Long Noncoding RNAs CAT2064 and CAT2042 may Function as Diagnostic Biomarkers for Prostate Cancer by Affecting Target MicrorRNAs.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer in men throughout the world, and the main cause of cancer death. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) act as crucial regulators in many human cancers. In this research, we measured the expression level of novel lncRNAs and their associated micro-RNAs (miRNAs) in PCa. In the present research, three lncRNAs were selected using the Mitranscriptome projec (CAT2064, CAT2042, and CAT2164.2). Samples of prostate tissue (20 PCa, and 20 BPH) and blood (14 PCa, and 14 BPH) were collected and the Real-time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to measure the expression levels of the lncRNAs and their associated miRNAs. Based on our results, CAT2064 was significantly increased and CAT2042 was significantly decreased in human PCa tissue in comparison with BPH tissue. To discriminate PCa from BPH, CAT2064 (P < 0.05; 0.8750 AUC-ROC) showed a better potential as a diagnostic molecular biomarker compared to CAT2042 (P < 0.05; 0.8454 AUC-ROC). Furthermore, RT-qPCR results measured in blood samples from PCa patients showed a higher expression level of CAT2064 (P < 0.0001; AUC-ROC value of 0.8914) in comparison to CAT2042. CAT2064 and CAT2042 showed a positive correlation with the expression of miR-5095 and miR-1273a (r = 0.02885, 0.3202; P = 0.9413, 0.2266, respectively). CAT2064 and CAT2042 also had a negative correlation with miR-1304-3p and miR-1285-5p (r = - 0.3877, - 0.09330; P = 0.15, 0.7311, respectively). Collectively, CAT2064 and CAT2042 and their miRNA targets may constitute a regulatory network in PCa, and could serve as novel biomarkers. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12291-021-00999-6.

Rose Bengal diacetate-mediated antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation: potentiation by potassium iodide and acceleration of wound healing in MRSA-infected diabetic mice.

Previous studies have shown that antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI) can be strongly potentiated by the addition of the non-toxic inorganic salt, potassium iodide (KI). This approach was shown to apply to many different photosensitizers, including the xanthene dye Rose Bengal (RB) excited by green light (540 nm). Rose Bengal diacetate (RBDA) is a lipophilic RB derivative that is easily taken up by cells and hydrolyzed to produce an active photosensitizer. Because KI is not taken up by microbial cells, it was of interest to see if aPDI mediated by RBDA could also be potentiated by KI. The addition of 100 mM KI strongly potentiated the killing of Gram-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylocccus aureus, Gram-negative Eschericia coli, and fungal yeast Candida albicans when treated with RBDA (up to 15 µM) for 2 hours followed by green light (540 nm, 10 J/cm2). Both RBDA aPDI regimens (400 µM RBDA with or without 400 mM KI followed by 20 J/cm2 green light) accelerated the healing of MRSA-infected excisional wounds in diabetic mice, without damaging the host tissue.

Proteases, a powerful biochemical tool in the service of medicine, clinical and pharmaceutical.

Proteases, enzymes that hydrolyze peptide bonds, have various applications in medicine, clinical applications, and pharmaceutical development. They are used in cancer treatment, wound debridement, contact lens cleaning, prion degradation, biofilm removal, and fibrinolytic agents. Proteases are also crucial in cardiovascular disease treatment, emphasizing the need for safe, affordable, and effective fibrinolytic drugs. Proteolytic enzymes and protease biosensors are increasingly used in diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Advanced technologies, such as nanomaterials-based sensors, are being developed to enhance the sensitivity, specificity, and versatility of protease biosensors. These biosensors are becoming effective tools for disease detection due to their precision and rapidity. They can detect extracellular and intracellular proteases, as well as fluorescence-based methods for real-time and label-free detection of virus-related proteases. The active utilization of proteolytic enzymatic biosensors is expected to expand significantly in biomedical research, in-vitro model systems, and drug development. We focused on journal articles and books published in English between 1982 and 2024 for this study.

Nucleic acid-responsive smart systems for controlled cargo delivery.

Stimulus-responsive delivery systems allow controlled, highly regulated, and efficient delivery of various cargos while minimizing side effects. Owing to the unique properties of nucleic acids, including the ability to adopt complex structures by base pairing, their easy synthesis, high specificity, shape memory, and configurability, they have been employed in autonomous molecular motors, logic circuits, reconfigurable nanoplatforms, and catalytic amplifiers. Moreover, the development of nucleic acid (NA)-responsive intelligent delivery vehicles is a rapidly growing field. These vehicles have attracted much attention in recent years due to their programmable, controllable, and reversible properties. In this work, we review several types of NA-responsive controlled delivery vehicles based on locks and keys, including DNA/RNA-responsive, aptamer-responsive, and CRISPR-responsive, and summarize their advantages and limitations.

Combinations of Energy-based Devices plus isotretinoin for management of acne and acne scars: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A 6-month interval between systemic isotretinoin (ISO) and the initiation of energy-based interventions has been recommended, due to concerns about keloid formation and delayed wound healing. While this postponement goes against the current trend of early intervention for acne scarring. This systematic review evaluates the efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction of combinations of ISO with energy-based devices (EBD). STUDY DESIGN/METHODS AND MATERIALS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were comprehensively searched up to April 2023 according to PRISMA guidelines. Two independent reviewers screened the titles and abstracts to select articles. The quality of the literature was assessed for each study design. RESULTS: A total of 16 studies addressing the efficacy and safety of energy-based modalities combined with ISO were identified, including six randomized controlled trials (RCTs), two case series, seven cohort studies, and one case report. ISO combinations with intense pulsed light (IPL), fractional ablative CO2 laser, pulsed dye laser (PDL), non-ablative fractional laser (NAFL) and fractional microneedle radiofrequency (FMRF) have been tested for improving acne severity, acne scarring and erythema. CONCLUSION: The current evidence does not justify delaying the use of EBDs for patients who have recently undergone or are currently receiving ISO treatment. Evidence-based treatments such as PDL, NAFL, and FMRF etc. are suggested relatively safe and effective in treating acne and acne scarring.

Photobiomodulation Treatment with a Home-Use Device for COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Trial for Efficacy and Safety.

Background: Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) using devices to deliver red and/or near-infrared light to tissues has shown promising effects in clinical settings for respiratory diseases, including potential benefits in managing symptoms associated with COVID-19. Objective: To determine if at-home self-administered PBMT for patients with COVID-19 is safe and effective. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) carried out at home during the COVID-19 pandemic (September 2020 to August 2021). The treatment group self-administered the Vielight RX Plus PBMT device (635 nm intranasal and 810 nm chest LEDs) and were monitored remotely. Eligible patients scored 4-7 (out of 7) for severity on the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey (WURSS-44). Patients were randomized equally to Control group receiving standard-of-care (SOC) only or Treatment group receiving SOC plus PBMT. The device was used for 20 min 2X/day for 5 days and, subsequently, once daily for 30 days. The primary end-point was time-to-recovery (days) based on WURSS-44 question 1, "How sick do you feel today?". Subgroup analysis was performed, and Kaplan-Meier and Cox Proportional Hazards analysis were employed. Results: One hundred and ninety-nine eligible patients (18-65 years old) were divided into two subgroups as follows: 136 patients with 0-7 days of symptoms at baseline and 63 patients with 8-12 days of symptoms. Those with 0-7 days of symptoms at baseline recovered significantly faster with PBMT. The median for Treatment group was 18 days [95% confidence interval (CI), 13-20] versus the Control group 21 days (95% CI, 15-28), p = 0.050. The treatment:control hazard ratio was 1.495 (95% CI, 0.996-2.243), p = 0.054. Patients with symptom duration ≥7 days did not show any significant improvement. No deaths or severe adverse events (SAEs) occurred in the Treatment group, whereas there was 1 death and 3 SAEs requiring hospitalization in the Control group. Conclusions: Patients with ≤7 days of COVID-19 symptoms recovered significantly faster with PBMT compared to SOC. Beyond 7 days, PBMT showed no superiority over SOC. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04418505.

Studying the viability and growth kinetics of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis V583 following femtosecond laser irradiation (420-465 nm).

Enterococcus faecalis is among the most resistant bacteria found in infected root canals. The demand for cutting-edge disinfection methods has rekindled research on photoinactivation with visible light. This study investigated the bactericidal activity of femtosecond laser irradiation against vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis V583 (VRE). The effect of parameters such as wavelength and energy density on the viability and growth kinetics of VRE was studied to design an optimized laser-based antimicrobial photoinactivation approach without any prior addition of exogenous photosensitizers. The most effective wavelengths were 430 nm and 435 nm at a fluence of 1000 J/cm2, causing a nearly 2-log reduction (98.6% and 98.3% inhibition, respectively) in viable bacterial counts. The colony-forming units and growth rate of the laser-treated cultures were progressively decreased as energy density or light dose increased at 445 nm but reached a limit at 1250 J/cm2. At a higher fluence of 2000 J/cm2, the efficacy was reduced due to a photobleaching phenomenon. Our results highlight the importance of optimizing laser exposure parameters, such as wavelength and fluence, in bacterial photoinactivation experiments. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report an optimized wavelength for the inactivation of VRE using visible femtosecond laser light.

Photobiomodulation in experimental models of Alzheimer's disease: state-of-the-art and translational perspectives.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant public health problem, affecting millions of people across the world. Despite decades of research into therapeutic strategies for AD, effective prevention or treatment for this devastating disorder remains elusive. In this review, we discuss the potential of photobiomodulation (PBM) for preventing and alleviating AD-associated pathologies, with a focus on the biological mechanisms underlying this therapy. Future research directions and guidance for clinical practice for this non-invasive and non-pharmacological therapy are also highlighted. The available evidence indicates that different treatment paradigms, including transcranial and systemic PBM, along with the recently proposed remote PBM, all could be promising for AD. PBM exerts diverse biological effects, such as enhancing mitochondrial function, mitigating the neuroinflammation caused by activated glial cells, increasing cerebral perfusion, improving glymphatic drainage, regulating the gut microbiome, boosting myokine production, and modulating the immune system. We suggest that PBM may serve as a powerful therapeutic intervention for AD.

Assessing the Effects of Curcumin and 450 nm Photodynamic Therapy on Oxidative Metabolism and Cell Cycle in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An In Vitro Study.

Oral cancer is the 16th most common malignant tumor worldwide. The risk of recurrence and mortality is high, and the survival rate is low over the following five years. Recent studies have shown that curcumin causes apoptosis in tumor cells by affecting FoF1-ATP synthase (ATP synthase) activity, which, in turn, hinders cell energy production, leading to a loss of cell viability. Additionally, irradiation of curcumin within cells can intensify its detrimental effects on cancer cell viability and proliferation (photodynamic therapy). We treated the OHSU-974 cell line, a model for human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and primary human fibroblasts. The treatment involved a 1 h exposure of cells to 0.1, 1.0, and 10 µM curcumin, followed or not by irradiation or the addition of the same concentration of pre-irradiated curcumin. Both instances involved a diode laser with a wavelength of 450 nm (0.25 W, 15 J, 60 s, 1 cm2, continuous wave mode). The treatment with non-irradiated 1 and 10 µM curcumin caused ATP synthase inhibition and a consequent reduction in the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and the ATP/AMP ratio, which was associated with a decrement in lipid peroxidation accumulation and a slight increase in glutathione reductase and catalase activity. By contrast, 60 s curcumin irradiation with 0.25 W-450 nm caused a further oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) metabolism impairment that induced an uncoupling between respiration and energy production, leading to increased oxidative damage, a cellular growth and viability reduction, and a cell cycle block in the G1 phase. These effects appeared to be more evident when the curcumin was irradiated after cell incubation. Since cells belonging to the HNSCC microenvironment support tumor development, curcumin's effects have been analyzed on primary human fibroblasts, and a decrease in cell energy status has been observed with both irradiated and non-irradiated curcumin and an increase in oxidative lipid damage and a slowing of cell growth were observed when the curcumin was irradiated before or after cellular administration. Thus, although curcumin displays an anti-cancer role on OHSU-974 in its native form, photoactivation seems to enhance its effects, making it effective even at low dosages.

Crosstalk between hypoxia-induced pyroptosis and immune escape in cancer: From mechanisms to therapy.

Pyroptosis can be triggered through both canonical and non-canonical inflammasome pathways, involving the cleavage of gasdermin (GSDM) protein family members, like GSDMD and GSDME. The impact of pyroptosis on tumors is nuanced, because its role in regulating cancer progression and anti-tumor immunity may vary depending on the tumor type, stage, location, and immune status. However, pyroptosis cannot be simply categorized as promoting or inhibiting tumors based solely on whether it is acute or chronic in nature. The interplay between pyroptosis and cancer is intricate, with some evidence suggesting that chronic pyroptosis may facilitate tumor growth, while the acute induction of pyroptosis could stimulate anti-cancer immune responses. Tumor hypoxia activates hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) signaling to modulate pyroptosis and immune checkpoint expression. Targeting this hypoxia-pyroptosis-immune escape axis could be a promising therapeutic strategy. This review highlights the complex crosstalk between hypoxia, pyroptosis, and immune evasion in the TME.

Use of the traditional Chinese medicine "compound healthy ear agent" to protect against age-related hearing loss in mice: A proteomics study.

Background: Previous studies have shown that the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) called "compound healthy ear agent" (CHEA) had anti-apoptosis effects in cochlear hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons, and could protect mice hearing against presbycusis or age-related hearing loss (AHL), as well as aminoglycoside antibiotic-induced ototoxicity. Because its mechanisms of action are still unclear, we investigated the mechanism of action of CHEA against AHL in mice using proteomics techniques. Methods: Eighteen C57BL/6J mice at 1 month of age were randomly divided into three groups: (A) drinking water until 2 months of age, K2M); (B) drinking water until 7 months of age to induce AHL, K7M; (C) drinking water containing CHEA daily until 7 months of age as treatment group, Z7M. At 2 or 7 months mice were sacrificed and their cochleae were removed for proteomics analysis. Results: The numbers of proteins with a false discovery rate (FDR) < 1% were respectively 5873 for qualitative and 5492 for quantitative statistics. The numbers of proteins with differential enrichment at least 1.5-fold (p < 0.05) were respectively 351 for K7M vs K2M groups, 52 for Z7M vs K7M groups, 264 for Z7M vs K2M groups. The differentially expressed proteins in the Z7M group were involved in synaptic molecular transmission, energy metabolism, immune response, antioxidant defenses, and anti-apoptosis. Conclusion: The TCM CHEA played a protective role against AHL in mice by regulating the expression of specific proteins and genes in cochlear hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons. Besides the pathways expected to be involved (antioxidant and anti-apoptosis), proteins related to immune response is a new finding of the present study.

Photobiomodulation preconditioned diabetic adipose derived stem cells with additional photobiomodulation: an additive approach for enhanced wound healing in diabetic rats with a delayed healing wound.

In this preclinical investigation, we examined the effects of combining preconditioned diabetic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) and photobiomodulation (PBM) on a model of infected ischemic delayed healing wound (injury), (IIDHWM) in rats with type I diabetes (TIDM). During the stages of wound healing, we examined multiple elements such as stereology, macrophage polarization, and the mRNA expression levels of stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1α, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hypoxia-induced factor 1α (HIF-1α), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) to evaluate proliferation and inflammation. The rats were grouped into: (1) control group; (2) diabetic-stem cells were transversed into the injury site; (3) diabetic-stem cells were transversed into the injury site then the injury site exposed to PBM; (4) diabetic stem cells were preconditioned with PBM and implanted into the wound; (5) diabetic stem cells were preconditioned with PBM and transferred into the injury site, then the injury site exposed additional PBM. While on both days 4, and 8, there were advanced histological consequences in groups 2-5 than in group 1, we found better results in groups 3-5 than in group 2 (p < 0.05). M1 macrophages in groups 2-5 were lower than in group 1, while groups 3-5 were reduced than in group 2 (p < 0.01). M2 macrophages in groups 2-5 were greater than in group 1, and groups 3-5 were greater than in group 2. (p ≤ 0.001). Groups 2-5 revealed greater expression levels of bFGF, VEGF, SDF- 1α, and HIF- 1α genes than in group 1 (p < 0.001). Overall group 5 had the best results for histology (p < 0.05), and macrophage polarization (p < 0.001). AD-MSC, PBM, and AD-MSC + PBM treatments all enhanced the proliferative stage of injury repairing in the IIDHWM in TIDM rats. While AD-MSC + PBM was well than the single use of AD-MSC or PBM, the best results were achieved with PBM preconditioned AD-MSC, plus additional PBM of the injury.

Conditioned Medium Treatment for the Improvement of Functional Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury: A Meta-Analysis Study.

BACKGROUND: While there is no certain treatment for spinal cord injury (SCI), stem cellbased therapy may be an attractive alternative, but the survival and differentiation of cells in the host tissue are poor. Conditioned medium (CM) has several beneficial effects on cells. OBJECTIVE: In this meta-analysis study, we examined the effect of CM on SCI treatment. METHODS: After searching on MEDLINE, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and Web of Science, first and secondary screening were performed based on title, abstract, and full text. The data were extracted from the included studies, and meta-analysis was performed using STATA.14 software. A standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval was used to report findings. Quality control and subgroup analysis were also performed. RESULTS: The results from 52 articles and 61 separate experiments showed that CM had a significantly strong effect on improving motor function after SCI (SMD = 2.58; 95% CI: 2.17 to 2.98; p < 0.001) and also analysis of data from 12 articles demonstrated that CM reduced the expression of GFAP marker (SMD = -4.16; p < 0.0001) compared to SCI group without any treatment. Subgroup analysis showed that treatment with CM of neural stem cells was better than CM of mesenchymal stem cells. It was more effective after a mild lesion than a moderate or severe one. The improvement was more pronounced with <4 weeks than >4 weeks follow-up. CONCLUSION: CM had a significant effect in improving motor function after SCI, especially in cases of mild lesions. It has been observed that if CM originates from the neural stem cells, it has a more significant effect than mesenchymal cells.

Histological evaluation of monopolar and bipolar radiofrequency microneedling treatment in a porcine model.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Fractional radiofrequency microneedling (FRM) is widely used as an option for skin rejuvenation, however there is a lack of histological evidence for the various energy delivery systems available. The objective was to assess thermal denaturation of tissue and the wound healing response in monopolar mode versus bipolar mode. Histological analysis was performed to demonstrate the efficacy of automatic impedance feedback system in monopolar mode. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this study, the acute thermal effects caused by monopolar FRM treatment to the dorsal skin of pigs were assessed histologically by hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining. Then, one session of either monopolar or bipolar FRM was used to treat one or the other side of the pig using varying power levels and pulse widths. The acute and chronic tissue reactions were assessed using H&E, immunofluorescence, and western blot analysis at 0, 14, 30, and 90 days after treatment. The efficacy of the impedance feedback system was also monitored histologically. RESULTS: High-energy FRM treatment produced tissue loss and necrosis. The power level and pulse duration significantly affected the coagulation amount. Histopathology at 0, 14, 30, and 90 days showed that the skin tissue reaction was more pronounced for bipolar compared to monopolar FRM. Immunofluorescence showed the expression of TGF-ß, Ki67, MMP3, and elastin increased dramatically with both modes, but were higher in the bipolar FRM treated side. The automatic impedance feedback system could effectively adjust the output energy. CONCLUSIONS: We found that bipolar FRM produced greater thermal effects, more collagen coagulation, and more pronounced molecular changes compared with monopolar mode in a porcine animal model.

Activation of testosterone-androgen receptor mediates cerebrovascular protection by photobiomodulation treatment in photothrombosis-induced stroke rats.

RATIONALE: Numerous epidemiological studies have reported a link between low testosterone levels and an increased risk of cerebrovascular disease in men. However, there is ongoing controversy surrounding testosterone replacement therapy due to potential side effects. PBMT has been demonstrated to improve cerebrovascular function and promote testosterone synthesis in peripheral tissues. Despite this, the molecular mechanisms that could connect PBMT with testosterone and vascular function in the brain of photothrombosis (PT)-induced stroke rats remain largely unknown. METHODS: We measured behavioral performance, cerebral blood flow (CBF), vascular permeability, and the expression of vascular-associated and apoptotic proteins in PT-induced stroke rats treated with flutamide and seven consecutive days of PBM treatment (350 mW, 808 nM, 2 min/day). To gain further insights into the mechanism of PBM on testosterone synthesis, we used testosterone synthesis inhibitors to study their effects on bEND.3 cells. RESULTS: We showed that PT stroke caused a decrease in cerebrovascular testosterone concentration, which was significantly increased by 7-day PBMT (808 nm, 350 mW/cm2 , 42 J/cm2 ). Furthermore, PBMT significantly increased cerebral blood flow (CBF) and the expression of vascular-associated proteins, while inhibiting vascular permeability and reducing endothelial cell apoptosis. This ultimately mitigated behavioral deficits in PT stroke rats. Notably, treatment with the androgen receptor antagonist flutamide reversed the beneficial effects of PBMT. Cellular experiments confirmed that PBMT inhibited cell apoptosis and increased vascular-associated protein expression in brain endothelial cell line (bEnd.3) subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). However, these effects were inhibited by flutamide. Moreover, mechanistic studies revealed that PBMT-induced testosterone synthesis in bEnd.3 cells was partly mediated by 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 5 (17ß-HSD5). CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides evidence that PBMT attenuates cerebrovascular injury and behavioral deficits associated with testosterone/AR following ischemic stroke. Our findings suggest that PBMT may be a promising alternative approach for managing cerebrovascular diseases.

Targeting the NF-κB pathway as a potential regulator of immune checkpoints in cancer immunotherapy.

Advances in cancer immunotherapy over the last decade have led to the development of several agents that affect immune checkpoints. Inhibitory receptors expressed on T cells that negatively regulate the immune response include cytotoxic T­lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1), which have been studied more than similar receptors. Inhibition of these proteins and other immune checkpoints can stimulate the immune system to attack cancer cells, and prevent the tumor from escaping the immune response. However, the administration of anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA4 antibodies has been associated with adverse inflammatory responses similar to autoimmune diseases. The current review discussed the role of the NF-κB pathway as a tumor promoter, and how it can govern inflammatory responses and affect various immune checkpoints. More precise knowledge about the communication between immune checkpoints and NF-κB pathways could increase the effectiveness of immunotherapy and reduce the adverse effects of checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Comparison of 755-nm picosecond alexandrite laser versus 1064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser for melasma: A randomized, split-face controlled, 2-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: Pulsed laser treatment of melasma has shown some promising results. To compare the effectiveness and safety of 755-nm picosecond alexandrite laser (PSAL) fitted with diffractive lens array (DLA) versus 1064-nm Q-switched neodynimum:yttrium aluminum garnet laser (QSNYL) for the treatment of melasma. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, split face controlled, 2-year follow-up study. Each face was divided into two parts, each side receiving three treatments with either PSAL or QSNYL at 1 month intervals. Modified Melasma Area Severity Index scores (mMASI), pain scores, patient satisfaction and adverse events were recorded. In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) images were acquired. RESULTS: Twenty subjects were enrolled and three dropped out. At 6 months, mMASI scores were significantly lower than baseline for QSNYL sides (p = 0.022), with no statistically significant difference between PSAL sides before and after treatment, PSAL sides versus QSNYL sides, or patient satisfaction scores. QSNYL treatment was associated with less pain (p = 0.014). No serious adverse events were reported. In the PSAL sides RCM showed a large number of dendritic melanocytes infiltrated in the dermis at 2 weeks and 4 weeks after treatment. Ten patients (58.82%) reported recurrence or exacerbation at 2-year follow-up with no statistically significant difference between the two lasers. CONCLUSIONS: QSNYL demonstrated short term clinical efficacy for melasma, but did not provide any additional benefit compared to PSAL with DLA. QSNYL was associated with less pain. There was a high recurrence rate at 2-year follow-up. RCM allowed the detection of cellular changes in melasma lesions.

Photobiomodulation therapy (red/NIR LEDs) reduced the length of stay in intensive care unit and improved muscle function: A randomized, triple-blind, and sham-controlled trial.

CONTEXT: Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has been widely used to improve strength, fatigue resistance and increase muscle mass in healthy individuals. These effects could help critically ill patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) who show reduced mobility and muscle strength. ICU-acquired weakness lessens overall health and increases the patient's length of stay in the ICU. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effects of PBMT using low intensity light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the mobility and muscle strength (functional capacity) and length of stay of patients admitted to hospital ICU. METHODS: This randomized, triple-blind, sham-controlled trial was conducted in a hospital ICU. Sixty patients were randomly assigned to two equal groups: (a) PBMT and (b) Sham. PBMT was applied daily to patients until their discharge from the ICU, using a flexible neoprene array of 264 LEDs (120 at 635 nm, 1.2 mW each; 144 at 880 nm, 15 mW each) for 90s (207.36 Joules) at each site. Ten sites were located bilaterally on the thighs, legs, arms, and forearms ventrally and dorsally, 15 min totaling 2,073.6 Joules per session. Outcomes were length of stay (in h) until discharge from the ICU, muscle strength by the Medical Research Council (MRC) score and handgrip dynamometry (HGD), patient mobility by Intensive Care Unit Mobility Scale (IMS) and the Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 (SAPS 3) for predicting mortality of patients admitted to the ICU. RESULTS: PBMT reduced the average length of stay in the ICU by ~30% (p = 0.028); increased mobility (IMS: 255% vs. 110% p = 0.007), increased muscle strength (MRC: 12% vs. -9% p = 0.001) and HGD (34% vs. -13% p < 0.001), and the SAPS3 score was similar (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that daily PBMT can reduce the length of stay of ICU patients and increase muscle strength and mobility.