Effects of low power laser-irradiation on differential blood count and body temperature in endotoxin-preimmunized rabbits

Effect of laser treatment on outcomes of tooth replantation - A systematic review

Objectives

Over the last few years, several studies have investigated the effect of laser treatment on the replantation of avulsed teeth. We conducted this study to systematically analyse and assess the outcomes and quality of these studies.

Methods

Using the keywords ‘laser’, ‘tooth’, and ‘replantation’, two investigators conducted an electronic search of the PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, ISI Web of Knowledge and Google Scholar databases. Any studies not meeting the inclusion criteria were excluded. The focused question was ‘Does laser treatment influence the outcomes of tooth replantation?’

Results

Nine studies were included and assessed in this review. In the majority of the selected studies, laser treatment had a positive outcome on preventing root resorption and in promoting periodontal regeneration. However, only three studies were given a quality score of ‘medium’, while six were marked as ‘low’.

Conclusion

Laser irradiation may reduce root resorption and favour periodontal regeneration following replantation of the avulsed tooth. However, more well-designed long-term animal and human studies are needed before lasers can be used clinically to improve the outcomes for replanted teeth.

Effect of laser photobiomodulation on the periodontal repair process of replanted teeth

BACKGROUND/AIM

Tooth replantation is the optimal treatment in cases of avulsion. However, its success is limited due to the occurrence of external root resorption. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of laser photobiomodulation (LPBM) at λ808 nm and λ660 nm and of storage media on the periodontal repair process of replanted teeth in rats.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Sixty maxillary right incisors were extracted from sixty Wistar rats and randomly assigned to six groups (n = 10). Groups consisted of 10 teeth stored in paper napkins (PN), whole milk (WM), and soy milk (SM), for 45 min; and PNL, WML and SML, in which teeth were stored in the same storage media, but the root surface and the alveolus were treated with LPBM at λ808 nm before replantation, and the buccal and palatal mucosa of the alveolus were treated with LPBM at λ660 nm after replantation. Five rats from each group were euthanized after 15 or 30 days. The right hemimaxilla including the replanted incisor was removed and processed for histomorphometric analysis to assess root resorption areas, replacement root resorption, perimeter with ankylosis and periodontal repair, and areas of type I and III collagen deposition, using the ImageJ 1.50b software. Data were analyzed statistically by anova followed by Tukey's multiple comparison test (α = 5%).

RESULTS

WM and SM showed smaller root resorption areas and higher collagen deposition in both experimental periods, and SM showed the largest perimeter of periodontal repair. LPBM reduced the occurrence of root resorption only in the PNL group, both at 15 and 30 days, and increased the perimeter of periodontal repair in all groups at 30 days. There was higher collagen deposition in the irradiated groups regardless of the experimental period.

CONCLUSIONS

The LPBM protocol at λ808 nm and λ660 nm as well as whole milk and soy milk favored the periodontal repair process of replanted teeth in rats.

Effect of low-level laser therapy on the healing process after tooth replantation: a histomorphometrical and immunohistochemical analysis

Success of tooth replantation is limited because part of the replanted tooth is lost because of progressive root resorption. This study used histomorphometry and immunohistochemistry to evaluate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the healing process of rat teeth replanted after different extra-oral periods, simulating immediate and delayed replantation. Sixty Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus) had their maxillary right incisors extracted and randomly assigned to six groups (n = 10): C4, C30 and C45, in which the teeth were replanted 4 min (immediate), 30 min (delayed) and 45 min (delayed) after extraction, respectively, and L4, L30 and L45, in which the teeth were replanted after the same extra-alveolar times, but the root surfaces and the alveolar wounds were irradiated with a gallium-aluminum-arsenate (GaAlAs) diode laser before replantation. The animals were sacrificed after 60 days. The anatomic pieces containing the replanted teeth were obtained and processed for either histomorphometrical analysis under optical microscopy or immunohistochemical expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor Kappa-B (RANK), and its ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) proteins. Areas of external replacement and inflammatory root resorption were observed in all groups, without statistically significant differences (P > 0.05). Ankylosis was more frequent in L30 than in C30 (P < 0.05). RANKL immunostaining predominated over RANK and OPG immunostaining in both groups with immediate tooth replantation (P < 0.05). For the 45-min extra-alveolar time, however, there was greater evidence of RANK immunostaining compared to RANKL for both control and laser-treated groups (P < 0.05). Positive TRAP immunostaining predominated in L4 and L30 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, under the tested conditions, the treatment of the root surface and the alveolar wound with LLLT did not improve the healing process after immediate and delayed tooth replantation in rats.

GaAlAs (830 nm) low-level laser enhances peripheral endogenous opioid analgesia in rats

BACKGROUND

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been reported to relieve pain with minimal side effects. Recent studies have demonstrated that opioid-containing immune cells migrate to inflamed sites and release beta-endorphins to inhibit pain as a mode of peripheral endogenous opioid analgesia. The present study investigates whether LLLT may enhance peripheral endogenous opioid analgesia.

METHODS

The effect of LLLT on opioid analgesia and production was evaluated in vivo in a rat model of inflammation as well as in vitro in Jurkat cells, a human T-cell leukemia cell line. mRNA expression of the beta-endorphin precursors proopiomelanocortin and corticotrophin releasing factor was assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

LLLT produced an analgesic effect in inflamed peripheral tissue which was transiently antagonized by naloxone. Beta-endorphin precursor mRNA expression increased with LLLT, both in vivo and in vitro.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that LLLT produces analgesic effects in a rat model of peripheral inflammation. We further revealed an additional mechanism of LLLT-mediated analgesia via enhancement of peripheral endogenous opioids. These findings suggest that LLLT induces analgesia in rats by enhancing peripheral endogenous opioid production in addition to previously reported mechanisms.

Polychromatic Light Similar to the Terrestrial Solar Spectrum Without its UV Component Stimulates DNA Synthesis in Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes In Vivo and In Vitro

Immunosuppressive effects of the minor component of the terrestrial solar spectrum, UV radiation, have been substantiated over the past several years. This raises the question of what influence the dominant part of the solar spectrum--visible and IR light-would have on the human immune system. In the present randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind study a small area of the body surface of volunteers was irradiated with polychromatic light (480-3400 nm), simulating the significant part of the terrestial sunlight irradiance spectrum and its power density. An average 2.5-fold to three-fold increase in spontaneous and phytohemagglutinin-induced DNA synthesis in peripheral blood lymphocytes (Lym) was revealed at 0.5-24 h after irradiation at a therapeutic dose (12 J/cm(2)) in subjects with low preirradiation levels of both processes. The in vivo findings were echoed in parallel in vitro experiments, when blood drawn from the same subjects was directly irradiated (2.4 J/cm(2)), or when the irradiated blood was mixed 1:10 with nonirradiated autologous blood to model events in the circulation following transcutaneous blood photomodification. Our data suggest that exposure of the human body to polychromatic visible + IR light may photomodify blood in the dermal vasculature of the irradiated area to lead to an immediate transfer of the light-induced effects to Lym of the entire circulating blood, which can result in modulation of Lym functional state at the systemic level.

Effects of different protocol doses of low power gallium–aluminum–arsenate (Ga–Al–As) laser radiation (650 nm) on carrageenan induced rat paw ooedema

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of the low power laser therapy on the acute inflammatory process. Male Wistar rats were used. The rat paw oedema was induced by sub-plantar injection of carrageenan, the paw volume was measured before and 1, 2, 3 and 4 h after the injection using a hydroplethysmometer. To investigate the mechanism action of the Ga-Al-As laser on inflammatory oedema, parallel studies were performed using adrenallectomized rats or rats treated with sodium diclofenac. Different laser irradiation protocols were employed for specific energy densities (EDs), exposure times and repetition rates. The rats were irradiated with the Ga-Al-As laser during 80 s each hour. The ED that produced an anti-inflammatory effect were 1 and 2.5 J/cm(2), reducing the oedema by 27% (P<0.05) and 45.4% (P<0.01), respectively. The ED of 2.5 J/cm(2) produced anti-inflammatory effects similar to those produced by the cyclooxigenase inhibitor sodium diclofenac at a dose of 1 mg/kg. In adrenalectomized animals, the laser irradiation failed to inhibit the oedema. Our results suggest that low power laser irradiation possibly exerts its anti-inflammatory effects by stimulating the release of adrenal corticosteroid hormones.

cDNA microarray analysis of gene expression profiles in human fibroblast cells irradiated with red light

In this paper, the cDNA microarray technique was used to investigate the gene expression profiles of human fibroblasts irradiated by low-intensity red light. Proliferation assays showed that the fibroblast HS27 cells responded with a curve effect to different doses of low-intensity red light irradiation at a wavelength of 628 nm. An optimal dose of 0.88 J per cm2 was chosen for subsequent cDNA microarray experiments. The gene expression profiles revealed that 111 genes were regulated by the red light irradiation and can be grouped into 10 functional categories. Most of these genes directly or indirectly play roles in the enhancement of cell proliferation and the suppression of apoptosis. Two signaling pathways, the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway and the platelet-derived growth factor signaling pathway, were found to be involved in cell growth induced by irradiation of low-intensity red light. Several genes related to antioxidation and mitochondria energy metabolism were also found to express differentially upon irradiation. This study provides insight into the molecular mechanisms associated with the beneficial effects of red light irradiation in accelerating wound healing.

Mitogenic potential inducible by He:Ne laser in human lymphocytes in vitro

The objective of the study was to investigate the mitogenic and genotoxic effects of He:Ne laser irradiation (632.8 nm) on human peripheral lymphocytes in vitro. We used the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay, which incorporates cytochalasin B to inhibit cytokinesis while karyokinesis proceeds normally leading to the appearance of proliferating lymphocytes as binucleated cells. Also micronuclei will appear in cases of genotoxicologically-affected cells. Buffy coat leukocytes were exposed to 10 mW He:Ne laser at energy densities of 1, 2, 3 and 5 J/cm(2). Cells were then cultured in media 199 without any supplementation for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h adding cytochalasin B 24 h before harvesting of cells. Our results showed that laser-induced lymphocytes proliferate throughout the four consecutive days post-laser irradiation. The difference in the frequency of micronuclei between pre- and post-laser irradiation indicates that a He:Ne laser at such energy densities 1, 2, 3 and 5 J/cm(2) does not induce micronucleus formation. These results shed some light on the mechanism encountered by lymphocytes in the process of He:Ne laser-induced biostimulation.

Low-intensity laser therapy is an effective treatment for recurrent herpes simplex infection. Results from a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study

Recurrent infection with herpes simplex virus is a common disease. Recently, alternative therapies have been introduced. Among those, low-intensity laser therapy mainly used for the acceleration of wound healing and in pain therapy has previously been shown to be of benefit in herpes zoster infections. In this study we evaluated the influence of low-intensity laser therapy (wavelength 690 nm, intensity: 80 mW per cm2, dose: 48 J per cm2) in 50 patients with recurrent perioral herpes simplex infection (at least once per month for more than 6 mo) in a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial design. Patients in the laser group received daily irradiations for 2 wk, whereas patients in the placebo group were sham-irradiated. After completion of the laser/sham treatment, patients were asked to return to the Department of Dermatology, University of Vienna Medical School at the time of recurrence. All except two patients completed the study and were monitored for 52 wk. The median recurrence-free interval in the laser-treated group was 37.5 wk (range: 2-52 wk) and in the placebo group 3 wk (range: 1-20 wk). This difference was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.0001; Wilcoxon's Rank Sum Test). In conclusion, we demonstrated that a total of 10 irradiations with low-intensity laser therapy significantly lowers the incidence of local recurrence of herpes simplex infection. Since this athermic phototherapeutic modality represents a safe, noninvasive treatment, it might be considered as an alternative to established therapeutic regimens in this indication.

Induction of complete wound healing in recalcitrant ulcers by low-intensity laser irradiation depends on ulcer cause and size

Chronic skin ulcers still represent a therapeutic challenge in dermatology. Among the various non-invasive treatment modalities used for the improvement of impaired wound healing, low-intensity laser irradiations are gaining an increasing body of interest. We used low-intensity laser irradiations delivered by a 30 mW helium-neon laser at an energy density of 30 J/cm2 three times weekly for the induction of wound healing in ulcers of diverse causes. Twenty patients with the same number of ulcers, which had previously been treated by conventional wound care for a median period of 34 weeks (range: 3-120 weeks) without any significant evidence of healing, were included in the study. Concerning the underlying disorders, patients were divided into four groups: diabetes, arterial insufficiency, radio damage and autoimmune vasculitis. In all ulcers, complete epithelization could be induced by laser therapy. No amputation or any other surgical intervention was necessary and no adverse effects of any kind were noted during low-intensity laser treatment. Regarding the different diagnoses, a statistically significant difference was noted (P = 0.008): ulcers due to radio damage healed significantly faster than those caused by diabetes (6 weeks [range: 3-10 weeks] vs. 16 weeks [range: 9-45 weeks], P = 0.005). Wound healing in autoimmune vasculitis (24 weeks [range: 20-35 weeks]) required longer than in radiodermitis, although the difference was not significant. In addition to the diagnosis, wound size was found to be an important factor influencing the duration of wound closure (P = 0.028), whereas duration of previous conventional treatment (P = 0.24) and depth (P = 0.14) showed no effect. Our results indicate that low-intensity laser irradiation could be a valuable non-invasive tool for the induction of wound healing in recalcitrant ulcers, and that healing time is correlated with the ulcer cause and size.