Abstract
(1) Background: SCUBA diving can influence changes of several hematological parameters (HP) but the changes of HP in the decompression phases are still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate any possible relationship between HP and predisposition to inert gas bubble formation after a single recreational dive. (2) Methods: Blood, obtained from 32 expert SCUBA divers, was tested for differences in white blood cells (WBC), granulocytes (GRAN), lymphocytes (LYM), and monocytes (MONO), red blood cells (RBC), and platelets (PLT) between bubblers (B) and non-bubblers (NB). (3) Results: We found inter-subject differences in bubble formation (considering the same diving profile performed by the divers) and a statistically significant higher number of total WBC, GRAN and LYM in NB as compared to the B divers in the pre and in the post diving sample, while no statistical differences were found for MONO and PLT. In addition, we did not find any statistically significant difference between NB and B in RBC. (4) Conclusions: Our results, even if in absence of investigated anti-inflammatory markers, could indicate a relationship between low WBC numbers and bubble formation. This aspect may explain a possible cause of inter-subject differences in bubble formation in divers performing the same dive profile.
Highlights
Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) diving exposes the human body to changes in environmental conditions including hyperbaric exposure, breathing compressed air at elevated pressure, and often exposure to cold temperature
(2) Methods: Blood, obtained from 32 expert SCUBA divers, was tested for differences in white blood cells (WBC), granulocytes (GRAN), lymphocytes (LYM), and monocytes (MONO), red blood cells (RBC), and platelets (PLT) between bubblers (B) and non-bubblers (NB). (3) Results: We found inter-subject differences in bubble formation and a statistically significant higher number of total WBC, GRAN and LYM in NB as compared to the B divers in the pre and in the post diving sample, while no statistical differences were found for MONO and PLT
Despite the absence of an investigation related to anti-inflammatory mediator changes, these data may be explained considering that SCUBA-related acute inflammation is modulated by circulating WBC and leads to the stimulation of toll-like receptors (TLRs) and, the activation of NF-κB pathway [37]
Summary
Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) diving exposes the human body to changes in environmental conditions including hyperbaric exposure, breathing compressed air (or other gas mixtures) at elevated pressure, and often exposure to cold temperature. After a hyperbaric exposure (e.g., scuba diving) LYM activate their antioxidant defenses in order to protect the cells against the induction of oxidative damage of macromolecules, especially DNA [16,17]. Increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can activate the antioxidant machinery of LYM, and GPx is one of the first antioxidant systems activated to detoxify ROS [15] According to these data, the increase of LYM observed by Perovic et al may be a consequence of the combination of physical activity, physiological stress, hyperbaria, hyperoxia and exposure to cold [5]. Physical exercise can induce a mild monocytosis often accompanied by neutrophil increase in the inflammatory response [18], especially in cold water [14]: it has been observed that MONO decreased immediately after diving [5]. MONO reduction may be due to a transendothelial migration caused by the alterations that can occur in the vascular/endothelial function observed after dive [19,20]
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