PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T M Smirnova

Publications and source records attributed to T M Smirnova.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Subject's perceptions of the crew interaction dynamics under prolonged isolation.

BACKGROUND: The interactions of individuals participating in space simulation studies can give us valuable information about ways that space crew members relate with one another. A promising method of investigating such interactions is based on the Kelly repertory grid technique. HYPOTHESES: We predicted that in a space simulation crew: 1) one's personal self-concept would become closer to concepts about other crew members in a cohesive crew, and vice-versa, and 2) the similarity of one's ego images in the past, present and future influences that person's position in the group. METHOD: Crews from two isolation studies lasting 135 and 90 days at the Institute for Biomedical Problems in Moscow were evaluated using a modification of the Kelly repertory grid technique. Members assessed each other on a monthly basis and during off-nominal simulated docking periods. RESULTS: During both isolations, crew members were unsuccessful in making their personal self-concepts move closer to their concepts about fellow crew members. Crew disintegration resulted, with one member becoming an outsider whose personality was characterized by a disintegrated ego-image and an infantile type of the present ego. CONCLUSIONS: In small isolated groups, failure to make personal self-concepts become more like concepts about other crew members can lead to group disintegration and tension and can result in the appearance of an outsider who has a disintegrated ego-image and an infantile present ego.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Content analysis of the crew communication with external communicants under prolonged isolation.

BACKGROUND: The communication between space crews and outside monitoring personnel in Mission Control gives us valuable information about crewmember psychological health. Studying the formal parameters of similar communication during ground-based space simulation missions helps us understand the psychological climate of confined groups over time, and this information can be applied to long-term space missions. HYPOTHESES: We hypothesized that psychological closing and information filtration will be observed in a confined crew as the mission progresses and will differ by the type of communication (e.g., audio vs. computer-generated) with the outside monitors in the simulated Mission Control (MC). In addition, communication patterns will vary with the specific group of people on-duty outside. METHOD: Audio and computer communications between space simulation crews and MC teams were analyzed during two isolation studies lasting 135 and 90 d at the Institute for Biomedical Problems in Moscow. A number of temporal, content and quantitative parameters of verbal activity were examined. RESULTS: The total intensity of communication dropped after month 1 of the missions. The Commander had the highest intensity of communication. There was evidence for the presence of psychological closing and information filtration in the crews over time, with some variation based on type of communication. Communication patterns differed with different outside teams. CONCLUSIONS: The communication between confined groups and outside monitoring personnel is affected by psychological closing and information filtration and by the make-up of the teams that comprise the monitoring groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[The dynamics of communicative interaction of the crew with outside parties during long-term isolation].

Analyzed were indices of communicative activity of crew members during audio- and computer sessions in order to assess status and effectiveness of communicative interaction of crew with external parties. The investigation gave another evidence that an isolated small group develops "closing" and "internal censorship" in contacts with outer personnel. The conclusion was based on limited in intensity, number, topical spectrum and outer companion preference communication. These appeared to be parallel to egocentrism manifested by claims on supreme concern, sensitivity to speech tones and matter of massages of outer supporters, and attempted manipulation with the outer personnel. In the course of the experiment, the subjects were getting more into the habit to use the information channels for expansion of their emotional contacts and "dumping" emotions. Differential attitude to different duty teams and selective manner of communication underlie differences in the intensity of crew-ground personnel communication.

Communication↗
PubMed1997

[Dynamics of subjective perception of in-group interaction during long-term isolation and confinement].

In experiments HUBES and ECOPSY-95 small groups of test-subjects under the conditions of long-term isolation and confinement were noted to split into two fairly stable parts each consisting of two crew members and an "outsider". Strain in the interaction between the "outsider" and the crew tended to grow in acuity as was evidenced by rise in the criteria describing behavior of a small group, and relationship. In both experiments the background for the conflict-threatening strain appeared to be a disintegrated ego-image in both of the "outsiders". Generally, infantilism of ego-image was in hand with hand with low self-assessment. Development by the subjects of ineffective patterns of the attitude system which we consider to be "escape back to the past" and "disintegration" of ego-image overlapped with the most psychologically challenging periods in the experiments, i.e. the start and the end of isolation and confinement, and off-nominal situations.

Humans↗
PubMed1997

[Evaluation of alternations in mental performance due to the effect of extended isolation].

Dynamics of mental performance, critical periods of adaptation, and cognitive processes were studies in conjunction with extended experimental isolation. Training to simple motor skills was found to be less impeded by prolonged isolation as opposed to operations requiring active involvement of higher psychic functions (memory, concentration, thinking). Experiments HUBES and ECOPSY strengthened the hypothesis concerning possible advent of critical periods in prolonged isolation impacting mental performance. They are the initial period (week 1 in isolation), emergency, arrival of visiting crews, and finishing two weeks. Effect of isolation was not so much evident from changes in absolute meanings of work parameters as from the reduction of their stability in time.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1996

Work capability during isolation.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of prolonged isolation on the higher psychic functions, like working memory, attention concentration, and intellect (problem solving and decision making), and on sensory-motor skills and stress resistance. Previous Soviet simulation studies and the ISEMSI isolation experiment have indicated that prolonged isolation can affect higher psychic functions. A set of psychological tests in the form of a computer game was presented each workday to the chamber crew and to the ground crew serving as a control group. In analyzing the data it was taken into account that performance can be affected not only by the influence of isolation, but also by a learning process and by subject motivation. In addition, a distinction was made between absolute score and stability (range) of the score. Analysis of the chamber crew's work capability as a function of time showed the occurrence of three distinct periods of adaptation: (1) a period of acute adaptation in week 1, (2) a period of stable adaptation during weeks 3-6, and (3) a period of "final effort" in weeks 8-9. While in general the effect of isolation on the absolute scores was minor, larger ranges for the scores in "working memory," "attention concentration," and "calculation under time deficit" tests are an indication of increased instability, probably due to stress resistance. The 4 female subjects of the combined groups scored significantly higher than the 5 males in "attention concentration/distribution," "spatial orientation," "intuition in visual search," and "logical decision making under time deficit." Males presented higher scores in "calculation under time deficit" and working memory, and higher stability in "attention concentration" and "calculation under time deficit."

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1995

Water immersion: analysis of diurnal rhythms of water and electrolyte excretion.

The biorhythmological structure of water-electrolyte metabolism was studied in humans during 7-day "dry" immersion. Results were processed with a set of mathematical methods in order to identify a parameter which would allow to obtain scientifically valid, reliable data without violation of any ethic constraints inherent to investigations with healthy test-subjects. Even this period of immersion gravely impacted functioning of kidney as an executive organ in the system of water-electrolyte homeostasis. Data of this study point to applicability of Cosinor analysis for quantitative assessment of fluctuation patterns in parameters of close to harmonical circadian rhythms, and variation analysis and normalized mean for rhythms of arbitrary forms.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Use of dispersion analysis in the evaluation of the effects of immersion and individual differences on the variability of orthostatic reactions].

With the use of dispersion analysis the variation of indices of central and peripheral hemodynamics in healthy volunteers stayed from 1 to 7 days under conditions of "dry" immersion (DI) was studied. Nine persons were investigated at rest, 5 individuals during orthostatic tests before and after dry immersion sessions. The central hemodynamic indices were calculated, the arterial pressure (AD) was measured by Korotkoff's method, indices of rheoencephalographic and rheoplethysmographic indices of lower leg were found. The significant differences of mean values of measured parameters before and after DI at rest were not revealed. Two-factor dispersion analysis of the orthostatic test data revealed the high levels of significance of influencing immersion and personality factors as well as their interaction on the variation of most indices. For excluding an individual uniformity there has been done an analysis of dynamics of indices according to their relative values which allowed one to isolate qualitative peculiarities of changes and distinctions between persons with different orthostatic tolerance even before orthostatic testing.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[The distribution of glutamate receptors in cultures of the motor area of the rat cerebral cortex studied by an immunoelectron microscopic method].

The aim of the study was to analyse the distribution and localization of glutamate receptors in the cultured cells of the neonatal rat motor cortex, using immunoelectron microscopic technique, and monoclonal antibodies preliminary labeled with colloidal gold. Monoclonal antibodies against glutamate-binding proteins of the adult rat cerebral cortex were produced by means of hybridization of immune splenocytes with plasmocytoma cells. It was found that monoclonal antibodies labeled with colloidal gold could reveal selectively the localization of glutamate receptors on the membranes of neurons. Glutamate receptors were detected on differentiating neuron membranes only, being absent from the glia cell surface.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

[Genetic transformation of somatic cells. V. Inheritability of the rate of loss of the trait and the stabilization of the transformant phenotype].

Subclones were isolated both on selective and nonselective medium from the Chinese hamster cells transformed by thymidine kinase gene (TK-gene) of Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) and varying in the rate of the loss of transformant phenotype. The study of the stability of thymidine kinase-positive (TK+) phenotype in cell populations the subclones shows that the nonstability and the rate of the loss of transformant phenotype are the characters that are inherited in the cell generations. Durable cultivation on a HAT-selective medium may lead to a complete or partial (expressed as a reduced rate of the loss of the character) stabilization of TK+-phenotype of the cells of transformant clones. The rate of stabilization of TK+-phenotype may differ depending on the structure of transforming DNA introduced into cells of transformant clones.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Results of long-term propranolol treatment in myocardial infarction survivors with advanced grades of ventricular extrasystoles.

204 patients with established ischaemic heart disease, aged up to 62 years, were divided at random into two groups according to the matched pairs principle with respect to factors influencing long-term prognosis. Before randomization, the patients' ECG was monitored for 24 hrs, a treadmill exercise test and roentgencardiography were performed. The follow-up period was about 1.5 years. In the experimental group of 101 patients who were given propranolol in individualized doses (40-320 mg/day), which ensured a decrease in heart rate by 15-20%, sudden coronary death was significantly less frequent (p less than 0.01) than in the control group. The occurrence of repeated non-fatal myocardial infarction did not in the two groups significantly differ. A decrease in the occurrence of ventricular extrasystoles in the propranolol treated group was found only at the exercise test.

Cardiac Complexes, Premature↗
PubMed1982

[Long-term obsidan therapy of ischemic heart disease patients at high risk for sudden death].

To study the possibilities of long-term obsidan treatment of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) patients with high risk of sudden death 865 men aged 35-39 years with IHD were examined twice. After the examination including a 24-hour ECG monitoring and the tread-mill test 175 men were selected with grade 2 and over of ventricular extrasystole without contraindications to prolonged treatment with obsidan. The patients were divided into two groups: the treated group (with obsidan) and a control group without active treatment. The treatment with obsidan began with 40 mg/day, the dose being gradually increased. The daily dose was assessed as adequate for stable decrease of the heart rate by 15-20%. As a result of treatment it was possible to decrease the heart rate by 19.2%, on the average, in the control group it was 2.8%. Systolic and diastolic arterial pressure decreased in the first group by 11%, in the control group it rose by 4%. Improvement in angina pectoris course in the first group rose by 16%, in the other group only by 6%. A certain tendency has been recorded in the group of obsidan treated patients to lowering the number of those with 4-5 grades of ventricular extra-systole.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

[Clinical and angiographic comparisons in stable stenocardia].

Comparative data of clinical, instrumental and coronarographic studies in 185 patients with ischaemic heart disease and stable angina pectoris are presented. It is concluded that in the evaluation of the severity of ischaemic heart disease along with the clinical data it behooves to give due consideration to the additional signs of chronic ischaemia of the myocardium: changes in repolarization on ECG at rest and after exercise, local disorders of the function of the left ventricle, disorders of lactic acid metabolism and cardiac rhythm.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

[Results of the physical loading test and the late outcome of chronic ischemic heart disease].

To test the value of bicycle ergometry as an exercise test for prognosis in ischaemic heart disease the method was used in 300 men after myocardial infarction. The assessment of prognostic significance of different combinations of indices of the exercise test was made with the aid of the method of consecutive "risk-stratification". Combinations of indices have been determined identifying persons with high death risk from ischaemic heart disease. These patients made up 28% of the total number of persons examined, they comprised 91% of all death cases from ischaemic heart disease and 94% of cases of sudden deaths. Mortality in this group was 25 times higher and the death frequency, 45 times higher than in the other lot examined; a combination of indices has been found for load test with very high risk of sudden death (mortality 71%), and also a combination of indices identifying persons with high risk of repeated non-fatal infarction and of persons with a favourable prognosis.

Adult↗