Bruch's Membrane Opening Minimum Rim Width Provides Objective Differentiation between Glaucoma and Nonglaucomatous Optic Neuropathies.

PURPOSE: A challenging clinical scenario is distinguishing between normal tension glaucoma (NTG) and non-glaucomatous optic neuropathies (NGON). The key to the assessment remains identifying the presence of optic nerve head cupping. Recent optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements now allow objective assessment of cupping by minimum rim width at Bruch's membrane opening (MRW-BMO). This study assessed the hypothesis that the MRW-BMO measurement quantifies cupping and therefore can differentiate between NTG and NGON. DESIGN: Diagnostic evaluation with area under the curve. METHODS: Setting: multicenter tertiary hospitals and outpatient clinics. PATIENT POPULATION: 81 eyes of 81 patients were enrolled, 27 with NTG and 54 with NGON, including ischemic optic neuropathy, previous optic neuritis, and compressive and inherited optic neuropathies. All NGON patients with intraocular pressure >21 mm Hg, narrow drainage angles, or a family history of glaucoma were excluded. Observational procedure: optic disc OCT images were obtained of both the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and the MRW-BMO. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: the utility of the MRW-BMO in differentiating GON from NGON was assessed using the area under the curve (AUC) estimated from a logistic regression model. RESULTS: The 5-fold cross-validated AUC for glaucoma versus nonglaucoma from logistic regression models using MRW-BMO values from all sectors was 0.95 (95% confidence interval: 0.86-1.00). CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of MRW-BMO effectively differentiates between NTG and NGON with a high level of sensitivity and specificity. Incorporating this measurement into routine glaucoma assessment may provide a robust method of assisting clinicians to improve diagnosis and therefore treatment of optic nerve diseases.

Does the combination of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) and static magnetic fields (sMF) potentiate the effects of aerobic endurance training and decrease the loss of performance during detraining? A randomised, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Photobiomodulation (PBMT) is a therapy that uses non-ionising forms of light, including low-level lasers and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that may be capable of modulating cellular activity. Some biological processes may also interact with static magnetic fields (sMF), leading to modulatory effects on cells. Previous studies have verified that the combination of PBMT and sMF (PBMT/sMF) enhances the performance of individuals during aerobic training programs. The detraining period can cause losses in aerobic capacity. However, there is no evidence of the existence of any recourse that can decrease the effects of detraining. We aimed to investigate the effects of PBMT/sMF application during training and detraining to assess the effectiveness of this treatment in reducing the effects of detraining. METHODS: Sixty male volunteers were randomly allocated into four groups- participants who received PBMT/sMF during the training and detraining (PBMT/sMF + PBMT/sMF); participants who received PBMT/sMF during the training and a placebo in the detraining (PBMT/sMF + Placebo); participants who received a placebo during the training and PBMT/sMF in the detraining (Placebo+PBMT/sMF); and participants who received a placebo during the training and detraining (Placebo+Placebo). Participants performed treadmill training over 12 weeks (3 sessions/week), followed by 4 weeks of detraining. PBMT/sMF was applied using a 12-diode emitter (four 905 nm super-pulsed lasers, four 875 nm light-emitting diodes (LEDs), four 640 nm LEDs, and a 35 mT magnetic field) at 17 sites on each lower limb (dosage: 30 J per site). The data were analysed by two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA, time vs experimental group) with post-hoc Bonferroni correction. RESULTS: The percentage of change in time until exhaustion and in maximum oxygen consumption was higher in the PBMT/sMF + PBMT/sMF group than in the Placebo+Placebo group at all time-points (p < 0.05). Moreover, the percentage of decrease in body fat at the 16th week was higher in the PBMT/sMF + PBMT/sMF group than in the Placebo+Placebo group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PBMT/sMF can potentiate the effects of aerobic endurance training and decrease performance loss after a 4-week detraining period. Thus, it may prove to be an important tool for both amateur and high-performance athletes as well as people undergoing rehabilitation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03879226. Trial registered on 18 March 2019.

Electroencephalography reflects the activity of sub-cortical brain regions during approach-withdrawal behaviour while listening to music.

The ability of music to evoke activity changes in the core brain structures that underlie the experience of emotion suggests that it has the potential to be used in therapies for emotion disorders. A large volume of research has identified a network of sub-cortical brain regions underlying music-induced emotions. Additionally, separate evidence from electroencephalography (EEG) studies suggests that prefrontal asymmetry in the EEG reflects the approach-withdrawal response to music-induced emotion. However, fMRI and EEG measure quite different brain processes and we do not have a detailed understanding of the functional relationships between them in relation to music-induced emotion. We employ a joint EEG - fMRI paradigm to explore how EEG-based neural correlates of the approach-withdrawal response to music reflect activity changes in the sub-cortical emotional response network. The neural correlates examined are asymmetry in the prefrontal EEG, and the degree of disorder in that asymmetry over time, as measured by entropy. Participants' EEG and fMRI were recorded simultaneously while the participants listened to music that had been specifically generated to target the elicitation of a wide range of affective states. While listening to this music, participants also continuously reported their felt affective states. Here we report on co-variations in the dynamics of these self-reports, the EEG, and the sub-cortical brain activity. We find that a set of sub-cortical brain regions in the emotional response network exhibits activity that significantly relates to prefrontal EEG asymmetry. Specifically, EEG in the pre-frontal cortex reflects not only cortical activity, but also changes in activity in the amygdala, posterior temporal cortex, and cerebellum. We also find that, while the magnitude of the asymmetry reflects activity in parts of the limbic and paralimbic systems, the entropy of that asymmetry reflects activity in parts of the autonomic response network such as the auditory cortex. This suggests that asymmetry magnitude reflects affective responses to music, while asymmetry entropy reflects autonomic responses to music. Thus, we demonstrate that it is possible to infer activity in the limbic and paralimbic systems from pre-frontal EEG asymmetry. These results show how EEG can be used to measure and monitor changes in the limbic and paralimbic systems. Specifically, they suggest that EEG asymmetry acts as an indicator of sub-cortical changes in activity induced by music. This shows that EEG may be used as a measure of the effectiveness of music therapy to evoke changes in activity in the sub-cortical emotion response network. This is also the first time that the activity of sub-cortical regions, normally considered "invisible" to EEG, has been shown to be characterisable directly from EEG dynamics measured during music listening.

Effects of photobiomodulation therapy in aerobic endurance training and detraining in humans: Protocol for a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Over the last 10 years, it has been demonstrated that photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), also known as phototherapy, using low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and/or light-emitting diode therapy (LEDT) has ergogenic effects, improving athletic performance and also accelerating post-exercise recovery. However, many aspects related to these effects and its clinical applicability remain unknown. Therefore, the aim of this project is to evaluate the ergogenic effects of PBMT in detraining after an aerobic endurance training protocol. METHODS AND ANALYZES: A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial will be carried out. Healthy male volunteers will be randomly distributed into 4 experimental groups: PBMT before and after training sessions + PBMT during detraining, PBMT before and after training sessions + placebo during detraining, placebo before and after training sessions + PBMT during detraining, and placebo before and after training sessions + placebo during detraining. The aerobic endurance training sessions will be carried out using motorized treadmills during 12 weeks, and the detraining period will consist in the next 4 weeks after that. It will be analyzed the time until exhaustion, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), and fat percentage of volunteers. DISCUSSION: Despite the increasing body of evidence for the use of PBMT as an ergogenic agent, several aspects remain unknown. The findings of this study will contribute to the advance of knowledge in this field regarding clinical applications. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Nove de Julho University. The results from this study will be further disseminated through scientific publications in international peer-reviewed journals and presentations at national and international scientific meetings. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03879226.

Acute effects of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) combining laser diodes, light-emitting diodes, and magnetic field in exercise capacity assessed by 6MST in patients with COPD: a crossover, randomized, and triple-blinded clinical trial.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by dyspnea, as well as musculoskeletal and systemic manifestations. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) with use of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and/or light-emitting diode therapy (LEDT) is an electrophysical intervention that has been found to minimize or delay muscle fatigue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effect of PBMT with combined use of lasers diodes, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), magnetic field on muscle performance, exercise tolerance, and metabolic variables during the 6-minute stepper test (6MST) in patients with COPD. Twenty-one patients with COPD (FEV1 46.3% predicted) completed the 6MST protocol over 2 weeks, with one session per week. PBMT/magnetic field or placebo (PL) was performed before each 6MST (17 sites on each lower limb, with a dose of 30 J per site, using a cluster of 12 diodes 4 × 905 nm super-pulsed laser diodes, 4 × 875 nm infrared LEDs, and 4 × 640 nm red LEDs; Multi Radiance Medical™, Solon, OH, USA). Patients were randomized into two groups before the test according to the treatment they would receive. Assessments were performed before the start of each protocol. The primary outcomes were oxygen uptake and number of steps, and the secondary outcome was perceived exertion (dyspnea and fatigue in the lower limbs). PBMT/magnetic field applied before 6MST significantly increased the number of steps during the cardiopulmonary exercise test when compared to the results with placebo (129.8 ± 10.6 vs 116.1 ± 11.5, p = 0.000). PBMT/magnetic field treatment also led to a lower score for the perception of breathlessness (3.0 [1.0-7.0] vs 4.0 [2.0-8.0], p = 0.000) and lower limb fatigue (2.0 [0.0-5.0] vs 4.0 [0.0-7.0], p = 0.001) compared to that with placebo treatment. This study showed that the combined application of PBMT and magnetic field increased the number of steps during the 6MST and decreased the sensation of dyspnea and lower limb fatigue in patients with COPD.

When is the best moment to apply photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) when associated to a treadmill endurance-training program? A randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) employing low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and/or light emitting diode therapy (LEDT) has emerged as an electrophysical intervention that could be associated with aerobic training to enhance beneficial effects of aerobic exercise. However, the best moment to perform irradiation with PBMT in aerobic training has not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of PBMT applied before and/or after each training session and to evaluate outcomes of the endurance-training program associated with PBMT. Seventy-seven healthy volunteers completed the treadmill-training protocol performed for 12 weeks, with 3 sessions per week. PBMT was performed before and/or after each training session (17 sites on each lower limb, using a cluster of 12 diodes: 4 × 905 nm super-pulsed laser diodes, 4 × 875 nm infrared LEDs, and 4 × 640 nm red LEDs, dose of 30 J per site). Volunteers were randomized in four groups according to the treatment they would receive before and after each training session: PBMT before + PBMT after, PBMT before + placebo after, placebo before + PBMT after, and placebo before + placebo after. Assessments were performed before the start of the protocol and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of training. Primary outcome was time until exhaustion; secondary outcome measures were oxygen uptake and body fat. PBMT applied before and after aerobic exercise training sessions (PBMT before + PBMT after group) significantly increased (p < 0.05) the percentage of change of time until exhaustion and oxygen uptake compared to the group treated with placebo before and after aerobic exercise training sessions (placebo before + placebo after group) at 4th, 8th, and 12th week. PBMT applied before and after aerobic exercise training sessions (PBMT before + PBMT after group) also significantly improved (p < 0.05) the percentage of change of body fat compared to the group treated with placebo before and after aerobic exercise training sessions (placebo before + placebo after group) at 8th and 12th week. PBMT applied before and after sessions of aerobic training during 12 weeks can increase the time-to-exhaustion and oxygen uptake and also decrease the body fat in healthy volunteers when compared to placebo irradiation before and after exercise sessions. Our outcomes show that PBMT applied before and after endurance-training exercise sessions lead to improvement of endurance three times faster than exercise only.

Pre-Exercise Infrared Photobiomodulation Therapy (810 nm) in Skeletal Muscle Performance and Postexercise Recovery in Humans: What Is the Optimal Power Output?

BACKGROUND: Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has recently been used to alleviate postexercise muscle fatigue and enhance recovery, demonstrating positive results. A previous study by our research group demonstrated the optimal dose for an infrared wavelength (810 nm), but the outcomes could be optimized further with the determination of the optimal output power. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of PBMT (through low-level laser therapy) on postexercise skeletal muscle recovery and identify the best output power. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial was conducted with the participation of 28 high-level soccer players. PBMT was applied before the eccentric contraction protocol with a cluster with five diodes, 810 nm, dose of 10 J, and output power of 100, 200, 400 mW per diode or placebo at six sites of knee extensors. Maximum isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC), delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and biochemical markers related to muscle damage (creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase), inflammation (IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α), and oxidative stress (catalase, superoxide dismutase, carbonylated proteins, and thiobarbituric acid) were evaluated before isokinetic exercise, as well as at 1 min and at 1, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h, after the eccentric contraction protocol. RESULTS: PBMT increased MIVC and decreased DOMS and levels of biochemical markers (p < 0.05) with the power output of 100 and 200 mW, with better results for the power output of 100 mW. CONCLUSIONS: PBMT with 100 mW power output per diode (500 mW total) before exercise achieves best outcomes in enhancing muscular performance and postexercise recovery. Another time it has been demonstrated that more power output is not necessarily better.

Uso do LLLT e nucleotídeos no manejo de parestesia do nervo mentual / Management of mentual nerve paresthesia with LLLT and nucleotides

Os fascículos nervosos periféricos estão sujeitos a diferentes tipos de injúrias. Várias terapias são propostas pela literatura, entre elas, a laserterapia e a terapia farmacológica. Estudos têm mostrado a influência da laserterapia no metabolismo celular, de maneira a exercer uma ação positiva em níveis moleculares diminuindo o dano nervoso, aliviando a dor e acelerando os processos de reparação tecidual neural. Paralelamente os ribonucleotídeos pirimidínicos são bastante utilizados no tratamento de distúrbios ortopédicos degenerativos com compressão neuronal. O objetivo deste trabalho é relatar um caso clínico de uma paciente que possuía um pré-molar inferior incluso associado a um dente supra-numerário, cujo risco de lesão nervosa por meio da cirurgia era muito alto. Nas avaliações de imagem pode se notar uma relação de intimo contato do supranumerário com a cortical basal mandibular e com o canal mandibular. Foi elaborado um planejamento ortodôntico-cirúrgico, de forma a utilizar-se a laserterapia e ribonucleotídeos pirimidínicos para tratar a parestesia, classificada como neuropraxia, devido à longa exposição e ao tracionamento do dente. Este caso clínico ilustra opções de tratamento que os cirurgiões dentistas podem utilizar ao se depararem em situações clínicas inusitadas... (AU)

The peripheral nerve fascicles are subjected to different types of injuries. Several therapies are proposed in the literature, among them, laser therapy and pharmacological therapy. Studies have shown the influence of laser therapy on cellular metabolism, in order to exert a positive action at molecular levels, reducing nerve damage, relieving pain and accelerating neural tissue repair processes. In parallel, the use of pyrimidine ribonucleotides are widely used in the treatment of degenerative orthopedic disorders with neuronal compression. The objective of this study is to report a clinical case of a patient with an inferior pre-molar associated with a supra-dental tooth whose risk of Nerve injury through surgery was very high. In the image evaluations one can notice a relation of intimate contact of the supernumerary with the basal bone of the mandible and with the mandibular canal. Orthodontic-surgical planning was done in order to use laser therapy and pyrimidine ribonucleotides to treat paresthesia, classified as neuropraxia, due to long exposure and tooth traction. This clinical case illustrates treatment options that dentists can use when encountering unusual clinical conditions... (AU)

What is the best moment to apply phototherapy when associated to a strength training program? A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial : Phototherapy in association to strength training.

The effects of phototherapy (or photobiomodulation therapy) with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and/or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on human performance improvement have been widely studied. Few studies have examined its effect on muscular training and no studies have explored the necessary moment of phototherapy irradiations (i.e., before and/or after training sessions). The aim of this study was to determine the optimal moment to apply phototherapy irradiation when used in association with strength training. Forty-eight male volunteers (age between 18 to 35 years old) completed all procedures in this study. Volunteers performed the strength training protocol where either a phototherapy and/or placebo before and/or after each training session was performed using cluster probes with four laser diodes of 905 nm, four LEDs of 875 nm, and four LEDs of 640 nm-manufactured by Multi Radiance Medical™. The training protocol duration was 12 weeks with assessments of peak torque reached in maximum voluntary contraction test (MVC), load in 1-repetition maximum test (1-RM) and thigh circumference (perimetry) at larger cross-sectional area (CSA) at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks. Volunteers from group treated with phototherapy before and placebo after training sessions showed significant (p < 0.05) changes in MVC and 1-RM tests for both exercises (leg extension and leg press) when compared to other groups. With an apparent lack of side effects and safety due to no thermal damage to the tissue, we conclude that the application of phototherapy yields enhanced strength gains when it is applied before exercise. The application may have additional beneficial value in post-injury rehabilitation where strength improvements are needed.

Affective brain-computer music interfacing.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to develop and evaluate an affective brain-computer music interface (aBCMI) for modulating the affective states of its users. APPROACH: An aBCMI is constructed to detect a user's current affective state and attempt to modulate it in order to achieve specific objectives (for example, making the user calmer or happier) by playing music which is generated according to a specific affective target by an algorithmic music composition system and a case-based reasoning system. The system is trained and tested in a longitudinal study on a population of eight healthy participants, with each participant returning for multiple sessions. MAIN RESULTS: The final online aBCMI is able to detect its users current affective states with classification accuracies of up to 65% (3 class, [Formula: see text]) and modulate its user's affective states significantly above chance level [Formula: see text]. SIGNIFICANCE: Our system represents one of the first demonstrations of an online aBCMI that is able to accurately detect and respond to user's affective states. Possible applications include use in music therapy and entertainment.

Photobiomodulation Therapy Improves Performance and Accelerates Recovery of High-Level Rugby Players in Field Test: A Randomized, Crossover, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study.

Pinto, HD, Vanin, AA, Miranda, EF, Tomazoni, SS, Johnson, DS, Albuquerque-Pontes, GM, de Oliveira Aleixo Junior, I, Grandinetti, VdS, Casalechi, HL, de Tarso Camillo de Carvalho, P, and Pinto Leal Junior. Photobiomodulation therapy improves performance and accelerates recovery of high-level rugby players in field test: A randomized, crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study. J Strength Cond Res 30(12): 3329-3338, 2016-Although growing evidence supports the use of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) for performance and recovery enhancement, there have only been laboratory-controlled studies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the effects of PBMT in performance and recovery of high-level rugby players during an anaerobic field test. Twelve male high-level rugby athletes were recruited in this randomized, crossover, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. No interventions were performed before the Bangsbo sprint test (BST) at familiarization phase (week 1); at weeks 2 and 3, pre-exercise PBMT or placebo were randomly applied to each athlete. Photobiomodulation therapy irradiation was performed at 17 sites of each lower limb, employing a cluster with 12 diodes (4 laser diodes of 905 nm, 4 light emitting diodes [LEDs] of 875 nm, and 4 LEDs of 640 nm, 30 J per site, manufactured by Multi Radiance Medical). Average time of sprints, best time of sprints, and fatigue index were obtained from BST. Blood lactate levels were assessed at baseline, and at 3, 10, 30, and 60 minutes after BST. Athletes' perceived fatigue was also assessed through a questionnaire. Photobiomodulation therapy significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved the average time of sprints and fatigue index in BST. Photobiomodulation therapy significantly decreased percentage of change in blood lactate levels (p ≤ 0.05) and perceived fatigue (p ≤ 0.05). Pre-exercise PBMT with the combination of super-pulsed laser (low-level laser), red LEDs, and infrared LEDs can enhance performance and accelerate recovery of high-level rugby players in field test. This opens a new avenue for wide use of PBMT in real clinical practice in sports settings.

Using Pre-Exercise Photobiomodulation Therapy Combining Super-Pulsed Lasers and Light-Emitting Diodes to Improve Performance in Progressive Cardiopulmonary Exercise Tests.

CONTEXT: Skeletal muscle fatigue and exercise performance are novel areas of research and clinical application in the photobiomodulation field, and positive outcomes have been reported in several studies; however, the optimal measures have not been fully established. OBJECTIVE: To assess the acute effect of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) combining superpulsed lasers (low-level laser therapy) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on muscle performance during a progressive cardiopulmonary treadmill exercise test. DESIGN: Crossover study. SETTING: Laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Twenty untrained male volunteers (age = 26.0 ± 6.0 years, height = 175.0 ± 10.0 cm, mass = 74.8 ± 10.9 kg). INTERVENTION(S): Participants received PBMT with either combined superpulsed lasers and LED (active PBMT) or placebo at session 1 and the other treatment at session 2. All participants completed a cardiopulmonary test on a treadmill after each treatment. For active PBMT, we performed the irradiation at 17 sites on each lower limb (9 on the quadriceps, 6 on the hamstrings, and 2 on the gastrocnemius muscles), using a cluster with 12 diodes (four 905-nm superpulsed laser diodes with an average power of 0.3125 mW, peak power of 12.5 W for each diode, and frequency of 250 Hz; four 875-nm infrared LED diodes with an average power of 17.5 mW; and four 640-nm red LED diodes with an average power of 15 mW) and delivering a dose of 30 J per site. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Distance covered, time until exhaustion, pulmonary ventilation, and dyspnea score. RESULTS: The distance covered (1.96 ± 0.30 versus 1.84 ± 0.40 km, t19 = 2.119, P < .001) and time until exhaustion on the cardiopulmonary test (780.2 ± 91.0 versus 742.1 ± 94.0 seconds, t19 = 3.028, P < .001) was greater after active PBMT than after placebo. Pulmonary ventilation was greater (76.4 ± 21.9 versus 74.3 ± 19.8 L/min, t19 = 0.180, P = .004) and the score for dyspnea was lower (3.0 [interquartile range = 0.5-9.0] versus 4.0 [0.0-9.0], U = 184.000, P < .001) after active PBMT than after placebo. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of lasers and LEDs increased the time, distance, and pulmonary ventilation and decreased the score of dyspnea during a cardiopulmonary test.

Music-induced emotions can be predicted from a combination of brain activity and acoustic features.

It is widely acknowledged that music can communicate and induce a wide range of emotions in the listener. However, music is a highly-complex audio signal composed of a wide range of complex time- and frequency-varying components. Additionally, music-induced emotions are known to differ greatly between listeners. Therefore, it is not immediately clear what emotions will be induced in a given individual by a piece of music. We attempt to predict the music-induced emotional response in a listener by measuring the activity in the listeners electroencephalogram (EEG). We combine these measures with acoustic descriptors of the music, an approach that allows us to consider music as a complex set of time-varying acoustic features, independently of any specific music theory. Regression models are found which allow us to predict the music-induced emotions of our participants with a correlation between the actual and predicted responses of up to r=0.234,p<0.001. This regression fit suggests that over 20% of the variance of the participant's music induced emotions can be predicted by their neural activity and the properties of the music. Given the large amount of noise, non-stationarity, and non-linearity in both EEG and music, this is an encouraging result. Additionally, the combination of measures of brain activity and acoustic features describing the music played to our participants allows us to predict music-induced emotions with significantly higher accuracies than either feature type alone (p<0.01).

The thermal impact of phototherapy with concurrent super-pulsed lasers and red and infrared LEDs on human skin.

From the very first reports describing the method of action of phototherapy, the effects have been considered to be the result of photochemical and photophysical interactions between the absorbed photons and tissue and not related to secondary changes in tissue or skin temperature. However, thermal effects have been recently reported in dark pigmented skin when irradiated with single wavelengths of 810 and 904 nm of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) devices even with doses that do not exceed those recommended by the World Association of Laser Therapy (WALT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the thermal impact during the concurrent use of pulsed red and infrared LEDs and super-pulsed lasers when applied to light, medium, and dark pigmented human skin with doses typically seen in clinical practice. The study evaluated the skin temperature of 42 healthy volunteers (males and females 18 years or older, who presented different pigmentations, stratified according to Von Luschan's chromatic scale) via the use of a thermographic camera. Active irradiation was performed with using the multi-diode phototherapy cluster containing four 905-nm super-pulsed laser diodes (frequency set to 250 Hz), four 875-nm infrared-emitting diodes, and four 640-nm LEDs (manufactured by Multi Radiance Medical™, Solon, OH, USA). Each of the four doses were tested on each subject: placebo, 0 J (60 s); 10 J (76 s); 30 J (228 s); and 50 J (380 s). Data were collected during the last 5 s of each dose of irradiation and continued for 1 min after the end of each irradiation. No significant skin temperature increases were observed among the different skin color groups (p > 0.05), age groups (p > 0.05), or gender groups (p > 0.05). Our results indicate that the concurrent use of super-pulsed lasers and pulsed red and infrared LEDs can be utilized in patients with all types of skin pigmentation without concern over safety or excessive tissue heating. Additionally, the doses and device utilized in present study have demonstrated positive outcomes in prior clinical trials. Therefore, it can be concluded that the effects seen by the concurrent use of multiple wavelengths and light sources were the result of desirable photobiomodulation effect and not related to thermal influence.

Phototherapy with combination of super-pulsed laser and light-emitting diodes is beneficial in improvement of muscular performance (strength and muscular endurance), dyspnea, and fatigue sensation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Phototherapy is an electrophysical intervention being considered for the retardation of peripheral muscular fatigue usually observed in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The objective of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of combination of super-pulsed laser and light-emitting diodes phototherapy on isokinetic performance in patients with COPD. Thirteen patients performed muscular endurance tests in an isokinetic dynamometer. The maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), peak torque (PT), and total work (TW) of the non-dominant lower limb were measured in two visits. The application of phototherapy or placebo (PL) was conducted randomly in six locations of femoral quadriceps muscle by using a cluster of 12 diodes (4 of 905 nm super-pulsed lasers, 0.3125 mW each; 4 of 875 nm LEDs, 17.5 mW each; and 4 of 640 nm LEDs, 15 mW each, manufactured by Multi Radiance Medical™). We found statistically significant increases for PT (174.7 ± 35.7 N · m vs. 155.8 ± 23.3 N · m, p = 0.003) and TW after application of phototherapy when compared to placebo (778.0 ± 221.1 J vs. 696.3 ± 146.8 J, p = 0.005). Significant differences were also found for MVIC (104.8 ± 26.0 N · m vs. 87.2 ± 24.0 N · m, p = 0.000), sensation of dyspnea (1 [0-4] vs. 3 [0-6], p = 0.003), and fatigue in the lower limbs (2 [0-5] vs. 5 [0.5-9], p = 0.002) in favor of phototherapy. We conclude that the combination of super-pulsed lasers and LEDs administered to the femoral quadriceps muscle of patients with COPD increased the PT by 20.2% and the TW by 12%. Phototherapy with a combination of super-pulsed lasers and LEDs prior to exercise also led to decreased sensation of dyspnea and fatigue in the lower limbs in patients with COPD.

Automated identification of neural correlates of continuous variables.

BACKGROUND: The electroencephalogram (EEG) may be described by a large number of different feature types and automated feature selection methods are needed in order to reliably identify features which correlate with continuous independent variables. NEW METHOD: A method is presented for the automated identification of features that differentiate two or more groups in neurological datasets based upon a spectral decomposition of the feature set. Furthermore, the method is able to identify features that relate to continuous independent variables. RESULTS: The proposed method is first evaluated on synthetic EEG datasets and observed to reliably identify the correct features. The method is then applied to EEG recorded during a music listening task and is observed to automatically identify neural correlates of music tempo changes similar to neural correlates identified in a previous study. Finally, the method is applied to identify neural correlates of music-induced affective states. The identified neural correlates reside primarily over the frontal cortex and are consistent with widely reported neural correlates of emotions. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: The proposed method is compared to the state-of-the-art methods of canonical correlation analysis and common spatial patterns, in order to identify features differentiating synthetic event-related potentials of different amplitudes and is observed to exhibit greater performance as the number of unique groups in the dataset increases. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed method is able to identify neural correlates of continuous variables in EEG datasets and is shown to outperform canonical correlation analysis and common spatial patterns.

Effect of phototherapy (low-level laser therapy and light-emitting diode therapy) on exercise performance and markers of exercise recovery: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Recent studies have explored if phototherapy with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or narrow-band light-emitting diode therapy (LEDT) can modulate activity-induced skeletal muscle fatigue or subsequently protect against muscle injury. We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis to investigate the effects of phototherapy applied before, during and after exercises. A literature search was performed in Pubmed/Medline database for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from 2000 through 2012. Trial quality was assessed with the ten-item PEDro scale. Main outcome measures were selected as: number of repetitions and time until exhaustion for muscle performance, and creatine kinase (CK) activity to evaluate risk for exercise-induced muscle damage. The literature search resulted in 16 RCTs, and three articles were excluded due to poor quality assessment scores. From 13 RCTs with acceptable methodological quality (≥6 of 10 items), 12 RCTs irradiated phototherapy before exercise, and 10 RCTs reported significant improvement for the main outcome measures related to performance. The time until exhaustion increased significantly compared to placebo by 4.12 s (95% CI 1.21-7.02, p < 0.005) and the number of repetitions increased by 5.47 (95% CI 2.35-8.59, p < 0.0006) after phototherapy. Heterogeneity in trial design and results precluded meta-analyses for biochemical markers, but a quantitative analysis showed positive results in 13 out of 16 comparisons. The most significant and consistent results were found with red or infrared wavelengths and phototherapy application before exercises, power outputs between 50 and 200 mW and doses of 5 and 6 J per point (spot). We conclude that phototherapy (with lasers and LEDs) improves muscular performance and accelerate recovery mainly when applied before exercise.

Phototherapy in skeletal muscle performance and recovery after exercise: effect of combination of super-pulsed laser and light-emitting diodes.

Recent studies with phototherapy have shown positive results in enhancement of performance and improvement of recovery when applied before exercise. However, several factors still remain unknown such as therapeutic windows, optimal treatment parameters, and effects of combination of different light sources (laser and LEDs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of phototherapy with the combination of different light sources on skeletal muscle performance and post-exercise recovery, and to establish the optimal energy dose. A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial with participation of 40 male healthy untrained volunteers was performed. A single phototherapy intervention was performed immediately after pre-exercise (baseline) maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) with a cluster of 12 diodes (4 of 905 nm lasers-0.3125 mW each, 4 of 875 nm LEDs-17.5 mW each, and 4 of 670 nm LEDs-15 mW each- manufactured by Multi Radiance Medical™) and dose of 10, 30, and 50 J or placebo in six sites of quadriceps. MVC, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and creatine kinase (CK) activity were analyzed. Assessments were performed before, 1 min, 1, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after eccentric exercise protocol employed to induce fatigue. Phototherapy increased (p < 0.05) MVC was compared to placebo from immediately after to 96 h after exercise with 10 or 30 J doses (better results with 30 J dose). DOMS was significantly decreased compared to placebo (p < 0.05) with 30 J dose from 24 to 96 h after exercise, and with 50 J dose from immediately after to 96 h after exercise. CK activity was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) compared to placebo with all phototherapy doses from 1 to 96 h after exercise (except for 50 J dose at 96 h). Pre-exercise phototherapy with combination of low-level laser and LEDs, mainly with 30 J dose, significantly increases performance, decreases DOMS, and improves biochemical marker related to skeletal muscle damage.

Neural correlates of emotional responses to music: an EEG study.

This paper presents an EEG study into the neural correlates of music-induced emotions. We presented participants with a large dataset containing musical pieces in different styles, and asked them to report on their induced emotional responses. We found neural correlates of music-induced emotion in a number of frequencies over the pre-frontal cortex. Additionally, we found a set of patterns of functional connectivity, defined by inter-channel coherence measures, to be significantly different between groups of music-induced emotional responses.