Latest news with #EPO
Scientific American
4 days ago
- Health
- Scientific American
These Climbers Summited Mount Everest in Record Time. Did Inhaling Xenon Help?
Last week a quartet of British climbers made it to the top of Mount Everest —and spent less than a week on the total round trip from London. That's weeks fewer than it usually takes to acclimate to the high elevation, scale the world's highest peak and head home. Their guide, speaking to the New York Times, credited their accomplishment to a secret advantage: prior to the trip, the climbers inhaled xenon gas, which may have made their acclimatization to the low-oxygen environment of Everest easier. But experts on the medical uses of xenon are uncertain that it was a decisive factor. 'Maybe there is something there. We just don't know,' says Andrew Subudhi, a professor of human physiology and nutrition at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, who studies human performance in low-oxygen environments. 'From the scientific evidence, I can't see anything that is definitive or even proof-of-concept yet.' On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. How does xenon work in the body? Xenon is a noble gas—colorless, odorless, inert. But it does affect the body. It's been used as an anesthetic on occasion since the 1950s, says Robert Dickinson, a senior lecturer in medicine at Imperial College London. Dickinson has long studied another intriguing aspect of xenon: the gas has shown neuroprotective effects after a brain injury such as a stroke or a traumatic blow to the head. This protective quality has been demonstrated in many animal studies and a handful of small human trials, Dickinson says. Both the anesthetic and potential neuroprotective effects occur because xenon can bind to brain receptors called N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Activating these receptors has an excitatory effect on neurons, but xenon tamps down NMDA activity. After a brain injury, NMDA receptors can become overexcited, causing further cell death, so quieting these receptors might prevent additional damage. Those are xenon's best-studied effects on human health. But the gas has also piqued interest in the sports medicine world because it can increase the production of erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone that is known to stimulate the bone marrow to increase its production of red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen, which is, of course, in short supply on the icy slopes of Mount Everest. Can xenon really acclimate someone to high elevations? Before attempting Everest's summit, climbers must hang out in Kathmandu, Nepal, and then Everest Base Camp for weeks, lest they fall prey to altitude sickness, which is marked by fatigue, headache, nausea and confusion. In serious cases, the lungs fill with fluid or the brain swells, which can quickly lead to death. The air at Everest Base Camp contains about half the oxygen as is present at sea level, and the air at the summit contains a mere 33 percent. Xenon's potential to increase the production of red blood cells, thus increasing the blood's ability carry oxygen, raises the question of whether it might provide a performance boost or prevent altitude sickness in the athletes climbing the world's highest peaks. The problem is: no one really knows if the EPO boost provided by xenon is enough to make a real difference in how someone handles a high elevation. Davide Cattano, an anesthesiologist at the McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, did some of the animal research that has shown that xenon increases a blood factor called hypoxia-inducible factor 1–alpha (HIF-1α), which in turn can increase EPO. He's skeptical that the recent Everest climbers saw much benefit. 'The level of HIF that you're inducing does not justify this superhuman capability,' Cattano says. One 2019 study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology tested 12 runners who were randomly assigned to inhale air that contained 70 percent xenon or a sham gas for two minutes each day for several weeks before they ran three kilometers. The runners who inhaled xenon saw an increase in EPO in their blood, but they didn't show any improvement in fitness or athletic performance, as measured by their running speed and their heart rate and respiration during exercise. Even dosing people with EPO directly with injections may not prevent altitude sickness or improve performance at high elevation, Subudhi says. In a study that is currently in review for publication in a scientific journal, he and his colleagues tested EPO injections on a small group of mountain-climbing athletes, and these subjects didn't see any benefits. It's possible a different dose or a longer course of treatment might make a difference, Subudhi says, but 'my enthusiasm for chasing that is much less when I didn't see anybody have a measurable benefit.' Why did the recent Everest climbers reach the peak so quickly? It is possible xenon improved the climbers' oxygen-carrying capacity by boosting their EPO, experts say. It's also possible the anesthetic and analgesic effects of the gas ameliorated the climbers' aches and pains or the fatigue from altitude, Cattano speculates. Just the act of breathing a heavy gas like xenon might also result in some change to lung capacity, he says, even if the EPO effect is small. But the athletes also did something else: they slept in hypoxic tents for weeks before traveling to the mountain. These tents create a low-oxygen environment, which definitely increases EPO and red blood cell production. This preacclimatization, plus the climbers' intensive training regime, may have done the trick. Whether the xenon added any benefit on top of the hypoxic tents is unclear, Dickinson says. Xenon is expensive, which has limited its use as an anesthetic and in athletics. But more people will probably shell out for the gas, given that the baseline cost of climbing Mount Everest is so expensive and the stakes are so high, Subudhi says. 'People are literally fighting for their lives at high altitudes, and if you're doing things that may give you a small chance of improving your rate of success, yeah, it might be worth it to some people,' he says. 'Not everybody is going to sit there and make a completely scientific decision about their life.'
Economic Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Fujita Corp-backed Neilsoft refiles draft IPO papers; cuts fresh issue size
Fujita Corporation-backed Neilsoft Ltd has refiled its draft papers with markets regulator Sebi to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO). The IPO will have a combination of a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 90 crore and an offer-for-sale (OFS) of 80 lakh shares by promoters and existing shareholders, according to the draft red herring prospectus filed on Monday. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Fujita Corporation-backed Neilsoft Ltd has refiled its draft papers with markets regulator Sebi to raise funds through an initial public offering IPO ). The IPO will have a combination of a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 90 crore and an offer-for-sale (OFS) of 80 lakh shares by promoters and existing shareholders, according to the draft red herring prospectus filed on company has reduced its fresh issue size from Rs 100 crore planned at the time of filing draft papers in December 2024. The regulator had returned these preliminary papers in March this a technology-driven engineering services and solutions company, plans to use Rs 69.63 crore to fund capital expenditure and the rest for general corporate in 1991, Neilsoft provides customised engineering services, including AEC design solutions, industrial plant design, and manufacturing equipment and production line design. It also offers Engineering Process Outsourcing (EPO) services and develops tailored software applications to enable digital Pune-headquartered company's revenue from operations increased by 12 per cent from Rs 291 crore in the fiscal 2023 to Rs 326 crore in FY24. Profit after tax increased by 24 per cent from Rs 46.64 crore in the fiscal 2023 to Rs 57.85 crore in the three months ended June 30, 2024, revenue from operations was Rs 88.24 crore and PAT stood at Rs 14.09 Capital and IIFL Capital Services are the book-running lead managers. The equity shares are proposed to be listed on the NSE and BSE.
Int'l Business Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Business Times
British Climbers Summit Everest In Record Bid
A British team of veteran ex-special forces soldiers summited Everest on Wednesday, expedition organisers said, in a bid to fly from London, climb the highest peak and return home within seven days. The four men, who include government minister Alistair Carns, left London on Friday, pre-acclimatised to the low oxygen at high altitudes -- including the controversial assistance of xenon gas, a method that has raised eyebrows in the mountaineering community. The men, who slept in special low-oxygen tents before departure from Britain, are raising funds for veterans' charities. "All four of them, along with a photographer and five Sherpa team reached the summit this morning at 7:10 am," expedition organiser Lukas Furtenbach, of Austria-based Furtenbach Adventures, told AFP. The team, who also include Garth Miller, Anthony Stazicker and Kevin Godlington, are now descending from the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) peak. "They will down descend to the base camp by evening and, weather permitting, will be back home within seven days," Furtenbach said. The team is raising money for veterans' charities, especially focused on supporting children whose parents were killed in conflict. "I've seen, on multiple operations in Afghanistan, individuals who haven't returned," Carns, 45, who carried out five tours of Afghanistan, said before his departure. Carns, a colonel in the Royal Marine reserves, is the most highly decorated British lawmaker since World War II. "I think, from my perspective, doing something to support those children left behind is the most honourable thing we can do," Carns said. For decades, the dream of reaching the summit of Mount Everest has required at least two months on the mountain doing a series of acclimatisation rotations. But the team took a different route, heading directly to Everest's base camp on Saturday, straight after arriving from London. Areas above 8,000 metres are known as the "death zone" because thin air and low oxygen levels heighten the risk of altitude sickness. They pre-acclimatised at home using hypoxic tents and special training techniques, before being administered xenon gas two weeks before departure. Inhaling the gas prompts the production of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO) in the body, which encourages the formation of oxygen-carrying red blood cells to improve performance. "Xenon seems to provide protective mechanisms to prevent high altitude sickness, which is mainly triggered by a lack of oxygen. Xenon increases erythropoietin and thereby haemoglobin. The body is able to transport more oxygen," said Michael Fries, a German doctor who works with Furtenbach. "You can say that xenon inhalation mimics the effects of a classical rotation to high altitude." The men are not the fastest to climb Everest -- that record is held by Nepali climber Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa, who climbed from base camp to the the summit in 10 hours and 56 minutes in 2003.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Sustainable and safer aviation sealant and adhesive: Filipino inventor Mark Kennedy Bantugon in top 10 innovators for the Young Inventors Prize 2025
Filipino aeronautical engineer Mark Kennedy Bantugon has developed a sustainable aircraft sealant and adhesive made from agricultural waste of Pili tree resin Sealants and adhesives are commonly used in planes, but traditional solutions usually contain harmful chemical components Bantugon is one of ten innovators for the Young Inventors Prize, to be awarded by the European Patent Office (EPO) on 18 June 2025 MUNICH, May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The aviation industry depends on sealants to prevent fuel leaks, but conventional options usually contain toxic chemicals that may pose health risks and must be treated as hazardous waste. Filipino aeronautical engineer Mark Kennedy Bantugon (26) has developed Pili Seal®, a bio-based alternative derived from the agricultural waste of Pili tree resin. The material, an aircraft sealant and adhesive, aims to improve workplace safety in the aviation industry and reduce environmental impact while offering a locally sourced, biodegradable option. Bantugon's innovation has earned him a place as one of the ten global innovators in the Young Inventors Prize 2025, known as Tomorrow Shapers. They were selected from 450 candidates by an independent jury. Using waste for a safer and cleaner world For over fifty years, polysulfide-based sealants have been the industry standard for preventing fuel leaks in aircraft. However, they may cause skin and respiratory irritation, and their disposal poses an environmental challenge, especially when heated or burned. The European Chemicals Agency has identified substances commonly found in adhesives and sealants as hazardous, highlighting the need for careful handling and disposal. Pili Seal® offers a safer alternative to some toxic petrochemical derived sealants and adhesives, using a by-product of the perfume industry. This two-part sealant and adhesive combines the agricultural waste Pili tree resin with a solvent and hardening agent, providing both sealing and adhesive properties. It withstands fuel exposure, heat and pressure, making it suitable for aircraft fuel tanks and other high-performance applications. The sealant has been thoroughly tested, with four formulations passing industry-standard flammability tests. Beyond aviation, this invention has the potential to be used in construction, automotive, marine and defence industries, contributing to a circular economy by repurposing 155 million kilograms of agricultural Pili Tree resin waste generated annually in the Philippines, primarily from the perfume and food industries. Inspired by necessity, built for the future Bantugon's early exposure to farm life in Batangas (Philippines) played a crucial role in his innovation journey. As a child, he and his siblings patched leaky roofs using chewing gum, sparking his curiosity about adhesives and sealants. This interest continued into his aeronautical engineering studies, where an internship at Lufthansa Technik Philippines exposed him to the hazards of conventional sealants and adhesives. Determined to develop a safer and more sustainable alternative, Bantugon experimented with resins from six different trees before selecting Pili tree resin. The resin's natural stickiness offers ideal adhesive properties, while its fragrant odour makes it easy to work with, especially in confined spaces. Overcoming multiple challenges, he refined 84 different formulations before achieving the final composition. To commercialise his sealant, Bantugon founded Pili AdheSeal Inc. in 2024. "My mother, a public-school teacher, helped me understand the value of a strong and well-rounded education. My father, as a farmer, introduced me to the farm as a training ground—a place where I learned about different plants, animals, trees, and, most importantly, the potential in waste materials," Bantugon explained. The Young Inventors Prize celebrates worldwide innovators 30 and under using technology to address global challenges posed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By transforming agricultural waste into a high-performance sealant, Mark Kennedy Bantugon is directly contributing to UN SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure). The prizes of the 2025 edition will be announced during a ceremony livestreamed from Iceland on 18 June 2025. Find more information about the invention's impact, the technology and the inventor's story the Young Inventors Prize Aimed at individuals 30 and under, the Young Inventors Prize showcases the transformative power of youth-driven solutions and recognises the remarkable young people paving the way to a more sustainable future. Established in 2022, trophies were first handed out during the European Inventor Award ceremony. From 2025 onwards, the Prize will move up a gear with its own dedicated event, held separately from the Award. Among the 10 Tomorrow Shapers selected for each edition, three will be awarded a special prize: World Builders, Community Healers, and Nature Guardians. In addition, a People's Choice winner, voted by the public online, will be revealed. Each Tomorrow Shaper will receive EUR 5 000, the three special prize winners will each receive an extra EUR 15 000. The People's Choice winner will be awarded an additional EUR 5 000. Read more on the Young Inventors Prize eligibility and selection criteria. About the EPO With 6,300 staff members, the European Patent Office (EPO) is one of the largest public service institutions in Europe. Headquartered in Munich with offices in Berlin, Brussels, The Hague and Vienna, the EPO was founded with the aim of strengthening co-operation on patents in Europe. Through the EPO's centralised patent granting procedure, inventors are able to obtain high-quality patent protection in up to 46 countries, covering a market of some 700 million people. The EPO is also the world's leading authority in patent information and patent searching. View original content: SOURCE European Patent Office (EPO) Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Everest Xenon Climbers Ready to Go
The British team, which aims to complete an Everest expedition in seven days "door to door," is ready to start the countdown from London's Heathrow Airport on Friday. Garth Miller, Alastair Carns, Anthony Stazicker, and Kev Godlington have completed their hypoxic training while at their jobs (Carns is a Member of Parliament). Presumably, they have taken the Xenon gas therapy as planned to increase the production of EPO in their blood. This will largely substitute for the long natural acclimatization process that climbers typically follow by going up lesser peaks or doing rotations up and down the mountain. Instead, the four men will fly to Kathmandu, helicopter to Base Camp, and start climbing immediately. Furtenbach Adventures has several teams on the mountain, all the camps well supplied, and plenty of support staff. Lukas Furtenbach shared no details about this expedition's logistics or tactics but told ExplorersWeb he would provide the safest climb possible for his pioneering clients. Once they start, the expedition will also share a link to track their progress live. The expedition is officially called 7 Days Mission Everest and the four members are all British Army veterans. Since the unusual approach made worldwide news, they have been known as the "Everest Xenon climbers." Furtenbach and some of his guides have tested the inert gas with good results on previous climbs, such as on Aconcagua. The expedition leader insists Xenon is just another method to guarantee a safe, fast climb, no different from specific gear or oxygen. He strongly disagrees with the debate around the ethics of using a substance prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency in professional sports. Furtenbach argues that the qualification does not apply to non-competitive sports such as mountaineering. The team, meanwhile, has kept a low profile in mainstream media. This will surely change if they succeed in their objective of summiting in a week, and also if they don't.
