Conference 7.286::space

762.0. "NASA and Melbourne Hospital team together on muscle mass research" by PRAGMA::GRIFFIN (Dave Griffin) Mon Oct 21 1991 20:24

Mitch Varnes                                     Oct. 18, 1991

KSC Release No. 119-91


     The approaching era of  Space  Station  Freedom  and  longer
duration  Space Shuttle flights have accelerated emphasis and in-
terest into the effects of  weightlessness  on  the  human  body.
Scientists  agree  that  a micro-gravity environment -- like that
experienced by astronauts during Space  Shuttle  flights  --  has
detrimental short-term effects on muscle mass and strength.

     They  also agree that totally accurate accounts of these ef-
fects can only truly be done by examining  astronauts  during  or
immediately  following  their  missions.  However,  a trio of KSC
researchers -- working in collaboration with  Melbourne's  Holmes
Regional  Medical Center (HRMC) -- are doing about as much as any
Earth-bound  researchers  can  to  replicate  and  examine  these
changes to the human body.

     NASA  physiologist  Dr.  Gary Dudley and The Bionetics Corp.
researchers Dr.  Greg Adams and Christine Ruther have spearheaded
a  couple  of such studies using KSC personnel as their test sub-
jects.   Walking on crutches with one of their legs suspended for
periods of up to six weeks,  these surrogate astronauts are play-
ing an integral part in NASA biomedical studies.

     "The  muscle  disuse and subsequent atrophy we are seeing in
our subjects is very similar to what we would expect to  find  in
astronauts  who spend long periods in space without working their
muscles," Dudley commented.   "The  work  we're  involved  in  is
giving us and other interested researchers an excellent data base
to work with."

     One of the elements giving the KSC scientists such good data
is  the  HRMC Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) device.   MRI is a
diagnostic technique that  uses  magnetism  and  radio  waves  to
reveal  extremely  detailed  images of muscles,  organs and other
tissues.   MRI is highly touted and widely used  by  the  medical
community, but this joint private and government effort marks the
first time it has been used for space research.

     HRMC's  involvement  in the NASA project came as a result of
an inquiry Dudley extended to all area  hospitals.    "We  always
knew the potential of MRI, but we needed access to one to realize
it,"  said Dudley.   "HRMC has been receptive to our project from
the start and gone out of their way to accommodate and work  with
us."

     "It's   been   extremely  interesting  working  with  NASA,"
remarked Anne Belew, director of HRMC's MRI Center.  "This is the
first time we (HRMC) have worked  with  a  government  agency  on
something like this,  and I think the whole hospital staff shares
my enthusiasm about working with NASA.   We're certainly  looking
to make this an ongoing relationship."

     Despite  the fact that participation inconveniences a person
for a few months,  dozens of workers have volunteered and  served
as  subjects  for  the studies.   "It was a tough time," said Rob
Harris,  a life sciences researcher who immobilized  one  of  his
legs for six weeks.   "There was some swelling and discomfort as-
sociated with suspending my leg,  but it gave me an  appreciation
for  just  how  much I took everyday living for granted," he con-
tinued.   "Going through the MRI before and after and seeing  how
my  muscle size differed was very interesting.   I'm happy that I
was able to participate in something that will  almost  certainly
be  a  benefit  for  both  the medical community and future space
travelers."

     Preliminary results from the  KSC  biomedical  studies  show
that  the  test  subject's lose between 12 to 20 percent of their
muscle mass during a six week test period.   Information from the
two  studies  is  still  being disseminated,  and another test is
slated to begin in January 1992.

     "We're just beginning to understand the types of changes  we
see   in   muscles   and   tissue  as  a  result  of  disuse  and
weightlessness," acknowledged Dudley.   "Once we get a good  idea
of  how  much  muscle we're losing,  we will hopefully be able to
reduce that amount somewhat and possibly determine how  to  avoid
these detrimental effects altogether."

Melbourne Florida or Melbourne, New South Wales?

Burns

    They almost certainly certainly mean Melbourne, Florida. I've noticed
    that, in the US at least, if a place name is not qualified by state or
    country, the speaker means the nearest one to him/her. Probably a side
    effect of reuse of place names.
    
    Oh, and its Melbourne Victoria (I'm fairly certain there is no Melb.
    NSW)
    
    gary