Natural killer cells as biomarkers of hyperbaric stress during a dry heliox saturation dive.

Introduction: Diving, hyperbaric oxygen, and decompression have been described as inducers of alterations in various components of the human immune system, such as the distribution of circulating lymphocytes. Hypothetically, the monitoring of specific lymphocyte subsets during hyperbaric exposure, including T- and NK-cell subsets, can serve as biomarkers of hyperbaric stress.

Methods: Eight experienced saturation divers and eight reference subjects, naive to deep saturation diving, were examined.

Glutathione in blood cells decreases without DNA breaks after a simulated saturation dive to 250 msw.

Introduction: Saturation diving involves exposure to high pressure and elevated oxygen level. The impact of cellular defense systems like glutathione in protecting cells against oxidative DNA damage seems unclear. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to investigate whether diving conditions would affect blood cell glutathione and thus alter the mononuclear cells' (MNC) susceptibility to oxidative DNA damage.

Changes in erythropoietin and haemoglobin concentrations in response to saturation diving.

A reduction in haemoglobin concentration is consistently reported after deep saturation dives. This may be due to a downregulation of erythropoietin (EPO) concentration or to a toxic effect of the hyperoxia associated with the dives resulting in an increased destruction rate of erythrocytes. In this study haemoglobin concentration, blood cell counts, serum ferritin, bilirubin, haptoglobin and EPO concentrations were measured before, during and after a 19 day saturation dive to 240 m.

Gas bubbles in rats after heliox saturation and different decompression steps and rates.

Effects of pressure reduction, decompression rate, and repeated exposure on venous gas bubble formation were determined in five groups (GI, GII, GIII, GIV, and GV) of conscious and freely moving rats in a heliox atmosphere. Bubbles were recorded with a Doppler ultrasound probe implanted around the inferior caval vein. Rats were held for 16 h at 0.