Researchers at the Institute of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine of the Tomsk State Research Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences have discovered that xenon inhalation is effective in the treatment of pulmonary ventilation dysfunction, and developed a device to perform the procedure. The new technology is unique globally and at a very low cost.
Currently, respiratory failure and resulting hypoxemia (symptoms of acute COVID-19 or post-COVID-19 symptoms) are treated with oxygen therapy, nitric oxide, helium, exogenous surfactants, and Specific variants of antiviral and anticytokine drugs for treatment. However, the effectiveness of these approaches is open to discussion.
Vladimir Udut, MD, deputy director of the Institute of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine of the Tomsk National Research Medical Center, said that performing a procedure that increases blood oxygen saturation requires Understand how this effect is achieved, and understand the mechanisms that improve oxygen supply when the lungs are damaged.
At the end of 2020, researchers from Tomsk University found that patients who were infected with the new coronavirus and suffered from confusion and felt great stress had significantly improved respiratory function after xenon inhalation treatment.
Xenon is a rare gas and is the last chemical element in the fifth cycle of the periodic table. Due to its tropism (attachment) to a number of specific receptors, xenon can modulate the excitability of nerve tissue and act as a hypnotic and anti-stress, thereby preventing neurological diseases.
The researchers found that because xenon has the ability to restore gas exchange between alveoli and capillaries and surfactants (a type of alveoli that line the alveoli and protect them from closing due to low surface tension during exhalation) The unique ability of substance) function, so as to achieve therapeutic effect. In this way, xenon inhalation creates the necessary conditions for the transfer of oxygen from the inhaled air into the blood, an effect seen with conventional pulse oximeters.
Udut said that at present, there is no similar technology in global practice, and the inhalation device can be produced with 3D printers at low cost. Hypoxemia during respiratory failure can cause stress, which can lead to confusion. By eliminating lung ventilation dysfunction with xenon, stress and confusion can be prevented.