The A&P Professor Science & Education Updates - Issue #159

Life Science

The connective tissue that surrounds your muscles and organs, known as fascia, has always been ignored – but new insights suggest it holds the key to tackling chronic pain and immune dysfunction

Our bodies are pretty ingenious when it comes to self-repair, and scientists have been studying in detail the ways in which the heart patches itself up after a heart attack (myocardial infarction). They hope to find clues that could lead to better

Study reveals how olfactory neurons adapt to the surrounding environment.

Smoking cigarettes is the number one risk factor for lung cancer, with tobacco products causing up to 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in the United States. 

The healthy human body is home to an abundance of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that are acquired in early postnatal life. The bulk of the microbiome is in the gut, but distinct microbial communities exist on the skin and in the mouth, nose, lungs, and genital tract.

The human microbiome has important roles in maintaining homeostasis, and disruption of microbial colonization of an infant has systemic effects that may influence health later in life, potentially promoting the development of autoimmunity, allergies, metabolic diseases, and even cancer.

The journal Science has a special issue on the human microbial system.

Analysis of UK Biobank data combined with a meta-analysis of published literature provides clinicians with an overview of the relationship between type 2 diabetes and accelerated neurocognitive decline.

The HIV drug, known as maraviroc, acts on a cellular protein known as CCR5, which sits on the surface of white blood cells. When the HIV virus connects with one of these receptors, it can enter the cell and replicate. But if maraviroc gets there first, it blocks the entrance.

Teaching & Learning

One of the most important aspects of inclusivity is the language we use when interacting with patients and their families. From intake to discharge to continued communication with patients, the word choices that healthcare workers use can define the experience and have a serious impact on health outcomes.

Researchers investigate why we "space out" and stop paying attention to the world around us when we become engrossed in social media posts.

TAPP News & Notes

Best Human Anatomy and Physiology Podcasts. The A&P Professor podcast, your favorite podcast for anatomy & physiology faculty, currently ranks #3 on the list!