Category Archives: Physiology

U-M researchers identify new approach to turning on the heat in energy-burning fat cells – University of Michigan News

June 13, 2020 medical

Heat map of thermogenic fat cells (artistic rendering). Image credit: Life Sciences Institute multimedia designer Rajani Arora

Researchers have discovered a new set of signals that cells send and receive to prompt one type of fat cell to convert fat into heat. The signaling pathway, discovered in mice, has potential implications for activating this same type of thermogenic fat in humans.

Thermogenic fat cells, also called beige fat or beige adipocytes, have gained attention in recent years for their potential to curb obesity and other metabolic disorders, due to their ability to burn energy stored as fat. But scientists have yet to translate this potential into effective therapies.

The challenge of activating beige fat in humans arises, in part, because this process is regulated through so-called adrenergic signaling, which uses the hormone catecholamine to instruct beige fat cells to start burning energy. But adrenergic signaling also controls other important biological functions, including blood pressure and heartbeat regulation, so activating it in humans with agonists has potentially dangerous side effects.

In a new study scheduled for online publication June 12 in the journal Developmental Cell, a team of researchers led by the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute describes a pathway that can regulate beige fat thermogenesis independently of adrenergic signaling. Instead, it operates through a receptor protein called CHRNA2, short for Cholinergic Receptor Nicotinic Alpha 2 Subunit.

This pathway opens a whole new direction for approaching metabolic disorders, said Jun Wu, an assistant professor at the LSI and the studys senior author. Of course, this cholinergic pathway also is involved in other important functions, so there is still much work to do to really figure out how this might work in humans. But we are encouraged by these initial findings.

For their study, Wu and her colleagues blocked the CHRNA2 pathway only in adipocytes in mice, and then fed the mice a high-fat diet. Without the CHRNA2 receptor proteins, the mice showed greater weight gain than normal mice, and were less able to activate thermogenesis in response to excess food intake.

Wu believes the findings are particularly exciting in light of another research teams recent discovery of a new type of beige fat that is not regulated by catecholamine. This newest study from the LSI indicates that this subpopulation of beige fat, called glycolytic beige fat (or g-beige fat), can be activated through the CHRNA2 pathway.

Many patients with metabolic disorders have catecholamine resistance, meaning their cells do not detect or respond to catecholamine, said Wu, who is also an assistant professor of molecular and integrative physiology at the U-M Medical School.

So even if it could be done safely, activating that adrenergic pathway would not be an effective treatment option for such patients. This new pathway, with this new subtype of beige fat, could be the beginning of a whole new chapter for approaching this challenge.

The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, American Diabetes Association, Chinese Scholarship Council and Michigan Life Sciences Fellows program.

Study authors are: Heejin Jun, Shanshan Liu, Jine Wang, Alexander Knights, Margot Emont, X.Z. Shawn Xu and Jun Wu of U-M; Yingxu Ma of U-M and Central South University, China; Yong Chen and Shingo Kajimura of the University of California, San Francisco; Jianke Gong of U-M and the Huazhong University of Science and Technology; and Xiaona Qiao of U-M and Fudan University, China.

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U-M researchers identify new approach to turning on the heat in energy-burning fat cells - University of Michigan News

Physiology

Soccer turns to Electronic Caregiver for health app – Las Cruces Bulletin

June 13, 2020 medical

From an Electronic Caregiver news release

As COVID-19 regulations ease, Las Cruces-based health technology company Electronic Caregiver (ECG) has developed a digital application to help professional soccer players in Austria resume training and competition as safely as possible.

ECG was subcontracted by Paracelsus Medical University (PMU) in Salzburg, Austria to build a data collection interface and mobile app, called Wallpass, to identify and track COVID-19 exposure risk among players of the Austrian Soccer Bundesliga, the highest-ranking national league club competition in Austrian soccer.

ECG and PMU will collaborate with the University of Salzburg and the Red Bull Athlete Performance Center (APC) in Salzburg to help maintain overall athlete and staff members health.

This project, coupled with other initiatives that ECG is working on right now, is targeted toward helping the world get back to some semblance of normalcy and will allow people to begin living their lives again, said ECG Chief Technology Officer David Keeley. By providing this technology, were helping to be a driving force for job creation or re-establishment. Were helping communities heal as it relates to getting back to normal, and were doing so in a way that maximizes protection as much as possible.

Apple Inc. recently approved ECGs digital app for testing. Professional soccer players participating in the study to evaluate the efficacy of the app will register and download the app so that it can begin collecting data on physiology, standard training and competition, recovery and COVID-19 or infectious disease exposure risk (including survey question responses and geopositioning). PMUs research team and medical staff will review the data and quantify the safeness of returning to play.

Were trying to show that the risk of returning to play is minimal with enhanced safety procedures, Keeley said. Teams will be using the app for about three months, and then hopefully, we meet with success, and we can extend and expand through the entire league for the 2021 season.

The results of this study will provide new and much-needed data on the prevalence, nature and behavior of COVID-19-related illness in professional athletics.

From a medical perspective, it is very important to gain and analyze data regarding risk factors and prevention approaches against COVID-19 in professional sports to get a better understanding and improve safety as best as possible for team sport athletes, said PMU Institute of General, Family, and Preventive Medicine Head professor Maria Flamm.

It is of greatest importance to guarantee a safe sport and to understand the possible mechanisms and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic or future diseases, said APCs head of research and development/science Thomas Stoeggl, professor for training science at the University of Salzburg.

Along with professional athletes, this project and ECGs mobile app will pave the way for other organizations and individuals to return to daily life.

I could see this technology used in schools; I could see it used in places of business; I could see it used for organizations that want to host large gatherings, Keeley said. I see its applicability across a wide range of scenarios and use cases.

ECG is a leading brand for virtual care solutions and remote patient monitoring services. The company staff size more than doubled in 2019 and is nearing 150 full-time employees. ECG has invested more than $55 million and 10 years into research, development and a staged rollout of virtual care and health management solutions for chronic care patients, child patients and older adults. Visit http://www.addison.care and http://www.electroniccaregiver.com.

PMU is a private university with locations in Salzburg and Nuremberg, Germany. Teaching, research and patient care are the three pillars on which the university was founded in 2002. Visit

http://www.pmu.ac.at.

APC is supporting elite athletes from more than 200 individual sport disciplines with more than 800 individual athletes currently under sponsorship contracts. Visit http://www.redbull.at.

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Soccer turns to Electronic Caregiver for health app - Las Cruces Bulletin

Physiology

UCI Researchers Uncover Cancer Cell Vulnerabilities; May Lead to Better Cancer Therapies – Newswise

June 13, 2020 medical

Newswise Irvine, CA June 12, 2020 A new University of California, Irvine-led study reveals a protein responsible for genetic changes resulting in a variety of cancers, may also be the key to more effective, targeted cancer therapy.

The study, published today in Nature Communications, titled, Quantification of ongoing APOBEC3A activity in tumor cells by monitoring RNA editing at hotspots, reveals how the genomic instability induced by the protein APOBEC3A offers a previously unknown vulnerability in cancer cells.

Each day, in human cells, tens of thousands of DNA damage events occur. In cancer cells, the expression of the protein APOBEC3A is one of the most common sources of DNA damage and mutations. While the mutations caused by these particular proteins in cancer cells contribute to tumor evolution, they also cause breaks in the DNA, which offer a vulnerability.

Targeting cancer cells with high levels of APOBEC3A protein activities and disrupting, at the same time, the DNA damage response necessary to repair damages caused by APOBEC3A, could be key to more effective cancer therapies, said Remi Buisson, PhD, senior investigator and an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Chemistry at the UCI School of Medicine. However, to exploit the vulnerability of the cancer cells, it is critical to first quantitatively measure the proteins activity in tumors.

To understand the role of APOBEC3A in tumor evolution and to target the APOBEC3A -induced vulnerabilities, the researchers developed an assay to measure the RNA-editing activity of APOBEC3A in cancer cells. Because APOBEC3A is difficult to quantify in tumors, developing a highly sensitive assay for measuring activity was critical. Using hotspot RNA mutations, identified from APOBEC3A-positive tumors, the team developed an assay using droplet digital PCR and demonstrated its applicability to clinical samples from cancer patients.

Our study presents a new strategy to follow the dysregulation of APOBEC3A in tumors, providing opportunities to investigate the role of APOBEC3A in tumor evolution and to target the APOBEC3A-induced vulnerability in therapy, said Buisson. We anticipate that the RNA mutation-based APOBEC3A assay will significantly advance our understanding of the function of the protein in tumorigenesis and allow us to more effectively exploit the vulnerabilities it creates in cancer therapy.

This study was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, a California Breast Cancer Research Program grant and an MPN Research Foundation Challenge grant.

About the UCI School of Medicine

Each year, the UCI School of Medicine educates more than 400 medical students, and nearly 150 doctoral and masters students. More than 700 residents and fellows are trained at UCI Medical Center and affiliated institutions. The School of Medicine offers an MD; a dual MD/PhD medical scientist training program; and PhDs and masters degrees in anatomy and neurobiology, biomedical sciences, genetic counseling, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, pathology, pharmacology, physiology and biophysics, and translational sciences. Medical students also may pursue an MD/MBA, an MD/masters in public health, or an MD/masters degree through one of three mission-based programs: the Health Education to Advance Leaders in Integrative Medicine (HEAL-IM), the Leadership Education to Advance Diversity-African, Black and Caribbean (LEAD-ABC), and the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC). The UCI School of Medicine is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Accreditation and ranks among the top 50 nationwide for research. For more information, visit som.uci.edu.

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UCI Researchers Uncover Cancer Cell Vulnerabilities; May Lead to Better Cancer Therapies - Newswise

Physiology

EHA25Virtual: Adult Patients With Sickle Cell Disease May Be at Increased Risk of Adverse Outcomes From COVID-19 – P&T Community

June 13, 2020 medical

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, June 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassemia are severe inherited blood disorders, often referred to as "hemoglobinopathies." They predominantly affect the Black and Asian ethnic minority populations in England. To ensure good standards and equitable access to care, the National Health Service in England has recently commissioned a model of regional care networks overseen by a new body, the National Haemoglobinopathy Panel. This organizational structure has enabled a rapid response to the COVID-19 epidemic and enabled collection of national data on new cases and outcomes to determine if hemoglobinopathy patients are at risk of adverse COVID-19 outcomes.

We present an analysis on data collected up to June 5th indicating that the majority of cases have been mild, and in particular children do not appear to be at increased risk. However, the data suggests that adults with SCD may be more vulnerable to adverse outcomes. Therefore, we recommend that isolation precautions should be lifted cautiously, and that new therapies and vaccination for COVID-19, when available, should be prioritized for this patient group.

Presenter: Dr Paul Telfer Affiliation:Queen Mary University of London, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK Abstract:#LB2606 REAL-TIME NATIONAL SURVEY OF COVID-19 IN HEMOGLOBINOPATHY AND RARE INHERITED ANEMIA PATIENTS

About the EHA Annual Congress: Every year in June, EHA organizes its Annual Congress in a major European city. This year due to the COVID19 pandemic, EHA transformed its physical meeting into a Virtual Congress. The Congress is aimed at health professionals working in or interested in the field of hematology. The scientific program topics range from stem cell physiology and development to leukemia; lymphoma; diagnosis and treatment; red blood cells; white blood cells and platelet disorders; hemophilia and myeloma; thrombosis and bleeding disorders; as well as transfusion and stem cell transplantation. Embargo: Please note that our embargo policy applies to all selected abstracts in the Press Briefings. For more information, see our EHA Media and Embargo policy here.

Website: ehaweb.org

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EHA25Virtual: Adult Patients With Sickle Cell Disease May Be at Increased Risk of Adverse Outcomes From COVID-19 - P&T Community

Physiology

McIsaac dominated in the pool – Winnipeg Free Press

June 13, 2020 medical

Over his career, Tim McIsaac collected 14 gold, four silver and five bronze Paralympic medals. He also dominated the World Games, racing to five gold medals, four silver and eight bronze between from 1979-86.

Upsets are what make the NCAAs March Madness basketball tournament so terrific. It seems like every year theres a Cinderella team that busts up brackets, coming out of nowhere and knocking off a Final Four favourite.

It turns out Sports Showdown, the Free Press sports departments March Madness-style bracket to determine who readers choose as Manitobas greatest athlete of all time is no different as it featured an underdog story of its own.

Tim McIsaac, a blind Paralympic swimming legend from Winnipeg, was surprised when he got a text from his sister last month informing him hed been included in the 32-person bracket. But the 14-time Paralympic gold medallist definitely proved he belonged as he defeated hockey star Jennifer Botterill in the first round before pulling off an unexpected victory over Canadas most decorated Winter Olympian, speedskating icon Cindy Klassen, in the Super 16.

In the Excellent 8, McIsaac had the second-most votes that week. The only problem was he had fewer than speedskater/cyclist Clara Hughes, the athlete he was matched up against. "Thats not a bad person to lose to," McIsaac said recently.

McIsaac had a wealth of supporters, with family, friends, co-workers, the Para-sport community and some of the volunteer groups hes been involved with offering a collective push. Some of his support came from as far away as Brazil and Australia.

"It probably was more important to me than some of the other people in it. Obviously, Id never be able to compete on an equal footing to any of the people in there due to me having a disability and them not. Partly it was because I thought I could stand against them in something and win. Partly it was because I thought if I did win, it would command more respect for Para-sport, the Paralympic movement and the sport of swimming," said McIsaac, a 61-year-old who works as an accessibility co-ordinator for the Manitoba government.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Tim McIsaac enjoys some quality time with his faithful companion at home. In 1982, he was named the Manitoba male athlete of the year and Canadian athlete of the year.

"Im not making the kind of money Jonathan Toews does, I dont have people coming to me and saying Be the face of our corporate citizen campaign like Clara Hughes has, Im not a Lou Marsh trophy winner like Cindy Klassen is, and if I couldve been the last one standing at the end, as a Paralympian, and a Paralympian who competed several years ago... I thought it would really be an accomplishment if the kind of love, respect and admiration that got me this far could take me the rest of the way."

You cant win em all, but McIsaac nearly did back in his swimming days in the 1980s.

In addition to his 14 Paralympic gold medals, McIsaac won four silver and five bronze. He also dominated the World Games, racing to five gold medals, four silver and eight bronze between from 1979-86. In 1982, he was named the Manitoba male athlete of the year and Canadian athlete of the year.

Despite having so many awards and medals he cant even keep track of where they all are today, McIsaac said its not uncommon for his accomplishments and those of other Paralympians to be downplayed. He believes things have gotten better over the years, but theres still a ways to go to change peoples perspectives on Para-sports.

"Maybe not so much now, but back when I was doing it, and I think there are still some people who think this, that Para-sport, sports for the disabled and the Paralympics are just some recreational, rehabilitation thing to give us something to do and help us overcome our insecurities, our challenges and all that kind of stuff. It never was that for me," said McIsaac, from his Charleswood home.

"I always wanted to be in a sighted club. I think its great they have the Paralympics because I dont think you can compare an athlete with a disability against an able-bodied person any more than you can compare a man against a woman because of the physiology, but that doesnt mean their accomplishments are any less."

McIsaac was at his most comfortable in the pool a star athlete representing his country around the world. However, when he retired from swimming in 1992 and got a job at a bank, he had a difficult time adjusting to life without competition.

"It was kind of like I could see. The pool was the one place out of all places I went in the world where my blindness was the least limiting to me," said McIsaac, who began swimming as a youngster in his uncles backyard pool.

"Now Im out in this work world and things like work ethic, motivation and all these other things just didnt help me. They werent working. It just seemed like there were so many things beyond my control. Try as I might, I couldnt impress people and I couldnt be successful."

McIsaac wanted to help others avoid the same challenges he did. He returned to school and obtained his masters in arts and disability studies at the University of Manitoba in 2011, and is now toward his masters in education with specialization in counselling psychology. McIsaac is a part of an initiative, led by performance psychologist Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood and the Canadian Sports Centre Manitoba, called Terrific Tuesdays, a virtual support group for athletes, coaches and sport administrators during these uncertain times caused by the pandemic.

McIsaac was also behind Beyond The Glory, a group aimed to help athletes who are currently retired or about to retire from Paralympic Sport.

"I feel like I have an obligation to give something back, given all the privilege Ive had in my life and the opportunity I have in my life," said McIsaac, who has a 31-year-old son, Stephen. McIsaad has been married to his wife, Heather, for 20 years. "I know some of the things Ive suffered in silence with for a long time and I feel like the way to pay forward that opportunity is to try and see if I can help people have an easier time.

"Not necessarily that itll be easier to train or easier to compete, but hopefully they can manage those things mentally better than I was able to because we didnt have the kinds of supports that are out there now. Id like to be one of the people out there that does some of that supporting. It doesnt even necessarily have to be athletes. Im happy to work with anybody."

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31

Taylor AllenReporter

Eighteen years old and still in high school, Taylor got his start with the Free Press on June 1, 2011. Well, sort of.

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Physiology

Meet the 35 contestants vying for the title of Miss South Africa 2020 – News24

June 13, 2020 medical

Meet the Miss South Africa top 35 vying for the title of Miss South Africa 2020.

The top 35 is an impressive and diverse group. Among them are two medical doctors, a lawyer, a teacher, a filmmaker, a singer, a fashion designer as well as models, graduates, and students.

These contestants come from across the country - Gauteng has 12 contenders, followed by Kwa-Zulu Natal with six, the Western Cape with five, the Eastern Cape and Free State with four, while North West has two and Limpopo and the Northern Cape each have one entrant.

ALSO READ |Miss South Africa 2020 first round judges announced

Three have entered before. They are Miss South Africa 2018 finalist Karishma Ramdev as well as Anarzade Omar and Nkosazana Sibobosi who placed in the top 35 last year.

ALSO READ | 5 Miss South Africa winners who took home the crown on a second (or third!) attempt

For the next few weeks, they will be out to impress this year's semi-finalist judges who are broadcaster Anele Mdoda and former Miss South Africa title holders Bokang Montjane-Tshabalala (2010), Liesl Laurie (2015) and Ad van Heerden (2017).

MEET THE TOP 35 CONTESTANTS HERE:

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONTESTANTS HERE (in alphabetical order):

1. Anarzade Omar (21), from Johannesburg South, graduated in strategic communication from the University of Johannesburg and is currently working in marketing. She made the Miss South Africa top 35 last year.

2. Anica Myburgh (27), comes from Bethlehem in the Free State but currently lives in Robertson in the Western Cape. She is a full-time international model with Boss Models and has a degree in BSC Life Science with majors in psychology and physiology and is currently completing a post graduate certificate in education at Unisa.

3. Aphelele Mbiyo (24), comes from Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape but currently lives in Johannesburg. She holds a BA degree in integrated marketing communications from the AAA School of Advertising in Cape Town. She works as a marketing associate and is a part-time model at Boss Models.

4. Busisiwe Mmotla (27), comes from Emdeni in Soweto and is a senior and FET phase teacher also studying towards a diploma in personal training at Trifocus Fitness Academy.

5. Carla Peters (20) grew up in Bethelsdorp, Port Elizabeth, but is currently living in Muizenburg, Cape Town. A full-time model at Boss Models Cape Town, she is also a drama student at Rondini Film School.

6. Chantelle Pretorius (24) was born and raised in Pretoria but is currently travelling six months of the year working as a model in Europe. She completed a diploma in nutrition at the Blackford Centre in the UK and is currently studying B.Com Business Management through Unisa.

7. Gabriella Koopman (23) from Sandton, Gauteng, completed her honours in psychology at Stellenbosch University and is currently tutoring her brother at home and hoping to do her masters in clinical psychology in 2022.

8. Jamie Lee Harris (24), comes from Bluff, KZN, but currently resides in Johannesburg. She is a final year law student as well as an entrepreneur and model.

9. Jordan van der Vyver (24) lives in Durbanville in the Western Cape but grew up in Johannesburg. She currently works as an international model signed with Boss Models South Africa.

10. Kadija Makhanya (23) hails from Umlazi, KZN, but lives in Cape Town. She graduated with a national diploma in civil engineering from the Mangosuthu University of Technology and is currently completing a B.Tech at Tshwane University of Technology in construction management. She is also a part-time model at Indoni models and D&A.

11. Karabo Legodi (21) from Soweto, Gauteng, is in her second year of a psychology degree at the University of Johannesburg and a full-time model at Boss Models Johannesburg.

12. Karishma Ramdev (25) was born and raised in Chatsworth, KZN, but moved to Pretoria at the age of 18 where she studied and graduated with a MBChB at the University of Pretoria. She is now a qualified medical doctor working in Johannesburg. Karishma was a Miss SA top 12 finalist in 2018.

13. Kayla Neilson (27), is from Meredale, Johannesburg and resides in Randburg. She is a singer/songwriter with Lorac Entertainment, as well as a beauty salon and fashion brand entrepreneur. Kayla is also a commercial model and aspiring actress with Legends Agency.

14. Kea Mokorotlo (21), comes from Bloemfontein in Free State but lives in Johannesburg. She is in her final year studying strategic brand communication at Vega college, Johannesburg and is also a digital content creator on various social media platforms.

15. Lebogang Mahlangu (24), was born and raised in Soshanguve, Pretoria and is currently based in Umhlanga, KZN. She graduated from Stellenbosch University with a BSc. Food Science degree and is currently employed as a product developer.

16. Lerato Manoko Malatji (25) lives in Orange Farm, Gauteng and has a degree in information and knowledge management from the University of Johannesburg. She is also a model with Fabulousdotcom Models.

17. Lerato Siko (24) hails from Potchefstroom in the North West Province and graduated with a B.Com Marketing and Tourism Management degree from the North-West University. She is currently running her own event styling and coordination business L A S Events while also working at A&E Wedding and Function Decor.

18. Lesedi Phala (24) from Pietermaritzburg, KZN, is a final year LLB student at the University of the Free State and is a part-time model at Boss Models.

19. Lindokuhle Mvango (24) is originally from Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape but currently lives in George in the Western Cape. She graduated with a higher certificate in business studies from Nelson Mandela University and is pursuing a diploma in logistics management. She is also a part-time model at 33 and me talent agency.

20. Luv Meyer (23) from Brackenfell, Cape Town, is a psychology graduate and is currently completing her honours degree. She is a full-time model with ICE Genetics.

21. Matsepo Sithole (21) comes from Pietermaritzburg, KZN, and is studying law at the University of Pretoria.

22. Melissa Nayimuli (24) was born in Butterworth in the Eastern Cape but lives in Sunninghill, Johannesburg. She obtained a BA degree in Motion Picture Medium from AFDA in Johannesburg and works as an account manager for a marketing agency.

23. Melvarene Theron (25) from Eldorado Park, Gauteng is an LLB graduate from the University of Johannesburg. She is employed as a legal intern at the Gauteng Department of Roads and Public Transport.

24. Natasha Joubert (22) hails from Centurion, Gauteng. She is a B.Com Marketing Management graduate, public relations officer and couture business owner.

25. Nicole Wilmans (25) is from Stellenbosch and has a degree in fashion design and is currently completing an honours degree.

26. Nkosazana Sibobosi (24), was born in Khayelitsha but now resides in Cape Town and is a creative director and filmmaker who also works as a professional fashion model signed with Boss Models Cape Town. She made the Miss South Africa top 35 last year.

27. Olin-Shae De La Cruz (26) was born and raised in Claremont, Cape Town, but now lives in Bryanston, Johannesburg. She is in her final year of completing her business administration in media operations management degree and works as an account manager for an advertising agency. She is also a netball coach at ActionKidz SA and the co-founder of Swish EP.

28. Olorato Major (24) comes from Warrenton in the Northern Cape but is currently living in Midrand, Gauteng. She recently obtained her private pilot's license at Aeronav Academy and is currently completing her commercial pilot's license. She is also a part time model at PACE Model Artist Management.

29. Palesa Keswa (23) comes from Sasolburg in the Free State and graduated with a B.Com degree in Economics & Risk Management. She is studying for her honours degree in economics.

30. Savannah Schutzler (24) is from Durban KZN but now lives in Rondebosch, Cape Town. She graduated with a BA in Drama and Theatre Studies from Stellenbosch University and received honours in live performance and a diploma in media makeup and styling. She is an actress and online TEFL English Teacher.

31. Sherry Wang (25) from Sunninghill, Johannesburg graduated from Wits University with a BA honours degree in International Relations and is currently working in HR at Hogan Lovells law firm in Sandton.

32. Shevon Pereira (23), comes from Johannesburg, Gauteng and graduated with a degree in B.Com Entrepreneurship through the University of Pretoria. Currently a part-time model at G3 Models and an au pair she also co-owns a small business called Route Products.

33. Shudufhadzo Musida (23), comes from Ha-Masia in Venda, Limpopo, but currently lives in Johannesburg. She graduated with a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) from the University of Pretoria and is currently completing a BA Honours in International Relations at the University of Witwatersrand.

34. Stacy Gossayn (23), is from Viljoenskroon in the Free State and recently graduated from the North-West University with a BSc degree in Human Movement Science and Physiology.

35. Thato Mosehle (25) comes from Stilfontein in the North West. She currently works as a medical doctor at the Klerksdorp Tshepong hospital complex and is a part-time makeup student at the Beauty Therapy Institute in Bloemfontein.

A top 16 will be announced at a date still to be confirmed.

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Meet the 35 contestants vying for the title of Miss South Africa 2020 - News24

Physiology

With an internet of animals, scientists aim to track and save wildlife – Minneapolis Star Tribune

June 12, 2020 medical

The International Space Station, orbiting 240 miles above the planet, is about to join the effort to monitor the worlds wildlife and to revolutionize the science of animal tracking.

A large antenna and other equipment aboard the orbiting outpost will soon be able to relay a wider range of data than previous tracking technologies, logging not just an animals location but also its physiology and environment. This will provide much more detailed information on the health of the worlds ecosystems.

The new approach, known as ICARUS short for International Cooperation for Animal Research Using Space will be able to track animals across far larger areas than other technologies. It will allow researchers to track flocks of birds as they migrate over long distances, for instance, instead of monitoring only one or two birds at a time, as well as far smaller creatures, including insects. And, as climate change and habitat destruction roil the planet, ICARUS will allow biologists and wildlife managers to quickly respond to changes.

Its a new era of discovery, said Walter Jetz, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Yale. We will discover new migration paths, habitat requirements, things about species behavior that we didnt even think about.

As an added bonus, people all over the world will one day be able to log on with a smartphone app to follow their favorite bird or tortoise or fish as it migrates.

This space-based approach is led by Martin Wikelski, director of migration research at the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior in Germany. ICARUS combines such technology as solar and GPS units with technology specifically designed for tracking small animals.

On the ground, researchers will attach solar-powered bio-loggers that are far smaller than other technology the size of two fingernails. The advanced design will allow them to collect far more data by monitoring an animals physiology, including skin temperature and body position, and external conditions like weather metrics.

The technology can also be used to accomplish a range of goals beyond wildlife studies, such as picking up behavioral changes among animals prior to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that could provide an early warning.

It also could keep tabs on species of bats, pangolins and other animals that have played a role in epidemics. With skin temperature we can see in the ducks in China whether the next avian influenza is starting, Wikelski said.

The power of this approach is partly based on the fact that the space station can pick up the signals of these animals almost anywhere on the planet. And while other projects have tracked sharks, birds and other migratory species with satellites, this one aims to be useful for any species that researchers wish to examine.

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With an internet of animals, scientists aim to track and save wildlife - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Physiology

Researchers identify two brain phenomena that may explain the side-effects of ketamine – News-Medical.Net

June 12, 2020 medical

In a study aimed at understanding the effect of therapeutic drugs on the brains of people living with Huntington's disease, researchers used electroencephalography (EEG) to measure immediate changes in the animals' brain waves once ketamine - an anaesthetic and pain relief drug - was administered.

Low-frequency activity dominated while the sheep were asleep. When the drug wore off and the sheep regained consciousness, the researchers were surprised to see the brain activity start switching between high and low-frequency oscillations.

The bursts of different frequency were irregular at first but became regular within a few minutes.

"As the sheep came round from the ketamine, their brain activity was really unusual," said Professor Jenny Morton at the University of Cambridge's Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, who led the research.

The timing of the unusual patterns of sheep brain activity corresponded to the time when human users report feeling their brain has disconnected from their body."

Jenny Morton, Study Lead and Professor, Development and Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, University of Cambridge

She added: "It's likely that the brain oscillations caused by the drug may prevent information from the outside world being processed normally,"

The findings arose as part of a larger research project into Huntington's disease, a condition that stops the brain working properly.

The team want to understand why human patients respond differently to various drugs if they carry the gene for this disease. Sheep were used because they are recognised as a suitable pre-clinical model of disorders of the human nervous system, including Huntington's disease.

Six of the sheep were given a single higher dose of ketamine, 24mg/kg. This is at the high end of the anaesthetic range. Initially, the same response was seen as with a lower dose.

But within two minutes of administering the drug, the brain activity of five of these six sheep stopped completely, one of them for several minutes - a phenomenon that has never been seen before.

"This wasn't just reduced brain activity. After the high dose of ketamine, the brains of these sheep completely stopped. We've never seen that before," said Morton. Although the anaesthetised sheep looked as though they were asleep, their brains had switched off.

"A few minutes later their brains were functioning normally again - it was as though they had just been switched off and on."

The researchers think that this pause in brain activity may correspond to what ketamine abusers describe as the 'K-hole' - a state of oblivion likened to a near-death experience, which is followed by a feeling of great serenity. The study is published today in the journal Scientific Reports.

Ketamine abusers are known to take doses many times higher than those given to the sheep in this research. It is also likely that progressively higher doses have to be taken to get the same effect.

The researchers say that such high doses can cause liver damage, may stop the heart, and be fatal.

To conduct the experiment sheep were put into veterinary slings, which are commonly used to keep animals safe during veterinary procedures. Different doses of ketamine were given to 12 sheep and their brain activity recorded with EEG.

Ketamine was chosen for the study because it is widely used as a safe anaesthetic and pain-relief drug for treating large animals including dogs, horses and sheep.

It is also used medically and is known as a 'dissociative anaesthetic' because patients can appear awake and move around, but they don't feel pain or process information normally - many reports feeling as though their mind has separated from their body.

At lower doses ketamine has a pain-relieving effect, and its use in adult humans is mainly restricted to field situations such as frontline pain-relief for injured soldiers or victims of road traffic accidents.

"Our purpose wasn't really to look at the effects of ketamine, but to use it as a tool to probe the brain activity in sheep with and without the Huntington's disease gene," said Morton.

"But our surprising findings could help explain how ketamine works. If it disrupts the networks between different regions of the brain, this could make it a useful tool to study how brain networks function - both in the healthy brain and in neurological diseases like Huntington's disease and schizophrenia."

Ketamine has recently been proposed as a new treatment for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Beyond its anaesthetic actions, however, very little is known about its effects on brain function.

"We think of anaesthetic drugs as just slowing everything down. That's what it looks like from the outside: the animals basically go to sleep and are unresponsive, and then they wake up very quickly. But when we looked at the brain activity, it seems to be a much more dynamic process," said Morton.

Source:

Journal reference:

Nicol, A. U & Morton A. J. (2020) Characteristic patterns of EEG oscillations in sheep (Ovis aries) induced by ketamine may explain the psychotropic effects seen in humans. Scientific Reports. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-66023-8.

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Researchers identify two brain phenomena that may explain the side-effects of ketamine - News-Medical.Net

Physiology

What Is Early Life Stress? – WTOP

June 12, 2020 medical

The coronavirus pandemic represents a significant stress to youth and adults alike. Moreover, the images of police brutality, looting and

The coronavirus pandemic represents a significant stress to youth and adults alike. Moreover, the images of police brutality, looting and mass demonstrations can exacerbate feelings stress and uncertainty. We are living through an unprecedented experience and our adaptability to it may vary.

To understand the potential effects of this period of time on children, its helpful to have a closer understanding of early life stress.

Stress is a physiological reaction that prepares an individual to respond to a stressor. The stressor is usually something that threatens the well-being or homeostasis (stable equilibrium) of the individual. The benefits and detriments of stress operate on an inverted U shape curve. On the first part of the curve we encounter the benefits; for example, stress helps develop our immune system, increases our performance and motivates us to take action, but only up to an optimal point. After this critical point, we start seeing a decline in health, performance and well-being.

[READ: Coping With Anxiety and Depression During the Coronavirus Pandemic.]

Stress accumulates. Early life stress refers to a load of stress that starts early in development. Think of a backpack; we can all carry one, but if it gets too heavy for the individual, it will affect his or her balance. It becomes an allostatic load, which means it impacts the physiology and health of the individual.

Support, coping strategies, genetic makeup, temperament, cognitive flexibility and other factors all contribute to the way we carry our stress burden. When stress is present early in life, it may interfere with key physical, emotional, academic and social developmental milestones.

Elements of the current COVID-19 pandemic represent early life stress for children. For example, not being at school, not interacting with friends, having play and exercise limited, feeling concerned about the well-being of their caretakers and themselves, and the threat of illness are all stressors.

Teenagers face specific challenges: Their sense of control over their lives may be limited, they have to strictly adhere to rules and they may experience loss of privacy. Other associated stressors for all include the monitoring of their health by themselves and others, the cancellation or postponement of important activities, and in critical situations, the grief of losing friends or loved ones.

[See: 8 Proven Strategies to Stop Overthinking and Ease Anxiety Now.]

Anxiety, which is not only the physical response, but the negative thoughts associated with an experience, can have a negative impact on all of us, children and adults alike. Although at a time like this its human to be anxious, failing to control the anxiety can influence our judgment or problem-solving ability. This may lead to irrational decisions, such as disobeying health ordinances, or falsely attributing blame at a time when we all need to practice good citizenship and be responsive together.

Parents and caregivers become the meter by which youth measure their safety. They should open communication about this crisis by making themselves available to answer questions, and communicate a message of safety. Kids want to know that their caregivers feel competent and confident in providing safety and security.

Of course, were not always going to have all the answers, and were not always going to feel like talking about the subject. Choose a time that works for you and your child, and if you dont know the answer to their question, tell them youll look into it.

Make sure you use reliable sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for health issues.

For issues specific to kids, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has useful resources, including Facts for Families. The Stanford Early Life Stress and Resilience Program has a number of significant resources as well, including online physical and mind exercises and educational tools.

Parents also need to know when to seek professional help.

[Read: Meditation Tips During the Coronavirus Pandemic.]

If your child demonstrates a saddened affect that lasts longer than two days, avoids activities they usually enjoy, has difficulty concentrating, exhibits unhealthy sleeping or eating, engages in use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs, or demonstrates any new, uncharacteristic behavior that worries you, you should contact your family doctor to discuss. It doesnt necessarily mean that your child requires medical attention, but your doctor can help assess if more specialized help is needed.

Every child and every family is unique. These guidelines are meant to support your efforts, but you need to adapt them to your situation, your family life and family composition. Use this time as an opportunity to teach the value of working as a community for a common benefit.

Sedated Sheep Show How Ketamine Reboots the Brain – Technology Networks

June 12, 2020 medical

Researchers have identified two brain phenomena that may explain some of the side-effects of ketamine. Their measurements of the brain waves of sheep sedated by the drug may explain the out-of-body experience and state of complete oblivion it can cause.In a study aimed at understanding the effect of therapeutic drugs on the brains of people living with Huntingtons disease, researchers used electroencephalography (EEG) to measure immediate changes in the animals brain waves once ketamine an anesthetic and pain relief drug was administered. Low frequency activity dominated while the sheep were asleep. When the drug wore off and the sheep regained consciousness, the researchers were surprised to see the brain activity start switching between high and low frequency oscillations. The bursts of different frequency were irregular at first, but became regular within a few minutes.

As the sheep came round from the ketamine, their brain activity was really unusual, said Professor Jenny Morton at the University of Cambridges Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, who led the research. The timing of the unusual patterns of sheep brain activity corresponded to the time when human users report feeling their brain has disconnected from their body.

She added: Its likely that the brain oscillations caused by the drug may prevent information from the outside world being processed normally,

The findings arose as part of a larger research project into Huntingtons disease, a condition that stops the brain working properly. The team want to understand why human patients respond differently to various drugs if they carry the gene for this disease. Sheep were used because they are recognized as a suitable pre-clinical model of disorders of the human nervous system, including Huntingtons disease.

Six of the sheep were given a single higher dose of ketamine, 24mg/kg. This is at the high end of the anesthetic range. Initially, the same response was seen as with a lower dose. But within two minutes of administering the drug, the brain activity of five of these six sheep stopped completely, one of them for several minutes a phenomenon that has never been seen before.

This wasnt just reduced brain activity. After the high dose of ketamine the brains of these sheep completely stopped. Weve never seen that before, said Morton. Although the anesthetized sheep looked as though they were asleep, their brains had switched off. A few minutes later their brains were functioning normally again it was as though they had just been switched off and on.

The researchers think that this pause in brain activity may correspond to what ketamine abusers describe as the K-hole a state of oblivion likened to a near-death experience, which is followed by a feeling of great serenity. The study is published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Ketamine abusers are known to take doses many times higher than those given to the sheep in this research. It is also likely that progressively higher doses have to be taken to get the same effect. The researchers say that such high doses can cause liver damage, may stop the heart, and be fatal.

Ketamine was chosen for the study because it is widely used as a safe anesthetic and pain-relief drug for treating large animals including dogs, horses and sheep. It is also used medically, and is known as a dissociative anesthetic because patients can appear awake and move around, but they dont feel pain or process information normally many report feeling as though their mind has separated from their body.

Our purpose wasn't really to look at the effects of ketamine, but to use it as a tool to probe the brain activity in sheep with and without the Huntingtons disease gene, said Morton. But our surprising findings could help explain how ketamine works. If it disrupts the networks between different regions of the brain, this could make it a useful tool to study how brain networks function - both in the healthy brain and in neurological diseases like Huntingtons disease and schizophrenia.

Ketamine has recently been proposed as a new treatment for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Beyond its anesthetic actions, however, very little is known about its effects on brain function.

We think of anaesthetic drugs as just slowing everything down. That's what it looks like from the outside: the animals basically go to sleep and are unresponsive, and then they wake up very quickly. But when we looked at the brain activity, it seems to be a much more dynamic process, said Morton.

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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Sedated Sheep Show How Ketamine Reboots the Brain - Technology Networks