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Nguyen CN, Urquieta E. Contemporary review of dermatologic conditions in space flight and future implications for long-duration exploration missions. Life Sci Space Res (Amst) 2023; 36:147-156. [PMID: 36682824 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2022.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Future planned exploration missions to outer space will almost surely require the longest periods of continuous space exposure by the human body yet. As the most external organ, the skin seems the most vulnerable to injury. Therefore, discussion of the dermatological implications of such extended-duration missions is critical. OBJECTIVES In order to help future missions understand the risks of spaceflight on the human skin, this review aims to consolidate data from the current literature pertaining to the space environment and its physiologic effects on skin, describe all reported dermatologic manifestations in spaceflight, and extrapolate this information to longer-duration mission. METHODS AND MATERIALS The authors searched PubMed and Google Scholar using keywords and Mesh terms. The publications that were found to be relevant to the objectives were included and described. RESULTS The space environment causes changes in the skin at the cellular level by thinning the epidermis, altering wound healing, and dysregulating the immune system. Clinically, dermatological conditions represented the most common medical issues occurring in spaceflight. We predict that as exploration missions increase in duration, astronauts will experience further physiological changes and an increased rate and severity of adverse events. CONCLUSION Maximizing astronaut safety requires a continued knowledge of the human body's response to space, as well as consideration and prediction of future events. Dermatologic effects of space missions comprise the majority of health-related issues arising on missions to outer space, and these issues are likely to become more prominent with increasing time spent in space. Improvements in hygiene may mitigate some of these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emmanuel Urquieta
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine. Houston TX, United States; Translational Research Institute for Space Health, Houston, TX, United States
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Abstract
Long-term exposure to microgravity and space radiation leads to physiological and pathological changes in human biology. Pathological neuro-ocular changes are collected under the name spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome. This review examines studies on the effects of microgravity and space radiation on the ocular structures and their results. In addition, we discuss treatment methods and hypotheses to reduce the effects of microgravity and space radiation on biological structures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gökhan Öğretmenoğlu
- Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Ophthalmology, Adana, Turkey
| | - Şansal Gedik
- Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Konya, Turkey
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Restier-Verlet J, El-Nachef L, Ferlazzo ML, Al-Choboq J, Granzotto A, Bouchet A, Foray N. Radiation on Earth or in Space: What Does It Change? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3739. [PMID: 33916740 PMCID: PMC8038356 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
After having been an instrument of the Cold War, space exploration has become a major technological, scientific and societal challenge for a number of countries. With new projects to return to the Moon and go to Mars, radiobiologists have been called upon to better assess the risks linked to exposure to radiation emitted from space (IRS), one of the major hazards for astronauts. To this aim, a major task is to identify the specificities of the different sources of IRS that concern astronauts. By considering the probabilities of the impact of IRS against spacecraft shielding, three conclusions can be drawn: (1) The impacts of heavy ions are rare and their contribution to radiation dose may be low during low Earth orbit; (2) secondary particles, including neutrons emitted at low energy from the spacecraft shielding, may be common in deep space and may preferentially target surface tissues such as the eyes and skin; (3) a "bath of radiation" composed of residual rays and fast neutrons inside the spacecraft may present a concern for deep tissues such as bones and the cardiovascular system. Hence, skin melanoma, cataracts, loss of bone mass, and aging of the cardiovascular system are possible, dependent on the dose, dose-rate, and individual factors. This suggests that both radiosusceptibility and radiodegeneration may be concerns related to space exploration. In addition, in the particular case of extreme solar events, radiosensitivity reactions-such as those observed in acute radiation syndrome-may occur and affect blood composition, gastrointestinal and neurologic systems. This review summarizes the specificities of space radiobiology and opens the debate as regards refinements of current radiation protection concepts that will be useful for the better estimation of risks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Nicolas Foray
- Inserm, U1296 Unit, «Radiation: Defense, Health and Environment», Centre Léon-Bérard, 28, Rue Laennec, 69008 Lyon, France; (J.R.-V.); (L.E.-N.); (M.L.F.); (J.A.-C.); (A.G.); (A.B.)
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Amalfitano S, Levantesi C, Copetti D, Stefani F, Locantore I, Guarnieri V, Lobascio C, Bersani F, Giacosa D, Detsis E, Rossetti S. Water and microbial monitoring technologies towards the near future space exploration. Water Res 2020; 177:115787. [PMID: 32315899 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.115787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Space exploration is demanding longer lasting human missions and water resupply from Earth will become increasingly unrealistic. In a near future, the spacecraft water monitoring systems will require technological advances to promptly identify and counteract contingent events of waterborne microbial contamination, posing health risks to astronauts with lowered immune responsiveness. The search for bio-analytical approaches, alternative to those applied on Earth by cultivation-dependent methods, is pushed by the compelling need to limit waste disposal and avoid microbial regrowth from analytical carryovers. Prospective technologies will be selected only if first validated in a flight-like environment, by following basic principles, advantages, and limitations beyond their current applications on Earth. Starting from the water monitoring activities applied on the International Space Station, we provide a critical overview of the nucleic acid amplification-based approaches (i.e., loop-mediated isothermal amplification, quantitative PCR, and high-throughput sequencing) and early-warning methods for total microbial load assessments (i.e., ATP-metry, flow cytometry), already used at a high readiness level aboard crewed space vehicles. Our findings suggest that the forthcoming space applications of mature technologies will be necessarily bounded by a compromise between analytical performances (e.g., speed to results, identification depth, reproducibility, multiparametricity) and detrimental technical requirements (e.g., reagent usage, waste production, operator skills, crew time). As space exploration progresses toward extended missions to Moon and Mars, miniaturized systems that also minimize crew involvement in their end-to-end operation are likely applicable on the long-term and suitable for the in-flight water and microbiological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Amalfitano
- Water Research Institute - National Research Council of Italy (IRSA-CNR), Via Salaria Km 29,300, 00015, Monterotondo, Roma, Italy.
| | - Caterina Levantesi
- Water Research Institute - National Research Council of Italy (IRSA-CNR), Via Salaria Km 29,300, 00015, Monterotondo, Roma, Italy
| | - Diego Copetti
- Water Research Institute - National Research Council of Italy (IRSA-CNR), Via del Mulino 19, 20861, Brugherio, Monza-Brianza, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Stefani
- Water Research Institute - National Research Council of Italy (IRSA-CNR), Via del Mulino 19, 20861, Brugherio, Monza-Brianza, Italy
| | - Ilaria Locantore
- Thales Alenia Space Italia SpA, Strada Antica di Collegno, 253 - 10146, Turin, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Guarnieri
- Thales Alenia Space Italia SpA, Strada Antica di Collegno, 253 - 10146, Turin, Italy
| | - Cesare Lobascio
- Thales Alenia Space Italia SpA, Strada Antica di Collegno, 253 - 10146, Turin, Italy
| | - Francesca Bersani
- Centro Ricerche SMAT, Società Metropolitana Acque Torino S.p.A., C.so Unità d'Italia 235/3, 10127, Torino, Italy
| | - Donatella Giacosa
- Centro Ricerche SMAT, Società Metropolitana Acque Torino S.p.A., C.so Unità d'Italia 235/3, 10127, Torino, Italy
| | - Emmanouil Detsis
- European Science Foundation, 1 quai Lezay Marnésia, BP 90015, 67080, Strasbourg Cedex, France
| | - Simona Rossetti
- Water Research Institute - National Research Council of Italy (IRSA-CNR), Via Salaria Km 29,300, 00015, Monterotondo, Roma, Italy
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Abstract
While humans have made enormous progress in the exploration and exploitation of Earth, exploration of outer space remains beyond current human capabilities. The principal challenges lie in current space technology and engineering which includes the protection of astronauts from the hazards of working and living in the space environment. These challenges may lead to a paradoxical situation where progress in space technology and the ability to ensure acceptable risk/benefit for human space exploration becomes dissociated and the rate of scientific discovery declines. In this paper, we discuss the predominant challenges of the space environment for human health and argue that development and deployment of a human enhancement policy, initially confined to astronauts - for the purpose of future human space programmes is a rational solution to these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konrad Szocik
- Department of Social Sciences, University of Information Technology, and Management, Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Martin Braddock
- Sherwood Observatory, Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society, England, UK
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Baiocco G, Bocchini L, Giraudo M, Barbieri S, Narici L, Lobascio C, Ottolenghi A. INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR PERSONAL RADIATION SHIELDING IN SPACE. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2019; 183:228-232. [PMID: 30521032 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncy216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Personal radiation shielding is likely to play an important role in the strategy for radiation protection of future manned interplanetary missions. There is potential for the successful adoption of wearable shielding devices, readily available in case of accidental exposures or used for emergency operations in low-shielded areas of the habitat, particularly in case of solar particle events (SPEs). Based on optimization of available resources, conceptual models for radiation protection spacesuits have been proposed, with elements made of different materials, and the first prototype of a water-fillable garment was designed and manufactured in the framework of the PERSEO project, funded by the Italian Space Agency, leading to the successful test of such prototype for ease of use and wearability on-board the International Space Station. We present results of Monte Carlo calculations offering a proof-of-principle validation of the shielding efficacy of such prototype in different SPE environments and shielding conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Baiocco
- Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - L Bocchini
- Physics Department, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Thales Alenia Space - Italy, Turin, Italy
| | - M Giraudo
- Thales Alenia Space - Italy, Turin, Italy
| | - S Barbieri
- Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - L Narici
- Physics Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- INFN-Roma2, Rome, Italy
| | - C Lobascio
- Thales Alenia Space - Italy, Turin, Italy
| | - A Ottolenghi
- Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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