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Willie CK, Stembridge M, Hoiland RL, Tymko MM, Tremblay JC, Patrician A, Steinback C, Moore J, Anholm J, Subedi P, Niroula S, McNeil CJ, McManus A, MacLeod DB, Ainslie PN. UBC-Nepal Expedition: An experimental overview of the 2016 University of British Columbia Scientific Expedition to Nepal Himalaya. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0204660. [PMID: 30379823 PMCID: PMC6209169 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The University of British Columbia Nepal Expedition took place over several months in the fall of 2016 and was comprised of an international team of 37 researchers. This paper describes the objectives, study characteristics, organization and management of this expedition, and presents novel blood gas data during acclimatization in both lowlanders and Sherpa. An overview and framework for the forthcoming publications is provided. The expedition conducted 17 major studies with two principal goals—to identify physiological differences in: 1) acclimatization; and 2) responses to sustained high-altitude exposure between lowland natives and people of Tibetan descent. We performed observational cohort studies of human responses to progressive hypobaric hypoxia (during ascent), and to sustained exposure to 5050 m over 3 weeks comparing lowlander adults (n = 30) with Sherpa adults (n = 24). Sherpa were tested both with (n = 12) and without (n = 12) descent to Kathmandu. Data collected from lowlander children (n = 30) in Canada were compared with those collected from Sherpa children (n = 57; 3400–3900m). Studies were conducted in Canada (344m) and the following locations in Nepal: Kathmandu (1400m), Namche Bazaar (3440m), Kunde Hospital (3480m), Pheriche (4371m) and the Ev-K2-CNR Research Pyramid Laboratory (5050m). The core studies focused on the mechanisms of cerebral blood flow regulation, the role of iron in cardiopulmonary regulation, pulmonary pressures, intra-ocular pressures, cardiac function, neuromuscular fatigue and function, blood volume regulation, autonomic control, and micro and macro vascular function. A total of 335 study sessions were conducted over three weeks at 5050m. In addition to an overview of this expedition and arterial blood gas data from Sherpa, suggestions for scientists aiming to perform field-based altitude research are also presented. Together, these findings will contribute to our understanding of human acclimatization and adaptation to the stress of residence at high-altitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher K. Willie
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia – Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael Stembridge
- Cardiff Centre for Exercise and Health, Cardiff School of Sport, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Ryan L. Hoiland
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia – Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael M. Tymko
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia – Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Joshua C. Tremblay
- Cardiovascular Stress Response Laboratory, School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alexander Patrician
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia – Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Jonathan Moore
- Bangor University, School of Sport, Health & Exercise Sciences, Gwynedd, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - James Anholm
- Pulmonary/Critical Care Section, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, Loma Linda, California, United States of America
| | - Prajan Subedi
- Paloma Medical Group, San Juan Capistrano, California, United States of America
| | | | - Chris J. McNeil
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia – Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ali McManus
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia – Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - David B. MacLeod
- Human Pharmacology & Physiology Lab, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Philip N. Ainslie
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia – Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
- * E-mail:
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