Physiological Reviews Podcast

In our latest episode, Dr. Farrah Kheradmand (Baylor College of Medicine) interviews Dr. Kevin Harrod (University of Alabama at Birmingham) about his article by Patton et al. on community-acquired bacterial coinfections and COVID-19. In the early days of the pandemic when physicians were treating critically ill COVID patients, there was no standard definition for bacterial coinfections in this cohort. However, as the field has moved forward with understanding how bacterial coinfections contribute to the mortality of COVID patients, Dr. Harrod and co-authors have worked to refine the definition of bacterial coinfections to provide a more unified way to report the prevalence of this important clinical problem. While it is often necessary to treat critically ill hospitalized COVID patients with antibiotics before sampling or culture results, Dr. Harrod and co-authors identify that this may mask the true prevalence of bacterial coinfections. Listen as Dr. Kheradmand and Dr. Harrod discuss linkages between carriage, viral infection, and secondary bacterial infections, as well as the pathophysiological ways that fungi may coinfect COVID patients. Are patients with underlying cystic fibrosis more prone to COVID infection? Listen now to learn more. Michael John Patton, Amit Gaggar, Matthew Might, Nathaniel Erdmann, Carlos J. Orihuela, and Kevin S. Harrod Community-acquired bacterial coinfections and COVID-19 Physiological Reviews, published October 16, 2023. DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00010.2023

The topic of hypertension is of paramount clinical importance as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, and kidney disease. Sex differences in blood pressure regulation play a major role in the pathophysiology of hypertension. In the episode, Dr. Carol Ann Remme (University of Amsterdam) interviews Dr. Thu Le (University of Rochester) about her new Review in Physiological Reviews on the renal, hemodynamic, and hormonal mechanisms of sexual dimorphism in blood pressure homeostasis. We discuss sex chromosome effects, hormonal changes, potential sex differences related to innate and adaptive immunity, and the clinical relevance of animal models to develop new therapeutic targets. Listen now and learn more. Erika R. Drury, Jing Wu, Joseph C. Gigliotti, Thu H. Le Sex differences in blood pressure regulation and hypertension: renal, hemodynamic, and hormonal mechanisms Physiological Reviews, published October 16, 2023. DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00041.2022

In this episode of The Physiological Reviews Podcast, Professor Giovanni Mann (King’s College London) interviews authors Prof. Marzia Perluigi (Sapienza University of Rome) and Prof. D. Allan Butterfield (University of Kentucky) about their recently published Review on the oxidative stress hypothesis of Alzheimer Disease. The authors provide a comprehensive overview of amyloid beta-peptide associated mechanisms, the use of redox proteomics to define roles of lipid and protein oxidation, and the antioxidant strategies utilized to modulate the progression of Alzheimer Disease (AD) in order to improve the quality of life for individuals with this severe disorder. Prof. Perluigi explains that because the brain is particularly susceptible to free radical damage, it is likely that lipid peroxidation is among the initiating toxic events in AD pathophysiology, with amyloid deposits reacting with membrane lipids that in turn target other cellular components such as proteins and nucleic acid. Listen as we discuss the role of astrocytes in the pathogenesis of AD, as well as the utility of animal models to plan preclinical trials and clarify molecular mechanisms involved in neuropathology of AD. Come for the discussion of the role that oxidative stress plays in the pathogenesis of AD, and stay for the illuminating conversation about the paths Prof. Butterfield and Prof. Perluigi have followed in pursuing their research training and careers in science with enthusiasm, dedication, and willingness to develop international research collaborations in the field of redox biology and chemistry associated with Alzheimer Disease. Marzia Perluigi, Fabio Di Domenico, and D. Allan Butterfield Oxidative damage in neurodegeneration: roles in the pathogenesis and progression of Alzheimer disease Physiological Reviews, published July 19, 2023. DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00030.2022

As Sir Winston Churchill once said, “Where there is great power, there is great responsibility.” This is the overarching context of our latest episode about the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in physiology and healthcare. Listen as host Dr. Ryan Melvin (University of Alabama at Birmingham) interviews author Dr. James Zou (Stanford University) about the Review by Zhang et al. on “Leveraging Physiology and Artificial Intelligence to Deliver Advancements in Healthcare AI in Physiology and Healthcare.” The authors discuss an important transition in AI –the shift from model development to model deployment, while keeping at the forefront the goal of achieving positive real-world impacts by using AI in healthcare workflows. Zou and co-authors identify 3 key factors in this gap between development and deployment: ensuring AI works reliably and robustly across diverse populations, ensuring the financial sustainability of AI models, addressing new regulatory challenges for AI algorithms. FDA regulators are presented with unique challenges regarding how to continuously evaluate and monitor AI algorithms, while still allowing developers to update algorithms in a relatively frictionless way that ensures algorithms’ behavior is safe and robust. Does AI face a generalizability crisis? According to Dr. Zou, this is an ongoing issue. Instructive fine-tuning, which is intended to make iterative large language models safer, can sometimes lead to surprising AI behavior changes. On the topic of AI and authorship, the experts acknowledge that it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish if text is written by AI or by humans, as AI becomes more aligned with human behaviors. This may present unique opportunities, according to Dr. Zou. There are many types of text where human authors would benefit from AI support, for example in generating code and figures, and improving writing quality and precision. In the end, however, humans must take final responsibility for the accuracy of all statements in scholarly articles. How can the medical field play a role in shaping the metrics by which we judge generative AI? Listen to find out. Angela Zhang, Zhenqin Wu, Eric Wu, Matthew Wu, Michael P. Snyder, James Zou, and Joseph C. Wu Leveraging Physiology and Artificial Intelligence to Deliver Advancements in Healthcare Physiological Reviews, published July 19, 2023. DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00033.2022

What are the key physiological adaptations attained in exercise regimens used by elite athletes to achieve peak performance? In our latest episode of The Physiological Reviews Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Sadis Matalon (University of Alabama at Birmingham) interviews author and Physiological Reviews Associate Editor Dr. Christoph Handschin (University of Basel, Switzerland) about the new Review by Furrer et al. As Dr. Handschin explains, the basis of all types of muscle adaptations is repeated contractions, but how this is done in terms of training intensity, volume, form, and frequency can dramatically affect training outcomes. Athletes and coaches try to develop the best strategies for training periodization for performance to peak at the time of competition. What roles do sleep, diet, and environment, such as altitude, play in enhancing (or diminishing) exercise performance? Listen as Dr. Matalon and Dr. Handschin discuss experimental and natural product-based performance enhancing substances, wearable devices for tracking exercise performance, and the genetic makeup of individuals that ultimately differentiates athletes from Olympic athletes. Regula Furrer, John A. Hawley, and Christoph Handschin The molecular athlete: exercise physiology from mechanisms to medals Physiological Reviews, published April 23, 2023. DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00017.2022

Genetics studies, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS), play an increasingly important role in physiology and pathophysiology studies of cardiovascular disease. Listen as Deputy Editor Dr. Carol Ann Remme interviews authors Prof. Jeanette Erdmann (University of Lübeck, Germany) and Prof. Connie Bezzina (Amsterdam University Medical Center, Netherlands) about their latest Review in Physiological Reviews by Walsh et al. GWAS are aimed at identifying genetic variants for specific traits, and it is essential to study genetic variants in order to understand an individual’s susceptibility to develop specific diseases. Understanding the genetic basis of a disease can lead to identification of therapeutic targets for clinical intervention. Listen as these experts discuss how GWAS can be applied to study both rare disorders, for example Brugada Syndrome, as well as common disorders such as myocardial infarction. The possibilities are numerous for GWAS, including the identification of novel pathophysiological insights into cardiovascular disease mechanisms, as well as (future) development of clinically applicable polygenic risk scores. Listen now to learn more. Roddy Walsh, Sean J. Jurgens, Jeanette Erdmann, and Connie R. Bezzina Genome-wide association studies of cardiovascular disease Physiological Reviews, published April 18, 2023. DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00024.2022

How do changes in concentration of stratospheric ozone impact human health and the global ecosystem? In our latest episode Editor-in-Chief Dr. Sadis Matalon interviews lead author Professor Christos Zerefos about the recent Review titled, “The long-term variability of human health related solar ultraviolet-B radiation doses from the 1980s to the end of 21st century.” Because stratospheric ozone is the protective layer which screens harmful UV-B solar radiation, ozone depletion impacts diseases of the eyes and the development of skin cancers. The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty signed in 1987 to protect the ozone layer by eliminating the use of chlorofluorocarbons, which deplete the ozone layer and consequently increase harmful solar ultraviolet-B radiation reaching the earth. By some estimates, according to Professor Zerefos, the Montreal Protocol has prevented 2 million additional cases of melanoma and other skin cancers per year worldwide. Listen as we discuss how global warming will interfere with the expected recovery of the ozone layer by introducing regional changes in UV-B and subsequent detrimental effects on human health. Work continues to monitor global ozone levels because, as Professor Zerefos says, “Science never stops.” He also emphasizes the need to continue our protection from excess exposure in UV-B solar radiation in the decades to come. Listen now to learn more. Christos Zerefos, Ilias Fountoulakis, Kostas Eleftheratos, and Andreas Kazantzidis The long-term variability of human health related solar ultraviolet-B radiation doses from the 1980s to the end of 21st century Physiological Reviews, published April 17, 2023. DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00031.2022

Physiological Reviews Associate Editor Prof. Christoph Handschin speaks with Prof. Paul L. Greenhaff and Prof. Janet M. Lord about their article “Multisystem Physiological Perspective of Human Frailty and Its Modulation by Physical Activity,” published in the April 2023 issue of Physiological Reviews. Prof. Greenhaff is Professor at the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nottingham and is deputy director of the Medical Research Council (MRC)-Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research. Prof. Lord is Professor at the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing at the University of Birmingham and is the director of the MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music to receive immediate notification when new episodes are available. Browse recent articles on our website. Be sure to let your colleagues know about the podcast, and please rate and review it wherever you listen to it. Follow the journal on Twitter and Facebook. Listen to other podcasts produced by the American Physiological Society.

Physiological Reviews Editor-in-Chief Dr. Sadis Matalon speaks with Dr. Paule V. Joseph about her article “A Systematic Review of the Biological Mediators of Fat Taste and Smell,” the first systematic review to be published in Physiological Reviews. Dr. Joseph is Lasker Clinical Research Scholar, Tenure Track Clinical Investigator, and Chief of the Section of Sensory Science and Metabolism in the Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research at the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. She has a a joint appointment at the National Institute of Nursing Research. Dr. Joseph’s research focuses on preclinical, clinical, and translational studies of chemosensory disorders. In August 2022, she was selected as the inaugural 2022–2024 American Academy of Nursing Fellow at the National Academy of Medicine. Dr. Joseph is a member of the Physiological Reviews Editorial Board. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music to receive immediate notification when new episodes are available. Browse recent articles on our website. Be sure to let your colleagues know about the podcast, and please rate and review it wherever you listen to it. Follow the journal on Twitter and Facebook. Listen to other podcasts produced by the American Physiological Society.

Physiological Reviews Editor-in-Chief Dr. Sadis Matalon speaks with Prof. John P.A. Ioannidis about his editorial “Systematic Reviews for Basic Scientists: A Different Beast,” which focuses on the importance of systematic reviews in scientific research. Prof. Ioannidis is Professor of Medicine, of Epidemiology and Population Health, and, by courtesy, of Statistics and Biomedical Data Science at Stanford University. He is one of the most cited scientists in the world and is an elected member of numerous national academies. Prof. Ioannidis in an Associate Editor of Physiological Reviews. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music to receive immediate notification when new episodes are available. Browse recent articles on our website. Be sure to let your colleagues know about the podcast, and please rate and review it wherever you listen to it. Follow the journal on Twitter and Facebook. Listen to other podcasts produced by the American Physiological Society.

Physiological Reviews Associate Editor Prof. Giovanni Mann speaks with Prof. Rafael Radi about his review article “The superoxide radical switch in the biology of nitric oxide and peroxynitrite,” about the life of a scientist, and about advice for early-career researchers. Prof. Radi is Professor, Chair, and Director of the Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CEINBIO) at the Universidad de la República in Montevideo, Uruguay. Prof. Radi has made significant contributions to our understanding of the mechanisms of nitric oxide-dependent toxicity through its interaction with superoxide anions and the formation of peroxynitrite. He has characterized the biological chemistry of peroxynitrite, its effects on mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis, and its role in pathology. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music to receive immediate notification when new episodes are available. Browse recent articles on our website. Be sure to let your colleagues know about the podcast, and please rate and review it wherever you listen to it. Follow the journal on Twitter and Facebook. Listen to other podcasts produced by the American Physiological Society.

Physiological Reviews Editor-in-Chief Dr. Sadis Matalon speaks with Prof. Rebecca M. Reynolds, Prof. Sarah J. Stock, and Prof. Hilary O. D. Critchley about their editorial “Pregnancy and the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic,” published in the July 2022 issue of Physiological Reviews. The authors also have contributed a review article on this topic, “Pregnancy and COVID-19,” which was one of the most highly cited articles published in the journal in 2021. Prof. Reynolds is Professor of Metabolic Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. Her research looks at the ways in which early development in utero can affect health and disease. Prof. Stock is Professor of Maternal and Fetal Health at the University of Edinburgh. Her research examines efforts at reducing preterm birth, stillbirth, and other complications in pregnancy. Prof. Critchley has held a Personal Chair in Reproductive Medicine at the University of Edinburgh since 1999. She is Head of the Deanery of Clinical Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, she is Co-Director of the Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, and she is Consultant Gynaecologist at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh. Her research is aimed at improving our understanding of the basic science of the uterine endometrium. She is an Associate Editor of Physiological Reviews. Subscribe to the podcast here. Browse recent articles on our website. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music to receive immediate notification when new episodes are available. Be sure to let your colleagues know about the podcast, and please rate and review it wherever you listen to it. Follow the journal on Twitter and on Facebook. Listen to other podcasts produced by the American Physiological Society.

Physiological Reviews Editor-in-Chief Dr. Sadis Matalon speaks with Michael Saag, MD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) about his editorial “Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles: the unprecedented speed of COVID-19 science.” Dr. Saag is Associate Dean for Global Health in the School of Medicine, Director of the UAB Center for AIDS Research and a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases. He also is the principal investigator of the CFAR Network of Integrated Clinical Systems (CNICS), a network of centers sharing electronic health record data to integrate clinical information from persons infected with HIV. In addition, Dr. Saag is the founding director of the UAB 1917 HIV Clinic, one of the leading HIV clinics in the United States. Subscribe to the podcast here. Browse recent articles on our website. Be sure to let your colleagues know about the podcast, and please rate and review it wherever you listen to it. Follow the journal on Twitter and on Facebook. Listen to other podcasts produced by the American Physiological Society.

To follow up on our recently published AIP manuscript “Physiology and Pathophysiology of Human Airway Mucus” (https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00004.2021), we were able to connect with senior author Dr. Richard Boucher. In this podcast, Physiological Reviews Editorial Ken Adler and Dr. Boucher have an interesting conversation on pathogenesis and future therapies in lung and airway diseases. They discuss everything from mucin genes to Cystic Fibrosis.

Advances in our understanding of brain function, along with the development of neural interfaces that allow for the monitoring and activation of neurons, have paved the way for brain machine interfaces (BMI), which harness neural signals to reanimate the limbs via electrical activation of the muscles, or to control extra-corporeal devices, thereby bypassing the muscles and senses altogether. BMIs consist of reading out motor intent from the neuronal responses monitored in motor regions of the brain and executing intended movements using bionic limbs, reanimated limbs, or exoskeletons. BMIs also allow for the restoration of the sense of touch by electrically activating neurons in somatosensory regions of the brain, thereby evoking vivid tactile sensations and conveying feedback about object interactions. In this podcast associate editor Jeff Diamond is joined by authors Chethan Pandarinath and Sliman Bensmaia as they discuss " The Science and Engineering behind sensitized brain-controlled bionic hands." The review of this fascinating topic can be found on our PRV website: https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/physrev.00034.2020

Deputy Editor Dr. Willis Samson takes a deep dive into the complex universe that control the behavior and mechanisms of eating. He is joined by the authors of our recent published review "The Physiological Control of Eating: Signals, Neurons, and Networks" by Alan G. Watts, Scott E Kanoski, Graciela Sanchez-Watts and Wolfgang Langhans. Learn about the advances of this complicated process and the possible therapeutics for the future. Watts AG, Kanoski SE, Sanchez-Watts G, Langhans W. The Physiological Control of Eating: Signals, Neurons, and Networks. Physiol Rev. 2021 Sep 6. doi: 10.1152/physrev.00028.2020. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34486393. https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/physrev.00028.2020

Dr. Sadis Matalon, editor in Chief and Dr. Sally Wenzel discuss Asthma and her PRV review Are We Meeting the Promise of Endotypes and Precision Medicine in Asthma?

Editor in Chief, Dr. Sadis Matalon and Dr. MIchael Matthay discuss the lung research and how it moves from the bench to the beside. Dr. Matthay has had two very well cited reviews published in Physiological Reviews: Lung Epithelial Fluid Transport and the Resolution of Pulmonary Edema Michael A. Matthay, Hans G. Folkesson, and Christine Clerici Physiological Reviews Volume 82, Issue 3 2002 Jan 07 Elevated Plasmin(ogen) as a Common Risk Factor for COVID-19 Susceptibility Hong-Long Ji, Runzhen Zhao, Sadis Matalon, and Michael A. Matthay Physiological Reviews Volume 100, Issue 3 2020 Apr 03

Editor in Chief, Dr. Sadis Matalon and corresponding author Stefano Romagnoli discuss the Covid-19 virus in Italy and beyond including which practices they have successfully taken from the bench to the bedside.

Colette Bean, Chief Publishing Officer of the American Physiological Society, discusses the past, present, and future of Physiological Reviews with Editor-in-Chief, Sadis Matalon, PhD.