Physiology

ACIST Medical Systems announces distribution partnership with Medis Medical Imaging – DOTmed HealthCare Business News

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., Dec. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ACIST Medical Systems, Inc., a Bracco Group Company, today announced a formal distribution partnership with Medis Medical Imaging to co-market in North America. This partnership is focused on Quantitative Flow Ratio (QFR), a novel, non-invasive angiography-based physiologic assessment of the presence and extent of coronary artery disease. Headquartered in Leiden, Netherlands, Medis has been developing innovative post-processing software for the quantification of cardiovascular images for over 30 years, with QFR as their latest innovative product.

"This strategic collaboration expands our portfolio and enables ACIST to better support the evolving needs of our customer. This partnership solidifies ACIST's position as the preferred physiology partner of choice with the ability to offer both invasive and non-invasive approaches to support the clinical utility that physiology provides," said Brad Fox, President and CEO, ACIST Medical Systems, Inc.

The partnership promotes an innovative, proven alternative to invasive assessment of coronary physiology.

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According to Morton Kern MD, Chief of Cardiology and interventional cardiologist at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System, California, "QFR represents a significant advance for assessment of coronary artery disease in the cath lab. Like other angiographically derived FFR systems, QFR will let the angiographer see the physiologic impact of the stenoses within a vessel of interest and make an informed decision on whether to stent or not without the need of a pressure wire or adenosine. While still in early clinical use, QFR and other angio-derived FFR systems will become a dominant method in the coming years by improving the patient experience and simplifying PCI decision-making."

The QFR analysis is performed during the interventional procedure and can streamline workflow in the cath lab while driving economic value. Unlike traditional invasive assessments, including FFR and iFR, the QFR analysis output is co-registered with the angiogram and automatically identifies and prioritizes any functionally significant coronary obstructions. QFR provides the healthcare professional with more extensive and quantitative physiologic imaging results to support the patient's diagnosis and better inform the patient's treatment.

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ACIST Medical Systems announces distribution partnership with Medis Medical Imaging - DOTmed HealthCare Business News

Physiology

A Complete Guide to Birds, the Reason We Dream and Other New Science Books – Scientific American

What Is a Bird? An Exploration of Anatomy, Physiology, Behavior, and Ecologyedited by Tony D. WilliamsPrinceton University, 2020 ($35)

Many housebound quarantiners have recently discovered a newor renewedinterest in birds. Through windows overlooking gardens or fire escapes and in small parks or dense woods, birds occupy nearly every habitat on earth and are our constant, if sometimes unnoticed, companions. This welcoming compendium is part coffee-table book and part deep dive into the science of ornithologythe team of biologist-authors, edited by biology professor Williams, elucidates all things bird: from their evolution and anatomy to their social and migration patterns. Even casual bird-watchers will be drawn into the fascinating mechanisms of feather coloring of house finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) or the science that gives the bill of a helmet vanga (Euryceros prevostii) its unmistakable blue.

When Brains Dream: Exploring the Science and Mystery of Sleepby Antonio Zadra and Robert StickgoldW. W. Norton, 2021 ($27.95)

Dreams feel significant while they are happening, but do they have any scientific relevance? Sleep researchers Zadra and Stickgold propose their own framework for dreams' purpose in the brain, detailing the history of dream research and lessons learned. Dreaming acts as a memory-processing mechanism, they write, exploring images and thoughts weakly associated with moments from the previous day. Scientists have used compelling methods to probe dreams' inner workings: for example, dreamers can signal via eye movements to observers while their dreams are in progress to help researchers measure the length of dream actions. The book wields dreamy anecdotes and complex neuroscience to try to grasp the importance of these phantasms. Sarah Lewin Frasier

Fundamentals: Ten Keys to Realityby Frank WilczekPenguin Press, 2021 ($26)

To see the world through the lens of physics we must be born again, physicist Wilczek writeswe have to lose our preconceptions and approach the universe with the same open-minded curiosity and acceptance as a baby first learning about her surroundings. In this overview of modern physics, Wilczek describes the known and the unknownwhat scientists have managed to learn about reality and what they still struggle to explain. In 10 chapters covering space, time, matter, energy and other basic concepts, he tells the stories behind the major players and turning points in the development of physical knowledge. The result is a lucid and riveting narrative of the fundamentalswhat Wilczek calls the central messages of modern physics, which are not just facts about how the world works but also the style of thought that allowed us to discover them. Clara Moskowitz

The Doctors Blackwell: How Two Pioneering Sisters Brought Medicine to Womenand Women to Medicineby Janice P. NimuraW. W. Norton, 2021 ($27.95)

In the mid-19th century the view of most male physicians was that women did not have the intellect or emotional fortitude to be their colleagues. Despite this skepticism, Elizabeth Blackwell was accepted by the Geneva Medical College in New York State and in 1849 became the first woman in America to obtain a medical degree. Writer Nimura uses an extensive collection of journal entries and letters to trace Blackwell's trailblazing journey through medical school and her further training in the U.S. and abroad. Her younger sister, Emily, followed in her footsteps and became a doctor in 1854. In 1857 the sisters established the New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Childrenthe first hospital staffed by women and intended to offer both care for women and training for future women doctors.

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A Complete Guide to Birds, the Reason We Dream and Other New Science Books - Scientific American

Physiology

Brock prof named Canada Research Chair in Tissue Remodelling and Plasticity – ThoroldNews.com

Including Fajardo, Brock University currently haseight Canada Research Chairs, with more expected to be announced in 2021

NEWS RELEASEBROCK UNIVERSITY*************************Muscles comprise up to half of our body and, in the case of the heart, provide us with the essence of life.

Our muscles are truly vital at every timepoint of our lives, saysAssistant Professor of Kinesiology Val Fajardo, who was announced as Brock Universitys newest Canada Research Chair inTissue Remodelling and Plasticity throughout the Lifespan on Wednesday, Dec. 16.studies how muscles change in form and function over the course of a lifetime.

Were trying to optimize muscle health and physiology to improve whole body health under conditions of aging, spaceflight, obesity, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and heart disease, he says.

Tissueplasticity refers to long-term changes to the function and appearance of cells. This process in turn fuels muscle plasticity in which muscles modify their structures and functions in response to environmental demands.

Muscles are remodelled by favourable physiologicalchangesarising from things like exercise and goodnutrition, which enhance muscle function. With aerobic exercise training, for example, muscles will alter their metabolism allowing them to perform better and fatigue lessMuscles are also remodelledthroughpathological or unfavourable changes brought about by disease, aging and physical inactivity, which can impair muscle and whole-body health.

Understanding what causes the good changes in muscle is important, because then maybe we can tap into that when things go bad, says Fajardo.

Can we hack into the cellular code so that muscles adapting poorly to changes can now adapt well? he says.

Fajardo and his team are particularly interested in a protein called calcineurin, which regulates calcium and largely drives muscle plasticity.

They are studying various proteins and interventions that can alter calcineurin signalling including other proteins such as calmodulin, the SERCA pump, and an enzyme called glycogen synthase kinase 3 or GSK3 for short.

GSK3 is particularly important as it is associated with muscle and bone deterioration. Current research in the Fajardo lab is looking at how GSK3 levels differ in muscle specimenson Earth and in outer spaceas a way of unlocking strategies to slow bone and muscle loss in aging humans.

We are studying ways to block GSK3 to improve musculoskeletal health along with cardiovascular health and metabolism, he says.

GSK3 has been implicated in several diseases and conditions. In addition to its role in muscle plasticity, Fajardo and a team of experts, includingAssistant Professors of Health Sciences Rebecca MacPherson, Adam MacNeil, Terrance Wade and Deborah OLeary and Professors of Kinesiology Brian Roy, Wendy Ward and Panagiota (Nota) Klentrou are studying the role of GSK3 in cognitive health, obesity and diabetes, immune cell function, and mediating the effects of regular exercise.

What if stopping GSK3 can mimic and amplify some of the beneficial effects of exercise not only in muscle but across several other organs in the body? says Fajardo.

Exercise is crucial to mitigating diseases and other debilitating medical conditions. Fajardo says studying the cellular mechanisms that occur during exercise can lead to the development of medicines that could perhaps help those unable to exercise.

Fajardo says he feels honoured and extremely lucky to be named a Canada Research Chair.

I am here in large part because of the training I received from Brock University, he says.

Fajardo completed his undergraduate degree in 2009 and masters degree in 2012 at Brock under the supervision of Professor of Health Sciences, Paul LeBlanc before completing his PhD at the University of Waterloo.

This CRC recognizes Dr. Fajardos breakthrough work, strong productivity and research output in the field of muscle physiology, particularly in the cellular-level repair and remodelling of skeletal and cardiac muscles, says Brock Vice-President, Research Tim Kenyon. His work has tremendous implications for the health of all Canadians, particularly those living with diseases, chronic conditions and injuries, and the elderly.

TheCanada Research Chairs Programinvests up to $295 million per year to attract and retain some of the worlds most accomplished and promising minds. Chairholders aim to achieve research excellence in engineering and the natural sciences, health sciences, humanities, and social sciences.

Including Fajardo, Brock University currently haseight Canada Research Chairs, with more expected to be announced in 2021.

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Brock prof named Canada Research Chair in Tissue Remodelling and Plasticity - ThoroldNews.com

Physiology

Joe Harding named a 2020 National Academy Inventors Fellow – WSU News

December 15, 2020Joe Harding

Joe Harding, professor in Washington State Universitys Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience department, was named a 2020 National Academy of Inventors Fellow.

He is one of 175 academic innovators from across the world elected to Fellow status this year. Dr. Hardings research on the causes of dementia led to a start-company named Athira and their lead compound is in clinical trials for a treatment for Alzheimers disease.

The company, which went public in September, is the first WSU faculty-owned start-up company that has been publicly traded.

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Joe Harding named a 2020 National Academy Inventors Fellow - WSU News

Physiology

Researchers use noninvasive imaging to show variations in renal blood flow – News-Medical.Net

Renal blood flow changes throughout the day in tandem with the body's circadian clock, with the increasing flow during daytime hours and decreasing flow in the evening and into the night.

Researchers made the findings using noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques in healthy people, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology.

The study also revealed that although circadian variation influenced renal blood flow over the course of the day, it did not affect renal oxygenation in either men or women. The article has been chosen as an APSselect article for December.

Numerous conditions are known to cause renal injury, including diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, and infections. Until now, imaging diagnostics of renal function were often performed using invasive techniques with methods based on ionizing radiation.

MRI is a non-ionizing imaging modality undergoing fast development. A number of noninvasive MRI techniques now make it possible to study different aspects of renal physiology. MRI scans combining multiple of these noninvasive techniques provide a lot of important information."

Per Eckerbom, MD, Study Corresponding Researcher Uppsala University Hospital

Researchers believe the noninvasive MRI techniques used in this study will be a powerful tool of the future to detect renal disease at an early stage and to develop better treatments. Understanding circadian variations and possible differences between the sexes is one key to do so.

Source:

Journal reference:

Eckerbom, P., et al. (2020) Circadian variation in renal blood flow and kidney function in healthy volunteers monitored with noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging. American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology. doi.org/10.1152/ajprenal.00311.2020.

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Researchers use noninvasive imaging to show variations in renal blood flow - News-Medical.Net

Physiology

A tropical fish evolved to endure rising temperatures but it may not be fast enough to survive climate change – The Conversation UK

The climate is changing, and heatwaves are becoming more common and intense as a result. For the Great Barrier Reef, the worlds largest structure of living tissue, the consequences are clear. The reef suffered its third mass coral bleaching event in five years in 2020, caused by prolonged periods with high water temperatures. Conservation scientists recently downgraded the ecosystems condition to critical.

You might expect mobile animals like fish to fare better, but their body temperatures closely match that of the surrounding water. Fish can of course swim and escape high temperatures to an extent and many species have shifted their ranges poleward or into deeper, cooler waters. But migration isnt always possible. Freshwater fish, for instance, are restricted to their native rivers or lakes. Their ability to adapt to high temperatures may decide whether or not they endure.

Whether an organism does survive a heatwave may depend on its upper thermal tolerance the temperature at which the organism can no longer function. Some fish populations are already living in water close to their temperature limits and so only have a small margin of additional warming they can safely tolerate. As heatwaves become more extreme and maximum temperatures increase, those species that cannot evolve fast enough to tolerate them may go extinct.

In a recent study, colleagues at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and I measured the evolution of thermal tolerance using a wild population of zebrafish. Working in a lab, we selectively bred fish which excelled at resisting high temperatures. Over six generations we selected more than 20,000 of these zebrafish in an experiment lasting three years.

Zebrafish are the lab rats of the aquatic world, but in the wild, they can be found in shallow ponds and streams in South Asia, at temperatures very close to their thermal limits. Shallow water can heat up rapidly during heatwaves, so zebrafish are an ideal species to help us understand whether evolution will keep up with rising temperatures.

After breeding zebrafish with the highest levels of thermal tolerance for six generations, we found that this upper limit increased by 0.04C with each new generation. Its encouraging that species can evolve this ability, but the rate of change is likely to be too slow for most fishes. And while evolution helped make this species more tolerant of higher temperatures over time, it hindered how well the fish could acclimate.

Acclimation is how animals exposed to environmental change adjust their physiology to cope better in the new conditions. In our experiment, one group of fish acclimated to raised temperatures over two weeks, allowing their thermal tolerance to increase. Acclimation occurs within individuals, while evolution occurs across generations.

But zebrafish cannot keep raising their thermal tolerance infinitely. We found that fish which had evolved to raise their upper thermal tolerance could only acclimate to a smaller amount of further warming. Eventually, their physiology will probably reach a temperature ceiling which theyre unable to overcome, either by evolving or acclimating, making death likely. Zebrafish in their native habitats in India will struggle to keep increasing their tolerance to match the projected rate of warming.

Its possible that other tropical species living close to their thermal limits will face a similar situation, and be especially vulnerable to climate change. Temperatures are already exceeding these limits for certain species. Mass deaths following heatwaves have been reported not only for fish, but also in warm-blooded animals such as tropical birds and bats.

Climate change is likely outpacing evolution for many tropical species. Unless we dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, its possible that many populations will become extinct over the coming decades.

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A tropical fish evolved to endure rising temperatures but it may not be fast enough to survive climate change - The Conversation UK

Physiology

The pivot to cycling: Pro racing’s new breed of rowers, runners and skiers – VeloNews

First, there was a former runner winning grand tour stages, then there was a ski jumper taking overall victory at the Vuelta a Espaa. Just last week, a rower won the esports world championships.

Whats next? An unknown ski mountaineer signing to the WorldTour?

Oh, wait, that already happened.

Related:

And there could be a lot more athletes pivoting toward cycling from sports such as rowing, running, and skiing in the years to come.

Cycling is a business in a competitive sport, Michael Woods (Israel Start-Up Nation) told VeloNews. Like any sport, youre trying to gain competitive advantage. And you want to try and cast as wide of a net to capture the best talent.

Former world-class middle-distance runner Woods and world junior champion ski jumper Primo Rogli were among the first of the current generation of WorldTour racers to prove you dont need to be winning your local crit aged five to hit the big time in pro cycling.

This past month has seen Jason Osborne, a world champion rower, better a field full of pros to win the world championships on Zwift.

Out on the tarmac, two elite skiers with minimal cycling experience have shown so much physiological potential that theyve been handed deals with Androni Giocattoli Sidermec and Bora-Hansgrohe. Former rowers Kristen Faulkner (Tibco-SVB) and Cameron Wurf (Ineos) have been cycling at the top for a number of years.

Could pro cycling be filled with riders with huge raw power but no racing background in the future?

It could be, and Bora-Hansgrohes move to sign Anton Palzer may be the first of many contracts that see athletes from across the endurance spectrum parachuting into the whirlwind of the WorldTour.

It may look like a daring venture, and a certain risk is definitely involved, but we have been following Toni [Palzer] for quite a long time and are convinced of his physical abilities, said Bora-Hansgrohe manager Ralph Denk when he signed the skier. You can see from examples like Roglic or Woods that such an experiment can be successful, and we have always said that we would scout within different sports.

Woods, who posted a sub-four-minute mile during his running heyday, came to cycling late in life when injuries saw him bin the running shoes and step into some cycling cleats. Those with backgrounds in elite rowing such as Faulkner, Osborne, and Kiwi Olympic boatman turned time trial specialist Hamish Bond have been in the saddle far longer.

Chris Bartley, a former Team GB Olympic rower turned rowing coach and amateur cycling time trial ace, explained that time in a boat and time in the saddle go hand in hand if you want to be the strongest with a set of oars.

Riding is a big part of any high-level rowing program, Bartley told VeloNews.

Rowing training by its very nature is pretty hard on the body, so you can sort of only do maybe 90 minutes per session in a boat or on the rowing machine. Bike training is just a very easy way of getting low-impact, high-volume work to supplement the rowing and build a base. If you want to excel in rowing, you need to spend time on a bike too.

With rowing such a physically uncomfortable and physiologically taxing sport, Bartley explained that sessions on Ergo or on the water are always relatively short, intense, and painful.

Theres always some degree of suffering in a rowing session, he said. Youre not able to row for hours and hours on end so you cant build up your training hours with junk.

Its that requirement to compartmentalize pain, much like Woods efforts on the running track, that adds a further string to the bow of rowers and runners looking to step into the world of road racing, where races play out over four hours but are won over four minutes.

Take German Zwift champ Osbornes worlds winning 10w/kg move as a case in point. He said it himself I know how to hurt myself a lot. And thats what is needed to win in any sport.

No matter what the duration of the races, one thing that does tie rowers, skiers, runners, and riders is their engines. The records for top recorded Vo2 max results a measure of maximal oxygen uptake that defines physiological potential are entirely filled by athletes from the sports.

No surprise then, that when both ski mountaineer Palzer signed for Bora and cross-country skier Marti Vigo del Arco signed for Androni, each of their respective coaches lauded their exceptional values in physical tests, a surefire indication that they have the motor to make a bike move very fast.

But it takes much more than having good physiology to win in the cutthroat racing of the WorldTour, and Palzer acknowledged that developing a certain racing intelligence is top of his list of priorities when he rides with Bora-Hansgrohe next year.

Woods similarly suggested that being able to match the racing savvy and technical proficiency of those that were in the saddle in their childhoods is something that has only recently come to him. Even after five years in the WorldTour, the 34-year-old said that catching up with the racecraft and bike handling that his rivals have spent up to 20 years developing is a constant work in progress.

By far when I first started riding, the biggest things to master were the handling skills and fear factor, Woods said. Theyre both things Im still focusing on learning I still work with a descending coach and I work on my technical skills quite a bit.

Osborne is hoping to get a pro cycling contract in 2022 after seeing out his Olympic ambitions in Tokyo. Rogli, Faulkner, Woods, and Bond have proven the pivot onto the pedals is possible, and Palzer and Vigo del Arco will be next in the spotlight. Behind them, Woods feels there could be plenty more making the pivot into the pedals.

Its a smart move for teams to be looking outside the sport, Woods said. Its important for them to think outside the box.

Cycling is a really tough sport to learn, but its still a sport, and if you have a strong sports background in something else, skills are very transferable. The training is so dialed in, the technology is so good, and the information is so accessible now, theres a lot you can learn about the sport a lot faster than before.

Just because you dont start riding and racing a bike when youre 10 years old, it doesnt mean you cant be a great cyclist.

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The pivot to cycling: Pro racing's new breed of rowers, runners and skiers - VeloNews

Genetics

Further genetic clues to severe COVID-19 – PHG Foundation

New research published in Nature has revealed important genetic causes of the most severe forms of COVID-19 disease.

Researchers studied over 2,000 severely ill patients with COVID-19, and compared their genomes to those of healthy people from existing population studies in the UK. They found that patients were much more likely to possess variations in a small number of genes that affect anti-viral immune responses and inflammation information that suggests existing drugs could be useful treatments for severe disease.

COVID-19 has been known for almost a year now, but the variation in effects on different people remains baffling: some experience no discernible symptoms at all, others a mild or moderate illness, and some a very distinct, severe and life-threatening illness. Although certain clear risk factors have emerged for the most dangerous forms of the disease, notably older age and certain conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and severe obesity, both within and outside these groups, SARS-CoV-2 infection causes a bewildering and unpredictable range of responses.

Understanding precisely who is and is not at greater risk of dangerous forms of the disease would play a very important role in ongoing efforts to control the disease and prevent the worst effects. It would allow preventative efforts including new vaccines to be directed first towards those at greatest risk. It also offers important clues to the underlying mechanisms that drive the most severe forms of disease, and hence to potential treatments.

It has seemed likely from the beginning that genetic variation between different people accounts for some of the otherwise inexplicable variation in disease severity. It may also account for differing disease susceptibility how likely someone is to become infected; this is the case for many other infectious diseases, though it is less obvious to see and hence to study. Doctors and scientists around the world have thrown themselves into efforts to uncover the genomic factors driving severe disease.

This new paper used DNA samples from over 2,200 patients with severe COVID-19 treated in over 200 intensive care units were obtained from to major research initiatives, the GenOMICC (Genetics Of Mortality In Critical Care) and the ISARIC Coronavirus Clinical Characterisation Consortium 4C studies. Genome sequences were compared with healthy control subject genomes from the UK Biobank to identify areas of the genome where there were significant differences. Findings were checked against samples from a similar number of hospitalised cases from the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative.

A handful of important genes involved in severe COVID-19 were identified, of two main types. The first group were genes involved in antiviral defences; the OAS gene helps block replication and spread of the virus, whilst IFNAR2 is involved in the production of an important immune mediator, interferon, which helps to trigger immune responses to viral infections. Weak early responses to infection could help the SARS-CoV-2 virus to spread and grow in the patient.

These discoveries are in line with earlier findings that pinpointed genetic changes that impaired interferon function among severe COVID-19 patients. Whilst giving interferon to critically ill patients has not proved very effective, there is hope that early administration to people with genetic predisposition to poor interferon responses who are infected by the virus might prevent severe disease.

The second group of genes implicated in severe COVID-19 were likely to play a role in the dangerous inflammatory lung damage seen in patients in critical care. These included rare variants in the TYK2, DPP9 and CCR2 genes. TYK2 is involved in controlling immune response; a rare variant that causes excessive inflammation was common among patients. This is a positive finding, since there are already anti-inflammatory drugs that target this particular biological pathway, and could prove to be valuable new treatments. Both DPP9 and CCR2 are also involved in different aspects of inflammatory responses to infection.

The researchers expect that there are other genes that affect the risk of severe disease, and hope to uncover more of these in due course as they analyse genomes additional patients; rarer genetic changes are harder to find and require larger numbers of people in studies. They are particularly interested in additional genetic factors that might account for the increased risk of severe disease seen in certain ethnic groups.

Meanwhile, other researchers continue to employ genome sequencing of the virus itself, rather than human hosts, to aid the battle against COVID-19. The UK government recently announced an additional 12.2 million funding for the COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium to continue and expand viral genome sequencing. Combining this information with patient data helps to identify whether the virus is becoming more or less infectious, or dangerous, or amenable to new vaccines all vital information.

Tackling COVID-19 without the insights provided by genomics would be infinitely more difficult like trying to understand the virus and the disease blindfolded and would undoubtedly have hugely slowed the development of vaccines, treatments and other responses to limit the harm caused by the pandemic.

Take a look at our short animation on pandemic in the genomic era

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Further genetic clues to severe COVID-19 - PHG Foundation

Genetics

Is Height Genetic? Why and Why Not? – Healthline

Humans come in a variety of heights and genetics play a key role in determining whether you will be short or tall.

Theres much more than just heredity to consider before assuming a person will automatically be the same height as their parents. Medical conditions, hormonal deficiencies, and more can all contribute to how tall you are.

Read on to learn about all of the components that contribute to a persons natural height.

Genetics are among the prominent factors that contribute to how tall youll be.

As a general rule of thumb, your height can be predicted based on how tall your parents are. If they are tall or short, then your own height is said to end up somewhere based on the average heights between your two parents.

Genes arent the sole predictor of a persons height. In some instances, a child might be much taller than their parents and other relatives. Or, perhaps, they may be much shorter.

Such key differences may be explained by other factors outside of your genes that contribute to height.

Aside from genetics, there are other factors to consider that can determine a persons height, especially during childhood and adolescence.

While eating more vegetables wont automatically make you taller, getting adequate nutrition during your growing years is critical in human development, including your height.

A diet based on whole, nutritious foods can ensure you will grow up to the height your genes might dictate. On the flip side, a poor diet could lead to a shorter stature compared to your parents.

Eating healthy isnt so simple for all families. Children of a poor socioeconomic status may be at risk of a lack of access to nutrition, along with poor access to adequate health care. This, in turn, can contribute to a shorter height.

You may notice that boys grow slower than girls at first, due to differences in puberty milestones. Overall though, adult males tend to be an average of 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) taller compared to adult females.

During puberty, hormones are essential for regulating body growth. These include thyroid hormones, human growth hormones, and sex hormones such as testosterone and estrogen.

Any abnormalities in these hormones could alter growth as well as your overall height. Children who develop hypothyroidism (low thyroid) or pituitary gland disorders may experience shorter than average height compared to their parents.

Rarely, hormonal disorders can contribute to being taller than normal. For example, gigantism is caused by too many human growth hormones produced by pituitary gland tumors.

Some conditions present at birth may dictate a persons height. For example, achondroplasia (dwarfism) is a rare bone growth disorder that runs in families.

Another congenital disorder that can cause short stature is known as Turner syndrome. This rare condition causes delays in puberty. Unlike achondroplasia, Turner syndrome doesnt run in families.

Other congenital disorders lead to a taller than normal stature. These include Marfan and Klinefelter syndromes.

Marfan syndrome is caused by connective tissue enlargements, while Klinefelter syndrome occurs when males are born with an additional copy of the X chromosome.

Overall, theres no way you can increase your height. Each person is born with genes that will help dictate how tall they become, but other factors such as inadequate nutrition or medical conditions may alter this outlook.

Hormonal conditions may be the few exceptions. If a lack of thyroid or human growth hormones is detected during childhood, then taking medications may help reverse the effects on height.

However, once you reach adulthood, taking hormonal replacements wont make you taller. At this point, your full height has already been achieved, and taking any medications or supplements wont make a difference.

Its important to focus on good nutrition during childhood, but sticking with these habits will also contribute to your overall health into adulthood and beyond regardless of your height.

Poor posture and lack of exercise can also contribute to poor stature, so correcting these items may help increase your height (or the appearance of it).

Its widely regarded that your genes will dictate how tall you become. However, there are other exceptions to this rule, including your gender, access to nutrition, and any underlying medical or congenital conditions you may have.

See a doctor if you have any concerns about your height, or if you have a child who isnt reaching their growth milestones. They can discuss nutritional issues with you, and they may help rule out the possibility of any hormonal issues.

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Is Height Genetic? Why and Why Not? - Healthline

Genetics

NIH’s All of Us Research Program returns first genetic results to participants – National Institutes of Health

News Release

Thursday, December 10, 2020

The National Institutes of Healths All of Us Research Program has begun to return genetic results to participants who have donated biosamples for research. This reflects the programs priority to give back information to its research volunteers. Initially, participants can choose to receive information about their genetic ancestry and traits, with health-related results available at a later date.

The All of Us Research Program is working to build a diverse community of 1 million or more participant partners across the U.S. to help researchers learn more about how genetics, environment and lifestyle factors affect health outcomes. Participants share information in a variety of ways, including surveys, electronic health records, biosamples (blood, urine and/or saliva) and more. Data is stripped of personal identifiers and made available for research through the All of Us Research Hub.

As part of its core values, the program is committed to ensuring that participants have access to their own information, and many participants have expressed a strong desire to understand what their DNA can tell them.

Were changing the paradigm for research, said Josh Denny, M.D., All of Uss chief executive officer. Participants are our most important partners in this effort, and we know many of them are eager to get their genetic results and learn about the science theyre making possible. Were working to provide that valuable information in a responsible way.

The program's in-depth genetic analyses include both whole genome sequencing and genotyping. Whole genome sequencing focuses on the more than 3 billion base pairs in the human genome, while genotyping looks at millions of genetic variants focused on peoples most common genetic differences.

To return genetic information, the program has developed a robust informed consent process, giving participants information and choice about whether or not to receive results and which results they want to get back. The program also provides access to genetic counselors to help answer questions from participants and their health care providers.

All of Us teamed up with a network of awardees across the country to support this work, including the health technology company Color, to return the personalized results on genetic ancestry and traits, and a set of leading genome centers to generate the genetic data: Baylor College of Medicine, the Broad Institute and the Northwest Genomics Center at the University of Washington, alongside their partners.

With the All of Us Research Program, were beginning to return results for a genomics program that is of unprecedented scale, said Alicia Zhou, Ph.D., chief science officer at Color. For a long time, the research community has recruited participants into large-population genomics studies without returning any results back to them. With All of Us, weve provided the tools to do just thatin a convenient and accessible way. We now have a real opportunity to return value to participants.

All of Us is taking a phased approach to the return of genetic results and will offer additional results over time. In about a year, the program plans to begin offering participants the option to receive information about how their DNA may affect their bodys response to certain types of medicines (pharmacogenetics), and about genetic variants associated with the increased risk of certain diseases, based on guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. Participants will receive information back as their DNA samples are processed, so not everyone will receive information immediately.

Since All of Us opened enrollment nationwide in 2018, more than 270,000 people have contributed biosamples and more than 80 percent come from communities that are historically underrepresented in biomedical research. These include racial and ethnic minorities, sexual and gender minorities and other groups.

We need programs like All of Us to build diverse datasets so that research findings ultimately benefit everyone, said Brad Ozenberger, Ph.D., All of Uss genomics director. Too many groups have been left out of research in the past, so much of what we know about genomics is based mainly on people of European ancestry. And often, genomic data are explored without critical context like environment, economics and other social determinants of health. Were trying to help change that, enabling the entire research community to help fill in these knowledge gaps.

All of Us plans to begin making genetic data available to researchers in about a year, with strict privacy and security safeguards in place to protect participants information. The program seeks to engage researchers from diverse backgrounds to undertake a wide range of studies and learn more about how to tailor care to peoples different needs.

To learn more about All of Us and to join, visit JoinAllofUs.org.

About the All of Us Research Program: The mission of the All of Us Research Program is to accelerate health research and medical breakthroughs, enabling individualized prevention, treatment, and care for all of us. The program will partner with one million or more people across the United States to build the most diverse biomedical data resource of its kind, to help researchers gain better insights into the biological, environmental, and behavioral factors that influence health. For more information, visit http://www.JoinAllofUs.org and http://www.allofus.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH):NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

NIHTurning Discovery Into Health

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NIH's All of Us Research Program returns first genetic results to participants - National Institutes of Health