Relaxation and contraction factors influencing penile erection are produced and released by the central and peripheral nerves as well as intracavernosal sinus gap and vascular endothelial cells. Aging, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and spinal cord injury can influence these factors. Further researches of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) on the erectile dysfunction (ED) can provide some theoretical evidences for the clinical treatment of ED.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of natural hirudin combined with hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the survival of transplanted random-pattern skin flap in rats.MethodsA random-pattern skin flap in size of 10.0 cm×2.5 cm was elevated on the dorsum of 72 Sprague Dawley rats. Then the 72 rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=18) according to the therapy method. At immediate and within 4 days after operation, the rats were treated with normal saline injection in control group, normal saline injection combined with hyperbaric oxygen treatment in hyperbaric oxygen group, the natural hirudin injection in natural hirudin group, and the natural hirudin injection combined with hyperbaric oxygen treatment in combined group. The flap survival was observed after operation, and survival rate was evaluated at 6 days after operation. The skin samples were collected for histological analysis, microvessel density (MVD) measurement, and evaluation of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) expression level by the immunohistochemical staining at 2 and 4 days after operation.ResultsPartial necrosis occurred in each group after operation, and the flap in combined group had the best survival. The survival rate of flap was significantly higher in hyperbaric oxygen group, natural hirudin group, and combined group than that in control group, and in combined group than in hyperbaric oxygen group and natural hirudin group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between hyperbaric oxygen group and natural hirudin group (P>0.05). At 2 days, more microvascular structure was observed in hyperbaric oxygen group, natural hirudin group, and combined group in comparison with control group; while plenty of inflammatory cells infiltration in all groups. At 4 days, the hyperbaric oxygen group, natural hirudin group, and the combined group still showed more angiogenesis. Meanwhile, there was still infiltration of inflammatory cells in control group, inflammatory cells in the other groups were significantly reduced when compared with at 2 days. At 2 days, the MVD was significantly higher in hyperbaric oxygen group, natural hirudin group, and combined group than that in control group (P<0.05); the expression of TNF-α was significantly lower in hyperbaric oxygen group, natural hirudin group, and combined group than that in control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in above indexes between hyperbaric oxygen group, natural hirudin group, and combined group (P>0.05). At 4 days, the MVD was significantly higher in hyperbaric oxygen group, natural hirudin group, and combined group than that in control group, in natural hirudin group and combined group than in hyperbaric oxygen group (P<0.05). The expression of TNF-α was significantly lower in hyperbaric oxygen group, natural hirudin group, and combined group than that in control group, in combined group than in natural hirudin group and hyperbaric oxygen group (P<0.05).ConclusionHyperbaric oxygen and natural hirudin therapy after random-pattern skin flap transplantation can improve the survival of flaps. Moreover, combined therapy is seen to exhibit significant synergistic effect. This effect maybe related to promotion of angiogenesis and the reduction of inflammation response.
Objective To conduct a meta-analysis of the evidence on the efficacy and safety of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for vascular cognitive impairment. Methods China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chongqing VIP, Wanfang, SinoMed, PubMed, Embase, CINHAL, Cochrance Library were searched for all literatures on randomized controlled trials of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for vascular cognitive impairment from the establishment of databases to May 2022. Literature screening was performed by Endnote X9 software, and meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.4.1 software. Results A total of 36 papers were included, with 3093 patients, including 1549 cases in the observation group (hyperbaric oxygen combined with drug treatment) and 1544 cases in the control group (drug treatment alone). Compared with the control group, the effective rate of the observation group [relative risk=1.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.15, 1.30), P<0.00001], the scores of Mini Mental Status Examination [mean difference (MD)=3.19, 95%CI (2.66, 3.73), P<0.00001], and the scores of Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MD=2.98, 95%CI (2.07, 3.89), P<0.00001] were better than those of the control group. There was no significant difference in adverse reactions between the observation group and the control group (P>0.05). For the scores of Activities of Daily Living, subgroup analysis showed high heterogeneity among studies, so pooled analysis was not performed. Conclusion Compared with drug therapy alone, hyperbaric oxygen combined with drug therapy can improve the cognitive function of patients with vascular cognitive impairment to a certain extent without increasing adverse reactions.
Cerebral small vessel disease refers to a series of clinical, imaging, and pathological syndromes caused by various factors affecting small blood vessels in the brain. Cognitive impairment is one of the most common complications of cerebral small vessel disease. Current researches have found that cognitive impairment is related to various factors such as hypoxia. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can achieve certain therapeutic effects by improving hypoxia. This article reviews the pathogenesis of cerebral small vessel disease, biomarkers of cerebral small vessel disease, research progress on hyperbaric oxygen therapy for cognitive impairment, and focuses on the research progress of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for mild cognitive impairment and dementia, providing more references for clinical treatment.