Cardiovascular effects of vibration, part 1 Final report, 1 Jan. - 31 Jul. 1968
Electrocardiographic studies of vibration effects on human cardiovascular system
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Electrocardiographic studies of vibration effects on human cardiovascular system
Analog simulation of human cardiovascular system with emphasis on venous circulation
Cardiopulmonary bypass developed for studies of long term weightlessness on cardiovascular system of mice, white rats and squirrel monkeys
Human cardiovascular system reactions to forward-back and transverse vibrations
Analog computer cardiovascular system model to simulate pressure and flow events in veins including effects of gravity, collapse, breathing and venous valves action
Conditioning suit for normal function of astronaut cardiovascular system in gravity environment
Conference on aerospace environments, manned space flight, weightlessness simulation, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems, bone loss, mineral metabolism, and hematology
An electronic circuit for processing arterial blood pressure waveform signals is described. The circuit detects blood pressure as the heart pumps blood through the aortic valve and the pressure distribution caused by aortic valve closure. From these measurements, timing signals for use in measuring the left ventricular ejection time is determined, and signals are provided for computer monitoring of the cardiovascular system. Illustrations are given of the circuit and pressure waveforms.
Areas of life science are being studied to obtain baseline data, strategies, and technology to permit life research in the space environment. The reactions of the cardiovascular system to prolonged weightlessness are also being investigated. Particle deposition in the human lung, independent respiratory support system, food technology, and remotely controlled manipulators are mentioned briefly.
The behavior of the cardiovascular system during low frequency whole-body vibration, such as encountered by astronauts during launch and reentry, is examined from a fluid mechanical viewpoint. The vibration characteristics of typical manned spacecraft and other vibration environments are discussed, and existing results from in vivo studies of the hemodynamic aspects of this problem are reviewed. Recent theoretical solutions to related fluid mechanical problems are then used in the interpretation of these results and in discussing areas of future work. The results are included of studies of the effects of vibration on the work done by the heart and on pulsatile flow in blood vessels. It is shown that important changes in pulse velocity, the instantaneous velocity profile, mass flow rate, and wall shear stress may occur in a pulsatile flow due to the presence of vibration. The significance of this in terms of changes in peripheral vascular resistance and possible damage to the endothelium of blood vessels is discussed.
Posture and exercise were investigated as synchronizers of certain physiologic rhythms in eight healthy male subjects in a defined environment. Four subjects exercised during bed rest. Body temperature (BT), heart rate, plasma thyroid hormone, and plasma steroid data were obtained from the subjects for a 6-day ambulatory equilibration period before bed rest, 56 days of bed rest, and a 10-day recovery period after bed rest. The results indicate that the mechanism regulating the circadian rhythmicity of the cardiovascular system is rigorously controlled and independent of the endocrine system, while the BT rhythm is more closely aligned to the endocrine system.
The Skylab program established the opportunity for the first time to perform extensive medical experimentation on man in a long-term zero-g environment. This experimentation involved metabolic studies, cardiovascular systems, nutrition and mineral balance, hematology, vestibular function, and many other related investigations. This report presents an overview of the significant results of the medical experiments performed during the program and a summary of the medical observations gathered by the team of life scientists.
The crew of the Skylab 4 Mission exhibited physiological changes during their 84-day mission that resembled but in several important areas did not reach the magnitude of changes exhibited in crewmen of the two earlier Skylab flights. At rest all three crewmen showed, in comparison to preflight levels, elevated mean systolic and pulse pressures and decreased mean diastolic and mean arterial pressures. Similar changes were seen in most Skylab 2 and Skylab 3 crewmen. While mean resting heart rates of both the Skylab 3 and Skylab 4 crews were elevated, those of the Skylab 2 crew were, however, lower than during preflight tests. Stressed heart rates followed previous patterns in being consistently elevated over preflight values. Postflight changes in cardiovascular parameters for the most part resembled those seen in previous crewmen of space missions. Their recovery to preflight limits occurred rapidly. In-flight data and subjective impressions of the crewmen confirmed that lower body negative pressure in weightlessness imposed a greater stress upon the cardiovascular system than in earth's gravity.
Echocardiographic studies were performed preflight 5 days before launch and on recovery day and 1, 2, 4, 11, 31 and 68 days postflight. From these echocardiograms measurements were made. From these primary measurements, left ventricular end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, stroke volume, and mass were derived using the accepted assumptions. Findings in the Scientist Pilot and Pilot resemble those seen in trained distance runners. Wall thickness measurements were normal in all three crewmembers preflight. Postflight basal studies were unchanged in the Commander on recovery day through 68 days postflight in both the Scientist Pilot and Pilot, however, the left ventricular end-diastolic volume, stroke volume, and mass were decreased slightly. Left ventricular function curves were constructed for the Commander and Pilot by plotting stroke volume versus end-diastolic volume. In both astronauts, preflight and postflight data fell on the same straight line demonstrating that no deterioration in cardiac function had occurred. These data indicate that the cardiovascular system adapts well to prolonged weightlessness and suggest that alterations in cardiac dimensions and function are unlikely to limit man's future in space.
Maximum permissible radiation doses for astronauts are reported based on chronic radiation experiments with dogs and actual measurements during space flights. Observed were clinical conditions, peripheral blood and marrow, the state of the cardiovascular system, higher nervous activity, the state of the vestibular analyzer, the organ of vision, spermatogenic function and the ability to reproduce, the state of immunity and a number of biological indices in blood and tissues. The following maximum permissible doses are determined as preliminary values: 1 year of flight - 200 rem; 2 years of flight - 250 rem; 3 years of flight - 275 rem.
A brief review of the compensatory-adjusting body changes observed during and after human exposure to prolonged spaceflight is given. Pathological disturbances caused by increased functional hypokinesia and weightlessness loads affect the cardiovascular system, the nervous and hormonal systems, and the state of the skeletal musculo apparatus.
Experimental data show that weightlessness conditions lasting 5 days or more (18-25) do not produce significant disturbances in physical reactions of astronauts, with the exception of some singularities in functioning of the cardiovascular system: A reduction in heart rate and somewhat large fluctuations in the physiological indicators of cutaneogalvanic reactions.
Methods of prophylaxis for disorders caused predominantly by reduction or absence of hydrostatic blood pressure in weightlessness and in experimental stimulation of it (readjustment of the watersalt metabolism, relative dehydration, disruption of competence of the cardiovascular system with respect to orthostatic loads, etc.), are adequately substantiated. Two theoretically possible approaches to prophylaxis of this type of disorder are examined: The use of methods of simulation of the effect of hydrostatic blood pressure in flight and the decrease in the gravitational redistribution of blood to the lower part of the body in the postflight period. In particular, the method of negative pressure in the lower region of the body gave favorable results. A significant decrease in orthostatic disorders after completion of such experiments was achieved by use of g-suits or other types of special clothing.