What Researchers Did
Researchers investigated whether a single exposure to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) increased circulating nucleosomes and induced apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in 29 healthy volunteers.
What They Found
Circulating nucleosomes were significantly elevated 24 hours after HBO2 exposure (p<0.01). However, caspase-3 activation and mRNA levels of Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, and Bax in mononuclear cells were not significantly altered.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy, this study suggests that a single treatment may not lead to significant immune cell death. This could alleviate concerns about potential immunosuppressive effects from single HBO2 exposures.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was not conducted in Canada nor involved Canadian participants or institutions.
Study Limitations
The study's findings are limited to a single hyperbaric oxygen exposure in healthy volunteers, which may not reflect effects in patients or with repeated treatments.