Investigating spaceflight-associated changes in astronauts

What The Study Did: Head congestion is one of the most common symptoms experienced by astronauts during spaceflight. This observational study examined preflight and postflight head magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of 35 astronauts who participated in either a short-duration (30 days or less) Space Shuttle mission or a long-duration (greater than 30 days) International Space Station mission. Researchers  investigated whether there were differences in the development of certain physiological changes of the paranasal sinuses and mastoid air cells associated with symptoms of head congestion.

Authors: Donna R. Roberts, M.D., of the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, is the corresponding author.

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(doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2020.0228)

Editor's Note: The article includes conflict of interest and funding/support disclosures. Please see the articles for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflicts of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

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