Physiology News and Research

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Human physiology is the science of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of humans in good health, their organs, and the cells of which they are composed. The principal level of focus of physiology is at the level of organs and systems. Most aspects of human physiology are closely homologous to corresponding aspects of animal physiology, and animal experimentation has provided much of the foundation of physiological knowledge. Anatomy and physiology are closely related fields of study: anatomy, the study of form, and physiology, the study of function, are intrinsically tied and are studied in tandem as part of a medical curriculum.

Scientists have found a fossil that explains the history of the nose

Our ancestors had two nostrils, one front and one back, but no opening on the palate or in the throat. They could smell, but not breathe with their nose. How did our nose evolve?

4 Nov 2004

New role for a key protein involved in muscle contraction

Overturning a scientific stereotype, researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have discovered a new role for a key protein involved in muscle contraction and shown it is present not just in the cytoplasm of cells but in the nucleus as well.

1 Nov 2004

Discovery affirms potential of stem cells for the development of possible therapies for spinal cord injury and nervous system disorders

Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids) have shown that stem cells found in adult skin retain their embryonic capability of making many types of cells.

1 Nov 2004

Scientists have found that a protein present in normal body tissues can prevent tumour growth

A team led by Dr Dave Bates, British Heart Foundation Lecturer, and Dr Steve Harper, Senior Research Fellow in the Microvascular Research Laboratories, in the Department of Physiology at Bristol University, have discovered that a type of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) found in normal tissue, including blood, can prevent cancers from growing.

1 Nov 2004

Red wine delivered though an aerosol for COPD, asthma, and possibly even arthritis

Homing in on mechanisms for the reported effectiveness of resveratrol, which is found in red wine, researchers at Imperial College London, England, confirmed its broad anti-inflammatory action, and found potential for applications in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and possibly even arthritis.

29 Oct 2004

Impaired endothelial function is an early indicator of atherosclerosis

Impaired endothelial function is an early indicator of atherosclerosis according to a study of healthy people followed from childhood to young adulthood reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

25 Oct 2004

Australian platypus research has implications for understanding the evolution of human sex determination

The mystery surrounding sex determination of the unique Australian platypus has yielded a surprising secret: it has 10 sex chromosomes.

25 Oct 2004

High levels of a protein called LRP6 can make cancer cells more aggressive

The protein's ability to enhance tumor development suggests that the gene that codes for LRP6 is an oncogene--a gene that contributes to tumor development when overactivated.

25 Oct 2004

Deep brain stimulation could help alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms on both sides of the body

For many patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease, deep brain stimulation can mean the difference between having difficulty walking and being able to run.

22 Oct 2004

Researchers trim count of human genes to 20,000-25,000

Scientific description of the finished human genome sequence, reducing the estimated number of human protein-coding genes from 35,000 to only 20,000-25,000, a surprisingly low number for our species.

21 Oct 2004

Study links possible role of ephedrine in sudden cardiac arrests

Each year 80,000 - 100,000 people in the U.S die suddenly from heart attacks without ever having had any symptoms of heart disease. In some cases, the victims of these unheralded sudden cardiac deaths had been taking dietary supplements containing ephedrine.

16 Oct 2004

Researchers analyze the mechanisms and proteins that underlie mitochondria

New findings explaining the complicated process by which the "energy substations" of human cells split apart and recombine may lay the groundwork for new treatment approaches to a wide range of diseases, including some cancers and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

12 Oct 2004

Researchers identifiy brain circuit that appears crucial in converting short-term memories into long-term memories

The circuit links the major learning-related area of the brain to another region that governs the brain's higher functions.

6 Oct 2004

Balance between vasodilation and vasoconstriction in exercising muscle may change with age

The “fight or flight” mechanism is one of the best-known physiological responses. It increases our ability to respond to stressful situations. One way to look at exercise – physiologically -- is as a non-life-threatening example of a stressful situation.

5 Oct 2004

Interleukin-6 has potential as a therapeutic drug in treating metabolic disorders such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis

For the most of the past century, researchers have searched for a muscle-contraction-induced factor, which mediates some of the exercise effects in other tissues and organs such as the liver and adipose tissue.

5 Oct 2004

Moderate exercise in mice after they were infected with influenza protects them from dying

University of Illinois researchers report that four consecutive days of moderate exercise in mice after they were infected with influenza protects them from dying, compared with mice that didn’t exercise.

5 Oct 2004

Richard Axel has won the 2004 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine

Richard Axel of the Columbia University Medical Center has won the 2004 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine along with Linda B. Buck of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for clarifying how the olfactory system works.

5 Oct 2004

Linda Buck has been named winner of the 2004 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine

Linda Buck, Ph.D., a member of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center's Basic Sciences Division, has been named winner of the 2004 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine.

5 Oct 2004

Stem cells and drug design

Victorian College of Pharmacy researchers hope stem cells will help them better understand the action of existing drugs and aid in the discovery of new drugs for illnesses such as depression, obesity and anxiety.

5 Oct 2004

Researchers discover new mechanism responsible for blood vessel tumors that cause facial deformities

Researchers have discovered a new mechanism responsible for the growth of blood vessel tumors that can cause facial deformities in infants and young children, paving the way for an antibody-based treatment to remove cells that fuel the tumors’ growth.

5 Oct 2004

Physiology News and Research

Scientists have found a fossil that explains the history of the nose

New role for a key protein involved in muscle contraction

Discovery affirms potential of stem cells for the development of possible therapies for spinal cord injury and nervous system disorders

Scientists have found that a protein present in normal body tissues can prevent tumour growth

Red wine delivered though an aerosol for COPD, asthma, and possibly even arthritis

Impaired endothelial function is an early indicator of atherosclerosis

Australian platypus research has implications for understanding the evolution of human sex determination

High levels of a protein called LRP6 can make cancer cells more aggressive

Deep brain stimulation could help alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms on both sides of the body

Researchers trim count of human genes to 20,000-25,000

Study links possible role of ephedrine in sudden cardiac arrests

Researchers analyze the mechanisms and proteins that underlie mitochondria

Researchers identifiy brain circuit that appears crucial in converting short-term memories into long-term memories

Balance between vasodilation and vasoconstriction in exercising muscle may change with age

Interleukin-6 has potential as a therapeutic drug in treating metabolic disorders such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis

Moderate exercise in mice after they were infected with influenza protects them from dying

Richard Axel has won the 2004 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine

Linda Buck has been named winner of the 2004 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine

Stem cells and drug design

Researchers discover new mechanism responsible for blood vessel tumors that cause facial deformities

Decoding Cannabis: Differentiating Hemp and Marijuana

Deciphering the Microbiome with The Microsetta Initiative

Leveraging the power of automation to boost research

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