[Use of dynamic electrocardiography in the examination of the cardiovascular system in aviation medicine]. / Utilita dell'elettrocardiografia dinamica nell'esame dell'apparato cardiovascolare in medicina aeronautic.

On the matter of psychophysical fitness to pilot a plane, stress is laid on those forms of arrhythmia with a pathological foundation, and the new prospects offered by dynamic ECG are indicated. Applied for a more or less lengthy time, the latter permits prolonged, more careful observation of cardiac function over a period of time. The results obtained are explained and the investigation technique is illustrated.

[Preliminary study of the pathogenetic mechanisms of pulmonary hypertension due to hypoxia. the role of histamine]. / Studio preliminare sui meccanismi patogenetici dell'ipertensione polmonare da ipossia. Il ruolo dell'istamina.

It has long been supposed that histamine plays an intemediary rôle in pulmonary hypertension due to hypoxia, though no firm evidence has been collected. Lung and aortic pressure and the blood histamine content in the aorta, pulmonary artery, vena cava inferior, and suprahepatic veins were therefore measured in anaesthetised dogs breathing ambient air, and after 5' administration of a gas mixture containing 8% O2. Lung pressure rose significantly and aortic pressure changed only slightly. Histamine values, however, rose significantly in the pulmonary artery and were unchanged in the aorta after the hypoxic stimulus. In addition, concentrations were higher in the vena cava and unchanged in the suprahepatic veins. These results indicate that histamine is released from skeletal muscle and electively taken up by lung tissue during hypoxia. Its rôle is certainly important, but further elucidation must await the performance of other studies using drugs that selectively block its release from the muscle district.

[Peculiar electrocardiographic findings in space medicine]. / Alcuni peculiari aspetti elettrocardiografici in medicina aeronautica.

An account is given of some peculiar ECG pictures observed during two studies performed at the Air Force Aerospatial Medicine Research Centre. The first study covered in-flight heart rate recordings in trainee pilots and can be regarded as an early example of dynamic ECG, as also employed in the rehabilitation of heart patients and in sport for both diagnostic and preventive purposes. It was performed four years ago. The second study, run on subjects undergoing protracted high centrifugal acceleration, revealed: tachycardia, bradycardia, pulmonary P, repolarisation disturbances, alterations in the level of the ST segment, etc. An aetiopathogenetic assessment is made of these alterations and some personal observations are added. It is suggested that dynamic ECG could be more widely employed in experiments in this field as a powerful research tool.

[Behavior of the ventricular gradient under hypoxia conditions in applicants for officer pilot training schools]. / Comportamento del gradiente ventricolare in condizioni di ipossia in aspiranti allievi ufficiali piloti

Two ECG traces were taken to measure the value and orientation of the QRS, T wave, and ventricular gradient areas in 18 applicants for places in flying officer schools subjected to hypoxia by inhalation of a poor mixture. A significant reduction was noted in the T and ventricular gradient areas, whereas there was no appreciable change in the QRS. The significance and usefulness of this form of examination is discussed, particularly with respect to subjects with abnormal ECG responses in hypoxia.