LLLT Group Research Articles

Effect of low-level laser therapy on lung injury induced by hindlimb ischemia/reperfusion in rats.

To investigate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT 650nm) on the lung remote organ injury induced by hindlimb ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). The experiments were performed on 50 healthy mature male Wistar rats weighing mean 230 ± 20g. The rats were randomly allocated into five equal groups as follows: normal group (animals nonmanipulated), sham group (operated with no ischemia), laser group (animals nonmanipulated and irradiated with laser), I/R group, and I/R + LLLT group. Rats were prepared for sterile surgery, and then, right hindlimbs were subjected to I/R induced by the femoral artery occlusion for duration of 120min, followed by a 60-min reperfusion. The LLLT (K30 handheld probe, AZOR, Technica, Russia, 650nm, 30mW, surface area = 1cm(2), 60S/cm(2), energy density = 1.8J/cm(2)) was carried out by irradiating the rats over a unique point on the skin over the right upper bronchus for 5 and 15min after initiating reperfusion for 3min. At the end of the trial, rats were euthanized under deep anesthesia and the right lung tissues were removed. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) levels were measured in the lung tissues. The tissue samples were further examined histopathologically under light microscopy. It was found that I/R elevated MPO activity, MDA, and NO levels accompanied by a reduction in SOD activities and GSH levels (P < 0.05). LLLT restored MDA and NO levels, MPO and SOD activity, GSH levels, and lung injury scores (P < 0.05). In light of these findings, the LLLT has alleviated the lung tissue injuries after skeletal muscle I/R in this experimental model.

Comparison of Low-Level Laser Therapy versus Ozone Therapy in the Treatment of Oral Lichen Planus.

BackgroundThe treatment options for oral lichen planus (OLP) are numerous and include topical and systemic agents. Intralesional and systemic corticosteroids are used; however, the therapeutic results are often disappointing.ObjectiveTo compare the influence of ozone, laser, and topical corticosteroid therapies in the treatment of OLP.MethodsOne hundred twenty adult patients with ≤3 cm atrophic-erosive biopsy-proven OLPs in the tongue or buccal mucosa were recruited into the study. They were randomly assigned, by preoperative envelope drawing, to be treated with low-level laser therapy (LLLT group), ozone therapy (ozonated group), and topical corticosteroid therapy (positive control group). A placebo treatment containing base ointment without the active corticosteroid component was administered to patients in the negative control group. Response rate scores were determined on the basis of changes in the appearance score and pain score of the lesions between baseline and after each treatment.ResultsThe study subjects consisted of 56 male and 64 female OLP patients with a combined mean age of 42.6±8.3 years (range, 28~55 years). No statistically significant difference was detected in clinical severity among the groups. The sign scores decreased in almost all scoring groups; however, statistically significant improvement was found in the ozonated and corticosteroid-treated groups. Symptom improvement was achieved after treatment with LLLT, ozone, and corticosteroid (p<0.05). The efficacy indices were significantly higher in the ozonated and corticosteroid-treated groups.ConclusionOzone and corticosteroid therapies were more effective than 808-nm LLLT in the treatment of OLP.

A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled randomized trial evaluating the ability of low‐level laser therapy to improve the appearance of cellulite

Cellulite is present in 90% of post-adolescent women. Several technologies have been developed for treating cellulite; however, they all involve some degree of massage or mechanical manipulation. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a low-level laser light device employing green 532 nm diodes as a stand-alone procedure without massage or mechanical manipulation for improving the appearance of cellulite in the thighs and buttocks. This double-blind study randomized subjects to undergo treatment with the LLLT device (N = 34) or sham treatment (N = 34). During a 2-week treatment phase, each subject received three weekly treatment sessions 2-3 days apart. During each session, the front and back of the hips, thighs, and waist were exposed for 15 minutes (30 minutes total). Nineteen subjects in the LLLT group achieved a decrease of one or more stages on the Nurnberger-Muller grading scale (55.88%) versus three subjects (8.82%) in the sham-treated group (P < 0.0001). Two LLLT-treated subjects achieved 2-stage improvements on the Nurnberger-Muller Scale at the 2-week study endpoint and four did at the 6-week follow-up evaluation versus none of the sham-treated subjects at either time point. Subjects treated with LLLT achieved a significant decrease in combined baseline thigh circumference at the 2-week study endpoint and 6-week follow-up evaluation (for each, p < 0.0001 vs. baseline) versus no change for sham-treated subjects. LLLT-treated subjects also showed significant decreases in mean baseline body weight (P < 0.0005), BMI (P < 0.001), and percent BSA affected by cellulite (P < 0.0005) versus no change for any parameter among sham-treated subjects. Most LLLT-treated subjects (62.1%) were Very Satisfied or Somewhat Satisfied with the improvement in cellulite they received versus 25.8% of sham-treated subjects. There were no reports of adverse events. Low-level laser therapy using green 532 nm diodes is safe and effective for improving the appearance of cellulite in the thighs and buttocks. In contrast with other technologies, LLLT is effective as a stand-alone procedure without requiring massage or mechanical manipulation. Future studies will assess the long-term benefits of LLLT for the treatment of cellulite.

Comparison of the effect of Laser Therapy and Therapeutic Ultrasound in the Management of Chronic Osteoarthritic Knee Pain: A Randomised Controlled Trail

Objective: This randomized controlled clinical trial was designed to evaluate and compare the therapeutic efficacy of Low Laser Therapy (LLLT) and Therapeutic Ultrasound (TUS) in the symptomatic management of knee osteoarthritis.Methods: Twenty two subjects with chronic osteoarthritis of the knee were recruited, aged-matched and grouped into 3 (control, LLLT &amp; TUS) groups. The control group received 18 sessions of standardized protocol care of exercise therapy (low intensity for 15 minutes and 3 times per week for 6 weeks). The LLLT and TUS groups, in addition to the standardized exercise therapy protocol received 18 LLLT (Laser class 3b, frequency of 5KHz, wave length of 810nm) treatments for 10 minutes and 18 TUS sessions (continuous, intensity: 0.5W/cm2, frequency: 1MHz) for 12 minutes respectively. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure knee pain and knee joint range of motion (ROM) was also assessed. Data was analyzed using ANOVA test to determine groups' significant difference.Results: Findings of the study revealed no significant contribution of LLLT and TUS over control (exercise) in VAS and ROM at p&lt; 0.05.Conclusions: The study affirms and concluded that exercise therapy should form the basis and bulk adjunct physical therapy in the management of osteoarthritis over Laser therapy and TUS.

Effect of Low‐Level Laser Therapy (660 nm) on Acute Inflammation Induced by Tenotomy of Achilles Tendon in Rats

In this study, we aimed to analyze the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT; 660 nm) on levels of protein expression of inflammatory mediators after cutting Achilles tendon of rats. Thirty Wistar male rats underwent partial incisions of the left Achilles tendon, and were divided into three groups of 10 animals according to the time of euthanasia after injury: 6, 24 and 72 h. Each group was then divided into control group and LLLT group (treated with 100 mW, 3.57 W cm(-2), 0.028 cm(2), 214 J cm(-2), 6 J, 60 s, single point). In LLLT group, animals were treated once time per day until the time of euthanasia established for each group. The group treated with LLLT showed a significant reduction of IL-1β compared with control groups at three time points (6 h: P=0.0401; 24 h: P=0.0015; 72 h: P=0.0463). The analysis of IL-6 showed significant reduction only in the LLLT group at 72 h compared with control group (P=0.0179), whereas IL-10 showed a significant increase in the treated group compared with control group at three experimental times (6 h: P=0.0007; 24 h: P=0.0256; 72 h: P<0.0001). We conclude that LLLT is an important modulator of inflammatory cytokines release after injury in Achilles tendon.

LOW-LEVEL LASER THERAPY AFTER CARPAL TUNNEL RELEASE

Objective: Evaluate the post-operative treatment of CTS, using the LLLT. Method: We prospectively evaluated 58 patients with CTS, randomly divided into two groups: treatment with LLLT (Group 1) and placebo (Group 2). A 830 nm gallium-aluminum-arsenic laser was used, with a power of 30 mW. Results: There was female predominance in both groups. The mean age of the patients in Group 1 was 44.3 years and in Group 2, 51.9 years. The average duration of disease progression was around two years in both groups. The average time elapsed since discharge from treatment was 3.6 months in both groups, and fewer patients had postoperative complaints in Group 1 than in Group 2. At the end of the treatment, in Group 1, 29.41% of the patients presented electromyographic abnormalities, while in Group 2, 63.64% of the patients had abnormalities, after six months. Conclusion: This was an initial study on adjuvant therapy using postoperative LLLT on CTS. The method presented was sufficient for postoperative evaluation of the patients in this study. Patients undergoing LLLT after surgery for CTS were benefited and had better functional outcomes than shown by the control group. The technique was effective and did not have any adverse effects on the patients studied.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Exercise and Laser Therapy in the Symptomatic Management of Osteoarthritis of the knee joint

Laser therapy is considered as one of the therapeutic modalities used in the management of osteoarthritis. However, its effectiveness is stillcontroversial and ambiguous. The main purpose of this study was to determine the therapeutic efficacy of Laser therapy in the management of knee osteoarthritis. Sixteen patients with chronic osteoarthritisof the knee were grouped into Low Level Laser Therapy ([LLLT], n=10) and control (n=6) groups. Both groups received standard care of exercise (mode: low intensity, time: 15 minutes) per session for 6 weeks. In addition to the exercise, the LLLT group received 18 LLLT (Laser class 3b, frequency of 5KHz, wave length of 810nm) treatments for 10 minutes. The control group received exercise therapy only. Pain (visual analogue scale [VAS]) and range of motion (ROM) for pain and stiffness respectively were assessed. Collected data was processed and analyzed using students't-test to determine if significant differences exist between theLLLTand control groups. Findings of the study revealed no significant effect of LLLT over exercise in VAS and ROM. The study affirms and concluded that exercise therapy should form the basis and bulk adjunct physical therapy in the management of osteoarthritis over Laser therapy.

Laserterapia de baixa intensidade no pós-operatório da síndrome do túnel do carpo

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o tratamento pós-operatório da síndrome do túnel do carpo (STC), utilizando-se a laserterapia de baixa intensidade (LBI). MÉTODO: Foram avaliados prospectivamente 58 pacientes portadores de STC, divididos aleatoriamente em dois grupos: tratamento com LBI (grupo 1) e placebo (grupo 2). Foi utilizado laser de 830nm, de gálio-alumínio-arsênico, e potência de 30mW. RESULTADOS: Houve predominância do sexo feminino, em ambos os grupos. A média de idade dos pacientes do grupo 1 foi de 44,3 anos e do grupo 2, de 51,9 anos. A média do tempo de evolução da doença foi aproximadamente dois anos em ambos os grupos. A média do tempo decorrido para alta do tratamento foi de 3,6 meses, em ambos os grupos, com menor número de pacientes queixosos no pós-operatório do grupo 1 do que do grupo 2. Ao fim do tratamento, no grupo 1, 29,41% dos pacientes apresentavam eletroneuromiografia alterada, enquanto que, no grupo 2, foram 63,64% dos pacientes após seis meses. CONCLUSÕES: Trata-se de estudo inicial sobre a terapêutica adjuvante utilizando LBI no pós-operatório da STC. A metodologia apresentada foi suficiente para a avaliação pós-operatória dos pacientes do estudo. Os pacientes submetidos à LBI após a cirurgia para STC foram beneficiados e obtiveram melhores resultados funcionais quando comparados ao grupo controle. A técnica foi eficaz e sem efeitos adversos nos pacientes estudados.

Low-level Infrared Laser Therapy in Chemotherapy-induced Oral Mucositis

Oral mucositis (OM) is one of the most frequent complications of chemotherapy for which there is no standard therapy; treatment is mostly conservative. This study was conducted to determine whether low-intensity laser therapy (LLLT) can reduce the duration of chemotherapy-induced OM. A placebo-controlled randomized trial was carried out using LLLT or placebo (sham treatment). Children and adolescents with cancer receiving chemotherapy or hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation between October 2005 and May 2006 were eligible as soon as they developed OM. Patients received intervention for 5 days. The LLLT group was treated with laser GaAlAs, wavelength (lambda): 830 nm (infrared), power: 100 mW, dose: 4 J/cm, and placebo group underwent sham treatment. The grade of OM was clinically assessed by the National Cancer Institute, Common Toxicity Criteria scale. Twenty-one patients developed OM and were evaluable for analysis; 18 (86%) patients had a diagnosis of leukemia or lymphoma and 3(14%) had solid tumors. The mean age was 8.2 (+/-3.1) years. Nine patients were randomized in the laser group and 12 in the placebo-control group. Once OM was diagnosed, the patients had daily OM grading assessments before laser or sham application and thereafter until complete healing of the lesions. On day 7 after OM diagnosis, 1/9 of patients remained with lesions in laser group and 9/12 of patients in the placebo-control group (P=0.029). In the laser group, the mean of OM duration was 5.8+/-2 days and in the placebo group was 8.9+/-2.4 days (P=0.004). Our study has shown evidence that laser therapy in addition to oral care can decrease the duration of chemotherapy-induced OM. Our results confirm the promising results observed in adult cancer patients and should encourage pediatric oncologists to use laser therapy as first-line option in children with chemotherapy-induced OM.

In Vivo Effect of Photodynamic Therapy on Periodontal Bone Loss in Dental Furcations

The purpose of this study was to histometrically evaluate the influence of photodynamic therapy on bone loss in furcation areas in rats with experimentally induced periodontal disease. Ligatures were placed on the first mandibular molar in rats. Then the animals were divided into four groups: control group = no treatment; methylene blue group (MB) = treated topically with methylene blue (100 microg/ml); laser group (LLLT) = treated with low-level laser therapy; and photodynamic therapy group (PDT) = treated topically with MB followed by LLLT (4.5 J/cm(2)). Rats from all groups were sacrificed at 7, 15, or 30 days postoperatively. The area of bone loss in the furcation region of the first molar was histometrically analyzed. Data were analyzed statistically (analysis of variance and Bonferroni tests; P <0.05). The PDT group demonstrated less bone loss compared to the other groups at 7 days (1.986 +/- 0.417 mm(2)); at 15 days, the PDT (1.641 +/- 0.115 mm(2)) and MB groups (1.991 +/- 0.294 mm(2)) demonstrated less bone loss compared to the control (4.062 +/- 0.416 mm(2)) and LLLT (2.641 +/- 0.849 mm(2)) groups. Within the parameters used in this study, PDT may be an effective alternative for control of bone loss in furcation areas in periodontitis.

The clinical effect of LLLT in endodontic surgery: A prospective study on 72 cases

The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate a possible clinical benefit of LLLT in endodontic surgery. Seventy-two endosurgery cases on incisors and premolars were included to the study and were split randomly into an LLLT test group, a placebo group, and a control group. In the LLLT group, irradiation was performed intraoperatively and postoperatively 1, 3, and 7 days after surgery. In the placebo group, irradiation was performed without laser activation. In the control group, neither LLLT nor placebo therapy was used. Swelling, wound healing, and pain were evaluated by a blinded investigator 1, 3, and 7 days postoperatively. No statistically relevant differences between the LLLT and the placebo groups were found. Patients in the control group reported on statistically relevant stronger pain. In routine endodontic surgery cases, LLLT does not achieve a significant clinical benefit. Further, the results indicate a prominent placebo effect of the soft laser therapy.

The Effect of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) on Stage III Decubitus Ulcers (Pressure Sores); a Prospective Randomised Single Blind, Multicentre Pilot Study

. This study had four main objectives (a) multicentre trial feasibility in nursing homes; (b) the applicability of registration methods; (c) the extent of wound size reduction and (d) the LLLT effect(s) on pressure sores stage III. The study was designed as a prospective randomised, single blind, multicentre clinical trial in four nursing homes, using the same prospective protocol. A total of 20 patients were enrolled into the study: 16 patients were randomised, and four patients were excluded. Treatment was the prevailing consensus decubitus treatment (n=8); one group (n=8) had 904 nm LLLT in addition, five times a week over a period of 6 weeks. The main outcome measure was the median wound size at six weeks after intervention. No statistical significant difference in wound size was found between the two groups (Mann Whitney U test; p=0.47). The sores in the LLLT group healed to a median of 83%, wounds in the control group to a median of 95% of their initial size. There was significant wound decrease within treatment arms (Friedman two-way analysis, p<0.001). It was concluded that (a) a multicentre study is feasible in nursing homes; (b) the evaluation methods are accurate, adequate and reproducible; (c) there was significant sore area reduction within groups, but there were no significant differences between treatments; and (d) the efficacy of LLLT in healing of full thickness pressure sores stage III was not demonstrated and is still a matter of debate.

A PRELIMINARY DOUBLE BLIND CONTROLLED STUDY ON FREE AMINO ACID ANALYSIS IN BURN WOUNDS IN THE MOUSE FOLLOWING 830 nm DIODE LASER THERAPY

A double-blind controlled study is presented on the amino acid analysis of levels of a selected group of 26 free amino acids (FAA) in CO2 laser generated standardized burn wounds on the bilateral dorsum in the ddy mouse model. Four groups of ddy white mice (male, 5 weeks old, average weight 20 g), 6 animals per group, were anaesthetized with ether. The hair on the bilateral dorsum of all animals was carefully removed with a depilatory cream, and in three of the groups standardized burn injuries were inflicted using the defocused beam of the CO2 laser (25 W, continuous wave, 1.45 cm diameter spot, 0.99 sec/shot). The injuries were made bilaterally 1 cm laterally from the dorsal midline, 1.5 cm caudally from the line drawn between the base of the ears. The 4th group was the unburned control group for assessing base FAA levels. In experimental group A (LLLT group), the centre of the right hand burn injury was irradiated daily on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 with an 830 nm GaAlAs diode laser system (60 mW continuous wave). The left hand injury was unirradiated. The laser was held 1 mm from the surface of the wound, giving a spot size of approximately 0.03 cm2, 20 sec per exposure per day, energy density per exposure of 40 J/cm2. Group B (sham irradiation group) was handled in exactly the same way, but a non-emitting probe was used. Group C (unirradiated burned controls) was not handled at all. The animals were killed (ether overdose) on post-burn day 10. The size of the burn injury and the degree of wound healing were measured macroscopically on days 2, 5 and 7 and 10. The LLLT group A demonstrated better wound healing than groups B and C, between which there was no difference. On days 0, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10, sample tissue was collected from both burned sites in the burned animals and from the unburned controls and subjected to automated AA analysis. The unburned controls were used as standards. On day 7 specimens were taken from the burn wounds in groups A, B and C and routinely processed for histological assessment with haematoxylin and eosin and elastica van Giesen’s stains. Automated AA analysis in general revealed higher levels of total FAA in group A, with no statistical difference between groups B and C. When looked at individually as spider graphs, the 26 AA isolated in this study at fell into 6 typical patterns. At day 10 histology revealed more advanced wound healing between the LLLT group and groups B and C, between which there was no difference. although the present study was only designed to isolate patterns in FAA associated with healing burns, the authors conclude that 830 nm diode LLLT certainly appears to accelerate wound healing, and there is a higher level of those FAA associated with protein synthesis.

THE EFFECT OF INFRA-RED DIODE LASER IRRADIATION ON THE DURATION AND SEVERITY OF POSTOPERATIVE PAIN: A DOUBLE BLIND TRIAL

This trial was designed to test the hypothesis that LLLT reduces the extent and duration of postoperative pain. Twenty consecutive patients for elective cholecystectomy were randomly allocated for either LLLT or as controls. The trial was double blind. Patients for LLLT received 68-min treatment (GaAlAs: 830 nm: 60 mW CW: CM) to the wound area immediately following skin closure prior to emergence from GA. All patients were prescribed on demand postoperative analgesia (IM or oral according to pain severity). Recordings of pain scores (0-10) and analgesic requirements were noted by an independent assessor. There was a significant difference in the number of doses of narcotic analgesic (IM) required between the two groups. Controls n = 5.5: LLLT n = 2.5. No patient in the LLLT group required IM analgesia after 24 h. Similarly the requirement for oral analgesia was reduced in the LLLT group. Controls n = 9: LLLT n = 4. Control patients assessed their overall pain as moderate to severe compared with mild to moderate in the LLLT group. The results justify further evaluation on a larger trial population.