Scientific papers 2020
The documents are classified chronologically from 2020 to 2021.
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Authors:
Richard V. Lundell, Anne K. Räisänen-Sokolowski, Tomi K.
Wuorimaa, Tommi Ojanen, & Tommi Ojanen.
Diving close to the Arctic circle means diving in cold
water regardless of the time of year. The human body
reacts to cold through the autonomous nervous system
(ANS)-mediated thermoregulatory mechanisms. Diving
also induces ANS responses as a result of the diving reflex.
To study ANS responses during diving in Arctic water
temperatures, the authors retrospectively analyzed
repeated 5-min heart rate variability (HRV) measures and
the mean body temperature from dives at regular
intervals using naval diving equipment measurement tests
in 0 degrees C water.
Authors:
Ben Aviner, Ran Arieli, Alexandra Yalov.
Patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy and
divers engaged in an underwater activity are at risk of
central nervous system oxygen toxicity. An algorithm for
predicting CNS oxygen toxicity during active underwater
diving has been published previously, but not for humans
at rest. Using a procedure similar to that employed for the
derivation of their active diving algorithm, the authors
collected data for exposures at rest, in which subjects
breathed hyperbaric oxygen while immersed in
thermoneutral water at 33 degrees C or in dry conditions.
Authors: Marko Žarak, Antonija Perovic, Marina Njire
Braticevic, Sandra Šupraha Goreta, Jerka Dumic.
It has been shown that one diving session is sufficient to
cause changes in plasma level of cardiovascular (CV) and
muscular biomarkers.
To explore whether repetitive diving triggers an adaptive
response of the CV, muscular, and immune system, the
authors measured the cardiac damage, muscle damage,
vascular endothelial activation, and inflammatory,
biomarkers. A longitudinal intervention study included
divers (N = 14) who conducted one dive per week over 5
weeks at the depth of 20–30 m for 30 min after a non-dive
period of 5 months. Blood samples were collected before
and after the first, third, and fifth dives and specific
biomarkers were measured in plasma or serum by the
standard laboratory methods.
Author: Tahreem Fatima
This article does not speak of diving but on the use of
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as a primary
emergency treatment in some acute pathologies or
alternative therapies, particularly in deep and chronic
infections such as necrotizing fasciitis, osteomyelitis,
chronic
soft tissue infections, and infective endocarditis for chronic
long-term pathologies.
Teams equipped with chambers should be informed that
they can be used in case of such pathologies are found
on the worksite.
Authors:
Bobby Glenn Warren, Jason Masker, Gregory Brown,
Isabella Gamez, Becky Smith, Deverick J. Anderson, and
Nicholas Turner
This study evaluates the efficacy of 2 UV-C devices for
disinfection of surfaces contaminated with
epidemiologically important pathogens (EIPs) in
hyperbaric chambers of varying shapes.
Authors:
Juan C Dapena, Corine A Lansdorp, Simon J Mitchell
The authors present the history and imaging of a diver
diagnosed with DCS treated with two US Navy Treatment
Table 6 recompressions but still had multiple extravascular
bubbles apparent on CT-imaging after these hyperbaric
treatments. Based on these findings, they hypothesize that,
contrary to general belief, it is possible that large
extravascular bubbles can persist after definitive
treatment for DCS.
Authors:
Francisco de Asís-Fernández, Tamara del Corral, Ibai
López-de-Uralde-Villanueva
After a maximal apnea, breath-hold divers must restore
O2 levels and clear CO2 and lactic acid produced.
High intensity interval training (HIIT) and inspiratory
muscle training (IMT) could be employed with the aim of
increasing recovery capacity. This study aimed to evaluate
the relative effects of IMT versus HIIT on recovery of
peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), and also on
pulmonary function, inspiratory muscle strength, lactate
and heart rate recovery after a maximal dynamic apnea in
breath-hold divers.
Authors:
Peter Germonpré, Paul Van der Eecken, Elke Van
Renterghem, Faye-Lisa Germonpré, Costantino Balestra.
The Azoth Systems O’Dive bubble monitor is marketed at
recreational and professional divers as a tool to improve
personal diving decompression safety. We report the use
of this tool during a l2-day dive trip aboard a liveaboard.
Six divers were consistently monitored according to the
user manual of the O’Dive system. Data were
synchronised with the Azoth server whenever possible
(depending on cell phone data signal). Information
regarding ease of use, diver acceptance and influence on
dive behaviour were recorded.
Authors:
Adam E Howard, Peter Buzzacott, Ian C Gawthrope, Neil
D Banham
Middle ear barotrauma (MEBt) is a common side effect of
hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) and can result in
pain, hearing loss, tinnitus, and otorrhagia. The use of
antiplatelet/anticoagulant drugs is thought to increase the
risk and severity of MEBt during HBOT.
The authors studied all patients treated with HBOT over
four years (between 01 January 2015 to 31 December
2018), looking at the incidence of MEBt and the
concurrent use of antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant drugs.
Authors:
Wen-tao Meng, Long Qing, Quan Zhou, Wei-gang Xu
The lung is among the primary organs involved in
decompression sickness (DCS). Xuebijing (XBJ), a
traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used in the
treatment of various acute lung diseases. This study aimed
to explore potential benefit of XBJ on lung injuries induced
by DCS in a rabbit model.
Authors:
Moritz F Meyer, Kristijana Knezic, Stefanie Jansen, Heinz D
Klünter, Eberhard D Pracht, Maria Grosheva
During descent in freediving there is exposure to rapidly
increasing pressure. Inability to quickly equalise middle ear
pressure may cause trauma to the ear. This study aimed to
evaluate the occurrence of pressure-related damage to
the middle ear and the Eustachian tube during freediving
and to identify possible risk factors.
Authors:
Daniel Popa, Anthony Medak, Walter Chin, Oswaldo
Huchim-Lara, 2 scientists, Tudor Hughes, Ian Grover.
Artisanal diving fishermen in Yucatan, Mexico have high
rates of decompression sickness as a result of frequently
unsafe diving practices with surface supplied compressed
air. In this study, the authors investigated the prevalence of
dysbaric osteonecrosis (DON), a type of avascular necrosis,
in the most susceptible joints in a cohort of these
fishermen.
Authors:
Christopher W Scarff, John Lippmann, Andrew W Fock
The presence of a persistent (patent) foramen ovale (PFO)
increases the risk of decompression sickness (DCS) whilst
diving with pressurised air. After the diagnosis of a PEO,
divers will be offered a number of options for risk
mitigation.
The aim of this study was to review the management
choices and modifications to diving practices following
PFO diagnosis in the era preceding the 2015 joint
position statement (JPS) on PEO and diving.
Author:
Charles H Van Wijk, Jarred H Martin, Nazneen Firfi rey
Breath-ho
A recent article reported on common mental health
conditions among recreational scuba divers, and observed
that the prevalence mirrored national population figures.
That raised the question of the extent to which this might
also be the case among professional divers. No data on
commercial divers could be located; this paper presents
the situation among navy divers.
Authors:
Xavier CE Vrijdag, Hanna van Waart, Jamie W Sleigh,
Costantino Balestra, Simon J Mitchell
Critical flicker fusion frequency (CFFF) has been used in
various studies to measure the cognitive effects of gas
mixtures at depth, sometimes with conflicting or
apparently paradoxical results. This study aimed to
evaluate a novel automatic CFFF method and investigate
whether CFFF can be used to monitor gas-induced
nareosis in divers.
Authors:
Babak Hajhosseini, Britta A. Kuehlmann, Clark A. Bonham,
Kathryn J. Kamperman, Geoffrey C. Gurtner
As suggested in the title, this document reviews the
various technics used for Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy. It
can be used as a complementary source of information
regarding the positive use of hyperbaric oxygen.
Author: Richard Clarke
This paper summarises the history and capabilities of
monoplace chambers in treatment of decompression
illness (DCI); both in support of diving operations and in
the hospital setting. In the field, monoplace hyperbaric
chambers provide victims of DCI immediate access to
recompression in settings where traditional multiplace
chambers are not available.
Authors: Simona Mrakic-Sposta, Alessandra Vezzoli,
Federica D’Alessandro, Matteo Paganini, Cinzia
Dellanoce, Danilo Cialoni, and Gerardo Bosco
This study investigated the effects of saturation diving on
oxidative stress damage. Four divers were included in the
study. After the saturation dive (post), significant increases
in reactive oxygen species (ROS), total antioxidant capacity
(TAC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and nitric oxide
metabolites (NOx) were detected.
The authors say that these results could ameliorate
commercial or military diving protocols or improve the
understanding of symptoms caused by oxygen level
elevation.
Authors: Ran Arieli, and Ben Aviner
This short article confirms that there is a process of
acclimatization and possibly deacclimatization to oxygen,
which makes it necessary to review the safe exposure
limits. It can be seen as a part and the continuation of
previous works undertaken by doctors Ran Arieli and Ben
Aviner regarding oxygen toxicity.
Authors: Brian T Andrew, David J Doolette
The US Navy air decompression table was promulgated in
2008, and a revised version, calculated with the VVal-79
Thalmann algorithm, was promulgated in 2016. The
Swedish Armed Forces conducted a laboratory dive trial
using the 2008 air decompression table and 32 dives to
40 metres‘ seawater for 20 minutes bottom time resulted
in two cases of decompression sickness (DCS) and high
venous gas emboli (VGE) grades. These results motivated
an examination of
current US Navy air decompression schedules.
Authors: Andrzej Molisz,Tomasz Przewozny,Katarzyna
Nowicka-Sauer, Marta Sauer
The role of the cardiovascular system in the development
of seasickness remains uncertain. Material and Methods:
Overall, 18 healthy students (10 males and 8 females)
aged 18–24 years volunteered in the project, spending
2–7 h on life rafts. The cardiovascular system was
examined with impedance cardiography. Susceptibility
and symptoms of seasickness were evaluated by the
Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire Short-form
(MSSQ-Short) and the Motion Sickness Assessment
Questionnaire (MSAQ). The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS),
ranging 0–10, was used to assess nausea, dizziness and
mood. The parameters were assessed at 2 time points.
Authors: Kåre Segadal, Andreas Møllerløkken
This study was done on initiative from PSA. The objective
was to investigate emergency decompression as an
alternative, in cases where the evacuation from a
saturation facility of divers at increased pressure, is not
available for whatever reason. It is stressed that it will not
be the purpose of such procedures to prevent pain or
discomfort, but to prevent serious injury and death.
Authors:
Brunon Kierznikowicz, Władysław Wolański, Romuald
Olszanski
The article describes a diver performing a dive at small
depths in a dry suit, breathing from a single-stage
apparatus placed on his back. As a result of training
deficiencies, the diver began breathing from inside the
suit, which led to hypoxia and subsequent uncontrolled
ascent. Upon returning to the surface, the diver
developed neurological symptoms based on which a
diagnosis of pulmonary barotrauma was made.
Authors:
Jakub Tlapák, Boris Onišcenko, Petr Došel, Pavel Požár, Petr
Chmátal, and Michal Hájek
Pneumothorax as a consequence of pulmonary
barotrauma during explosive decompression military
crew training in a hypobaric chamber is an extremely rare
and sparsely diagnosed complication. Extensive bilateral
tissue damage is even more unexpected.
Authors:
Xavier CE Vrijdag, Hanna van Waart, Jamie W Sleigh,
Simon J Mitchell
Gas narcosis impairs divers when diving deeper.
Pupillometry is sensitive to alcohol intoxication and it has
been used in anaesthesia to assess nitrous oxide narcosis.
It is a potential novel method to quantify narcosis in
diving. The aim of this study was to evaluate pupillometry
for objective measurement of narcosis during exposure to
hyperbaric air or nitrous oxide.
Authors:
Patrick J. Kirkland, Dana Mathew, Pranav Modi, & Jeffrey S.
Cooper
Nitrogen narcosis is a change in consciousness,
neuromuscular function, and behavior brought on by
breathing compressed inert gasses. It has also been called
depth intoxication, ”narks,” and rapture of the deep.
Traditionally the gas involved in narcosis is nitrogen, and it
is associated with dysfunction when breathed by scuba
divers from their tanks containing compressed air. Other
inert gasses associated with narcosis include neon, argon,
krypton, and xenon, with the latter having an anesthetic
effect even at sea level. Interestingly, helium does not
cause inert gas narcosis and therefore, is used in deep
diving as heliox.
Authors: Aida Carballo-Fazanes, Joost J.L.M. Bierens, and
the International Expert Group to Study
Drowning Behaviour
Although drowning is a common phenomenon, the
behaviour of drowning persons is poorly understood.
The purpose of this study is to provide a quantitative and
qualitative analysis of this behaviour. This was an
observational study of drowning videos observed by 20
international experts in the field of water safety. For
quantitative analysis, each video was analysed with Lince
observation software by four participants. A Nominal
Group Technique generated input for the qualitative
analysis and the two principal investigators conducted a
post-hoc analysis.
Authors: Ewa Manka, Bartosz Skuratowicz, Sebastian
Kwiatek, Maciej Krupowies, Karolina Sieron
Due to the high prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the
world population and the potential for dangerous
complications during diving, there is a need for unified
recommendations for safe diving with this condition.
Current guidelines from international diving associations
are not entirely consistent. This review presents the
positions of international diving associations concerning
the requirements for diving with diabetes, the scope of
diving and recommended management of life-threatening
conditions during the dive.
