Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Konstantinos Adamopoulos, Dimitrios Koutsouris, Apostolos Zaravinos, George I. Lambrou
Summary: Gravity, as the only constant environmental parameter during the evolutionary period of living matter on Earth, may have impacted the evolution of species. However, this topic has not been extensively investigated due to the need for long-term experiments in altered gravity conditions. Changes in gravity conditions could lead to significant abnormalities in cardiovascular, immune, vestibular and musculoskeletal systems.
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Chao Xing, Hao Wang, Jianzhong Zhu, Chunqiu Zhang, Xuejin Li
Summary: Different gravity fields have significant effects on the structural morphology of bone. Fluid flow and mass transfer in the bone lacunar-canalicular system (LCS) play important roles in regulating bone reconstruction. This study investigated the effects of different gravitational fields and frequencies on fluid pressure, flow velocity, and shear force on osteocytes within the LCS. The results showed that high-intensity exercise can enhance fluid flow rate and osteocyte activity, while hypergravity can enhance solute and nutrient transport. Microgravity, on the other hand, may inhibit mass transfer, potentially leading to bone loss and osteoporosis.
COMPUTER METHODS IN BIOMECHANICS AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Nandu Goswami, Olivier White, Andrew Blaber, Joyce Evans, Jack J. W. A. van Loon, Gilles Clement
Summary: This review provides an overview of the physiological effects of gravity level transitions in space exploration missions, emphasizing the need for further research to understand adaptation mechanisms and proposing artificial gravity as a countermeasure. The paper discusses the limited evidence on the effects of partial gravity and advocates for the exploration of artificial gravity in short and very long-arm centrifuges as potential countermeasures. The use of acute short-arm artificial gravity as well as chronic artificial gravity via the H-3 concept are also examined in the context of physiological adaptation during gravity level transitions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dominique Moser, Katharina Biere, Christian Liemersdorf, Marina Tuschen, Ruth Hemmersbach, Alexander Chouker
Summary: Microgravity is a major stressor in space that affects immune cell function. Hypergravity has been shown to have beneficial effects on the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular system. This study investigated whether mild mechanical loading could prevent immune dysregulation caused by microgravity.
Article
Mechanics
Felix Huber, Anna Garcia-Sabate, Dominique Legendre, Ricard Gonzalez-Cinca
Summary: The numerical investigation focuses on the translational motion of gas bubbles immersed in a liquid subjected to an acoustic wave at different gravity levels. The study discusses the dynamics of bubbles at different gravity levels and proposes an analytical criterion for the capture of bubbles in a levitation position. This criterion is based on the balance between the average acoustic force and the buoyancy force, allowing the calculation of the bubble levitation position for any scenario.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MULTIPHASE FLOW
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Natacha Callens, Philip Carvil, Merel Van Walleghem, Ricard Gonzalez-Cinca
Summary: The European Low Gravity Research Association (ELGRA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) co-organise an annual Summer School in Belgium since 2016, aiming to cultivate the ability of future scientists and engineers to conduct research in different gravity environments. Students participate in lectures, group work, and project brainstorming, guided by experienced professionals from the European space and research sector.
MICROGRAVITY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christopher Ludtka, Justin Silberman, Erika Moore, Josephine B. Allen
Summary: This review summarizes the effects of microgravity on macrophages and monocytes, including methods of microgravity environment simulation/generation, cell sources, experiment durations, and parameters of interest used in the field. The impact of microgravity on macrophage/monocyte structure, adhesion and migration, proliferation, genetic expression, cytokine secretion, reactive oxygen species production, and polarization is discussed, with recommendations for experimental design provided for future studies to complement existing reports.
Article
Physiology
Jaap Swanenburg, Christopher A. Easthope, Anita Meinke, Anke Langenfeld, David A. Green, Petra Schweinhardt
Summary: The purpose of this research is to understand the potential physiological effects on the human body during prolonged stays in space and to minimize health risks for astronauts. The experiment found that gravity conditions significantly affect spinal motor control strategies, but it is not known how these strategies change under partial microgravity conditions on the Moon and Mars.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Laura Locatelli, Sara Castiglioni, Jeanette A. M. Maier
Summary: This review article discusses the effects of space environment on the human vasculature and the adaptive responses activated in such conditions. The study suggests that oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction might be mediators of vascular alterations in space. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in these adaptive processes could provide insights for designing proper countermeasures for space exploration.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Aerospace
Elke Sondermann, Thomas Voigtmann, Andreas Meyer
Summary: The influence of gravity on atomic mobility can be assessed using the gravitational Peclet number and gravitational length. The diffusion processes in liquids are dominated by thermal energy of atoms rather than Earth's gravitational force. Experimental data under different gravity conditions confirm that interdiffusion is only influenced by accelerations orders of magnitude larger than Earth's gravity.
MICROGRAVITY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christian Vahlensieck, Cora S. Thiel, Jan Adelmann, Beatrice A. Lauber, Jennifer Polzer, Oliver Ullrich
Summary: Cellular responses to micro- and hypergravity are rapid and complex, and transcriptomic analyses are valuable tools for studying these genome-wide alterations. Comparing different time points is important for understanding cellular dynamics, but cross-experiment meta-studies are inevitable due to most experiments being designed as endpoint measurements. Techniques like microarray and RNA-Seq are used in altered gravity research, with RNA-Seq showing better sensitivity and microarray performing well in detecting altered gravity-related splicing events.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Alessandra Salvetti, Andrea Degl'Innocenti, Gaetana Gambino, Jack J. W. A. van Loon, Chiara Ippolito, Sandra Ghelardoni, Eric Ghigo, Luca Leoncino, Mirko Prato, Leonardo Rossi, Gianni Ciofani
Summary: Gravity alterations have complex and mostly detrimental effects on biological systems, particularly through oxidative stress affecting tissue homeostasis and development. Using a simple worm model, pathogenic mechanisms and molecular responses to gravity alterations can be studied effectively.
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH PART A
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Justina Joksiene, Jayashree Sahana, Markus Wehland, Herbert Schulz, Jose Luis Cortes-Sanchez, Judit Prat-Duran, Daniela Grimm, Ulf Simonsen
Summary: A diabetogenic state induced by spaceflight causes stress and health problems in astronauts. Microgravity is a main stressor in space that leads to hyperglycaemia. The molecular pathways and synergistic effects of microgravity and hyperglycaemia are not fully understood.
Article
Mechanics
A. Krikunova, E. E. Son
Summary: This study experimentally investigates the stability of an inverted conical plane-symmetrical premixed methane-air flame under normal and reversed gravity conditions. The flame can exhibit both V-shaped and M-shaped configurations depending on various factors. Gravity plays a significant role in the stability of the flames, with the most unstable flames observed under reversed gravity conditions.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Hao Wang, Lilan Gao, Xuyi Chen, Chunqiu Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the mass transfer laws in bone microstructure under different gravity fields and found that high-intensity exercise and hypergravity can enhance the transport of solute molecules and nutrients in bone cells, while microgravity may inhibit mass transfer and lead to bone loss and osteoporosis.
JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL METABOLISM
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Erika Terzuoli, Lucia Morbidelli, Ginevra Nannelli, Antonio Giachetti, Sandra Donnini, Marina Ziche
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2018)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Erika Terzuoli, Ginevra Nannelli, Antonio Giachetti, Lucia Morbidelli, Marina Ziche, Sandra Donnini
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Laura Micheli, Francesca Cialdai, Alessandra Pacini, Jacopo Junio Valerio Branca, Lucia Morbidelli, Valerio Ciccone, Elena Lucarini, Carla Ghelardini, Monica Monici, Lorenzo Di Cesare Mannelli
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2019)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amedeo Amedei, Lucia Morbidelli
Article
Cell Biology
Valerio Ciccone, Marco Zazzetta, Lucia Morbidelli
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francesca Cialdai, Alessandra Colciago, Desire Pantalone, Angela Maria Rizzo, Stefania Zava, Lucia Morbidelli, Fabio Celotti, Daniele Bani, Monica Monici
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Oncology
Erika Terzuoli, Cristiana Bellan, Sara Aversa, Valerio Ciccone, Lucia Morbidelli, Antonio Giachetti, Sandra Donnini, Marina Ziche
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valerio Ciccone, Arianna Filippelli, Andrea Angeli, Claudiu T. Supuran, Lucia Morbidelli
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shirley Genah, Monica Monici, Lucia Morbidelli
Summary: Microgravity-induced bone loss is a significant health risk for space travelers as it can lead to irreversible changes and skeletal weakening. Various pharmacological and non-pharmacological countermeasures have been proposed, but each has limitations and potential serious side effects with prolonged use. More research is needed to develop innovative therapies for bone loss in microgravity conditions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valerio Ciccone, Shirley Genah, Lucia Morbidelli
Summary: The vascular endothelium is composed of a single layer of cells that regulate blood flow homeostasis and tissue metabolic demands. Gasotransmitters such as nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide, produced by endothelial cells, play a crucial role in maintaining vascular physiological functions. By regulating vascular function, H2S can enhance the biology and function of endothelial cells.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shirley Genah, Francesca Cialdai, Valerio Ciccone, Elettra Sereni, Lucia Morbidelli, Monica Monici
Summary: The study demonstrates the effectiveness of PBMT in controlling fibroblast activation induced by inflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha, thereby suggesting a potential therapeutic approach for managing persistent inflammation.
Article
Oncology
Valerio Ciccone, Arianna Filippelli, Chiara Bacchella, Enrico Monzani, Lucia Morbidelli
Summary: This study investigates the antitumor effects of a novel nitric oxide (NO) donor, [Zn(PipNONO)Cl], on cancer cells and endothelial cells. The results demonstrate the potential therapeutic role of this NO donor in controlling tumor growth and metastasis by affecting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) processes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francesca Cialdai, Stefano Bacci, Virginia Zizi, Aleandro Norfini, Michele Balsamo, Valerio Ciccone, Lucia Morbidelli, Laura Calosi, Chiara Risaliti, Lore Vanhelden, Desiree Pantalone, Daniele Bani, Monica Monici
Summary: This study investigated the influence of low gravity on the healing of sutured human skin and vein wounds. The results showed that the tissue explants remained viable for an extended period of time and exhibited typical events associated with wound repair. This validates the suitability of the ex vivo organ culture system for wound healing studies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Arianna Filippelli, Valerio Ciccone, Stefano Loppi, Lucia Morbidelli
Summary: In organic agriculture, replacing synthetic pesticides with sweet chestnut wood distillate has shown success in yield and environmental benefits. Short-term exposure to the distillate is well tolerated by different cell lines, but prolonged exposure leads to concentration-dependent cytotoxic effects.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ginevra Nannelli, Marina Ziche, Sandra Donnini, Lucia Morbidelli