Mechanisms for vestibular disorders in space flight. Facts and hypotheses

This article discusses the vestibular disorders associated with space flight. It is found there is still no complete understanding of the changes occurring in the sensory systems of the body during weightlessness. Results of studies are presented, including results of a ground model

The functional status of the human vestibular analysor following 56 days in an aqueous immersion medium

Two male volunteers were kept hypokinetic in the immersion and physiological parameters were evaluated following the experiment. Prophylactic measures (g-forces, physical exercises, and supplementary salt and water) were applied daily. Caloric and equilibrium tests were utilized to evaluate the physiological responses. The functional changes observed after the 56 day immersion were found to be of a moderate type which normalized quite quickly

Effectiveness of betahistine (48 mg/day) in patients with vestibular vertigo during routine practice: The VIRTUOSO study

<div><p>Background</p><p>Vestibular vertigo is associated with substantially reduced quality of life. Betahistine is effective in improving vertigo-associated symptoms, with longer treatment periods leading to greater improvements; however, it is not known whether these effects persist after treatment cessation.</p><p>Methods</p><p>VIRTUOSO was a prospective, multinational, non-comparative, post-marketing observational programme investigating the effectiveness of betahistine (48 mg/day) and the course of vertigo after the discontinuation of treatment. Patients with vestibular vertigo who were prescribed 48 mg/day betahistine were enrolled in Russia and Ukraine. Treatment duration was up to 2 months, and patients were followed up for 2 months after discontinuation of betahistine. Efficacy endpoints included clinical response (assessed by change in vertigo severity), monthly attack frequency, and physician and patient grading of overall clinical response and improvement of vertigo-associated symptoms.</p><p>Results</p><p>Overall, 309 patients were enrolled and 305 completed the study. Clinical response was rated as good, very good or excellent in 74.1% of patients at end of treatment, with vertigo severity significantly decreased from baseline (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Monthly vertigo attack frequency decreased significantly during the 2 months of treatment (<i>p</i> < 0.001 from baseline) and further decreased during the 2-month follow-up (<i>p</i> < 0.001 from end of treatment). Overall, clinical response was graded as good or excellent by 94.4% of physicians and 95.4% of patients. Clinical improvement was considered either good or excellent by 82.6–90.5% of physicians and patients for nausea, vomiting and faintness. Only one adverse event was reported, with no serious adverse events.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Our findings suggest that betahistine (48 mg/day) therapy is effective in treating vertigo in routine clinical settings. The observed effects persisted for 2 months after treatment cessation, suggesting that betahistine may facilitate lasting vestibular compensation.</p></div

Clinical response to betahistine treatment at the end of the treatment period.

<p>Clinical response to betahistine treatment at the end of the treatment period.</p

Overall clinical response to betahistine treatment assessed by physicians and patients.

<p>Overall clinical response to betahistine treatment assessed by physicians and patients.</p

Improvement of vertigo-associated symptoms evaluated by physicians and patients.

<p>Improvement of vertigo-associated symptoms evaluated by physicians and patients.</p