Monthly Archives: May 2021

Physiology

Still hesitant to get the shot? 7 COVID vaccine concerns addressed – CU Boulder Today

Image caption:Osvaldo Villagrana, 24, an integrativephysiology major at CUBoulder gets his first dose of the Moderna vaccine.

Nearly a third of the U.S. population is now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and 44% have gotten shot one of a two-dose regimen. In Colorado, nearly half of eligible residents have gotten their first jab.

But vaccine efforts have begun to plateau in some areas of the country, with hesitant Coloradans including some college students expressing concerns about the pace of the vaccines development and potential side effects and uncertainty about whether benefits outweigh risks.

Teresa Foley, a teaching professor of distinction in the Department of Integrative Physiology, has heard it all in her classes.

I tell my students, This is a no judgment zone. Ask me any question you want, says Foley, who teaches immunology and epidemiology at CU Boulder. If you are not a science major or dont completely understand how the vaccine works, I can understand how you could be hesitant. Its all about education. To help inform the students, I show data about vaccine safety and efficacy and I explain how vaccines work in lay terms.

Heres a look at the most common reasons she hears for people expressing hesitancy, and what she tells them:

Teresa Foley

A lot of individuals are concerned about how quickly the vaccines were developed. They feel like it was a rushed process, as it typically takes about 73 months to develop a vaccine and this was done in 14 months. I ask them to think about it in terms of a group project. Yes, it may seem it was developed faster than usual. But never before has the entire world been working on the same group project at the same time.

Out of 326 trials and 111 vaccine candidates worldwide, only 14 have been approved by at least one country.That shows the process is working. As a scientist myself, I trust it.

Actually, when you look at the number of people enrolled in previous vaccine trials, those numbers are miniscule compared to the clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccines. For instance, there were 8,884 participants in the clinical trial for the influenza vaccine and 5,803 for the chicken pox (Varicella) vaccine. In contrast, The Moderna trial included 30,000, Pfizer included 43,448, and Johnson & Johnson (which uses a different technology) included more than 44,000.

This is not possible with the mRNA vaccines, as the vaccine does not contain the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The vaccine only contains the instructions for how to make the spike protein on the virus so your body can recognize it and mount an immune response against it.

If someone does test positive for COVID-19 right after getting the vaccine, it may be that they were exposed to the virus before they got the shot or before they were fully protected (which is two weeks after the last dose). It was just a case of bad timing.

This is true, but exceedingly rare. These are called breakthrough cases. For instance, of 21,720 trial participants who got the Pfizer vaccine, eight got infected with COVID-19. In the placebo group, which was about the same size, 162 got infected. That brings the efficacy rate of the COVID-19 vaccine to about 95%. The efficacy of the flu vaccine, by comparison, is about 50% on a good year.

And if you were to get sick after being fully vaccinated for COVID-19, your antibodies would be built up so your symptoms would likely be mild.

Every time you get re-exposed to the same virus, your immune system builds a memory response to the virus, creating antibodies to protect you. If you get the COVID-19 vaccine after having been previously infected, your body will develop a bigger, faster and stronger antibody response to the virus. You may have some immunity against the virus if you already had COVID-19, but the vaccine will give you even more.

College students tend to think they are invincible. But they dont quite think about the idea of herd immunity, in that when we get vaccinated, we are protecting not only ourselves but also others who cant get the vaccine. The more everyone can develop immunity against the virus, the more we can protect the younger, older and immune-compromised population.

For things to return to normal, some research says at least 70% of the population must be vaccinated. If you can get the vaccine, you should.

The side effects are real but typically mild, including pain and swelling at the injection site, fever and chills and in some cases, tiredness and headache. The side effects only last a few days and mean your immune system is mounting a response and the vaccine is working. I ask students to compare this to the potential consequences of actually getting COVID-19, where symptoms can sometimes persist for monthseven in those who had a mild version of the disease.

Learn more about vaccines and how to get them.

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Still hesitant to get the shot? 7 COVID vaccine concerns addressed - CU Boulder Today

Physiology

3-month, 6-month, 9-month, and 12-month respiratory outcomes in patients following COVID-19-related hospitalisation: a prospective study – DocWire…

Lancet Respir Med. 2021 May 5:S2213-2600(21)00174-0. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(21)00174-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The consequences of COVID-19 in those who recover from acute infection requiring hospitalisation have yet to be clearly defined. We aimed to describe the temporal trends in respiratory outcomes over 12 months in patients hospitalised for severe COVID-19 and to investigate the associated risk factors.

METHODS: In this prospective, longitudinal, cohort study, patients admitted to hospital for severe COVID-19 who did not require mechanical ventilation were prospectively followed up at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months after discharge from Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. Patients with a history of hypertension; diabetes; cardiovascular disease; cancer; and chronic lung disease, including asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; or a history of smoking documented at time of hospital admission were excluded at time of electronic case-note review. Patients who required intubation and mechanical ventilation were excluded given the potential for the consequences of mechanical ventilation itself to influence the factors under investigation. During the follow-up visits, patients were interviewed and underwent physical examination, routine blood test, pulmonary function tests (ie, diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide [DLCO]; forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of forced vital capacity [FVC]; functional residual capacity; FVC; FEV1; residual volume; total lung capacity; and vital capacity), chest high-resolution CT (HRCT), and 6-min walk distance test, as well as assessment using a modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale (mMRC).

FINDINGS: Between Feb 1, and March 31, 2020, of 135 eligible patients, 83 (61%) patients participated in this study. The median age of participants was 60 years (IQR 52-66). Temporal improvement in pulmonary physiology and exercise capacity was observed in most patients; however, persistent physiological and radiographic abnormalities remained in some patients with COVID-19 at 12 months after discharge. We found a significant reduction in DLCO over the study period, with a median of 77% of predicted (IQR 67-87) at 3 months, 76% of predicted (68-90) at 6 months, and 88% of predicted (78-101) at 12 months after discharge. At 12 months after discharge, radiological changes persisted in 20 (24%) patients. Multivariate logistic regression showed increasing odds of impaired DLCO associated with female sex (odds ratio 861 [95% CI 283-262; p=00002) and radiological abnormalities were associated with peak HRCT pneumonia scores during hospitalisation (136 [113-162]; p=00009).

INTERPRETATION: In most patients who recovered from severe COVID-19, dyspnoea scores and exercise capacity improved over time; however, in a subgroup of patients at 12 months we found evidence of persistent physiological and radiographic change. A unified pathway for the respiratory follow-up of patients with COVID-19 is required.

FUNDING: National Natural Science Foundation of China, UK Medical Research Council, and National Institute for Health Research Southampton Biomedical Research Centre.

TRANSLATION: For the Chinese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

PMID:33964245 | DOI:10.1016/S2213-2600(21)00174-0

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3-month, 6-month, 9-month, and 12-month respiratory outcomes in patients following COVID-19-related hospitalisation: a prospective study - DocWire...

Physiology

New grant-funded research could help improve therapies for sepsis – Newswise

Newswise A University of Kentucky College of Medicine professor has been awarded a $1.9 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant for his research on the bodys immune response to sepsis, which could potentially help to improve therapies for the common disease.

Xiangan Li, a professor in the Department of Physiology and the Saha Cardiovascular Research Center, received the prestigious R35 grant from the NIHs National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), which will fund sepsis research in his lab over the next five years.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when an infection triggers a chain reaction throughout the body. Without timely treatment, it can quickly lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that nearly 270,000 Americans die as a result of sepsis every year, and one in three patients who die in a hospital has sepsis.

Li studies how hormones called glucocorticoids regulate the bodys immune system in response to sepsis. Glucocorticoids are released by the adrenal glands and help to reduce certain aspects of immune function such as inflammation. They are often supplemented as a therapy to treat sepsis and other diseases caused by an overactive immune system. However, not all sepsis patients may benefit from additional glucocorticoids, Li says.

Thirty to 60% of sepsis patients have an impaired adrenal stress response and cannot produce enough glucocorticoids, said Li. But for the others, supplementing glucocorticoids may not be necessary or beneficial.

Research conducted in Lis lab provides a proof of concept that it could actually be harmful. Septic mice were treated with glucocorticoids and those with impaired adrenal stress responses had better outcomes, but those with normal adrenal stress responses experienced increased mortality as a result of the therapy.

Li says the findings provide an explanation for why the current glucocorticoid therapy for sepsis is controversial, as the therapy is given to patients without considering the status of adrenal insufficiency. Li proposes that before giving glucocorticoids to septic patients, a precision medicine approach should be taken to identify whether or not they have an adrenal insufficiency.

Research in Lis lab will continue to give scientists a better understanding of the role glucocorticoids play in immune function, which could ultimately lead to improved patient outcomes for sepsis.

The mechanisms behind glucocorticoids and immune regulation may be different than previously understood, Li said. The ongoing research funded by this grant will answer questions that we hope will improve the overall efficacy of sepsis therapy and save many lives.

The NIGMS aims to support basic research that increases the understanding of biological processes and lays the foundation for advances in disease diagnoses and prevention. The NIGMS R35 grant, also called the Maximizing Investigators Research Award (MIRA), increases the efficiency of NIGMS funding by providing researchers with greater stability and flexibility, thereby enhancing scientific productivity and the chances for important breakthroughs.

Research reported in this publication was supported by theNational Institute of General Medical Sciencesof the National Institutes of Healthunder Award NumberR35GM141478. The content is solely the responsibilityof the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes ofHealth.

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New grant-funded research could help improve therapies for sepsis - Newswise

Physiology

Signs in the blood predict when labor will begin – Futurity: Research News

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For the first time, researchers have found a way to predict when a pregnant woman will go into labor by analyzing immune and other biological signals in a blood sample, according to a study.

The findings shed light on how labor begins, a biological process that until now has been a mystery. They also lay the groundwork for a clinical blood test that could tell women with healthy, full-term pregnancies how close they are to delivery.

Current estimates are imprecise, with anything in a five-week windowfrom three weeks before to two weeks after the due dateconsidered a normal delivery time.

If we understand whats regulating labor, we might be able to do a better job of inducing labor.

The researchers expect their findings to yield a test within the next two to three years that doctors can use to predict labor onset in healthy pregnancies. The method narrows the predicted delivery time to a two-week window, and the researchers expect it will become even more precise as the technique is refined.

We found a transition from progressing pregnancy to a pre-labor phase that happens two to four weeks before the mom goes into labor, says lead author Ina Stelzer, a postdoctoral scholar in anesthesiology, perioperative, and pain medicine at Stanford University.

Weve identified a novel way to use the maternal blood to predict when a mother will go into labor. This prediction is independent from the duration of pregnancy.

The shift from ongoing pregnancy to the pre-labor phase was detected both in women who had full-term pregnancies and in women who delivered prematurely. The change to pre-labor maternal biology is characterized by changes in levels of steroid hormones, factors that control blood vessel growth and blood coagulation, and immune regulatory signals, the study shows.

The moms body and physiology start to change about three weeks before the actual onset of labor, says coauthor Virginia Winn, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology. Its not a single switch; theres this preparation that the body has to go through.

Currently, to estimate a womans due date, clinicians count 40 weeks from the first day of her last menstrual period, taking into account ultrasound data about the babys size.

Clinicians are good at estimating gestational age, which measures the development of the fetus. But there is a disconnect between this timing and when labor starts, because whether the baby is ready is only one factor in the onset of labor, says senior author Brice Gaudilliere, associate professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine. The other part of the equation is the mother.

Although women deliver around 40 weeks of pregnancy on average, going into labor anywhere from 37 to 42 weeks gestational age is considered normal. More precise prediction of when the baby will arrive could be helpful, for both planning and medical reasons. For instance, being able to test whether a woman with preterm contractions is in the pre-labor phase could help doctors decide whether to administer steroids, which mature the fetuss lungs before birth.

The study followed 63 women through the last 100 days of their pregnancies. They gave blood samples for analysis two to three times before delivery. All of them went into labor spontaneously, meaning none were artificially induced.

Researchers analyzed each blood sample for 7,142 metabolic, protein, and single-cell immune features. They then plotted the data against the number of days before labor that each blood sample had been taken, ensuring that the analysis would be sensitive to signals of impending labor, as opposed to signals tied primarily to pregnancy duration or the babys growth. The researchers identified, via mathematical modeling, which features in the blood best predicted labor onset.

Fifty-eight of the women gave birth after full-term pregnancies, meaning the baby did not arrive more than three weeks before the due date, and five gave birth after spontaneous preterm labor.

As they moved into the pre-labor phase, the womens blood showed surges in steroid hormones such as progesterone and cortisol, confirming prior findings about the biology of late pregnancy. The blood also showed decreasing levels of factors that help blood-vessel formation, likely a first step toward weakening the connection between the placenta and uterus, as well as increasing levels of factors needed for blood coagulation, which help prevent blood loss after delivery. Some placental proteins surged as well.

The study also found a fine-tuning of immune responses in the shift to labor preparation. The top predictive feature in the model was a regulatory immune protein, IL-1R4, that inhibits an inflammatory molecule called IL-33, the researchers say.

We were really interested in and excited about the finding that IL-33 seems to play a role in pregnancy and impending labor, Stelzer says. Near the end of pregnancy, placental material and fetal cells reach the moms blood, potentially causing an immune response. The body needs to carefully tailor the amount of inflammation that will occur during labor, Stelzer says.

The hypothesis has been that labor is an inflammatory reaction, and yes, there are signs of that, but we also found that aspects of this inflammation are toned down before labor starts, which we think may prepare the mothers immune system for the next phase, when the baby is born and healing and immune resolution begins, Gaudilliere says. It needs to be a regulated process.

The next steps in the research are to validate the findings in more pregnant women and to narrow the number of biological markers needed to predict labor onset, Stelzer says, adding that the team has already made progress on the latter.

The findings could have other important clinical implications, Winn says. If we understand whats regulating labor, we might be able to do a better job of inducing labor, she says.

The study appears in Science Translational Medicine.

Funding came from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, the German Research Foundation, the Stanford Maternal and Child Health Research Institute, the Prematurity Research Fund, the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at Stanford University, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Center for Human Systems Immunology, the Charles B. and Ann L. Johnson Research fund, the Christopher Hess Research Fund, the Providence Foundation Research Fund, the Roberts Foundation Research Fund, the Charles and Mary Robertson Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, the Stanford Maternal and Child Health Research Institute Harmon Faculty Scholar Award, the H&H Evergreen Faculty Scholar Award, and the Stanford Metabolic Health Center.

Source: Stanford University

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Signs in the blood predict when labor will begin - Futurity: Research News

Anatomy

Jesse Williams’s Heartbreaking ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Instagram Is Absolutely Destroying Fans – GoodHousekeeping.com

The latest shocking Grey's Anatomy cast exit cuts deep.

After playing Dr. Jackson Avery on the popular medical drama for over a decade, actor Jesse Williams will be leaving Grey's Anatomy ahead of the season 17 finale this spring. According to Deadline, the last episode for Jesse's character will air on May 20.

"Jesse Williams is an extraordinary artist and activist. Watching his evolution these past 11 years both on screen and off has been a true gift," Greys Anatomy executive producer and showrunner Krista Vernoff told Deadline in a statement. "Jesse brings so much heart, such depth of care, and so much intelligence to his work. We will miss Jesse terribly and we will miss Jackson Avery played to perfection for so many years."

The fans will also surely miss seeing the Chief of Plastic Surgery every Thursday night. To announce his exit from the series, Jesse posted screenshots of the Deadline report along with a photo of himself in character to his Instagram page. His caption for the heartbreaking post simply read: "Feels ..."

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Immediately, Grey's fans flooded the comment section. "Im not accepting your resignation !! ," one fan wrote. "Cant believe youre leaving us," another said. "Crying on the floor as we speak," someone else said.

Meanwhile, several of Jesse's cast members also had things to say. "Congrats my man! What an awesome run. The water is warm out here looking forward to whats next. ," Giacomo Gianniotti, who recently left the series this year as well, wrote. "Love You. Mama is lost without you," Debbie Allen, who plays Jackson's mother Catherine on the show, said.

What's more, when the Twitter page for Grey's Anatomy tweeted out a gif of Jackson crying, Ellen Pompeo, a.k.a. Meredith Grey herself, responded, "Yeah I know the feeling @iJesseWilliams ."

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Since news about Jesse leaving broke last week, the actor hasn't provided a clear reason for departing the series. That said, the Deadline report does indicate that Jesse's latest two-year contract was coming up at the end of the current season. Jesse had first joined way back in 2009 and was promoted to a series regular following season 6.

Jesse, like his character, will be moving onto different projects. When he signed his new contract in 2019, he reportedly "scaled back duties" on Grey's after preparing to make his Broadway debut for the revival of Richard Greenbergs Take Me Out. Since the project was delayed by the pandemic, the show is expected to open in early 2022.

His IMDB page also notes that Jesse is set to act in the upcoming films Team Joy (he'll also be a producer) and Marked Man.

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Reflecting on his Grey's run, Jesse made it clear that he has enjoyed his time on the series, which tells us he is likely leaving on good terms.

"I will forever be grateful for the boundless opportunities provided me by Shonda [Rhimes], the network, studio, fellow castmates, our incredible crew, Krista, Ellen, and Debbie," Jesse said in a statement to Deadline. "As an actor, director, and person, I have been obscenely lucky to learn so much from so many, and I thank our beautiful fans, who breathe so much energy and appreciation into our shared worlds. The experience and endurance born of creating nearly 300 hours of leading global television is a gift Ill carry always. I am immensely proud of our work, our impact, and to be moving forward with so many tools, opportunities, allies, and dear friends."

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Jesse Williams's Heartbreaking 'Grey's Anatomy' Instagram Is Absolutely Destroying Fans - GoodHousekeeping.com

Anatomy

Netflix Pls, the Dominance of Greys Anatomy, Girls5Eva, and Mare of Easttown Episode 4 – The Ringer

Chris and Andy talk about the news that Netflix is reportedly testing a service called N-Plus that would include podcasts about shows and other expanded watching experiences (4:05). After getting renewed for an 18th season, Greys Anatomy might be the most dominant show on television right now (13:23). Plus, love for Girls5Eva (22:21) and breaking down Mare of Easttown Episode 4 (29:07).

Hosts: Chris Ryan and Andy GreenwaldProducer: Kaya McMullen

Subscribe: Spotify / Apple Podcasts / Stitcher / RSS

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Netflix Pls, the Dominance of Greys Anatomy, Girls5Eva, and Mare of Easttown Episode 4 - The Ringer

Anatomy

The anatomy of a pitcher hitting a home run part 2- A Hunt and Peck – Viva El Birdos

On Friday night in the Cardinals game against the Rockies something rare and exciting happened. In the bottom of the third inning Jack Flaherty took former teammate Austin Gomber deep for his first ever major league homer. It looked a little something like this:

I have previously broken this down after John Gant hit his first big league homer, but I think it could use a little updating.

This part is not always pretty, but in the case of Jack Flaherty, his home run swing was done in style. Flaherty worked a 3-1 count and knew he was going to get something good to hit. With the bases empty and no one out, Flaherty put his best swing on the ball. Then added a small bat toss for good measure.

There are a few common reactions when a pitcher hits a home run. There is the sheepish homerun hitter:

There is The Person That Is More Excited Than Everyone Else. This is usually Carlos Martnez and while I cannot seem to find video of it (but see header image), I am assuming this holds true in this instant after reading this:

Finally, there is The Proud Dad, AKA Adam Wainwright. Adam Wainwright likes to hit and takes pride in being good at it for a pitcher. When other pitchers on the team hold their own with the bat, you can just see in eyes how happy he is. This is one of the best parts of The Pitcher Homer:

When a pitcher hits a home run, there is around a 50% chance of a curtain call at Busch Stadium, but that bumps up to 100% when it is the players first ever one. Is this superfluous? Of course. I hope it never ends.

Pitcher home runs are unlikely and often unexpected. That is what makes them fun!

The anatomy of a pitcher home run - A Hunt and Peck | Viva El Birdos

Jacob deGrom side injury update | MLB.com

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The anatomy of a pitcher hitting a home run part 2- A Hunt and Peck - Viva El Birdos

Anatomy

‘Grey’s Anatomy’: Jackson and April on New Horizons Best TV Quotes – TVLine

After youve sufficiently doted on the maternal figures in your life this Mothers Day and only after that! its time to scroll through our latest batch of Quotes of the Week.

In the list below, weve compiled more than two dozen of the weeks best TV sound bites, including moments both scripted and unscripted from broadcast, cable and streaming series.

This time around, weve got a contentious baby name debate on The Rookie, some tough love for the recently reunited members of Girls5eva, Drews uncontainable excitement for proper kidney function on B Positive and a feces-related conversation between two Real Housewives of New York City from which we simply couldnt look away.

Also featured in this weeks roundup: double doses of Mythic Quest, Legends of Tomorrow (read season premiere post mortem), Zoeys Extraordinary Playlist, S.W.A.T. and Greys Anatomy, plus dialogue from Young Rock, NCIS, Bobs Burgers and more series.

Scroll through the list below to see all of our picks for the week, then hit the comments and tell us if we missed any of your faves!

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'Grey's Anatomy': Jackson and April on New Horizons Best TV Quotes - TVLine

Anatomy

Patrick Dempsey on Returning to Greys Anatomy and How Television Can Be Healing – Hollywood Reporter

I didnt realize I was the first brand ambassador. That was news to me, Patrick Dempsey told The Hollywood Reporter during an interview about that new gig as the face for Porsche Design eyewear. While he may have been surprised by the milestone, its not a shock considering the 55-year-olds long-standing relationship with Porsche as one of the brands veteran drivers, a co-owner of a racing team and as someone who has stood on the podium hoisting a trophy at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

He jokes that hes taking full advantage of his new status, however. When someone comes up to me and says, I love your glasses, I can just give them to people. Its the greatest, he says. Thats what it means to be an ambassador, youre bringing your heart and your soul and your passion into sharing it. Its an honor. Following a global virtual launch event, Dempsey spoke with THR about his favorite pair from the new Porsche Design collection, how it felt to return to Greys Anatomy last fall and what hes learned about himself during the pandemic.

Porsche Design Group CEO Jan Becker said it was your personality and your lifestyle that made this partnership work. How would you describe your personality and lifestyle?

I really love the [Porsche] lifestyle. Its the aspiration of what they are putting out there. Ive always loved it since I was a little kid. A lot of positive accomplishments have come through my collaboration and efforts with Porsche, like racing at Le Mans and being able to do an event like that as an amateur driver. It took about 10 years to get to that goal and achieve it with their support. There was a sort of systematic approach laid out like, OK, here are your strengths, here are your weaknesses, were going to work on developing your weaknesses and were going to do it in a good step-by-step process. That taught me a lot about how to be a better actor, a better person and a better man.

You said you fell in love with Porsche after seeing a poster on your friends wall the night before a ski race. From skiing to racing to cycling were you a daredevil straight out of the gate?

Yeah. Thats all I wanted to do as a kid, to be a ski racer. I wanted to be an Olympian. I wanted to be Ingemar Stenmark or like a Lindsey Vonn, Mikaela Shiffrin type of skier I wanted to be at that level. But where I grew up in a small town in Maine it was the hotbed for the new Vaudevillian group and they recruited me and I ran off with a circus. I was never a good student. I was always struggling. My heart was always in being an athlete and being a competitor. Ive always sort of felt slightly out of place in Hollywood, and I feel much more at home around athletes and within the racing community. Thats where I start to thrive and wake up.

What is it about Porsche that sets it above the rest?

Its a luxury brand, but its also an accessible one. You can get a car or even a used one thats relatively affordable, considering. We can all have that experience for the most part, and for me, to be able to [drive] at the highest level with them is a dream come true. Ive dreamt about it since I was a little kid, and to be able to realize it its transformative. Its still a family-owned company. I have a relationship with Dr. [Wolfgang] Porsche. Once youre in the family, you have to perform, you have to get results, but they help you. Once you do it, youre in, but you have to remain committed.

Its really been nice because Michael Fassbender is now racing and his goal is to get to Le Mans. When I saw him get involved, I was like, OK, now we passed the flint to the next person to go on that dream. And, as part of that team, its important that you support them. Thats the thing I learned the most is staying humble and working as a team to accomplish the goal. That really helps me in Hollywood a lot, by understanding that mentality and bringing that kind of ethic and approach to filmmaking and to my work. In sense, Ive done that. Ive changed as a person in, I think, in a positive way that keeps me wanting to grow and change.

What sparked that for you?

To be on the podium at Le Mans its hard to put into words. I mean, I sacrificed a lot to get there. Sometimes when you have a goal, you have to sacrifice. My goal was to get on the podium, and Porsches belief in me and their support allowed me to achieve that goal. I remember going there, I think it was in 2008 or 2009, I had a magical feeling walking around the paddock area, and to be there with an iconic brand like Porsche, which is really made its name at Le Mans, to be able to do that was really special. It was like a Hollywood movie.

Youve mentioned goals a couple of times, Im curious, what is the next one? What do you still want to accomplish?

To be able to bring the quality of the Le Mans experience in front of the camera. Ive not done that yet, where everything comes together. Whether its a film, as a director or [a performance] to bring that level in Hollywood that matches the Porsche mentality for me. I hope Im being clear on that but its something I was thinking about while watching the [Oscars]. Tyler Perrys speech really moved me as well, about coming to the center. How do we come to the center and stop divisiveness? How can you find a role that brings all of that together, where its inspiring, its entertaining and its healing but not preachy. Something that brings people together. Thats the next thing I want to try to find. And hopefully I can find a director whos going to believe in me and support me like Porsche has.

What did you think of the Oscars?

I have to tell you, the venue was great. I loved the venue. It gave it a sense of old Hollywood and had an intimate feel that made me flash back to the early days. There were a lot of positive messages, and I know a lot of people are going to judge it. But for me, when Tyler Perry said to come to the center, that has really stuck with me. I want to work with that man; he is an exceptional human being. I loved the story about his mother and how he urged compassion and empathy. I mean, thats what we need in society. We have to stop judging each other on how we look, but who are we inside, and meet people there with our hearts.

You just returned from Rome filming the second season of your show Devils. How was filming amid all the COVID protocols?

The procedures over there are really great. Theyre really rigorous in testing; we were tested every other day. We had people on set to make sure everyone was wearing masks. Everybody complies. Its not political at all when it comes to masks. They dont have the level of vaccine distribution that we do here, so were very fortunate. Im going to get my vaccine tomorrow and Im going to fly back to Europe to do the Enchanted sequel [Disenchanted]. But my experience in Rome was a really amazing experience. On that project, I play a very different character [for me], a darker character. The show addresses the abuse of capitalism, the lack of sustainability, and this year, its all about AI and controlling data and its information, in a fictional way. Were also using the same format we did during season one: real, actual footage. We talk about Bitcoin, COVID, the election and all of that. We talk about the war over who is controlling data and how theyre manipulating us, how they follow us. Its fun, educational and entertaining, hopefully. And I love working in Rome.

You were a part of spreading positive safety messages with COVID thanks to your return to Greys Anatomy, which was so well received. How has it felt to field all the fan reactions over the past few months?

When I reached out, Ellen and I went for a long walk asked ourselves, How can we do something positive? During the pandemic, you feel so helpless and everything was being politicized over mask-wearing. We just thought, well, why dont we do something. Then [showrunner Krista Vernoff] had an idea and Ellen asked, Would you come back? She laid out the storyline and I just said, Oh, thats brilliant. I have to do that. It was just really healing for all of us and, I think, for the fans as well. They were such a beloved couple, and people want to believe in love. They want to believe that theyre not alone in the world and that they have angels taking care of them. It was a great message. I was in Rome [when it aired] and people just went crazy and even here too, I think its been very positive. Thats the great thing about entertainment: It has a healing property if we tell the right stories.

The pandemic has led so many people to shift their priorities or rededicate to things they already knew were important. What have you learned about yourself during this time?I need less, certainly, and the most important thing is family and having loved ones around you. We need much more compassion and more people leading with their hearts. I think the problem with society is weve lost our compassion. People are so afraid now. So how do we take fear out of it? Thats what leadership has to bring forward compassionate, empathetic leadership, not divisive leadership. Youve seen where that takes us, and its not a healthy, sustainable place.

Back to Porsche eyewear. As best you can, what does it feel like to put on the glasses, drive your Porsche down PCH?

I had this epic journey coming home [from Rome]. It took 48 hours because of a terrible storm in Atlanta and both of my flights were canceled. There was a tornado or hurricane that came through and we had to come back because something hit the plane. I was stuck in a hotel room and Im like, OK, theres a message here somewhere. This is time to decompress. Once I finally arrived to California, I didnt turn the news on. I just got in my car and drove [to the studio today], it was fun to look at the ocean and enjoy the car, like a quiet, rolling meditation. My eyes were burning so I put the shades on as the light was coming up and I could see things in detail. Its like I had a different vision, in a sense. I know it all sounds kind of crazy, but it was really nice. It was calming. I was really grateful for everything that I have and thats what I remembered gratitude. The eyewear is so well made and theres so much heart, thought, precision and emotion that goes into the craftsmanship.

Do you have a favorite pair?

No, but whats so fun now is that I get to experiment and try on all of them to find the right size and fit and style. I like [the clear glasses] because I cant see anything when Im reading anymore. Its lightweight, and it doesnt feel like I have anything on. Also, what I love is because Im the ambassador, Im allotted a certain amount. When someone comes up to me and says, I love your glasses, I can just give them to people. Its the greatest. I can go back to them and say, I need a few more pairs. Its the best experience, like a true ambassador. Thats what it means to be an ambassador, youre bringing your heart and your soul and your passion into sharing it. Its an honor.

If I print this, youre going to have a lot of people coming up to you and asking for the sunglasses.

Well, then Ive got to tell Porsche to send me some more glasses.

Interview edited for length and clarity.

A version of this story first appeared in the May 5 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.

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Patrick Dempsey on Returning to Greys Anatomy and How Television Can Be Healing - Hollywood Reporter

Anatomy

Spiral Director Talks the Anatomy of a Saw Trap and Cutting a Device for Being "Too Gnarly" – ComicBook.com

Fans of the Saw franchise will tell you that what keeps them coming back for sequels is the ever-evolving plot full of twists and turns that keep you guessing until its final moments, but another key component which much of the general public has latched onto is its gruesome and violent traps, which are once again on display in Spiral: From the Book of Saw. Director Darren Lynn Bousman is no stranger to Saw traps, having directed three previous installments, with Bousman recently detailing that, while the series is known for its carnage, the traps play only a small role in developing the narrative and the attention the production pays to making sure the fictional devices would be just as brutal in real life. Additionally, he confirmed that one trap was so brutal that it had to be cut from the movie. Spiral: From the Book of Saw hits theaters on May 14th.

"To be inventive and to have it fit the story, because it's easy to think of ways to kills people, but to think of ways to kill people that are based in their character," Bousman shared with ComicBook.com about developing the devices. "The traps go through this evolution, they start off as an idea. When you read the script, it's really funny, when you read the script, it doesn't say what the trap is the first time. It'll say, 'Insert trap here,' and then we'll move on, 'Insert trap here.' And throughout the preproduction process, we figure out what that trap is. So, for example, the first scene in the movie, the tongue trap, that just said, 'Bos trap goes here,' and we sit down and figure out what that trap is. So we knew that he lied under oath, 'Okay, he lies, how do you lie? You lie with your mouth, so let's do something with the mouth. Okay, we've already done the headtrap, so we can't do that, so let's remove the tongue.'"

He continued, "Originally, it was fishhooks in the tongue. For me, the traps have to work the way we show them to, so if a guy is on a ladder and jumps off with fishhooks, all it's gonna do is tear the tongue and rip through it, it's not gonna tear it out. So we're like, 'How do we tear the tongue out?' We go through this crazy process, and then they go to engineers, literal engineers, to figure out would this really work. And one of my favorite things, and I hope it makes the DVD, are the tests that the effects house and the engineering house where they actually do it."

A criminal mastermind unleashes a twisted form of justice in Spiral, the terrifying new chapter from the book of Saw. Working in the shadow of his father, an esteemed police veteran (Samuel L. Jackson), brash Detective Ezekiel "Zeke" Banks (Chris Rock) and his rookie partner (Max Minghella) take charge of a grisly investigation into murders that are eerily reminiscent of the citys gruesome past. Unwittingly entrapped in a deepening mystery, Zeke finds himself at the center of the killers morbid game.

With this being the first entry into the series since 2017's Jigsaw, Bousman knew he had to take the franchise to new heights, though fans will have to wait to find out what plan was too brutal even for Spiral.

"This is funny, and I might get in trouble for saying this, and I hope I don't, there was a trap that was cut out of the movie for being too gnarly that we actually shot," the filmmaker confirmed. "The traps are the most complicated part of the franchise at this point. We've killed so many people in so many different ways, the moment we think of a trap, I think, 'Oh, this is awesome,' and they're like, 'No, we did that in Saw V,' 'Oh, but what about...?' 'No, that was in Saw VIII,' and I'm just like, 'Goddammit.'"

Check out Spiral: From the Book of Saw only in theaters on May 14th.

Are you looking forward to the new film? Let us know in the comments below or contact Patrick Cavanaugh directly on Twitter to talk all things Star Wars and horror!

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Spiral Director Talks the Anatomy of a Saw Trap and Cutting a Device for Being "Too Gnarly" - ComicBook.com