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Tag: American Physiological Society (APS)

  • 3D Stress Patterns in Capillaries Are Caused by Red Blood Cell Squeezing

    3D Stress Patterns in Capillaries Are Caused by Red Blood Cell Squeezing

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    BYLINE: Mario Boone

    Newswise — Rockville, Md. (September 15, 2023)—New and unique shear stress patterns can occur in angiogenic capillary (new blood vessel growth) networks, according to a new study in the journal Function. There was also enhancement of low shear stress regions by red blood cells. Shear stress is the frictional force of the blood on the vessel wall. Researchers from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the University of Florida found this is due to red blood cells getting squeezed and deformed in these hair-sized blood vessels.   

    The growth and adaptation of new blood vessels in the body is key to many physiological processes in health and disease. This is true from embryonic development and natural changes during the aging process to diabetes, heart disease and tumor growth in cancer.

    High-resolution computer simulations allowed researchers to demonstrate multiple types of 3D shear stress spatial variations which derive from distinct blood vessel surface shapes and structures. The research team was able to identify the existence of shear stress hot and cold spots caused by red blood cells interacting with these unique surface shapes. The researchers identified shear stress spatial patterns, which vary over time and help explain how fluctuations follow timescales of red blood cell “footprints.” 

    “Altogether, this study provides a conceptual framework for understanding how shear stress might regulate the formation of new blood vessels in a living organism,” said Peter Balogh, corresponding author of the study. 

    These findings inspire new research directions with a high potential to improve human health, including helping to predict tumor growth patterns and guiding new treatments. This allows for early detection of problems during embryonic development or developing new ways to improve blood flow in heart disease.

    Read the full article, “Angiogenic microvascular wall shear stress patterns revealed through three-dimensional red blood cell resolved modeling,” published ahead of print in Function. Contact APS Media Relations or call 301.634.7314 to schedule an interview with a member of the research team.

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  • New APS Leaders Take Office at Inaugural American Physiology Summit

    New APS Leaders Take Office at Inaugural American Physiology Summit

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    Newswise — Long Beach, Calif. (April 23, 2023)—The American Physiological Society (APS) is pleased to announce its new member leaders for 2023–24: President Willis K. “Rick” Samson, PhD, DSc, FAPS; President-elect Timothy Musch, PhD, FAPS, FACSM; and Councilors Michael Caplan, MD, PhD, FAPS; Karla Haack, PhD; and Gina Yosten, PhD. The new officers were elected by APS membership and took office April 23, 2023, at the American Physiology Summit, APS’ flagship annual meeting, in Long Beach, California.

    Willis K. “Rick” Samson, PhD, DSc, FAPS, is professor of pharmacology and physiology and director of biomedical science graduate programs in the School of Medicine at Saint Louis University (SLU). He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina; his PhD from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas; and his DSc from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. Samson is the vice chair of the SLU School of Medicine’s Pharmacology and Physiology Department. He has served on numerous study sections and editorial boards for a number of scientific organizations and journals.

    Samson served the Society on the APS Council from 2016 to 2019 and was a member of the Joint Program and Public Affairs committees as well as the Committee on Committees. He is also a former member of the Endocrinology & Metabolism Section Steering Committee. Samson is a past associate editor and editor-in-chief for the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology and is currently deputy editor of Physiological Reviews. He has been a Fellow of the American Physiological Society (FAPS) since 2015.

    Timothy Musch, PhD, FAPS, FACSM, is a University Distinguished Professor in the Departments of Kinesiology and Anatomy & Physiology at Kansas State University. He earned his PhD in exercise physiology from the University of Wisconsin and completed postdoctoral work at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas.

    Musch’s service to the Society includes prior roles as councilor, chair of the Animal Care & Experimentation Committee and the Committee on Committees, and as a member of the Public Affairs, Education, Fellows, Membership, Nominating, Section Advisory and Strategic Planning committees. He is on the editorial boards of the Journal of Applied Physiology and the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology. Musch was the Guyton Educator of the Year in 2013 and received FAPS status in 2016.

    Michael Caplan, MD, PhD, FAPS, is the C.N.H. Long Professor and chair of the Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology at the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. He earned his MD and PhD degrees from Yale University. Caplan has been honored with awards for his work in renal physiology from numerous organizations, including APS, the American Society of Nephrologists and the National Science Foundation. Caplan is editor-in-chief of the journal Physiology and is a member of the Physiology Summit Leadership Committee. He received FAPS status in 2019.

    Karla Haack, PhD, is a medical writer at Merck and Co., where she collaboratively authors pre-approval regulatory documents. Prior to joining Merck in 2021, Haack taught anatomy and physiology and pathophysiology courses at Kennesaw State University (KSU) in Georgia. She earned her PhD in molecular biology from Georgia Institute of Technology and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Haack was a member of the College of Science and Mathematics Inclusion and Diversity Committee and liaison to the chief diversity officer at KSU. She is the outgoing chair of the APS Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.

    Gina Yosten, PhD, is a tenured associate professor of pharmacology and physiology at SLU, where she also earned her PhD. She is a longtime APS member and has served the Society in multiple capacities, including as the chair of the Endocrinology & Metabolism Section and a member of the Section Advisory and Joint Program committees. Yosten is the editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology and was APS’ 2023 Henry Pickering Bowditch Award Lecturer.

    Physiology is a broad area of scientific inquiry that focuses on how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function in health and disease. The American Physiological Society connects a global, multidisciplinary community of more than 10,000 biomedical scientists and educators as part of its mission to advance scientific discovery, understand life and improve health. The Society drives collaboration and spotlights scientific discoveries through its 16 scholarly journals and programming that support researchers and educators in their work.

     

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  • Study Reveals the Healing Power of Food after a Traumatic Brain Injury

    Study Reveals the Healing Power of Food after a Traumatic Brain Injury

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    Newswise — Long Beach, Calif. (April 21, 2023)—In the first few days after a traumatic brain injury (TBI), food is often an afterthought as clinicians focus on minimizing the damage to the brain. However, a new study suggests that getting enough calories can help boost the brain’s healing process, making nutrition an important consideration for improving TBI care. Researchers will present their work this week at the American Physiology Summit, the flagship annual meeting of the American Physiological Society (APS), in Long Beach, California.      

    “This evidence highlights the importance of ensuring proper nutrition for TBI patients during recovery,” said Casey C. Curl, a doctoral candidate at the Exercise Physiology Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley. “Specifically, formulations containing fuels that are preferred by the brain, such as lactate, should be prioritized during the acute and chronic phases of recovery from TBI.”  

    When a person comes to the hospital with a traumatic brain injury, many patients go for several days without eating or even receiving nutrition through a tube or intravenous line. Even then, the tools clinicians use to calculate a patient’s nutritional needs are not designed for the unique circumstances of a brain injury, and recent studies suggest that most TBI patients get far fewer calories than they need.   

    Key to the research is a new biomarker the team developed to assess nutritional status. While it is possible to measure the amount of calories a person consumes, measuring whether the amount of calories provided to the patient to meet their energy needs is more complex. To fill this gap, the researchers created a way to measure the amount of glucose produced internally as the body processes energy inputs. This metric, called fractional gluconeogenesis, ranges from zero (fully fed) to 100% (drastically underfed).   

    For the study, researchers tracked how nutritional status affects fractional gluconeogenesis and protein synthesis in a rat model of TBI. They used deuterium oxide, also known as heavy water, as a tracer to assess fractional gluconeogenesis and protein synthesis in different parts of the brain and body. By comparing these dynamics in rats with different levels of caloric intake, they were able to gain insights into how nutrition affects brain healing processes.  

    “Our study found that after TBI, the brain responds abnormally by increasing protein synthesis in the higher brain region while decreasing it in the lower regions,” said Curl.  

    Previous studies have shown that being underfed leads to reduced protein synthesis in skeletal muscle and liver cells. The new findings suggest a similar thing happens in the brain. “Understanding this decrease in protein turnover during the brain healing process is crucial because a caloric deficit may affect the patient’s ability to heal from their injury,” said Curl.  

    The findings suggest that providing adequate nutrition in the aftermath of a traumatic brain injury can help the brain manufacture the proteins it needs for the healing process, without having to prioritize certain brain regions over others.  

    In addition to feeding patients sooner as part of routine practice, Curl noted that clinicians could use fractional gluconeogenesis as a practical metric to assess whether patients are getting enough calories during TBI treatment and recovery.  

    This research was funded by a grant from the PAC-12 conference.  

    NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: The American Physiology Summit will be held April 20–23, 2023, in Long Beach, California. To schedule an interview with the researchers, conference organizers or presenters, contact . Find more highlights from the meeting in our Summit Newsroom.   

    Physiology is a broad area of scientific inquiry that focuses on how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function in health and disease. The American Physiological Society connects a global, multidisciplinary community of more than 10,000 biomedical scientists and educators as part of its mission to advance scientific discovery, understand life and improve health. The Society drives collaboration and spotlights scientific discoveries through its 16 scholarly journals and programming that support researchers and educators in their work. 

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  • Childhood Trauma Linked to Reduced Vascular Function and Diminished Sleep Quality

    Childhood Trauma Linked to Reduced Vascular Function and Diminished Sleep Quality

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    Newswise — Long Beach, Calif.  (April 21, 2023)—Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) contribute to reduced vascular function and diminished sleep quality in young adults, according to a study at the University of Iowa. In addition, researchers found that poor sleep efficiency may contribute to vascular dysfunction with increasing ACEs exposure. Researchers will present their work this week at the American Physiology Summit, the flagship annual meeting of the American Physiological Society (APS), in Long Beach, California.  

    “These findings have significant implications for human health.” —Laura Schwager 

    ACEs are highly stressful and potentially traumatic events happening during the first 18 years of life, which is the critical development period in a person’s life. It’s already known that people who experience ACEs have a higher risk for cardiovascular disease later in life. Yet, the biological mechanisms underlying this health disparity are not fully understood. The goal of this study was to better understand how ACEs increase the risk of cardiovascular disease to aid the development of better preventive measures and treatments.  

    Researchers assessed 22 young men and women for ACE exposure, anxiety and depressive symptoms, using the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scales, respectively. The research team also measured the functional health of the participants’ blood vessels by assessing the ability of the artery in the arm to dilate in response to an increase in blood flow.   

    The team found among young adults, ACEs have a negative impact on blood vessel function, while sleep efficiency has a positive effect regardless of anxiety or depression symptoms. Also, sleep efficiency appears to be a mediator of the relationship between ACEs and blood vessel function. 

    “These findings have significant implications for human health,” said Laura Schwager, lead author of the study and postbaccalaureate research coordinator at the University of Iowa. “But we also caution that this is a preliminary investigation, and we will need studies with larger, more diverse samples to confirm this relationship and also to examine whether improving sleep in those with ACEs results in improved vascular function and lower cardiovascular disease risk.”   

    NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: The American Physiology Summit will be held April 20–23, 2023, in Long Beach, California. To schedule an interview with the researchers, conference organizers or presenters, contact APS Media Relations or call 301.634.7314. Find more highlights from the meeting in our Summit Newsroom.  

    Physiology is a broad area of scientific inquiry that focuses on how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function in health and disease. The American Physiological Society connects a global, multidisciplinary community of more than 10,000 biomedical scientists and educators as part of its mission to advance scientific discovery, understand life and improve health. The Society drives collaboration and spotlights scientific discoveries through its 16 scholarly journals and programming that support researchers and educators in their work.  

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  • Extracellular Vesicles Could Be a Marker for Lung Disease Severity in Premature Infants

    Extracellular Vesicles Could Be a Marker for Lung Disease Severity in Premature Infants

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    Newswise — Rockville, Md. (April 6, 2023)—New research finds extracellular vesicles are present in the lungs of premature babies and may be involved in lung development and as a predictor of lung disease. The study is published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology. It was chosen as an APSselect article for April.

    Approximately 75% of premature infants born between 22 and 24 weeks’ gestation develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia, a chronic disease that occurs when the lungs are not mature enough at birth to support normal function. Extracellular vesicles—the tiny particles released from all cells that facilitate intercellular communication and may aid in other physiological processes—have been found previously in the lungs, but it’s not clear what role they play in lung development.

    “Because proper lung development requires tremendous cellular and structural changes, it is possible that [extracellular vesicles] are both markers and mediators of these dynamic processes,” the researchers of the current study wrote.

    The research team analyzed samples collected from the airways of premature infants—gestational ages ranged from just over 22 weeks to just under 35 weeks—during standard treatment procedures for respiratory problems, such as intubation. Of the 34 four samples examined, 27 of them contained extracellular vesicles.

    The extracellular vesicles contained epithelial and immune proteins across all stages of lung development. Babies born in the earlier stages of lung development had higher CD24 expression, a protein expressed by a diverse population of cells, with CD24-loaded extracellular vesicles gaining recent attention for their therapeutic role in COVID-19. In addition, the newborns who developed bronchopulmonary dysplasia also had higher levels of CD14 extracellular vesicles, which have been identified as a potential marker for disease severity in adults with acute lung injury.

    “Given what is known about lung development and [bronchopulmonary dysplasia], it is interesting to hypothesize how [extracellular vesicles] carrying the markers identified in this study might participate in normal physiological and pathological processes,” the researchers wrote. “This work provides a foundation for future directions to elucidate the role of [extracellular vesicles] in lung development and injury, including determination of the role of [extracellular vesicles] throughout the stages of lung development.”

    Read the full article, “Developmental trajectory of extracellular vesicle characteristics from the lungs of preterm infants,” published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology. It is highlighted as one of this month’s “best of the best” as part of the American Physiological Society’s APSselect program. Read all of this month’s selected research articles.

    NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: To schedule an interview with a member of the research team, please contact APS Media Relations or call 301.634.7314. Find more research highlights in our Newsroom.

    Physiology is a broad area of scientific inquiry that focuses on how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function in health and disease. The American Physiological Society connects a global, multidisciplinary community of more than 10,000 biomedical scientists and educators as part of its mission to advance scientific discovery, understand life and improve health. The Society drives collaboration and spotlights scientific discoveries through its 16 scholarly journals and programming that support researchers and educators in their work.

     

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  • Nobel Laureate and Wildlife Ecophysiologist to Speak at American Physiology Summit

    Nobel Laureate and Wildlife Ecophysiologist to Speak at American Physiology Summit

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    Newswise — March 28, 2023 (Rockville, Md.)— The American Physiology Summit will feature top scientists and inspiring speakers, including Nobel Laureate David Julius, PhD, and renowned wildlife ecophysiologist Terrie Williams, PhD, who will give keynote presentations.    

    The 2023 Summit, the flagship meeting of the American Physiological Society (APS), will be held April 20–23, 2023, in Long Beach, California. Advanced registration is recommended for reporters who would like to attend the meeting, access embargoed press materials online or join the virtual press conference on April 18 at 10:30 a.m. PDT/1:30 p.m. EDT. 

    For more on the science behind the biggest issues impacting life and health today, explore the meeting’s schedule at a glance, full program and game-changer sessions.

    The biology behind why we feel pain

    Julius will kick off the 2023 Summit with the opening keynote presentation “Gut Feelings: Probing Mechanisms of Visceral Pain,” on Thursday, April 20, at 4 p.m. He is professor and chair of the Department of Physiology and Morris Herzstein Chair in Molecular Biology and Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. 

    Julius was awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine—jointly with Ardem Patapoutian, PhD, a professor at Scripps Research and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator in La Jolla, California—for discovering receptors for temperature and touch. Julius’ work has focused on identifying and understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in our senses of touch and pain. His group discovered a family of temperature-sensitive ion channel receptors that enable sensory nerve fibers to detect hot or cold temperatures. Read more about Julius.

    The ever-adaptable mammalian brain

    Williams will give the meeting’s closing keynote talk “The Master Switch of Life: A Daring Journey into the Untamed Brain,” on Sunday, April 23, at 11 a.m. Williams is a distinguished professor and director of the Integrative and Comparative Energetics Lab and the Marine Mammal Physiology Project at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

    Williams, who has studied terrestrial and aquatic mammals for more than four decades, researches the survival physiology of animals including sea otters, narwhals, polar bears, lions and seals. Williams and her students strive to understand the ecological significance of large mammals and their exquisite physiological adaptations necessary for surviving in a world that is constantly changing due to human impacts. Read more about Williams. 

    To register for a press pass, please visit our Summit Newsroom and submit a press registration form. 

    Follow #APS2023 on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

    Contact: [email protected] 

    Physiology is a broad area of scientific inquiry that focuses on how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function in health and disease. The American Physiology Summit (APS2023) is an innovative event for scientific exchange and networking. Thousands of researchers, educators and students will come together to share the most recent advances and breakthroughs impacting the research community and the world around us. APS 2023 is the annual meeting of the American Physiological Society, whose mission is to advance scientific discovery, understand life and improve health.

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  • Coconut Sugar May Lower Blood Pressure, Artery Stiffness in Older Adults

    Coconut Sugar May Lower Blood Pressure, Artery Stiffness in Older Adults

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    Newswise — Rockville, Md. (February 10, 2023)—A first-of-its-kind study finds a natural coconut sugar may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by improving blood vessel health and managing high blood pressure. The study is published ahead of print in the Journal of Applied Physiology.

    Higher blood pressure and arterial stiffness with older age are two risk factors contributing to cardiovascular disease. In a new study, researchers explored the effect of a natural sweetener on blood pressure and arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults.

    Coconut sap powder, which is a natural sweetener derived from coconut sugar traditionally used in Asian cuisine, is rich in vitamins B and C, as well as iron, calcium and potassium. Coconut sap powder also contains flavonoids and nitrates—compounds known to contribute to blood vessel health—and inulin, a prebiotic soluble fiber that helps regulate blood sugar levels.

    Previous research suggests coconut sap powder increases antioxidant biomarkers in young adults. In the current study, a group of volunteers with an average age of 55 took either a coconut sap powder supplement or a placebo every day for eight weeks. Before and after the trial, the research team measured the volunteers’ resting heart rate, cholesterol levels, markers of inflammation, blood pressure and arterial stiffness.

    The group of volunteers who took the coconut sap powder supplement had lower systolic blood pressure when measured in the arm, but not when measured in the carotid artery. However, stiffness of the common carotid artery was reduced. However, blood markers of inflammation and oxidative stress did not change with the consumption of coconut sap powder.

    “The [coconut sap powder]-lowering effects on [blood pressure] and arterial stiffness provide insight for [coconut sap powder] as a novel nutraceutical to potentially treat age-related cardiovascular dysfunction and disease,” the researchers wrote.

    Read the full article, “Coconut sugar derived from coconut inflorescence sap lowers systolic blood pressure and arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults: a pilot study,” published ahead of print in the Journal of Applied Physiology.

    NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: To schedule an interview with a member of the research team, please contact APS Media Relations or call 301.634.7314. Find more research highlights in our Newsroom.

    Physiology is a broad area of scientific inquiry that focuses on how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function in health and disease. The American Physiological Society connects a global, multidisciplinary community of more than 10,000 biomedical scientists and educators as part of its mission to advance scientific discovery, understand life and improve health. The Society drives collaboration and spotlights scientific discoveries through its 16 scholarly journals and programming that support researchers and educators in their work.

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  • Omics and AI May Help Predict Lung Disease Risk in Premature Babies

    Omics and AI May Help Predict Lung Disease Risk in Premature Babies

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    Research Alert

    Article title: Development of a peripheral blood transcriptomic gene signature to predict bronchopulmonary dysplasia

    Authors: Alvaro Moreira, Miriam Tovar, Alisha M. Smith, Grace C. Lee, Justin A. Meunier, Zoya Cheema, Axel Moreira, Caitlyn Winter, Shamimunisa B. Mustafa, Steven Seidner, Tina Findley, Joe G. N. Garcia, Bernard Thébaud, Przemko Kwinta, Sunil K. Ahuja

    From the authors: “In conclusion, we show that the combination of omics and artificial intelligence can potentially predict [bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)] and stratify neonates at risk for severe BPD.”

    This study is highlighted as one of February’s “best of the best” as part of the American Physiological Society’s APSselect program.


    Journal Link: American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology

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  • Researchers ID Role of Enzyme as Regulator of Inflammation in Lung Disease

    Researchers ID Role of Enzyme as Regulator of Inflammation in Lung Disease

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    Research Alert

    Article title: Pim-1 kinase is a positive feedback regulator of the senescent lung fibroblast inflammatory secretome

    Authors: Ashley Y. Gao, Ana M. Diaz Espinosa, Fiorenza Gianì, Tho X. Pham, Chase M. Carver, Aja Aravamudhan, Colleen M. Bartman, Giovanni Ligresti, Nunzia Caporarello, Marissa J. Schafer, Andrew J. Haak

    From the authors: “In conclusion, our findings demonstrate a critical role for Pim-1 kinase in regulating the inflammatory secretome of senescence lung fibroblasts and warrant further investigations into the utility of targeting Pim-1 as a therapy for [idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis].”

    This study is highlighted as one of December’s “best of the best” as part of the American Physiological Society’s APSselect program.


    Journal Link: American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology

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  • Math Model Shows Climate Change Puts Rainforest Animal’s Survival in Jeopardy

    Math Model Shows Climate Change Puts Rainforest Animal’s Survival in Jeopardy

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    Newswise — (San Diego) October 29, 2022—A South American marsupial with ties to an ancient line of animals may go extinct in the next half-century due to warming temperatures. Researchers from the Universidad Austral de Chile will present a mathematical model of the monito del monte’s survival predictions this week at the American Physiological Society (APS) Intersociety Meeting in Comparative Physiology: From Organism to Omics in an Uncertain World conference in San Diego. 

    The monito del monte, native to the rainforests of South America, is a marsupial in the relict family Microbiotheriidae. These tiny animals typically weigh about 20 grams (0.7 ounce) and measure around 3 to 5 inches long. Monitos reproduce and prepare for winter hibernation during the summer. Preparation includes eating as much as possible—including fruit, insects, small birds and other dead animals—to store as body fat. Researchers estimate that monitos need to have fat reserves that are almost twice their body weight to survive the winter.

    Climate change predictions show that ambient temperatures in coastal Chile will increase an estimated 36.5 degrees F over the next 50 years. This will have a large impact on the ability of the monito population to survive the winter. The warmer temperatures will cause the animals to come out of hibernation earlier than usual, and they will be unable to find food during the winter, explained Roberto Nespolo Rossi, PhD, first author of the study. Nespolo and his research team developed a mathematical model to estimate survival rates for the monito population in the advent of global warming.

    The mathematical model uses an algebraic formula to connect days of winter survival with the ambient temperature. The calculations are based on the assumption that all of the monitos’ daily energy expenditure during hibernation comes from the fat stores they have accumulated during the warmer months.

     

    Energy content of fat (kilojoule per gram) X Fat stores (grams)

    ­­­­­_______________________________________________________ 

    Daily energy expenditure (kilojoule per day)

    The model “is one of the few predictive models built on physiological parameters, so it can be applied to other hibernators, for which there is plenty of physiological data,” Nespolo said. “Our predictions for 50 years … indicate that most coastal populations [of monitos] will go extinct,” he added. This is especially important because the monito, sometimes referred to as a “living fossil,” is the last living relative of the ancient marsupial order Microbiotheria.

    Physiology is a broad area of scientific inquiry that focuses on how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function in health and disease. The American Physiological Society connects a global, multidisciplinary community of more than 10,000 biomedical scientists and educators as part of its mission to advance scientific discovery, understand life and improve health. The Society drives collaboration and spotlights scientific discoveries through its 16 scholarly journals and programming that support researchers and educators in their work. 

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  • Food Security Harmed by Warming Ocean, Accelerating Fish Development

    Food Security Harmed by Warming Ocean, Accelerating Fish Development

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    Newswise — (San Diego) October 29, 2022— Higher temperatures spurred by worsening climate change increased the growth rate of fish and consumption of their yolk sac—a structure that provides an embryo with food and helps develop important structures, such as blood cells. In addition, higher temperatures boosted fish mortality rates and led to faster depletion of their yolk sac, according to researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego. The findings will be presented this week at the American Physiological Society (APS) Intersociety Meeting in Comparative Physiology: From Organism to Omics in an Uncertain World conference in San Diego. 

    Ocean temperatures are predicted to rise as carbon monoxide gas accumulates due to climate change. To determine the impact on larval white seabass, researchers sampled fish reared at 18–23 degrees Celsius throughout development from birth to six days old. With this process, they were hoping to differentiate the effects of temperature and time. They estimated growth and development rates by examining images obtained under a light microscope, among other methods.

    These findings are important because it helps inform fish population predictions in the face of climate change. The fishing industry is an important link in the U.S. food supply chain. Predicting growth rates and population structures of white seabass, a commercially and recreationally significant population in California, is critically important to help ensure food security.

    “Our results suggest that larval fish recruitment could swing to either extremity as a result of ocean warming,” said Ria Bhabu, co-author of the study and a student at the University of California San Diego. 

    Physiology is a broad area of scientific inquiry that focuses on how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function in health and disease. The American Physiological Society connects a global, multidisciplinary community of more than 10,000 biomedical scientists and educators as part of its mission to advance scientific discovery, understand life and improve health. The Society drives collaboration and spotlights scientific discoveries through its 16 scholarly journals and programming that support researchers and educators in their work. 

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  • Climate Change Negatively Affecting School Sharks

    Climate Change Negatively Affecting School Sharks

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    Newswise — (San Diego) October 29, 2022— Preliminary research data suggest warmer temperatures and increased salt levels might have negative effects on the behavior and physiology of school sharks. A clear indicator of physiological changes is higher levels of stress markers such as glucose and lactate concentrations in the blood. Researchers also noted behavior changes according to the warmer and saltier the environment is and the more time school sharks spend resting. School sharks are usually constantly swimming. A break in their usual activity means they might be too stressed to find food or escape predators. The findings will be presented this week at the American Physiological Society (APS) Intersociety Meeting in Comparative Physiology: From Organism to Omics in an Uncertain World conference in San Diego. 

    Researchers also examined the response of school sharks to increases in temperatures and salinity levels based on neonatal and juvenile (one year old and older) stage. The findings show newborns were more tolerant of some of the environmental changes than juveniles. This suggests neonates might have a special ability at birth to inhabit coastal waterways where freshwater mixes with salt water before migrating into deeper waters as juveniles. 

    The shallow water home of school sharks is constantly fluctuating, but this natural variation is being exacerbated due to the rapid pace of climate change. As a result, researchers through this study were seeking to determine “if this endangered species will be able to continue using these protected, resource-rich waters, or if they will be forced out into the ocean, which may have major ecological implications for the survival of the species.” They specifically wanted to know if the nursery ground in southeast Tasmania will remain a viable area for school shark pups in the coming years. To reach their conclusion, researchers evaluated the physiology and biochemistry of neonatal and juvenile sharks. 

    “Hopefully, these findings will be able to guide or inform regulations that can improve shark health,” said Katherine Ollerhead, a PhD candidate at the University of Tasmania in Australia and co-author of the study. 

    Physiology is a broad area of scientific inquiry that focuses on how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function in health and disease. The American Physiological Society connects a global, multidisciplinary community of more than 10,000 biomedical scientists and educators as part of its mission to advance scientific discovery, understand life and improve health. The Society drives collaboration and spotlights scientific discoveries through its 16 scholarly journals and programming that support researchers and educators in their work. 

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  • It’s Not the Heat, It’s the Humidity: Water Loss Hurts Bees Most in the Desert

    It’s Not the Heat, It’s the Humidity: Water Loss Hurts Bees Most in the Desert

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    Newswise — (San Diego) October 29, 2022—Digger bees lose large amounts of water during flight, which compromises their activity period and survival in the desert heat. Researchers from Arizona State University will present their work this week at the American Physiological Society (APS) Intersociety Meeting in Comparative Physiology: From Organism to Omics in an Uncertain World conference in San Diego. 

    “Water loss appears to be a critical problem for male digger bees. Climate change will very likely challenge their important ecological functions.” —Meredith Johnson

    Climate change plays a role in the physiological evolution and survival of animals of all sizes. Desert animals, already acclimated to high temperatures, use evaporative heat loss to help prevent overheating. However, the sometimes-limited ability to replenish water loss means the danger of dehydration is a challenge for desert animals, including the Sonoran Desert digger bee.

    Bees are an integral part of the ecosystem due to their ability to pollinate—more than 80% of flowering plants rely on insect pollinators. When bees become unable to pollinate sufficiently—due to lack of food or other changes in their environment—plant biodiversity decreases and plant-eating animals are affected. A large percentage of food crops, including fruits, nuts and vegetables, also depend on pollination. Researchers explored the effects of heat, water stress and food availability on male digger bees in the Arizona Uplands, a region of the Sonoran Desert.

    During the study, air temperatures increased from around 66 degrees F in the early morning—when the bees began to fly to a mating site—to about 100 degrees at midday, when they typically stop flying for the day. In addition, no plants were in bloom at the study site to provide nectar for the bees to drink at the time of the study. Marking techniques used by the research team suggest that the bees survive for about a week, which means they are finding nectar somewhere in the desert. Researchers think the bees may be traveling for some distance during the later—and hotter—part of the day to find food.

    The researchers also examined the bees’ body temperature and body water content throughout the day. The hottest body temperature measurement was approximately 111 degrees F. Digger bees can withstand body temperatures around 125 degrees during flight, suggesting that overheating is not why the bees stopped flying before midday, explained Meredith Johnson, a doctoral candidate at Arizona State University and first author of the study.

    Water loss is a bigger problem for the insects. “These bees lose 17% of their body water content per hour, with the amount slightly increasing as the air temperature [rises],” Johnson said. “Loss of about 50% of total body water content is lethal, suggesting that these bees can maximally fly for about three hours.”

    The flying time constraint is important to note, as typically bees need to fly for six or seven hours each day searching for mating opportunities. Without sufficient time to mate, the bee population will shrink in the future.

    “Water loss appears to be a most critical problem for male digger bees. Climate change will very likely challenge their important ecological functions,” Johnson said.

    Physiology is a broad area of scientific inquiry that focuses on how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function in health and disease. The American Physiological Society connects a global, multidisciplinary community of more than 10,000 biomedical scientists and educators as part of its mission to advance scientific discovery, understand life and improve health. The Society drives collaboration and spotlights scientific discoveries through its 16 scholarly journals and programming that support researchers and educators in their work. 

     

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  • Better Asthma and COPD Drugs with Fewer Side Effects Are Within Reach

    Better Asthma and COPD Drugs with Fewer Side Effects Are Within Reach

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    Rockville, Md. (September 29, 2022)—Bronchodilators, the most common type of asthma-fighting drug, inhibits contractions of airway smooth muscle that are induced by stimulating receptors on the muscle’s surface. New research highlights a novel mechanism for the drugs and will aid in the development of better medications for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The findings are detailed in a new article by researchers from Dundalk Institute of Technology in Ireland and Queen’s University in Northern Ireland. 

    Asthma and COPD are common lung disorders—caused by excessive constriction of the airways—that make breathing difficult. Bronchodilators,  also known as beta-adrenoceptor agonists, relax airway smooth muscle and open the airways to make breathing easier. These drugs bind to beta-adrenoceptors located on airway muscle cells and cause them to relax.

    Constriction of the airways is regulated in the nerves, which release a chemical called acetylcholine. This chemical causes the airways to constrict and narrow. For patients with COPD, the constrictor effects of acetylcholine are enhanced. It has been long known that beta-adrenoceptor agonists could reverse the constricting effects of acetylcholine on airway smooth muscle, but it has not been fully clear how this occurs. It is important to understand how these medications work to assist with future development of more effective drugs with fewer side effects.

    Read the full article, “M2 muscarinic receptor-dependent contractions of airway smooth muscle are inhibited by activation of β-adrenoceptors,” published ahead of print in Function. Contact APS Media Relations or call 301.634.7314 to schedule an interview with a member of the research team.

     

     

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