Death-associated protein kinase-related apoptosis-inducing kinase-2 (DRAK2; also known as STK17B) is a serine/threonine kinase expressed in T cells. Drak2-deficient (Drak2-/-) mice respond effectively to tumors and pathogens while displaying resistance to T cell-mediated autoimmune disease. However, the molecular mechanisms by which DRAK2 impacts T cell function remain unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCotton is primarily recognized as a textile crop; however, recent evidence suggests that cottonseed oil (CSO) may be a simple and effective dietary approach to improving cardiometabolic risk factors. The purpose of this perspective is to draw attention to the current literature examining the physiological benefits of CSO consumption and highlight the remaining questions that need to be answered to fully evaluate the potential of CSO to be the next important nutrition intervention for improving cardiometabolic health.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLonger-term pecan consumption has shown appetite-regulating effects as a part of a free-living diet, yet the physiologic appetite responses to a single pecan-containing meal are unclear. The purpose of this study was to compare the acute physiologic, subjective, and direct appetite responses of a pecan-containing meal to an energy- and macronutrient-matched control meal. This was an acute meal challenge study utilizing a double-blinded randomized crossover design with two periods.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAngiopoietin-like proteins (ANGPTLs) -3, -4, and -8 are regulators of lipid metabolism and have been shown to respond to changes in dietary fats. It is unknown how ANGPTLs respond to cottonseed oil (CSO) and olive oil (OO) consumption in a population with hypercholesterolemia. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of CSO vs.
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