Evaluation of anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of low-level laser therapy on temporomandibular joint inflammation in rodents.

The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the nociceptive behavioral as well as histomorphological aspects induced by injection of formalin and carrageenan into the rat temporomandibular joint. The 2.5% formalin injection (FRG group) induced behavioral responses characterized by rubbing the orofacial region and flinching the head quickly, which were quantified for 45 min. The pretreatment with systemic administration of diclofenac sodium-DFN group (10 mg/kg i.p.) as well as the irradiation with LLLT infrared (LST group, 780 nm, 70 mW, 30 s, 2.1 J, 52.5 J/cm(2), GaAlAs) significantly reduced the formalin-induced nociceptive responses. The 1% carrageenan injection (CRG group) induced inflammatory responses over the time-course of the study (24 h, and 3 and 7 days) characterized by the presence of intense inflammatory infiltrate rich in neutrophils, scanty areas of liquefactive necrosis and intense interstitial edema, extensive hemorrhagic areas, and enlargement of the joint space on the region. The DFN and LST groups showed an intensity of inflammatory response that was significantly lower than in CRG group over the time-course of the study, especially in the LST group, which showed exuberant granulation tissue with intense vascularization, and deposition of newly formed collagen fibers (3 and 7 days). It was concluded that the LLLT presented an anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory response on the inflammation induced in the temporomandibular joint of rodents.

Improvement of dermal burn healing by combining sodium alginate/chitosan-based films and low level laser therapy.

This paper aimed to evaluate the improvement of burn wounds healing by sodium alginate/chitosan-based films and laser therapy. Natural polymers with different biological activities are widely used as film dressings to improve wound healing. Lasers arrays accelerate the healing repair of soft tissue injuries. Burn procedures were performed on the backs of 60 male rats assigned into six groups: untreated (CTR), dressed with cellulose films (CL), dressed with sodium alginate/chitosan-based films (SC), laser-irradiated undressed wounds (LT), laser-irradiated wounds with cellulose (CLLT) and sodium alginate/chitosan-based films (SCLT). Laser therapy was applied for 7 days. Animals of each group were euthanised 8 and 14 days after the burn procedures. The inflammatory reaction was significantly more intense in the CTR group than in the irradiated groups after 8 and 14 days. Laser therapy stimulated myofibroblastic differentiation in 8 days, with or without dressing films. Combined laser therapy and both dressings improved epithelisation, blood vessels formation and collagenization, promoted rapid replacement of type III for type I collagen and favored the better arrangement of the newly formed collagen fibres. The combination of laser therapy and sodium alginate/chitosan-based dressing improves burn healing, apparently by modulating the epithelisation, blood vessels formation and collagenization processes.

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy: photodynamic antimicrobial effects of malachite green on Staphylococcus, enterobacteriaceae, and Candida.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated in vitro the photodynamic antimicrobial effects of the photosensitizer malachite green on clinical strains of Staphylococcus, Enterobacteriaceae, and Candida. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six microbial strains isolated from the oral cavity of patients undergoing prolonged antibiotic therapy, including 12 Staphylococcus, 12 Enterobacteriaceae, and 12 Candida strains, were studied. The number of cells of each microorganism was standardized to 10(6) cells/mL. Twenty-four assays were carried out for each strain according to the following experimental conditions: gallium-aluminum-arsenide laser and photosensitizer (n = 6, L+P+), laser and physiologic solution (n = 6, L+P-), photosensitizer (n = 6, L-P+), and physiologic solution (n = 6, L-P-). Next, cultures were prepared on brain-heart infusion agar for the growth of Staphylococcus and Enterobacteriaceae, and on Sabouraud dextrose agar for the growth of Candida, and incubated for 48 h at 37 degrees C. The results are reported as the number of colony-forming units (CFU/mL) and were analyzed with analysis of variance and the Tukey test. RESULTS: The Staphylococcus, enterobacterial, and Candida strains were sensitive to photodynamic therapy with malachite green (L+P+). A reduction of approximately 7 log(10) for Staphylococcus, 6 log(10) for enterobacteria, and 0.5 log(10) for the genus Candida. Significant statistical differences were observed between the L+P+ groups and the control groups (L-P-). CONCLUSION: The Staphylococcus, Enterobacteriaceae, and Candida strains studied were sensitive to photodynamic therapy with malachite green.

Oral magnesium supplementation in asthmatic children: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long-term effect of oral magnesium supplementation on clinical symptoms, bronchial reactivity, lung function and allergen-induced skin responses in children and adolescents with moderate persistent asthma. DESIGN: A double-blind randomized parallel placebo-controlled study. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: The patients were recruited from the Pediatric Outpatient Clinic, Division of Pulmonology, Allergy and Immunology, and followed at the Center for Investigation in Pediatrics at State University of Campinas Hospital, Brazil. Thirty-seven out of 72 patients met the study criteria. There were no dropouts. INTERVENTION: The 37 patients (aged 7-19 years, 19 males) were randomized in two groups: magnesium (n=18, 300 mg/day) and placebo (n=19), during 2 months. Both patient groups received inhaled fluticasone (250 microg twice a day) and salbutamol as needed. The primary outcome was bronchial reactivity evaluated with methacholine challenge test (PC20). RESULTS: After a follow-up of 2 months, the methacholine PC20 for testing bronchial reactivity has augmented significantly in the magnesium group only. The skin responses to recognized antigens have also decreased in patients treated with magnesium. The forced vital capacity (FVC), the forced expiratory volume at first second (FEV1), the forced expiratory flow at 25-75 and the FEV1/FVC ratio were similar in both groups. The magnesium group presented fewer asthma exacerbations and used less salbutamol compared to the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Oral magnesium supplementation helped to reduce bronchial reactivity to methacholine, to diminish their allergen-induced skin responses and to provide better symptom control in pediatric patients with moderate persistent asthma treated with inhaled fluticasone.