Publicaciones
Publicaciones científicas seleccionadas, sobre medicina y fisiología del buceo
2024 nov 10
Inert Gas Mild Pressure Action on Healthy Humans: The “IPA” Study
Balestra C, Leveque C, Mrakic-Sposta S, Coulon M, Tumbarello R, Vezzoli A, Bosco G, Imtiyaz Z & Thom SR.

The goal of this study was to evaluate inflammatory and oxidative stress responses in human subjects (9 females and 15 males) (age [29.6 ± 11.5 years old (mean ± SD)], height [172.0 ± 10.05 cm], and weight [67.8 ± 12.4 kg]) exposed to 1.45 ATA of helium (He) or nitrogen (N2) without concurrent hyperoxia.

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2024 feb 18
Pulsed Hyperoxia Acts on Plasmatic Advanced Glycation End Products and Advanced Oxidation Protein Products and Modulates Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: A Pilot Study on the "Normobaric Oxygen Paradox"
Balestra C, Baldelli S, Virgili F, Salvagno M, Mrakic-Sposta S & Fratantonio D.

The “normobaric oxygen paradox” (NOP) describes the response to the return to normoxia after a hyperoxic event, sensed by tissues as an oxygen shortage, up-regulating redox-sensitive transcription factors. We have previously characterized the time trend of oxygen-sensitive transcription factors in human PBMCs, in which the return to normoxia after 30% oxygen is sensed as a hypoxic trigger, characterized by hypoxia-induced factor (HIF-1) activation.

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2025 nov 12
Cumulative oxidative and inflammatory responses to repeated depth training in breath-hold divers: a multiparametric field study
Leveque C, Lemaitre F, Valdivia-Valdivia J, Melikhov O, Egi M, Bosco G, Mrakic-Sposta S & Balestra C.

Purpose: Breath-hold divers (BHDs) often undergo repeated depth training, but the cumulative physiological consequences of such routines remain poorly established. This study aimed to determine whether repeated deep breath-hold dives (DBHDs) induce oxidative, inflammatory, and pulmonary stress responses in the absence of decompression-related mechanisms. The primary objective was to assess changes in salivary inflammatory markers, with secondary objectives including the evaluation of gas microbubbles, lung aeration loss, and hydration status.

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2025 oct 1
Oxy-inflammation after repetitive "open circuit" dives in the Baltic Sea
Brizzolari A, Mrakic-Sposta S, Vezzoli A, Balestra C, Bonini B, Barassi A, Camporesi E & Bosco G

Background: SCUBA diving involves exposure to a hyperbaric environment that can induce oxidative stress and inflammation. This study investigates the evolution of oxy-inflammation status in divers who performed repetitive dives in cold water.

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2025 dic 20
Effects of fluid loss on the physiology of closed-circuit rebreather divers after 100- and 45-metre dives
Tuominen L, Lundel R, Balestra C, Wuorimaa T, Koponen L, Sokolowski S, Räisänen-Sokolowski A.

Introduction: Diving induced immersion diuresis predisposes divers to dehydration. Dehydration is considered a risk factor for decompression sickness (DCS) but there is very little evidence to prove it. Dehydration also potentially modifies venous gas emboli (VGE) formation and impairs endothelial function. The purpose of this study was to report the effects of fluid loss during a dive on the diver's physiology.

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