[Protective effects of new compound codonopsis tablets against acute mountain sickness].
OBJECTIVE
To study on the protective effects of new compound codonopsis tablets against acute mountain sickness (AMS).


METHODS
Forty-five male plain resident soldiers stayed at 1400 m altitude for 3 months were randomly divided into two groups, control (15 men) and treatment group (30 men). Single blind trial was used in this study. The subjects in the two groups took placebo and new compound codonopsis tablets respectively for 5 days before climbing to high mountain, and continued to take for another 10 days until the 3rd day after arriving at 5200 m altitude. On the 1st , 3rd, and 5th day after they arrived at 5200 m altitude, the score and the degree of AMS symptoms of soldiers were followed up and recorded according to State Military Standard GJB1098-91--"Principles of diagnosis and treatment of benign form of acute mountain sickness", heart rate (beats/min) and arterial oxygen saturation (%) were detenrmined. On the 6th day after they arrived at high altitude, forced vital capacity(FVC), forced expired volume in one second(FEV1.0), FEV1% (FEV1.0/FVC), FEF25%-75%, peak expiratory flow (PEF) and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) were detected, total frequency of hands cross movement and memory of order numbers test were measured.


RESULTS
Comparison with control, AMS symptoms of treatment group reduced on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th day after arriving at 5200 m high altitude (P < 0.01). The degree of AMS symptoms of treatment group was significantly different from that of control. The proportion of slight symptoms in treatment group was high, and that of relative serious symptoms in control was high. Compared with control, FVC, FEV1.0, FEF25%-75%, PEF and MVV of treatment group increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and Ttis, Ctis of treatment group increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), Atime decreased markedly (P < 0.05), there was no statistically significant difference in Etis and Sum between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
New compound codonopsis tablets could decrease the incidence of AMS, mitigate the symptoms of AMS, and improve breathing function and fingers movement function. New compound codonopsis tablets have an obvious effect on prevention and treatment of acute mountain sickness.
Zhang
Dong-xiang
DX
Department of Environmental Medicine, Institute of Health and Environmental Medicine, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Tianjin 300050, China.
Zhang
Yan-kun
YK
Nie
Hong-jing
HJ
Zhang
Ru-jun
RJ
Cui
Jian-hua
JH
Cheng
Yue
Y
Wang
Yin-hu
YH
Xiao
Zhong-hai
ZH
Liu
Jia-ying
JY
Wang
Hai
H
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000517:prevention & control*; D029745:Codonopsis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004339:Drug Compounding; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D013607:Tablets; D055815:Young Adult
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D013607:Tablets