[Scientific and research experimentation center of aviation and space medicine and human engineeing celebrates 80th anniversary].

The article is devoted to the history of the Research Test Center Aviation and Space Medicine and military ergonomics, now included in the Central Research Institute of the Air Force Defense Ministry. The center throughout 80 years history is a leding research organization in the country for the integrated study of the human factor in aviation and problems connected with it. The world-famous scientific schools in aviation physiology, hygiene and radiolorgy, emergency medicine, aviation psychology and ergonomics have been grounded on the basis of this center. With a high qualified scientific staff and laboratory-and-bench-scale base including unique seminatural airplanes and helicopters complexes, posters and installation simulating the impact of flight factors (centrifuge, hyperbaric chambers, shakenr vestibulyar-WIDE stands, etc.) the center has. successfully slved tasks concerning an improvement of flight crews protection from occupational hazards, ergonomic demands to capabilities of aircraft, professional and psycho-physiological training. Automatic systems of medical decision-making on assessment of the health status in the medical-flight expertise and dynamic medical supervision, planning, treatment and preventive and remedial actions aircrew training are currently 'being developed

[AVIATION MEDICINE: THEORETICAL CONCEPTS AND FOCAL FUNDAMENTAL AND PRACTICAL ISSUES (for the 80th anniversary of the Research Test Center of Aerospace Medicine and Military Ergonomics)].

The article discloses postulates of theoretical concepts that make the methodological basis for addressing the real-world aviation medicine challenges of humanizing aviator's environment, labor content and means, and health and performance maintenance. Under consideration are focal fundamental and practical issues arising with the technological progress in aviation and dealt with at the AF CRI Research Test Center of Aerospace Medicine and Military Ergonomics.

[Founder of domestic bioastronautics (to the 100th anniversary of the birth of V.I. Yazdovskiy)].

The article is concerned to the anniversary of the founder of domestic bioastronautics, leader and organizer of realization of biomedical programs, preparations and supply of the first space flights in our country, V.I. Yazdovskiy. The authors underlined significancy of his shining merits, which helped to develop domestic bioastronautics. In cooperation with S.P. Korolyov, V.I. Yazdovskiy launched the first manned spaceflight. With this flight our country became a leader in space exploration.

[The domestic aviation and space medicine reflected in phaleristics].

The article is devoted to the connection between the badges of medical institutions that are material evidence of formation and development of domestic aviation and space medicine and the history of Armed forces. The authors describe development of aviation and space medicine phaleristics, which is an important factor for patriotic education of modem scientific and military medical personnel.

[The contribution of military aviation and space medicine to the biomedical support of the first flight into space].

April 12, 2011 Humanity celebrated 50 years of one of the greatest achievements of the twentieth century--the legendary flight of Y. Gagarin into space. In this study are highlighted the role and importance of military aviation and space medicine, and in particular, the State Scientific Research Testing Institute of Aviation and Space Medicine, Ministry of Defence of the USSR (now--the State Scientific Research Testing Institute of Military Medicine, Military Medical Academy named after S.M. Kirov) in the preparation and conduct of flight of Yu.A.Gagarin.

[The 75th anniversary of science research and development testing centre of air medicine and military ergonomics SSRDTI of military medicine of Ministry of Defense of the RF].

The article presents main stages of forming Science research and development testing centre of air medicine and military ergonomics, results of researches of three main directions: medical-technical (ergonomic) supply of creation, testing and exploitation of air techniques and armament; participating in organization of combat training activity for the purposes of saving professional health, securing of combativity and professional reliability of aircraft pilots; scientific grounding of improvement of medical supply of aviation (improvement of medical control for dynamics of state of health, physiological and psychological resources of organism in course of combat training, creation of automatized diagnostic complexes and etc.).

[Influence of pilot's professional activity on the adaptive character of hemodynamic reactions to the tilt test].

The comparative study of blood circulation reaction to the tilt test was performed with three groups of essentially healthy subjects: AF pilots (n = 72), locomen (n = 44) and students of Military Institute of Radio Electronics (n = 32). In each group, adequate adaptive reactions were due to the eukinetic hemodynamics with steady minute volume and blood pressure values combined with heart rate increase by 10-12%. Hypokinetic hemodynamics caused 20% growth in minute volume during the initial 5 minutes of tilting in pilots versus 8-12% growth in non-flyers. Hyperkinetic hemodynamics was responsible for the minute volume growth in pilots but not in the other groups of subjects. Parasympathetic system activation was peculiar of hypokinetic hemodynamics, while sympathetic system activation was associated with hyperkinetic hemodynamics. These results point to a larger body functional reserve in pilots compared with the other subjects as a by-effect of the profession.

[Age factor in a complex evaluation of health of air staff].

Was elaborated program of a complex of estimation of health condition of air staff with determination of capability of early diagnostic of functional tension of physiological systems. According to this system there were observed 73 airmen using a complex of tests (estimation of level of pectoral control, of personal and reactive anxiety, vegetal regulation etc.). Was detected, that length of service and sympato-adrenaline activeness with vicarious decrease of adrenoreactiveness are in direct proportion. Were marked the most informative indexes of estimation of functional tension of psycho-physiological functions, vegetative regulation and cardiovascular system. Was shown that the elaborated system of individual estimation of health of air staff permits diagnose prenosological conditions and determine indexes for rehabilitation treatment.

[Resistivity and hemodynamic reactions of essentially healthy pilots to the passive orthostatic test].

The paper analyzes the data of expert tilt testing (-80 degrees, 20 min.) of 66 essentially healthy pilots. Hemodynamic reactions were characterized based on the standard concept of functional classes (FC). Good test tolerance was recorded in 86.4% of cases among which 36.4% were referred to FC-I and 50%--to FC-II. Adequate test tolerance (FC-II) was recorded in 10.6%; reduced and poor test tolerance (FC-IV and FC-V)--in 3%. According to ECG and computerized tachooscillography, the adaptive hemodynamic reactions were optimum in pilots of group FC-I as compared with group FC-II and all the more so when compared with FC-III. The last two groups showed some objective symptoms that had not been looked for in the past (a distinct lability of blood pressure, and incomplete hypertensive and hypotensive reactions) that differentiated these groups from FC-I. Results of the analysis made it possible to put forward additional clinical functional criteria to assess tilt tolerance of pilots with different levels of functional tolerance.

[Academician O.G. Gazenko and aviation medicine].

The paper analyzes the contribution of O.G. Gazenko to the theory and practice of aviation medicine in the period of his service at the State Test and Research Institute of Aviation and Space Medicine under the USSR Ministry of Defense (1947-1969). O.G. Gazenko took the leadership and participated in personally in the broad investigations of the altitude effects on human organism, medical care of the staff of AF units and troops based in the Arctic, improvement of life and duty conditions for pilots and technicians in hot climate, ejection seat testing, development of methods modeling erroneous pilot's actions in order to understand their triggers.

[Prophylactic medicine--a foreground direction of medical support of the air staff of aviation of the Armed Forces of Russian Federation].

The first prophylaxis of chronic not-infection diseases obtains more and more value. Level of these diseases among air staff is rather high and has a tendency of increasing. It's bounded up with defects in the system of the first medical unit, insufficient conducting of ecological and sanitarium-hygiene screening and taking steps on decreasing of the influence of noxious agent on the human organism, improvement of working conditions of air specialists, decreasing of the value of psychoemotional stress and other factors. An important factor during the conducting the first and the second prophylaxis is an early detection of changes in health by the air staff and technical-engineer staff, diagnostics of diseases on early stages, when they conduct without any symptoms, forehanded rehabilitation and treatment.

[Simulation model of local mechanisms controlling the human systemic circulation vessels during postural tests].

The article describes a nonpulsatile model of human systemic circulation simulating the effects of posture changes on main indices of blood flow in different vessels and body segments. The model comprises the hemodynamics structural chart, hydrodynamic and hydrostatic circulation models, and a myogenic regulation model The systematic circulation model enables investigation and representation of myogenic regulation of peripheral circulation along different vessels and body segments experimental investigations of which is complicated by inevitable nonlinear distortions. In future an algorithm will be developed to compute values of the main hemodynamic indices for the tilt and standing tests.

[Evaluation of +Gz tolerance following simulation of 8-hr flight].

Tolerance of +Gz (head-pelvis) centrifugation of pilots was evaluated following simulation of a long flight on single-seat fighter. The experiment involved 5 test-subjects who were exposed to +Gz before and after simulated 8-hr flight with a growth gradient of 0.1 u/s without anti-g suits and muscles relaxed; in addition, limiting tolerance of intricate profile +Gz loads of 2.0 to 9.0 units with a growth gradient of 1.0 u/s of test-subjects in anti-g suits (AGS) with a change-over pressure valve in the peak mode using muscle straining and breathing maneuvers. To counteract the negative effects of extended flight, various seat configurations: with a back inclination at 30 degrees to the +Gz vector and changeable geometry with a back inclination at 55 degrees to the vector. The other counter-measures applied were cool air shower, suit ventilation, physical exercises, lower body massage with AGS, electrostimulation of the back and lumber region, profiling of the supporting and soft parts of the seat, and 30-s exposure to +5 Gz. Hemodynamic and respiration parameters as well as body temperature were measured in the course of 8 hrs of flight and during and shortly after centrifugation. According to the results of the investigation, seat inclination at 55 degrees to the +Gz vector and tested system of countermeasures prevent degradation of tolerance of large (9 u.) loads following 8-hr flight simulation with the use of the modern anti-g gear,

[Spatial orientation of human on a background of +Gz loads and head movements].

Spatial orientation of six normal subjects (19-28 y/o males) was investigated on a centrifuge with a radius of 6.55 m by the method of subjective haptic vertical during head movements on the pattern of working head movements of pilots impacted by +Gz loads. The investigation showed that the trend and intensity of G-excess illusion could be related to the occurrence of tangential components of the gyroscopic moment +Gz vector in the utricle otolith plane.

[Methodological problems of the impact of G-loads on the functional status and occupation health of the pilot]. / Metodologicheskie problemy vliianiia pilotazhnykh peregruzok na funktsional'noe sostoianie i professional'noe zdorov'e letchika.

The paper deals with the methodological aspects and conceptual models of the impact of g-loads on the functional status and occupational health of high-maneuvering plane pilots in the context of the effective dose conception. Quantitative approaches to evaluating the influence of this factor are considered by taking into account a risk for specific abnormalities and its combination with other factors and conditions of a pilot's work. Practical aspects of the application of the approaches developed to enhance the safety of flights and the promotion of flying personnel's health are also considered and promising avenues of further studies are outlined.

[Means and methods of improving pilot's tolerance for g-loads following an extended flight in a one-seat fighter]. / Sredstva i metody povysheniia perenosimosti letchikom pilotazhnykh peregruzok posle dlitel'nogo poleta na odnomestnom samolete-istrebitele.

G-loads tolerance following hypodynamia during extended flights and effectiveness of countermeasures against possible negative impacts were studied. Subjects performed 5-hr simulated flights after which they were centrifuged with a g-gradient of 0.1 u/s in the relaxed state, and with a g-gradient of 1.0 u/s at complex-profiled 2 to 9 units in anti-g suit VKK-15. Tested were three sets of countermeasures (A, B, C) combining the following methods: physical exercises, VKK-15 provided massage of the lower body, 30-s exposure to 5 g, use of the profiled stiff and cushioned seats, electrical stimulation of the back and waist, and an air-cushion. The countermeasures were applied every hour on flight. Hypodynamia during the five-hour fighter flight was shown to have a weak detrimental effect on the pilot's functional state, performance and g-tolerance which were tempered by the proposed combinations of countermeasures.

[Dynamics of the human respiratory system parameters at different rates of +Gz load rise]. / Dinamika pokazatelei respiratornoi sistemy cheloveka pri razlichnoi skorosti narastaniia peregruzok +Gz.

Studies of the dynamics of human respiratory system parameters during 15-s runs with +Gz loads from 6 to 9 units and rates of rise equal to 1, 2, 3 and 5 units/s showed that increase in the rate of rise produced specific shifts in the breathing cycle structure which characterize the voluntary adaptation of humans to g-loads. Results also make it evident that despite absence of difference in the respiratory reactions during +Gz runs, in the period following exposure the distinct increases in the parameters of external breathing and gas-energy exchange correlated with the rate of g-rise. This allows the conclusion that because of the reasons discussed in the paper the physiological cost of Gz-tolerance grows as the rate of g-rise gets high.

[Human gas exchange at +Gz with the use of various anti-g protectors]. / Gazoénergoobmen cheloveka pri vozdeistvii peregruzok +Gz i ispol'zovanii razlichnykh sredstv protivoperegruzochnoi zhashchity.

Human respiration parameters were studied in subjects exposed to +Gz (6.0; 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0 g with a 15-s plateau and a g-gradient of 1.0 and 5.0 g/s) with the use of anti-g measures, i.e. a barber chair inclined at 30 or 45 degrees, anti-g suit VKK-15 with a pressure controller, and a positive oxygen pressure. The gas-exchange parameters were found to be indicative of the effectiveness of an anti-g protector. When used together, these protective methods (VKK-15 munitions, an oxygen respirator for positive-pressure breathing, and chair back inclination to 45 degrees) improved g-tolerance significantly.

[Effects of extended flight factors on +Gz tolerance]. / Vliianie faktorov dlitel'nogo poleta na perenosimost' peregruzok +Gz.

Tolerance of single-seat fighter pilots to +Gz loads in long missions was evaluated. In centrifuge experiments, after 5-hr flight simulation 6 test-subjects were exposed to +Gz with a growth rate of 0.1 u/s using muscular relaxation but not anti-G suit (AGS), and to complex-profile ultimate +Gz (2.0 to 9.0 units) with a growth rate of 1.0 u/s with AGS-3 and anti-G straining maneuvers. Pre-experimental data about the subjects' tolerance to +Gz by similar protocols were used as control. Hemodynamic parameters were measured during and immediately after centrifugation. Strength of the leg muscular effort was determined during the centrifuge runs. External respiration and gas exchange parameters were evaluated immediately after centrifugation. Results of the experiments made it evident that 5-hr flight simulation impairs pilot's functional state and tolerance of high +Gz loads, as incidence and severity of visual disorders and cardiac arrhythmias rose and energy expenditure and cervical muscles fatigue increased pointing to the necessity to develop a special purpose preventive system.

[Methodological approaches to quantitative evaluation of the influence of pilot overload on functional durability and occupational health of pilots (basic concepts)]. / Metodologicheskie podkhody k kolichestvennoi otsenke vliianiia pilotazhnykh peregruzok na funktsional'nuiu ustoichivost' i professional'noe zdorov'e letchika (osnovnye kontseptsii).

The article presents various concepts underlying the quantitative methods that assess influence of piloting overload on pilots. The authors also consider principal differences between acute and chronic overload of + Gz direction, its adaptational and cumulative effects. The most important items are based on phasic nature of physiologic response to single and repeated overload of + Gz direction, on a law describing summation of delta-effects caused by various conditions of pilot's occupational activities, considering the risk of disorders determining potential unreliability of pilots in maneuver flight and probability of cumulative effects. The theoretical items are illustrated by some practical examples.