The Oxygen Transport Triad in High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema: A Perspective from the High Andes

Acute high-altitude illnesses are of great concern for physicians and people traveling to high altitude. Our recent article “Acute Mountain Sickness, High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema and High-Altitude Cerebral Edema, a View from the High Andes” was questioned by some sea-level high-altitude experts. As a result of this, we answer some observations and further explain our opinion on these diseases. High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) can be better understood through the Oxygen Transport Triad, which involves the pneumo-dynamic pump (ventilation), the hemo-dynamic pump (heart and circulation), and hemoglobin. The two pumps are the first physiologic response upon initial exposure to hypobaric hypoxia. Hemoglobin is the balancing energy-saving time-evolving equilibrating factor. The acid-base balance must be adequately interpreted using the high-altitude Van Slyke correction factors. Pulse-oximetry measurements during breath-holding at high altitude allow for the evaluation of high altitude diseases. The Tolerance to Hypoxia Formula shows that, paradoxically, the higher the altitude, the more tolerance to hypoxia. In order to survive, all organisms adapt physiologically and optimally to the high-altitude environment, and there cannot be any “loss of adaptation”. A favorable evolution in HAPE and pulmonary hypertension can result from the oxygen treatment along with other measures.

The Oxygen Transport Triad in High Altitude Pulmonary Edema: a Perspective from the High Andes

Acute high altitude illnesses are of great concern for physicians and people traveling to high altitude. High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) can be better understood through the Oxygen Transport Triad which involves the Pneumo-Dynamic Pump (Ventilation), the Hemo-Dynamic Pump (Heart and circulation), and Hemoglobin. The two pumps are the first physiologic response upon initial exposure to hypobaric hypoxia. Hemoglobin is the balancing energy-saving time-evolving equilibrating factor. The increased hemoglobin at high altitude reduces the percentage of dissolved oxygen in the arterial oxygen content with respect to sea level. At high altitude, the acid-base balance must be adequately interpreted using the high altitude Van-Slyke correction factors. Pulse-oximetry measurements during breath-holding at high altitude allow for the evaluation of high altitude diseases. The Tolerance to Hypoxia Formula shows that, paradoxically, the higher the altitude the more tolerance to hypoxia. All organisms adapt physiologically and optimally to a high-altitude environment to survive. Reduction of pulmonary hypertension in HAPE through oxygen administration results in a favorable outcome.

Miniature 3D-Printed Centrifugal Pump with Non-Contact Electromagnetic Actuation

We present a miniature 3D-printed dynamic pump using the centrifugal operating principle. Dynamic pumps typically yield higher flow rates than displacement pumps at reasonable output pressure. Realizing smaller devices suitable for millifluidic and microfluidic applications brings challenges in terms of design, fabrication and actuation. By using microstereolithography printing we have reduced the overall size to an effective pumping volume of 2.58 mL. The free-moving rotor consists of an impeller and permanent magnets embedded during the printing process, which allow for non-contact electromagnetic actuation. The pump is driven by periodically switching the current through stator coils, controlled by a custom built circuit using a Hall effect sensor. It achieves a maximum flow rate of 124 mL/min and a hydrostatic pressure of up to 2400 Pa.

Thermal Balance of the Magneto-Hydro-Dynamic Pump for Recovery of Platinum Group Metals from Spent Auto Catalysts

Every new car should be equipped with the catalyst, which limits the amount of harmful chemical compounds such as NOx, CH and CO emitted to the air. Auto catalyst consists of the ceramic or metallic carrier, on which is the layer with Platinum Group Metals playing catalytic role. There are many methods using for recovery those valuable metals from spent auto catalyst, however evry of those methods have some limitations. Proces described in the article is the modified method of metal collector, which used magnetohydrodynamic pump. Rotary electromagnetic field generates in the liquid metal rotary current, which as a consequence washing out the PGM metals from the ceramic carriers. Considering the possibilities of commercialization of the described method, the energy balance was made. From that balance the energetic efficiency of the unit was determined and the analysis of the temperature distribution was shown thermographycally.