; 35% African American, AA; and 26% Hispanic American, HA).

Effects of SAHA and EGCG on Growth Potentiation of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells.

Triple-negative breast cancer comprises approximately 15⁻20% of all breast cancers diagnosed and is nearly twice as common in black women than white women in the United States. We evaluated the effects of two epigenetic-modifying compounds on markers of growth potential in several triple-negative breast cancer cell lines. Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor currently used in the treatment of cutaneous T cell lymphoma, was administered to triple-negative breast cancer cells alone or in combination with epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitor isolated from green tea.