Treatment Of Altitude Sickness Research Articles

The combined use of acetazolamide and Rhodiola in the prevention and treatment of altitude sickness.

BackgroundAltitude sickness (AS), which is caused by rapid exposure to low amounts of oxygen at high elevations, poses a great threat to humans working and traveling in these conditions. Acute mountain sickness includes high-altitude pulmonary edema and high-altitude cerebral edema. Acetazolamide (AZ) is often used to treat pulmonary edema caused by hypoxia. Additionally, the medicinal plant Rhodiola rosea L. (Rh) is often used to prevent AS in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. However, the mechanisms of action of Rh and AZ in the treatment of AS remain unclear. To date, no research has been conducted to determine whether their combined use has better efficacy in the treatment and prevention of AS than their separate use.MethodsWe used the method of network pharmacology to analyze the mechanisms of Rh and AZ in combination in the prevention and treatment of AS, and also verified our results.ResultsThe hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 signaling pathway, which is related to hypoxia, and other pathways related to pulmonary hypertension, became more enriched after the combined use of the 2 drugs. Additionally, Rh and AZ regulated most nodes in the AS network. Further, compared to their separate use, the combined use of Rh and AZ further downregulated the gene expression of HIF-1α and improved hemodynamics in rats, and thus helped the body to reduce its sensitivity to hypoxic environments and pulmonary artery pressure.ConclusionsThis study provides evidence supporting the combined use of AZ and Rh in the treatment of AS.

Профилактика и лечение высотной болезни

The aim of the study is to determine the tactics of effective prevention and treatment of altitude sickness in the conditions of medium and high mountains. Materials and research methods. Domestic and foreign literature on altitude sickness are analyzed. The search was carried out using the electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, eLIBRARY for the period from 2013 to 2021. The following keywords and their combinations were used for the search: altitude sickness, treatment, prevention. Research results and their analysis. The features of the development of altitude sickness, risk factors, modern approaches to the treatment of this pathology, as well as the possibilities of pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods of prevention are considered. It is noted that the key method of preventing altitude sickness is a gradual ascent to great heights, and a promising method for its prevention can be an early implementation of interval hypoxic training. If one needs to quickly climb to heights of over 2.5 thousand meters, it is possible to use drugs such as acetazolamide and dexamethasone. In case of ineffectiveness of prevention and of development of any form of altitude sickness, the most effective treatment is an immediate descent to lower altitudes. If the descent is impossible, the use of oxygen and pharmacotherapy is justified, it is also possible to use hyperbaric chambers.

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

IntroductionMeasurement 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...

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. To evaluate the model, bacterial translocation, serum lipopolysaccharide level, pathomorphology, ultrastructure and protein expression in rats were assessed. The results indicate that, compared with group C, the rate of bacterial translocation and the apoptotic index of intestinal epithelial cells were significantly higher in group H (P<0.01). Using a light microscope it was determined that the intestinal mucosa was thinner in group H, there were fewer epithelial cells present and the morphology was irregular. Observations with an electron microscope indicated that the intestinal epithelial cells in group H were injured, the spaces among intestinal villi were wider, the tight junctions among cells were open and lanthanum nitrate granules (from the fixing solution) had diffused into the intestinal mesenchyme. The expression of the tight junction protein occludin was also decreased in group H. Therefore, the methods applied in the present study enabled the establishment of a stable, high-altitude intestinal barrier injury model in rats.

The treatment of Uygur medicine Dracocephalum moldavica L on chronic mountain sickness rat model.

Aim:Dracocephalum moldavica L, a traditional Uygur medicine, possesses some key cardiac activities. However, till date, no reports are available on the use of D. moldavica against chronic mountain sickness (CMS), which is a medical condition that affects the residents of high altitude. The present study was designed to explore the treatment efficacy of D. moldavica on CMS.Materials and Methods:80 of the 100 Sprague Dawley rats enrolled were bred in simulated high altitude environment and the remaining 20 rats were kept in the plains. Water and alcohol extracts of D. moldavica were prepared. CMS rat model was prepared, and the rat hearts were removed for histopathological analysis. Blood samples were taken for hematological and biochemical analyses. Rat pulmonary artery pressure was determined to study the treatment efficacy.Results:In the CMS model group, the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were found to be significantly higher than the control group; while the concentrations of SOD and GSH-Px decreased. D. moldavica could improve these levels, decrease pulmonary artery pressure, and improve the cardiac pathological state.Conclusions:The study results show that IL-6, CRP, MDA, SOD and GSH-Px participate and mediate the formation of CMS and D. moldavica is found to possess noticeable effects on CMS. The present study explored the basics of high altitude sickness and laid the foundation for further progress of Uygur medicines on the treatment of altitude sickness. Further preclinical and clinical studies with more sample size are recommended.

Advance in studies on effect of traditional Chinese (Tibetan) medicines in prevention and treatment of acute altitude sickness

Acute altitude reaction is a stress response of organism to special altitude environmental factors such as hypoxia, low pressure, cold, dry and strong ultraviolet. As it is the most incident disease in high altitude areas, its prevention remains a problem to be solved. In China, the traditional Chinese (Tibetan) medicines have been recognized as an effective means of preventing and treating acute altitude sicknesses. Some single-recipe or compound traditional Chinese (Tibetan) medicines have been proved to be effective for acute altitude sicknesses. In this article, we will describe traditional Chinese (Tibetan) medicines of different types with efficacy in prevention and treatment of altitude sicknesses.

Diagnosis and treatment of 30 cases of high altitude sickness combined with urinary retention

Objective To explore the diagnosis and treatment of altitude sickness combined with urinary retention. Methods 30 cases of altitude sickness combined with urinary retention were treated from April 16th to 26th,2010.They were all male,The average age of them was 24 years (range,19 -38).All were the first time entering the high altitude area (3600 -5000 m) from low altitude area (600 - 1800 m ).The urinary frequency of 25 patients reduced from 8 to 10 times/d to 2 to 4 times/d,the urine output reduced from the 1500- 2400 ml/d to 600- 800 ml/d; the other 5 patients had no urine in 12 -18 h,even had no sense to urinate.26 patients also combined with altitude pulmonary edema and 4 combined with altitude cerebral edema.30 patients had double renal columns enlarged,21 cases had urinary protein ( + ～ ++ ). Results 30 patients were exported urine 300 -600 ml within 10 min,leaded to urine 1800 -2300ml in 12 h,returned to normal voiding after catheter removal in 18 -24 h. After comprehensive treatment such as oxygen,dehydration,diuretic,sedative,antispasmodic and anti-infection,22 cases who with chest tightness,shortness of breath,dyspnea,hemoptysis foam sputum,headache,vomiting and other symptoms of jet-like improved apparently after hospital admission within 1 hour.Their heart rate downed from 90 - 145beats/min to 68 -92 beats/min,respiration from 28 -45 times/min to 18 - 28 times/min,oxygen saturation from 48％ - 84％ to 92％ - 100％ ; 8 cases who with shortness of breath,palpitation and headache improved not obviously.After the antihypertensive treatment,their blood pressure was still high (systolic blood pressure 150 - 180 mm Hg,diastolic blood pressure 90 -110 mm Hg),oxygen saturation between 78％ to 87％,so they were carried to rear area for further treatment.30 cases were all cured no death. Conclusions The high altitude urinary retention is reversible disease,which is often associated with high altitude pulmonary edema,altitude cerebral edema,acute subclinical renal dysfunction and gastrointestinal disorders.They are easily being induced by elements such as gastroenteritis,lung infection,tonsillitis,periodontitis,tiredness and so on; low atmospheric pressure,hypoxia and high altitude is the possible cause; the ratio of missed diagnosis is high; the treatment of oxygen and indwelling catheterization is better; The best method of prevention is to wear pressurized suits and adapt the environment in a ladder-step gradual way. Key words: Altitude sickness; Urinary retention; Diagnosis and treatment