Wake Forest University

About: Wake Forest University is a education organization based out in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Diabetes mellitus. The organization has 21499 authors who have published 48731 publications receiving 2246027 citations. The organization is also known as: Wake Forest College.

Rotational Head Kinematics in Football Impacts: An Injury Risk Function for Concussion

Abstract: Recent research has suggested a possible link between sports-related concussions and neurodegenerative processes, highlighting the importance of developing methods to accurately quantify head impact tolerance. The use of kinematic parameters of the head to predict brain injury has been suggested because they are indicative of the inertial response of the brain. The objective of this study is to characterize the rotational kinematics of the head associated with concussive impacts using a large head acceleration dataset collected from human subjects. The helmets of 335 football players were instrumented with accelerometer arrays that measured head acceleration following head impacts sustained during play, resulting in data for 300,977 sub-concussive and 57 concussive head impacts. The average sub-concussive impact had a rotational acceleration of 1230 rad/s2 and a rotational velocity of 5.5 rad/s, while the average concussive impact had a rotational acceleration of 5022 rad/s2 and a rotational velocity of 22.3 rad/s. An injury risk curve was developed and a nominal injury value of 6383 rad/s2 associated with 28.3 rad/s represents 50% risk of concussion. These data provide an increased understanding of the biomechanics associated with concussion and they provide critical insight into injury mechanisms, human tolerance to mechanical stimuli, and injury prevention techniques.

Low-fat dietary pattern and weight change over 7 years: the Women's Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial.

Abstract: ContextObesity in the United States has increased dramatically during the past several decades. There is debate about optimum calorie balance for prevention of weight gain, and proponents of some low-carbohydrate diet regimens have suggested that the increasing obesity may be attributed, in part, to low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets.ObjectivesTo report data on body weight in a long-term, low-fat diet trial for which the primary end points were breast and colorectal cancer and to examine the relationships between weight changes and changes in dietary components.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsRandomized intervention trial of 48 835 postmenopausal women in the United States who were of diverse backgrounds and ethnicities and participated in the Women's Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial; 40% (19 541) were randomized to the intervention and 60% (29 294) to a control group. Study enrollment was between 1993 and 1998, and this analysis includes a mean follow-up of 7.5 years (through August 31, 2004).InterventionsThe intervention included group and individual sessions to promote a decrease in fat intake and increases in vegetable, fruit, and grain consumption and did not include weight loss or caloric restriction goals. The control group received diet-related education materials.Main Outcome MeasureChange in body weight from baseline to follow-up.ResultsWomen in the intervention group lost weight in the first year (mean of 2.2 kg, P<.001) and maintained lower weight than control women during an average 7.5 years of follow-up (difference, 1.9 kg, P<.001 at 1 year and 0.4 kg, P = .01 at 7.5 years). No tendency toward weight gain was observed in intervention group women overall or when stratified by age, ethnicity, or body mass index. Weight loss was greatest among women in either group who decreased their percentage of energy from fat. A similar but lesser trend was observed with increases in vegetable and fruit servings, and a nonsignificant trend toward weight loss occurred with increasing intake of fiber.ConclusionA low-fat eating pattern does not result in weight gain in postmenopausal women.Clinical Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00000611

Antiangiogenic properties of gold nanoparticles.

Abstract: Here, we report an intrinsic property of gold nanoparticles (nanogold): they can interact selectively with heparin-binding glycoproteins and inhibit their activity. Gold nanoparticles specifically bound vascular permeability factor/vascular endothelial growth factor (VPF/VEGF)-165 and basic fibroblast growth factor, two endothelial cell mitogens and mediators of angiogenesis resulting in inhibition of endothelial/fibroblast cell proliferation in vitro and VEGF-induced permeability as well as angiogenesis in vivo. In contrast, nanogold did not inhibit VEGF-121 or epidermal growth factor, two non-heparin-binding growth factors, mediated cell proliferation. Gold nanoparticles significantly inhibited VEGF receptor-2 phosphorylation, intracellular calcium release, and migration and RhoA activation in vitro. These results report for the first time a novel property of gold nanoparticles to bind heparin-binding proteins and thereby inhibit their subsequent signaling events.

Skin pH: from basic science to basic skin care.

Abstract: The "acid mantle" is a topic not only of historical interest, but also of clinical significance and has recently been linked to vital stratum corneum function. Despite compelling basic science evidence placing skin pH as a key factor in barrier homeostasis, stratum corneum integrity, and antimicrobial defense, application of the acid mantle concept in clinical care is lacking. We review recent basic science investigations into skin pH, discuss skin disorders characterized by aberrant pH, and finally discuss practical application for preservation of the acid mantle. Recognizing factors that alter skin pH and selecting products that preserve the acid mantle is of prime importance in treating dermatologic patients.