Bone – NSBRI http://nsbri.org National Space Biomedical Research Institute Sat, 06 Feb 2016 12:13:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.5.9 Space Radiation and Bone Loss: Lunar Outpost Mission-Critical Scenarios and Countermeasures http://nsbri.org/researches/space-radiation-and-bone-loss-lunar-outpost-mission-critical-scenarios-and-countermeasures/ Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:53:43 +0000 http://nsbri.org/researches/space-radiation-and-bone-loss-lunar-outpost-mission-critical-scenarios-and-countermeasures/ Astronauts on long lunar missions will face the adverse affects of microgravity, reduced gravity and radiation exposure. It is known that microgravity causes bone loss since bones of the lower body do not bear weight in space like they do on Earth. The impact of radiation on bone quality and fracture healing in reduced gravity […]

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]]> Astronauts on long lunar missions will face the adverse affects of microgravity, reduced gravity and radiation exposure. It is known that microgravity causes bone loss since bones of the lower body do not bear weight in space like they do on Earth. The impact of radiation on bone quality and fracture healing in reduced gravity is unknown. Dr. Ted A Bateman is investigating the effect of different types of space radiation on bone to learn whether radiation increases the rate of loss. His team is also testing the protective effects of pharmacological countermeasures, such as bisphosphonates, antioxidants and certain proteins.

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]]> Examination of Anti-Resorptive and Anabolic Treatments/Stimuli on Unloading-Induced Osteoporosis http://nsbri.org/researches/examination-of-anti-resorptive-and-anabolic-treatmentsstimuli-on-unloading-induced-osteoporosis/ Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:53:46 +0000 http://nsbri.org/researches/examination-of-anti-resorptive-and-anabolic-treatmentsstimuli-on-unloading-induced-osteoporosis/ Previous studies involving astronauts returning from Russian Space Station Mir showed that extended spaceflight caused a severe loss of bone density and that the time needed to return to preflight bone mass levels was considerably longer than the time spent in space. Dr. Ted A. Bateman is examining countermeasures to prevent loss of bone mass […]

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]]> Previous studies involving astronauts returning from Russian Space Station Mir showed that extended spaceflight caused a severe loss of bone density and that the time needed to return to preflight bone mass levels was considerably longer than the time spent in space. Dr. Ted A. Bateman is examining countermeasures to prevent loss of bone mass and to quickly replace bone postflight to prevent fractures, kidney stones and susceptibility to osteoporosis. Through an animal study, Bateman is researching whether low doses of osteoprotegerin and zoledronate prevent the inflight loss of mass and allow bone to recover more quickly. The study also will evaluate exercise, ultrasound and parathyroid hormone (PTH) as methods to return bone to pre-flight levels.

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]]> Maintaining Musculoskeletal Health in the Lunar Environment http://nsbri.org/researches/maintaining-musculoskeletal-health-in-the-lunar-environment/ Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:53:38 +0000 http://nsbri.org/researches/maintaining-musculoskeletal-health-in-the-lunar-environment/ It is well documented that the human body loses bone and muscle mass during long-duration stays in space such as on the International Space Station. With the United States planning to conduct long-duration missions to the moon, scientists must learn what effects lunar gravity, which is one-sixth of Earth’s, will have on human muscle and […]

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]]> It is well documented that the human body loses bone and muscle mass during long-duration stays in space such as on the International Space Station. With the United States planning to conduct long-duration missions to the moon, scientists must learn what effects lunar gravity, which is one-sixth of Earth’s, will have on human muscle and bone.

Dr. Susan A. Bloomfield is leading an animal model study to determine if muscle and bone loss on the moon will be as severe as it is in microgravity. Her project also seeks to determine if low-dose radiation exposure worsens bone and muscle loss in a lunar-gravity environment and if, under these unique conditions, exercise is still effective in reducing bone and muscle loss.

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]]> Increasing the Efficiency of Exercise Countermeasures for Bone Loss http://nsbri.org/researches/increasing-the-efficiency-of-exercise-countermeasures-for-bone-loss/ Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:53:38 +0000 http://nsbri.org/researches/increasing-the-efficiency-of-exercise-countermeasures-for-bone-loss/ Dr. Susan A. Bloomfield’s research seeks to define an optimal exercise regimen that will mitigate bone loss when combined with the administration of an appropriate drug agent. To enhance muscle and bone recovery, Bloomfield’s animal study will test the hypothesis that astronaut time spent exercising to reduce bone loss can be decreased if combined with […]

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]]> Dr. Susan A. Bloomfield’s research seeks to define an optimal exercise regimen that will mitigate bone loss when combined with the administration of an appropriate drug agent. To enhance muscle and bone recovery, Bloomfield’s animal study will test the hypothesis that astronaut time spent exercising to reduce bone loss can be decreased if combined with an appropriate pharmacological agent. She will first compare two distinct exercise types, both mimicking weight training, then administer the pharmalogical agent in combination with the most successful exercise mode, and then systematically determine what reduction in exercise time results in the most benefit to bone and muscle. Her results can then be translated to flight-based study.

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]]> A Combinatorial Approach of Exercise and Myostatin Inhibition to Enhance Compromised Bone (Postdoctoral Fellowship) http://nsbri.org/researches/a-combinatorial-approach-of-exercise-and-myostatin-inhibition-to-enhance-compromised-bone-postdoctoral-fellowship/ Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:53:29 +0000 http://nsbri.org/researches/a-combinatorial-approach-of-exercise-and-myostatin-inhibition-to-enhance-compromised-bone-postdoctoral-fellowship/ Long-duration spaceflight poses many health risks for human explorers. Astronauts in microgravity are susceptible to developing weaker bones, which is also a serious problem on Earth for those who suffer from osteoporosis and other bone diseases. NSBRI Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Stephanie M. Carleton has developed a research project to study how the absence of myostatin […]

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]]> Long-duration spaceflight poses many health risks for human explorers. Astronauts in microgravity are susceptible to developing weaker bones, which is also a serious problem on Earth for those who suffer from osteoporosis and other bone diseases. NSBRI Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Stephanie M. Carleton has developed a research project to study how the absence of myostatin — a negative regulator of muscle growth — impacts the bone quality of mice with brittle bones, which models the segment of the human population with osteoporosis. Carleton’s hypothesis is that the muscle mass in the mice with the mutation and osteoporosis-like symptoms will increase during exercise, leading to stronger bones due to the added stress to the bones from the larger muscles. This research could lead to effective bone loss countermeasures during long-duration spaceflight and improved treatments for patients suffering from bone loss.

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]]> A Quantitative Test of On-Orbit Exercise Countermeasures for Bone Demineralization Using a Bedrest Analog http://nsbri.org/researches/a-quantitative-test-of-on-orbit-exercise-countermeasures-for-bone-demineralization-using-a-bedrest-analog/ Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:53:11 +0000 http://nsbri.org/researches/a-quantitative-test-of-on-orbit-exercise-countermeasures-for-bone-demineralization-using-a-bedrest-analog/ Dr. Peter Cavanagh and his colleagues are conducting a bed-rest study to better understand the amount of exercise loading that is necessary to reduce bone loss in astronauts during long-duration spaceflight. Volunteers in a 12-week head-down bed-rest study were randomly assigned into one of two groups, an exercise and a non-exercise group. The exercise group […]

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]]> Dr. Peter Cavanagh and his colleagues are conducting a bed-rest study to better understand the amount of exercise loading that is necessary to reduce bone loss in astronauts during long-duration spaceflight. Volunteers in a 12-week head-down bed-rest study were randomly assigned into one of two groups, an exercise and a non-exercise group. The exercise group participated in an individualized exercise program each day using a vertical treadmill with a one g applied subject load that provided a flight-like simulation of the treadmill exercise that is performed in space. The goal of the exercise prescription is to replace the daily load stimulus in one g which was measured during entire days of free living prior to bed rest. In order to compare the changes between the exercise and non-exercise group members, measurements of bone mineral density, muscle volume and strength are taken at the beginning and the end of the 12-week period. Bone metabolic markers are also collected.

In addition to providing an answer if exercise can adequately protect the body from bone and muscle loss during spaceflight, the data will be helpful to understand the importance of exercise for prevention and treatment of bone diseases such as osteoporosis.

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]]> Monitoring Bone Health by Daily Load Stimulus Measurement During Lunar Missions http://nsbri.org/researches/monitoring-bone-health-by-daily-load-stimulus-measurement-during-lunar-missions/ Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:53:11 +0000 http://nsbri.org/researches/monitoring-bone-health-by-daily-load-stimulus-measurement-during-lunar-missions/ Dr. Peter R. Cavanagh is leading a project to develop and validate a miniaturized accelerometer-based system that could be worn by astronauts to collect data on how much load stimulus is put on the lower body each day and to interpret the information in relation to bone health. After validation, the final product – the […]

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]]> Dr. Peter R. Cavanagh is leading a project to develop and validate a miniaturized accelerometer-based system that could be worn by astronauts to collect data on how much load stimulus is put on the lower body each day and to interpret the information in relation to bone health. After validation, the final product – the Accelerometric Daily Load Sensor – will consist of a small shoe-mounted sensor that will transmit signals to a BioWATCH, a device that can collect, store and transmit data on many human body systems. Software in the spacecraft or lunar habitat will read the data to determine how much more exercise is needed to maintain bone health.

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]]> Foot Reaction Forces During Simulated ISS Exercise Countermeasures http://nsbri.org/researches/foot-reaction-forces-during-simulated-iss-exercise-countermeasures/ Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:53:26 +0000 http://nsbri.org/researches/foot-reaction-forces-during-simulated-iss-exercise-countermeasures/ As a countermeasure to bone and muscle loss, astronauts on the International Space Station exercise using three devices; a treadmill, bicycle and resistance training device. However, as new devices are designed it is important to know the levels of load these devices place on the lower extremities and how the load changes with various settings. […]

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]]> As a countermeasure to bone and muscle loss, astronauts on the International Space Station exercise using three devices; a treadmill, bicycle and resistance training device. However, as new devices are designed it is important to know the levels of load these devices place on the lower extremities and how the load changes with various settings. Through ground-based simulations, Dr. Peter R. Cavanagh and NASA Glenn Research Center colleagues are working to establish the devices loading characteristics in order to be better able to direct device design and to develop exercise prescriptions. To aid the study, the group will enhance the Zero Gravity Locomotion Simulator at The Cleveland Clinic to provide more flight-like simulation of exercise. Using this device, they will work to define the range of loading possibilities in cycling, treadmill running, resistance and jumping exercise. The results will provide clear guidelines for the prescription of inflight exercise.

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]]> Ground-Based Measurement of Bone Loss in Astronauts Using AMPDXA Ground-Based Clinical System http://nsbri.org/researches/ground-based-measurement-of-bone-loss-in-astronauts-using-ampdxa-ground-based-clinical-system/ Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:57:03 +0000 http://nsbri.org/researches/ground-based-measurement-of-bone-loss-in-astronauts-using-ampdxa-ground-based-clinical-system/ The loss of bone density resulting from the weightless environment of space is a major health issue for astronauts during long duration spaceflight. Dr. Harry K. Charles, Jr. and his colleagues – both at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and the School of Medicine – are building a ground-based clinical system using Advanced […]

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]]> The loss of bone density resulting from the weightless environment of space is a major health issue for astronauts during long duration spaceflight. Dr. Harry K. Charles, Jr. and his colleagues – both at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and the School of Medicine – are building a ground-based clinical system using Advanced Multiple Projection Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (AMPDXA) techniques to measure bone and muscle loss and determine changes in bone structure. Performing high precision scans on astronauts before and after spaceflights with the AMPDXA will enable flight surgeons to monitor musculoskeletal strength and to determine the effectiveness of countermeasures. This system could have a large impact on the bone health of our aging Earth-bound population because both bone research and clinical medicine will benefit from a more definitive method for diagnosing osteoporosis and other bone disorders, monitoring progress and assessing the efficacy of treatments.

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]]> Effect of Unloading on the Structure and Mechanics of Rotator Cuff Tendon-to-Bone Insertion (First Award Fellowship) http://nsbri.org/researches/effect-of-unloading-on-the-structure-and-mechanics-of-rotator-cuff-tendon-to-bone-insertion-first-award-fellowship/ Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:58:14 +0000 http://nsbri.org/researches/effect-of-unloading-on-the-structure-and-mechanics-of-rotator-cuff-tendon-to-bone-insertion-first-award-fellowship/ Rotator cuff injuries often occur at the site of tendons-to-bone attachment, also called the insertion site or enthesis. The sensitivity of the musculoskeletal system to its loading environment may augment the risk of injury at insertion sites due to extended periods of microgravity or unloading. Long-term changes in mechanical loading on joints, such as may […]

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]]> Rotator cuff injuries often occur at the site of tendons-to-bone attachment, also called the insertion site or enthesis. The sensitivity of the musculoskeletal system to its loading environment may augment the risk of injury at insertion sites due to extended periods of microgravity or unloading. Long-term changes in mechanical loading on joints, such as may be experienced during extended space travel, will lead to modifications in the tissues’ structural and therefore mechanical properties. Alix-Deymier Black will be examining the multi-scale structural and mechanical changes in the rotator cuff enthesis with unloading. A better understanding of structural and mechanical changes will help elucidate techniques for minimizing the risk of injury.

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