Plain chest radiographs and pulmonary function tests have been used for pulmonary screening for flight duties of aircrews of the Republic of Korea Air Force. However, the screening accuracy of plain chest radiographs is controversial. Chest CT imaging with low-dose protocol (LDCT) improves detection of intra-thoracic abnormalities compared to plain chest radiographs. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of LDCT on flight duties of aircrews and to investigate their radiologic findings.From June 2009 to May 2011, the Aerospace Medical Center screened asymptomatic subjects 40 yr of age or older to evaluate intra-thoracic abnormalities using LDCT. The abnormal findings, including types and frequency, were recorded and the aircrew's flight duties were also recorded.This study included 536 subjects. No abnormal findings were found in 387 (72.2%) subjects. Abnormal findings related to pulmonary nodules were detected in 123 (23.00%) subjects. Air-trapping lesions were found in 33 (6.1%) subjects. One subject had a mediastinal tumor. Changes of flight duty were made in 26 (4.9%) subjects on the basis of LDCT findings. No subject was permanently disqualified for flight duty.Pulmonary screening with LDCT could detect many intra-thoracic abnormalities. LDCT was especially useful in the detection of bullae and bleb, and the flight duties of all subjects with bullae and bleb were changed.
We evaluated the effect of acute hypergravity (HG) on the immune response in a murine model of allergic asthma.Twenty-eight BALB/c mice were used. Group A (control group, n = 7) mice were sensitized and challenged with normal saline. Group B (control HG exposure group, n = 7) mice were sensitized, challenged with saline, and exposed to acute HG (+10 Gz) for 4 hours. Group C (asthma group, n = 7) mice were challenged with intraperitoneal and intranasal ovalbumin (OVA) to induce asthma. Group D (asthma HG exposure group, n = 7) mice were exposed to HG for 4 hours after the induction of asthma. We estimated the total and OVA-specific serum IgE, serum titers of various cytokines, and the number of eosinophils, neutrophils, and lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Histopathology of the lung was also evaluated.The serum level of interleukin (IL)-5 was significantly higher in Group D (12.9 ±4.9 pg/ml) compared to that in Group C (4.7 ±6.5 pg/ml, p = 0.017). In BAL fluid, the number of neutrophils was significantly increased in Group D compared to Group C (p = 0.014). Group D demonstrated a higher infiltration of inflammatory cells (9973.8 ±1642.7 cells/mm(2)) compared to Group C (7666.3 ±586.5 cells/mm(2), p = 0.017). This tendency of increase in infiltration was not significant in non-asthmatic animals (Group A: 4488.8 ±176.1 cells/mm(2) vs. Group B: 4946.3 ±513.7 cells/mm(2), p > 0.05).Acute HG exacerbated the allergic response by increasing serum IL-5 levels and promoting pulmonary infiltration of inflammatory cells.
Pilots' fatigue is one of the most serious threat to flying safety. Fatigue is influenced by many factors like sleep deprivation, daily activities, aging, stress, etc. This study was designed to investigate military pilots' daily activities. 20 pilots' daily activity was monitored by activity monitor, Fitbit(R), and the survey about sleep time and flight time was conducted. They placed Fitbit(R) on their waist for 5 days. During flight, they removed Fitbit(R) that had been used for checking their steps and walking distances. It was found that the average sleep time is 6.7 hours for fighter pilots. It was a little shorter than average sleep time for adults, 8 hours. Average steps per day was 6,838 which is more than sedentary worker's but less than active worker's. Their daily activities were not as high as we had expected. But their sleep time was very short. Flight surgeons should recommend them to take a rest and get sleep during rest period.
Recent reports show that over 2 billion people are travelling via air every year, and the number of countries involved in space exploration is growing. Aerospace medicine, one of the specialty areas in preventive medicine, focuses on the clinical care, research, and operational support of the health, safety, and performance of crewmembers and passengers of air and space vehicles. Flight surgeons are military medical officers who play an important role in these tasks. The civilian equivalent of the flight surgeon is the aviation medical examiner (AME). Among the challenges that we encounter at high altitudes are a change in pressure, noise, spa-tial disorientation, and acceleration. We should also overcome microgravity and radiation in space. The common in-flight medical emergencies are abdominal pain, diarrhea, chest pain, coll-apse, asthma, diabetes, and allergic reactions. There is only one aerospace medical institute, the Aerospace Medical Center, in the Republic of Korea. The Aerospace Medical Association of Korea, established in 1989, continues to grow. In the near future, aerospace medicine will be an important part of preventive medicine in the Republic of Korea.
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