• Cutis Marmorata skin decompression sickness is a manifestation of brainstem bubble embolization, not of local skin bubblesPeer reviewedClosed access 

      10 avril 2015, Germonpré, Peter; BALESTRA, Costantino; Obeid, Georges; Chers, Dirk, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      "Cutis Marmorata" skin symptoms after diving, most frequently in the form of an itching or painful cutaneous red-bluish discoloration are commonly regarded as a mild form of decompression sickness (DCS), and treated with oxygen inhalation without reverting to hyperbaric recompression treatment. It has been observed that the occurrence of Cutis Marmorata is frequently associated with the presence of ...
    • 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, ...
    • Mechanism of action of antiplatelet drugs on decompression sickness in rats: a protective effect of anti-GPIIbIIIa therapyPeer reviewedOpen access 

      15 mai 2015, LAMBRECHTS, Kate; Mazur, Aleksandra; Pontier, Jean-Michel; Theron, Michaël; Buzzacott, Peter; Wang, Qiong; Belhomme, Marc; Guerrero, François, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Literature highlights the involvement of disseminated thrombosis in the pathophysiology of decompression sickness (DCS). We examined the effect of several antithrombotic treatments targeting various pathways on DCS outcome: acetyl salicylate, prasugrel, abciximab, and enoxaparin. Rats were randomly assigned to six groups. Groups 1 and 2 were a control nondiving group (C; n = 10) and a control diving ...
    • 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 ...
    • A red orange extract modulates the vascular response to a recreational dive: a pilot study on the effect of anthocyanins on the physiological consequences of scuba divingPeer reviewedClosed access 

      07 novembre 2015, BALESTRA, Costantino; Cimino, Francesco; THEUNISSEN, Sigrid; SNOECK, Thyl; Provyn, Steven; Canali, Raffaella; Bonina, Andrea; Virgili, Fabio, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Nutritional antioxidants have been proposed as an expedient strategy to counter the potentially deleterious effects of scuba diving on endothelial function, flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and heart function. Sixteen volunteers performing a single standard dive (20 min at 33 m) according to US Navy diving procedures were randomly assigned to two groups: one was administered with two doses of 200 mg of ...
    • Colonic Fermentation Promotes Decompression sickness in RatsPeer reviewedOpen access 

      08 février 2016, Demaistre, Sébastien; Vallée, Nicolas; Gempp, Emmanuel; LAMBRECHTS, Kate; Louge, Pierre; Duchamp, Claude; Blatteau, Jean-Eric, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Massive bubble formation after diving can lead to decompression sickness (DCS). During dives with hydrogen as a diluent for oxygen, decreasing the body's H2 burden by inoculating hydrogen-metabolizing microbes into the gut reduces the risk of DCS. So we set out to investigate if colonic fermentation leading to endogenous hydrogen production promotes DCS in fasting rats. Four hours before an experimental ...
    • 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 ...
    • Age, weight and decompression sickness in ratsPeer reviewedClosed access 

      16 mars 2016, Buzzacott, Peter; Theron, Michaël; Mazur, Aleksandra; Wang, Qiong; LAMBRECHTS, Kate; Eftedal, Ingrid; Berenji, Simin, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if, after controlling for weight, age is associated with decompression sickness (DCS) in rats. Methods: Following compression-decompression, male rats aged 11 weeks were observed for DCS. After two weeks recovery, surviving rats were re-dived using the same compression-decompression profile. Results: In this experiment, there was a clear difference ...
    • Effect of simulated air dive and decompression sickness on the plasma proteome of ratsPeer reviewedClosed access 

      12 avril 2016, Lautridou, Jacky; Pichereau, Vianney; Artigaud, Sébastien; Buzzacott, Peter; Wang, Qiong; Bernay, Benoit; Driad, Sabrina; Mazur, Aleksandra; LAMBRECHTS, Kate; Theron, Michaël; Guerrero, François, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Purpose: Decompression sickness (DCS) is a poorly understood systemic disease caused by inadequate desaturation following a reduction in ambient pressure. Although recent studies highlight the importance of circulating factors, the available data are still puzzling. In this study, we aimed to identify proteins and biological pathways involved in the development of DCS in rats. Experimental design: ...
    • Correlation between Patent Foramen Ovale, cerebral “lesions” and neuropsychometric testing in experienced sports divers: does diving damage the brain?Peer reviewedOpen access 

      01 juin 2016, BALESTRA, Costantino; Germonpré, Peter, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      SCUBA diving exposes divers to decompression sickness (DCS). There has been considerable debate whether divers with a Patent Foramen Ovale of the heart have a higher risk of DCS because of the possible right-to-left shunt of venous decompression bubbles into the arterial circulation. Symptomatic neurological DCS has been shown to cause permanent damage to brain and spinal cord tissue; it has been ...
    • Do Environmental Conditions Contribute to Narcosis Onset and Symptom Severity?Peer reviewedClosed access 

      14 octobre 2016, Lafère, Pierre; Balestra, Costantino; Hemelryck, Walter; Guerrero, François; Germonpré, Peter, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Although many factors contributing to inert gas narcosis onset and severity have been put forward, the available evidence is not particularly strong. Using objective criteria, we have assessed brain impairment associated with narcosis under various environmental diving conditions. 40 volunteers performed a no-decompression dive (33 m for 20 min) either in a dry chamber, a pool or open sea. They were ...
    • Pre-dive Whole-Body Vibration Better Reduces Decompression-Induced Vascular Gas Emboli than Oxygenation or a Combination of BothPeer reviewedOpen access 

      30 novembre 2016, BALESTRA, Costantino; THEUNISSEN, Sigrid; Papadopoulou, Virginie; Le Mener, Cédric; GERMONPRÉ, Peter; Guerrero, François; Lafère, Pierre, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Purpose: Since non-provocative dive profiles are no guarantor of protection against decompression sickness, novel means including pre-dive "preconditioning" interventions, are proposed for its prevention. This study investigated and compared the effect of pre-dive oxygenation, pre-dive whole body vibration or a combination of both on post-dive bubble formation. Methods: Six healthy volunteers performed ...
    • Preconditioning to Reduce Decompression Stress in Scuba DiversPeer reviewedClosed access 

      18 janvier 2017, GERMONPRÉ, Peter; BALESTRA, Costantino, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      BACKGROUND: Using ultrasound imaging, vascular gas emboli (VGE) are observed after asymptomatic scuba dives and are considered a key element in the potential development of decompression sickness (DCS). Diving is also accompanied with vascular dysfunction, as measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Previous studies showed significant intersubject variability to VGE for the same diving exposure and ...
    • Venous gas emboli are involved in post-dive macro, but not microvascular dysfunctionPeer reviewedClosed access 

      21 janvier 2017, LAMBRECHTS, Kate; BALESTRA, Costantino; Theron, Michaël; Henckes, Anne; Galinat, Hubert; Mignant, Fanny; Belhomme, Marc; Pontier, Jean-Michel; Guerrero, François, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Purpose: Previous studies have shown vascular dysfunction of main conductance arteries and microvessels after diving. We aim to evaluate the impact of bubble formation on vascular function and haemostasis. To achieve this, we used a vibration preconditioning to influence bubble levels without changing any other parameters linked to the dive. Methods: Twentty-six divers were randomly assigned to ...
    • Diving deeper into SCUBA SciencePeer reviewedOpen access 

      12 février 2017, BALESTRA, Costantino; GERMONPRÉ, Peter, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Livre/Ouvrage ou monographie
      The editors of and authors of this book are a cadre of scientists and physicians with broad experience and knowledge of diving physiology and decompression theory. As is often the case, it requires a group effort to succeed in advancing practical knowledge. The colloquialism "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts" is often true and the PHYPODE Reasearch Group epitomizes this concept. By ...
    • Beneficial effect of enriched air nitrox on bubble formation during scuba diving. An open-water studyPeer reviewedOpen access 

      12 avril 2017, Brebek, Anne-Kathrin; Deussen, Andreas; Schmitz-Peiffer, Henning; Range, Ursula; BALESTRA, Costantino; Cleveland, Sinclair; Schipke, Jochen, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Backround: Nitrogen narcosis impairs cognitive function, a fact relevant during SCUBA-diving. Oxygen-enriched air (nitrox) became popular in recreational diving, while evidence of its advantages over air is limited. AIM: Compare effects of nitrox28 and air on two psychometric tests. METHODS: In this prospective, double-blind, open-water study, 108 advanced divers (38 females) were randomized to an ...
    • Effects of oxygen-enriched air on cognitive performance during SCUBA-diving - an open-water studyPeer reviewedClosed access 

      12 avril 2017, Brebeck, Anne-Kathrin; Deussen, Andreas; Schmitz-Pfeiffer, Henning; Range, Ursula; BALESTRA, Costantino; Cleveland, Sinclair; Schipke, Jochen, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Backround: Nitrogen narcosis impairs cognitive function, a fact relevant during SCUBA-diving. Oxygen-enriched air (nitrox) became popular in recreational diving, while evidence of its advantages over air is limited. AIM: Compare effects of nitrox28 and air on two psychometric tests. METHODS: In this prospective, double-blind, open-water study, 108 advanced divers (38 females) were randomized to an ...
    • Objective vs. Subjective Evaluation of Cognitive Performance During 0.4-MPa Dives Breathing Air or NitroxPeer reviewedClosed access 

      19 avril 2017, GERMONPRÉ, Peter; BALESTRA, Costantino; Hemelryck, Walter; Buzzacott, Peter; Lafère, Pierre, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      BACKGROUND: Divers try to limit risks associated with their sport, for instance by breathing enriched air nitrox (EANx) instead of air. This double blinded, randomized trial was designed to see if the use of EANx could effectively improve cognitive performance while diving. METHODS: Eight volunteers performed two no-decompression dry dives breathing air or EANx for 20 min at 0.4 MPa. Cognitive ...
    • Dive Risk Factors, Gas Bubble Formation, and Decompression Illness in Recreational SCUBA Diving: Analysis of DAN Europe DSL Data BasePeer reviewedOpen access 

      10 mai 2017, Cialoni, Danilo; Pieri, Massimo; BALESTRA, Costantino; Marroni, Alessandro, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Introduction: The popularity of SCUBA diving is steadily increasing together with the number of dives and correlated diseases per year. The rules that govern correct decompression procedures are considered well known even if the majority of Decompression Sickness (DCS) cases are considered unexpected confirming a bias in the "mathematical ability" to predict DCS by the current algorithms. Furthermore, ...
    • Lymphatic Drainages to the Paravertebral and Pararenal Lymph Nodes in Breast Cancer PatientsPeer reviewedClosed access 

      juin 2017, Roman, Mirela; LEDUC, Olivier; Bourgeois, Pierre; Barbieux, romain, HE Bruxelles Brabant
      Article scientifique
      Voies de drainage particulière après chirurgie du cancer du sein