Andrew C. Yang joins Gladstone Institutes to decode the cross talk between the brain and body in aging and neurodegeneration
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — For decades, many scientists have described the blood-brain barrier—a tight network of cells that separates the brain from the blood—as a nearly impenetrable border wall. But Andrew C. Yang, PhD, who is joining Gladstone Institutes as an assistant investigator, thinks there’s more to it than that. He likens the blood-brain barrier to a family home.
Andrew C. Yang joins Gladstone Institutes as an assistant investigator to decode the cross talk between the brain and body in aging and neurodegeneration. Photo: Michael Short/Gladstone Institutes
“Your home has physical walls to form a barrier from the environment, but it also has windows and doors to let you bring in groceries and take out trash, and Wi-Fi so you can communicate with the outside world,” says Yang, who is also an assistant professor in the Departments of Neurology and Anatomy at UC San Francisco (UCSF). “I think we’ll come to appreciate that, similarly, the blood-brain barrier maintains a dynamic and sophisticated dialogue with other parts of the body.”
Yang’s research revolves around understanding how the blood-brain barrier may be more than its name implies. He wants to understand the rules that govern how the blood-brain barrier controls the movement of cells and molecules in and out of the brain, and how it becomes dysfunctional with age and disease. His research could inform the design of new drugs that can efficiently cross the blood-brain barrier, a current impediment to treating many brain conditions.
“Deciphering how the rest of the body communicates with the brain could enable new ways to combat brain aging and neurodegeneration,” says Lennart Mucke, MD, director of the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease. “I am delighted that Andrew is joining us to pursue this important quest.”
Yang didn’t always want to study the brain. As a boy growing up in Los Angeles and exceptionally tall for his age, he was obsessed with basketball—he played it, watched it and even hid basketball magazines inside textbooks during class. Then, a physics teacher encouraged him to consider a career in science. He became interested in physics and aerospace engineering, and studied mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
After graduation, he explored careers in business and in policy, working at the White House for a short time before realizing he wasn’t cut out for politics. Then, Yang’s dad was diagnosed with dementia at a relatively young age.
“It was a big wake-up call for me,” says Yang. “For the first time, it gave me an ambition bigger than myself. I found something where, even if I spent my life working on it and failed, it would be worth it. I wanted to contribute creatively as a neuroscientist.”
Yang began a graduate program at Stanford University and joined the neuroscience lab of Tony Wyss-Coray, PhD, a professor who originally trained in Mucke’s lab at Gladstone. While at Stanford, Yang’s engineering mindset helped shape his interests even further.
“Once I got into the lab, I realized the field of dementia was huge,” Yang says. “In engineering, you often start analyzing a problem by looking at the boundary conditions. So I thought, why don’t I study what’s going on with the unique boundary of the brain—the blood-brain barrier?”
An Unexpected Flow of Proteins into the Brain
In Wyss-Coray’s lab, Yang helped develop chemical biology approaches to track the movements of thousands of molecules across the blood-brain barrier. He and his colleagues first observed an unexpectedly high traffic of proteins, and then started to see hints about how this traffic is controlled dynamically by the blood-brain barrier and how it changes with age.
Building upon prior studies, Yang further revealed that the blood-brain barrier regulates brain inflammation, both by responding to and by relaying cues from other organs to the brain. These findings suggest that protein traffic and communications across the blood-brain barrier are important features of brain health.
Yang and his team are now testing the hypothesis that brain health is maintained not just by the blood-brain barrier’s relative impermeability, but also by specific routes of blood-to-brain and brain-to-blood communications that are actively facilitated by this “barrier.”
“If we can understand these routes of communication, it could point the way toward new drug delivery strategies for the brain,” he says.
Assembling an Atlas
At the time Yang was completing his graduate studies, it remained difficult to identify individual proteins crossing the blood-brain barrier. So, he developed a new method of processing brain tissue to isolate blood-brain barrier cells for detailed study. Using that technique, he assembled the first atlas of all the cells of the human blood-brain barrier and defined the molecular properties of each cell type.
“My engineering training helped me appreciate the power of novel technologies in opening new frontiers in science and new ways of thinking about existing problems,” he says. “It was rewarding to apply that to a biological question and end up with important findings.”
Using the new atlas, Yang and his colleagues found that the human blood-brain barrier is quite different from that of the mouse. This observation has important implications for how drugs aimed at the brain are tested in animals; a drug that makes its way through the mouse blood-brain barrier may not be able to cross the human blood-brain barrier.
Yang’s research also revealed that more than 30 of the top 45 genes related to Alzheimer’s disease risk are expressed in human blood-brain barrier cells, suggesting these cells may have important roles in neurodegeneration. At Gladstone, his lab will begin to work through that list to determine the functions of each of these genes and the ways in which they might modify disease or inform new therapies.
Implications for Brain Disease
“Now that we have an initial atlas, we can begin to explore molecular changes in the blood-brain barrier under different conditions, from healthy brain aging to neurodegenerative disease,” Yang says. “If we’re successful in understanding the rules that govern what can cross the blood-brain barrier, we should also be able to design drugs that can get across.”
Yang envisions being able to one day engineer antibodies or immune cells that can permeate the brain to address neurological diseases. He also imagines the development of a blood test to detect chemical signals from the blood-brain barrier circulating through the body, which could enable the diagnosis of brain disease before behavioral or cognitive symptoms arise.
“Andrew’s work will open many doors in our field,” says Gladstone Senior Investigator Katerina Akassoglou, PhD, a pioneer on the role of the blood-brain barrier in inflammation and tissue repair, and director of the Gladstone-UCSF Center for Neurovascular Brain Immunology. “I’m looking forward to exciting research from his laboratory and new technologies to study the important role of the blood-brain barrier in neurological conditions.”
At Gladstone, Yang is looking forward to collaborating with researchers across neuroscience, immunology, and data science as he tackles the large questions of how the blood-brain barrier relates to disease.
“I chose Gladstone for two main reasons: the people and the focus on disease, which has a strong personal meaning for me,” says Yang. “I want our work to matter for patients.”
“I dream that 30 years from now, I can hold up a vial containing a therapy, and I can say ‘I contributed to that and made a real impact on people’s lives,'” he adds. “I think the environment at Gladstone is thoughtfully designed to help us achieve just that.”
About Andrew Yang
Andrew Yang, PhD, is an assistant investigator at Gladstone Institutes, and an assistant professor in the Departments of Neurology and Anatomy at UC San Francisco (UCSF). Yang earned a BS in mechanical engineering and materials science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a PhD in bioengineering from Stanford University, where he trained in the neuroscience laboratory of Gladstone alumnus Tony Wyss-Coray. He joined UCSF as a Sandler Faculty Fellow in the Bakar Aging Research Institute and the Department of Anatomy in January 2022, and Gladstone in 2023.
Yang applies his training in engineering and his curiosity about neuroscience toward understanding the meaning, mechanisms, and therapeutic potential of protein and immune cell messages at the critical interface where the brain interfaces with the blood. His research has shown an unexpected degree of communication across the blood-brain barrier and has revealed a critical role for this barrier in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
About Gladstone Institutes
Gladstone Institutes is an independent, nonprofit life science research organization that uses visionary science and technology to overcome disease. Established in 1979, it is located in the epicenter of biomedical and technological innovation, in the Mission Bay neighborhood of San Francisco. Gladstone has created a research model that disrupts how science is done, funds big ideas, and attracts the brightest minds.
Media Contact: Julie Langelier Associate Director Communications [email protected] 415.734.5000
MISSION, Kan., Sept. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — (Family Features) Enjoying the great outdoors is a common pastime for many when temperatures warm, and that includes those with furry companions. However, warmer weather also comes with a variety of hazards to those four-legged friends.
To help keep your pets safe and enjoy all the season has to offer, consider these tips from the experts at VCA Animal Hospitals, which has more than 1,000 locations across North America and cared for more than 4 million pets last year.
Heat Leaving pets in the yard for extended periods without access to shade or water on hot days, vigorous exercise or leaving them in vehicles even with windows rolled down can lead to heat stroke, a term commonly used for hyperthermia, or elevated body temperature. Pets suffering from heat stroke (temperature higher than 106 F) can have elevated breathing rates, dry or sticky gums, abnormal gum color, bruising in the gums, may appear lethargic or disoriented and can have seizures. Safe, controlled reduction of body temperature is an immediate priority. Cool water may be poured over the head, stomach, armpits and feet, or cool cloths may be applied to these areas and continually replaced.
Allergy-Causing Pests Allergies are common in both dogs and cats, and warmer weather brings out fleas and ticks that can cause allergic reactions. Bites may cause intense itching, leading pets to scratch or chew on themselves, potentially causing hair loss. An effective, year-round flea and tick preventative regimen is key to keeping dogs and cats pest free and limiting allergic reactions. In cases of severe itching, antihistamines or corticosteroids (steroids) may be prescribed to provide immediate relief.
Human Food Cookouts may mean barbecue chicken, ribs, steak, corn on the cob and fresh fruit like watermelon. Be wary of bones, which are not digestible and can pose a choking hazard, cause intestinal blockage or break into shards and cause irritations or infections. Similarly, corn cobs are not digestible and can get stuck in the stomach or intestinal tract, causing an obstruction. Watermelon rind and seeds can also block the GI tract, so be sure to remove the rind and seeds.
Party Decorations Warm weather means festivals and parties. However, these outdoor gatherings often include items that are dangerous to pets:
Glow sticks contain an oily liquid called dibutyl phthalate (DBP). While non-toxic in small amounts, DBP can cause gagging, drooling and irritation of the eyes, mouth and skin if pets bite glow sticks. If your pet chews a glow stick, offer water or a treat to tame the bitter taste. Turn off the lights and wash any glowing areas.
Citronella candles work well as a deterrent for flying insects but open flames can burn whiskers and noses. The fumes may also cause breathing issues when inhaled and consuming the wax can cause GI and nervous system issues.
Popped or non-inflated balloons can pose choking risks. String for anchoring them can also cause intestinal issues if swallowed and pets could become entangled in the string, posing tripping and strangulation risks.
Swimming Pools While cats naturally shy away from water, both dogs and cats can fall into swimming pools accidentally. Dogs can sometimes struggle with getting out of the water even if they’re capable swimmers, so be sure to teach them to navigate the swim-out area and keep an eye on pets in the water – even good swimmers can tire of treading water and drown.
Find more tips to safely enjoy the warmer months with your furry friends at VCAHospitals.com.
About Family Features Editorial Syndicate A leading source for high-quality food, lifestyle and home and garden content, Family Features provides readers with topically and seasonally relevant tips, takeaways, information, recipes, videos, infographics and more. Find additional articles and information at Culinary.net and eLivingToday.com.
$50,000 to support local recovery efforts in north Florida
$25,000 to support Florida’s agriculture community
$25,000 to Feeding Florida
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — To continue assisting our communities with disaster relief, the Duke Energy Foundation is committing an additional $100,000 in grants to support local recovery and disaster relief efforts in Florida.
“Our priority following a devastating storm like Idalia is helping customers get back to their lives,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “We know this is a time of heartbreak and difficulty for many of our customers and we are grateful to be able to support the organizations that are helping them to rebuild and recover.”
These funds will be focused on delivering basic needs support and bolstering recovery efforts for those communities that have been severely impacted by Hurricane Idalia. This includes $25,000 to Feeding Florida, $25,000 to support Florida’s agriculture community and an additional $50,000 to support local recovery efforts in north Florida.
“Seven counties in Florida have been declared disaster areas by FEMA and Gov. DeSantis, which three of our food banks are directly serving,” said Robin Safley, Feeding Florida executive director. “In addition to ground zero in the Big Bend area, several counties facing massive flooding will see more limited access to resources than before, and delayed recovery.
“With the financial support of the Duke Energy Foundation, we will be able to provide support to these hardest-hit areas,” said Safley. “Our work has begun with MRE and water distributions, but we will quickly transition to providing additional resources, food boxes, produce, and the types of materials and support needed to clean and recover after such a devastating event.”
In advance of the storm, the Duke Energy Foundation donated $250,000 to the American Red Cross’ disaster responder program and $50,000 to the Volunteer Florida Foundation.
Hurricane Idalia made landfall on the northwestern side of Florida earlier this week, causing widespread power outages, flooding and damage to approximately 182,000 customers in Duke Energy Florida’s service territory.
Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600 people.
Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2023 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list and Forbes’ “World’s Best Employers” list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
MIAMI, 1 de septiembre de 2023/PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — World Trade Center Miamie Informa Markets LATAManuncian una colaboración a través de un acuerdo de copromoción y colocalización de eventos, con motivo de redefinir el panorama culinario para los años 2024 a 2026. Esta alianza estratégica aúna dos visiones distintas pero complementarias: Americas Food & Beverage Show & Conference, presentada por World Trade Center Miami, y Food Hospitality Latam, producida por Informa Markets.
Ahora que la Americas Food & Beverage Show & Conference seembarca en su 27.ª edición, sigue siendo un faro de innovación y conexión dentro del sector de alimentos y bebidas. Organizado por World Trade Center Miami, este evento anual presenta un rico tapiz de sabores, tendencias y soluciones, con especial atención a los productos frescos, los productos de abarrotes/minoristas, los alimentos orgánicos y vegetales, las bebidas alcohólicas y no alcohólicas, y la tecnología alimentaria.
“Nuestra colaboración con Informa Markets es un momento histórico para la Americas Food & Beverage Show & Conference”, declaró Ivan Barrios, presidente/CEO de World Trade Center Miami. “Al fusionar nuestros puntos fuertes, pretendemos amplificar nuestro impacto, fomentar las conexiones globales y crear una plataforma inigualable para la excelencia culinaria”.
Los dos eventos se denominarán acertadamente Americas Food & Beverage Show & Conference y Food Hospitality Latam, lo que representa una fusión perfecta de sus respectivos ámbitos. Mientras que la Americas Food & Beverage Show & Conference se centra en la industria de alimentos y bebidas, Food Hospitality Latam centra su atención en servicio y equipamiento culinario. Esta fusión ofrece a los asistentes y expositores una oportunidad inigualable de explorar e involucrarse en todo el espectro culinario.
“Informa Markets LATAM está encantada de embarcarse en este viaje con World Trade Center Miami”, subrayó Marco Basso, presidente de Informa Markets LATAM. “Nuestra experiencia y recursos combinados crearán una experiencia inmersiva que tiende un puente entre los mundos de la alimentación, la hostelería y la innovación, estableciendo nuevos puntos de referencia en la colaboración del sector”.
La primera edición/colaboración tendrá lugar del 16 al 18 de septiembre de 2024, en el Centro de Convenciones de Miami Beach. Mediante la colocalización de Americas Food & Beverage Show & Conference y Food Hospitality Latam, la colaboración pretende cultivar la polinización cruzada de ideas, propiciar la innovación y acelerar el crecimiento de la industria a escala mundial.
Acerca de World Trade Center Miami World Trade Center Miami, miembro de la World Trade Centers Association, se dedica a promover y mejorar el comercio creando y ampliando las oportunidades de negocio internacionales. Gracias a su ubicación estratégica y a su amplia red mundial, World Trade Center Miami sirve de catalizador para el comercio transfronterizo y las oportunidades de inversión para las empresas. Página web: www.wtcmiami.org
Acerca de Informa Markets: Informa Markets es un organizador de eventos y exposiciones líder a nivel mundial, que opera en más de 30 países y presta servicio a diversos sectores industriales, incluyendo una cartera con 28 exposiciones de alimentos y hotelería en todo el mundo, como Hotelex Shanghai, Food&HotelAsia, HOFEX, Fispal Food Service y Abastur. Informa Markets reúne a compradores y vendedores, creando plataformas para que las industrias comercien, innoven y prosperen colectivamente. Sitio web: https://www.informamarkets.com/en/home.html
MISSION, Kan., Sept. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — (Family Features) Regardless of your age, it’s never too early to plan your estate and ensure last wishes are met. Estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy – it’s a process that allows you to determine how your assets are bequeathed and managed upon incapacitation or death.
Aiming to promote cultural preservation and secure funds for Jewish institutions, the Jewish Future Pledge is a global initiative empowering families to discuss the importance of estate planning, including why patriarchs and matriarchs should ensure charitable giving continues after their passing. The organization estimates $68 trillion will be transferred to the next generation over the next 25 years with around 20% of this wealth coming from Jewish donors.
Discuss these basic estate planning steps with your loved ones and consider consulting an attorney for individual guidance.
Document Wishes Although not typically legally binding, preparing a letter of final wishes allows you to share information and requests, like funeral arrangements, which often fall outside of the will. It may also include an explanation of will provisions or suggestions for how funds you’ll leave behind should be used.
Prepare a Will A legally binding last will and testament is often considered the most important aspect of estate planning. This involves naming guardians for minor children and pets, listing all property, designating people and organizations that should receive assets, directing funds to charities and naming an executor.
Consider Causes Important to You As part of will creation and estate planning, consider charitable causes you’d like to support after passing. Talking with loved ones can be a way to gather input on important causes, and those conversations can act as a springboard for generations to support a particular cause or organization, based on their shared values.
The Jewish Future Pledge asks Jews and their allies to prioritize these intergenerational conversations as they can be catalysts for families to include Jewish causes and Israel in their estate planning to ensure the future of Jewish people. By signing the pledge, individuals promise that 50% or more of the funds intended for charity will be earmarked for Jewish charities or Israel.
Taking the pledge means individuals can ensure their legacy aligns with their values and clarifies their intentions after passing. For those who already donate to Jewish causes, the pledge acts as a beacon to others to make the same commitment.
“Signing the Jewish Future Pledge is more than just an act – it’s a deeply rooted, emotional declaration of my unwavering dedication to my cherished community,” said Jewish social media influencer and entrepreneur Elizabeth “Lizzy” Savetsky, who became the 15,000th person to commit to the initiative. “In taking this step, I’m fiercely determined to safeguard the rich values and time-honored traditions that have shaped my identity and the lives of countless others.”
Assign Beneficiaries Naming people who should inherit assets like life insurance policies or retirement accounts is something you may have completed long ago when creating those assets. However, it’s important to ensure the beneficiaries named align with your will to avoid conflict as designated beneficiaries often take precedence over a will, which could create confusion and legal headaches.
Regularly Review Your Plan Establishing your estate plan is important for ensuring last wishes are met, but it’s also beneficial to revisit the plan regularly to update when necessary. For example, many people review their plans every couple of years or at major life events, such as the birth of a child or grandchild, marriage or divorce, purchasing a large asset, changing life insurance coverage and career changes.
About Family Features Editorial Syndicate A leading source for high-quality food, lifestyle and home and garden content, Family Features provides readers with topically and seasonally relevant tips, takeaways, information, recipes, videos, infographics and more. Find additional articles and information at Culinary.net and eLivingToday.com.
Commentary on today’s US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Situation Report by Selcuk Eren, Senior Economist, The Conference Board
NEW YORK, Sept. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Today’s jobs report revealed that the US labor market, while still adding jobs, shows clear signs of cooling. Payrolls increased by 187,000 in August. However, jobs added in June and July were revised down by a combined 110,000, bringing the three-month average employment change to just under 150,000, the lowest level since December 2019. Earlier data from JOLTS (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey) showed that job openings, voluntary quits, and hiring were down—all of which points to a cooling job market, which the Fed should view constructively.
Average hourly earnings increased by 4.3 percent year-over-year in August, showing wage gains continue to slow since last year’s peak of 5.9 percent. Still, the rate of wage growth is well above prepandemic levels and is likely continuing to contribute to underlying consumer inflation. Given persistent signs of strength in consumer spending despite gradual cooling in the labor market—and elevated wage and consumer price inflation—we expect the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates at least once more before the end of 2023.
Unemployment rate ticked up in August
The Household Survey revealed that the unemployment rate rose to 3.8 percent in August from 3.5 percent in July. The increase can be attributed to the change in the labor force participation rate, which edged up by 0.2 percentage points to 62.8 percent. While participation rose, August’s data reflects a 514,000 increase in the number of unemployed persons compared to a 222,000 rise in the number of employed persons.
Participation increased for all age groups, with the largest gains occurring in younger populations. In August, labor force participation rose by 0.6 percentage points to 71.2 percent in the 20–24 age group, and by 1.2 ppts to 36.9 percent in the 16-19 age group. However, labor force participation in the 20-24 age group—as well as among older workers (65+)—remains lower than prepandemic levels. As a result, overall labor force participation remains 0.5 ppts below the February 2020 level.
In-person services lead job gains
The Establishment Survey revealed that the largest gains in payrolls were in in-person services. Three sectors—health care (+70,900), social assistance (+26,400), and leisure and hospitality (+40,000)—accounted for 73 percent of job gains in August. These industries still face labor shortages with job openings remaining elevated. Indeed, they are expected to add jobs even during a downturn.
The construction industry also added jobs (+22,000) in August, with gains concentrated in nonresidential construction fueled by increased federal infrastructure spending and factory-building. Other notable job gains were recorded in manufacturing (+16,000) and professional and business services (+19,000).
Signs of further cooling ahead
Recent trends in consumers’ behavior shifting their spending away from goods and towards services continued in August. Industries that added jobs during the pandemic recorded further job losses in August. Transportation and warehousing recorded job losses of −34,200, which include 30,000 layoffs from Yellow Corporation. The information services sector saw jobs losses of −15,000, mostly attributed to the Hollywood worker strikes. This sector has also cut jobs due to layoffs in the tech industry since November. Temporary help services—a leading indicator for hiring—continued to shed jobs, losing another −18,900 in August. This brought the cumulative losses in the industry to −241,500 in total since its peak in March 2022.
We see clear signs of a cooling labor market in recent data, given declines in job openings and voluntary quits, a rising unemployment rate, and the negative shift in consumer confidence for the labor market outlook. The Conference Board forecasts a short and shallow recession by the end of 2023 into early 2024, as high interest rates, declining pandemic savings, and the resumption of mandatory student loan repayments are all likely to negatively impact consumer spending.
As the economy slows, we expect the unemployment rate will rise further. However, once we are out of recession, labor demand will likely recover quickly as the economy rebounds. In the long term, labor shortages are expected to persist as the population continues to age.
