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Photobiomodulation Therapy: Novel Medical Applications and New Insight into the Intracellular Molecular Impact

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A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2022) | Viewed by 34162

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Luisa Zupin

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Guest Editor

Department of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Ospedale Infantile Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy
Interests: photobiomodulation therapy; skin disorder

Prof. Dr. Sergio Crovella

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Guest Editor

Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Qatar, Doha 2713, Qatar
Interests: genetics and immunobiology of autoimmune and autoinflammatory skin disorders, such as hidradenitis suppurativa and pyoderma gangrenosum; genetics of infectious diseases
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Special Issue Information

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) is a noninvasive painless treatment already used in different human pathologic conditions. PBMT exploits the performance of laser light to promote tissue regeneration and wound healing, to alleviate pain and to decrease the inflammatory response through immunomodulation.

Despite the documented beneficial effects in several human disorders—for example, skin wounds, oral mucositis, ulcers, arthritis, and musculoskeletal pain—PBMT is still limitedly employed in the clinical practice, although its potential applications are currently increasing.

PBMT acts primarily on mitochondria, thus promoting and influencing several intracellular pathways, but other actors should be discovered.

The gap of knowledge concerning the intracellular impact of PBMT can account for the selective employment of laser devices for few pathologies.

This Special Issue will invite researchers to address this topic, with special emphasis on new clinical applications of PBMT as well as on new insights into the molecular mechanisms at the basis of the effect of laser light within the cells.

Both articles and research articles are encouraged.

Dr. Luisa Zupin
Dr. Sergio Crovella
Guest Editors

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Keywords

Photobiomodulation therapy
Diseases and clinical applications
Clinical trials
OMICs analyses and PBMT
Mitochondria
Intracellular pathways

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 2871 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High-Intensity Red Light-Emitting Diode Irradiation Suppresses the Inflammatory Response of Human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells by Promoting Intracellular ATP Synthesis

by Nobuhiro Yamauchi, Emika Minagawa, Kazutaka Imai, Kenjiro Kobuchi, Runbo Li, Yoichiro Taguchi and Makoto Umeda

Life 2022, 12(5), 736; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12050736 - 15 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3311

Abstract

Periodontitis is an inflammatory lesion in the periodontal tissue. The behavior of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs), which play an important role in periodontal tissue regeneration, is restricted by the influence of inflammatory mediators. Photobiomodulation therapy exerts anti-inflammatory effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation on the inflammatory responses of hPDLSCs. The light source was a red LED (peak wavelength: 650 nm), and the total absolute irradiance was 400 mW/cm². The inflammatory response in hPDLSCs is induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels and pro-inflammatory cytokine (interleukin [IL]-6 and IL-8) production were measured 24 h after LED irradiation, and the effects of potassium cyanide (KCN) were investigated. LED irradiation at 6 J/cm² significantly increased the ATP levels and reduced TNF-α-induced IL-6 and IL-8 production. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of LED irradiation on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines was inhibited by KCN treatment. The results of this study showed that high-intensity red LED irradiation suppressed the TNF-α-stimulated pro-inflammatory cytokine production in hPDLSCs by promoting ATP synthesis. These results suggest that high-intensity red LED is a useful tool for periodontal tissue regeneration in chronically inflamed tissues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photobiomodulation Therapy: Novel Medical Applications and New Insight into the Intracellular Molecular Impact)

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13 pages, 1721 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Photobiomodulation Therapy Combined with Static Magnetic Field Reduces Pain in Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Neck and/or Shoulder Pain: A Randomized, Triple-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial

by Adeilson Matias Teixeira, Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior, Heliodora Leão Casalechi, Adriane Aver Vanin, Paulo Roberto Vicente de Paiva, Fernando Hess Câmara Melo, Douglas Scott Johnson and Shaiane Silva Tomazoni

Life 2022, 12(5), 656; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12050656 - 29 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3323

Abstract

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has been used to treat patients with chronic neck and/or shoulder pain. However, it is unknown whether the concurrent use of PBMT and static magnetic field (PBMT-sMF) also has positive effects in these patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of PBMT-sMF versus placebo on pain intensity, range of motion (ROM) and treatment satisfaction in patients with chronic nonspecific neck and/or shoulder pain. A randomized controlled trial, with blinded assessors, therapists and patients was carried out. Seventy-two patients with chronic nonspecific neck and/or shoulder pain were randomized to either active PBMT-sMF (n = 36) or placebo PBMT-sMF (n = 36). Patients were treated twice weekly, over 3 weeks. Primary outcome was pain intensity, measured 15 min after the last treatment session and at 24-, 48-, 72-h, and 7-days after the last treatment. Secondary outcomes were ROM, patient’ treatment satisfaction, and adverse effects. PBMT-sMF was able to reduce pain intensity in all time points tested compared to placebo (p < 0.05). There was no difference between groups in the secondary outcomes (p > 0.05). Our results suggest that PBMT-sMF is better than placebo to reduce pain in patients with chronic nonspecific neck and/or shoulder pain at short-term. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photobiomodulation Therapy: Novel Medical Applications and New Insight into the Intracellular Molecular Impact)

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16 pages, 1757 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Photobiomodulation Therapy Combined with Static Magnetic Field (PBMT–SMF) on Spatiotemporal and Kinematics Gait Parameters in Post-Stroke: A Pilot Study

by Arislander Jonathan Lopes Dumont, Heliodora Leão Casalechi, Shaiane Silva Tomazoni, Luanda Collange Grecco, Manuela Galli, Claudia Santos Oliveira and Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior

Life 2022, 12(2), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12020186 - 27 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2878

Abstract

Background: Gait deficit is a major complaint in patients after stroke, restricting certain activities of daily living. Photobiomodulation therapy combined with a static magnetic field (PBMT-SMF) has been studied for several diseases, and the two therapies are beneficia. However, their combination has not yet been evaluated in stroke. Therefore, for PBMT–SMF to be used more often and become an adjunctive tool in the rehabilitation of stroke survivors at physical therapy rehabilitation centers and clinics, some important aspects need to be clarified. Purpose: This study aimed to test different doses of PBMT–SMF, to identify the ideal dose to cause immediate effects on the spatiotemporal and kinematic variables of gait in post-stroke patients. Methods: A randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover pilot study was performed. A total of 10 individuals with hemiparesis within 6 months to 5 years since the occurrence of stroke, aged 45–60 years, were included in the study. Participants were randomly assigned and treated with a single PBMT–SMF dose (sham, 10 J, 30 J, or 50 J) on a single application, with one dose per stage at 7-day intervals between stages. PBMT–SMF was applied with a cluster of 12 diodes (4 of 905 nm laser, 4 of 875 nm LEDs, and 4 of 640 nm LEDs, SMF of 35 mT) at 17 sites on both lower limbs after baseline evaluation: plantar flexors (2), knee extensors (9), and flexors (6). The primary outcome was self-selected walking speed, and the secondary outcomes were kinematic parameters. Gait analysis was performed using SMART-D 140^® and SMART-D INTEGRATED WORKSTATION^®. The outcomes were measured at the end of each stage after the single application of each PBMT–SMF dose tested. Results: No significant differences (p > 0.05) in spatiotemporal variables were observed between the different doses, compared with the baseline evaluation. However, differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the kinematic variable of the hip in the paretic and non-paretic limbs, specifically in the minimum flexion/extension angulation during the support phase (HMST–MIN) in doses 10 J, 30 J, and 50 J. Conclusions: A single application of PBMT–SMF at doses of 10 J, 30 J, and 50 J per site of the lower limbs did not demonstrate positive effects on the spatiotemporal variables, but it promoted immediate effects in the kinematic variables of the hip (maximum and minimum flexion/extension angulation during the support phase) in the paretic and non-paretic limbs in post-stroke people. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photobiomodulation Therapy: Novel Medical Applications and New Insight into the Intracellular Molecular Impact)

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8 pages, 638 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Blue Laser Light Counteracts HSV-1 in the SH-SY5Y Neuronal Cell Model of Infection

by Luisa Zupin and Sergio Crovella

Life 2022, 12(1), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12010055 - 1 Jan 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2230

Abstract

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is wide-spread virus that triggers painful and recurrent infections, as herpes labialis, causing blister lesions on the lip. HSV-1 infection can be a lifelong condition starting from childhood due to the latency of the virus hidden in the trigeminal ganglia. Despite the use of antiviral treatments, there is not a resolutive cure for herpes. In our study, we tested blue light against HSV-1 in a neuronal cellular model, aimed at mimicking the neuronal tropism of HSV-1. Two laser protocols employing continuous wave and pulse modalities were delivered to infected cell cultures and to the virus alone. A significant reduction of viral replication was observed when the beam was directly applied to the virus, along with an increase in cell survival. Our findings, considering the limitation of the still-unknown mechanisms by which the blue light acts on the virus, suggested a potential use of photobiomodulation therapy for clinical applications against herpes labialis in pediatric patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photobiomodulation Therapy: Novel Medical Applications and New Insight into the Intracellular Molecular Impact)

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52 pages, 1032 KiB

Open AccessReview

Photobiomodulation and Sports: Results of a Narrative Review

by Laura Marinela Ailioaie and Gerhard Litscher

Life 2021, 11(12), 1339; https://doi.org/10.3390/life11121339 - 3 Dec 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 8099

Abstract

Benefits of photobiomodulation (PBM) have been known for several decades. More recently, PBM applied in sports offers a special chance to support the modeling of the performance and recovery. Increasingly complex physical activities and fierce competition in the world of sports generate a state of psycho-emotional and physical stress that can induce chronic fatigue syndrome, failure in physical training, predisposition to muscle damage, physical and emotional exhaustion etc., for which PBM could be an excellent solution. To evaluate and identify all risk factors and the influence of PBM on health and performance in sport and for a better understanding of its effects, we did a search for “Photobiomodulation and Sports” on PubMed, to update the PBM science applied in sports, and we retained for analysis the articles published from 2014 to date. The term “PBM” is recent, and we did not include previous studies with “low level laser therapy” or “LLLT” before 2014. In the present research, PBM has been shown to have valuable protective and ergogenic effects in 25 human studies, being the key to success for high performance and recovery, facts supported also by 22 animal studies. PBM applied creatively and targeted depending on sport and size of the level of physical effort could perfectly modulate the mitochondrial activity and thus lead to remarkable improvements in performance. PBM with no conclusive results or without effects from this review (14 studies from a total of 39 on humans) was analyzed and we found the motivations of the authors from the perspective of multiple causes related to technological limitations, participants, the protocols for physical activity, the devices, techniques and PBM parameters. In the near future, dose–response experiments on physical activity should be designed and correlated with PBM dose–response studies, so that quantification of PBM parameters to allow the energy, metabolic, immune, and neuro-endocrine modulation, perfectly coupled with the level of training. There is an urgent need to continuously improve PBM devices, delivery methods, and protocols in new ingenious future sports trials. Latest innovations and nanotechnologies applied to perform intracellular signaling analysis, while examining extracellular targets, coupled with 3D and 4D sports motion analysis and other high-tech devices, can be a challenge to learn how to maximize PBM efficiency while achieving unprecedented sports performance and thus fulfilling the dream of millions of elite athletes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photobiomodulation Therapy: Novel Medical Applications and New Insight into the Intracellular Molecular Impact)

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15 pages, 989 KiB

Open AccessReview

Photobiomodulation Therapy as a Possible New Approach in COVID-19: A Systematic Review

by Brenda Thaynne Lima de Matos, Daniela Vieira Buchaim, Karina Torres Pomini, Sandra Maria Barbalho, Elen Landgraf Guiguer, Carlos Henrique Bertoni Reis, Cleuber Rodrigo de Souza Bueno, Marcelo Rodrigues da Cunha, Eliana de Souza Bastos Mazuqueli Pereira and Rogerio Leone Buchaim

Life 2021, 11(6), 580; https://doi.org/10.3390/life11060580 - 18 Jun 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 9119

Abstract

COVID-19 is a viral disease characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. Since then, researchers from all over the world have been looking for ways to fight this disease. Many cases of complications arise from insufficient immune responses due to low immunity, with intense release of pro-inflammatory cytokines that can damage the structure of organs such as the lung. Thus, the hypothesis arises that photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) with the use of a low-level laser (LLLT) may be an ally approach to patients with COVID-19 since it is effective for increasing immunity, helping tissue repair, and reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines. This systematic review was performed with the use of PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar databases with the following keywords: “low-level laser therapy OR photobiomodulation therapy AND COVID-19”. The inclusion criteria were complete articles published from January 2020 to January 2021 in English. The exclusion criteria were other languages, editorials, reviews, brief communications, letters to the editor, comments, conference abstracts, and articles that did not provide the full text. The bibliographic search found 18 articles in the Pubmed/MEDLINE database, 118 articles on the Web of Science, 23 articles on Scopus, and 853 articles on Google Scholar. Ten articles were included for qualitative synthesis, of which four commentary articles discussed the pathogenesis and the effect of PBMT in COVID-19. Two in vitro and lab experiments showed the effect of PBMT on prevention of thrombosis and positive results in wound healing during viral infection, using the intravascular irradiation (ILIB) associated with Phthalomethyl D. Two case reports showed PBMT improved the respiratory indexes, radiological findings, and inflammatory markers in severe COVID-19 patients. One case series reported the clinical improvement after PBMT on 14 acute COVID-19 patients, rehabilitation on 24 patients, and as a preventive treatment on 70 people. One clinical trial of 30 patients with severe COVID-19 who require invasive mechanical ventilation, showed PBMT-static magnetic field was not statistically different from placebo for the length of stay in the Intensive Care Unit, but improved diaphragm muscle function and ventilation and decreased the inflammatory markers. This review suggests that PBMT may have a positive role in treatment of COVID-19. Still, the necessity for more clinical trials remains in this field and there is not sufficient research evidence regarding the effects of PBMT and COVID-19 disease, and there is a large gap. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photobiomodulation Therapy: Novel Medical Applications and New Insight into the Intracellular Molecular Impact)

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Other

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8 pages, 1835 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Multi-Wavelength Photobiomodulation Therapy Combined with Static Magnetic Field on Long-Term Pulmonary Complication after COVID-19: A Case Report

by Shaiane Silva Tomazoni, Douglas Scott Johnson and Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior

Life 2021, 11(11), 1124; https://doi.org/10.3390/life11111124 - 22 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3660

Abstract

Introduction: Photobiomodulation therapy, alone (PBMT) or combined with a static magnetic field (PBMT-sMF), has been demonstrated to be effective in the regeneration of tissues, modulation of inflammatory processes, and improvement in functional capacity. However, the effects of PBMT-sMF on the pulmonary system and COVID-19 patients remain scarce. Therefore, in this case report, we demonstrated the use of PBMT-sMF for peripheral oxygen saturation, pulmonary function, massive lung damage, and fibrosis as a pulmonary complication after COVID-19. Case report: A 53-year-old Mexican man who presented with decreased peripheral oxygen saturation, massive lung damage, and fibrosis after COVID-19 received PBMT-sMF treatment once a day for 45 days. The treatment was irradiated at six sites in the lower thorax and upper abdominal cavity and two sites in the neck area. We observed that the patient was able to leave the oxygen support during the treatment, and increase his peripheral oxygen saturation. In addition, the patient showed improvements in pulmonary severity scores and radiological findings. Finally, the patient presented with normal respiratory mechanics parameters in the medium-term, indicating total pulmonary recovery. Conclusions: The use of PBMT-sMF may potentially lead to safe treatment of and recovery from pulmonary complications after COVID-19, with regard to the structural and functional aspects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photobiomodulation Therapy: Novel Medical Applications and New Insight into the Intracellular Molecular Impact)

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