scholarly journals Evolving Concepts of Food Safety: The Need for Understanding Mechanisms of Food Toxicology for Public Policy

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Food Safety ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
The United States ◽  
Microbial Pathogens ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Nutrition And Diet

Nutrition and diet, which are fundamental to human development and health, in the context of food safety, can be major determinants in the prevention and contributor to both acute and chronic diseases. While the predominant and legitimate concern is to detect and eliminate microbial pathogens that can cause acute illnesses and deaths (estimated 3-5 thousand deaths in the United States and millions of various acute disorders), food components (nutrients, pollutants, additives, processing by-products, etc.) are major factors in chronic diseases (e.g., “metabolic diseases” of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers). They contribute to millions of long-term health problems and deaths, globally. The objective of this “Communication” is to integrate a shared underlying mechanism of toxicity between acute and chronic diseases. The traditional separation of the strategy to understand “causes” of acute and chronic diseases, while for some practical tactics is understandable (i.e. screening for food-associated pathogens), it fails to recognize that these microbial -associated toxins work by exactly the same molecular/biochemical and cellular mechanisms as the toxicants- causing chronic diseases. Since all chemicals work by mutagenic, cytotoxic or “epigenetic” alteration of gene expression at the transcriptional, translational or post-translational levels, understanding characteristics of all three of these toxicological mechanisms is important so that public policy- strategies for prevention of both these classes of food –related diseases can be made and that a solid foundation for the concept of “functional foods” be made. A moral imperative has to be given to the critical role that safe food can make during pregnancy in preventing long-term health effects later in life.

scholarly journals Circadian Mechanisms: Cardiac Ion Channel Remodeling and Arrhythmias

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joyce Bernardi ◽  
Kelly A. Aromolaran ◽  
Hua Zhu ◽  
Ademuyiwa S. Aromolaran
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Circadian Rhythms ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Normal Sinus Rhythm ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
The United States ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Normal Sinus ◽  
Obesity And Diabetes

Circadian rhythms are involved in many physiological and pathological processes in different tissues, including the heart. Circadian rhythms play a critical role in adverse cardiac function with implications for heart failure and sudden cardiac death, highlighting a significant contribution of circadian mechanisms to normal sinus rhythm in health and disease. Cardiac arrhythmias are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure and likely cause ∼250,000 deaths annually in the United States alone; however, the molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. This suggests the need to improve our current understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms that increase vulnerability to arrhythmias. Obesity and its associated pathologies, including diabetes, have emerged as dangerous disease conditions that predispose to adverse cardiac electrical remodeling leading to fatal arrhythmias. The increasing epidemic of obesity and diabetes suggests vulnerability to arrhythmias will remain high in patients. An important objective would be to identify novel and unappreciated cellular mechanisms or signaling pathways that modulate obesity and/or diabetes. In this review we discuss circadian rhythms control of metabolic and environmental cues, cardiac ion channels, and mechanisms that predispose to supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias including hormonal signaling and the autonomic nervous system, and how understanding their functional interplay may help to inform the development and optimization of effective clinical and therapeutic interventions with implications for chronotherapy.

Effects of Sterilization Techniques and Culture Time on the Creep of Collagenous Ligament Analogues

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darryl A. Dickerson ◽  
Kay C. Dee ◽  
Glen A. Livesay
Keyword(s):  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Donor Site ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
The United States ◽  
Donor Site Morbidity ◽  
Joint Stability ◽  
Acl Injuries ◽  
Anterior Cruciate ◽  
Active Patients

Every year, approximately 200,000 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur in the United States; of these cases, 60,000–75,000 patients undergo ACL reconstruction [1]. The ACL plays a critical role in knee stability; however, it possesses little inherent capacity for healing. Although reconstruction is often used in active patients, issues such as donor site morbidity and long term joint stability have motivated interest in tissue-engineered ligament analogues.

scholarly journals Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Among Colorectal Cancer Survivors in a Population-Based Cohort

2019 ◽  
Vol 112 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-86
Author(s):  
Makenzie L Hawkins ◽  
Brenna E Blackburn ◽  
Kerry Rowe ◽  
John Snyder ◽  
Vikrant G Deshmukh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
General Population ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
The United States ◽  
Population Cohort ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
General Population Cohort ◽  
Time Periods

Abstract Background There are an estimated 1.4 million colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors in the United States. Research on endocrine and metabolic diseases over the long term in CRC survivors is limited. Obesity is a risk factor for CRC; thus it is of interest to investigate diseases that may share this risk factor, such as diabetes, for long-term health outcomes among CRC survivors. Methods A total of 7114 CRC patients were identified from the Utah Population Database and matched to a general population cohort of 25 979 individuals on birth year, sex, and birth state. Disease diagnoses (assessed over three time periods of 1–5 years, 5–10 years, and >10 years) were identified using electronic medical records and statewide ambulatory and inpatient discharge data. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the risk of endocrine and metabolic disease. Results Across all three time periods, risks for endocrine and metabolic diseases were statistically significantly greater for CRC survivors compared with the general population cohort. At 1–5 years postdiagnosis, CRC survivors’ risk for diabetes mellitus with complications was statistically significantly elevated (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.36, 99% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09 to 1.70). CRC survivors also experienced a 40% increased risk of obesity at 1–5 years postcancer diagnosis (HR= 1.40, 99% CI= 1.66 to 2.18) and a 50% increased risk at 5–10 years postdiagnosis (HR = 1.50, 99% CI= 1.16 to 1.95). Conclusions Endocrine and metabolic diseases were statistically significantly higher in CRC survivors throughout the follow-up periods of 1–5 years, 5–10 years, and more than 10 years postdiagnosis. As the number of CRC survivors increases, understanding the long-term trajectory is critical for improved survivorship care.

Public Policy Issues Affecting the Homeless in America

1989 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-21
Author(s):  
Margaret Boone ◽  
Thomas Weaver
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The United States ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Educational Preparation ◽  
Income Gap ◽  
The Face ◽  
Multiple Issues

The issue of homelessness symbolizes and incorporates some of the most urgent public concerns in the United States today, and for the next several decades. Homelessness represents an intersection of five major public policy areas: first, the issue of growing poverty in the face of industrial prosperity, a widening income gap between rich and poor, and the disparity between educational preparation and occupational requirements; second, the issues raised by lifestyle-related health epidemics such as drug addiction and multi-substance abuse; third, the issue of mental health, which stubbornly remains one of America's major unrecognized health problems, with literally millions of organic, cognitive, personality, and affective disorders left untreated; fourth, the issue of housing, and whether and how the provision of dwellings is central to American requirements for "a human community" and a basic right to "the pursuit of happiness"; and fifth, the multiple issues raised by aging and long-term care, because as the nation's population ages, more and more of the elderly will be at risk for becoming homeless and will exert enormous pressure on government to provide long-term care.

scholarly journals Physical Activity as a Preventive Lifestyle Intervention Acts Through Specific Exosomal miRNA Species—Evidence From Human Short- and Long-Term Pilot Studies

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kitti Garai ◽  
Zoltan Adam ◽  
Robert Herczeg ◽  
Krisztina Banfai ◽  
Adam Gyebrovszki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Regular Exercise ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Pilot Studies ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
Mirna Species ◽  
Exosomal Mirna

Exercise initiates systemic adaptation to promote health and prevent various lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Emerging evidence suggests that circulating exosomes mediate some of the beneficial effects of exercise via the transfer of microRNAs between tissues. Yet to date, a comprehensive profile of the exosomal miRNA (exomiR) content released following short-term (0.5 year in this study) and long-term (25 + years in this study) regular bouts of exercise is still lacking. However, a better understanding of these miRNA species would assist in clarifying the role of regular exercise at the molecular level in the prevention of chronic diseases. In the present pilot studies we analyzed serum exomiR expression in healthy young, sedentary participants (n = 14; age: 23 ± 2 years) at baseline and following a half year-long moderate-intensity regular exercise training. We also analyzed serum exomiR expression in older, healthy trained participants (seniors, n = 11; age: 62 ± 6 years) who engaged in endurance activities for at least 25 years. Following the isolation and enrichment of serum exosomes using Total Exosome Isolation Reagent (TEI) their exomiR levels were determined using the amplification-free Nanostring platform. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that the majority of exomiRs overlap for short-term (0.5 year in this study) and long-term (25 + years in this study) regular bouts of exercise. The top 12 significantly altered exomiRs (let-7a-5p; let-7g-5p; miR-130a-3p; miR-142-3p; miR-150-5p; miR-15a-5p; miR-15b-5p; miR-199a-3p; miR-199b-3p; miR-223-3p; miR-23a-3p, and miR-451a-3p) were used for further evaluation. According to KEGG pathway analysis a large portion of the exomiRs target chronic diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases, and viral infections. Our results provide evidence that exosomal miRNA modulation is the molecular mechanism through which regular exercise prevents various chronic diseases. The possibility of using such exomiRs to target diseases is of great interest. While further validation is needed, our comprehensive exomiR study presents, for the first time, the disease-preventive molecular pattern of both short and long-term regular exercise.

scholarly journals Photoperiod and temperature as dominant environmental drivers triggering secondary growth resumption in Northern Hemisphere conifers

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (34) ◽  
pp. 20645-20652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-Guo Huang ◽  
Qianqian Ma ◽  
Sergio Rossi ◽  
Franco Biondi ◽  
Annie Deslauriers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Northern Hemisphere ◽  
Dominant Role ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Secondary Growth ◽  
Wood Formation ◽  
Environmental Drivers ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Exogenous Factors

Wood formation consumes around 15% of the anthropogenic CO2emissions per year and plays a critical role in long-term sequestration of carbon on Earth. However, the exogenous factors driving wood formation onset and the underlying cellular mechanisms are still poorly understood and quantified, and this hampers an effective assessment of terrestrial forest productivity and carbon budget under global warming. Here, we used an extensive collection of unique datasets of weekly xylem tissue formation (wood formation) from 21 coniferous species across the Northern Hemisphere (latitudes 23 to 67°N) to present a quantitative demonstration that the onset of wood formation in Northern Hemisphere conifers is primarily driven by photoperiod and mean annual temperature (MAT), and only secondarily by spring forcing, winter chilling, and moisture availability. Photoperiod interacts with MAT and plays the dominant role in regulating the onset of secondary meristem growth, contrary to its as-yet-unquantified role in affecting the springtime phenology of primary meristems. The unique relationships between exogenous factors and wood formation could help to predict how forest ecosystems respond and adapt to climate warming and could provide a better understanding of the feedback occurring between vegetation and climate that is mediated by phenology. Our study quantifies the role of major environmental drivers for incorporation into state-of-the-art Earth system models (ESMs), thereby providing an improved assessment of long-term and high-resolution observations of biogeochemical cycles across terrestrial biomes.

The Right to Life Movement: Sources, Development, and Strategies

1995 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-159
Author(s):  
Keith Cassidy
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
The United States ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Right To Life ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Policy Process ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Right ◽  
Life Movement

Social movements play a critical role in the development of public policy in modern America. An extensive literature provides us with valuable insights into their growth and evolution, but in the end it cannot substitute for the history of specific movements, which can be understood only in the particular circumstances of their birth and development. Over the last fifty years few movements have had the long-standing visibility, the mass involvement, and the public impact of the Right to Life movement. While there is still no adequate full-length account of the movement, an outline of some of the major aspects of its history, particularly as it is relevant to the public policy process in the United States, can be provided. Before embarking on that task, I will review and assess current interpretations of the movement, at both the popular and scholarly levels, and suggest a plausible explanation of its social sources and characteristics.

scholarly journals The Potential for Plant-Based Diets to Promote Health Among Blacks Living in the United States

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2915 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samara R. Sterling ◽  
Shelly-Ann Bowen
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
General Population ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease Risk ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cancer Subtypes

Plant-based diets are associated with reduced risks of various chronic diseases in the general population. However, it is unclear how these benefits translate to Blacks living in the United States, who are disproportionately burdened with heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and chronic kidney disease. The objectives of this study were to: (1) review the general evidence of plant-based diets and health outcomes; (2) discuss how this evidence translates to Blacks following a plant-based diet; and (3) provide recommendations and considerations for future studies in this area. Interestingly, although the evidence supporting plant-based diets in the general population is robust, little research has been done on Blacks specifically. However, the available data suggests that following a plant-based diet may reduce the risk of heart disease and possibly cancer in this population. More research is needed on cardiovascular disease risk factors, cancer subtypes, and other chronic diseases. Further, attention must be given to the unique individual, familial, communal, and environmental needs that Blacks who follow plant-based diets may have. Interventions must be culturally appropriate in order to achieve long-term success, and providing low-cost, flavorful, and nutritious options will be important.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document