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Scheer V, Chandi H, Valero E, Steinach M. Polar Thigh and Other Medical Observations During the Longest Solo Unsupported One-Way Polar Ski Expedition in Antarctica. Wilderness Environ Med 2024; 35:336-341. [PMID: 38853425 DOI: 10.1177/10806032241253817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Antarctic expeditions are exceptional challenges for the human body, and medical issues such as nutritional deficiencies, polar anemia, cold injuries, and even death have been reported. We prospectively investigated medical issues encountered by a 33-year-old female adventurer completing the longest solo unsupported one-way polar ski expedition in Antarctica, covering 1484.53 km in 70 days and 16 h from Hercules Inlet to the Ross Ice Shelf, in temperatures estimated from -12 to -50°C and wind speeds of up to 60 mi/h. The adventurer developed a debilitating overuse musculoskeletal neck injury due to poor environmental conditions (ie, poor visibility, wind, and soft snow) while pulling a heavy sled and continuously holding the neck in a flexed position for checking directions on a mounted compass. The adventurer further developed a cold injury on the left calf (polar thigh) that gradually worsened and became ulcerated and more painful throughout the expedition. Potential risk factors included cold ambient temperatures, exposure to windy conditions, and clothing. After the expedition, this injury was treated with a skin graft. Important changes in body mass were observed (ie, reduction of body mass by 26.7% after the expedition) as well as general fatigue, muscle soreness, and sleep deterioration. This case study contributes to the body of knowledge of medical issues during Antarctic expeditions and provides the first scientific account of an adventurer with polar thigh. Further research into this condition is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volker Scheer
- Ultra Sports Science Foundation, Pierre-Benite, France
| | - Harpreet Chandi
- Royal Air Force Halton, British Armed Forces, Ayelsbury, United Kingdom
| | | | - Mathias Steinach
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Physiology, Center for Space Medicine and Extreme Environments, Berlin, Germany
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Sun ML, Zhao F, Chen XL, Zhang XY, Zhang YZ, Song XY, Sun CY, Yang J. Promotion of Wound Healing and Prevention of Frostbite Injury in Rat Skin by Exopolysaccharide from the Arctic Marine Bacterium Polaribacter sp. SM1127. Mar Drugs 2020; 18:md18010048. [PMID: 31940773 PMCID: PMC7024241 DOI: 10.3390/md18010048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Many marine microorganisms synthesize exopolysaccharides (EPSs), and some of these EPSs have been reported to have potential in different fields. However, the pharmaceutical potentials of marine EPSs are rarely reported. The EPS secreted by the Artic marine bacterium Polaribacter sp. SM1127 has good antioxidant activity, outstanding moisture-retention ability, and considerable protective property on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) at low temperature. Here, the effects of SM1127 EPS on skin wound healing and frostbite injury prevention were studied. Scratch wound assay showed that SM1127 EPS could stimulate the migration of HDFs. In the full-thickness cutaneous wound experiment of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, SM1127 EPS increased the wound healing rate and stimulated tissue repair detected by macroscopic observation and histologic examination, showing the ability of SM1127 EPS to promote skin wound healing. In the skin frostbite experiment of SD rats, pretreatment of rat skin with SM1127 EPS increased the rate of frostbite wound healing and promoted the repair of the injured skin significantly, indicating the good effect of SM1127 EPS on frostbite injury prevention. These results suggest the promising potential of SM1127 EPS in the pharmaceutical area to promote skin wound healing and prevent frostbite injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Ling Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Marine Biotechnology Research Center, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; (M.-L.S.); (F.Z.); (X.-L.C.); (X.-Y.Z.); (Y.-Z.Z.); (X.-Y.S.); (C.-Y.S.)
| | - Fang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Marine Biotechnology Research Center, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; (M.-L.S.); (F.Z.); (X.-L.C.); (X.-Y.Z.); (Y.-Z.Z.); (X.-Y.S.); (C.-Y.S.)
| | - Xiu-Lan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Marine Biotechnology Research Center, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; (M.-L.S.); (F.Z.); (X.-L.C.); (X.-Y.Z.); (Y.-Z.Z.); (X.-Y.S.); (C.-Y.S.)
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Xi-Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Marine Biotechnology Research Center, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; (M.-L.S.); (F.Z.); (X.-L.C.); (X.-Y.Z.); (Y.-Z.Z.); (X.-Y.S.); (C.-Y.S.)
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yu-Zhong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Marine Biotechnology Research Center, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; (M.-L.S.); (F.Z.); (X.-L.C.); (X.-Y.Z.); (Y.-Z.Z.); (X.-Y.S.); (C.-Y.S.)
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Institute for Advanced Ocean Study, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Song
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Marine Biotechnology Research Center, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; (M.-L.S.); (F.Z.); (X.-L.C.); (X.-Y.Z.); (Y.-Z.Z.); (X.-Y.S.); (C.-Y.S.)
| | - Cai-Yun Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Marine Biotechnology Research Center, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; (M.-L.S.); (F.Z.); (X.-L.C.); (X.-Y.Z.); (Y.-Z.Z.); (X.-Y.S.); (C.-Y.S.)
| | - Jie Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Marine Biotechnology Research Center, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; (M.-L.S.); (F.Z.); (X.-L.C.); (X.-Y.Z.); (Y.-Z.Z.); (X.-Y.S.); (C.-Y.S.)
- Correspondence:
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Irene Dempsey
- Department of Dermatology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Kempland Walley
- Department of Dermatology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Joslyn Sciacca Kirby
- Department of Dermatology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
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Abstract
Living, operating and training in adverse and exposed environmental situations place humans at risk of climatic injury including non-freezing cold injury. Non-freezing cold injury has caused, and continues to cause, significant problems to both civilians and military personnel exposed to cold. This article reviews the impact of this condition through history and identifies lessons that can be drawn for prevention based on historical and contemporary evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Whitaker
- Department of General Surgery, North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, UK
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