Grand USA Chronic Hypoxia Tour 2018

Between April 18th and April 30th Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja, Director and Head of the High Altitude Pulmonary and Pathology Institute in La Paz, Bolivia, gave talks explaining the benefits of Life under Chronic Hypoxia (low-oxygen).

It started with a talk on April 18th at the National Institutes of Health, National Heart Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in Bethesda Maryland, in the Division of Lung Diseases. It’s director Dr. James  Kyley introduced Prof. Zubieta to a group of his top Staff scientists.

IMG_20180418_114148

The presentation was entitled: “Benefits of exposure to Chronic Hypoxia: Adaptation, Tolerance to Hypoxia, Acid-Base at high altitude and future space travel”. It was a stimulating talk that has a different concept regarding the traditional fears of hypoxia in Sea level physicians. This talk showed that chronic hypoxia at high altitude residents gives rise to many advantages, as a way of adaptation.

NIHConf3

Explaining exercise at high altitude

At the Lung division of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. USA
At the Lung division of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. USA

Among them he showed that Bolivians live longer at high altitude in the high altitude areas.

http://www.bldeujournalhs.in/article.asp?issn=2468-838X;year=2017;volume=2;issue=2;spage=80;epage=90;aulast=Zubieta-Calleja

This scientific paper is the most popular article in that journal thus far, since its publication on Dec 15, 2017. We have also been invited to write a book on this subject. So this is a transcendental paper in high altitude medicine.

Talking about 52 years of life at high altitude with a PaO2 of 60mmHg.
Talking about 52 years of life at high altitude with a PaO2 of 60mmHg.

However many other subjects were dealt with in the conference, like the Adaptation Formula that we developed.

Adaptation formula

And the Remarkable Tolerance to Hypoxia formula that we also created:

Screen Shot 2018-06-13 at 3.57.11 AM

This formula shows that paradoxically, the higher man goes to high altitude the more tolerance to hypoxia there is.  Compared to sea level, the high altitude residents of La Paz, are 1.7 times more tolerant to hypoxia. Similarly, on the summit of Mt. Everest, where humans have climbed to, without the assistance of oxygen, it is around 6 times. This outstanding capacity of survival in such low levels of oxygen is  proof that nature has wisely granted living beings the mechanisms to survive and sustain life even in the extreme environments.

From Left: Natalia Zubieta-DeUrioste, James Kyley, Director of the Lung division of the NIH and Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja (IPPA)
From Left: Natalia Zubieta-DeUrioste, James Kyley, Director of the Lung division of the NIH and Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja (IPPA).
Ricardo Balderrama, Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja and Jorge Ordenes, our distinguished guests at the talk.
Ricardo Balderrama, Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja and Jorge Ordenes, our distinguished guests at the talk.
Visiting the Afro-American Muesum in Washington. D.C. Rafaela, Natalia and Lucrecia DeUrioste.
Visiting the Afro-American Muesum in Washington. D.C. Rafaela, Natalia and Lucrecia DeUrioste.

We then moved on to meet Dr. Oscar Murillo, a distinguished Geriatrician in Pennsylvania.

In Dr. Oscar Murillo's home for the talk to the local Geriatrics Society in Penssylvania.
In Dr. Oscar Murillo’s home for the talk to the local Geriatrics Society in Penssylvania.

He kindly hosted a conference dinner at his beautiful residence in Schneksville, Penssylvania. The dinner was great. The members of the Geriatrics Society were a delight to share moments with.

Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja and Dr. Steven Fuller, Vice-President and Corporate Medical Director of the Presbyterian Senior Living.
Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja and Dr. Steven Fuller, Vice-President and Corporate Medical Director of the Presbyterian Senior Living.

Among them, Dr. Steven Fuller, a most distinguished Geriatrician with whom we shared many interesting comments regarding high altitude physiology.

Giving the talk to the Geriatric local society at Dr. Oscar Murillo's residence in Pennsyvania.
Giving the talk to the Geriatric local society at Dr. Oscar Murillo’s residence in Pennsyvania.
Dr. Oscar Murillo, Dr. Steven Fuller and the physicians and students of the Geriatric group.
Dr. Oscar Murillo, Dr. Steven Fuller and the physicians, nurses and students of the Geriatric group.
Dr. Oscar Murillo's Medical Consultation offices premises in Hannover, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Oscar Murillo’s Medical Consultation offices premises in Hannover, Pennsylvania.
Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja and Dr. Oscar Murillo, in the offices he constructed with two colleagues.
Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja and Dr. Oscar Murillo, in the offices he constructed with two colleagues.
Visiting the historic town of Gettysburg, thanks to Dr. Oscar Murillo and one of his colleagues.
Visiting the historic town of Gettysburg, thanks to Dr. Oscar Murillo and one of his colleagues.

Our next stop was Fayetteville, Ark where Prof. Zubieta-Calleja gave a talk at the Center for Space and Planetary  Sciences in the University of Arkansas.

At the university of Arkansas prior to the talk.
At the university of Arkansas prior to the talk.

He had attended this University during a year  as a Pre-med before his transfer to the Universidad Mayor de San Andres Medical School in La Paz, Bolivia. Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja, was an exchange student in Little Rock, Arkansas and lived with the Smith Family in 1973 prior to attending to the University of Arkansas.

Dinner at Mrs. Purcell Smith Jr's residence in Rogers. From Left: Mrs Purcell Smith Jr, Cindy Youngblood, Lucrecia DeUrioste, Rafaela Zubieta DeUrioste, Dr. Natalia Zubieta DeUrioste, Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja, Mr. Youngblood, Mrs. Youngblood.
Dinner at Mrs. Purcell Smith Jr’s residence in Rogers. From Left: Mrs Purcell Smith Jr, Cindy Youngblood, Lucrecia DeUrioste, Rafaela Zubieta DeUrioste, Dr. Natalia Zubieta DeUrioste, Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja, Mr.Jim Youngblood, Mrs. Dr. Katie Youngblood.

Mr. Jim Youngblood, working for NASA, had met and acquainted astronaut Ed White of the Apollo  program, who had given, as a Christmas present, an autographed photo to his son Tom Youngblood, currently a Pediatrician married to Cindy Smith. Astronaut Ed White was one of the three astronauts that unfortunately died in the tragic prelaunch burn of Apollo 1.  Such event initiated the sea level (760mmHg), in space cabin pressure flights with 21% oxygen.

Historic autographed photo of astronaut Ed. White given to Dr. Tom Youngblood, as a child.
Historic autographed photo of astronaut Ed. White given to Dr. Tom Youngblood, as a child.

This coincidence of meeting Mr. Jim Youngblood in the dinner prior to the talk on space travel, is truly extraordinary, since  for Prof Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja’s talk proposes that high altitude pressures (495mmHg) similar to the city of La Paz (3600m) be used in space capsules instead.

The title of the talk for the Center for Space and Planetary Sciences was about “Space travel under Chronic Hypoxia“.

Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja, explaining the logic behind his proposal for future space travel. Biology aiding Physics in the conquest of Space.
Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja, explaining the logic behind his proposal for future space travel. Biology aiding Physics in the conquest of Space.
The students's and staff of the Center for Planetary and Space Sciences at the University of Arkansas in Fayeteville, Ark.
The students’s and staff of the Center for Space and Planetary  Sciences at the University of Arkansas in Fayeteville, Ark.

It was in relation to  an original idea of Prof. Zubieta-Calleja back in 2007 as expressed in his book “Adaptation to High Altitude and to Sea Level: Acid-Base Equilibrium, Ventilation and Circulation in Chronic Hypoxia“.

Visiting the laboratory project on Titanus (one fo the moons of Jupiter) of PhD student Caitlin Ahrens at the Center for Space and Planetary Sciences.
Visiting the laboratory project on Titan (largest moon of Saturn) of PhD student Kendra Farnsworth at the Center for Space and Planetary Sciences, Univ of Arkansas. From Left. Larry Roe, Director, Kendra Farnsworth and Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja.,
Another image of the Titan Moon simulated environment project by student Kerna Farnsworth.
Another image of the Titan Moon simulation chamber by PhD student Kendra Farnsworth.

The idea is that future space travel has to be undertaken in high altitude environment similar to the city of  La Paz (3600m), within space capsules.

At the Arkansas Cneter for Spoace and Planetary Sciences. From Left: Cindy YOungblood, Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja and Dr. Tom Youngblood.
At the Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences. From Left: Cindy Youngblood, Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja and Dr. Tom Youngblood.

This would grant astronauts great advantages. It would allow for a practical solution to astronauts anemia in Space. Furthermore, it would give great advantages speeding up the possibility of going out of the space ship and using a space suit, since the pressure changes would not be as great. This would allow for much lighter space suits, aiding in the flexibility and maneuverability.

Entering the ARkansas Center for Sopace and Planetary Sciences. From Left Larry Roe, Director, Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja, Cindy Youngblood and Caitlin Ahrens pHd Student.
Entering the ARkansas Center for Sopace and Planetary Sciences. From Left Larry Roe, Director, Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja, Cindy Youngblood and Caitlin Ahrens pHd Student doing research on the cryo-geology and spectroscopy of PLUTO using the Pluto simulation Chamber..

Much more will come from this revolutionary concept, that will change forever the way humans travel in space. Please click below to see the BLDE Journal pre-print:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325536733_Space_travel_in_a_high_altitude_environment_One_more_step_in_human_BioSpaceFormin

All these ideas are born from over 48 years of experience in our Institute, founded by the late Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Castillo:

The Mountain Guru


The final talk was given at Tulane Medical School in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Rafaela Zubieta, Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja, Dr. Natalia Zubieta-DeUrioste
Rafaela Zubieta, Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja, Dr. Natalia Zubieta-DeUrioste

This was a very special situation. On a previous conference talks organized by Prof. Thuppil Venkatesh in Dec 2017 throughout India, Prof. Zubieta-Calleja, had the opportunity to meet Prof. Dewan S.A. Mahid at Prof Kusal Das’ Laboratory in BLDE University in Vijayapur, India. Prof. Majid a most distinguished scientist of the Physiology Department at Tulane, invited Prof Zubieta-Calleja to go give a talk.

Tulane Conference invitation
Tulane Conference invitation

Prof. Zubieta-Calleja had been in New Orleans when he was 8 years old during two years because Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Castillo was a visiting Professor at Tulane Medical School back in 1964.

We had a special bonus as we met our dear friend Prof. Rafael Rubio and Cherry his wife for the second time in beautiful New Orleans.

Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja with Prof. Rafael Rubio in New Orleans, LA.
Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja with Prof. Rafael Rubio in New Orleans, LA.

We had the most interesting discussions about science and likewise, Rafael and following the  extraordinary coincidences, Rafael had worked with Gustavo Zubieta-Castillo (Sr) in the 60’s at the Instituto de Cardiologia in Mexico. They had published a joint paper entitled “RUBIO, R., and-ZUBIETA, G.: ‘The variation of the electrical resistance of microelectrodes during the flow of current’, Acta Physiologica Latin Americana, 1961, 11. “, which became a very cited reference in physiology.

A special dinner was held at Prof. Edwan Mahid's residence in New Orleans. Top row from left: Prof. Zubieta-Calleja, Prof. Edwan Mahid, Daniel from Bangladesh. Prof. Rafael Rubio, Seated from left: Cherry Rubio, Rafaela Zubieta, Dr. Natalia Zubieta DeUrioste, NIna Mahid, Mrs. Daniel
A special dinner was held at Prof. Dewan Mahid’s residence in New Orleans.
Top row from left: Prof. Zubieta-Calleja, Prof. Edwan Mahid, Daniel from Bangladesh. Prof. Rafael Rubio, Seated from left: Cherry Rubio, Rafaela Zubieta, Dr. Natalia Zubieta DeUrioste, NIna Mahid, Mrs. Daniel

Dr. Rafael Rubio obtained his PhD in US and became a Professor of physiology at University of Virginia during over 30 years, becoming Emeritus. He now resides permanently in New Orleans and had written his book “Endothelial Luminal Membrane-Glycocalyx: Functionalities in Health and Disease” at Tulane.

At Prof. Gabriel Navar's office of Head of the Department of Physiology at Tulane Medical School in New Orleans, Louisiana
At Prof. Luis Gabriel Navar’s office os Chairman,  Department of Physiology and Director of the  Center for Biomedical Research Excellence in Hypertension and Renal Biology at Tulane Medical School in New Orleans, Louisiana. From left: Natalia Zubieta, Rafaela Zubieta, Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja, Prof. Luis Gabriel Navar. Prof. Dewan Mahid.
Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja's seminar at Tulane.
Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja’s seminar at Tulane.
Prof. Navar introducing the seminar to his staff and students at the physiology Department of Tulane in New Orleans, LA. USA
Prof. Navar introducing the seminar to his staff and students at the physiology Department of Tulane in New Orleans, LA. USA

The talk was carried out on April 30, 2018 at the Physiology Department which runs under the direction of Prof. Gabriel Navar. It was a pleasure to meet him and to discuss subjects of mutual interest.

Prof. Gabriel Navar, second from the left.
Prof. Gabriel Navar, second from the left.

He heads the Center for Biomedical Research Excellence in  Hypertension and Renal Biology and has a staff that is truly outstanding. The program of visits is below:

Tulane visit program
Tulane visit program

We truly enjoyed meeting such distinguished colleagues at Tulane, and particularly Dr.  Minolfa Prieto.

In this opportunity Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja was with his IPPA team, his brand new colleague and scientific researcher Dr. Natalia Zubieta, our language expert Rafaela Zubieta and Lucrecia De Urioste our International Relations expert.

Dr. Oscar Murillo, Dr. Natalia Zubieta-DeUrioste, Rafaela Zubieta-DeUrioste, Lic. Lucrecia DeUrioste, visiting the Empire State.
Dr. Oscar Murillo, Dr. Natalia Zubieta-DeUrioste, Rafaela Zubieta-DeUrioste, Lic. Lucrecia DeUrioste, visiting St. Patricks in Manhattan..

 

Come join us at the  7th CHRONIC HYPOXIA SYMPOSIUM in Feb 2019 !!