Paradoxical herniation associated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy after decompressive craniectomy: A case report

BACKGROUND Whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy(HBOT)can cause paradoxical herniation is still unclear.CASE SUMMARY A 65-year-old patient who was comatose due to brain trauma underwent decompressive craniotomy and gradually regained consciousness after surgery.HBOT was administered 22 d after surgery due to speech impairment.Paradoxical herniation appeared on the second day after treatment,and the patient’s condition worsened after receiving mannitol treatment at the rehabilitation hospital.After timely skull repair,the paradoxical herniation was resolved,and the patient regained consciousness and had a good recovery as observed at the follow-up visit.CONCLUSION Paradoxical herniation is rare and may be caused by HBOT.However,the underlying mechanism is unknown,and the understanding of this phenomenon is insufficient.The use of mannitol may worsen this condition.Timely skull repair can treat paradoxical herniation and prevent serious complications.

The neuroprotective effects of oxygen therapy in Alzheimer’s disease:a narrative review

Alzheimer’s disease(AD)is a degenerative neurological disease that primarily affects the elderly.Drug therapy is the main strategy for AD treatment,but current treatments suffer from poor efficacy and a number of side effects.Non-drug therapy is attracting more attention and may be a better strategy for treatment of AD.Hypoxia is one of the important factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of AD.Multiple cellular processes synergistically promote hypoxia,including aging,hypertension,diabetes,hypoxia/obstructive sleep apnea,obesity,and traumatic brain injury.Increasing evidence has shown that hypoxia may affect multiple pathological aspects of AD,such as amyloid-beta metabolism,tau phosphorylation,autophagy,neuroinflammation,oxidative stress,endoplasmic reticulum stress,and mitochondrial and synaptic dysfunction.Treatments targeting hypoxia may delay or mitigate the progression of AD.Numerous studies have shown that oxygen therapy could improve the risk factors and clinical symptoms of AD.Increasing evidence also suggests that oxygen therapy may improve many pathological aspects of AD including amyloid-beta metabolism,tau phosphorylation,neuroinflammation,neuronal apoptosis,oxidative stress,neurotrophic factors,mitochondrial function,cerebral blood volume,and protein synthesis.In this review,we summarized the effects of oxygen therapy on AD pathogenesis and the mechanisms underlying these alterations.We expect that this review can benefit future clinical applications and therapy strategies on oxygen therapy for AD.

Effects of oxygen therapy on the outcome of patients with acute myocardial infarction:A randomized clinical trial

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effects of supplemental oxygen on patients with myocardial infarction.Methods:This study was a randomized,double-blind clinical trial.The study population included all patients who were admitted to the emergency room of Ali-ibn-Abitaleb and Khatam-al-Anbia hospitals in Zahedan within six hours of the onset of classic symptoms of myocardial infarction.The patients(n=47)were divided into two groups:the case group(with oxygen therapy)and the control group(without oxygen therapy).The initial follow-up was evaluated after one month and the second follow-up was evaluated after three months in the target population in terms of mortality caused by acute myocardial infarction,mortality caused by any other cause,and re-hospitalization caused by acute myocardial infarction.Results:Out of the 47 patients,27 were male(57.4%).The average age of the patients was(60.9±8.1)years.One month after admission,2 patients(8.7%)in the case group and 2 patients(8.3%)in the control group died due to acute myocardial infarction.A total of 7 patients(14.9%)died three months after admission.There was no significant difference between the control and case groups in terms of mortality caused by acute ischemia within one and three months.After one month,2 patients(8.7%)in the case group and 1 patient(4.2%)in the control group died of other causes.After three months,4 patients(8.5%)in total died for other causes.There was no significant difference between the control and case groups in terms of mortality due to other causes within one and three months.One month after admission,5 patients(21.7%)of the case group and 4 patients(16.7%)of the control group were re-hospitalized due to acute myocardial ischemia.During the next three months,3 patients(13.0%)of the case group and 5 patients(20.8%)of the control group were re-hospitalized.There was no significant difference between the control and case groups regarding the rate of re-hospitalization caused by acute myocardial infarction within one and three months after admission.Conclusions:There is no significant relationship between oxygen therapy and death by acute myocardial ischemia,or any other causes.The relationship between oxygen therapy and the rate of re-hospitalization caused by acute myocardial ischemia is not found within one and three months after admission.The results show that oxygen therapy does not affect patients with acute myocardial ischemia within three months after admission.

Effectiveness of topical oxygen therapy in wound healing for patients with diabetic foot ulcer

Objectives:Non-healing wounds have been one of the major challenges in health care because of increased morbidity,especially for those who have diabetes mellitus.Numerous regimens are being innovated to produce an evidence-based practice that would minimize complications and promote healing.Topical oxygen therapy is an innovation in wound care that has been considered influential in the wound healing process.This intervention aims to increase the oxygen concentration in the affected limb to promote wound healing.Methods:This research applied an experimental design that targeted a total of 60 adult patients aged 45–64 years with diabetic foot ulcers.A randomized systematic sampling technique was used to allow equal chances and prevent bias.In total,30 patients in the control group received usual care for diabetic foot ulcers,and the remaining 30 patients in the experimental group received topical oxygen therapy together with standard care for diabetic foot ulcers.Subjects were assessed using the Wagner-Meggitt Wound Classification System.Results:The result proved that there was a significant difference in the wound grade of patients in the experimental group after the application of the usual wound care plus the topical oxygen therapy using Friedman's test.The control and experimental groups were compared using Mann–Whitney statistical analyses,and the results showed that there was a significant difference between the control and experimental groups after the application of topical oxygen therapy.Conclusions:Topical oxygen therapy was demonstrated to be effective to aid in the wound healing process of patients with diabetic foot ulcers.Fur ther research was recommended to improve the application of topical oxygen therapy to patients with chronic wounds and promote the wound healing process.

Analysis of the Efficacy of Humidified High-Flow Nasal Oxygen Therapy Combined with Alveolar Lavage in the Treatment of Patients with Severe Pneumonia Complicated with Respiratory Failure

Objective:To analyze the curative effect of humidified high-flow nasal oxygen therapy combined with alveolar lavage in patients with severe pneumonia and respiratory failure.Methods:120 patients with severe pneumonia complicated with respiratory failure admitted to the Third People’s Hospital of Xining from July 2021 to December 2022 were randomly divided into two groups:group A and group B.The patients in group A were given humidified high-flow nasal oxygen therapy combined with alveolar lavage,whereas those in group B were given humidified high-flow nasal oxygen therapy.The treatment efficacy,blood gas analysis results,and differences in inflammatory mediators were compared between the two groups.Results:The curative effect in group A(96.67%)was significantly higher than that in group B(81.67%),P<0.05;the partial pressure of carbon dioxide(PaCO2),partial pressure of oxygen(PaO2),oxygen saturation(SpO2),and Horowitz index(P/F)of group A were significantly better than group B,P<0.05;the interleukin 6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α),and C-reactive protein(CRP)levels,white blood cell(WBC)count,serum procalcitonin(PCT),and neutrophil(N)percentage of group A were significantly lower than those of group B,P<0.05.Conclusion:For patients with severe pneumonia complicated with respiratory failure,alveolar lavage,on the basis of humidified high-flow oxygen therapy,can inhibit local inflammation,improve blood gas analysis results,promote disease recovery,and improve the clinical treatment effect。

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a complementary treatment for radiation proctitis:Useless or useful?-A literature review

Radiotherapy(RT)is the backbone of multimodality treatment of more than half of cancer cases.Despite new modern RT techniques,late complications may occur such as radiation proctitis(RP).The natural history of RP is unpredictable.Minor symptoms may resolve spontaneously or require conservative treatment.On the other hand,for similar and uncomplicated clinical contexts,symptoms may persist and can even be refractory to the progressive increase in treatment measures.Over the last decades,an enormous therapeutic armamentarium has been considered in RP,including hyperbaric oxygen therapy(HBOT).Currently,the evidence regarding the impact of HBOT on RP and its benefits is conflicting.Additional prospective and randomised studies are necessary to validate HBOT’s effectiveness in the‘real world’clinical practice.This article reviewed the relevant literature on pathophysiology,clinical presentation,different classifications and discuss RP management including a proposal for a therapeutic algorithm with a focus on HBOT.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy combined with Schwann cell transplantation promotes spinal cord injury recovery

Schwann cell transplantation and hyperbaric oxygen therapy each promote recovery from spinal cord injury, but it remains unclear whether their combination improves therapeutic results more than monotherapy. To investigate this, we used Schwann cell transplantation via the tail vein, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or their combination, in rat models of spinal cord contusion injury. The combined treatment was more effective in improving hindlimb motor function than either treatment alone; injured spinal tissue showed a greater number of neurite-like structures in the injured spinal tissue, somatosensory and motor evoked potential latencies were notably shorter, and their amplitudes greater, after combination therapy than after monotherapy. These findings indicate that Schwann cell transplantation combined with hyperbaric oxygen therapy is more effective than either treatment alone in promoting the recovery of spinal cord in rats after injury.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a new treatment approach for Alzheimer's disease

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a new treatment approach for Alzheimer’s disease（AD）：Alongside the increase in life expectancy,the prevalence of age-related disorders,such as neurodegenerative diseases,is on the rise.For example,AD,the most common form of dementia in the elderly,accounts for 60–80%of all dementia cases.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and chemokine administration - a combination with potential therapeutic value for treating diabetic wounds

Non-healing wounds impart serious medical problems to people with diabetes.Amongst 15%of diabetic patients,the incidence of foot ulcer is the most prevailing,which confers a significant risk of limb amputation,mainly due to hypoxia and impairment in cell signaling.Alteration in the expression of chemokines and the related factors in diabetic conditions delays the recruitment of different cell types,including fibroblasts,keratinocytes,and immune cells such as macrophages to the site of injury,further impairing neovasculogenesis,reepithelialization,and extracellular matrix formation.Thus,proper activation of effector cells through an accurate signal pathway is necessary for better therapeutic application.Hyperbaric oxygen therapy(HBOT)is the current treatment prescribed by medical practitioners,shown to have increased the wound healing rate by reducing the need for significant amputation among the diabetic population.However,the risk of morbidity associated with HBOT needs complete attention through rigorous research to avoid adverse outcomes.Altering the level of pro-angiogenic chemokines may regulate the inflammatory response,further promote vascularization,and enhance the complete healing of wounds in diabetic patients.Thus,a combination of better therapeutic approaches could pave the way for developing a successful treatment for diabetic foot and wound healing.

Is oxygen therapy beneficial for normoxemic patients with acute heart failure?A propensity score matched study

Background:The clinical efficiency of routine oxygen therapy is uncertain in patients with acute heart failure(AHF)who do not have hypoxemia.The aim of this study was to investigate the association between oxygen therapy and clinical outcomes in normoxemic patients hospitalized with AHF using real-world data.Methods:Normoxemic patients diagnosed with AHF on intensive care unit(ICU)admission from the electronic ICU(eICU)Collaborative Research Database were included in the current study,in which the study population was divided into the oxygen therapy group and the ambient air group.Propensity score matching(PSM)was applied to create a balanced covariate distribution between patients receiving supplemental oxygen and those exposed to ambient air.Linear regression and logistic regression models were performed to assess the associations between oxygen therapy and length of stay(LOS),and all-cause in-hospital as well as ICU mortality rates,respectively.A series of sensitivity and subgroup analyses were conducted to further validate the robustness of our findings.Results:A total of 2922 normoxemic patients with AHF were finally included in the analysis.Overall,42.1%(1230/2922)patients were exposed to oxygen therapy,and 57.9%(1692/2922)patients did not receive oxygen therapy(defined as the ambient air group).After PSM analysis,1122 pairs of patients were matched:each patient receiving oxygen therapy was matched with a patient without receiving supplemental oxygen.The multivariable logistic model showed that there was no significant interaction between the ambient air and oxygen therapy for all-cause in-hospital mortality[odds ratio(OR)=1.30;95%confidence interval(CI)0.92–1.82;P=0.138]or ICU mortality(OR=1.39;95%CI 0.83–2.32;P=0.206)in the post-PSM cohorts.In addition,linear regression analysis revealed that oxygen therapy was associated with prolonged ICU LOS(OR=1.11;95%CI 1.06–1.15;P<0.001)and hospital LOS(OR=1.06;95%CI 1.01–1.10;P=0.009)after PSM.Furthermore,the absence of an effect of supplemental oxygen on mortality was consistent in all subgroups.Conclusions:Routine use of supplemental oxygen in AHF patients without hypoxemia was not found to reduce all cause in-hospital mortality or ICU mortality.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for skin flap blood flow disorder: a case report

A female patient at the age of 17 received dilator implant on the right part of her face to prepare skin flap for her facial scar.The skin flap was in good conditions before scar cutting,but showed poor blood circulation after being transferred.Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was given at 0.2 MPa(2ATA) in double pure oxygen cabins for 90 min every day for 10 d.The skin flap showed in sound viability and sound blood circulation after the treatment.Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be used to treat blood circulation disorder in transferred skin flap.

Acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy inhibits oxyradical injury and improves microcirculation following brain injury

BACKGROUND： Acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy combines acupoint theory in traditional Chinese medicine and modern oxygen therapy. Clinical studies have shown that acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy results in favorable outcomes for brain injury. However, the mechanisms of action remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVE： To determine pathological changes and malondialdehyde （MDA） content, superoxide dismutase （SOD） and nitric oxide synthase （NOS） activity, as well as hemorheological brain alterations following acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy, and to explore possible mechanisms of acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy on brain injury. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled, animal experiment was performed at the Animal Experimental Center of Xi＇an Medical University from January 2006 to April 2009. MATERIALS： An oxygen delivery device, through the use of acupuncture （oxygen delivery machine ＋ silver hollowed needle, 0.5 mm inner diameter）, was purchased from Research Center ol Machine, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology in China. METHODS： A total of 180 Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to six groups （n = 30）： normal, sham-surgery （dura mater exposure）, model （brain injury induced by free-falling of heavy object to head）, Xiantaimixture （0.417 mL/100 g following brain injury）, electroacupuncture [acupuncture at Baihui （DU 20）, Housanfi （ST 36）, Yanglingquan （GB 34）, and Sanyinjiao （SP 6） following brain injury], and acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy （oxygen delivery through hollowed needle to Baihui （DU 20）, Housanfi （ST 36）, Yanglingquan （GB 34）, and Sanyinjiao （SP 6） following brain injury, 0.01 mL/minute）. Group intervention was performed once a day for 14 consecutive days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Pathological changes, MDA content, SOD and NOS activity, and hemorheological alterations in the brain. RESULTS： Obvious pathological changes were observed, such as hemorrhage, edema, and cell necrosis, following brain injury. These alterations were significantly improved following 14 days of treatment with Xiantai mixture, electroacupuncture, and acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy. In particular, acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy resulted in recovery to normal conditions. In the Xiantai mixture, electroacupuncture, and acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy groups, MDA content was significantly reduced （P 〈 0.01）, SOD activity was significantly increased （P 〈 0.01）, NOS activity was significantly decreased （P 〈 0.01）, and hemorheological indices were reduced, compared with the model group, in particular, acupunture-induced oxygen therapy resulted in the most obvious changes （P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： Acupuncture-induced oxygen therapy improved pathological changes following brain injury by possibly improving blood supply, ameliorating ischemia/hypoxia, and inhibiting peroxidation and free radicals.

It's all about timing, early treatment with hyperbaric oxygen therapy and corticosteroids is essential in acute acoustic trauma

Background: Acute acoustic trauma (AAT) is an acute hearing impairment caused by intense noiseimpact. The current management strategy for AAT with substantial hearing loss in the Dutch militaryis the combination therapy with corticosteroids and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). In a previousstudy, early initiation of the combination therapy was associated with better outcomes. Therefore, weperformed a new analysis to assess the difference in hearing outcome between patients in whomcombination therapy was started within two days, versus after more than two days.Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on military patients diagnosed with AAT with substantial hearing loss who presented between February 2018 and March 2020. Absolute and relativehearing improvement between first and last audiograms were calculated for all affected frequencies(defined as loss of 20 dB on initial audiogram). We also determined the amount of patients whorecovered to the level of Dutch military requirement, and performed speech discrimination tests.Results: In this analysis, 30 male patients (49 ears) with AAT were included. The median age was 24.5years (IQR 23e29). The median time to initiation of therapy with corticosteroids and HBOT were one andtwo days, respectively. HBOT was started within two days in 31 ears, and after more than two days in 18ears. The mean absolute and relative hearing gains were 18.8 dB (SD 14.6) and 46.8% (SD 31.3) on allaffected frequencies. The 100% discrimination/speech perception level improved from 64.0 dB to 51.7 dB(gain 12.3 dB ± 14.1). There was significantly more improvement in absolute and relative hearingimprovement when HBOT was started in 2 days, compared to >2 days.Conclusion: Our analysis shows results in favor of early initiation ( 2 days) of the combination treatmentof HBOT and corticosteroids in patients with AAT.

The Comparison of Acute Clinical Outcome between 30 and 40 Sessions of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Management of Visible Hematuria from Radiation-Induced Hemorrhagic Cystitis

Background: Radiotherapy is one of the most popular treatments for pelvic malignancy, which causes patients suffering from the adverse effect such as cystitis, hematuria, proctitis, hematochezia and distal ureteric stricture. The hematuria condition from radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis is the most common adverse event suffering the patients, losing properties, wasting time, and deteriorating quality of life. One of the most effective treatments for radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis is the hyperbaric oxygen therapy with no necessity for patients to be hospitalized, no need of anesthesia use, and also non-invasion. However, it requires that patients spend 90 - 120 minutes a day for 40 days administered out-patient treatment session. The transportation cost as well as the accommodation one will greatly burden the self-pay health care patients. In addition, there is still no definite standardized number of HBOT treatment session assignment at present. Objectives: To compare the treatment outcome (bladder mucosal characteristics, red blood cells in urine) between 30 and 40 sessions of HBOT for treatment of radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis. Methods: Prospective cohort observational study of patients (n = 15) who were diagnosed with radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis that were treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Somdechprapinklao Hospital between October 2020 and September 2021. We compared the parameter about hemoglobin concentration, red blood cell number in urine during the course of HBOT treatment every 10 sessions and cystoscopic finding severity as EORTC/RTOG classification for radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis in Table 1 before treatment, and after 30 and 40 sessions of treatment. Results: From 15 of treated patients, 93.3% of patients had evidence of posterior wall lesion. The mean duration from radiotherapy (radiation and brachytherapy) to the first episode gross hematuria is 112 months. This study shows no statistically different cystoscopic findings as EORTC/RTOG classification for radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis after 30 and 40 sessions of HBOT (p = 0.653) and statistically significant improvement after the treatment of more than 30 sessions (p = 0.008). No relationship was found with the hemoglobin concentration and red blood cell number in urine during the course of HBOT. Conclusions: Radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis can be treated with HBOT. There is no different treatment outcome between 30 and 40 sessions of HBOT.

Mandibular Reconstruction with Autogenous Fragment of Previous Iliac Crest Associated to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy： Case Report

Early efforts at mandibular reconstruction are described from ancient China and the Etruscans to even Hippocrates, involving wooden, terracotta and metal prostheses attached to bone or teeth. Since then, modem surgery has developed more effective techniques, including no vascularized bone grafts, better alloplastic materials, vascularized loco regional grafts, soft and hard tissue compounds, bone fixation and stretching materials, and mechanisms for study models. These components have become indispensable in the surgeon＇s arsenal with regard to reconstructive surgery. A gold standard for mandibular bone reconstruction is the use of autogenous grafts. The objective of this study was to describe a clinical case of mandibular reconstruction with autogenous graft associated with adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The clinical case presented shows the treatment performed for after-effects correction due to the non-consolidation of sagittal mandibular osteotomy performed for correction of standard III dentofacial deformity, resulting in a pseudoarthrosis with bite deviation and facial asymmetry. As a treatment plan, mandibular reconstruction was instituted with autogenous graft of anterior iliac crest associated with the use prototyping biomodel and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. After a control of 1 year and 6 months, no signs of recurrence were identified and the radiographic image showed excellent positioning, good volume and maintenance of the mandibular contour.

Clinical Efficacy of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at Different Pressures in the Treatment of Sudden Deafness

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen at different pressures in the treatment of sudden deafness.Methods:Eighty-two patients with sudden deafness treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University from September 2019 to September 2021 were selected as the research subjects.The patients were randomly divided into study group 1 and study group 2,and they were treated with hyperbaric oxygen on the basis of routine treatment,in which the pressure used was 1.8 ATA and 2.2 ATA,respectively.Oxygen was delivered via the pressure stabilizing mask for 60 minutes.The patients received two courses of treatment,each lasting 10 days.The changes in hearing(pure tone audiometry)and the clinical efficacy of both the groups were compared before and after treatment.The data obtained were statistically analyzed using SPSS 19.0.Results:The total effective rate of study group 1 was 90.00%,while that of study group 2 was 76.19%.The differences between the two groups were statistically significant(p<0.05).Conclusion:For patients with sudden deafness treated with hyperbaric oxygen,the clinical efficacy of 1.8 ATA is more significant than that of 2.2 ATA.

Observation on the Clinical Effect of Different Pressures in Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Patients with Diffuse Axonal Injury

Objective:To observe the efficacy and significance of hyperbaric oxygen at different pressures in the treatment of diffuse axonal injury(DAI).Methods:Sixty patients with DAI were randomly divided into 1.8 ATA group(30 cases)and 2.2 ATA group(30 cases).The routine treatment for each group was the same.The 1.8 ATA.group received hyperbaric oxygen therapy under 1.8 ATA on the basis of routine treatment,whereas the 2.2 ATA group received hyperbaric oxygen therapy under 2.2 ATA.on the basis of routine treatment.The therapy was given once a day over 3 consecutive courses,with each course having 10 sessions.The Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS)on day 10,day 20,and day 30 after treatment,as well as the Glasgow Outcome Scale(GOS)after 6 months were compared between the two groups.Results:The mean GCS on day 10,day 20,and day 30 after treatment,as well as the mean GOS after 6 months of treatment in the 2.2 ATA group were significantly higher than those in the 1.8 ATA group(p<0.05).Conclusion:For patients with dififtise axonal injury,hyperbaric oxygen therapy is more effective with 2.2 ATA.compared with 1.8 ATA.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment for Long COVID:From Molecular Mechanism to Clinical Practice

Long COVID symptoms typically occur within 3 months of an initial COVID-19 infection,last for more than 2 months,and cannot be explained by other diagnoses.The most common symptoms include fatigue,dyspnea,coughing,and cognitive impairment.The mechanisms of long COVID are not fully understood,but several hypotheses have been put forth.These include coagulation and fibrosis pathway activation,inflammatory and autoimmune manifestations,persistent virus presence,and Epstein-Barr virus reactivation.Hyperbaric oxygen therapy(HBOT)is a therapeutic method in which a person inhales 100%oxygen under pressure greater than that of the atmosphere.HBOT has some therapeutic effects,including improvement of microcirculation,inhibition of cytokine release leading to a reduction in inflammatory responses,inhibition of autoimmune responses,and promotion of neurological repair.Several clinical trials have been carried out using HBOT to treat long COVID.The results suggest that HBOT helps to improve symptom severity,reduce symptom duration,and enhance patients’quality of life.It is believed that HBOT is an effective option for patients with long COVID,which is worth actively promoting.

The new insights of hyperbaric oxygen therapy:focus on inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD),with an increasing incidence,pose a significant health burden.Although there have been significant advances in the treatment of IBD,more progress is still needed.Hyperbaric oxygen therapy(HBOT)has been shown to treat a host of conditions such as carbon monoxide poisoning,decompression sickness,and gas gangrene.In the last few years,there has been an increase in research into the use of HBOT as an adjunct to conventional treatment for IBD.Related research has shown that HBOT may exert its therapeutic effects by decreasing oxidative stress,inhibiting mucosal inflammation,promoting ulcer healing,influencing gut microbes,and reducing the incidence of IBD complications.This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of experimental and clinical trials exploring HBOT as a supplement to IBD treatment strategies.

One-year experience in the retinopathy of prematurity: frequency and risk factors, short-term results and follow-up

· AIM: As a result of the increase in premature births and the advances in neonatal intensive care, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) remains one of the most important causes of childhood blindness worldwide. The main factors in the development of ROP are gestational age, birth weight and oxygen therapy. ROP continues to gain importance due to the increasing survival rates of more immature babies. · METHODS: Between January 2007 and October 2008, 203 premature infants treated at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NNICU) were prospectively enrolled and the relationship between known risk factors and the occurance of ROP was studied. · RESULTS: ROP in various stages developed in 86 cases (42.4%). Statistically significant correlations were found between the development of ROP and birth weight (P < 0.0001) gestational age (P <0.0001), oxygen treatment and its duration (P <0.0001 and P =0.002), mechanical ventilation (MV) and its duration (P =0,0001 and P =0.0001), apnea(P = 0.001), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (P =0.046), sepsis (P =0.0001), use of erythropoietin (EPO) (P =0.003), the number of blood transfusions and frequency (P =0.0001 and P =0.0001), surfactant application (P =0.0001), the presence of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) (P =0.001) or bronchopu- lmonary dysplasia (BPD) (P =0.0001). No significant correlations were found between the occurance of ROP and maternal pre-eclampsia (P =0.293), multiple pregnancy (P = 0.218), or hyperbilirubinemia (P =0.494). Severity of ROP was related significantly with birth weight (P =0.0001), but no significant correlation between severity of ROP and gestational age was present. · CONCLUSION: Early description and reduction of the risk factors related with the occurance of ROP with the help of routine screening programs may warrant the prevention of visual loss, however early ophthalmic diagnosis and treatment are still mandatory to provide better visual rehabilitation. ·