Hemoglobin levels in a Himalayan high altitude population

This report presents data on hemoglobin concentrations in a sample of Himalayan high altitude natives measured at their habitual altitude of residence. In this sample of 270 healthy Tibetan adults resident at 3250–3560 m in Upper Chumik, Nepal, the mean hemoglobin concentration is 16.1 ± 1.2 gm/dl among adult males, 14.4 ± 1.4 gm/dl among premenopausal and 15.0 ± 1.1 gm/dl among postmenopausal adult females. 123 of 126 (98%) males, 96 of 100 (96%) premenopausal and 36 of 44 (82%) postmenopausal females have hemoglobin concentrations within two standard deviations of the sea level mean. These data demonstrate that a healthy population may reside at high altitude without the degree of elevation in hemoglobin widely known and cited for Andean highlanders. Comparing published data on mean hemoglobin concentrations of adult Himalayan and Andean samples residing between 3200 m and 4100 m reveals that Himalayan means are systematically lower. This in turn may account for the reported population differences in the prevalence of chronic mountain sickness (Monge's disease). It is hypothesized that Himalayan and Andean highlanders represent alternative patterns of high altitude hematological adaptation.     

Hemoglobin levels in Qinghai-Tibet: different effects of gender for Tibetans vs. Han.

The Tibetan population, long a resident on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, has lower hemoglobin concentrations than Han Chinese migrants, but it is incompletely known how gender affects the hemoglobin concentrations in the two populations at various altitudes. Measurements of hemoglobin concentration were obtained in 5,887 healthy male and female Tibetan and Han residents aged 5-60 yr, at altitudes of 2,664, 3,813, 4,525, and 5,200 m. Multiple regression equations showed the beta-coefficients for altitude and for age were higher (P < 0.05) in Han men than in Tibetan men and in Han women than in Tibetan women. Analysis indicated a significant three-way interaction between altitude, gender, and ethnicity (chi2 = 3.72, P = 0.05). With increasing altitude, men progressively had more hemoglobin than women in the Han, but not the Tibetan, population. Above 2,664 m, this gender-related difference in hemoglobin concentration increased from childhood to young adulthood more in Han than in Tibetans. We suggest that the Han-Tibetan ethnic difference in the effect of altitude on hemoglobin concentration depends to a large extent on gender.     

Altitudinal distribution and blood values in the toad, Bufo spinulosus Wiegmann

1. Red blood cell (RBC) count, RBC size, hematocrit, cell and blood hemoglobin concentrations and plasma total solid concentration were measured in 16 lowland (from near sea level up to 2700 m) and 18 highland (3200 up to close to 4500 m) adult toads (Bufo spinulosus). 2. Lowland toads showed higher hematocrit values than highland toads, but their blood hemoglobin concentration and plasma solid concentration were not significantly different. 3. Highland toads had smaller RBC size, higher corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, a trend toward larger RBC count and a considerably smaller body size. These features may contribute to their successful life at high altitude.     

Pollen distribution at elevations above 1000 m inSwitzerland

In Switzerland the concentration of allergenic pollendecreases with increasing elevation of the samplingsite of the Swiss pollen measuring network. The aim ofthis study was, to compare the pollen concentrationsof five different localities in the Swiss Alps and inthe Jura mountains, to get an idea of the differencesin the pollen abundance in altitudes above 1000 m. Theinvestigated localities are: La Chaux-de-Fonds(1040 m), Wiesen (1420 m), Davos (1600 m), Samedan(1705 m) and Gütsch (2287 m). These pollen sumswere compared to the Swiss plateau (Basel 273 m).Basel, La Chaux-de-Fonds and Wiesen show clearlyhigher pollen values than Davos, Samedan andGütsch. Pollen concentrations of Corylus,Alnus glutinosa-type and Fraxinus arereduced with increasing altitude and are only a smallproblem for allergies above 1000 m. Betulapollen are also reduced in the higher localities, butthere still occur many days with high pollenconcentrations. Especially Betula pollen frommedium range transport can play an important role forallergies in higher localities. The total grass pollensum does not decrease up to an altitude of 1500 m. Thegrass pollen concentration depends more on factorslike composition of the local grassland, land use andwind situation.Pollen concentrations at higher elevations isinfluenced by the local vegetation, a reduced pollenproduction, land use, topography, exposition, windvelocity and wind direction. These factors modify thepollen concentration considerably. Due to the complextopography of the Prealps and Alps, it is thereforenot possible to propose a general rule of pollenreduction with increasing altitude.     

Effects of acclimation to altitude on oxygen affinity and organic phosphate concentrations in pigeon blood.

Hematocrit ratio, hemoglobin concentration and blood oxygen affinity, Bohr effect factor and Hill coefficient, adenosine triphosphate and inositol pentaphosphate (IPP) concentrations were studied in blood of adult pigeons exposed first at 140 m, and then for 3 weeks at 4000 m in an altitude chamber. At altitude, the hematocrit ratio and hemoglobin concentration significantly increased, IPP concentration decreased, and P₅₀ did not change. A lower mean red cell age and a higher hemoglobin concentration may account for the unchanged P₅₀. Adaptation to hypoxia of the tissue oxygen supply was shown by a greater blood O₂ capacitance (ΔC_HbO₂/Δ_o2) in the physiological range of oxygen partial pressures.     

Fertility of the Tibetans migrated to Northen India

This paper aims to study the fertility rate of the migrant Tibetans residing in Northern India and finding out the factors which are affecting the fertility level among them. Data are reported on age at menarche, age at marriage, first childbirth, use of contraception, widowhood, migration and on various fertility measures in the Tibetan of Northern India living at low and moderate altitude (600–2000 m), who have migrated from high altitude (4000 m above sea level) in Tibet. The migrant Tibetans reported a relatively lower fertility as compared to the high and moderate altitude populations. This lower fertility is mostly attributable to the use of contraception, the later mean age at marriage and first childbirth, and relatively high proportion of widows in the migrant Tibetans. However, the social as well as biological changes in population during migration should not be overlooked, which have a sufficient impact on fertility.     

Altitudinal variations in flower and bulbil production of an alpine perennial, Polygonum viviparum L. (Polygonaceae)

Two opposite views exist regarding sexual versus asexual reproductive performance of Polygonum viviparum . One suggests that increasing altitude favors flower production, while the other suggests that increasing altitude increases bulbil production. In this study, we present an investigation of the reproductive performance of 13 populations of P. viviparum on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP). Our results show that, with increasing altitude, the height of inflorescence and total number of flowers and bulbils decrease significantly, but there is no significant effect on bulbil and flower number. In addition, there is a weak correlation between the proportion of flowers per population and altitude in our study sites due to the exception population 12, which is in a disturbed habitat. We conclude that more resources might be allocated to flowers in populations at higher altitudes, indicating the importance of sexual reproduction over asexual reproduction in alpine plants of QTP.     

西藏高山草原AM真菌生态分布

对西藏高原37种草地植物(建群种或常见种)70个带根土样的AM真菌进行了研究.结果表明:1)在所分离到的5属35种AM真菌中,球囊霉属、无梗囊霉属、盾巨孢囊霉属真菌分别为18、9、6种,内养囊霉属、类球囊霉属各1种.其中,藏南、藏北草原AM真菌分别为4属23种、4属22种,Shannon指数分别为2.31和2.75,但藏北草原AM真菌孢子密度、种的丰度显著高于藏南.2)不同生态区域AM真菌呈共有种较少、特有种较多、优势种差异较大的分布特征.3)高寒草原、山地草甸、高寒草甸草原AM真菌Shannon指数分别为1.91、1.83、1.80,呈严重退化态势的温性草原仅为1.64;海拔4000～4600 m地带,种的丰度最高,海拔4600～5220 m 地带,真菌Shannon指数和物种均匀度最高,分别为2.42和0.79;4)球-囊霉属真菌在不同海拔段均为优势属,但在海拔＜4000 m地带相对多度较高;无梗囊霉属主要分布于海拔＞4000 m地带;盾巨孢囊霉属主要分布于海拔3500～5220 m地带;类球囊霉属主要见于海拔4000～5220 m的藏北高寒草甸草原,少量见于高寒草原环境;内养囊霉属仅见于海拔3500～3700 m的藏南温性草原.     

Glycated hemoglobin as a marker of cardiovascular risk

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Diabetes mellitus is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This review examines glycated hemoglobin, an indicator of long-term average blood glucose concentrations, in risk prediction for cardiovascular disease. RECENT FINDINGS: Glycated hemoglobin concentrations predict cardiovascular disease risk in people with diabetes, and trial data suggest that good blood glucose control is associated with reduction in cardiovascular disease. Elevated glycated hemoglobin levels below the thresholds accepted for diabetes are also associated with increasing cardiovascular disease risk independent of classical risk factors in a continuous relationship across the whole normal distribution. A 1% increase in absolute concentrations of glycated hemoglobin is associated with about 10-20% increase in cardiovascular disease risk. The continuous relationship is most evident for coronary heart disease in men; the shape of the risk curve is less clear for women and for other cardiovascular endpoints such as stroke or peripheral vascular disease. SUMMARY: Glycated hemoglobin concentration predicts cardiovascular risk both in people with diabetes and in the general population, and may help identify individuals at higher risk of cardiovascular disease for targeted interventions, including blood pressure or cholesterol reduction. Understanding the nature of this relationship may inform new preventive and therapeutic interventions.     

Geographic variation in seed traits within and among forty‐two species of Rhododendron (Ericaceae) on the Tibetan plateau: relationships with altitude,habitat, plant height,and phylogeny

Seed mass and morphology are plant life history traits that influence seed dispersal ability, seeding establishment success, and population distribution pattern. Southeastern Tibet is a diversity center for Rhododendron species, which are distributed from a few hundred meters to 5500 m above sea level. We examined intra‐ and interspecific variation in seed mass and morphology in relation to altitude, habitat, plant height, and phylogeny. Seed mass decreased significantly with the increasing altitude and increased significantly with increasing plant height among populations of the same species. Seed mass differed significantly among species and subsections, but not among sections and subgenera. Seed length, width, surface area, and wing length were significantly negative correlated with altitude and significantly positive correlated with plant height. Further, these traits differed significantly among habitats and varied among species and subsection, but not among sections and subgenera. Species at low elevation had larger seeds with larger wings, and seeds became smaller and the wings of seeds tended to be smaller with the increasing altitude. Morphology of the seed varied from flat round to long cylindrical with increasing altitude. We suggest that seed mass and morphology have evolved as a result of both long‐term adaptation and constraints of the taxonomic group over their long evolutionary history.     

岩白菜（虎耳草科）不同海拔居群的繁殖分配

资源分配策略是植物生活史研究的重要内容之一,植物用于繁殖的相对资源比例（即繁殖分配）与植株的生活史特征、个体大小及植株的生境密切相关。本文研究了藏东南色季拉山一个阴坡上海拔4200m～4640m范围内6个不同居群的虎耳草科多年生草本植物岩白菜（Bergenia purpurascens）的繁殖分配特征,结果发现：（1）繁殖器官生物量、营养器官生物量、地上部分总生物量、花数目、花序轴长度均随海拔的升高而显著降低,而叶数目随海拔变化不大,繁殖分配值则先降低后升高,转折点在林线过渡带（海拔4400m）处;（2）各居群（海拔4300m居群除外）营养器官生物量与繁殖器官生物量均显著正相关,而营养器官生物量与繁殖分配则负相关,但各居群的显著性不同;（3）各居群繁殖器官生物量与植株个体大小（营养器官生物量）呈不同程度的异速增长,而繁殖分配则与植株个体大小负相关;（4）各居群植株都存在一个繁殖所需的个体大小阈值,而且这一阈值在林线以下区域随海拔的升高而显著增大,在林线以上区域变化不显著。研究结果表明,海拔并不是影响岩白菜繁殖分配策略的唯一生态因子,不同居群的生境状况和植株个体大小都与其资源分配策略密切相关,高山地区林线的存在对植物资源的权衡方式会产生巨大影响。     

西藏特有灌木砂生槐繁殖生长对海拔和沙埋的响应

砂生槐是西藏特有植物,主要分布在雅鲁藏布江中游地区及拉萨河,年楚河等主要支流宽谷区,为评价高原海拔引起的水热条件变化对砂生槐繁殖和生长的影响,沿雅鲁藏布江河谷600多公里海拔从3139m到3925m的样带上,对砂生板天然种群进行了调查,结果表明：沿着高原河谷海拔升市制 梯度,降水量由600mm下降到400mm,年平均气温由8.2℃下降到5.8℃,砂生槐的种群密度趋与增加,其径趋于减小,但植株高度和新枝长度并未随海拔升高呈明显升降变化。种子库密度,种子千粒重,实生苗密度,萌蘖苗密度也没有随海拔高度的变化而呈明显的升降变化。砂生板适应海拔引起的水热条件的变化在生殖方面并为作出大的调整,但在适应风沙干扰方面表现了繁殖方式的调整,即在未受沙埋时,种子繁殖趋于占主导地位,在生境受到沙埋时,营养繁殖趋于占主导地位,繁殖方式的调整可能是砂生槐适应风沙干扰的最主要对策。     

Interaction of hemoglobin with salts: Effects on the functional properties of human hemoglobin

Oxygen isotherms of human hemoglobin measured in distilled water and in solutions of different inorganic salts in the concentration range from below 10^?3 m to above 1·5 m at neutral pH indicate that the oxygen affinity decreases with increasing salt concentration in the lower range of ionic strength; above the physiological range, there is in most cases a further decrease in oxygen affinity, but this varies with the nature of the salt and, in some instances, the affinity goes through a maximum.The effect of cations, which is opposite to that of anions, operates primarily in the higher concentration range; i.e. above 0·1 m. This effect is especially large for Li⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺.The alkaline Bohr effect depends strongly on anion concentration, being displaced towards higher pH values and being reduced in magnitude as chloride concentration is increased. On the other hand, the acid Bohr effect, observed below pH 6, appears to be independent of chloride concentration from 6 × 10^?2 m to 2 m.The overall heat of oxygenation has been determined for the isoionic protein as well as at different concentrations of chloride and phosphate. The average intrinsic heat of reaction of hemoglobin with oxygen in solution is found to be ?14·6 kcal/mol of O₂.     

Hematological changes and athletic performance in horses in response to high altitude (3,800 m)

This study had two goals: 1) measure hematologic changes with high-altitude acclimatization in horses; and 2) assess the effect of 9 days at high altitude on subsequent athletic performance at low altitude. Six horses performed standardized exercise tests on a dirt track (before and during time at altitude) and treadmill (pre- and postaltitude exposure). Resting and immediate postexercise blood samples were measured for blood volume, lactate, red cell number, packed cell volume, and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) concentrations at 225 m, over a 9-day period at 3,800 m, and shortly after returning to 225 m. Acclimatization produced increases in total red cell volume (38.2 +/- 2.4 to 48.1 +/- 2.9 ml/kg, P = 0.004) and DPG/hemoglobin concentrations (19.4 +/- 1.7 increased to 29.4 +/- 0. 4 micromol/g, P = 0.004). Two performance variables, heart rate recovery postexercise and lactate recovery, were faster after acclimatization.     

Red cell function at extreme altitude on Mount Everest

As part of the American Medical Research Expedition to Everest in 1981, we measured hemoglobin concentration, red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), Po2 at which hemoglobin is 50% saturated (P50), and acid-base status in expedition members at various altitudes. All measurements were made in expedition laboratories and, with the exception of samples from the South Col of Mt. Everest (8,050 m), within 2 h of blood collection. In vivo conditions were estimated from direct measurements of arterial blood gases and pH or inferred from base excess and alveolar PCO2. As expected, increased 2,3-DPG was associated with slightly increased P50, when expressed at pH 7.4. Because of respiratory alkalosis, however, the subjects' in vivo P50 at 6,300 m (27.6 Torr) was slightly less than at sea level (28.1 Torr). The estimated in vivo P50 was progressively lower at 8,050 m (24.9 Torr) and on the summit at 8,848 m (19.4 Torr in one subject). Our data suggest that, at extreme altitude, the blood O2 equilibrium curve shifts progressively leftward because of respiratory alkalosis. This left shift protects arterial O2 saturation at extreme altitude.     

Altitudinal Variations in Reproductive Allocation of Bergenia purpurascens (Saxifragaceae)

The strategy of resource allocation between vegetative and reproductive functions, quantitative relationship between size and reproductive output are central aspects of plant life history. To test the tactics of resource allocation and its altitudinal trend, we examined the reproductive allocation (RA) of Bergenia purpurascens (Saxifragaceae), in six populations along a shady slope in Sejila Mountain of southeast Tibet, at an altitude gradient from 4 200 m to 4 640 m. Our results showed that (1) with increasing altitude, vegetative biomass, reproductive biomass, total aboveground biomass, flower number per plant and length of flower stalk decreased significantly, but the number of leaves did not change greatly. However, the change of RA did not show a monotonic trend when altitude increased, shifting from significantly decreasing below the tree line to slightly increasing above it; (2) vegetative biomass was positively correlated with reproductive biomass, but negatively correlated with RA in all populations, but the level of significance was different among the populations; (3) RA decreased with individual size in all populations, whereas the relationship between absolute resource allocated to reproduction and individual size was allometric; (4) reproductive allometry and a size threshold for reproduction did exist in this alpine perennial, but the obvious altitudinal trend was only found along the populations below the tree line, not above it. We then concluded the altitude could not fully explain the change of resource allocation strategy of this alpine perennial, and different effects of size and habitat on RA may result from various environmental constraints along the altitudinal gradient or genetic background. Therefore, each individual within a population will follow its own developmental trajectory shaped by its genotype and the habitats. The most innovative finding was plant adaptation and resource trade off might be sharply altered at the tree line, which is a sensitive area in alpine mountains. Further investigations are needed to better understand the relationship between the reproductive allocation and changing environmental conditions.     

Low P50 in deer mice native to high altitude

Whereas it is widely believed that animals native to high altitude show lower O2 partial pressures at 50% hemoglobin saturation (P50) than do related animals native to low altitude, that "fact" has not been well documented. Consequently, P50 at pH 7.4, PCO2(7.4), the CO2 Bohr effect, and the buffer slope (delta log PCO2/delta pH) were determined via the mixing technique in Peromyscus maniculatus native to a range of altitudes but acclimated to 340 or 3,800 m. PCO2(7.4) and buffer slope were substantially lower at high altitude. The change in P50(7.4) between acclimation altitudes was minimal (0.8% increase at 3,800 m), because of counterbalancing changes in PCO2, 2,3-diphospho-D-glycerate concentration, and perhaps other factors. At both acclimation altitudes there was a highly significant negative correlation between P50(7.4) and native altitude. Since pH in vivo probably increases slightly at high altitude, the data on P50 corrected to pH 7.4 are probably underestimates of the difference in in vivo P50 at low vs. high altitude. Hence these results corroborate theoretical predictions that low P50 is advantageous under severe hypoxic stress.     

A genetic response to high altitude hypoxia: high hemoglobin-oxygen affinity in chicken (Gallus gallus) from the Peruvian Andes.

A population of chicken (Gallus gallus) from the Peruvian Andes (4,000 m) carrying a high hemoglobin-oxygen affinity has been identified. This property remained stable after over 1 year residence at sea level and was transmitted to the descendants born at sea level. Chicken were introduced in South America during the Spanish conquest and therefore their adaptation time to high altitude is less than 500 years. This finding shows that a genotypic change in hemoglobin function can occur in an extremely short evolutionary time and leads to some reflections on the high altitude adaptation of the mammals that migrated to South America during the great Plio-Pleistocene interchange.     

Internal carotid arterial flow velocity during exercise in Tibetan and Han residents of Lhasa (3,658 m).

Cerebral blood flow increases with acute exposure to high altitude, but the effect of hypoxia on the cerebral circulation at rest and during exercise appears influenced by the duration of high-altitude exposure. To determine whether internal carotid artery flow velocity increased with exercise in long-term residents of high altitude and whether resting values and the response to exercise differed in lifelong vs. acclimatized newcomer male residents of high altitude, we studied 15 native Tibetan and 11 Han ("Chinese") 6 +/- 2-yr residents of Lhasa (3,658 m), Tibet Autonomous Region, China. Noninvasive Doppler ultrasound was used to measure internal carotid artery diameter, mean flow velocity, and, in combination, hemoglobin and arterial O2 saturation to assess cerebral O2 delivery. Tibetan and Han groups were similar in body size and resting internal carotid artery diameter, blood pressure, hemoglobin concentration, internal carotid artery mean flow velocity, and calculated cerebral O2 delivery. Submaximal exercise increased internal carotid artery mean flow velocity and cerebral O2 delivery in the Tibetan and Han subjects. At peak exercise, the Tibetans sustained the increase in flow velocity and cerebral O2 delivery, whereas the Hans did not. Across all exercise levels up to and including peak effort, the Tibetans demonstrated a greater increase in internal carotid artery flow velocity and cerebral O2 delivery relative to resting values than did the Hans. The greater cerebral O2 delivery was accompanied by increased peak exercise capacity in the Tibetan compared with the Han group. Our findings suggest that the cerebral blood flow response to exercise is maintained in Tibetan lifelong residents of high altitude.     

Some air ion measurements made in the Pyrenees (France) at Altitudes of 200 m and 2,870 m

Measurements of small and large ion concentrations and concentrations of Aitken nuclei in various places indoors, outdoors and in an air-conditioned room in Pau (South France, 200 m) and indoors at high altitude (2,870 m) show that human activity produces increases in large ion concentrations to the detriment of the small ions which are captured by condensation nuclei to form large ions. In the airconditioned room small ion concentrations were very low, probably as a result of capture by the filtration mechanism, while at high altitude exceptionally high concentration of small ions were found and this is thought to be due to radio-active gases emitted by the earth and trapped under the snow cover.