Medical Gas Research最新文献

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) and high-flow nasal cannula are increasingly used to treat acute respiratory failure. Because many of these patients could also benefit from inhaled medications, combining aerosol therapy with NIV or high-flow nasal cannula is a promising approach. Effective drug delivery to the lungs is crucial for successful aerosol therapy during NIV. Prior research has identified several factors that affect aerosol delivery efficiency in NIV patients. Medical gases have a long history of use in managing various respiratory conditions. Among them, oxygen is frequently used for patients with hypoxia (e.g., hypoxemic respiratory failure and in newborns). In addition to deoxygenation, helium oxygen mixture and nitric oxide can also be administered through devices such as masks combined with NIV. This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive overview on the application of gas mixtures (such as helium oxygen mixtures and nitric oxide) in NIV, focusing on their efficacy, safety, and optimization strategies in different clinical settings.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Poor prognosis in breast cancer patients is often linked to the presence of intratumoral hypoxic areas caused by abnormal vascularization and insufficient oxygen availability, which results in energetic crisis in cancer cells; metabolic and epigenetic reprogramming; the transcription of genes involved in angiogenesis; cancer cell proliferation; increased motility, aggressiveness and metastasis; the accumulation of mutations; genomic instability; the maintenance of stem cell characteristics; stromal cell recruitment; extracellular matrix remodeling; chronic inflammation; immune evasion; and adaptive responses in the tumoral microbiota. Furthermore, hypoxia is often correlated with resistance to traditional antitumor treatments used alone or in combination, which results in the need to implement novel therapies to overcome or alleviate the negative effects of oxygen deprivation in breast cancer theranostics. In breast cancer modeling research, micro- and nanofabrication-based technologies, including breast cancer-on-chip and breast cancer metastasis-on-chip platforms, are able to recapitulate the metastatic cascade of breast cancer in different controlled oxygen gradients. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics, including mass spectrometry imaging, offers opportunities for detecting, quantifying and understanding the roles of proteins and peptides, protein-protein interaction networks, and posttranslational modifications of proteins involved in hypoxia-associated biopathological processes. In this mini-review, we have summarized several modern approaches that are able to overcome the undesirable effects of hypoxia for breast cancer treatment. Thus, natural compounds with inhibitory effects on hypoxia-related signaling pathways in breast cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, viral vector-based therapy that uses genetically engineered oncolytic viruses, and oncological bacteriotherapy based on biohybrid platforms, including anaerobic bacteria that are able to colonize inaccessible hypoxic regions in breast tumors to deliver chemotherapeutic drugs just into the tumor site, and smart nanoplatforms for abundant O2 generation within hypoxic breast cancer areas, including erythrocyte-like nanoparticles, metal-organic framework-nanoparticles, or engineered microalgae-metal-organic framework oxygenators, have been designed to relieve tumor hypoxia, induce antitumor responses, and improve the effects of traditional anti-breast cancer therapies.

Vascular dementia is a highly heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder induced by a variety of factors. Currently, there are no definitive treatments for the cognitive dysfunction associated with vascular dementia. However, early detection and preventive measures have proven effective in reducing the risk of onset and improving patient prognosis. Nitric oxide plays an integral role in various physiological and pathological processes within the central nervous system. In recent years, nitric oxide has been implicated in the regulation of synaptic plasticity and has emerged as a crucial factor in the pathophysiology of vascular dementia. At different stages of vascular dementia, nitric oxide levels and bioavailability undergo dynamic alterations, with a marked reduction in the later stages, which significantly contributes to the cognitive deficits associated with the disease. This review provides a comprehensive review of the emerging role of nitric oxide in the physiological and pathological processes underlying vascular dementia, focusing on its effects on synaptic dysfunction, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and blood‒brain barrier integrity. Furthermore, we suggest that targeting the nitric oxide soluble guanylate cyclase-cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway through specific therapeutic strategies may offer a novel approach for treating vascular dementia, potentially improving both cognitive function and patient prognosis. The review contributes to a better understanding of the multifaceted role of nitric oxide in vascular dementia and to offering insights into future therapeutic interventions.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has emerged as a potential adjunctive treatment for male infertility, as it targets various sperm abnormalities and improves fertility outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized data from randomized controlled trials to evaluate the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in treating male infertility. A comprehensive literature search identified nine eligible studies, which were assessed for quality using the Jadad scale and analyzed for heterogeneity. The meta-analysis revealed significant improvements in sperm survival, density, morphology, normal sperm rates, and motility following hyperbaric oxygen therapy, with an increased clinical pregnancy rate. Subgroup analyses based on infertility etiology and treatment duration further elucidated the heterogeneity of male infertility stemming from the etiology of infertility. Despite the high robustness of the meta-analysis results, the study is limited by the small number of included trials and potential publication bias. In conclusion, when combined with conventional treatments, hyperbaric oxygen therapy significantly enhances sperm parameters and fertility, underscoring its role as an effective adjunctive therapy for male infertility.

Numerous physiological processes in the human skin are mediated by nitric oxide, a gaseous signalling molecule. Almost every type of skin cell may produce nitric oxide, it is possible to generate nitric oxide without the need of enzymes. Nitric oxide plays a crucial role in regulating apoptosis, keratinocyte differentiation and proliferation, the protective properties of the epidermal barrier, and the structure and functions of the microcirculatory bed. Nitric oxide is involved in immunological and inflammatory responses, hair growth regulation, and wound healing processes. It mediates ultraviolet-induced processes such as erythema and edema development and participates in melanogenesis. Furthermore, the ability of nitric oxide to bind reactive oxygen species and prevent lipid peroxidation gives it antioxidant qualities. This coordinated action of nitric oxide on gene expression and membrane integrity effectively protects cells from ultraviolet A-induced apoptosis and necrosis. Furthermore, nitric oxide can be considered as a molecule that inhibits the development of cancer and photoaging. It directly harms microorganisms and indirectly activates the immune system, exhibiting antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal qualities. Notably, nitric oxide is effective against antibiotics-resistant bacteria. All of the aforementioned findings suggest that nitric oxide is a gaseous mediator that can protect skin function.