Studies on adaptation to high altitude (HA) of 3500 m in the Himalayas were conducted in three phases, each including 10 normal and healthy males normally resident at sea-level. Phase I subjects had no previous experience of HA, phase II subjects after 4-6 months at HA were airlifted to sea-level and phase III subjects stayed continuously for 6 months at 3500 m. Body fluid compartments and blood gases were determined in all three groups. Plasma volume was highly elevated in the phase II subjects on reinduction to sea-level from HA. In comparison to phase I subjects, the retention of fluid in extracellular compartment was increased at HA leading to increased susceptibility to high altitude illness. Phase III subjects were hyperhydrated with decreased plasma volume and increased PO2 in comparison to the other two groups.

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Using radioactive iodine, the effect of 1 month's yogic exercises has been investigated on the thyroid function of subjects resident at sea level (SL) specially after their exposure to high altitude (HA). The results have been compared with a group of SL subjects who underwent physical training (PT) exercises for the same duration. Ten healthy male volunteers in the age range of 20-30 years were used as test subjects in this study with each serving as his own control. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups of 5 each. One group practised hatha yogic exercises, while the other group performed the regular PT exercises. The thyroidal accumulation and release of radioactive iodine have been measured in each of the subjects of both groups before and after 1 month of their respective exercises at SL. One month of yogic exercises at SL has been observed to cause a significant reduction in the trans-thyroidal availability of radioiodine. The thyroid radioactivity in this group of subjects was always below normal levels with the exception of two peaks of radioactive iodine uptake, when the levels of radioactivity in the thyroid were similar to the control values of pre-yogic exercises. The release of radiolabel at 24-48 h was significantly increased after yogic exercises. In contrast, the subjects performing PT exercises for the same duration at SL showed significant thyroid uptake of radioactive iodine at 24 h. Subsequently their 131I uptake continued to rise slowly until 72 h without any demonstrable thyroidal release of radiolabel. This indicated that increased thyroid activity was induced by conventional PT exercise.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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