Photomedicine and laser surgery
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Photomed Laser Surg · Jul 2011
Percutaneous diode laser irradiation for lumbar discogenic pain: a clinical study.
The present study evaluated the efficiency of laser irradiation for treating discogenic low back pain. Discogenic low back pain is believed to result from the degeneration and disruption of outer fibers of the intervertebral disc annulus, leading to a cycle of persistent inflammation, damage to the disc matrix, and sensitization of developed annular nociceptors. We selected 11 patients as subjects on the basis of clinical findings and the results of provocative disc blockade. ⋯ Their mean VAS scores at the same post-treatment intervals were 3.09 ± 2.36, 2.4 ± 0.97, 2.7 ± 1.16, 2.1 ± 0.74, 2.1 ± 0.81, and 2.1 ± 0.88, respectively, versus a mean pre-treatment VAS score of 7.64 ± 1.21. The post- versus pre-treatment scores for both the ODI and VAS indicated a statistically significant clinical benefit across the full 24-month follow-up period after laser irradiation. The efficacy of laser irradiation in treating such pain may come from a thermal effect and reductions of intradiscal pressure, of the concentrations of irritant substances, and of the numbers of nociceptors in the affected region.
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Photomed Laser Surg · May 2011
Case ReportsImproved cognitive function after transcranial, light-emitting diode treatments in chronic, traumatic brain injury: two case reports.
Two chronic, traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases, where cognition improved following treatment with red and near-infrared light-emitting diodes (LEDs), applied transcranially to forehead and scalp areas, are presented. ⋯ Transcranial LED may improve cognition, reduce costs in TBI treatment, and be applied at home. Controlled studies are warranted.
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Photomed Laser Surg · Dec 2010
ReviewDoes low-level laser therapy have an antianesthetic effect? A review.
Because local anesthetics are vasodilators, they tend to be absorbed into the bloodstream from the operative field as a result of the vasodilation of peripheral arterioles. To counteract this vasodilation, vasoconstrictive agents are often included in local anesthetic solutions to provide a longer duration of anesthesia. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has the same benefits, such as microcirculation activation and more-efficient tissue metabolism, analgesic effects, and vasodilatation. ⋯ We review whether LLLT applied postoperatively to operated-on areas has an antianesthetic effect, that is, whether pain in the first hours after surgery was greater for patients who received LLLT than for control patients. Not too much evidence supports the antianesthetic effects of LLLT. However, additional experimental and clinical studies must be performed to investigate the effects of LLLT on the duration of anesthesia.
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Photomed Laser Surg · Oct 2010
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyTetrahydrocurcuminoid cream plus targeted narrowband UVB phototherapy for vitiligo: a preliminary randomized controlled study.
The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of targeted narrowband UVB phototherapy plus topical tetrahydrocurcuminoid with that of targeted narrowband UVB monotherapy for induction of repigmentation in vitiligo. ⋯ Targeted narrowband UVB phototherapy plus topical tetrahydrocurcuminoid cream was slightly more effective than targeted narrowband UVB monotherapy for vitiligo located in UV-sensitive areas. However, the differences in degrees of repigmentation did not reach statistically significant levels.
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Photomed Laser Surg · Oct 2010
Comparative StudyPolarized light (λ400-2000 nm) on third-degree burns in diabetic rats: immunohistochemical study.
The aim of this study was to evaluate with light microscopy the healing process of third-degree burns on diabetic rats treated with polarized light (λ400-2000 nm, 20 or 40 J/cm(2)/session, 40 mW/cm(2), 2.4 J/cm(2)/min, 5.5-cm beam diameter). ⋯ Our results suggest that the use of polarized light at 20 J/cm(2) effectively improves the healing of third-degree burns on diabetic animals at both early and late stages of repair.