Tufts University

About: Tufts University is a education organization based out in Medford, Massachusetts, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 32800 authors who have published 66881 publications receiving 3451152 citations. The organization is also known as: Tufts College & Universitatis Tuftensis.

Resistance to Apoptosis Conferred by Cdk Inhibitors During Myocyte Differentiation

Abstract: Proliferating murine C2C12 myoblasts can undergo either terminal differentiation or programmed cell death under conditions of mitogen deprivation Unlike myoblasts, differentiated myotubes were resistant to apoptosis During myogenesis the appearance of the apoptosis-resistant phenotype was correlated with the induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p21CIP1 but not with the appearance of myogenin, a marker expressed earlier in differentiation Forced expression of the Cdk inhibitors p21CIP1 or p16INK4A blocked apoptosis during myocyte differentiation These data indicate that induction of Cdk inhibitors may serve to protect differentiating myocytes from programmed cell death as well as play a role in establishing the postmitotic state

Measuring Household Food Insecurity: Why It's So Important and Yet So Difficult to Do

Abstract: Food insecurity is a daily reality for hundreds of millions of people around the world. Although its most extreme manifestations are often obvious, many other households facing constraints in their access to food are less identifiable. Operational agencies lack a method for differentiating households at varying degrees of food insecurity in order to target and evaluate their interventions. This chapter provides an overview of a set of papers associated with a research initiative that seeks to identify more precise, yet simple, measures of household food insecurity. The overview highlights three main conceptual developments associated with practical approaches to measuring constraints in access to food: 1) a shift from using measures of food availability and utilization to measuring "inadequate access"; 2) a shift from a focus on objective to subjective measures; and 3) a growing emphasis on fundamental measurement as opposed to reliance on distal, proxy measures. Further research is needed regarding 1) how well measures of household food insecurity designed for chronically food-insecure contexts capture the processes leading to, and experience of, acute food insecurity, 2) the impact of short-term shocks, such as major floods or earthquake, on household behaviors that determine responses to food security questions, 3) better measurement of the interaction between severity and frequency of household food insecurity behaviors, and 4) the determination of whether an individual's response to survey questions can be representative of the food insecurity experiences of all members of the household.

Dietary Intake Among US Adults, 1999-2012

Abstract: Importance Most studies of US dietary trends have evaluated major macronutrients or only a few dietary factors. Understanding trends in summary measures of diet quality for multiple individual foods and nutrients, and the corresponding disparities among population subgroups, is crucial to identify challenges and opportunities to improve dietary intake for all US adults. Objective To characterize trends in overall diet quality and multiple dietary components related to major diseases among US adults, including by age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and income. Design, Setting, and Participants Repeated cross-sectional investigation using 24-hour dietary recalls in nationally representative samples including 33 932 noninstitutionalized US adults aged 20 years or older from 7 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles (1999-2012). The sample size per cycle ranged from 4237 to 5762. Exposures Calendar year and population sociodemographic subgroups. Main Outcomes and Measures Survey-weighted, energy-adjusted mean consumption and proportion meeting targets of the American Heart Association (AHA) 2020 continuous diet scores, AHA score components (primary: total fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish and shellfish, sugar-sweetened beverages, and sodium; secondary: nuts, seeds, and legumes, processed meat, and saturated fat), and other individual food groups and nutrients. Results Several overall dietary improvements were identified ( P Conclusions and Relevance In nationally representative US surveys conducted between 1999 and 2012, several improvements in self-reported dietary habits were identified, with additional findings suggesting persistent or worsening disparities based on race/ethnicity, education level, and income level. These findings may inform discussions on emerging successes, areas for greater attention, and corresponding opportunities to improve the diets of individuals living in the United States.

Adipocytokines and Insulin Resistance

Abstract: Insulin resistance is defined as a failure of target organs to respond normally to the action of insulin. Insulin resistance causes incomplete suppression of hepatic glucose output and impaired insulin-mediated glucose uptake in the periphery (skeletal muscle and adipose), leading to increased insulin requirements. When increased insulin requirements are not matched by increased insulin levels, hyperglycemia develops. Insulin resistance is also known to be associated with other conditions such as central obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, all risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The constellation of these metabolic abnormalities has been termed the metabolic syndrome. Obesity is a well-recognized risk factor for the development of insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome. In addition to total amount of fat, distribution of adipose tissue is also important, with visceral depots contributing more to insulin resistance. The mechanisms by which accumulation and anatomic distribution of adipose tissue may be related to the development of insulin resistance are under intense investigation. Adipose tissue has traditionally been considered an energy storage organ, but over the last decade, a novel role of the adipose tissue as an endocrine organ has emerged (1). Adipose tissue is currently known to secrete a large number of factors with diverse functions. These factors include free fatty acids (FFA) with well described physiological and pathophysiological effects on glucose homeostasis (2), and proteins, termed adipocytokines, that act in an autocrine, paracrine, or endocrine fashion to control various metabolic functions (Table 1). Some of these adipocytokines have been implicated in the development of insulin resistance. They may act locally or distally to alter insulin sensitivity in insulin-targeted organs such as muscle and liver or may act through neuroendocrine, autonomic, or immune pathways. Here, we focus on certain adipocytokines and how they influence insulin sensitivity. We review potential insulin sensitizers such as leptin and adiponectin or insulin antagonists such as resistin, TNF, and IL-6. Leptin