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Dr. Di Vizio studies extracellular vesicles and their role in cancer. In this podcast, she explains what we know about the mechanism of extracellular vesicles and what challenges still stand in fully understanding their roles. She discusses
Dr. Dolores Di Vizio is a professor of Surgery, Biomedical Sciences and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Cedars-Sinai. She explains for listeners the fundamentals of extracellular vesicles, also known as EVs. They're small pockets of cellular material covered by a lipid layer released by all cells in the body. They become important mechanisms for intercellular communication because they can reach the blood. Scientists find them very appealing targets for biomarkers in liquid biopsies. She explains that most EV studies have occurred with a large concentration of these vesicles, so the effects often reveal as significant. Now as scientists look at animal models without an excess of the EVs, the results are a lot harder to verify and understand.
She describes the variety and types of EVs, like exosomes, and delves into her own research into exosomes and cancer. She's working on studies to see how a large EV from prostate cancer cells, known as oncosomes, plays a role in prostate cancer with gene alterations and transcription factors that seem to facilitate tumor progression. Her lab is also working with bone marrow stem cells, as bone marrow is a major site for metastases. They're trying to understand these interaction better so researchers can prepare natural vesicles for therapeutics and make them go to a specific organ for treatment rather than another location. Her lab is also working on clinical tests for cancer treatment, identifying cancer-specific biomarkers enclosed in EVs to be applied to a clinical setting. This could identify signs of cancer, stages of disease, the potential for cancer to became metastatic, and reveal results of therapy.
For more, see her lab's website: cedars-sinai.org/research/labs/di-vizio. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
Clinical Professor of Surgery and Director of the UCSF Immunogenetics and Transplantation Laboratory, Dr. Rajalingam Raja, joins the show to discuss his work. Tune in to discover:
Dr. Raja's job is to select and match the very best organ donor with the very best recipient in order to minimize the possibility of organ rejection and limit the amount of immunosuppressant drugs necessary after transplantation. Maintaining the balance between immunosuppression that allows the patient to keep the organ, and a strong immune system that allows the patient to fight against invading pathogens is a difficult and tricky task.
Genetic and serological testing to match HLA molecules, which play an important role in defending against foreign invaders in the body, is critical in the process of determining which organ matches provide the highest likelihood of a successful transplantation for the maximum possible number of years. This is an area of ongoing research, as is the relationship between the microbiome and the immune response during transplantation. Dr. Raja discusses these topics and others, including general information about human immunology and transplant immunology, what types of rejection can occur (and when or under what circumstances they can occur), immunogenetics and histocompatibility, special considerations that must be made for pediatric transplants, and more.
Learn more at https://transplantsurgery.ucsf.edu/. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
Dr. Juan Quintana is a postdoctoral research associate at the Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, and Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine at the University of Glasgow. He joins the show to talk about the research he's doing in the field of parasitology and host-parasite relationships. In this episode, you will learn:
In the MacLeod Lab at the University of Glasgow, Dr. Quintana's work is centered around Trypanosoma brucei, which is the parasite that causes African trypanosomiasis (commonly called African sleeping sickness). This human pathogen has plagued many people in Africa and has had a significant socioeconomic impact.
During the first stages of infection, the parasite resides in the host's bloodstream, but eventually reaches the brain. Once it reaches the brain, circadian rhythm disturbances manifest (i.e. sleep during the day and insomnia at night). Left untreated, the disease is lethal. Dr. Quintana's goal is to better understand the mechanisms underlying infection, host-parasite interactions in the brain, and migration of the parasite from the blood to the brain tissues.
Ultimately, the hope is that a better understanding will lead to more effective diagnostic tests, treatment, and eventually eradication of the disease. He shares his expertise in the area where medical microbiology and parasitology intersect. He explains how transmission occurs through the bite of the tsetse fly, the life cycle of Trypanosoma brucei, the human immune response to infection, the ability of the parasite to hide in certain tissues and repopulate the blood, recent findings with regard to the metabolism of the parasite, and more.
Follow Dr. Quintana on Twitter and explore his work at https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=kTSEeV8AAAAJ&hl=en. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
A nephrologist for over 35 years, Vivek Jha discusses kidney function and disease treatments like dialysis and kidney transplantation. He helps listeners understand
Vivekanand Jha is Executive Director at The George Institute for Global Health, India; Chair of Global Kidney Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College of London; and President of the International Society of Nephrology. In this podcast he covers the basics of kidney function, kidney disease, and late-stage efforts like dialysis treatment. He accompanies all these issues with an eye to the global inequalities in effective treatment and discusses ways to educate populations and bring better medicine to all. In fact, he tells listeners that he became a nephrologist partly because of these inequalities. He also describes why the biology intrigued him: kidney function presents a "microcosm of internalized medicine." In other words, the kidney affects all other organs and, as a doctor, one utilizes every element of internalized medicine to address kidney issues.
He describes the complex and essential nature of kidney functions, from filtration, adaptability to different solutes, hormone production, and the biology behind these jobs such as nephrons function. He teaches listeners about the back and forth between kidneys and blood pressure control and talks about how early stage kidney disease is usually symptomless. He advises listeners on which tests to seek out regularly for those at risk and touches on the goal of dialysis treatment. Finally, he talks more about the necessity for policy changes by governments in addressing health disparities in a holistic manner.
For more about global kidney health, see the International Society of Nephrology website, theisn.org, and for more about his team's research, see his page at The George Institute for Global Health: georgeinstitute.org/people/vivekanand-jha. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
Because studies predict one in nine Americans will face some level of disease of the kidney, understanding kidney development and nephron function is key. Professor Lori O'Brien discusses her research into kidney processes, describing
Lori O'Brien is a principal investigator and assistant professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology at the University of North Carolina Kidney Center. In this podcast, she discusses the focus of her work, namely to understand the development of a kidney to better understand what goes wrong in kidney disease. This work informs efforts to eventually manufacture a renal replacement, and she explains that scientists need to understand its basic biology as much as possible to do so.
She also explains the damage of kidney disease as well as the mistaken notion that dialysis treatment is somehow a cure. Rather, on average, most dialysis patients will only survive about five years because dialysis treatment only mimics about 10% of what a kidney actually does for the body. She then describes her work more specifically around pluripotent stem cells that lead to the two different cell populations in the kidney: cells that eventually make nephrons and those that make up the connecting duct system. She describes challenges to each cell type, the complex specialization of the cell types, and how they work in the body along with the vascular and nerve network in a way that's hard to reproduce with organoids. She describes some advances therein and various ways they hope to problem solve.
For more, see her UNC website at med.unc.edu/cellbiophysio/directory/lori-obrien-phd/, and her lab's website at obrienlab.web.unc.edu. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
Author Carl John Calleman talks about his most recent book, Quantum Science of Psychedelics: The Pineal Gland, Multidimensional Reality, and Mayan Cosmology. He explains
Holding a PhD in physical biology, Carl Johan Calleman is also a lifelong scholar of macrocosmic quantum theory and has written several books about it. He talks about his latest in this podcast, explaining its basics and explanations for how civilization has progressed through a series of cosmic shifts or waves. While some link psychedelics and depression, Calleman explores the ability of psychedelics to change one's mental state to a different geometry, more open to the movement from one wave to the next.
He explains that this is an all-encompassing theory about the evolution of the universe and all its aspects, not just physical. The theory holds that we're all part of a cosmic plan with a quantum field that underlies everything. He describes Mayan connections such as the wave pattern discovered by the Mayans and how this pattern reveals itself in the evolution of civilizations. He connects this with microscopic phenomena like centromere organelles in our cells to the nine levels of Mayan pyramids. Finally, he goes through the mechanics of this theory in more detail and adds that we are in the ninth and final wave and what that means.
For more, find his latest book, Quantum Science of Psychedelics: The Pineal Gland, Multidimensional Reality, and Mayan Cosmology, for sale through most venues, and see his website: calleman.com. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
Mark E. Hay is Co-Director & Regents Professor, OSE & Harry and Linda Teasley Chair at Georgia Tech's School of Biological Sciences, and specializes in marine ecosystems, marine ecology, coral reefs, and marine conservation. He joins the show to discuss his work and insight on these topics, especially as it relates to coral reef conservation. Press play to discover:
Coral reefs are not only of the most diverse ecosystems in the ocean, but on earth itself. However, the presence and health of corals has changed dramatically in recent decades. Since Hay began studying coral reefs in the Caribbean during the mid-70s, about 80 to 90 percent of those corals have died.
Up until this point, most of the management efforts to conserve coral reefs have been herculean and have failed to produce the intended outcomes. With this is mind, Hay is focused on how small changes can cause large, positive effects on marine ecology. In part, this involves trying to better understand the chemical signaling that contributes to coral reef health or lack thereof.
Off the coast of Fiji, Hay's work revealed that almost all juvenile fishes and most coral babies can smell and are attracted to marine-protected areas; they can also smell and are repelled by overfished areas. Additionally, corals smell nearby organisms that are similar to them, as well as the type of seaweed that commonly grows on damaged reefs. Depending on what they sense, they will either move toward or away from an area. This sheds light on how corals have evolved to be extremely selective about where they settle—after all, it's a decision that can't be undone. It also sheds light on how we might be able to enhance the probability of juvenile fish returning to certain areas and growing into populations that will keep the reef healthy. In turn, this could lead to greater overall health of ocean life and marine ecosystems.
Hay explains the difference between coral reef recovery in the Caribbean after coral bleaching, and coral reef recovery in the Pacific Ocean after coral bleaching. Hay is investigating why it is that some coral reefs recover well, while others don't seem to recover much at all. This question is becoming increasingly pressing, since major bleaching events are occurring more and more frequently.
Tune in to learn about all of this and more, including some of the innovative ways people are trying to counter the negative impacts on marine ecosystems. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
Professor Gary Steele works with quantum circuits and the compatibility of quantum mechanics with gravity through vibration and oscillation. In this podcast he explores
Gary Steele is a professor in the Department of Quantum Nanoscience with the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience at the Delft University of Technology. This podcast discussion explores both the importance of quantum mechanics in nanotechnology and ground-breaking use of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Professor Steele first discusses his lab's work with quantum circuits. He explains how these circuits are on chips, and while classic circuits can only process current flow in one direction at a time, quantum circuits can enable the current to flow in both directions at the same time: that's the advantage of quantum mechanics. These circuits can be used to make quantum computers, which have a supercharged ability for complex computations because of the ability to maintain 0 and 1 at the same time.
He's also working on groundbreaking steps in quantum mechanics, trying to make a mechanical element maintain a super position, or basically, work in two places at the same time. He explains this complex project as trying to cause one oscillating object to take on the appearance of two objects that would have a force of gravity on each other. In other words, this object would be exerting a force and not exerting a force at the same time. He explains that this takes on the question regarding the compatibility of quantum mechanics and gravity. He thinks they are and explains what challenges and parameters need to be overcome that will get them closer to what they want to achieve.
For more, see his lab's website: steelelab.tudelft.nl/. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
Aquatic ecologist Timothy Hoellein studies the impact of trash on aquatic ecology and biodiversity. He tells listeners
Timothy Hoellein is an associate professor of biology at Loyola University in Chicago. In this podcast, he focuses on the impact and ecology of solid waste in our streams and rivers and how these findings may impact waste management policy. He works on measuring the sources, movement, and biological interactions of trash when it enters our waterways. He explains that not only must aquatic ecologists focus on what's in the water, they also must measure the way trash moves. For example, some materials like metal, construction debris, and fabrics are pretty stable. But lighter materials and buoyant trash can travel pretty far—even as far as the ocean. Finally, many materials can be retained in the rivers and integrated into its ecology.
He also explains how litter breaks down in different ways. He adds that aquatic ecologists are less concerned about glass because it's more of an inert material and animals don't try and eat it. Plastic, on the other hand, breaks down over time and can be ingested, which is more concerning. It can harm animals in different ways, including making them feel full when they aren't. Professor Hoellein touches on numerous other topics, from concerns over sewage overflow to methods and tools for measuring and collecting samples.
For more, see his page on Loyola's website: luc.edu/biology/hoellein. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
Spanish nephrologist Mari Jose Soler studies diabetic kidney disease and diabetic neuropathy of the kidney, which is the primary cause of renal disease. She explains
Maria Jose Soler is in the nephrology department at the Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitario at the Barcelona campus and is also in the Nephrology Research Group. She gives listeners some background on the discovery of the ACE2 enzyme in 2000 and explains how it functions in cells, especially in kidney cells. A form of ACE2 is in the news lately because it is the receptor of the coronavirus. In other words, it provides the mechanism that allows the virus to attach to and enter the cell. ACE2 catalyzes peptides in cells throughout the body and is especially prevalent in kidney cells.
She then explains the various stages of diabetic kidney disease, from the glomerular filtration being affected to lesions, hyper filtration, risk of stroke, and eventually dialysis treatment. She explains her study on diabetic mice that established ACE2's role in preventing lesions in the early stage of kidney disease. But she also explains nuances between the role of ACE and ACE2, and how too much ACE can be a problem. Finally, because the body's mechanisms for ACE2 amplification do not last long, she establishes the need for further therapies to prevent progression of these diseases of the kidney.
For more, search her name in Google Scholar for publications. Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK
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