9 research outputs found
Effects of Nutrition and Physical Activity Intervention in Improving Children\u27s BMI-for-Age Percentiles
No full textBackground: The number of obese children and adolescents in the United States (U.S.) is estimated to be 12.7 million according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Therefore, approximately 17% of the nation’s children are obese. Rates of childhood obesity in Arkansas (22%) are consistently higher than the national average. To address this issue, a nutrition and physical activity intervention was designed by researchers from Ouachita Baptist University (OBU) Nutrition and Dietetics Program.
Objective: To determine the effectiveness of a nutrition and physical activity intervention in improving the Body Mass Index (BMI)-for-age percentiles of rural Arkansas children at risk for childhood obesity.
Design: The research included a treatment group that received weekly nutrition and physical activity lessons and a control group that did not receive nutrition and physical activity lessons. The baseline and ending BMI-for-age percentiles were recorded for all children. Nutrition knowledge was assessed in the treatment group at baseline and at the end of a seven-week period using a multiple choice pre- and post-test.
Participants/setting: In the summer of 2018, 110 children ages 2- to 12-years-old from the three childcare programs in Arkadelphia were selected.
Intervention: Treatment groups received weekly nutrition and physical activity lessons over a seven-week period.
Main Outcome Measures: Children’s BMI and test scores were analyzed.
Statistical analyses performed: t test and z-scores.
Results: Test scores improved in the 7- to 9-year-old group and the 10- to 12-year-old group, but there was no improvement in the 4- to 6-year-old group. For the control group, the mean pre-assessment BMI was 16.0 ± 2.9 and at post-assessment, the mean BMI was 15.8 ± 2.8 (p=0.295). The mean BMI of the control group did not change significantly during the summer. For the treatment group, the mean pre-assessment BMI was 18.5 ± 3.1 and at post-assessment, the mean BMI was 18.6 ± 3.2 (p=0.395). The mean BMI of the treatment group did not change significantly during the summer.
Conclusions and Implications: The majority of children participating in the nutrition and physical activity intervention had improved nutrition knowledge test scores at the end of the intervention. BMI-for-age percentiles remained statistically the same for the seven-week program. Pre- and post-test for 7- to 9-year-old and 10- to 12-year-old children are useful for accessing nutrition and physical activity knowledge but are not useful for 4- to 6-year-old children
Assessment of Nutrition Status of Adults Using the Nutrition Focused Physical Examination
No full textBackground: Thirteen percent of the United States (U.S.) population is over 65 years of age and up to 50% are malnourished; therefore, seniors were chosen as the subjects for this research study.
Objective: To identify malnutrition in older adults using the Nutrition Focused Physical Examination (NFPE), and to compare the results to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics parameters for assessment of nutritional status.
Design: Each senior voluntarily completed a head-to-toe NFPE, 24-hour diet recall, and anthropomorphic measures were also taken. Information was later analyzed and results were given to each participant.
Participants/setting: Seniors from the Senior Center in Arkadelphia, Arkansas volunteered for the study in the summer of 2018.
Main outcome measures: The NFPE was used to identify areas of malnutrition and 24-hour diet recall information was assessed in comparison to the DRI.
Statistical analyses performed: Results were calculated using Nutritionist Pro®, Excel® and SPSS®.
Results: Sixty-four percent had subcutaneous fat loss in the orbital region, 40% in the upper arm region, and 27% and 10% in the thoracic and lumbar region respectively. Sixty-seven percent had muscle loss in the temple region, 37% in the clavicle bone region, 17% in the scapular bone region, and 70% in the dorsal hand. Of the 30 subjects participating in the study, 93% had some form of malnutrition. Nutrient analysis showed significant correlation between age and protein, carbohydrate, saturated fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, sodium, iron and kcalories consumed. Intake of potassium, and calcium were significantly below the DRI for both genders. Sodium intake was significantly above the DRI for both genders.
Conclusion: The NFPE was successful in identifying malnutrition in a sample of elderly subjects as confirmed by the low nutrient intake levels reported. However, further research is needed to quantitatively assess the validity and reliability of the NFPE
Single-component multilayered self-assembling protein nanoparticles presenting glycan-trimmed uncleaved prefusion optimized envelope trimers as HIV-1 vaccine candidates
No full textAbstract Uncleaved prefusion-optimized (UFO) design can stabilize diverse HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins (Envs). Single-component, self-assembling protein nanoparticles (1c-SApNP) can display 8 or 20 native-like Env trimers as vaccine candidates. We characterize the biophysical, structural, and antigenic properties of 1c-SApNPs that present the BG505 UFO trimer with wildtype and modified glycans. For 1c-SApNPs, glycan trimming improves recognition of the CD4 binding site without affecting broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) to major glycan epitopes. In mice, rabbits, and nonhuman primates, glycan trimming increases the frequency of vaccine responders (FVR) and steers antibody responses away from immunodominant glycan holes and glycan patches. The mechanism of vaccine-induced immunity is examined in mice. Compared with the UFO trimer, the multilayered E2p and I3-01v9 1c-SApNPs show 420 times longer retention in lymph node follicles, 20-32 times greater presentation on follicular dendritic cell dendrites, and up-to-4 times stronger germinal center reactions. These findings can inform future HIV-1 vaccine development
Evaluation of Anesthetic and Cardiorespiratory Effects after Intramuscular Administration of Three Different Doses of Telazol® in Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)
No full textMarmosets’ small body size makes anesthesia challenging. Ideally, small volumes of drugs should be administered intramuscularly (i.m.). In addition, dose-dependent sedation and anesthesia are desirable properties for sedatives and anesthetics in marmosets. Telazol® (tiletamine and zolazepam) is highly concentrated, allowing the use of small injection volumes and dose-dependent sedation and anesthesia. A randomized, blinded study with crossover design in ten healthy adult common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) was performed to evaluate the anesthetic and cardiorespiratory effects of three doses of i.m. Telazol® (respectively, 5, 10, and 15 mg/kg). Depth of anesthesia, cardiorespiratory effects, and induction, immobilization, and recovery times were determined. A significant difference was observed in immobilization time between 5 and 15 mg/kg of Telazol®. In addition, 15 mg/kg of Telazol® resulted in increased recovery times compared to 5 mg/kg. The cardiorespiratory effects during the first 45 min of immobilization were within clinically acceptable limits. The pedal withdrawal reflex was the best indicator of the anesthetic depth
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No full textBACKGROUND: A survey was developed to characterize disease incidence, common pathology lesions, environmental characteristics, and nutrition programs within captive research marmoset colonies. METHODS: 17 research facilities completed the electronic survey. RESULTS: Nutritional management programs varied amongst research institutions housing marmosets; eight primary base diets were reported. The most common clinical syndromes reported were gastrointestinal (GI) disease (i.e. inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) like disease, chronic lymphocytic enteritis (CLE), chronic malabsorption, chronic diarrhea), metabolic bone disease or fracture, infectious diarrhea, and oral disease (tooth root abscesses, gingivitis, tooth root resorption). The five most common pathology morphologic diagnoses were colitis, nephropathy/ nephritis, enteritis, chronic lymphoplasmacytic enteritis, and cholecystitis. Obesity was more common (average 20% of a reporting institution’s population) than thin body condition (average 5%). CONCLUSIONS: Through review of current practices, we aim to inspire development of evidence based practices to standardize husbandry and nutrition practices for marmoset research colonies
Immunogenicity and safety of an Entamoeba histolytica adjuvanted protein vaccine candidate (LecA+GLA-3M-052 liposomes) in rhesus macaques
No full textEntamoeba histolytica, the causative agent of amebiasis, is one of the top three parasitic causes of mortality worldwide. However, no vaccine exists against amebiasis. Using a lead candidate vaccine containing the LecA fragment of Gal-lectin and GLA-3M-052 liposome adjuvant, we immunized rhesus macaques via intranasal or intramuscular routes. The vaccine elicited high-avidity functional humoral responses as seen by the inhibition of amebic attachment to mammalian target cells by plasma and stool antibodies. Importantly, antigen-specific IFN-γ-secreting peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and IgG/IgA memory B cells (BMEM) were detected in immunized animals. Furthermore, antigen-specific antibody and cellular responses were maintained for at least 8 months after the final immunization as observed by robust LecA-specific BMEM as well as IFN-γ+ PBMC responses. Overall, both intranasal and intramuscular immunizations elicited a durable and functional response in systemic and mucosal compartments, which supports advancing the LecA+GLA-3M-052 liposome vaccine candidate to clinical testing
