Category Archives: Physiology

Physiology

New research shows that women with pulmonary hypertension have chance at safe pregnancy thanks to advanced cross-specialty care at Temple University…

(Philadelphia, PA) For women with pulmonary hypertension, a condition in which blood flow from the heart to the lungs is under dangerously high pressure, pregnancy is risky. In fact, it is often life-threatening, with maternal-fetal mortality rates hovering around 30 to 50 percent.

Women with pulmonary hypertension who become pregnant require specialized care. Thanks to the Temple Heart & Vascular Institutes Pulmonary Hypertension, Right Heart Failure & CTEPH/PTE Program, that care is available and it is getting better. In a new study, researchers at Temple show that maternal-fetal mortality can be reduced to zero through a patient-tailored management effort focused on optimizing right heart function prior to delivery.

The study, published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease, included seven pregnancies of women with pulmonary hypertension, all of which had excellent outcomes, with 100 percent survival for mothers and infants a success rate unheard of in published literature thus far.

While the medical recommendation for women with pulmonary hypertension is to avoid pregnancy, we need to be able to safely care for these patients when pregnancy occurs, said Anjali Vaidya, MD, FACC, FASE, FACP, Professor of Medicine at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Co-Director of the Pulmonary Hypertension, Right Heart Failure & CTEPH Program, and lead author on the new study.

According to Dr. Vaidya, expertise for pulmonary hypertension is typically insufficient to meet the broad needs of patients. The combination of pulmonary hypertension and pregnancy presents unique medical challenges, owing to the additional stress that pregnancy and delivery place on the heart.

Pulmonary hypertension is marked by elevated pressure in the blood vessels running from the right side of the heart through the lungs to the left side of the heart, which causes right heart failure and can result in decreased blood-oxygen levels. Symptoms of shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, passing out, and chest pain can ultimately result in maternal and fetal death.

According to Paul Forfia, MD, Professor of Medicine at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine and Co-Director of the Pulmonary Hypertension, Right Heart Failure & CTEPH Program, pulmonary hypertension is too often considered as an automatic contraindication to pregnancy, before a thoughtful and expert assessment is undertaken. We have developed a conceptual framework for the assessment and management of pregnant women with pulmonary hypertension that allows for a physiology-based and relatively objective approach to management that most often leads to predictable and very favorable outcomes for the mother and baby, he explained.

The difference is in the multidisciplinary collaboration of colleagues which Drs. Forfia and Vaidya have created within Temple Heart and Vascular Institutes nationally accredited Pulmonary Hypertension Program, Maternal Fetal Medicine, and Obstetric Anesthesiology. The cross-specialty management program consists of individually tailored therapy for pulmonary hypertension and clinical assessment for the duration of pregnancy and postpartum, with special attention given to right heart function.

Managing patients with pulmonary hypertension who are pregnant requires a multidisciplinary approach, said Laura Hart, MD, Assistant Professor in the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine.

Our situation of having that combined expertise within Temple is unique, Dr. Hart explained. Not only do we have experts in the necessary fields, including in pulmonary hypertension, obstetric anesthesia, and maternal-fetal medicine, but we also have the ability to co-locate and bring cardiologists into the labor and delivery process. This combination of factors puts Temple in an excellent position to provide tailored care for pregnant women with pulmonary hypertension.

The Temple researchers hope that their work will inform the development of similar multidisciplinary efforts at other institutions. We want others to see this work and be inspired to improve outcomes for pregnant women with pulmonary hypertension, Dr. Vaidya said. Ultimately, patients need to be referred early to enable effective and expert clinical assessments, allowing us to safely optimize care for each individual.

Other researchers involved in the study include Dr. Estefania Oliveros, Pulmonary Hypertension, Right Heart Failure & CTEPH Program, Temple Heart and Vascular Institute, Department of Medicine at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine; Dr. Wadia Mulla, Director of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine; and Dr. Diana Feinstein, Obstetric Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine.###

About Temple HealthTemple University Health System (Temple Health) is a $2.4 billion academic health system dedicated to providing access to quality patient care and supporting excellence in medical education and research. Temple Health includes Temple University Hospital (TUH)-Main Campus; TUH-Episcopal Campus; TUH-Jeanes Campus; TUH-Northeastern Campus; Temple University Hospital Fox Chase Cancer Center Outpatient Department; TUH-Northeastern Endoscopy Center; The Hospital of Fox Chase Cancer Center, together with The Institute for Cancer Research, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center; Fox Chase Cancer Center Medical Group, Inc., The Hospital of Fox Chase Cancer Centers physician practice plan; Temple Transport Team, a ground and air-ambulance company; Temple Physicians, Inc., a network of community-based specialty and primary-care physician practices; and Temple Faculty Practice Plan, Inc., Temple Healths physician practice plan. Temple Health is affiliated with the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.

Temple Health refers to the health, education and research activities carried out by the affiliates of Temple Health and by the Katz School of Medicine. Temple Health neither provides nor controls the provision of health care. All health care is provided by its member organizations or independent health care providers affiliated with Temple Health member organizations. Each Temple Health member organization is owned and operated pursuant to its governing documents.

Non-discrimination notice: It is the policy of Temple University Hospital and The Hospital of Fox Chase Cancer Center, that no one shall be excluded from or denied the benefits of or participation in the delivery of quality medical care on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, disability, age, ancestry, color, national origin, physical ability, level of education, or source of payment.

Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease

Management of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Pregnancy: Experience from a Nationally Accredited Center

18-Jun-2022

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New research shows that women with pulmonary hypertension have chance at safe pregnancy thanks to advanced cross-specialty care at Temple University...

Physiology

Northwest Biotherapeutics Announces Approval of Pediatric Investigation Plan (PIP) by MHRA – StreetInsider.com

PIP Approval Is A Pre-Requisite for Application for Approval of A New Medicine for Adult Patients

BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Northwest Biotherapeutics (OTCQB: NWBO) ("NW Bio"), a biotechnology company developing DCVax personalized immune therapies for solid tumor cancers, today announced that it has received approval from the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for the Company's Pediatric Investigation Plan (PIP). The development, regulatory review and regulatory approval of a PIP is a pre-requisite for application for approval of a new medicine for adult patients, such as DCVax-L.

The Company's approved PIP includes 2 clinical trials: one for newly diagnosed pediatric high grade glioma (HGG), and one for recurrent pediatric HGG. In each of the 2 pediatric trials, 24 patients will be treated with DCVax-L on the same treatment schedule as in the Company's Phase III trial in adult glioblastoma patients.

The primary endpoint for each of the 2 pediatric trials will be overall survival, determined by comparing the survival of DCVax-L treated patients to matched contemporaneous external controls. The external controls will be identified using the same methodology as was used to pre-specify the external controls in the Statistical Analysis Plan for the Company's Phase III trial in adult patients.

Under applicable UK law, when a new medicine is developed for adult patients, that medicine must also be tested for potential application to pediatric patients. The sponsor must develop an overall Plan to select the specific form or stage of the disease to be treated, to adapt the dosing and administration of the medicine for pediatric physiology, and to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the medicine in pediatric patients. Further, the Plan must include not just general focus areas, aims and approaches -- it must include the full design of the specific clinical trials to be carried out, including all aspects required for clinical trial approvals, such as the patient population, eligibility criteria, stage of disease, treatment regimen, trial design and endpoints.

The Plan developed by the sponsor must go through a series of stages of regulatory review and comment to reach a final approval by regulators. This process can typically take more than a year.

The final regulatory approval of the PIP must be obtained before a sponsor may submit a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for approval to commercialize the new medicine for adult patients. The approval may include a deferral allowing the pediatric clinical trials to actually be carried out after the MAA has been submitted, but the PIP approval itself must have been received before an MAA can be filed and go through compliance check.

Northwest Biotherapeutics worked with expert consultants for months to develop a PIP tailored for application of DCVax-L to pediatric cases of HGG. The Company submitted its proposed PIP to the MHRA in February 2022, and has been going through the regulatory review process since then. On August 17, the Company received final approval of the PIP from the MHRA.

The Company's approved PIP includes a deferral under which the pediatric trials are anticipated to be undertaken after an MAA application has been submitted.

About Northwest Biotherapeutics

Northwest Biotherapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing personalized immunotherapy products designed to treat cancers more effectively than current treatments, without toxicities of the kind associated with chemotherapies, and on a cost-effective basis, in both North America and Europe. The Company has a broad platform technology for DCVax dendritic cell-based vaccines. The Company's lead program is a 331-patient Phase III trial of DCVax-L for newly diagnosed Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). GBM is the most aggressive and lethal form of brain cancer, and is an "orphan disease." This Phase III trial has been completed and top line data was presented by a key investigator at a recent scientific meeting. The Company also plans to pursue development of DCVax-Direct for inoperable solid tumor cancers. It has completed a 40-patient Phase I trial and plans to prepare for Phase II trials as resources permit. The Company previously conducted a Phase I/II trial with DCVax-L for advanced ovarian cancer together with the University of Pennsylvania.

Disclaimer

Statements made in this news release that are not historical facts, including statements concerning future treatment of patients using DCVax and future clinical trials, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expect," "believe," "intend," "design," "plan," "continue," "may," "will," "anticipate," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We cannot guarantee that we actually will achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement. Specifically, there are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, such as risks related to the Company's ability to enroll patients in its clinical trials and complete the trials on a timely basis, uncertainties about the clinical trials process, uncertainties about the timely performance of third parties, risks related to whether the Company's products will demonstrate safety and efficacy, risks related to the Company's ongoing ability to raise additional capital, and other risks included in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings. Additional information on the foregoing risk factors and other factors, including Risk Factors, which could affect the Company's results, is included in its SEC filings. Finally, there may be other factors not mentioned above or included in the Company's SEC filings that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or developments, except as required by securities laws.

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SOURCE Northwest Biotherapeutics

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Northwest Biotherapeutics Announces Approval of Pediatric Investigation Plan (PIP) by MHRA - StreetInsider.com

Physiology

Wisconsin school board finalizes sex education curriculum that teaches 4th graders about transgenderism – Yahoo News

A Wisconsin school board introduced new sex education for its K-12 students for the first time in a decade that includes lessons on transgenderism starting as young as the fourth grade.

The Wauwatosa School District on Monday voted in favor of its Human Growth and Development committees proposed curriculum revisions for kindergarten to high school.

As part of the recommended revision first presented on Aug. 8, the fourth-grade curriculum developed for students around 9 or 10 years of age lists a lesson on "gender identity and expression."

By the end of the lesson, the learning targets and standards say students will be able to "Have awareness of different definitions for gender, including transgender, cisgender, and non-binary;" "Understand that individuals may identify beyond male and female;" "Understand the use of pronouns around gender identity;" "Understand that a label may not describe someone perfectly;" and "Identify at least 1 trusted adult they can talk to if they have questions."

DEMOCRAT MINNESOTA AG RIPPED BY GOP CHALLENGER FOR FRIVOLOUS CLIMATE CHANGE SUIT AMID SOARING VIOLENT CRIME

The "standards alignment" says the lesson should "Explain how some people may or may not differ between biological sex at birth and gender identity." It also aims to "define cisgender, transgender, gender non-binary, gender expansive, and gender identity."

Another lesson for fourth-grade students on "sexual orientation and identity" aims to have students "Understand the difference between sexual orientation and gender identity." It also lists "characteristics of a trusted adult and identify trusted adults in the child's life."

Meanwhile, the third-grade curriculum for students even younger also has a "gender identity and expression" lesson that mainly focuses on understanding the use of different gender pronouns.

Story continues

Other aspects of the curriculum focus on consent and healthy relationships, anatomy and physiology, puberty and identifying interpersonal violence, such as sexual abuse and sexual harassment.

The committees purpose statement says, "Together with a community of educators and families, students in the WSD will be empowered to develop healthy relationships, to engage in respectful communication, and to practice responsible decision-making that is grounded in the importance of self-worth and the dignity of others. Prepared instructors will provide grade level appropriate information on sexual health that is current, factual, consistent, and inclusive."

Wauwatosa Superintendent Demond Means told WISN on Monday that up to about 13% of students in the district are identifying themselves with different sexual orientations. He argued that most of the feedback on the curriculum changes has been positive from parents, educators and students.

"What we're finding is that a lot of our students are experiencing dating violence and sexual violence," Means said Monday. "We're also recognizing a lot of our students are identifying themselves with different sexual orientations. That number is up to 13%."

During an Aug. 8 school board meeting, meanwhile, one frustrated parent said of the new curriculum, "This isn't education. It's indoctrination. It's my job as a parent to talk to my kids about this, not yours."

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Wisconsin school board finalizes sex education curriculum that teaches 4th graders about transgenderism - Yahoo News

Physiology

ICAR- IARI Recruitment 2022: Check Posts, Qualifications, and How to Apply Here – StudyCafe

ICAR- IARI Recruitment 2022: Check Posts, Qualifications, and How to Apply Here

ICAR- IARI Recruitment 2022: Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR- IARI) has invited applications for 1 position of Junior Research Fellow and 1 position of Technical Assistant purely on a contractual basis, time-bound and non-regular nature under the project on Genetic enhancement of rust resistance through mutation in chickpea

The deadline to submit applications is 25th August 2022 and the shortlisted candidates will be intimated through E-mail to appear for the interview. The interview for eligible candidates will be held on 8th September 2022. The venue of the interview will be IARIs Regional Research Centre, Opp. UAS Campus, PB. Road Dharwad. Eligible candidates are requested to send their application in the enclosed proforma (Annexure-I) along with a declaration form (Annexure-II) and a scanned copy of the original documents through email to [emailprotected] with a copy to [emailprotected] by August 25th, 2022.

Details of the ICAR- IARI Recruitment 2022 are given below:

1. Name of Post and No. of Vacancy: Junior Research Fellow 01

Emoluments for ICAR- IARI Recruitment 2022: A Fixed Emolument of Rs. 31,000 for 1st and 2nd year will be paid to the selected candidates. From 3rd year onwards Rs. 35000 will be paid. (HRA, if applicable as per BRNS guidelines).

Qualification for ICAR- IARI Recruitment 2022:

Essential: Post Graduate in Basic Science (i.e., Biotechnology/Molecular Biology/ Plant Physiology/ Life Science) OR Post Graduate in Professional Course with specialization in Plant Pathology/Plant Breeding and Genetics/Plant Physiology/ Plant Biotechnology/ from a recognized University.

Candidates selected through National Eligibility Tests (for Junior Research Fellow) as mentioned in the DST office memorandum No. SR/S9/Z-08/2018, dated January 30, 2019.

Desirable: The candidate should have a basic understanding of plant breeding, plant physiology/plant pathology, and experience in handling field crops.

2. Name of Post and No. of Vacancy: Technical Assistant 01

Emolument: Rs. 15000 (Consolidated)

Qualifications for ICAR- IARI Recruitment 2022:

Essential: Diploma in Agriculture or Allied subjects Graduate degree in any discipline from a recognized University.

Desirable: Working experience in growing and maintaining crop plants in fields and glasshouses.

Age-Limit for ICAR- IARI Recruitment 2022: Maximum age 35 years for JRF (age relaxation of five years for SC/ST & women and three years for OBC and for Technical Assistant the age shall not be more than 50 years.

How to Apply for ICAR- IARI Recruitment 2022:

The application deadline is 25th August 2022 and the short listed candidates will be intimated through E-mail to appear the interview. The interview for eligible candidates will be held on 8th September 2022. Eligible candidates are requested to send their application in the enclosed proforma (Annexure-I) along with a declaration form (Annexure-II) and a scanned copy of the original documents through email to [emailprotected] with a copy to [emailprotected] by August 25th, 2022.

The interview for eligible candidates will be held on 8th September 2022 the details of which will be communicated to eligible candidates by email/mobile.

The venue of the interview will be IARIs Regional Research Centre, Opp. UAS Campus, PB. Road Dharwad.

The last date to apply is 25.08.2022.

To Read Official Notification Click Here.

Disclaimer: The Recruitment Information Provided above is for informational purposes only. We do not provide any Recruitment guarantee. Recruitment is to be done as per the official recruitment process of the company or organization posted the recruitment Vacancy. We dont charge any fee for providing this job information. Neither the author nor Studycafe and its affiliates accept any liabilities for any loss or damage of any kind arising out of any information in this article nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

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ICAR- IARI Recruitment 2022: Check Posts, Qualifications, and How to Apply Here - StudyCafe

Physiology

Meet the Winners of the 2022 DST Launch Seed Grants – Duke Today

The Office for Research & Innovation has awarded funding to eight, interdisciplinary projects as part of the inaugural Duke Science and Technology (DST) Launch Seed Grant Program. This years winners include faculty from multiple disciplines across campus and the School of Medicine who were selected out of 61 proposal finalists for initiating high-impact projects that could lead to additional external funding.

The quality of innovative ideas our faculty have for advancing collaborative research projects continues to set Duke apart, said Jenny Lodge, Dukes vice president for Research & Innovation. This years DST Launch Seed Grants winners represent the strength of our different schools and distinct disciplines scientific research Each with the potential of making significant contributions to the region and nation.

MEDICINE + ENGINEERING

PIs: Yun Wang, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; Hai Helen Li, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

This team aims to develop a user-friendly, cloud-based tool for analyzing MRI scans of developing infant brains. It will be based on artificial intelligence, but users will not be required to have any advanced computational skills to take advantage of the platform, named FINNEAS, the Federated Infant Neuroimaging Analysis Platform. The system will also accommodate patient privacy and differences in data from one scanning center to the next.

ENGINEERING + MEDICINE

PIs: Aaron Franklin, Addy Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Jonathan Campbell, Associate Professor of Medicine; Fan Yuan, Professor of Biomedical Engineering

This team will be studying an electronic tattoo device for continuously delivering drugs to treat type two diabetes through the skin. The printed device will be tested on skin samples to demonstrate its functionality.

GLOBAL HEALTH + MEDICINE + PUBLIC POLICY + SOCIAL SCIENCES

PIs: Sara LeGrand, Associate Research Professor of Global Health; Carly E. Kelley, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor of Medicine; Kathryn Whetten, Professor of Public Policy; Gabriel Rosenberg, Associate Professor of Gender, Sexuality and Feminist Studies

Expanding on an initial infrastructure built under previous funding, this multidisciplinary team is going to assess structural inequities faced by transgender and non-binary people as they seek health care, including gender-affirming care. A patient population built from Duke Health and the Mayo Clinic will be regularly assessed to answer long-term mental and physical health questions about this population and the hope is that this resource can attract further funding and expand, once it has been built.

NATURAL SCIENCES + ENGINEERING

PIs: Lucia Strader, Associate Professor of Biology; Ashutosh Chilkoti, Alan L. Kaganov Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering

This team, led by a plant biologist and a biomedical engineer, is pursuing a method to engineer a key transcription factor that drives plant growth to be optimized for higher temperatures. Building on a discovery about how plants stockpile this protein to respond to environmental change, and the ability to engineer temperature-sensitive synthetic gene transcription factors, the team hopes to tune plant growth at different temperatures.

NATURAL SCIENCES + ENVIRONMENT + ENGINEERING

PIs: Emily Bernhardt, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Biology; Nishad Jayasundara, Assistant Professor of Environmental Toxicology and Health; Heileen Hsu-Kim, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Jonathan Behrens, University Program in Ecology Ph.D. Student

Building on preliminary work by a Bass Connections team, this project will be sampling ten different areas of the Ellerbe Creek Watershed, which drains most of Durham into Falls Lake. Rather than measuring every compound in the stream, they are looking for contaminant signals that indicate various types of human activity: Sucralose sweetener from human waste, a chemical additive found in automobile tires from road runoff, and the herbicide RoundUp and its breakdown products from landscaping. These will be used as indicators to model the mix of sources reaching the stream. Laboratory fish will be used to assess the biological effects of different mixtures.

NATURAL SCIENCES + SOCIAL SCIENCES

PIs: Hau-Tieng Wu, Associate Professor of Mathematics; Jana Schaich Borg, Associate Research Professor in the Social Science Research Institute

Using hundreds of hours of recorded video conversations, this team will use artificial intelligence to measure the growing trust and synchrony between two interacting people, as depicted by their body poses and facial expressions. They are looking for motifs of social interaction that are stereotypical and re-used in many interactions in the hope that they can begin to uncover what they call the behavioral grammar of social interactions. These tools might eventually be used to measure social interaction disorders.

ENGINEERING + MEDICINE

PIs: Jessilyn Dunn, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering; Shelley Hwang, M.D., M.P.H., Mary and Deryl Hart Distinguished Professor of Surgery

This team will be using wearable devices to monitor up to 50 patients before and after surgery as a way to track surgical recovery. Inexpensive, unobtrusive monitoring of post-operative physiology may help to identify early complications after surgery and reduce costly hospital readmissions.

NATURAL SCIENCES + ENGINEERING

PIs: Jie Liu, George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor of Chemistry; Natalia Litchinitser, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

The team is designing a 3D catalyst system that can use solar energy to enhance chemical reactions. Their seed grant is aimed at a proof-of-concept called 3-D solid fog, a lattice of boron nitride microtubes which can be used as catalyst support for plasmonic nanoparticle to enable more efficient use of solar light in chemical synthesis. They will be using artificial intelligence to optimize the design of the microstructured fog and then testing it in solar light powered synthesis of ammonia, which is both a valuable fertilizer and a highly efficient carrier of hydrogen, storage of which will be critical to hydrogen-fueled, carbon-neutral technologies.

To learn more about the Duke Science and Technology (DST) Launch Seed Grant winners, visit research.duke.edu/dst-launch-seed-grant-opportunity.

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Meet the Winners of the 2022 DST Launch Seed Grants - Duke Today

Physiology

Ex-World Kickboxing Champion Opens Precision Health Gyms – the UK’s First Physiology and Fitness ‘Super Gym’ in London – PR Newswire UK

LONDON, Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A former world kickboxing champion has opened the UK's first physiology and fitness 'super' gym which allows 'everyday people' to train like elite athletes.

Christian Thomson, 33, and Virgis Silinskas, 37, launched Precision Health Gyms today (Monday, August 15) in Whitechapel where members take blood tests and run on a pressure-plated treadmills fitted with cameras which take up 240 images per second. State-of-the-art tech, while wearing a mask, also works out how many calories the individual needs to consume each day to achieve their desired results.

The new gym is the first in the UK to use high-tech full body laboratory-grade testing - including biomechanics, physiological, metabolic andbiochemical scanning which aims to help 'build a precise physiological picture' of the individual.

Precision Health Gyms use these cutting-edge methods to formulate a highly personalised plan that delivers a detailed 'roadmap for nutrition, exercise, lifestyle and supplementation'.

Thomson, who won the world kickboxing championship in 2011 and 'Head Scientist' at Precision Health Gyms, said: "Our mission is to remove the guesswork and frustration people experience when trying to improve their health and fitness but fail through a lack of identifying the body's needs. We want to shake up the health and fitness world and bring something new which has never been done before in the UK. Before now, the advanced technologies used to assess a person's unique physicality and health metrics were reserved for elite athletes due to limited accessibility or high operational costs. Most people assume this is the case, but they'd be wrong. Precision Health Gyms has sourced the best in advanced assessment technologies and made these accessible to everyone so people can uncover what's holding them back. Through these testing methods, we can clearly define how their body responds and what the best strategy is to improve their health and fitness."

Plans start from 212 per month and include 1-2-1 personal training as well as small in-person or online classes. Precision Health Gyms reassess members' bodies and health using innovative technology to identify any changes that may require the plan to be adjusted every 90 days.

For more information visit: https://phgym.co.uk or contact the Precision Health Gyms Press Office at SCS Marketing & PR on 01252 642020, info@scsmarketingandpr.co.uk or http://www.scsmarketingandpr.co.uk

SOURCE SCS Marketing & PR

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Ex-World Kickboxing Champion Opens Precision Health Gyms - the UK's First Physiology and Fitness 'Super Gym' in London - PR Newswire UK

Physiology

Research Associate in Design Analytics and Music Physiology job with KINGS COLLEGE LONDON | 304739 – Times Higher Education

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity for a data scientist with strong musical sensibilities to play a key role in the development of computational tools for remodelling music expressivity to achieve specific cardiovascular (autonomic) aims. The objectives will be to design and implement techniques to morph expressive music parameters in ways that powerfully impact listener perception and physiology in targeted ways, to evaluate these strategies and their effectiveness, and to develop algorithms to analyse users design decisions to learn from their choices.

The work will be carried out in the context of the ERC project COSMOS (Computational Shaping and Modeling of Musical Structures), augmented by the Proof-of-Concept project HEART.FM (Maximizing the Therapeutic Potential of Music through Tailored Therapy with Physiological Feedback in Cardiovascular Disease), on citizen/data science approaches to studying music expressivity and on autonomic modulation through music. See https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.527539.

The remodelled expressions will be rendered synthetically or through the projects reproducing piano. Effectiveness of the expression remodelling at achieving the physiological aims will be tested on listeners, for example, through the HEART.FM mobile app tracking their physiology whilst they listen to the remodelled music. Successful transformations will be integrated into CosmoNote (https://cosmonote.ircam.fr), the web-based citizen science portal of COSMOS, or a sister web application for widespread public deployment. Collaborative designs may be explored.

The successful candidate will make major contributions to, and be involved in, all aspects of the computational modelling, interaction design, and software development; testing and validation, including on listeners (healthy volunteers or patients); and, development of algorithms for the design analytics, liaising with other research team members, and with collaborators across multiple domains, and be able to prioritise and organise their own work to deliver research results.

The successful candidate will have a PhD in computer science or a closely-related field, ideally with experience in human-computer interaction, sound and music computing (including programming with MIDI), or web programming (Javascript: D3.js). They should demonstrate a strong ability to design and implement computational algorithms to solve problems with objectives and constraints, and possess sound musical judgement.

They should be highly motivated, and have strong communication skills and a good track record of scientific publication. Personal integrity, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to uphold the highest standards in research are essential attributes.

The project is hosted by the Department of Engineering in the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences and the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences (BMEIS) in the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine (FoLSM) at Kings College London. KCL was ranked 6th nationally in the recent Research Excellence Framework exercise. FoLSM was ranked 1st and Engineering was ranked 12th for quality of research.

The research will take place in BMEIS at St Thomas Hospital and Becket House, on the south bank of the River Thames, overlooking the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben in London.

This post will be offered on a fixed-term contract for 12 months (renewable to 31 May 2025)

This is a full-time post

Key responsibilities

Key responsibilities and outcomes

Designing and developing computational algorithms and sandbox environments to remodel musical expressivity with targeted physiological outcomes

Evaluating and validating the proposed methodologies and assessing their effectiveness and potential for clinical translation

Integrating the expression transformation tools into sandbox environments for the web in collaboration with other software programmer(s)

Following the principles of good software design, development, and documentation practices

Preparing high-quality manuscripts for publication, writing clearly about the computational techniques, outcomes, and design analytics

Presenting key findings at scientific conferences and public engagement events

Maintaining suitable performance levels for the software, following good software design, development, and documentation practices

General

Demonstrate collaborative approach to research and software development

Liaise directly with internal / external colleagues in an independent manner

Use initiative, discretion, knowledge and experience in planning, coordination and problem-solving

Demonstrate ownership of tasks and development of solutions to problems

Governance

Maintain an awareness and observation of ethical rules and legislation governing the storage of projected data

Maintain an awareness and observation of confidentiality agreements with collaborators and external organisations

Maintain an awareness and observation of appropriate procedures for the disclosure and protection of inventions and other intellectual property generated as part of the post holders activities and other team members working within the project

Development

To attend regular project meetings and training courses for professional and personal development as required

Communication & Networking

Develop and maintain effective working relationships with staff within the School as well as externally

Regularly communicate information in a clear and precise way

Decision Making, Planning & Problem Solving

Lead in decisions that have a significant impact on their own work, that of others and be party to collaborative decisions

Manage own workload, prioritising these in order to achieve their objectives

Communicate to management any difficulties associated with carrying out work tasks

Resolve problems where the solution may not be immediately apparent and where there is a need to use judgement to achieve resolution

Plan in advance for heavy workload

Use own initiative and creativity to solve problems

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria

1. PhD in operations research, statistics, computer science, music computing, or a related field

2. Experience designing/adapting computational algorithms to solve problems with objectives and constraints

3. Strong musical sensibilities, adaptable, willingness to learn, motivated to work with real-world music and physiological data

4. Good knowledge of software design principles and code management on Git

5. Excellent written and oral communication skills

6. Track record of high-quality, peer-reviewed scientific publications

7. Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and specialties

Desirable criteria

1. Experience with music software and related file formats and protocols

2. Experience programming graphical user interfaces to alter music properties

3. Hands on experience working with sound and music

Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

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Research Associate in Design Analytics and Music Physiology job with KINGS COLLEGE LONDON | 304739 - Times Higher Education

Physiology

Pioneering Engineer-Researcher to Receive 2022 Szent-Gyrgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research – Business Wire

ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) announced today that Rakesh K. Jain, Ph.D., has been selected to receive the 2022 Szent-Gyrgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research. The blue-ribbon Prize selection committee, consisting of renowned leaders in cancer research, elected Dr. Jain for his pioneering research and breakthrough discoveries on overcoming barriers posed by the tumor microenvironment (TME) which led to the improved delivery and efficacy of anti-cancer medicines. His groundbreaking and innovative research has fundamentally transformed the understanding of tumor biology and directly informed the development and approval of new drug-combinations to treat cancer patients.

Rakesh K. Jain, Ph.D., will be honored at the Szent-Gyrgyi Prize award ceremony on October 22, 2022, at The National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Jain is the director of the Edwin L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology at the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Andrew Werk Cook Professor of Radiation Oncology at Harvard Medical School. In four decades of pioneering work Dr. Jain, an engineer by training continues to combine physical sciences, engineering, mathematical modeling, physiology, biology, and immunology at the laboratory bench and patients bedside to develop and support his seminal hypotheses on how the abnormal TME the surrounding blood vessels, immune cells, other cells such as fibroblasts, and the extracellular matrix thwarts the delivery and efficacy of conventional and emerging anticancer medicines and how to overcome this challenge.

By developing innovative imaging technologies and laboratory models, Dr. Jain has demonstrated in real-time that tumors have structurally and functionally abnormal blood vessels in addition to impaired lymphatics. These vascular abnormalities lead to high interstitial fluid pressure and poor blood flow that impair the delivery of antitumor therapeutics and immune cells. Moreover, the resulting abnormal TME compromises the efficacy of drugs and immune cells even after they accrue in tumors.

In light of these findings, Dr. Jain proposed the groundbreaking concept that normalizing the abnormal tumor vessels using anti-angiogenic approaches originally developed to inhibit formation of blood vessels can create a window of opportunity or time period thereby allowing better delivery and efficacy of anti-cancer medicines. Dr. Jain and his clinical collaborators demonstrated that anti-angiogenic agents could indeed normalize tumor blood vessels in patients. Indeed, brain, lung, liver, and breast cancer patients survived longer when blood flow or oxygen levels increased in their tumors due to normalization.

Dr. Jain applied his vascular normalization principle to improve the efficacy of the new immunotherapy immune-checkpoint blockade. His seminal pre-clinical work laid the foundation for clinical trials and U.S. Federal Drug Association (FDA) approval of seven combinations of anti-angiogenic drugs with checkpoint blockers to enhance their efficacy in lung, liver, endometrial, and kidney cancer patients.

Rakesh K. Jain, Ph.D., has the rare distinction of being elected to all three U.S. National Academies Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the National Academy of Inventors. In 2016, he received the 2013 U.S. National Medal of Science (for biological science) from President Obama our nations highest honor for advancing the fields of science.

Dr. Jains ingenious use of new experimental approaches and what they have told us about the fundamental aspects of the TME and how they can be modulated to allow more efficacious therapies for cancer are just stunning to me as an immunologist, said Mark M. Davis, Ph.D., Chair of the 2022 Prize selection committee and co-winner of the 2021 Szent-Gyrgyi Prize. His work is both deeply impactful and elegant.

Co-Chair of the 2022 selection committee and 2021 Prize co-winner, Tak W. Mak, Ph.D., remarked, The basic discoveries by Dr. Jain of the abnormal vasculature and matrix and their effects on immune cell modulation have facilitated the development of life-extending therapies. I look forward to future combinations of therapies stemming from the fruits of his incredible accomplishments.

Dr. Rakesh Jains seminal discoveries in basic and translational research have guided numerous fields in cancer research with the promise of saving lives. These are the pillars of the Szent-Gyrgyi Prize, said Sujuan Ba, Ph.D., co-chair of the 2022 Prize selection committee and President and CEO of NFCR. Incidentally, Dr. Jain has been continuously funded by the NFCR since 1998. We are delighted and proud that he is receiving the 2022 Szent-Gyrgyi Prize.

I am enormously honored and pleased to be selected by the committee for the coveted Szent-Gyrgyi Prize, stated Dr. Rakesh Jain. Every scientists dream is that his or her findings will someday translate from bench to bedside. I have been very fortunate to see this happen in my career multiple times. I have had the good fortune to collaborate with so many talented students, clinicians, other world leaders, and of course, patients who participated in the trials. Therefore, being recognized by NFCR for contributions to basic and translational oncology is an enormous honor.

About the National Foundation for Cancer Research

The National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides scientists in the lab the funding they need to make and apply game-changing discoveries in cancer treatments, detection, prevention and, ultimately, a cure. NFCR has distinguished itself by emphasizing long-term, transformative research often overlooked by other major funding sources and/or deemed too risky. Since its establishment in 1973, NFCR has provided more than $400 million for cancer research and public education. For more information, visit http://www.nfcr.org.

About the Szent-Gyrgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research

The Szent-Gyrgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research was established by the National Foundation for Cancer Research in honor of its co-founder, Albert Szent-Gyrgyi, M.D., Ph.D., recipient of the 1937 Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine. The award recognizes outstanding scientists who have expanded our understanding of cancer and cancer causation; whose vision has moved cancer research in new directions; and whose discoveries have led to advances in cancer prevention, diagnosis or treatment. Its past recipients (and their associated institutions at the time of the award) are:

The Szent-Gyrgyi Prize Dinner and Award Ceremony is part of the daylong Global Summit of Cancer Research and Entrepreneurship. Media and the public are invited and encouraged to attend. Learn more about this event.

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Pioneering Engineer-Researcher to Receive 2022 Szent-Gyrgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research - Business Wire

Physiology

Addressing Vitamin D issue – The New Indian Express

By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Vitamin D is a fat-soluble Vitamin playing a vital role in human physiology. Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent worldwide. This deficiency has many consequences which are still being explored apart from the well-known skeletal complications. With the existing literature on vitamin D in India, we can understand the enormity of the problem. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency ranged from 40% to 99% with most of the studies reporting a prevalence of 80-90%. It was prevalent in all the age groups and high-risk groups alike. With the consequences of vitamin D deficiency, namely, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and tuberculosis being explored, we can imagine the burden it would cause in our country.

We need to create awareness amongst the public and health care providers about the importance of vitamin D and the consequences of its deficiency. Our Indian diet generally fails to satisfy the daily requirement of vitamin D for a normal adult. This stresses on the need for fortifying various foods with vitamin D, through the national programs.

The silent epidemic should be addressed with concrete public health action. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is high in India due to the skin complexion, poor exposure to sunlight, sunscreen cream, dietary habits, lower intake of vitamin D fortified foods. Indians are mostly vegetarians and vitamin D rich food are of animal origin.

All the above mentioned factors can be a cause in urban population. However, the rural population by virtue of their occupation have sufficient sunlight exposure, they too have low vitamin D level. This can be due to the high phytate and low calcium diet they consume. Phytate rich diet is known to reduce the intestinal absorption of calcium.

The way forwardThe following measures can be taken:

Food fortification with vitamin D is the best solution.Educational programmes are a must to create awareness about vitamin D deficiency as it is the most underdiagnosed and undertreated nutritional disease.Vitamin D supplements of good quality should be made available at PHC level for population at risk.School going children should be educated about vitamin D sufficiency, given meals, exposure to sun light and physical exercise.Testing facilities for vitamin D levels should be made affordable & accessible.Government should support research groups to study and monitor the impact of supplementation programmes and fortification strategies.

ENORMITY OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY IN INDIAWith the existing literature on vitamin D in India, we can understand the enormity of the problem. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency ranged from 40% to 99% with most of the studies reporting a prevalence of 80-90%. It was prevalent in all the age groups and high risk groups alike

(The article is written by Addu Kiraannmayye, Project Nutrition Scientist B, UNICEF, National Institute of Nutrition.)

See the article here:
Addressing Vitamin D issue - The New Indian Express

Physiology

AANA Foundation John F. Garde Researcher of the Year Award Presented to Jane McCarthy – Newswise

Newswise Rosemont, Ill. The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) Foundation presented Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Jane McCarthy, PhD, CRNA, FAAN, CAPT/USPHS (Ret.), with the John F. Garde Researcher of the Year Award during the AANA 2022 Annual Congress, August 12-16, in Chicago.

This award, which is named for former AANA Executive Director John Garde, is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the practice of nurse anesthesia through clinical research. Nominees must be CRNAs who currently are or have been active in anesthesia research and can be nominated by any AANA member.

I would like to thank the AANA Foundation for this prestigious recognition of the John Garde Researcher of the Year Award. It is such an honor to be recognized in John Gardes name as he was such a mentor for me in so many ways, McCarthy said.

McCarthy earned a doctorate in physiology from the Uniformed Services University in 1985 followed by a post doctorate National Research Council Fellowship at the Navy Medical Research Institute where she did original research in high-frequency ventilation and pulmonary pathophysiology. She joined the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps as a regulatory scientist for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviewing respiratory and anesthesia medical device applications for FDA approval. To better meet the anesthesia healthcare needs of the Uniformed Services, she developed the congressionally mandated nurse anesthesia program for the Uniformed Services University (1993-2000), one of the first masters level nurse anesthesia programs, mentoring students in their non-clinical and clinical research. She helped develop the AANA Research in Action program, providing a method for students to have their research peer-reviewed. More recently, she has been mentoring students in evidence-based practice to apply published research results into clinical anesthesia practice.

In 1994, McCarthy was one of the first nurse anesthetists to be recognized as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. She has been a member of the AANA Board of Directors and the past president and member of the Board of Directors of the District of Columbia Association of Nurse Anesthetists (DCANA). She directed the DCANA Annual Anesthesia Safety Conference for 25 years for over 200 CRNAs and students each year from around the country.

Dr. McCarthy is a tireless advocate for professionalism in nurse anesthesia and excellence in patient care, said John Nagelhout, PhD, CRNA, FAAN, in his nomination. She is ethical in all of her responsibilities and an excellent role model for our nurse anesthesia colleagues and students. Dr. McCarthy approaches her duties with thoughtfulness, humor and applies innovative approaches to the many aspects of her academic, clinical and leadership roles.

She currently is a professor at the University of North Florida, where she does primarily online education in Healthcare Policy and Evidence-Based Practice for doctoral nursing students.

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AANA Foundation John F. Garde Researcher of the Year Award Presented to Jane McCarthy - Newswise