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PN
Issue 98 / Spring 2015
Physiology
News
The ageing issue
Physiology 2015
6 - 8 July 2015
Motorpoint Arena Cardiff
Mary Ann Street, Cardiff, United Kingdom, CF10 2EQ
Registration Opens
1 January 2015
Abstract Submission
1 March - 31 March 2015
www.physiology2015.org
Physiology News Editor
Roger Thomas
We welcome feedback on our membership magazine, or letters and suggestions for Editorial Board
articles for publication, including book reviews, from Physiological Society Members. Michael Evans
Please email magazine@physoc.org (Keele University)
Sarah Hall
Physiology News is one of the benefits of membership of The Physiological Society, along with (Cardiff University)
reduced registration rates for our high-profile events, free online access to The Physiological
David Miller
Society’s leading journals, The Journal of Physiology and Experimental Physiology, and travel (Glasgow University)
grants to attend scientific meetings. Membership of The Physiological Society offers you access
Keith Siew
to the largest network of physiologists in Europe. (University of Cambridge)
Join now to support your career in physiology: Austin Elliott
(University of Manchester)
Visit www.physoc.org/membership or call 0207 269 5728.
Mark Dallas
(University of Reading)
Membership Fees for 2015 FEES Managing Editor
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Contents
Welcome to the Spring 2015
edition of Physiology News
Introduction Features
05 An ageing new editor 19 Ageing in the amateur athlete – a personal view
22 A man is as old as his arteries: a scientific journey of ageing and
aortic function
News in brief 26 Spaceflight and ageing – final frontiers of human physiology
30 What on earth is Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease?
06 Physiologist’s family favourite recipe #1
32 Living with CMT disease – a personal perspective
07 2015 Honorary Members: Call for proposals
SET for Britain 2015
Physiology Feed
08 Policy Focus Membership
34 100 years of women members: The Society’s centenary of
women’s admission
In depth 36 Oral history interviews – lives in physiology
37 Planting the physiology family tree
9 The UK Government’s science and innovation strategy review
38 Research Scholarships and Expeditions Poster Presentation
10 Healthy ageing
39 Book review:
11 The Society’s ageing outreach activities
Pioneers of Neurobiology: My Brilliant Eccentric Heroes
12 Physiological Reports: beyond the cascade
40 Physiology crosswords
42 Journal updates
Meetings & events
14 Forthcoming events
Meeting notes: The Biophysical Society’s 59th annual meeting
15 Meeting notes: H3 symposia
17 Meeting notes: Physiology 2015 preview
Scan to view PN online
Cover image credits: NASA astronaut Nicole Stott, Expedition 20/21 flight engineer, equipped with a bungee harness, exercises on the
Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill (COLBERT) in the Harmony node of the International Space Station © NASA
3
Women in physiology poster competition Open to 11–16 year–olds To celebrate 100 years of women’s membership of The Physiological Society, we are inviting you to produce a poster on the achievements of women who have won the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. Winners will receive a visit from a prominent female physiologist to their school, a certificate and £50 Amazon gift voucher. The deadline for entries is 30 April 2015 www.understanding-life.org
Editorial
An ageing new editor
Roger Thomas Perhaps departmental profiles or news of
moves by members.
I obtained this thanks entirely to a letter
Kerkut wrote to Victor Wilson, whom he had
known at Cambridge. With no action on my
Editor, Physiology News So how did I start on a career which has, I part, not even filling in a form, I shortly
hope, been crowned by this Editorship? I was received a letter from the Rockefeller Institute
first attracted to a research career by a visit in offering me a job in Wilson’s lab with a
This issue is my first as Editor, and is about 1955 to an open day at the local requirement to teach a short course in
coincidentally focused on ageing. The University’s physics department. I still neurobiology, including two lab classes. Most
photographs above show the effects of the remember the infectious enthusiasm of the of the time I helped research into Renshaw
passage of 50 years on my own appearance. research students operating a cloud chamber Cells, and motoneurones in the cat CNS.
The black and white photo is from 1964, the detecting subatomic particles. My own first Success in marking the position of the tip of
colour one from 2015. I myself remain steps on a physiological career started when I an extracellular glass microelectrode with Fast
impressed and surprised at my appointment. was an undergraduate at Southampton Green led to our first paper in Nature.
Although I have been a contributor to The University reading Zoology. (I was rejected by
Physiological Society Magazine and its Bristol, and could only go to Cambridge if I did After one year (on an immigrant visa) I had to
successor, Physiology News, since the first two years’ military service first. But it was register for the US draft. Very ironic. I was
number, I believe it could be improved going soon to be abolished.) As I recall we had to passed medically fit, but if called up I resolved
forward. Or perhaps backwards. I told the take two other ‘subsidiary’ subjects in our first to depart for Canada immediately. After two
appointment panel when they interviewed year, Chemistry and one other. I chose years we decided to return to the UK, and
me on 4 February that my intention was, ‘Physiology and Biochemistry’ as taught by a after some letter-writing I became a
with the help of the Editorial Board and the new department with only four academic post-doc in EJ Harris’s lab at UCL. This was in
Managing Editor (Helen Burgess) to make the staff, headed by Ken Munday. the Biophysics Department, chaired by
magazine essential reading for all members Bernard Katz, who had been the external
of the Society. I found this subject to be far the most examiner for my PhD. After two years
interesting of the three, particularly the working on snail neurone sodium pumps
I suggested that PN needs more about the witty lectures given by Gerald Kerkut. As an essentially by myself, and not assisting EJ at
various HHH staff members’ activities, what Honours Zoologist, I had to plead to be all, Katz told me I really had to do what EJ
was discussed at committee meetings etc. allowed to change subjects. I was allowed to wanted. I must have been a dreadful post-
Meeting Notes should be expanded. Research switch as long as I performed well in the end doc. For my last year I worked on calcium
reports should be addressed more clearly at a of year exams. I was not influenced by the uptake by rat liver mitochondria, using pH and
wide readership and should have more fact that the four female P and B students potassium-sensitive mini-electrodes and the
subheadings and fewer histograms. Teachers were much more attractive than the calcium dye murexide. During that last year I
should be able to update their lectures with Zoologists. So I ended up in 1961 with a BSc was appointed to a lectureship in Physiology
help from experts. Readers who want more and a determination to be a research student. at the University of Bristol and also became a
should be directed more clearly to the key Having been rejected by labs in Australia and member of the Physiological Society. In 1996
papers. Theme leads should be asked to the USA, I accepted a NATO research I moved to Cambridge, where I am still
suggest or provide material. I now ask all studentship to work under Kerkut’s involved in the department of PDN. I have
members to please contact me at supervision. Three years later my thesis on plenty of spare time for editing.
magazine@physoc.org with any ideas for acetylcholine and IPSPs in snail neurones
articles they might write, cartoons they might was accepted; I married my fiancée, and
draw, and jokes they might pass on. I plan to obtained a post-doc position in New York,
have ‘Letters to the Editor’ as in the past. salary $7,000.
5
Physiologist’s family favourite recipe #1
This recipe hits two physiological targets. Carrots supply vital beta-carotene which is converted to Vitamin A, important in vision, and capsaicin in
the chillies to stimulate TRPV1 receptors, which gives the dish that extra zing. The induced salivary secretion seems mainly to be mediated via
parasympathetic, cholinergic reflex mechanisms. Note that painful exposures to capsaicin-containing peppers are among the most common
plant-related exposures presented to poison centres.
Carrot Chilli for the Discerning Vegetarian Physiologist – by Rachel Tribe
Feeds six hungry people (plus leftovers). Preparation time 20 minutes, cooking time 30 minutes.
Ingredients Technique
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil 1. In a large wok, heat up oil and gently fry the chopped onion until
- 2 medium onions (chopped) translucent and soft, add the garlic, cumin, ground coriander and
- 2 cloves of garlic -crushed ginger and cook until fragrant (~ two minutes).
- 2 teaspoons of grated fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon of cumin 2. Add green chilli and grated carrots, followed by tinned tomatoes,
- 1 teaspoon of ground coriander tomato puree and kidney beans in chilli sauce.
- 1 kg of carrots (grated using food processor - coarse setting)
- 1-2 small green chillies (seeds removed, finely diced) 3. Then add ~ two thirds of the chopped coriander to the wok.
- 2 x 400g tins of kidney beans in chilli sauce
- 2 x 400g tins of chopped tomatoes 4. Simmer carrot chilli for ~ 30 minutes so the grated carrot is
- 1 tablespoon of tomato puree cooked (should still have some bite to the carrot strands).
- 50g bunch of fresh coriander (chopped, with one third of leaves
set aside as garish when serving) 5. Cashew nuts and lime juice (plus remains of the coriander) can be
- 1 small packet (25g) of cashew nuts -crushed (optional) added to top of dish, 2-3 minutes before end of cooking time if
- 1 lime (optional) serving from the wok, or provided as a garnish on the table.
- Steamed basmati rice, quantity depending on appetite 6. Serve generous portions in bowls with steamed basmati rice.
Physiology News / Spring 2015 / Issue 98
News in brief
Physiology Feed
Bringing you snippets of the latest
2015 Honorary Members: call for intriguing research
proposals Cycling is good for you
A study of amateur older cyclists found
We are now seeking nominations for Honorary The new Honorary Members will be announced that many had levels of physiological
Membership of The Society. Honorary at the 2015 Annual General Meeting. function that would place them at a much
Membership may be awarded to any eminent younger age compared to the general
physiologist, and the privilege is not just Honorary Members have the same rights and population; debunking the common
limited to current Members of The Society. benefits as Members of The Society, but are assumption that ageing automatically
not called upon to pay annual subscriptions. In makes you frailer.
If you know of any physiologists who can be addition, Honorary Members are also eligible DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2014.282863
considered ‘persons of distinction in science to receive a print subscription to The Journal
who have contributed to the advancement of of Physiology free of charge as well as free
physiology or to the work of The Society’, attendance at Society meetings.
Telomere lengthening
please send us their name and your statement A new technique can increase the length
of support. Your proposals will be considered Please submit your proposals at of human telomeres quickly and efficiently,
by the Nominations Committee who will www.physoc.org/honorary-membership promising to reverse the ageing process in
advise Council on formal nomination. by 30 April 2015. human skin cells and paving the way for
treatment of highly debilitating genetic
diseases.
DOI: 10.1096/fj.14-259531
SET for Britain 2015 - Students and Nematode ageing
early career researchers take their A new path that could lead to drugs to
slow ageing and associated chronic
research to Parliament diseases has been identified in C. elegans.
DOI: 10.1038/nature14021
On 9 March 2015, students and early career representative on the council of The
researchers ventured to the House of Physiological Society, as well as an affiliate Memory banks
Commons to present their research to dozens member of the Education and Outreach and Researchers identified specific locations
of politicians and a panel of expert judges, as Policy committee of The Society, took part in involved in the formation of long-term
part of the poster competition ‘SET for Britain’. this year’s competition. memories. New information strongly
activates the hippocampus (HC) and
To encourage and support Britain’s early- She says, ‘SET for Britain 2015 was a great entorhinal cortex (EC) input structures
stage and early-career research scientists, Dr event to attend and showcase my research on (superficial EC and dentate gyrus DG/
Eric Wharton established SET for Britain in Atrial Fibrillation. I met numerous CA2–3), while subsequent memory
1997. Following his untimely death in 2007, parliamentarians including my own MP - Anne depends more on activation of output
the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, Milton. I was honoured to have been selected regions (deep EC and pyramidal CA1).
with support from The Royal Academy of to present my physiology-based research, DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6547
Engineering, The Institute of Physics, the and also found it a worthwhile networking
Society of Biology, The Royal Society of opportunity. I encourage future early career
Chemistry, The Physiological Society and the researchers to apply next year.’ Increasing cancer rates
Society of Chemical Industry decided to A new study reveals that one in two
continue his legacy. The competition is SET for Britain aims to help politicians people will develop cancer at some point
divided into five subject areas – Biological and understand more about the UK’s thriving in their lives. Age is the biggest risk factor
Biomedical Science, Chemistry, Engineering, science and engineering base and rewards for most cancers, and the increase in
Mathematics and Physics. some of the strongest scientific and lifetime risk is primarily because more
engineering research being undertaken in people are surviving into old age, when
Andrew Miller MP, Chairman of the the UK. cancer is more common.
Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, said, DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2014.606
‘This annual competition is an important date Philip Wright, CEO of The Physiological
in the parliamentary calendar because it gives Society, says, ‘The UK has an excellent
MPs an opportunity to speak to a wide range biomedical research base that is underpinned Long life in whales
of the country’s best young researchers. by our strength in physiology. SET for Britain A gene sequencing study on the bowhead
provides a unique opportunity for our whale may be key to study longevity. The
‘These early career engineers, mathematicians representatives in parliament to see the fruits whale species is believed to live over 200
and scientists are the architects of our future of the UK’s research spend first hand, and the years and may hold clues to protective
and SET for Britain is politicians’ best enthusiasm and drive of these up-coming molecular adaptations relevant to age-
opportunity to meet them and understand scientists.’ related diseases.
their work.’ DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.12.008
For more information go to
Dr Fiona Hatch, a research fellow at the http://www.setforbritain.org.uk/index.asp
University of Surrey, who is an affiliate continues overleaf
7
Physiology Feed Policy Focus
Bringing you snippets of the latest Give your view
intriguing research
UK Knowledge Landscape – please help inform future government
Popeye was wrong? science policy
The Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology (www.gov.uk/cst) has launched a
Research in C. elegans shows that iron
project to better understand the UK Science Landscape (his term). The aim of this project is
accumulation itself may be a significant
apparently to build a picture of the whole research landscape in the UK and to develop an
contributor to the aging process causing
evidence base to help inform future strategic decision-making.
dysfunction and malfolding of proteins
already implicated in the aging process. The online ‘landscape’ tool seeks to find out more about how disciplines interact with each
2014 Nov; Aging 6(11), 975–988. other; understand collaborations between researchers both nationally and internationally; how
research is funded; and the identification of key infrastructure. The Society would strongly
encourage all those active in physiological research to take part in this project. The online
Markers tool can be accessed directly via - https://www.ukknowledgelandscape.co.uk/welcome or
New research has identified 107 new via a link on the Society’s policy homepage - http://www.physoc.org/policy
potential markers of senescence and
validated 10 of them (DEP1, NTAL, Sir Paul Nurse to review Research Councils
EBP50, STX4, VAMP3, ARMX3, B2MG,
The Government has asked Sir Paul Nurse, outgoing President of the Royal Society, to
LANCL1, VPS26A and PLD3). Expression
review the Research Councils. The Society will seek to provide evidence to the review and
of several of these markers correlated with
would especially welcome members’ views on the following three questions: do the research
increased survival in different tumours,
councils adequately support interdisciplinary research? Are the right arrangements in place
especially in breast cancer.
to ensure optimal funding for research that crosses disciplinary boundaries? And what are
DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2014.489 the gaps or holes in the funded portfolios of the research councils?
For further information please contact us - policy@physoc.org or visit The Society’s policy
Fruit fly ageing webpages.
Immunosenescence in the Drosophila fat
body promotes constants inflammation
due to lamin-B loss. This leads to News
deregulation of immune deficiency (IMD)
signalling in the midgut of old animals. Autumn Statement and Science and Innovation Strategy
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.10.028 In December 2014 the Chancellor presented his Autumn Statement to Parliament. There
were three significant announcements from a science perspective. First, the details of how
the new £5.9 billion Science Capital budget (2016-21) would be allocated were announced.
Molecule could protect against A total of £3 billion would be available to ‘support individual research projects and our
Alzheimer’s institutions’ world-class laboratories, and £2.9 billion for scientific Grand Challenges’.
A newly discovered ‘chaperone’ molecule Second, the launch of postgraduate loans for under 30’s, and finally, £67 million of funding
Brichos helped preventing clumping of to increase the number of specialist maths and physics teachers.
proteins, which usually leads to the death Later in December the Government launched its long awaited Science and Innovation
of neurons. More research is needed to Strategy ‘Our plan for growth: Science and Innovation’. A more detailed review of the
explore its full potential. strategy can be read in news in depth.
DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.2971
CaSE Cross-Party Science and Engineering Debate, 14 January 2015
Men age less well – at least The Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) arranged a ‘Question Time’ style debate
when it comes to brains between the science spokespeople from the three main Westminster parties, namely the
Minister for Science, Greg Clarke MP, the Labour shadow minister Liam Byrne MP and
Researchers found that cognitive
Liberal Democrat MP Julian Huppert.
performance and hippocampal volume was
reduced in older men. Amyloid All three party spokespeople spoke positively about science, agreeing the need for long
accumulation increased from the age of 70. term, stable funding but neither Greg Clarke or Liam Byrne was willing to make any firm
DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2014.4821 pledges on funding for science resource. Julian Huppert reiterated the Lib Dem pledge for
inflation linked increases to both the capital and resource science budgets. The main
difference between the parties was Liam Byrne again raising the possibility that Labour
Skin tests to detect Alzheimer’s would introduce a graduate tax.
and Parkinson’s?
A study showed that skin biopsies may in The Society writes to Secretary of State
future be used to detect elevated levels of The Society wrote to Eric Pickles MP, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local
abnormal proteins found in the two Government, following his decision to review a planning appeal for a dog and ferret breeding
diseases. AAN Annual Meeting, April 2015 facility. We highlighted the need for planning decisions for animal research and breeding
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.10.028 facilities to be based on planning criteria, and not be swayed by anti-animal research groups.
We have now received a response stating that the decision has been deferred until after the
general election.
If you spot some interesting research
that you’d like to share with your fellow
Members, please send it to us at
Interested in these or any other policy related issues? Please contact us via policy@physoc.org
magazine@physoc.org
Physiology News / Spring 2015 / Issue 98
In depth
The UK Government’s science and innovation strategy review
Ed Hayes On 17 December 2014, the Government
launched its long awaited, and somewhat
and whether appropriate measures are in
place for research that crosses disciplinary
Policy Officer, delayed, science and innovation strategy. The borders.
The Physiological Society strategy, entitled ‘Our plan for growth:
science and innovation’, sets out the Review of STEM degree accreditation
Governments overarching plans to make the
UK the best place in the world for science. Another announcement that might be of
This, as defined in the strategy, includes ‘the significant interest was that the government
natural, physical and social sciences, will be funding independent reviews of STEM
engineering, technology, the arts and degree accreditation arrangements to
humanities’. The inclusion of the arts and ‘improve quality and graduate employability’.
humanities within the definition of science The review will begin with Computer Science
came as a considerable surprise to the accreditation, with no details provided on
members of the House of Commons Science whether or when the Society of Biology
‘This strategy is and Technology select committee, who degree accreditation programme would be
recently held an evidentiary hearing on the reviewed.
reassuring, but falls strategy.
Other announcements
short on a number of Reassuring but lacking specific
The Government also declared that it will
specific commitments, commitments
provide support for a dedicated platform to
such as a commitment The strategy was summed up perfectly by
the Director of the Campaign for Science and
help STEM trained women return to industry
after a career break.
to ring-fence the Engineering, Dr Sarah Main – ‘At best, I was
hoping for a visionary ten year strategy with Major financial commitments announced in
science budget or to set the authority and support of all of
government. This strategy is reassuring, but
the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement early in
December were reiterated in the strategy,
long-term goals for falls short on a number of specific including £5.9 billion of funding for science
commitments, such as a commitment to capital over a 5 year period from 2016 to
science investment’ ring-fence the science budget or to set 2021 (first announced in the 2013 spending
long-term goals for science investment.’ review); the introduction of postgraduate
loans of up to £10,000 (for under 30s); and
The document pulls together a number of £67 million of funding to increase the
separate policy initiatives, many of which had number of specialist maths and physics
been previously announced, to provide an teachers.
overarching strategy to support science in
the UK. However, it is worth noting that there However, no decision on the annual £4.6
were two potentially important billion science resource budget was
announcements made within the strategy. announced, which will be reviewed in the
post-election spending review in 2015.
Research councils to be reviewed
The most significant new announcement
made in the Strategy was that Sir Paul Nurse,
the outgoing President of the Royal Society,
would be leading on a review on the Research
Councils, which is due to report in summer
2015. The Government has asked Sir Paul to
consider a number of questions, which
include whether the balance of funding
between the Research Councils is ‘optimal’
9
In depth
Healthy ageing
Mark Downs The longest known human lifespan was that
of Jeanne Calment who lived to well over 122
the flu, they have to eat up to shift it, so it is
not without its downsides. …
Chief Executive, Society of Biology in the city of Arles, France. She survived not
only time but the World Wars and pandemics ‘The idea is that we develop a pill that has
that swept through Europe in her lifetime. this effect without any of the downsides and
The contenders for her title are internationally without people actually having to restrict
spread but predominantly female. Many their diet in that way, which realistically is off
suggestions are made about what longevity limits to most people. … ‘We are well aware of
could be attributed to, but as yet there is the demographics and economics of ageing
nothing definitive or easily applied. but we are not trying to make people live
longer. We want people to be healthier for
The pursuit of long life has recently made longer, ideally healthy right up until they die
significant headway with worldwide average in their sleep. Lifespan has been increasing
life-expectancy showing a marked increase for 2.5 years per decade since the 1900s and
from 1960 to the present. The developed that is set to continue. Ageing is a risk factor
world has had higher life expectancies in many of the long-term chronic illnesses
Our Biology: Changing the World project throughout that period, but the gap is that we are seeing more of, such as
has recently installed 10 new blue narrowing. Reductions in childhood mortality, Alzheimer’s and heart disease.’
plaques around the UK to celebrate the accidental deaths and early mortality are a
eminent but sometimes unsung heroes of welcome contribution to this, giving more A recent study by the Royal Academy of
biology; Richard Owen, founder of the people the opportunity to live well into Engineering summarised the size of this
NHM is remembered at his old school in adulthood. But the increased proportion of challenge. Currently, 16% of the population is
Lancaster, Dolly the Sheep and the team the population that are ageing brings new over the age of 65, with just 19% under the
who created her are commemorated at challenges. Extended lifespan is not age of 16. By 2034, it is projected that 23%
their lab in Edinburgh, and Steptoe, attractive without extended ‘health span’, of the population will be over the age of 65
Edwards and Purdy, IVF pioneers are and as we increasingly see, the combination with 18% under the age of 16. The fastest
honoured at their old clinic in Oldham. of physical and cognitive health is essential. growing age group is those over the age of
The project also includes a free app, 85. Currently there are 1.4 million in this
website and teaching resources, to So how do we achieve this without relying on bracket, but this is forecast to increase to 3.5
celebrate great biologists of the past in pharmaceutical cocktails with all the harm- million by 2034.
order to inspire the next generation: benefit dilemmas that these raise? In times of
biologyheritage.societyofbiology.org limited resources should the public purse An ageing population will lead to an increase
focus on long-term understanding of the in illnesses such as dementia and diabetes. In
biology of ageing and the hope of insight that the UK today, 700,000 people are affected
this might bring, or serve the care needs of by dementia. This number is expected to
an already ageing and infirm population? double within a generation. Dementia
currently costs the UK economy £20 billion
Recently there has been a lot of excitement per annum and a 2008 King’s Fund study
about dietary restriction and its effect on projected a rise to £50 billion by 2038. There
lifespan. In a recent interview in The Biologist, are 2.6 million people in the UK with Type 2
Dame Linda Partridge, director of UCL’s diabetes and this is expected to increase to 4
Institute of Healthy Ageing explained some million by 2025. The costs of diabetes are high
of her research: because of associated complications such as
heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, visual
‘Dietary restriction to extend lifetime is one impairment, nerve damage and amputations.
of the oldest models, dating back to the Other major illnesses that affect older people
1930s. It is no small effect, either. In mice include cancer, Parkinson’s disease and strokes.
you can extend lifespan by about 50%. …
‘There are people who do dietary restriction The ageing population is going to raise many
– strangely it’s almost all men – and were challenges over the next few decades and
they to suffer from a car accident or trauma, the UK life sciences sector will have a critical
they would probably be less able to cope with role to play in tackling many of these issues.
that. And, when they do get something like
Physiology News / Spring 2015 / Issue 98In depth
The Society’s ageing outreach activities
Anisha Tailor Life expectancy has seen a steady increase
with no signs of levelling off, and according to
discussing how our muscle strength, reactions
and memory change as we get older.
Outreach Officer, a report by the World Health Organisation, Participants will be invited to test their grip
‘we will soon have more older people than strength, and reaction speeds helping us to
The Physiological Society
children and more people at extreme old age plot a giant graph of their results.
than ever before’. Ageing is a fact of life. It is a
process which we are all continually In April, The Society will be up in Scotland for
experiencing; however as life expectancy has Edinburgh International Science Festival.
increased so has the occurrence of age We have co-organised a panel discussion with
associated diseases such as cardiovascular The British Pharmacological Society discussing
disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Type the reality of banishing the ills of old age
II diabetes and osteoporosis to name a few. through pharmaceutical therapies. Our Chair,
Researchers are now looking into how they Glenda Watt, Trustee at Age Scotland, will be
can slow the process of ageing, putting joined by Tom Kirkwood Associate Dean of
‘Researchers are now diseases at bay and keeping the population Ageing at The University of Newcastle,
healthier for longer. The Society’s 2015 public Richard Barrett Jolley, Senior Lecturer at the
looking into how they engagement and school activities will explore Institute of Ageing and Chronic diseases at
some of this research as part of our themed the University of Liverpool and Lynne Cox
can slow the process of year of ‘Understanding Ageing’. Our talks and Associate Professor at the University of
activities will not only discuss how we can Oxford as they discuss the reality of a pill to
ageing, putting diseases keep ageing at bay, but will also take a closer ‘cure’ ageing.
at bay and keeping the look at the physiology of why we age, and
what changes our bodies experience from the Later in the festival The Society have also
population healthier for first moments of life to the last. supported an evening event presented by The
University of Edinburgh, The Living Brain. Hear
longer’ Our festival programme begins in March, at
Brighton Science Festival. The Society will
how Edinburgh scientists are leading the way
in understanding the ageing brain. Test your
be joining the activities of Big Science own brain, quiz the experts and hear from
Weekend, a jam-packed weekend of some of the research participants themselves.
fascinating science talks, debates, and hands There will be an exclusive showing of the
on activities in Brighton’s Sallis Benney short film The Living Brain by Anne Milne,
Theatre. The Society’s talk, ‘Eat Less, Live which tells the inspiring story of William and
Longer’ will take a closer look at the diet Jean and their involvement unique studies of
which has been sweeping the nation, the 5:2 the ageing brain.
Members of the Physiological Society can diet. With media claims stating that diets
join the Society of Biology at a discounted involving intermittent fasting and calorie The Society would like to thank The
rate: www.societyofbiology.org restrictions could be the route to a longer University of Edinburgh and Stirling
healthier life, The Society’s event will present University in supporting the development
research from Matt Piper, expert in calorie of our outreach and public engagement
restriction at UCL Institute of Healthy Ageing activities as part of our year of
and Anthony Howell, one of one of the Understanding Ageing.
authors of ‘The 2 day diet’ and Professor of
Medical Oncology at The University of
Manchester. The event will be kept lively by
Chair Richard Faragher, expert in the biology
of ageing at The University of Brighton.
In mid-march, The Society will be at The Big
Bang Fair with our hands-on stand The Age
Experiments. Our stand will set up shop in the
National Exhibition Centre for four days
11In depth
Physiological Reports : Beyond the cascade
Sue Wray It may come as a surprise to you that
Physiological Reports has been publishing
an impact factor. In addition we welcome
absolutely every corner of physiological
&Tom Kleyman physiology articles across a broad range of research; we have no subject bias.
areas for more than two years. Since the
Editors of Physiological Reports journal’s beginnings back in March 2013 with We have worked hard to develop our niche
one transfer and 10 direct submissions in its beyond being a great place to publish
first month, total submissions have now risen conventional papers. We have for example
Fiona Seymour to more than 800, with 200 of those championed the need to publish negative
received as direct submissions. We may still findings and replication studies, as described
Managing Editor at Wiley be the new kid on the block but we are now in an editorial outlining our initiative, ‘At the
jettisoning the trainer wheels. risk of repeating ourselves’ by Associate
Editor Meena Rao (Rao, 2014). More recently
To what do we owe this success? Without we have helped lead the debate on open data
doubt there seems to be a real appetite for and physiological research. We held a
an open access physiology journal and, when well-attended session on this subject at
combined with a quality peer review and Physiology 2014, where views from
support from two esteemed Physiological scientists, publishers and managers were
Societies – ours and the American shared. Physiological Reports wants to be the
Physiological Society – the formula appears home for open data in our field, and in
to be a winning one (Wray, 2013). The good October we published an original paper
‘We can all take pride news is that we can all take pride in the ‘Discharge patterning in rat olfactory bulb
success of Physiological Reports, as its mitral cells in vivo’ by Associate Editor Gareth
in the success of concept is very much based on prioritizing Leng (Leng, 2014). This coincided with us
the needs of our international research accepting and having commentary on Excel
Physiological Reports, community, and ensuring that profits are data spread sheets accompanying the
returned to our society, as the world of published article to further this goal. We are
as its concept is very academic publishing diversifies. also open to suggestions from The Society’s
much based on But before we get too ahead of ourselves: we
members – what else could we be doing to
support physiological research and
prioritizing the needs cannot understate the tremendous support
we have had from the editors of the
publishing?
of our international societies’ sister journals, to help cascade
selected manuscripts. There has been a
Another example of our success is the Virtual
Issues we have put together from our
research community ’ consistent determination since the launch, published content in Physiological Reports
and still is, to transfer appropriate over the last year. These compilations have
manuscripts to Physiological Reports. We can highlighted selected papers on ‘Gender and
get articles published which otherwise would Age’, ‘New directions in muscle research’,
not have been able to ‘squeeze’ into those ‘Obesity’, ‘Neuroscience’ and ‘New directions
journals. With so much useful and insightful in biophysics’. They showcase new
data available, it was a shame the other techniques, approaches and insights that are
journals previously had to return many of changing the landscape of physiological
these papers to authors without any research and reflect scientific advances
message other than rejection. We hope that across the spectrum of physiology.
the sister journals will continue to see
Physiological Reports as a service to their General feedback to date suggests that our
authors, offering a rapid decision without the readers enjoy the variety and timeliness of
need for a further round of reviews, followed articles being published. To understand what
by a streamlined publishing process. As you appeals to our readers, Altmetrics was rolled
may know, our criterion for acceptance does out a few months ago as a service to authors
not include a judgement on the papers’ and readers. Altmetrics tracks the broader
anticipated impact. We are not simply chasing impact that scholarly articles can have across
Physiology News / Spring 2015 / Issue 98social media, mainstream media and public wealth of physiological information we have Give us your ideas and your papers and help
policy documents. It monitors the wider published is of interest on a global basis. The shape the future of Physiological Reports.
reach of research through these online ability to provide open data surely provides
sources for mentions of scholarly articles, additional inspiration and opportunities for any Finally thanks to all the physiologists, acting
and scores the article, indicating the quality researcher wishing to solve today’s questions. as editors, reviewers and authors of our
and quantity of attention that it has received. papers, who have fuelled our success and
The score is derived from three main factors Given the journal’s impressive progress over keep us so enthused about Physiological
– volume, sources and authors. the last year, eyes are undoubtedly on our Reports.
next moves as we look to venture into new
Cardiovascular research and exercise lead the territory for open access and physiological
way in terms of papers received but there is research. The editorial team is looking to see
steady growth in neuroscience, respiratory,
endocrine and renal papers. Further, the
if the Virtual Issues concept can be further
developed to enable guest editor choices or
References
journal is experiencing an increase in article indeed reader custodianship of topics. Open
Wray S (2013). Bright future for physiological
distribution by country. We are pleased to access to additional data will continue to be
research in Physiological Reports.
see our reach beyond the USA and Europe expanded. We will be increasing our podcasts Physiol Rep 1(1), e00001
growing, and part of our strategy for the and examining other ways of adding value to
journal is to further encourage this growth. the papers we publish. Excitingly, we are now Rao MC (2014). At the risk of repeating ourselves…
Our editorial board has a global profile, having our first Call for Papers in the field of Publishing data replication and negative data is good
reflecting the international support and Translational Physiology. Please use this practice. Physiol Rep 2 (3), e00273
confidence in Physiological Reports from the opportunity to submit your original research
outset. As we hoped for an open access to Physiological Reports, and be part of the Leng G, Hashimoto H, Tsuji C, Sabatier N & Ludwig M
journal, downloads of our papers come from success of this initiative. Details of the call (2014). Discharge patterning in rat olfactory bulb mitral
across the globe and from all sorts of can be found on our webpage. cells in vivo. Physiol Rep 2 (10), e12021
institutions. We are proud to see that the
Drawn after a discussion with RCT by Elizabeth Querstret. For more examples of her work see http://querstret.co.uk/
13Meetings & events
2015 Forthcoming events 2016
10–12 Apr 6–8 July 3 September 29–31 July
Ageing and Degeneration: A Physiology 2015 Translational Electrophysiology Physiology 2016
Physiological Perspective Motorpoint Arena, in Neuroscience Dublin Convention Centre,
Royal College of Physicians, Cardiff, UK Hodgkin Huxley House (H3), Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Edinburgh, UK London, UK
www.physiology2015.org
www.physoc.org/ageingtopic
submissions. In fact, one delegate even asked
Meeting Notes me why we were exhibiting. When I told him,
he said ‘But you’re The Journal of Physiology,
you don’t need to advertise!’ Nice words
The Biophysical Society’s indeed, but with the growing number of
59th annual meeting journals available from which authors can pick,
we cannot rest on our laurels and hope that
7–11 February 2015, The Journal’s past prestige will mean that we
remain as well-known as we have been to
Baltimore Convention Center date. It is highly important that we target the
Baltimore, USA next generation of physiologist to ensure
continued success.
Sally Howells A steady stream of scientists came to chat to
us about the benefits of submitting to The
Journal, and how their research might fit
Managing Editor, within our scope. As with past years we were
The Journal of Physiology able to highlight our best biophysics content The Journal’s exhibition stand
by way of a virtual issue. Also of great
We had been warned to wrap up warm for interest was the 15 January issue which was
our trip to the east coast of the USA in dedicated to commemorating 100 years since Several of our loyal reviewers and authors
February, and we did just that, and were the first female members were accepted into stopped by the stand to say hello, as did some
very lucky to have avoided the record- The Society. This issue also featured a Topical of The Journal’s Reviewing and Senior Editors.
breaking snowfall that had caused havoc Review article by Consulting Editor Carol It was nice to catch up over dinner and
around the Boston area. We were quite Robinson, which also provided us with a very discuss future plans for development in this
pleased that the temperature was a positively appropriate cover image for display at this very important research area for The Journal.
balmy 2 degrees! biophysics meeting.
All in all, Biophysics 2014 was a great success
As with all our meetings we book our stand to Delegates were also interested to see some and we are certainly becoming a familiar face
ensure we have a prime location to attract of our historical content on show. Information at this well-attended meeting. It’s nice to hear
passing would-be authors. This year was no sheets on Nobel Prize winners and links to that we are continuing to fulfil our reputation
exception, with the stand being situated by a our Historical Interviews complemented our as the natural home of biophysics.
busy thoroughfare and interesting posters. display of three top papers from our past –
notably the Fatt and Katz paper from 1952 Next year we are looking forward to taking
Our main aim when attending conferences is – it seemed that every delegate had read slightly fewer layers with us to Los Angeles
to attract authors and top-quality that paper! for the 60th Annual meeting.
Physiology News / Spring 2015 / Issue 98to do and, wise to do. She talked through the
Meeting Notes different grant funding available at the Meeting Notes
Wellcome Trust for engagement work,
through engaging science grants, or existing
H3 Symposium – research grants. Chloe explained how each
H3 Symposium –
Public Engagement as a proposal had to have a programme of action Microvascular physiology:
that the engagement should take place
pathway to impact throughout the grant period not just at the implications for
19 September 2014,
end, and that training should be involved and
should always include some evaluation. We
understanding
Hodgkin Huxley House, London, UK then moved to short presentations section intravenous fluid therapy
from those that had submitted short
abstracts. We heard from Helal Ahmed 28 November 2014,
(Imperial College London, UK) talking about
Charlotte Haigh metaphors, similes and analogies and the
Hodgkin Huxley House, London, UK
importance of relating your research to the
University of Leeds, UK audience.
Charlotte Haigh welcomed everyone to the We next heard David Colquhoun (University
Geraldine Clough
event. There were over 40 attendees and at College London, UK) talking about the thin University of Southampton, UK
least 50 people watching via live streaming line between public engagement and public
of the event through The Physiological relations. Bryony Frost (Queen Mary,
Society website. The first speaker was Sophie University of London, UK) shared with us By 9.00, people were queuing at the door
Duncan, deputy director of the National developments from her institution and how to gain entry to this oversubscribed one
Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement they work collaboratively between different day symposium that aimed at going ’back to
(NCCPE), UK, who gave a presentation about engagement groups to support overall basics’ on the physiological principles
how the concept of pathways to impact is impact. Finally Harry Witchel (Brighton and underlying intravenous fluid therapy. The
your friend! She discussed the public attitudes Sussex Medical School, UK) showed us some meeting was organised by Geraldine Clough
to science survey, reflecting how we might fascinating data about how we can measure (University of Southampton, UK) and Tom
use this information in our engagement engagement of individuals whilst they are Woodcock (University Hospitals
activities and discussed the purposes and watching a computer screen. The next Southampton, UK) with indispensable
motivations for engagement. She also keynote speaker was Katherine Mathieson support from Sarah Bundock the
discussed what quality engagement looks like from the British Science Association who Physiological Society’s Events & Marketing
and showed some examples of established talked us through how we could easily get Manager. It was jointly funded by the
projects that have won awards from the involved with working with the public Physiological Society and the Association of
NCCPE. She described the way all pathway to through opportunities at the British Science Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland.
impact plans have a purpose, engaging the Association. She explained the local branches, The aim was to bring together basic and
right people and having an appropriate British Science Week (previously known as clinical researchers, practitioners and
process including an evaluation plan. National Science Week), the British Science educators to address some of the thorny
Festival, working with the sections, the issues around the use of crystalloids and
Lewis Hou (University of Edinburgh, UK) was CREST awards, the Science communication colloids for fluid resuscitation and the
the next speaker. He gave an insight into his conference and the media fellowships scheme. mechanisms by which they may have their
science ceilidh event by playing the fiddle to advantageous and sometimes
the song ‘She’ll be coming round the After the coffee break, we heard from Lizzy disadvantageous effects. This aim was
mountain when she comes’ but changing to Baddeley (University College London, UK) achieved, with a full house of 57 delegates
lyrics so the chorus began ‘I’ll be using my and how the public engagement unit at UCL attending the meeting on the day, more than
frontal cortex for this song’! He even encourages researchers in providing support, half of whom were clinicians. Many more
managed to get the audience to sing along. training and funding for them to get involved dropped in on our live stream of the event
This demonstrated how he breaks down the in engagement with the public. She (https://www.youtube.com/user/PhysocTV)
barrier between science and music. He also highlighted in more detail a project which which also generated some discussion on
told us about a project supported by funding now runs nationally known as ‘Bright Club’ The Society’s social media channels.
from The Physiological Society entitled which supports researchers to get involved in
‘Deadinburgh’ where he worked with LAS a comedy night discussion of their research in Geraldine Clough opened the meeting by
theatre and other scientists to create a a slightly humorous way for 8 minutes to a reminding the audience that during the
debate about the fate of Zombies. Davis public audience. Finally we heard from Anisha Great War of 1914-18, the eminent
Lewis (University of Leeds, UK) lead us Tailor, Outreach Officer from The physiologists William Bayliss and Ernest
through why, and how, he embeds public Physiological Society who highlighted Starling (along with Charles Sherrington and
engagement in to the curriculum at Leeds opportunities for funding for outreach and Henry Dale) served on the first Special
and what the skills were that the students public engagement events from The Society, Investigation Committee of the Medical
came out with which could directly lead to and Charlotte Haigh who highlighted her Research Committee to find a treatment for
employment. He also discussed another project based around ‘Physiology Friday’ in wound shock. Based on earlier work by
project where students act as volunteers but 2014. The symposium finished with a rapid Bayliss on the use of gum acacia to sustain
run stalls at fetes to reach typically hard-to- fire round giving the audience a chance to circulating fluid volume and restore blood
reach audiences. share their projects in 2 minutes. The event pressure communicated to the Physiological
allowed time for networking between Society in March 1916 (Bayliss, 1916) and
After lunch, Chloe Sheppard from the sessions and many people shared their on Starling’s seminal work on the heart and
Wellcome Trust explained why public thoughts and ideas about engagement on fluid exchange across the capillary wall,
engagement is a core function of their work. hopefully promoting successful collaborations they introduced the use of intravenous
She depicted engagement as : must do, smart in the future. colloid therapy. In his talk on the ‘Revised
15Starling Hypothesis’, Charles Michel (Imperial a series of presentations from clinical is patchy and lacks rigour. He argued that
College London, UK) went on to review the researchers. The use of colloids has been while knowledge moves on, the innate
physiological forces and nature of the barrier justified by the belief that an infused colloid conservatism of many authors of textbooks
that determine fluid and solute exchange. He solution should preferentially resuscitate the results in simplified ‘explanations’ of the topic
described evidence showing that microvascular intravascular fraction of the extracellular fluid that fail to take account of the challenges to
absorption is transient in most tissues and volume through an enhanced oncotic gradient current understanding engendered by recent
that slight filtration prevails in the steady across the capillary wall. Weighed in the research progress. The poster prize was
state, even in venules; attributable in part to balance by Matthias Jacob (University of presented by Mike Grocott (University of
the presence of the endothelial cell glycocalyx Munich, Germany) were the pharmacokinetics Southampton, UK) to David Read, Royal
(Levick & Michel, 2010). of colloids and crystalloids at the capillary Derby Hospital and University of Nottingham,
wall. He argued for the importance of the UK for his poster on ‘Change in blood pressure
Professor Michel then presented new avoidance of volume overloading beyond the and cardiac output show poor correlation with
modelling studies exploring the effects of needs of the patient and presented evidence Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound assessed
progressively reducing plasma colloid osmotic for the ‘volume effects’ of colloids vs visceral blood flow’.
pressure on fluid filtration and their crystalloids and the markedly higher
implications for efficacy of intravenous fluid intravascular persistence of iso-oncotic Over yet further volume expansion, the
therapy. The basic science theme was colloids (80-100%) versus crystalloids consensus of the assembled researchers,
continued by Kenton Arkill (University of (around 20%); at least while the glycocalyx clinicians, teachers and opinion holders was
Bristol, UK) who showed us how to assess the was intact. that the joint meeting was a great success
permeability parameters of the blood vessel and that we had managed to address some of
wall using 3D electron microscopy of LaDy In recent years the beneficial effects of the omissions in vital knowledge in the field
GAGa stained glycocalyx. While high colloids have been challenged. Christiane and produce an improved paradigm for
resolution transmission electron microscopy Hartog (University of Jena, Germany) improved prescribing of intravenous fluid
revealed individual fibres and their provided a comprehensive overview of these therapy. How to get it into the textbooks
organisation, the highlight was the dancing concerns. She presented data from clinical before the next century was another matter!
bacteriophage. The morning session was trials of the use of semisynthetic colloids
concluded by Tom Woodcock whose 2012 during surgery and in the treatment of
paper (Woodcock & Woodcock, 2012) was hypovolaemia after trauma, burns and in
the original impetus for the symposium. Tom sepsis. A lively debate followed around the
challenged the tenet that the patient will
benefit from therapy to restore or expand the
evidence of the clinical benefit of
semisynthetic colloids compared with fluids
References
plasma volume while minimising the containing albumin and crystalloids. After
Bayliss WM (1916). Viscosity and intra-venous
interstitial fluid space; and that this could be replenishment of our own circulating volumes, injection of saline solutions. J Physiol 50, xxii-xxiv.
achieved by infusion of colloid solutions. Monty Mythen (University College London,
Through a series of clinical vignettes and UK) continued the clinical theme, presenting Levick JR, Michel CC (2010). Microvascular fluid
reminiscences he reminded us that the evidence for the importance of fluid exchange and the revised Starling principle.
rationale for fluid prescribing requires a management. He then pointed out that the Cardiovasc Res 87, 198-210.
physiological paradigm that explains what is evidence base supporting practice in this area
seen in experiment and practice. As the is lacking answers to a number of important Woodcock TE, Woodcock TM (2012). Revised
previous speakers had done, he concluded by questions. He advised the pragmatic ‘What?’, Starling equation and the glycocalyx model of
arguing for the potential of the glycocalyx to ‘Why?’, ‘How?’, ‘How much?’ and ‘If at all?’ transvascular fluid exchange: an improved paradigm
provide such a paradigm. Advised that we when it came to the prescribing of for prescribing intravenous fluid therapy.
needed to keep ‘roughly’ to time because of intravenous fluids. B J Anaesthes 108, 384-394.
our live streamed audience, discussions went
on unrecorded over lunch and poster viewing. Towards the close of the afternoon, Gordon
Drummond (University of Edinburgh, UK)
We regrouped after an excellent lunch with reminded us that coverage of fluid therapy in
lovely chocolate desserts (and fresh fruit) for medical textbooks and in physiology teaching
Funding available for focussed symposia @H3
Funding of up to £5000 is available for Members, including Affiliates, who wish to hold small, novel, one
day focused meetings at Hodgkin Huxley House. The venue, audio visual equipment, event administrative
support and technical on the day support is provided free of charge.
To make an application please submit the following information (in MS WORD format) to events@physoc.org
• Name and of organiser(s) • Summary of symposium (including scientific
justification, main aims) - 500 words max
• Institution
• Preliminary programme and speaker line-up
• Contact email and telephone number
(including name, institution, gender and
• Title of proposed focused symposium suggested title) - 10 speakers max
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