Background: A discrepancy exists between the incidence of ground-based decompression sickness (DCS) during simulated extravehicular activity (EVA) at hypobaric space suit pressure (20-40%) and crewmember reports during actual EVA (zero reports). This could be due to the effect of gravity during ground-based DCS studies.
Hypothesis: At EVA suit pressures of 29.6 kPa (4.3 psia), there is no difference in the incidence of hypobaric DCS between a control group and group exposed to simulated weightlessness (supine body position).
Methods: Male subjects were exposed to a hypobaric pressure of 29.6 kPa (4.3 psi) for up to 4 h. The control group (n = 26) pre-oxygenated for 60 min (first 10 min exercising) before hypobaric exposure and walking around in the altitude chamber. The test group (n = 39) remained supine for a 3 h prior to and during the 60-min pre-oxygenation (also including exercise) and at hypobaric pressure. DCS symptoms and venous gas emboli (VGE) at hypobaric pressure were registered.
Results: DCS occurred in 42% in the control and in 44% in simulated weightlessness group (n.s.). The mean time for DCS to develop was 112 min (SD +/- 61) and 123 min (+/- 67), respectively. VGE occurred in 81% of the control group subjects and in 51% of the simulated weightlessness subjects (p = 0.02), while severe VGE occurred in 58% and 33%, respectively (p = 0.08). VGE started after 113 min (+/- 43) in the control and after 76 min (+/- 64) in the simulated weightlessness group.
Conclusions: No difference in incidence of DCS was shown between control and simulated weightlessness conditions. VGE occurred more frequently during the control condition with bubble-releasing arm and leg movements.
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J Orthop Surg Res
January 2025
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University of China, Gongti South Rd, No. 8, Beijing, 100020, China.
Objective: This study aims to investigate changes in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) levels in the intervertebral discs of New Zealand white rabbits under simulated overload and microgravity conditions, focusing on the expression of MMP1, MMP3, and TIMP1. The findings aim to provide a theoretical foundation for preventing and delaying lumbar disc degeneration in these environments.
Methods: Overload was simulated using an animal centrifuge, and microgravity was mimicked through tail suspension.
Cell Mol Life Sci
January 2025
Department of Aerospace Medical Training, School of Aerospace Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Chang Le Xi Road, Xi'an, 710032, China.
Background: Prolonged spaceflight is known to cause vascular deconditioning and remodeling. Tail suspension, a widely used spaceflight analog, is reported to result in vascular remodeling of rats. However, little is known about the cellular atlas of the heterogeneous cells of CA and FA from hindlimb-unloaded rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStomatologiia (Mosk)
January 2025
A.I. Yevdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, Moscow, Russia.
The Purpose: Of the study was to assess oral microbiocenosis changes in participants of microgravity modeling in a control group and using prophylaxis in the form of a probiotic supplement with 1.0·10 CFU of strain in one lozenge and a dairy product containing not less than 1·10 CFU of s strain in one gram.
Materials And Methods: The study included 15 participants aged 25-40 years from the "Dry Immersion-2018" experiment.
FASEB J
January 2025
National Key Laboratory of Space Medicine, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, China.
Microgravity-induced cardiac remodeling and dysfunction present significant challenges to long-term spaceflight, highlighting the urgent need to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms and develop precise countermeasures. Previous studies have outlined the important role of miRNAs in cardiovascular disease progression, with miR-199a-3p playing a crucial role in myocardial injury repair and the maintenance of cardiac function. However, the specific role and expression pattern of miR-199a-3p in microgravity-induced cardiac remodeling remain unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWilderness Environ Med
January 2025
Centre Européen de Réalité Virtuelle, Ecole nationale d'Ingenieurs de Brest, Brest, Bretagne, France.
Introduction: Augmented reality is a promising technology for enhancing remote medical assistance. It assists users by directly projecting the relevant virtual assistance in the real world at the right moment and at the right location. This modality is called colocalization but has not been validated in parabolic flights.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!