Tom 57 (2016): Zeszyt 4 (December 2016)

This series of articles presents the problem of undertaking the high risk project of modernisation of hydrogen incinerators on a submarine. The article describes technical issues connected with the flow capacity of a modernised hydrogen incinerator.

The aim of this study was to analyse dynamic fluctuations in the circadian rhythm of the core body temperature in healthy adults exposed to conditions in a hyperbaric chamber, using fully objective-telemetric measurement methods. The study group consisted of 13 healthy males (age 32±6.4 years, height 1.85±0.1 m, body weight 84.00±6.3 kg; BMI 24.7±1.2 kg/m²). The core body temperature (CBT) was measured with the Vital Sense telemetry system. The volunteers were placed in a hyperbaric chamber, exposed to compression of 400 kPa, with the exposure plateau of approx. 30 minutes, followed by gradual decompression. The mean core temperature was 36.71°C when registered within 10 minutes before the exposure, 37.20°C during the exposure, 37.27°C one hour after the exposure, 37.36°C 2 hours after the exposure, and 37.42°C three hours after the exposure. The conducted observations show that one-hour stay in a hyperbaric chamber at a depth of 30 m results in an increase in the body temperature, particularly significant after the exposure ends, and maintained for at least 3 hours after the exposure.

For many years now we have been observing a growing number of patients with amputations performed on lower extremities due to chronic wounds occurring as a result of atherosclerotic lesions in peripheral arteries, thromboembolism as well as due to chronic ischaemia in lower extremities. Modern physical medicine is systematically enhancing treatment possibilities for patients with chronic wounds by an introduction of innovative therapeutic devices into clinical practice, which often allow to prevent amputations, accelerate the healing process, and, most of all, alleviate or completely eliminate pain. The article presents the therapeutic mechanism and methodology of one of such methods - local hyperbaric oxygen therapy with the use of a device called LASEROBARIA - S, alongside a description of its therapeutic effects in the case of two patients.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Poland is an imported disease mainly occurring in tourists who travelled to tropical countries. Cutaneous symptoms occur as late as between ten and twenty days following the return from the tropics. Lesions connected with cutaneous leishmaniasis were most commonly diagnosed by Polish doctors as furuncle, ecthyma or ulceration and ineffectively treated for several weeks with antibiotics.

The paper presents the case of leishmaniasis in a 30-year-old male with an ulceration of the left shank, ineffectively treated with antibiotics over a period of four months. The ulceration was healed completely only after leishmaniasis was diagnosed and following the application of a treatment based on antimony derivatives, followed by hyperbaric oxygenation performed in a hyperbaric chamber.

When working in chemical or biological environments, contamination is an extremely dangerous issue for the rescue services of the fire department, police and the army.

Modern protective overalls worn by fire fighters or dry “Viking” diving suits made from neoprene or nylon covered with polyurethane, have been proven to ensure sufficient protection. However, once the contaminated area is left, there is a need to perform decontamination of the external and internal surfaces of the protective overalls; in order to ensure the clothing continues to offer a high level of comfort and to retain the durability of said protective clothing, it is of course also necessary to perform a drying procedure.

Moreover, there is a risk of a transfer of pathogenic micro-organisms between persons utilising the same protective clothes, particularly in the case of expensive specialist suits. Micro-organisms which may potentially spread through clothing include intestinal bacteria, such as: Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, E. coli (including E. coli O157), C. difficile, viruses inducing infections of the upper respiratory tract and alimentary tract (noraviruses, rotaviruses, adeno and astroviruses). The risk of infection also involves the presence of the flu viruses, herpesviruses and pathogens transferred through skin, such as S. aureus (including MRSA), yeast-like fungi (Candida albicans), fungal strains inducing Tinea pedis and Tinea corporis [1]. Pathogenic micro-organisms can easily transfer from fabric surface onto the body of a person wearing protective clothing.

From the numerous available techniques of decontamination of surfaces, equipment and protective clothing we propose to use for this purpose gaseous hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), a very effective biocidal agent. In field conditions, typical for the activities of rescue crews of the fire department, police and army we assume utilisation of a portable decontamination chamber enabling performance of a complete decontamination process.

The process lasting approximately 3 hours encompasses 3 phases:

• Drying phase;

• Decontamination with gaseous hydrogen peroxide;

• Catalytic combustion phase of hydrogen peroxide residues to a level safe for the environment.

The integrated humidity and H₂O₂ level sensors ensure automatic control of the entire process and the unique distribution system of gaseous H₂O₂ secures full accessibility of the biocidal agent to the external surface of protective clothing as well as its interior. Moreover, the container allows for the conduction of the complete decontamination of the rescue equipment, night vision devices, binoculars, field telephones, radio stations, etc. Upon decontamination cycle completion, we obtain a completely dried suit which can be safely used by another crew member.

Introduction: Music motivates, relaxes and stimulates action and is one factor which enhances the pleasure that people feel from a given movement. Thus, from a psychophysical point of view, listening to music is an important aspect in sport and recreation. With this in mind, the aim of the study was to determine any changes in the participants’ psychophysical sphere which resulted from listening to music while swimming. The psychophysical sphere was expressed in relation to the Borg RPE scale (Rating of Perceived Exertion) as well as the Rejeski and Gauvin Exercise-Induced Feeling Inventory (EFI) scale of emotional states.

Material and methods: The participants in the study were not professional swimmers (n = 10). The experiment consisted of two trials in which participants performed the Swimming Cooper test. During the first trial there was no music transmitted while in the second trial specifically selected music was played as the participants swam.

Results: An ANOVA variance analysis (α = 0.05) showed statistically significant differences in the RPE scale (p = 0.04) and across all sensations on the EFI scale (p = 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.001).

Conclusions: Listening to music while swimming has a significant impact on the human psychophysical sphere and is expressed by a perceived exertion scale and the scale of emotional states.

Respondents paid less attention to the discomfort of physical exertion associated with exercise while listening to music. The rating of their emotional states, including positive engagement, revitalization and tranquility considerably increased though the physical exhaustion measures were significantly lower.

In the past we have seen numerous cases of the purposeful utilisation of micro-organisms and toxins. This situation forced us to undertake actions aimed at a limitation of the production and storage of biological weapons. Unfortunately, despite the signing of the Convention on Biological and Chemical Weapons, many countries are still involved in research into the use of biological agents as a military resource.

The objective of the work was to perform an assessment of the knowledge of threats connected with bioterrorism as well as of the procedures in the case of a bioterrorist attack in two different urban populations - i.e. of below 50 thousand and above 500 thousand inhabitants.

The study was conducted in two towns, Nysa and Łódź. A self-designed questionnaire included 100 persons from each town, both men and women aged between 18 and 65 years. Despite the small differences between the researched populations, the knowledge of respondents concerning bioterrorist threats and procedures during an attack is insufficient.

On the basis of the obtained results we may conclude that there is a need to educate the entire society, irrespective of the place of residence, in order to raise an awareness with regard to the potential threat and procedures in the event of a bioterrorist attack.