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Biomedical subjects

A Behl

Publications and source records attributed to A Behl.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1984

Effect of digoxin on serum and urinary cation changes on acute induction to high altitude.

Forty subjects each were rapidly inducted by road to altitudes of 3200 and 3771 meters (m). Half of subjects at each altitude were maintained on digoxin and the other half received placebos. The digoxin group showed higher serum potassium at both altitudes. Serum sodium remained unaltered. When compared to control groups, urinary volume changes were less marked in the digoxin group. Similarly, the alterations in calcium and magnesium in serum and urine at 3771 m were less pronounced. However, none of these changes in the digoxin groups were statistically significant when compared with control groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Platelet count, platelet aggregation and fibrinogen levels following acute induction to high altitude (3200 and 3771 metres).

Two groups of 20 subjects each were separately exposed to altitudes of 3200 m and 3771 m for 10 days by rapid induction requiring 14 and 16 hours respectively to reach high altitude camps. A statistically significant fall in platelet counts was observed from day 2 at 3200 m and day 3 at 3771 m and counts remained decreased. Platelet aggregation was also decreased initially at both altitudes. Blood fibrinogen decreased only on day 2 at 3771 m with a significant increase over control values by day 10 at both altitudes.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Effect of digoxin and diuretics on high altitude left ventricular dysfunction.

Systolic time intervals, stroke volume, cardiac output and (dZ/dt)/RZ index were serially estimated in 51 normal healthy volunteers at sea level, for ten days after air induction to 3658 m altitude and on return to sea level. The subjects were divided into three groups and were administered a diuretic, beta methyldigoxin and placebo in a double blind protocol. The group on placebo showed an increase in heart rate, reduction in stroke index and cardiac index during high altitude exposure with normalization on return to sea level. A deterioration in left ventricular function as manifested by prolongation of pre-ejection period, increase in PEP/LVET ratio, reduction in (dZ/dt)/RZ index and left ventricular ejection time was also noted at high altitude. The subjects on digoxin maintained normal stroke/cardiac index and did not show any significant changes in the parameters of myocardial function. The diuretic group showed more deterioration in the parameters than the placebo group. No significant side effects were noted. Left ventricular dysfunction and reduction of stroke index at high altitudes may be causually related; digoxin administration may prevent them from occurring.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Changes in transthoracic electrical impedance at high altitude.

Mean transthoracic electrical impedance (impedance) which is inversely related to intrathoracic extravascular fluid volume was measured in 121 normal healthy volunteers at sea-level and at 3658 metres altitude. Fifty (group A) reached the high altitude location after an hour's journey in a pressurised aircraft. Twenty-five (group D) underwent slow road ascent including acclimatisation en route. Thirty permanent residents (group B) and 16 temporary residents at high altitude (group C) were also studied. Serial studies in the 30 subjects of group A who developed symptoms of high altidue sickness showed a significant decrease of impedance up to the fourth day of exposure to high altitude which later returned to normal. The 4 volunteers who developed severe symptoms showed the largest drop in impedance. A case of acute pulmonary oedema developing at 4300 metres showed an impedance value of 24-1 ohms on admission. After effective treatment the impedance increased by 11-9 to 36-0 ohms. Twenty asymptomatic subjects of group A and 25 of group D showed a small average increase in impedance values at high altitude. These obstructions suggest that measurement of transthoracic electrical impedance may be a valuable means of detecting incipient high altitude pulmonary oedema.

Acclimatization↗