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Research
American Heart Association Clinical Research Grant:Wellness
in the UMDNJ Workplace: Lifestyle Management Program$74,000.00
over two years: July 2006 – June 2008, R Touger-Decker,
PI.
 Abstract
This study will investigate the effect of a worksite
wellness program using two different media on weight
loss and cardiovascular risk (Framingham Score) in
overweight and obese employees of the University of
Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey. This study
has 2 primary aims, to determine the effectiveness
of a 12 week Lifestyle Management Program (LMP) using
two methods of delivery on diet, weight, physical
activity and CVD risk outcomes at 12 and 26 weeks
and to determine the effectiveness of the method of
delivery (in-person vs. Internet) at 12 and 26 weeks.
The program will include three arms, a control group
which of employees on the Stratford NJ campus, an
Internet arm on the Piscataway campus and an in-person
arm on the Newark campus. Each arm will be done on
a separate campus to reduce the potential for contamination
of subjects in the respective arms. The LMP in the
two experimental arms will include anthropometric
(weight, body mass index, waist circumference, waist
hip ratio) and laboratory (total and HDL cholesterol,
glucose) measurements as well as completion of food
frequency, quality of life and physical activity questionnaires
at baseline and program completion (week 12) as well
as at 26 weeks. Control group participants will be
recruited through a health fair and have these same
measurements at baseline. A subgroup of the control
subjects will have measurements repeated at 26 and
52 weeks. Subjects in the experimental arms will have
individual appointments with the team at baseline
and weeks 6, 12 and 26 as well as group sessions and
weigh-ins weekly. Group sessions will focus on diet,
lifestyle, CVD risk reduction and physical activity
for 12 weeks delivered either in-person or via the
Internet using the WebCT platform for distance learning.
A sub-group of each experimental arm and the control
group will have measurements repeated at 52 weeks.
Changes in CVD risk, anthropometric measures, physical
activity, diet and quality of life will be measured.
• Send an email to worksitewellness@umdnj.edu
or
• Contact Dr. Riva Touger-Decker at extension 973-972-6596
or
• Contact Ms. Maura Bruno, MS, RD, CDE at 973-972-9048
and brunoms@umdnj.edu
2007 Foundation of UMDNJ. The relationship of metabolic
syndrome and periodontal disease in U.S. adults. $20,000
over 1 year, Diane Rigassio Radler, PhD, RD (PI)
 Abstract:
Periodontal disease (PD) is a chronic oral infectious
disease that progresses to subsequent infection of
the ligaments and bone supporting the teeth. It is
one of the primary causes of tooth loss in adults.
Metabolic syndrome is characterized by the presence
of interrelated clinical components of metabolic origin
contributing to the formation of cardiovascular disease
(CVD). Clinical characteristics of chronic diseases,
for example dyslipidemia in CVD, impaired fasting
glucose in diabetes, and abdominal adiposity in obesity
are several of the criteria that comprise metabolic
syndrome. CVD, diabetes, and obesity have been associated
with PD, but no such relationships with metabolic
syndrome have been reported in the U.S. population.
Once associations between metabolic syndrome and PD
are established, interventions to target the most
related modifiable risk factors may be implemented.
The purpose of this study is to determine
the relationship between metabolic syndrome and periodontal
disease among adult participants in the most recent
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES
2003-2004). The hypothesis to be tested is that adults
with metabolic syndrome will be more likely to have
PD than adults without metabolic syndrome. NHANES
data are collected from the U.S. population in a multistage,
stratified sampling design to be representative of
all groups of people.
The outcomes and implications of this
proposed research are important. Establishing associations
between metabolic syndrome and PD is the first step
toward developing interventions. In addition this
research fits with the SHRP research objectives and
strategic plan.
Pre-diabetes is defined as the presence of impaired
fasting glucose or
impaired glucose tolerance. There is good experimental
evidence showing
that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can be prevented
or delayed with diet
and lifestyle modification. Moreover, high levels
of the inflammatory
biomarkers C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 identify
patients at
increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease
and progressing from
pre-diabetes to overt T2DM. Almond-enriched meal patterns
have potent
natural anti-inflammatory properties that might decrease
C-reactive protein
levels, improve cardiovascular risk, and delay the
onset of T2DM in adults
with pre-diabetes. This study will evaluate the effects
of an
almond-enriched diet on glycemic control, specific
inflammatory biomarkers,
and cardiovascular risk factors in adults with pre-diabetes
over a 16-week
period at the University of Medicine and Dentistry
of New Jersey (UMDNJ).
This study's primary clinical outcome variable will
be HbA1c. Secondary
outcome variables will include insulin resistance
utilizing homeostasis
model analysis, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6,
body weight, body
composition, waist circumference, blood pressure,
and serum lipids. This
study will provide vital information about the role
of almonds in delaying
progression from pre-diabetes to T2DM in adults.
National Kidney Foundation—Council on Renal
Nutrition Research Grant. Effect of Aggressive Osteodystrophy
Management on Clinical Outcomes in Stage 5 Chronic
Kidney Disease, July 2006-June 2007, $16, 450.00 over
1 year. L. Byham-Gray (PI). 
Abstract:
Bone disease in patients diagnosed with kidney failure
has serious health implications. Researchers are starting
to identify that aggressive management of bone disease
and the consequent vascular calcification may lower
patients' risk for morbidity (e.g., cardiovascular
events) as well as mortality. This project plans to
determine how the type of medical management (aggressive
or conventional) for bone disease affects clinical
outcomes. Using a retrospective design, this project
will examine key bone health measures or markers of
bone disease, such as parathyroid hormone, serum calcium
and phosphorus levels as well as calcium-phosphorus
products that are routinely collected in the five
participating dialysis clinics and to determine whether
having an bone disease manager designated in the clinic
resulted in better clinical outcomes in comparison
to those clinics who employed conventional management
of renal osteodystrophy.
University of Medicine
and Dentistry of New Jersey Foundation Research Grant.
Effect of Medical Nutrition Therapy on Clinical Patient-Oriented
Outcomes Among Overweight/Obese Older Adults Treated
by the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging,
July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008, $20,000.00 over 1 year.
L. Byham-Gray (PI).
Abstract:
The worldwide obesity problem is of global proportions
with more than one billion adults overweight, inclusive
of 300,000 million being clinically defined as obese.
Overweight and obesity cause severe effects on the
body including rises in blood pressure, and abnormalities
in blood glucose and lipids (e.g., cholesterol, triglycerides)
thereby contributing to long-term chronic disease
and disability. The globesity epidemic transcends
all generations, independent of age. According to
recent trends in aging, the weight status of older
adults has risen considerably since 1994. The majority
of deaths among older adults is cardiovascular-related,
and is largely attributed to the long-term effects
of excess body weight/fat. Therefore, studying the
role of lifestyle interventions in preventive health
and successful aging is paramount.
The purpose of this proposed study is
to measure the impact of providing medical nutrition
therapy (MNT) interventions on weight, blood pressure,
percent body fat, and eating and exercise habits among
obese/overweight older adults treated at the New Jersey
Institute for Successful Aging (NJISA) over short-term
(12 weeks) and long-term (26 weeks) time periods.
MNT refers to the services provided by a registered
dietitian who covers nutrition assessment, diagnosis
of nutrition-related health problems, intervention
to treat identified problems, and continued follow-up
and evaluation to achieve established behavioral goals.
The outcomes of the proposed study are
expected to show an overall improvement in health
status among participants that receive MNT. Future
studies will further investigate the role of MNT and
lifestyle interventions using various techniques over
longer time periods among obese/overweight older adults.
Dietitians in Nutrition Support
Annual Research Grant $5,000 over 1 year. The
Impact of Medical Nutrition Therapy by a Registered
Dietitian on Outcome in Cancer Patients, 8/2006-Present.
M. Huhmann, PI.
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