Javier Arias Stella (August 2, 1924 – February 25, 2020) was a Peruvian

pathologist Pathology is the study of the causal, causes and effects of disease or injury. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when us ...

, politician, diplomat, academic, and lecturer who variously served as Minister of Public Health of Peru (1963-1965, 1967-1968), Minister of Foreign Relations of Peru (1980-1983), and President of the United Nations Security Council (March 1984, April 1985), the former two positions having been served under Peruvian president

Fernando Belaúnde Terry Fernando is a Spanish and Portuguese given name and a surname common in Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Switzerland, former Spanish or Portuguese colonies in Latin America, Africa, the Philippines, India, and Sri Lanka. It is equivalent to the G ...

. He was best known in medical circles for having discovered the eponymously-named Arias-Stella reaction.

Education

Arias Stella's undergraduate studies were done first at the San Marcos National University's School of Science in Peru from 1942 to 1944 and then at the Faculty of Medicine from 1945 to 1951, from which he earned his bachelor's in 1951. His doctorate was also earned from that faculty in 1959.

Research

Arias-Stella reaction

Arias Stella found that a reaction previously thought of as a cancer in the endometrium was rather a normal reaction of hormones from placental tissue. It can also refer to changes occurring in the

cervix The cervix or cervix uteri (Latin, 'neck of the uterus') is the lower part of the uterus (womb) in the human female reproductive system. The cervix is usually 2 to 3 cm long (~1 inch) and roughly cylindrical in shape, which changes during ...

Altitude changes in anatomy and histology

Later in his life, he became involved in researching how altitude changes in the

Andes The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...

affected

anatomy Anatomy () is the branch of biology concerned with the study of the structure of organisms and their parts. Anatomy is a branch of natural science that deals with the structural organization of living things. It is an old science, having its ...

and

histology Histology, also known as microscopic anatomy or microanatomy, is the branch of biology which studies the microscopic anatomy of biological tissues. Histology is the microscopic counterpart to gross anatomy, which looks at larger structures vis ...

in human beings, men specifically. It had long been thought that the multiple cases of pulmonary hypertension in Andes men came from the altitude they lived in. Arias Stella's research showed that "hypoxia-induced thickening of the pulmonary arteriolar walls" was the main cause for the hypertension. Considering that the natives had no access to

vasodilators Vasodilation is the widening of blood vessels. It results from relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, in particular in the large veins, large arteries, and smaller arterioles. The process is the opposite of vasoconstriction, ...

, their cases of hypertension were found to be different from known cases of acute

hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV), also known as the Euler-Liljestrand mechanism, is a physiological phenomenon in which small pulmonary arteries constrict in the presence of alveolar hypoxia (low oxygen levels). By redirecting blood flow fr ...

Career

Early career

Arias Stella began teaching as an instructor in pathology by 1949 in the same university and faculty that he already was attending. Over time he became a senior lecturer in

clinical pathology Clinical pathology is a medical specialty that is concerned with the diagnosis of disease based on the laboratory analysis of bodily fluids, such as blood, urine, and tissue homogenates or extracts using the tools of chemistry, microbiology, ...

. In 1961, he co-founded the

Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia Cayetano Heredia University ( es, link=no, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, UPCH; or simply ''Cayetano Heredia'') is a private nonprofit university located in Lima, Peru. It was named in honor of Cayetano Heredia, one of the eminent Peru ...

, where he began as an associate professor of pathology. By 1969, he was the principal professor and then head of the pathology department by 1975. He became the consulting professor for the National University of Caracas in 1974 and then the same for the

Central University of Venezuela The Central University of Venezuela (Spanish: ''Universidad Central de Venezuela''; UCV) is a public university of Venezuela located in Caracas. It is widely held to be the highest ranking institution in the country, and it also ranks 18th in L ...

in 1975. He continued to have various professional standings in many hospitals in both South America and the United States. He also traveled as a visiting professor to many universities in the United States. He was asked to join multiple medical societies, including the

American Association of Pathologists American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

and the International Academy of Pathologists then went on to found the International Society of Gynecological Pathology, the Latin American Society of Pathology, and the Peruvian Society of Pathology.

Political career

Arias Stella was public health minister in 1963–65 and 1967–68 and became the foreign minister of Peru from 1980 to 1983 because of his involvement in the Belaunde regime. Arias Stella was the foreign minister during the

Paquisha War The Paquisha War or Fake Paquisha War () was a military clash that took place between January and February 1981 between Ecuador and Peru over the control of three watchposts. While Peru felt that the matter was already decided in the Ecuadorian� ...

in 1981 with

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...

. During the early skirmishes over an outpost in Paquisha, he was quoted in newspapers as stating that Peru would proceed to recapture the rest of the territory that Ecuadorian forces were encroaching on. From 1983 to 1985, Arias served as the Permanent Representative of Peru to the United Nations. In 1984 and 1985, Arias Stella served as the

President of the United Nations Security Council The presidency of the United Nations Security Council is responsible for leading the United Nations Security Council. It rotates among the 15 member-states of the council monthly. The head of the country's delegation is known as the President of t ...

Personal life

He married Nancy Castillo Arias Stella and had four children. Arias Stella died on February 25, 2020 at age 95.

References

External links

Stamp of Arias-Stella

"Success Story: SecondSlide Streamlines the Consultation Process, Improves Turnaround Time" - Google Docs

"Javier Arias Stella, world-renowned researcher" - El Comercio

Agreement for the recovery and return of stolen archaeological, historical and cultural properties. Signed at Lima on 15 September 1981

"Worldwide Report: Law of the Sea" Page 13 - Google Docs
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arias Stella, Javier 1924 births 2020 deaths Central University of Venezuela faculty Foreign ministers of Peru National University of San Marcos alumni National University of San Marcos faculty Peruvian Ministers of Health Peruvian pathologists