Autumn 2008 - Issue Number 72 Archives - The Physiological Society

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Physiology News Magazine

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Autumn 2008 - Issue Number 72

Autumn 2008 - Issue Number 72

Below are the feature articles from Physiology News Issue 72, Autumn 2008.

To read the full articles please download the issue.

Features

The lymphatic pump – from oedema to envenomation

The lymphatic pump has a key role in tissue fluid homeostasis. Nuclear medicine techniques provide a relatively safe means to investigate lymphatic function, including the pump, in humans. The pump is capable of generating high pressures (as high as diastolic blood pressure), and chronic failure of the pump in lymphoedema of the arm in breast cancer patients may account in part for the swelling

Features

The lymphatic pump – from oedema to envenomation

The lymphatic pump has a key role in tissue fluid homeostasis. Nuclear medicine techniques provide a relatively safe means to investigate lymphatic function, including the pump, in humans. The pump is capable of generating high pressures (as high as diastolic blood pressure), and chronic failure of the pump in lymphoedema of the arm in breast cancer patients may account in part for the swelling

Features

Distinguishing acute and chronic effects of placental dysfunction on maternal blood pressure

Features

Sport genetics: physical performance potential is dependent on genome

Gene association and case-control studies have linked certain genetic variants with physiological performance traits in humans. Our personal athletic potential depends on our genotype, while how close we get to achieving our personal potential depends on environmental factors (training, diet, lifestyle, etc.). In fact, the complexity of the human genome limits our personal athletic potential more than was appreciated previously

Features

Sport genetics: physical performance potential is dependent on genome

Gene association and case-control studies have linked certain genetic variants with physiological performance traits in humans. Our personal athletic potential depends on our genotype, while how close we get to achieving our personal potential depends on environmental factors (training, diet, lifestyle, etc.). In fact, the complexity of the human genome limits our personal athletic potential more than was appreciated previously

Features

Airway protection is a vital function that supersedes volitional tasks

Airway protective reflexes are not suppressed during volitional tasks for voice and breathing and appear to be an exception to reflex suppression during volitional tasks

Features

The embryo and a lifetime of staying healthy

Can the risk of adult-onset disease be influenced more by your development as an embryo than your lifestyle as an adult?

Features

The embryo and a lifetime of staying healthy

Can the risk of adult-onset disease be influenced more by your development as an embryo than your lifestyle as an adult?

Features

Improving reaction time with a bang

If a loud noise or unexpected tap on the shoulder has ever caused you to jump out of your skin, you may have wondered about the purpose of the startle reflex. Common theories include protection against injury from predators and preparation for fight or flight. Recent research shows that startle also facilitates the brain’s ability to process and react to other stimuli

Features

Improving reaction time with a bang

If a loud noise or unexpected tap on the shoulder has ever caused you to jump out of your skin, you may have wondered about the purpose of the startle reflex. Common theories include protection against injury from predators and preparation for fight or flight. Recent research shows that startle also facilitates the brain’s ability to process and react to other stimuli

Features

Angiotensin II and intestinal glucose uptake

An enterocyte renin-angiotensin system has been shown to be involved in AT1 receptor mediated sodium-dependent glucose transport and thus intestinal glucose uptake. How are these findings clinically relevant to intestinal glucose transport in diabetic conditions?

Features

Advances in understanding new roles for astrocytes in the modulation of neuronal activity