Newswise BETHESDA, Md. (March 19, 2012)At Experimental Biology 2012 (EB 2012), being held April 21-25 at the San Diego Convention Center, the American Physiological Society (APS) will mark its 125th anniversary and host more than 2,600 abstract presentations and a variety of symposia. Topics include:

Physiology in Medicine: Physiology of Obesity, Cardiometabolic Disease, and Therapeutic Weight Loss: Obesity and its consequences for cardiovascular and metabolic health are becoming one of the worlds most important health challenges. Therapeutic approaches to obesity remain limited. Four presentations at this symposium will address the pathophysiology of obesity-induced cardiometabolic diseases, the impact of maternal obesity on fetal programming, recent advances in central nervous system mechanisms that regulate energy balance, and the complex physiology of therapeutic weight loss. http://bit.ly/xOZqIm (Sun., 4/22)

A Complex Interplay Coming Together to Build the Heart: The heart is the first active organ during development. Researchers believe they can only fully understand how the heart is built by integrating the areas of genetics, electrophysiology, and molecular and cellular levels. This symposium will bring together critical areas of heart research that reflect the synergistic effects of these components in the formation and function of this essential organ. http://bit.ly/zU2Zd6 (Sun., 4/22)

Systems Biology of Cardiovascular Genomes and Proteomes: Within the last decade there has been a revolution in the technical ability to explore genomes and their products in the lab. These advances, including next-generation sequencing, proteomics and systems biology, are thus changing the manner in which we study complex human diseases. This symposium will focus the spotlight on advances made in the study of cardiac and vascular disease, with the emphasis on how new insights into genomes and proteomes have transformed basic and translational research. http://bit.ly/xzNhbx (Sun., 4/22)

Mechanobiology in the Lungs: Being a mechanically dynamic organ, the lung and its cells are subjected to varied types of physical forces. For example, lung endothelial cells endure shear stress due to fluid flow while epithelial cells lining the airways and air sacs (also called alveoli) are exposed to tensile and compressive forces during the respiratory cycle. It has become increasingly apparent that most cells throughout the body sense their mechanical environment and respond to changes. Although there are significant changes in lung mechanics during mechanical ventilation and airway diseases, little is known about how such changes affect cellular functions in the lung. This symposium will feature discussions that focus on recent findings on how lung cells sense mechanical forces and convert mechanical signals into biological signals. http://bit.ly/wlIe4O (Mon., 4/23)

Regulation of Intestinal Stem Cells During Development, Homeostasis, Adaptation, and Pathophysiology: Stem cells in intestinal development and the mechanisms leading to the malignant transformation of these cells will guide the discussions at this symposium. The agenda offers a perspective on four aspects of intestinal stem cells: (1) development; (2) isolation and characterization during adaptation and recovery from injury; (3) presence in colon cancer and during transformation; and (4) regulation and during aging in the Drosophila. http://bit.ly/wZKliz (Wed., 4/25)

Recent Advances in Physiology and Disease: The Role of the Circadian Clock in Neural, Cardiovascular, and Metabolic Function: The circadian clock, the molecular mechanism that regulates sleep and wake rhythms, also regulates multiple physiological functions through its action on peripheral tissues outside the central nervous system. Circadian rhythm disruptions have been linked to increased risk for cancer, metabolic disorders, and cardiovascular disease. Speakers will discuss significant research advances in the understanding of how our circadian clock impacts physiology and disease, using a cross-section of expertise in both basic and translational research. http://bit.ly/zGkGoO (Wed., 4/25)

EB 2012 is also co-sponsored by the American Association of Anatomists (AAA), American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP), American Society for Nutrition (ASN), and the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET).

Media Registration Free registration for the meeting is available to credentialed representatives of the press, who will also have access to an onsite newsroom. Detailed instructions for individuals who wish to request press passes are available on the website at http://bit.ly/xWob5G. Requests for additional information should be sent to Media@FASEB.org

The press room will be open Saturday, April 21 through Wednesday, April 25. Pre-registration for press passes is strongly encouraged and will be accepted through April 16. A press kit with highlights of scientific research will be available on an embargoed basis prior to the meeting. Follow the meeting on Twitter with hashtags #APS125 and #EB2012.

Link:
American Physiological Society's 125th Anniversary Meeting Puts Additional Symposia in the Spotlight at Experimental ...