New research published by the American Physiological Society found that brains of rats bred to be lean are more sensitive to orexin A, a chemical that stimulates appetite and physical activity. This suggests a biological basis for being a couch potato, where fidgeting and other minor movements can burn calories and aid weight control.
Researchers discovered that a balance of low tidal volume and periodic deep inflation, or 'sighs,' is necessary to maintain open lungs while preventing ventilation-induced lung injury. The study found that overdoing 'sighs' can lead to further injury, highlighting the importance of finding an optimal frequency range for deep inflation.
Study reveals rats' hearts can withstand severe hypothermia with minimal oxygen loss, highlighting the importance of continued CPR efforts. However, prolonged exposure leads to fatal heart failure upon rewarming, suggesting improved cardiac output as a key factor in survival.
The American Physiological Society awarded over $150,000 in fellowships to 20 middle and high school teachers for a summer of in-depth scientific research. The program aims to promote excellence in K-12 science education by giving teachers laboratory research experience and effective education strategies.
A study published by the American Physiological Society found that a single therapeutic dose of radiation can cause up to 39% spongy bone loss in mice, reducing their weight-bearing connections by 64%. This has significant implications for astronauts on long space missions and patients receiving radiation therapy.
A new enzyme, prolyl endoprotease (PEP), has been identified that can efficiently degrade gluten in the human stomach, a process previously impossible. This breakthrough offers potential relief to those with celiac disease, who currently rely on a strict gluten-free diet.
A study by American Physiological Society found that sildenafil can improve cardiac output and exercise performance during acute hypoxia, but not at normoxia. The results show that responders improved their time trial performance at altitude with sildenafil, while non-responders showed no significant improvement.
Researchers found that the septum can induce rhythmical electrical activity in the hippocampus, reducing epileptic seizures by 86-97 percent. The study suggests a new approach to stopping epilepsy, focusing on inducing theta rhythm generation.
New research suggests targeting affected nerves and spinal cords may provide relief from chronic neuropathic pain. The study found changes in spinal cord neurons after sciatic nerve constriction injury, but the exact mechanisms remain unclear.
Researchers found that Ritalin increases norepinephrine and suppresses sensory responses in the brain, allowing individuals to focus better. The study provides insights into how the drug produces its paradoxical effects and may lead to more effective treatments for ADHD.
A recent study found that acetaminophen is safe to use after a heart attack, but it does not offer any protection for the heart. The researchers tested the effects of acetaminophen on animals with induced heart attacks and found no significant impact on blood flow, heart muscle damage, or ventricular function.
Scientists studying social stress in Syrian hamsters found that subordinates eat more and gain weight after being defeated by a dominant hamster. This model can help researchers understand human stress-induced obesity.
The American Physiological Society has named Steed, a doctoral student, its first K-12 Minority Outreach Fellow. She will visit classrooms to share her career path and model for minority students what they can achieve in biomedical research. The fellowship aims to encourage pre-college minority students to consider careers in science.
This year's winners were chosen based on their abstracts, letters, and the presentation of their research at the Experimental Biology conference. The award recognizes excellence in undergraduate research and provides a platform for students to pursue careers in physiology and biomedical sciences.
Researchers found that administering losartan to rats with insensate third-degree burns reversed the insulin resistance caused by the burn injury, returning glucose levels to normal. The study suggests that blocking the renin-angiotensin system may be a key to preventing this condition in severe burn patients.
Researchers at Tulane University discovered that blocking the effects of carbon monoxide can limit bleeding in cases of soft tissue trauma. The study found that inhibiting CO helped control blood pressure and prevent massive bleeding by constricting damaged blood vessels, while maintaining circulation to other parts of the body.
A study by University of Arizona researchers found that prenatal nicotine exposure reduces the ability of newborns to respond to low blood oxygen, leading to prolonged and potentially lethal apneas. The study used a pump implant to simulate nicotine exposure in pregnant rats, mimicking the situation observed in smoking pregnant women.
Researchers found that short-term yoga practice significantly improved chest wall expansion and lung function in young, healthy adults. The study suggests that yoga may benefit people with illnesses affecting breathing, such as asthma.
A study published in the American Physiological Society found that pine nut oil stimulated two well-known appetite-suppressing peptide hormones, CCK and GLP1, increasing their levels by 60% and 25%, respectively. This effect lasted for up to four hours, reducing desire to eat and prospective food intake scores.
Research found harbor seals that were heavier when captured continued to gain weight on high fat and low fat diets, but smaller pups lagged behind. The study suggests changes in prey availability, including herring, may contribute to the declining seal population.
A new mouse model reveals that moderate alcohol consumption fuels blood vessel growth and encourages cancer tumors, increasing the risk of cancer. The study suggests that blocking VEGF over-production could reduce cancer incidence and provides a potential tool for cancer education and prevention.
A new study suggests that gender differences in sleep apnea may be linked to estrogen levels, with pre-menopausal women being less likely to develop the condition. The researchers used rats to investigate the role of serotonin in controlling tongue movement, finding no difference in serotonin-producing neurons between males and females.
A study by Galina Bogatkevich and colleagues found that the amount of antifibrotic glycoprotein HGF was reduced in African-American scleroderma patients compared to Caucasians. This malfunction may explain the greater severity and worse prognosis for African-Americans with pulmonary fibrosis/scleroderma.
Diamond-back rattlesnakes survived for 5 ½ months without food, growing in length while reducing metabolic rate by 80%. The snakes used stored lipid energy sources and increased water content to maintain cellular shape.
Researchers found substances increasing mitochondrial size also boost cardiac contractility. This effect isn't related to energy production; instead, it suggests a form of mechanical signaling between organelles in cardiac cells. The study opens possibilities for developing drugs that enhance heart function.
The study found that antioxidant therapy with tempol prevented the onset of high blood pressure, proteinuria, and placental abnormalities, improving birth weight and fetal growth. Tempol treatment also reduced fetal deaths by half and normalized placentas, suggesting a promising approach to treating pre-eclampsia.
Researchers found that stretching increases resistance to injury by producing nitric oxide, but inhibiting NO production eliminates protection. The study suggests that understanding how stretching works can help prevent muscle injuries and promote healthy aging.
Lung surfactant plays a crucial role in balancing host defense and reducing surface tension. Research has also linked surfactant to the innate and adaptive immune systems, with collectins such as SP-A and SP-D regulating immune responses and preventing infection and lung injury.
Physiologist Dr. Pawelczyk highlights the human body's challenges in space life medicine and physiology, including radiation effects and heavy metal ion bombardment. He emphasizes the importance of current and future research to address these issues and prevent health problems such as osteoporosis and cancer risk.
A study by Lee S. Berk found that watching a favorite funny movie increases beta-endorphins by 27% and human growth hormone by 87%. This 'anticipatory mirthful laughter experience' has long-lasting effects on stress reduction and immune response.
The APS lecturer's videos provided a real-time look at immune cell interactions in a mouse lymph node, highlighting how dendritic cells teach T cells to respond to infections. The research focuses on leukocyte recruitment and trafficking, particularly in the lymph nodes.
A JAP study reveals that headdown bedrest accurately models the physiological responses of astronauts to spaceflight, with similar declines in cardiorespiratory responses to exercise. This finding has important implications for helping space travelers and aiding earthbound elderly individuals.
The American Physiological Society has awarded $90,000 in travel fellowships to 52 minority students and faculty from underrepresented groups. The program aims to encourage more minorities to become scientists and remain in the field.
Researchers identified issues with commonly used anti-PKC-delta antibodies that affect immunoblotting studies of phosphoproteins. This limitation may lead to misinterpretation of PKC-delta expression levels in heart cells.
The American Physiological Society sponsors annual David S. Bruce Undergraduate Research Awards to recognize excellence in undergraduate research. Four students will be chosen from among 12 finalists to receive the $500 award, which is presented at the Experimental Biology conference.
Researchers found that four major parameters return to normal after one day, and all changes recover within three days. Blood pressure variability is a key predictor of competition time, with low frequency variability being the most significant factor.
The American Physiological Society selected 14 early-career researchers for the 2006 Caroline tum Suden/Frances A. Hellebrandt award, recognizing their research in physiology and its significance to the field. The awardees will present their work at the Experimental Biology conference in San Francisco.
Researchers found that isolated female rats subjected to a 30-minute stressor recover more quickly and mount a stronger immune response than male counterparts. This difference may be related to the demands of motherhood, which has evolved to provide females with protection against trauma.
The American Physiological Society has published a resource book on animal exercise protocols to promote informed dialogue and improve animal welfare. The book covers various aspects of exercise research, including study design considerations, animal stress, and common exercise protocols using different species.
A new study by Leah D. Whigham and colleagues found that the human adenovirus Ad-37 causes obesity in chickens, while other viruses like Ad-36 and Ad-5 have been linked to human obesity. More research is needed to determine if these viruses contribute to human obesity.
A study found that 50% tomato juice drink completely prevented smoke-induced emphysema in mice, with lycopene cited as a key contributor. Researchers believe the model can be used to explore pathophysiology and therapeutic intervention for human diseases.
Researchers found that sleep-restricted rats showed reduced neurogenesis in the hippocampus after learning a spatial task. However, those who used visual and odor cues to navigate had better performance on the task, suggesting an adaptive strategy to compensate for lack of sleep.
A three-week diet and exercise study shows that Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome can be reversed through lifestyle changes, with half of participants experiencing a clinical diagnosis reversal. The regimen improved factors contributing to heart disease, such as insulin resistance and high cholesterol.
The American Physiological Society has honored 16 scientists with prestigious awards and distinguished lectureships, recognizing their significant contributions to the field of physiology. The recipients include Jo Rae Wright and Ulrich H. Von Andrian, who received the Walter B. Cannon Award and Henry Pickering Bowditch Award, respecti...
The American Physiological Society's Frontiers in Physiology program brings science education into classrooms, modernizing teaching methods. Teachers learn research techniques and education strategies to enhance student learning.
Researchers discovered a surprisingly active innate immune system in sea urchins that utilizes previously unrecognized mechanisms. The study's findings have implications for understanding innate immunity in vertebrates and may lead to the discovery of novel immune diversity in other animals.
Exercise has been shown to delay the onset of heart failure and improve survivability in rats with spontaneously hypertensive heart failure. The study also found that low-intensity exercise suppressed many physiological changes associated with CHF, including alterations in myosin heavy chain isoform expression and cardiac cell morphology.
Nine minority physiology grad students have received $18,000 APS Porter Fellowships to pursue full-time studies towards a Ph.D. in physiology. The fellowships aim to increase diversity among students in the field.
Researchers discover a novel proton-sensing G-protein coupled receptor that operates normally in acidic conditions, indicating potential new therapeutic avenues for arthritis, heart attacks, and strokes. The receptor's optimal function is at pH6.4, suggesting its role in synovial inflammation and cell proliferation.
Researchers discover DMT1 protein shields lung cells from toxic particles, including vanadium, by regulating iron transport. The finding offers new insights into lung protection and potential therapeutic applications.