IMMUNOLOGICAL INDICES OF THE HUMAN IN CONDITIONS OF THE APPLICATION OF INDIVIDUAL MEANS OF PROTECTION OF RESPIRATORY ORGANS

The purpose of the work was to study reactions of the immune system with the use of additional respiratory resistance arising from the use of personal respiratory protection. The inspiratory resistance to respiration of 20, 40 and 60% Pmmax was used. The study involved 26 male and female cases at the average age of 21,22,23 years. Based on the results of the study the short-term (3 minutes) effect of inspiratory resistive loads was shown to have a pronounced effect on the population and subpopulation composition of blood lymphocytes, practically without changing the level of secreted immunoglobulins. Different values of additional resistance to respiration were noted to statistically significantly change the level of biogenic amines: the concentration of epinephrine and norepinephrine with elevating values of resistive loads progressively increased; the serotonin concentration shows the opposite dynamics. The work demonstrates the additional respiratory resistance of 20% Pmmax fail to change the immunological status of the subjects. The resistive respiratory load of 40% Pmmax caused immunosuppressive changes in the population composition of lymphocytes and indices of nonspecific immunological resistance. An additional respiratory resistance of 60% Pmmax induced an immunostimulatory effect in the change in the population composition of lymphocytes and in indices of nonspecific immunological resistance. Based on the data obtained, a suggestion has been made that in designing individual respiratory protection devices it is advisable to limit the value of additional inspiratory resistance to respiration of 20% Pmmax.

Effect of enlarged adenoids on arterial blood gases in children

The enlarged adenoid is a common disorder in children resulting in nasopharyngeal obstruction. Many authors suggest that increased nasal resistance to respiration may cause disturbances in the pulmonary ventilation and carry the risk of obstructive sleep apnoea and/or cardiopulmonary syndrome.This study comprised 30 children complaining of long-standing nasal obstruction due to enlarged adenoids. Adenoidectomy was performed and the arterial blood gases were measured before and one month after surgery. Twelve normal children were also included as controls. Statistical evaluation of the results showed that O2 saturation and arterial O2 tension (PaO2) were significantly low before the operation, and increased significantly after surgery. Arterial CO2 tension (PaCO2) was insignificantly low before operation, but decreased significantly after adenoidectomy. It was concluded that enlarged adenoid may be associated with ventilatory impairment which is reversible after adenoidectomy.

Influence of abdominal muscles, mesenteric viscera and liver on respiratory mechanics

In a group of 13 supine, anesthetized cats initial measurement was made of respiratory elastance, total resistance by sinusoidal pressure, total resistance, k1 and k2 and their ratio of change from breath to breath, the natural frequency, damping factor and mass factor or inertance, and the functional residual capacity (FRC) and tissue resistance. Comparison was then made with the value obtained by remeasurement in the same cat after a) control operation of mid-line abdominal incision; b) incisions eliminating the effects of the abdominal muscles (mid-line vertical plus transverse incision extended to back); c) evisceration of gastrointestinal tract and spleen and d) evisceration plus hepatectomy. The abdominal response was found to be mainly a surface wave response (at a speed of about 150 cm/sec.) above the natural frequency. The abdominal muscles impose a steady force, more like a weight than a spring, which decreases the FRC. The liver contributes significantly to the mass factor and natural frequency, but the viscera do not. About half the tissue resistance consists of a resistance within the abdomen to respiratory movements; since nearly half the total resistance is tissue resistance, this is nearly one fourth the total resistance to respiration. Submitted on June 2, 1958