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Frontiers in Pharmacology 2022In recent years, inert gases such as helium, argon, and xenon have gained considerable attention for their medical value. Noble gases present an intriguing scientific... (Review)
Review
In recent years, inert gases such as helium, argon, and xenon have gained considerable attention for their medical value. Noble gases present an intriguing scientific paradox: although extremely chemically inert, they display a remarkable spectrum of clinically useful biological properties. Despite a relative paucity of knowledge about their mechanisms of action, some noble gases have been used successfully in clinical practice. The neuroprotection elicited by these noble gases has been investigated in experimental animal models of various types of brain injuries, such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, cerebral ischemic/reperfusion injury, and neurodegenerative diseases. Collectively, these central nervous system injuries are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality every year worldwide. Treatment options are presently limited to thrombolytic drugs and clot removal for ischemic stroke, or therapeutic cooling for other brain injuries before the application of noble gas. Currently, there is increasing interest in noble gases as novel treatments for various brain injuries. In recent years, neuroprotection elicited by particular noble gases, xenon, for example, has been reported under different conditions. In this article, we have reviewed the latest and experimental and clinical studies of the actions of xenon, argon, and helium, and discuss their potential use as neuroprotective agents.
PubMed: 36532733
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1028688 -
International Journal of Molecular... Oct 2016The noble gas argon has attracted increasing attention in recent years, especially because of its neuroprotective properties. In a variety of models, ranging from... (Review)
Review
The noble gas argon has attracted increasing attention in recent years, especially because of its neuroprotective properties. In a variety of models, ranging from oxygen-glucose deprivation in cell culture to complex models of mid-cerebral artery occlusion, subarachnoid hemorrhage or retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in animals, argon administration after individual injury demonstrated favorable effects, particularly increased cell survival and even improved neuronal function. As an inert molecule, argon did not show signs of adverse effects in the in vitro and in vivo model used, while being comparably cheap and easy to apply. However, the molecular mechanism by which argon is able to exert its protective and beneficial characteristics remains unclear. Although there are many pieces missing to complete the signaling pathway throughout the cell, it is the aim of this review to summarize the known parts of the molecular pathways and to combine them to provide a clear insight into the cellular pathway, starting with the receptors that may be involved in mediating argons effects and ending with the translational response.
Topics: Animals; Argon; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Intracellular Space; Neuroprotection; Neuroprotective Agents; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 27809248
DOI: 10.3390/ijms17111816 -
Medical Gas Research 2023The noble gas argon has demonstrated biological activity that may prove useful as a medical intervention. Pharmacokinetics, the disposition of the drug molecule in the...
The noble gas argon has demonstrated biological activity that may prove useful as a medical intervention. Pharmacokinetics, the disposition of the drug molecule in the body through time, is fundamental necessary knowledge to drug discovery, development and even post-marketing. The fundamental measurement in pharmacokinetic studies is blood concentration of the molecule (and its metabolites) of interest. While a physiologically based model of argon pharmacokinetics has appeared in the literature, no experimental data have been published. Thus, argon pharmaceutical development requires measurement of argon solubility in blood. This paper reports on the development of a technique based on mass spectrometry for measuring argon solubility in liquids, including blood, to be further employed in pharmacokinetics testing of argon. Based on a prototype, results are reported from sensitivity experiments using ambient air, water and rabbit blood. The key takeaway is that the system was sensitive to argon during all of the testing. We believe the technique and prototype of the quadrupole mass spectrometer gas analyzer will be capable of inferring argon pharmacokinetics through the analysis of blood samples.
Topics: Animals; Rabbits; Argon; Solubility; Mass Spectrometry; Air; Water
PubMed: 37077120
DOI: 10.4103/2045-9912.351106 -
Brain Research Bulletin Jun 2024Ischemic stroke (IS), primarily caused by cerebrovascular obstruction, results in severe neurological deficits and has emerged as a leading cause of death and disability... (Review)
Review
Ischemic stroke (IS), primarily caused by cerebrovascular obstruction, results in severe neurological deficits and has emerged as a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Recently, there has been increasing exploration of the neuroprotective properties of the inert gas argon. Argon has exhibited impressive neuroprotection in many in vivo and ex vivo experiments without signs of adverse effects, coupled with the advantages of being inexpensive and easily available. However, the efficient administration strategy and underlying mechanisms of neuroprotection by argon in IS are still unclear. This review summarizes current research on the neuroprotective effects of argon in IS with the goal to provide effective guidance for argon application and to elucidate the potential mechanisms of argon neuroprotection. Early and appropriate argon administration at as high a concentration as possible offers favorable neuroprotection in IS. Argon inhalation has been shown to provide some long-term protection benefits. Argon provides the anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic cytoprotective effects mainly around Toll-like receptor 2/4 (TLR2/4), mediated by extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-ĸB) and B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2). Therefore, argon holds significant promise as a novel clinical neuroprotective gas agent for ischemic stroke after further researches to identify the optimal application strategy and elucidate the underlying mechanism.
Topics: Argon; Neuroprotective Agents; Animals; Humans; Ischemic Stroke; Oxidative Stress; Neuroprotection; Brain Ischemia
PubMed: 38670471
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2024.110964 -
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics of... Apr 2017Weight regain after bariatric surgery is common and can be managed with surgical interventions or less morbid endoscopic techniques. These endoscopic approaches target... (Review)
Review
Weight regain after bariatric surgery is common and can be managed with surgical interventions or less morbid endoscopic techniques. These endoscopic approaches target structural postoperative changes that are associated with weight regain, most notably dilation of the gastrojejunal anastomosis aperture. Purse string suture placement, as well as argon plasma coagulation application to the anastomosis, may result in significant and durable weight loss. Furthermore, various endoscopic approaches may be used to safely and effectively manage other complications of bariatric surgery that may result in poor weight loss or weight regain after surgery, including fistula formation.
Topics: Anastomosis, Surgical; Argon Plasma Coagulation; Bariatric Surgery; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; Humans; Obesity; Postoperative Complications; Reoperation; Stomach
PubMed: 28292402
DOI: 10.1016/j.giec.2016.12.007 -
Journal of Ophthalmic & Vision Research 2022In this case-control study, we measured visual acuity, objective refraction, ocular biometric parameters, and strabismus in premature cases classified according to the...
PURPOSE
In this case-control study, we measured visual acuity, objective refraction, ocular biometric parameters, and strabismus in premature cases classified according to the following categories: argon laser-treated retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), untreated spontaneously regressed ROP, no ROP, and full-term controls.
METHODS
Cases with a history of prematurity at six years of age were categorized into the following groups: patients with a history of treated type 1 ROP using argon laser (group I), untreated spontaneously regressed ROP (group II), and no history of ROP (group III). Group IV included age-matched healthy full-term controls. Funduscopy was performed for all the cases and the control group.
RESULTS
In total, 24 eyes of 12 laser-treated ROP cases, 186 eyes of 93 spontaneously regressed ROP patients, 74 eyes of 37 premature cases with no history of ROP, and 286 eyes of 143 controls were included in the study. The mean spherical equivalent in the treated cases was not significantly different from that in the untreated cases and patients in group III. However, the average cylindrical power was significantly different among the groups ( 0.004). Furthermore, anisometropia ( 1.5 diopters) was diagnosed with a higher rate in the treated cases ( = 0.03). The corneal curvature of the laser-treated eyes was significantly steeper and the axial length was significantly shorter than those in the other groups ( 0.002 and 0.001, respectively, for multivariate analysis). Strabismus was found in three treated patients (25%). Additionally, there were three treated eyes (12.5%) diagnosed with macular dragging.
CONCLUSION
Premature cases including those who had a history of argon laser-treated ROP and those with untreated spontaneously regressed ROP showed acceptable long-term visual and refractive outcomes along with a fairly low rate of ocular disorders.
PubMed: 36160100
DOI: 10.18502/jovr.v17i3.11576 -
World Journal of Gastrointestinal... Feb 2016Chronic radiation proctopathy (CRP) is a troublesome complication of pelvic radiotherapy. The most common presentation is rectal bleeding. CRP symptoms interfere with... (Review)
Review
Chronic radiation proctopathy (CRP) is a troublesome complication of pelvic radiotherapy. The most common presentation is rectal bleeding. CRP symptoms interfere with daily activities and decrease quality of life. Rectal bleeding management in patients with CRP represents a conundrum for practitioners. Medical therapy is ineffective in general and surgical approach has a high morbid-mortality. Endoscopy has a role in the diagnosis, staging and treatment of this disease. Currently available endoscopic modalities are formalin, potassium titanyl phosphate laser, neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser, argon laser, bipolar electrocoagulation (BiCAP), heater probe, band ligation, cryotherapy, radiofrequency ablation and argon plasma coagulation (APC). Among these options, APC is the most promising.
PubMed: 26981189
DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v8.i2.151 -
International Journal of Infectious... Oct 2022Mask usage has increased over the last few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a mask shortage. Furthermore, their prolonged use causes skin problems...
OBJECTIVES
Mask usage has increased over the last few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a mask shortage. Furthermore, their prolonged use causes skin problems related to bacterial overgrowth. To overcome these problems, atmospheric pressure cold plasma was studied as an alternative technology for mask disinfection.
METHODS
Different microorganisms (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp.), different gases (nitrogen, argon, and air), plasma power (90-300 W), and treatment times (45 seconds to 5 minutes) were tested.
RESULTS
The best atmospheric pressure cold plasma treatment was the one generated by nitrogen gas at 300 W and 1.5 minutes. Testing of breathing and filtering performance and microscopic and visual analysis after one and five plasma treatment cycles, highlighted that these treatments did not affect the morphology or functional capacity of the masks.
CONCLUSION
Considering the above, we strongly believe that atmospheric pressure cold plasma could be an inexpensive, eco-friendly, and sustainable mask disinfection technology enabling their reusability and solving mask shortage.
Topics: Argon; Atmospheric Pressure; COVID-19; Disinfection; Escherichia coli; Humans; Nitrogen; Pandemics; Plasma Gases
PubMed: 35995313
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.08.012 -
British Journal of Anaesthesia Mar 2018Despite the global burden of brain injury, neuroprotective agents remain elusive. There are no clinically effective therapies which reduce mortality or improve long-term... (Review)
Review
Despite the global burden of brain injury, neuroprotective agents remain elusive. There are no clinically effective therapies which reduce mortality or improve long-term cognitive outcome. Ventilation could be an easily modifiable variable in resuscitation; gases are relatively simple to administer. Xenon is the prototypic agent of a new generation of experimental treatments which show promise. However, use is hindered by its prohibitive cost and anaesthetic properties. Argon is an attractive option, being cheaper, easy to transport, non-sedating, and mechanistically distinct from xenon. In vitro and in vivo models provide evidence of argon reducing brain injury, with improvements in neurocognitive, histological, and biomarker metrics, as well as improved survival. Current data suggest that the effect of argon is mediated via the toll-like receptors 2 and 4, the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI-3K)-AKT pathways. Ventilation with argon appears to be safe in pigs and preliminary human trials. Given recent evidence that arterial hyperoxia may be harmful, the supplementation of high-concentration argon may not necessitate changes to clinical practice. Given the logistic benefits, and the evidence for argon neuroprotection summarized in this manuscript, we believe that the time has come to consider developing Phase II clinical trials to assess its benefit in acute neurological injury.
Topics: Animals; Argon; Brain Injuries; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Neuroprotection; Neuroprotective Agents
PubMed: 29452802
DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2017.10.017 -
International Journal of Molecular... Oct 2014Argon belongs to the group of noble gases, which are regarded as chemically inert. Astonishingly some of these gases exert biological properties and during the last... (Review)
Review
Argon belongs to the group of noble gases, which are regarded as chemically inert. Astonishingly some of these gases exert biological properties and during the last decades more and more reports demonstrated neuroprotective and organoprotective effects. Recent studies predominately use in vivo or in vitro models for ischemic pathologies to investigate the effect of argon treatment. Promising data has been published concerning pathologies like cerebral ischemia, traumatic brain injury and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. However, models applied and administration of the therapeutic gas vary. Here we provide a systematic review to summarize the available data on argon's neuro- and organoprotective effects and discuss its possible mechanism of action. We aim to provide a summary to allow further studies with a more homogeneous setting to investigate possible clinical applications of argon.
Topics: Animals; Argon; Brain; Brain Injuries; Brain Ischemia; Humans; Neuroprotective Agents
PubMed: 25310646
DOI: 10.3390/ijms151018175