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PREDICTIVE STUDIES III (PS III): Nitrogen, Helium, Neon Atmospheres at High Ambient Pressures.
Major Category: Inert Gas Effects-Density / Hydrostatic Pressure / Narcosis
Subcategory: Predictive Studies III (Expt. 12.40). Integrated physiologic effects of normoxic atmospheres of nitrogen, helium, or crude neon at high ambient pressures.

Date: Summer, 1971

Expt. Title: Predictive Studies III. Effects of Inert Gases at 0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 900 and 1200 feet of sea water.

Description:

Exposures of 4 Subjects to multiple inert gas densities and ambient pressures with normal O2 partial pressures for determination of human tolerance at rest and during exercise to He, Ne, and N2 at respiratory gas densities equivalent to He-O2 breathing at pressures equivalent to depths to 1200, 2000, 3000, 4000, and 5000 feet of sea water. Major aims included: Investigations for comparative "narcotic" effect of helium and neon in direct comparison with nitrogen, determination of degrees of "high pressure nervous system" effect in a progress sequence of increases in helium pressure: Determination of respiratory functional integrity in rest and work to extremes of atmospheric density; Development of a method of decompression from He saturation, utilizing air and O2. Performed in Environmental Simulators of the Institute for Environmental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.

Measurements:
Pulmonary and Ventilatory Functions
    Lung Mechanics

Expiratory & Inspiratory Flow Rates
Pulmonary Resistance (rest, exercise, forced ventilation)
Work of Breathing
Static and Dynamic Pulmonary Compliance
Esophageal Pressure, alveolar pressure
Maximum expiratory pressure flow

    Lung Volumes

Capacities (Vital, Inspiratory, Total Lung, Functional Residual)
Expiratory Reserve Volume
Residual Volume
Dead Space

    Lung Dynamics

Flow rates
Maximum Voluntary Ventilation

    Gas Exchange

Alveolar Arterial O2 Gradient
Ventilation-perfusion

Respiratory Functions and Respiratory Control

Respiratory Homeostasis
Ventilatory Response to CO2
Tidal Volume Response to CO2
Respiratory Frequency Response to CO2

Exercise Tolerance (6-min serial exposures to 300, 600, 900, 1200 kpm/min)

Physical Performance
Metabolic Characteristics
Pulmonary Function in Work
Ventilatory Response in Work
Alveolar-blood Gas Exchange

Neurophysiological Functions

Electroencephalogram (rest, exercise)
Evoker Brain Responses (Auditory, Somatosensory, Visual)
Tremor (microtremor, postural tremor)
Special Senses (taste, hearing, vestibular function)
Vision (acuity, color perception, critical flicker fusion frequency)

Performance

    Psychomotor

Gross Coordination (pursuit rotor, Bennett hand tool dexterity test, Purdue Pegboard)
Fine Coordination (small displacement tracking)
Simple Reaction Time
Manual Tapping Rate
Muscle Strength (maximum grip strength, strength estimation)

    Cognitive Functions (paced arithmetic, Stroop Test-rapid recognition task)

        Productive time estimation

    Voice (spectral analysis)

Blood Chemistry, Cellular, and Endocrine Factors

Hematology-Cellular Characteristics
Blood Chemical Composition
Endocrine Studies

Decompression

REPORT: Gelfand, R. Concepts of ventilatory and respiratory gas homeostasis in simulated undersea exposure. In: Underwater Physiology VIII: 515-533. Bachrach, A.J., and M.M. Matzen, Eds. Bethesda: Undersea Medical Soc., 1984.

REPORT: Pisarello, J., M. Fried, D. Fisher, and C.J. Lambertsen. Superficial isobaric counterdiffusion gas lesion disease-effects leading to mortality. In: Underwater Physiology VIII. Bachrach, A.J. and M.M. Matzen, Eds. Bethesda: Undersea Medical Soc., 101-106, 1984.

REPORT: D’Aoust, B.G., and C.J. Lambertsen. Isobaric gas exchange and supersaturation by counterdiffusion. In: The physiology and medicine of diving and compressed air work. 3rd ed.: 383-403 Bennett, P.B. and D.H. Elliott. London: Balliere-Tindall, 1983.

REPORT: Gelfand, R., C.J. Lambertsen, R. Strauss, J.M. Clark, and C.D. Puglia. Human respiration at rest in rapid compression and at high pressures and gas densities. J. Appl. Physiol. 54: 290-303, 1983.

REPORT: Naquet, R., and C.J. Lambertsen. Travail en hyperbare (work under hyperbaric conditions). In: Precis de physiologie du travail (ergonomie): 327-340. Scherrer, J., Ed. Paris: Masson, 1982.

REPORT: Lambertsen, C.J. Prediction of physiological limits to human undersea activity and extension of tolerance to high pressure. In: Environmental Physiology. Vol. 18 in Advances in Physiological Sciences. Proceedings of the 28th International Congress of Physiological Sciences, Budapest, 1980. Obal, F., and G. Benedek, Eds. Budapest: Akademiai Kiado:143-164, 1981.

REPORT: Gelfand, R., C.J. Lambertsen and R.E. Peterson. Human respiratory control at high ambient pressures and inspired gas densities. J. Appl. Physiol. 48: 528-539, 1980.

REPORT: Ranade, A., C.J. Lambertsen, and A. Noordergraaf. Inert gas exchange in the middle ear. Acta Oto-Laryngol. 371(Supp.), 1980.

REPORT: Cowley, J.R.M., C Allegra, and C.J. Lambertsen. Subcutaneous tissue gas space pressure during superficial isobaric counterdiffusion. J. Appl. Physiol. 47: 224-227, 1979.

REPORT: Cowley, J.R.M., and C.J. Lambertsen. Isobaric gas counterdiffusion in rabbit eye. J. Appl. Physiol. 47:220-223, 1979.

REPORT: Dueker, C.W., C.J. Lambertsen, J.J. Rosowski, and J.C. Saunders. Middle ear gas exchange in isobaric counterdiffusion. J. Appl. Physiol. 47: 1239-1244, 1979.

REPORT: Francis, G., R. Gelfand, and R.E. Peterson. Effects of gas density on the frequency response of gas-filled pressure transducers. J. Appl. Physiol. 47:632-637, 1979.

REPORT: Harvey, C.A. and C.J. Lambertsen. Deep tissue isobaric inert gas exchange: predictions during normoxic helium, neon, and nitrogen breathing by men at 1200 feet of sea water. In: Underwater Physiology VI. Shilling, C.W. and M.B. Kent, eds. Bethesda: FASEB: 343-358, 1979.

REPORT: Lambertsen, C.J. The relationship to offshore operations of scientific and technical advances from deep diving studies. In: The human factor in north sea operational diving. Lambertsen C.J., S.R. O’Neil, and M.L. Long, eds. Allentown, PA: Air Products and Chemicals: 17-30, 1978.

REPORT: Lambertsen, C.J. and R. Peterson. Gas lesion diseases: the significance of isobaric gas exchange in decompression. In: Offshore Technology Conference. Proceedings 1978, Vol. IV, Dallas: Offshore Technology Conference: 2035-2040, 1978.

REPORT: Lander, R.L., and J.A. Quinn. The use of membranes in studies of reaction kinetics: arseite catalysis of CO2 hydration. J. Memb. Sci. 3: 47-56, 1978.

REPORT: Quinn, J.A. Gas transfer through the skin. A two layer model relating transcutaneous flux to arterial tension. Advan. Exptl. Med. Biol. 94:175-181, 1978.

REPORT: Karreman, G., and C.J. Lambertsen. Kinetics of isobaric counterdiffusion. Bull. Math. Biol. 39:587-595, 1977.

REPORT: Lambertsen C.J., R. Gelfand, R. Peterson, R. Strauss, W.B. Wright, J.G. Dickson, Jr., C. Puglia, and R.W. Hamilton, Jr. Human tolerance to He, Ne, and N2 at respiratory gas densities equivalent to He-O2 breathing at depths to 1200, 2000, 3000, 4000, and 5000 feet of sea water (Predictive Studies III). Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 48: 843-855, 1977.

REPORT: Gelfand, R., C.J. Lambertsen, R.E. Peterson, and A. Slater. Pneumotachograph for flow and volume measurement in normal and dense atmospheres. J. Appl. Physiol. 41: 120-124, 1976.

REPORT: Gelfand, R., and R. Peterson. The effects on CO2 reactivity of breathing crude neon at high pressures. In: Underwater Physiology V. Lambertsen, C.J., ed. Bethesda: FASEB: 603-616, 1976.

REPORT: Hamilton, R.W., Jr. Psychomotor performance in normoxic neon and helium at 37 atmospheres. In: Underwater Physiology V. Lambertsen, C.J., ed. Bethesda: FASEB: 651-664, 1976.

REPORT: Idicula, J., D.J. Graves, J.A. Quinn,and C.J. Lambertsen. Bubble formation resulting from the steady counterdiffusion of two inert gases. In: Underwater Physiology V. Lambertsen, C.J., ed. Bethesda: FASEB: 335-340, 1976.

REPORT: Lambertsen, C. J. Collaborative investigation of limits of human tolerance to pressurization with helium, neon and nitrogen. Simulation of density equivalent to helium-O2 respiration at depths to 2000, 3000, 4000, and 5000 feet of sea water. In: Underwater Physiology V. Lambertsen, C.J., ed. Bethesda: FASEB: 35-48, 1976.

REPORT: Lambertsen, C. J. Saturation-excursion diving. Physiological adaptation and practical underwater work in chamber "dives" to 1200 and 1600 feet. Faceplate Summer: 12-13, 1976.

REPORT: Langley, T.D. Somatic and auditory evoked brain responses in man breathing mixtures of normoxic helium, nitrogen, and neon at pressures to 37 atmospheres. In: Underwater Physiology V. Lambertsen, C.J., ed. Bethesda: FASEB: 595-602, 1976.

REPORT: Lambertsen, C.J., R.C. Bornman, S. Kronheim and P.G. Linaweaver. Review of physiological factors and limits to deep diving. In: The strategy for future diving to depths greater than 1000 feet. Halsey, M.J., W. Settle and E.B. Smith, Eds. Bethesda: Undersea Medical Soc., 49-53, 1975.

REPORT: Lambertsen, C.J. and J. Idicula. A new gas lesion syndrome in man induced by "isobaric gas counterdiffusion". J. Appl. Physiol. 39: 434-443, 1975.

REPORT: Quinn, J.A., D.J. Graves, and R.A. Smock. Bubbles generated in membrane oxygenators: N2 washout counterdiffusion. J. Appl. Physiol. 37: 479-486, 1974.

REPORT: Thorne, D.R., A Findling, and A.J. Bachrach. Muscle tremors under helium, neon, nitrogen and nitrous oxide at 1 to 37 atm. J. Appl. Physiol. 37: 875-879, 1974.

REPORT: Graves, D.J., J. Idicula, C.J. Lambertsen, and J.A. Quinn. Bubble formation in physical and biological systems: a manifestation of counterdiffusion in composite media. Science 179: 582-584, 1973.

REPORT: Graves, D.J., J. Idicula, C.J. Lambertsen, and J.A. Quinn. Bubble formation resulting from counterdiffusion supersaturation: a possible explanation for isobaric inert gas "urticaria" and vertigo. Phys. Med. Biol. 18:356-364, 1973.

REPORT: Lambertsen, C.J., J.P.W. Cunnington, and J.R.M. Cowley. The dynamics and composition of spontaneous, continuous gas embolism in the pig during isobaric gas counterdiffusion (ABSTRACT). Fed. Proc. 34: 453, 1975.

REPORT: Peterson, R. E. Pulmonary Mechanical Function in Man Exposed to High Pressures of Nitrogen, Neon and Helium. Consequences of Airway Compression in a Respiratory Passage Model. Master’s Thesis in Physiology. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania, 1972.

Description: Model of airway collapse. Formulation of a model relating airway collapse during forced expiration to pulmonary mechanical function and gas density. Stimulated by and used results of Predictive Studies III.

07 February 2000 10:11:22 AM