Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that currently affects as many as 1 out of 166
children in the United States. Autism is considered by many to be a permanent condition with
little hope for improvement. Treatment for autism is centered on special schooling and
behavioral therapy; medical science currently has little to offer.
Recent research has discovered that some autistic individuals have decreased blood flow to
the brain, evidence of inflammation in the brain, and increased markers of oxidative stress.
Multiple independent single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission
tomography (PET) research studies have revealed hypoperfusion to several areas of the
autistic brain, most notably the temporal regions and areas specifically related to language
comprehension and auditory processing. Several studies show that diminished blood flow to
these areas correlates with many of the clinical features associated with autism including
repetitive, self-stimulatory and stereotypical behaviors, and impairments in communication,
sensory perception, and social interaction. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been used
with clinical success in several cerebral hypoperfusion syndromes including cerebral palsy,
fetal alcohol syndrome, closed head injury, and stroke. HBOT can compensate for decreased
blood flow by increasing the oxygen content of plasma and body tissues and can even normalize
oxygen levels in ischemic tissue. In addition, animal studies have shown that HBOT has potent
anti-inflammatory effects and reduces oxidative stress. Furthermore, recent evidence
demonstrates that HBOT mobilizes stem cells from human bone marrow which may aid recovery in
neurodegenerative diseases. Based upon these findings, it is hypothesized that HBOT will
improve symptoms in autistic individuals.
The purpose of this study is to determine if HBOT improves clinical outcomes in children with
autism. The study will also determine if HBOT changes markers of inflammation and oxidative
stress in autistic children.
The study is to evaluate the effectiveness of hyperbaric treatments and the potential
longer-term effects in children between the ages of 3 and 8 years with spastic cerebral palsy
(CP). One group will receive 100% oxygen and the other group will receive the equivalent of
21% oxygen (room air). The children will receive pre-treatment testing (baseline). After 40
experimental treatments are completed, the children will be retested at 0, 3, and 6 months to
evaluate any changes.
This study was designed to confirm the clinical benefits and safety of OrCel in the treatment
of venous ulcers. OrCel and standard care are compared to standard care alone. Standard care
consists of currently accepted compression therapy.
Patients are treated for 12 weeks. Patients with healed ulcers are followed for an additional
12 weeks to assess durability of the healed wound.
Study hypothesis :Hyperbaric Oxygen may prevent complications and improve outcomes in severe
lower limb trauma. We propose to investigate this hypothesis by conducting an International
multi centre randomised control trial of standard trauma/orthopaedic care with or without a
concurrent course of hyperbaric oxygen treatments.
During facial cooling and especially during breath hold, can mammals – and also humans –
elicit a so called dive reflex, causing bradycardia, peripheral vasoconstriction and
centralization of blood flow to brain, lungs and heart but the reflex is suppressed by
physical activity. The dive reflex can be elicited by breath hold alone and will be more
pronounced during simultaneously facial cooling, but not by stimulation of other skin
receptors.
The dive reflex has an oxygen conserving effect, because of intense vasoconstriction in both
viscera and muscles, and simultaneously with reduction in cardiac output (CO). Therefore
plasma lactate will rise, to compensate for the lesser regional blood flow. If one
hyperventilates with 100 % oxygen, then the reflex can still be elicited, but it is more
pronounced during asphyxia. Experienced sports divers, who has been diving for more than 7-10
years have reduced post apnea acidosis and oxidational stress, but probably also less
sensitivity for progressive hypoxia and hypercapnia, because these individuals have a more
pronounced dive reflex.
Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) gives a reproducibly value for brain perfusion by
continuously non-invasive real-time sampling. A single piezo-electrical transducer sends and
collects ultrasound through the temporal region of the scull, where it is the thinnest.
Hereby can the blood flow of arteria cerebri anterior, media (MCA) and posterior and
basilaris be estimated.
With TCD it can be shown that the cerebral blood flow rises in MCA in healthy subjects during
facial cooling, with normal ventilation, when resting in a supine position without affecting
the systemic blood pressure. Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT)-scanning
during normo-baric and hyperbaric pressure of professional divers breathing 100 % oxygen has
shown to reduce the cerebral blood flow in several regions of the brain.
But it is yet unknown how brain blood flow and metabolism are affected by an "face immersion
dive" and simultaneously prolonged physical activity, and hence a rise in lactate under
hyperbaric pressure (3 meters), breathing atmospheric air, similar to the circumstances for
trained scuba divers work.
Presumably it will cause a fall in brain blood flow and in time cognitive deficits.
Erythropoietin (rhEPO) is a well known drug, used as doping in sports for about 15 years. So
far the only known enhancement in athletic achievement by rhEPO is caused by peripheral
improvements and especially blood capability to transport oxygen to the working muscles; this
has been documented by a rise in haematocrit. rhEPO has also a neuroprotective effect on
neurons in patients with neuron damage caused by cerebral hypoxic ischeamia.
rhEPO work also on a series of cerebral mechanisms, including enhanced motor and spatial
learning and more. Enhanced motor learning may improve the professional divers choices during
work and may be also physical performance and mechanical efficiency. Intravenous injection of
rhEPO will increase rhEPO in cerebrospinal fluids, since rhEPO is capable of crossing blood
brain. All together this may indicate that rhEPO, not only works on physical performance, but
also has effects on the brain. rhEPO has also an effect on the condition of cancer and
dialysis patients, not only explained by merely increased hematocrit.
This project will add new knowledge in the understanding of the mechanisms of clinical use of
rhEPO.
The purpose of this study is to investigate, how brain blood flow and metabolism are affected
by face immersion dive and simultaneously breath hold during normo-baric and hyperbaric
pressure (3 m depth) when breathing atmospheric air in trained sports divers. IL-6, HSP-72,
lactate, ammonium and body-temperature will be measured. Brain and muscle oxygenation will be
measured by near-infrared spectroscopi (NIRS). Furthermore we will investigate whether a
small dose of rhEPO affects mentioned parameters during simulated dive in pressure chamber
with facial cooling.
Hypothesis Brain blood flow in trained divers will be diminished during prolonged physical
activity during simultaneously face immersion dive and breath hold under hyperbaric pressure.
There will be a release of IL-6 and HSP-72. Pretreatment with a small amount of rhEPO before
prolonged physical activity during simulated dive has a protective effect on brain blood flow
and oxygenation.
This study will look at the changes taking place in the blood levels of key markers of
oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is the biological equivalent of rust on a car. It changes
vital cell chemistry. It is known to occur at high pressure oxygen, but little is known about
changes at pressures slightly greater than normal atmospheric pressure.
Hyperbaric therapy is used in a variety of medical conditions. It is being tested in this
study only for safety. It is not being assessed for the ability of hyperbaric oxygen to
improve the clinical condition of children with autism.
This study was felt to be important since autism appears to be associated with oxidative
stress and hyperbarics was being used "off-label" for this condition without safety studies.
The purpose of this study is to study the effects of EARLY (no more than 24 four hours from
injury) administration of extra amounts of oxygen on traumatic brain injury.
Patients with radiation induced injuries experience significant pain and negative effects on
quality of life. Currently, no standard therapy for these patients exists, with some patients
treated symptomatically, and others treated with hyperbaric oxygen or pentoxifylline/Vitamin
E. This study will examine prospectively the safety and efficacy of using a regimen of
pentoxifylline and vitamin E in patients with late radiation induced injuries.
The principle objective of this research is to more precisely determine the degree of benefit
that hyperbaric oxygen therapy affords in the treatment of late radiation tissue injury.
The study has eight* components. Seven involve the evaluation of established radionecrosis at
varying anatomic sites (mandible, larynx, skin, bladder, rectum, colon, and gyn). The eighth
will investigate the potential of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy to prophylax against late
radiation tissue injury.
*(One of the arms, HORTIS IV – Proctitis has been closed to further patient recruitment. This
decision was based on an interim statistical analysis which generated sufficient evidence to
support closing down this arm of HORTIS.)
RATIONALE: Hyperbaric oxygen may increase blood flow and decrease swelling in areas of the
brain damaged by radiation therapy. Giving hyperbaric oxygen therapy together with
dexamethasone may be an effective treatment for radiation necrosis of the brain.
PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying how well hyperbaric oxygen therapy works
in treating patients with radiation necrosis of the brain.
