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Surgery in space. Phase I: Basic surgical principles in a simulated space environment.

The venturing forth of man into space confronts the surgeon with a new weightless environment with which he will inevitably have to contend. In this study operative procedures were performed on 20 rats in a simulated space environment with use of neutral buoyancy in order to identify those factors that could actually or potentially affect operative technique. There are three general areas of difference from normal conditions in simulated microgravity: physical adaptation to gravity deprivation tissue behavior, including bleeding; and the conduct of surgery. Without gravity, the tactile "feel" of objects is changed ("heavy" and "light" are meaningless terms) and proprioception is confused so that there is past pointing and overreaching of movements. Tissue planes tend to separate, and organs float and bob in the operative field, which makes clamping, cutting, and suturing different. Bleeding is a major consideration; surface tension tends to keep venous blood oozing along surfaces, whereas pulsatile arterial blood forms droplets, streamers, and clouds, depending on the force of the bleeding. These factors and others interfere with surgical technique in a number of ways: dispersion of blood obscures the surgeon's vision, sutures become entangled, organs are not stabilized, and instruments float into the operative field. The limitations of comparing neutral buoyancy to the true zero gravity of space are addressed. There is a definite need for further investigation for development of new surgical techniques in preparation for experimental and clinical surgery in space.

Animals

Interpersonal relations during simulated space missions.

The present article derives from two isolation studies performed for the European Space Agency (ESA) as simulations of space travels, lasting for 4 and 9 weeks. The aim was to study how interpersonal relations were affected by time, and how individual characteristics related to conflicts and tension among crewmembers. A broad battery of methods was used, including video-recording, peer-ratings and self-reports. In both studies, group-functioning declined in the middle of the isolation and towards the end of the stay. Dominance and task motivation seemed to be important characteristics for compatibility between crewmembers, and negative relations established early in the isolation remained stable over time. These findings have implications for composition, training, and support of crews for extended spaceflights.

Adult

[Features of the functional capabilities of the bodies of older persons exposed to simulated space flight factors].

In response to simulated space flights cardiovascular and metabolic changes of 86 volunteers, aged 40-49 and 50-56, were similar to those of young people (25-39 years old). In most aged test subjects, the changes produced by 8-day head-down tilt (-8 degrees) and 7-day water immersion were moderate and reversible. This type of variation of the adaptive-compensatory reactions give evidence that aged people have sufficiently high functional capabilities. Nevertheless, 36% test subjects, aged 40-49, and 50% test subjects, aged 50-56, displayed certain features suggesting a reduction of the adaptive-compensatory capabilities (functional reserves) as a result of age-related and atherosclerotic changes of the cardiovascular system.

Adaptation, Physiological

Alterations in calcium homeostasis and bone during actual and simulated space flight.

The weightlessness experienced in space produces alterations in calcium homeostasis. Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab astronauts exhibited a negative calcium balance due primarily to hypercalciuria. In addition, the bone mineral density of the calcaneus declined by approximately 4% in Skylab crew members after 84 d of orbital flight. The negative calcium balance and loss of calcaneal bone mineral in normal adults subjected to prolonged bed rest was comparable to that observed in space. The pathogenesis of bone loss during space flight and bed rest is not well understood due to the lack of histomorphometric data. It is also uncertain whether osteoporotic changes in astronauts are corrected postflight. The observed bone loss would be reversible and of no long-term consequence if the only abnormality was an increased remodeling rate. However, altered bone cell activity would probably result in irreversible bone loss with the premature development of senile osteoporosis many years after space flight. The main skeletal defect in growing rats placed in orbit aboard Soviet Cosmos biosatellites appears to be diminished bone formation. Bone resorption was not elevated during weightlessness. Although cortical bone returned to normal postflight, the decline in trabecular bone mass was somewhat persistent. These studies established that the modeling of a growing skeleton was altered in a weightless environment, but do not necessarily imply that a remodeling imbalance occurs in adults during space flight. However, various forms of simulated space flight inhibited bone formation during both skeletal modeling and the remodeling of adult bone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Characteristics of the sleep of men in simulated space flights.

A study of the sleep of men in simulated space flight has shown that, during different effects (diminished motor activity, noise, rotation), monotony and time of the exposure is the general pathogenetic factor producing sleep disturbances. The monotony factor was responsible for typical changes in sleep function (difficulty involved in falling asleep, disturbed continuity of sleep as a process, decline in the depth, etc.), whose degree was related not only to the professional importance of the experiment but also to the individual intolerance to the main exposure. In these cases, the action of somnogenic mechanisms developed against the background of the action of analyzers (vestibular, accoustic, proprioceptive) that were under load and whose excitation during hypokinesia, noise, and rotation, especially in poorly adapted people, led to cumulation and was expressed in the phenomenon of spontaneous awakening. In addition to that, the genesis of dyssomnia, particularly during bedrest and water immersion, included hemodynamic disturbances induced by blood redistribution due to the recumbent position and monotonous motor activity. The psychosomatic feelings (congestion, edema, irresistible desire to stand up and stretch) brought about emotional strain which was later enhanced by the duration of the exposure.

Acoustic Stimulation

Cardiovascular and biochemical response to simulated space flight entry.

Twelve men and 12 women were exposed to two types of short-duration (6 h) space flight entry simulation: bedrest (no head-down tilt) and water immersion (to the neck). Preceding and following the simulation, orthostatic tolerance testing using LBNP (Lower Body Negative Pressure) was performed. Male LBNP tolerance was greater than female LBNP tolerance at all four comparison points (pre- and post-bedrest, pre- and post-water immersion); whereas the short-duration bedrest reduces female LBNP tolerance about as effectively as water immersion, only water immersion leads to marked LBNP intolerance in the male subjects. If the water immersion model simulates zero G, loss of male and female orthostatic tolerance will be about equal after short-duration space flight. On the other hand, the bedrest simulation would indicate a greater loss of orthostatic tolerance for females.

Blood Pressure

[Effects of simulated space rhythm (L:D = 0.75h:0.75h) on circadian rhythm in tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri chinensis)].

It is known that contemporary space station revolves at the altitude of 400-500 km in the outer space. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of simulated space rhythm (L:D = 0.75 h:0.75 h) at this altitude on circadian rhythm in tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) and the effects of endogenous sleep inducing neuropeptide Asp5-alpha-DSIP on the space-rhythm-entrained circadian rhythm. This primitive stock serves as one species of Tupaiidae and is a unique native of South China. Our previous studies have shown that this species showed striking differences in natural circadian rhythm between day and night (e.g. 3.03 degrees C of rectal temperature). Results showed that the above mentioned space rhythm (L:D = 0.75h:0.75h) could drastically disturb the inherent circadian rhythm of Tupaia belangeri chinensis. The maximal peak of motor activity dropped significantly in the morning (0600-1200) and a new enhanced peak (more than 20 times greater than that of the control) was found between 1800-2400, whereas the maximal trough of motor activity (2400-0600) remained basically unchanged. Concurrently, the total amount of 24-h motor activity was significantly decreased and the recovery after the cessation of space rhythm was slow. Experimental results also demonstrated that consecutive administration of Asp5-alpha-DSIP (30 micrograms/kg, i.p.) for 5 days (2 days before and 3 days during space rhythm) did not prevent the basic disturbance of circadian rhythm of Tupaia belangeri chinensis caused by the space rhythm (L:D = 0.75h:0.75h). Nevertheless, no decrease or even some enhancement of the total amount of 24th motor activity was observed during space rhythm or after its cessation.

Animals

Psychosocial value of space simulation for extended spaceflight.

There have been over 60 studies of Earth-bound activities that can be viewed as simulations of manned spaceflight. These analogs have involved Antarctic and Arctic expeditions, submarines and submersible simulators, land-based simulators, and hypodynamia environments. None of these analogs has accounted for all the variables related to extended spaceflight (e.g., microgravity, long-duration, heterogeneous crews), and some of the stimulation conditions have been found to be more representative of space conditions than others. A number of psychosocial factors have emerged from the simulation literature that correspond to important issues that have been reported from space. Psychological factors include sleep disorders, alterations in time sense, transcendent experiences, demographic issues, career motivation, homesickness, and increased perceptual sensitivities. Psychiatric factors include anxiety, depression, psychosis, psychosomatic symptoms, emotional reactions related to mission stage, asthenia, and postflight personality, and marital problems. Finally, interpersonal factors include tension resulting from crew heterogeneity, decreased cohesion over time, need for privacy, and issues involving leadership roles and lines of authority. Since future space missions will usually involve heterogeneous crews working on complicated objectives over long periods of time, these features require further study. Socio-cultural factors affecting confined crews (e.g., language and dialect, cultural differences, gender biases) should be explored in order to minimize tension and sustain performance. Career motivation also needs to be examined for the purpose of improving crew cohesion and preventing subgrouping, scapegoating, and territorial behavior. Periods of monotony and reduced activity should be addressed in order to maintain morale, provide meaningful use of leisure time, and prevent negative consequences of low stimulation, such as asthenia and crew member withdrawal. Leadership roles and lines of authority need to be studied further to understand the factors leading to status leveling, leadership competition, and role confusion. Finally, the relationship between crews and ground personnel should be characterized in order to minimize the displacement of anger and tension to the outside, to counter the effects of inter-group miscommunications, and to develop support strategies that can help to counter in-group/out-group conflicts. Ground-based space simulations still have a role to play in terms of understanding the impact of these factors and ways of dealing with them. In particular, issues involving language, cultural differences, gender biases, career motivation, monotonous conditions, use of free time, leadership, lines of authority, and the relationship between crews and outside monitoring personnel need to be further characterized and examined under controlled conditions. Until such time as these factors can be studied directly in space, simulations provide an opportunity to learn more about these psychosocial issues and to plan ways of minimizing their negative consequences during actual space missions.

Career Choice

Space microbiology--lethality, mutagenicity and cytological effects of terrestrial microorganisms by irradiation of cosmic proton under simulated space condition.

We have been discussing in connection with a space quarantine. The subject is not merely an academic problem, but it contains a fundamental problem which avoid the contamination of other planets by terrestrial microflora. The space environments in the solar system were simulated by using an apparatus of cryostat (low temperature of 110-310K, high vacuum of 1 x 10(-8) torr) and proton irradiation from the Van de Graaff generator. After exposure to a barrage of protons corresponding to about 250 years in solar space, Tobacco mosaic virus, Bacillus subtilis spore, Staphylococcus aureus. Micrococcusflavus, Clostridium mangenoti spore and Aspergillus niger spore showed considerably high survival rates. Furthermore, it was found firstly that an irradiation of proton induced considerable mutation frequency compared to that of spontaneous and caused also the cytological effects based on a damage of chromosome.

Bacteria

Preinflation before acceleration on tolerance to simulated Space Shuttle reentry G profiles in dehydrated subjects.

This study was conducted to determine if preinflation of a standard five-bladder anti-g suit 10 minutes before exposure to a centrifuge simulation of a Space Shuttle reentry would provide significantly better protection against orthostasis than the standard symptomatic inflation regimen. This study differed significantly from prior studies: The rate of g onset was slower, peak g was lower, duration of exposure was longer, and the subjects were dehydrated to mimic conditions observed in astronauts immediately postflight. Preinflation demonstrated physiological advantages as determined by arterial blood pressure and heart rate changes in seven healthy male, experienced centrifuge subjects.

Acceleration

[Effect of factors simulating space flight on the content of free and protein-bound forms of 11-hydroxycorticosteroids in the blood plasma].

The effect of spaceflight simulation factors (ascent to an altitude of 8,000 m, anticipation of centrifugation, psychological test, hypokinesia, and enclosure in an altitude chamber) on the content of free and protein-bound 11-hydroxycorticosteroids in plasma was studied. This exposure produced changes in the total and fractional content of the hormones. The changes depended on the simulation factor, duration of its action, and functional status of test subjects.

11-Hydroxycorticosteroids

Prevention of decompression sickness during a simulated space docking mission.

This study has shown that repetitive exchanges between the American Apollo space vehicle atmosphere of 100% oxygen at 5 psia (258 torr) and the Russian Soyuz spacecraft atmosphere of 30% oxygen-70% nitrogen at 10 psia (523 torr), as simulated in altitude chambers, will not likely result in any form of decompression sickness. This conclusion is based upon the absence of any form of bends in seven crewmen who participated in 11 tests distributed over three 24-h periods. During each period, three transfers from the 5 to the 10 psia environments were performed by simulating passage through a docking module which served as an airlock where astronauts and cosmonauts first adapted to each other's cabin gases and pressures before transfer. Biochemical tests, subjective fatigue scores, and the complete absence of any form of pain were also indicative that decompression sickness should not be expected if this spacecraft transfer schedule is followed.

17-Hydroxycorticosteroids

Computational fluid mechanical study of the convective heat transfer in a closed space simulating an infant incubator.

The uneven distribution of the ambient temperature in a model of an infant incubator was demonstrated using the computational fluid mechanical (CFM) simulation of the air flow. A finite volume method of CFM calculation was performed on a three-dimensional (3D) model of an infant incubator including a model baby. The time course of the temperature distribution was computed solving the heat transfer equations simultaneously with the momentum equations. An uneven temperature distribution was observed for a long period (60 s) after the warm inflow was introduced into the incubator chamber. The temperature distribution was complex in 3D space and unsteady even after a long time, suggesting that it may take a considerable time to settle and may continue to be unsteady even if the inflow velocity is steady.

Computer Simulation