Elaboration of a universal test on magneto sensitivity
Project Status: 8 Project completed
Commencement Date: 01.06.2014
Duration in months: 24 months
Objective
Aim of the project. The objective of the proposed project is to design a universal clinical-technical test for the detection of magneto sensitivity (type/degree) in humans; the evaluation criteria being the values of individual responses to geomagnetic disturbances. This will allow for early diagnostics and forecasting of probable deviations in the activity of the autonomic nervous system during geomagnetic storms. Elaboration and improvement of early diagnostics methods/prototypes for the safety and protection of people with high psycho-emotional intensity during works will have important scientific, medical, social and economic value. Current status
Development of techniques for predicting the functional state of magneto sensitive individuals, who work in extreme and stressful conditions (pilots, astronauts, air traffic controllers, train and auto drivers), as well as patients with cardio-vascular diseases, is of important scientific and practical interest. Important correlations between the periodical and non-periodical activity of the Sun with aggravations of the cardio vascular system have been found.
According to modern chrono-biologic conceptions solar periodical and non-periodical activity - solar storms and geomagnetic storms (GMSs) are correspondingly the synchronizer or desynchronizer factors for the endogenous biological rhythms of a living organism
GMSs are powerful stress factors affecting neurohumoral regulatory mechanisms:during GMSs the activity of the sympathoadrenal system varies, the balance of the autonomic nervous system is impaired, flow and coagulation properties of blood change. Destabilization of the functional activity of the cardiovascular system (CVS) raises, the risk of occurrence of hypertensive crises, various types of arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, up to the development of a fatal outcome.
The medical control of astronauts (retrospective materials from several expeditions of the space station “MIR”) was performed on several flights during GMSs. In astronauts who performed flights on all days of GMSs and 1-2 days after GMSs, the activity of the regulatory systems was higher, and the regulatory balance of the autonomic nervous system was authentically shifted towards the intensification of the sympathetic division, in comparison with the astronauts who performed flights more than 3 days after GMSs. However, initial variations in the functional state of astronauts stipulated different dynamics of alterations during the flight. Special attention should be placed on the fact that a significant increase in the number of arrhythmias in astronauts occur during GMSs.
Four types of initial regulation of the autonomic nervous system were singled out in this study based on Heart Rate Variability (HRV):
- parasympathetic regulation,
- balanced regulation,
- balanced regulation with elements of the sympathetic division,
- sympathetic regulation.
Developing the topic, Georgian scientists, including the participants of the project proposal have established, that during GMSs ( in natural conditions) and in an experiment (in the room), during a short-term exposure to a weak electromagnetic field within the range of geomagnetic disturbances, the autonomic nervous system balance in healthy male students (aged 18-22) and in patients with Essential Hypertension (EH), is really shifted: in the case of initial prevalence of the autonomic nervous system balance shift towards the sympathetic division or with balanced regulation, the intensification of parasympathetic influence on the heart rhythm was observed, whereas the initial deviation towards the parasympathetic division showed balanced regulation.
Based on the above, during the selection of persons working in extreme and stressful conditions, it would be desirable to select individuals having a high capability to endure the conditions of increased magnetic activity, maintaining maximum tolerance and adequate working capacity to carry out the assignments correctly. Selection must involve early prediction of probable deviations in respect to the autonomic nervous system on the basis of the determined individual type/degree of autonomic nervous system regulation which will enable to predict the character of adaptive reactions during GMSs. In patients with cardio-vascular diseases (CVDs), revealing of magneto sensitivity will allow to take the appropriate preventive measures against the potential negative influence of a GMS.
- Current modern tests known to reveal magneto-sensitive people are not, however, capable of predicting individual adaptive reactions during various types of GMSs.
- Numerous projects have been known to use shielded rooms for magneto-medical and bio-magnetic research. However, such rooms are expensive, unwieldy, and can cause psychological and physical discomfort of the subject. Owing to full electromagnetic isolation in such rooms, induced hypo magnetic environment (absence as static as well as time - varying components of geomagnetic field (GMF)) makes it impossible to achieve various degrees of compensation of GMF.
- GMS Forecasting is carried out world-wide: Boulder (USA, http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/the), Brussels (Belgium, http://sidc.oma.be/) and Izmiran (Troitsk, Russia, http://www.izmiran.ru). However, these forecasts are intended for rather high latitudes of the Earth and can diverge from real events at local middle latitudes not only by several hours, but also up to 24 hrs.
Elaboration of new imitation tests requires the following:
1. Creation of appropriate technical specifications for the detection of magneto sensitivity in the individuals studied.
2. A clinical-technical procedure to reveal individual type/degree of magneto sensitivity in the individuals studied.
3. Monitoring of GMF conditions. Influence of the project on the progress in this area
In the case of successful completion of the project a prototype of a new universal technical and clinical test to detect the type/degree of individual magneto-sensitivity will be created. The test will allow predicting possible deviations in the autonomic nervous system activity during GMSs. The test will minimize the probability of inadequate selection of individuals working in extreme and stressful conditions, which will increase their efficiency and prevent from possible errors in their activity during GMSs. For the prevention of possible complications, in patients with cardio vascular diseases (CVDs), revealing of magneto sensitivity will allow to take the appropriate preventive measures against potential negative influence of GMSs. The participants’ expertise
The pparticipants of the project are represented by leading experts in corresponding areas who have been engaged in the study of geomagnetic influences on the human organism for the last 20-30 years. More than 80 works have been published in this area in high-impact scientific journals. The scientists involved in our project have been actively taking part in numerous International Conferences and co-operating with the Chronobiology Center of Minnesota University (Minneapolis, the USA). Expected results and their application
The new universal test for the detection of magneto- sensitivity type/degree will promote adequate selection of the persons working in extreme and stressful conditions during GMSs, which eventually will increase the safety of the works environments. The test can be used for magneto-sensitivity type/degree definition both in persons with elevated psycho-emotional intensity and in magneto-sensitive patients, for the correction of drug-therapy regimes to facilitate the restoration of the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system.
GMS forecasting developed during the project will be published on the Ilia State University, Abastumani National Astrophysical Observatory website, http://observatory.iliauni.edu.ge/
Within the framework of the project, we will define technical specifications to be the basis for the installation of appropriate devices. Elaboration and improvement of early diagnostics methods and prototypes for the safety and protection of the people with high psycho-emotional intensity during works will have important scientific, medical, social and economic value. Meeting the ISTC Goals and Objectives
Since former “weapons” scientists took part in this project implementation and because it is exceptionally peaceful the project meets the ISTC goals. Adherence to these objectives can be attained by the planned wide involvement of scientists and participating institutions with the international scientific community by providing information on the Project during international conferences and workshops. Scope of activities
Effort provided by the project includes the accomplishment of the following tasks:
- Creation of a room to study the influence of modelled geomagnetic disturbances.
- Elaboration, designing and exploitation of devices for active magneto- compensation and modelling (imitation) of geomagnetic disturbances in the room.
- Definition of the initial type of autonomic nervous system regulation using HRV.
- Holter-monitoring of the investigated during of GMS under natural conditions, on the basis of short-term forecasts GMS.
- Making short-term GMS forecasts and using them.
- Modelling geomagnetic disturbances using recordings of natural geomagnetic disturbances and their subsequent reproduction.
- Detection of individual type/degree of magneto-sensitivity under the conditions of modelled geomagnetic disturbances, based on the alteration of the initial type of autonomic nervous system regulation using HRV.
- Comparison of individual adaptive reactions, under the conditions of long-term natural, various and, consequently, short-term modelled (imitated) geomagnetic disturbances.
- Computer processing, ordering and the comparative analysis of the monitoring data, statistical data processing.
- Developing the test for magneto-sensitivity type/degree detection, according to the individual type of magneto- sensitivity.
- Preparation of reports and publications based on the research results. Role of Foreign Collaborators/Partners
Prof. Germaine Cornelissen-Guillaume from University of Minnesota – Halberg Chronobiology Center, Dr. Norma B.Crosby from Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, and Dr. Young-deuk Park from Korean Astronomy and Space Science Institute have agreed to be collaborators of this Project. According to the letters Prof. Cornelissen-Guillaume, Dr. Crosby and Dr. Young-deuk Park, they are ready to provide us with information, particularly: joint discussion of the project results, meetings and direct visits can be the form of our collaboration. Technical Approach and Methodology
The principal innovation of the project is to design a new universal imitation test according to individual magneto – sensitivity on geomagnetic disturbances.
The innovation will be also the employment of active magneto-compensation and magneto-modulation devices and the modelling of geomagnetic disturbances using recordings of the disturbances and their subsequent reproduction.
In the project we also use GMSs forecasts made by Georgian scientists for the local middle latitudes this will increase the reliability of the expected results.
Participating Institutions
LEADING
Heliomagnetocardiological Scientific and Practical Centre
