Hormone modulation therapy is a growing area of research in cardiovascular science related to a number of factors, such as menopause and andropause, cancers in hormone-producing organs, as well as gender-affirming hormone therapy. So how do scientists and clinicians measure, monitor, and balance applications of hormone therapy? In our latest podcast, Associate Dr. Keith Brunt interviews authors Dr. Chantal Rytz (University of Calgary) and Dr. Sofia Ahmed (University of Alberta), along with expert Dr. Nina Stachenfeld (John B. Pierce Laboratory/Yale School of Medicine) about the recent article by Rytz et al. The authors review the use of estrogen in adult transgender, non-binary and gender diverse individuals who are medically managed with hormone modulation therapy for gender affirmation. Their findings indicate that the rate at which serum estrogen concentrations change may be important in order to optimize cardiovascular health and manage risk factors for obesity, hyperlipidemia, and elevated blood pressure. How should scientists account for and explore the hormone state of individuals within a cardiovascular context to improve the foundation of evidence for hormone modulation therapies for clinicians? Listen and learn more.

Chantal L. Rytz, Keila Turino Miranda, Paul E. Ronksley, Nathalie Saad, Satish R. Raj, Ranjani Somayaji, Sandra M. Dumanski, Heather Ganshorn, Dina N. Greene, David Collister, Amelia M. Newbert, Lindsay Peace, Sofia B. Ahmed Association between Serum Estradiol and Cardiovascular Health among Transgender Adults Using Gender-Affirming Estrogen Therapy Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published July 15, 2024. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00151.2024

While decreased IL-33 signaling has been associated with preeclampsia, the mechanisms linking this signaling pathway to disease pathophysiology are not well understood. In this episode, Associate Editor Dr. Amanda LeBlanc (University of Louisville) interviews author Dr. Denise Cornelius (University of Mississippi Medical Center) and expert Dr. Stella Goulopoulou (Loma Linda University) about the new research study by Wang et al. Using the Reduced Uterine Perfusion Pressure (RUPP) rat model, the authors found evidence that mechanistically links reduced IL-33 with the inflammatory response and vascular dysfunction present in preeclampsia. Is the IL-33 signaling pathway a possible clinical therapeutic target for the treatment of preeclampsia? Listen now to learn more.

Xi Wang, Corbin Shields, Geilda Tardo, Greg Peacock, Emily Hester, Marissa Anderson, Jan M. Williams, Denise C. Cornelius IL-33 supplementation improves uterine artery resistance and maternal hypertension in response to placental ischemia Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published April 3, 2024. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00045.2024

In this episode, Associate Editor Dr. Jonathan Kirk (Loyola University Chicago) interviews author Dr. Ed Lesnefsky (Richmond Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Virginia Commonwealth University) and expert Dr. Chi Fung Lee (Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation) about the new Methods and Resources article by Chen et al. published in our Call for Papers on Impact of Aging on the Cardiovascular System. Lesnefsky and coauthors advanced a technique of isolating mitochondria with an emphasis on integrity of the mitochondrial organelles, their function, purity and characterization in order to develop benchmarks in the field for quality control to support collaboration across laboratories. In their research, the authors focus on mitochondrial-driven age-enhanced disease and on mitochondrial defects due to aging, which potentially increase the susceptibility of elderly patients’ hearts to cardiovascular disease. Well-known techniques exist for isolating specific mitochondria populations in mouse hearts. However, Lesnefsky and collaborators found that this resulted in not enough sample to properly interrogate. Therefore Lesnefsky and coauthors investigated whether they could isolate one combined mixed population of mitochondria with a “wild type” physiological model of aging, and whether or not that would that reflect the phenotype. Listen as we discuss the importance of studying mitochondria in an aging model as well as the strategy Lesnefsky and colleagues used to develop their protocol for isolating a mixed mitochondria population. Don’t miss the last few minutes of this conversation for pro tips about the value of networking and career-long mentors. Listen now.

Qun Chen, Jeremy Thompson, Ying Hu, and Edward J. Lesnefsky Aging-induced mitochondrial dysfunction: two distinct populations of mitochondria versus a combined population Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published January 12, 2024. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00363.2023

In our latest episode, Consulting Editor Dr. Kristine DeLeon-Pennell (Medical University of South Carolina) interviews fellow co-authors Dr. Charlotte Usselman (McGill University), Dr. Judy Regensteiner (University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus), Dr. Kerrie Moreau (University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus), Dr. Austin Robinson (Indiana University Bloomington), Dr. Jesse Moreira-Bouchard (Boston University), and Dr. Quin Denfeld (Oregon Health and Science University) about their recently published guidelines on the use of sex and gender in cardiovascular research. Until recently, the effects of sex and gender in cardiovascular research have been largely ignored in research design and reporting. The result is that women and gender diverse individuals have been understudied in basic and clinical research, leading to a lack of understanding of sex and gender in cardiovascular health and disease. The goal of these guidelines is to provide researchers with practical and actionable advice on best practices to include sex and gender considerations in study design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation. As Dr. Judy Regensteiner points out, “We have to make it doable. We can’t just say, ‘Go do this.’ We have to show people how to do it.” Ready to get started? Listen now to learn more.

Charlotte W. Usselman, Merry L. Lindsey, Austin T. Robinson, Beth A. Habecker, Chloe E. Taylor, W. David Merryman, Derek Kimmerly, Jeffrey R. Bender, Judith G. Regensteiner, Kerrie L. Moreau, Louise Pilote, Megan M. Wenner, Myles O’Brien, Timur O. Yarovinsky, Nina S. Stachenfeld, Nisha Charkoudian, Quin E. Denfeld, Jesse D. Moreira-Bouchard, W. Glen Pyle, and Kristine Y. DeLeon-Pennell Guidelines on the use of sex and gender in cardiovascular research Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published December 21, 2023. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00535.2023

After a yearlong hiatus, Behind the Bench is back, listeners! In this episode, we welcome back our B2B co-hosts Dr. Charlotte Usselman and Dr. Tommy Martin, who get the story behind the story from the one and only Dr. DeWayne Townsend, corresponding author of the recently published study by Stevens et al. Trust me, you are going to love listening to DeWayne talk about science! As DeWayne rightly points out, if we want to understand a disease before it's a disease, we have to model it in order to figure it out. From the “dastardly Krebs cycle” to grinding up hearts and shouting “fire in the hole!” before using the mouse heart pulverizer (it’s a thing), Dewayne brings to this conversation his best science sound effects, wise insights, and a friendly PSA to contact your Congressional representatives and advocate for science funding. We discuss the resiliency of physiology and the redundancies in the heart that enable scientists to knockout things thought to be important, and as DeWayne points out, the body can still handle it. We cover DeWayne’s interesting path from vet school to cardiovascular physiology, and his best advice to trainees. How do you deal with being wrong most of the time? According to DeWayne, when another beautiful hypothesis is slain by data, push on! It is a slog. Keep going and try to find a way to move the needle. While you’re at it, DeWayne suggests that you learn how to fix your own equipment, try not to drink too much caffeine, and be inspired by other scientists, especially when that scientist is your Dad.

Jackie A. Stevens, Tyler C. Dobratz, Kaleb D. Fischer, Alexandria Palmer, Kira Bourdage, Anne J. Wong, Hector Chapoy-Villanueva, Daniel J. Garry, Julia C. Liu, Matthew W. Kay, Sarah Kuzmiak-Glancy, and DeWayne Townsend Mechanisms of reduced myocardial energetics of the dystrophic heart Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published January 22, 2024. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00636.2023

In our latest episode, Associate Editor Dr. Amanda LeBlanc (University of Louisville) interviews author Prof. Pietro Modesti (University of Florence) and expert Dr. Alexandre da Silva (University of Mississippi Medical Center) about the new study by Pellegrino et al. that investigated the pattern of intraventricular hemodynamic forces associated with left ventricular function in women with uncomplicated twin pregnancy. The authors found that, in twin pregnancy, hemodynamic forces misalignment in the first trimester precedes a slight temporary decrease in left ventricular systolic function in the second trimester. In the third trimester, a rightward shift of the end diastolic pressure relationship (EDPR) was, in fact, associated with a realignment of hemodynamic forces and normalization of ventricular contractility indices. Why is twin pregnancy an ideal physiological condition to study increased ventricular workload over time? Listen to this insightful conversation and find out.

Alessio Pellegrino, Loira Toncelli, Lucia Pasquini, Giulia Masini, Federico Mecacci, Gianni Pedrizzetti, and Pietro Amedeo Modesti Left ventricular remodeling in twin pregnancy, noninvasively assessed using hemodynamic forces and pressure-volume relation analysis: prospective, cohort study Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published January 23, 2024. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00699.2023

Ready Player One? In our latest episode, Dr. Keith Brunt (Dalhousie University) interviews lead author Dr. Joanne DiFrancisco-Donoghue (New York Institute of Technology) and expert Dr. Saurabh Thosar (Oregon Health and Science University Hospital) about a new article published in the AJP-Heart and Circ Call for Papers on Exercise, Physical Activity, and Cardiovascular Health. DiFrancisco-Donoghue et al. raise an important question about the risk for college level e-sport athletes, professionals, and recreational gamers to develop deep vein thromboses. Using Doppler ultrasound recordings of blood flow velocity and volume, the authors found a decrease in both measures when e-sport play was interrupted with a 6-minute walk. DiFrancisco-Donoghue and co-authors found a similar decrease when e-sport athletes wore compression sleeves during play. Could either a break in play for a brief walk or wearing compression stockings help e-sport athletes avoid the risk of deep vein thrombosis caused by prolonged sitting? What effects might this have on executive function, improvement in game play, and for that matter, sleep? If you are a recreational gamer or hoping to go professional, a casual e-sports spectator, or even an active member of the military sitting for prolonged periods of time, you don’t want to miss this engaging and enlightening episode! Listen now.

Joanne DiFrancisco-Donoghue, Kelly Borges, Timothy Li, Olivia Ballone, Hallie Zwibel, and Peter C. Douris Reducing thrombotic risks in video gamers: investigating the benefits of walking and compression sleeves on blood hemodynamics Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published February 8, 2024. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00669.2023

I Spy Physiology Blog by Erica Roth How Can Walking and Wearing Socks Help Video Gamers?

What is the relationship between cardiovascular developmental programming and the risk of stroke later in life? Listen as Guest Editor Dr. Helen E. Collins (University of Louisville) interviews author Dr. Nafisa Jadavji (Midwestern University) and expert Dr. Deanne Hryciw (Griffith University) about the latest research by Pull et al. looking at underlying mechanisms associated with a poor-quality diet during pregnancy. One-carbon metabolism is essential for biosynthesis of DNA and proteins, as well as methylation. Jadavji and co-authors demonstrated that maternal dietary deficiency in one-carbon (1C) metabolism, either in folic acid or choline, resulted in reduced cerebral blood flow in adult offspring after an ischemic stroke. Pull et al. focused their investigation on female offspring and identified this effect in 3-month-old offspring but not 11-month-old offspring. The results point to the key role that maternal diet has in early life programming, fetal development, and long-term cerebrovascular health. Are there many downstream pathways that are altered by one-carbon metabolism deficiencies? Is there a negative impact of folic acid over-supplementation? Listen now to find out.

Kasey Pull, Robert Folk, Jeemin Kang, Shaley Jackson, Brikena Gusek, Mitra Esfandiarei, and Nafisa M. Jadavji Impact of maternal dietary folic acid or choline dietary deficiencies on vascular function in young and middle-aged female mouse offspring after ischemic stroke Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published October 30, 2023. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00502.2023