Health & Human Development

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The Department of Health and Human Development is a group of dedicated faculty and staff whose interests, while diverse, center on one central theme: human beings. HHD works to help individuals from early childhood to mature adults though teaching, research, and service programs in both the public and private sectors.

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 19
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    Contextualizing CBPR: Key Principles of CBPR meet the Indigenous research context
    (2009-06) LaVeaux, Deborah; Christopher, Suzanne
    This paper addresses two questions regarding the use of Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR) approaches with tribal communities. First, how do “gold standard” CBPR principles hold up when applied to Native American communities and what additional contextual information is necessary to understand and work with these principles in this setting? Second, what additional principles or recommendations are helpful for researchers interested in conducting research using a CBPR approach with tribal communities? We studied a variety of literature sources on CBPR and Native health research to answer these questions. We are unaware of any publications that contextualize CBPR principles for working with specific populations. This information has direct application for conducting research with tribal communities, and confirms the importance of using CBPR approaches in this setting.
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    Why Musella lasiocarpa (Musaceae) is used in Southwest China to Feed Pigs.
    (2008-06) Long, Chunlin; Ahmed, Selena; Wang, Xiaorong; Liu, Yitao; Long, Bo; Yang, Chunyan; Shi, Yana; Li, Xingyu; Guo, Rong
    This study seeks to understand the usage of Musella lasiocarpa as pig fodder in southwest China by investigating its cultivation, consumption quantities, and nutrient composition. A previous report on the ethnobotany and conservation status of Musella lasiocarpa highlighted the importance of this plant for its multiple uses and services (Liu et al. 2003). The research presented here, which is a follow up effort to the previous study, is a step toward a more comprehensive exploration of the cultivation potential of Musella lasiocarpa for food and fodder in an expanded geographic area. Musella lasiocarpa (Franch.) C. Y. Wu ex H. W. Li (Fig. 1), with synonyms of Musa lasiocarpa Franch. and Ensete lasiocarpum (Franch.) E. E. Cheesman, is a species of a monotypic genus in the Musaceae family. It is endemic to the watersheds of the Upper Yangtze River and its branches between Yunnan and Sichuan provinces in southwest China (Wu and Kress 2000). Wild populations of Musella are found around cliffs in northern Yunnan and southern Sichuan. This plant is adapted to broad ecological conditions; it is able to withstand dry, cold, and mountainous environments. The literature on uses of Musella lasiocarpa focuses on practices by Han Chinese communities and reports that it is primarily used as fodder and, to a lesser extent, in the human diet. Aside from fodder and food, our previous research in the communities of Yunnan’s minority cultural groups shows that Musella is valuable for soil and water erosion control, weaving material, medicine, wine–brewing, and as a source plant for honey during the winter season (Long 1997; Liu et al. 2003). Recently, some horticulturalists from the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and Japan have taken an interest in the commercial development of this resource as an ornamental. While the chemical composition of Musella previously has been documented (Qin et al. 2000; Yang et al. 2001), no studies have reported on its nutrient content or extent of use. Given this lack of research, coupled with Musella’s extensive use in southwest China and broad ecological adaptation, we investigated its cultivation, quantities consumed as pig fodder, and nutrient composition in order to understand the rationale for its usage and development potential.
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    Buying into Community Supported Agriculture: Strategies for Overcoming Income Barriers
    (2008-04) Forbes, Cristin B.; Harmon, Alison H.
    Community-supported agriculture provides benefits to members, including improved nutrition, economic savings, increased food security, and knowledge about the source of one's food. Unfortunately, membership may seem out of reach for limited-resource consumers because a lump sum membership fee is generally required at the beginning of the season. This article examines the strategies being used by CSA farms to help potential limited-resource members overcome income barriers. Those strategies include acceptance of government food assistance, payment plans, working shares, subsidized low-income shares, low-cost shares, transportation assistance, bartering, outreach efforts, and connections to emergency food assistance.
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    University engagement through local food enterprise: community-supported agriculture on campus
    (2009-05) Wharton, Christopher; Harmon, Alison H.
    Community-supported agriculture programs (CSAs) are growing in number and variety across the country. Though CSAs can be found in a variety of settings, a less common but potentially successful venue in which to run a CSA is the university campus. Although universities present certain challenges for operating a CSA, they offer a number of unique advantages that can aid in the growth and success of the campus CSA. As such, university-based food and nutrition professionals may find that CSA development is a viable avenue through which to accomplish nutrition goals, such as increasing consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. In this article, the authors review both the benefits and detriments of operating a CSA on a university campus and present 2 different but successful university CSA models.
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    Position of the American Dietetic Association: Food and Nutrition Professionals Can Implement Practices to Conserve Natural Resources and Support Ecological Sustainability
    (2007-06) Harmon, Alison H.; Gerald, Bonnie L.
    It is the position of the American Dietetic Association to encourage environmentally responsible practices that conserve natural resources, minimize the quantity of waste generated, and support the ecological sustainability of the food system—the process of food production, transformation, distribution, access, and consumption. Registered dietitians and dietetic technicians, registered, play various roles in the food system and work in settings where efforts to conserve can have significant effects. Natural resources that provide the foundation for the food system include biodiversity, soil, land, energy, water, and air. A food system that degrades or depletes its resource base is not sustainable. Making wise food purchases and food management decisions entails understanding the external costs of food production and foodservice and how these external costs affect food system sustainability. This position paper provides information, specific action-oriented strategies, and resources to guide registered dietitians and dietetic technicians, registered, in food decision making and professional practice. Food and nutrition professionals also can participate in policy making at the local, state, and national levels, and can support policies that encourage the development of local sustainable food systems. Our actions today have global consequences. Conserving and protecting resources will contribute to the sustainability of the global food system now and in the future.
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    Creatine supplementation does not reduce muscle damage or enhance recovery from resistance exercise
    (2007-11) Rawson, E.S.; Conti, M.P.; Miles, Mary
    Previous studies have shown that creatine supplementation reduces muscle damage and inflammation following running but not following high-force, eccentric exercise. Although the mechanical strain placed on muscle fibers during high-force, eccentric exercise may be too overwhelming for creatine to exert any protective effect, creatine supplementation may protect skeletal muscle stressed by a resistance training challenge that is more hypoxic in nature. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of short-term creatine supplementation on markers of muscle damage (i.e., strength, range of motion, muscle soreness, muscle serum protein activity, C-reactive protein) to determine whether creatine supplementation offers protective effects on skeletal muscle following a hypoxic resistance exercise test. Twenty-two healthy, weight-trained men (19–27 years) ingested either creatine or a placebo for 10 days. Following 5 days of supplementation, subjects performed a squat exercise protocol (5 sets of 15–20 repetitions at 50% of 1 repetition maximum [1RM]). Assessments of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase activity, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, maximal strength, range of motion (ROM), and muscle soreness (SOR) with movement and palpation were conducted pre-exercise and during a 5-day follow up. Following the exercise test, maximal strength and ROM decreased, whereas SOR and CK increased. Creatine and placebo-supplemented subjects experienced significant decreases in maximal strength (creatine: 13.4 kg, placebo: 17.5 kg) and ROM (creatine: 2.4°, placebo: 3.0°) immediately postexercise, with no difference be-tween groups. Following the exercise test, there were significant increases in SOR with movement and palpation (p < 0.05 at 24, 48, and 72 hours postexercise), and CK activity (p < 0.05 at 24 and 48 hours postexercise), with no differences between groups at any time. These data suggest that oral creatine supplementation does not reduce skeletal muscle damage or enhance recovery following a hypoxic resistance exercise challenge.
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    Apolipoprotein A1 genotype affects the change in high density lipoprotein cholesterol subfractions with exercise training.
    (2006-03) Ruaño, G.; Seip, R.L.; Windemuth, Andreas; Zöllner, S.; Tsongalis, Gregory J.; Otvos, J.; Ordovas, J.M.; Bilbie, C.; Miles, Mary; Zoeller, Robert F.; Visich, Paul S.; Gordon, P.M.; Angelopoulos, T.J.; Pescatello, Linda S.; Moyna, Niall M.; Thompson, P.D.
    High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Apolipoprotein A-1 (apoA1) is the major HDL-associated apolipoprotein. The −75 G/A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the apolipoprotein A1 gene (APOA1) promoter has been reported to be associated with HDL-C concentrations as well as HDL-C response to dietary changes in polyunsaturated fat intake. We examined the effect of this APOA1 SNP on exercise-induced changes in HDL subfraction distribution. From a cohort of healthy normolipidemic adults who volunteered for 6 months of supervised aerobic exercise, 75 subjects were genotyped for the −75 G/A SNP. Of these, 53 subjects were G homozygotes (G/G) and 22 were A carriers (A/G and A/A). HDL subfractions were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy by adding categories HDL-C 1 + 2 for the small subfraction, and HDL-C 3 + 4 + 5 for the large. The change in total HDL-C after exercise was 0.8 ± 7.2 mg/dL (+1.7%), and was not statistically significant. HDL subfraction amounts also did not significantly change with exercise training in the total cohort or in G homozygotes or A carriers. The amount of the large HDL subfraction increased in the G homozygotes and decreased in the A carriers (mean ± S.E.M., 1.8 ± 6.6 mg/dL versus −6.1 ± 2.3 mg/dL, p < 0.0005). In contrast, the amount of the small HDL subfraction decreased in G homozygotes and increased in A carriers (−1.3 ± 6.6 mg/dL versus 4.7 ± 1.2 mg/dL, p < 0.005). These results show that genetic variation at the APOA1 gene promoter is associated with HDL subfraction redistribution resulting from exercise training.
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    Apolipoprotein E genotype and changes in serum lipids and maximal oxygen uptake with exercise training
    (W.B. Saunders Co, 2004) Thompson, P.D.; Tsongalis, Gregory J.; Seip, R.L.; Bilbie, C.; Miles, Mary; Zoeller, Robert F.; Visich, Paul S.; Gordon, P.M.; Angelopoulos, T.J.; Pescatello, Linda S.; Bausserman, L.; Moyna, Niall M.
    Physical activity improves lipid levels by altering triglyceride (TG) metabolism. Apolipoprotein E (Apo E) facilitates TG clearance by mediating lipoprotein binding to hepatic receptors, but Apo E also has less defined roles in skeletal muscle and nervous tissue. This study examined if variants in Apo E genotype affect the lipid and physiologic response to exercise training. Seven centers genetically screened 566 individuals to recruit 120 subjects into 6 gender-specific cohorts equal for the most common Apo E genotypes: E2/3, E3/3, and E3/4. Anthropometics, exercise capacity (Vo2max), serum lipids, and post heparin (PH) plasma lipase activities were measured before and after 6 months of supervised exercise training. Difference in the response (Δ) to training among the Apo E genotypes was the primary outcome variable. Differences in pretraining serum lipids among the Apo E genotypes mimicked those observed in population studies: TGs were slightly higher in E2/3 subjects, whereas low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (C) was lower (P = not significant [NS] ). TGs decreased 11% with training for the entire cohort (P < .0001) and 7%, 12%, and 14% for the Apo E 2/3, 3/3 and 3/4 groups, respectively (P = NS for Δ). LDL-C did not change in the entire cohort, but decreased slightly in the 2/3 and 3/3 subjects and increased 4% in the 3/4 group (P = NS for Δ). High-density lipoprotein (HDL)-C increased 2% for the entire cohort (P = .06) due to a 6% increase in the 3/3 group (P = .07 for Δ). Total cholesterol (TC)/HDL and LDL/HDL decreased with training in the 2/3 and 3/3 groups, but increased in the 3/4 subjects and these responses differed among the genotypes (P < .05 for Δ). Vo2max increased 9% to 10% for the entire cohort, but only 5% in the 3/3 subjects versus 13% in the 2/3 and 3/4 groups and these differences were significantly different among the genotypes (P < .01 for Δ). This is the first prospective study to demonstrate that the serum lipid response to exercise training differs by Apo E genotype in a pattern consistent with known metabolic differences among the variants. Surprisingly, Apo E genotype also affected the increase in aerobic capacity produced by exercise training possibly via undefined effects on nerve and skeletal muscle function.
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    Apolipoprotein E genotype and sex influence C-reactive protein levels regardless of exercise training status
    (W.B. Saunders Co, 2008) Miles, Mary; Lowndes, J.; Sivo, S.; Seip, R.L.; Angelopoulos, T.J.
    C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker for systemic inflammation and increased cardiovascular disease risk. Regular exercise may decrease CRP. Apolipoprotein E (apo E) has 3 common genotype variants—E2/3, 3/3, and 3/4—that modulate lipid metabolism and may have other metabolic physiologic roles, including some evidence that the genotype affects CRP levels. We assessed fasting serum CRP in 117 (male = 51, female = 66) healthy adults who volunteered for a 6-month aerobic exercise program. Both pre- and posttraining measurements were available in 71 (male = 31, female = 40) subjects. At baseline and follow-up, the numbers of subjects in the 3 groups were approximately equal: 2/3, n = 33 and 20; 3/3, n = 41 and 26; and 3/4, n = 43 and 25. At baseline, CRP levels differed by apo E genotype: means ± SD were 2.84 ± 2.18, 2.59 ± 2.34, and 1.90 ± 2.13 mg/L for E2/3, 3/3, and 3/4 subjects, respectively (3/4 vs 2/3, P b .05). In women, CRP was higher than that in men (3.14 ± 2.49 vs 2.12 ± 2.13 mg/L, P b .006). Exercise failed to affect CRP in the entire cohort (2.68 ± 2.38 vs 2.52 ± 2.48 mg/L) or in any apo E genotype group, and the apo E genotype effect observed at baseline persisted after training. In a largely white study cohort, CRP is higher in apo E3/3 than in 3/4 subjects and in women compared with men, but remains unchanged by 6 months of standard aerobic exercise training of the volume and higher intensity promoted by national organizations to reduce cardiovascular disease risk. How apo E genotype affects CRP is not known.
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    Cytokine production by stimulated mononuclear cells did not change with aging in apparently healthy, well-nourished women
    (Elsevier, 2001) Ahluwalia, N.; Mastro, A.M.; Ball, R.; Miles, Mary; Rajendra, R.; Handte, G.
    Aging is often associated with a dysregulation of the immune system. We examined mitogen-stimulated production of interleukin (IL)-2 and proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1β and IL-6, in apparently healthy and generally well-nourished old versus young women. Subjects were screened for health using the SENIEUR protocol and a panel of laboratory tests for inflammation, as well as for the adequacy of nutritional status using criteria related to undernutrition, and protein, iron, vitamin B12, and folate status. Young (n=26, age: 20–40 years) and old (n=44, age: 62–88 years) cohorts did not differ on the number of circulating monocytes, granulocytes, B (CD19+) cells, and T (CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+) cells. No differences (P>0.10) were seen between the two age groups in IL-2, IL-1β and IL-6 levels in whole blood cultures at 48 h after stimulation with PHA (5 mg/l). Furthermore, no age-related differences were noted in the absolute amounts (pg) of IL-1β and IL-6 after normalizing for circulating monocytes, B cells, or T cells (P>0.10). Similarly, no age-related decline in absolute amount of IL-2 (pg) after normalizing for circulating T cells was noted (P>0.10). Thus, contrary to most previous reports, our results do not support an increase in the production of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6, and a reduced production of IL-2 with aging when health and nutritional status are maintained. These findings support our previous results of no change in monocyte function and few alterations in acquired immune response in a carefully selected group of healthy and well-nourished elderly women.
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