http://www.medicalgasresearch.com The most accessed research articles published by Medical Gas Research 2012-05-11T00:00:00Z Background: Muscle contraction during short intervals of intense exercise causes oxidative stress, whichcan play a role in the development of overtraining symptoms, including increased fatigue,resulting in muscle microinjury or inflammation. Recently it has been said that hydrogen canfunction as antioxidant, so we investigated the effect of hydrogen-rich water (HW) onoxidative stress and muscle fatigue in response to acute exercise. Methods: Ten male soccer players aged 20.9 +/- 1.3 years old were subjected to exercise tests and bloodsampling. Each subject was examined twice in a crossover double-blind manner; they weregiven either HW or placebo water (PW) for one week intervals. Subjects were requested touse a cycle ergometer at a 75 % maximal oxygen uptake (VO2) for 30 min, followed bymeasurement of peak torque and muscle activity throughout 100 repetitions of maximalisokinetic knee extension. Oxidative stress markers and creatine kinase in the peripheralblood were sequentially measured. Results: Although acute exercise resulted in an increase in blood lactate levels in the subjects givenPW, oral intake of HW prevented an elevation of blood lactate during heavy exercise. Peaktorque of PW significantly decreased during maximal isokinetic knee extension, suggestingmuscle fatigue, but peak torque of HW didn't decrease at early phase. There was nosignificant change in blood oxidative injury markers (d-ROMs and BAP) or creatine kineaseafter exercise. Conclusion: Adequate hydration with hydrogen-rich water pre-exercise reduced blood lactate levels andimproved exercise-induced decline of muscle function. Although further studies to elucidatethe exact mechanisms and the benefits are needed to be confirmed in larger series of studies,these preliminary results may suggest that HW may be suitable hydration for athletes. http://www.medicalgasresearch.com/content/2/1/12 Kosuke Aoki Atsunori Nakao Takako Adachi Yasushi Matsui Shumpei Miyakawa Medical Gas Research 2012, null:12 2012-04-20T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/2045-9912-2-12 /content/figures/2045-9912-2-12-toc.gif Medical Gas Research 2045-9912 ${item.volume} 12 2012-04-20T00:00:00Z PDF There is a controversy about the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy for the treatment of autism. This study systematically reviews the current evidences for treating of autism with HBO therapy. According to PRISMA guidelines for a systematic review, the databases of MEDLINE/Pubmed, Google Scholar, and Randomised Controlled Trials in Hyperbaric Medicine were electronically searched. In addition, medical subject heading terms and text words for hyperbaric oxygen therapy and autism were used. The main inclusion criteria were published studies which reported the original data from the trials conducted on the patients with autism and assessed outcomes with a valid and reliable instrument. A quality assessment was also conducted. The electronically search resulted in 18 title of publications. Two studies were randomized, double-blind, controlled-clinical trials. While some uncontrolled and controlled studies suggested that HBO therapy is effective for the treatment of autism, these promising effects are not replicated. Therefore, sham-controlled studies with rigorous methodology are required to be conducted in order to provide scientific evidence-based HBO therapy for autism treatment. http://www.medicalgasresearch.com/content/2/1/13 Ahmad Ghanizadeh Medical Gas Research 2012, null:13 2012-05-11T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/2045-9912-2-13 /content/figures/2045-9912-2-13-toc.gif Medical Gas Research 2045-9912 ${item.volume} 13 2012-05-11T00:00:00Z PDF Background: Hemorrhagic transformation (HT) can be a devastating complication of ischemic stroke. Hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning (HBO-PC) has been shown to improve blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in stroke models. The purpose of this study is to examine whether HBO-PC attenuates HT after focal cerebral ischemia, and to investigate whether the mechanism of HBO-PC against HT includes up-regulation of antioxidants in hyperglycemic rats. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (280-320 g) were divided into the following groups: sham, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 2 h, and MCAO treated with HBO-PC. HBO-PC was conducted giving 100% oxygen at 2.5 atm absolute (ATA), for 1 h at every 24 h interval for 5 days. At 24 h after the last session of HBO-PC, rats received an injection of 50% glucose (6 ml/kg intraperitoneally) and were subjected to MCAO 15 min later. At 24 h after MCAO, neurological behavior tests, infarct volume, blood-brain barrier permeability, and hemoglobin content were measured to evaluate the effect of HBO-PC. Western blot analysis of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) was evaluated at multiple time-points before and after MCAO. Results: HBO-PC improved neurological behavior test, and reduced infarction volume, HT and Evans blue extravasation in the ipsilateral hemisphere at 24 h after MCAO. Western blot analysis failed to demonstrate up-regulation of Nrf2 in HBO-PC group before and after MCAO. Paradoxically, HBO-PC decreased HO-1 expression at 24 h after MCAO, as compared with htMCAO group. Conclusions: HBO-PC improved neurological deficits, infarction volume, BBB disruption, and HT after focal cerebral ischemia. However, its mechanism against focal cerebral ischemia and HT may not include activation of Nrf2 and subsequent HO-1 expression. http://www.medicalgasresearch.com/content/2/1/9 Yoshiteru Soejima Robert Ostrowski Anatol Manaenko Mutsumi Fujii Jiping Tang John Zhang Medical Gas Research 2012, null:9 2012-04-11T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/2045-9912-2-9 /content/figures/2045-9912-2-9-toc.gif Medical Gas Research 2045-9912 ${item.volume} 9 2012-04-11T00:00:00Z XML This article summarized findings of current preclinical studies that implemented hydrogen administration, either in the gas or liquid form, as treatment application for neurological disorders including traumatic brain injury (TBI), surgically induced brain injury (SBI), stroke, and neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain insult (HI). Most reviewed studies demonstrated neuroprotective effects of hydrogen administration. Even though anti-oxidative potentials have been reported in several studies, further neuroprotective mechanisms of hydrogen therapy remain to be elucidated. Hydrogen may serve as an adjunct treatment for neurological disorders. http://www.medicalgasresearch.com/content/2/1/11 Jan Eckermann Paul Krafft Lorelei Shoemaker Robert Lieberson Steven Chang Austin Colohan Medical Gas Research 2012, null:11 2012-04-19T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/2045-9912-2-11 /content/figures/2045-9912-2-11-toc.gif Medical Gas Research 2045-9912 ${item.volume} 11 2012-04-19T00:00:00Z XML Background: Traditionally, hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) has been used to treat a limited repertoire of disease, including decompression sickness and healing of problem wounds. However, some investigators have used HBOT to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Methods: Comprehensive searches were conducted in 8 scientific databases through 2011 to identify publications using HBOT in IBD. Human studies and animal models were collated separately. Results: Thirteen studies of HBOT in Crohn's disease and 6 studies in ulcerative colitis were identified. In all studies, participants had severe disease refractory to standard medical treatments, including corticosteroids, immunomodulators and anti-inflammatory medications. In patients with Crohn's disease, 31/40 (78%) had clinical improvements with HBOT, while all 39 patients with ulcerative colitis improved. One study in Crohn's disease reported a significant decrease in proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha) and one study in ulcerative colitis reported a decrease in IL-6 with HBOT. Adverse events were minimal. Twelve publications reported using HBOT in animal models of experimentally-induced IBD, including several studies reporting decreased markers of inflammation or immune dysregulation, including TNF-alpha (3 studies), IL-1beta (2 studies), neopterin (1 study) and myeloperoxidase activity (5 studies). HBOT also decreased oxidative stress markers including malondialdehyde (3 studies) and plasma carbonyl content (2 studies), except for one study that reported increased plasma carbonyl content. Several studies reported HBOT lowered nitric oxide (3 studies) and nitric oxide synthase (3 studies) and one study reported a decrease in prostaglandin E2 levels. Four animal studies reported decreased edema or colonic tissue weight with HBOT, and 8 studies reported microscopic improvements on histopathological examination. Although most publications reported improvements with HBOT, some studies suffered from limitations, including possible publication and referral biases, the lack of a control group, the retrospective nature and a small number of participants. Conclusions: HBOT lowered markers of inflammation and oxidative stress and ameliorated IBD in both human and animal studies. Most treated patients were refractory to standard medical treatments. Additional studies are warranted to investigate the effects of HBOT on biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation as well as clinical outcomes in individuals with IBD. http://www.medicalgasresearch.com/content/2/1/6 Daniel Rossignol Medical Gas Research 2012, null:6 2012-03-15T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/2045-9912-2-6 /content/figures/2045-9912-2-6-toc.gif Medical Gas Research 2045-9912 ${item.volume} 6 2012-03-15T00:00:00Z XML Volatile anesthetics are one class of the most commonly used drugs. However, the mechanisms for these drugs to induce anesthesia are not fully understood and have been under intensive investigation. Two other effects of these anesthetics on the central nervous system, volatile anesthetics-induced neuroprotection and neurotoxicity, currently are hot research fields. Although data from animal studies for these two effects are extensive and convincing, clinical data for volatile anesthetics-induced neuroprotection are relatively weak. There is essentially lack of evidence to suggest volatile anesthetics-induced neurotoxicity in humans. In this regard, the contribution of general anesthesia/anesthetics to postoperative cognitive decline, a clinical entity whose existence has been supported by substantial evidence, also has not been established. This paper will be focused on reviewing the evidence, especially the clinical evidence, for volatile anesthetics-induced neuroprotection and neurotoxicity. Efforts will be devoted to facilitating the understanding of the two seemingly contradictory effects of these important drugs on the brain. http://www.medicalgasresearch.com/content/2/1/10 Zhiyi Zuo Medical Gas Research 2012, null:10 2012-04-17T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/2045-9912-2-10 /content/figures/2045-9912-2-10-toc.gif Medical Gas Research 2045-9912 ${item.volume} 10 2012-04-17T00:00:00Z XML This report summarizes a brief description/history of the Hydrogen Research Meetings as well as key presentations/oral abstracts delivered in the most recent symposium. Additionally, we introduced 38 diseases and physiological states for which hydrogen exhibits beneficial effects. http://www.medicalgasresearch.com/content/1/1/10 Shigeo Ohta Atsunori Nakao Kinji Ohno Medical Gas Research 2011, null:10 2011-06-07T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/2045-9912-1-10 /content/figures/2045-9912-1-10-toc.gif Medical Gas Research 2045-9912 ${item.volume} 10 2011-06-07T00:00:00Z XML Background: Cancer patients receiving radiotherapy often experience fatigue and impaired quality of life (QOL). Many side effects of radiotherapy are believed to be associated with increased oxidative stress and inflammation due to the generation of reactive oxygen species during radiotherapy. Hydrogen can be administered as a therapeutic medical gas, has antioxidant properties, and reduces inflammation in tissues. This study examined whether hydrogen treatment, in the form of hydrogen-supplemented water, improved QOL in patients receiving radiotherapy. Methods: A randomized, placebo-controlled study was performed to evaluate the effects of drinking hydrogen-rich water on 49 patients receiving radiotherapy for malignant liver tumors. Hydrogen-rich water was produced by placing a metallic magnesium stick into drinking water (final hydrogen concentration; 0.55~0.65 mM). The Korean version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer's QLQ-C30 instrument was used to evaluate global health status and QOL. The concentration of derivatives of reactive oxidative metabolites and biological antioxidant power in the peripheral blood were assessed. Results: The consumption of hydrogen-rich water for 6 weeks reduced reactive oxygen metabolites in the blood and maintained blood oxidation potential. QOL scores during radiotherapy were significantly improved in patients treated with hydrogen-rich water compared to patients receiving placebo water. There was no difference in tumor response to radiotherapy between the two groups. Conclusions: Daily consumption of hydrogen-rich water is a potentially novel, therapeutic strategy for improving QOL after radiation exposure. Consumption of hydrogen-rich water reduces the biological reaction to radiation-induced oxidative stress without compromising anti-tumor effects. http://www.medicalgasresearch.com/content/1/1/11 Ki-Mun Kang Young-Nam Kang Ihil-Bong Choi Yeunhwa Gu Tomohiro Kawamura Yoshiya Toyoda Atsunori Nakao Medical Gas Research 2011, null:11 2011-06-07T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/2045-9912-1-11 /content/figures/2045-9912-1-11-toc.gif Medical Gas Research 2045-9912 ${item.volume} 11 2011-06-07T00:00:00Z XML Radiation exposure to astronauts could be a significant obstacle for long duration manned space exploration because of current uncertainties regarding the extent of biological effects. Furthermore, concepts for protective shielding also pose a technically challenging issue due to the nature of cosmic radiation and current mass and power constraints with modern exploration technology. The concern regarding exposure to cosmic radiation is biological damage that is associated with increased oxidative stress. It is therefore important and would be enabling to mitigate and/or prevent oxidative stress prior to the development of clinical symptoms and disease. This paper hypothesizes a "systems biology" approach in which a combination of chemical and biological mitigation techniques are used conjunctively. It proposes using new, therapeutic, medical gases as chemical radioprotectors for radical scavenging and as biological signaling molecules for management of the body's response to exposure. From reviewing radiochemistry of water, biological effects of CO, H2, NO, and H2S gas, and mechanisms of radiation biology, it can be concluded that this approach may have therapeutic potential for radiation exposure. Furthermore, it also appears to have similar potential for curtailing the pathogenesis of other diseases in which oxidative stress has been implicated including cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic inflammatory disease, hypertension, ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, cataracts, and aging. We envision applying these therapies through inhalation of gas mixtures or ingestion of water with dissolved gases. http://www.medicalgasresearch.com/content/2/1/8 Michael Schoenfeld Rafat Ansari Atsunori Nakao David Wink Medical Gas Research 2012, null:8 2012-04-04T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/2045-9912-2-8 /content/figures/2045-9912-2-8-toc.gif Medical Gas Research 2045-9912 ${item.volume} 8 2012-04-04T00:00:00Z XML Recent speculative articles in the medical literature have indicted certain inhalational anesthetics as contributing to global warming. This unfounded speculation may have deleterious patient impact http://www.medicalgasresearch.com/content/2/1/7 George Mychaskiw Medical Gas Research 2012, null:7 2012-03-25T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/2045-9912-2-7 /content/figures/2045-9912-2-7-toc.gif Medical Gas Research 2045-9912 ${item.volume} 7 2012-03-25T00:00:00Z XML