Ines Drenjančević

University of Osijek Croatia

Ines Drenjančević, MD, PhD is a tenure-track professor of physiology and immunology and Chair of the Dept of Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Osijek, University Josip Juraj Strossmayer Osijek. She has obtained her PhD in Physiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA (2004); MD degree (1993) and MS degree in clinical immunology and allergology (1997) from the Faculty of Medicine University of Zagreb, Croatia. Her research has been funded at national and international level. At the moment, she is PI of CSF project and co-leader of the national Scientific Centre of Excellence for Personalized Health Care. Her interests: mechanisms of microvascular reactivity, effects of various diets (high salt intake, functional food, microelements) and hyperbaric oxygenation-with the common denominator of oxygen sensing and metabolism of arachidonic acid.

Ines Drenjančević

1books edited

4chapters authored

Latest work with IntechOpen by Ines Drenjančević

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBO2) is a widely accepted adjuvant therapy in various health conditions that exhibit impaired tissue blood flow. At high pressures, the delivery of the dissolved oxygen in plasma is enhanced, which contributes to better tissue oxygenation, cellular metabolism and ultimately, healing. However, this is not the only beneficial outcome of HBO2 treatment since oxygen is a highly reactive molecule and can induce upregulation of many enzymatic systems in the cell at the cellular, genetic and molecular level. Particularly, vascular/endothelial function is affected by the HBO2. Our understanding of these mechanisms is still emerging. There have been many controversies related to the HBO2 protocols and indications. As well as exhibiting beneficiary effects on the tissue perfusion, it is known that HBO2 demonstrates high toxicity at higher pressures, due to increased oxidative stress and barotrauma. On the other hand, there is a lack of translation of the knowledge on the mechanisms of action of HBO2 obtained from the experimental research to the clinical practice. Thus, this book presents the reader with an overview of the current knowledge on the mechanisms of HBO2 effects in various experimental models and clinical treatment protocols, in an attempt to provide a better understanding of how and when HBO2 should be used as an effective therapy without unwanted side effects.

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