Publications by authors named "Kevin W Huggins"

Dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish has been reported to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Stearidonic acid (SDA), a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid, has been targeted as a potential surrogate for fish-based fatty acids. However, its role in neuronal degeneration is unknown.

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The bacteria inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract contribute to numerous host functions and can be altered by lifestyle factors. We aimed to determine whether a 6-week training intervention altered fecal microbiome diversity and/or function in older males. Fecal samples were collected prior to and following a 6-week twice-weekly supervised resistance training intervention in 14 older Caucasian males (65 ± 10 years, 28.

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The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of resistance training (RT) on the redox status of skeletal muscle in older adults. Thirteen males aged 64 ± 9 years performed full-body RT 2x/week for 6 weeks. Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis prior to and following RT.

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Several studies suggest resistance training (RT) while supplementing with various protein supplements can enhance strength and muscle mass in older individuals. However, to date, no study has examined the effects of RT with a peanut protein powder (PP) supplement on these outcomes. Herein, 39 older, untrained individuals (n = 17 female, n = 22 male; age = 58.

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We investigated the acute and chronic effects of resistance training (RT) on skeletal muscle markers of mitochondrial content and remodeling in older, untrained adults. Sixteen participants (n = 6 males, n = 10 females; age = 59 ± 4 years) completed 10 weeks of full-body RT (2 day/week). Muscle biopsies from the vastus lateralis were obtained prior to RT (Pre), 24 hr following the first training session (Acute), and 72 hr following the last training session (Chronic).

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We examined if resistance training affected muscle NAD and NADH concentrations as well as nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) protein levels and sirtuin (SIRT) activity markers in middle-aged, untrained (MA) individuals. MA participants (59±4 years old; n=16) completed 10 weeks of full-body resistance training (2 d/wk). Body composition, knee extensor strength, and vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were obtained prior to training (Pre) and 72 hours following the last training bout (Post).

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Adopting low carbohydrate, ketogenic diets remains a controversial issue for individuals who resistance train given that this form of dieting has been speculated to reduce skeletal muscle glycogen levels and stifle muscle anabolism. We sought to characterize the effects of a 12-week ketogenic diet (KD) on body composition, metabolic, and performance parameters in participants who trained recreationally at a local CrossFit facility. Twelve participants (nine males and three females, 31 ± 2 years of age, 80.

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Background: Increased consumption of omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids found in cold-water fish and fish oil has been reported to protect against obesity. A potential mechanism may be through reduction in adipocyte differentiation. Stearidonic acid (SDA), a plant-based ω-3 fatty acid, has been targeted as a potential surrogate for fish-based fatty acids; however, its role in adipocyte differentiation is unknown.

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Albinism is caused by a series of genetic abnormalities leading to reduction of melanin production. Albinism is quite frequent in catfish, but the causative gene and the molecular basis were unknown. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using the 250 K SNP array.

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We investigated the effects of different diets on adipose tissue, liver, serum morphology, and biomarkers in rats that voluntarily exercised. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (∼9-10 wk of age) exercised with resistance-loaded voluntary running wheels (EX; wheels loaded with 20-60% body mass) or remained sedentary (SED) over 6 wk. EX and SED rats were provided isocaloric amounts of either a ketogenic diet (KD; 20.

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Epidemiological and observational studies indicate a positive correlation between type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and dementia, with an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) associated with insulin-treated diabetes patients. The purpose of this review is to reveal the molecular mechanisms that connect physiological and pathological processes commonly observed in T2DM and AD. Conformational modifications in peptide residues, such as amyloid-β peptide in AD and amylin in T2DM have been shown to instigate formation of insoluble protein aggregates that get deposited in extracellular spaces of brain and pancreatic tissue thus disrupting their normal function.

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This study investigated associations between eating regulation behaviors and body mass index (BMI), weight, and percent body fat in male and female students over the first two years of college. Subjects included 328 college students (215 females and 113 males). Height and weight (via standard techniques), body composition (via bioelectrical impedance analysis), and eating regulation behaviors (using the Regulation of Eating Behavior Scale) were conducted two to three times during both the freshman and sophomore years.

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Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a polyphenolic phytoalexin that exerts cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and antioxidant effects. Recently it has been shown that obesity is associated with an increase in cerebral oxidative stress levels, which may enhance neurodegeneration. The present study evaluates the neuroprotective action of resveratrol in brain of obese (ob/ob) mice.

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This study compared type of habitual exercise and meal form on diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) in 29 men age 19-28 yr. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) and DIT response to solid-meal (bar) vs. liquid-meal (shake) ingestion were measured via indirect calorimetry; classifications were sedentary (n = 9), endurance trained (n = 11), or resistance trained (n = 9).

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To better understand the role of insulin signaling in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD), we utilized an animal model (intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin-ic-streptozotocin (STZ)) that displays insulin resistance only in the brain and exhibits AD pathology. In this model, deficits in hippocampal synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation (LTP) were observed. The decline in LTP correlated with decreased expression of NMDAR subunits NR2A and NR2B.

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Tobacco osmotin is a functional homolog of mammalian adiponectin, and has antifungal activity. This work was undertaken to produce recombinant osmotin that has previously been unsuccessful because of its toxicity. Expression of recombinant tobacco osmotin (rOSM) in Escherichia coli inclusion bodies has been achieved.

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The hypothesis of this study is that consumption of a high glycemic index (GI) starch will increase adiposity, increase expression of the pro-oxidant enzyme (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate [NADPH] oxidase), and decrease expression of the antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase [GPx], and superoxide dismutase [SOD]) in adipose tissue of mice. C57BL/6 mice (n = 5-8/group) were fed a diet containing either high-GI starch (100% amylopectin) or low-GI starch (60% amylose/40% amylopectin) under low-fat (LF) or high-fat (HF) conditions for 16 weeks. Meal tolerance tests (MTTs) indicated that the postprandial blood glucose response over 120 minutes for the high-GI mice under LF and HF conditions was significantly greater than for mice fed low-GI diets.

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Leptin, administered either into the ventricles of the brain or systemically, has been shown to normalize blood glucose concentrations in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. We hypothesized that an intact sympathetic nervous system is necessary for centrally administered leptin to normalize or attenuate high blood glucose concentrations in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Young male Wistar rats (approximately 50 g) were treated every other day with either s.

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Postprandial hyperglycemia is an early indicator of abnormality in glucose metabolism leading to type 2 diabetes. However, mechanisms that contribute to postprandial hyperglycemia have not been identified. This study showed that mice with targeted inactivation of the group 1B phospholipase A2 (Pla2g1b) gene displayed lower postprandial glycemia than that observed in wild-type mice after being fed a glucose-rich meal.

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This study generated pancreatic triglyceride lipase (PTL)-null mice to test the hypothesis that PTL-mediated hydrolysis of dietary triglyceride is necessary for efficient dietary cholesterol absorption. The PTL-/- mice grew normally and displayed similar body weight as their PTL+/+ littermates. Plasma lipid levels between animals of various PTL genotypes were similar when they were maintained on either a basal low fat diet or a western-type high fat/high cholesterol diet.

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Group 1B phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is an abundant lipolytic enzyme that is well characterized biochemically and structurally. Because of its high level of expression in the pancreas, it has been presumed that PLA2 plays a role in the digestion of dietary lipids, but in vivo data have been lacking to support this theory. Our initial study on mice lacking PLA2 demonstrated no abnormalities in dietary lipid absorption in mice consuming a chow diet.

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