Short-Term High-Altitude Exposure (3600 m) Alters the Type Distribution of Sperm Deformity.

The effect of short-term exposure to high altitudes below 4000 m on the distribution of sperm abnormality is a matter of concern with regard to the ability for fertilization, and rarely reported. The survey subjects, who had not visited the high plateau previously, were divided into three groups: two high-plateau groups and the low-altitude control group. In the high-plateau groups, healthy young men had been living in Lhasa City, Tibet (3600 m), for 1 or 3 months.

Intermittent Oxygen Inhalation with Proper Frequency Improves Overall Health Conditions and Alleviates Symptoms in a Population at High Risk of Chronic Mountain Sickness with Severe Symptoms.

Background: Oxygen inhalation therapy is essential for the treatment of patients with chronic mountain sickness (CMS), but the efficacy of oxygen inhalation for populations at high risk of CMS remains unknown. This research investigated whether oxygen inhalation therapy benefits populations at high risk of CMS.

Methods: A total of 296 local residents living at an altitude of 3658 m were included; of which these were 25 diagnosed cases of CMS, 8 cases dropped out of the study, and 263 cases were included in the analysis.

Astragalus on the anti-fatigue effect in hypoxic mice.

Objective: Astragalus is a traditional Chinese medicine to improve the function of the body. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of astragalus on improvement of anti-fatigue capacity in mice under simulated plateau environment.

Methods: Male Kunming mice were randomly divided into the following groups: the control group, astragalus treatment groups in low dosage (LD) (1.

Th2 lymphocytes migrating to the bone marrow under high-altitude hypoxia promote erythropoiesis via activin A and interleukin-9.

The mechanism of accelerated erythropoiesis under the hypoxic conditions of high altitude (HA) remains largely obscure. Here, we investigated the potential role of bone marrow (BM) T cells in the increased production of erythrocytes at HA. We found that mice exposed to a simulated altitude of 6,000 m for 1-3 weeks exhibited a significant expansion of BM CD4+ cells, mainly caused by increasing T helper 2 (Th2) cells.

Exposure to di(n-butyl)phthalate and benzo(a)pyrene alters IL-1β secretion and subset expression of testicular macrophages, resulting in decreased testosterone production in rats.

Di(n-butyl)phthalate (DBP) and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) are environmental endocrine disruptors that are potentially hazardous to humans. These chemicals affect testicular macrophage immuno-endocrine function and testosterone production. However, the underlying mechanisms for these effects are not fully understood.