The squid and its giant nerve fibre Part 2 The Physiological Society 2015-11-12 | Courtesy to the Marine Biological Association, Plymouth
Physiology 2023 Highlights The Physiological Society 2023-07-20 | Highlights from The Physiological Society's Annual Conference which took place from 10 - 12 July 2023 in Harrogate, UK.physoc.org/events/physiology-2023
PHYSIOLOGY SHORTS: Circadian regulation of glutamate release pathways The Physiological Society 2023-07-20 | In this Physiology Shorts video Forrest J. Ragozzino (Washington State University) talks about their recent study 'Circadian regulation of glutamate release pathways shapes synaptic throughput in the brainstem nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS)'Read more in The Journal of Physiology: 'Circadian regulation of glutamate release pathways shapes synaptic throughput in the brainstem nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS).'Forrest J. Ragozzino et al.601(10), pp. 1881-1896physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/JP284370Transcript:Hello, everyone. I'm Forrest Ragozzino, a postdoctoral fellow working alongside the labs of James Peters at Washington State University and Ilia Karatsoreos at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.Have you ever wondered how our internal functions, like digestion or heart rate, synchronize to the time of day? All throughout our body, including the brain, We have CELLULAR CLOCKS THAT ORGANIZE THESE DAILY OR CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS. However, the mechanisms by which circadian rhythms are communicated from one neuron to another have remained largely underexplored.Our recent study aimed to address this gap by investigating how neurotransmission in the OR NTS, A BRAIN AREA THAT IS CRITICAL FOR RELAYING INFORMATION between OUR BODY and BRAIN changes across the day and night. We discovered that the release of the neurotransmitter, glutamate, onto NTS neurons showed a strong rhythmicity in mice, peaking during the light phase and dropping during the dark phase.This glutamate rhythm was also sufficient to control DAILY rates of NTS activity.When we stimulated vagal afferent terminals, however, their responses were actually stronger during the dark phase, despite diminished glutamate release. But why would this be the case?It turns out that the neuron’s membrane conductance, which is how easily an electrical signal flows into a cell, changes across the day and night.We think this means that NTS neurons transition between a "day" state favoring passive communication and a "night" state favoring active communication. This allow neurons to fine-tune their signaling over a 24-hour period to synchronize our internal clocks with the transition between day and night.For more information, please refer to our full paper in The Journal of Physiology, Volume 601, Issue 10. For any questions, please contact James Peters at james_peters@wsu.edu."
Artificial Intelligence and Health, The Physiological Societys report launch The Physiological Society 2023-07-20 | Our new report From ‘Black Box’ to Trusted Healthcare Tools looks at physiology’s role in unlocking the potential of artificial intelligence for health. The report launched in the Houses of Lords on 27 June 2023. AI Tools in Healthcare The UK health system is under ever increasing pressure due to public health challenges such as a growing and ageing population coupled with an overburdened NHS. The ONS estimates that by 2045 4.3% of the country’s population (3.1 million people) will be aged 85 years and over. This significant demographic shift means that the health system needs to adapt to ensure its fit for the future by rapidly diagnosing disease and preventing ill health. Artificial intelligence and machine-learning technologies are already being used to improve health outcomes. For example, data from patient-monitoring devices collecting physiological measurements such as heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation is being used to personalise care; similarly, data on sleep quality can be used to suggest behavioural changes. However, work in AI tends to happen in silos. Since healthcare is a vast field, encompassing numerous specialties and sub-specialties, AI developers tend to focus on specific areas of expertise, leading to the creation of specialised tools that only address specific medical conditions or processes. There is a need for cross-disciplinary collaboration to enhance our understanding of, and trust in, the results generated by AI technology which is often seen as a ‘black box’. Physiological knowledge is essential to improving AI algorithms as it can provide insight into the underlying biological processes and mechanisms that drive various health conditions. This domain knowledge can help inform the development of AI algorithms and ensure that they accurately model the plausible physiological processes and reduce risk of identifying confounding factors. Further, physiologists can interpret and contextualise the data used to train AI models, ensuring that they contain plausible measurements and are representative against known standards for the target end users.
EPicks: The effect of inspiratory muscle training and detraining on the respiratory metaboreflex The Physiological Society 2023-06-05 | In this EPicks videos, Jason Chan from Paolo B. Dominelli's lab (University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada) talks about his latest research 'The effect of inspiratory muscle training and detraining on the respiratory metaboreflex'Find out more in Experimental Physiology:'The effect of inspiratory muscle training and detraining on the respiratory metaboreflex.' Paolo B. Dominelli et al.108(4), pp. 636-649physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/EP090779Transcript:Hi my name is Jason Chan and I am a recent Master’s of Science graduate from Dr. Dominelli’s lab in the kinesiology department at University of Waterloo in Canada. There were 2 purposes for this study. Firstly, the diaphragm has many unique characteristics therefore it can be difficult to compare to other skeletal muscles. However, the tibialis anterior is a reasonable comparison due to the similar muscle compositions, daily usage, the ability to voluntarily contract and the lack of specific training. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the strength response of the respiratory muscles and tibialis anterior to 5 week of training and 5 week of no training .Secondly, inspiratory muscle training has been shown to increase the strength of respiratory muscle and in as little as 5 weeks it is sufficient to blunt the respiratory muscle metaboreflex response. However, the effects of detraining on the respiratory muscle metaboreflex is unknown. Therefore, we sought to determine whether the attenuation of the respiratory muscle metaboreflex is preserved after 5 weeks of detraining.We had 8 participants complete a 5 week inspiratory muscle training and dorsiflexor training protocol followed by a 5 week detraining protocol, where no training was done. Every week pressure and strength measurements were taken. To determine the respiratory muscle metaboreflex, we measured their mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate dur ing a loaded breathing task where the respiratory muscle worked hard. The loaded breathing task was completed 3 times; once before and once after the inspiratory muscle training, and again after the 5 weeks of detraining, and an attenuation in the metaboreflex was evident by a lower mean arterial blood pressure. Another 8 participants only completed the 3 loaded breathing tasks in 5 week intervals and no muscle training to act as a control. We found a similar temporal strength response to the inspiratory muscle training and the dorsiflexor training as both muscle groups were elevated after 5 weeks of training and remained elevated after 5 weeks of detraining. The mean arterial blood pressure was significantly lower after 5 weeks of training and remained lower after 5 weeks of detraining during the loaded breathing task, indicating the respiratory muscle metaboreflex was attenuated after 5 weeks of training and was preserved after 5 weeks of detraining. There were no changes in the control group.Inspiratory muscle training may be recommended for those who enrol in structured pulmonary rehabilitation and such programmes could be repeated. By determining, as a first step, how a healthy individual's respiratory metaboreflex responds to detraining, others can follow up to determine optimal time between training bouts.
PHYSIOLOGY SHORTS: Antagonism of TRPV4 channels reduces mechanotransduction in rat skeletal muscle The Physiological Society 2023-06-05 | In this Physiology Shorts video Masaki Mizuno and Ayumi Fukazawa (University of Texas) talks about their recent study 'Antagonism of TRPV4 channels partially reduces mechanotransduction in rat skeletal muscle afferents'.Read more in The Journal of Physiology: 'Antagonism of TRPV4 channels partially reduces mechanotransduction in rat skeletal muscle afferents.'Masaki Mizuno and Ayumi Fukazawa et al.601(8), pp. 1407-1424physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/JP284026 Transcript:MM: Hi, my name is Masaki Mizuno. I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Clinical Research at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas. I am the senior author of this paper. AF: Hi, my name is Ayumi Fukazawa, and I am postdoc in the department. I am co-first author. MM: Our research group has been investigating autonomic control of the cardiovascular system during physical exercise in health and disease states. AF: I am going to give you a brief overview of our paper. Slide starts here AF: A mechanical stimulus to skeletal muscle activates the sympathetic nervous system during exercise. However, the receptors responsible for mechanotransduction in afferent fibers innervating skeletal muscle have not been identified. AF: First, we identified that TRPV4 is expressed in C-fiber marker peripherin and co-localized in afferent from skeletal muscle by identifying retrograde tracer, Dil. AF: Next, in vitro whole-cell patch clamp recordings from cultured rat dorsal root ganglia neurons, we found that TRPV4 inhibitor attenuates mechanically activated currents. AF: Likewise, in ex vivo muscle -nerve preparation, neural discharge to mechanical stimulation was significantly reduced by TRPV4 inhibitor. AF: Lastly, in an in vivo decerebrate rat preparation, antagonizing TRPV4 significantly decreases blood pressure and sympathetic nerve responses to passive stretch of hindlimb muscle. AF: Our data suggests that TRPV4 plays an important role in mechanotransduction contributing to the cardiovascular responses during exercise. Slides ends here MM: Thank you for taking time to learn more about our study published in The Journal of Physiology. The full paper was published in Volume 601, Issue 8. If you have further questions, please contact me by email or message me on Twitter.
Physiology and Basic Research Funding in Ireland The Physiological Society 2023-04-27 | Our new report looks at physiology research and the R&D landscape in Ireland. The report launched in the Houses of the Oireachtas on 26 April 2023.Ireland is world leading in science, research and development, including the physiological sciences. Physiology expertise in Ireland ranges from respiratory physiology, oncology and neuroscience through to sport and exercise science.Physiology related courses in Ireland provide students with real-world experience by equipping students with the practical and experimental techniques required for successful careers. Graduates of physiology in Ireland enter a broad range of career paths from medicine and allied health professions such as physiotherapy and pharmacy to biomedical research both in industry and academia.
PHYSIOLOGY SHORTS: Increasing blood flow to small exercising muscle beyond normal The Physiological Society 2023-04-05 | In this Physiology Shorts video, Patrick J. Drouin and Michael E. Tschakovsky (Human Vascular Control Laboratory, Queen's University) discuss their research, which revealed that increasing blood flow to small exercising muscle 'beyond normal' reduces muscle activation needed to maintain force of contractionRead more in The Journal of PhysiologyPatrick J. Drouin, Taylor Liu, Lindsay A. Lew, Ellen McGarity-Shipley, Michael E. Tschakovsky601(4), pp. 783-799 physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/JP283933
PHYSIOLOGY SHORTS: Spinal inhibitory interneurons and neurodegenerative disorder The Physiological Society 2023-03-26 | In this Physiology Shorts video, Katarina Quinlan from The University of Rhode Island shares their recent study, in which they found very convincing evidence for early contributions of spinal inhibitory interneurons to neurodegenerative disorders, using a murine model system of ALS.Read the original article in The Journal of Physiology: Clarissa F. Cavarsan, Preston R. Steele, Landon T. Genry, Emily J. Reedich, Lynn M. McCane, Kay J. LaPre, Alyssa C. Puritz, Marin Manuel, Natallia Katenka, Katharina A. Quinlan601(3), pp. 647-667physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/JP284192
Distinct type I collagen alterations that cause intrinsic lung & respiratory defects The Physiological Society 2023-03-13 | Professor Roy Morello, Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, discusses his research article that investigated the distinct type I collagen alterations that cause intrinsic lung and respiratory defects of variable severity.Read more in The Journal of PhysiologyMilena Dimori, Jordan Fett, Sergey Leikin, Satoru Otsuru, Jeff D. Thostenson, John L. Carroll, Roy Morello601(2), pp. 355-379.
Europhysiology 2022 - Michael de Burghy Daly Prize Lecture, Merry L. Lindsey The Physiological Society 2023-02-07 | Merry L. Lindsey, Chair, Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology; Director, Center for Heart and Vascular Research, The University of Nebraska Medical Center and Research Health Scientist, Research Service, Omaha Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Omaha, NebraskaThe Physiological Society Michael de Burgh Daly Prize Lecture at Europhysiology 2022 in Copenhagen.Dr. Lindsey is Chair of the Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology and Founding Director of the Center for Heart and Vascular Research CHVR at UNMC. She completed her undergraduate degree at Boston University and was trained in cardiovascular sciences at Baylor College of Medicine for her graduate studies and Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital for her postdoctoral fellowship. Since 2004, Dr. Lindsey has served as PI or co-PI on multiple funded projects totaling over $30M to date and has trained 60 trainees, who have combined been awarded over a dozen fellowships or career development grants and gone on to successful careers. Dr. Lindsey’s research has led to over 200 publications and is currently supported by the Veterans Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Lindsey serves as Editor in Chief for the American Journal of Physiology- Heart and Circulatory Physiology. She is actively involved in the American Physiological Society, the American Heart Association, and the American Society of Matrix Biology and has presented her research at over 150 national and international venues.
Europhysiology 2022 - Sharpey-Schafer Prize Lecture, Sofia-Iris Bibli The Physiological Society 2023-02-07 | Dr. Sofia Iris Bibli, Institute for Vascular Signalling, Vascular Research Centre, Medical Department, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, GermanyThe Physiological Society´s Annual Review Prize Lecture at Europhysiology 2022 in Copenhagen.Dr. Sofia Iris Bibli studied Pharmacy from 2006-2011 and received her PhD in Pharmacology in 2016 from University of Athens. In 2016, Iris joined the Medical Department of the Goethe University as a post-doctoral fellow after being granted a European Society of Cardiology research grant. Her research focusses on the investigation of epigenetic and epitranslatomic recognition of the metabolic alterations which dictate cell fate decisions with focus on the role of sulfur containing amino acid catabolism. In 2021, Iris was appointed W1 Professor at the Goethe University and was awarded an Emmy Noether grant to fund her research on cardiovascular cysteine metabolism.
Europhysiology 2022 - Annual Review Prize Lecture, Gero Miesenboeck The Physiological Society 2023-02-07 | Gero Miesenboeck, University of Oxford, UKThe Physiological Society´s Annual Review Prize Lecture at Europhysiology 2022 in Copenhagen.Gero Miesenböck is Waynflete Professor of Physiology and founding Director of the Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour at the University of Oxford. Before coming to Oxford in 2007, he held faculty appointments at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Yale University.Gero has received many awards for the invention of optogenetics, including the Brain Prize, the Massry Prize, and the Shaw Prize. He is a member of the Austrian and German Academies of Science and a Fellow of the Royal Society.
PHYSIOLOGY SHORTS: Descending pathways from the superior colliculus The Physiological Society 2023-01-31 | In this Physiology Shorts video, Simon McMullan, Erin Lynch and Bowen Dempsey (Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health & Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) talks about their recent study investigating how descending pathways from the superior colliculus mediating autonomic and respiratory effects associated with orienting behaviour.Read more in The Journal of Physiology: Erin Lynch, Bowen Dempsey, Christine Saleeba, Eloise Monteiro, Anita Turner, Peter G. R. Burke, Andrew M. Allen, Roger A. L. Dampney, Cara M. Hildreth, Jennifer L. Cornish, Ann K. Goodchild, Simon McMullan600(24), pp. 5311-5332physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/JP283789Transcript:I'm Erin Lynch. I'm Bowen Dempsey, and I'm Simon McMullan. And we're part of the neurobiology of Vital Systems Lab here at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. We're Systems Neuroscience Lab. We're interested in understanding the structure and the function of the neural circuits that keep us alive through the control of the cardiovascular and the respiratory systems.We're also interested in understanding how these circuits can become co-opted by higher centres, such as emotion, arousal and sleep.The background to the current study stems from a series of observations made to the anesthetized Rat, which found that this inhibition of a sensory integration hub in the dorsal brainstem, the superior calculus unmasked tightly coordinated, respiratory, sympathetic and somatic motor outputs.The objective of the current study, was to try and figure out the organization of the circuits that underlie those effects, and to provide a behavioural context for them,in the awake animal.We found that optogenetic stimulation of the deep SC drove naturalistic orienting like behaviours in the absence of any anxiety like measures andultrasonic vocalizations. However, we did see electrophysiological effects of arousal in these behaving animals.With the emergence of the theta band, we also saw an increase in breathing rate and also the evidence of sympathetic activity via decreases in tail temperature of these rats. These effects did persist under urethane anesthesia, indicating that what we were recording in the behaving animal was not actually driven by motor outputs.Based on these results, we wanted to investigate whether there was a direct projection from the deep superior calculus to brainstem autonomic centres that could be mediating these effects that we saw.We used anterograde tracing, which identified a projection from the deep SC to the gigantic cellular reticular formation within the brain stem. We then verified that this projection was likely mediating the autonomic effects that we saw by stimulating optogenetically, the deep SC terminal projections within the gigantic cellular reticular formation. And we were able to recapitulate the cardiovascular effects that we saw in both behaving and anesthetized animals previously.The ability to generate motor responses to environmental stimuli is incredibly important for survival in both animals and humans. The superior colliculus produces many of these immediate critical behaviours, like quarantining away from perceived threats, freezing or fleeing. We have known for a long time that these immediate motor responses are also recruited in parallel to autonomic changes, including increases in heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory frequency.Our study contributes to a growing body of work that suggests that neurons in the colliculus that are responsible for integrating sensory information and producing motor behaviours are also responsible for generating the autonomic responses that support these behaviours.Our data suggests that this occurs via an output circuit that projects to the ventral lateral medulla.Thanks for taking the time to find out more about our study published recently in the Journal of Physiology. The full paper was published in Volume 600 issue number 24.Please feel free to reach out and contact me at this email address if you have any further questions.
EPicks: Brachial artery responses to acute hypercapnia: The roles of shear stress & adrenergic tone The Physiological Society 2023-01-17 | In this video, Jay M. J. R. Carr discusses their recent paper on what the contributions of shear stress and adrenergic tone are to brachial artery vasodilatation during hypercapnia.Read more in Experimental Physiologyphysoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/EP090690Authors -Jay M. J. R. Carr, Philip N. Ainslie, Connor A. Howe, Travis D. Gibbons, Michael M. Tymko, Andrew R. Steele, Ryan L. Hoiland, Gustavo A. Vizcardo-Galindo, Alex Patrician, Courtney V. Brown, Hannah G. Caldwell, Joshua C. Tremblay107(12), pp. 1440-1453Transcript: Hi, my name’s Jay CarrI’m currently a postdoc with Professor Phil Ainslie at the University of British Columbia Okanagan.During acute hypercapnia, or elevated arterial carbon dioxide, MAP and cardiac output both rise, and so we might reasonably presume that total peripheral vascular resistance either increases or is at least maintained. While increased resistance would be indicative of net systemic vasoconstriction, not all vascular regions necessarily need to constrict for this to happen. In the upper limb vasculature for example, previous work is equivocal on the BA response to CO2.So, we assessed cardiovascular and BA variables during steady state hypercapnia. Both BA were continuously imaged with duplex ultrasound, with manual compression of one arm to reduce shear stress. There were two visits, one with the alpha-1 adrenoreceptor inhibitor, Prazosin, and one with a placebo.We found that neither the control nor compressed arm dilated or had increased blood flow during placebo. However, after reducing the influence of adrenoreceptors, hypercapnia caused an increase in BA blood flow, which was nevertheless insufficient to elicit shear-mediated dilation. During Prazosin, although MAP was lower at baseline, the MAP response to hypercapnia wasn’t different compared to during placebo. And this was due to a compensatory increase in HR and cardiac output during prazosin.These findings reaffirm existing evidence that the peripheral vasculature is sympathetically constrained at rest.But further adds that peripheral vascular responses downstream of the BA are also adrenergically constrained during hypercapnia. This is relevant to both physiological research and clinical scenarios. Because it tells us that the peripheral skeletal muscle and cutaneous tissues may be as sensitive to CO2 as some other areas of the body but are usually adrenergically constrained. Where this is potentially most useful might be in patients with for exmaple autonomic dysfunction, because further arterial blood gas changes could lead to heightened stress on the heart in order to maintain MAP in the face of these exaggerated distal blood flow responses.Thanks for listening.
EPicks: A colourful experience leading to a reassessment of colour vision and its theories The Physiological Society 2023-01-10 | In this video, Professor S Zeki, FMedSci, FRS, Professor of Neuroesthetics,University College London discusses a reassessment of colour vision and its theories.Read more in Experimental Physiology physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/EP089760The Paton prize lecture 2021: A colourful experience leading to a reassessment of colour vision and its theories107 (11), pp. 1189-1208Transcript:The study of colour is a scientific study which includes physics, anatomy, physiology and psychology. But it is, or rather should be, also a philosophical study, because it addresses a fundamental problem in knowledge, namely, how do surfaces and objects maintain their identity in spite of the widely differing contexts in which we view them. For example different viewing angles, different distances, different lighting conditions. Coloured vision is an excellent example of how the brain stabilizes the world to obtain constant knowledge of it.For example, if you were to go to a park on a cloudy day at noon, or a sunny day, or if you were to go there at dawn or at dusk, the leaves will always be perceived as green. But if you were to measure the amount of long-wave or middle-wave or short-wave light reflected from these green leaves in these different conditions, you would find huge variation.So the brain somehow is able to discard these changes in the illuminance reflected from the green surface alone, and assign a constant colour to it. To study how the brain is able to do that, we must forget about, or rather not concentrate on traditional theories of colour-vision, such as the trichromatic theory, or the opponents colour theory. These are theories of vision really, not theories of colour vision specifically. They include colour but are not specific to it. We have to use a different approach. One approach which I discuss in this lecture, is that of ratio taking processes undertaken by the brain. By which I mean that when the brain looks at a surface, it takes the ratio of long-, middle- and short-wave light reflected from that surface, and long-, middle-, and short-wave light reflected from surrounding surfaces. For example if you look at this green surface of this multi-coloured display, when it is reflecting a certain amount of middle-wave light, the surround is reflecting a lot less middle-wave light because it is less efficient for reflecting middle-wave light, and there is a ratio in the amount of middle-wave light reflected from this green surface, and from it’s surrounds. Similarly, there is a ratio for the amount of long-wave light reflected from this green surface and from it’s surrounds, and the ratio for the amount of short-wave light reflected from this green surface and from it’s surrounds. These ratios never change, because these surfaces have reflectances that never change. By reflectance, I mean the amount of light reflected from the surface as a function of the percentage of the amount of light incident on it. A surface may reflect 75% of middle-wave light, regardless of what the actual amount is. Since all surfaces have got fixed reflectances, the ratios themselves which the brain uptakes never changes. Through this ratio-taking process, the brain is able to construct a colour as I describe in this lecture. Now, this ratio-taking process, critical to it, is a part of the brain, which is known as the fore. Damage to the fore leads to the syndrome of cerebral achromatopsia. In other words, the incapacity to see world in colour, and therefore the incapacity to be able to obtain knowledge about the world of colour, and therefore the incapacity to stabilise the world in terms of colour.
Highlights from The Physiological Society 2022 Member Forum and Presidents Lecture The Physiological Society 2022-12-09 | The Physiological Society was proud to award the 2022 Presidential Medal to Sir Patrick Vallance at a ceremony at the Royal Society on 2 December. The Presidential Medal and President’s Lecture is The Society’s most prestigious award and recognises a leader in our sector. Sir Patrick is Government Chief Scientific Adviser and became an Honorary Fellow of The Physiological Society in 2020. The Member Forum and President’s Lecture also saw The Society’s 2022 Rob Clarke Awardees, Fellows and Honorary Fellows recognised. The Physiological Society also launched its new five year strategy to deliver on its vision of a world in which physiological discovery leads to healthier lives. physoc.org/news_article/sir-patrick-vallance-delivers-2022-presidents-lectureRead our new five year strategy - physoc.org/news_article/new-strategy-a-call-to-action-help-us-change-the-worldWatch our new #PhysiologyChangeTheWorld film - physoc.org/about-us/change-the-world
Physiology Change The World - Professor David Paterson, University of Oxford, UK The Physiological Society 2022-12-08 | #PhysiologyChangeTheWorldphysoc.org/ChangeTheWorldPhysiology prepares us for the unknown.From the basic unit of life to the complex behaviour of the whole body, physiology underpins our survival and is key to improving health, treating disease and tackling global challenges like climate change.As our world changes, we need to harness physiology to ensure we can prepare and protect those who are affected most.And The Physiological Society is working to convert research into action. To ensure the very survival of life on our planet.Our purpose is timeless: physiology for a future. For our futures – to lead long, healthy lives, and for the future of humanity.Together, help us change the world.
Physiology Change The World The Physiological Society 2022-11-30 | #PhysiologyChangeTheWorld physoc.org/ChangeTheWorldPhysiology prepares us for the unknown.From the basic unit of life to the complex behaviour of the whole body, physiology underpins our survival and is key to improving health, treating disease and tackling global challenges like climate change.As our world changes, we need to harness physiology to ensure we can prepare and protect those who are affected most. The Physiological Society is working to convert research into action. To ensure the very survival of life on our planet.Our purpose is timeless: physiology for a future. For our futures – to lead long, healthy lives, and for the future of humanity.Together, help us change the world.
Physiology Change The World - Professor Samira Lakhal-Littleton, University of Oxford, UK The Physiological Society 2022-11-29 | #PhysiologyChangeTheWorldphysoc.org/ChangeTheWorldPhysiology prepares us for the unknown.From the basic unit of life to the complex behaviour of the whole body, physiology underpins our survival and is key to improving health, treating disease and tackling global challenges like climate change.As our world changes, we need to harness physiology to ensure we can prepare and protect those who are affected most.And The Physiological Society is working to convert research into action. To ensure the very survival of life on our planet.Our purpose is timeless: physiology for a future. For our futures – to lead long, healthy lives, and for the future of humanity.Together, help us change the world.
Physiology Change The World - Professor Melanie Welham, Executive Chair BBSRC, UK The Physiological Society 2022-11-29 | #PhysiologyChangeTheWorldphysoc.org/ChangeTheWorldPhysiology prepares us for the unknown.From the basic unit of life to the complex behaviour of the whole body, physiology underpins our survival and is key to improving health, treating disease and tackling global challenges like climate change.As our world changes, we need to harness physiology to ensure we can prepare and protect those who are affected most.And The Physiological Society is working to convert research into action. To ensure the very survival of life on our planet.Our purpose is timeless: physiology for a future. For our futures – to lead long, healthy lives, and for the future of humanity.Together, help us change the world.
Physiology Change The World - Professor Kim E. Barrett, University of California, Davis, US The Physiological Society 2022-11-29 | #PhysiologyChangeTheWorldphysoc.org/ChangeTheWorldPhysiology prepares us for the unknown.From the basic unit of life to the complex behaviour of the whole body, physiology underpins our survival and is key to improving health, treating disease and tackling global challenges like climate change.As our world changes, we need to harness physiology to ensure we can prepare and protect those who are affected most.And The Physiological Society is working to convert research into action. To ensure the very survival of life on our planet.Our purpose is timeless: physiology for a future. For our futures – to lead long, healthy lives, and for the future of humanity.Together, help us change the world.
Physiology Change The World - Dr Heather Massey, University of Portsmouth, UK The Physiological Society 2022-11-29 | #PhysiologyChangeTheWorldphysoc.org/ChangeTheWorldPhysiology prepares us for the unknown.From the basic unit of life to the complex behaviour of the whole body, physiology underpins our survival and is key to improving health, treating disease and tackling global challenges like climate change.As our world changes, we need to harness physiology to ensure we can prepare and protect those who are affected most.And The Physiological Society is working to convert research into action. To ensure the very survival of life on our planet.Our purpose is timeless: physiology for a future. For our futures – to lead long, healthy lives, and for the future of humanity.Together, help us change the world.
Physiology Change The World - Professor David Wylie, University of Edinburgh, UK The Physiological Society 2022-11-29 | #PhysiologyChangeTheWorldphysoc.org/ChangeTheWorldPhysiology prepares us for the unknown.From the basic unit of life to the complex behaviour of the whole body, physiology underpins our survival and is key to improving health, treating disease and tackling global challenges like climate change.As our world changes, we need to harness physiology to ensure we can prepare and protect those who are affected most.And The Physiological Society is working to convert research into action. To ensure the very survival of life on our planet.Our purpose is timeless: physiology for a future. For our futures – to lead long, healthy lives, and for the future of humanity.Together, help us change the world.
Physiology Change The World - Dr Dayne Beccano-Kelly, Cardiff University, Wales The Physiological Society 2022-11-25 | #PhysiologyChangeTheWorldphysoc.org/ChangeTheWorldPhysiology prepares us for the unknown.From the basic unit of life to the complex behaviour of the whole body, physiology underpins our survival and is key to improving health, treating disease and tackling global challenges like climate change.As our world changes, we need to harness physiology to ensure we can prepare and protect those who are affected most.And The Physiological Society is working to convert research into action. To ensure the very survival of life on our planet.Our purpose is timeless: physiology for a future. For our futures – to lead long, healthy lives, and for the future of humanity.Together, help us change the world.
Physiology Change The World - Professor Áine Kelly, Trinity College Dublin The Physiological Society 2022-11-25 | #PhysiologyChangeTheWorldphysoc.org/ChangeTheWorldPhysiology prepares us for the unknown.From the basic unit of life to the complex behaviour of the whole body, physiology underpins our survival and is key to improving health, treating disease and tackling global challenges like climate change.As our world changes, we need to harness physiology to ensure we can prepare and protect those who are affected most.And The Physiological Society is working to convert research into action. To ensure the very survival of life on our planet.Our purpose is timeless: physiology for a future. For our futures – to lead long, healthy lives, and for the future of humanity.Together, help us change the world.
Ageing Workforce report launch, highlights and interviews The Physiological Society 2022-11-04 | Our new report Understanding ‘Early Exiters’: The case for a healthy ageing workforce strategy’, launched in the Houses of Parliament on 2 November 2022. Hear from Lord Bethell and Viscount Stansgate, UK House of Lords, Carole Easton, Chief Executive at the Centre for Ageing Better, Stephen Metcalfe, MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock and Chair of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, and Jordan Cummins, Health Director CBI (Confederation of British Industry) about the importance of an AgeingWorkforce Strategy - exploring the exodus of older workers leaving work early due to health conditions and how #physiologists can reverse this trend. DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORTphysoc.org/policy/public-health-and-ageing/age-health-and-workThe report has been published in collaboration with thinktank Demosand The Centre for Ageing Better.- Centre for Ageing Better, ageing-better.org.uk- DEMOS, demos.co.uk
Age, health & work, ‘Understanding ‘Early Exiters’: The case for a healthy ageing workforce strategy The Physiological Society 2022-11-02 | Read the full report - physoc.org/policy/public-health-and-ageing/age-health-and-workWhy do older people stop working?Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the UK has experienced what some have called an ‘exodus’ of over 50s from the labour force. An increasing number of older people are leaving work before state pension age and becoming economically inactive – neither in work nor actively searching for work. International comparison shows that this trend in the UK is unusual: no other high-income country has seen a comparable sustained rise in over 50s remaining economically inactive since the start of the pandemic. The phenomenon of ‘Early Exiters’ is a very British one. Poor health is one of the main drivers of this rise in economic inactivity among the over 50s. Compared to before the pandemic, there are around 100,000 more people aged 50-64 who say they are not in work because of a long-term health condition. There are a wide range of health conditions which are affecting people, both physical and mental. This trend has serious consequences for the UK economy. A rise in economic inactivity among over 50s has contributed to high vacancies and labour shortages during 2022. This will hold back economic growth in the UK, an objective which both the government and the opposition have said will be central to policy making in the years ahead. Long-term demographic changes mean that, should it continue, this issue will become even more important as the UK’s population ages in future decades. Reducing the link between ageing and ill health will be crucial for the UK’s long-term prosperity and physiological insight and research has a key role to play. Physiology has already played a valuable role in demonstrating the impact of interventions such as physical activity, diet and sleep for preventing or slowing down age-related decline in health. For example, physical activity can help people maintain cardiovascular health and higher levels of muscular capacity as they grow older. As part of the Ageing Workforce Strategy, we recommend that the UK takes the opportunity to harness scientific research to weaken the link between ill health and older age by investing in relevant medical and physiological research on healthy ageing and longevity. The UK is well placed globally to help lead this work, and “advancing the medical science and understanding of ageing” has been identified as a key area in the government’s existing Life Sciences Vision.
Understanding ‘Early Exiters’: The case for a healthy ageing workforce strategy’ The Physiological Society 2022-11-02 | Our new report launched in the Houses of Parliament on 2 November 2022, has been published in collaboration with thinktank Demosand The Centre for Ageing Better.DOWNLOAD OUR REPORT‘Understanding ‘Early Exiters’: The case for a healthy ageing workforce strategy’physoc.org/policy/public-health-and-ageing/age-health-and-work Why do older people stop working?Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the UK has experienced what some have called an ‘exodus’ of over 50s from the labour force. An increasing number of older people are leaving work before state pension age and becoming economically inactive – neither in work nor actively searching for work. International comparison shows that this trend in the UK is unusual: no other high-income country has seen a comparable sustained rise in over 50s remaining economically inactive since the start of the pandemic. The phenomenon of ‘Early Exiters’ is a very British one. Poor health is one of the main drivers of this rise in economic inactivity among the over 50s. Compared to before the pandemic, there are around 100,000 more people aged 50-64 who say they are not in work because of a long-term health condition. There are a wide range of health conditions which are affecting people, both physical and mental. This trend has serious consequences for the UK economy. A rise in economic inactivity among over 50s has contributed to high vacancies and labour shortages during 2022. This will hold back economic growth in the UK, an objective which both the government and the opposition have said will be central to policy making in the years ahead. Long-term demographic changes mean that, should it continue, this issue will become even more important as the UK’s population ages in future decades. Reducing the link between ageing and ill health will be crucial for the UK’s long-term prosperity and physiological insight and research has a key role to play. Physiology has already played a valuable role in demonstrating the impact of interventions such as physical activity, diet and sleep for preventing or slowing down age-related decline in health. For example, physical activity can help people maintain cardiovascular health and higher levels of muscular capacity as they grow older. As part of the Ageing Workforce Strategy, we recommend that the UK takes the opportunity to harness scientific research to weaken the link between ill health and older age by investing in relevant medical and physiological research on healthy ageing and longevity. The UK is well placed globally to help lead this work, and “advancing the medical science and understanding of ageing” has been identified as a key area in the government’s existing Life Sciences Vision.
EPicks: Blood pressure and coeliac artery BF responses during increased inspiratory muscle work The Physiological Society 2022-10-17 | In this EPicks video, Keisho Katayama (Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan) talks about their latest research identifying blood pressure and coeliac artery blood flow responses during increased inspiratory muscle work in healthy males.Find out more in Experimental Physiology:Kana Shiozawa,Hideaki Kashima,Sahiro Mizuno,Koji Ishida,Keisho KatayamaVolume107, Issue9Pages 1094-1104physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/EP090504Transcript:Hi, my name is Keisho Katayama, and I am a faculty member at the Research Center of Health, Physical Fitness and Sports, Nagoya University, Japan. I am corresponding author, and the first author is Miss Kana Shiozawa, who is a PhD candidate. An increase in respiratory work at rest and during dynamic exercise affects neural and cardiovascular regulations and blood flow distribution, through the respiratory muscle-induced metaboreflex. The changes in blood flow during the manipulation of respiratory muscle work have been investigated in active or inactive limbs. We hypothesized that respiratory muscle metaboreflex affects splanchnic blood flow as well. The subjects performed voluntary hyperventilation with or without inspiratory resistance. Their arterial blood pressure was recorded using finger photoplethysmography, and celiac blood flow was measured using Doppler ultrasound. Mean arterial blood pressure increased gradually during the loading trial, but not during the non-loading trial. Celiac artery blood flow and celiac vascular conductance decreased gradually during the loading trial, but not during the non-loading trial. From these results, increasing respiratory muscle work affects splanchnic blood flow regulation, and we suggest this might be mediated by the respiratory muscle-induced metaboreflex.
EPicks: The miRNA-143-3p–Sox6–Myh7 pathway is altered in obesogenic diet-induced cardiac hypertrophy The Physiological Society 2022-09-01 | In this video, Tábatha de Oliveira Silva PhD student at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, discusses her group's recent paper on the biological mechanisms involved in cardiovascular dysfunctions related to obesity.Read more in Experimental Physiologyphysoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/EP090315 The miRNA-143-3p–Sox6–Myh7 pathway is altered in obesogenic diet-induced cardiac hypertrophyTábatha de Oliveira Silva,Caroline A. Lino,Juliane B. Miranda,Camila S. Balbino-Silva,Guilherme Lunardon,Vanessa M. Lima,Leonardo Jensen,Jose Donato Jr,Maria Cláudia Irigoyen,Maria Luiza M. Barreto-Chaves,Gabriela P. Diniz107(8), pp. 892-905Transcript:Hello everyone! My name is Tábatha. I am doing a PhD at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, under the supervision of Professor Gabriela Diniz.In the last years, our research group has investigated the biological mechanisms involved in cardiovascular dysfunctions related to obesity.MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which are small non-coding RNAs that may affect the expression of mRNAs, have been implicated in diverse cardiovascular disorders.Recently, we published an article in Experimental Physiology, in which we investigated the effect of an obesogenic diet on the expression of miRNAs involved in cardiac hypertrophy in female mice.To address this question, female mice were fed an obesogenic diet to induce obesity. We found that female mice fed an obesogenic diet had an increased body weight gain, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. In addition, obese female mice exhibited compromised diastolic function and cardiac hypertrophy, which were accompanied by alterations in diverse miRNAs. Moreover, we found that miR-143-3p was one of the most upregulated miRNAs in response to an obesogenic diet. One of the predicted targets of miR-143-3p is Sox6, a transcriptional factor that inhibits Myh7 transcription. Myh7 is a low ATPase-activity myosin increased in several pathological cardiac hypertrophy models. (FIG 6) Interestingly, we found that the higher levels of miR-143-3p in the heart of obese female mice were accompanied by reduced Sox6 expression and increased Myh7 expression. To investigate whether the increased miR-143-3p levels found in the heart of obese female mice could be involved in the reduction of Sox6 expression and the increase of Myh7 expression, we used a loss-of-function approach in cardiomyocyte cultures. We found that a miR-143-3p inhibitor increased Sox6 expression and reduced Myh7 expression in cardiomyocytes, suggesting that miR-143-3p increases Myh7 expression by suppressing of Sox6.Together, our results suggest that the miR-143-3p-Sox6-Myh7 pathway may play a key role in obesity-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Thank you!
Aspiring Black Physiologists winning video essay: Acting White! What do you mean? The Physiological Society 2022-07-07 | Both Anisa and Nardus, two of the three winners of The Society's 'Aspiring Black Physiologists Competition', are Year 10 students at Allerton Grange School. They chose to enter a video essay, titled ‘Acting White! What do you mean?’. About winning the award, Nardus said:"I was so grateful for the opportunity to express myself on the lack of diversity in science as it’s a subject I love, and it was a really enjoyable experience to research into."The competition was designed to raise awareness of opportunities in physiology, particularly amongst Black students.Read more: physoc.org/news_article/aspiring-black-physiologists-winners-announced
PHYSIOLOGY SHORTS: Cone photoreceptors and their discrimination of visual scenes based on skewness. The Physiological Society 2022-07-07 | In this Physiology Shorts video, Matthew Yedutenko (Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience) talks about his recent study investigating how the asymmetric gain of cone photoreceptors underpins their discrimination of visual scenes based on skewness.Read more in The Journal of Physiology: 'Enhancing the dark side: asymmetric gain of cone photoreceptors underpins their discrimination of visual scenes based on skewness.'Matthew Yedutenko,Marcus H. C. Howlett,Maarten Kamermans600(1), pp. 123 – 142physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/JP282152Transcript:“Hi, everybody! My name is Matthew. I work at Maarten Kamermans group at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience. And today I’m gonna tell you about our recent publication in Journal of Physiology, called “Enhancing the dark side: asymmetric gain of cone photoreceptors underpins their discrimination of visual scenes based on skewness.What exactly do I mean by these words? Well, if you look at this texture you will see that it’s composed out of the horizontal stripes. And yet, the only reason why you can see this pattern is that those stripes have different skewness, which is the ratio between dark and bright patches within the scene.For a long period of time it was thought that this sensitivity to skewness originates in the visual cortex, where it’s mediated by the so-called Blackshot mechanism, which derive it’s name from the fact that it has disproportionally high gain to strong negative contrast. So, basically something like this. However, we found that it originates at the cone photoreceptors.Indeed, we exposed cone photoreceptors to the set of differently skewed stimuli and recorded their voltage response with patch-clamp electrode. We found that in the full consistency with what you would expect from the blackshot mechanism, responses to stimuli with a prevalence of strong negative contrast had higher amplitude than stimuli where it was fraction of them, only small fraction of them.So this asymmetry in response underpinned by asymmetry in cone photoreceptor gain, which is higher for the strong negative than for the strong positive contrasts. But why the cone gain is so asymmetric?Well, to answer this question you need to look at the distribution of light intensities in natural scenes. From this, which is present here, from this you can infer that the dynamic range for the positive contrast is much higher than for the negative. Indeed, light intensity cannot decrease by more than 100%, but can easily increase multiple times.Now, from the information theory point of view, in order to efficiently encode these stimuli your distribution of possible output values should be Gaussian. And the only way to achieve this is to have this asymmetric gain.
The Food Industry, Climate Change and What Physiologists are Doing The Physiological Society 2022-06-23 | Climate change is the biggest health threat facing humanity. Watch the video to find out how physiologists are at the heart of a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding, and finding solutions.The food industry accounts for 20-30% of greenhouse gas emissions. This comes from direct impacts of agriculture but also the indirect effects of transporting the food, refrigerating the food and also waste management. Around 60% of the dietary induced carbon footprint is derived from meat. Is it healthy to deprive the body of meat? And how much of a difference, to the climate effort, does it really make? Watch Dr Oliver Witard, King's College London, UK, answer this and more in this video.
Welcome to the new Editor-in-Chief of Experimental Physiology The Physiological Society 2022-06-21 | The Society is delighted to announce that Professor Damian Bailey (University of South Wales) has been appointed as the new Editor-in-Chief of Experimental Physiology. Damian will succeed Professor Mike Tipton, who completes his term at the end of September 2022.
EPicks: Acute physiological and psychophysical response to different modes of heat distress The Physiological Society 2022-06-17 | In this EPicks video, Professor James Cotter and Dr Holly Campbell talk about their latest research investigating the acute physiological and psychophysical response to different modes of heat distressFind out more in Experimental Physiology:Paper DetailsMay - Volume 107 Issue 5 Pages 429-440Acute physiological and psychophysical response to different modes of heat distressHolly A. Campbell, Ashley P. Akerman, Lorenz S. Kissling, Jamie R. Prout, Travis D. Gibbons,Kate N. Thomas, James D. Cotter107(5), pp 429-440, physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/EP090266Transcript:Kia ora koutou katoa My name is Jim Cotter, and I’m Holly Campbell, and we’re from the University of Otago in Dunedin in New Zealand, and we’re reporting here on the acute effects of heat stress as part of a larger study where we are also looking at the adaptive effects of heat stress. We used three common modes, that might be encountered occupationally – certainly recreationally – and if you’re using them for heat adaptation. So these were exercise in moderately humid heat; a sauna in very humid heat, or a spa bath in our control condition, which was thermoneutral water exposure. These were all for an hour, with around 13 participants in a crossover design.What we found comparing conditions was that core temperature rose slightly faster and higher in exercise in the heat. This was partly due to a decrease in tolerance to the sauna. This intolerance however wasn’t due to a higher core temperature or a fix of blood pressure, but they did have the highest skin temperature. This was probably because it was a very humid environment, and therefore had a very strong condensing heat stress. For our cardiovascular variables, unsurprisingly exercise in the heat had much higher heart rates and systolic blood pressures, than either the passive heating in the air or the water, whereas plasma volume remained higher in the water. This was an effect based entirely on the water, and not the temperature of it. Exercise in the heat was the only condition in this study to show a post-exercise hypotensive effect. Perceptually, everyone felt worse, but less so in the hot water – we measured thermal sensation, discomfort and feeling scales. Looking across the days, so comparing day one to day five, the strain profiles remained similar after these repeated exposures, and this was pretty consistent across all the conditions.
Europhysiology 2022 - Register Now! The Physiological Society 2022-06-13 | Europhysiology 2022Join us in vibrant Copenhagen on 16-18 September for three days of first-class physiology! Over 1000 scientists from 53 countries will be presenting over 800 abstracts. Find out more: europhysiology2022.org
Prof Derek Scott - Contribution of physiology education and training to the UK economy The Physiological Society 2022-06-07 | Our new report, published in collaboration with Academy for Healthcare Science, is an independent economic analysis of the contribution of physiology education and training to the UK economy.The report features case studies from a range of universities and businesses from across the UK. This video features Professor Derek Scott, University of Aberdeen, UK.The independent analysis conducted by Emsi Burning Glass, reports that the accumulation of graduates who study courses of which physiology is a core component currently employed in the workforce amounts to £22.6 billion in added income in the UK’s economy each year. This is equivalent to supporting over 777,200 average salary jobs annually. Additionally, the social and public purse benefits to the UK from students included in the analysis of AY 2018-19 students equal a present value of £35.6 billion.Download the key findings report: static.physoc.org/app/uploads/2022/06/06163119/Contribution-of-physiology-education-to-the-UK-economy-key-findings-report.pdf
Dr Alison Wood - Contribution of physiology education and training to the UK economy The Physiological Society 2022-06-07 | Our new report, published in collaboration with Academy for Healthcare Science, is an independent economic analysis of the contribution of physiology education and training to the UK economy.The report features case studies from a range of universities and businesses from across the UK. This video features Dr Alison Wood, Lecturer in the Division of Nursing at Queen Margaret University. Edinburgh, UK. The independent analysis conducted by Emsi Burning Glass, reports that the accumulation of graduates who study courses of which physiology is a core component currently employed in the workforce amounts to £22.6 billion in added income in the UK’s economy each year. This is equivalent to supporting over 777,200 average salary jobs annually. Additionally, the social and public purse benefits to the UK from students included in the analysis of AY 2018-19 students equal a present value of £35.6 billion.Download the key findings report: static.physoc.org/app/uploads/2022/06/06163119/Contribution-of-physiology-education-to-the-UK-economy-key-findings-report.pdf
Prof Brendan Cooper - Contribution of physiology education & training to the UK economy The Physiological Society 2022-06-07 | Our new report, published in collaboration with Academy for Healthcare Science, is an independent economic analysis of the contribution of physiology education and training to the UK economy.The report features case studies from a range of universities and businesses from across the UK. This video features Professor Brendan Cooper, President of the Academy for Healthcare Science, and Consultant Clinical Scientist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, UK. The independent analysis conducted by Emsi Burning Glass, reports that the accumulation of graduates who study courses of which physiology is a core component currently employed in the workforce amounts to £22.6 billion in added income in the UK’s economy each year. This is equivalent to supporting over 777,200 average salary jobs annually. Additionally, the social and public purse benefits to the UK from students included in the analysis of AY 2018-19 students equal a present value of £35.6 billion.
Key Findings - Contribution of Physiology Education and Training to the UK economy The Physiological Society 2022-06-07 | Our new report, published in collaboration with Academy for Healthcare Science, is an independent economic analysis of the contribution of physiology education and training to the UK economy.The independent analysis conducted by Emsi Burning Glass, reports that the accumulation of graduates who study courses of which physiology is a core component currently employed in the workforce amounts to £22.6 billion in added income in the UK’s economy each year. This is equivalent to supporting over 777,200 average salary jobs annually.Additionally, the social and public purse benefits to the UK from students included in the analysis of AY 2018-19 students equal a present value of £35.6 billion.
Long COVID Conference - Session 5 - Research towards treatment of Long COVID The Physiological Society 2022-05-26 | This video is a recording of Session 5 of the conference 'Long COVID: Mechanisms, Risk Factors, and Recovery' which took place on 22 - 23 February 2022. This innovative two-day conference reviewed the challenges of understanding the pathophysiological changes following COVID-19 infection. These persistent symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection, otherwise known as ‘long COVID’, have affected people all around the world. It is a heterogeneous disease with multimorbidities and affecting many physiological systems.Bringing together physiologists and clinicians, we can better understand the underlying mechanisms and identify potential therapies.
Long COVID Conference - Session 6 - Future of Long COVID research and implementation The Physiological Society 2022-05-26 | This video is a recording of Session 6 of the conference 'Long COVID: Mechanisms, Risk Factors, and Recovery' which took place on 22 - 23 February 2022. This innovative two-day conference reviewed the challenges of understanding the pathophysiological changes following COVID-19 infection. These persistent symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection, otherwise known as ‘long COVID’, have affected people all around the world. It is a heterogeneous disease with multimorbidities and affecting many physiological systems.Bringing together physiologists and clinicians, we can better understand the underlying mechanisms and identify potential therapies.
Long COVID Conference - Session 4 - Mechanisms of Long COVID The Physiological Society 2022-05-26 | This video is a recording of Session 4 of the conference 'Long COVID: Mechanisms, Risk Factors, and Recovery' which took place on 22 - 23 February 2022. This innovative two-day conference reviewed the challenges of understanding the pathophysiological changes following COVID-19 infection. These persistent symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection, otherwise known as ‘long COVID’, have affected people all around the world. It is a heterogeneous disease with multimorbidities and affecting many physiological systems.Bringing together physiologists and clinicians, we can better understand the underlying mechanisms and identify potential therapies.
Long COVID Conference - Session 3 - Impact of Long COVID on active individuals The Physiological Society 2022-05-26 | This video is a recording of Session 3 of the conference 'Long COVID: Mechanisms, Risk Factors, and Recovery' which took place on 22 - 23 February 2022. This innovative two-day conference reviewed the challenges of understanding the pathophysiological changes following COVID-19 infection. These persistent symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection, otherwise known as ‘long COVID’, have affected people all around the world. It is a heterogeneous disease with multimorbidities and affecting many physiological systems.Bringing together physiologists and clinicians, we can better understand the underlying mechanisms and identify potential therapies.
Long COVID Conference - Session 2 - Risk Factors - Why Do Some People Get Long COVID and Not Others? The Physiological Society 2022-05-26 | This video is a recording of Session 2 of the conference 'Long COVID: Mechanisms, Risk Factors, and Recovery' which took place on 22 - 23 February 2022. This innovative two-day conference reviewed the challenges of understanding the pathophysiological changes following COVID-19 infection. These persistent symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection, otherwise known as ‘long COVID’, have affected people all around the world. It is a heterogeneous disease with multimorbidities and affecting many physiological systems.Bringing together physiologists and clinicians, we can better understand the underlying mechanisms and identify potential therapies.
Long COVID Conference - Session 1 - Characterising Long COVID - What is it? The Physiological Society 2022-05-26 | This video is a recording of Session 1 of the conference 'Long COVID: Mechanisms, Risk Factors, and Recovery' which took place on 22 - 23 February 2022. This innovative two-day conference reviewed the challenges of understanding the pathophysiological changes following COVID-19 infection. These persistent symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection, otherwise known as ‘long COVID’, have affected people all around the world. It is a heterogeneous disease with multimorbidities and affecting many physiological systems.Bringing together physiologists and clinicians, we can better understand the underlying mechanisms and identify potential therapies.
EPicks: Exercise in hypobaric hypoxia increases markers of intestinal injury and GI distress The Physiological Society 2022-05-12 | In this EPicks video, Dr Zach McKenna talks about his latest research investigating the impact of concurrent hypoxic exposure on exercise-induced intestinal injury and symptoms of GI distress. Find out more in Experimental Physiology:Paper DetailsApril - Volume 107 Issue 4 Pages 326-336Exercise in hypobaric hypoxia increases markers of intestinal injury and symptoms of gastrointestinal distressZachary J. McKenna, Zachary J. Fennel, Quint N. Berkemeier, Roberto C. Nava, Fabiano T. Amorim, Michael R. Deyhle, Christine M. Mermier107(4), pp 326-336, physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/EP090266Transcript:Hello, my name is Zach McKenna, and I am from the university of New Mexico in the department of health exercise and sports science. I am excited to share our recent work published in experimental physiology titled: exercise in hypobaric hypoxia increases markers of intestinal injury and symptoms of gastrointestinal distress. The overall goal of this study was to better understand the impact of concurrent hypoxic exposure on exercise-induced intestinal injury and symptoms of GI distress. We had participants cycle for 60-minutes at 65% of their VO2max in two conditions: once in normoxia at a local altitude of about 1600 m and once in hypoxia at an altitude of 4300 m which was simulated using a hypobaric chamber. During the exercise bout we assessed for GI symptoms, and pre and post blood samples were assayed for markers of intestinal barrier injury. We noted significant increases in intestinal fatty acid binding protein, claudin-3, and LPS binding protein following exercise in hypoxia. Whereas exercise in normoxia did not cause an increase in these markers. In addition, participants reported more frequent and severe GI symptoms during exercise in hypoxia compared to normoxia. We next ran correlations to determine if there was a relationship between our markers of intestinal barrier injury and the GI symptoms which were reported during exercise. We found that the magnitude of change for these biomarkers was significantly correlated with GI symptomology. Collectively our findings indicate that cycling exercise performed at a simulated altitude of 4300 m increases biomarkers of intestinal barrier injury and symptoms of GI distress. In addition, the significant relationship between these variables is consistent with the theory that loss of intestinal barrier integrity may contribute to the GI symptoms which are reported during exercise in hypoxia. Future studies are needed to determine the mechanisms of GI injury including direct measures of intestinal permeability and the role of contributing factors such as pro-inflammatory cytokines.
EPicks - Measuring left ventricular ejection time in microgravity-induced physiological changes The Physiological Society 2022-05-04 | In this EPicks video, Dr Stefan Orter (AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Austria) talks about his latest research comparing left ventricular ejection time measurement methods during physiological changes induced by simulated microgravity.Find out more in Experimental Physiology:A comparison between left ventricular ejection time measurement methods during physiological changes induced by simulated microgravityStefan Orter, Stefan Möstl, Martin Bachler, Fabian Hoffmann, Christopher C. Mayer, Eugenijus Kaniusas, Michaela Reisinger, Siegfried Wassertheurer, Jens Tank, Jens Jordan, Bernhard Hametner107(3), pp 213 - 221, physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/EP090103Transcript: My name is Stefan Orter and I work at the Medical Signal Analysis competence unit, in the Center for Health & Bioresources at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology. The following study was performed in corporation with the German Aerospace Center.Research question and findingsCardiovascular disease is still a leading health problem. In our work we simulated microgravity in space by prolonged head-down tilt bedrest and used it as a model for cardiovascular deconditioning. We measured systolic time intervals on 24 healthy subjects before, during and after 60 days of head-down tilt bedrest. For the measurement, we used two different methods: echocardiography and oscillometry. We showed that left ventricular ejection time from fully automated oscillometric measurements correlated well with echocardiography.Additionally, significant effects during the progression of our bedrest study were captured by systolic time interval measures.Research significanceOverall, because of the relationship between shortening of left ventricular ejection time index and heart failure progression, the easy-to-use oscillometric method might be not only a useful measure to evaluate the cardiovascular system during space flights but could also be of high value in a clinical setting.
Europhysiology 2022 - Abstract submission open The Physiological Society 2022-04-29 | Europhysiology 2022Join us in vibrant Copenhagen on 16-18 September for three days of first-class physiology! Plus, abstract submission is open from 1-25 May, don;t miss out on presenting your research to experts and getting feedback on your work!Find out more: europhysiology2022.org
The Biomedical Basis of Elite Performance 2022 Conference Highlights The Physiological Society 2022-04-21 | ...
