Numerical Simulation Of Microgravity Long-term Effects On Pulmonary Function, And Effects Of Regular Exercise
- Paper number
IAC-07-A1.9.-A2.7.06
- Author
Dr. Antoni Pérez-Poch, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Spain
- Year
2007
- Abstract
The objective of this work is to analyse and simulate possible long-term effects of microgravity on the human pulmonary function. It is also studied the efficacy of long-term regular exercise on relevant cardiovascular parameters when the human body is also exposed to microgravity. Little is known today about what long-term effects microgravity may cause on pulmonary function. It does not exist a complete explanation of the possible risks involved, although some experiments are under way (PuFF, West et al) on the ISS in order to evaluate them. Computer simulations are an important tool which may be used to predict and analyse these possible effects, and compare them with in-flight experiments. We based our study on a previous computer model (NELME: Numerical Evaluation of Long-term Microgravity Effects) which was developed in our laboratory and validated with the available data, focusing on the cardiovascular parameters affected by changes in gravity exposure. In this previous work we simulated part of the cardiovascular systems and we applied it to evaluate risks of blood-forming organs malfunction. NELME is based on an electrical-like control system model of the physiological changes, that may occur when gravity changes are applied. The computer implementation has a modular architecture. Hence, different output parameters, potential effects, organs and countermeasures can be easily implemented and evaluated. In this work we added a module to the system to analyse the pulmonary function with a gravity input parameter, as well as exposure time. We then conducted a battery of simulations when different values of g are applied for long-term exposures. We found no significant evidence of changes which may lead to a significance rise of risk. We also carried out an EVA simulation as a perturbation in the system (intense exercise, changes in breathed air) and studied the acute response. This is of great importance as current mission requirements do not allow data collection immediately following real EVAs on ISS. Results did not show a potential hazard to a mission. Simulations were later combined to long-term exposure to microgravity showing a non-negligible slight increase in risk. We finally added to the previous cardiovascular system module a perturbation module to evaluate the effect of regular exercise on the output parameters previously studied. Therefore, we simulated a well-known countermeasure with different protocols of exercising, as a pattern of input perturbations on the basic module. In conclusion, we show that computer simulations are a valuable tool to analyse different effects of long-term microgravity exposure on the human body. Potential countermeasures can also be evaluated as an induced perturbation into the system. Significant changes were calculated in the pulmonary function when exposed to long-term microgravity. However, no acute nor lasting highly potential risks where found, according with latest experimental findings.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-A1.9.-A2.7.06.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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