Establishment and evaluation of an experimental rat model for high-altitude intestinal barrier injury.

In the present study an experimental high-altitude intestinal barrier injury rat model was established by simulating an acute hypoxia environment, to provide an experimental basis to assess the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of altitude sickness. A total of 70 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: Control group (group C) and a high-altitude hypoxia group (group H). Following 2 days adaptation, the rats in group H were exposed to a simulated 4,000-m, high-altitude hypoxia environment for 3 days to establish the experimental model.

[The deacclimatization symptom scores of 159 youth returning to the same plain from different plateau].

Objective: To analysis deacclimatization symptom scores of 159 youth from Karakoram and Tibet Ali area, and provide the basis for the development of relevant prevention and control measures.

Methods: Using the method of epidemiological symptoms questionnaire, 18 symptoms of 190 youth who returned to the plain area from the different plateau were investigated. The symptom scores of different altitude, age, the time of staying, different units, continuous or intermittent stage and education were surveyed.

Therapeutic intervention against deacclimatization to high altitude.

The incidence of deacclimatization to high altitude syndrome (DAHAS) prevailed up to 80% in highland troops, and 100% in manual workers, and severe DAHAS could significantly affects patients' health, work and life. So it is imperative to develop effective prevention and treatment measures for DAHAS. The present review analyzes effective prophylactic and therapeutic measures against DAHAS, implemented at our hospital.

[Relationship of high altitude de-adaptation with acute high altitude response and cardiac function].

Objective: To assess the relationship of high altitude de-adaptation response (HADAR) with acute high altitude response (AHAR) and cardiac function.

Methods: Ninety-six military personnel of rapid entering into high altitude (3 700 to 4 800 m) with strong physical work were analyzed, all subjects were male, aged 18 - 35 years. According to the symptomatic scores of AHAR were divided into 3 groups: sever AHAR (group A, 24), mild to moderate AHAR (group B, 47) and non-AHAR (group C, 25) at high altitude.

Amphipathicity and self-assembly behavior of amphiphilic alginate esters.

Amphiphilic alginate esters (Alg-C(n)) with different degree of substitution (DS) and hydrophobic alkyl length were synthesized by the reaction between partially protonated sodium alginate and aliphatic alcohols (octanol, dodecanol or hexadecanol) and characterized by conventional methods. The critical micelles concentration (CMC) of Alg-C(n) was determined by measuring the fluorescence intensity of pyrene as a fluorescent probe, conductance and surface tension (SFT). Formation and characteristics of the self-assembly micelles of Alg-C(n) were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Zetasizer Nano Series method.

[Effect of oxidative stress in development of acute high altitude response during the process of strong physical work at high altitude].

Objective: To assess the effect of oxidative stress in development of acute high altitude response (AHAR) during the process of strong physical work at high altitude and its change after return to lower altitude.

Methods: Ninety-six officers and soldiers of rapid entering into high altitude (3 700 m) with strong physical work were analyzed, all subjects were male, aged 18-35 years. According to the symptomatic scores of AHAR were divided into 3 groups: severe AHAR (group A, n = 24), mild AHAR (group B, n = 47) and without AHAR (group C, n = 25).

[The role of hypoxia inducible factor-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in patients with acute high altitude reaction of rescue workers in Yushu earthquake].

Objective: To assess the effects of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on hypoxic pulmonary hypertension(HPH) in patients with acute high altitude reaction(AHAR) and its change after return to lower altitude.

Methods: Ninety-six officers and soldier participating in rescue of Yushu megaseism on April 14th in 2010, leaving low altitude area (1 500 m) rapidly to high altitude area(3 700 m) to undertake strenuous physical work were enrolled for study. All of them were male, aged 18-35 years, and they were divided into three groups according to the symptomatic scores of AHAR: without AHAR(group B, n=25), mild to moderate AHAR (group C, n=47 ) and severe AHAR (group D, n=24).

[Three preparations of compound Chinese herbal medicines for de-adaptation to high altitude: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial].

Background: With the increase of troops entering the plateau for a variety of missions, the occurrence of de-adaptation increased significantly when the army returned to the plains, however, until now, there has been no effective treatment for de-adaptation to high altitude.

Objective: To observe the interventional effects of compound Chinese herbal preparations (Sankang Capsule, Rhodiola Rosea Capsule and Shenqi Pollen Capsule) on de-adaptation to high altitude, and provide scientific evidence for appropriate treatment methods in the army health care for future missions.

Design, Setting, Participants And Interventions: A randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial design was used.

Over-starvation aggravates intestinal injury and promotes bacterial and endotoxin translocation under high-altitude hypoxic environment.

Aim: To study whether over-starvation aggravates intestinal mucosal injury and promotes bacterial and endotoxin translocation in a high-altitude hypoxic environment.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia at a simulated altitude of 7000 m for 72 h. Lanthanum nitrate was used as a tracer to detect intestinal injury.

[Gastrointestinal dysfunction in acute severe mountain sickness and its relation with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between gastrointestinal dysfunction (GD) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in acute severe mountain sickness (ASMS), including high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), and high altitude cerebral edema (HACE), by a retrospective study of medical records and prospective study of hospitalized patients.

Methods: In retrospective study, the clinical data of 3 184 inpatients of General Hospital of Tibetan Military Command suffering from ASMS in the past 50 years (from June, 1958 to June, 2007) were collected. Statistical analysis was performed to study the relationship between GD and MODS in these patients.

[Effects of liquids with different osmotic pressure and different oxygen concentration on resuscitation of hemorrhagic shock at high altitude in rat].

Objective: To compare the effects of liquids with different osmotic pressure and different oxygen concentration on resuscitation of hemorrhagic shock at high altitude.

Methods: Hemorrhagic shock model of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats was reproduced by Weigger method at the altitude of 3,658 meters. After 1 hour blood loss, the rats were treated either with normal saline, 75 g/L hypertonic saline solution, 60 g/L dextran 40 solution, solution of 75 g/L hypertonic saline solution with 60 g/L dextran 40, or hypertonic sodium chloride hydroxyethyl starch 40 solution, and all the above solutions were oxygenated with oxygen by high pressure.

[The clinical significance of leucocytosis and increase in interleukin content in acute mountain sickness complicated with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome].

Objective: To study the role of white blood cell (WBC) and interleukins (ILs) in acute mountain sickness (AMS) complicated with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).

Methods: Three thousand one hundred and eighty-four patients suffering from severe AMC in the past 50 years were surveyed with questionnaire. Correlation analysis was done to explore the relationship between differential count of WBC and elevation of ILs contents and MODS.

[Correlation and influences of inflammatory mediators on permeability of the blood-brain barrier at high altitude exposure].

Aim: To investigate the influences of inflammatory mediator on permeability of the blood-brain barrier(BBB) at high altitude environmental exposure as well as relationship and water content in brain.

Methods: Wistar rats were exposed to different altitude gradients, then brain tissue homogenate was prepared, and the activities of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) and endothelin (ET) in brain tissue homogenate were measured by radioimmunoassay methods. The activities of nitric oxide (NO) in brain tissue homogenate were measured by chemical methods.

[Analysis of 3,184 cases with acute mountain sickness complicated by multiple organ dysfunction syndrome].

Objective: To investigate and analyze the probability of acute mountain sickness (AMS) [including high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE)] complicated by multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and its pathogenetic mechanisms.

Methods: Questionnaire survey was made to retrospectively study the hospitalization cases in the past 50 years, and the incidence of high-altitude MODS (H-MODS) were statistically analyzed to determine the main causes and pathogenic mechanism of MODS.

Results: Among 3 184 cases with severe AMS, 83 cases conformed to the diagnostic criteria of diagnosis of H-MODS, and the incidence was 2.

[The role of hypoxic response and breath holding at sea level in prediction of acute mountain sickness].

Aim: To explore whether hypoxic response and breath holding at sea level could predict acute mountain sickness (AMS).

Methods: 113 men aged (19 +/- 1) years took part in this study. Blood oxygen saturation (SaO2), heart rate and blood pressure were measured during the course of breathing 10% O2 for 10 minutes and breath holding.