Category Archives: Neuroscience

Four Penn Faculty: Election to the National Academy of Sciences

Four members of the University of Pennsylvania faculty have been elected to the United States National Academy of Sciences (NAS). They join 120 members, 59 of whom are women, the most elected in a single year, and 30 international members, elected by their peers this year to NAS. Recognized for distinguished and continuing achievements in original research, this new class brings the total number of active members to 2,461 and of international members to 511.

Marisa Bartolomei is the Perelman Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology in the department of cell and developmental biology in the Perelman School of Medicine. She is also the co-director of the Penn Epigenetics Institute. Crossing into the disciplines of cell and molecular biology, pharmacology, and neuroscience, Dr. Bartolomei and her lab investigate genomic imprinting in mice. Specifically, they focus on the H19 gene, which is only expressed in maternal alleles, in order to better uncover the mechanisms behind imprinting and the effects of the environment, assisted reproductive technologies, and endocrine disruptors. Her lab also looks into the molecular and genetic systems behind X inactivation in mice. Her research has been published widely in journals including Nature, Nature Biotechnology, Development, and PLoS Genetics.

Michael Kearns is the National Center Professor of Management & Technology in the department of computer and information science in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. He also holds secondary appointments in the School of Arts & Sciences department of economics and the departments of statistics and operations, information and decisions at the Wharton School. He is an expert in machine learning, algorithmic game theory, and microeconomics, and applies both theoretical research and experimental techniques to better understand the social dimensions of new information technology, such as its impact on privacy and fairness. Dr. Kearns is also the founding director of Penns Warren Center for Network and Data Sciences, which draws on researchers from around the University to study some of the most pressing problems of the digital age. Dr. Kearns is also the co-author of The Ethical Algorithm, which shows how seemingly objective data science techniques can produce biased outcomes.

Diana Mutz is the Samuel A. Stouffer Professor of Political Science and Communication in the Annenberg School for Communication. She also serves as director of the Institute for the Study of Citizens and Politics; she is also an affiliate of the Warren Center. She studies political communication, political psychology, and public opinion, and her research focuses on how the American mass public relates to the political world and how people form opinions on issues and candidates. She received a 2017 Carnegie Fellowship and a 2016 Guggenheim Fellowship to pursue research on globalization and public opinion, and in 2011 received the Lifetime Career Achievement Award in Political Communication from the American Political Science Association. In addition to many journal articles, Dr. Mutz is the author of Impersonal Influence: How Perceptions of Mass Collectives Affect Political Attitudes, Hearing the Other Side: Deliberative Versus Participatory Democracy, and In-Your-Face Politics: The Consequences of Uncivil Media.

M. Celeste Simon is the Arthur H. Rubenstein, MB BCh, Professor in the department of cell and developmental biology in the Perelman School of Medicine and the scientific director of The Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute. She and her lab research the metabolism of cancer cells, tumor immunology, metastasis, and how healthy cells and cancer cells respond to a lack of oxygen and nutrients. Her work uses both animal models and cancer patient samples, and her goal is to create techniques to treat various tumors like kidney cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, liver cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Dr. Simon was the recipient of a National Cancer Institute Outstanding Investigator Award in 2017, and she has authored more than 275 articles in journals including Cell, Science, Nature, Cancer Discovery, Nature Genetics, and Cancer Cell.

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Four Penn Faculty: Election to the National Academy of Sciences - UPENN Almanac

Neuroscience

Damage to White Matter Linked to Worse Post-Brain Injury Outcomes – Technology Networks

May 11, 2021 medical

A new University of Iowa study challenges the idea that gray matter (the neurons that form the cerebral cortex) is more important than white matter (the myelin covered axons that physically connect neuronal regions) when it comes to cognitive health and function. The findings may help neurologists better predict the long-term effects of strokes and other forms of traumatic brain injury.

The most unexpected aspect of our findings was that damage to gray matter hubs of the brain that are really interconnected with other regions didn't really tell us much about how poorly people would do on cognitive tests after brain damage. On the other hand, people with damage to the densest white matter connections did much worse on those tests, explains Justin Reber, PhD, a UI postdoctoral research fellow in psychology and first author on the study. This is important because both scientists and clinicians often focus almost exclusively on the role of gray matter. This study is a reminder that connections between brain regions might matter just as much as those regions themselves, if not more so.

The new study, published in PNAS, analyzes brain scans and cognitive function tests from over 500 people with localized areas of brain damage caused by strokes or other forms of brain injury. Looking at the location of the brain damage, also known as lesions, the UI team led by Reber andAaron Boes, MD, PhD, correlated the level of connectedness of the damaged areas with the level of cognitive disability the patient experienced. The findings suggest that damage to highly connected regions of white matter is more predictive of cognitive impairment than damage to highly connected gray matter hubs.

The UI team used these well accepted mathematical models to identify the location of hubs within both gray and white matter from brain imaging of normal healthy individuals. The researchers then used brain scans from patients with brain lesions to find cases where areas of damage coincided with hubs. Using data from multiple cognitive tests for those patients, they were also able to measure the effect hub damage had on cognitive outcomes. Surprisingly, damage to highly connected gray matter hubs did not have a strong association with poor cognitive outcomes. In contrast, damage to dense white matter hubs was strongly linked to impaired cognition.

The brain isn't a blank canvas where all regions are equivalent; a small lesion in one region of the brain may have very minimal impact on cognition, whereas another one may have a huge impact. These findings might help us better predict, based on the location of the damage, which patients are at risk for cognitive impairment after stroke or other brain injury, says Boes, UI professor of pediatrics, neurology, and psychiatry, and a member of the Iowa Neuroscience Institute. It's better to know those things in advance as it gives patients and family members a more realistic prognosis and helps target rehabilitation more effectively.

Reber notes that the study also illustrates the value of working with clinical patients as well as healthy individuals in terms of understanding relationships between brain structure and function.

There is a lot of really excellent research using functional brain imaging with healthy participants or computer simulations that tell us that these gray matter hubs are critical to how the brain works, and that you can use them to predict how well healthy people will perform on cognitive tests. But when we look at how strokes and other brain damage actually affect people, it turns out that you can predict much more from damage to white matter, he says. Research with people who have survived strokes or other brain damage is messy, complicated, and absolutely essential, because it builds a bridge between basic scientific theory and clinical practice, and it can improve both.

I cannot stress enough how grateful we are that these patients have volunteered their time to help us; without them, a lot of important research would be impossible, he adds.

Reference: Reber J, Hwang K, Bowren M, et al. Cognitive impairment after focal brain lesions is better predicted by damage to structural than functional network hubs. PNAS. 2021;118(19). doi:10.1073/pnas.2018784118

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Damage to White Matter Linked to Worse Post-Brain Injury Outcomes - Technology Networks

Neuroscience

Los Angeles Area Bioscience Academic Institutions, Researchers, Industry and Investors Converge at LABEST May 25 27, 2021 – BioSpace

May 11, 2021 medical

UCLA Technology Development Group (UCLA TDG) presents The Los Angeles Bioscience Ecosystem Summit 2021 (LABEST pronounced L-A Best). This event is the premier showcase for bioscience innovation in Los Angeles County. A true collaboration with colleagues from across the county, LABEST presents promising academic research, entrepreneurial faculty investigators, as well as local start- up companies. The goal is to promote awareness of the growing life science entrepreneurial ecosystem in Los Angeles in order to foster partnerships with the biopharma industry.

The pandemic demonstrated the need to quickly translate discoveries into real world products. In this virtual summit we bring together people that make a difference: researchers, hospital CEOs, investors and industry the entire ecosystem needed for drug development and commercialization, said Amir Naiberg, Vice Chancellor, CEO & President, UCLA TDG.

The conference is entirely virtual this year. Throughout the summit, faculty members present the latest scientific breakthroughs, which may lead to the critical therapies of tomorrow. Leading bioscience translational research programs and start-ups will be showcased where Southern California Institutions have significant expertise, pioneering research and resource commitments directed towards developing innovative patient therapies.

LABEST is led by Mark Wisniewski, Senior Director, Bio Pharmaceuticals, UCLA TDG. He adds, We have many leaders who will be providing different perspectives at LABEST on LAs significant progress as a bioscience ecosystem and successful drug development collaborations including Anne Rimoin Professor of Epidemiology who is a keynote speaker, Maria Millan CEO of California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Arie Belldegrun, Chairman of Bellco Capital, Steven Rosen, Provost and Chief Scientific Officer of the City of Hope and Johnese Spisso, CEO of UCLA Health and President of UCLA Hospital.

LABEST INFORMATION (images on last page) #UCLALABEST2021 @UCLATDG

DATES:Tuesday May 25, Wednesday May 26 and Thursday May 27, 2021

TIME: 9:00AM 5:00PM Pacific Standard Time

LABEST OFFICIAL WEBPAGE https://tdg.ucla.edu/la-best-la-bioscience-ecosystem-summit-2021

REGISTRATION

General Tickets are currently $95 and increase to $125 after May 15th. The cost includes all 3 Days of the LABEST Conference. Registration link: https://tdg.ucla.edu/la-best-la-bioscience-ecosystem-summit-2021

WHERE

This is a completely virtual event. Registered attendees can access the LABEST virtual conference at https://labest2021.vfairs.com/

AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS | View the Latest Agenda Here

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

LABEST SHORT TALK/PANEL DESCRIPTIONS

Talk/Panel Title

Description

Keynote: Why LA

Eric Esrailian and Gene Sykes

"Why LA": Los Angeles' attraction as a bioscience ecosystem, its exciting growth, competitive advantages, and its future including hosting the 2028 Summer Olympics, LA28.

Keynote: Martin Jarmond

Every player has their part. Teamwork and responsibility are key.

Keynote: Anne Rimoin

COVID-19 and Beyond

How to stop pandemics before they start

Hospital CEOs Sharing Innovations Panel

CEOs of Los Angeles' hospital systems will share their best practices and resulting innovations to address the COVID-19 pandemic and how their collaborative efforts will shape the future of hospital systems and the health of Los Angeles County.

Meet Leaders in the Business of Life Sciences

Biopharma leaders will address scientific innovation, drug development, financing andstartups trends in Los Angeles.

Growth and Retention of Biotech Start-ups in LA

Bioscience CEO will discuss their experiences, decisions, challenges and future opportunities with being located in Los Angeles.

CIRM Strategic Priorities and Opportunities Beyond 2020

With the passage of Prop 14, an additional $5.5 billion dollars have been allocated to fund stem cell research. Leaders in the field will discuss strategy and new opportunities in neuropsychiatric and other disorders.

Immuno-Oncology 2021 and Beyond Panel

After three decades of research, immune-based therapies have become potent new cancer treatments. Recent advances are focused on furthering our understanding of the mechanisms of action and improving access.

Startup Engines: Academic Industry Partnerships

Learn about new partnerships and models of collaboration between academia and industry to advance innovative research into new bioscience startups.

Moving Microbes from Bench to Bedside Panel

An expert-led discussion of the promise of microbial-based treatments for disease while addressing the major obstacles in clinical translation and integrating microbiome-based treatments into the standard of care.

Emerging Therapeutics in Neuroscience Panel

Recent advances in neuroscience will be discussed by a panel of experts seeking to impact these frequently unmet medical needs.

Scaling Gene and Cell Therapies to Reach More Patients Globally Panel

Due to a complex, multi-step treatment journey, there are numerous logistical challenges when it comes to expanding the reach of cell and gene therapies. How can we leverage bio manufacturing speed and scale to unlock the potential of cell and gene therapies and ensure they can get to the patients who need them?

Venture Capital and Syndication In Los Angeles

Learn how prominent Venture Capitalists are focusing on Los Angeles bioscience innovation and the how the increasing availability of capital is generating robust innovative startups in Los Angeles.

Advancing Inclusive Research

In order to enhance the accessibility and affordability of effective therapies, new models for the conduct of clinical trials will be discussed.

Amgen Research & Development/ Academic Strategies

Industry leaders discuss how to strategically work with academia to develop a pipeline for research, development and talent.

Amgen Ventures and Business Development in Los Angeles

How much bioscience business development is really happening in Los Angeles?

How Kite is Building a Global CAR T Franchise Out of LA

Learn how Kite's focus on cell therapy to treat cancer has advanced industry-leading pipeline of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T cell receptor (TCR) product candidates to treat both hematological cancers and solid tumors.

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Los Angeles Area Bioscience Academic Institutions, Researchers, Industry and Investors Converge at LABEST May 25 27, 2021 - BioSpace

Neuroscience

Get Out the Vax campaign enters third weekend with 49% vaccinated – The Cincinnati Enquirer

May 11, 2021 medical

Logo for the Get Out the Vax campaign(Photo: provided)

This weekend is the first of two in May for a full-on Get Out the Vax campaign, where Southwest Ohioand Northern Kentucky health care organizations, community groups and private businesses are encouraging people to get COVID-19 vaccines.

Free public transit will be available again as part of the goal to get 80% of people in the region who qualify for a COVID-19 vaccine inoculated by July 4. As of Wednesday, 49% were vaccinated, according to the Health Collaborative, the region's consortium of health systems.

[Sign up for thefree Coronavirus Watch newsletterto get the latest news in the Cincinnati region]

The campaign was announced on April 6, with two weekends planned for April and May to incentivize and motivate people to get a COVID-19 vaccine. A final campaign weekend is scheduled for May 22-23.

This weekend includes Mother's Day, which campaign officials hope will be incentive enough for many people in the region.

Kaitlyn Clark, a substitute teacher with Fort Thomas Independent Schools, receives her COVID-19 vaccination at St. Elizabeth Training & Education Center, in Erlanger, on Sunday, January 17, 2021.(Photo: Amanda Rossmann, The Enquirer/Amanda Rossmann)

One of the best things to give mom for Mothers Day is a hug, said Kate Schroder, a special adviser for vaccine coordination at the Health Collaborative overseeing the regional campaign, adding that a COVID-19 vaccine can lead to just that.

Check out The Enquirer's vaccine guide for locations and details of the region's vaccine offerings.

People also can goto TestandProtectCincy.comand click on the "Vaccine Info" tab to learn where walk-in vaccines are available. Click on the providers link if you prefer scheduling an appointment.

Schroder said that there are a lot more vaccine clinics in neighborhood events. She also noted people who have trouble with transportationincluding difficulty with using public transit should call 211.

She said still about two-thirds of people in the region are still scheduling appointments, which is why a lot of appointments are available, but more and more, people are walking into vaccination sites.

Cincinnati Health Dept., 3101 Burnet Ave., Corryville; 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Moderna vaccine.

HealthCare Connection, 1401 Steffen Ave., Lincoln Heights, and 1411 Compton Road, Mount Healthy; 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.;Moderna vaccine.

Mercy Anderson Red Clinic,7502 State Road, Anderson Township;12:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.;Moderna vaccine.

Price Hill Branch Library, 970 Purcell Ave., East Price Hill;11 a.m.-4 p.m; Johnson & Johnsonvaccine.

Tri Health Baldwin building,625 Eden Park Drive, Mount Auburn, 9 a.m.-3 p.mwith Pfizer vaccine.

TriHealth Bethesda Butler Hospital, 3125 Hamilton-Mason Road, Hamilton;Friday 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; Moderna vaccine.

TriHealth Bethesda North Outpatient Imaging Center, 10494 Montgomery Road, Montgomery; 8 a.m.-6 p.m.;Moderna vaccine.

TriHealth McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital, 110 N. Poplar St., Oxford;8 a.m.-2 p.m.; Pfizer vaccine.

TriHealth Western Ridge,6949 Good Samaritan Drive, Colerain Township; 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; Pfizer vaccine.

UCHealth Gardner Neuroscience Institute, 3113 Bellevue Ave. Corryville;9 a.m to 5 p.m.,J&J vaccine.

University of CincinnatiClermont College, 4200 Clermont College Drive, Batavia; 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.,Pfizer vaccine, sponsored by Clermont County Public Health.

Hartwell Recreation Center, 8725 Vine St.; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; J&J vaccine, operated by Cincinnati Health Dept,

Mercy Fairfield Medical Office Building, 2960 Mack Road, Suite 100, Fairfield; 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Moderna vaccine.

Tri Health Baldwin building,625 Eden Park Drive, Mount Auburn, 9 a.m.-3 p.mwith Modernavaccine.

TriHealth Bethesda North Outpatient Imaging Center, 10494 Montgomery Road, Montgomery; 8 a.m.-2 p.m.:Moderna vaccine.

Southern Campbell County Fire Dept., 1050 Race Track Road, Alexandria;9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Moderna vaccine.

TriHealth McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital, 110 N. Poplar St., Oxford;8 a.m.-2 p.m.; Pfizer vaccine.

TriHealth Western Ridge,6949 Good Samaritan Drive, Colerain Township; 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; Pfizer vaccine.

UCHealth Gardner Neuroscience Institute, 3113 Bellevue Ave. Corryville;9 a.m to 5 p.m., Pfizervaccine.

TriHealth Bethesda North Outpatient Imaging Center, 10494 Montgomery Road, Montgomery; 8 a.m.-2 p.m.:Moderna vaccine.

Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio, 3458 Reading Road, Avondale;11 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Moderna vaccine..

Read or Share this story: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2021/05/06/covid-19-vaccine-campaign-continues-cincinnati-northern-kentucky/4955583001/

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Get Out the Vax campaign enters third weekend with 49% vaccinated - The Cincinnati Enquirer

Neuroscience

AbbVie to Present Data Across its Robust Neuroscience Portfolio at the 2021 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting – PRNewswire

April 11, 2021 medical

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., April 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) today announced new data from its expansive neuroscience portfolio will be presented at the 2021 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting, to be held virtually from April 17-22. A total of 33 abstracts, including one podium presentation during the Clinical Trials Plenary Session and three oral presentations, will be shared from a broad range of studies across the spectrum of migraine, advanced Parkinson's disease and spasticity.

"Our strong presence at AAN reflects our expanded portfolio of approved and investigational treatments designed to address a wide range of complicated, often debilitating neurological disorders," said Michael Gold, M.D., vice president, neuroscience development, AbbVie. "We look forward to sharing our progress in a number of areas, including pivotal Phase 3 data in migraine, with the goal of making a remarkable impact on patients' lives."

Researchers will present data from several studies on migraine, includingnew findings on atogepant, AbbVie's investigational preventive treatment of migraine in adults who meet criteria for episodic migraine as well as results evaluatingthe efficacy and safety of BOTOX(onabotulinumtoxinA) andUBRELVY (ubrogepant).

In addition, investigators will present the study design of the Phase 3 study assessing the efficacy and safety of the investigational treatment ABBV-951 (foslevodopa/foscarbidopa), a levodopa/carbidopa prodrug administered as a 24-hour continuous, subcutaneous infusion in people with advanced Parkinson's disease.

Key AbbVie abstracts and presentation details for the 2021 AAN Annual Meeting program are outlined below. Posters will be available during and for 30 days following the meeting.

Abstract Title

Presentation Details

All times CT

Migraine

Atogepant Significantly Reduces Mean Monthly Migraine Days in the Phase 3 Trial (ADVANCE) for the Prevention of Migraine

Clinical Trials Plenary Session

Tuesday, April 20

9:15 a.m. CT

Long-term Safety and Tolerability of Atogepant 60 mg Following Once Daily Dosing Over 1 year for the Preventive Treatment of Migraine

S5: Headache 1

Saturday, April 17

3 p.m. CT

Atogepant Improved Patient-Reported Migraine-Specific Quality of Life in a 12-Week Phase 3 (ADVANCE) Trial for Preventive Treatment of Migraine

Poster

Atogepant Improved Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO) Measures of Activity Impairment in Migraine-Diary and Headache Impact Test in a 12-Week, Double-blind, Randomized Phase 3 (ADVANCE) Trial for Preventive Treatment of Migraine

Poster

Ubrogepant Was Safe and Well Tolerated in the Acute Treatment of Perimenstrual Migraine

S5: Headache 1

Saturday, April 17

3:32 p.m. CT

Assessing Barriers to Care in Episodic and Chronic Migraine: Results From the Chronic Migraine Epidemiology and Outcomes (CaMEO) Study

S15: Headache 2

Monday, April 19

1:32 p.m. CT

Characterizing Preventive Treatment Gaps in Migraine: Results from the CaMEO Study

Poster

Real-World Evidence for Control of Chronic Migraine (CM) in Patients Meeting American Headache Society (AHS) Criteria Who Received Calcitonin GeneRelated Peptide Monoclonal Antibody (CGRPmAb) Therapy Added to OnabotulinumtoxinA Treatment

Poster

Real-World Evidence for Control of Patients With Chronic Migraine Who Received CGRP Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Added to OnabotulinumtoxinA Treatment

Poster

Consecutive Headache-Free Days With OnabotulinumtoxinA Treatment in Patients With Chronic Migraine: A Pooled PREEMPT Analysis

Poster

Real-World Safety and Efficacy of 155-195U OnabotulinumtoxinA in Participants With Chronic Migraine: Results From the REPOSE Study

Poster

Advanced Parkinson's Disease

Efficacy and Safety of Subcutaneous Foslevodopa/Foscarbidopa Versus Oral Levodopa/Carbidopa in Advanced Parkinson's Disease Patients: Design of a Phase 3, Randomized, Double-blind, Double-dummy, Active Controlled 12-Week Trial

Poster

Identifying Care Gaps in Parkinson's Disease Patients Eligible for Device-Aided Therapies: Results from Using the MANAGE-PD Tool in Patients from G7 Countries

Poster

Unmet Needs and Treatment Patterns of Advanced Parkinson's Disease Patients in the United States

Poster

A Retrospective Study Evaluating the Use of Anti-Parkinsonian Medications in Patients with Advanced Parkinson's Disease Who Are Treated with Levodopa-Carbidopa Intestinal Gel and Deep Brain Stimulation: The PD-DUAL Study

Poster

Sustained Improvements in Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms in Advanced Parkinson's Disease Patients Treated with Carbidopa Levodopa Enteral Suspension in a 'Real-World' Study: Interim Results of the Multinational DUOGLOBE Study With at least 24 Months Follow-Up

Poster

Spasticity

Consistent Dosing Over Time and Within Treatment Interval Groups with OnabotulinumtoxinA: Analysis from the Adult Spasticity International Registry (ASPIRE)

Poster

A full list of all 33 AbbVie abstracts accepted for presentation at the 2021 AAN Annual Meeting can be found here.

About AtogepantAtogepant is an investigational orally administered, CGRP receptor antagonist (gepant) specifically developed for the preventive treatment of migraine. CGRP and its receptors are expressed in regions of the nervous system associated with migraine pathophysiology. Studies have shown that CGRP levels are elevated during migraine attacks and selective CGRP receptor antagonists confer clinical benefit in migraine.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the New Drug Application (NDA) for atogepant. AbbVie anticipates a regulatory decision in late Q3 2021.

About ABBV-951ABBV-951 (foslevodopa/foscarbidopa) is a continuous subcutaneous infusion being investigated for the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease.

About BOTOXBOTOXwas first approved by the FDA in 1989 for two rare eye muscle disorders blepharospasmandstrabismusinadults. Today, BOTOX is FDA-approved for 12 therapeutic indications, including Chronic Migraine, overactive bladder, leakage of urine (incontinence) due to overactive bladder caused by a neurologic condition in adults, cervical dystonia, adult and pediatric spasticity, severe underarm sweating (axillary hyperhidrosis), and pediatric detrusor overactivity associated with a neurologic condition.

BOTOX(onabotulinumtoxinA) ImportantInformation

IndicationsBOTOXis aprescriptionmedicinethatisinjectedintomuscles andused:

BOTOXis alsoinjectedintotheskintotreatthesymptoms ofsevere underarm sweating(severe primaryaxillaryhyperhidrosis)whenmedicines usedonthe skin(topical) donotwork wellenoughinpeople18years andolder.

Itis notknownwhether BOTOXissafeand effectivetopreventheadaches in patientswithmigraine whohave14orfewer headachedays eachmonth (episodicmigraine).

BOTOXhasnotbeenshowntohelppeopleperformtask-specific functions withtheir upper limbsor increasemovementinjointsthatare permanentlyfixedinpositionbystiffmuscles.

Itis notknownwhether BOTOXis safeand effectivefor severe sweating anywhere other thanyour armpits.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATIONBOTOXmaycause serioussideeffects that can belifethreatening.Get medicalhelp right awayifyou haveanyoftheseproblemsanytime(hours toweeks) afterinjection ofBOTOX:

There has not been a confirmed serious case of spread of toxin effect away from the injection site when BOTOX has been used at the recommended dose to treat chronic migraine, severe underarm sweating, blepharospasm, or strabismus.

BOTOX may cause loss of strength or general muscle weakness, vision problems, or dizziness within hours to weeks of taking BOTOX. If this happens, do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities.

Do not receive BOTOX if you: are allergic to any of the ingredients in BOTOX (see Medication Guide for ingredients); had an allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin product such as Myobloc (rimabotulinumtoxinB), Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA), or Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA); have a skin infection at the planned injection site.

Do not receive BOTOX for the treatment of urinary incontinence if you: have a urinary tract infection (UTI) or cannot empty your bladder on your own and are not routinely catheterizing. Due to the risk of urinary retention (not being able to empty the bladder), only patients who are willing and able to initiate catheterization post treatment, if required, should be considered for treatment.

Patients treated for overactive bladder:In clinical trials, 36 of the 552 patients had to self-catheterize for urinary retention following treatment with BOTOX compared to 2 of the 542 treated with placebo. The median duration of post-injection catheterization for these patients treated with BOTOX 100 Units (n = 36) was 63 days (minimum 1 day to maximum 214 days) as compared to a median duration of 11 days (minimum 3 days to maximum 18 days) for patients receiving placebo (n = 2). Patients with diabetes mellitus treated with BOTOX were more likely to develop urinary retention than nondiabetics.

Adult Patients treated for overactive bladder due to neurologic disease:In clinical trials, 30.6% of patients (33/108) who were not using clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) prior to injection, required catheterization for urinary retention following treatment with BOTOX 200 Units as compared to 6.7% of patients (7/104) treated with placebo. The median duration of post-injection catheterization for these patients treated with BOTOX 200 Units (n = 33) was 289 days (minimum 1 day to maximum 530 days) as compared to a median duration of 358 days (minimum 2 days to maximum 379 days) for patients receiving placebo (n = 7). Among patients not using CIC at baseline, those with MS were more likely to require CIC post injection than those with SCI.

The dose of BOTOX is not the same as, or comparable to, another botulinum toxin product.

Serious and/or immediate allergic reactions have been reported, including itching, rash, red itchy welts, wheezing, asthma symptoms, dizziness, or feeling faint. Get medical help right away if you experience symptoms; further injection of BOTOX should be discontinued.

Tell your doctor about all your muscle or nerve conditions,such as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, as you may be at increased risk of serious side effects, including difficulty swallowing and difficulty breathing from typical doses of BOTOX.

Tell your doctor if you have any breathing-related problems. Your doctor may monitor you for breathing problems during treatment with BOTOX for spasticity or for detrusor overactivity associated with a neurologic condition. The risk of developing lung disease in patients with reduced lung function is increased in patients receiving BOTOX.

Cornea problems have been reported. Cornea (surface of the eye) problems have been reported in some people receiving BOTOX for their blepharospasm, especially in people with certain nerve disorders. BOTOX may cause the eyelids to blink less, which could lead to the surface of the eye being exposed to air more than is usual. Tell your doctor if you experience any problems with your eyes while receiving BOTOX. Your doctor may treat your eyes with drops, ointments, contact lenses, or with an eye patch.

Bleeding behind the eye has been reported. Bleeding behind the eyeball has been reported in some people receiving BOTOX for their strabismus. Tell your doctor if you notice any new visual problems while receiving BOTOX.

Bronchitis and upper respiratory tract infections (common colds) have been reported. Bronchitis was reported more frequently in adults receiving BOTOX for upper limb spasticity. Upper respiratory infections were also reported more frequently in adults with prior breathing-related problems with spasticity. In pediatric patients treated with BOTOX for upper limb spasticity, upper respiratory tract infections were reported more frequently. In pediatric patients treated with BOTOX for lower limb spasticity, upper respiratory tract infections were not reported more frequently than placebo.

Autonomic dysreflexia in patients treated for overactive bladder due to neurologic disease. Autonomic dysreflexia associated with intradetrusor injections of BOTOX could occur in patients treated for detrusor overactivity associated with a neurologic condition and may require prompt medical therapy. In clinical trials, the incidence of autonomic dysreflexia was greater in adult patients treated with BOTOX 200 Units compared with placebo (1.5% versus 0.4%, respectively).

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you: have or have had bleeding problems; have plans to have surgery; had surgery on your face; weakness of forehead muscles; trouble raising your eyebrows; drooping eyelids; any other abnormal facial change; have symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) and are being treated for urinary incontinence (symptoms of a urinary tract infection may include pain or burning with urination, frequent urination, or fever); have problems emptying your bladder on your own and are being treated for urinary incontinence; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant (it is not known ifBOTOX can harm your unborn baby); are breastfeeding or plan to (it is not known if BOTOX passes into breast milk).

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using BOTOX with certain other medicines may cause serious side effects. Do not start any new medicines until you have told your doctor that you have received BOTOX in the past.

Tell your doctor if you received any other botulinum toxin product in the last 4 months; have received injections of botulinum toxin such as Myobloc, Dysport, or Xeomin in the past (tell your doctor exactly which product you received); have recently received an antibiotic by injection; take muscle relaxants; take an allergy or cold medicine; take a sleep medicine; take aspirin-like products or blood thinners.

Other side effects of BOTOX include: dry mouth, discomfort or pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, neck pain, eye problems: double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight, drooping eyelids, swelling of your eyelids, dry eyes; drooping eyebrows; and upper respiratory tract infection. In adults being treated for urinary incontinence, other side effects include urinary tract infection and painful urination. In children being treated for urinary incontinence, other side effects include urinary tract infection and bacteria in the urine. If you have difficulty fully emptying your bladder on your own after receiving BOTOX, you may need to use disposable self-catheters to empty your bladder up to a few times each day until your bladder is able to start emptying again.

For more information refer to the Medication Guide or talk with your doctor.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatchor call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see BOTOX full ProductInformation,including Boxed Warning and MedicationGuide.

About UBRELVY (ubrogepant)UBRELVY (ubrogepant) is an orally administered calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist (gepant) for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults that is an option for a wide range of patients who experience migraine attacks. UBRELVY is the first pill of its kind to directly block CGRP, a protein released during a migraine attack, from binding to its receptors.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATIONWho should not take UBRELVY (ubrogepant)?Do not take UBRELVY if you are taking medicines known as strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, such as ketoconazole, clarithromycin, itraconazole.What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking UBRELVY?Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take UBRELVY with other medicines.

What are the most common side effects of UBRELVY?The most common side effects are nausea (4%) and sleepiness (3%). These are not all of the possible side effects of UBRELVY.

What is UBRELVY (ubrogepant)?UBRELVY is a prescription medicine used for the acute treatment of migraine attacks with or without aura in adults. UBRELVY is not used to prevent migraine headaches.Please see full PrescribingInformation.

About DUOPADUOPA (carbidopa and levodopa) enteral suspension is a prescription medicine used for treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease. DUOPA contains two medicines: carbidopa and levodopa.

Important Safety InformationWhat is the most important safety information I should know about DUOPA?

Your healthcare provider will talk to you about the stoma procedure. Before the stoma procedure, tell your healthcare provider if you ever had a surgery or problems with your stomach.

Talk to your healthcare provider about what you need to do to care for your stoma. After the procedure, you and your healthcare provider will need to regularly check the stoma for any signs of infection.

Do not take DUOPA if you currently take or have recently taken (within 2 weeks) a medication for depression called a non-selective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAO inhibitor.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using DUOPA with certain other medicines, including medications for high blood pressure, MAO inhibitors, antipsychotics, metoclopramide, isoniazid, and iron or vitamin supplements, may cause serious side effects. High-protein foods may affect how DUOPA works. Tell your healthcare provider if you change your diet.

DUOPA may cause serious side effects. Talk to your doctor before starting DUOPA and while on DUOPA if you have had or have any of these:

Do not stop using DUOPA or change your dose unless you are told to do so by your healthcare provider. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop withdrawal symptoms such as fever, confusion, or severe muscle stiffness.

The most common side effects of DUOPA include: complications of tubing placement procedure, swelling of legs and feet, nausea, high blood pressure (hypertension), depression, and mouth and throat pain.

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AbbVie to Present Data Across its Robust Neuroscience Portfolio at the 2021 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting - PRNewswire

Neuroscience

Q&A: What Is ‘Interoception,’ and Why Are Neuroscientists So Fascinated by It? – University of Virginia

April 11, 2021 medical

We are all pretty familiar with how our bodies sense what is going on in the outside world what we see, hear, touch, taste or smell.

But exactly how do our brains sense and react to what is going on internally pain, or hunger, or the simple need to breathe?

This internal sense is called interoception, and its often referred to as the bodys sixth sense. The concept has been around for a while, but neuroscientists have grown even more interested as technological and scientific breakthroughs allow us to more precisely understand how our bodies relay signals from an organ to the brain and back again.

We have more tools to bring to bear, and more recognition that these internal sensor systems have not been as well-studied as the five senses we all know, said neuroscientist Doug Bayliss, professor and chair of the University of Virginia Pharmacology Department. Interoceptive systems should get equal attention, because they have important consequences for everything from how we breathe to how we control eating, sleep, blood pressure or pain.

Bayliss is a member of UVAs Brain Institute, which is building a network of scientists across Grounds focused on some of the most important problems in neuroscience today. We asked him to tell us more about interoception.

Q. How do you define interoception?

A. Typically, when we think of our sensory systems, we think of sensing things outside the body. Interoception is sensing things inside the body. It encompasses a wide range of sensory systems. Some are conscious, sending signals that we act on volitionally you feel hungry and you eat; you feel tired and you sleep. Others are unconscious, such as the homeostatic systems that sense a spike in blood pressure and instruct your body to lower your heart rate, helping your blood pressure return to normal. One example that has been of interest during COVID-19 relates to low blood oxygen levels. We dont really understand how respiratory insufficiency leads to the unpleasant internal sensation of air hunger (so-called dyspnea) and why COVID patients often do not present with this symptom despite sometimes dangerously low oxygen levels.

We have known about some of these systems for a while, but there are also some that we are just now discovering or understanding.

Q. How is new technology increasing interest in this area of study?

A. In some ways, the word interoception is a rebranding of something that scientists have studied for a long time. However, there is increasing interest because there are a lot of new tools available to help researchers explore our internal sensory systems.

New molecular and genetic sequencing tools can help us identify exactly which classes of cells are driving a particular sensation. For example, we can identify the neurons with stretch-activated sensors in the lungs that convey to the brain when the lungs are expanding. Those cells can be identified by specific genetic markers, and we can record and follow their activity and behavior.

The next question is, are there ways we can control the activity of those cells? Can we make the brain think the lung is expanding even when it is not? Could that help us understand internal sensations associated with breathing (i.e., air hunger) and treat different disorders or illnesses? Similar approaches can be applied to many systems.

Q. Your research particularly focuses on how the body controls breathing. What have you learned?

A. One of the major control points for breathing is the level of carbon dioxide in your body. If you produce more CO2 because of a metabolic increase, then you need to breathe it out. There are sensors in the brain that detect elevated levels of CO2, which are connected to the motor systems that make your lungs breathe in and out. It is a homeostatic system that adjusts to keep CO2 levels at a stable point similar to how you set the temperature in your house and then your air conditioner or furnace adjusts accordingly.

My lab, in collaboration with [recently retired UVA pharmacology colleague] Patrice Guyenet, is interested in identifying and tracking the brain cells that sense CO2 and the actual molecules in those cells that serve as detectors.

These cells are required for normal breathing, and studying them has clinical implications. For example, abnormalities in these cells likely contribute to a condition called congenital hypoventilation syndrome, a thankfully rare disorder that causes patients to stop breathing and fail to arouse during sleep. Obviously, this is an extremely dangerous condition; many patients have to be on a ventilator when they sleep.

Animal models of this disease show that the particular neurons we have been studying fail to develop. Understanding how these neurons affect sensory systems interoceptive processes can help us shed light on what these patients are experiencing and how we can help them.

Q. Where do you see the field going next?

A. There is a ton of interesting work going on at UVA in these areas. Ali Gler and John Campbell in the biology department are studying hunger. Researchers in the Center for Brain Immunology and Glia are understanding how our immune system senses pathogens and affects brain function.

Signaling also goes in the opposite direction; for example Patrice Guyenet and Dr. Mark Okusa are looking at how the brain controls immune system function. Many people are also doing fascinating research on the microbiome the bacteria in our gut and how those bacteria affect our health. [UVA researchers have connected the microbiome to numerous health concerns.]

Interoception is a broad field that covers so many things, but it also provides a framework for developing collaboration between different research groups, building connections and studying interactions. There is broad national interest in the topic right now, and new technologies and discoveries are attracting a broader swath of neuroscientists. Its exciting.

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Q&A: What Is 'Interoception,' and Why Are Neuroscientists So Fascinated by It? - University of Virginia

Neuroscience

Rune Labs Announces Formation of Scientific Advisory Board of Experts in Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering – BioSpace

April 11, 2021 medical

Since closing our seed financing in 2020, Rune Labs has made tremendous strides toward advancing our goal of bringing precision medicines to neurodegenerative disorders by making brain data useful at scale, said Brian Pepin, founder and CEO, Rune Labs. With the addition of Drs. Barlow and Nagarajan as scientific advisors, we are building a Scientific Advisory Board of world class neuroscientists and biomedical engineers whose deep knowledge and experience will help to guide us as we continue to build out our brain data platform and engage with academic collaborators and industry partnerships.

Carrolee Barlow, M.D., Ph.D., and Srikantan Nagarajan, Ph.D., join as members of the Rune Labs Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Barlow is a renowned expert in neuroscience and neurodegeneration and formerly served as Chief Executive Officer of the Parkinson's Institute and Clinical Center. Dr. Nagarajan is an expert in biomedical engineering and integrative neuroscience. He is a Professor in the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at the University of California, San Francisco.

The genetic ambiguity of Parkinsons Disease has made it difficult to develop treatments that target the underlying mechanisms of the disease, said Dr. Barlow. Rune Labs is using its brain data platform to help drug developers advance precision medicines for patients with Parkinsons and other neurodegenerative diseases by identifying the functional changes unique to each patient to uncover hidden disease phenotypes and enable its partners to design better targeted therapies for patients. I look forward to applying my years of experience in neurodegeneration to advising the team at Rune Labs as they work to enable targeted treatment options for patients.

There is an enormous amount of brain data collected by neuromodulation devices, wearable devices, brain image scans and other sources, said Dr. Nagarajan. Rune Labs platform automates the labeling, ingestion, and indexing of brain data at scale to create an aggregate dataset. I am eager to lend my support and expertise to Rune Labs as they work in the intersection of applied data and neuroscience.

Carrolee Barlow, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Barlow is a renowned expert in neuroscience, neurodegeneration and rare diseases whose work has spanned clinical care, laboratory and clinical research, academia, and industry. She is currently Chief Medical Officer of ESCAPE Bio and formerly served as Chief Executive Officer of the Parkinson's Institute and Clinical Center where she led all aspects of basic research, clinical research, and clinical care, as well as formed partnerships with biotech and pharmaceutical companies.

Srikantan Nagarajan, Ph.D.

Srikantan Nagarajan, Ph.D., is an expert in biomedical engineering and integrative neuroscience and is focused on the development and refinement of multimodal structural and functional brain imaging and brain computer interfaces. He is a Professor in the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and has joint appointments in the Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. He also serves as the Director of the Biomagnetic Imaging Laboratory at UCSF.

About Rune Labs

Rune Labs, Inc. is empowering the development of precision medicines for Parkinsons Disease and other neurodegenerative disorders by using its software platform to make brain data useful at scale. We partner with academic collaborators to optimize clinical care for patients and with biopharma and medtech companies to enable the development of targeted treatments for patients with brain diseases. http://www.runelabs.io

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Rune Labs Announces Formation of Scientific Advisory Board of Experts in Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering - BioSpace

Neuroscience

Neuroscience Professor Awarded NIH Grant to Study Links Between COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s – Rutgers Today

April 11, 2021 medical

Mark Gluck,Professor of Neuroscience at the Center forMolecular & Behavioral Neuroscience(CMBN) at the School of Arts & Sciences-Newark,has received a new grant from theNational Institutes of Health (NIH)to study thecognitive, neural, and immunological consequences of COVID-19 in older African Americans and how they relate to risk for Alzheimers Disease.

With this grant, Gluck seeks to investigate the links between Alzheimer's Disease and COVID-19, which share common immunological pathways and age-related risk. This is particularly critical for African Americanssince they are known be at elevated risk for age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's Disease, andare also currently experiencing the highest overall COVID-19 mortality rates. Understanding how COVID-19 impacts cognition, neural function, and risk for Alzheimer'smay lead to new insights that inform clinically relevant future research on how age-related decline and dysfunction within the immune system may play a causal role inAlzheimer's.

The awardfrom the NIHs National Institute on Aging for $643,396 isa supplement toGluck's current NIHgrant, "Risk Factors for Future Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer's Disease in Older African Americans,"andis in addition to another supplementthe group will useto fund a minority postdoctoral fellowship. This bringstheir total 2021-2022 annual awardfrom NIHfor this project to$1,432,216.

Gluckand his labwillcollaboratewith two leadingimmunologists at the RutgersBiomedical andHealthSciences (RBHS)/NJ MedicalSchoolon this new grant,Patricia Fitzgerald-Bocarsly, Provost of NJMS/RBHS-Newark and Professor of Pathology,andMarila Gennaro, Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology. The joint award will supportinterdisciplinary research acrossthethree labs -bridging neuroscience, public health, and immunology - allowing graduate students andpostdoctoralfellows from both Rutgers-Newark and RBHS to expand in newdirections.

Our goal is to find links between Alzheimers Disease and COVID-19 severity and mortality.

In describing the study, Gluck says Our core goal is to answer the following question:What underlying immunological mechanism links both Alzheimers disease and COVID-19 to common risk factors and might thus explain causal (and possibly reciprocal) links between Alzheimers Disease and COVID-19 severity and mortality?

There are numerous commonalities between Alzheimers Disease and COVID-19. Common risk factors for both include advanced age, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and being African American. Older adults with Alzheimer's, or healthy young individuals with Alzheimer's Disease risk genes, are both at elevated risk for COVID-19 mortality. What is not known is whetherthe converse is also true:Will surviving COVID-19 increase future risk for Alzheimers Disease?

Both diseases are also known to damage the same area of the brain: the hippocampus, a key structure for encoding and storing new information. This brain region has been the focus ofthe GluckLabs neurocomputational and cognitive neuroscience studies for the last three decades. What underlies these similarities between Alzheimers Disease and COVID-19?Could immune dysfunction be the common link?Although there is increasing evidence that Alzheimersinvolves disruption to the immune system,researchersdo not sufficiently understand how Alzheimers Disease pathology and risk are related to specific processes within the immune system.

African Americans continue to suffer fromhigh rates of COVID-19 mortality: About 3.6 times as high as the rate for white Americans.Older African Americans are particularly vulnerable to severe health consequences if they are exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.It is notknownwhy some older African Americans suffer far worse outcomes from COVID-19 than others, or what are the long-term health consequences of COVID-19 for African Americans. The newstudy will address both knowledge gaps.

Over the coming yearthe labwill berecruitingolderAfrican Americans from thegreaterNewark area who survived COVID-19 to join our study, in the hopes to betterunderstand the long-termconsequences of COVID-19 on brain health, immunological health, andAlzheimersDisease. A key partner in this recruitment will bethe labsnewest clinical collaborator,Dr. Alexander Salerno,the leader ofSalerno Medical Associateswhich has provided medical care to the Newark/East Orange communities since the 1950s. They also run a non-profit health education program,Urban Healthcare Initiative Program(UHIP), with whomthe Gluck lab haspartnered for several years. Their medical practice, across five local clinics, cares for about 20,000local residents, including approximately6,000 older African Americans about half of whom had COVID-19 in the past year. As an early leader in the areas response to COVID-19, they have administered COVID-19 tests to over 120,000local residents.

A deeper understanding of the linkages between Alzheimers Disease and COVID-19 may result both in better treatments for long-term neurological consequences of COVID-19 as well as advances in the field of Alzheimers Disease and related dementias. In particular,the labsstudies could lead to a better understanding of the relationship between immune dysfunction and Alzheimers Disease, which, in turn, could inform futureimmunologically-focusedclinical interventions for Alzheimers.

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Neuroscience Professor Awarded NIH Grant to Study Links Between COVID-19 and Alzheimer's - Rutgers Today

Neuroscience

How To Build Relationships And Enhance Happiness: 4 Insights From Neuroscience – Forbes

April 11, 2021 medical

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How To Build Relationships And Enhance Happiness: 4 Insights From Neuroscience - Forbes

Neuroscience

What causes trypophobia? The neuroscience behind the fear of closely-packed holes – BBC Focus Magazine

April 11, 2021 medical

Are you sitting uncomfortably? Does the picture below make you feel uneasy, unexpectedly nauseous or even terrified? Then weve got news for you: you probably suffer from a degree of trypophobia, an aversion to clusters of small holes.

Dont worry, youre not alone. While its estimated nearly 20 per cent of people are severely repulsed by pictures like the lotus pod above, some scientists think the majority of people react in some form to these images.

I think we all have trypophobia, just to different degrees, says Dr Geoff Cole, one of the first scientists to study the disorder. Just like many other psychological phenomena autism, for instance everyone is on the scale.

A lotus seed pod Getty

However, despite one in five people having severe trypophobia (double the estimated amount of people prone to claustrophobia), the disorder is remarkably under-researched.

This is essentially because nobody was aware of it until the internet developed and these images were shared in forums, says Cole, who published the first scientific paper on the topic (with co-author Prof Arnold Wilkins) in 2013. Because weve just noticed this phenomenon, there is still quite a lot we dont know.

But what has been discovered so far? And can scientists explain why people hate these hole-riddled images? We dig into the issue below alongside more pictures that some may find very uncomfortable. Consider yourself warned.

Its easy to be sceptical about trypophobia, a phobia that came to prominence through chatrooms in the early noughties. Even its name (Greek for boring holes plus fear) emerged from an internet forum away from the gaze of medical professionals.

However, despite these questionable beginnings, Cole has shown that images with high contrasts between dark and light, repeated many times in a field of view (about three times per centimetre at arms length), can have a real impact on a persons body.

A collection of lotus seed pods Getty

His research has shown trypophobic peoples heart rates can significantly increase when looking at images of hole clusters be it honeycomb, aerated chocolate or even crumpets. Sufferers can also experience nausea, sweating, itchiness and debilitating panic attacks.

Cole also defines trypophobia as a mental disorder. Think of it as the visual equivalent of somebody scratching their nails down a chalkboard the brain doesnt like these neural spikes these images create, he says.

At the moment, theres no one agreed explanation to what causes trypophobia. But scientists have developed several theories four, to be precise:

A poison dart frog Getty

A theory originally put forward by Cole, it proposes humans have evolved to be fearful of such patterns as they are usuallyseen on poisonous animals or food.

If you look at animals which are dangerous in this respect, like the poison dart frog, they tend to be covered in high contrast colours. These visual signatures are barely found anywhere else in the natural world, explains Cole.

Basically, the idea here is that when you look at a trypophobic image your brain is saying be careful here, this could harm you.