Tzu-Wen Liu Cross

Purdue University | Purdue · Department of Nutrition Science

Background: Obesity is associated with compromised intestinal barrier function and shifts in gastrointestinal microbiota that may contribute to inflammation. Fiber provides benefits, but impacts of fiber type are not understood. Objective: We aimed to determine the impact of cellulose compared with fructans on the fecal microbiota and gastrointe...

Objective Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence is higher in African Americans (AAs) compared with non-Hispanic whites (NHWs). A diet high in animal protein and fat is an environmental risk factor for CRC development. The intestinal microbiota is postulated to modulate the effects of diet in promoting or preventing CRC. Hydrogen sulfide, produced by au...

Background: Sex is one of the most powerful modifiers of disease development. Clear sexual dimorphism exists in cardiometabolic health susceptibility, likely due to differences in sex steroid hormones. Changes in the gut microbiome have been linked with the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and atherosclerosis; however, the impact of microb...

Child undernutrition is a major public health challenge that is persistent and disproportionately prevalent in low- and middle-income countries. Undernourished children face adverse health, economic, and social consequences that can be intergenerational. The first 1000 days of life, from conception until the child's second birthday, constitute the...

The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis feedback loop is critical in the regulation of the endocrine system. Dysregulation or dysfunction of the HPG axis can impact reproductive, psychiatric, and metabolic health. The gut microbiota is suggested to influence the endocrine system; however, causal effects of the gut microbiota on the HPG axis a...

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing worldwide. Although current diagnostic and disease monitoring tests for IBD sensitively detect gut inflammation, they lack the molecular and cellular specificity of positron emission tomography (PET). In this proof-of-concept study, we use a radiolabeled macrophage-targeted nanocarrier...

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder that causes dementia and affects millions of people worldwide. The mechanism underlying AD is unclear; however, oxidative stress and mitochondrial biogenesis have been reported to be involved in AD progression. Previous research has also reported the reduction in mitochondrial biogenes...

Background and objective : Long-term dietary intake of elevated levels of refined sugars, fats and cholesterols is among the factors causing cognitive impairment. Ketone bodies can be used as an alternative energy source when glucose is not available. The study investigated the effects of a ketogenic diet (medium chain triglyceride, MCT) on cogniti...

Objective The prebiotic fiber inulin has been studied in individuals undergoing hemodialysis (HD) due to its ability to reduce gut microbiota-derived uremic toxins. However, studies examining the effects of inulin on the gut microbiota and derived metabolites are limited in these patients. We aimed to assess the impact of a 4-week supplementation o...

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Background There is general consensus that consumption of dietary fermentable fiber improves cardiometabolic health, in part by promoting mutualistic microbes and by increasing production of beneficial metabolites in the distal gut. However, human studies have reported variations in the observed benefits among individuals consuming the same fiber....

Background Cholecystectomy (XGB) is the most common abdominal surgery performed in the United States and is associated with an increased post-surgery incidence of metabolic and gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. Two main risk factors for XGB are sex (female) and age (40–50 yr), corresponding with onset of menopause. Post-menopausal estrogen loss alone...

Paleofeces or coprolites are often used to reconstruct diet at archaeological sites, usually using macroscopic analyses or targeted DNA amplification and sequencing. Here we present an integrative analysis of dog coprolites, combining macroscopic analyses, stable isotope measurements, and DNA shotgun sequencing to examine diet and health status. Do...

Resistant starch (RS) is fermentable by gut microbiota and effectively modulates fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations in pigs, mice, and humans. RS may have similar beneficial effects on the canine gut, but has not been well studied. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4% dietary RS (Hi-maize 260) on ap...

Obesity is associated with systemic inflammation due to macrophage accumulation in adipose tissue (AT). AT macrophages are, therefore, a target for therapeutics to modulate inflammation and prevent comorbidities. Because inflammatory processes have pleiotropic effects throughout the body and are intertwined with metabolic axes, systemic anti-inflam...

Background There is general consensus that consumption of dietary fermentable fiber improves cardiometabolic health, in part by promoting mutualistic microbes and by increasing production of beneficial metabolites in the distal gut. However, human studies have reported variations in the observed benefits among individuals consuming the same fiber.S...

Gut microbiota can regulate host physiological and pathological status through gut-brain communications or pathways. However, the impact of the gut microbiome on neuropeptides and proteins involved in regulating brain functions and behaviors is still not clearly understood. To address the problem, integrated label-free and 10-plex DiLeu isobaric ta...

We evaluated associations of smoking heaviness markers and the effects of smoking cessation on the intestinal microbiota and cardiovascular disease risk factors in current smokers undertaking a quit attempt. Participants were current smokers enrolled in a prospective randomized clinical trial of smoking cessation therapies with visits at baseline,...

Similar to humans, the fecal microbiome of dogs may be useful in diagnosing diseases or assessing dietary interventions. The accuracy and reproducibility of microbiome data depend on sample integrity, which can be affected by storage methods. Here, we evaluated the ability of a stabilization device to preserve canine fecal samples under various sto...

Multiomic studies are increasingly performed to gain a deeper understanding of molecular processes occurring in a biological system, such as the complex microbial communities (i.e., microbiota) that reside the distal gut. While a combination of metabolomics and proteomics is more commonly used, multiomics studies including peptidomcis characterizat...

Introduction We evaluated associations of smoking heaviness markers and the effects of smoking cessation on the intestinal microbiota and cardiovascular disease risk factors in current smokers undertaking a quit attempt. Methods and Results Participants were current smokers enrolled in a randomized clinical trial of smoking cessation therapies wit...

Amyloid beta (Aβ) accumulation in the brain is one of the major pathological features of Alzheimer’s disease. The active form of vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D3), which acts via its nuclear hormone receptor, vitamin D receptor (VDR), has been implicated in the treatment of Aβ pathology, and is thus considered as a neuroprotective agent. However, its underly...

Absolute measurements of biodistribution are essential for understanding and optimizing the function of nanomaterials for in vivo diagnostic and therapeutic uses. Biodistribution analysis by optical imaging is desirable due to its low cost, wide accessibility, and high throughput nature, but it is substantially less accurate than isotopic and chemi...

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that inclusion of the direct fed microbial Clostridium butyricum in diets for weanling pigs will improve growth performance, systemic immune function, microbiota composition, and gut morphology in weaned pigs. A total of 275 newly weaned pigs (20 ± 2 d of age) with an average initial BW of 6.4 ± 0....

Objectives: Dietary fiber consumption improves cardiometabolic health, partly by enhancing microbial diversity and increasing production of butyrate in the distal gut. However, it is unclear whether the benefits associated with different types of fiber vary based on the gut microbiota composition. We surveyed nine different human gut microbial com...

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a yeast fermentation product on diet palatability, apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility, and fecal characteristics of adult dogs. Twelve adult female beagles (age: 3.3 ± 0.8 yr, BW: 10.3 ± 0.68 kg) were fed the same diet, but supplemented with a yeast fermentation product at...

Abstract Phytoestrogens are plant-derived compounds found in a variety of foods, most notably, soy. These compounds have been shown to improve immuno-metabolic health, yet mechanisms remain uncertain. We demonstrated previously that dietary phytoestrogen-rich soy (SOY) rescued metabolic dysfunction/inflammation following ovariectomy (OVX) in female...

Recent data has supported a role for the gut microbiota in improving cognition and shaping behavior. Here, we assessed whether pectin, a soluble, fermentable fiber, could enhance learning and memory in mice. Two cohorts of young male C57Bl/6 J mice, C1 (n = 20) and C2 (n = 20), were obtained from Jackson Laboratory and randomized to semi-purified A...

Because obesity is associated with many co-morbidities, including diabetes mellitus, this study evaluated the second-meal effect of a commercial prebiotic, inulin-type fructans, and the effects of the prebiotic on faecal microbiota, metabolites and bile acids (BA). Nine overweight beagles were used in a replicated 3×3 Latin square design to test a...

Despite their popularity, little research has been performed on lightly cooked and raw diet formats for pets. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility (ATTD); fecal characteristics, metabolites, and microbiota; serum chemistry metabolites; urinalysis; and voluntary physical activit...

The effects of travel stress on the equine cecal microbiota are poorly understood. We hypothesized that travel would affect the equine cecal microbiota. Cecally cannulated horses (n = 6) were randomly assigned to one of two groups, TRAVEL (n = 3) and CONTROL (n = 3). Horses received a basal diet (Strategy, Purina Animal Nutrition) with 1.2% BW mixe...

Phytoestrogen-rich soy is known to ameliorate menopause-associated obesity and metabolic dysfunction for reasons that are unclear. The gut microbiota have been linked with the development of obesity and metabolic dysfunction. We aimed to determine the impact of soy on cardiometabolic health, adipose tissue inflammation, and the cecal microbiota in...

The pet food market continues to produce diets with novel formats and unique processing methods. Although extruded and canned diets are still the most popular diet choice, lightly cooked and raw diets are other options. Unfortunately, there is little research on these diets and how they may alter fecal characteristics. The objective of this study w...

The gastrointestinal microbiota is known to be important for host health and disease, but most studies rely on fecal samples that may not be an accurate indicator of populations in the gastrointestinal tract and/or those adhering to the mucosa and important for disease. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize the phylogeny and pr...

Working canines are deployed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as part of a National Disaster Response Plan. Stress associated with helicopter flight and the resulting physical effects on the dog are unknown. Our objective was to test the hypotheses that (1) helicopter travel affects the physiology and faecal microbiota of working...

In the US, there is a higher incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in African Americans (AAs) compared to non-Hispanic whites (NHWs). Recent evidence links consumption of a diet high in animal protein and fat as an environmental risk factor for CRC development, and the intestinal microbiota modulates the tumor promoting or protective effects of diet...

s: Ninth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; September 25-28, 2016; Fort Lauderdale, FL Objectives . Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence is higher in post-industrial cultures, and the incidences varies among different populations. In the US, there is a higher incidenc...

Introduction Recent data indicates that environmental conditions early in life can alter behavioral outcomes and responses to dietary interventions in model experiments. The gut microbiota may mediate such differences. Methods Two cohorts, C1 (n = 20) and C2 (n = 20), of C57Bl/6J mice were randomized to a 5% pectin (n = 20) or cellulose diet (n =...

The effects of meal size and frequency on equine cecal microbiota are not well documented. We hypothesized that changes in feeding management (including differing meal size and frequency) would alter the equine cecal microbiota. Cecally-cannulated horses (n = 6) were utilized in a 3 x 3 Latin square where they received group pasture turnout daily a...

Obesity leads to an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. The causal link between obesity and these pathologies has recently been identified as chronic low-grade systemic inflammation initiated by pro-inflammatory macrophages in visceral adipose tissue. Current medications based on small molecule drugs yield signifi...

Purpose: Compare equal energy deficits induced by exercise and caloric reduction on cardiometabolic disease risk parameters including AT inflammation, IR and gut microbiota changes during HFD consumption. Methods: Obesity-prone rats fed HFD were exercise trained (Ex, n=10) or weight-matched to Ex via caloric reduction while kept sedentary (WM, n...

High-fat diets (HFD) are commonly used in rodents to induce obesity, increase serum fatty acids and induce lipotoxicity in various organs. In vitro studies commonly utilize individual free fatty acids (FFA) to study lipid exposure in an effort to model what is occurring in vivo; however, these approaches are not physiological as tissues are exposed...

The gut microbiota is considered a relevant factor in obesity and associated metabolic diseases, for which postmenopausal women are particularly at risk. Increasing physical activity has been recognized as an efficacious approach to prevent or treat obesity, yet the impact of physical activity on the microbiota remains under-investigated. We examin...

Obesity is associated with compromised intestinal barrier function and shifts in microbiota that may contribute to inflammation. Previous research suggests benefits of supplemental fiber, but the impacts of fermentable vs. non-fermentable fibers are not well understood. OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of cellulose vs. fructan (short-chain fruc...

Aerobic capacity/fitness significantly impacts susceptibility for fatty liver and diabetes, but the mechanisms remain unknown. Herein we utilized rats selectively bred for high (HCR) and low (LCR) intrinsic aerobic capacity to examine the mechanisms by which aerobic capacity impacts metabolic vulnerability for fatty liver following a 3-day high fat...

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of short-term low-fat (LF) and high-fat (HF) diets on fed-state hepatic triacylglycerol (TAG) secretion, the content of proteins involved in TAG assembly and secretion, fatty acid oxidation (FAO), and the fatty acid profile of stored TAG. Using selectively bred obese-prone Sprague-Dawley rats, we...

Background: The gut microbiota is considered a relevant factor in obesity and associated metabolic diseases. Lifestyle modifications consisting of dietary and physical activity interventions are among the efficacious approaches to prevent or treat obesity. Although much research has focused on dietary interventions, the impact of physical activity...

Arabidopsis thaliana exhibits natural genetic variation in drought response including varying levels of proline accumulation under low water potential. As proline accumulation is potentially important for stress tolerance and cellular redox control, we conducted a genome-wide association (GWAS) study of low water potential-induced proline accumulat...

High-fat diet (HFD) feeding is commonly used in animal models to induce obesity and metabolic diseases. However, the effect of HFD on serum fatty acid profiles remains unclear. Changes in serum fatty acid profiles due to HFD may be a factor in lipotoxicity in various organs. Historically, in vitro studies have utilized individual non-esterified fat...

Expansion of intra-abdominal adipose tissue and the accompanying inflammatory response has been put forward as a unifying link between obesity and the development of chronic diseases. However, an apparent sexual dimorphism exists between obesity and chronic disease risk due to differences in the distribution and abundance of adipose tissue. A range...

Drought-induced proline accumulation is widely observed in plants but its regulation and adaptive value are not as well understood. Proline accumulation of the Arabidopsis accession Shakdara (Sha) was threefold less than that of Landsberg erecta (Ler) and quantitative trait loci mapping identified a reduced function allele of the proline synthesis...