Relationship between stress and healthy lifestyle factors of college students

OBJECTIVES: We assessed the correlation between college students' perceived stress (PS) and healthy lifestyle factors (HLFs) in this cross-sectional study. METHODS: Data were collected from 1396 undergraduates enrolled in an introductory nutrition course. We measured PS and 5 HLFs (physically active, healthy diet, non-smoker, non-binge drinker, healthy BMI). RESULTS: The mean PS score was 15.0 ± 0.2 (maximum, 40) and the mean number of HLFs reported was 2.9 ± 0.03. Females were more likely to report 4-5 HLFs than males (31% vs 20%). We found a statistically significant inverse correlation between PS and HLFs for women (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Health promotion interventions that support healthy food choices, physical activity and low-risk substance use may reduce perceived stress in the college population.Published versio

Body mass index and sociodemographic predictors of school lunch purchase behavior during a year-long environmental intervention in middle school

Modifying the school food environment is on the national agenda as one strategy to improve the nutritional quality of children's diets. Because few environmental-level interventions have been rigorously evaluated, the evidence base to inform programs and policies is limited. Of concern is the impact that changes to cafeteria offerings will have on participation in school meal programs. This study evaluates school lunch participation in the setting of a year-long middle school cafeteria intervention by examining the association between body mass index (BMI), sociodemographics, and the purchases of school lunch meals. IMOVE meals were healthier choices that met stringent nutritional criteria and were offered alongside standard lunch meals. Students who were overweight had a significantly higher purchase rate for both types of meals compared to those with a healthy BMI. Non-white race, younger age, being male, and low-income status were also significantly associated with participation in school lunch. Results indicate that nutritionally vulnerable students participate in school lunch and are equally likely to buy healthy alternatives or standard meals. This behavioral observation has important implications for school foodservice programs and policies. These results are timely given recent federal legislation to improve the school food environment to influence students' food choice behaviors

TB120: Alternative Assessment of Individual Dietary Intake--A Pilot Study

In an initial effort to devise a rapid assessment alternative that would provide a reliable estimate of an individual\u27s usual dietary pattern, a Predicted Food List (estimated, abbreviated food frequency), an Actual Food List (recorded, truncated food frequency), and a Typical Diet Day (foods perceived as commonly consumed in a 24-hour period) were compared with a 75-day food record. Overall, the Predicted Food List appeared to be the best tool for depicting an individual\u27s usual food intake. It was concluded that a shortened list of food items characterizing an individual\u27s normal nutrient intake level may be a useful instrument allowing rapid screening of selected at risk nutrients.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1080/thumbnail.jp

The association among diet, dietary fiber, and bowel preparation at colonoscopy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pre-colonoscopy dietary restrictions vary widely and lack evidence-based guidance. We investigated whether fiber and various other foods/macronutrients consumed during the 3 days before colonoscopy are associated with bowel preparation quality. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study among patients scheduled for outpatient colonoscopy. Patients received instructions including split-dose polyethylene glycol, avoidance of vegetables/beans 2 days before colonoscopy, and a clear liquid diet the day before colonoscopy. Two 24-hour dietary recall interviews and 1 patient-recorded food log measured dietary intake on the 3 days before colonoscopy. The Nutrition Data System for Research was used to estimate dietary exposures. Our primary outcome was the quality of bowel preparation measured by the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS). RESULTS: We enrolled 201 patients from November 2015 to September 2016 with complete data for 168. The mean age was 59 years (standard deviation, 7 years), and 90% of colonoscopies were conducted for screening/surveillance. Only 17% and 77% of patients complied with diet restrictions 2 and 1 day(s) before colonoscopy, respectively. We found no association between foods consumed 2 and 3 days before colonoscopy and BBPS scores. However, BPPS was positively associated with intake of gelatin, and inversely associated with intake of red meat, poultry, and vegetables on the day before colonoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support recent guidelines encouraging unrestricted diets >1 day before colonoscopy if using a split-dose bowel regimen. Furthermore, we found no evidence to restrict dietary fiber 1 day before colonoscopy. We also found evidence to promote consumption of gelatin and avoidance of red meat, poultry, and vegetables 1 day before colonoscopy.Dr Jacobson has acted as a consultant for MOTUS GI and Remedy Partners. All other authors disclosed no financial relationships relevant to this publication. Supported by NIH/NIDDK R21DK105476. (R21DK105476 - NIH/NIDDK)Accepted manuscrip

Reliability of a Visual Observation Pitching Assessment in Adolescent Pitchers

Pitching mechanical errors are potential risk factors for upper extremity injury in baseball pitchers. Creating a reliable assessment tool will allow coaches and sports medicine professionals to identify faulty pitching mechanics and correct these mechanics before injury occurs. The purpose of this study was to establish the intra- and inter-rater reliability of previously studied biomechanical errors that have been linked to injurious stresses. Each participant pitched a minimum of ten pitches that included a minimum of three strikes, while frontal and sagittal video was collected. Separate Cohen's kappa coefficients were used to establish reliability. Acceptable intra-rater reliability was established for all six biomechanical errors. Acceptable inter-rater reliability was established for three out of the six errors. This study lays the foundation for the development of a clinically applicable assessment tool which has the potential of identifying faulty pitching mechanics to decrease the injury associated with pitching.Master of Art

Long-term yogurt consumption and risk of incident hypertension in adults

The Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study cohorts are supported by grants UM1 CA186107, UM1 CA176726, and UM1 CA167552 from the National Institutes of Health. The current analyses were supported by small grants from the National Dairy Council, the General Mills Bell Institute for Health and Nutrition, and the Boston Nutrition and Obesity Research Center. The Boston Nutrition Obesity Research Center is administratively based at Boston Medical Center and is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIDDK) grant P30DK046200. (UM1 CA186107 - National Institutes of Health; UM1 CA176726 - National Institutes of Health; UM1 CA167552 - National Institutes of Health; small grants from the National Dairy Council; General Mills Bell Institute for Health and Nutrition; Boston Nutrition and Obesity Research Center; P30DK046200 - National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIDDK))Accepted manuscrip

Feasibility and acceptability of dietary intake assessment via 24-hour recall and food frequency questionnaire among women with low socioeconomic status

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive evaluation of dietary interventions depends on effective and efficient measurement to quantify behavior change. To date, little is known regarding which self-reported measure of dietary intake is most feasible and acceptable for use in evaluation of the effectiveness of diet intervention studies among underserved populations. OBJECTIVE: This research focused on evaluating feasibility and acceptability of two self-report measures of diet. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: Two interviewer-administered 24-hour recalls and a 110-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) were administered to both English- and Spanish-speaking participants (n=36) by native English- and Spanish-speaking research assistants. On completion of both dietary assessments, participants were interviewed regarding their preference of measure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Feasibility for completion of the dietary assessment measures was determined for contacts and retention. Acceptability of the measures was determined through responses to open- and closed-ended questions. RESULTS: During the 5-month trial, 36 participants were enrolled; 29 completed both intake measures, and 26 completed both measures and the interview. Participants were mainly Hispanic/Latina (72%), with a mean age of 37.0 (±7.6) years. Feasibility targets were met for contacts (1.9, 1.6, 1.8 contact attempts to complete each diet assessment measure with a target of ≤2) and for retention with 89% and 91% completing two 24-hour recalls and the FFQ, respectively. Participants indicated both diet assessment methods were generally acceptable; both positive and negative comments were received for use of the FFQ. CONCLUSION: Dietary assessment with the use of 24-hour recalls or an FFQ can be feasible and acceptable among women with low socioeconomic status, although care should be taken to address cultural appropriateness in the selection of the measurement method. Copyright © 2018 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.IRG 72 001-36 - American Cancer Societ

Dual Targeted Immunotherapy via In Vivo Delivery of Biohybrid RNAi-Peptide Nanoparticles to Tumor-Associated Macrophages and Cancer Cells

This work was funded in part by Science Foundation Ireland under Grant No. 11/PI/08, the National Key Basic Research Program (973 Project) (Nos. 2011CB933101 and 2015CB931802), National Natural Scientific Fund (Nos. 81225010 and 81327002), 863 project of China (Nos. 2012AA022703 and 2014AA020700), Shanghai Science and Technology Fund (No. 13NM1401500). E.R.E. was supported in part by NIH R01 GM49039. J.C. acknowledges Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IOF, Project No. 626386) and F.T. for Marie Curie grant agreement (PIEF-GA-2012-332-332462

Managing type 2 diabetes or prediabetes and binge eating disorder: a qualitative study of patients' perceptions and lived experiences

BACKGROUND: The overlap in prevalence between type 2 diabetes and binge eating disorder is substantial, with adverse physical and mental health consequences. Little is known about patients' efforts at managing these two conditions simultaneously. The research objective was to explore patients' experiences managing co-existing type 2 diabetes or prediabetes and binge eating disorder. METHODS: This is a qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured interviews. Participants included 21 women with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes (90% non-Hispanic White; mean age 49 ± 14.8 years, mean BMI 43.8 ± 8.4; 48% with type 2 diabetes and mean HbA1c was 8.4%). Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis and NVivo software. RESULTS: Qualitative analysis revealed that participants reported binge episodes frequently started in childhood or adolescence and went undiagnosed for decades; notably, they recalled that diabetes diagnosis preceded the binge eating disorder diagnosis. They also described trying to lose weight throughout their lives and how feelings of deprivation, shame, and failure exacerbated binge eating. Participants further reported how binge eating made diabetes self-care and outcomes worse. Finally, participants observed that when binge eating disorder treatment and diabetes management were synergistically integrated, they experienced improvements in both binge eating and glycemic outcomes. This integration included reframing negative thoughts surrounding binge eating disorder and diabetes self-management and increasing their understanding of how the two disorders were inter-related. CONCLUSION: Findings highlight the importance of increasing healthcare providers' awareness of and screening for binge eating disorder in the treatment of diabetes and inform specific integrated interventions that address both diagnoses. From this study where we interviewed 21 women with binge eating disorder (BED) and type 2 diabetes/prediabetes, we learned how binge eating impacted diabetes management and how diabetes impacted BED. Most participants reported receiving the diabetes diagnosis before being diagnosed with BED despite the earlier onset of binge eating, pointing to the need for BED screening. Participants described trying to lose weight throughout their lives and reported feelings of failure and shame, which made binge eating worse. Binge eating made diabetes management harder, but when diabetes and BED treatment were aligned, participants experienced improvements in binge symptoms and diabetes outcomes.Dudley Allen Sargent Research FundPublished versio

Explorations, Vol. 3, No. 3

Cover: Artwork by Marcia Spencer, University of Maine art student. Articles include: Characterization of Normal and Carcinogen Induced Neoplastic Cells of Teleost Origin, by Tim Lyden Attitutdes and Opinions of Maine Dairy Farmers, by John Muth and James Leiby Background: the quest for the eighteen month oyster, by Kevin Scully The Quest for the Eighteen Month Oyster, by Kevin Scully Measurement of Surface Tension of Kraft Black Liquor, by Jayalakshmi Jaya Krishnagopalan From the former student, by Jayalakshmi Krishnagopalan From the faculty advisor, by Ivar H. Stockel Aquatic Fungal Decomposers in Two Adjacent Maine Lakes of Different Acidity, by Peter Wagner Studies on a New Mouse Mutation, by Luanne L. Peters Opportunities for Students: Maine Agricultural Experiment Station Research Programs, by Mark W. Anderson Experimental Embryogenesis in Red Pine, by Judy C. Gates The V-Notched Lobster in Maine, by Cheryl Waltz Undernutrition in a Pediatric Population, by Paula Quatromoni From the Advisor Archaeology of the Central Maine Coast, by Douglas Kellogg Marketing Strategies for Computer Consultants in Small Business, by Kimberly Dagher Our Cover Artist From the Advisor, by James Lineha