Lasers in Medical Science最新文献

Background: Laser acupuncture (LA) is an emerging therapeutic modality that employs non-invasive laser irradiation to induce biological effects and enhance physiological functions. Its application in clinical settings has become widespread, with extensive research supporting its efficacy in rehabilitation and various medical treatments.

Objective: This study utilized CiteSpace to perform a visual analysis of 957 LA-related publications (1996-2024), aiming to identify evolving research trends, track the progression of LA in medical fields, and offer insights for future investigations.

Methods: Literature on LA from the Web of Science (WOS) Core Collection (1996-2024) was analyzed using CiteSpace. Visualization maps were generated for keywords, authors, institutions, and journals. Co-occurrence, clustering, and burst detection analyses were conducted on author networks, national collaborations, and keyword trends.

Results and conclusion: A total of 957 studies were analyzed. Key findings include: (1) LA demonstrates significant interdisciplinary potential, meriting further exploration. (2) Future research should extend beyond efficacy assessments and systematic reviews to explore innovative perspectives and broaden research directions.

This paper aimed to verify how a new protocol, recently proposed for treating chronic wounds due to its excellent antimicrobial properties, affects human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). Single and combined action of light-emitting diodes (LED), complex magnetic fields (CMFs), and methylglyoxal (MGO) on cell viability and activity of NHDFs were investigated. Our first objective was to exclude any toxicity of this combined treatment on these cells. NHDFs were exposed to LED light for 17 min, CMFs for 22 min, MGO, MGO + LED, and MGO + CMFs, and then were assessed for cell viability, morphology, cytoskeletal integrity, collagen type I production, and migration capacity. Results of combined treatments were compared with those of single treatments and unexposed controls. NHDFs exposed to both single and combined treatments maintained viability, morphology, and cytoskeletal integrity, showing no signs of cytotoxicity. MGO at low concentrations was non-toxic and, when combined with other technologies, could confer beneficial effects on cell adhesion. LED stimulated collagen type I synthesis, and the production increased in samples subjected to the combined action of MGO + LED. CMFs notably accelerated fibroblasts' migration in scratch assays, and when combined with MGO, they further enhanced this effect. The effects of MGO + LED and MGO + CMFs were probably due to cellular uptake and receptor sensitivity. The tested protocols were not only non-toxic but also promoted beneficial effects on the vitality and activity of dermal fibroblasts, confirming their potential in treating chronic wounds.

Laser radiation involving the mid-infrared range of a 1470 nm wavelength (the "water", or W-laser) coincides with the absorption peak in water and is recognized as one the most effective methods for performing endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) of varicose veins in patients with chronic venous disease (CVD). The mechanism of action on the vein of laser radiation with a 1470 nm wavelength ensures direct action on all layers of the vein wall and thermal damage. This study was brought up to evaluate the effects of low-energy EVLA with the use of a 1470-nm laser with the average linear endovenous energy density (LEED) of 80 J/cm, on the key serum biomarkers of vascular inflammation and remodeling. We have additionally assessed patients' quality-of-life (QoL). To study the effects of low-energy EVLA with the use of a 1470-nm laser on vascular inflammation and remodeling parameters in patients with CVD. In this prospective cohort study subjects with symptomatic varicose veins, clinical class C2-C3 according to the CEAP classification (N = 95) were allocated non-randomly to four groups: group 1 - control (compression stockings only); group 2 - comparison (conservative treatment with micronized purified flavonoid fraction, MPFF); group 3 - EVLA with the use of a 1470-nm laser with the average LEED of 80 J/cm; group 4 - EVLA with a 1470-nm laser with the average LEED of 80 J/cm with adjuvant MPFF therapy. Serum levels of E-selectin, MCP-1, VEGF, MMP-2 were measured. Additionally, QoL analysis was performed using a CIVIQ-20 questionnaire. Treatments were associated with significant reductions in inflammatory biomarkers including E-selectin, MCP-1, and VEGF for MPFF (p < 0.001), and E-selectin, MCP-1 and MMP-2 for EVLA (p < 0.001). EVLA with the use of a 1470-nm laser with the average LEED of 80 J/cm with adjuvant MPFF therapy was associated with most notable reductions in all studied biomarkers (p < 0.001). CIVIQ-20 was improved by 23%, 29%, 36% and 40% at 2 months in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Performing endovenous laser ablation with the use of a 1470-nm laser with the average LEED of 80 J/cm in patients with chronic venous disease is associated with a statistically significant reduction in serum biomarkers of vascular inflammation and remodelling such as E-selectin, MCP-1, VEGF, MMP-2, as well as improvement in quality of life. Adjuvant therapy with MPFF on top of EVLA gives best results in terms of improved biochemistry and QoL.

Background: It is challenging to find effective breast cancer treatments as this disease is highly varied. But photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has shown promising results, specifically with the usage of yellow light. Even so, much work is still needed to understand its effect in cancer treatment.

Objective: The aim is to determine the effect of 589 nm yellow laser light (5-20 J/cm²) at various dosages on cellular activities like metabolism, cell death (apoptosis), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, focusing on MCF-7 (ER-positive) and MDA-MB-231 (triple-negative) human breast cancer cells. This is expected to explain the drivers of photobiomodulation.

Methods: The MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells are exposed continuously to yellow light at 5, 10, 20 J/cm². After being exposed for 24 and 48 h, the cells' metabolic activity was measured using MTT assay. Apoptosis was measured using Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. ROS levels were measured using DCFH-DA assays.

Results: The dosage-based yellow light exposure substantially decreased metabolic activity and boosted cell death (apoptosis) in both breast cancer cells, more so in the MCF-7 cells than the MDA-MB-231 cells. After exposure, the ROS levels particularly for the MCF-7 cells rose substantially, suggesting the major role of oxidative stress.

Conclusion: Yellow laser exposure triggers targeted cell death and cytotoxic effects in breast cancer cells, especially in ER-positive MCF-7 cells. The findings suggest that yellow laser PBMT is promising as a treatment approach for certain breast cancers.

The 1927 nm Thulium laser has emerged as a promising tool for the treatment of dermatological conditions. This systematic review aimed to analyze the efficacy and applicability of this technology. A total of 17 studies were included, involving 448 participants with various dermatological disorders. The results indicated that the 1927 nm laser promoted improvements in skin texture, pigmentation reduction, and scar appearance, with an acceptable of safety profile. On average, treatment protocols included three sessions at monthly intervals and a follow-up of 120 days. Adverse events were mild and transient, although relapses were observed in cases of melasma. There was considerable variability in treatment parameters across studies, and most of them presented a moderate to high risk of bias. Therefore, future research is needed to standardize clinical protocols and confirm long-term effects. Nevertheless, the 1927 nm laser stands out as a valuable dermatological therapeutic resource with the potential to enhance clinical outcomes.

Purpose: Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is a major concern for women experiencing hair thinning. While minoxidil 5% (MIN) is a medically approved treatment and photobiomodulation therapy (PBMt) has shown effectiveness in stimulating hair growth, treatments typically last 24 weeks. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of combining PBMt with topical MIN for treating FPHL within a shorter 12.5-week timeframe, focusing on hair growth phases.

Methods: Nine women aged 30 to 50 years with FPHL participated. They applied MIN twice daily to the scalp throughout the treatment period. In the clinic, hair was sectioned, and one side of the scalp was randomly assigned to receive 25 sessions of red laser (100 mW, 4 J/point), delivered at 15 evenly spaced points. Treatments were administered twice a week, while the opposite side received sham irradiation. Standardized photographs, a quality of life (QoL) questionnaire, and phototrichograms were used to evaluate the outcomes.

Results: Both the MIN and PBMt + MIN groups showed significant improvements in QoL scores and hair density. Additionally, both groups experienced increased hair density and a higher percentage of hairs in the anagen phase. Remarkably, the PBMt + MIN group exhibited a significantly greater reduction in telogen-phase hairs.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that PBMt may enhance MIN therapy for FPHL, particularly in reducing telogen-phase hair counts within a shorter treatment period.

Clinical trial number: Not applicable.

The study had the main purpose of comparing the desensitizing effect of Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) and a 15% calcium sodium phosphosilicate paste (CSP-NovaMin) for the treatment of cervical dentin hypersensitivity (CDH) throughout the 6-month follow-up period (TRN #2291636, Sep/2017). In total, 67 patients were selected after a baseline evaluation with a visual analog scale, including middling and severe pain levels, above 4 cm at the scale. Patients were randomly allocated to one of the groups: Nd:YAG laser (100 mJ, 1W, 10 Hz, 83.3 J/cm²) or CSP prophy paste (60-s prophylaxis, rubber cup at low speed). Patients were treated in a single session and pain was assessed immediately, 3 months and 6 months after treatments. When more than one tooth presented CDH, a mean score per patient was considered. Patients were blind to the treatments and pain values, pain evaluator was blind to the treatments and the operator was blind to pain data. Pain relief data and absolute values were analyzed. There was no difference in pain relief between treatments and experimental time-intervals (p > 0.05). Absolute values for pain showed significant reduction in pain immediately after treatments for both groups (p < 0.05). After 6 months, pain level for Nd:YAG laser group continued to decrease (p < 0.05) while for CSP group this did not change (p > 0.05). For both groups, pain was lower than at baseline after 6 months. Both treatments were efficient in reducing CDH over 6 months and Nd:YAG laser group showed the lowest pain levels. Nd:YAG laser and CSP prophy paste should be considered efficient treatments for CDH with positive immediate and long-term effects.

To evaluate whether Er: YAG surgery and Nd: YAG-based low-level laser therapy (LLLT), combined with medical collagen, improve early postoperative outcomes after extraction of impacted mandibular third molars. Adults undergoing surgical removal of mesioangular or horizontal impacted mandibular third molars were randomized equally (1:1:1:1) to blank control (BCG), collagen only (COL), lasers only (LAS), or collagen plus lasers (COL + LAS). Primary endpoints were pain (VAS; spontaneous and swallowing; POD1/3/7), swelling (POD1/3/7), trismus (POD1/3/7), and early mucosal healing (POD3/7). Secondary endpoints were bleeding (30 min post-extraction only), cutaneous induration/ecchymosis (POD7), alveolar osteitis (POD3/7), and local cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α; POD3/7). In 120 patients, COL + LAS was superior: less pain, swelling, and trismus at POD1/3 and higher early mucosal-healing rates at POD3/7 than BCG, COL, or LAS; by POD7, between-group differences in pain, swelling, and trismus were minimal. All active arms reduced 30-min bleeding versus BCG. At POD7, cutaneous induration was lowest with COL + LAS (ecchymosis not significant). Cytokines declined overall; IL-1β and TNF-α were lowest with COL + LAS at POD3/7, whereas IL-6 decreased similarly across active arms. Er: YAG surgery plus Nd: YAG-based LLLT with medical collagen improved short-term recovery after impacted mandibular third-molar surgery.

This self-controlled prospective study evaluated the efficacy and safety of 450 nm blue laser-mediated aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-BL-PDT) in 28 patients with plaque psoriasis. Participants received four treatment sessions at two-week intervals. At two weeks post-treatment, 67.9% (19/28) achieved Physician Global Assessment (PGA) scores of 0 or 1 (clear or almost clear). Treatment response correlated significantly with baseline disease severity, with higher efficacy observed in patients with body surface area (BSA) ≤ 5% (84.2%) and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) ≤ 5 (86.7%) (both p < 0.05). Treatment-associated pain was well-tolerated and decreased significantly after the first session. The one-year recurrence rate among responders was 47.4% (9/19). These preliminary results suggest ALA-BL-PDT may be effective and well-tolerated treatment for mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis, though larger randomized controlled trials are needed for validation.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of diode laser parameters on the thermal response and surface morphology of RBM (Resorbable Blast Media), SLA (Sandblasted, Large-grit, Acid-etched), and additively manufactured Ti6Al4V titanium surfaces, and to determine whether surface type influences heat distribution and integrity, which is clinically relevant in peri-implantitis treatment. A total of 144 titanium discs with three different surface treatments (RBM, SLA, and additively manufactured Ti6Al4V as the control group) were irradiated with a 940 nm diode laser at varying power levels (1 W, 2 W, 3 W), durations (30 s, 60 s), and modes (continuous, pulsed). Surface temperatures were recorded using thermal imaging. Morphological and elemental changes were evaluated via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) analyses. A four-way Aligned Rank Transform Analysis of Variance (ART ANOVA) was used to analyze the effects of variables. Temperature increases were significantly influenced by all tested variables (p < 0.001). The RBM group exhibited the highest peak temperature (185 °C at 3 W pulsed mode, 60 s), while SLA surfaces consistently showed the lowest (39.9 °C at 1 W continius mode, 30 s). Pulsed mode and longer exposure times produced higher temperatures, except at 1 W, which resulted in the lowest temperature rise regardless of surface treatment. SEM images revealed mild surface alterations at higher power, with RBM exhibiting localized depressions and SLA displaying minor fragmentation of surface textures. EDS analysis indicated no major changes in elemental composition post-irradiation. The study highlights that different titanium surface types respond distinctly to diode laser irradiation, with RBM surfaces being more thermally reactive. Uniform laser protocols may not be appropriate for all implant surfaces. Careful consideration of power, duration, and surface characteristics is essential to avoid potential thermal damage during peri-implantitis treatment.