Marine Seagrass Meadows Show Resilience to ‘Bounce Back’ After Die-Offs

A study in Florida Bay, one of the largest global contiguous seagrass systems, examined if a phytotoxin that accumulates as seagrass ecosystems become more enriched in nutrients prevents a marine seagrass, turtlegrass, from recruiting into open bare sediment following die-off events. While they do “bounce back,” long-term monitoring indicates the timeframe for recovery after major die-off events is at least a decade. Turtlegrass can successfully recruit into open bare sediment following die-off events due to biomass partitioning.

‘Carb’ Treatment for Stroke Receives New U.S. Patent

A new twist on a drug used to treat alcohol use disorder could double up as a treatment for stroke. Called “Carb” for short, this new formulation is designed to treat ischemic stroke, protect brain tissue against injury and minimize the size of a brain infarct.

New Study Provides First Comprehensive Look at Oxygen Loss on Coral Reefs

A new study is providing an unprecedented examination of oxygen loss on coral reefs around the globe under ocean warming. Led by researchers at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a large team of national and international colleagues, the study captures the current state of hypoxia—or low oxygen levels—at 32 different sites, and reveals that hypoxia is already pervasive on many reefs.

Study First to Explore ‘Walking’ Sharks on the Move in Early Life Stages

A newly-discovered walking shark that breaks all of the rules for survival is the focus of a first-of-its-kind study that examined differences in walking and swimming in neonate (newly-hatched) and juvenile walking sharks. Despite dissimilarities in body shapes – neonates have bulging bellies and juveniles are slender – the three aquatic gaits they use (slow-to-medium walking, fast-walking and swimming) did not differ. Kinematics between neonate and juvenile epaulette sharks did not alter during development.

Protein Inhibitor May Lead to New Treatment for Low Oxygen Associated with Sleep Apnea

Article title: Lysine demethylase KDM6B regulates HIF-1α mediated systemic and cellular responses to intermittent hypoxia Authors: Jayasri Nanduri, Ning Wang, Benjamin L. Wang, Nanduri R. Prabhakar From the authors: “[The] current study demonstrates that pharmacological disruption of [Hypoxia-inducible factor]-1α activation…

Low Oxygen at Birth Delays Heart Development in Mouse Model of Congenital Heart Disease

Article title: Chronic perinatal hypoxia delays cardiac maturation in a mouse model for cyanotic congenital heart disease Authors: Jennifer Romanowicz, Devon Guerrelli, Zaenab Dhari, Colm Mulvany, Marissa Reilly, Luther Swift, Nimisha Vasandani, Manelle Ramadan, Linda Leatherbury, Nobuyuki Ishibashi, Nikki Gillum…

CU Cancer Center Researcher Reveals New Effects of Oxygen Deprivation in Cancer Cells

A team of University of Colorado School of Medicine researchers recently published a paper offering new insight into the role that oxygen deprivation, or hypoxia, plays in cancer development. CU Cancer Center member Joaquin Espinosa, PhD, is the senior researcher on the paper, which he hopes will help lead to more targeted treatments for cancer.

Sleep Apnea Does Not Raise Blood Pressure in Young Women

Article title: Sex differences in integrated neuro-cardiovascular control of blood pressure following acute intermittent hypercapnic-hypoxia Authors:Dain W. Jacob, Elizabeth P. Ott, Sarah E. Baker, Zachariah M. Scruggs, Clayton L. Ivie, Jennifer L. Harper, Camila M. Manrique-Acevedo, Jaqueline K. Limberg From…

COVID-19 Frequently Causes Neurological Injuries

Without directly invading the brain or nerves, the virus responsible for COVID-19 causes potentially damaging neurological injuries in about one in seven infected, a new study shows. These injuries range from temporary confusion due to low body-oxygen levels, to stroke and seizures in the most serious cases, say the study authors.

Supercomputers Simulate Environmental Changes in Chesapeake Bay

Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) researchers used supercomputer simulations to examine impacts of both regional and global changes affecting the Chesapeake Bay. They discovered that historical increases in fertilizers and atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have forced the bay to behave increasingly like a small sea on a continental shelf rather than a traditional estuary.

New Study Explains Potential Causes for “Happy Hypoxia” Condition in COVID-19 Patients

A new research study provides possible explanations for COVID-19 patients who present with extremely low, otherwise life-threatening levels of oxygen, but no signs of dyspnea (difficulty breathing). This new understanding of the condition, known as silent hypoxemia or “happy hypoxia,” could prevent unnecessary intubation and ventilation in patients during the current and expected second wave of coronavirus.

New Study Explains Potential Causes for “Happy Hypoxia” Condition in COVID-19 Patients

A new research study provides possible explanations for COVID-19 patients who present with extremely low, otherwise life-threatening levels of oxygen, but no signs of dyspnea (difficulty breathing). This new understanding of the condition, known as silent hypoxemia or “happy hypoxia,” could prevent unnecessary intubation and ventilation in patients during the current and expected second wave of coronavirus.

Enzyme + Mitochondrial Signaling May Contribute to Pulmonary Hypertension in Newborns

Article title: PKCβ and reactive oxygen species mediate enhanced pulmonary vasoconstrictor reactivity following chronic hypoxia in neonatal rats Authors: Joshua R. Sheak, Simin Yan, Laura Weise-Cross, Rosstin Ahmadian, Benjimen R. Walker, Nikki L. Jernigan From the authors: “This research demonstrates a novel…

Scientists Link Decline of Baltic Cod to Hypoxia – and Climate Change

If you want to know how climate change and hypoxia — the related loss of oxygen in the world’s oceans — affect fish species such as the economically important Baltic cod, all you have to do is ask the fish. Those cod, at least, will tell you that hypoxia is making them smaller, scrawnier and less valuable. A paper published today in the journal Biology Letters points to a link between hypoxia and fish well-being.