Spleen Factor: The Spleen’s Role as a Respiratory Organ

@#The Bajaus’ ability to free dive for prolonged periods is attributed to their exceptional physiologic response and large spleens. The spleen has been traditionally viewed as a hematologic and immunologic organ. Unconventionally, this review explores the spleen’s role as a respiratory organ and how apnea training can enhance the spleen’s form and function. Eligible articles obtained from Pubmed were discussed. The selected studies have shown that an 8-week home-based apnea training regimen can enhance the spleen volume by as much as 24% and that prolonged apnea training can increase both splenic contraction and baseline serum hemoglobin levels. However, the sample size and heterogeneity of these studies largely limit the generalizability of these findings. Thus, several future studies are needed to further explore the spleen’s respiratory function in humans.

Analysis of health promotion lifestyle and its influencing factors of candidates for 300-m saturation diving on the sea / 第二军医大学学报

Objective To analyze the present situation of health promotion lifestyle and its influencing factors of candidates for 300-m saturation diving on the sea, so as to lay a foundation for daily and sustainable health promotion for saturation diving candidates. Methods The health-promoting lifestyle scale and perceived social support scale were adopted for 37 candidate divers participating in the PLA Navy 300-m saturation diving; the relationship between the present situation of health promotion lifestyle and its influencing factors was analyzed. Results The average health promotion lifestyle score of 37 divers was 142.87±22.05, with 10 (27.03%) being general, 22 (59.46%) being good, and 5 (13.51%) being excellent. The results showed that the self-actualization score was the highest (3.03±0.42), and the health duty score was the lowest (2.67±0.46). The age of the divers was negatively correlated with athletics (r=-0.516, P<0.05) and pressure managment (r=-0.517, P<0.05); the length of military service was negatively correlated with athletics (r=-0.554, P<0.05) and pressure management (r=-0.570, P<0.05). Social support was positively correlated with interpersonal relationship (r=0.831, P<0.01), health duties (r=0.802, P<0.01), nutrition (r=0.831, P<0.01), and the total score of the health promotion lifestyle (r=0.785, P<0.01). Conclusion The health promotion lifestyle of candidates for 300-m saturation diving on the sea needs to be improved and stressed. Correct lifestyle should be urged and established for divers to ensure the final completion of the mission.

Accesibilidad a los servicios de salud mental con perspectiva diversidad de género. En el primer y segundo nivel de atención en la localidad de Alta Gracia

En décadas recientes, organizaciones sociales y políticas a nivel internacional y local han rebatido las perspectivas psi-hegemónicas que consideran a las identidades desde una visión normativa y polarizada en relación al género y a las sexualidades, entre ellas, la consideración de las identidades transgénero como una expresión patológica del género y la sexualidad que no tienen en cuenta el contexto social, cultural y político del binomio hombre/mujer y sexo/género. En base a estas situaciones de discriminación vividas por las personas LGBTI (Lesbianas, Gays, Bisexuales, Transgénerxs, Intersexuales) en su cotidianeidad, en los servicios de salud en particular; y por otro lado, por las recientemente aprobadas leyes de Salud Mental a nivel nacional y provincial, la Modificación del Matrimonio Civil entre personas del mismo sexo y la ley de Identidad de Género, enmarcadas en el paradigma de los derechos humanos se propone como objetivo: Identificar los obstáculos y facilitadores a la Accesibilidad de los Servicios de Salud Mental del Primer y Segundo Nivel de Atención en la ciudad de Alta Gracia de las personas con identidades LGBTI. A tal efecto, se trabajó desde la Metodología Cualitativa con un Estudio de Tipo Interpretativo y se realizaron entrevistas en profundidad a tres grupos de personas: profesionales de Salud Mental, Organizaciones Socio-Políticas de Diversidad de Género y personas que se autodefinen como LGBTI. Los datos producidos fueron sistematizados y analizados con el M.C.C –Método Comparativo Constante- una de las estrategias principales de la teoría fundamentada, con la utilización del programa de análisis cualitativo Atlas...

In recent decades, social policy and international and local organizations have challenged the psi - hegemonic perspectives that consider the identities from a normative and polarized vision in relation to gender and sexualities, including consideration of transgender identities as a pathological expression of gender and sexuality that do not take into account the social, cultural and political context of the binomial man / woman and sex / gender. Based on these situations of discrimination experienced by LGBTI ( Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgénerxs , Intersex ) in their daily lives , in particular health services and on the other hand, recently approved by the laws of Mental Health at national and provincial Modification Civil Marriage between same sex and gender identity law , framed in the paradigm of human rights has as objective: To identify barriers and facilitators to the Accessibility of Mental Health Services first and second level of care in the city of Alta Gracia people with LGBTI identities. For this purpose, we worked from a Qualitative methodology Interpretive Study type and three groups of people interviews were conducted in depth: Mental Health professionals, Socio- Political Organizations Diversity Gender and people who define themselves as LGBTI. The data produced were systematized and analyzed with the constant comparative method - MCC - one of the main strategies of grounded theory, the use of qualitative analysis software Atlas...

The Effect of Breath-Hold Diving on Intraocular Pressure, Optic Nerve, Visual Field in Korean Haenyeo (Female Divers)

PURPOSE: To examine how breath-hold diving activities of Korean haenyeo female divers affect intraocular pressure (IOP), optic nerve and visual field (VF). METHODS: Basic ophthalmologic tests were performed for a group of breath-hold female divers (26 eyes) and a control group of non-divers (26 eyes) and the results compared between the 2 groups. For the breath-hold female diver group, a questionnaire survey was conducted on the patterns of breath-hold diving and the correlation with abnormalities in IOP, optic nerve and VF analyzed. RESULTS: IOP was significantly higher in the diver group (diver group: 15.00 +/- 3.76 mm Hg, control group: 13.93 +/- 2.36 mm Hg, p < 0.05). Between the 2 groups, the cup area (diver group: 1.21 +/- 0.60 mm2, control group: 0.83 +/- 0.46 mm2, p < 0.05), the cup-to-disc (C/D) ratio (diver group: 0.44 +/- 0.21, control group: 0.31 +/- 0.14, p < 0.05), and the vertical C/D ratio (diver group: 0.70 +/- 0.17, control group: 0.51 +/- 0.12, p < 0.05) were also significantly different. A significant correlation between working hours per day and IOP (r = 0.44, p < 0.05), between diving depth and RNFL defect, and cup area, and vertical C/D ratio (r = 0.43, r = 0.41, r = 0.39, p < 0.05) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects who breath-hold dive for a long period, such as Korean Haenyeo, need to have a glaucoma test regularly.

Survey of SCUBA Divers in Korea Focused on Forensic Implications / 대한법의학회지

This study aimed at surveying recreational scuba divers in order to determine demographic characteristics such as diving certification level and diving times, history of medical illnesses or injuries, and incidence of accidents or risks during underwater diving. For this, the authors contacted the managers of 190 diving clubs, which are listed on an online site called "DiveWeb." Responses were obtained from 87 diving clubs, amounting to a total of 154 completed questionnaires. The authors also visited a 4-day-long "Seoul International Sports & Leisure Industry Show" and collected 168 completed questionnaires from certified divers who visited the show. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS for Windows, version 17.0. We found the following results among 314 divers: 261 (83.1%) were male, and 221 (70.4%) were aged 30 to 49 years; 174 divers (55.4%) had over 5 years of diving experience; average body mass index (24.13) was within normal limits; number of non-smokers (175) was greater than that of smokers (139); 110 (35.0%) divers reported past or present diseases (allergic rhinitis being the most common) or injury history. Risky situations that were encountered by the divers included currents, underwater environment, buddy system complications, and air depletion during diving. Underwater diving is a potentially hazardous activity, but at present, medical examinations or fitness tests are not a prerequisite for certified divers in Korea. To secure the safety of underwater divers, we need to establish policies for medical checkups and fitness tests before the divers begin training or attain certification.

Divers-Idades en la Psicogerontología / Diverse Ages in Psychogerontology

La conferencia trata acerca de la continuidad identitaria de nuestra Red Iberoamericana de Psicogerontología, a través de sus congresos: Divers-idades… a partir de la identidad de nuestros viejos… pueblos, que fuera el lema de nuestro primer congreso, pueblos que, en su diversidad, están aquí representados y eso nos lleva a la memoria y construcción de futuro, lema del segundo congreso. De tal modo que se conjugan pasado, presente y futuro en la construcción de un modo de entender y abordar el envejecimiento humano desde la salud mental, tal nuestra especificidad. Por lo tanto, estamos hablando de nuestra identidad, la identidad de la Psicogerontología y de cómo la vamos construyendo a través de las diversidades que la componen. Nos ocupamos de sujetos envejecientes y de sus diversos contextos culturales y para hacerlo proponemos un nuevo enfoque en la Psicogerontología ­superador del modelo simplista y biologista - desde una perspectiva integradora de los aspectos bio-psico-sociales que complejamente interactúan. En este sentido, la perspectiva de la Teoría del Curso de la Vida que da marco actualmente a la Gerontología, nos instala en las Divers-idades, diversas edades en las cuales favorecer intercambios intergeneracionales y preparación para las vejeces en su divers-idad. El concepto de identidad es central en la Psicogerontología, ya que el envejecer se anticipa como perspectiva de metamorfosis para el yo, el cual ve amenazado, entre otras cosas, su poder. Poder seguir siendo…frente a una cultura que no lo deja ser ni le otorga reconocimiento, dependerá de la construcción de un Yo complejo, en las divers-idades que lo enriquecen.

The conference deals with the identity continuity of our Iberia-American Network of Psychogerontology through its congresses: Diverse Ages… from the identity of our elderly… peoples, which was the theme of our first congress, people who, in their diversity, are represented herein, and this takes us to memory and construction of the future, motto for the second congress. In a way that past, present and future are conjugated in constructing a manner to understand and address human aging from mental health, our specialty. For such, we are speaking of our identity, the identity of Psychogerontology and how we are constructing it through the diversities that comprise it. We deal with aging subjects and their diverse cultural contexts and to do so we propose a new focus by Psychogerontology ­ going beyond the simplistic and biological model ­ from an integrating perspective of the bio-psycho-social aspects that interact in all their complexity. In this sense, the perspective of the Life Course Theory that currently denote Gerontology, brings us to Diversities, the diverse ages that favor intergenerational exchanges and serve as preparation for aging in all its diversity. The concept of identity is central to Psychogerontology since aging anticipates itself as a perspective of metamorphosis for the I, which sees its power, among other things, threatened. Able to continue being… in face of a culture that does not allow it to be nor does it grant it recognition, will depend on construction of a complex I in the diverse ages that enrich it.

The Effect of Breath Hold Diving on Bone Mineral Density of Women Fishery Diver / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of breathhold diving on female diver's bone mineral density (BMD). METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out utilizing a health checkup of divers and controls at a hospital in Jeju city, Korea. Female divers (n=61) were matched with non-diver controls (n=61) by age, weight and postmenopausal year. BMD of the proximal femur(femoral neck, trochanter and Ward's triangle) was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). RESULTS: The average diving duration of the female divers was 34+/-13 years. The BMD of the divers was higher than that of the controls in the femur neck and trochanter (p<0.05). On correlations analysis, the status of menopause, age, body weight and age at menarche were significantly correlated with proximal femur BMD in the divers (p<0.05). On multiple regression analysis, age and body weight were predictors of proximal femur BMD in the divers. On linear regression analysis of proximal femur BMD according to age in the divers and controls, regression coefficients of the divers were lower in all 3 areas of the proximal femur than the controls. CONCLUSIONS: BMD of the divers was higher than that of the controls in the femur neck and trochanter. There was a tendency for BMD of the divers to decrease faster than that of the controls with increasing age.

A Nutritional Survey of Women Divers in Tongyoung Area / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to investigate the nutritional intake and dietary habits of women divers in Tongyoung area and to support the guideline for the improvement of their dietary life style by a validation of a Computerized Semiquantitative Food Frequency Questionaire. Compared to the women at Jeju Island, the Tongyoung divers showed similar heights (154.6 +/-0.8 cm), weights (53.5 +/-1.0 kg) and BMIs (23.3 +/-0.4), but they showed especially high levels of body fat (33.8 +/-0.8). Their dietary habits showed they usually skipped lunch, but ate too much food at once, which may represent the dietary habits shown by obese people. Over 40% of the divers were taking some nutritious food or complementary food for health, without realizing the efficacy of these foods. The analysis of nutritional intake showed that all of average daily nutrients intakes of those below 50 years were higher than those of the Korean RDA. In the case of those above 50 years , it was shown that the average daily nutrients intakes were also higher than those of the Korean RDA except for energy (94.5%) and calcium (82.1%). However, some individual divers showed lower nutrients intakes than 75% of RDA for calcium, iron, Vitamin A and Vitamin B2. Also, excessive intakes of phosphorous and sodium could be a dietary problem. There was no correlation between BMI or percentage of body fat and energy, CHO, protein or fat. These results can provide the nutritional information for this special community, women divers, to improve their health.

Bone mineral density of woman divers

BACKGROUND: The study was done to examine the role of long-term diving(5-20m depth) on regional bone mineral density(BMD) in women. METHODS: We compared woman divers(n=38) with matched non-diver controls(n=38) according to age, weight, and duration of menopause. BMD(g/cm2)of the proximal femur (femoral neck, trochanter, Ward's triangle) was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA, Hologic QDR-1500). RESULTS: There was no significant difference between groups for proximal femur BMD. But in premenopausal group, BMD of divers was higher than controls in femur neck and trochanter (p<0.05). Correlations analysis revealed that body weight of divers was significantly correlated to femoral neck BMD (p<0.05). In multiple regression analysis, menopause and age of postmenopausal divers was a predictors of femoral neck BMD in divers. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that diving is has osteogenic effect on women.

A STUDY OF SAG ARTIA ROSEA IN BOHAI SEA (A RED SEA ANEMONE) ON BIOMEDICINE / 中国海洋药物

On the basis of the preliminary study of the prevention and treatment of Bohai Sea divers' dermatitis from 1983 to 1987, the morphological characteristic of 5. rosea (see section I ), the pathogenic organism of the divers' dermatitis, was studied in the field of systematic zoology, some aspect concerning medical pathogenic characteristic of the nematocysts from the red sea anemone (section I ) was studied from the point of view of pathophysiology,a preliminary study on active proteins from 5. rosea (section I ) was studied according to toxicology. The article further stated the pathogenic mechanism of the sea anemones' dermatitis, in order to go further into the new ways and methods for preventing and treating the divers' dermatitis.