Physiology

Multi-Society Guidelines on the Use of Multimodality CV Imaging in Competitive Athletes – The Cardiology Advisor

A set of guidelines regarding the use of multimodality cardiovascular (CV) imaging in young adult competitive athletes, focusing on the distinction between exercise-induced cardiac remodeling (EICR) and cardiac pathology, was formulated by an expert writing group and published in the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography.

Thisreport was endorsed by the American Society of Echocardiography, in conjunctionwith the Society of CV Computed Tomography (CT) and the Society for CV MagneticResonance (CMR).

Young competitive athletes with unrecognized CV disease (CVD) who undergo strenuous exercise may be at increased risk for serious adverse events, including sudden cardiac death. Expertise in and appropriate utilization of multimodality CV imaging techniques including transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), CT angiography (CTA) and CMR are essential in order to ensure proper diagnosis, risk stratification and ruling out of CVD in this population, as well as for the clinical management of detected pathologies. This requires selection of the appropriate imaging modality, high-quality performance of the imaging technique, as well as accurate interpretation, which demands an in-depth comprehension of EICR which may be modified in young athletes by physiological adaption, and should not be misinterpreted (ie, as resulting from pathophysiology). Cardiac specialists with training in these areas are in an ideal position to provide competitive athletes with comprehensive care.

In most cases in which CVD is suspected or confirmed, initial imaging studies should involve TTE 2-dimensional or Doppler with CTA or CMR follow-up as needed. The advantages of TTE include low cost and high availability, and the fact that this technique can readily be used to characterize myocardial structure, valve and proximal coronary anatomy and physiology, as well as systolic and diastolic function. The use of CMR is especially helpful when investigating potential myocardial pathology, particularly right ventricular (RV) and aortic morphology and function, but its use is limited by high cost and limited accessibility, as well as contraindications in individuals with metal implants. In certain clinical situations, CTA may be ideal, such as when the anatomy of the great vessels or the proximal coronary structures must be precisely defined. However, exposure to ionizing radiation remains a concern.

The imaging specialists who conduct and/or interpret the results of competitive athletes should understand the fundamentals of exercise physiology and EICR. Regarding left ventricular (LV) adaptations in this population, a multifactorial and complex influence of sex, ethnicity, duration of prior exercise, and type of sport determines both the geometry (eccentric vs concentric) and magnitude (chamber volumes/dimensions and absolute wall thickness) of EICR changes. When RV dilation, which is common in endurance athletes, occurs secondary to EICR, there should be concomitant biatrial dilation and eccentric LV hypertrophy/remodeling. It is not uncommon for athletes to have mild aortic dilation. In cases in which absolute aorta measurements exceed 34 mm and 40 mm in women and men, respectively, an initial TTE should be followed by CMR or gated CTA.

The distinction between EICR and pathology demands careful measurement of parasternal long-axis view of LV wall thickness to avoid inclusion of RV chordal tissue and septal trabeculations. There is generally mild LV wall thickening with EICR that varies slightly based on race, and measurements above cutoffs may indicate pathology. Pathologic LV remodeling should be suspected in any patient with LV wall thickening accompanied by indicators of reduced diastolic function and/or longitudinal systolic strain. Incomplete TTE LV visualization or uncertain etiology of thickening should be followed up with CMR.

When LV dilation is suspected on TTE, confirmatory CMR should be performed to better characterize chamber structure and function, with distinction between EICR and pathology requiring integration of the patients history and additional testing results rather than simple assessment of LV or left atrial dilation magnitude. Mild reductions in LV ejection fraction (by 45-55%) that occur alongside RV and biatrial dilation without diastolic dysfunction should be considered as a result of physiologic adaptation.

When RVdilation is detected on TTE without clear etiology, CMR should be performed.Endurance athletes often have RV dilation that is accompanied by LV dilation,and in the absence of structural or functional abnormalities, this adaptationshould be considered physiologic. However, isolated clinical cutoffs normallyused to indicate RV dilation cannot differentiate EICR from pathology in competitiveathletes.

Although physiologic hypertrabeculation of the LV apex is common among competitive athletes, particularly in black and/or endurance competitors, this feature needs tobe distinguished from noncompaction cardiomyopathy. When hypertrabeculation is seen in the context of abnormal LV wall thickness or systolic/diastolic dysfunction and cardiomyopathy is suspected, incomplete TTE visualization of the area should be followed by CMR imaging.

Young adult competitive athletes should undergo a CV screening prior to engaging in sports. This screening should include a focused history and physical exam and may incorporate a 12-lead electrocardiogram. Although TTE, CTA and CMR are not recommended as part of this initial screening, those responsible for such programs must be closely connected to medical centers staffed with sports cardiologists and imaging experts, in order to further evaluate any abnormal findings detected during the process.

Inathletes who present with chest pain, TTE should be used as a first-linestrategy for investigation, followed by maximal effort-limited (not heart rate[HR]-limited)exercise testing with immediate post-exercise TTE before HR recovery can occur.Anomalous coronary vasculature should be excluded through careful examinationof the origins and proximal course of the left and right coronary circulation. Ifthis cannot be accomplished using TTE, CTA or CMR should be performed toclarify coronary anatomy.

Neurally mediated syncope that occurs following exercise or that is unrelated to strenuous effort is common among competitive athletes and does not require evaluation with noninvasive imaging studies. However, when the etiology of syncope is uncertain, and especially when it occurs during exercise, comprehensive assessment is necessary. This evaluation should involve TTE, followed by CTA or CMR, in order to rule out structural or valvular disease. In addition, maximal effort-limited exercise testing should be performed.

Athleteswho report palpitations that begin or intensify during strenuous activityshould undergo TTE initially to look for structural disease. This should befollowed in some cases (based on presentation and TTE findings), by CMR.Maximal effort-limited exercise testing with or without imaging should also beperformed in these patients. In individuals evaluated for symptomatic orasymptomatic ventricular pre-excitation, TTE can exclude complex congenitalheart disease, PRKAG2 gene-mediated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and Ebsteinsanomaly.

When a young athlete presents with inappropriate exertional dyspnea, either as a new sign or an indicator of nonresponsiveness to therapy for a previously identified noncardiac cause, a TTE should be performed. This should be followed by maximal effort-limited exercise testing with or without imaging.

Finally,when an athlete reports a decline in performance and his or her initialevaluation suggests possible coronary, myocardial or valvular pathology (orwhen there is no clear explanation for this change), TTE should be performed. Clinicalsuspicions should help determine the addition of CTA, CMR and/or exercisetesting.

Additional recommendations briefly addressed the evaluation of slightly older competitive athletes, pediatric athletes, and those with congenital heart disease.

Differentiating EICRfrom mild forms of pathology remains challenging in clinical practice and corollary data in specific groups, including children and people with congenital heart disease, are sparse. Further acquisition of normative data, particularly data derived from CMR and CTA, may further address these important contemporary clinical challenges, noted the authors.

Conflictsof Interest Disclosures

The following authors reported relationships with one or more commercial interests: Pamela S Douglas, MD, FASE owns stock in UpToDate/Kluwer and is DSMB for REAL TIMI 63B; Christopher M Kramer, MD received grant support from Regeneron and is a consultant for Cytokinetics; Eric Williamson, MD is an unpaid consultant for Siemens Medical and is the recipient of an investigator-initiated research grant from GE Healthcare.

Reference

Baggish AL, Battle RW, Beaver TA, et al. Recommendations on the use of multimodality cardiovascular imaging in young adult competitive athletes: a report from the American Society of Echocardiography in collaboration with the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography and the Society for Card. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2020;33(5):523-549. doi:10.1016/j.echo.2020.02.009

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Physiology

Students Receive Program Awards and Honors Recognition – Briar Cliff University News

Jun 8, 2020By Dept. of Marketing & Communications

Briar Cliff is pleased to announce the winners of program awards as well as recognizing this years graduating class of the Honors Program.

Undergraduate Program Awards:

Accounting Harrison Jestel

Art Joseph Hoyt

Applied Health and Exercise Science Breanna Allen

Business Administration Jin Onoe

Marketing Arianna Presilla

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management Austin Roetman

Sports Management Aubury Coleman & Kathleen Glover

Dorothy Collins Art Scholar Mai Nguyen

Biology Jackson Lamb

Environmental Science Grace Whitlaw

Chemistry Jenessa Kardell

Biochemistry Casey Zoss

Computer Science Erin Gaitsch

Mathematics Anna Taylor

Criminal Justice and Sociology Dearion Stokes

Elementary Education Ashley Hohenstein

Secondary Education Ryan Harrel

English Brittany Evanger

Writing Brittany Greiner

Sister Loyola Service Award in English/Writing Rebecca Thoms

Digital Communications Dylan Speer

Graphic Communicatinos Rachel DeMoss

History Anna Taylor

Music Michael Danner

Nursing Laura Sanders

Psychology Summer Williams

Sister Muriel Ford Social Justice Award Amanda Asay

Spanish Isela Enriquez

Theology Andy Geelan

Graduate Program Awards:

Distinguished Graduate Student in Exercise Physiology Award Chase Lester

Distinguished Graduate Student in Health Administration Award Samantha Dodd

Distinguished Graduate Students in Master of Arts in Management:

Human Resource Management Blanca Gomez

Leadership Kaila Antisdel

Sports Management Megan Glover

Distinguished Graduate Student in Nursing Award Megan Ng

Distinguished Doctor of Nurse Practitioner Award Shannon Merk

Distinguished Graduate Student in Physical Therapy Award Jordan Cumbo

Distinguished Senior Alumni and Graduate Student Awards:

Distinguished Senior Alumni Award Danielle Ullman

Distinguished Graduate Student Award Mitchell St. Clair

Honors Program Graduates:

Ana Freire

Anna Taylor

Danielle Ullman

Colin Werner

Casey Zoss

The Honors Program at Briar Cliff creates a community for like-minded motivated students to come together and share transformational experiences.

Tags: BCU, Honors Program, Accounting, Art, Applied Health and Exercise Sciences, Business, Marketing, Sports Management, Biology, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Criminal Justice, sociology, Education, English, Writing, Digital Media, Graphic Design, history, Music, Nursing, Psychology, Social Work, Spanish, Theology, Exercise Physiology, Healthcare Administration, Human Resource Management, Leadership, DNP, Master of Arts, Physical Therapy, DPT, Alumni, Graduate Programs

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Students Receive Program Awards and Honors Recognition - Briar Cliff University News

Physiology

URI anthropology professor challenges evolutionary narratives of big, competitive men and broad, birthing women – URI Today

KINGSTON, R.I. June 9, 2020 Men are taller than women because millennia ago big, strong men beat out their shorter rivals for access to mates. The female pelvis is broader than the male pelvis because women have evolved to give birth. So the thinking goes.

Theyre compelling evolutionary narratives that have lasted in textbooks, classrooms and pop culture as explanations for the skeletal differences between men and women. But as explanations, these simple stories no longer stand up to current science, says Holly Dunsworth, associate professor of anthropology at the University of Rhode Island.

Poring over decades of existing research, Dunsworth has reevaluated and rewritten the narrow, reigning theories for sex difference in height and pelvic width in a new paper, Expanding the evolutionary explanations for sex differences in the human skeleton. The paper, published online by the journal Evolutionary Anthropology, maps out the critical role of estrogen production on bone growth in men and women.

A lot of these conventions and how they support these old stories, such as sexual selection made men taller, are out of a tradition where we really only had skeletons to study, says Dunsworth. People hadnt done behavioral observations, or studied the physiology or the genetics. There have been so many advances in 150 years of human biology, and when you put all these things together, the old origin stories dont add up.

In rewriting the explanations, Dunsworth waded through hundreds of existing studies. Her paper cites 94 references, but she reviewed five times that. I tried not to go too far back. The further I went the more misconceptions I found, she says. I think there is an old assumption out there that testosterone makes men taller, but thats just not the science.

In her paper, Dunsworth focuses on how different levels of estrogen production dictate bone growth in both sexes, with ovaries producing more estrogen than testes. Boys and girls grow at roughly the same pace, reaching about 62 inches by age 13. At that age, greater estrogen production in girls causes long bone growth plates to fuse. Boys continue to grow taller for about five more years, until they reach levels of estrogen that fuse their bones. In that time, boys grow another 8 inches on average; girls just 2. As with height, sex differences in the pelvis skeleton are also rooted in the differing levels of estrogen and its effects over time on differing systems of gonads, genitals, ligaments and bones.

There are ways that men and women are so obviously different in their evolved reproductive physiology, Dunsworth says. Its really as if the reigning theories just look at the skeleton to claim that men are taller because they evolved to be dominant and competitive as if women didnt and to claim that women are broader because they evolved for reproduction as if men didnt. Conspicuous sex differences in our bodies lead to assumptions about gender differences. They feed our narratives about what a man is and what a woman is, and what our different roles in society should be. These myths about human nature havent exactly worked wonders for women and they fuel toxic masculinity.

Dunsworth, a biological anthropologist, sees it as her job as a professor and researcher to overturn outdated and false evolutionary traditions and to retell origin stories that are inclusive and unbiased.

We make meaning out of human evolutionary origin stories, she says. Whether they really dig human evolution or not, people are using it to make sense of the world and theyre thinking that some of these very narrow, very outdated ideas are the science, are the facts, she says. There are facts and then there are stories we tell about them. But we can improve our stories. There are more inclusive stories to tell, more complicated, more dynamic, more interesting, more scientific ways of describing the facts and telling stories about those facts.

Despite their flaws, theories of sexual selection for height and natural selection for pelvis size continue to be taught in classrooms, Dunsworth says, even in hers.

Weve taught it for years because theres an obsession with comparing the degree of difference between men and women to the much larger difference between male and female gorillas. Somehow, its supposed to show that we are more peaceful and more cooperative, while still acknowledging that, because human men are bigger than women, the big men in our ancestry have been the big winners, she says. I was teaching sexual selection. Its canon. I thought this is how we explain this until I sat back and thought it through.

Dunsworth had doubted the use of sexual selection to explain male and female body size differences. But the tipping point came in 2016 after she took exception on social media to comments by a well-known evolutionary biologist who was defending the theory in a politically charged rant.

Im a feminist and Im trying to be part of this inclusive, diverse future of the world, Dunsworth says. I knew that this one simple, narrow story wasnt even scientific. So, I spoke out. Thats when I realized this is a huge problem.

She started her research immediately and submitted her paper in 2018 for peer-review in Evolutionary Anthropology. Already available online, it appears in the May/June issue of the journal.

To have this new way of thinking in a major journal in my field and reviewed by my peers is the gold standard of knowledge, she says. Its not just me on my blog, raising my feminist fist in the air. This is how you advance knowledge.

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URI anthropology professor challenges evolutionary narratives of big, competitive men and broad, birthing women - URI Today

Physiology

Undersized airways increase risk of COPD regardless of smoking habits – News-Medical.Net

Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.Jun 9 2020

A new study of lung anatomy may explain why 1 in 4 cases of COPD--a lung disease most often linked to smoking--occur in people who have never smoked, a fact that has long perplexed researchers.

The research analyzed CT scans of more than 6,500 adults and found that people with small airways relative to their lungs' volume--a relationship termed dysanapsis--are at increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) regardless of their smoking habits.

Our study shows that having an undersized airway tree compromises breathing and leaves you vulnerable to COPD later in life. Our findings suggest that dysanapsis is a major COPD risk factor -- on par with cigarette smoking,. Dysanapsis is believed to arise early in life. Understanding the biological basis of dysanapsis may one day lead to early life interventions to promote healthy and resilient lung development."

Benjamin M. Smith, MD, lead author, assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

The study was published online today in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Air is transported into the lung via airways that resemble the branches of a tree.

In the 1970s, researchers using simple lung function tests speculated that some people have undersized airways relative to the volume of their lungs. The size mismatch was termed dysanapsis and is believed to develop in childhood when airway branches grow more slowly than lung volume. With the advent of high-resolution in vivo imaging, dysanapsis could finally be measured directly in large cohorts.

For many decades, the clinical significance of dysanapsis was unclear due to the difficulty in measuring airway and lung dimensions in large samples of smokers and nonsmokers.

A recent study showed that half of older adults with COPD had low lung function early in life.

"This observation motivated us to think about early life origins of COPD," Smith says. "Combining classic theories from respiratory physiology with state-of-the-art imaging in large epidemiological samples, we tested whether dysanapsis might explain a significant proportion of COPD risk."

COPD--including emphysema and chronic bronchitis-- is characterized by reduced airflow from the lungs and is the third-leading cause of death in the United States.

In the new study, Smith and his colleagues analyzed health data, including lung CT scans, from more than 6,500 older adults enrolled in three major lung studies in the United States and Canada.

They found that individuals with smaller airways relative to lung size had the poorest lung function and the highest risk of COPD and were 8 times more likely to develop COPD.

The findings support a landmark 2015 study demonstrating two major pathways that lead to COPD later in life. In the classic paradigm, individuals with normal lung function experience a rapid decline after years of exposure to irritants, like cigarette smoke or air pollution.

"But there's a second pathway in people who have reduced lung function from an early age. This low starting point increases the risk for COPD in later years, even in the absence of rapid lung function decline," says Smith. "Based on our data, dysanapsis may account for a large percentage of these cases."

The association between dysanapsis and COPD risk existed for both smokers and nonsmokers and may also explain why only a minority of heavy smokers develop COPD.

The study also looked at the lifelong heavy smokers without COPD and found that these participants had larger than expected airways for their lung size.

"This suggests that people at the opposite end of the dysanapsis spectrum, i.e. those with larger than expected airways, may be able to incur considerable damage from smoking while maintaining enough reserve to avoid COPD," says Smith. "Of course, the harmful effects of smoking are legion, including lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke. So anyone who smokes should do their best to quit."

Source:

Journal reference:

Smith, B.M., et al. (2020) Association of Dysanapsis With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Among Older Adults. JAMA. doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.6918.

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Undersized airways increase risk of COPD regardless of smoking habits - News-Medical.Net

Physiology

Graduate aims to make a difference amid challenges of lab work on COVID-19 project – SFU News – Simon Fraser University News

Abeline Watkins hopes the data she is discovering as part of SFU professor Peter Rubens Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group may one day make a difference in addressing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Watkins is investigating whether Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive component of cannabis sativa, can help to mitigate the negative side effects of taking Azithromycin, a drug that has been proposed to treat symptoms of COVID-19, particularly lung problems. The research is being funded by her second Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) for sciences, awarded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).

Life amid a pandemic means Watkins is carrying out her undergraduate research in isolation. To stay on top of things, the Burnaby residentwho will also celebrate her graduation this week during SFUs June 11 virtual convocation ceremonymakes daily treks to the lab.

Normally in my lab and the lab space we share, we work as a team, says Watkins, who starts medical school at University of Alberta this fall. This means we are around each other enough to help with trouble-shooting and even completing small parts of each others projects.

So being alone means I cant share the load on keeping the cell lines alive, or keeping the lab organized or get help. The easier part of being alone is that I have more freedom to work on my project as needed; I dont have to schedule out equipment or wait for supplies.

I also have to do each step myself, from start to finish, which makes me feel in complete control of my outcomes and my learning experiences.

Watkins started working with Ruben in 2018 after securing her first USRA, and stayed on as a part-time research assistant in the lab while completing her degree. She already has two journal publications and a published poster abstract from her lab work to her credit.

My career goal is to be a doctor, and while Im open to most disciplines, Im leaning towards cardiology because of my fascination with the cardiovascular system, says Watkins, who recalls being inspired by those who work in the field when her brother requiredopen-heart surgery as an infant.

And while celebrating graduation, given the limitations of a pandemic, may not be as exciting as she hoped, she says her accomplishment is all that really matters.

Ive still completed my degree, Ive gotten into medical school, my biggest goal thus far, and my family and friends have already told me how excited and proud they are of my university accomplishment, and that is all that matters to me. I don't have to walk acrossa stage to know my five years of hard work paid off.

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Graduate aims to make a difference amid challenges of lab work on COVID-19 project - SFU News - Simon Fraser University News

Physiology

Love singing? These 5 online courses will help you upgrade your skills – VOGUE India

If singing practise and vocal training are next on your list of things to do while you self-isolate, we've got you covered. We recommend five reliable online courses on identifying the genre that suits your voice and style the most; warming up and learning breathing exercises to ease tension; increase your range while also bettering your posture; and more.

Make your way up from performing an easy karaoke to singing a song which is higher up on the difficulty level, all with the help of a few voice exercises. By the end of the course, you will be able to find your comfortable range, point out the genre your voice and style would go with the most, and learn how to maintain your vocal health, among other things.

Enrol here

If you believe you have a great vocal range, but haven't tried your hand at singing yet, the course will help you explore your strengths and prepare you to be a singer. Taught by California-based singer, guitarist and music coach, Steve Glazer, the eight-week class comes with video lessons, a free personalised vocal assessment from Glaze, and more.

Enrol here

While practising to sing, warming up your voice and doing some light-hearted study on its anatomy and physiology only sounds ideal. During this course, you will get an insight into the three important pillars of voice posture, breathing and resonance; and learn the fundamentals of how to prepare your throat before a session.

Enrol here

Meant for complete beginners, the virtual lesson will let you in on the basics of sur, taal and saptak, which are all extremely essential in classical singing. Work on your pitch, vocal range and learn how to hit higher notes for a longer duration during this course.

Enrol here

If you have the basic understanding of singing as well as the anatomy of voice, this online course promises to make you better within just 30 days. Including information on how to extend your range, incorporate movement within your vocal exercise routines, and practical tips on the subject, the online class could be just what you need to hone your skill in a short period of time.

Enrol here

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Love singing? These 5 online courses will help you upgrade your skills - VOGUE India

Physiology

High Adaptability Allows Invasive Fruit Fly to Thrive in New Environments – Entomology Today

The invasive fruit fly spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) originated in Asia but has invaded regions around the globe. A new review of existing research published in May in the Journal of Insect Science details the species high degree of phenotypic plasticitythe ability to shift traits in response to environmental influences. (Photo by Sean McCann, Ph.D.)

By John P. Roche, Ph.D.

Spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) is a fruit fly that originated in Asia and was first detected as an invasive species in the United States in Hawaii in 1980. It was discovered in the continental U.S. in California in 2008, but because it is so small and hard to detect, it could have been in North America far earlier. It also became an invasive species in South America and Europe and now has a global range.

Part of this species success in expanding its range is due to its effectiveness at exploiting new habitats, communities, and ecological niches. A recent study reported in May in the Journal of Insect Science details one important reason why spotted wing drosophila is so effective as an invasive species: It has a high degree of adaptability.

Spotted wing drosophila lays eggs in small fruits such as cherries, blueberries, and strawberries. One of the traits that makes it problematic to agriculture is that females have a serrated ovipositor that allows them to cut through the skin of intact fruit to deposit eggs. This is destructive on two levels. First, because laying eggs in intact fruit can damage fruit that would be untouched by other species of fruit flies. Second, because eggs and larvae are inside of fruits, they are hard to see, making controlling them harder when fruits are being transported. Other traits that make it a problem pest are its ability to disperse quickly, reproduce rapidly, and feed on a wide range of fruits. The species causes an estimated $500700 million in damage in the U.S. annually, and it can wipe out entire crops.

Variability in a population, which helps this invasive species thrive in new environments, occurs on two levels. The level that we most often think about is variability within a population that is shaped by natural selection. In natural selection, alleles of genes that provide their bearer with an advantage in terms of survival and reproductive success tend to increase in frequency in the population. This allows populations to become better suited to their environment over multiple generations. But members of populations can also change their phenotype, or set of characteristics, within their lifetimes in something called phenotypic plasticity.

Spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) has a robust and varied ability to express phenotypic plasticity. Plasticity is found in its morphology, its development, and its behavior. One example is that, when temperatures are colder, SWD development slows, resulting in larger wings. These larger wings allow the flies to fly faster and disperse faster and farther, permitting them to increase expansion of their invasive range. (Photo by Sean McCann, Ph.D.)

In phenotypic plasticity, the germlines of the individuals involved do not change, but the genetic code of the organism has a blueprint allowing the organism to adjust facultatively to different environments or to fluctuations within an environment. Phenotypic plasticity offers the advantage of providing adjustments to the environment that are very fast. Also, with invasive species, the variability upon which natural selection can act is often lowered by genetic bottlenecks caused by the small initial population size of a colonizing species. Phenotypic plasticity can provide variation that adjusts to local conditions, even in very small populations subject to genetic bottlenecks.

In their review article, Catherine Little, a Ph.D. student at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, along with Memorial University colleague Thomas Chapman, Ph.D., and Kirk Hillier, Ph.D., of Acadia University, comprehensively compiled what is known about phenotypic plasticity in spotted wing drosophila and examined the astounding extent to which the species can change its traits in response to the environment.

Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) has a robust and varied ability to express phenotypic plasticity. Plasticity is found in its morphology, its development, and its behavior. One example is that, when temperatures are colder, SWD development slows, resulting in larger wings. These larger wings allow the flies to fly faster and disperse faster and farther, permitting them to increase expansion of their invasive range.

If temperature fluctuates while SWD are developing, they have an enhanced tolerance to cold as adults. Acclimation to low temperatures upregulates more than 1,500 genes, including those for cellular signaling, metabolism of carbohydrates, and ion transport. Low temperatures downregulate more than 1,300 genes, including genes for egg development. Exposure to cold stimulates cold tolerance through mechanisms that include accumulating amino acids and carbohydrates that protect against low temperatures.

In subtropical habitats such as Southeast Asia, SWD are active throughout the year. In temperate habitats such as the central and northern United States, however, adult females that have mated spend the winter months as a dormant winter morph. Acclimatization to cold temperatures and short daylengths improves survival in these winter morphs, which are larger and more resistant to cold than non-winter morphs. Females who overwintered as winter morphs have enhanced reproductive success and improved life spans compared to non-winter morphs. Winter morphs can survive in long periods of low temperatures. Female winter morphs can also live through long periods of low humidity better than summer morphs can.

There is likely no single one-size-fits-all pest management solution for this species across all crop systems or across all geographic areas, says Catherine Little, a Ph.D. student at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador and lead author on a new review article published in May in the Journal of Insect Science on the high degree of phenotypic plasticity in the invasive fruit fly spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii). But changes in physiology for D. suzukii are often tied to changes in behavior. Understanding behavior of winter morph flies can open new opportunities for controlling this invasive species before local populations reach damaging levels each year. (Photo by Sean McCann, Ph.D.)

Diet can also trigger patterns of phenotypic plasticity in spotted wing drosophila. A difference in the availability of fruit changes wing morphology, which in turn changes flight ability. With a poor diet, adult SWD show lowered selectivity when choosing mates and a decreased ability to attract mates.

The development of SWD proceeds from eggs, to larvae, through three instar stages, to adults. Research has found that SWD larvae that feed on certain fruits, such as raspberries, cherries, and blueberries, develop more quickly than those fed standard diets. Investigators have also found that larvae feeding on blackberries and raspberries have an enhanced ability to survive competition than larvae that eat other fruit types.

Little observes, The most important conclusion in our study was thatD. suzukiibiology, physiology, and behavior are dependent upon the regional climate, local environmental conditions, and available feeding and oviposition resources.

When asked how the specifics of what we know about phenotypic plasticity might help inform control of this species, Little says, There is likely no single one-size-fits-all pest management solution for this species across all crop systems or across all geographic areas. But changes in physiology forD. suzukiiare often tied to changes in behavior. Understanding behavior of winter morph flies can open new opportunities for controlling this invasive species before local populations reach damaging levels each year.

As for possible directions for future work, Little says, We suggest that research intoD. suzukiibehavior and resource use during seasons prior to when fruit crops are at risk could be useful in limiting potentialD. suzukiipopulation growth.

Co-author Kirk Hillier adds, As a chemical ecologist, I think there are also many directions to pursue in looking at attraction and repulsion technologies.

Weve seen that spotted wing drosophila have pronounced phenotypic plasticity. Since the capacity for this phenotypic plasticity must be coded for by their genes, an intriguing additional research question arises: Why did the capacity for such a high degree of plasticity evolve in this species?

Because of its pronounced capabilities to adapt to new and changing environments, spotted wing drosophila is a formidable invasive species and a challenging agricultural pest. In addition, two general factors happening regionally and globally could be further improving conditions for spotted wing drosophila and will tend to necessitate continual adjustment of control measures: climate change and the extinction of native species. Because of its difficulty to avoid detection and its ability to destroy entire crops, additional research and tests of control strategies are critical for this adaptable and damaging insect.

John P. Roche, Ph.D., is an author, biologist, and educator dedicated to making rigorous science clear and accessible. Director of Science View Productions and Adjunct Professor at the College of the Holy Cross, Dr. Roche has published over 200 articles and has written and taught extensively about science. For more information, visit https://authorjohnproche.com.

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High Adaptability Allows Invasive Fruit Fly to Thrive in New Environments - Entomology Today

Physiology

After first full week of virtual summer courses, students have mixed reactions – The Daily Pennsylvanian

Many students are using online summer classes to fulfill graduation requirements and explore prospective fields of study. Credit: Emily Xu

After students' summer plans were canceled due to the coronavirus, many are taking online classes to fulfill graduation requirements and explore prospective fields of study.

Students found little differences in remote summer learning in comparison to what they experienced during the latter half of the spring semester, and said some of their classes are better suited to online learning than others.

Rising College sophomore Helen Wu said she was motivated to take online summer courses for credit because as an international student, she does not have proper authorization to work, study, or participate in a virtual internship in the United States. She is taking "Intro to Linguistics," "Intro to Geology," and "Deviance and Social Control."

"All of these classes are fulfilling some type of requirement, Wu said. My rationale was that when I get back on campus and I can take classes in person, I want to take classes I really like."

Rising College sophomore Meghan Fersten is taking "Autonomic Physiology" to help her decide if she wants to declare a major in neuroscience. The summer class was originally designed to take place half online and half in-person, which she said made the transition to remote learning smoother.

I think for [the professor] to adapt it for online wasn't difficult but she ended up making it really engaging it even with the online meetings, Fersten said.

On the other hand, Wu said her online classes had some clear limitations, as she is unable to look at and touch the rocks she is learning about in her "Intro to Geology" class. She added, however, that her "Intro to Linguistics" class is able to have more intimate discussions with a much smaller online class size.

During the school year, students taking "Intro to Linguistics" are graded based on their exam performance and the creation of a journal. In Wus summer course, however, students earn points in discussions and smaller, more frequent, assignments.

Wu and Fernsten agreed that their professors and TAs offered enough office hours and were very flexible outside of class.

Penn announced on April 13 that all summer session classes would be conducted online and courses would begin on May 26. Over 1,200 students registered for one of the three summer sessions which run for either six or 11 weeks and are often smaller in size in comparison to courses during the academic year.

"Overall, the online experience has been pretty good and pretty much the same over spring and summer," rising Wharton sophomore Tianhe Xie, who is enrolled in "Accounting and Financial Reporting," said.

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After first full week of virtual summer courses, students have mixed reactions - The Daily Pennsylvanian

Physiology

Sensorion Announces Positive Preliminary Preclinical Data From Its Otoferlin Gene Therapy Program | DNA RNA and Cells | News Channels -…

DetailsCategory: DNA RNA and CellsPublished on Tuesday, 09 June 2020 10:59Hits: 229

MONTPELLIER, France I June 09, 2020 I Sensorion (Paris:ALSEN) (FR0012596468 ALSEN) a pioneering clinical-stage biotechnology company which specializes in the development of novel therapies to restore, treat and prevent within the field of hearing loss disorders, announces promising new preliminary data in non-human primates from its ongoing gene therapy program targeting the Otoferlin encoding gene (OTOF).

The following results relate to the first of two preclinical programs conducted under a broad research partnership with Institut Pasteur (Paris). The partnership aims to develop gene therapies to correct, safely and efficiently, hereditary monogenic forms of deafness. The first program targets specifically deafness caused by a mutation of the gene encoding for Otoferlin, which is highly present in cochlear sensory cells and is critical for hearing.

The green fluorescent protein (GFP) was used as an intracellular reporter molecule to assess gene transfer and expression. The selected adeno-associated virus (AAV), a safe and effective vector for gene therapy, enabled expression of the GFP protein under control of the selected promoter. An intense fluorescence due to GFP was detected by immunostaining in the cochlear tissue of two out of three treated animals, demonstrating adequate tropism for inner ear tissue. Remarkably, the expression of GFP was mainly robust in the inner hair cells, indicating an effective transduction of the relevant target cells at levels compatible with future therapeutic intervention of Otoferlin deficiency by gene therapy. These results are expected to be published.

Graldine Honnet, Chief Medical Officer Sensorion, observes: One of the challenges in gene therapy is the precise and safe delivery of the therapeutic to the targeted tissue. In this non-human primate study, the surgical procedure went smoothly in three animals. No infections were observed, either pre- or post-operation, and a perfect scar was obtained. There were no side effects such as transient vertigo resulting from the procedure.

The data confirms that the OTOF program is very promising and represents an important step forward to successfully achieving our gene therapy development to treat hereditary monogenic forms of hearing loss. Our collaboration with one of the leading academic institutions in the field of hearing as well as with one of the top pediatric ENT hospitals in the world sets a solid foundation to create a robust ecosystem in gene therapy development for hearing loss. The preclinical data further validates the potential of our collaboration to develop treatments that could revolutionize the lives of patients with disabling genetic inner ear diseases, remarked Nawal Ouzren, CEO Sensorion.

Sensorions exclusive agreement is with the Genetics and Physiology of Hearing Unit at Institut Pasteur, led by Professor Petit, whose laboratory has developed world-class expertise over the last 25 years in the molecular physiology and pathophysiology of the hearing system and has generated data supporting the development of potential gene therapies. The agreement grants Sensorion exclusive rights to obtain the full intellectual property licenses to develop and market drug products in gene therapy coming from collaborative projects for the restoration, treatment, and prevention of hearing disorders. The French government awarded up to 9.7 million to the AUDINNOVE consortium, which includes Necker Hospital, Institut Pasteur and Sensorion, to support the development of the OTOF program into human clinical trials.

About Sensorion

Sensorion is a pioneering clinical-stage biotechnology company, which specializes in the development of novel therapies to restore, treat and prevent within the field of hearing loss disorders. Its clinical-stage portfolio includes one Phase 2 product: SENS-401 (Arazasetron) for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Sensorion has built a unique R&D technology platform to expand its understanding of the pathophysiology and etiology of inner ear related diseases enabling it to select the best targets and modalities for drug candidates. The Company is also working on the identification of biomarkers to improve diagnosis of these underserved illnesses. In the second half of 2019, Sensorion launched two preclinical gene therapy programs aiming at correcting hereditary monogenic forms of deafness including Usher Type 1 and deafness caused by a mutation of the gene encoding for Otoferlin. The Company is uniquely placed, through its platforms and pipeline of potential therapeutics, to make a lasting positive impact on hundreds of thousands of people with inner ear related disorders, a significant global unmet medical need. http://www.sensorion-pharma.com

SOURCE: Sensorion

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Sensorion Announces Positive Preliminary Preclinical Data From Its Otoferlin Gene Therapy Program | DNA RNA and Cells | News Channels -...

Physiology

Southampton is the best uni for Physiotherapy in the UK – The Tab

Uni league tables were released today and were up three places overall

The University of Southampton has been officially ranked the best uni for Physiotherapy in the country, it is also the second-best in the country for Occupational Therapy and Aural & Oral Sciences.

According to the Complete University Guide League Tables 2021 released today, the uni ranked 17th in the country alongside Manchester, and is three places up from last year. Southampton was ranked higher than numerous Russel Group unis such as Kings, Nottingham, York, Newcastle, Cardiff, and Liverpool.

The uni also had 12 other courses that were ranked within the top ten in the country. Southampton is the 4th best uni in the country for Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and ranked 5th for Music. For Nursing, Southampton is the 6th best in the country.

Other courses in the top ten include Iberian languages (Spanish and Portuguese), Mechanical Engineering, Geology, Anatomy and Physiology, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering, Marketing, German, French and Civil Engineering.

Southamptons graduate prospects were rated 82.1/100, more than many unis that had ranked higher in the league table. Our research intensity was rated 0.90 higher than Oxfords 0.87.

Solent has been ranked 100th in the country, its highest ranking since 2017, whilst our Varsity rivals Portsmouth were ranked 61st.

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Southampton is the best uni for Physiotherapy in the UK - The Tab