Childhood Obesity in Florida: A Narrative Review on Current Trends and Interventions

We examine current research on childhood obesity (CO) trends and intervention strategies in Florida. The fiscal, emotional, and health-related costs related to general obesity are staggering. Unfortunately, CO-related publicity, research, policy, and interventions have not been entirely successful in addressing the problem. Florida ranks 35thnationally in prevalence of CO. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2013 report a statistically significant decrease in Florida\u27s rate of CO among 2-4 year-olds participating in Florida’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) from 2008-2011. Whereas Florida still has significant room for improvement on the issue of CO, its relatively low CO prevalence indicates a step in the right direction. Information provided herein provides valuable insight, resource information, and motivation to healthcare providers, particularly registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs). As nutrition experts employed in various areas of society, RDNs are advantageously situated to contribute significantly to the CO solution. Florida appears to benefit from interdisciplinary collaborations among healthcare facilities, schools, faith-based organizations, governmental agencies, and grassroots programs that may play a major role in the current fight against CO

The Grizzly, October 11, 2007

Up \u27til Dawn Beats the Yawn to Fight Against Childhood Cancer • The Voice of WHYY Speaks at Myrin Library\u27s First Friday Series • WeCAN Focuses on Workers\u27 Rights • Omega Chi Hosts Annual Campus Blood Drive • Sexual Health in the Heat: Philly OutFest • UC Theater Presents Gilgamesh • Water Bottles: Robbing Our Environment and Our Homes • Book Review: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close • Opinions: CIE Students, Are You Listening?; Live Earth: Retrospective; No Thank You, UC Meal Plan • No Pads, No Guards, No Problemshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1746/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, November 15, 2007

Kemper Scholarship Offers Unique Experience for Freshmen • Yale Professor Discusses Acclaimed Novel at Ursinus • UC Alumni Share Volunteer Experiences in Peace Corps • Ursinus Collects 754 Pounds of Canned Goods for Philabundance • Premium Outlet Mall Now Open • Am I Pregnant? • Spotlight: UC Wellness Fair • Kushner Would be Proud • For Music Lovers • Tortugas: In the Mood for Mexican Food? • Opinions: All-Male Housing: Damage Control; Concert Review: Tiger Army, The Static Age, and Street Dogs; Is Today\u27s Generation of Crusaders Too Online? • UC Swim Team Dives Into Season • Sororities Battle to Raise Money • Field Hockey Season Comes to an Endhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1750/thumbnail.jp

Effects of Clove Oil (Eugenol) on Proprioceptive Neurons, Heart Rate, and Behavior in Model Crustaceans

Clove oil contains eugenol as an active ingredient and is used as a topical anesthetic in mammals to remedy pain and to anesthetize fish and other seafood for short periods; however, the exact mechanism of action of eugenol is not fully understood. We examined use of eugenol as a reversible anesthetic in crustaceans by examining its effect on sensory and motor neurons in the Red Swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) and Whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) with electrophysiological recordings. The neurogenic heart rate in the three species was also monitored along with behaviors and responsiveness to sensory stimuli. The activity of the primary proprioceptive neurons was reduced at 200 ppm and ceased at 400 ppm for both crayfish (i.e., muscle receptor organ) and crab (i.e., leg PD organ) preparations when exposed to saline containing eugenol. Flushing out eugenol resulted in recovery in the majority of the preparations within five to ten minutes. Administering eugenol to crayfish and crabs both systemically and through environmental exposure resulted in the animals becoming lethargic. Direct injection into the hemolymph was quicker to decrease reflexes and sensory perception, but heart rate was still maintained. Eugenol at a circulating level of 400 ppm decreased electromyogram activity in the claw muscle of crabs. Surprisingly, this study found no change in heart rate despite administering eugenol into the hemolymph to reach 400 ppm in crabs or crayfish but heart rate in shrimp preparations decreased. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of eugenol as a short-term anesthetic for crustaceans to decrease stress during handling or transportation, considering its effectiveness at decreasing sensory input and the quick recovery of upon removal of eugenol. A neurophysiology course took this project on as an authentic course-based undergraduate research experience (ACURE)

Alteration of AKT Activity Increases Chemotherapeutic Drug and Hormonal Resistance in Breast Cancer yet Confers an Achilles Heel by Sensitization to Targeted Therapy

The PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR pathway plays critical roles in the regulation of cell growth. The effects of this pathway on drug resistance and cellular senescence of breast cancer cells has been a focus of our laboratory. Introduction of activated Akt or mutant PTEN constructs which lack lipid phosphatase [PTEN(G129E)] or lipid and protein phosphatase [PTEN(C124S)] activity increased the resistance of the cells to the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin, and the hormonal drug tamoxifen. Activated Akt and PTEN genes also inhibited the induction of senescence after doxorubicin treatment; a phenomenon associated with unrestrained proliferation and tumorigenesis. Interference with the lipid phosphatase domain of PTEN was sufficient to activate Akt/mTOR/p70S6K as MCF-7 cells transfected with the mutant PTEN gene lacking the lipid phosphatase activity [PTEN(G129E)] displayed elevated levels of activated Akt and p70S6K compared to empty vector transfected cells. Cells transfected with mutant PTEN or Akt constructs were hypersensitive to mTOR inhibitors when compared with the parental or empty vector transfected cells. Akt-transfected cells were cultured for over two months in tamoxifen from which tamoxifen and doxorubicin resistant cells were isolated that were >10-fold more resistant to tamoxifen and doxorubicin than the original Akt-transfected cells. These cells had a decreased induction of both activated p53 and total p21Cip1 upon doxorubicin treatment. Furthermore, these cells had an increased inactivation of GSK-3β and decreased expression of the estrogen receptor-α. In these drug resistant cells, there was an increased activation of ERK which is associated with proliferation. These drug resistant cells were hypersensitive to mTOR inhibitors and also sensitive to MEK inhibitors, indicating that the enhanced p70S6K and ERK expression was relevant to their drug and hormonal resistance. Given that Akt is overexpressed in greater than 50% of breast cancers, our results point to potential therapeutic targets, mTOR and MEK. These studies indicate that activation of the Akt kinase or disruption of the normal activity of the PTEN phosphatase can have dramatic effects on activity of p70S6K and other downstream substrates and thereby altering the therapeutic sensitivity of breast cancer cells. The effects of doxorubicin and tamoxifen on induction of the Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt survival pathways were examined in unmodified MCF-7 breast cells. Doxorubicin was a potent inducer of activated ERK and to a lesser extent Akt. Tamoxifen also induced ERK. Thus a consequence of doxorubicin and tamoxifen therapy of breast cancer is the induction of a pro-survival pathway which may contribute to the development of drug resistance. Unmodified MCF-7 cells were also sensitive to MEK and mTOR inhibitors which synergized with both tamoxifen and doxorubicin to induce death. In summary, our results point to the key interactions between the PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR and Raf/ MEK/ERK pathways in regulating chemotherapeutic drug resistance/sensitivity in breast cancer and indicate that targeting these pathways may prevent drug and hormonal resistance. Orignally published Advances in Enzyme Regulation, Vol. 48, No. 1, 2008

The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities, yet little is known about the specific genetic loci that influence human cortical structure. To identify genetic variants that affect cortical structure, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 51,665 individuals. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 regions with known functional specializations. We identified 199 significant loci and found significant enrichment for loci influencing total surface area within regulatory elements that are active during prenatal cortical development, supporting the radial unit hypothesis. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes in Wnt signaling pathways, which influence progenitor expansion and areal identity. Variation in cortical structure is genetically correlated with cognitive function, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression, neuroticism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder