The Arizona Physiological Society held their 16th annual meeting this past weekend at Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona.

The Arizona Established Scientist Keynote Speaker was Dr. Christopher Glembotski, Professor of Internal Medicine and Director of the Translational Cardiovascular Research Center at the University of Arizona, Phoenix campus. Ischemic diseases, such as strokes and heart attacks, disrupt the normal functioning of the endoplasmic reticulum, which alters protein production and folding. His research focuses on trying to maintain normal protein homeostasis in order to “mend broken hearts”.

The Arizona Early Career Keynote Speaker was Dr. Frank Duca, Assistant Professor in the School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences at the University of Arizona, Tucson campus. His research focuses on exploring the gut-brain axis and the role of the gut microbiome in regulating metabolic homeostasis and how gut dysbiosis leads to diabetes.

Other highlights include:

Dr. Jinhua Chi, a postdoctoral fellow at Arizona State University, and colleagues presented data demonstrating that microplastics alter the gut microbiome and the metabolites produced by gut bacteria.

Graduate student Jonathan Tuscano and colleagues at Midwestern University – Glendale Campus studied the effects of environmental pollution on bone porosity in North American River Otters. Using MicroCT scans, their research found that populations of otters living in areas with higher levels of heavy metals actually had less porous bones, which may alter bone strength and health, in comparison to animals living in less polluted waters.

Graduate student Rory Lockett and colleagues at Arizona State University presented research examining how exposure to varying diets alters the nutritional physiology of mealworms, a common feeder insect.

Graduate student Siddarth Gunnala and colleagues at Midwestern University – Glendale campus examined how too much folic acid, commonly added to foods, affects hypoxia responses in Drosophila melanogaster. While folic acid supplementation in mammals has been shown to prevent neural tube defects and to protect the brain after an ischemic stroke, brain function and longevity of fruit flies exposed to hypoxia were reduced in those treated with folic acid.

Graduate students Trevor Wendt, D Macias and colleagues at the University of Arizona – Phoenix campus presented data examining how air pollution increases the risk for cerebrovascular diseases, such as strokes.

Undergraduate students Arielle Condes and E Policastro and colleagues shared findings from a study comparing oxidative stress in young and old adults before and after an 8-week aerobic exercise program. Oxidative stress is known to increase with aging and exercise was shown to help lower levels, especially in women.

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Categories: Aging, Climate Change, Comparative Physiology, Diet and Exercise, Environment, Exercise, Hibernation and Hypoxia, Illnesses and Injuries, Physiology on the Road, Stress, Urbanization

Tags: aerobic exercise, air pollution, Arizona, Diabetes, Drosophila, folic acid, gut microbiome, heavy metal, ischemic, mealworm, microplastics, otters, oxidative stress, pollution, stroke