Morphological and functional findings in COVID-19 lung disease as compared to Pneumonia, ARDS, and High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema.

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) may severely affect respiratory function and evolve to life-threatening hypoxia. The clinical experience led to the implementation of standardized protocols assuming similarity to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2). Understanding the histopathological and functional patterns is essential to better understand the pathophysiology of COVID-19 and then develop new therapeutic strategies.

Functional optical coherence tomography at altitude: retinal microvascular perfusion and retinal thickness at 3,800 meters.

Cerebral hypoxia is a serious consequence of several cardiorespiratory illnesses. Measuring the retinal microvasculature at high altitude provides a surrogate for cerebral microvasculature, offering potential insight into cerebral hypoxia in critical illness. In addition, although sex-specific differences in cardiovascular diseases are strongly supported, few have focused on differences in ocular blood flow.

High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, High Altitude Cerebral Edema, and Acute Mountain Sickness: an enhanced opinion from the High Andes - La Paz, Bolivia 3,500 m.

Traveling to high altitudes for entertainment or work is sometimes associated with acute high altitude pathologies. In the past, scientific literature from the lowlander point of view was primarily based on mountain climbing. Sea level scientists developed all guidelines, but they need modifications for medical care in high altitude cities.

Oxygen therapy limiting peripheral oxygen saturation to 89-93% is associated with a better survival prognosis for critically ill COVID-19 patients at high altitudes.

Patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure automatically receive oxygen therapy to improve inspiratory oxygen fraction (FiO). Supplemental oxygen is the most prescribed drug for critically ill patients regardless of altitude of residence. In high altitude dwellers (i.

Cerebral Erythropoietin Prevents Sex-Dependent Disruption of Respiratory Control Induced by Early Life Stress.

Injuries that occur early in life are often at the root of adult illness. Neonatal maternal separation (NMS) is a form of early life stress that has persistent and sex-specific effects on the development of neural networks, including those that regulate breathing. The release of stress hormones during a critical period of development contributes to the deleterious consequences of NMS, but the role of increased corticosterone (CORT) in NMS-induced respiratory disturbance is unknown.

Erythropoietin Produces a Dual Effect on Carotid Body Chemoreception in Male Rats.

Erythropoietin (EPO) regulates respiration under conditions of normoxia and hypoxia through interaction with the respiratory centers of the brainstem. Here we investigate the dose-dependent impact of EPO in the CB response to hypoxia and hypercapnia. We show, in isolated "" carotid body (CB) preparations containing the carotid sinus nerve (CSN) from adult male Sprague Dawley rats, that EPO acts as a stimulator of CSN activity in response to hypoxia at concentrations below 0.

Diabetes increases the risk of COVID-19 in an altitude dependent manner: An analysis of 1,280,806 Mexican patients.

Aims: The objective of this study is to analyze how the impact of Diabetes Mellitus [DM] in patients with COVID-19 varies according to altitudinal gradient.

Methods: We obtained 1,280,806 records from adult patients with COVID-19 and DM to analyze the probability of COVID-19, development of COVID-19 pneumonia, hospitalization, intubation, admission to the Intensive Care Unit [ICU] and case-fatality rates [CFR]. Variables were controlled by age, sex and altitude of residence to calculate adjusted prevalence and prevalence ratios.

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.

Low serum erythropoietin levels are associated with fatal COVID-19 cases at 4,150 meters above sea level.

Previous studies suggested that erythropoietin (EPO) may protect against severe COVID-19-induced injuries, ultimately preventing mortality. This hypothesis is based on the fact that, in addition to promoting the increase in red blood cells, EPO is an anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and protective factor in several non-erythropoietic tissues. Furthermore, EPO promotes nitric oxide production in the hypoxic lung and stimulates ventilation by interacting with the respiratory centers of the brainstem.

Decreased incidence, virus transmission capacity, and severity of COVID-19 at altitude on the American continent.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in North, Central, and South America has become the epicenter of the current pandemic. We have suggested previously that the infection rate of this virus might be lower in people living at high altitude (over 2,500 m) compared to that in the lowlands. Based on data from official sources, we performed a new epidemiological analysis of the development of the pandemic in 23 countries on the American continent as of May 23, 2020.

Acute Mountain Sickness, High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, and High Altitude Cerebral Edema: A view from the High Andes.

Background: Travelling to high altitude for entertainment or work is sometimes associated with acute high altitude pathologies. In the past, scientific literature from the lowlanders' point of view was mostly based on mountain climbing. Nowadays, descent is not mandatory in populated highland cities.

COVID-19 and Pneumolysis Simulating Extreme High-altitude Exposure with Altered Oxygen Transport Physiology; Multiple Diseases, and Scarce Need of Ventilators: Andean Condor's-eye-view.

Background: Critical hypoxia in this COVID-19 pandemic results in high mortality and economic loss worldwide. Initially, this disease' pathophysiology was poorly understood and interpreted as a SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) pneumonia. The severe atypical lung CAT scan images alerted all countries, including the poorest, to purchase lacking sophisticated ventilators.