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INTRODUCTION: Military aircrew must familiarize personal hypoxia symptoms before the flight training. Existing research is limited in its description of the dynamic physiological changes and hypoxia symptoms. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to examine the relationships between the cardiac data, hypoxia symptoms, and tolerance time. METHODS: This retrospective study was carried out between July 1, 2022, and August 31, 2023. Subjects were army, navy, and air force aircrews that underwent an initial aviation physiological course in Taiwan. Data on the time of useful consciousness (TUC), blood oxygen saturation levels, and individual hypoxia symptoms every minute at a simulated altitude of 25,000 feet were obtained from the training document. The analysis of the data was conducted using the statistical software SPSS 24.0. RESULTS: This study included a total of 102 subjects from the army, navy, and air force. Their average age was 23.8±2.1 years, with an average body mass index of 23.0±2.5 kg/m2. The mean TUC at an altitude of 25,000 feet was 3.7±0.9 minutes. The blood oxygen saturation level started at 86.7% in the first minute and noticeably dropped in the second minute (68.0%). By the third minute, it had decreased to 58.3%, followed by a gradual decline from the third to the sixth minute. At the end of the first minute, subjects with a TUC of less than three minutes had an average blood oxygen saturation of 83.1±8.6%, which was slightly lower when compared to those with a TUC of three minutes or more (87.4 ± 7.9%). Around 20% of trainees displayed the hypoxia symptoms within the initial minute. Main symptoms during the first minute included hot flushes (10.9%) and dizziness (5.0%). Subjects with TUC less than three minutes had a higher proportion (17.6%) of experiencing dizziness symptoms within the first minute. DISCUSSION: In this study, we presented the variations in blood oxygen saturation and the occurrence of hypoxia symptoms at one-minute intervals during the chamber flight. In addition, we conducted a comprehensive analysis to establish the correlations between the physiological responses, prominent symptoms, and hypoxia tolerance. These findings hold significant value in the development of a real-time monitoring system and the improvement of the training safety measures. Learning Objectives 1. To understand the dominant hypoxia symptoms during the hypobaric chamber training. 2. To compare the changes in oxygen saturation between the different TUC groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: High G training is a part of strenuous and high-intensity sports. Recently, a novel parameter, being the cardiac force index (CFI), was introduced to investigate the relationship with the G tolerance during the centrifuge. Walking CFI on the ground could be applied to predict the level of G tolerance under the gradual onset rate among military flight cadets. The aim of this study was set to reconfirm the potential model between the walking CFI and G tolerance. METHODS: We organized this cross-sectional study in August 2023; 24 subjects were recruited from the aeromedical personnel training program in Taiwan. Before the centrifuge training, they wore the non-invasive BioHarness 3.0 devices (Zephyr Technology Corporation, Annapolis, MD, USA) to collect the heart rate (HR) and activity data during the 200-meter walk. Walking CFI was generated from the formula: CFI = weight × activity/HR. Relaxed G tolerance (RGT) and straining G tolerance (SGT) were examined during the gradual onset run of initial high G training (Onset rate: 0.1G/sec). A regression model between the walking CFI and G tolerance was established by the SPSS 24.0 software. RESULTS: Of these subjects, the average data of age, height, and weight were 31.25 years, 170.75 cm, and 72.75 kg. The mean of the RGT and SGT were 5.42G and 8.27G. There were between four and 13 subjects at the RGT ≥6.0G and SGT ≥8.0G, respectively. Subjects with the RGT more than 6.0G, and the SGT more than 8.0G, had a significantly higher walking CFI than the others. We also found that each increment of the 10 walking-CFI unit increased the RGT by 1.65G and the SGT by 0.70G. DISCUSSION: In this small study, it appeared that walking CFI could assist in the estimation of the G tolerance before the training began again. However, some reports revealed that the G tolerance became various and different every day. It is necessary to collect more data to assess the validity and stability of this algorithm used to predict the G tolerance. We also hope that this finding will further be used to monitor the G performance before the flight mission. Learning Objectives 1. To understand the physiological challenges and responses during the G load. 2. To develop the model of G tolerance estimation before the training by using the new cardiac parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: With over a hundred offshore islands separated by sea from the Taiwan mainland, the necessity for advanced medical care often leads patients to rely on Emergency Air Medical Transport (EAMT) to reach healthcare facilities on the mainland. The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) is committed to improving the healthcare infrastructure in these remote island areas. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to analyze and present the evolving patterns of EAMT utilization across the various islands in the region. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study to analyze the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) and the EAMT Data (EAMTD) provided by the MOHW. Information regarding emergency visits was extracted from the NHIRD files specifically labeled "Ambulatory care expenditures by visits". The number of patients moved by air was collected from the EAMTD accessible through the MOHW's official website. The rates and trends of the EAMT during the period spanning from 2016 to 2018 will be presented according to the distinct geographical regions, namely Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu. RESULTS: A total of 521 patients were transported by the aircraft with varying numbers distributed across distinct regions: Penghu accounted for 213 patients, Kinmen for 199 patients, and Matsu for 109 patients. The rates of the EAMT for emergency visits showed a consistent upward trend across all three regions. Penghu had the lowest rate, at 19.1 visits per 10,000, while Kinmen recorded rates of 25.5 visits per 10,000, respectively. Notably, Matsu had the higher rate, with 51.3 movements per 10,000 visits. DISCUSSION: In recent years, this work was the first study to illustrate the EAMT rate by the integration of the released information in Taiwan. Our findings shed light on the actual EAMT rates in various regions. These discrepancies in rates may be attributed to variations in resources and capabilities within the local medical facilities. Authorities can use these observed rates as benchmarks so as to evaluate the effectiveness of their policy implementations. Learning Objectives 1. To obtain the proportion of EAMT utilization across the various islands. 2. To use the observed rates as benchmarks to evaluate the effectiveness of policy implementations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]