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SCAR Bulletin No 134, July 1999

Working Group on Human Biology and Medicine (WGHB&M)

1. Fifteen members including 11 national delegates and four observers participated in the meeting.

2 New members were welcomed and apologies tended for some members. The work of members who had retired since XXIV SCAR was acknowledged.

3 The Report of the last WGHB&M Meeting at XXIV SCAR in Cambridge in 1996 was tabled and approved.

Medicine

4 Comprehensive reports on polar medical practice were presented by all National Representatives present.

Discussions included:

Research

5. Reports on current and new initiatives in research revealed a wide range of fundamental and applied research which is of importance to those in Antarctica as well as other extreme and remote environments and non-Antarctic populations. The development of some national human biology programmes has resulted from the interaction of the researchers and the WGHB&M

The research discussed included:

6. The sub-Committee proposed at XXIII SCAR and convened by professor Rivolier on criteria relating to the psychological selection and preparation of personnel for Antarctic service reported . The accurate and timely review of current methods of selection was considered seminal and the group was congratulated for its efforts.

A number of national delegates agreed to provide further information for the report after which the report will be published.. It is hoped to finalise the task by the end of 1998, when it will be distributed to Antarctic agencies as a most useful aid for refining their procedures.

A standard protocol could not be agreed but there is a need for a consistent method to define and measure successful outcomes of what is a successful winter over candidate, taking into account past research which highlighted factors of ability, stability and compatibility as key components. A number of countries will collaborate on further research which will be coordinated by the sub-Committee. The diversity of current practices was seen as providing an excellent research situation for evaluation and validation methodologies.

7. The efforts made by Professor Rivolier and his sub-Committee on the "Study of the specific nosography" (systematic description of diseases) of manifestations of maladjustment during winter-over were acknowledged. The document was considered excellent for further evaluation as an aid for wintering doctors. A number of countries have signified that they will continue the current work being performed at Dumont d'Urville during 1998, while others will organise research to provide further validation of the instrument. Other potential pragmatic tools for wintering doctors will be assessed. The information will be provided to the sub-Committee which is requested to report to the next meeting.

8. The offer of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Circumpolar Health to publish a complete issue of the journal on Antarctic medicine and human biological research were accepted. Manuscripts will be solicited to be sent to the editors before the end of 1998

9. The benefits of regional groups to improve Antarctic medical practice was seen in the establishment of procedures for blood transfusion by the doctors associated with the Latin-American Antarctic Management Meeting.

10. A progress report was given by Drs Bacholor and Peri (Convenors of the sub-Committee on Concordia Station medical research). The station is expected to be operational in 2001, and the research will be an international collaborative effort.

11. Professor Hassi reported on IASC and projects involving human and health aspects monitoring and health effects, UVR, contaminants and Arctic Telemedicine projects. As the WGUN&M Representative on the International Union of Circumpolar Health, Professor Hassi also reported on the Union and the forthcoming Congress in Russia. It was decided that no official meeting of the WGUB&M would take place at the Congress but there would be a section on Antarctic medicine and research.

12. Future meetings were advised. These included the SCAR/IASC Global Change Meeting in Tromsø, Norway in August where the health effects of UVR will be discussed, the Immuno dermatology and UVR meeting in Argentina in September and a Symposium on Antarctic Medical Research in India in September 1999 in association with COMNAP.

13. At XXIII SCAR The WGHB&M reiterated the Recommendation at XXIII SCAR that national representatives attend WGHB&M meetings.

14. The next meeting will be at XXVI SCAR in 2000.

15. The Chairman advised that he would stand down at XXVI SCAR and Dr Peri was elected Secretary for the next two years after which he will take over as Chairman and a new Secretary will be elected.

16. Useful discussions were held with officials of the Chilean Medical Association and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Concepción. The assistance of Dr Vivaldi in organising these and the WG meetings is gratefully acknowledged.

Recommendations

Rec XXV-WGHB&M 3

Recalling that a sub-Committee of the WGHB&M was established at XXIII SCAR to define 'Criteria relating to the psychological selection and preparation of personnel for Antarctic service'.

Noting that this sub-Committee has produced a report that is being finalised for publication and distribution later in 1998 which may assist National Agencies to refine their procedures,

The WGHB&M acknowledges the difficulty in defining a standard protocol at this time and recognises the willingness of countries to collaborate on pilot studies,

The WGHB&M advises SCAR that there is a need for a consistent method to define and measure successful outcomes taking into account past research which highlighted factors of ability, stability and compatibility as key components,

The WGHB&M recommends that SCAR support the bilateral and multilateral pilot studies to define successful outcomes and validate methodologies.

(Note: WGBB&M Recommendations 1 and 2 were adopted as SCAR Recommendations XXV-14 and -15).