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Immune changes in humans concomitant with space flights of up to 10 days durationThe time relation of various classes of in-flight human physiological changes is illustrated. Certain problems, such as neurovestibular, fluid, and electrolyte imbalances tend to occur early in a flight, followed by stabilization at some microgravity equilibrium level. Cardiovascular dysfunctions and erythrocyte mass losses appear to follow a similar pattern, although the significant changes occur later in flight. Bone and calcium changes and radiation effects are thought to progressively worsen with time, whereas the time course of immune change is yet to be fully understood. Significant immunologic changes in cosmonauts and astronauts during and after space flight have been documented as have microbiological changes. Thus, space flight can be expected to effect a blunting of the human cellular immune mechanism concomitant with a relative increase in potentially pathogenic microorganisms. This combination would seem to increase the probability of infectious disease events in flight.
Document ID
19950008700
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Taylor, Gerald R.
(NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: International Union of Physiological Sciences, The Physiologist, Volume 36, Number 1, Supplement
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Accession Number
95N15114
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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