TOUR DE FRANCE CYCLISTS FUEL HEART HEALTH STUDY.

On July 1, 2023, as the Tour de France kicked off from Bilbao to the Pyrenees, sports cardiologist Andre La Gerche observed the event keenly from Melbourne. He is particularly interested because some of the leading cyclists are part of his study on the impact of endurance exercise on heart health. The research explores how such activities could both safeguard against heart disease and potentially induce atrial fibrillation (AF), a heart arrhythmia. This condition is more common among older individuals with certain risk factors, but its occurrence in healthy athletes suggests a complex interaction of genetic predispositions and the physical remodeling of the heart due to strenuous exercise. The significance of this research lies in the rising prevalence of AF, exacerbated by obesity and an aging population, and anticipated to double globally by 2030. Understanding AF in athletes may offer insights into its mechanisms without the usual confounding health issues. The ongoing study aims to track athletes over many years to study the long-term effects of intense physical activity on heart structure and function, providing crucial data on how much exercise might be too much. (Science)

NEW DRUGS TARGET ZOMBIE CELLS TO FIGHT DISEASE

Senescent cells, often referred to as “zombie cells,” accumulate in various body parts such as the liver and brain, where they cease to divide but do not die, instead releasing harmful biological signals that impair cognition, increase frailty, and weaken the immune system. Their numbers grow with age, contributing to various age-related diseases. A major study in 2015 found that dasatinib and quercetin effectively eliminate these cells in aged mice, improving their health and function, which spearheaded the development of a new medical field called senolytics. Current research includes animal studies and about 20 human clinical trials examining potential senolytic drugs to treat conditions like Alzheimer’s and chronic kidney disease. Unity Biotechnology is a leader in this field, developing drugs to prevent senescent cells from resisting programmed cell death. Their drug, foselutoclax, has shown promise in treating diabetic macular edema by selectively clearing senescent cells in the retina, significantly improving vision in treated individuals. Other approaches include genetically engineered immune cells targeting senescent cells, and gene therapies that deliver lethal genes specifically activated in senescent cells. Despite the promising progress, the challenge remains in specifically targeting these cells without affecting healthy ones, as the field continues to search for more precise biomarkers. (Nature)

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SPANISH RESEARCHERS TRACK NEW RAT HEPATITIS VIRUS OUTBREAK.

Researchers in Córdoba, Spain, have identified a significant number of cases involving a new disease, rat hepatitis E virus (RHEV), first discovered in Hong Kong in 2018. The disease, caused by Rocahepevirus ratti, has raised concerns due to its unknown transmission routes and its annual incidence, which appears to exceed 100 cases in Spain alone. Initial findings reveal that about one-third of rats in Spanish cities carry the virus, suggesting potential zoonotic transmission. This discovery helps explain numerous hepatitis cases previously classified as of unknown origin. Antonio Rivero Juárez and his team from the Maimónides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (Imibic) are leading the investigation, with new insights presented at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) congress in Barcelona. An upcoming international study involving multiple European countries aims to ascertain the prevalence of RHEV across the continent. The study, funded by a €30,000 grant from ESCMID, will analyze samples from affected countries to better understand the distribution and impact of this emerging disease. Researchers hope to clarify transmission mechanisms, possibly involving other animal intermediaries like pigs, to develop strategies for reducing infection rates. (El Pais)

ILYA SUTSKEVER EXITS OPENAI, JAKUB PACHOCKI STEPS IN.

Ilya Sutskever, co-founder and chief scientist of OpenAI, has left the company, announced OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Sutskever is recognized as one of the leading minds in AI, having significantly shaped OpenAI’s direction and success. He has been replaced by Jakub Pachocki, previously the director of research, who started as a research lead on OpenAI’s Dota team. The company recently formed the Superalignment team to address the regulation of superintelligent AI systems, a project now overseen by John Schulman following the resignation of Jan Leike along with Sutskever. The departure follows a turbulent period involving a board-led attempt to fire Altman, which was reversed after pushback from employees and investors. Sutskever, who has not disclosed his future plans, leaves with a legacy of major contributions to AI and a promise of engaging in a personally significant project soon. (TechCrunch)

GOOGLE TACKLES DEEPFAKE SITES, CRITICS CALL EFFORTS MINIMAL.

After significant backlash, Google has initiated steps to suppress deepfake porn websites in its search results, due to these sites generating AI-created non-consensual intimate videos, particularly targeting female celebrities. Despite Google’s efforts to decrease the visibility of such content and provide a system for victims to request removal of links, many find the process burdensome and inefficient. Kaitlyn Siragusa, a frequent target, described the delisting process as draining. Critics argue that Google’s actions are minimal and continue to place the burden on victims. Furthermore, while U.S. search traffic to prominent deepfake porn sites dropped by 25% recently, the problem persists, and the links remain accessible to those who search for them. Legal measures are being considered, including a proposed U.S. law that could criminalize deepfake porn, reflecting ongoing concerns about the adequacy of current responses to the proliferation of this content. (Ars Technica)

EXPERTS STRUGGLE TO DEMYSTIFY AI’S COMPLEX BLACK BOXES.

David Bau, a computer scientist at Northeastern University, expresses concerns about the complexity of modern AI systems, particularly large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT. These AI systems, which utilize machine learning and neural networks, remain largely inscrutable, functioning as ‘black boxes’ where internal processes are unclear. This opacity is challenging as these models are used in critical areas such as medicine and journalism, raising issues around misinformation and bias. Researchers are developing explainable AI (XAI) techniques to make these systems more transparent. Methods include visualizing influential data segments or creating simplified models that mimic AI behavior. However, XAI is still evolving, especially for LLMs which are intricate due to their vast number of parameters. Efforts to demystify AI involve blending neuroscience and psychology approaches and using innovative techniques like causal tracing to understand AI responses. Despite progress, significant challenges remain in ensuring these powerful tools are comprehensible and accountable. (Nature)

Thanks for reading. Let’s be careful out there.

WORDS: The Biology Guy.

IMAGE CREDIT: Johan Vandamme.