Preliminary results of medical investigations during piloted flights in the Salyut-6 program.

The changes observed during flight on the whole corresponded with the preflight prognosis and reflected the phase nature of the processes of adaptation. They were shown by blood redistribution symptoms, fluctuations in the main indices of hemodynamics at rest not going beyond the limits of the physiological norm, an increase in the pulse-filling of the head with blood, and a decrease in that of the shank. The reaction of the blood circulation to a physical load and the application of negative pressure varied, and in a number of investigations during flight it was more pronounced than on Earth. The changes observed after the flight appeared regular for the period of readaptation of the reactions of the organism. These reactions bore a functional nature and qualitatively did not differ from reactions observed after other flights, and after the 140-day flight they were, on the whole, less pronounced than after the 96-day flight. In the postflight period to accelerate the process of adaptation a complex of restorative-healing measures was carried out, including mainly a regulation of motor activity, restorative massage of the muscles, remedial physical culture and aquatic procedures. The flight lasting 140 days revealed no contraindications to a further regular increase in the time of cosmic flights and demonstrates once again the possibility of the planned control of the state of a healthy subject in flight and the readiness of the organism for a return to the terrestrial force of gravity.

Pattern of blood circulation in the brain during rest and functional tests by Salyut-4 space crewmen.

Changes in the rheoencephalogram (REG) obtained for cosmonauts on the first and second expeditions during their time aboard the orbiting station, Salyut-4, are described. REGs were recorded by a small apparatus, Levkoi-3, with subsequent transmittal of the information to Earth stations. It was established that during flight under conditions of negative pressure on the lower half of the body (NPLHB), there was a decrease, in all cases, in pulse filling of brain blood vessels and an improvement in venous outflow from the cranial cavity. This indicates the efficiency of the compensation-adaptation reaction of the system studied to the state of weightlessness and the positive effect of prophylactic measures taken during flight. REG changes in indices affected by negative pressure were mainly such as were observed in preflight investigations, but there were individual differences. It was discovered that in all cosmonauts during performance of functional tests on a veloergometer, there was a significant increase in indices of pulse filling of brain blood vessels in response to muscle load in comparison with preflight studies. Normalization of basic REG indices took 3-7 min after the work was concluded. Planimetric analysis with REGs registered under conditions of long flight disclosed a variety of reactions of different sections of the vascular channels in the brain. Data obtained indicated the value of the REG method for making observations on crew members of space ships during orbital flights.