title: [Role of oxygen therapy in prevention of chronic mountain sickness].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effect of prophylaxis on youth's chronic mountain sickness(CMS) who moved to an altitude of above 5 000 meters by long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-six male youth stationed at 5 070 m, 5 200 m and 5 380 m took oxygen continuously by nasal cannula (LTOT group) every body per day. One year later, epidemiological survey were carried out according to the international CMS diagnostic criteria consist of examining right ventricle end-diastolic dimension (RVED), right ventricular anterior wall (RVAW), right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), main pulmonary artery (MPA), left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVSD) by ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and blood test of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) blood oxygen saturation (SaQ2). Then, they were compared with 91 males in the same group stationed at the same altitude (without any interventions, control group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) The epidemiological survey showed that, SaO2 were increased significantly (P < 0.05) and the prevalence rate of CMS were decreased compared with that of control group (P < 0.05). (2) Echocardiography showed that SOD, NO, NOS were increased (P < 0.05 or 0.01) and LVSD, MPA had no significant difference compared with that of control group (P > 0.05). (3) Biochemical index showed that, SOD, NO, NOS were increased (P < 0.05 or 0.01), MDA, ALT, AST, LDH were decreased (P < 0.05 or 0.01) and gamma-GT, CK had no significant difference compared with that of the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At high altitude, LTOT can reduce lipid peroxidation, improve the important organ injuries caused by hypoxia and protect the mitochondria respiratory function and play an important role on the prevention of chronic mountain sickness.
authors.affiliation: The 18th Hospital of PLA, Yecheng 844900, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: The 18th Hospital of PLA, Yecheng 844900, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Health of Lanzhou Military Zone, Lanzhou 730000, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Rong
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: The 18th Hospital of PLA, Yecheng 844900, China.
authors.forename: Fu-Ling
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Health of Lanzhou Military Zone, Lanzhou 730000, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: The 18th Hospital of PLA, Yecheng 844900, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The 18th Hospital of PLA, Yecheng 844900, China.
authors.forename: Pei-Feng
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: The 18th Hospital of PLA, Yecheng 844900, China.
authors.forename: Nian-Hua
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The 18th Hospital of PLA, Yecheng 844900, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Cai
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen