Publications by authors named "Heather Vellers"

Bioenergetic pathways uniquely support sarcomere function which, in turn, helps to maintain functional skeletal muscle (SKM) mass. Emerging evidence supports alcohol (EtOH)-induced bioenergetic impairments in SKM and muscle precursor cells. We performed a scoping review to synthesize existing evidence regarding the effects of EtOH on SKM bioenergetics.

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Infants born preterm face an increased risk of deleterious effects on lung and brain health that can significantly alter long-term function and quality of life and even lead to death. Moreover, preterm birth is also associated with a heightened risk of diabetes and obesity later in life, leading to an increased risk of all-cause mortality in young adults born prematurely. While these preterm-birth-related conditions have been well characterized, less is known about the long-term effects of preterm birth on skeletal muscle health and, specifically, an individual's skeletal muscle hypertrophic potential later in life.

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Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are lethal lung diseases characterized by pulmonary inflammation and progressive lung interstitial scarring. We previously developed a mouse model of ILD using vanadium pentoxide (VO) and identified several gene candidates on chromosome 4 associated with pulmonary fibrosis. While these data indicated a significant genetic contribution to ILD susceptibility, they did not include any potential associations and interactions with the mitochondrial genome that might influence disease risk.

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Approximately 1 in 10 newborns are born preterm and require supplemental oxygen (O) in an extrauterine environment following birth. Supplemental O can induce oxidative stress that can impair mitochondrial function, resulting in lung injury and increased risk in early life pulmonary diseases. The nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2 (NRF2) protects the cells from oxidative stress by regulating the expression of genes containing antioxidant response elements and many mitochondrial-associated genes.

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Neuroinflammation is a central factor in neuropathic pain (NP). Ginger is a promising bioactive compound in NP management due to its anti-inflammatory property. Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiome and gut-derived metabolites play a key role in NP.

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Harty, PS, Friedl, KE, Nindl, BC, Harry, JR, Vellers, HL, and Tinsley, GM. Military body composition standards and physical performance: historical perspectives and future directions. J Strength Cond Res 36(12): 3551-3561, 2022-US military physique and body composition standards have been formally used for more than 100 years.

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In this pilot work, we selected two inbred strains that respond well to endurance training (ET) (FVB/NJ, and SJL/J strains), and two strains that respond poorly (BALB/cByJ and NZW/LacJ), to determine the effect of a standardized ET treadmill program on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA (nucDNA) integrity, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number. DNA was isolated from plantaris muscles (n = 37) and a gene-specific quantitative PCR-based assay was used to measure DNA lesions and mtDNA copy number. Mean mtDNA lesions were not different within strains in the sedentary or exercise-trained states.

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The gut metabolome offers insight for identifying the source of diet related pathology. As such, the purpose of this study was to characterize alterations of the gut metabolome in female and male C57BL/6J mice randomly assigned to a standard "chow" diet (CHOW) or a high fat/high sugar diet (HFHS; 45% fat and 20% fructose drinking solution) for nine weeks. Cecal metabolites were extracted and an untargeted analysis via LC-MS/MS was performed.

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Purpose: We designed the study to determine whether mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup, sequence, and heteroplasmy differed between individuals previously characterized as low (LR) or high responders (HR) as defined by their maximal oxygen uptake response to a standardized aerobic exercise training program.

Methods: DNA was isolated from whole blood in subjects from the HERITAGE Family Study that were determined to be either HR (n = 15) or LR (n = 15). mtDNA was amplified by long-range polymerase chain reaction, then tagged with Nextera libraries and sequenced on a MiSeq instrument.

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The purpose of this study was to determine whether L-citrulline (CIT) supplementation during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle would present differential effects on vasodilator kinetics in dynamically contracting muscle. Twenty-four women were studied during the follicular (day 15 after onset of menses, n = 13) or the luteal phase (day 25 after onset of menses, n = 11). Supplementation with CIT (6g/day) or placebo occurred 7-days prior to testing in a crossover design across two menstrual cycles.

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Nanomaterials are a relatively new class of materials that acquire novel properties based on their reduced size. While these materials have widespread use in consumer products and industrial applications, the potential health risks associated with exposure to them remain to be fully characterized. Carbon nanotubes are among the most widely used nanomaterials and have high potential for human exposure by inhalation.

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Exercise training which meets the recommendations set by the National Physical Activity Guidelines ensues a multitude of health benefits towards the prevention and treatment of various chronic diseases. However, not all individuals respond well to exercise training. That is, some individuals have no response, while others respond poorly.

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Respiratory infectious diseases resulting from bacterial or viral pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or influenza, are major global public health concerns. Lower respiratory tract infections are leading causes of morbidity and mortality, only behind ischemic heart disease and stroke (GBD 2015 LRI Collaborators in Lancet Infect Dis 17(11):1133-1161, 2017). Developing countries are particularly impacted by these diseases.

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Indirect results in humans suggest that chronic overfeeding decreases physical activity with few suggestions regarding what mechanism(s) may link overfeeding and decreased activity. The primary sex hormones are known regulators of activity and there are reports that chronic overfeeding alters sex hormone levels. Thepurpose of this study was to determine if chronic overfeeding altered wheel running through altered sex hormone levels.

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Introduction: Voluntary physical activity levels are regulated by sex hormones. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the endocrine disruptor benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) on the regulation of physical activity in mice.

Methods: Mouse dams were treated with 500 mg·kg·d of BBP or vehicle on gestation days 9-16.

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Objectives: The primary aim was to determine the level of physiological stress evoked while playing music in a standing position as indicated by heart rate (HR) response. A secondary aim was to analyze the effect of music genre (classic rock, western, contemporary Christian, and metal rock) on the relative HR response. Lastly, we considered potential physiological initiators of the music-playing-induced HR response.

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Physical inactivity is associated with the development of a variety of chronic illnesses. Literature has shown that physical activity is genetically regulated; however there is limited information on the mechanisms that influence this process with existing studies primarily focused on genomic and/or transcription association studies. There have been no studies to determine differential protein expression in the nucleus accumbens, the brain site thought to be involved in activity regulation, between high and low active animals.

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Physical inactivity contributes to cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, obesity, and some types of cancer. While the literature is clear that there is genetic regulation of physical activity with existing gene knockout data suggesting that skeletal muscle mechanisms contribute to the regulation of activity, actual differences in end-protein expression between high- and low-active mice have not been investigated. This study used two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis coupled with mass spectrometry to evaluate the proteomic differences between high-active (C57L/J) and low-active (C3H/HeJ) mice in the soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL).

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