title: [Effect of oxidative stress in development of acute high altitude response during the process of strong physical work at high altitude].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of oxidative stress in development of acute high altitude response (AHAR) during the process of strong physical work at high altitude and its change after return to lower altitude.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-six officers and soldiers of rapid entering into high altitude (3 700 m) with strong physical work were analyzed, all subjects were male, aged 18-35 years. According to the symptomatic scores of AHAR were divided into 3 groups: severe AHAR (group A, n = 24), mild AHAR (group B, n = 47) and without AHAR (group C, n = 25). Levels in serum 8-iso prostaglandinF2alpha(8-iso-PGF2alpha), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonaldehyde (MDA) were measured at higher altitude stayed 50 d and after return to lower altitude (1 500 m) 12 h and 15 d, and 50 healthy volunteers (group D) at 1 500 m altitude served as controll.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of serum 8-iso-PGF2alpha and MDA [(9.53 +/- 0.47) microg/L, (8.91 +/- 0.39) micromol/L] were significantly higher in group A than those in group B [(8.34 +/- 0.42) microg/L, (7.31 +/- 0.32) micromol/L] , group C [(7.02 +/- 0.48) microg/L, (6.41 +/- 0.23) micromol/L] and group D [(5.13 +/- 0.56) microg/L, (5.48 +/- 0.33) micromol/L], (all P < 0.01), and serum SOD [(52.08 +/- 3.44) micro/ml] was significantly lower in group A than that in group B [62.27 +/- 2.54) micro/ml], group C [(71.99 +/- 3.35) micro/ml] and group D [(80.78 +/- 3.44) micro/ ml] (all P < 0.01), there were significant differences between group B and C, C and D (all P < 0.01). At altitude 3 700 m 50 d, AHAR scores was positively correlated with serum 8-iso-PGF2alpha and MDA (all P < 0.01), negatively correlated with SOD (P < 0.01). Serum 8-iso-PGF2alpha and MDA were negatively correlated with SOD (all P < 0.01). Levels of serum 8-iso-PGF2alpha and MDA were significantly higher at altitude of 3 700 m 50 d than those at altitude of 1 500 m 12 h,15 d in group D (all P < 0.01), and serum SOD was significantly lower than that at 1 500 m 12 h,15 d in group D (all P < 0.01), there were significantly difference between at 1 500 m 12 h and 15 d (all P < 0.01), there were no difference between at 15 d in group D (all P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The more serious of oxidative stress and oxidative/antioxidative imbalance, the more serious of AHAR, oxidative stress and oxidative/antioxidative imbalance may be involved in the development of AHAR. The changes were obviously improved after return to lower altitude 12 h, and recovered to normal after 15 d.
authors.affiliation: Center of Respiratory Medicine, the 4th Hospital, Lanzhou Commandof PLA, Xining 810007, China.
authors.forename: Sheng-Yue
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: En-Zhi
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Zi-Qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Zhong-Xin
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Li-Fu
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Qi-Quan
authors.initials: QQ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Zi-Fu
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult