FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Physiology and Gender Conference to Present Latest Research on Sex Differences in Disease RiskMeeting will focus on cardiovascular, kidney and obesity-related diseases

Newswise — Bethesda, Md. (October 13, 2015)—The American Physiological Society will host the Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Diseases: Physiology and Gender conference Nov. 17–20, in Annapolis, Md. The third in the APS fall conference series, this meeting will bring together leading scientists studying the influence of sex and gender on cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic health and disease.

“The scientific community is discovering that there are significant differences between men and women that not only affect normal physiology and responses to pathological conditions, but also response to therapeutics,” says Jane Reckelhoff, PhD, conference organizer.

Topics covered at this meeting include:• actions of sex hormones beyond reproduction, • role of sex and gender in the body’s self-healing processes,• influence of sex in the brain’s control of cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic diseases,• the impact of events occurring during fetal development on the risk of developing chronic diseases later in life, and• pregnancy and preeclampsia.

“The timing of this conference is especially opportune since the number of papers published on sex and gender differences in physiology and pathophysiology is exploding, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has recently released its guidelines for the incorporation of both sexes of animals in pre-clinical studies,” says Reckelhoff. Janine Clayton, PhD, of the Office of Research in Women’s Health at NIH, will attend the meeting to discuss NIH’s new policy, which starts Jan. 25, 2016.

Conference Program

Wednesday, Nov. 18Symposia I: Immune System and Regenerative Medicine—Impact of Gender and Sex

Karen Gould, University of Nebraska, Omaha Estrogen Receptor Alpha Enhances Loss of Tolerance to Nuclear Antigens and Immune Cell Activation Induced by the Sle1 Lupus Susceptibility Allele and Is Responsible for the Sex Bias Associated with Sle1

Jennifer Sullivan, Georgia Regents University Role of T Cells in Development of Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension

Michael Ryan, University of Mississippi Medical Center, JacksonEstrogen and Its Effects on Women with Lupus Erythematosus

Symposia II: Non-Reproductive Actions of Sex Hormones and Receptors—A

Abdulmaged M. Traish, Harvard UniversityTestosterone Therapy in Men with Testosterone Deficiency: Advances and Controversies

Ellis Levin, University of California, IrvineEstrogen Regulates Adipogenesis and Lipid Synthesis Through Membrane and Nuclear ERalpha

Sarah Lindsey, Tulane UniversityGPER and Vascular Function

Symposia III: Neuro Control of Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Diseases: Impact of Gender and Sex

Michael Joyner, Mayo Clinic, RochesterAutonomic Regulation of Blood Pressure in Adult Humans: Effects of Sex and Age

Derek Daniels, University of BuffaloSex Differences in Desensitization of the Dipsogenic Effect of Angiotensin II

Gina Yosten, St. Louis UniversityAdipokines, Obesity and Sex: Implications for Cardiovascular Function

Thursday, Nov. 19Symposia V: Developmental Programming of Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Diseases: Roles of Gender and Sex

Daliao Xiao, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, CaliforniaEffect of Estrogen in Gender-Dependent Fetal Programming of Adult Cardiovascular Dysfunction

Analia Loria, University of Kentucky, LexingtonSex Differences in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Risks Due to Early-Life Stress

Deborah M. Sloboda, McMaster University, CanadaMaternal Undernutrition Significantly Impacts Ovarian Follicle Number and Increases Ovarian Oxidative Stress in Adult Rat Offspring

Symposia VI: Non-Reproductive Effects of Sex Hormones and Receptors—B

Nina Stachenfeld, Yale UniversityAndrogen Effects on Endothelial Function in Women in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Elizabeth Murphy, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at NIHMechanisms Involved in Cardioprotection in Females: Role of Estrogen and Estrogen Receptors

Vera Regitz-Zagrosek, Charite University, GermanySex and Hormone Effects in Cardiovascular Pathophysiology

Plenary LectureJanine Clayton, Office of Research in Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesStudying Both Sexes: A New Frontier for Discovery

Symposia VII: Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, Gender and Sex

Bernadette Grayson, University of Mississippi Medical Center, JacksonIn Utero Consequences of Rodent Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy on Maternal Health and Feto-Placental Development

Denise Belsham, University of Toronto, CanadaNutrient-Sensing Mechanisms in Hypothalamic Cell Models: Neuropeptide Regulation and Neuroinflammation

Franck Mauvais-Jarvis, Tulane UniversityThe Role of Estrogens and Androgen in Control of Glucose Homeostasis

Friday, Nov. 20Symposia VIII: Pregnancy and Preeclampsia

George Osol, University of Vermont, BurlingtonMechanisms of Maternal Uterine Vascular Remodeling during Gestation

Jennifer Sasser, University of Mississippi Medical Center, JacksonSpontaneous Superimposed Preeclampsia in Dahl Salt Sensitive Rats

Mark Santillan, University of IowaVasopressin: A New Beginning for the End of Preeclampsia?

Symposia IX: Population Studies—Gender and Sex in CVD, Renal Disease and Metabolic Syndrome

Kathy Rexrod, Harvard Medical SchoolSex Differences in Risk Factors for Stroke in Women

Marie Kroussel-Wood, Tulane UniversityGender Differences in Hypertension and Health Behaviors

Shengxu Li, Tulane UniversityTobacco Smoking Exposure from Childhood to Adulthood and Adult Subclinical Vascular Disease

NOTE TO EDITORS: The Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Diseases: Physiology and Gender conference will be held Nov. 17–20 in Annapolis, Md. The press is invited to attend. Please contact APS Communications at [email protected] or 301-634-7209 for additional information.

About the American Physiological SocietyPhysiology is the study of how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function in health and disease. Established in 1887, the American Physiological Society (APS) was the first U.S. society in the biomedical sciences field. The Society represents more than 11,000 members and publishes 14 peer-reviewed journals with a worldwide readership.