navigation system for the human body
February 5, 2010
Dutch researchers from the University of Twente’s MIRA research institute, UMC St Radboud and various other institutions have developed a highly detailed computer model of the musculoskeletal system of the lower half of the human body. Surgeons can use this model to enhance their preparations for surgery, and even to “practice” these procedures in advance, using Virtual Reality. The model can be personalized for individual patients.
According to Prof. Nico Verdonschot and Prof. Bart Koopman, who are both members of the research team, the strength of the underlying musculoskeletal model lies in its accuracy, which is approximately five times greater than that of existing models. Uniquely, the system is based on a single, consistent dataset. This means that the body of a single individual is used as a basis (while existing models are composed of parts of different bodies). The fine detail of this individual’s muscles, bones, tendons and attachments is mapped and digitized. As stated, the model is based on a consistent data set. However, an MRI scan is used to personalize the model for each patient, creating a model that is unique to the individual in question.
You can read more at http://www.medicaldeviceguru.com/showthread.php?p=11092
Physical exercise: increase hippocampal volume, and video games: changes in dorsal striatum
February 5, 2010
Two studys currently carried out have shown changes in hippocampal volume and dorsal striatum as a result of physical exercise and playing video games, respectively.
1)The preliminary results of a study conducted by German researchers have shown that physical exercise may contribute to an increase in hippocampal volume. For more information, take a look at: Arch Gen Psychiatry, Vol. 67:2, pp. 133-143.
2)In the analysis, the researchers (Pittsburg) found that the striatum was more related to learning how to play video games than the hippocampus. In addition, the volume of the “dorsal striatum positively predicted performance improvements for those individuals trained with strategies promoting cognitive flexibility, whereas the volume of the ventral striatum did not, according to the authors. This research was published online January 20 in the journal Cerebral Cortex. More information can be found at http://www.auntminnie.com/index.asp?Sec=sup&Sub=mri&Pag=dis&ItemId=89351&wf=3561
Safety issues: whole-body airport scanners
January 18, 2010
On January, the 8th, an article appeared in Diagnostic Imaging, which analyzes the safety issues concerning whole-body airport scanners. Since the attempted attack inside an airplane flying from Amsterdam to Detroit last December, most airports are planning to install whole-body scanners to scan passengers. However, not much is really known about the health risks.
You can read more about the research conducted so far, in the following two articles:
- http://abcnews.go.com/Health/CancerPreventionAndTreatment/experts-radiation-fears-full-body-scans-unfounded/story?id=9476542&page=1
- http://arxiv.org/abs/0910.5294
