» 2013 Press Releases

Released April 24, 2013 - A fur trader who suffered an accidental gunshot wound in 1822 and the physician who saw this unfortunate incident as an opportunity for research are keys to much of our early knowledge about the workings of the digestive system. Symposium, “William Beaumont: America’s First Physiologist and Pioneer of Gastrointestinal Research,” sponsored by American Physiological Society.

Released April 23, 2013 - Researchers have long known that cancerous tumors grow collections of abnormal blood cells, the fuel that feeds this disease and keeps it growing. Now, new evidence in an animal model suggests that blood vessels in the fat tissue of obese individuals could provide the same purpose—and could provide the key to a new way for people to lose weight.

Released April 22, 2013 - Up to 20 percent of veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have experienced at least one blast concussion. A new study finds about 42% of screened veterans with blast injuries have irregular hormone levels indicative of hypopituitarism, the decreased (hypo) secretion of one or more of the eight hormones normally produced by the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. Many conditions associated with hypopituitarism mimic other common problems that veterans can suffer, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.

Released April 22, 2013 - Researchers have tested the effects of partial sleep deprivation on blood vessels and breathing control and found that reducing sleep length over two consecutive nights leads to less healthy vascular function and impaired breathing control. The findings could help explain why sleep deprivation is associated with cardiovascular disease.

Released April 21, 2013 - Conventional knowledge suggests that to avoid acute mountain sickness (AMS), climbers need to “stage,” or set up camp, at a lower altitude for four days when summiting peaks as high as 4300 meters. A U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine team has found that two days of staging at a moderate altitude may be enough.

Released April 21, 2013 - Johnathan D. Tune will present the American Physiological Society’s Henry Pickering Bowditch Award Lecture on April 21, 2013 during the Society’s 126th annual meeting. Dr. Tune is being recognized for his work on the mechanisms that connect obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. His lecture is entitled, “Translational Insight Into Regulation of Coronary Blood Flow."

Released April 20, 2013 - Michael Joyner, M.D. will present the American Physiological Society’s Walter B. Cannon Award Lecture on April 20, 2013, during the Society’s 126th annual meeting. The Cannon Award is the Society’s pre-eminent award. The Mayo Clinic anesthesiologist will discuss physiology’s enduring relevancy.

Released April 1, 2013 - Almost 4 million people die annually from household air pollution (HAP) caused by exposure to the combustion of biomass fuels, kerosene, or coal. These individuals are among the tens of millions who rely on the products for cooking, heating, and light. A new article explains the need for improved HAP biomarkers, and more.

Released March 18, 2013 - The APS’s 126th annual meeting offers more than 2,700 programmed abstracts and dozens of symposia. Program highlights include the Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine Lecture, and presentations on eating disorders, human brain function, sex-based differences in exercise metabolism, and understanding emerging concepts about the pathology of diabetes and obesity. The meeting will be held April 20-24, 2013 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Boston, Mass.

Released March 11, 2013 - APS announces the names of 14 distinguished researchers to be honored for their contributions to the field at the Society’s 126th annual meeting. The event, part of the Experimental Biology (EB) 2013 meeting, will be held April 20-24, 2013 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

Released March 8, 2013 - New study identifies why prazosin, a drug commonly used to reduce high blood pressure, may cause lightheadedness and possible fainting upon standing in patients with normal blood pressure who take the drug for other reasons, such as PTSD and anxiety.

Released February 22, 2013 - Physiology Journals Go Mobile: APS brings new functionality to our highly regarded published research. All 13 of our peer-reviewed journals are now available through the APS Journals app, available from the Apple® iTunes® Store. In addition to the app, we also now provide mobile-optimized versions of each of the journals’ websites.

Released February 14, 2013 - The APS membership elected its new officers for terms beginning in 2013.David M. Pollock, Georgia Regents University, was elected President-Elect. John C. Chatham, University of Alabama School of Medicine, M. Harold Laughlin, University of Missouri-Columbia, and Marshall (Chip) H. Montrose, University of Cincinnati, were elected to Council. Terms begin at the Society’s annual meeting in April.

Released February 13, 2013 - “Good” bacteria that live in our intestines have been linked with a variety of health benefits. In a new study, researchers have uncovered another advantage to these friendly microscopic tenants: Chemicals secreted by good bacteria that typically live in the intestines of babies could reduce the frequency and severity of a common and often-lethal disease of premature infants, known as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

Released January 2, 2013 - Balancing time commitments against health benefits, aerobic training appears to be optimal mode of exercise for reducing fat- and body mass, while a program including resistance training is needed for increasing lean mass in middle-aged, overweight/obese individuals.