Scientific papers 2009
Next page Next page BUTTON TEXT Previous page 25 - M. Lang & A. Brubakk: The future of diving: 100 years of haldane and beyond.
This document is an ensemble of articles from various authors that present the works of Haldane and other topics such as: • Decompression physiology • decompression methodology • Stategic approches • Environmental physiology Their authors presented them during the Baromedical and Environmental Physiology Group of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway, on 18–19 December 2008.
11 - Jean-Eric Blatteau & Jean-Michel Pontier: Effect of in-water recompression with oxygen to 6 msw versus normobaric oxygen breathing on bubble formation in divers
It is generally accepted that the incidence of decompression sickness (DCS) from hyperbaric exposures is low when few or no bubbles are present in the circulation. To date, no data are available on the influence of in-water oxygen breathing on bubble formation following a provocative dive in man. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of post-dive hyperbaric versus normobarc oxygen breathing (NOB) on venous circulating bubbles.
24 - Pre-dive normobaric oxygen reduces bubble formation in scuba divers. Authors: Olivier Castagna, Emmanuel Gempp, Jean-Eric Blatteau
Oxygen pre-breathing is routinely employed as a protective measure to reduce the incidence of altitude decompression sickness in aviators and astronauts, but the effectiveness of normobaric oxygen before hyperbaric exposure has not been well explored. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of 30-min normobaric oxygen (O2) breathing before diving upon bubble formation in recreational divers.
23 - Avid J Doolette, Wayne A Gerth, Keith A Gault: Risk of central nervous system decompression sickness in air diving to no-stop limits. 
Man-testing at the Navy Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) of the Thalmann Algorithm VVal-18 air no-stop limits at 130, 150, and 190 feet of seawater resulted in incidents of severe central nervous system decompression sickness. A logistic model of the probability of CNS DCS in air no-stop dives from the recent NEDU man-testing and the USN primary N2-O2, data set was developed and used to produce a set of iso-risk air no-stop limits. A new parameter set (VVal-76) for the Thalmann Algorithm that produces air no-stop limits was developed.
3 - Decompression to altitude: assumptions, experimental evidence, and future directions.
Authors: Philip P. Foster, Bruce D. Butler This review discusses topics about the relationship between muscle activity, decompression, and microgravity. It also provides, in the context of altitude decompression, an overview of the role of denitrogenation, metabolic gases, gas micronuclei, stabilization of bubbles, biochemical pathways activated by bubbles, nitric oxide, oxygen, anthropometric or physiological variables, Doppler-detectable bubbles, and potential arterialization of bubbles.
10 - Risk factors and treatment outcome in scuba divers with spinal cord decompression sickness.
Authors: Emmanuel Gempp & Jean-Eric Blatteau This study was designed to determine the recompression strategy and the potential risk factors associated with the development of severe diving-related spinal cord decompression sickness (DCS). Sixty-three injured recreational divers presenting with symptoms of spinal involvement were retrospectively included. Diving information, symptom latency after dive completion, and time interval between symptom onset and hyperbaric treatment were studied. The severity of spinal cord DCS was rated numerically for both the acute event and one month later. Initial recompression treatment at 2.8 atmosphere absolute (ATA) with 100% oxygen-breathing or deeper recompression at 4 atmospheres absolute with nitrogen-oxygen or helium- oxygen breathing mixture was also noted.
21 - Effect of oxygen breathing and perfluorocarbon emulsion treatment on air bubbles in adipose tissue during decompression sickness.
Authors: T. Randsoe, and O. Hyldegaard The authors of this study hypothesize that the combined effect of normobaric oxygen breathing and intravascular PFC infusion could lead to either enhanced extravascular bubble growth on decompression due to the increased oxygen supply or that perfluorocarbon infusion could lead to a faster bubble elimination due to the increased solubility and transport capacity in blood for nitrogen causing faster nitrogen tissue desaturation.
22 - Pre-dive vibration effect on bubble formation after a 30-m dive requiring a decompression stop
Authors: Peter Germonpré, Jean-Michel Pontier, Emmanuel Gempp, Jean-Eric Blatteau, Stefaan Deneweth, Pierre Lafère, Alessandro Marroni, and Costantino Balestra. The preconditioning of divers to reduce post-dive de- compression sickness (DCS) has gained increased interest in diving medical research over the last few years. The beneficial effects of physical exercise, oxygen breathing, hyperbaric exposure, heat exposure, hyper-hydration, or nitroglycerin administration before the dive are only a few examples of ongoing research. In this work, the authors investigated the effects of pre-dive whole-body vibration on post-dive bubble formation.
2 - UK - HSE - Review of diver noise exposure
Authors: T G Anthony, N A Wright, M A Evans (QinetiQ) This UK HSE document is a review of diver noise exposure encompassing diver hearing, noise sources, exposure levels, and control measures. This document, which takes into account other studies available in our database can be considered one of the most appropriate and easiest to implement. It can be downloaded from our database by clicking on the picture, or from the UK HSE website through this link: https://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr735.pdf
17 - Dual-frequency ultrasound detection of stationary microbubbles in tissue.
Authors: BR Bollinger, JC Wilbur, TG Donoghue, SD Phillips, DA Knaus, PJ Magari, DL Avarenga, JC Buckey Indirect evidence suggests that microbubbles that normally exist in tissue may play a key role in decompression sickness (DCS). Their sizes and locations are unknown. Dual-frequency ultrasound (DFU) exploits bubble resonance to detect bubbles over a wide range and could potentially detect stationary tissue microbubbles. To test this capability, DFU was used to detect stationary microbubbles of known size (2-3 µm mean diameter) over a range of ultrasound pressures and microbubble concentrations
20 - Signals consistent with microbubbles detected in legs of normal human subjects after exercise
Authors: J. C. Wilbur, S. D. Phillips, T. G. Donoghue, D. L. Alvarenga, D. A. Knaus, P. J. Magari, and J. C. Buckey Exercise may produce micro-nuclei in tissue, which could serve as nucleation sites for bubbles during subsequent decompression stress. These micronuclei have never been directly detected in humans. Dual-frequency ultrasound (DFU) is a resonance-based ultrasound technique capable of detecting and sizing small stationary bubbles. The authors surveyed for bubbles in the legs of six normal human subjects (ages 28–52 yr) after exercise using DFU
19 - Pulmonary gas exchange in diving
Authors: R. E. Moon, A. D. Cherry, B. W. Stolp, and E. M. Camporesi Diving-related pulmonary effects are due mostly to increased gas density, immersion-related increase in pulmonary blood volume, and (usually) a higher inspired PO2. Higher gas density produces an increase in airways resistance and work of breathing, and a reduced maximum breathing capacity. An additional mechanical load is due to immersion, which can impose a static trans- respiratory pressure load as well as a decrease in pulmonary compliance. The combination of resistive and elastic loads is largely responsible for the reduction in ventilation during underwater exercise.
40 - Prognostic Significance of Sympathetic Nervous System Activation in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Agnieszka Ciarka , Vi Doan , Sonia Velez-Roa, Robert Naeije, and Philippe van de Borne The authors of this study investigated the prognostic significance of muscle sympathetic nervous system activity in pulmonary arterial hypertension. This is another purely medical document whose conclusions can be used to understand the effect of oxygen during diving operations.
16 - Water-power: High pressure water jets and devastating lower limb injury
Authors: Cara Connolly, Alex Munnoch, & Fiona Hogg High-pressure water jets (HPWJ) have diverse industrial use. With pressures up to 100,000 psi (power rce/sq.inch) generated in a narrow water jet, they can be used to mine granite and cut steel. Features of soft tissue injuries caused by high-pressure water jets have been described by Tejero-Trujeque: The surface wound of a HPWJ injury may not reflect the extensive tissue damage beneath, the wound may be widely contaminated by materials driven into the wound, there is a potential for progressive oedema and inflammation, and unusual infections may occur due to micro-organisms in the water source.
35 - Evaluation of decompression tables by Doppler technique in caisson work in the Netherlands
Authors: J H Breedjik, G J G M Van Der Putten, L M Schrier, W Sterk Hyperbaric work was conducted for constructing an underground tramway in the Netherlands. A total of 11,647 exposures were conducted in 41,957 hours. For these working conditions, specifically developed decompression tables were used. Fifteen workers were submitted to Doppler monitoring after caisson work at a depth at I 2 msw. Measurements were done according to the Canadian DCIEM protocol. For bubble grading, the Kisman-Masurel 12-point ordinal scale (0-IV) was used.
41 - Vestibular effects of diving - a 6-year prospective study
Authors: Frederik Kragerud Goplen, Marit Grønning, Torbjørn Aasen, and Stein Helge Glad Nordahl Divers occasionally suffer vestibular injuries due to barotrauma or decompression illness (DCI). Acute cases are typically identified by a combination of vertigo, nausea, and vomiting, with a tendency to fall to the injured side and nystagmus to the contralateral side. The loss of peripheral vestibular function may be permanent, but in spite of this, there is often nearly complete symptomatic recovery after weeks to months due to central vestibular compensation.
Click on the octopus to return to the top of the page
Back to the menu 4 - Resolution and Severity in Decompression Illness
Authors: Richard D. Vann, Petar J. Denoble, Laurens E. Howle, Paul W. Weber, John J. Freiberger, & Carl F. Pieper The authors examined how decompression illness is categorized. Instead of broad classifications like Type 1 and Type 2, they now focus on specific symptoms. They use scoring systems for symptoms, check how they relate to lingering effects, and use statistical methods to find patterns over time. This method handles various types of data and incomplete cases, aiding in the comprehension of the most effective treatments and the severity of the illness might be.
Authors: Jean-Michel Pontier, François Guerrero, and Olivier Castagna This study examined whether intensive scuba dive training would reduce bubble formation and modulate endothelial function as shown by skin circulation. The results highlight that repeated scuba dives and regular physical exercise activity reduce bubble formation and probably protect against DCS risk. Although this phenomenon has been observed for decades, the mechanism remains complex, and the results cannot elucidate the effects of physical exercise and NO production. Bubble formation could activate the stress response, which could be the basis for diving acclimatization.
13 - Circulating Venous Bubbles in Children After Diving
Authors: Frédéric Lemaître, Daniel Carturan, Claire Tourny Chollet, and Bernard Gardette Doppler ultrasonic detection of circulating venous bubbles after a scuba dive is a useful indicator of decompression safety in adults, as there is a documented relationship between bubbles and the risk of decompression sickness. The aim of this study was to determine whether bubbles would be detected in children who performed a single dive without modifying their diving habits. The results showed that venous bubbles were not detected in children during a typical shallow diving session.
36 - Hyperbaric chamber attendant safety I: Doppler Analysis of Decompression Stress in multiplace chamber attendants.
Authors: P David Cooper, Corry Van den Broek, David R Smart, Ron Y Nishi and David Eastman To evaluate the decompression stress experienced by hyperbaric nursing and medical staff and gather demographic insights, Doppler assessments were conducted on 28 personnel at 20-minute intervals for up to 120 minutes after exposure. The results showed that 68% of the exposures were classified with a low Kisman- Masurel grade, 22% with an intermediate grade, and 10% with a high grade. Trends toward higher bubble grades were observed among female staff members and with increasing age, weight, and exposure frequency. No cases of clinical decompression sickness were reported.
37 - Analysis of two datasets of divers with actual or suspected decompression illness
Authors: Martin DJ Sayer, John AS Ross and Colin M Wilson Researchers analyzed two datasets from Scotland to examine trends in treating diving-related illnesses and the impact of initial treatment on divers' conditions upon referral and discharge. The study found that 90-92% of divers received standard or modified Royal Navy Treatment Table 62 or US Navy Table 6 as their primary treatment. About 32% of divers were in severe condition upon admission, but only 4% remained in severe condition at discharge. The analysis suggests that using shorter and shallower treatment tables as the initial treatment could result in worse outcomes.
44 - Decompression sickness in breath-hold divers: A review
Authors: Frederic Lemaitre, Andreas Falhman, Bernard Gardette, & Kiyotaka Kohshi Although it is commonly believed that the risk of decompression sickness is almost non-existent during a single breath-hold dive, engaging in multiple breath-hold dives with brief intervals on the surface could increase the risk for both humans and marine mammals. For instance, neurological issues and non-pathogenic bubbles have been observed in breath-hold divers. Marine mammals, which may have naturally higher nitrogen levels, might face risks when altering their diving behaviors. Adaptations, such as pulmonary shunts or lung collapse in deep dives, may help mitigate these risks.
8 - Bubble Formation and Endothelial Function Before and After 3 Months of Dive Training 1 - Shift Work Disorder Among Oil Rig Workers in the North Sea
Authors: Siri Waage, Bente Elisabeth Moen, Ståle Pallesen, Hege R. Eriksen, Holger Ursin, Torbjørn Åkerstedt, Bjørn Bjorvatn The purpose of this document is to provide information about the affiliations of various departments and research centers associated with the University of Bergen in Norway and the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. It lists the specific departments and research centers, along with their locations, indicating a collaborative or multi- institutional context.
Authors: Ulrik Wisloff, Oyvind Ellingsen, and Ole J. Kemi This document presents and supports the hypothesis that high-intensity aerobic interval training leads to more significant beneficial heart adaptations compared to low- to-moderate exercise intensity. The text also aims to discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying myocardial adaptation to exercise training, referencing recent epidemiological, experimental, and clinical studies to support the hypothesis.
6 - High-Intensity Interval Training to Maximize Cardiac Benefits of Exercise Training?
Authors: Yasushi Mio, Yon Hee Shim, Ebony Richards, Zeljko J. Bosnjak, Paul S. Pagel, & Martin Bienengraebe The paper presents a scientific study investigating the mechanisms behind xenon-induced cardioprotection during ischemia/reperfusion injury in the heart. The study aims to test the hypothesis that xenon protects the heart by activating prosurvival signaling kinases that target mitochondria. The text details the methods, results, and conclusions of the experiment conducted on male Wistar rats, highlighting the significant findings that support the hypothesis.
7 - Xenon Preconditioning: The Role of Prosurvival Signaling, Mitochondrial Permeability Transition and Bioenergetics in Rats
Authors: Asna Marinovic, Marko Ljubkovic, Ante Obad, Darija Bakovic, Toni Breskovic, and Zeljko Dujic The purpose of this document is to present the results of a scientific study investigating the cardiovascular effects of trimix dives compared to air dives. The purpose of the study was to determine how these dives affect cardiovascular function, with a specific focus on left ventricular systolic function and pulmonary artery pressure, and whether repeated dives over consecutive days have cumulative effects. The results showed that both trimix and air dives significantly affected cardiovascular function, but no cumulative effects or signs of acclimatization were observed.
9 - Effects of Successive Air and Trimix Dives on Human Cardiovascular Function 14 - Cell-derived microparticles: a new challenge in neuroscience
Authors: Loic Doeuvre, Laurent Plawinski, Florence Toti and Eduardo Angles-Cano This paper aims to inform the reader about the role and significance of microparticles (MPS) in various physiological and pathological contexts. It explains how MPS are formed, their sources, and their procoagulant activity, which is linked to several diseases. Additionally, the text highlights the emerging role of MPS as biomarkers for tissue activation or damage, particularly in neurovascular conditions, and suggests their potential use in disease prediction, diagnosis, prognosis, and follow-up.
18 - Helium Breathing Provides Modest Antiinflammatory, but No Endothelial Protection Against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Humans In Vivo
Authors: Eliana Lucchinetti, Johannes Wacker, Christian Maurer, Marius Keel, Luc Harter, Kathrin Zaugg, Michael Zaugg This paper presents the findings of a scientific study that investigated the effects of helium inhalation on endothelial function and inflammatory markers in humans following ischemia-reperfusion of the forearm. The study aimed to determine whether helium could provide protection against postocclusive endothelial dysfunction. The results showed that while helium inhalation reduced certain inflammatory and procoagulant markers, it did not improve endothelial function as measured by hyperemic reactions.
38 - Repetitive breath-hold diving causes serious brain injury
Authors: Hideki Tamaki, kiyotaka kohshi, Shuichi sajima, junichiro Takeyama, Takashi nakamura, Hideo ando, Tatsuya Ishitake This study reports a medical case study of a Japanese male professional breath-hold diver who developed neurological disorders, including sensory numbness and double vision, after repetitive deep dives. The report highlights the potential risks and dangers associated with repetitive deep breath-hold diving with short surface intervals, suggesting that such activities can lead to serious and possibly fatal health issues, such as cerebral infarcts.
39 - Hearing symptoms and audiometry in professional divers and offshore workers
Authors: John A. S. Ross, Jennifer I. Macdiarmid, Finlay D. Dick and Stephen J. Watt This document presents the findings of a study comparing hearing loss between professional divers and offshore workers. The study aims to determine whether hearing loss symptoms reflect physical disorders and evaluate the effectiveness of total threshold shift assessment for detecting noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The text details the study's methodology, results, and conclusions, highlighting that divers experience more NIHL than offshore workers and suggesting that current guidelines for assessing total threshold shifts may be inadequate.
42 - Aortic Function in Rats After Decompression Without Ultrasonically Detectable Bubble Formation
Authors: Kim-Vdar Rasdal, Astrid Hjede, Andrea Mollerloken, Nina Lundset, & Alf Ottar Brubakk This document presents the findings of a scientific study that investigated the effects of decompression on arterial endothelial function in rats. The study aimed to determine whether decompression without visible bubble formation, as detected by ultrasound, had any impact on arterial endothelial function. The results indicated that decompression led to significant endothelial dysfunction in the aorta, even in the absence of visible venous bubbles. The study also concluded that there was no evidence of blood-brain barrier damage or brain edema in the rats.
43 - Argon: Neuroprotection in in vitro models of cerebral ischemia and traumatic brain injury
Authors: Philip D Loetsche, Jan Rossaint, Rolf Rossaint , Joachim Weis , Michael Fries, Astrid Fahlenkamp, Yu-Mi Ryang, Oliver Grottke, and Mark Coburn This study presents a scientific study that investigates the neuroprotective potential of the noble gas argon. The study aims to determine whether argon can protect brain cells from damage caused by traumatic brain injury and cerebral ischemia, similar to the effects observed with other noble gases like xenon and helium. The text outlines the methods used, the results obtained, and concludes that argon has shown neuroprotective effects in vitro, warranting further in vivo animal research.
15 - The pathway to drive decompression microbubbles from the tissues to the blood and the lymphatic system as a part of this transfer
Authors: J. Hugon, L. Barthélemy, J.C. Rostain, B. Gardette The authors of this study review and discuss the potential formation sites and mechanisms of microbubbles detected in the bloodstream after decompression. They explore various hypotheses about where and how these microbubbles form, including on the endothelium lumen wall of capillaries, from pre-existing gas nuclei in the blood, or within tissues. They also consider the role of the lymphatic system in transporting these microbubbles to the bloodstream, offering an explanation for their detection over extended periods.
27 - The long-term effects of compressed gas diving on lung function in New Zealand occupational divers: a retrospective analysis
Authors: Christopher Sames, Desmond F Gorman, Simon J Mitchell, Greg Gamble This study investigates the long-term effects of occupational diving on lung function in New Zealand divers. It aims to determine changes in lung function over a five-year period and to analyse these changes in relation to factors such as gender, smoking status and years of diving experience. It also discusses the significance of the findings, potential implications for clinical relevance and concerns about the utility of current prediction equations for lung function monitoring in this population.
28 - Provisional report on diving-related fatalities in Australian waters 2004
Authors: Douglas Walker, John Lippmann, Chris Lawrence, John Houston and Andrew Fock This paper summarizes a study conducted on diving- related deaths in Australia in 2004. It outlines the methodology used in the study, provides a breakdown of the results, including the number and types of diving- related fatalities, and concludes with observations about contributing factors to these deaths.
29 - The role of intra-vascular bubbles and the vascular endothelium in decompression sickness
Authors: Alf O Brubakk and Andreas Møllerløkken This study discusses the challenges and mechanisms associated with decompression in diving, mainly focusing on the formation of gas bubbles and their impact on endothelial function. It highlights the potential role of endothelial dysfunction as a primary mechanism for neurological decompression injuries and suggests that physical exercise and nitric oxide could be novel approaches to mitigate the risk of such injuries.
30 - Saturation treatment in shore-based chambers for divers with deteriorating cerebro-spinal decompression sickness
Authors: Colin M Wilson, John AS Ross and Martin DJ Sayer This document is an analysis and overview of treatment protocols for emergency recompression of divers in shore- based chambers in Scotland, specifically focusing on saturation therapies. It aims to explain the use of two forms of saturation therapy (heliox and air), their principles, advantages, and considerations for their application. Additionally, it presents case reports to illustrate the types of situations that necessitate saturation treatment.
31 - Severe Irukandji-like jellyfish stings in Thai waters
Authors: Peter J Fenner and John Lippmann The purpose of this document is to raise awareness about the increasing presence and dangers of jellyfish stings in Thailand, particularly for swimmers and divers. It highlights the need for Thai authorities to implement warning systems and prevention strategies to protect both locals and tourists from potentially life-threatening jellyfish encounters.
32 - The role of intra-vascular bubbles and the vascular endothelium in decompression sickness
Authors: Alf O Brubakk and Andreas Møllerløkken The authors of this paper discuss the challenges and potential mechanisms involved in decompression injuries related to diving, focusing on the role of vascular gas bubbles and their impact on endothelial function. They highlight the significance of endothelial dysfunction as a possible primary mechanism for neurological decompression injuries and suggest that physical exercise and the use of nitric oxide could be novel approaches to reducing the risk of such injuries.
Authors: B.R. Wienke Linking deep stop model and data, this document outlines the LANL reduced gradient bubble model (RGBM) and its connection to the LANL Data Bank. Risk assessments are obtained from likelihood analysis, with applications in various diving scenarios. The RGBM model is widely used in mixed gas diving, contributing to tables, software, and meters for divers. The LANL Data Bank, containing 2879 profiles, provides insights into diving risks. The study reaffirms the effectiveness of deep stops and emphasizes the timing of deep stops in relation to diving safety.
26 - On Validation of a Popular Sport Diving Decompression Model
33 - Endothelial Function and Stress Response After Simulated Dives to 18 msw Breathing Air or Oxygen.
Authors: Leigh A. Madden, Bryna C. Chrismas, Duane Mellor, Rebecca V. Vince, Adrian W. Midgley, Lars R. McNaughton, Stephen L. Atkin, and Gerard Laden This study aimed to measure endothelial microparticles and endothelial function to quantify such damage. The data suggests that decompression does not trigger a detectable physiological response; instead, it likely causes mechanical damage to the endothelium, leading to microparticle release and reduced endothelial function.
34 - Bubble-induced platelet aggregation in a rat model of decompression sickness.
Authors: Jean-Michel Pontier, Nicolas Vallee, and Lionel Bourdon This study aimed to look at blood coagulation and platelet activation in a rat model of DCS. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into an experimental group with hyperbaric exposure and a control group at normal pressure. The study found a link between a drop in platelet count and DCS severity, confirming platelet consumption as a potential measure for evaluating DCS severity.
5 - Guiding principles in choosing a therapeutic table for DCI hyperbaric therapy
Authors: C. Antonelli, F. Franchi, M. E. Della Marta, A. Carinci, G. Sbrana, P. Tanasi, L. De Fina, M. Brauzzi Hyperbaric therapy is crucial for treating pervasive development disorders, and the choice of the right table is crucial. Low-pressure oxygen tables resolve most cases if recompression occurs quickly, while high-pressure tables can be used in severe cases. The preferred breathing mixture is heliox due to its fewer problems and potential for narcosis. Saturation treatment should be avoided or used in special cases. Initial 6 ATA recompression is recommended for arterial gas embolism cerebral injury.
12 - Oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of diffuse lung diseases: A review
Authors: E. Bargagli, C. Olivieri, D. Bennett, A. Prasse, J. Muller-Quernheim, P. Rottoli Oxidative stress is an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants, affecting lipids, DNA, carbohydrates, and proteins. The lung is exposed to oxidants like cigarette smoke, mineral dust, and radiation. This stress may contribute to diffuse lung diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, by increasing oxidant levels and decreasing antioxidant defenses. Studying oxidative stress can provide insights into etiopathogenesis and new treatments.