Evaluation of the effects of hyperbaric on human attention functions based on eye movements recorded using an infrared camera.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the influence of elevated atmospheric pressure on the functions of attention of medical personnel working in hyperbaric chambers. We enrolled 15 participants who met the inclusion criteria. The test consisted of performing the same medical procedure under 2 conditions. For each of these test conditions, right eye movements were recorded using an oculograph. The obtained results revealed a relationship between elevated atmospheric pressure and the ability of medical personnel to focus. OBJECTIVES: To assess the influence of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) on visual attention in medical personnel during medical activities performed under normobaric (1 absolute atmosphere (1 ATA)) and hyperbaric (4 ATA) conditions inside a hyperbaric chamber. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Each participant had a valid license to act as a medical attendant during therapeutic hyperbaric sessions. Fifteen individuals, 10 men and 5 women aged between 28 and 65 years, participated in the study. The participants were asked to perform a medical procedure involving the preparation of a syringe with a drug administered by an infusion pump under 2 test conditions: 1 ATA corresponding to the atmospheric pressure on land, and 4 ATA corresponding to an underwater depth of 30 m. The order of test conditions was random. Both test conditions were performed inside a hyperbaric chamber. RESULTS: The number of fixations in the area of interest (AOI) varied between stages (1, 2 and 3) and task conditions (1 ATA and 4 ATA), with lower values for the 4 ATA condition. Under 1 ATA, 30% of eye fixations were in the AOI, as compared to only 6% under 4 ATA. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results indicate that elevated atmospheric pressure has negative effects on the attention of medical personnel.

Effectiveness of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia: The Primary Results of a Randomised Clinical Trial.

Mortality in COVID-19 is mainly associated with respiratory failure, cytokine storm, and macrophage activation. Oxygenation and anti-inflammatory effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) suggest that it is a promising adjunct treatment for COVID-19. Repeated sessions of HBO with standard COVID-19 therapy were used to reduce the inflammation and increase oxygenation. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of HBOT in avoiding the replacement ventilation and/or ECMO and its effect on the inflammatory process. Twenty-eight moderate-to-severe COVID-19 patients were randomized into control or HBOT group. HBOT patients participated in 5 hyperbaric sessions (60 min). Before and after each session blood gas levels and vital parameters were monitored. Blood samples were collected for extended biochemical tests, blood morphology and immunological assays. There were 3 deaths in the control, no deaths in the HBOT group. No adverse events leading to discontinuation of HBOT were observed and patients receiving HBOT required lower oxygen delivery. We observed decrease in CRP, ferritin and LDH and increase in CD3 in HBOT group compared to control. This study confirmed the feasibility and safety of HBOT in patients with COVID-19 and indicated HBOT can lead to alleviation of inflammation and partial restoration of T cell responses.

Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygenation on Blood Cytokines and Arginine Derivatives; No Evidence for Induction of Inflammation or Endothelial Injury.

(1) Background: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) uses 100% oxygen delivered at 1.5-3 times the atmospheric pressure in a specialised chamber to achieve supraphysiological oxygen tension in blood and tissues. Besides its target, HBOT may affect inflammation, endothelial function or angiogenesis. This study analysed the effect of HBOT on blood concentrations of factors that may affect these processes in patients with necrotizing soft-tissue infections (NSTI), aseptic bone necrosis (ABN) and idiopathic sudden sensory neural hearing loss (ISSNHL). (2) Methods: Concentrations asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and other arginine derivatives were measured with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, whereas ELISA was used to quantitate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cytokines (IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TGF-ß) before and after HBOT in 80 patients (NSTI n = 21, ISSNHL n = 53, ABN n = 6). (3) Results: While some differences were noted between patient groups in ADMA and other arginine derivatives as well as in cytokine concentrations, HBOT did not affect any of these parameters. (4) Conclusions: While cytokines and arginine derivatives concentrations were modified by underlying pathology, hyperbaric oxygenation did not immediately modify it suggesting that it is neutral for inflammation and is not inducing endothelial injury.