Objective To explore the number variation trend of inpatients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in high altitude and plain areas. Methods The first page information in medical records of TBI patients, who were admitted to military hospitals from 2001 to 2007, was searched and extracted from the Chinese Trauma Database. Two military hospitals in high altitude area and another two in the same hospital level in plain area were selected. Then, the number variation trend of TBI inpatients in those two areas was compared. Results In high altitude area, the proportion of male patients and their median inpatient days were higher, while the age, proportion of Han patients and surgery rate were lower than those in plain area (all Plt;0.001). During 2001-2007, there were 9 141 TBI patients discharged from the four hospitals, and the average annual growth rate was 13.15%. In high altitude area, the average annual growth rate of discharged inpatients was 24.00%, while in plain area, it was just 7.09%. The 4 common categories of TBI were intracranial injury, open wound of the head, neck and trunk, skull fracture, and other injuries. Conclusion Compared with the plain area, there are significant differences in the demographics, hospital stay and surgery of inpatients in high altitude area. The average annual growth rate of TBI inpatients discharged from hospitals in high altitude area is faster than that in plain area, to which should be paid attention by relevant departments.
Objective To investigate the influence of hypoxic preconditioning on pulmonary structure of rats exposed to simulated high altitude hypoxia and to explore the role of hypoxia inducible factor-1α（HIF-1α）.Methods Fifty-six Wistar rats were randomly divided into 7 groups(n=8 in each group),ie,a normal control group(N group)，an acute hypoxic control group(H0 group)，an acute hypoxic group(H1 group)，a 3 000 m hypoxic preconditioning group(C3.0 group)，a 3 000 m hypoxic preconditioning + acute hypoxic group (C3.1 group)，a 5 000 m hypoxic preconditioning group(C5.0 group)，and a 5 000 m hypoxic preconditioning + acute hypoxic group(C5.1 group).After treated with hypoxic preconditioning，the animals were exposed to simulated altitude of 6 000 m for 24 hours.Then the protein and mRNA expression of HIF-1α in lung of N，H0，C3.0 and C5.0 groups were assessed by Western blot and RT-PCR，respectively.The lung structure in N，H1，C3.1 and C5.1 groups was observed by light microscope and electron microscope.Results Pulmonary interstitial edema was apparently observed in H1 group，while significantly relieved in two hypoxic preconditioning groups.HIF-1α protein was not detected in rat lungs by Western blot analysis.Compared to N group，the levels of HIF-1α mRNA significantly increased in C3.0 group and C5.0 group(both Plt;0.01).Conclusions Hypoxic preconditioning can relieve hypoxic pulmonary interstitial edema and increase HIF-1α mRNA expression in rat lungs.HIF-1 may be involved in the process of hypoxic preconditioning in rat lungs.
Objective To investigate the role of Kv1. 5 in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension simulated by hypobaria and hypoxia, and the effects of dichloroacetate ( DCA) on the Kv1. 5 expression in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells ( PASMCs ) and mean pulmonary arterial pressure ( mPAP) . Methods Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group ( N group) , a high altitude group ( HA group) , and a DCA treated group ( DCA group) . The N group were fed in normalconditions, the HA group and DCA group were fed in a hypobaria and hypoxia chamber simulated to an altitude of 5000 meters. In addition, the DCA group rats were gastric gavaged with DCA ( 70 mg · kg - 1 · d - 1 ) .Twenty-one days later, percentage of wall thickness ( WT% ) and percentage of wall area ( WA% ) of the pulmonary arteriole, mPAP, and the ratio of right ventricle / left ventricle and septum ( RV/ LV + S) were evaluated. Real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blot were carried out to detect the Kv1. 5 expression in PASMCs. Results In the HA group, WT% , and WA% of pulmonary arteriole, mPAP and RV/ ( LV + S) all increased significantly compared with the N group ( P lt;0. 01) . These changes in the DCA group were significantly lower than those in the HA group( P lt; 0. 01) . Furthermore, the protein and mRNA expression of Kv1. 5 in the PASMCs deceased significantly in the HA group compared with the N group( P lt;0. 01) , but recovered in the DCA group ( P lt;0. 01) . Conclusions The expression of Kv1. 5 in PASMCs is tremendously inhibited in rats fed in high altitude, which might be a important role of pulmonaryhypertension. DCA can inhibit the remodeling of pulmonary arterials probably by recovering Kv1. 5 expression.
【Abstract】 Objective To analyze the correlations between the mt5351G and mt6680C genotypes in mitochondrial DNA ( mtDNA) haplogroup M and susceptibility to high altitude pulmonary edema ( HAPE)among the Hans. Methods Specimens from206 Hans cases of HAPE and 144 matched Hans controls were collected. Then PCR-RFLP method was used to determine haplogroup M and N of mtDNA, and PCR-LDR was used to genotype mt5351G and mt6680C in the haplogroup M in these samples. Results The frequencies of haplogroup Mand N were 49. 0% and 51.0% in the HAPE patients, and 47. 2% and 52. 8% in the controls, respectively, with no significant difference between the HAPE patients and the controls. In the haplogroup M, the genotype of mt6680C and mt5351G frequencies in the HAPE patients were both significantly higher than the controls ( both 12. 0% vs. 1. 5% , P = 0. 016) . Conclusion The existence of mt5351G and mt6680C genotypes in the haplogroup Mis a risk factor for HAPE among the Hans.
Objective To investigate the psychological stress level and its influence factors of the motor transport soldiers in Military Station C at high altitude, and provide the data basis for the proper stress management. Methods A cluster random sampling was performed on the motor transport soldiers in Military Station C. And SCL-90 were adopted to measure the psychological stress level of the motor transport soldiers while the self-made basic information questionnaire was conducted to collect the information of demographic characteristic, length of military service, driving years. Then the effect of basic information on the psychological stress level was analyzed. Results 1 692 soldiers in Military Station C were enrolled in this survey. The scores of somatization, depression, psychosis and the total score of the SCL-90 of these soldiers were higher than the norm (allP values<0.001). The scores of interpersonal relationship, depression, terror and stubborn of the only child were higher than those of non-only-child (P=0.034,P=0.039,P=0.025,P=0.002). The scores of interpersonal relationship and anxiety were positively correlated with their education levels (P=0.008,P=0.026). The compulsory servicemen had higher scores of anxiety, terror and psychosis (P<0.001,P=0.026,P=0.001) but lower scores of somatization (P<0.001) compared with the sergeants. Those who suffered from neck discomfort had higher somatization scores (P<0.001). Conclusion Some factors involved in psychological stress level of the motor transport soldiers in Military Station C are higher than the norm, suggesting that more attention should be paid to their psychological states by the army administrators and the health management department, especially the only child, new recruits, junior soldiers and those who suffers from somatization discomfort.
Objective To observe the changes and influencing factors on pulse oxygen saturation and hemoglobin in Tibetan residents of 4 200 meters above sea level. Methods The health examination data of the Tibetan village residents were collected in Rerong Country, Shannan Prefecture of Tibet autonomous region from January 4 to February 4, 2012. And the information of pulse oxygen saturation was recorded at the same time. The residents were categorized by sex, age and smoking history to observe the difference in each group. Results The clinical data of 234 healthy Tibetan residents were collected with average age of (37.9±13.9) years old, and 97 were male (41.5%). There were no difference in pulse oxygen saturation [(86.1±3.4)% and (86.0±4.7)%, P=0.784) between male and female residents, and heart rate of the male was less than that of the female [(77.9±9.8) bpm and (81.1±12.1) bpm, P=0.036], while the hemoglobin content was higher in male residents [(164.5±15.4) g/L and (139.1±19.2) g/L, P=0.000). With the increase of age, especially in the group older than 60 years, the pulse oxygen saturation significantly decreased (P=0.003), while hemoglobin content showed a gradual increase trend (P=0.000). And in the group which smoking history more than 20 pack-years, the pulse oxygen saturation was lesser than the other groups, and the hemoglobin content increased (P=0.000). Conclusions The pulse oxygen saturation level of Tibetan residents of 4 200 meters above sea level is negatively correlated with age and smoking history, and the level of hemoglobin is positively correlated with age and smoking history. In resting state, there is no significant difference in heart rate between the groups divided by ages.
Smart wearable devices play an increasingly important role in physiological monitoring and disease prevention because they are portable, real-time, dynamic and continuous.The popularization of smart wearable devices among people under high-altitude environment would be beneficial for the prevention for heart and brain diseases related to high altitude. The current review comprehensively elucidates the effects of high-altitude environment on the heart and brain of different population and experimental subjects, the characteristics and applications of different types of wearable devices, and the limitations and challenges for their application. By emphasizing their application values, this review provides practical reference information for the prevention of high-altitude disease and the protection of life and health.
Basing on the special geographical environment, population, economic level and medical conditions of the areas along the plateau railway, as well as the policy requirements of primary healthcare institutions in China, combining the reality and early practice of the areas along the plateau railway in China, the High Altitude Medicine Committee of Sichuan Medical Association gathered the experts in the field of high altitude medicine in China, and launched the Expert Consensus on Basic Requirements for Primary Healthcare Institutions in Areas Along the Plateau Railway. Its content covers the scale and layout, infrastructure, personnel allocation and service capacity, material allocation of primary healthcare institutions in areas along the plateau railway, and provides professional guidance for primary healthcare institutions in these areas.