The circadian clock and sleep are essential for human physiology and behavior; deregulation of circadian rhythms impairs health and performance. Circadian clocks and sleep evolved to adapt to Earth's environment, ...The circadian clock and sleep are essential for human physiology and behavior; deregulation of circadian rhythms impairs health and performance. Circadian clocks and sleep evolved to adapt to Earth's environment, which is characterized by a 24-hour light–dark cycle. Changes in gravity load, lighting and work schedules during spaceflight missions can impact circadian clocks and disrupt sleep, in turn jeopardizing the mood, cognition and performance of orbiting astronauts. In this review, we summarize our understanding of both the influence of the space environment on the circadian timing system and sleep and the impact of these changes on astronaut physiology and performance.展开更多
Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell(BMSC)osteogenic differentiation and osteoblast function play critical roles in bone formation,which is a highly regulated process.Long noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs)perform diverse functions...Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell(BMSC)osteogenic differentiation and osteoblast function play critical roles in bone formation,which is a highly regulated process.Long noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs)perform diverse functions in a variety of biological processes,including BMSC osteogenic differentiation.Although several studies have reported that HOX transcript antisense RNA(HOTAIR)is involved in BMSC osteogenic differentiation,its effect on bone formation in vivo remains unclear.Here,by constructing transgenic mice with BMSC(Prx1-HOTAIR)-and osteoblast(Bglap-HOTAIR)-specific overexpression of HOTAIR,we found that Prx1-HOTAIR and Bglap-HOTAIR transgenic mice show different bone phenotypes in vivo.Specifically,Prx1-HOTAIR mice showed delayed bone formation,while Bglap-HOTAIR mice showed increased bone formation.HOTAIR inhibits BMSC osteogenic differentiation but promotes osteoblast function in vitro.Furthermore,we identified that HOTAIR is mainly located in the nucleus of BMSCs and in the cytoplasm of osteoblasts.HOTAIR displays a nucleocytoplasmic translocation pattern during BMSC osteogenic differentiation.We first identified that the RNA-binding protein human antigen R(HuR)is responsible for HOTAIR nucleocytoplasmic translocation.HOTAIR is essential for osteoblast function,and cytoplasmic HOTAIR binds to miR-214 and acts as a ceRNA to increase Atf4 protein levels and osteoblast function.BglapHOTAIR mice,but not Prx1-HOTAIR mice,showed alleviation of bone loss induced by unloading.This study reveals the importance of temporal and spatial regulation of HOTAIR in BMSC osteogenic differentiation and bone formation,which provides new insights into precise regulation as a target for bone loss.展开更多
With the continuing progress in space exploration,a new and perplexing condition related to spaceflight ocular syndrome has emerged in the past four decades.National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) has name...With the continuing progress in space exploration,a new and perplexing condition related to spaceflight ocular syndrome has emerged in the past four decades.National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) has named this condition "spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome"(SANS).This article gives an overview of the current research about SANS and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) by analyzing the existing publications on Pub Med and CNKI and reports from NASA about SANS,summarizing the potential pathogenesis of SANS and physical interventions for treating SANS,and discussing the feasibility of treating SANS with TCM.Due to the unique characteristics of the space environment,it is infeasible to conduct large-scale human studies of SANS.SANS may be the result of the interaction of multiple factors,including inflammation and fluid displacement in the optic nerve sheath and cerebrospinal fluid.We should pay attention to SANS.Visual function is not only related to the health of astronauts but also closely related to space operations.TCM has antioxidative stress and antiapoptotic effects and is widely used for optic nerve diseases.TCM has great potential to prevent SANS.展开更多
Sufficient sleep duration and good sleep quality are crucial to ensure normal physical and mental health, cognition and work performance for the common people, as well as astronauts. On-orbit sleep problem is very com...Sufficient sleep duration and good sleep quality are crucial to ensure normal physical and mental health, cognition and work performance for the common people, as well as astronauts. On-orbit sleep problem is very common among astronauts and has potential detrimental influences on the health of crewmembers and the safety of flight missions. Sleep in space is becoming a new medical research frontier. In this review we summarized on-orbit sleep problems of astronauts and six kinds of causes, and we presented the effects of lack of sleep on performance as well as mental and physical health, then we proposed seven kinds of countermeasures for sleep disturbance in spaceflight, including pharmacologic interventions, light treatment, crew selection and training, Traditional Chinese Medicine and so on. Furthermore, we discussed and oriented the prospect of researches on sleep in space.展开更多
The development of skeletal muscle is a highly regulated,multi-step process in which pluripotent mesodermal cells give rise to myoblasts that subsequently withdraw from the cell cycle and differentiate into myotubes a...The development of skeletal muscle is a highly regulated,multi-step process in which pluripotent mesodermal cells give rise to myoblasts that subsequently withdraw from the cell cycle and differentiate into myotubes as well as myofibers.The plasticity of myoblasts plays a critical role in maintaining skeletal muscle structure and function by myoblast activation,migration,adhesion,membrane reorganization,nuclear fusion,finally forming myotubes/myofibers.Our studies demonstrate that the local hypoxic microenvironment,a great diversity of regulatory factors such as IL-6 superfamily factors(IL-6,LIF,CNTF) and TGF-β1 could regulate the myoblast plasticity.The aim of this paper is to review the previous studies focused on the regulation of myoblast plasticity and its mechanism in our laboratory.Knowledge about the microenvironment or factors involved in regulating the myoblast plasticity will help develop the prevention and cure measures of skeletal muscle diseases.展开更多
The application of manned spaceflight makes a great impetus on the development of space medicine. With the deep growth of Chinese manned space, our national space medicine has attained great achievements. In this pape...The application of manned spaceflight makes a great impetus on the development of space medicine. With the deep growth of Chinese manned space, our national space medicine has attained great achievements. In this paper, the basic research of Space Medicine and its application in China during 2012–2014 were briefly reviewed.展开更多
Kear Editor,Individuals in isolated,confined,and extreme environments,such as astronauts,researchers wintering over Antarctica,submarine soldiers,and participants in simulated isolation environment experiments,commonl...Kear Editor,Individuals in isolated,confined,and extreme environments,such as astronauts,researchers wintering over Antarctica,submarine soldiers,and participants in simulated isolation environment experiments,commonly report difficulty in focusing their attention[1,2].However,current experimental findings from studies conducted in such environments are insufficient to fully support these self-reports of reduced attention.Certain attention-demanding tasks such as simple reaction time(RT)tasks and dual tasks,including primary pursuit tracking and secondary RT,were not affected in space flight experiments[2,3].展开更多
The Chinese space station will be built around 2020. As a national space laboratory, it will offer unique opportunities for studying the physiological effects of weightlessness and the efficacy of the countermeasures ...The Chinese space station will be built around 2020. As a national space laboratory, it will offer unique opportunities for studying the physiological effects of weightlessness and the efficacy of the countermeasures against such effects. In this paper, we described the development of countermeasure systems in the Chinese space program. To emphasize the need of the Chinese space program to implement its own program for developing countermeasures, we reviewed the literature on the negative physiological effects of weightlessness, the challenges of completing missions, the development of countermeasure devices, the establishment of countermeasure programs, and the efficacy of the countermeasure techniques in American and Russian manned spaceflights. In addition, a brief overview was provided on the Chinese research and development on countermeasures to discuss the current status and goals of the development of countermeasures against physiological problems associated with weightlessness.展开更多
In cases where substorm injections can be observed simultaneously by multiple spacecraft,they can help elucidate the potential mechanisms of particle transport and energization,of great importance to understanding and...In cases where substorm injections can be observed simultaneously by multiple spacecraft,they can help elucidate the potential mechanisms of particle transport and energization,of great importance to understanding and modeling the magnetosphere.In this paper,using data returned from the BeiDa-IES(BD-IES) instrument onboard a satellite in an inclined(55°) geosynchronous orbit(IGSO),in combination with two geo-transfer orbiting(GTO) satellite Van Allen Probes(A and B),we analyze a substorm injection event that occurred on the 16 th of October 2015.During this substorm injection,the IGSO onboard BD-IES was outbound,while both Van Allen Probe satellites(A and B) were inbound,a configuration of multiple trajectories that provides a unique opportunity to simultaneously investigate both the inward and outward radial propagation of substorm injection.Indicated by AE/AL indices,this substorm was closely related to an IMF/solar wind discontinuity that showed a sharp change in IMF Bz direction to the north.The innermost signature of this substorm injection was detected by Van Allen Probes A and B at L-3.7,while the outermost signature was observed by the onboard BD-IES instrument at L~\0.These data indicate that the substorm had a global,rather than just local,effect.Finally,we suggest that electric fields carried by fast-mode compressional waves around the substorm injection are the most likely candidate mechanism for the electron injection signatures observed in the inner- and outermost inner magnetosphere.展开更多
Objective:To study the changes in cardiopulmonary function induced by mid/long-term simulated microgravity with 6°head down bed rest(HDBR),and the effects of Taikong Yangxin Prescription(太空养心方,TYP)as a count...Objective:To study the changes in cardiopulmonary function induced by mid/long-term simulated microgravity with 6°head down bed rest(HDBR),and the effects of Taikong Yangxin Prescription(太空养心方,TYP)as a countermeasure.Methods:Fourteen healthy male volunteers were randomly divided into a control group and a Chinese medicine(CM)group(7 in each group)by a random digital table based on their body weight.Both groups underwent 6°HDBR for 60 days.Subjects in the CM group received daily TYP pills and subjects in the control group received daily placebo pills.Cardiac systolic and pumping functions were measured by echocardiography before HDBR;on days 20,42,and 57 of HDBR;and on day 3 of recovery after HDBR(R+3).Cardiopulmonary functional reserve and exercise capacity were evaluated before HDBR,on day 29,and on day R+3 by exercise testing.Results:The heart rate(HR)increased gradually during HDBR.The HR was significantly higher on day 57 than before HDBR in the control group(P<0.05),but did not increase significantly in the CM group.The stroke volume/stroke volume index,ejection fraction,and left ventricular fractional shortening tended to decrease over time in the control group,but not in the CM group.These parameters were significantly higher in the CM group than in the control group on day 42(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Exercise testing showed that maximum O_2consumption(VO_(2max),metabolic equivalents,relative O_2 consumption(VO_2),O_2 pulse,and exercise duration were significantly lower on day 29 than before HDBR in the control group,but not in the CM group.Conclusions:Sixty days of 6°HDBR induced a reduction in cardiac systolic and pumping functions,and reduced cardiopulmonary functional reserve and exercise capacity.Administration of TYP significantly improved cardiac systolic and pumping functions,and maintained cardiopulmonary functional reserve and exercise capacity.展开更多
Astronauts are under high stress for a long time because of the microgravity condition,which leads to anxiety,affects their learning and memory abilities,and seriously impairs the health of astronauts.Aromatherapy can...Astronauts are under high stress for a long time because of the microgravity condition,which leads to anxiety,affects their learning and memory abilities,and seriously impairs the health of astronauts.Aromatherapy can improve the physical and mental health of astronauts in a way that moisturizes them softly and silently.However,the strong volatility of fragrances and inconvenience of aroma treatment greatly limit their application in the field of spaceflight.In this study,reactive mesoporous silica nanoparticles were prepared to encapsulate and slowly release limonene.The limonene loaded nanoparticles were named limonene@mesoporous silica nanoparticles-cyanuric chloride(LE@MSNs-CYC).LE@MSNs-CYC were then applied to wallpaper to improve the convenience of aromatherapy.LE@MSNs-CYC could chemically react with the wallpaper,thus firmly adsorbed on the wallpaper.In the following,the mice were treated with hindlimb unloading(HU)to simulate a microgravity environment.The results showed that 28-day HU led to an increase in the level of anxiety and declines in learning,memory,and physical health in mice.LE@MSNs-CYC showed significant relief effects on anxiety,learning,memory,and physical health of HU treated mice.Subsequently,the molecular mechanisms were explored by hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis related hormones,immune-related cytokines,learning,and memory-related neurotransmitters and proteins.展开更多
With the extension of the deep space exploration program, the boundaries of human exploration will be pushed forward to the surface of Mars. Over the past nearly 60 years manned spaceflight and experimental fin dings ...With the extension of the deep space exploration program, the boundaries of human exploration will be pushed forward to the surface of Mars. Over the past nearly 60 years manned spaceflight and experimental fin dings dem on strated that spaceflight induced bone loss, muscle atrophy, cardiovascular remodeling and space-related medical problems (Durante and Cucinotta, 2008).展开更多
The variation of the flux of energetic electrons in the magnetosphere has been proven to be strongly related to the solar wind speed. Observations of GEO orbit show that the flux of low-energy electrons is not only mo...The variation of the flux of energetic electrons in the magnetosphere has been proven to be strongly related to the solar wind speed. Observations of GEO orbit show that the flux of low-energy electrons is not only modulated by the solar wind speed, but, if a time delay is added, is also positively correlated to the flux of high-energy electrons. This feature provides a possible method to forecast the flux of high-energy electrons in GEO orbit. In this study, the correlations of the fluxes between the high-energy electrons and low-middle-energy electrons obtained at different L values and in different orbits are investigated to develop the application of this feature. Based on the analysis of long–term data observed by NOAA POES and GOES, the correlations between the fluxes of high-energy electrons and low–middle–energy electrons are good enough at different L values and in different orbits in quiet time, but this correlation is strongly affected by CME–driven geomagnetic storms.展开更多
There are many active protecting methods including Electrostatic Fields,Confined Magnetic Field,Unconfined Magnetic Field and Plasma Shielding etc.for defending the high-energy solar particle events(SPE) and Galactic ...There are many active protecting methods including Electrostatic Fields,Confined Magnetic Field,Unconfined Magnetic Field and Plasma Shielding etc.for defending the high-energy solar particle events(SPE) and Galactic Cosmic Rays(GCR) in deep space exploration.The concept of using cold plasma to expand a magnetic field is the best one of all possible methods so far.The magnetic field expansion caused by plasma can improve its protective efciency of space particles.One kind of plasma generator has been developed and installed into the cylindrical permanent magnet in the eccentric.A plasma stream is produced using a helical-shaped antenna driven by a radio-frequency(RF) power supply of 13.56 MHz,which exits from both sides of the magnet and makes the magnetic field expand on one side.The discharging belts phenomenon is similar to the Earth's radiation belt,but the mechanism has yet to be understood.A magnetic probe is used to measure the magnetic field expansion distributions,and the results indicate that the magnetic field intensity increases under higher increments of the discharge power.展开更多
Mechanical stimulation plays an important role in bone remodeling. Exercise-induced mechanical loading enhances bone strength,whereas mechanical unloading leads to bone loss. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that ...Mechanical stimulation plays an important role in bone remodeling. Exercise-induced mechanical loading enhances bone strength,whereas mechanical unloading leads to bone loss. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that long noncoding RNAs(lnc RNAs) play key roles in diverse biological, physiological and pathological contexts. However, the roles of lnc RNAs in mechanotransduction and their relationships with bone formation remain unknown. In this study, we screened mechanosensing lnc RNAs in osteoblasts and identified Neat1, the most clearly decreased lnc RNA under simulated microgravity. Of note, not only Neat1 expression but also the specific paraspeckle structure formed by Neat1 was sensitive to different mechanical stimulations, which were closely associated with osteoblast function. Paraspeckles exhibited small punctate aggregates under simulated microgravity and elongated prolate or larger irregular structures under mechanical loading. Neat1 knockout mice displayed disrupted bone formation, impaired bone structure and strength, and reduced bone mass. Neat1 deficiency in osteoblasts reduced the response of osteoblasts to mechanical stimulation. In vivo, Neat1 knockout in mice weakened the bone phenotypes in response to mechanical loading and hindlimb unloading stimulation. Mechanistically, paraspeckles promoted nuclear retention of E3 ubiquitin ligase Smurf1 m RNA and downregulation of their translation, thus inhibiting ubiquitination-mediated degradation of the osteoblast master transcription factor Runx2, a Smurf1 target. Our study revealed that Neat1 plays an essential role in osteoblast function under mechanical stimulation, which provides a paradigm for the function of the lnc RNA-assembled structure in response to mechanical stimulation and offers a therapeutic strategy for long-term spaceflight-or bedrest-induced bone loss and age-related osteoporosis.展开更多
Energetic electron measurements and spacecraft charging are of great significance for theoretical research in space physics and space weather applications.In this paper,the energetic electron detection package(EEDP)de...Energetic electron measurements and spacecraft charging are of great significance for theoretical research in space physics and space weather applications.In this paper,the energetic electron detection package(EEDP)deployed on three Chinese navigation satellites in medium Earth orbit(MEO)is reviewed.The instrument was developed by the space science payload team led by Peking University.The EEDP includes a pinhole medium-energy electron spectrometer(MES),a high-energy electron detector(HED)based onΔE-E telescope technology,and a deep dielectric charging monitor(DDCM).The MES measures the energy spectra of 50−600 keV electrons from nine directions with a 180°×30°field of view(FOV).The HED measures the energy spectrum of 0.5−3.0 MeV electrons from one direction with a 30°cone-angle FOV.The ground test and calibration results indicate that these three sensors exhibit excellent performance.Preliminary observations show that the electron spectra measured by the MES and HED are in good agreement with the results from the magnetic electron-ion spectrometer(MagEIS)of the Van Allen Probes spacecraft,with an average relative deviation of 27.3%for the energy spectra.The charging currents and voltages measured by the DDCM during storms are consistent with the highenergy electron observations of the HED,demonstrating the effectiveness of the DDCM.The observations of the EEDP on board the three MEO satellites can provide important support for theoretical research on the radiation belts and the applications related to space weather.展开更多
Inspired by the mysteries of the universe,humans have been exploring outer space since the 1950s.Proceeding from I-day(Shenzhou 5)to 6-month(Shenzhou 15)missions,one of the perspectives of Chinese space exploration ha...Inspired by the mysteries of the universe,humans have been exploring outer space since the 1950s.Proceeding from I-day(Shenzhou 5)to 6-month(Shenzhou 15)missions,one of the perspectives of Chinese space exploration has shifted from not just how to safely survive but to how to healthily live in outer space.In current review,we introduce some common psychological stressors during space missions and how researchers simulate these stressors on the ground firstly.Then,we briefly introduce classic and state-of-the-art measurements and tools used in measuring the mental state of crew members.Self-reporting questionnaires,behavioral observations,and computerized tests are widely used as measurement strategies in this field.We discuss,respectively,how challenging missions negatively and positively affect crew members.As psychological issues are sensitive to individual and cultural backgrounds,we focus on Chinese crew members and potential cultural differences.Finally,we propose some potential future directions this research could evolve based on previous findings.展开更多
The pitch-angle distribution of energetic particles is important for space physics studies on magnetic storm and particle acceleration.A‘pin-hole’imaging structure is built with the‘pin-hole’technique and a positi...The pitch-angle distribution of energetic particles is important for space physics studies on magnetic storm and particle acceleration.A‘pin-hole’imaging structure is built with the‘pin-hole’technique and a position sensitive detector,which can be used to measure the pitch angle distribution of energetic particles.To calibrate the angular response of the‘pin-hole’imaging structure,special experiment facilities are needed,such as the particle accelerator with special design.The features of this kind of particle accelerator are:1)The energy range of the outgoing particles should be mid-energy particles(tens keV to several hundred keV);2)the particle flux should be consistent in time-scale;3)the directions of the outgoing particles should be the same and 4)the particle number within the spot should be low enough.In this paper,a method to calibrate the angular response of the‘pin-hole’imaging structure by the90Sr/90Y β source with a collimator is introduced and simulated by Geant4 software.The result of the calibration with the collimated β source is in accord with the Geant4 simulations,which verifies the validity of this method.展开更多
基金supported by the National Basic Program of China (2011CB711000 and 2012CB947600)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31171119, 31171010, 31171049, 31121061, 31271164)Open Fund from Key Laboratory for Space Biosciences & Biotechnology, Northwestern Polytechnical University (2013KF1501)
文摘The circadian clock and sleep are essential for human physiology and behavior; deregulation of circadian rhythms impairs health and performance. Circadian clocks and sleep evolved to adapt to Earth's environment, which is characterized by a 24-hour light–dark cycle. Changes in gravity load, lighting and work schedules during spaceflight missions can impact circadian clocks and disrupt sleep, in turn jeopardizing the mood, cognition and performance of orbiting astronauts. In this review, we summarize our understanding of both the influence of the space environment on the circadian timing system and sleep and the impact of these changes on astronaut physiology and performance.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Project(No.82072108,82192880,82192882,81830061,91740114 and 32000879)the Space Medical Experiment Project of China Manned Space Program(HYZHXM01006)National Key Laboratory of Space Medicine,China Astronaut Research and Training Center(SMFA22Q02)。
文摘Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell(BMSC)osteogenic differentiation and osteoblast function play critical roles in bone formation,which is a highly regulated process.Long noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs)perform diverse functions in a variety of biological processes,including BMSC osteogenic differentiation.Although several studies have reported that HOX transcript antisense RNA(HOTAIR)is involved in BMSC osteogenic differentiation,its effect on bone formation in vivo remains unclear.Here,by constructing transgenic mice with BMSC(Prx1-HOTAIR)-and osteoblast(Bglap-HOTAIR)-specific overexpression of HOTAIR,we found that Prx1-HOTAIR and Bglap-HOTAIR transgenic mice show different bone phenotypes in vivo.Specifically,Prx1-HOTAIR mice showed delayed bone formation,while Bglap-HOTAIR mice showed increased bone formation.HOTAIR inhibits BMSC osteogenic differentiation but promotes osteoblast function in vitro.Furthermore,we identified that HOTAIR is mainly located in the nucleus of BMSCs and in the cytoplasm of osteoblasts.HOTAIR displays a nucleocytoplasmic translocation pattern during BMSC osteogenic differentiation.We first identified that the RNA-binding protein human antigen R(HuR)is responsible for HOTAIR nucleocytoplasmic translocation.HOTAIR is essential for osteoblast function,and cytoplasmic HOTAIR binds to miR-214 and acts as a ceRNA to increase Atf4 protein levels and osteoblast function.BglapHOTAIR mice,but not Prx1-HOTAIR mice,showed alleviation of bone loss induced by unloading.This study reveals the importance of temporal and spatial regulation of HOTAIR in BMSC osteogenic differentiation and bone formation,which provides new insights into precise regulation as a target for bone loss.
基金Supported by China HT Medical Engineering Pre-research Project (No.2017SY54A0302)Open Funding Project of National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering (No.SYFD180051808K)。
文摘With the continuing progress in space exploration,a new and perplexing condition related to spaceflight ocular syndrome has emerged in the past four decades.National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) has named this condition "spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome"(SANS).This article gives an overview of the current research about SANS and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) by analyzing the existing publications on Pub Med and CNKI and reports from NASA about SANS,summarizing the potential pathogenesis of SANS and physical interventions for treating SANS,and discussing the feasibility of treating SANS with TCM.Due to the unique characteristics of the space environment,it is infeasible to conduct large-scale human studies of SANS.SANS may be the result of the interaction of multiple factors,including inflammation and fluid displacement in the optic nerve sheath and cerebrospinal fluid.We should pay attention to SANS.Visual function is not only related to the health of astronauts but also closely related to space operations.TCM has antioxidative stress and antiapoptotic effects and is widely used for optic nerve diseases.TCM has great potential to prevent SANS.
基金supported by the Manned Spaceflight Program of China,the Advanced Space Medio-Engineering Research Project of China(2014SY54A0001)
文摘Sufficient sleep duration and good sleep quality are crucial to ensure normal physical and mental health, cognition and work performance for the common people, as well as astronauts. On-orbit sleep problem is very common among astronauts and has potential detrimental influences on the health of crewmembers and the safety of flight missions. Sleep in space is becoming a new medical research frontier. In this review we summarized on-orbit sleep problems of astronauts and six kinds of causes, and we presented the effects of lack of sleep on performance as well as mental and physical health, then we proposed seven kinds of countermeasures for sleep disturbance in spaceflight, including pharmacologic interventions, light treatment, crew selection and training, Traditional Chinese Medicine and so on. Furthermore, we discussed and oriented the prospect of researches on sleep in space.
基金This research was supported in part by National Natural Science Foundation of China，supported by Research Funds of China Space Medical Engineering，supported by State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Applications, China Astronaut Research and Training Centre
基金supported by grants from National Basic Research Program of China(2011CB711000)Natural Sciences Foundation of China(31171144+1 种基金81272177)State Key Laboratory Grant of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application(SM-FA09A01)
文摘The development of skeletal muscle is a highly regulated,multi-step process in which pluripotent mesodermal cells give rise to myoblasts that subsequently withdraw from the cell cycle and differentiate into myotubes as well as myofibers.The plasticity of myoblasts plays a critical role in maintaining skeletal muscle structure and function by myoblast activation,migration,adhesion,membrane reorganization,nuclear fusion,finally forming myotubes/myofibers.Our studies demonstrate that the local hypoxic microenvironment,a great diversity of regulatory factors such as IL-6 superfamily factors(IL-6,LIF,CNTF) and TGF-β1 could regulate the myoblast plasticity.The aim of this paper is to review the previous studies focused on the regulation of myoblast plasticity and its mechanism in our laboratory.Knowledge about the microenvironment or factors involved in regulating the myoblast plasticity will help develop the prevention and cure measures of skeletal muscle diseases.
文摘The application of manned spaceflight makes a great impetus on the development of space medicine. With the deep growth of Chinese manned space, our national space medicine has attained great achievements. In this paper, the basic research of Space Medicine and its application in China during 2012–2014 were briefly reviewed.
文摘Kear Editor,Individuals in isolated,confined,and extreme environments,such as astronauts,researchers wintering over Antarctica,submarine soldiers,and participants in simulated isolation environment experiments,commonly report difficulty in focusing their attention[1,2].However,current experimental findings from studies conducted in such environments are insufficient to fully support these self-reports of reduced attention.Certain attention-demanding tasks such as simple reaction time(RT)tasks and dual tasks,including primary pursuit tracking and secondary RT,were not affected in space flight experiments[2,3].
基金the Chinese Manned Space Flight Projectthe National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.81571845)the Key Project of Logistics Research (No.BWS14C024).
文摘The Chinese space station will be built around 2020. As a national space laboratory, it will offer unique opportunities for studying the physiological effects of weightlessness and the efficacy of the countermeasures against such effects. In this paper, we described the development of countermeasure systems in the Chinese space program. To emphasize the need of the Chinese space program to implement its own program for developing countermeasures, we reviewed the literature on the negative physiological effects of weightlessness, the challenges of completing missions, the development of countermeasure devices, the establishment of countermeasure programs, and the efficacy of the countermeasure techniques in American and Russian manned spaceflights. In addition, a brief overview was provided on the Chinese research and development on countermeasures to discuss the current status and goals of the development of countermeasures against physiological problems associated with weightlessness.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.41421003)Major Project of Chinese National Programs for Fundamental Research and Development(Grant No.2012CB825603)
文摘In cases where substorm injections can be observed simultaneously by multiple spacecraft,they can help elucidate the potential mechanisms of particle transport and energization,of great importance to understanding and modeling the magnetosphere.In this paper,using data returned from the BeiDa-IES(BD-IES) instrument onboard a satellite in an inclined(55°) geosynchronous orbit(IGSO),in combination with two geo-transfer orbiting(GTO) satellite Van Allen Probes(A and B),we analyze a substorm injection event that occurred on the 16 th of October 2015.During this substorm injection,the IGSO onboard BD-IES was outbound,while both Van Allen Probe satellites(A and B) were inbound,a configuration of multiple trajectories that provides a unique opportunity to simultaneously investigate both the inward and outward radial propagation of substorm injection.Indicated by AE/AL indices,this substorm was closely related to an IMF/solar wind discontinuity that showed a sharp change in IMF Bz direction to the north.The innermost signature of this substorm injection was detected by Van Allen Probes A and B at L-3.7,while the outermost signature was observed by the onboard BD-IES instrument at L~\0.These data indicate that the substorm had a global,rather than just local,effect.Finally,we suggest that electric fields carried by fast-mode compressional waves around the substorm injection are the most likely candidate mechanism for the electron injection signatures observed in the inner- and outermost inner magnetosphere.
基金Supported by the Advance Research Project in Manned Spaceflight(No.010202)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.30772694)
文摘Objective:To study the changes in cardiopulmonary function induced by mid/long-term simulated microgravity with 6°head down bed rest(HDBR),and the effects of Taikong Yangxin Prescription(太空养心方,TYP)as a countermeasure.Methods:Fourteen healthy male volunteers were randomly divided into a control group and a Chinese medicine(CM)group(7 in each group)by a random digital table based on their body weight.Both groups underwent 6°HDBR for 60 days.Subjects in the CM group received daily TYP pills and subjects in the control group received daily placebo pills.Cardiac systolic and pumping functions were measured by echocardiography before HDBR;on days 20,42,and 57 of HDBR;and on day 3 of recovery after HDBR(R+3).Cardiopulmonary functional reserve and exercise capacity were evaluated before HDBR,on day 29,and on day R+3 by exercise testing.Results:The heart rate(HR)increased gradually during HDBR.The HR was significantly higher on day 57 than before HDBR in the control group(P<0.05),but did not increase significantly in the CM group.The stroke volume/stroke volume index,ejection fraction,and left ventricular fractional shortening tended to decrease over time in the control group,but not in the CM group.These parameters were significantly higher in the CM group than in the control group on day 42(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Exercise testing showed that maximum O_2consumption(VO_(2max),metabolic equivalents,relative O_2 consumption(VO_2),O_2 pulse,and exercise duration were significantly lower on day 29 than before HDBR in the control group,but not in the CM group.Conclusions:Sixty days of 6°HDBR induced a reduction in cardiac systolic and pumping functions,and reduced cardiopulmonary functional reserve and exercise capacity.Administration of TYP significantly improved cardiac systolic and pumping functions,and maintained cardiopulmonary functional reserve and exercise capacity.
基金financially supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program(2016YFA0200303)the Beijing Natural Science Foundation(L172046,2192057)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31771095,21875254 , 21905283).
文摘Astronauts are under high stress for a long time because of the microgravity condition,which leads to anxiety,affects their learning and memory abilities,and seriously impairs the health of astronauts.Aromatherapy can improve the physical and mental health of astronauts in a way that moisturizes them softly and silently.However,the strong volatility of fragrances and inconvenience of aroma treatment greatly limit their application in the field of spaceflight.In this study,reactive mesoporous silica nanoparticles were prepared to encapsulate and slowly release limonene.The limonene loaded nanoparticles were named limonene@mesoporous silica nanoparticles-cyanuric chloride(LE@MSNs-CYC).LE@MSNs-CYC were then applied to wallpaper to improve the convenience of aromatherapy.LE@MSNs-CYC could chemically react with the wallpaper,thus firmly adsorbed on the wallpaper.In the following,the mice were treated with hindlimb unloading(HU)to simulate a microgravity environment.The results showed that 28-day HU led to an increase in the level of anxiety and declines in learning,memory,and physical health in mice.LE@MSNs-CYC showed significant relief effects on anxiety,learning,memory,and physical health of HU treated mice.Subsequently,the molecular mechanisms were explored by hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis related hormones,immune-related cytokines,learning,and memory-related neurotransmitters and proteins.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 81801872 and 31600683)Advanced Space Medico? Engineering Research Project of China (020103). The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
文摘With the extension of the deep space exploration program, the boundaries of human exploration will be pushed forward to the surface of Mars. Over the past nearly 60 years manned spaceflight and experimental fin dings dem on strated that spaceflight induced bone loss, muscle atrophy, cardiovascular remodeling and space-related medical problems (Durante and Cucinotta, 2008).
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41374167,41074117&41374166)
文摘The variation of the flux of energetic electrons in the magnetosphere has been proven to be strongly related to the solar wind speed. Observations of GEO orbit show that the flux of low-energy electrons is not only modulated by the solar wind speed, but, if a time delay is added, is also positively correlated to the flux of high-energy electrons. This feature provides a possible method to forecast the flux of high-energy electrons in GEO orbit. In this study, the correlations of the fluxes between the high-energy electrons and low-middle-energy electrons obtained at different L values and in different orbits are investigated to develop the application of this feature. Based on the analysis of long–term data observed by NOAA POES and GOES, the correlations between the fluxes of high-energy electrons and low–middle–energy electrons are good enough at different L values and in different orbits in quiet time, but this correlation is strongly affected by CME–driven geomagnetic storms.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(10805042,11275176)State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application(SMFA09A10)
文摘There are many active protecting methods including Electrostatic Fields,Confined Magnetic Field,Unconfined Magnetic Field and Plasma Shielding etc.for defending the high-energy solar particle events(SPE) and Galactic Cosmic Rays(GCR) in deep space exploration.The concept of using cold plasma to expand a magnetic field is the best one of all possible methods so far.The magnetic field expansion caused by plasma can improve its protective efciency of space particles.One kind of plasma generator has been developed and installed into the cylindrical permanent magnet in the eccentric.A plasma stream is produced using a helical-shaped antenna driven by a radio-frequency(RF) power supply of 13.56 MHz,which exits from both sides of the magnet and makes the magnetic field expand on one side.The discharging belts phenomenon is similar to the Earth's radiation belt,but the mechanism has yet to be understood.A magnetic probe is used to measure the magnetic field expansion distributions,and the results indicate that the magnetic field intensity increases under higher increments of the discharge power.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Project (Nos. 31630038, 81822026,91740114, 81830061, and 31900849)
文摘Mechanical stimulation plays an important role in bone remodeling. Exercise-induced mechanical loading enhances bone strength,whereas mechanical unloading leads to bone loss. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that long noncoding RNAs(lnc RNAs) play key roles in diverse biological, physiological and pathological contexts. However, the roles of lnc RNAs in mechanotransduction and their relationships with bone formation remain unknown. In this study, we screened mechanosensing lnc RNAs in osteoblasts and identified Neat1, the most clearly decreased lnc RNA under simulated microgravity. Of note, not only Neat1 expression but also the specific paraspeckle structure formed by Neat1 was sensitive to different mechanical stimulations, which were closely associated with osteoblast function. Paraspeckles exhibited small punctate aggregates under simulated microgravity and elongated prolate or larger irregular structures under mechanical loading. Neat1 knockout mice displayed disrupted bone formation, impaired bone structure and strength, and reduced bone mass. Neat1 deficiency in osteoblasts reduced the response of osteoblasts to mechanical stimulation. In vivo, Neat1 knockout in mice weakened the bone phenotypes in response to mechanical loading and hindlimb unloading stimulation. Mechanistically, paraspeckles promoted nuclear retention of E3 ubiquitin ligase Smurf1 m RNA and downregulation of their translation, thus inhibiting ubiquitination-mediated degradation of the osteoblast master transcription factor Runx2, a Smurf1 target. Our study revealed that Neat1 plays an essential role in osteoblast function under mechanical stimulation, which provides a paradigm for the function of the lnc RNA-assembled structure in response to mechanical stimulation and offers a therapeutic strategy for long-term spaceflight-or bedrest-induced bone loss and age-related osteoporosis.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41374167,41421003,41474140)China's National Basic Research and Development Program(No.2012CB825603).
文摘Energetic electron measurements and spacecraft charging are of great significance for theoretical research in space physics and space weather applications.In this paper,the energetic electron detection package(EEDP)deployed on three Chinese navigation satellites in medium Earth orbit(MEO)is reviewed.The instrument was developed by the space science payload team led by Peking University.The EEDP includes a pinhole medium-energy electron spectrometer(MES),a high-energy electron detector(HED)based onΔE-E telescope technology,and a deep dielectric charging monitor(DDCM).The MES measures the energy spectra of 50−600 keV electrons from nine directions with a 180°×30°field of view(FOV).The HED measures the energy spectrum of 0.5−3.0 MeV electrons from one direction with a 30°cone-angle FOV.The ground test and calibration results indicate that these three sensors exhibit excellent performance.Preliminary observations show that the electron spectra measured by the MES and HED are in good agreement with the results from the magnetic electron-ion spectrometer(MagEIS)of the Van Allen Probes spacecraft,with an average relative deviation of 27.3%for the energy spectra.The charging currents and voltages measured by the DDCM during storms are consistent with the highenergy electron observations of the HED,demonstrating the effectiveness of the DDCM.The observations of the EEDP on board the three MEO satellites can provide important support for theoretical research on the radiation belts and the applications related to space weather.
文摘Inspired by the mysteries of the universe,humans have been exploring outer space since the 1950s.Proceeding from I-day(Shenzhou 5)to 6-month(Shenzhou 15)missions,one of the perspectives of Chinese space exploration has shifted from not just how to safely survive but to how to healthily live in outer space.In current review,we introduce some common psychological stressors during space missions and how researchers simulate these stressors on the ground firstly.Then,we briefly introduce classic and state-of-the-art measurements and tools used in measuring the mental state of crew members.Self-reporting questionnaires,behavioral observations,and computerized tests are widely used as measurement strategies in this field.We discuss,respectively,how challenging missions negatively and positively affect crew members.As psychological issues are sensitive to individual and cultural backgrounds,we focus on Chinese crew members and potential cultural differences.Finally,we propose some potential future directions this research could evolve based on previous findings.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.40704026 and 41374167)
文摘The pitch-angle distribution of energetic particles is important for space physics studies on magnetic storm and particle acceleration.A‘pin-hole’imaging structure is built with the‘pin-hole’technique and a position sensitive detector,which can be used to measure the pitch angle distribution of energetic particles.To calibrate the angular response of the‘pin-hole’imaging structure,special experiment facilities are needed,such as the particle accelerator with special design.The features of this kind of particle accelerator are:1)The energy range of the outgoing particles should be mid-energy particles(tens keV to several hundred keV);2)the particle flux should be consistent in time-scale;3)the directions of the outgoing particles should be the same and 4)the particle number within the spot should be low enough.In this paper,a method to calibrate the angular response of the‘pin-hole’imaging structure by the90Sr/90Y β source with a collimator is introduced and simulated by Geant4 software.The result of the calibration with the collimated β source is in accord with the Geant4 simulations,which verifies the validity of this method.
