High altitude arterialised capillary earlobe blood gas measurement using the Abbott i-STAT.

Introduction: Measurement of physiological parameters in extreme environments is essential to advancing knowledge, prophylaxis and treatment of altitude sickness. Point-of-care testing facilitates investigation in non-specialist and remote settings, as well as becoming increasingly popular at the bedside for real-time results in the clinical environment. Arterialised capillary earlobe blood gases are recommended as a valid alternative to arterial sampling in research.

Recurrent acute hepatic dysfunction in severe anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder predominantly affecting young women. Abnormal liver function tests (LFT's) resulting from AN is well-described but to date few cases of dramatic rises in liver enzymes have been described. We report a 32-year-old women with severe anorexia having dramatic rise in LFT's with liver failure during extremely poor nutritional status.

UK acquired hepatitis E--An emerging problem?

Eight cases of hepatitis E acquired in the UK are reported. These cases presented to an inner city hospital in Birmingham, UK, over a 5-month period in 2005. HEV is considered unusual in the UK and generally occurs after travel to endemic regions.

Medroxyprogesterone at high altitude. The effects on blood gases, cerebral regional oxygenation, and acute mountain sickness.

Objective: To study the effect of medroxyprogesterone on blood gases and cerebral regional oxygenation at high altitude, alone and in conjunction with acetazolamide, and to assess the effect on acute mountain sickness (AMS).

Design: Two placebo-controlled trials during rapid ascent to high altitude.

Participants: In the first trial, 20 participants, and in the second trial, 24 participants.

Near-infrared spectroscopy in the assessment of cerebral oxygenation at high altitude.

Hypoxia plays a key role in the pathogenesis of acute mountain sickness (AMS), but individual susceptibility is variable and cerebral symptoms do not always correlate with PaO2 measurements. Cerebral hypoxia may be more relevant than PaO2. We studied trends in cerebral regional oxygen saturation by the technique of near-infrared spectroscopy in 20 subjects ascending rapidly to 4680 m.