Arthur T Knackerbracket has processed the following story:
A new study by researchers at University of Galway and Arizona State University has provided important insights into muscle atrophy. The condition, which refers to a loss of skeletal muscle mass, is a pressing issue when it comes to astronauts working in space.
The unique environment of microgravity presents challenges to the body, particularly affecting muscles, bones and the immune system. In microgravity, muscles weaken over time, placing astronauts at an increased risk of muscle atrophy if they don’t perform daily exercises.
However, researchers of the study have said that the latest findings could help to better spot and reduce muscle atrophy in astronauts.
The study was published in Nature Microgravity and investigated the molecular changes in muscle atrophy by looking at data from NASA’s GeneLab, which is an open-access platform for biological spaceflight data.
[...] One of the key findings from the study concerned the impact of microgravity on glycosylation, a biological process for adding sugars to molecules like proteins and helps to stabilise them and influence their functions in the body. The study found that changes in glycosylation under microgravity could give scientists the upper hand in preventing muscle loss in astronauts by targeting these pathways.
Joshi, Stokes professor of glycosciences, explained that while these findings address an important issue for astronauts, it could also help medical professionals to address muscle atrophy back on Earth.
“Muscle atrophy also affects aging populations, post-menopausal women and patients with chronic illnesses, such as cancer or heart disease,” he said. “Understanding how muscle loss occurs in space could lead to better treatments for these conditions on Earth.”
Journal Reference: Oommen, A.M., Stafford, P. & Joshi, L. Profiling muscle transcriptome in mice exposed to microgravity using gene set enrichment analysis. npj Microgravity 10, 94 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-024-00434-z
(Score: 4, Interesting) by sonamchauhan on Monday December 23, @02:06PM (5 children)
If gravity is acceleration of mass, and lack of it causes muscle loss, then pressing against a vibrating surface or vibration platform that accelerates muscles back and forth may help build muscle back.
This would work for aging too. I vaguely remember hearing of research into this over the years.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday December 23, @03:00PM
Depending the intensity/duration of exposure, I reckon it could do wonders on the joint cartilages. From thickening them, up to shredding them.
https://www.youtube.com/@ProfSteveKeen https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 23, @11:33PM (1 child)
I recall a study where they did that, but it was testing for bone density loss. They used elastic bands to hold the astronauts down while standing on a vibrating plate for 20 minutes per day. It worked but the astronauts hated it because to work it had to vibrate so hard it hurt their feet.
(Score: 2) by sonamchauhan on Wednesday January 01, @03:14AM
Thanks for the info. That they hated the vibration actually makes sense: they were trying to cram a days worth of acceleration into 20 minutes.
Maybe longer-twrm but lower amplitude vibration devices built into the very garments the astronauts wore would be a better option.
On a related note, something called low intensity shockwave therapy (LISW) has been shown to assist in kidney repair by recruiting stem cells to migrate to the shocked tissue.
(Score: 1) by anubi on Tuesday December 24, @01:59AM (1 child)
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=vibrating+exercise+platform [amazon.com]
Anyone have any empirical evidence these things are useful for leg/ankle edema? I have found so little correlation between Marketer's claims and truth.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 2) by sonamchauhan on Tuesday December 31, @11:39PM
Not sure but I think it could help; it helped with my wife's joint pain.
With edema, you have to resolve root causes and chronic issues. Have a look at lipid replacement therapy (https://www.google.com/search?q=lipid+replacement+therapy ) and https://ntfactor.com [ntfactor.com] which seems a good vendor.
(Score: 4, Funny) by HeadlineEditor on Monday December 23, @05:59PM (5 children)
we haven't built one of those centrifuge-type habitats for the ISS (or any space station) like in 2001? Or is it just a money thing?
(Score: 2) by Frosty Piss on Monday December 23, @06:26PM
Complex large moving parts.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by RamiK on Monday December 23, @06:32PM (1 child)
It's been proposed [wikipedia.org] but no one been able to locate and seal the recent ISS leaks [spacenews.com] for years now so turning it into a huge moving part that every minor crack could literally tear it up in half just to spare a few extra flights on top of the usual supply flights... Well, I haven't done the math but I'm guessing it's even more pointless than manned space missions are in general.
Then again, I was an Ingenuity skeptic and that thing lasted for way more than I thought it would so I shouldn't be one to talk...
compiling...
(Score: 2) by sonamchauhan on Wednesday January 01, @07:37AM
I wonder if centrifugal force could be turned from bug to feature. For instance, dispense with shafts and bearings. Instead have jets on the outside, or simple fans or rail-mounted masses on rails on the inside, rotate the entire spacecraft around an imagined axis.
And construct the craft using special material shells such that the inner shell presses against the outer shell in a way that seals air leaks
(Score: 3, Insightful) by anubi on Tuesday December 24, @02:34AM (1 child)
Ever since I saw the movie " 2001:A Space Odyssey ", an observation has obsessed me: Outside Maintenance.
Working outside, on that rotating hull, anything not secured will be slung outward! The closest thing I can imagine to an earth reference is trying to get anything done with the work surface being the ceiling, and nothing but deep space "below" me.
I mean this may look cool on the big screen, but the reality of working in such conditions boggles me.
At that point, I had to realize what a blessing Gravity is.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 2) by HeadlineEditor on Tuesday December 24, @03:47AM
You're right, this does seem like a maintenance nightmare. I suppose it could be stopped for fixes, but that introduces a bunch of other problems.
(Score: 2) by optotronic on Tuesday December 24, @02:36AM
I've been thinking about this for years. At some point in the future we'll be able to fix this with medication or gene therapy so people don't have to spend so much time challenging their body (aka exercising) to prevent unpleasant and possibly terminal decreptitude. I exercise daily and I know it has mental benefits too, but I'd prefer that a half hour walk or bike ride would suffice. As I age I find the need to add exercises to keep this joint or that muscle from complaining.