Category Archives: Physiology

Physiology

ONLINE: The Future of Medicine – Isthmus

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=VVkQU91KbEs

press release: The UW has a long history of pioneering medical advancements that have transformed the world. From performing the first bone marrow transplant in the United States to cultivating the first laboratory-derived human embryonic stem cells. Now, where will UW medical research go next?

On the next Wisconsin Medicine Livestream, meet trailblazing doctors, researchers, and medical leaders who are charting a bold course to completely alter the health care landscape. During this insightful panel discussion, well explore how gene therapy and cell replacements could hold the keys to treating inherited and acquired blindness. Youll also discover the remarkable potential in xenotransplantation where nonhuman animal source organs are transplanted into human recipients. In addition, you will learn about UW Healths journey to build a multidisciplinary program to serve the community. These, and other, fascinating developments in treatment and care are happening right now at the UW and are the future of medicine. The presentation will be moderated by Robert Golden, the dean of the University of WisconsinMadisons School of Medicine and Public Health.

Our Guests:

David Gamm, professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; Emmett A. Humble Distinguished Director, McPherson Eye Research Institute; Sandra Lemke Trout Chair in Eye Research

Dr. Gamms lab is at the forefront in developing cell-based therapies to combat retinal degenerative diseases (RDDs). As the director of the McPherson Eye Research Institute and a member of the Waisman Center Stem Cell Research Program, the UW Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center, and the American Society for Clinical Investigation, his efforts are directed toward basic and translational retinal stem cell research. The Gamm Lab uses induced pluripotent stem cells to create retinal tissues composed of authentic human photoreceptor cells rods and cones that can detect light and initiate visual signals in a dish. The aims of his laboratory are to investigate the cellular and molecular events that occur during human retinal development and to generate cells for use in retinal disease modeling and cell replacement therapies. In collaboration with other researchers at UWMadison and around the world, the lab is developing methods to produce and transplant photoreceptors and/or retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in preparation for future clinical trials. At the same time, the Gamm Lab uses lab-grown photoreceptor and RPE cells to test and advance a host of other experimental treatments, including gene therapies. In so doing, the lab seeks to delay or reverse the effects of blinding disorders, such as retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration, and to develop or codevelop effective interventions for these RDDs at all stages of disease.

Dhanansayan Shanmuganayagam, assistant professor, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Public Health; Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, UWMadison; director, Biomedical, and Genomic Research Group

Dr. Shanmuganayagams research focuses on the development and utilization of pigs as homologous models to close the translational gap in human disease research, taking advantage of the overwhelming similarities between pigs and humans in terms of genetics, anatomy, physiology, and immunology. He and his colleagues created the human-sized Wisconsin Miniature Swine breed that is unique to the university. The breed exhibits greater physiological similarity to humans, particularly in vascular biology and in modeling metabolic disorders and obesity. He currently leads genetic engineering of swine at the UW. His team has created more than 15 genetic porcine models including several of pediatric genetic cancer-predisposition disorders such as neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). In the context of NF1, his lab is studying the role of alternative splicing of the nf1 gene on the tissue-specific function of neurofibromin and whether gene therapy to modulate the regulation of this splicing can be used as a viable treatment strategy for children with the disorder.

Dr. Shanmuganayagam is also currently leading the efforts to establish the University of Wisconsin Center for Biomedical Swine Research and Innovation (CBSRI) that will leverage the translatability of research in pig models and UWMadisons unique swine and biomedical research infrastructure, resources, and expertise to conduct innovative basic and translational research on human diseases. The central mission of CBSRI is to innovate and accelerate the discovery and development of clinically relevant therapies and technologies. The center will also serve to innovate graduate and medical training. As the only center of its kind in the United States, CBSRI will make UWMadison a hub of translational research and industry-partnered biomedical innovation.

Petros Anagnostopoulos, surgeon in chief, American Family Childrens Hospital; chief, Section of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery; professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Anagnostopoulos is certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. He completed two fellowships, one in cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a second in pediatric cardiac surgery at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Dr. Anagnostopoulos received his MD from the University of Athens Medical School, Greece. His clinical interests include pediatric congenital heart surgery and minimally invasive heart surgery.

Dr. Anagnostopoulos specializes in complex neonatal and infant cardiac reconstructive surgery, pediatric heart surgery, adult congenital cardiac surgery, single ventricle palliation, extracorporeal life support, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, ventricular assist devices, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, hybrid surgical-catheterization cardiac surgery, off-pump cardiac surgery, complex mitral and tricuspid valve repair, aortic root surgery, tetralogy of Fallot, coronary artery anomalies, Ross operations, obstructive cardiomyopathy, and heart transplantation.

When: Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 7 p.m. CDT

Where: Wisconsin Medicine Livestream: wiscmedicine.org/programs/ending-alzheimers

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ONLINE: The Future of Medicine - Isthmus

Physiology

Schools rise to face crisis, changing the face of education – Terre Haute Tribune Star

A year ago, no one could have anticipated a pandemic that would force colleges to send students home early and finish the academic year through online, remote education.

The past several months have been a time of great uncertainty for higher education, both in terms of enrollment and revenue. And while the challenges have been many, Terre Hautes four colleges and universities have risen to the occasion and made changes that will benefit them, and students, moving forward.

Tribune-Star/Joseph C. GarzaTaking care of those on Zoom: Indiana State University student Hannah DeBlock serves as a teaching assistant and works with the Zoom students, answering or forwarding their questions or monitoring their answers delivered via chat to multiple choice questions during assistant professor Jim Davis' human physiology class on Sept. 3 on the ISU campus.

Under the guise of never waste a good crisis, I think we have learned some things as a part of the pandemic, said Rob Coons, president of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. It required us to do some things online or think about the way we present things differently than we might otherwise have chosen to do.

Coons adds, I think thats been good. Thats had some advantages.

Indiana State University

In a lecture hall of Indiana State Universitys College of Health and Human Services, assistant professor Jim Davis taught his Human Physiology hybrid class not only to the 70 or so students there in person, but others attending online via Zoom. Part of the lesson dealt with reflexes and their role in nervous system function.

Periodically, he had to adjust cameras so the distance students could see what he had written on a board. One student watching via Zoom asked for a camera adjustment so they could better see Davis nonverbal language.

Nearby, student Hannah DeBlock served as a teaching assistant and worked with the Zoom students, answering or forwarding their questions or monitoring their answers delivered via chat to multiple choice questions.

The challenges are many, but the benefits are that students who arent in class for whatever reason can still participate, Davis said.

While it isnt my ideal method of teaching, I do think that I will always use Zoom in the future so that students who are sick, out of town, etc. have the ability to participate in a live lecture.

Among the challenges are small group discussion involving Zoom students. Also, with masking, I cant tell what my students are thinking, and I am struggling to learn student names which I believe makes it more difficult to foster that student-teacher relationship that is important for learning.

He has eliminated small group activities, which he said is unfortunate because it often brings on those light bulb moments.

Hes gone the extra mile to help students learn when they cant be in class. Over the summer, he created a series of 100 mini lectures that cover all of the material for the semester. That way if someone misses a lecture or doesnt understand a specific concept they can go to a video that just focuses on that one concept, he said.

Davis is one of many ISU faculty members working to provide a quality education to students in class, and those who may be out for various reasons that might include isolation or quarantine because of COVID.

Many ISU faculty have spent part of the summer planning for and redesigning courses to meet changes required because of the pandemic, said Molly Hare, director of the Faculty Center for Teaching Excellence.

They may maybe teaching a face-to-face class, but at the same time, they may also be teaching students online, real-time, via Zoom. And, they may have to tape the class for those who cant attend in-person or watch in real time.

Students who are in class one day may have to attend via Zoom another day because they are isolated with COVID or on quarantine. That greatly affects the ability to carry out that class plan. Faculty have to be flexible, nimble and be able to adjust to meet the needs of students, Hare said.

Every time they go into a face-to-face classroom, it looks different, she said.

They have to have a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C. They are doing triple the work in order to offer students a quality education. And its very tiring, she said. Thats triple the work, times four classes they might be teaching.

She describes it as mental gymnastics.

And, they may face barriers, including technology glitches, they didnt anticipate, yet have to try and overcome, she said.

In addition, several courses are hybrid, with both in-person and online components for all students in the class.

Its challenging and a lot of work. But at the same time, Faculty really care about the quality of education and want students to get the outcomes they deserve, Hare said.

Hare works with faculty at the center. Typically, the center isnt as active over the summer, but this past summer, faculty took advantage of sessions offered each day. A lot of faculty have really worked hard, Hare said.

Students are stressed as well, she said. Every class is different, and if the class is hybrid, students must pay attention to whether that day is in-person or via Zoom and how assignments should be submitted.

Among the benefits of pandemic-related changes are more electronic submissions and less paper.

Instruction techniques are changing for some classes. For example, a student may watch a prerecorded lesson on line, and then do the hands-on portion, or homework, in class, where they can get faculty assistance if needed. Its called a flipped classroom.

The center does individual consultations or meets with groups for a particular reason; it offers professional development. Our motto is inform, innovate and celebrate teaching, she said. We look at how to do things a new

Tribune-Star file/Joseph C. GarzaBless this ground: Sister Dawn Tomaszewski blesses the ground on which a new residence hall will be built before a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday, June 18, on the campus of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

The Woods

Despite the many uncertainties created by the pandemic, Dottie King, president of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, believed the Woods still needed to keep making forward progress.

We thought, how can we even in the midst of these times continue to not just get through, but really make some significant strides with our progress, she said.

In spring, admissions staff came up with some innovative ways to reach students, including a virtual, live-streamed campus visit with about 300 students and parents logged in and watching.

We didnt get as big a class as we had planned on, but we still saw a modest increase from last year for the on campus program, King said. The freshman class increased about 11 percent. Total enrollment including on campus, graduate and online programs is about 1,075.

SMWC also plans to add programs, hopefully with funding through the Lilly Endowment. It plans to offer a doctoral program its first in global leadership. Given the pandemic, which affects countries across the globe, King considers it providential the college was considering such a program even prior to the pandemic.

COVID-19 has affirmed the need for such a program, in which people across the globe would work together to find solutions, rather than relying solely on government, she said.

The college also plans to offer a bachelors in exercise science, a continuation of its focus on health care. The college already has programs in nursing, kinesiology and health care administration.

The new programs will go forward with or without Lilly funding, but those funds would enable the college to proceed more quickly, King said.

The college also is building its first new residence hall since 1924. Currently, LeFer residence hall is approaching capacity. We have more graduate students inquiring about being residential. Right now we dont have that opportunity, King said.

The new residence hall will increase capacity for undergraduates, and also add the ability for graduate students to live on campus, she said.

The college also is offering graduate assistantships for the first time, King said.

Sarah DeWeese/Ivy Tech-Terre HauteChris Gresham, Ivy Tech-Terre Haute criminal justice instructor, teaches Introduction to Criminology in a Learn Anywhere class.

Ivy Tech Community College Terre Haute

Imagine a college class where you attend in person if you are able.

But if child care or work issues or even COVID-19 quarantine prevents you from going to class, you can attend online, real-time or watch a video of the class when you are able.

Ivy Tech is piloting some classes using this format, which is called Learn Anywhere.

The initiative grew out of a grant our Indianapolis campus and Muncie campus had on addressing challenges that single-mother students encounter, said Lea Anne Crooks, chancellor at Ivy Tech-Terre Haute.

With Learn Anywhere, instructors deliver class face-to-face with any student who can get there, but for those who cant attend in person, students can participate real time through Zoom. Also, the class is taped so a student who couldnt do either that day can watch it when they do have time.

We are being as flexible as we can for students, Crooks said. One week, a student may attend in person, another week, they may attend online. It also helps those students who may have to quarantine or isolate because of COVID-19.

The program is being piloted statewide, with four classes [six sections] being offered as Learn Anytime at Ivy Tech-Terre Haute. They are: intro to criminology; informatics fundamentals; fundamentals of public speaking and introduction to interpersonal communication.

We think this is something that will continue to grow and be really a great option for students in the future, Crooks said.

Teaching in the various Learn Anywhere formats has its challenges, so I really applaud our faculty who have stepped up and are looking at this as a way to assist our students, she said.

In another change this fall, courses that require hands-on learning are taking place face-to-face and on campus, including programs in health sciences, nursing, information technology, advanced manufacturing and engineering/applied science.

Most general education, business and liberal arts courses are offered virtually or online only; virtual courses are live, via Zoom, allowing for interaction. Online classes are not real-time and can be done as the students schedule allows.

Online courses allow students more flexibility and allow them to complete their coursework at days/times that are convenient for them. They still must complete assignments by their deadlines, but they do not have to attend class at a specific time. Instructors require participation through discussion boards and not live video.

The number of students on campus is about half of what it would be in a normal year, Crooks said. I wish we had the energy of what the campus normally feels like, but its where it should be because of the pandemic.

These are challenging times for our instructors, she said. But faculty and staff have stepped up to meet students needs and faculty are going the extra mile.

Students are still able to enroll for 8-week classes that begin in October. With the uncertainties of COVID, many have delayed enrolling, including parents who may not have known childrens school schedules, or high school graduates thinking theyll wait a year to start college.

Its not the time to take a break, Crooks said.

If students are choosing a gap year because they intend to go to a four-year university next year, We encourage them to consider staying in the academic mode and taking courses this year from Ivy Tech, which they will be able to transfer, she said.

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

At Rose-Hulman, a team of faculty have been gathering from colleagues ways theyve used online technology or other creative means to share concepts with students, when in-person classes were not possible, said college president Rob Coons.

The goal is to determine whether some of those tools or course delivery strategies can be used to improve classroom instruction overall and make it more efficient, potentially saving students money.

For example, for chemistry experiments and lab work in some of the other engineering disciplines, faculty assembled kits and mailed them home to students this past spring. Students did part of the experiments or labs while at home, and then demonstrated their lab results in a variety of different ways depending on the class.

For example, in some cases the professor had students demonstrate their work during a video call. In other cases, the professor would have the them submit laboratory reports.

It might seem more cumbersome, yet, Some of our faculty are still studying it, but they feel some of that learning that occurred because students had to make that adaptation was really positive, Coons said.

As a result, the college is starting to look for ways we can incorporate the good things we learned as part of the pandemic back into the classroom, so that ultimately, regardless of method of delivery, it is an outstanding educational experience, Coons said.

There are elements of the education experience best presented in person and there are also many that can be presented just as well online, he said. We are learning from that process and trying to take the best of those things moving forward.

A number of courses this fall are blended, with part of the course online and part in person, he said. Originally, it was being done to reduce the amount of risk and exposure of employees and students to the COVID virus.

The college is still gathering data, but, We think there are ways to improve the efficiency of the class and begin to look at ways in which we could either perhaps, shorten the schedule or adjust the schedule in some way which in turn can convert to actual savings for the student. I think there is some opportunity there, Coons said.

Sue Loughlin can be reached at 812-231-4235 or at sue.loughlin@tribstar.com Follow Sue on Twitter @TribStarSue.

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Schools rise to face crisis, changing the face of education - Terre Haute Tribune Star

Physiology

Physiology of Handcycling: A Current Sports Perspective – DocWire News

This article was originally published here

Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2020 Sep 23. doi: 10.1111/sms.13835. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Handcycling is a mode of mobility, and sport format within Para-cycling, for those with a lower limb impairment. The exercise modality has been researched extensively in the rehabilitation setting. However, there is an emerging body of evidence detailing the physiological responses to handcycling in the competitive sport domain. Competitive handcyclists utilise equipment that is vastly disparate to that used for rehabilitation or recreation. Furthermore, the transferability of findings from early handcycling research to current international athletes regarding physiological profiles is severely limited. This narrative review aims to map the landscape within handcycling research and document the growing interest at the elite end of the exercise spectrum. From 58 experimental/case studies and four doctoral theses we: provide accounts of the aerobic capacity of handcyclists and the influence training status plays; present research regarding the physiological responses to handcycling performance, including tests of sprint performance; discuss the finite information on handcyclists training habits and efficacy of bespoke interventions. Furthermore, given the wide variety of protocols employed and participants recruited previously, we present considerations for the interpretation of existing research and recommendations for future work, all with a focus on competitive sport. The majority of studies (n=21) reported aerobic capacity, detailing peak rates of oxygen uptake and power output, with values >3.0 Lmin-1 and 240 W shown in trained, male H3-H4 classification athletes. Knowledge, though, is lacking for other classifications and female athletes. Similarly, little research is available concerning sprint performance with only one from eight studies recruiting athletes with an impairment.

PMID:32969103 | DOI:10.1111/sms.13835

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Physiology of Handcycling: A Current Sports Perspective - DocWire News

Physiology

A Parent’s Touch Can Reduce Pain Signaling in the Baby Brain – Technology Networks

Being held by a parent with skin-to-skin contact reduces how strongly a newborn baby's brain responds to a painful medical jab, finds a new study led by researchers at UCL and York University, Canada.

The scientists report in the European Journal of Pain that there was more activity in the brains of newborn babies in reaction to the pain when a parent was holding them through clothing, than without clothing.

Joint senior author, Dr Lorenzo Fabrizi (UCL Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology) said: "We have found when a baby is held by their parent, with skin-on-skin contact, the higher-level brain processing in response to pain is somewhat dampened. The baby's brain is also using a different pathway to process its response to pain.

"While we cannot confirm whether the baby actually feels less pain, our findings reinforce the important role of touch between parents and their newborn babies."

The study involved 27 infants, 0-96 days old and born premature or at term age, at University College London Hospitals. The researchers were measuring their response to a painful but clinically required heel lance (blood test). Brain activity was recorded with EEG (electroencephalography) electrodes placed on the scalp.

The babies were either held by their mother skin-to-skin (wearing a diaper, against their mother's chest), or held by their mother with clothing, or else lying in a cot or incubator (most of these babies were swaddled).

The researchers found that the initial brain response to the pain was the same, but as the heel lance elicited a series of four to five waves of brain activity, the later waves of activity were impacted by whether the baby was held skin-to-skin or with clothing.

Joint senior author, Professor Rebecca Pillai Riddell (Department of Psychology, York University, Canada) said: "The slightly delayed response was dampened if there was skin contact with their mother, which suggests that parental touch impacts the brain's higher level processing. The pain might be the same, but how the baby's brain processes and reacts to that pain depends on their contact with a parent.

"Our findings support the notion that holding a newborn baby against your skin is important to their development."

The brains of the babies that remained in the cot or incubator also reacted less strongly to the pain than those held in clothing, but the researchers say that may be because the babies were not disrupted by being picked up before the procedure, or else due to the success of the sensitive, individualised care they were provided.

The babies' behaviour was not significantly different between the groups, although the skin-to-skin group did exhibit slightly reduced responses in terms of facial expression and heart rate. Other studies have found that skin-to-skin contact with a parent does affect baby behaviour, and may reduce how strongly they react to pain, but those studies did not investigate the brain response.

In the current study, the babies' brain responses were not only dampened in the skin-to-skin group, but also followed a different neural pathway.

First author, Dr Laura Jones (UCL Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology) said: "Newborn babies' brains have a high degree of plasticity, particularly those born preterm, and their development is highly dependent on interactions with their parents. Our findings may lend new insights into how babies learn to process threats, as they are particularly sensitive to maternal cues."

Co-author Dr Judith Meek (University College London Hospitals) said: "Parents and clinicians have known for many years how important skin to skin care is for babies in NICU. Now we have been able to demonstrate that this has a solid neurophysiological basis, which is an exciting discovery."

Reference: Jones L, LaudianoDray MP, Whitehead K, et al.The impact of parental contact upon cortical noxiousrelated activity in human neonates.Eur J Pain, 2020. doi: 10.1002/ejp.1656

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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A Parent's Touch Can Reduce Pain Signaling in the Baby Brain - Technology Networks

Physiology

A Conversation With Professor Josef Penninger on the Journey to a COVID-19 Therapeutic – Technology Networks

Professor Josef Penninger. Credit: Paul Joseph for LSI.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) the receptor used by the SARS-CoV-2 virus as a gateway to enter and infect host cells has garnered significant attention for the wrong reasons over recent months. But could it also point towards an exit route out of this pandemic? In an interview with Technology Networks, the renowned immunologist Professor Josef Penninger nicknamed "Mr ACE2" explains why he thinks so, and discusses the latest clinical data obtained from testing the soluble ACE2 receptor, APN01.

Before the Nature paper was published, the researchers discovered that ACE2 was also expressed in the lung, a curious finding which "didn't make any sense".1 They wanted to get to the bottom of it. "All of my postdocs worked on models for intensive care units for mice so that we could study acute lung injury. At that time, between 20002003, there were maybe two or three groups on the planet which did this. The reason being it was difficult to create stable and reproducible models. My postdocs worked for many years to get the model going and then we studied ACE2 using it. We found that when we delete ACE2 in animal models the lung injury got much worse. The reninangiotensin unit is a critical component of lung injury."2

What role does ACE2 play in the body?In 2020, thanks to the contribution of Penninger and others, we now have a more thorough understanding of the role ACE2 plays in human physiology. ACE2 is an enzyme that is expressed on the membranes of cells, located in several places throughout the body, including the heart, lungs, arteries, kidneys and intestines. It is a critical component of a biochemical pathway known as the reninangiotensin system. In this pathway, ACE2 helps to modulate a protein called angiotensin II which increases blood pressure and inflammation, causing damage to blood vessels and other tissue injuries. ACE2 catalyzes the hydrolysis of angiotensin II into other molecules that counteract its harmful effects.3

However, in 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that SARS was contained. "Of course, now everyone was saying who cares. It's beautiful work but it has no relevance because there is no SARS," Penninger recalls. Fast-forward to 2020, the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has brought life to a screeching halt, and the irony of this research being declared "irrelevant" leaves a sour taste.

I asked Penninger what his initial thoughts were when the news broke of the novel coronavirus outbreak. He recalls: "It immediately clicked in my brain that ACE2 must be the target receptor for SARS-CoV-2 because of the similarities between the Spike protein of SARS and SARS-CoV-2." Sure enough, he was right. As the number of COVID-19 fatalities began to rapidly climb, scientists, industry leaders and global authorities assembled to search for an effective therapeutic against the virus.In April 2020, Apeiron announced it had received regulatory approvals in Austria, Germany and Denmark to initiate a Phase II clinical trial of APN01 in 200 severely infected COVID-19 patients. The announcement followed preclinical testing of APN01 in SARS-CoV-2 cell models and human-derived organoids. Often referred to as "mini-organs", organoids are three-dimensional cell cultures that can recapitulate, to a certain degree, the complexity of an organ.

How does APN01 work in the context of SARS-CoV-2?As APN01 imitates the ACE2 receptor, SARS-CoV-2 binds to it instead of the human form of the receptor. Consequently, the virus cannot enter and infect cells, so APN01 acts as a neutralizing agent and decoy. In parallel, APN01 reduces the inflammatory reactions in the lungs and protects against ARDS.

The preclinical data, published in Cell, reports that APN01 can "reduce viral growth in Vero E6 cells by a factor of 1,0005,000" and that "human blood vessel organoids and kidney organoids can be readily infected with SARS-CoV-2, which can be "significantly inhibited by human recombinant ACE2 at the early stage of infection."6Penninger believes that APN01 is probably "one of the most rational therapies you can think of" which goes beyond antibody therapies that work to neutralize the virus. In a press release, Professor Henning Bundgaard, principal investigator of the clinical trial and professor at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen said: We are eager to participate in this very promising and critical study. APN01 is an advanced drug candidate with a very strong dual rationale that may provide an important therapeutic contribution to fight the COVID-19 pandemic."

Infusion of APN01 was correlated with a gradual reduction in the levels of several diseas relevant mediators over the nine-day period, in addition to a rapid loss of viremia, and a delayed reduction in viral titers from tracheal samples and nasopharyngeal swabs.

Furthermore, infusion of APN01 did not adversely impact the patient's adaptive immune response, which was a huge factor of consideration, as Penninger told Technology Networks: "You could argue that if our molecule binds to the virus, it could divert the virus somehow so that immunity cannot kick in, making the disease even worse. Now we know the answer to this question and it looks very good."

Of course this data is obtained from just one patient, which must be considered. However, it's a positive start, and the Phase II APN01 clinical trial is still recruiting.

Peter Llewellyn-Davies, CEO of APEIRON Biologics, said in a press release: "We are delighted our drug candidate APN01 may have helped this patient to overcome the life-threatening disease and are confident to confirm these positive results in our ongoing and progressing pivotal clinical Phase II trial. The further scientific validation by this renowned journal encourages us in our efforts to providing an efficacious therapy against COVID-19 for the benefit of patients and society."

When asked whether he feels optimistic about the future of APN01, Penninger immediately responds: "Absolutely. The science here, that me and other companies are doing, points in the same direction. It will be interesting to see how this [APN01] plays out, in terms of viral load and the protecting of organs. As we know COVID-19 has other long-term effects in tissues around the body. ACE2 explains this distribution."

Penninger sounds confident, but not arrogant. It is evident that he truly believes in the science behind APN01; after all, he has committed many years of his research career to exploring it, discounting critics along the way. But in the context of the global pandemic, the clinical data is everything.

"What we do not know is: What dose should we use? Which timing for therapy is right? Should we start earlier? The clinical trial is testing the drug in severe COVID-19 patients. Would it work better when tested in patients for which the disease is not severe? These are the questions we have, and that's why we do careful clinical testing," he says. "I am totally confident about the science, but the clinical outcome let's see what the data tells us."Josef Penninger was speaking to Molly Campbell, Science Writer for Technology Networks.References:

1. Crackower MA, Sarao R, Oudit GY, et al. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 is an essential regulator of heart function. Nature. 2002;417(6891):822-828. doi:10.1038/nature00786.

2. Imai Y, Kuba K, Rao S, et al. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 protects from severe acute lung failure. Nature. 2005;436(7047):112-116. doi:10.1038/nature03712.

3. Fountain JH, Lappin SL. Physiology, Renin Angiotensin System. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470410/. Accessed September 24, 2020.

4. Li W, Moore MJ, Vasilieva N, et al. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 is a functional receptor for the SARS coronavirus. Nature. 2003;426(6965):450-454. doi:10.1038/nature02145.

5. Khan A, Benthin C, Zeno B, et al. A pilot clinical trial of recombinant human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Critical Care. 2017;21(1):234. doi:10.1186/s13054-017-1823-x

6. Monteil V, Kwon H, Prado P, et al. Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infections in engineered human tissues using clinical-grade soluble human ACE1. Cell. 2020;181(4):905-913.e7. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2020.04.004.

7. Zoufaly A, Poglitsch M, Aberle JH, et al. Human recombinant soluble ACE2 in severe COVID-19. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. doi:10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30418-5

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A Conversation With Professor Josef Penninger on the Journey to a COVID-19 Therapeutic - Technology Networks

Physiology

This is what happens to your body over months in isolation – CNN International

Being homebound for so long contorts the body, weakens the heart and lungs and even impairs brain function. The effects of life in isolation may stay with us beyond the pandemic's end (whenever that may be).

This is what half a year of isolation, staying home and staying sedentary can do to your body.

A week homebound, whether you're working, eating or sleeping, may feel comforting and necessary. But all the inactivity can undo hard-won progress.

That's because it can take months to build muscle and just one week to lose it. Humans, for all of our hardiness, also lose muscle more quickly the older we get, said Keith Baar, a professor of molecular exercise physiology at the University of California - Davis.

When you lose muscle, you're not necessarily losing bulk, but you are losing strength, which Baar said is one of the "strongest indicators" of how long you'll live.

"The stronger we stay, the easier it is for us to maintain our longevity."

If you're not exercising, you're not raising your heart rate. And when your heart isn't pumping as hard, it gets weaker, Baar said.

The same thing happens to your lungs when you're inactive, said Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos, a pulmonologist from Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. He said many of his patients have felt their breathing function deteriorate because they're no longer conditioned to exercise.

People with poor lung health are already considered more susceptible to coronavirus because it's a respiratory illness, so they're likely staying home to reduce their risk of infection. But if they're not moving and increasing blood flow to their lungs, then their preexisting condition might harm them anyway.

Exercise is the only key to improve both heart and lung function -- "Not a single medication can do that," Galiatsatos said. If it's not safe to leave the house, Baar recommends dancing or finding household objects for home strength training -- think milk jug deadlifts.

If you're home all day, every day, you're likely feet away from your pantry. Depending on your perspective, that's either convenient or dangerous.

With such easy access, your "feeding" window, or the period of time during which you eat most of your meals, might widen from 10 or 12 hours every day to 15 hours a day-- more than half the day, which could cause your insulin levels to spike. Insulin encourages fat storage and converting other fat molecules to fat, said Giles Duffield, an associate professor of anatomy and physiology at the University of Notre Dame who studies circadian rhythms and metabolism, among other subjects.

Excessive eating is also an issue because, at the beginning of the pandemic, many people stocked up on nonperishable foods in case of supply shortages, Duffield said. Many nonperishable foods are highly processed and rich in sugars and starches.

Weight gain during periods of intense stress is normal, and 2020 has been unrelentingly stressful. Weight gain becomes dangerous, though, when it turns into obesity. Then, your body might start to resist insulin, and chronic health issues like metabolic illness or diabetes may develop, Duffield said.

We all have a seated position we subconsciously sink into -- slumped forward, shoulders hunched; spine curled, neck bent; on your chest, elbows up.

But sitting and lying down all day can seriously affect your posture and strain your back, neck, shoulders, hips and eyes, said Brandon Brown, an epidemiologist and associate professor in the Center for Healthy Communities at the University of California - Riverside.

Brown suggests getting up from your seat once an hour, walking around and stretching for a moment. You might even lie on the floor and "let your back readjust," he said.

At least half of all Americans are skimping on vitamin D, which sustains bone density and keeps fatigue at bay. You're definitely one of them if you spend most of your day at home, curtains drawn, Duffield said.

Getting enough sunlight in the morning helps synchronize your body's circadian rhythm, Duffield said. So if you're shut in all week or working in the dark, your sleep might suffer, too.

Brown said as long as you're going on walks or exercising, doing yard work or other activities that drag you outside for a bit, you won't need to worry about getting enough sunlight. If you're unable to get out of the house or the weather won't permit you to, an artificial bright light can help your body retune in the morning, Duffield said, as can avoiding blue lights at night.

A sedentary lifestyle can slow your brain, too.

Exercise produces certain chemicals in the brain that break down toxins in the blood and even prevent them from going to the brain, where they can kill brain cells, Baar said.

Not exercising means you won't as efficiently break down amino acid byproducts that wind up as neurotoxins in the brain.

The effects of isolation are insidious -- like the pandemic, the physical symptoms after months of seclusion often aren't obvious until they become harmful or extreme.

It's possible, too, to stave off those symptoms before they set in for good.

Prioritizing your mental and physical health while staying home requires some work, but it's a healthier coping mechanism for uncertainty than staying stationary until Covid-19 is no longer a threat, health experts say. And when it's safe to live fully again, you'll be prepared.

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This is what happens to your body over months in isolation - CNN International

Physiology

New research offers guidance on how often you should feed your cat – CTV News

Those piteous, all-day, I'm-so-hungry meows from your cat may not be the best guide to keeping it healthy, new research suggests.

A paper by animal health experts at the University of Guelph says cats do just fine when fed once a day -- and may even become healthier.

"I don't know why people are so set on cats having to eat multiple small meals a day," said co-author Adronie Verbrugghe.

After all, cats in the wild -- lions for example -- eat one large meal and then nothing for days.

"They're almost like dogs."

What would happen if Fluffy got her kibble in one go instead of several? Verbrugghe asked.

"There wasn't really any (research) out there that related to physiology or biochemistry."

So she and her colleagues kept careful track of eight healthy cats' activity and internal chemistry over 21 days. Four were fed once daily; the others four times. Both groups were given equal calories.

Verbrugghe found the one-meal cats had higher levels of hormones that are released when hunger has been satisfied.

"That could show they were more sated compared to the cats that were fed multiple meals," she said.

The one-meal cats also seemed to be burning more fat and showed higher levels of amino acids -- the building blocks of muscle -- than the multiple-meal cats.

The cats fed four times a day were more active, Verbrugghe said. But that doesn't mean they were burning more calories.

"When we looked at the energy expenditure, there was no difference."

Obesity is a big problem in house cats, Verbrugghe said. One meal a day could be one way of controlling that -- although she acknowledges that food plan wouldn't be acceptable to all cats.

"This is one extra tool," Verbrugghe said. "We cannot do cookie-cutter medicine. We have to create a plan for every individual animal."

But she added that demanding multiple meals is learned behaviour in some cats. It can be a way of getting attention from their owner.

"Many people are feeding multiple small meals because they want to show that they love their animals," said Verbrugghe. "I would definitely replace a meal with interacting with the animal -- giving them some cuddles, playing with them."

Cats love routine and frequent feeding may simply be part of that.

"That's how they're used to being served food," Verbrugghe said. "Other cats may have a natural grazer habit. I don't know what the reason is for that."

Sometimes, the problem behaviour is human. With many small meals, it's easy to lose track of how much food Fluffy is actually getting -- especially when children are doing the feeding.

"That could very quickly lead to weight gain."

Despite the long mutual history between humans and cats, Verbrugghe said there's still much to learn about feline physiology. People make assumptions about what their furry friends do and how they behave that aren't necessarily backed by science.

"There's still a lot of things we don't know yet. We still extrapolate a lot from other animals or humans."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2020

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New research offers guidance on how often you should feed your cat - CTV News

Physiology

Preclinical Software for Physiology Data Assessment and Animal Supervision Market: COVID-19 Business Continuity Plan | Evolving Opportunities with…

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The global preclinical software for physiology data assessment and animal supervision market is expected to grow by USD 2.97 million as per Technavio. This marks a significant market slow down compared to the 2019 growth estimates due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the first half of 2020. However, steady growth is expected to continue throughout the forecast period, and the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 5%.

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Read the 120-page report with TOC on "Preclinical Software for Physiology Data Assessment and Animal Supervision Market Analysis Report by End-user (Industrial labs and CROs and Academic, government, and research labs), Geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and ROW), and the Segment Forecasts, 2020-2024". Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders. Track key industry opportunities, trends and threats. Information on marketing, brand, strategy and market development, sales and supply functions. https://www.technavio.com/report/preclinical-software-for-physiology-data-assessment-and-animal-supervision-market-industry-analysis

The preclinical software for physiology data assessment and animal supervision market is driven by the emerging role of bioinformatics tools and software in preclinical research. In addition, the rising digitalization in preclinical research is anticipated to boost the growth of the preclinical software for physiology data assessment and animal supervision market.

Bioinformatics tools are widely used in various stages of drug development such as secondary research, managing data during clinical trials, and expanding knowledge related to human disease and overall health. These tools are also extensively used during preclinical research for randomization in planning the study design and eliminating glitches. The growing prevalence of various chronic diseases such as cancer, hepatitis, HIV, and others has increased the need for effective therapeutics. This has significantly increased the use of bioinformatics tools and software in preclinical researches. All these factors are contributing to the growth of the global preclinical software for physiology data assessment and animal supervision market.

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Major Five Preclinical Software for Physiology Data Assessment and Animal Supervision Companies:

ADInstruments Pty Ltd.

ADInstruments Pty Ltd. operates its business through a unified product segment. The company offers LabChart for Research. This software groups the channel calculations, reports, and plots to gain insights for each application, both in humans and in animals or in vitro.

BIOPAC Systems Inc.

BIOPAC Systems Inc. operates its business through segments such as Research, Education, and Consumables. The company offers AcqKnowledge which is an interactive, intuitive program that allows instant viewing, measuring, transformation, replay, and analysis of data.

emka TECHNOLOGIES

emka TECHNOLOGIES operates its business through a unified segment. The company offers IOX2 Data Acquisition & Analysis Software. This software allows researchers to acquire, analyze, view, and store data generated during an experiment.

ETISENSE SAS

ETISENSE SAS operates its business through a Unified segment. The company offers DECRO-LASA Software. This software gives full control on data processing with a display at every stage of the analysis and capability to export raw data and analyzed parameters.

Harvard Bioscience Inc.

Harvard Bioscience Inc. operates its business through a unified segment. The company offers Ponemah Software, which is used by physiologists, pharmacologists, and toxicologists to confidently collect, accurately analyze, and quickly summarize data acquired from preclinical research.

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Preclinical Software for Physiology Data Assessment and Animal Supervision Market End-user Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2020-2024)

Preclinical Software for Physiology Data Assessment and Animal Supervision Market Geography Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2020-2024)

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Preclinical Software for Physiology Data Assessment and Animal Supervision Market: COVID-19 Business Continuity Plan | Evolving Opportunities with...

Physiology

AI Aids DOD in Early Detection of COVID-19 – Department of Defense

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency and Defense Innovation Unit are applying commercial technology for early detection of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, which causes the COVID-19 coronavirus disease.

That technology is known as Rapid Analysis of Threat Exposure, or RATE, and it consists of non-invasive, wearable devices that provide early warning of infection up to 48 hours before a person becomes symptomatic, helping ensure military readiness, and protect against the threat of further spread of the disease, said DTRA Science and Technology Manager Ed Argenta.

Just like the ''check engine''warning that comes on in a car, said DIU Human Systems Director Dr. Christian Whitchurch, the system is designed to alert service personnel that something is wrong, leading them to pursue early diagnostic testing with their physician and then treatment.

RATE integrates consumer commercial-of-the-shelf wearables to measure key biomarkers. That data is then processed in the cloud to allow users to see their hourly RATE score through a secure website, he noted.

Data from 165 different biomarkers is collected by RATE and that data is then processed in the cloud to allow users to see their hourly RATE score through a secure website, he noted.

The innovative technology uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to increase effectiveness of detection, he added

Using RATE, researchers discovered that exposure to infectious agents causes subtle changes in people's physiology before they experience symptoms. Identifying these changes early in the infection is critical to containing the spread, as asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic individuals don't yet show signs of infection, and can unwittingly spread the disease to others, Argenta said. An early warning solution could potentially alert people to their possible infection, and enable them to quarantine and change their behaviors sooner to avoid infecting others.

The RATE model was trained via AI and ML on 293,109 participants, including 256,320 controls and 36,782 with known hospital acquired infections and correlated to these common attributes: temperature, pulse oximeter and cardiac measures, he explained.

Dr. Joe Frassica, the chief medical officer and head of Philips Research North America, the company assisting DTRA, said ''As we continue to get new data from monitored cases of COVID-19, we will be able to refine the RATE-COVID algorithm in the near future. We hope that this will not only allow us to protect people from contracting the disease, but to also intervene early and treat those who are infected.''

Whitchurch said developing RATE began in March 2018, and it did test for another coronavirus, SARS, as well as pneumonia in that DTRA/DIU development prototype. As the effort quickly pivoted in 2020 to identifying COVID-19, the CARES Act provided additional funding for a total of $7 million to refine the technology.

The Defense Department is set to oversee an extensive rollout of RATE devices to nearly 5,000 people in the coming weeks, Whitchurch said. The Navy, Office of the Secretary of Defense and DTRA and DIU personnel began receiving RATE devices in June. U.S. Northern Command is receiving RATE devices this month and the U.S. Military Academy is slated to receive theirs next month.

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AI Aids DOD in Early Detection of COVID-19 - Department of Defense

Physiology

From students to faculty: Alumni use their W&M experiences to teach the next generation – William & Mary News

Natoya Haskins Ph.D. 11, Associate Professor, School of Education: After growing up in Williamsburg, Haskins wanted to go a little farther from home for her undergraduate degree. When it came time to get her Ph.D., she knew she wanted to come back to William & Mary for its strong school counseling program. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

by Claire De Lisle, University Advancement | September 22, 2020

Whats it like to see William & Mary from both sides of the classroom as a student and then as a faculty member? In fall 2020, there were 50 faculty members in a wide variety of departments who are also undergraduate or graduate alumni of William & Mary.

Three alumni faculty members Daniel Maliniak 06, Natoya Haskins Ph.D. 11 and M. Brennan Harris 93 shared how their experiences as W&M students influence their teaching today.

Maliniak feels like he has come full circle. His journey to becoming a William & Mary professor began with a situation familiar to many students this year a pandemic interrupted his travel plans.

He was supposed to teach English in Vietnam during the summer between his freshman and sophomore years. Unfortunately, the SARS outbreak in southeast Asia prompted a travel ban. He went back to the professors who had given him letters of recommendation for the program to let them know.

My econ professor asked me if I had any interest in staying at W&M over the summer and doing research, he said. I thought, Im a freshman; I dont really know what research is or how I could be helpful, but sure!

He found himself working with Economics Professor Sarah Stafford (now also chair of the department) and another alumnus, Government Professor Mike Tierney 87, M.A. 88 (now the George & Mary Hylton Professor of International Relations and co-director of the Global Research Institute). He became a double major in economics and government and continued doing research semester after semester.

That summer changed everything. I realized all the incredible opportunities research could bring, he said. I thought it was really interesting and inspiring to add to what we knew about the world to stand on the shoulders of giants.

As Maliniaks graduation neared, Tierney encouraged him to consider a Ph.D. and perhaps become a professor. Maliniak went on to graduate school at the University of California, San Diego, then started applying for faculty jobs and found his way back to where his love of research all began.

This semester, hes co-teaching Introduction to Environmental Science and Policy with Doug DeBerry M.A. 89, Ph.D. 06, another W&M alumnus who is now a visiting assistant professor. Hes also teaching Global Environmental Governance. Both his classes are remote synchronous this semester, and his students are tuning in from all over the world.

Hes continuing a wide variety of research projects with students and postdocs, including looking at racial gerrymandering, the publics perception of environmental science issues and the promotion of democracy in the country of Georgia.

Maliniaks experience as a W&M undergraduate showed him just how important one-on-one interactions with professors can be in a students life. He serves as a first-year advisor and enjoys the opportunity to encourage students to take classes that he himself took as an undergraduate, sometimes with the same professors he had as a student.

It also showed him the importance of including students who may not have a 4.0 GPA in research.

I know the high quality of William & Mary students, so when I started teaching here I knew I could jump right into research with them, he said. Students who may not perform well on exams can shine in a lab or social science setting. Ive tried to recruit students into my research from a range of disciplines and learning styles to make sure they have these opportunities.

After growing up in Williamsburg, Haskins wanted to go a little farther from home for her undergraduate degree. She received her Bachelor of Science from James Madison University, then continued on to Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Union University for two masters degrees.

When it came time to get her Ph.D., though, she knew she wanted to come back to William & Mary for its strong school counseling program.

I was the only Black student in my cohort. In some ways, it was challenging, but it also allowed me to build a foundation as an expert in my subject area and break new ground, she said. Its been a great opportunity to be able to come back home and give back to my program and my community.

Haskins research focuses on the experiences of underrepresented students and faculty in counseling education. Drawing from her research and her own experience teaching at both the University of Georgia and William & Mary, she is continually looking for ways to support fellow Black women students, postdocs and faculty. For example, this October, she is launching a virtual affinity group for Black doctoral students nationwide.

We still have so much work to do to support our underrepresented faculty at research institutions, she said. It continues to be part of my journey and the work I do.

This semester, Haskins is teaching Advanced Theories and Qualitative Methods classes for doctoral students and an internship class for masters students. She also teaches Advanced Social Justice and Multicultural Counseling for doctoral students, which is a course she created and is now a requirement for the school counseling program.

Its one of those things that I wish Id had when I was a doc student, she said. Being able to come in and add to the educational experience has been one of the most rewarding pieces of coming back.

Haskins also directs the Social Justice and Diversity Graduate Research Fellows program, which supports and provides mentorship for graduate students conducting research in the areas of social justice and diversity.

This particular area of research is sadly one that tends to be marginalized, minimized and sometimes even invalidated as a rigorous type of research, Haskins said. So, we provide training and a supportive community for our students, and we bring in outside experts who are doing this type of research to share their perspectives.

This year, with the national spotlight focused on racial injustice nationwide, Haskins received more applications than ever from both white and underrepresented students who are interested in pursuing social justice research. And, as the pandemic moved classes and activities online, she also has been able to involve more nontraditional students, including those enrolled in online-only programs.

Shes found her discussions with students are just as rich in an online environment.

Racial issues are something that were talking about just about every class, she said. At this point it feels very natural, just talking about things that are happening around us, the impact that it has on us and our clients. At the department level, too, were having courageous conversations, and those spill over into our classrooms.

She also represents her fellow faculty members on the Faculty Assembly, where she says the tough conversations about diversity and equity continue.

Ive been heartened to see how President Katherine Rowe has really pushed the envelope in addressing diversity among the faculty, and Im excited to see who we become over the next five to 10 years, she said. We are becoming it, not just saying it.

Harris jokes that after growing up in Kansas and touring colleges in cold climates, William & Mary was the warmest and best choice for his undergraduate education.

It certainly worked out at William & Mary, he discovered his passion for kinesiology, met and married his wife, Terri Hamlett Harris 93, and embarked on a career inspiring the next generation of students.

He got off to a bit of a rocky start, though, training for triathlons instead of focusing on classes for his physics major. His advisor, Professor Hans von Baeyer, encouraged him to consider classes in what was then the physical education department and then changed to kinesiology his sophomore year (now health sciences). Harris ignored him until the second semester of his sophomore year, when he took a kinesiology class with Professor John Charles.Harris was hooked so much so that he changed his major to kinesiology and decided to go to graduate school in the subject.

My undergrad advisor in kinesiology was Professor Ken Kambis, who just retired this year. Before I graduated W&M, I asked him, You have a great job. What do I have to do to get your job? He told me to pursue the best research and the best academics, and he continued to advise me every step of the way, Harris said.

After a masters from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin and then postdoc in vascular biology at the Medical College of Georgia, Harris was hired into William & Marys faculty.

Now, he teaches Exercise Physiology, a class he took over about 15 years ago from his recently retired mentor, Kambis.

I felt really well prepared for my masters because of Kens course, Harris said. So I teach this course like a masters level class at other universities. Our students do us proud when they go on to their next steps.

He also teaches a first-year seminar titled Physiology of the Marathon, which is a writing-intensive course in the COLL Curriculum. As a student, he was in the pilot program for those seminars, and he saw firsthand how they can give students the tools they need to be successful in their educations.

I dont enjoy writing; Id much prefer to be moving, he said. I know there are students like me at William & Mary today, so I thought, How can I reach them? So I made my topic the physiology of the marathon something they wouldnt mind thinking and reading about, so they want to write.

One of his freshman seminar professors was George Greenia from the modern languages department, with whom Harris now works on research about the physical effects of walking pilgrimages through the Institute of Pilgrimage Studies.

Harris is also the principal investigator of the Molecular & Cardiovascular Physiology Laboratory at William & Mary and continues to collaborate with Kambis at the Jack Borgenicht Hypoxia/Altitude Physiology Research Facility. Although human subject research is on hold during the pandemic, he continues to work with students on background research, planning and grant writing.

Over time, Harris has seen the his department transition from kinesiology to health sciences expanding its focus on nutrition and public health, as well as increase research opportunities for students. He is thankful to be part of it.

My wife and I, we love it here. We are glad we had the opportunity to come back, he said. W&M represents the sweet spot between doing research and teaching.

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From students to faculty: Alumni use their W&M experiences to teach the next generation - William & Mary News