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Biomedical subjects

J Adolfson

Publications and source records attributed to J Adolfson.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Combined effects of ethanol and hyperbaric air on body sway and heart rate in man.

Eight amateur divers took part in crossover experiments to study the combined effects of ethanol (0.72 g/kg b.wt.) and hyperbaric air (4 and 6 ATA) on heart rate and body-sway movements. Body sway with open and closed eyes was measured in lateral and sagittal directions by a statometer device. In the alcohol condition, there was an initial increase in body sway corresponding to the acute phase of ethanol intoxication. At a mean blood alcohol concentration of 0.77 mg/ml, this increase in body sway was statistically significant (P less than 0.01) compared with the alcohol-free condition. At 90 min from start of drinking, body sway scores at 1 ATA were not significantly different from alcohol-free measurements. On raising the pressure to 4 and 6 ATA, increased body sway occurred in both alcohol and alcohol-free conditions and, moreover, the rate of increase was more extreme in the alcohol condition. Significant pressure-alcohol interactions were established, suggesting a potentiating action of alcohol on the increase in body sway induced by acute exposure to high pressures of air. Heart-rate measurements with and without alcohol were not significantly different, although increases in ambient pressure caused a drop in heart rate in both conditions.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Roles of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide in compressed-air narcosis.

In an attempt to determine the roles of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide in compressed-air narcosis, the effects on performance (mental function and manual dexterity) of adding CO2 in various concentrations to the inspired gas under three different conditions were studied in eight healthy male volunteers. The three conditions were: (1) air breathing at 1.3 ATA; (2) oxygen breathing at 1.7 ATA; and (3) air breathing at 8.0 ATA (same inspired O2 pressure as in (2)). By relating performance to the changes induced in end-tidal (alveolar) gas pressures, and comparing the data from the three conditions, we arrived at the following results and conclusions. A rise in O2 pressure to 1.65 ATA, or in N2 pressure to 6.3 ATA at a constant high PO2 level, caused a significant decrement of 10% in mental function but no consistent effect on psychomotor function. A rise in end-tidal PCO2 of 10 mmHg caused an impairment of approximately 10% in both mental and psychomotor functions. The results suggest that, at raised partial pressures, all three gases have narcotic properties, and that the mechanism of CO2 narcosis differs fundamentally from that of N2 and O2 narcosis.

Adult↗