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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Mountaineering and climbing techniques in the curriculum of mountain medicine education programs: a survey of the European Courses for Mountain Medicine.

Mountain medicine education programs have been described and discussed from several perspectives. A Union Internationale des Associations Alpinistes-Internationale Kommission für Alpines Rettungswesen-International Society for Mountain Medicine (UIAA-IKAR-ISMM) label was defined and subsequently awarded to courses that comply with certain minimal requirements. These courses can award an international UIAA-IKAR-ISMM diploma to their successful candidates. The need for mountaineering training was listed in those minimal requirements, but no exact recommendations were given. A complete analysis of existing mountain medicine education programs in Europe is done, providing information about the practical mountaineering and climbing techniques taught in the different courses and, if applicable, the practical requirements and examinations to obtain the above-mentioned diploma. The analysis clearly shows the widely varying requirements for proficiency in mountaineering and climbing in European mountain medicine courses.

Curriculum↗

Acute mountain sickness in Jade Mountain climbers of Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Although there are more than 200 peaks higher than 3000 m in the Taiwan Alps, no data on the incidence of acute mountain sickness (AMS) are available. This study investigated the incidence of AMS in Jade Mountain climbers. METHODS: The study was performed at the entrance of Jade Mountain, the highest peak (3952 m) in Taiwan. A standardized form was used to collect information. All the recorders had previously been trained in the management of high altitude illness. The Lake Louise consensus was used for the diagnosis of AMS. RESULTS: There were 93 trekkers (18 females and 71 males) who were surveyed. Four records with incomplete data were excluded, leaving 89 records for analysis. The ages ranged from 20-68 yr, with an average age of 41.1 +/- 11.2 SD. All subjects had a home residence below 1 km. The most common high altitude symptoms were headaches. Some 25 trekkers (28%) [corrected] met the diagnoses of AMS. The most common site of the AMS cases feeling their worst symptoms was in the midway overnight hut, and not on the summit. The lower the O2 saturation recorded at the entrance (2659 m) of Jade Mountain, the higher the score of the Lake Louise Acute Mountain Sickness Score (LLAMSS). CONCLUSIONS: Acute mountain sickness is a common problem in Taiwan summit climbers. In our study, 28% [corrected] of the Jade Mountain trekkers met the diagnosis of AMS; however, the incidence of AMS was lower than that of other studies at similar altitudes.

Acute Disease↗

Mountain sports and total hip arthroplasty: a case report and review of mountaineering with total hip arthroplasty.

Participation in certain sports after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is common. Some high-risk sports such as extreme endurance sports with risks of falls and fractures are often cautioned against, except when the sport was participated in preoperatively and an excellent physical condition is present postoperatively. In this article, current concepts pertaining to this issue in general and in relation to mountain sports are discussed after a description of the activities of a 69-year-old patient who received cementless bilateral THAs in 1987 and 1995 and who resumed, after each rehabilitation, his preoperative sports practice (eg, walking and high-altitude mountaineering [6000+ m]). The patient, who was experienced in alpine and high-altitude mountaineering, was able, after his first operation, to climb classic alpine peaks (4000+ m) as well as participate in difficult and strenuous climbs outside Europe (Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, and Rolwaling trekking). After the second operation and an intensive rehabilitation program, he was able to climb 2 mountains in the range of 6000+ m. With excellent physical training, a long preoperative practice of the sport, and an intensive and careful rehabilitation, patients with a THA are, under specific circumstances, able to perform mountaineering at a very high, even professional level without signs of prosthesis loosening or higher than normal wear of the bearing materials.

Aged↗

Estimates of cloud water deposition at Mountain Acid Deposition Program sites in the Appalachian Mountains.

Cloud water deposition was estimated at three high-elevation sites in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States (Whiteface Mountain, NY; Whitetop Mountain, VA; and Clingman's Dome, TN) from 1994 through 1999 as part of the Mountain Acid Deposition Program (MADPro). This paper provides a summary of cloud water chemistry, cloud liquid water content, cloud frequency, estimates of cloud water deposition of sulfur and nitrogen species, and estimates of total deposition of sulfur and nitrogen at these sites. Other cloud studies in the Appalachians and their comparison to MADPro are also summarized. Whiteface Mountain exhibited the lowest mean and median concentrations of sulfur and nitrogen ions in cloud water, while Clingman's Dome exhibited the highest mean and median concentrations. This geographic gradient is partly an effect of the different meteorological conditions experienced at northern versus southern sites in addition to the difference in pollution content of air masses reaching the sites. All sites measured seasonal cloud water deposition rates of SO4(2-) greater than 50 kg/ha and NO3(-) rates of greater than 25 kg/ha. These high-elevation sites experienced additional deposition loading of SO4(2-) and NO3(-) on the order of 6-20 times greater compared with lower elevation Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNet) sites. Approximately 80-90% of this extra loading is from cloud deposition.

Acid Rain↗

Lead aerosol baseline: concentration at White Mountain and Laguna Mountain, California.

The lead aerosol concentration at White Mountain, California, may be regarded as the present baseline concentration for atmospheric lead for the continental United States. The seasonal trend of lead aerosols at White Mountain and Laguna Mountain shows a summer maximum and a winter minimum. This is because both mountain sampling sites are well above the thermal (radiation) inversion, which normally occurs in the winter, trapping pollutants below the inversion boundary.

Air Pollution↗

Acute mountain sickness at intermediate altitude: military mountainous training.

A US Marine Corps Battalion Landing Team (BLT) of 638 men was deployed on a winter training exercise to an altitude of 2,065 to 2,620 m. Nine marines (1.4%) presented to the medical officers with incapacitating symptoms consistent with acute mountains sickness. Seven were treated with acetazolamide and experienced relief of their symptoms within 24 hours. The incidence of nonspecific complaints associated with acute mountain sickness at altitude was found to be significantly greater than the incidence at sea level of those same complaints in the same BLT performing a similar winter training exercise (0.16%). Blacks who had been raised in low-altitude regions were the most commonly afflicted. Prophylaxis with acetazolamide for subsequent altitude exposure can be recommended for those individuals identified as susceptible. Acute mountain sickness is not uncommon at intermediate altitudes.

Acetazolamide↗

Detecting forest landscape boundary between mountain birch and evergreen coniferous forest in the northern slope of Changbai Mountain.

Boundaries between different forest types in Changbai Mountain Eastern China are results from complex interactions between forest ecosystems, topography, and geomorphology. Detecting and quantifying the transitional zones are highly important since high environmental heterogeneity and biodiversity are often found within these zones. In this study, we used GIS and multivariate statistics techniques (PCA and MSWA) to analyze data from Landsat TM satellite imageries and quantitatively determined the positions and widths of the landscape boundary between mountain birch and evergreen coniferous forests in the northern slope of Changbai Mountain. The results showed that the widths of the landscape boundary ranges from 30-50 m while using the MSWA or/and PC method. Such detected widths are consistent with field transect data that suggests a 50 m transitional zone width. The results further suggest that TM data can be used in combination with GIS and statistical techniques in determining forest landscape boundaries; MSWA is more reliable than PCA, while PCA can also be used to determine the landscape boundary when transects are properly located.

Altitude↗

Descriptions of incisors of known-age Cape mountain zebras, Equus zebra zebra, from the Mountain Zebra National Park.

Twelve sets of incisors of Cape mountain zebras, 9 of which were from known-age individuals ranging in age from 11 months to 19 years, from the Mountain Zebra National Park, are described and depicted to illustrate not only the eruption and replacement sequence, but also the changes with increasing age in the configuration of the occlusal surfaces and of the infudibulum. Infundibula persist in maxillary incisors longer than in mandibular incisors. Shallow infundibula were still present in the maxillary incisors of a 19-year-old mare at least 4 years later than in plains zebras, E. burchelli, from the Kruger National Park. The physiological life span of Cape mountain zebras appears to be at least 26 years.

Age Determination by Teeth↗

The first documented report of mountain sickness: the China or Headache Mountain story.

This article gives the probable location within 65 km of the Big Headache Mountain where mountain sickness was first reported by Too Kin, a Chinese official, in 37-32 B.C. We believe that traveling over the western edge of the Himalayan Karakoram Range or in the Pamirs caused the major difficulties, probably when travelers crossed the Kilik Pass at an altitude of 4827 m or 15837 ft or within 60 km of this pass and at an altitude of at least 4500 m or 14750 ft. We theorize that the route Too Kin described is from Kashi, an important center in Sinkiang or Chinese Turkestan, to Kabul in Afghanistan. This particular route has two other altitude maxima; one at the Ulagh Rabat Pass in Sinkiang about 15 km west of the Muztagata peak where the elevation is 4250 m or 14000 ft, and the other at the Shandur Pass over the Hindu Kush in Pakistan where the elevation is 3734 m or 12250 ft.

Altitude Sickness↗

Effects of multiple use on water quality of high-mountain watersheds: bacteriological investigations of mountain streams.

Bacteriological studies in 1968 and 1969 corroborated earlier findings that a municipal watershed which had been closed to public entry since 1917 yielded water with four to six times the coliform count found in an adjacent mountain watershed open to recreational activities. Similarly, chemical investigations showed higher concentrations of most ions in water from the closed area. Physiological differentiation of coliform and enterococcal bacteria revealed similar types of organisms in both animal droppings and stream water, with fecal coliforms accounting for as much as 70% of the coliform counts observed in the closed area in 1969. Opening of the closed drainage for limited recreation and expanded logging operations in the spring of 1970 coincided with an unexpected decrease in bacterial contamination of that stream. It is postulated that these human activities drove from the watershed a large wild animal population which had contributed substantially to the previous bacterial pollution. It would seem that the practice of closing high-mountain watersheds to public entry is questionable if governmental standards for water quality are to be met, and it also seems that the standards themselves should be reexamined.

Animal Population Groups↗

[Genetic diversity of isoenzymes in mountain pine (Pinus mugo Turra) in natural populations in the Ukrainian Carpathian mountains].

Electrophoretic spectra of GOT, GDH, DIA, MDH, SOD, FDH, ADH, ACP, IDH enzymes in the megagametophytes of seeds of 69 mountain pine (Pinus mugo Turra) trees from natural populations of the Ukrainian Carpathian mountains have been described. 19 loci products had efficient electrophoretic separation. The analysis of alleles segregation of the heterozygous trees on the whole confirms monogenic inheritance of the discovered variants.

Alleles↗

Urinary protein excretion induced by exercise: effect of a mountain agonistic footrace in healthy subjects. Renal function and mountain footrace.

The increase in albuminuria induced by exercise in healthy subjects is variably dependent on an increased glomerular filtration and/or to a decreased tubular reabsorption of albumin, in relation to the intensity of muscular work. Membrane anionic charges and haemodynamic changes have been implicated in exercise-induced albuminuria. We evaluated in 12 healthy subjects albumin and beta-2-microglobulin excretion rate and the presence in urine of cationic compounds before and after an agonistic mountain footrace. Albumin excretion rate increased significantly (3.7 +/- 1.3 vs 43.7 +/- 10.0 micrograms/min) (p less than 0.001) and beta-2-microglobulin excretion rate (16.5 +/- 4.4 vs 37.9 +/- 7.4 micrograms/min) (p less than 0.025), too. In 3/4 subjects, urines revealed a peak of highly cationic proteins, sharing antigenic and biological characteristics with platelet-derived cationic proteins. The increase in albuminuria induced by strenuous exercise of an agonistic mountain footrace is of mixed type (both glomerular and tubular) and is associated to the urinary excretion of cationic proteins.

Adult↗

[Regeneration in gaps of the middle-mountain moist evergreen broad-leaved forest of Ailao mountains].

On the basis of investigation on gaps in the middle-mountain moist evergreen broad-leaved forest of Ailao Mountains Natural Reserve, Yunnan Province, tree seedlings (H < or = 50 cm) composition were compared in the gaps and the non-gap stand. The results showed that the dominant tree species of the forest were not preponderated over others in the gaps. The composition of tree seedlings in the gaps differed from those in the non-gap stand. The species diversity of tree seedlings in the gaps(H = 2.73, D = 0.89) were higher than those in the non-gap stand (H = 2.25, D = 0.82), and the Jaccard correlative coefficient were only 0.6. The density of tree seedlings in the gaps (38,636 N.hm-2) was much higher than that in the non-gap stand (17,323 N.hm-2), of which many species were only found in the gaps. The dominant height of the tree seedling in the gaps and the non-gap stand were also 11-20 cm, but the percentage of the tree seedlings higher than 20 cm in the gaps was significantly higher than that in the non-gap stand. The gap sizes had important impact on the tree seedling germination, and different species of tree seedling dominated in different size classes of gap.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗

[100 years of medical practice in the mountain region of Ticino. II. Mountain physician for nearly 40 years].

The author testifies on the medical situation in 1944 in the Val Blenio, a mountain valley accessible only by narrow and uncertain roads. Practice was difficult but their development of technical possibilities has improved the health state of the population. As an ardent politician the author reviews a series of adventures illustrating frustrations and rewards for a mountain-doctor.

Delivery of Health Care↗

Control of anxiety and acute mountain sickness in Himalayan mountaineers.

This investigation explores the relationship between psychological factors and acute mountain sickness (AMS). AMS occurs in most people staying more than a few hours above 3500 m. Symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, anorexia, etc. Subjects studied were climbers preparing for an expedition to the Himalayas (80 men and 20 women). The psychological investigation consisted in two mono-factorial tests: STAI (anxiety inventory) and Bortner stress scale. After the expedition, subjects were classified into two groups: those who were susceptible to AMS and those who were not. Results indicated that the two groups differed for trait-anxiety on one hand, and for the level of anxiety before the final ascent on the other hand. In both cases, subjects susceptible to AMS were significantly more anxious than those who were not.

Acute Disease↗

The effects of mountain bike suspension systems on energy expenditure, physical exertion, and time trial performance during mountain bicycling.

The purpose of this 3-Phase study was to investigate the effects of suspension systems on muscular stress, energy expenditure, and time trial performance during mountain biking. Three suspension systems were tested, a rigid frame bike (RIG), a suspension fork bike (FS), and a front and rear suspension bike (FSR). Phase I and II consisted of cycling at 16.1 km.hr-1 over a flat, bumpy course for 63 min. Phase III consisted of ascending (ATT), descending (DTT), and cross country (XTT) time trials. Phase I assessed muscular stress by 24 h change in CK, Phase II assessed HR, VO2, VE, and Phase III assessed performance responses to the suspension systems. The 24 hr change in CK was greater for RIG than FS and FSR (+91.9 +/- 79.5 IU vs +8.6 +/- 17.5 IU and +9.7 +/- 21.8 IU). Mean HR was greater for RIG than FS and FSR (153.7 +/- 15.6 bpm vs 146.7 +/- 15.4 bpm, 146.3 +/- 16.2 bpm). Subjects rode significantly faster on FS than FSR and RIG during the XTT (30.9 +/- 2.0 min vs 32.3 +/- 3.6 min, 32.3 +/- 3.2 min). Subjects RPE was lower for FSR than FS and RIG, however, no differences were observed for VO2, VE, ATT, or DTT. Cyclists incurred less muscular stress, indicated by CK and HR, when riding the FS and FSR. Although the FS and FSR weigh from 0.7 to 2.2 kg more than RIG, no differences were observed for energy expenditure and that riding the FS in a XTT resulted in a faster finishing time than FSR or RIG.

Adult↗

[Acute mountain sickness and high-altitude pulmonary edema. How to protect the mountain climber from the effects of the "altitude haze"].

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) usually occurs after 6-12 hours of acute exposure to altitudes above 2,500 m. If there is no further altitude gain, it normally resolves spontaneously within a day or two. However, it may, in rare cases, progress to life-threatening cerebral edema. High-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is a non-cardiogenic edema that is often preceded by symptoms of AMS. The major preventive measure is slow ascent. Acetazolamide and dexamethasone are effective in preventing AMS, while nifedipine is effective only against HAPE. Immediate descent and/or the administration of oxygen is the treatment of choice for both conditions. If this is not possible, dexamethasone may be given for severe AMS and nifedipine for HAPE.

Acetazolamide↗

[Gerontology in rural and mountains regions aged people in the country and in mountain regions (author's transl)].

The gerontologic problems of people living in the country and in mountain regions always were neglected in comparison to those of townsmen. In the last decade an important structural change has happened, caused on the one side by the fact that more and more people leave the country for the towns, and by the problem of overaged persons in the country; on the other side this change is a consequence of improvement by modern technical acquisitions (more agricultural machines, silos), living hygiene and the tourism. The living conditions in the past and today in Switzerland are shown, referring to various publications. The ecological change also hits the aged people, financially by revenues, completion of private help organizations, rebuilding of homes for the aged persons in every village and regional nursing home, as well as household helps for those elderly people who still live in the country in their own houses. The qualitative differences between living conditions in the country and in town will in the near future be equalized--which is especially mentionned.

Aged↗