About

Rachel C. Lee is a Professor in the Gender Studies department at UCLA. Her academic focus includes Asian American Literature, Performance Culture, and Gender & Sexuality Studies. She is involved in research and teaching that explore the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality within cultural and performance contexts, contributing to the understanding of Asian American cultural expressions and gendered performances.

Research topics

• Biochemistry
• Food science
• Medicine
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Internal medicine
• Pharmacology
• Oncology
• Microbiology

Selected publications

• THE GUILE OF CHYLE: FOLLICULAR LYMPHOMA PRESENTING AS A CHYLOTHORAX

  CHEST Journal · 2025-10-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Surviving Respiratory Failure: A Remarkable Recovery in Metastatic Choriocarcinoma With Mechanical Ventilation

  American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine · 2025-05-01 · 1 citations

  article

  Abstract Introduction Choriocarcinoma has the ability for dissemination to the pulmonary parenchyma, occurring in around 85% of patients. However, metastatic choriocarcinoma is one of the most curable forms of adult malignancy due to the exceptional sensitivity of this tumor to chemotherapy. Mortality rates have historically been close to 100% in patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) due to the tumor's hypervascularity and propensity to bleed, leading to catastrophic hemoptysis, barotrauma and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Older studies traditionally have argued against MV due to poor outcomes and rather supported the use of ECMO for management of hypoxia. This case demonstrates the successful use of MV to manage respiratory failure in a patient with metastatic choriocarcinoma, highlighting the tumor's favorable response to targeted chemotherapy. Description A 22-year-old female with a prior history of a suspected molar pregnancy (beta HCG of 230,000) presented with vaginal bleeding and hemoptysis in the summer of 2024. Imaging revealed stage III choriocarcinoma with pulmonary metastases. She was transferred to a second hospital, where she developed acute hypoxic respiratory failure and shock. In the medical ICU, she started chemotherapy (cisplatin/etoposide) while receiving supportive fluids and nebulized tranexamic acid to mitigate the risk of pulmonary hemorrhage. Despite these measures, her oxygen requirements escalated, necessitating intubation. She was transferred to our institution for more advanced care. Upon arrival, she experienced persistent hemoptysis, and bronchoscopy revealed localized bleeding in the bilateral lower lobes but no diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. Her oxygen requirements worsened, leading to a diagnosis of ARDS and management with inhaled nitric oxide, proning, and paralysis. After receiving chemotherapy (Cycle 2), a repeat bronchoscopy showed clear airways. Her oxygenation continued to improve. Within the next week, she was extubated and discharged on room air with outpatient oncology follow up. Discussion Previous studies have recommended extracorporeal perfusion techniques, such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), for managing respiratory failure in patients with metastatic disease. These studies avoided mechanical ventilation due to the historically associated poor outcomes. This report presents a unique case of a patient with choriocarcinoma and respiratory failure who survived MV with ARDS management and chemotherapy. Despite the severe clinical challenges, the patient was successfully extubated within a week and required no additional oxygen upon discharge. This outcome underscores the responsiveness of choriocarcinoma to targeted chemotherapy, demonstrating that even in severe respiratory failure, the malignancy's sensitivity to treatment can lead to a remarkable recovery.

  PublisherDOI

• Protective Effects of Pomegranate Extracts and Metabolites on Colitis: Insights From an IL-10 Knockout Mouse Model

  Current Developments in Nutrition · 2024-06-29

  articleOpen access

  questionnaire validated for Mexican population was applied to dietary assessment.Body composition parameters (BMI, body fat) and biochemical variables (glucose, triglycerides and total cholesterol) were evaluated.An in-house ELISA test was performed to quantify IgG ghrelin reactive antibodies in their different fractions (free, total and immune complexes percentage).Results: IgG ghrelin reactive antibodies levels, both on its total fraction and the immune complexes fraction differed between groups, being higher in omnivorous versus individuals following a plant based diet group (p 0.0253 and p 0.0003, respectively).No significant differences were found on ghrelin reactive antibodies levels, according to sex or BMI.A positive correlation was found between immune complexes fraction of IgG ghrelin reactive antibodies and glucose levels in omnivorous group (r 0.2719, p 0.0467).Conclusions: Our results suggest that IgG ghrelin reactive antibodies can be affected by different dietary patterns, possibly by the interaction between gut microbiota and different food antigens that may play an important role in the stimulation and the affinity changes of these antibodies by the molecular mimicry process.Correlation of these antibodies with biochemical parameters support its role as carriers and modulators of the hormone's stability and signaling.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Effects of a Grape Seed Procyanidin Extract on Cytochrome P450 3A4 Activity and Inflammatory Mediators in the Lungs of Heavy Active and Former Smokers

  International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2024-12-06 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Grape seed procyanidin extract (GSE) is widely used to promote cardiovascular health and has purported anti-inflammatory properties. Chronic inflammation in the lungs caused by environmental toxins such as tobacco smoking plays a pivotal role in lung cancer development. In a modified phase I lung cancer chemoprevention study conducted in heavy active and former smokers using leucoselect phytosome (LP), a standardized grape seed procyanidin extract complexed with soy phospholipids to enhance bioavailability, three months of LP treatment favorably modulated a variety of surrogate endpoint biomarkers, including markers of cell proliferation. In this correlative study, we further analyzed the effects of LP on cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) activities by comparing the endogenous conversions of cortisol and cortisone to 6-beta-hydroxycortisol and 6-beta-hydroxycortisone, respectively, before and after LP treatment and the anti-inflammatory effects of LP in the lung microenvironment of these participants by comparing a profile of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in matched pre- and post-treatment bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids. LP treatment did not significantly alter CYP3A4 activity, and three months of LP treatment significantly decreased tumor necrosis factor (TNF), C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 3 (CCL3) and granzyme B in BAL fluids. Furthermore, post-LP-treatment BAL fluids significantly reduced migration/invasion of various human lung neoplastic cells in vitro. Our findings support the anti-inflammatory effects of GSE/LP in the lung microenvironment and its potential utility for reducing cancerizing forces, as well as driving forces for other common respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, in the lungs of heavy former and active smokers.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Effect of cinnamon spice on continuously monitored glycemic response in adults with prediabetes: a 4-week randomized controlled crossover trial

  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · 2024-01-26 · 19 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Previous clinical studies showing that cinnamon spice lowers blood glucose concentrations had inconsistent results. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of daily cinnamon spice supplementation in an amount commonly used for seasoning on glucose concentrations in adults with obesity and prediabetes. METHODS: Following a 2-wk run-in period of maintaining a low polyphenol/fiber diet, 18 participants with obesity and prediabetes underwent a 10-wk randomized, controlled, double-blind, crossover trial (mean age 51.1 y; mean fasting plasma glucose 102.9 mg/dL). The participants were randomly assigned to take cinnamon (4 g/d) or placebo for 4-wk, followed by a 2-wk washout period, and then crossed over to the other intervention for an additional 4-wk. Glucose changes were measured with continuous glucose monitoring. Oral glucose tolerance testing immediately following ingestion of cinnamon or placebo was performed at 4-time points to assess their acute effects both at the baseline and end of each intervention phase. Digestive symptom logs were obtained daily. RESULTS: There were 694 follow-up days with 66,624 glucose observations. When compared with placebo, 24-h glucose concentrations were significantly lower when cinnamon was administered [mixed-models; effect size (ES) = 0.96; 95 % confidence interval (CI): -2.9, -1.5; P < 0.001]. Similarly, the mean net-area-under-the-curve (netAUC) for glucose was significantly lower than for placebo when cinnamon was given (over 24 h; ES = -0.66; 95 % CI: 2501.7, 5412.1, P = 0.01). Cinnamon supplementation resulted in lower glucose peaks compared with placebo (Δpeak 9.56 ± 9.1 mg/dL compared with 11.73 ± 8.0 mg/dL; ES = -0.57; 95 % CI: 0.8, 3.7, P = 0.027). Glucose-dependent-insulinotropic-polypeptide concentrations increased during oral glucose tolerance testing + cinnamon testing (mixed-models; ES = 0.51; 95 % CI: 1.56, 100.1, P = 0.04), whereas triglyceride concentrations decreased (mixed-models; ES = 0.55; 95 % CI: -16.0, -1.6, P = 0.02). Treatment adherence was excellent in both groups (cinnamon: 97.6 ± 3.4 % compared with placebo: 97.9 ± 3.7 %; ES = -0.15; 95 % CI: -1.8, 0.2, P = 0.5). No differences were found in digestive symptoms (abdominal pain, borborygmi, bloating, excess flatus, and stools/day) between cinnamon and placebo groups. CONCLUSIONS: Cinnamon, a widely available and low-cost supplement, may contribute to better glucose control when added to the diet in people who have obesity-related prediabetes. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04342624.

  PublisherDOI

• Concentrated Grape Powder Consumption Modulates Cholesterol Metabolism and Homeostasis in Healthy Subjects

  Molecular Nutrition & Food Research · 2023-09-06 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  SCOPE: Four weeks' of concentrated grape powder (GP) consumption reduces circulating cholesterol in healthy free-living subjects consuming a low-fiber/low-polyphenol diet. Here, the study aims to investigate the underlying mechanisms for cholesterol reduction by evaluating biomarkers of cholesterol de novo biosynthesis, intestinal absorption, miRNA involved in transcriptional regulation of cholesterol metabolism, as well as cholesterol oxidation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fasting plasma samples collected from 19 healthy free-living subjects at baseline and week 4 of GP consumption are used in this study. Gas chromatography-mass (GC-MS) analysis of plasma samples shows that lathosterol, a precursor of cholesterol synthesis, is significantly decreased after GP consumption indicating reduced cholesterol de novo biosynthesis. Markers of intestinal absorption, campesterol, and β-sitosterol are not changed. Realtime PCR shows that plasma exosomal miRNA-1 is increased after GP consumption. GC-MS also shows that GP consumption reduces the plasma cholesterol oxidation product 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-HC). CONCLUSIONS: This study enhances the understanding of the mechanisms of the cholesterol lowering effects of GP, and provides new insights into the potential health benefits of grape consumption.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Combinations of grape seed procyanidin extract and milk thistle silymarin extract against lung cancer — The role of MiR-663a and FHIT

  Life Sciences · 2023-02-11 · 9 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Mixed Nuts as Healthy Snacks: Effect on Tryptophan Metabolism and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

  Nutrients · 2023-01-21 · 16 citations

  articleOpen access

  We recently demonstrated that the consumption of mixed tree nuts (MTNs) during caloric restriction decreased cardiovascular risk factors and increased satiety. Tryptophan (Trp) metabolism has been indicated as a factor in cardiovascular disease. Here, we investigated the effect of MTNs on Trp metabolism and the link to cardiovascular risk markers. Plasma and stool were collected from 95 overweight individuals who consumed either MTNs (or pretzels) daily as part of a hypocaloric weight loss diet for 12 weeks followed by an isocaloric weight maintenance program for an additional 12 weeks. Plasma and fecal samples were evaluated for Trp metabolites by LC–MS and for gut microbiota by 16S rRNA sequencing. Trp–kynurenine metabolism was reduced only in the MTNs group during weight loss (baseline vs. week 12). Changes in Trp–serotonin (week 24) and Trp–indole (week 12) metabolism from baseline were increased in the MTNs group compared to the pretzel group. Intergroup analysis between MTN and pretzel groups does not identify significant microbial changes as indicated by alpha diversity and beta diversity. Changes in the relative abundance of genus Paludicola during intervention are statistically different between the MTNs and pretzel group with p &lt; 0.001 (q = 0.07). Our findings suggest that consumption of MTNs affects Trp host and microbial metabolism in overweight and obese subjects.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• P03-086-23 Effect of Cinnamon Spice on Continuous Glucose Monitoring Response in Obese Individuals with Pre-Diabetes; A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial

  Current Developments in Nutrition · 2023-07-01

  articleOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Mixed Nuts as Healthy Snack: Effect on Gut Microbiota and Tryptophan Metabolism

  Current Developments in Nutrition · 2022-06-01

  articleOpen access

  We recently demonstrated that the consumption of mixed tree nuts (MTNs) as part of a hypocaloric diet decreased heart rate and increased satiety. MTNs can be categorized as a high tryptophan (Trp) food and disturbed Trp metabolism has been associated with cardiovascular disease. The fiber and polyphenol content of MTNs have been suggested to affect human health in part through the gut microbiome. Here, we aim to investigate the effect of MTNs on Trp metabolism and the gut microbiome and the link to cardiovascular markers and satiety. Stool and plasma samples at baseline, week 12 and 24 from our recent randomized, controlled, two-arm study were studied. In the study 95 overweight individuals consuming 1.5 oz. of MTNs (n = 56) or pretzel snack (n = 38) daily as part of a hypocaloric (−500 kcal) weight loss diet for 12 weeks followed by an isocaloric weight maintenance program for additional 12 weeks. Trp metabolites kynurenine (KYN), kynurenic acid (KYNA), Trp, indole sulfate (IS), indole propionate (IPA) and indole acetate (IAA) were analyzed by LC-MS and HPLC. Gut microbiota will be analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. At baseline, a positive correlation was observed between heart rate and serum KYN levels and KYN/Trp ratio, as well as between BMI and KYN/Trp ratio. Compared to baseline, KYN levels were significantly reduced in the MTN group at the end of 12 week weight loss phase (P = 0.04) and returned to baseline concentration after 12 weeks of isocaloric weight maintenance program (baseline vs. week 12 vs. week 24: 357 ± 124 vs. 339 + 103 vs. 362 ± 137 ng/mL), but not in pretzel group (418 + 431 vs. 347 ± 150 vs. 375 + 171 ng/mL). Other Trp metabolites evaluatedwere not changed during intervention in either groups. The gut microbiome analysis is ongoing. We identified a positive association between Try-KYN metabolism and heart rate and BMI in overweight individuals. MTN consumption may directly affect Trp-KYN metabolism. International Tree Nut Council Nutrition Research and Education Foundation.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Susanne M. Henning

  75 shared

• David Heber

  73 shared

• Zhaoping Li

  VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System

  61 shared

• Jieping Yang

  45 shared

• Gail Thames

  32 shared

• Navindra P. Seeram

  University of Rhode Island

  24 shared

• Jianjun Huang

  22 shared

• Mark Hsu

  18 shared

Education

• Ph.D., English

  University of California, Los Angeles

  2005

• M.A., English

  University of California, Los Angeles

  2000

• B.A., English

  University of California, Los Angeles

  1997

Awards & honors

• National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship
• Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Ca…
• UC Humanities Research Institute