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Browsing by Author "Harris, Mary, committee member"

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    Barriers to nutrition management among people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Maertens, Julie A., author; Harman, Jennifer J., advisor; Chen, Peter, committee member; Stallones, Lorann, committee member; Harris, Mary, committee member; Dik, Bryan J. (Bryan Jay), committee member
    Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks and impairs the body's natural defense system against disease and infection, in part through depletion of nutrients that are implicated in malnutrition and weight loss. Many nutritional problems among people living with HIV can be managed via nutrition intervention. No wide scale evaluation of HIV patient access or adherence to comprehensive nutrition intervention exists; however, there are potential barriers among patients to following nutrition advice from healthcare providers even when delivered. An online questionnaire among healthcare providers, along with focus groups and semi-structured interviews among patients living with HIV at three healthcare settings in Colorado were utilized in the current study in an effort to identify the barriers to nutrition management among people living with HIV. Healthcare providers reported being limited in the amount of nutrition intervention they could provide based on a lack of time and in-house referral services, and the co-occurrence of multiple illnesses among patients that demanded time and energy during appointments. Patients were limited in their ability to optimally manage their diet based on finances and transportation available for acquiring food, side effects associated with ARV (antiretroviral) medications, and their own cooking and meal planning skills. The nature of the barriers identified in the current study suggested a systems approach to optimizing nutrition management among HIV-positive patients may be an appropriate future direction of action.
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    Effectiveness of a Web-based nutrition education program to reduce cardiovascular disease risk among U.S. Army personnel and their families ("Defend your heart" study)
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2009) Bukhari, Asma Sultana, author; Jennifer Anderson, advisor; Kaminski, Karen, committee member; Harris, Mary, committee member; Gould, Susa Martin, committee member
    Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the United States. Military personnel are also vulnerable to this killer disease due to indulgence in unhealthy behaviors such as cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and high stress. Formative assessment identified a need for web-based resources for the Army registered dietitians (RDs) and for deployed or remotely located military beneficiaries. The purpose of the current study was to create and assess the effectiveness of a web-site "Defend Your Heart". This web-site was targeted to two audiences: RDs and a self care program for the military beneficiaries. This self care program was created using the framework of Rosenstock's Expanded Health Belief Model (EHBM). The effectiveness of a web-based self care program was evaluated using a randomized 4-month study with participants either in the web-based group (n=17) or the usual care (n=13) at a U.S. Army hospital. Data were collected at baseline, two months and four months. Variables measured were anthropometric, blood pressure, lipid profile, fasting glucose, C-reactive protein, nutrient intake, physical activity, and EHBM constructs. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance and using baseline means to adjust the two and four month data. Results indicated a significant reduction of total blood cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, predicted body fat percent, and estimated body mass index (P<0.05) in the web-based group. The usual group demonstrated a significant increase in self-efficacy score at month four (p<0.05). Significant within group changes for both groups were demonstrated for the reduction in waist circumference and serum triglycerides (p<0.05). Due to a smaller sample size caution is required while interpreting the results. The results of the web-site usability showed that a majority of the RDs (n=34) and web-based participants (n=8) were satisfied with the content and ease of navigation. RDs and web-based groups suggested enhancing web-site eye appeal, interactivity, and printing capability. Web-based programs may serve as an effective alternate mechanism of delivering CVD risk reduction education. The U.S Army needs to invest in further research to launch an effective web-based program for military beneficiaries to reduce CVD risk factors.
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    Effects of two different dietary sources of omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids fatty acids on insulin sensitivity, and incorporation into the plasma, red blood cell, and muscle cell in horses
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2010) Rexford, Jill Kristen, author; Hess, Tanja M., advisor; Engle, Terry Eugene, 1971-, committee member; Hansen, D. Karen (Diana Karen), 1957-, committee member; Harris, Mary, committee member
    To view the abstract, please see the full text of the document.
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    Evidence for the role of delta-6-desaturase in the development of cardiometabolic disease
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Mulligan, Christopher Myles, author; Chicco, Adam J., advisor; Harris, Mary, committee member; Frye, Melinda, committee member; Vanamala, Jairam, committee member
    The following investigation comprises a series of experiments with the overall aim of elucidating the role of delta-6-desaturase (D6D) in the development of cardiometabolic disease. The experiments tested the general hypothesis that changes in fatty acid membrane composition found to be associated with cardiometabolic disease are attributed to delta-6-desaturase activity and contribute to the development of disease. The specific aims of each experimental series were to: 1) Determine whether inhibition of D6D in vivo in established models of heart failure and type 2 diabetes (T2D) reverses changes in fatty acid membrane composition associated with disease pathogenesis and attenuates associated cardiometabolic insults, and 2) Determine whether over-expression of fads2, the gene that encodes for D6D, results in altered membrane fatty acid composition and the development of metabolic insults associated with (T2D). Studies in aim 1 demonstrated that the changes in fatty acid membrane composition observed in heart failure and T2D/insulin resistance are a result of increased metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) through D6D, the rate limiting enzyme in the PUFA metabolism pathway. Pharmacological inhibition of D6D with SC-26196 reversed the aberrant fatty acid membrane composition, reduced myocardial hypertrophy and preserved contractile function in the rodent model of heart failure, and improved glucose tolerance in the rodent model of T2D/insulin resistance. Studies in aim 2 demonstrated D6D as not only a contributor to metabolic disease but a key driver of its development. The animal model of genetic fads2 over-expression, the gene that encodes for D6D, develops significant glucose and insulin intolerance with age and has significantly elevated blood lipid levels. Collectively, these findings provide substantial evidence for the role of D6D in phospholipid fatty acid membrane composition and the development and progression of cardiometabolic disease.
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    It's not healthy if they don't eat it: school lunch plate waste and strategies to increase vegetable consumption
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Smith, Stephanie Laine, author; Cunningham-Sabo, Leslie, advisor; Auld, Garry, committee member; Harris, Mary, committee member; Kelly, Kathleen, committee member
    To view the abstract, please see the full text of the document.
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    The orthorexia nervosa scale: updated and tested in a targeted community sample
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2019) Kramer, Melanie E., author; Rickard, Kathryn, advisor; Conner, Bradley T., committee member; Harris, Mary, committee member; Crain, Tori, committee member
    In 2000, physician Steven Bratman coined the term Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) based on his observations that some individuals were so obsessed with healthy eating that it reached a pathological level (Bratman & Knight, 2000). He conceptualized ON as a way to describe an obsession about proper nutrition and a "fixation" on healthy eating (Bratman & Knight, 2000). Currently, very little is known about ON, as evidenced by lack of a formal operational definition or standard diagnostic criteria. Although there are three existing scales that measure ON (Bratman & Knight, 2000; Donini, Marsili, Gaziani, Imbriale, & Cannella, 2005; Gleaves, Graham, & Ambwani, 2013), none of them appear to completely capture all of the facets of ON. This dissertation details the attempt to develop a psychometrically valid and reliable scale, the Orthorexia Nervosa Scale (ONS), that more accurately and fully captures the construct of ON, followed up by examining ON and its relationship to other related constructs – obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, and disordered eating symptoms. Initial analyses (exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis) of a 103 item pool indicated a 10-factor solution with an adequate model fit once model modifications were made (Kramer, 2016). As part of the current study, items were examined and adjustments were made (e.g. removing and revising items). An EFA and CFA were conducted (n=537 and n=465, respectively), and revealed a 6-factor structure. Additionally, the CFA revealed a good model fit, X2 (650) = 1531.115, p < 0.01, CFI = 0.903, SRMR = 0.07. The six dimensions assessed by the six factors were: 1) Social Concerns, 2) Knowledge/Superiority, 3) Fulfillment/Control, 4) Pureness/Natural Quality of Food, 5) Detox, and 6) Online Forums/Blogs. Data were then collected using a targeted community sample (i.e. targeting healthy eating groups on Facebook) to examine relationships between the ONS, obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, and disordered eating symptoms. Two alternative models were tested using path analysis. Analysis revealed good model fit for both models. This highlights the complex factor structure of ON, and indicates the difficulty in replicating the scale. The current study provides a strong foundation for determining a definitive factor structure for ON. While more research is needed to clarify the factor structure, the overall results suggest that the six factors captured by the ONS in the current study will be a useful tool for future research and scale development related to ON.