Texas Tech University Research Articles

Court rules in favor of university

Case name: Flores v. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, No. 18‐10438 (5th Cir. 01/28/19).

Court rules in favor of university

Case name: Flores v. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, No. 18‐10438 (5th Cir. 01/28/19).

Court rules in favor of university

Case name: Flores v. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, No. 18‐10438 (5th Cir. 01/28/19).

Preparing Undergraduate Medical Students for Future Practice - Development of a Future of Medicine Elective

The medical field operates in an ever-evolving state. The modern physician is expected to remain informed about the latest treatments, prescriptions, and procedures. One of the challenges facing medical education is ensuring medical students are taught the latest evidence-based information. In particular, medical students have limited exposure to the latest medical technologies that are transforming the way physicians treat patients. Having identified this lack of exposure, the authors designed, organized, and evaluated an elective curriculum to introduce their peers to emerging medical technologies. The elective aimed to familiarize fellow medical students with da Vinci Robotic surgery, Arthroscopic surgery simulation, 3D printing, electronic medical records, virtual reality via Google Glass and HoloLens, and multimodality cardiovascular imaging. This study surveyed the first and second year medical students enrolled in the Future of Medicine elective at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine. The evaluation found that this student-led, hands-on elective demonstrated high levels of student satisfaction, enrichment of the medical school experience, and the student’s desire to incorporate elements of the elective into both the standard medical school curriculum and into their future practices. The incorporation of emerging technologies into pre-clinical education can be beneficial to both medical schools seeking to improve the technological literacy of their graduates and to medical students interested in shaping the future of medicine.

Abstracts presented by third-year residents at Research Day in 2019 at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Internal Medicine residency program in Lubbock, Texas

Abstracts presented by third-year residents at Research Day in 2019 at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Internal Medicine residency program in Lubbock, Texas

Strip Spawning Methodology for Captive Propagation of Broadcast‐Spawning Cyprinids in the Great Plains

AbstractIn the summer of 2011, large parts of Texas and Oklahoma experienced their worst drought in recorded history. Most of the rivers and streams in this region are inhabited by cyprinids that broadcast semibuoyant pelagic ova. These fish depend on flowing water for the hormonal cues that induce spawning and to allow ova to develop and hatch as they float downstream. During the drought, the Brazos and Canadian rivers, Texas, were reduced to isolated streambed pools. Monitoring efforts concluded that pelagic, broadcast‐spawning cyprinids experienced complete reproductive failure in the Brazos River and had very little spawning success in the Canadian River. Personnel from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Texas Tech University began salvage operations in both rivers in September 2011 to ensure the survival of imperiled cyprinids. In spring 2012, standard captive propagation techniques were used with several species of cyprinids, with little success. As a result, we developed new techniques for four species of pelagic, broadcast‐spawning cyprinids from the Brazos and Canadian rivers that could greatly increase hatchery program efficacy.

P60 Effects of a Community-Based Diabetes Education Intervention on Behavioral Outcomes Among Hispanics

Background Diabetes is a major public health problem among Hispanic population. Nutrition education interventions in the community have the potential to address diabetes-related behaviors and lifestyle factors that play a critical role in both prevention and management of diabetes. Objective To improve diabetes knowledge, attitudes towards diabetes, self-efficacy for diabetes, and dietary behaviors among Hispanic adults after a community-based diabetes education intervention (DEI) delivered in Spanish. Study Design, Settings, and Participants A pre-post design was used to assess participants’ changes in diabetes-related behaviors (diabetes knowledge, attitudes towards diabetes, self-efficacy for diabetes) and dietary behaviors after a four-week community-based DEI. The intervention was conducted among Hispanic adults living in a Mexico-Texas border city and in a West Texas city. Intervention topics included diabetes and its complications, and nutrition strategies to prevent and manage diabetes. Measurable Outcome/Analysis The measurable outcomes were diabetes knowledge, attitudes towards diabetes, self-efficacy for diabetes and dietary intake. Mean differences between pre- and post-intervention assessments of diabetes-related behaviors and dietary behaviors were determined by using linear models on change scores. Results Thirty five participants from both locations started and completed the DEI. After the intervention, there was a significant increase in participants’ scores in diabetes knowledge (P Conclusion Results of this study suggest that dietary behaviors are more likely to change when DEI target behavior mediators such as knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy. Future diabetes education interventions should target Mexican origin Hispanics at the community to develop diabetes-related preventive skills. Funding Office of International Affairs at Texas Tech University.

P55 Behavior-Specific Nutrition Education Intervention Improves Fruit and Vegetable Preference Among Elementary School Children

Objective To assess the effectiveness of a nutrition education intervention (NEI) to enhance fruit and vegetable (FV) preference among elementary school children. Use of Theory or Research A six-week NEI informed by the social cognitive theory. Lessons as well as activities were focused on promoting preference of FV. Target Audience In total, 115 children in 3rd to 5th grade from four elementary schools (where at least 40% of the children were eligible to obtain free lunch) in the South Plains of Texas participated in this study. Program Description The study was designed with pre- and post-intervention measurements. Class-based nutrition education (25 minutes once a week), and cooking demonstration sessions (20 minutes once a week) for children, and weekly nutrition handout to parents were implemented. Evaluation Methods A Likert-scale questionnaire (downward) with 10 fruit and 10 vegetable items were administered during both pre- and post-intervention surveys. The participants were also asked during pre- and post-intervention surveys about three foods they would like to buy/eat more if they had money. Data analysis was carried out with using IBM SPSS Statistics (version 23, Chicago IL), and to assess changes in FV preference, Wilcoxon signed-rank test (paired test) was used. Results Preliminary results show that 51.3% were girls, and 37.4% were African American/Black (Non-Hispanic). Participants had higher preference for fruits than vegetables during both pre- and post-intervention surveys. Preference for fruits (from 17.04 ± 6.00 to 14.43 ± 4.45, lower score indicates higher preference), and vegetables (from 26.73 ± 6.62 to 23.71 ± 7.88, lower score indicates higher preference) improved significantly (P Conclusion A multicomponent based NEI that incorporates behavior-specific nutrition lessons, and hands-on experience, can improve FV preference among children. Funding Texas Tech University.

Abstract 1586: ADAM32 is amplified in a wide range of malignancy

Abstract Cytogenetic analysis using karyotyping and fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) has been the method of choice for identifying chromosomal abnormalities in cancer and other diseases. FISH is a powerful tool enabling detection the amplification or deletion of specific genes of interest using specific fluorescent labelled DNA probes. It has high sensitivity and specificity and enables detection of chromosomal abnormalities present in many genetic disorders. Unfortunately, FISH is labor intensive, gives information only regarding chromosomal changes specifically designated by the nucleotide sequence of the probes. Recently, DNA microarray techniques have allowed the simultaneous detection of vast number of chromosomal abnormalities including deletions, amplifications and translocations. These assays are suitable for large scale screening to discovery previously unknown associations of chromosomal lesions with many types of cancer. In present studies, we performed a retrospective analyses on anonymized data from the Constitutional v3 Array from the Texas Tech University Cytogenetics Lab (Children’s Oncology Group reference lab) on 198 sequential patients to determine the frequency of chromosomal aberrations and their disease associations. The patient population included children and adults. The majority of patients had malignancy, but some had pancytopenia or immune deficiency. We found chromosomal rearrangements, amplifications or deletions at 794 loci. The most commonly affected loci were 8p11.21-8p11.22, 15q11.1-15q11.2, 14q11.2, 14q32.33, 9p24 and 9p13. The 8p11.2 locus was amplified in 81 cases and deleted in 17 cases, an amplification/deletion ratio greater than any other locus. At this locus, the KAT6A, ADAM32 and TACC1 genes are known to associate with cancer, while no associations of GPAT4 and TM2D2 have been reported. The ADAM32 gene amplification, previously identified only in breast cancer, was also found in hepatocellular carcinoma, T-cell Lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, Wilm’s Tumor, neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, fibromatosis, chondroblastoma, enchondroma, and giant cell tumor of the bone. An oncogenic role of ADAM32 should be investigated in a broad spectrum of pediatric and adult malignancy. Citation Format: Aditya Rajan, Vijay Tonk, Kishore Bhende, Sharda Singh, Sahil Tonk, Sanjay Awasthi. ADAM32 is amplified in a wide range of malignancy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1586.

Abstracts from The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Summer Research Program from the Lubbock Campus presented at the Student Research Week in March 2019. The names in bold are the medical students who participated in this program in 2018. The author index starts after the last abstract (#32).

Abstracts from The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Summer Research Program from the Lubbock Campus presented at the Student Research Week in March 2019. The names in bold are the medical students who participated in this program in 2018. The author index starts after the last abstract (#32).

Protective Effects of Curcumin in High Fat Diet (HFD)-Induced Obesity Include Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Adipose Tissue and Changes in Gut Microbiome (P06-075-19)

ObjectivesCurcumin, a traditionally used spice in Asia has several health-protecting effects. However, its role on gut microbiota and obesity-associated inflammation is still poorly understood. The objective of this study was to determine whether the protective effects of curcumin in high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity are mediated by reduced white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammation and changes in gut bacteria. MethodsMale B6 mice were fed a HFD (45% kcal fat) or HFD supplemented with 0.4% (w/w) curcumin (HFC) for thirteen weeks. Body weight, adiposity, glucose and, insulin tolerances, and serum triglycerides, insulin, leptin, resistin levels were measured. Gut microbiome composition was determined by 16S RNA metagenomics sequencing. Expression of inflammation-related genes in WAT was measured by qRT-PCR. Macrophage contents in WAT were evaluated by galectin-3 immunohistochemical staining. ResultsPro-inflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor NF-kappa-B p65 subunit (p65) and toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) gene expression was downregulated in HFC group compared to HFD mice. Furthermore, curcumin reduced total macrophage infiltration in WAT in HFC mice compared to HFD group. Expression of both M1 (CD80, CD38) and M2 (Arginase-1) associated genes was decreased. The relative abundance of bacteria representing the Clostridium genus, which contains numerous short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producing species, was increased by the curcumin supplement. ConclusionsCurcumin exerts protective effects in dietary obesity, in part through downregulation of adipose tissue inflammation which may be due to the production of SCFA and, possibly other curcumin metabolites by gut microflora. Funding SourcesStartup funds and Come N Go award from the College of Human Sciences at Texas Tech University.

Examining Correlates of Explicit and Implicit Weight Bias Among Pre-healthcare Undergraduate Students (P12-045-19)

ObjectivesWeight bias, which refers to negative attitudes and discrimination towards individuals based on body weight, is highly prevalent among pre-healthcare professionals. Thus, it is important to understand the factors determining weight bias in pre-healthcare professionals. The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with weight bias among pre-healthcare undergraduates majoring in kinesiology. MethodsData were collected from kinesiology major undergraduates in a sports nutrition class at a large public university. Explicit and implicit weight bias were measured using Anti-fat attitude test (AFAT) and Implicit Association test (IAT), respectively. Independent t-test and multinomial logistic regression were used to study the associations of explicit and implicit weight bias with sociodemographic characteristics, history of dieting, exercise activities, and personal and professional experience with obesity. ResultsWe recruited 67 students (24 males). Average AFAT-Blame, Social and Physical scores were 2.76(SD = 0.58), 1.73(SD = 0.45) and 2.54(SD = 0.65), respectively. Ratio of high: moderate: low: no automatic preference for thin over fat people were 35.5%:33.9%:21.0%:9.7%. Males had significantly higher average AFAT-physical scores than females (2.82(SD = 0.69) vs 2.39(SD = 0.58), respectively, P = 0.013). However, females were more likely to have stronger implicit weight bias (Odds ratio = 5.50, 95%CI = 1.22, 24.81). Caucasians had significantly higher average AFAT-social scores than minorities (1.84(SD = 0.38) vs 1.56(SD = 0.41), respectively, P = 0.011). Students doing 75 minutes or more aerobic exercise per week had lower average AFAT-social score than those doing less than 75 minutes of aerobic activities (1.36(SD = 0.18) vs 1.74(SD = 0.41), respectively, P = 0.023). Personal weight history, experience with obesity at personal or professional level were not associated with weight bias scores (P > 0.05). ConclusionsIn undergraduate kinesiology students, weight bias was associated with sex, ethnicity and exercise amount, but not with personal and professional experience with obesity. Future research may elucidate why weight bias was not influenced in this population by personal and professional experience with obesity as reported in other populations. Funding SourcesStartup funds by the Texas Tech University.

A Pilot Study for Understanding Key Factors to Create an Innovative School Nutrition Program for the Prevention of Obesity and Risky Behaviors (P16-046-19)

ObjectivesAn innovative school nutrition program, Sustainable Life Skills to Reduce Obesity Risk (SuLiSRO), was developed. A pilot study was conducted to evaluate the program and to understand main factors and implementation strategies for preventing obesity and risky behaviors among youth aged 11–14. MethodsUsing Social Cognitive theory, 2015–2020 USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and literature reviews, SuLiSRO’s curriculum was developed by a multidisciplinary research team including registered dietitians, design faculty, and a youth expert. The intervention (3 weeks) was delivered in one Texas middle school. The first two weeks, nutrition interventions (e.g., MyPlate, healthy drinks, & food safety) along with cooking activities were delivered. The final week focused on healthy body image education. Each week also included 5–10 minutes of guided exercises. After the intervention, three focus group interviews (45 minutes, with twenty seven 8thgraders) were conducted and analyzed using Krueger’s framework analysis. ResultsThe focus groups determined program aspects that would best suit a longer intervention at an earlier stage (6thgrade). The students expressed the desire for more advanced cooking activities, so that they would feel confident using household items to prepare healthy and simple foods. Students requested further education to demonstrate appropriate clothing choices for their age and body sizes. They also requested the addition of mental health education into SuLiSRO to teach practical stress management tactics. ConclusionsEvaluations provided key factors (e.g., body shape/size, physical activity, healthy eating, and mental health) and considerations (e.g., involvement of parents) for future implementation. Funding SourcesCome N Go funding from the College of Human Sciences at Texas Tech University.

Branched-chain Amino Acid Metabolism Is Impaired in Mice and Humans with Alzheimer’s Disease (OR27-04-19)

ObjectivesAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative disorder that is the third leading cause of mortality in the US. AD brain is mainly characterized by accumulated plaques and tangles and diminished neurotransmitters. AD is strongly associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Emerging studies suggest that branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), the essential amino acids we need to obtain from food, are involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and T2D. In support of this concept, BCAA degradation is impaired in obese and/or diabetic individuals, and BCAA supplementation leads to insulin resistance and perturbed glycemic control. It is currently unknown if similar defective BCAA metabolism exists in AD patients. Since BCAAs along with aromatic amino acids are critical for production and maintenance of brain neurotransmitters, here we tested if BCAA metabolism in liver – an organ with the highest BCAA degradation activity – is impaired in AD. MethodsEight month-old wildtype or AD transgenic mice were fed a standard chow diet until sacrifice. Serum BCAA levels were measured by BCAA assay, and proteins and genes related to BCAA metabolism in liver were determined by western blot and RT-qPCR, respectively. Serum BCAA profile of healthy or AD individuals were assessed by metabolomics analysis. ResultsThe activity of branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase (BCKDH), the rate-limiting enzyme in BCAA degradation pathway, in liver was significantly suppressed in AD mice compared to wildtypes as evidenced by the protein expression and its phosphorylated, inactive, state. This is supported by increased hepatic BCKDH Kinase at both protein and gene levels in AD mice. Serum BCAAs and/or their metabolites were higher in both AD mice and humans compared to healthy controls, indicating impaired BCAA metabolism. ConclusionsOur findings suggest that hepatic BCAA catabolism is impaired in AD mice. This may lead to high plasma BCAAs and their metabolites that can potentially contribute to the imbalance of brain neurotransmitters and development of AD or related dementia. A longitudinal assessment of BCAA metabolism will allow us to determine if they play a predictive, diagnostic, and/or causal role in the development of AD. Funding SourcesNIH DK099463, Wylie Briscoe Fund, Texas Tech University.

Thermoneutrality Inhibits Thermogenic Markers and Exacerbates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver in Mice (P21-068-19)

ObjectivesNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease, affecting more than a third of the US population and 25% of the global population. In this study, we investigated whether manipulation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity via housing C57BL/6 J mice under two different housing temperatures (22°C vs 27°C) influences the development of NAFLD. MethodsMale C57BL/6 J mice were randomly allocated to 4 groups (8 mice/group). Briefly, mice housed at the standard temperature (ST) (22°C) or thermoneutral temperature (TT) (27°C) were fed either a control chow diet (CHD) (Picolab rodent diet 20, LabDiet) with a regular drinking water or an “fast food” diet (FFD) (Research Diets, D12079B) plus fructose 23.1 g/L and glucose 18.9 g/L added to the drinking water for 10 weeks. ResultsMice under TT had significant less food intake compared to their counter partners under ST, regardless of diets. Mice exposed to TT and fed FFD had the highest body weight and plasma leptin level among all groups. For mice fed CHD, mice at TT did not present hepatic steatosis although they slightly gained more body weight compared to mice at ST. For mice fed FFD, thermoneutral housing mice had greater liver weight, liver triglyceride, and exacerbated hepatic steatosis compared to the standard housing mice. Moreover, for mice fed FFD, TT compared to ST had significantly elevated expression of fatty acid synthase, sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 1, fatty acid translocase, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in liver. By contrast, TT did not change expression of above genes in mice fed CHD. Furthermore, thermoneutrally housed mice displayed a decrease in gene expression of thermogenic markers, such as uncoupling protein 1, elongation of very long chain fatty acids 3, and cell death-inducing DNA fragmentation factor alpha-like effector A in BAT and inguinal white adipose tissue (WAT). ConclusionsThermoneutrality inhibits expression of thermogenic markers in both BAT and WAT, which correlated to exacerbated NAFLD in mice. Our data indicate that activating BAT and/or promoting WAT browning may represent a potential strategy for the management of NAFLD. Funding SourcesThe College of Human Sciences of Texas Tech University; the National Center for Complementary & Integrative Health.

Writing Resources—An Annotated List of Helpful Books

Writing Resources—An Annotated List of Helpful Books

Food insecurity among college students in West Texas

PurposeFood insecurity is an evolving nutrition issue affecting both developed and underdeveloped college campuses. The purpose of this paper is to assess food insecurity and related coping strategies among Texas Tech University students.Design/methodology/approachThis was a cross-sectional online survey in Lubbock, Texas, among college students (n=173). The outcome measures, socio-demographic factors, household food insecurity access) and dietary diversity were assessed using validated tools. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software. Socio-demographic differences in food security status were examined using χ2, and means testing. Risks of student food insecurity were assessed using odds ratios (ORs).FindingsRespondents were mostly female (70 percent), non-Hispanic white (58 percent) and young adults’ (median age: 22.0 (20.0, 27.0)), with a median monthly income of $1,000 (0.0, 1,500) and spent about a fifth of their income on food. More students were food insecure (59.5 percent) compared to those who experienced food security (40.5 percent) (p<0.001). Some of the severe food insecure students (16.7 percent) reported going to bed without food (6.9 percent) in the prior 30 days. Students with monthly food budgets of ⩽ $200 were 3.2 times more likely to be food insecure (OR=3.231: CI: 1.353–7.714; p=0.010) compared to those with higher food budgets. A students’ choice of priority monthly expenses was significantly associated with food security status; however, further risk assessment of dichotomous “prioritized food” and “prioritized other expenses” was not statistically significant.Originality/valueStudent’s food budget of $200 was the strongest determinant of food insecurity. Individual training on money management and meal planning are recommended. University policies should recognize and develop academic support policies addressing competing expenses with food.

Medication and fall safety for older adults

At Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing in Odessa, Tex., Lori Hammond and Kelly Moseley are Assistant Professors. The authors have disclosed no financial relationships related to this article.

Adequacy in Faculty Standards in U.S. Regional Accreditation Commissions

Adequacy in Faculty Standards in U.S. Regional Accreditation Commissions

Effects on sociability after predator scent exposure in early‐life stressed mice

Early life stress (ELS) has been shown to affect a variety of brain functions with potential negative consequences in later stages of life. If adverse events occur early in life, the developing brain can be more susceptible to permanent changes. Human and animal studies have shown for example, an increased susceptibility to anxiety, sociability disorders and mood disorders in adults that experienced ELS. However, the mechanisms that underlie these pathological conditions are not fully established.In our study we hypothesized that mice exposed to ELS would have an abnormal response to a threatening experience in adulthood. We used the predator scent test (PST) as a well‐accepted model of fear‐inducing paradigm. The smell of a predator can be perceived by a mouse through their olfactory epithelium in the nose, and this can trigger a stress response by increasing blood corticosterone (stress hormone in mice). 24 hours after PST we performed several tests to probe social behavior in the PST exposed mice. Preliminary data in control mice showed that female mice were significantly more social than males and thus we focused on females for the rest of this project. We probed social behavior in three different experiments, one per day. First, we conducted a social interaction test and observed how much time the subject mouse interacted with either a cage‐mate or an unknown mouse. After that, we proceeded with a 3‐chamber social approach test. The experiment consisted on dividing an open field arena in three compartments, making the subject mouse choose between a non‐social compartment and a social compartment with an unknown female mouse. Decreased time spent in the social compartment compared to the non‐social compartment indicated social avoidance. Finally, we conducted the modified T‐maze for social approach. The arena consisted T‐shaped maze with three arms. We observed the time spent by the target mouse on the social and non‐social arm to identify social avoidance. Two weeks after these behavioral tests, we proceeded to repeat the same behavioral experiments to test for long‐term effects. Our results showed that ELS caused a small short‐term decrease in social interaction with cage mate 24 hours after PST, no differences in 3‐chambers test between control mice and ELS, and a significant change in T‐maze after 2 weeks of PST.Overall our results show an important sex‐dependent difference in sociability and short‐ and long‐term effects of ELS in social behavior in adult female mice.Support or Funding InformationI want to thank Dr. Karina Alvina for giving me the opportunity to work in her laboratory at Texas Tech University Department of Biology in Lubbock, TX. Kazi‐Farhana Afroz for teaching me the techniques required for the experiments. To all members of the Alvina lab for all the support and to the UPR‐PRISE PROGRAM (R25GM082406).This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.