A Step Toward Workplace Obesity Prevention: Evaluation of Weight Management Program for Hospital-based Health Care Providers

Background: Obesity is a worldwide problem. Healthy workplace and lifestyle are crucial in preventing obesity. A workplace weight management program could create a culture of health and facilitate weight control among health care providers. The present study aims to describe and evaluate the health outcomes of the interaction of professional practice and organizational infrastructure. Method: The hospital-based weight management program was an eight-week pilot randomized controlled study for obese health care providers. The primary outcomes were body weight and body mass index. The secondary outcomes included serum fasting glucose, fasting cholesterol, triglyceride, high- and low-density lipoprotein, body fat percentage, body mass, and quality of life. The RE-AIM framework was used to examine the intervention’s reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance at individual and organizational levels. Results: The program successfully attained the target population. Health care providers demonstrated short-term weight loss and decreased serum fasting cholesterol level after completing the program. The excellent retention rate (95%) of the study suggested that the participants were well-engaged in self-weight management. The program was implemented with adequate resource and support from the health organization. The organization may consider continuing the program in view of its long-term benefits to health care providers. Conclusion: Supportive organizational structure and culture enhanced professional practice and improved the health outcomes of the hospital-based weight management program participants

Study of BNKLBT-1.5 lead-free ceramic/epoxy 1-3 composites

2007-2008 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Structural characterization and electron-energy-loss spectroscopic study of pulsed laser deposited LiNbO₃ films on a-sapphire

2004-2005 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Ambient-temperature incorporated hydrogen in Nb:SrTiO₃ single crystals

2002-2003 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

A prospective randomized trial comparing the use of omeprazole-based dual and triple therapy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori

Conference Theme: Challenges to specialists in the 21st centurypublished_or_final_versio

Structure and evolutionary origin of Ca2+-dependent herring type II antifreeze protein

10.1371/journal.pone.0000548PLoS ONE26

Tissue Effect on Genetic Control of Transcript Isoform Variation

Current genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are moving towards the use of large cohorts of primary cell lines to study a disease of interest and to assign biological relevance to the genetic signals identified. Here, we use a panel of human osteoblasts (HObs) to carry out a transcriptomic survey, similar to recent studies in lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). The distinct nature of HObs and LCLs is reflected by the preferential grouping of cell type–specific genes within biologically and functionally relevant pathways unique to each tissue type. We performed cis-association analysis with SNP genotypes to identify genetic variations of transcript isoforms, and our analysis indicates that differential expression of transcript isoforms in HObs is also partly controlled by cis-regulatory genetic variants. These isoforms are regulated by genetic variants in both a tissue-specific and tissue-independent fashion, and these associations have been confirmed by RT–PCR validation. Our study suggests that multiple transcript isoforms are often present in both tissues and that genetic control may affect the relative expression of one isoform to another, rather than having an all-or-none effect. Examination of the top SNPs from a GWAS of bone mineral density show overlap with probeset associations observed in this study. The top hit corresponding to the FAM118A gene was tested for association studies in two additional clinical studies, revealing a novel transcript isoform variant. Our approach to examining transcriptome variation in multiple tissue types is useful for detecting the proportion of genetic variation common to different cell types and for the identification of cell-specific isoform variants that may be functionally relevant, an important follow-up step for GWAS

Granzyme B Cleaves Decorin, Biglycan and Soluble Betaglycan, Releasing Active Transforming Growth Factor-β1

Objective: Granzyme B (GrB) is a pro-apoptotic serine protease that contributes to immune-mediated target cell apoptosis. However, during inflammation, GrB accumulates in the extracellular space, retains its activity, and is capable of cleaving extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Recent studies have implicated a pathogenic extracellular role for GrB in cardiovascular disease, yet the pathophysiological consequences of extracellular GrB activity remain largely unknown. The objective of this study was to identify proteoglycan (PG) substrates of GrB and examine the ability of GrB to release PG-sequestered TGF-b1 into the extracellular milieu. Methods/Results: Three extracellular GrB PG substrates were identified; decorin, biglycan and betaglycan. As all of these PGs sequester active TGF-b1, cytokine release assays were conducted to establish if GrB-mediated PG cleavage induced TGF-b1 release. Our data confirmed that GrB liberated TGF-b1 from all three substrates as well as from endogenous ECM and this process was inhibited by the GrB inhibitor 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin. The released TGF-b1 retained its activity as indicated by the induction of SMAD-3 phosphorylation in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells. Conclusion: In addition to contributing to ECM degradation and the loss of tissue structural integrity in vivo, increase