[Results of intelligence investigations in civil pilots with atherosclerotic changes in cerebral vessels].

Intelligence was evaluated in 73 normal civil pilots (control) and 70 with atherosclerotic cerebral vessels including 23 men with atheromas. Intelligence was evaluated with the use of computerized EPI (Gorbov's modification). Pilots with cerebral atherosclerosis tended to slightly decrease mean IQ values in comparison with the normal; IQ values remained high enough to attest professional efficiency. Atheromas did not impact results of the numerical (IQ2) and verbal (IQ3) tests. Hemodynamically negligible stable atheromas did not disturb cognitive functions of the pilots and, therefore, they were certified for continuation of the flight career.

[Individual psychological attributes of civil pilots with atherosclerotic cerebral vessels].

Object of investigation was types of personality of civil pilots. The investigation involved healthy pilots (n = 58, controls) and pilots afflicted with cerebral atherosclerosis (n = 67) including pilots with atherosclerotic plaques (n = 23). The personality questionnaire developed by L.N. Sobchik was used. The investigation showed that signs of personality accentuation in pilots with cerebral atherosclerosis were largely manifested by distortion of individual psychological attributes. This finding may be helpful to members of the medical flight certification board in making prognosis of pilot's health and professional longevity.

[The effect of intermittent normobaric hypoxia on oxygen metabolism in hypertonic pilots]. / Vliianie preryvistoi normobaricheskoi gipoksii na kislorodnyi metabolizm u pilotov s gipertonicheskoi bolezn'iu.

Oxygen tissue metabolism was evaluated in hypertonic pilots in order to draw up an optimal treatment plan. Oxygen metabolism kinetics was determined with the help of transcutaneous polarography and the local ischemic extremity test was applied to measure the O2 utilization efficiency. Breathing mixture of 90% nitrogen and 10% oxygen (GGS-10) was used in therapeutic sessions of intermittent normobaric hypoxia. Results point to the reduced tissue breathing intensity and cell functional energy reserve in hypertonic patients. However, O2 metabolism is much closer to normal in pilots as compared with non-flyers. In pilots, O2 utilization is more intensive, energy supply of cells is higher, O2 transport and utilization are well-balanced, and tissue breathing is less reactive to the hypoxic factor. Dynamic kinetics of O2 metabolism tested post treatment suggested activation of O2 tissue metabolism in the hypertonic pilots rather than O2 transport which was stimulated in non-flyers. In addition, by the end of treatment the pilots were advised to extend the period of breathing GGS-10 leaving the period of air breathing unchanged. Consequently, the pilots were more adaptable to hypoxia than the non-flyers and, therefore, improved O2 tissue metabolism more rapidly.

[Arterial hypertension as a problem of medical certification of the flying personnel in civil aviation]. / Arterial'naia gipertenziia kak problema vrachebnoi ékspertizy letnogo sostava grazhdanskoi aviatsii.

Subjects of the longitudinal study (1974-1996) were about 300 pilots who participated in international transmeridian flights. Arterial hypertension (AH) diagnosed in 29 pilots was the main cause for their disqualification. They made up 16.8% of the total number of medically disqualified persons. The flight surgeon of the corps consulted 26 pilots with elevated arterial pressure (AP) or 8.8% of the corps roll. Clinical examination revealed the "white coat" hypertension in five pilots (1.7% of the corps roll). Percentage of pilots disbarred in the course of preflight physical check for the reason of high AP amounted to 32.7; hence, elevated AP was the most frequent cause for disbarring. The circannual distribution of elevated AP measured during the preflight medical check correlates with the challenges of either making the transmeridian flights in cold seasons due to the contrast of the climatogeographical zones or more tense flight schedule in summer. The greatest concern arise pilots whose AP was found normal during the preflight check but who were later on disqualified with the diagnosis of the 2nd degree hypertension as representatives of this cohort were documented to suffer myocardial infarction and acute disturbance of the cerebral circulation in the rest periods.

Training of aerospace medicine physicians in the Soviet Union and the United States of America.

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America operate major aerospace medicine programs; each country has taken specific measures to assure the development of an adequate number of trained aerospace medicine physicians. This jointly prepared paper emphasizes the training of aerospace medicine physicians related to civil aerospace activities. Those working in the field of aerospace medicine will find of interest the aerospace medical approaches taken by the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A. in achieving their respective aerospace objectives.

[Study of the flight work capacity of pilots during simulated motion sickness]. / Issledovanie letnoi rabotosposobnisti pilotov pri modelirovanii bolezni dvizheniia

With the aid of a modified procedure of reading instrumental indications of an aircraft the professional performance of pilots was studied during simulated motion sickness. A ball system was developed to assess the results of reading the instrumental indications. After five exposures to double rotation statokinetically stable pilots developed a latent form and statokinetically unstable pilots developed an overt form of motion sickness. The latent form of motion sickness manifested itself in deteriorated professional performance. The overt form of motion sickness was preceded by a decline of professional performance.