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The Journal of Neuroscience : the... Sep 2021Throughout the body, lymphatic fluid movement supports critical functions including clearance of excess fluid and metabolic waste. The glymphatic system is the analog of... (Review)
Review
Throughout the body, lymphatic fluid movement supports critical functions including clearance of excess fluid and metabolic waste. The glymphatic system is the analog of the lymphatic system in the CNS. As such, the glymphatic system plays a key role in regulating directional interstitial fluid movement, waste clearance, and, potentially, brain immunity. The glymphatic system enables bulk movement of CSF from the subarachnoid space along periarterial spaces, where it mixes with interstitial fluid within the parenchyma before ultimately exiting from the parenchyma via perivenous spaces. This review focuses on important questions about the structure of this system, why the brain needs a fluid transport system, and unexplored aspects of brain fluid transport. We provide evidence that astrocytes and blood vessels determine the shape of the perivascular space, ultimately controlling the movement of perivascular fluid. Glymphatic fluid movement has the potential to alter local as well as global transport of signaling molecules and metabolites. We also highlight the evidence for cross talk among the glymphatic system, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, and lymphatic system. Much remains to be studied, but we propose that the glymphatic/lymphatic system acts as a cornerstone in signaling between the brain and body.
Topics: Animals; Astrocytes; Brain; Choroid Plexus; Glymphatic System; Humans; Neurobiology
PubMed: 34526407
DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0619-21.2021 -
Journal of Educational Evaluation For... 2021This review aims to define the 4 types of the metaverse and to explain the potential and limitations of its educational applications. The metaverse roadmap categorizes... (Review)
Review
This review aims to define the 4 types of the metaverse and to explain the potential and limitations of its educational applications. The metaverse roadmap categorizes the metaverse into 4 types: augmented reality, lifelogging, mirror world, and virtual reality. An example of the application of augmented reality in medical education would be an augmented reality T-shirt that allows students to examine the inside of the human body as an anatomy lab. Furthermore, a research team in a hospital in Seoul developed a spinal surgery platform that applied augmented reality technology. The potential of the metaverse as a new educational environment is suggested to be as follows: a space for new social communication; a higher degree of freedom to create and share; and the provision of new experiences and high immersion through virtualization. Some of its limitations may be weaker social connections and the possibility of privacy impingement; the commission of various crimes due to the virtual space and anonymity of the metaverse; and maladaptation to the real world for students whose identity has not been established. The metaverse is predicted to change our daily life and economy beyond the realm of games and entertainment. The metaverse has infinite potential as a new social communication space. The following future tasks are suggested for the educational use of the metaverse: first, teachers should carefully analyze how students understand the metaverse; second, teachers should design classes for students to solve problems or perform projects cooperatively and creatively; third, educational metaverse platforms should be developed that prevent misuse of student data.
Topics: Communication; Education, Medical; Humans; Virtual Reality
PubMed: 34897242
DOI: 10.3352/jeehp.2021.18.32 -
Cell Dec 2020As of 2020, fewer than 600 individuals have left Earth to experience work and life in space. That number will grow as government-funded and commercial space programs...
As of 2020, fewer than 600 individuals have left Earth to experience work and life in space. That number will grow as government-funded and commercial space programs move forward in countries around the globe. There are however major questions about how humans respond to spaceflight at every level, from the whole body to individual organs to specific cells to molecular pathways. Preparing for a future where longer-duration spaceflights are anticipated and people can begin to contemplate space tourism, researchers are studying astronauts to understand how the human system is affected by and adapts to space. Lara Szewczak got a window on this world, speaking with retired astronaut Scott Kelly about his late-blooming interest in science, what he's learned through the NASA Twins Study, and why space vacations might not be for everyone. They were joined by Chris Mason, a lead investigator looking at the 'omics of spaceflight. Excerpts from this conversation are presented below, and the full conversation is available with the article online.
Topics: Astronauts; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Space Flight
PubMed: 33242423
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.11.026 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Apr 2023Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a series of disorders that affect the muscles and joint. Symptoms include joint pain, muscle pain, and limitation of mouth... (Review)
Review
Correlation between Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) and Posture Evaluated trough the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD): A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.
Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a series of disorders that affect the muscles and joint. Symptoms include joint pain, muscle pain, and limitation of mouth opening. One of several multifactorial diseases, temporomandibular dysfunction has mostly been linked to five etiological factors: occlusion, trauma, severe pain stimuli, parafunctional activities, and psychological elements, including stress, anxiety, and depression. The position of the human body as it is displayed in space is referred to as posture. Several nerve pathways regulate posture, and through ligaments, TMD and posture affect each other. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the possible correlation between posture and TMD through a meta-analysis of the literature; Methods: A literature search was performed on PubMed, Lilacs, and Web of science, and articles published from 2000 to 31 December 2022 were considered, according to the keywords entered. The term "temporomandibular disorders" has been combined with "posture", using the Boolean connector AND; Results: At the end of the research, 896 studies were identified from the search conducted on the 3 engines. Only three were chosen to draw up the present systematic study summarizing the article's main findings. The meta-analysis showed through forest plot analysis a correlation between posture and TMD Conclusions: This literature meta-analysis showed a correlation between posture and TMD. Nerve pathways probably regulate both body posture and mandibular posture. Further clinical studies will be needed to confirm this hypothesis and to indicate the main conclusions or interpretations.
PubMed: 37048735
DOI: 10.3390/jcm12072652 -
Korean Journal of Family Medicine Nov 2020One-third of the global population aged 15 years and older engages in insufficient physical activities, which affects health. However, the health risks posed by...
One-third of the global population aged 15 years and older engages in insufficient physical activities, which affects health. However, the health risks posed by sedentary behaviors are not well known. The mean daily duration of sedentary behavior is 8.3 hours among the Korean population and 7.7 hours among the American adult population. Sedentary lifestyles are spreading worldwide because of a lack of available spaces for exercise, increased occupational sedentary behaviors such as office work, and the increased penetration of television and video devices. Consequently, the associated health problems are on the rise. A sedentary lifestyle affects the human body through various mechanisms. Sedentary behaviors reduce lipoprotein lipase activity, muscle glucose, protein transporter activities, impair lipid metabolism, and diminish carbohydrate metabolism. Furthermore, it decreases cardiac output and systemic blood flow while activating the sympathetic nervous system, ultimately reducing insulin sensitivity and vascular function. It also alters the insulin-like growth factor axis and the circulation levels of sex hormones, which elevates the incidence of hormone-related cancers. Increased sedentary time impairs the gravitostat, the body's weight homeostat, and weight gain, adiposity, and elevated chronic inflammation caused by sedentary behavior are risk factors for cancer. Sedentary behaviors have wide-ranging adverse impacts on the human body including increased all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, cancer risk, and risks of metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia; musculoskeletal disorders such as arthralgia and osteoporosis; depression; and, cognitive impairment. Therefore, reducing sedentary behaviors and increasing physical activity are both important to promote public health.
PubMed: 33242381
DOI: 10.4082/kjfm.20.0165