Effect Of Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Research Articles

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy enhances osteointegration of reimplanted cranial flap by regulating osteogenesis-angiogenesis coupling.

Craniectomy is a lifesaving procedure to alleviate dangerously high intracranial pressure by removing a bone flap from the calvarium. However, the osteointegration of reimplanted bone flap with the existing bone tissue is still a clinical challenge. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy has shown efficacy in promoting bone repair and could be a promising treatment for accelerating postoperative recovery.However, the specific cell types that are responsive to HBO treatment are not well understood. In this study, we created a murine model of craniectomy, with reimplantation of the cranial flap after 1 week. The effects of HBO treatment on bone formation and blood vessel formation around reimplanted bone were examined by micro-computed tomography, histological staining, and immunofluorescence staining. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) was utilized to identify key cell subtypes and signaling pathways after HBO treatment. We found that HBO treatment increased bone volume around reimplanted cranial flaps. HBO also increased the volume of Osterix-expressing cells and type H vessels. scRNAseq data showed more mature osteoblasts and endothelial cells, with higher expressions of adhesion and migration-related genes after HBO treatment. Cell-cell interaction analysis revealed a higher expression level of genes between mature osteoblasts and endothelial cells from the angiopoietin 2-integrin α5β1 pathway. Taken together, HBO therapy promotes the healing process of craniectomy by regulating the crosstalk between vascular endothelial cells and osteogenic cells. These findings provide evidence in a preclinical model that HBO therapy enhances osteointegration by regulating angiogenesis-osteogenesis coupling, providing a scientific basis for utilizing HBO therapy for accelerating postoperative recovery after craniectomy.

Effectiveness of Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Effectiveness of Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on ischaemia-reperfusion injury in rats detorsioned after experimental ovarian torsion.

This study aimed to investigate whether hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) could ameliorate ischaemia-reperfusion injury in a rat model of ovarian torsion-detorsion. Twenty-seven rats were divided among four groups: surgical sham rats (S) (n = 6) underwent identical anaesthesia and surgical incisions to other groups (n = 7 per group) but with no ovary intervention; torsion rats (T) underwent laparotomy, ovarian torsion, relaparotomy and sacrifice after three hours; torsion and detorsion rats (T/DT) underwent laparotomy, ovarian torsion (three hours), relaparotomy and detorsion, and sacrifice after one week; torsion, detorsion, hyperbaric oxygen rats (T/DT/HBOT) underwent laparotomy, ovarian torsion, relaparotomy and detorsion, and sacrifice after one week during which HBOT was provided 21 times (100% oxygen at 600 kPa for 50 min). In all groups blood collection for markers of oxidative stress or related responses, and ovary collection for histology were performed after sacrifice. When the T/DT, and T/DT/HBOT groups were compared, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (a marker of oxidative damage to DNA) and malondialdehyde (a product of lipid peroxidation) levels were lower in the T/DT/HBOT group. Anti-Mullerian hormone levels were higher in the T/DT/HBOT group compared to the T/DT group. In addition, oedema, vascular occlusion, neutrophilic infiltration and follicular cell damage were less in the T/DT/HBOT group than in the T/DT group. When biochemical and histopathological findings were evaluated together, HBOT appeared reduce ovarian ischaemia / reperfusion injury in this rat model of ovarian torsion-detorsion.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen in hepatopulmonary syndrome: an innovative experimental study.

This study aimed to analyze the effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) in hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS). Five-month-old female Wistar-Albino rats were randomly divided into three groups: Group I, the control group; Group II, the cirrhosis group; and Group III, the cirrhosis group + HBOT group. Rats were exposed to HBO sessions (2.4 atm./60 min) for 20 days. Animals were sacrificed 24 hours after the last HBO session. Biochemical analysis, oxygenation parameters, NO and NO synthase (NOS) levels, histopathological changes in the liver and lungs, and pulmonary artery diameter were measured. A total of 24 rats (10 rats were included in Group I, six rats in Group II, and eight rats in Group III) weighing 220-250 g were included in the study. Significant differences were observed for NO and NOS (9.10±1.05 to 12.17±1.85 μmol/L, p<0.05 and 0.46±0.31 to 1.17±0.39 U/ml, p<0.05, respectively) at baseline and day 36 only in group II. Inflammatory cell infiltration and bronchial injury were significantly increased in group II compared to group I (p=0.007 and p=0.008, respectively) but not in group III (p=0.266 and p=0.275, respectively). Pulmonary artery diameter was significantly lower in group III compared with group II at all sites in both lungs (p<0.05). HBOT may be a promising treatment for HPS by reducing NO and NOS activity, perialveolar arteriolar dilation, lung inflammation, and injury and guiding future clinical trials.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on patients with heatstroke complicated by multiple organ dysfunction:A retrospective study

BackgroundThe benefits of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) in treating animals with heat stroke (HS) have been established. This study aims to retrospectively analyze the effect of HBO on multiple organ dysfunction following HS in humans. MethodsRetrospective data were collected from patients with HS admitted to our hospital in the past 7 years. Patients were categorized into groups based on whether they received HBO therapy. The study compared various factors, including sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation-Ⅱ (APACHE-Ⅱ) scores, mortality rates, neurological function scores, serum myocardial enzyme levels, liver, kidney, and coagulation function indicators, blood routine results, electrolyte levels, and modified Barthel index (MBI) score for standard daily living ability before treatment and after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. ResultsThe mortality rates in the HBO and control group were 0% and 8.49%, respectively. Upon admission, the HBO group had higher SOFA and APACHE-Ⅱ scores and lower neurological, coagulation, and liver functions than those of the control group. HBO treatment significantly improved SOFA, APACHE-Ⅱ, and neurological scores while relieving levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, and myocardial enzymes. Additionally, it mitigating lymphocyte and platelet count decline caused by HS. The MBI score was significantly enhanced after treatment in the HBO group. ConclusionsClinical practice advocates administering HBO therapy to patients with severe illness, organ damage, and nerve impairment. Compared with conventional treatment, combined HBO therapy demonstrated superior efficacy in alleviating multiple organ dysfunction and improving daily living ability in patients with HS.

The Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment on Verbal Scores in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Retrospective Trial.

Introduction Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects millions worldwide. Suggested pathophysiology includes cerebral hypoperfusion, inflammation, mitochondrial and immune dysregulation, and oxidative stress. Debate exists concerning the benefit of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in treating ASD and its impacts on verbal behavior. The present study directly assesses the impactsof HBOT treatments on verbal behavior using a novel and unique manner. Materials and methods A two-group quasi-experimental trial using a pretest and a posttest was designed to retrospectively assess (n = 65) any association between HBOT and change in verbal scores in children (n = 65) with ASD. All children completed two verbal tests six months apart, either the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VBMAPP) or the Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills (ABLLS), based on their developmental age. The control cohort received applied behavioranalysis (ABA) without HBOT. The experimental cohort received ABA and a minimum of 40 HBOT treatments, breathing 100% oxygen at 2.0 atmosphereabsolute (ATA) for 60 minutes. Results Sixty-five children were included, of which 32 received HBOT (mean (M) = 5.1, standard deviation (SD) = 2.93), with an age range of two to 17 years. More than 63% of the subjects had an autism severity level of three. The 23 children administered VBMAPP who received HBOT showed substantial mean differences withhigh effect sizes (ESs) (-0.743 to -1.65) and a total score (TS) ESequal to -1.23 as measured by Cohen's d. There was a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05) in all VBMAPP milestone domains and TS. TSchange from baseline versus those in the non-HBOT(Control-ABA) group (n=12) was 46.41 ± 20.14 vs 14.42 ± 6.99; p < 0.0001, ES = -1.23. The 30 children administered the ABLLS showed substantial mean difference(TS) change from baseline 268.89 ± 182.05 vs190.81 ± 135.26 and exhibited small to medium (-.114 to -.773) ESs with a TS ES= -0.487. Due to the high within-group variability (low statistical power) within the ABLLS cohort, there was a non-significant mean difference between the control (ABA) and experimental (ABA + HBO2) groups' difference scores (p > 0.2024), despite the medium (TS) ES. Conclusions The child cohorts administered the VBMAPP and the ABLLS demonstrated substantial improvements between the non-HBOT (control-ABA) and HBOT (experimental-ABA + HBO2) groups as measured by the significant mean differences and small to large ESs.Simply put, the children in the experimental cohort acquired more verbal skills than their counterparts in the control group.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on diabetic foot ulcers: A meta-analysis.

The meta-analysis aimed to assess the effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on diabetic foot ulcers. Using dichotomous or contentious random or fixed effect models, the outcomes of this meta-analysis were examined and the odds ratio (OR) and the mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed. 17 examinations from 1992 to 2022 were enrolled for the present meta-analysis, including 7219 people with diabetic foot ulcers. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment had a significantly higher healed ulcer (OR, 14.39; 95% CI, 4.02-51.52, p < 0.001), higher adverse event (OR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.11-4.11, p = 0.02), lower mortality (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.07-0.71, p = 0.01) and higher ulcer area reduction (MD, 23.39; 95% CI, 11.79-34.99, p < 0.001) compared to standard treatment in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. However, hyperbaric oxygen treatment and standard treatment had no significant difference in amputation (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.22-1.75, p = 0.37), major amputation (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.18-1.92, p = 0.38), minor amputation (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.15-2.66, p = 0.54) and healing time (MD, -0.001; 95% CI, -0.76 to 0.75, p = 0.99) in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. The examined data revealed that hyperbaric oxygen treatment had a significantly higher healed ulcer, adverse event, and ulcer area reduction and lower mortality, however, there was no significant difference in amputation and healing time compared to standard treatment in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Yet, attention should be paid to its values since most of the selected examinations had a low sample size and some of the comparisons had a low number of selected studies.

Electrophysiological effects of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on the healthy retina

Purpose The study aimed to investigate the electrophysiological effects of hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) on the retina after ten sessions in healthy eyes. Methods This prospective, interventional study evaluated forty eyes of twenty patients who were treated with HBOT of ten sessions with the diagnosis of an extraocular health problem. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination, including assessments of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit-lamp and pupil-dilated fundus examinations, full-field electroretinography (ffERG) measurements before and after HBOT within 24 h of the 10th session. The ffERG was recorded according to the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision protocol using the RETI-port system. Results The mean age of patients was 40.5 years ranging from 20 to 59 years. Thirteen patients were administered HBOT for avascular necrosis, six patients for sudden hearing loss, and one patient for chronic osteomyelitis of the vertebra. BCVA acuity was 20/20 in all eyes. The mean spherical refractive was 0.56 dioptre (D), and the mean cylindrical refractive error was 0.75 D. Dark-adapted b-wave amplitude in 3.0 ERG was the only variable for the b-wave that showed a statistically significant decrease (p = 0.017). The amplitude of the a-waves in dark-adapted 10.0 ERG and light-adapted 3.0 ERG reduced significantly (p = 0.024, p = 0.025). The amplitude of N 1-P 1 in light-adapted 30 Hz Flicker ERG also demonstrated a statistically significant decrease (p = 0.011). Implicit times did not differ significantly in any of the ffERG data (p > 0.05). Conclusions HBOT caused the deterioration of a-wave and b-wave amplitudes in ffERG after ten treatment sessions. The results showed that photoreceptors were adversely affected in the short term after HBOT treatment.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Attenuated the Motor Coordination and Cognitive Impairment of Polyglutamine Spinocerebellar Ataxia SCA17 Mice

Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a large and diverse group of autosomal-dominant neurodegenerative diseases. No drugs have been approved for these relentlessly progressive and fatal SCAs. Our previous studies indicate that oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and neuronal apoptosis are elevated in the SCA17 mice, which are the main therapeutic targets of hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT). HBOT is considered to be an alternative and less invasive therapy for SCAs. In this study, we evaluated the HBOT (2.2 ATA for 14 days) effect and the persistence for the management of SCA17 mice and their wild-type littermates. We found HBOT attenuated the motor coordination and cognitive impairment of SCA17 mice and which persisted for about 1 month after the treatment. The results of several biochemistry and liver/kidney hematoxylin and eosin staining show the HBOT condition has no obvious toxicity in the mice. Immunostaining analyses show that the neuroprotective effect of HBOT could be through the promotion of BDNF production and the amelioration of neuroinflammation. Surprisingly, HBOT executes different effects on the male and female SCA17 mice, including the reduction of neuroinflammation and activation of CaMKII and ERK. This study suggests HBOT is a potential alternative therapeutic treatment for SCA17. Accumulated findings have revealed the similarity in disease pathomechanisms and possible therapeutic strategies in polyQ diseases; therefore, HBOT could be an optional treatment as well as the other polyQ diseases.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on liver hepatocyte damage in oral candidiasis immunosuppressed rats

Background: Liver is an organ that performs a role in metabolism and detoxification of chemical substances. The use of immunosuppressive drugs excessively not only become predisposing factor for oral candidiasis, but also can cause damage and affect liver’s function. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment was known to preserve hepatocytes and prevent liver damage. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on liver hepatocyte damage in oral candidiasis immunosuppressed rats.Method: We divided fifteen Wistar rats randomly into three groups: G1 (healthy rats), G2 (immunosuppressed rats with oral candidiasis), and G3 (immunosuppressed rats with oral candidiasis given hyperbaric oxygen). The immunosuppressed condition was made by giving dexamethasone and tetracycline orally for 14 days. Induction of Candida albicans 0.1 cc was conducted on the fourth day. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment was given for five days continuously. The histopathological changes in the liver were measured by counting the amount of normal hepatocytes, pycnotic, karyolysis, karyorrhexis, and score of necrosis area using light microscope with 400x magnification.Result: The amount of pycnotic, karyolysis, and karyorrhexis hepatocytes increased in G2 and decreased significantly in G3, likewise the score of necrosis area. The statistical test using oneway Anova and LSD test showed significant differences (p&lt;0,05) in pycnotic, karyolysis, and karyorrhexis hepatocytes between G1, G2, and G3.Conclusion: The hyperbaric oxygen treatment effect on liver hepatocyte damage in oral candidiasis immunosuppressed rats.

The potential of hyperbaric oxygen as a therapy for neurodegenerative diseases.

The World Health Organization estimates that by the year 2040, neurodegenerative diseases will be the second leading cause of death in developed countries, overtaking cancer-related deaths and exceeded only by cardiovascular disease-related death. The search for interventions has therefore become paramount to alleviate some of this burden. Based on pathways affected in neurodegenerative diseases, hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) could be a good candidate. This therapy has been used for the past 50years for conditions such as decompression sickness and wound healing and has been shown to have promising effects in conditions associated with neurodegeneration and functional impairments. The goal of this review was to explore the history of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, its uses, and benefits, and to evaluate its effectiveness as an intervention in treating neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, we examined common mechanisms underlying the effects of HBOT in different neurodegenerative diseases, with a special emphasis on epigenetics.

Investigating the Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment in Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection With Transcriptomics and Machine Learning (the HBOmic Study): Protocol for a Prospective Cohort Study With Data Validation.

Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are complex multifactorial diseases characterized by rapid bacterial proliferation and progressive tissue death. Treatment is multidisciplinary, including surgery, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and intensive care; adjunctive treatment with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) may also be applied. Recent advances in molecular technology and biological computation have given rise to new approaches to infectious diseases based on identifying target groups defined by activated pathophysiological mechanisms. We aim to capture NSTI disease signatures and mechanisms and responses to treatment in patients that receive the highest standard of care; therefore, we set out to investigate genome-wide transcriptional responses to HBO2 treatment during NSTI in the host and bacteria. The Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Studied with Omics (HBOmic) study is a prospective cohort study including 95 patients admitted for NSTI at the intensive care unit of Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Denmark, between January 2013 and June 2017. All participants were treated according to a local protocol for management of NSTI, and biological samples were obtained and stored according to a standard operational procedure. In the proposed study, we will generate genome-wide expression profiles of whole-blood samples and samples of infected tissue taken before and after HBO2 treatment administered during the initial acute phase of infection, and we will analyze the profiles with unsupervised hierarchical clustering and machine learning. Differential gene expression will be compared in samples taken before and after HBO2 treatment (N=85), and integration of profiles from blood and tissue samples will be performed. Furthermore, findings will be compared to NSTI patients who did not receive HBO2 treatment (N=10). Transcriptomic data will be integrated with clinical data to investigate associations and predictors. The first participant was enrolled on July 27, 2021, and data analysis is expected to begin during autumn 2022, with publication of results immediately thereafter. The HBOmic study will provide new insights into personalized patient management in NSTIs. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01790698; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01790698. DERR1-10.2196/39252.

"It's Like Your Whole Body Hates You": Experiences of Withdrawal, Distress, and Barriers to Relief Among Adults Receiving Methadone for Opioid Use Disorder.

A qualitative descriptive study was conducted concurrent with a larger study investigating the effects of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on withdrawal symptoms for adults receiving daily methadone for opioid use disorder. The aims of this study were to (a) evaluate the perceptions of withdrawal symptoms and sleep characteristics of study participants and (b) explore the experiences of participation in the parent trial of hyperbaric oxygen treatment.Adults with opioid use disorder can experience distressing symptoms related to withdrawal as well as co-occurring symptoms; sleep impairment is frequently reported. Few studies have examined how adults who receive medication for opioid use disorder experience sleep. A preliminary study of adults receiving daily methadone found that withdrawal symptoms were improved after hyperbaric oxygen treatment. This study explores the narrative of opioid users who report their overall experiences with withdrawal and sleep as well as their experiences of hyperbaric therapy.A convenience sample of six participants was recruited, who represented a small subgroup of participants who completed the larger hyperbaric treatment study. Data were collected via semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed using the qualitative content analysis guidelines proposed by Schreier (2012). All participants described poor overall sleep hygiene and disturbed sleep. More than half of the respondents reported improved or eliminated withdrawal symptoms, and all reported improvement in sleep quality after participation in the sleep study.This companion study confirms that subjective sleep disturbance may be prevalent for adults with opioid use disorder. Participants felt the experience of hyperbaric oxygen treatment produced a positive effect on sleep.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on skin elasticity in irradiated patients.

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) is often used in an attempt to reverse/treat late radiation-induced tissue fibrosis (LRITF). This study aimed to quantify the effects on skin elasticity. Skin retraction time was used as a marker of skin elasticity in 13 irradiated breast cancer patients. The measurements were carried out on the affected side as well as the unaffected/healthy side at a mirrored location. Readings were taken at the start and end of HBOT (mean 43 sessions, 80 min at 243 kPa). Patient age ranged from 39-70 years. All patients underwent surgical lumpectomy and radiotherapy prior to undergoing HBOT. The mean time between radiotherapy and HBOT was 70 months. Seven of the 13 patients underwent chemotherapy. Mean irradiated skin retraction time improved from 417 (SD 158) pre-HBOT to 171 (24) msec post-HBOT (P < 0.001). Mean pre-HBOT retraction time in the non-irradiated skin was 143 (20) msec and did not change. This promising pilot study that suggests that HBOT may improve skin elasticity in patients with LRITF.

Pretreatment hearing grades and hearing recovery outcomes after primary hyperbaric oxygen treatment in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Previous studies suggest the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) but it is mostly used as an adjuvant and salvage treatment. This study evaluated the effect of primary HBOT according to pretreatment hearing grades and hearing recovery outcomes using modified Siegel's criteria in patients with ISSNHL. Fifty-nine ISSNHL patients treated with only HBOT were included. A pure-tone audiogram was recorded before and after a course of HBOT (90 min at 203 kPa daily for 20 days). Using the modified Siegel's criteria, patients were divided into groups according to hearing threshold before and after treatment. Hearing thresholds were significantly lower after HBOT compared to pre-treatment values across all patients (P < 0.001) with a median value of recovery of 22.5 dB (interquartile range 12.5-33.7 dB). Significantly lower hearing threshold values were recorded at 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 Hz after treatment (P < 0.001). The greatest recovery was at 1,000 Hz, (change in median threshold = 32 dB) but without a significant difference compared to other frequencies (P = 0.10). HBOT is a legitimate choice as the primary treatment for ISSNHL, especially if it is readily accessible, and if there are contraindications for corticosteroid therapy.

Effects of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on liver and kidney tissue in chronic arsenic toxicity

Arsenic (As) is a toxic substance that damages the human body through exposure to drinking water. This exposure damages many organs and tissues in the body, especially the liver and kidneys. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy is a treatment method that acts by reducing oxidative stress parameters in tissues with high-pressure oxygen. Based on this, our study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of HBO2 on liver and kidney tissues with chronic arsenic toxicity. In the study 24 male Wistar albino rats (220-300 g, two to three months old) were equally divided into four groups: Control; As; HBO2; and As+HBO2. All animals were housed in individual cages. The toxicity model was created by adding arsenic to drinking water at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day for 60 days. HBO2 was applied 2 ATA pressure for 90 minutes a day for five days. At the end of the study, liver and kidney tissues were taken and stored for analysis. In liver tissue, histopathological showed that arsenic reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, sinusoidal congestion, and hydropic degeneration, while HBO2 increased these measures. Similar results were found by TUNEL method. In kidney tissue, both histopathologic and TUNEL method examinations found similar results with the liver: The As group was more damaged than the As+HBO2 group.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment: Effects on Mitochondrial Function and Oxidative Stress.

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT)—the administration of 100% oxygen at atmospheric pressure (ATA) greater than 1 ATA—increases the proportion of dissolved oxygen in the blood five- to twenty-fold. This increase in accessible oxygen places the mitochondrion—the organelle that consumes most of the oxygen that we breathe—at the epicenter of HBOT’s effects. As the mitochondrion is also a major site for the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), it is possible that HBOT will increase also oxidative stress. Depending on the conditions of the HBO treatment (duration, pressure, umber of treatments), short-term treatments have been shown to have deleterious effects on both mitochondrial activity and production of ROS. Long-term treatment, on the other hand, improves mitochondrial activity and leads to a decrease in ROS levels, partially due to the effects of HBOT, which increases antioxidant defense mechanisms. Many diseases and conditions are characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction and imbalance between ROS and antioxidant scavengers, suggesting potential therapeutic intervention for HBOT. In the present review, we will present current views on the effects of HBOT on mitochondrial function and oxidative stress, the interplay between them and the implications for several diseases.

Protective Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment on Axon Degeneration after Acute Motor Axonal Neuropathy.

Objectives Acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) is a disease that leads to acute flaccid paralysis and may result from the binding of antibody and antigen to the spinal cord. The objective of this study is to evaluate the protective effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) on axon degeneration of the spinal cord and sciatic nerve of the AMAN model rabbit. Axonal degeneration was assessed by evaluating glutathione (GSH) activity, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) expression, and clinical and histopathological features. Methods Twenty-one New Zealand rabbits were divided into three groups. The treatment group was exposed to 100% oxygen at 2.4 ATA 90 minutes for 10 days at a decompression rate of 2.9 pounds per square inch/minute. GSH level was evaluated using an enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay. An expression of IL-1β in the spinal cord was determined by immunohistochemistry. Clinical appearances were done by motor scale and body weight. Histological features observed neuronal swelling and inflammatory infiltration in the sagittal lumbar region and the undulation of the longitudinal sciatic nerve. Results Rabbits exposed to HBO had high GSH activity levels (p < 0.05) but unexpectedly had high IL1β expression (p > 0.05). In addition, the HBO-exposed rabbits had a better degree of undulation, the size of neuronal swelling was smaller, the number of macrophages was higher, and motor function was better than the AMAN model rabbits (p < 0.05). Conclusions These findings indicate that HBO therapy can decrease axon degeneration by triggering GSH activity, increasing IL-1β level, and restoring tissues and motor status. In conclusion, HBO has a protective effect on axon degeneration of the spinal cord and sciatic nerve of the AMAN model rabbit.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) is available to a wide spectrum of patients, many with significant co-morbidities. Considering its effects on cardiac physiology and reports of pulmonary oedema following exposure, concerns exist about the safety of patients with compromised cardiac function. Few studies have described adverse events occurring during HBOT and even fewer reports address events arising in the hours following HBOT. A relation between adverse events and cardiac function has not been established. As medical guidance is limited, we aimed to evaluate the risk for patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) receiving HBOT. This retrospective chart review of patients receiving HBOT from April 2003 through December 2019 at our hospital was designed to describe clinical characteristics of patients and to identify adverse events during HBOT and within 24 hours after HBOT. Patients ≥ 40 years of age with a documented LVEF of ≤ 40% were included. Data are presented as mean (SD) [range] or counts, as appropriate. A total of 23 patients were included in the final analysis, 2 (1) [0-4] patients per year. Patients received 25 (19) [1-60] treatments. Two patients had an episode of acute decompensated heart failure possibly linked to HBOT. This study described the clinical characteristics of patients with reduced LVEF receiving HBOT and showed reassuring results, with a majority of patients with reduced LVEF tolerating HBOT well. Prospective research is required to more fully assess the risk.

Perioperative hyperbaric oxygen treatment and postoperative complications following secondary breast reconstruction after radiotherapy: a case-control study of 45 patients.

Radiotherapy reduces the risk of locoregional recurrence of breast cancer. As a side-effect, tissue can become hypocellular, hypovascular, and hypoxic and late radiation tissue injury can develop months or years later. Radiotherapy increases the risk of complications following secondary breast reconstruction. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) improves oxygenation of irradiated tissue and induces neovascularisation. This study evaluated whether the incidence of complications following secondary breast reconstruction after radiotherapy is decreased with perioperative HBOT. In this retrospective case-control chart review study, patients who underwent perioperative HBOT (n = 15) were compared to lifestyle-matched (n = 15) and radiation damage-matched (n = 15) patients who underwent secondary breast reconstruction without HBOT. The HBOT group had significantly more severe radiation damage of the breast than the lifestyle- and radiation-damage-matched control groups (scoring grade 1-4, mean 3.55 versus 1.75 and 2.89 respectively, P = 0.001). Patients underwent on average 33 sessions of HBOT (18 sessions preoperatively and 15 sessions postoperatively). There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the HBOT group, lifestyle-matched group and radiation damage-matched group. Logistic regression analysis showed a lower risk of postoperative complications in patients who underwent HBOT. Although the HBOT group had more radiation damage than the control groups, the incidence of postoperative complications was not significantly different. This implied a beneficial effect of HBOT, which was supported by the logistic regression analysis. Definitive conclusions cannot be drawn due to the small sample size. Future research is justified, preferably a large randomised controlled trial.