Clinical and histological evaluation of a dual sequential application of fractional 10,600 nm and 1570 nm lasers, compared to single applications in a porcine model.

The sequential application of fractional ablative/10,600 nm/CO2 followed by 1570 nm non-ablative laser treatment might produce better results than applying either laser treatment alone. However, histological data regarding the safety of this combination is lacking. This study aimed to assess and compare clinical effects, histological tissue damage, and wound healing after monochromatic and sequential fractional laser treatments. In this prospective porcine model study, three adult female pigs were each irradiated using three different wavelengths: (a) monochromatic fractional ablative CO2 laser; (b) monochromatic fractional non-ablative 1570 nm laser; (c) sequential fractional 10,600 nm/CO2 followed by 1570 nm laser treatment. There were six power levels in the monochromatic 1570 nm laser, five in the 10,600 nm/CO2, and five in the sequential treatment. The immediate skin reaction (ISR), crusting and adverse effects, was evaluated across different time points throughout the healing process. Wound biopsies were taken at immediately after (0) and at 3, 7, and 14 days after irradiation. Depth and width of craters, and width of coagulation zone were measured and compared. Similar ISR and crusting score values were obtained following the monochromatic and sequential irradiation in a similar dose-response manner. During 14 days of follow-up, the skin looked intact and non-infected with no signs of necrosis. The mean depth and width of craters were comparable only at the maximal energy level (240 mJ) of CO2 laser, with the coagulation size greater after the sequential treatment. In histology, a similar wound healing was evident. On day 3, crusts were observed above all lesions as was epithelial regeneration. The sequential irradiation with 10,600 nm/CO2 and 1570 nm lasers did not pose any additional risk compared to the risk of each laser alone.

Cardiopulmonary-related patient-reported outcomes in a randomized clinical trial of radiation therapy for breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Long-term prospective patient-reported outcomes (PRO) after breast cancer adjuvant radiotherapy is scarce. TomoBreast compared conventional radiotherapy (CR) with tomotherapy (TT), on the hypothesis that TT might reduce lung-heart toxicity. METHODS: Among 123 women consenting to participate, 64 were randomized to CR, 59 to TT. CR delivered 50 Gy in 25 fractions/5 weeks to breast/chest wall and regional nodes if node-positive, with a sequential boost (16 Gy/8 fractions/1.6 weeks) after lumpectomy. TT delivered 42 Gy/15 fractions/3 weeks to breast/chest wall and regional nodes if node-positive, 51 Gy simultaneous-integrated-boost in patients with lumpectomy. PRO were assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaire QLQ-C30. PRO scores were converted into a symptom-free scale, 100 indicating a fully symptom-free score, 0 indicating total loss of freedom from symptom. Changes of PRO over time were analyzed using the linear mixed-effect model. Survival analysis computed time to > 10% PRO-deterioration. A post-hoc cardiorespiratory outcome was defined as deterioration in any of dyspnea, fatigue, physical functioning, or pain. RESULTS: At 10.4 years median follow-up, patients returned on average 9 questionnaires/patient, providing a total of 1139 PRO records. Item completeness was 96.6%. Missingness did not differ between the randomization arms. The PRO at baseline were below the nominal 100% symptom-free score, notably the mean fatigue-free score was 64.8% vs. 69.6%, pain-free was 75.4% vs. 75.3%, and dyspnea-free was 84.8% vs. 88.5%, in the TT vs. CR arm, respectively, although the differences were not significant. By mixed-effect modeling on early ≤2 years assessment, all three scores deteriorated, significantly for fatigue, P ≤ 0.01, without effect of randomization arm. By modeling on late assessment beyond 2 years, TT versus CR was not significantly associated with changes of fatigue-free or pain-free scores but was associated with a significant 8.9% improvement of freedom from dyspnea, P = 0.035. By survival analysis of the time to PRO deterioration, TT improved 10-year survival free of cardiorespiratory deterioration from 66.9% with CR to 84.5% with TT, P = 0.029. CONCLUSION: Modern radiation therapy can significantly improve long-term PRO. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00459628 , April 12, 2007 prospectively.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Stimulates Angiogenesis and Collagen Production in Facial Soft Tissue.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave (ESW) application in stimulating dermal thickness, vascularity, and collagen synthesis of facial skin in a large animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The facial skin of the maxillary and mandibular areas of goats (n = 6 per group) was treated with ESWs of different intensities (0.15 and 0.45 mJ/mm2; 1000 pulses). After 4 d, histology and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the following: dermal thickness, total number and abundance of microvessels, amount of type 1 collagen, and α-smooth muscle actin expression. RESULTS: Dermal thickness, number and abundance of microvessels, and collagen synthesis increased after ESW application at both intensities (each P < 0.05). When comparing ESW groups, the highest collagen abundance was seen after 0.15 mJ/mm2 (P = 0.034), whereas the highest number of microvessels was detected after treatment with 0.45 mJ/mm2 (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: A single-session application of focused low-energy ESWs to facial skin can increase dermal thickness by stimulating collagen production and local microcirculation. These findings commend the technique for future investigation for pretreatment of local or microvascular skin flaps to enhance tissue healing.

Acceleration of skin wound healing by low-dose indirect ionizing radiation in male rats.

A recent hypothesis has revealed that low-dose irradiation (LDI) with ionizing radiation might have a promoting effect on fracture healing. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of direct (electron beam) and indirect (gamma-ray) low-dose ionizing irradiations on the wound healing process in male rats. In 72 male rats, a full-thickness wound was incised. The animals were randomly assigned to three groups, each with 24 rats. The first two groups were named IG-I and IG-II and respectively exposed to electron and gamma-radiations (75 cGy) immediately after the surgical procedure. The third group was considered as the control (CG) and remained untreated. Skin biopsies from the subgroups were collected on days 3, 7, 15, and 21 after the operation and evaluated using histological and biomechanical methods. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey's post hoc test using SPSS 20 software. Histological studies of tissues showed that the mean number of fibroblasts, macrophages, blood vessel sections, and neutrophils on the third and seventh days after the surgery in the gamma-treated group was higher than that in both other groups. In contrast, on day 21, the mean number of mentioned cells in the gamma-treated group was lower than in the other two groups. In addition, the mean maximum stress value was significantly greater in the gamma-treated group. Results of this study showed that gamma-ray irradiation is effective in the acceleration of wound healing.

Beneficial Effects of Applying Low-Level Laser Therapy to Surgical Wounds After Bariatric Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is a successful method for weight loss in cases of morbid obesity; however, as an invasive procedure, surgical complications may occur. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been increasingly used due to its effectiveness in controlling the inflammatory response, accelerating tissue repair, and reducing pain. The objective of this study was to investigate photobiomodulation effects after bariatric surgery and determine the laser actions during the inflammatory process, wound healing (clinical observation), and analgesia. METHODS: This study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial in which 85 patients underwent Roux en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) by conventional techniques (i.e., open surgery). Patients were divided into two groups and were irradiated with LLLT at 10 different points through the surgical scar in three sessions of applications: the laser group (laser-on) consisted of 43 patients who received the CW diode laser (MMOptics), while the placebo group (laser-off) consisted of 42 patients who were treated by the same protocol but with a disabled laser. Temperature was measured by a digital thermometer in both groups, and pain was evaluated using the visual analogue scale for pain. Biochemical analysis and digital images were used to document and evaluate the inflammatory response as well as tissue repair process at the surgical wound site. RESULTS: Patients in the laser group demonstrated diminished wound temperature as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) compared with the placebo group, indicating better inflammatory process control as well as improved wound healing and reduced pain. CONCLUSIONS: LLLT applied with the described protocol led to a decrease by biochemical markers and wound temperature compared with the placebo, which indicated that LLLT was able to control the inflammatory process; in addition, seroma and pain were reduced and cicatrization was improved by this preventive procedure.

Safety and Efficacy Evaluation of Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment, CO2 Ablative Fractional Resurfacing, and Combined Treatment for Surgical Scar Clearance.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Surgical scars are an unwanted sequela following surgical procedures. Several different treatment modalities and approaches are currently being employed to improve the cosmesis of surgical scars with each having varying degrees of success. The objective of this study was to assess the ef cacy and safety pulsed dye laser treatment, CO2 ablative fractional resurfacing, and a combined treatment with these two modalities for the cosmetic improvement of surgical scarring that occurred following the surgical removal of skin cancer from different anatomic areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients with surgical scarring most frequently on the face following recent surgical excision of skin cancer with Mohs surgery were included in this multicenter, prospective clinical study. Patients were randomized into 4 treatment arms, namely, pulsed dye laser alone, CO2 laser alone, a combined treatment with these two modalities, and CO2 ablative fractional resurfacing on the same day of surgery to half of the scar, followed by a combined treatment with the two modalities to that half of the scar. Patients in each study arm received a total of 3-4 treatments, while those patients in Arm 4 underwent an additional treatment with CO2 laser immediately after surgery. Patients were followed up at 1 and 3 months after the final treatment session. RESULTS: No adverse events were seen. Significant improvements in the appearance of scars were achieved in all study arms, as as- sessed by the Vancouver Scar Scale and Global Evaluation Response scales, with the best clinical outcomes seen in those scars that underwent a combination treatment. All patients reported very high satisfaction from treatment. CONCLUSION: Both pulsed dye laser treatment and CO2 ablative fractional resurfacing, when used as a monotherapy, are safe and effective in the treatment and improvement of recent surgical scarring. When both of these modalities are used in combination, however, they appear to potentially have a synergistic effect and an accelerated outcome on the cosmesis of recent surgical scars. J Drugs Dermatol. 2016;15(11):1315-1319..

Terapia a laser de baixa potência e sua eficácia na cicatrização de incisões cirúrgicas na pele de ratos / Effects of low laser power laser therapy in wound healing in rats

A terapia com laser de baixa potencia se tornou algo de inúmeras pesquisas,devido a melhora do processo cicatricial.Um estudo experimental foi realizado para avaliar se há benefícios dessa terapia na cicatrização de feridas na pele de ratos com análises não pareadas e pareadas. Foram utilizados 20 ratos Wistar dividos em 4 grupos, submetidos a 4 incisões lineares na pele do dorso.No Grupo 1, usamos uma dose de laser no pós-operatório; no Grupo 2, duas doses, uma no pós-operatório e após 24 horas; no Grupo 3, três doses, no pós-operatório , 24 e 48 horas.O grupo controle foi submetido às incisões da pele.Foram testadas a força de ruptura e analisados os achados histopatológicos das incisões.Em análise não pareada, o grupo 1 apresenta o maior valor, tendo diferença (p = 0,040). A força de ruptura dos quatro grupos de ratos para as feridas não tratadas, não ocorreu. Na análise pareada as feridas tratadas com laser nos grupos 1, 2 e 3 e grupo controle, não houve diferença. Em análise não pareada, segundo a epitelização e a granulação, o grupo 3 apresentou maior freqüência para epitelização (p=0,002) e granulação (p=0,012).Nas feridas não tratadas nos quatro grupos não houve diferença entre elas em relação à epitelização e à granulação. Na análise pareada, não ocorreram diferenças dessas para os ferimentos produzidos nos grupos.É improvável existir relação entre a terapia a laser e a cicatrização, sendo a associação na análise não pareada apenas aparente, justificada pelo método de avaliação .(AU)

Low power laser therapy is recently in focus due to its properties in angiogenesis, fibroblast and colagenase activity. Based on these facts, the benefits of low laser power therapy in wound healing have been considered. In order to evaluate the benefits of low power therapy in wound healing, twenty Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n=5) which received four linear incisions in the back and then the following treatments, 1: a post-incision laser dose 2: one post-incision and 24 hours later dose 3: one post-incision, 24 and 48 hours later laser doses. 4: control group, with the four skin incisions and no laser therapy. Rupture force and histopathological analyses were performed. Unpaired analyses showed that epithelialization (p= 0.002) and granulation (p=0.012) were more frequent. But there were no differences between groups, using paired analyses. Thus, it is not likely that there is a correlation between low power laser treatment and wound healing. Our findings using unpaired analyses can be justified by the findings using unpaired analyses can be justified by the method of analyses.(AU)