s c i e n c e
Quick science notes
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Walk it off:
A simple solution to
a painful problem
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flurry of grant notifications in recent
months. A partial listing (in addition to
the major grants reported elsewhere in
ew research conducted the calf muscles statically for 30 minutes this issue of FSU MED): New faculty member
by Judy Muller-Delp, a a day, five days a week,” Muller-Delp said. Sylvie Naar received a four-year, $4.25 million
professor of biomedical “We tested that to see whether it would National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant
sciences at the College of improve vascular responsiveness, blood for enhancing sexual safety through couples’
Medicine, suggests that a simple, low-cost flow and therefore functional capacity in communication and HIV testing. … Greg
splint can ease the pain associated with the lower leg.” Hajcak was awarded a five-year, $3.2 million
peripheral artery disease (PAD), improve
walking capacity and boost the quality of
Before the intervention, the researchers
asked patients to walk as long and far as
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
grant to detect and possibly reduce the risk
they could comfortably of anxiety in adolescents. … Angelina Sutin
in a six-minute period. received a $2.8 million NIH grant for research
Association estimates that more The patients then used on the origin of personality traits that affect
than 8.5 million American adults the splint five days a week longevity. … Yi Zhou received a five-year, $1.9
suffer from PAD, and many for four weeks and their million NIH grant for research on dysfunction-
don’t know they have it. progress was recorded. induced behavioral deficits. … Mohamed
PAD is a narrowing of “What we found was Kabbaj was awarded $1.9 million by the NIMH
peripheral arteries most that when the patients to study how the brain helps us maintain lifelong
commonly found in the legs. splinted for four weeks, social bonds through epigenetics. … Robb
life for many patients.
The American Heart
Plaque and fatty deposits that build up on the dilation, function and responsiveness Tomko received a $1.5 million NIH grant to
artery walls block or restrict blood flow, of that vessel improved,” Muller-Delp study how cells rid themselves of damaged or
causing pain and cramping – the primary said. “They were able to walk farther in six unneeded proteins. … Michelle Arbeitman
symptom of PAD. That pain is often minutes, and could walk farther without was awarded a four-year, $1.2 million grant
brought on by walking or exercise, but in having to stop.” from NIH for a study on the genes underlying
more severe cases it may also persist when
With the promising findings, she plans
reproductive behavior and physiology.
to enlist the help of nutrition, exercise Arbeitman also received a separate NIH grant
science and psychology specialists to for $1.05 million for her study on chromatin and
American Heart Association session earlier explore the influence this intervention behavior. … Tim Megraw received an $856,000
this year. She and her former postdoctoral could have beyond pain relief and grant from the Florida Department of Health
fellow, Kazuki Hotta, led the study in improved walking capacity. to understand how the Zika virus works and to
the patient is at rest.
Muller-Delp presented the research at an
collaboration with Wayne Batchelor at
“There’s not a great treatment for
Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and the PAD right now other than getting at the
Southern Medical Group. cause and containing the atherosclerosis
The idea is simple: Stretching helps
she said. “We’re hoping that in a bigger
In the case of PAD, the body needs to study to follow, we will get more of an
improve its blood flow to certain muscles. assessment for what it’s doing for their
The stretch makes the body aware of that quality of life.
“We know for sure one of the best
may generate signals telling the body to things these patients can do is get into
grow new blood vessels and make them a walking program. So, the hope is this
more reactive. might give people who are hardly walking
“Using a splint that holds the foot at a
15- to 20-degree angle, you stretch all of
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identify drugs that can combat it.
that causes the build-up in the arteries,”
initiate the body’s own ability to heal itself.
need by reducing blood flow slightly, which
he College of Medicine received a
at all the ability to now start walking a little
bit more.”
Clinical Neuroscientist Greg Hajcak is using functional MRI
and other neuroimaging methods to measure brain activity
related to risk for anxiety and depression in adolescents.