title: Evaluation of the health status of six volunteers from the Mars 500 project using pulse analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To comprehensively evaluate the health status of 6 volunteers from the Mars 500 Project through analyzing their pulse graphs and determining the changes in cardiovascular function, degree of fatigue and autonomic nervous function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six volunteers were recruited; all were male aged 26-38 years (average 31.83±4.96 years). Characteristic parameters reflflecting the status of cardiovascular functions were extracted, which included left ventricular contraction, vascular elasticity and peripheral resistance. The degree of fatigue was determined depending on the difference between the calendar age and biological age, which was calculated through the analysis of blood pressure value and characteristic parameters. Based on the values of pulse height variation and pulse time variation on a 30-s pulse graph, autonomic nervous function was evaluated. All parameters examined were marked on an equilateral polygon to form an irregular polygon of the actual fifigure, then health status was evaluated based on the coverage area of the actual fifigure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results demonstrated: (1) volunteers developed weakened pulse power, increased vascular tension and peripheral resistance, and slight decreased ventricular systolic function; (2) the degree of fatigue was basically mild or moderate; and (3) autonomic nervous function was excited but generally balanced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These volunteers were in the state of sub-health. According to Chinese medicine theories, such symptoms are mainly caused by the weakening of healthy qi, Gan (Liver) failing in free coursing, and disharmony between Gan and Wei (Stomach), which manifests as a weak and string-like pulse.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Zhi
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China.
authors.forename: Quan-Chun
authors.initials: QC
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Lian
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China.
authors.forename: Gui-E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mi
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China.
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Feng
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Space Medicine Fundamentals and Application, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing, 100094, China. liyongzhi666@sina.com.
authors.forename: Yong-Zhi
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000503:physiopathology; D006304:Health Status; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006801:Humans; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D011674:Pulse / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D016276:Ventricular Function / Q000502:physiology; D014838:Volunteers
keywords: autonomic nervous function; cardiovascular function; fatigue; pulse graph; sub-health