People who vape — use electronic cigarettes — are nearly twice as likely to experience wheezing compared to people who didn’t regularly use tobacco products, according to a  new study published in the journal Tobacco Control.

Wheezing, which is caused by narrowed or abnormal airways, is often a precursor to other serious health conditions such as emphysema, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, heart failure, lung cancer, and sleep apnea.

Study author Deborah J. Ossip says the findings are consistent with past research that shows emissions from electronic cigarette aerosols and flavorings damage lung cells by generating harmful free radicals and inflammation in lung tissue.

“The take-home message is that electronic cigarettes are not safe when it comes to lung health,” says Ossip, a tobacco research expert and professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences. “The changes we’re seeing with vaping, both in laboratory experiments and studies of people who vape, are consistent with early signs of lung damage, which is very worrisome.”

Electronic cigarettes are extremely popular in the U.S. Data from the National Center for Health Statistics indicates that close to 13 percent of U.S. adults have tried electronic cigarettes and nearly 4 percent currently use them. Although electronic cigarettes are marketed as a less harmful alternative to cigarette smoking, many concerns remain related to the long-term health consequences of vaping.

Medical Center researchers analyzed data from more than 28,000 adults in the U.S. who took part in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study. After adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, body mass index, secondhand smoke exposure, and other factors, adult vapers were 1.7 times more likely to experience wheezing and related respiratory symptoms (such as difficulty breathing) compared to non-users.

Lead study author Dongmei Li, associate professor in the Department of Clinical and Translational Research, acknowledges that there are limitations to the study. PATH study data are self-reported, so it’s possible that information collected from participants is subject to recall bias. The analysis cannot prove that vaping causes wheezing; it only identifies an association between the two. Finally, PATH data does not include information on some important factors that could influence the results, such as the participants’ diets and physical activity levels.

Despite these limitations, senior study author Irfan Rahman, professor of environmental medicine, says the research clearly identifies a health repercussion from vaping. This is particularly concerning given new data released from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention that shows a dramatic uptick in youth vaping. According to the report, in 2018 vaping increased by 78 percent among ninth to 12^th graders and 48 percent in sixth to eighth graders.

Small, sleek vaping devices like Juuls have emerged that are used with nicotine pods in hundreds of different flavors. Rahman fears the number of young people who vape will continue to grow and that serious health consequences, including allergies, loss of immunity, and subsequent infections will follow.

Sleep is critical to the function of the brain’s waste removal system, and new research shows that “the deeper the sleep the better,” says Maiken Nedergaard, co-director of the Center for Translational Neuromedicine and lead author of a study in the journal Science Advances.

The slow and steady brain and cardiopulmonary activities associated with deep non-REM sleep, the study found, are optimal for the function of the glymphatic system, the brain’s unique process of removing waste.

Because sleep often becomes increasingly lighter and more disrupted as we become older, the study reinforces and potentially explains the links between aging, sleep deprivation, and heightened risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The findings may also explain why some forms of anesthesia can lead to cognitive impairment in older adults.

Researchers tracked brain electrical activity, cardiovascular activity, and the cleansing flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through the brain in anesthetized mice. The team observed that a combination of the drugs ketamine and xylazine (K/X) most closely replicated the slow and steady electrical activity in the brain and slow heart rate associated with deep non-REM sleep. Furthermore, the electrical activity in the brains of mice administered K/X appeared to be optimal for function of the glymphatic system.

“The synchronized waves of neural activity during deep slow-wave sleep, specifically firing patterns that move from the front of the brain to the back, coincide with what we know about the flow of CSF in the glymphatic system,” says Lauren Hablitz, a postdoctoral associate in Nedergaard’s lab and first author of the study.  “It appears that the chemicals involved in the firing of neurons, namely ions, drive a process of osmosis which helps pull the fluid through brain tissue.”

It is known that as we age it becomes more difficult to consistently achieve deep non-REM sleep, and the study reinforces the importance of deep sleep to the proper function of the glymphatic system. The study also demonstrates that the glymphatic system can be manipulated by enhancing sleep, a finding that may point to potential clinical approaches for at-risk populations, such as sleep therapy or other methods to boost the quality of sleep.

Several of the compounds used in the study were analogous to anesthetics used in clinical settings. So, the study also sheds light on the cognitive difficulties that older patients often experience after surgery and suggests classes of drugs that could be used to avoid this phenomenon.  Mice in the study that were exposed to anesthetics that did not induce slow brain activity saw diminished glymphatic activity.

Read more here.

Wilmot Cancer Institute investigators have discovered that soybean oil is better than fish oil for reducing cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer survivors.

The study results — along with other research — raises new questions about the value of fish oil and also the consumption of soy by women with breast cancer, which is controversial.

“Our study confirms that the benefits of fish oil have been overstated,” says Luke Peppone, assistant professor of surgery in Wilmot’s Cancer Control program.  He led the study, which appears in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute Spectrum.

For years fish oil supplements, which contain omega-3 fatty acids, have been widely used by Americans to treat or protect against a variety of ills and to promote cardiovascular health. But many studies, including a review of several clinical trials, have shown inconclusive evidence or no meaningful benefit for taking fish oil supplements.

However, because fish oil can reduce inflammation in the body, the Wilmot investigators wanted to find out if it could help with the crushing fatigue experienced by some cancer patients. Previous research has shown a link between fatigue and inflammation, and suggested that fish oil might help.

The fish-oil-versus-soybean-oil study of 80 female breast cancer survivors was designed to use soy as the comparison supplement because it contains omega-6 instead of omega-3. Soy (omega-6) is generally viewed as having pro-inflammatory properties rather than the more desirable anti-inflammatory properties, Peppone said.

Women were randomly assigned to one of three groups: to receive high-dose fish oil supplements; to receive a low-dose combination of fish oil and soybean oil; or to receive high-dose soybean oil supplements alone.

All three groups reported a reduction in fatigue, but the most significant reduction was in the omega-6 soybean oil group. The greatest effect was on women who reported the most severe fatigue at the beginning of the study.

Despite the abundance of anti-inflammatory properties in fish oil, the data showed that fish oil impacts a different set of inflammatory proteins than soybean oil. The fish oil supplements reduced the levels of inflammatory markers such as IFNy, IL-6, and PTGES2, while the soy supplement reduced the inflammatory protein known as TNF-a. It’s possible that cancer-related fatigue is more closely associated with the TNF-a pathway, the study said.

Although soy performed well in this study, soy is eyed with caution among many women treated for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, which is the most common type. The concern is that some soy products, such as protein powders, tofu, and additives in processed foods, contain isoflavones that can exert estrogen-like effects and possibly increase the risk of a cancer recurrence.

Read more here.

The Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience has launched a new quarterly publication dedicated to highlighting the people and programs across the University that are transforming our understanding of the human brain.

The first issue of NeURoscience includes a feature article on “What’s next for Alzheimer’s Research,” summarizing the University’s wealth of basic and clinical research on this disease.

The issue also includes a Q&A with Kuan Hong Wang, who joined the Del Monte Institute as a professor at the start of the year. Wang comes to the University from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) where he served as chief of neural circuits and adaptive behaviors research for over a decade.

Read the first issue of NeURoscience here. For more information, contact Samantha Jean.

Principal investigators at the University are invited to submit proposals to the Center of Excellence in Data Science for projects that will promote technology transfer from our University to companies operating in New York State.

Projects will be considered over broad range of technologies including: artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, data mining, statistical and computational methods and multimodal analysis in applications including, but not limited to: image and video understanding, sensors and mobile technologies, and multimodal data analytics.

The Center prefers projects in the following domains: healthcare, cyber-physical systems, retail, and transportation, but proposals in other technical areas will be considered. All proposals are required to have an industry partner who is able to document economic benefits associated with the project.

Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis through December 31, 2019.

Only university PIs are eligible for funding. The Center does not award funds to companies.

All proposals must be submitted by email as attachments using the forms on the Center website at www.sas.rochester.edu/dsc/coe/funding.html. Proposals should be sent to Cathy Adams.

Questions may be addressed to Center director, Walt Johnson.

Principal investigators at the University are invited to apply to the Center for Emerging and Innovative Sciences (CEIS) for one-year funding for projects that promote technology transfer from the University to New York companies. Projects should involve a NY industry partner that is actively engaged with the project, financially sponsoring the research, and providing assessment of economic impact of the project.

Projects will be considered over a broad range of projects involving optics, photonics and imaging interests, including ophthalmic and vision science, fiber optic communications, biomedical imaging, geospatial imaging, precision optics, consumer imaging and displays. Proposals in other technical areas will be considered.

In general, awards are computed as one-half the dollar value (excluding qualifying “in kind” contributions) of designated funds from NYS companies. CEIS awards are capped at $30,000 per proposal and $45,000 per faculty researcher.

Ranking will be strongly dependent on the potential jobs and revenues that will result from the proposed projects.

All proposals must be submitted by email as attachments using the forms on the CEIS web site.  Documentation of company commitment must accompany the proposal. Proposals must be received by Cathy Adams (585-275-3999) not later than May 23, 2019. Questions may be addressed to her as well.

Awards will be announced by the end of June.

The Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Pipeline-to-Pilot grant of up to $15,000 is now open for applications.

This grant, awarded by the University’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute (UR CTSI), is intended for academic and community partners who are currently completing the UR CTSI’s Introduction to CBPR program, or who have demonstrated experience in CBPR.

Research teams must consist of one faculty member from the University and at least one community partner from the greater Rochester area. CBPR Pipeline-to-Pilot projects should lead to a UR CTSI pilot funding application or independent external funding.

Read the full request for applications. For questions, contact John Cullen. Apply by Monday, April 22.

A year of funding (up to $13,600) is available to support new and innovative mentored pilot research relevant to the regulation of tobacco products by the Food and Drug Administration Center for Tobacco Products.

One goal of the mentored pilot projects, available through the Center for Research on Flavored Tobacco at the University of Rochester and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, is to foster careers in tobacco regulatory science-relevant research.

Who is eligible to apply?

• Persons with primary appointments at Roswell Park or the University of Rochester as postdoctoral fellows with at least 1.5 years remaining on the funded training period at the time of award
• New/early stage investigators
• Investigators transitioning to tobacco regulatory science
• Current tobacco regulatory science investigators exploring new areas of related research

Read the full request for applications. For any questions, contact Deborah Ossip or Scott Steel. Apply by 5 p.m., Thursday, March 28. 

Tiffany Lee, health services research & policy, “Effect of Medicare Dialysis Payment Reform on Care Practices and Health Outcomes for ESRD Patients Receiving Dialysis.” Noon, March 11, 2019. Helen Wood Hall 1W 501. Advisor: Yue Li

March 13: Translational genomics and proteomics un-meeting. Researchers from across UNYTE Translational Research Network member institutions will discuss and develop new, innovative, and effective ideas for genomics and proteomics translational research. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Helen Wood Hall 1-304. Click here for registration and agenda.

March 18: Applications due for up to 21 pilot project awards (maximum budget of $50,000 per award) to support novel basic, clinical and translational projects in the neurosciences. Ernest J. Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience. Open to all Medical Center and River Campus faculty. For more information and to download the RFA, click here.

March 19: Nominations due for the Furth Fund, which provides early career scientists with $12,500 in research funds to help foster the development of promising scientists. Nominees should be junior, tenure track faculty appointed in natural or biological science departments within ASE, SMD or SON who have been hired within the past three academic years. Completed nominations should be directed to Adele Coelho at adele.coelho@rochester.edu Additional information about the Furth Fund may be found here.

March 21: Jesse L. Rosenberger Works-in-Progress seminar. William Miller, assistant professor of English, presents “The Prophet Muhammad in the Early English Enlightenment” as part of the theme of expertise and evidence. Noon to 2 p.m. Humanities Center Conference Room D at Rush Rhees LIbrary. Lunch provided. RSVP by clicking here.

March 27: Phelps Colloquium Series: Huaxia Rui, associate professor, Simon Business School, Open Voice or Private Message? The Hidden Tug-of-War on Social Media Customer Service, and Maria Marconi, assistant professor of clinical nursing, and specialty director of Health Care Organization and Management Master’s Program and of the master’s program in nursing, Leveraging Generational Diversity in Our Classrooms. 4-5:30 p.m. Location TBD. Register here. Questions? Contact Adele Coelho or call 273-2571.

March 28: 5 p.m. deadline to apply for pilot projects relevant to the regulation of tobacco products. Available through the Center for Research on Flavored Tobacco at the University of Rochester and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Read the full request for applications. Questions? Contact Deborah Ossip Ph.D. or Scott Steel, Ph.D.

April 1: Strengthening Latino Health: the 2019 Latino Health and Health Disparities Conference (Fortaleciendo La Salud Latina: Conferencia de Salud Latina 2019.) Researchers, practitioners, and advocates share emerging research, best practices, and community perspectives that shape the agenda for Latino health and eliminating disparities. 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., School of Medicine and Dentistry. View course information and register online.

April 3: Jesse L. Rosenberger Works-in-Progress seminar. Jennifer Kyker, associate professor of music, presents “Sekuru’s Stories: Musical Sound and the Digital Humanities” as part of the theme of expertise and evidence. Noon to 2 p.m. Humanities Center Conference Room D at Rush Rhees LIbrary. Lunch provided. RSVP by clicking here.

April 4: University Technology Showcase, sponsored by Center for Emerging and Innovative Sciences and the Center of Excellence in Data Science. 1 to 5 p.m., Doubletree, 1111 Jefferson Road. Speakers are Julie Gerstenberger, CEO and co-founder of Moondog Labs; Sharon Samjitsingh, co-founder of Health Care Originals; and Michael Molaire, CEO and founder of Molecular Glasses. Poster session. Register at https://ceis.wufoo.com/forms/moa11nv1mhui4d/

April 5: 8th Annual Medical Scientist Research Symposium. Keynote address: “Catch Me if You Can: Resistance to Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell Therapy” by Marco Ruella, assistant professor of hematology/oncology and scientific director of the Lymphoma Program at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Noon, Class of ’62 Auditorium. Student poster session 1:30 – 3 p.m. Flaum Atrium. Student oral presentations 3-4:30 p.m., Class of ’62 Auditorium.  For questions or requests, email Cathy Senecal-Rice or call 5-8721. Additional Information

April 17: Jesse L. Rosenberger Works-in-Progress seminar. Anaar Desai-Stephens, assistant professor of ethnomusicology, presents “‘You have to feel to sing!’: Affective Pedagogy, and the Commodification of  ‘Feel’ in (Neo)liberalizing India” as part of the theme of expertise and evidence. Noon to 2 p.m. Humanities Center Conference Room D at Rush Rhees LIbrary. Lunch provided. RSVP by clicking here.

April 22: Deadline to apply for UR-CTSI Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Pipeline-to-Pilot grant of up to $15,000. Read the full request for applications. For questions, contact John Cullen.

May 2: Jesse L. Rosenberger Works-in-Progress seminar. Tracy Stuber and Anastasia Nikolis, Public Humanities graduate fellows, present a public humanities fellowship update. Noon to 2 p.m. Humanities Center Conference Room D at Rush Rhees LIbrary. Lunch provided. RSVP by clicking here.

May 23: Deadline to apply for funding from the Center for Emerging and Innovative Sciences (CEIS) to support projects with NY companies that promote technology transfer to those companies. All proposals must be submitted by email as attachments using the forms on the CEIS web site at http://www.ceis.rochester.edu/funding/CIRP.html. Documentation of company commitment must accompany the proposal. Proposals must be received by Cathy Adams (cathy.adams@rochester.edu, 585-275-3999). Questions may be addressed to her as well.