Varicella zoster virus DNA at inoculation sites and in saliva after Zostavax immunization.

Analysis of 36 individuals over age 60 years who were immunized with Zostavax revealed varicella zoster virus (VZV) DNA in swabs of skin inoculation sites obtained immediately after immunization in 18 (50%) of 36 subjects (copy number per nanogram of total DNA, 28 to 2.1 × 10(6)) and in saliva collected over 28 days in 21 (58%) of 36 subjects (copy number, 20 to 248). Genotypic analysis of DNA extracted from 9 random saliva samples identified vaccine virus in all instances.

Updates to astronaut radiation limits: radiation risks for never-smokers.

New epidemiology assessments of the life span study (LSS) of the atomic bomb survivors in Japan and of other exposed cohorts have been made by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the United Nations Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, and the Radiation Research Effects Foundation in Japan.

Nuclear interactions in heavy ion transport and event-based risk models.

The physical description of the passage of heavy ions in tissue and shielding materials is of interest in radiobiology, cancer therapy and space exploration, including a human mission to Mars. Galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) consist of a large number of ion types and energies. Energy loss processes occur continuously along the path of heavy ions and are well described by the linear energy transfer (LET), straggling and multiple scattering algorithms.

Thyroid status of Space Shuttle crewmembers: effects of iodine removal.

Introduction: Iodine is often used for water purification and has been used throughout the U.S. space program.

Changes in toe clearance during treadmill walking after long-duration spaceflight.

Introduction: Astronauts exhibit sensorimotor changes upon return from long-duration spaceflight that can result in altered gait kinematics and possibly an increased risk of tripping. Toe trajectory during locomotion is a precise motor control task involving both legs, thus providing a composite metric of locomotor control. The purpose of this study was to determine whether astronauts are at an increased risk of tripping after their return from long-duration spaceflight.

Non-targeted effects and the dose response for heavy ion tumor induction.

Non-targeted effects (NTE), including bystander effects in neighbor cells of cells directly hit by radiation tracks and genomic instability in the progeny of irradiated cells, challenge traditional radiation protection paradigms on Earth. It is thus of interest to understand how NTE could impact our understanding of cancer risks from galactic cosmic rays (GCR), which are comprised of high-energy protons and heavy ions. The most comprehensive data set for tumor induction by heavy ions is the induction of Harderian gland tumors in mice by high-energy protons, helium, neon, iron and niobium ions after doses of 0.

Diagnostic ultrasound at MACH 20: retroperitoneal and pelvic imaging in space.

An operationally available diagnostic imaging capability augments spaceflight medical support by facilitating the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of medical or surgical conditions, by improving medical outcomes and, thereby, by lowering medical mission impacts and the probability of crew evacuation due to medical causes. Microgravity-related physiological changes occurring during spaceflight can affect the genitourinary system and potentially cause conditions such as urinary retention or nephrolithiasis for which ultrasonography (U/S) would be a useful diagnostic tool. This study describes the first genitourinary ultrasound examination conducted in space, and evaluates image quality, frame rate, resolution requirements, real-time remote guidance of nonphysician crew medical officers and evaluation of on-orbit tools that can augment image acquisition.

Calcifying nanoparticles (nanobacteria): an additional potential factor for urolithiasis in space flight crews.

Spaceflight-induced microgravity appears to be a risk factor for the development of urinary calculi, resulting in urolithiasis during and after spaceflight. Calcifying nanoparticles, or nanobacteria, multiply more rapidly in simulated microgravity and create external shells of calcium phosphate. The question arises whether calcifying nanoparticles are nidi for calculi and contribute to the development of clinically significant urolithiasis in those who are predisposed to the development of urinary calculi because of intrinsic or extrinsic factors.

Physical and biological organ dosimetry analysis for international space station astronauts.

In this study, we analyzed the biological and physical organ dose equivalents for International Space Station (ISS) astronauts. Individual physical dosimetry is difficult in space due to the complexity of the space radiation environment, which consists of protons, heavy ions and secondary neutrons, and the modification of these radiation types in tissue as well as limitations in dosimeter devices that can be worn for several months in outer space. Astronauts returning from missions to the ISS undergo biodosimetry assessment of chromosomal damage in lymphocyte cells using the multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique.

WISE-2005: supine treadmill exercise within lower body negative pressure and flywheel resistive exercise as a countermeasure to bed rest-induced bone loss in women during 60-day simulated microgravity.

Bone loss associated with disuse during bed rest (BR), an analog of space flight, can be attenuated by exercise. In previous studies, the efficacy of either aerobic or resistive exercise countermeasures has been examined separately. We hypothesized that a regimen of combined resistive and aerobic exercise during BR would prevent bone resorption and promote bone formation.

Biochemical kinetics model of DSB repair and induction of gamma-H2AX foci by non-homologous end joining.

We developed a biochemical kinetics approach to describe the repair of double-strand breaks (DSBs) produced by low-LET radiation by modeling molecular events associated with non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). A system of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations describes the induction of DSBs and activation pathways for major NHEJ components including Ku70/80, DNA-PKcs, and the ligase IV-XRCC4 heterodimer. The autophosphorylation of DNA-PKcs and subsequent induction of gamma-H2AX foci observed after ionizing radiation exposure were modeled.

Percutaneous bladder catheterization in microgravity.

Introduction: Urinary obstruction (UO) or failure to void has been observed during several episodes of short-duration spaceflight, necessitating bladder catheterization. It should be considered a possible medical condition in long-duration space missions as well. Antiemetics used early in space flight add to the risk and severity of voiding problems, along with the sensory and psychological peculiarities of voiding without gravity and in the unusual setting of a spacecraft.

Description of light ion production cross sections and fluxes on the Mars surface using the QMSFRG model.

The atmosphere of Mars significantly attenuates the heavy ion component of the primary galactic cosmic rays (GCR), however, increases the fluence of secondary light ions (neutrons, and hydrogen and helium isotopes) because of particle production processes. We describe results of the quantum multiple scattering fragmentation (QMSFRG) model for the production of light nuclei through the distinct mechanisms of nuclear abrasion and ablation, coalescence, and cluster knockout. The QMSFRG model is shown to be in excellent agreement with available experimental data for nuclear fragmentation cross sections.

Nuclear fragmentation and the number of particle tracks in tissue.

For high energy nuclei, the number of particle tracks per cell is modified by local nuclear reactions that occur, with large fluctuations expected for heavy ion tracks. Cells near the interaction site of a reaction will experience a much higher number of tracks than estimated by the average fluence. Two types of reaction products are possible and occur in coincidence; projectile fragments, which generally have smaller charge and similar velocity to that of the projectile, and target fragments, which are produced from the fragmentation of the nuclei of water atoms or other cellular constituents with low velocity.

Nutritional status is altered in the self-neglecting elderly.

Elder self-neglect is the most common form of elder mistreatment. Individuals who cannot provide basic needs for themselves may develop social, functional, and physical deficits. The systematic characterization of self-neglecting individuals is the goal of the Consortium for Research in Elder Self-Neglect of Texas project.

Assessment of urinary N-telopeptide: point-of-care testing, sample types, and relationship to urinary helical peptide excretion.

Background: A point-of-care (POC) device would be useful in the space program for measuring N-telopeptide (NTX), a marker of bone resorption. This study was done to establish whether NTX measurements from a POC device compare favorably with standard (ELISA) techniques. We also compared results from fresh and frozen urine samples, samples collected on consecutive days, and second voids (of the day) and 24-h urine pools.

Diagnostic instrumentation aboard ISS: just-in-time training for non-physician crewmembers.

Introduction: The performance of complex tasks on the International Space Station (ISS) requires significant preflight crew training commitments and frequent skill and knowledge refreshment. This report documents a recently developed "just-in-time" training methodology, which integrates preflight hardware familiarization and procedure training with an on-orbit CD-ROM-based skill enhancement. This "just-in-time" concept was used to support real-time remote expert guidance to complete ultrasound examinations using the ISS Human Research Facility (HRF).

Ocular examination for trauma; clinical ultrasound aboard the International Space Station.

Background: Ultrasound imaging is a successful modality in a broad variety of diagnostic applications including trauma. Ultrasound has been shown to be accurate when performed by non-radiologist physicians; recent reports have suggested that non-physicians can perform limited ultrasound examinations. A multipurpose ultrasound system is installed on the International Space Station (ISS) as a component of the Human Research Facility (HRF).

Uncertainties in estimates of the risks of late effects from space radiation.

Methods used to project risks in low-Earth orbit are of questionable merit for exploration missions because of the limited radiobiology data and knowledge of galactic cosmic ray (GCR) heavy ions, which causes estimates of the risk of late effects to be highly uncertain. Risk projections involve a product of many biological and physical factors, each of which has a differential range of uncertainty due to lack of data and knowledge. Using the linear-additivity model for radiation risks, we use Monte-Carlo sampling from subjective uncertainty distributions in each factor to obtain an estimate of the overall uncertainty in risk projections.

The nutritional status of astronauts is altered after long-term space flight aboard the International Space Station.

Defining optimal nutrient requirements is critical for ensuring crew health during long-duration space exploration missions. Data pertaining to such nutrient requirements are extremely limited. The primary goal of this study was to better understand nutritional changes that occur during long-duration space flight.

Amino acid supplementation alters bone metabolism during simulated weightlessness.

High-protein and acidogenic diets induce hypercalciuria. Foods or supplements with excess sulfur-containing amino acids increase endogenous sulfuric acid production and therefore have the potential to increase calcium excretion and alter bone metabolism. In this study, effects of an amino acid/carbohydrate supplement on bone resorption were examined during bed rest.

Bone markers, calcium metabolism, and calcium kinetics during extended-duration space flight on the mir space station.

Unlabelled: Bone loss is a current limitation for long-term space exploration. Bone markers, calcitropic hormones, and calcium kinetics of crew members on space missions of 4-6 months were evaluated. Spaceflight-induced bone loss was associated with increased bone resorption and decreased calcium absorption.

Month-to-month and year-to-year reproducibility of high frequency QRS ECG signals.

High frequency electrocardiography analyzing the entire QRS complex in the frequency range of 150 to 250 Hz may prove useful in the detection of coronary artery disease, yet the long-term stability of these waveforms has not been fully characterized. Therefore, we prospectively investigated the reproducibility of the root mean squared voltage, kurtosis, and the presence versus absence of reduced amplitude zones in signal averaged 12-lead high frequency QRS recordings acquired in the supine position one month apart in 16 subjects and one year apart in 27 subjects. Reproducibility of root mean squared voltage and kurtosis was excellent over these time intervals in the limb leads, and acceptable in the precordial leads using both the V-lead and CR-lead derivations.

The ratio of animal protein intake to potassium intake is a predictor of bone resorption in space flight analogues and in ambulatory subjects.

Background: Bone loss is a critical concern for space travelers, and a dietary countermeasure would be of great benefit. Dietary protein and potassium-associated bicarbonate precursors may have opposing effects on the acid-base balance in the body and therefore on bone loss.

Objective: In 2 studies, we examined the ability of dietary protein and potassium to predict markers of bone metabolism.

Variability of collagen crosslinks: impact of sample collection period.

Because of the variability of collagen crosslinks, their use as markers for bone resorption is often criticized. We hypothesized that the variability could be reduced by collecting urine for 24 hours (or longer) instead of using single voids, and by not normalizing to creatinine. Urine samples were collected from 22 healthy subjects during two or more 24-hour periods.