The probiotic, Bacillus polyfermenticus, can help mice recover from colitis. Mice treated with B.P. during the non-inflammatory period of the disease had reduced rectal bleeding, their tissues were less inflamed and they gained more weight than mice that did not receive the treatment.
How far you can reach beyond your toes from a sitting position may be an indicator of how stiff your arteries are. Because arterial stiffness often precedes cardiovascular disease, the results suggest that this could be a quick measure of a person’s risk for heart attack or stroke.
In the early years of the “space race” (1957-1975) two men sought to test a scientifically simple yet culturally complicated theory: that women might be innately better suited for space travel than men. In 1960 the thought of a woman in space was a radical one, and justifiably so.
Caitlin O’Connell-Rodwell’s insight that elephants ‘talk’ and ‘listen’ to vocalizations that they send through the ground grew from long hours of observation and experimentation, as well as her own in-depth knowledge of insects that communicate seismically. The Stanford University professor updates her research from the APS journal Physiology.
In 1958, a team comprised of a groundbreaking engineer -- Dean Franklin -- in concert with two exceptional physicians -- Drs. Robert Rushmer and Robert Van Citters – was laying the foundation for what would eventually become a radical new approach to health care: the noninvasive imaging and treatment of the heart.
Identified in 1988, endothelin (ET) is produced by most tissues in the body. The protein is highly concentrated in the brain, lungs, kidney, heart, blood vessels & some cancer cells. ET is also the most potent vasoconstrictor known. Dr. Donald Kohan, a leading expert in the field, discusses the potential of a new class of drugs, ET receptor antagonists, for kidney disease, high blood pressure & other disorders at the 11th International Conference on ET. Sponsor: American Physiological Society.
Research on new drugs to block endothelin has led to successful treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension and provides hope for treating other chronic diseases. Whether the new drugs can treat congestive heart failure is less clear. Researcher Matthias Barton describes the progress of endothelin research at an APS conference.
Endothelin may play a role in the pain of sickle cell disease because of a change in the endothelin B receptor. The activated receptor releases endorphins to help alleviate pain. Males who experience repeated pain may not have as much of the receptor and therefore do not release as much of the endorphins. Dr. Sarah Sweitzer discusses her team’s work.
Exercise helps prevent weight regain after dieting by reducing appetite and by burning fat before burning carbohydrates. Burning fat first and storing carbohydrates for use later in the day slows weight regain and may minimize overeating by signaling a feeling of fullness to the brain.
Chronic alcohol consumption blunts the biological clock’s ability to synchronize daily activities to light, disrupts natural activity patterns and continues to affect the body’s clock (circadian rhythm), even days after the drinking ends.
Divers who held their breath for several minutes had elevated levels of a protein that can signal brain damage. However, the appearance of the protein, S100B, was transient and leaves open the question of whether lengthy apnea (breath-holding) can damage the brain over the long term.
While both males and females are at risk for stroke, males have a particular sensitivity. Data show that male stroke victims outnumber females by about two to one. Women are likewise at risk for stroke and, as they age, their outcomes are often worse than their male counterpart's. A renowned expert in stroke and sex differences talks about how one disease affects the two genders.
When soldiers leave base for a 3-day mission, how much water should they bring? New research from the Journal of Applied Physiology may now provide military planners an accurate answer. The study improves an existing water needs equation developed in 1982 by 58-65%. If the new formula works in the field, as expected, it could accurately predict water needs for soldiers and civilians.
Exercise and electro-acupuncture treatments can reduce sympathetic nerve activity in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), according to a new study. The finding is important because women with PCOS often have elevated sympathetic nerve activity, which plays a role in hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, obesity and cardiovascular disease.
A person whose hand function has been affected by a stroke can release an object more quickly when the affected arm is supported on a platform. Muscle-stretching exercises improved how quickly the stroke survivor could grip an object. The findings show how a stroke affects hand function, and provide a roadmap for rehabilitation.
Pregnant women who are indigenous to the Andes Mountains deliver more blood and oxygen to their fetuses at high altitude than do women of European descent. The study helps explain why babies of Andean descent born at high altitude weigh more than European babies born at altitude.
Chemical used in the production of intravenous (IV) bags and other medical equipment can reproduce complications seen in patients following extracorporeal circulatory (EC) support. Study by Hopkins researchers finds solvent cyclohexanone (CHX) leaches into IV fluids and can replicate clinical abnormalities.
Three years ago, a group of Dutch researchers led by Frits Koning published a study in the American Journal of Physiology on an enzyme that appeared capable of providing an effective treatment for celiac disease. In Episode 20 of Life Lines, Dr. Koning updates us on that research, now in clinical trial.
Two physiologists whose work has helped uncover how the brain controls the circulatory system have received the The American Physiological Society's two highest awards. Dr. Francois Abboud received the Walter B. Cannon Award; Dr. Ann M. Schreihofer received the Henry Pickering Bowditch Memorial Award. Their research looks at hypertension, sleep apnea and obesity, among other areas.
ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) is believed to involve an interplay between genetic predisposition and environmental factors. One environmental factor is diet. With oxidative stress (which damages the cells) a common concern in ALS pathology, researchers have examined what role antioxidants might play. Coffee is a potent dietary antioxidant, and recently been used to study the disease in an animal model. The findings indicate that coffee appears to be beneficial for males with ALS but not for females.
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