Decompression study

[Clare Gledhill]

In association with two US research facilities who have been working for the US navy, and a team from Oslo university, recreational divers are sought to take part in a study on medication aimed at the elimination of the need for in water decompression. I have been asked to find up to 20 divers in the UK willing to take part.

It is thought that combining exercise prior to diving with a pill releasing nitric oxide (NO) will allow longer or deeper dives as it will reduce the number of harmful bubbles that form in the blood. Research teams have previously worked with animal tests and dry tests and have found that intense exercise around 20 hours before a simulated dive in a pressure chamber significantly reduced nitrogen bubble formation. Nitrogen dissolves in the blood during dives, but comes out of solution if divers return to normal pressure too rapidly and this can cause the bends, or decompression sickness. It is thought exercise works by eliminating micro bubbles, or nuclei, that lead to the formation of larger bubbles in the blood.

Other studies have suggested the micro bubbles attach to the walls of blood vessels, and exercise is known to stimulate the release of nitric oxide, dilating the blood vessels and changing their surface properties. A Norwegian team has carried out further research on rats, published in the Journal of Physiology, which combined exercise with nitric oxide-releasing agents given for five days and then 20 hours prior to diving. This significantly reduced bubble formation and prevented death.

The findings of a protective effect against the bubble formation and death by appropriately timed exercise and an NO-releasing agent may form the basis of a new approach to preventing serious decompression sickness.

There is a link to publicity about the study here BBC NEWS | Health | Pill 'could prevent the bends'

To register for the study you need to be a qualified diver with 100 dives to date with no incidence of DCS or migraine with aura. In addition, you must be able to complete a fit to dive medical with no positive declarations - and yes this does mean no smokers.

Divers will be asked to form two groups, one which will be given NO and asked to exercise and a control group which will take part in the exercise programme but with a placebo. Both groups will then dive in the 30 - 50 metre range without completing in water decompression and will be monitored for bubbling on their return to the surface.

Can you indicate interest on this thread?

[nickb]

I'd be seriously thinking about this if I didn't have a history of migraine.

I qualify on the other criteria though. I doubt most of the salad-dodgers on here will be able to fulfill the exercise requirements

[Colin Marriott]

Originally Posted by nickb

BTW, anyone noticed what day it is today?

ColinM

[Turtleburp]

Hey Clare,

Fascinating stuff!
Are you going to get some input to the study, e.g. temperature and work rate?

Geek in me wants a 3rd group that does only exercise and no NO.

Wish I could take part, but an in Aus now, good luck and please post up results as you can or at least send links to publishing journals.

T

[Prometheus]

Is the exercise chasing flying penguins.

[fezboy]

How do they cope with the fact that NO has a half-life of only a few seconds...

[principia]

Terrible, Advocating drugs and diving and after all you have said about diving and smoking.....

J.

[Clare Gledhill]

Thanks for all the interest on here and via PM guys. List closed at 12:00 noon.

I regret that all offers to volunteer have had to be declined

[Bardo]

Originally Posted by Clare Gledhill

I regret that all offers to volunteer have had to be declined

Hehe. For being too stupid, by any chance?

[rs3100]

[quote=Clare Gledhill;888249]

Divers will be asked to form two groups, one which will be given NO and asked to exercise and a control group which will take part in the exercise programme but with a placebo. Both groups will then dive in the 30 - 50 metre range without completing in water decompression and will be monitored for bubbling on their return to the surface.
QUOTE]

Does this study have ethical approval?
Surely being in the placebo group is asking for trouble. Even if the pill works by preventing bubbles, the placebo is going to do nowt, therefore a 30-50m dive without any deco stops is a bit dangerous.

Ignore - date noted!!