• Elevations of Extracellular Vesicles and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Closed Circuit SCUBA DiversPeer reviewedOpen access 

      22 mars 2023, Arya, Awadhesh; BALESTRA, Costantino; Bhopale, Veena; Tominen, Laura; Raisanen-Sokolowski, Anne; Dugrenot, Emmanuel; Thom, Stephen, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Blood-borne extracellular vesicles and inflammatory mediators were evaluated in divers using a closed circuit rebreathing apparatus and custom-mixed gases to diminish some diving risks. "Deep" divers (n = 8) dove once to mean (+/-SD) 102.5 +/- 1.2 m of sea water (msw) for 167.3 +/- 11.5 min. "Shallow" divers (n = 6) dove 3 times on day 1, and then repetitively over 7 days to 16.4 +/- 3.7 msw, for ...
    • Endothelial function may be enhanced in the cutaneous microcirculation after a single air divePeer reviewedClosed access 

      30 septembre 2020, Guerrero, François; LAMBRECHTS, Kate; Wang, Qiong; Mazur, Aleksandra; Marroni, Alessandro, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Introduction: The effects of scuba diving on the vessel wall have been studied mainly at the level of large conduit arteries. Data regarding the microcirculation are scarce and indicate that these two vascular beds are affected differently by diving. Methods: We assessed the changes in cutaneous microcirculation before an air scuba dive, then 30 min and 24 h after surfacing. Endothelium-dependent ...
    • Evaluation des effets de l’activité physique sur le système lymphatique de patientes avec lymphoedème secondaire à une chirurgie de cancer du seinPeer reviewedOpen access 

      septembre 2017, Barbieux, romain; LEDUC, Olivier; Bourgeois, Pierre; Roman, Mirela; Provyn, Steven; Leduc, albert; De backer, Pauline, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Objectivation par lymphoscintigraphie en trois phases du fonctionnement des vaisseaux lymphatiques de femmes opérées du cancer du sein.
    • Evaluation of Divers' Neuropsychometric Effectiveness and High-Pressure Neurological Syndrome via Computerized Test Battery Package and Questionnaires in Operational SettingPeer reviewedOpen access 

      12 avril 2019, Berenji Ardestani, Simin; BALESTRA, Costantino; Bouzinova, Elena; Loennechen, Oyvind, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Introduction: When divers are compressed to water depths deeper than 150 meter sea water (msw), symptoms of high-pressure neurological syndrome (HPNS) might appear due to rapid increase in pressure on the central nervous system during compression. The aim of this study was to first operate a new computerized tool, designed to monitor divers' wellbeing and cognitive function, and to record the results. ...
    • Evaluation of Protection Level, Respiratory Safety, and Practical Aspects of Commercially Available Snorkel Masks as Personal Protection Devices Against Aerosolized Contaminants and SARS-CoV2Peer reviewedOpen access 

      15 juin 2020, GERMONPRÉ, Peter; Van Rompaeye, Dirk; BALESTRA, Costantino, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Introduction: The “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2” (SARS-CoV2) pandemic has led to a worldwide shortage of personal protection devices (PPD) for medical and paramedical personnel. Adaptation of commercially available snorkel masks to serve as full face masks has been proposed. Even not formally approved as PPD, they are publicized on social media as suitable for this use. Concerns ...
    • Evidence of Heritable Determinants of Decompression Sickness in RatsPeer reviewedClosed access 

      22 juillet 2017, Lautridou, Jacky; Buzzacott, Peter; Belhomme, Marc; Dugrenot, Emmanuel; Lafère, Pierre; BALESTRA, Costantino; Guerrero, François, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      NTRODUCTION: Decompression sickness (DCS) is a complex and poorly understood systemic disease caused by inadequate desaturation following a decrease of ambient pressure. Strong variability between individuals is observed for DCS occurrence. This raises questions concerning factors that may be involved in the inter-individual variability of DCS occurrence. This study aimed to experimentally assess ...
    • Extreme Environments in Movement Science and Sport PsychologyPeer reviewedOpen access 

      20 décembre 2018, BALESTRA, Costantino; Jacek, Kot; Efrati, Shai; Guerrero, François; Blatteau, Jean-Eric; Besnard, Stéphane, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Editorial: Extreme Environments in Movement Science and Sport Psychology
    • Factors influencing the severity of long-term sequelae in fishermen-divers with neurological decompression sicknessPeer reviewedClosed access 

      31 mars 2020, Blatteau, Jean-Eric; LAMBRECHTS, Kate; Ruffez, Jean, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Introduction: Numerous studies have been conducted to identify the factors influencing the short-term prognosis for neurological decompression sickness (DCS). However, the long-term sequelae are rarely assessed. The purpose of this study to investigate the factors likely to influence the long-term prognosis. Methods: Twenty-seven Vietnamese fishermen-divers who on average 9 (SD 6) years beforehand ...
    • Feasibility of Detecting Brain Areas Involved in Extreme Breath-Hold DivingPeer reviewedOpen access 

      20 janvier 2021, Jissendi-Tchofo, Patrice; Jdaoudi, Yassin; GERMONPRÉ, Peter; Brizzolari, Andrea; Musimu, Patrick; BALESTRA, Costantino, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      We report Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) signal changes recorded in the brain of an elite breath-hold diver during voluntary dry long breath-hold by means of fMRI. An independent component analysis (ICA) method was applied to extract brain areas that are putatively involved in the apnea process network. We discuss the hypothesis that these BOLD signal variations express the functional adaptive ...
    • Field study of anthropomorphic and muscle performance changes among elite skippers following a transoceanic racePeer reviewedOpen access 

      12 juin 2020, Lafère, Pierre; Gatzoff, Yann; Guerrero, François; Provyn, Steven; BALESTRA, Costantino, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      BACKGROUND: Ocean racing has become increasingly demanding, both physically and psychologically. The aim of the study was to assess global changes after a transoceanic race. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight male sailors were evaluated pre- and post-race through anthropometric measurements (weight, skinfold, girth at different level and estimated body fat percentage), multifrequency tetrapolar bioelectrical ...
    • Fluoxetine Protection in Decompression Sickness in Mice is Enhanced by Blocking TREK-1 Potassium Channel with the "spadin" AntidepressantPeer reviewedOpen access 

      16 février 2016, Vallée, Nicolas; LAMBRECHTS, Kate; De Maistre, Sébastien; Royal, Perrine; Mazella, Jean; Borsotto, Marc; Heurteaux, Catherine; Abraini, Jacques; RIsso, Jean-Jacques; Blatteau, Jean-Eric, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      In mice, disseminated coagulation, inflammation, and ischemia induce neurological damage that can lead to death. These symptoms result from circulating bubbles generated by a pathogenic decompression. Acute fluoxetine treatment or the presence of the TREK-1 potassium channel increases the survival rate when mice are subjected to an experimental dive/decompression protocol. This is a paradox because ...
    • Fluoxetine stimulates anti-inflammatory IL-10 cytokine production and attenuates sensory deficits in a rat model of decompression sicknessPeer reviewedOpen access 

      22 octobre 2015, Blatteau, Jean-Eric; De Maistre, Sébastien; LAMBRECHTS, Kate; Abraini, Jacques; Risso, Jean-Jacques; Vallée, Nicolas, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Despite "gold standard" hyperbaric oxygen treatment, 30% of patients suffering from neurological decompression sickness still exhibit incomplete recovery, including sensory impairments. Fluoxetine, a well-known antidepressant, is recognized as having anti-inflammatory effects in the setting of cerebral ischemia. In this study, we focused on the assessment of sensory neurological deficits and measurement ...
    • Flying after diving: should recommendations be reviewed? In-flight echocardiographic study in bubble-prone and bubble-resistant diversPeer reviewedOpen access 

      13 mai 2015, Cialoni, Danilo; Pieri, Massimo; BALESTRA, Costantino; Marroni, Alessandro, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      INTRODUCTION: Inert gas accumulated after multiple recreational dives can generate tissue supersaturation and bubble formation when ambient pressure decreases. We hypothesized that this could happen even if divers respected the currently recommended 24-hour pre-flight surface interval (PFSI). METHODS: We performed transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) on a group of 56 healthy scuba divers (39 male, ...
    • Full-Face Mask Use during SCUBA Diving Counters Related Oxidative Stress and Endothelial DysfunctionPeer reviewedOpen access 

      15 janvier 2022, Levenez, Morgan; LAMBRECHTS, Kate; Mrakic-Sposta, Simona; Vezzoli, Alessandra; Germonpré, Peter; Pique, Hadrien; Virgili, Fabi; Bosco, Gerardo; Lafere, Pierre; BALESTRA, Costantino, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Impaired flow mediated dilation (FMD), an index of vascular stress, is known after SCUBA diving. This is related to a dysfunction of nitric oxide (NO) availability and a disturbance of the redox status, possibly induced by hyperoxic/hyperbaric gas breathing. SCUBA diving is usually performed with a mask only covering "half face" (HF) and therefore forcing oral breathing. Nasal NO production is ...
    • A fully automated method for late ventricular diastole frame selection in post-dive echocardiography without ECG gatingPeer reviewedOpen access 

      02 mars 2021, Markley, Eric; Le, David; Germonpré, Peter; BALESTRA, Costantino; Tillmans, Frauke; Denoble, Petar; Freiberger, Jake; Moon, Richard; Dayton, Paul; Papadopoulou, Virginie, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Venous gas emboli (VGE) are often quantified as a marker of decompression stress on echocardiograms. Bubble-counting has been proposed as an easy to learn method, but remains time-consuming, rendering large dataset analysis impractical. Computer automation of VGE counting following this method has therefore been suggested as a means to eliminate rater bias and save time. A necessary step for this ...
    • A fully automated method for late ventricular diastole frame selection in post-dive echocardiography without ECG gatingErPeer reviewedOpen access 

      02 mars 2021, Markley, Eric; Germonpré, Peter; BALESTRA, Costantino; Tillmans, Frauke; Denoble, Petar; Freiberger, Jake; Moon, Richard; Dayton, Paul; Papadopoulou, Virginie, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Venous gas emboli (VGE) are often quantified as a marker of decompression stress on echocardiograms. Bubble-counting has been proposed as an easy to learn method, but remains time-consuming, rendering large dataset analysis impractical. Computer automation of VGE counting following this method has therefore been suggested as a means to eliminate rater bias and save time. A necessary step for this ...
    • De Handji aux Ténèbres de Robert Poulet: une invitation à l'onirisme réalistePeer reviewedOpen access 

      25 mai 2015, QUINAUX, Eléonore, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Quelles sont les frontières entre le fantastique dit "classique" et les "réalités fantastiques" théorisées par Hellens? Robert Poulet ne serait-il pas le meilleur disciple d'Hellens en permettant aux lettres belges d'entrer dans une troisième sphère de l'évolution du courant fantastique, celle du Réalisme magique?
    • Heart Rate Variability During a Standard Dive: A Role for Inspired Oxygen Pressure?Peer reviewedOpen access 

      13 août 2021, Lafère, Pierre; LAMBRECHTS, Kate; GERMONPRÉ, Peter; Balestra, Ambre; Germonpré, Faye-Lisa; Marroni, Alessandro; Cialoni, Danilo; Bosco, Gerardo; BALESTRA, Costantino, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Introduction: Heart rate variability (HRV) during underwater diving has been infrequently investigated because of environment limitations and technical challenges. This study aims to analyze HRV changes while diving at variable hyperoxia when using open circuit (OC) air diving apparatus or at constant hyperoxia using a closed-circuit rebreather (CCR). We used HRV analysis in time and frequency domain ...
    • Heart Rate Variability During a Standard Dive: A Role for Inspired Oxygen Pressure?Peer reviewedOpen access 

      13 août 2021, Lafère, Pierre; LAMBRECHTS, Kate; GERMONPRÉ, Peter; BALESTRA, Ambre; Germonpré, Faye-Lisa; Marroni, Alessandro; Cialoni, Danilo; Bosco, Gerardo; BALESTRA, Costantino, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Introduction: Heart rate variability (HRV) during underwater diving has been infrequently investigated because of environment limitations and technical challenges. This study aims to analyze HRV changes while diving at variable hyperoxia when using open circuit (OC) air diving apparatus or at constant hyperoxia using a closed-circuit rebreather (CCR). We used HRV analysis in time and frequency domain ...
    • Hemoglobin and Erythropoietin After Commercial Saturation DivingPeer reviewedOpen access 

      21 août 2018, Kiboub, Fatima Zohra; BALESTRA, Costantino; Loennechen, Øyvind; Eftedal, Ingrid, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Saturation divers are exposed to elevated partial pressure of oxygen (ppO2) in their hyperbaric work environment. Experimental studies indicate that oxygen transport is altered, and we have previously reported a drop in hematocrit and extensive downregulation of genes involved in blood oxygen transport capacity after decompression from professional saturation diving. Here we investigate the initial ...