High altitude medicine & biology最新文献

Murphey, Joshua T., Jennifer L. Temple, and David Hostler. Taste and appetite at altitude: A comprehensive review of sensory and hunger modulation in high-altitude environments. High Alt Med Biol. 26:393-407, 2025. Introduction: Individuals living or working at high altitudes typically experience altered taste perceptions and reduced appetite. These changes can lead to nutritional deficiencies, affecting the energy balance and body composition. Methods: We conducted a nonsystematic review of PubMed to explore these phenomena and expound on their findings to offer additional insights. Results: Changes in taste and perception are common and typically lead to loss of mass. There are limited practical solutions to mitigate these challenges. Discussion: Gradual acclimatization and tailored nutritional strategies are required to enhance health and performance in high-altitude environments. This review provides critical insights into the intersection of altitude, nutrition, and health.

Beresford, Maxwell Oliver, Rhona Loxton, and George W. Rodway. Everest 1924: Observations and impressions from the Journal of Expedition Physician and Naturalist R.W.G. Hingston. High Alt Med Biol. 26:416-423, 2025.-The 1924 British expedition to Mount Everest was the second serious attempt to summit the mountain, following on from the expedition of 1922. Initially led by General Charles Bruce, the party was composed of some of the most prestigious climbers of its day. Major Richard W.G. Hingston, although not a mountaineer by trade, acted as medical officer on the expedition. Hingston maintained a meticulous journal on the expedition, describing medical cases, the events on Everest, and the extensive flora and fauna he collected. He also performed basic physiological testing on the climbers, exploring the impact of altitude on their bodies. While the heights the climbers reached broke records, the expedition was ultimately shrouded in tragedy with the loss of Mallory and Irvine. This article follows Major Hingston's personal account of events on Everest, including his impressions of Mallory and Irvine. This article considers his observations and findings in their current medical context and emphasizes his passion for the natural world.

Hilty, Matthias P., Urs Hefti, Pierre Bouzat, Hannes Gatterer, Lenka Horakova, Linda E. Keyes, Justin Lawley, Benjamin D. Levine, George Rodway, Daniel Trevena, Eduardo Vinhaes, and Benoit Champigneulle. Xenon inhalation for expeditions to high altitude: A position statement from the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme, UIAA) Medical Commission. High Alt Med Biol. 26:385-387, 2025. Background and Methods: Recently, xenon inhalation has been advertised for use as a pre-acclimatization method for high-altitude climbs, but this use is controversial and not without risks. The International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (Union Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme, UIAA) Medical Commission convened a panel, including external experts, to develop a position statement on xenon inhalation as a pre-acclimatization method. Results: In this statement, we summarize the current state of research and discuss possible directions of future investigations. A pre-acclimatization strategy using xenon inhalation includes risks of respiratory depression, hypoxemia, systemic hypertension, and neurological impairment. The potential benefits of xenon inhalation, such as erythropoiesis, an increase in hemoglobin mass, or increased oxygen availability to the tissues, are not supported by the existing, current evidence. Conclusion: The UIAA Medical Commission recommends against the use of xenon inhalation in preparation for or during expeditions to high altitude unless part of a controlled study with appropriately qualified medical support such as anesthesia personnel.

Serin, Istemi, Ahmet Unal, Arzu Dobral, Fatma Elif Eroglu, Erdem Ayik, Jale Oz Unal, Mehmet Barış Cengiz, Okan Kati, Toros Taskin, Vural Bastug, and Abdulkadir Karismaz. The Effect of altitude on polycythemia vera: Is it necessary to change limits? High Alt Med Biol. 26:355-360, 2025. Background: Polycythemia vera (PV) is a myeloproliferative disease characterized by high hemoglobin/hematocrit levels accompanied by JAK2 mutations. In this study, we aimed to establish a new hemoglobin cut-off value for the diagnosis and further evaluation of PV, taking into account the altitude of the regions where patients reside. In addition, we sought to examine the impact of altitude on patients diagnosed with PV and secondary polycythemia (SP) within our case series. Methods: Patients living in Istanbul and Agri who were evaluated for PV at the hematology outpatient clinic of Istanbul and Agri Training and Research Hospitals between January 20, 2023, and January 20, 2024, were included in the study. The average altitude of the center of Agri is 1,630 m, while the center of Istanbul is 30 m. Results: The mean altitude of residence for individuals diagnosed with PV was 326 ± 259 m, whereas it was significantly higher at 1,065 ± 675 m in the SP subgroup (p < 0.001). However, in subgroup analyses of patients with PV and SP, altitude was not a significant factor influencing hemoglobin levels. Conclusions: Our study results did not support the use of different hemoglobin cut-off values or correction factors for further evaluation of PV in patients living at different altitudes. Our results might not be applicable to altitudes higher than those we examined.

Femling, Jon K., Peter S. Figueiredo, Aaron J. Reilly, Jason D. Williams, Trevor J. Mayschak, Erik R. Swenson, Steven D. Landspurg, and Beth A. Beidleman. Does prior respiratory infection increase the risk of high-altitude pulmonary and cerebral edema? A case report. High Alt Med Biol. 26:411-415, 2025.-Inadequate time to acclimatize to the lower partial pressure of oxygen at high altitude (HA) can result in one or more forms of acute altitude illness: acute mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), and high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE). AMS is common while HAPE and HACE are exceptionally rare, particularly below 4,000 m. Severe AMS can be debilitating while both HAPE and HACE are potentially deadly if untreated. Cases of HAPE at altitudes <4,000 m have been linked to a preceding, or concurrent, respiratory infection (RI), which may augment susceptibility. This case report details a timeline of continuous physiological monitoring, including heart rate and peripheral oxygen saturation, during active ascent and 42-hour exposure to 3,600 m from an individual diagnosed with HAPE/HACE. The case occurred during a military research study providing a homogenous cohort (n = 37) to compare data. Nocturnal oxygen saturation was poor and deteriorated during the stay. The case reported the most severe AMS symptoms on surveys without vocalized complaints. The case presented the classical symptoms of HACE (ataxia and confusion) by the second morning at HA. An underlying RI was discovered that may have increased his susceptibility to HAPE, and subsequently to HACE, at relatively low altitude.

Burtscher, Martin.V̇O₂max, an important determinant of success when climbing high mountains. High Alt Med Biol. 26:382-384, 2025.-Trekking and climbing at high altitudes without the use of supplemental oxygen require high baseline aerobic performance, i.e., maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O₂max), primarily due to the loss of V̇O₂max with increasing altitude. Thus, basic individual performance (at low altitude) becomes particularly important. This fact is often underestimated, which may fail to reach the summit and could be associated with increased risks of accidents and emergencies. However, timely training preparation and aligning the planned mountaineering goal to individual performance can reduce risk and disappointment on the mountain.

Ni, Zhexin, Yongqiang Zhou, Mingyang Chang, Tiantian Xia, Wei Zhou, and Yue Gao. High-altitude impacts on gut microbiota: Accelerated aging and the urgency for targeted health interventions. High Alt Med Biol. 26:416-423, 2025.-The human gut microbiota is integral to the aging process, and its composition is notably influenced by the unique environmental pressures of high-altitude plateaus, characterized by hypobaric and hypoxic conditions. This study explores the correlation between physiological aging and gut microbiota among high-altitude plateau inhabitants, an essential aspect of health preservation in such regions. We conducted a metagenomic analysis of fecal samples from 105 individuals who migrated to high-altitude areas before the age of 20. Our results demonstrate that advancing age and prolonged high-altitude living significantly modify the gut microbiota, evidenced by reduced diversity and an elevated Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio in older subjects. Notably, the abundance of the anti-aging bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) inversely correlates with age, showing a significant decline post the age of 25. A comparative analysis of 2,007 individuals from lower altitudes revealed a similar negative correlation between A. muciniphila and age, with a decline evident from age 38. These findings indicate that the high-altitude plateau environment may accelerate the decline of A. muciniphila by 10 years, underscoring the need for targeted health strategies for high-altitude populations.

Zhang, Lei, Er-Chao Feng, Ji Cang, and Qing De. A case of high-altitude renal syndrome mainly manifested as IgA nephropathy. High Alt Med Biol. 26:408-410, 2025.-This article reports a case of a 30-year-old male patient with "low back pain for 1 year, aggravated for 2 months." Laboratory and imaging examinations, as well as renal biopsy pathological analysis, were carried out. The patient was diagnosed with high-altitude renal syndrome complicated by IgA nephropathy. After treatment with optimized supportive therapy combined with specific drugs for high-altitude diseases, the patient's condition improved significantly. This case provides a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of similar cases.

Baquerizo-Sedano, Luis, José Augusto Chaquila, Juan Pablo Aparco, Carlos Torres Salinas, Orison O. Woolcott, and Pedro González-Muniesa. Extreme variability of anemia prevalence in peruvian children based on different altitude correction factors: A cross-sectional study. High Alt Med Biol. 26:374-381, 2025. Objetives: Higher erythrocytosis is the main hematological adaptation to altitude. Consequently, several correction factors have been proposed to diagnose anemia in children at high altitude. We compared the anemia prevalence in Peruvian children aged 6-59 months living at different altitudes according to several published correction factors to adjust hemoglobin for altitude. Methods: Data were collected from 578,576 children in the Nutritional Surveillance System in Peru in 2020. Anemia prevalence was estimated by altitude every 1,000 m, using four different adjustment criteria, including the recent adjustment proposal from the World Health Organization. Results: The total prevalence of anemia varied substantially (from 3.2% to 33.7%) depending on the adjustment criteria used. Without correction factors, the highest proportion of anemia was observed in the lowest altitude range. However, this result was no longer observed when the adjustment factors were used. For ranges above 3,000 m, moderate anemia occurred with a higher prevalence when using two different correction factors but not others or without adjustment. Conclusions: Our findings reveal substantial changes in anemia prevalence among Peruvian children under 5 years of age depending on the adjustment factors for hemoglobin used. More research is needed to properly diagnose anemia in children at high elevations.