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Previous clinical studies have shown that pulsed dye laser (PDL) and intense pulsed light (IPL) are effective for treating erythematotelangiectatic rosacea(ETR). This article aims to compare the efficacy and safety of PDL and IPL at three different wavelength bands (broad-band, single-narrow-band, and dual-narrow-band) in treating ETR. Sixty subjects with ETR were randomly categorized into four groups and received one of the following laser treatments: PDL (595 nm), IPL with Delicate Pulse Light (DPL, 500–600 nm), IPL with M22 590 (590–1200 nm), or IPL with M22 vascular filter (530–650 nm and 900–1200 nm). Four treatment sessions were administered at 4-week intervals, with one follow-up session 4 weeks after the final treatment. The efficacy of the four lasers was evaluated by comparing the clinical symptom score, total effective rate, VISIA red area absolute score, and RosaQoL score before and after treatment. The safety was evaluated by comparing adverse reactions such as pain, purpura, erythematous edema, and blister. All 60 subjects completed the study. Within-group effects showed that the clinical symptom score, VISIA red area absolute score, and RosaQoL score of all four groups were significantly reduced compared to before treatment (p < 0.001). Between-group effects showed no statistically significant difference among the four laser groups. Safety analysis showed that all four lasers were safe, but the incidence of blister was higher in the M22 vascular group. Nonpurpurogenic PDL, DPL, M22 590, and M22 vascular were equally effective in treating ETR and were well-tolerated. ClinicalTrial.gov Identifier: NCT05360251.

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of picosecond laser therapy combined with the Shumin Star in treating melasma and to explore the role of skin barrier function indicators in the assessment of this treatment process. Ninety patients with melasma were randomly divided into a study group and a control group. The study group received picosecond laser therapy combined with the Shumin Star, while the control group received only picosecond laser therapy. The clinical efficacy and adverse reactions of both groups were compared. Changes in skin barrier function before and after treatment were observed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of skin barrier function for treatment outcomes. The clinical efficacy of the study group was significantly superior to that of the control group (95.56% versus 82.22%, P  = 0.044). After 3 months of treatment, the study group showed significant improvements of skin barrier function in TEWL, stratum corneum hydration, and sebum content, with a significantly lower MASI total score compared to the control group. During the treatment course, the incidence of adverse reactions in the study group was lower than that in the control group. Picosecond laser therapy combined with the Shumin Star is effective in treating melasma. Skin barrier function can be used to assess the clinical efficacy of this treatment, providing valuable reference values for clinical application and promotion.

Background The prevalence of burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is approximately 8% in clinical patients; thus, BMS remains a therapeutic challenge. Photobiomodulation (PBM) and oral cryotherapy (OCT) have been evaluated for the treatment of burning pain, but no confirmatory trials have been performed. To evaluate the comparative effectiveness of PBM combined with OCT at reducing pain and psychological distress compared with PBM alone, OCT alone, or drug therapy (DT) alone in a cohort of patients with BMS. Methods This multi-institutional, single-blinded (assessor-blinded), randomized controlled trial with 4 treatment groups was conducted at Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Guilin Medical University from December 12, 2022, to January 24, 2024. Among the 156 patients assessed for eligibility, 28 were excluded, and 128 patients with a BMS qualified for randomization to 1 of the 4 treatment groups. The participants received 7 treatment sessions of (1) PBM combined with OCT, (2) PBM, (3) OCT, or (4) DT during a 7-week period. The coprimary outcome measures were changes in visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and the overall response rate between baseline and 7 weeks of treatment. Results After 7 weeks of treatment, the PBM + OCT group achieved a high overall response rate for pain reduction (81.25%). This difference in pain reduction trends between the groups resulted in a nearly fivefold greater mean change in the VAS score at the 12-week assessment for the PBM + OCT group than for the DT group ( p  < 0.0083). Furthermore, anxiety symptoms were also significantly alleviated by PBM combined with OCT, resulting in a nearly tenfold greater mean change in the GAD-7 score at the 7-week assessment in the PBM + OCT group than in the DT group ( p  < 0.0083). No severe adverse events were reported during the study period. Conclusions PBM and OCT combination therapy reduces oral mucosa pain and alleviates anxiety symptoms in patients with BMS; thus, this combination therapy is expected to become a promising pain management option for patients with BMS. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2300074518.

Photobiomodulation, also known as low-level laser/light therapy (LLLT), refers to the use of red-to-near-infrared light to stimulate cellular functions for physiological or clinical benefits. The mechanism of LLLT is assumed to rely on photon absorption by cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), the terminal enzyme in the mitochondrial respiratory chain that catalyzes the reduction of oxygen for energy metabolism. In this study, we used broadband near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure the LLLT-induced changes in CCO and hemoglobin concentrations in human forearms in vivo . Eleven healthy participants were administered with 1064-nm laser and placebo treatments on their right forearms. The spectroscopic data were analyzed and fitted with wavelength-dependent, modified Beer-Lambert Law. We found that LLLT induced significant increases of CCO concentration (Δ[CCO]) and oxygenated hemoglobin concentration (Δ[HbO]) on the treated site as the laser energy dose accumulated over time. A strong linear interplay between Δ[CCO] and Δ[HbO] was observed for the first time during LLLT, indicating a hemodynamic response of oxygen supply and blood volume closely coupled to the up-regulation of CCO induced by photobiomodulation. These results demonstrate the tremendous potential of broadband NIRS as a non-invasive, in vivo means to study mechanisms of photobiomodulation and perform treatment evaluations of LLLT.

Background Previous studies have proven that 308-nm light-emitting diode(308-nm LED)and 308-nm excimer lamp(308-nm MEL) are effective in treating vitiligo, but there is a lack of comparison of their efficacy for facial lesions. Objective To evaluate and contrast the treatment success rates of 308-nm LED versus 308-nm excimer lamp in managing facial lesions among patients suffering from stable non-segmental vitiligo. Methods The enrolled 119 patients with 145 lesions were randomly assigned to receive 308-nm LED or 308-nm MEL for two months. Two independent investigators graded repigmentation at the end of the 2-month treatment period. Results There were 76 lesions in the 308-nm LED group and 69 in the 308-nm MEL group. After 1 month, the average repigmentation grade of the 308-nm LED group was 1.34, with an efficacy rate of 11.84%, and the average repigmentation grade of the 308-nm MEL group was 1.17, with an efficacy rate of 7.24%.After two months of phototherapy, the average repigmentation grade of the 308-nm LED group was 2.38, and the effective rate was 42.1%. The average repigmentation grade in the 308-nm MEL group was 2.19, and the effective rate was 39.12%. The two light sources had similar effects on facial vitiligo lesions after 1 month and 2 months of treatment( P  =.349, P  =.416), and the incidence of side effects was also comparable between the two groups ( P  =.332). Conclusion The 308-nm LED is as effective and safe as 308-nm MEL in treating stable non-segmental facial vitiligo lesions.

Pain and joint stiffness contribute to functional limitation in the postoperative period following proximal humeral fractures (PHF). Photobiomodulation (PBM) has demonstrated positive outcomes in fracture repair, analgesia, and functional improvement, as evidenced by randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and experimental animal studies. Clinical studies have shown PBM’s efficacy in reducing pain and improving functional outcomes, while preclinical studies have demonstrated enhanced bone regeneration through PBM application. This clinical study is a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial to investigate the effects of PBM on the shoulder functional recovery after proximal humerus fractures. A total of forty-two participants, aged 18–65 years of both genders, will be randomly divided into two groups: the Control group (receiving physiotherapy combined with simulated PBM) and the PBM group (receiving physiotherapy combined with active PBM). The PBM application (10 minutes) will be performed daily by the participants at home, using a device equipped with 318 light-emitting diodes (LEDs), consisting of 159 LEDs at 660 nm (28.5 mW; 12 J/cm²; 17 J per LED) and 159 LEDs at 850 nm (23 mW; 10 J/cm²; 14 J per LED). The PBM sessions, along with physiotherapy sessions (30 minutes, twice weekly), will be conducted over a 12-week period. Participants will be blinded to their group allocation and will be assessed by a single evaluator at 24 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks post-surgery. The evaluator will also be blinded to the participants’ group assignments. The primary outcome will be shoulder functional recovery after proximal humerus fractures, assessed using the Quick-DASH scale at all experimental time points. Secondary outcomes will include range of motion (measured with a digital goniometer), quality of life (evaluated using the SF-6D questionnaire), pain on pressure and the incidence of adverse effects, all assessed at each time point. Spontaneous pain, nocturnal pain and analgesic use will be evaluated over a 12-week period. Fracture consolidation will be assessed through radiography at weeks 4, 8, and 12. Muscle strength will be measured through dumbbell lifting at weeks 8 and 12. If the data are normally distributed, ANOVA will be used, and results will be presented as means ± standard deviation (SD). If the data are not normally distributed, they will be presented as medians and interquartile ranges, with comparisons made using non-parametric tests. A p-value of less than 0.05 will be considered statistically significant.

Skin aging and photoaging is a process that may appear at a relatively early age, causing an aesthetic problem. Common signs of skin aging include wrinkles, dyspigmentation, and decreased elasticity. Aim of this article is to study the effectiveness and safety of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for skin rejuvenation. Thirty Syrian female patients aged 25-50 participated in this study and were diagnosed with moderate to severe melasma and wrinkles. The patients were divided into two groups and received LLLT with a wavelength of 660 nm emitting a continuous wave. The power density and dose used were 15.6 mW/cm , and 3 J/cm respectively, and the laser effective area was 32 cm . The evaluation was done before, during, and after 12 treatment sessions, based on photographs, in addition to the modified Melasma Area Severity Index (MASI), Pinch test, and Fitzpatrick's classification of facial wrinkling at baseline. Comparing before, and after treatment, and between the two groups, revealed a significant improvement in skin rejuvenation, with a statistical significance (p < 0.05). Additional outcome measures included assessments of patient satisfaction scores, and no adverse effects or re-pigmentation were reported. Our results suggest that LLLT may be a useful and safe therapeutic option in treating melasma, skin elasticity, and wrinkle improvement, which we advised to be integrated into treatment, and follow-up programs in cosmetics and dermatology.

BackgroundDespite increasing evidence shows that optimising ocular surface before cataract surgery is fundamental in patients with pre-existing dry eye disease (DED) to achieve the desired postoperative outcomes, the prophylactic treatment of healthy patients undergoing surgery aiming at preventing iatrogenic DED is worth investigating.MethodsThis was a prospective, interventional, randomised, controlled, double-masked clinical trial. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either low-level light therapy (LLLT) or sham treatment (LLLT with a power output <30%). Patients underwent two treatment sessions: 7±2 days before cataract surgery (T0) and 7±2 days after (T1). Outcome measures evaluated 30±4 days after surgery (T2) included Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT), tear meniscus height, meibomian gland loss (MGL) and redness score.ResultsOut of 153 patients randomised to receive LLLT (n=73) or sham treatment (n=80), 131 (70 men, 61 women, mean age 73.53±7.29 years) completed regularly the study. Patients treated with LLLT had significantly lower OSDI scores compared with controls at T1 and T2 (respectively, 7.2±8.8 vs 14.8±13.0 and 9.0±9.0 vs 18.2±17.9; both p<0.001), higher NIBUT values at T2 (12.5±6.6 vs 9.0±7.8; p=0.007) and lower MGL Meiboscore values at T1 (1.59±0.70 vs 1.26±0.69; p=0.008). Unlike controls, patients treated with LLLT had significantly lower OSDI scores and higher NIBUT values at T2 compared with T0 (respectively, 9.0±9.0 vs 21.2±16.1; p<0.001 and 12.5±6.6 vs 9.7±7.2; p=0.007).ConclusionTwo sessions of LLLT performed before and after cataract surgery were effective in ameliorating tear film stability and ocular discomfort symptoms.Trial registration numberNCT05754437.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common form of hair loss characterized by miniaturization of hair follicles. Low-level light therapy (LLLT) and microneedling have shown potential in promoting hair regrowth. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of an innovative light-emitting diode (LED) helmet cooperated with a novel light-guiding microneedle patch (LMNP) for stimulating hair growth in AGA. In this randomized clinical trial, 16 AGA patients received treatments using light-guiding microneedle patches (LMNPs) illuminated by a LED helmet equipped with green (522 nm) and red (633 nm) LEDs, delivering 50 mW/cm2 power and 40 J/cm2 energy. Treatments were applied weekly for 24 weeks, targeting the frontal recession area. The right side of the scalp was treated with green light and the left with red light, each combined with a LMNP featuring 900 µm height needles at a density of 105 per square centimeter. Hair density and diameter, along with patient and physician satisfaction scores, were assessed monthly. Both red and green LED treatments with LMNP, significantly enhanced hair density and diameter. Satisfaction scores, as reported by both physicians and participants, increased over time. Comparative analyses revealed no statistically significant differences in average satisfaction scores or in changes in hair density and diameter between the groups by the end of the study. Additionally, no serious adverse effects were reported, highlighting the safety of the treatments. The combined Light sources which is portable LED helmet and LMNPs shows promise as a non-invasive, effective treatment for AGA, with similar efficacy between red and green wavelengths.

Melasma significantly impacts life quality, and while various laser therapies show promise, rigorous comparative studies, especially between the novel Picosecond Alexandrite Laser (PSAL) and the traditional combined modality of Q-switched and Long-pulse Nd: YAG Lasers (QLNYL), are notably lacking. This study aims to fill this gap by evaluating the efficacy and safety of these modalities, providing insights into their comparative advantages for clinical practice. In a prospective, evaluator-blinded study, 40 participants with Fitzpatrick Skin Types (FST) III and IV underwent three treatment sessions at four-week intervals with either PSAL or QLNYL. Efficacy was primarily assessed by changes in Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) scores at baseline, 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks, along with patient satisfaction evaluations at the 12- and 24-week marks, and safety assessments conducted throughout the study. Both groups experienced significant reductions in MASI scores post-treatment. Overall, the improvement in MASI scores in the QLNYL group significantly surpassed that in the PSAL group ( P  = 0.010). Patient satisfaction was comparably high between groups, and no significant differences were noted in safety profiles. The PSAL group showed a slightly higher incidence of adverse reactions (not significant) and significantly higher pain scores ( P  = 0.018). Recurrence rates at the 24-week follow-up were 10.5% for PSAL and 0% for QLNYL, with no significant difference. Both PSAL and QLNYL proved effective in treating melasma, with the traditional combined modality of QLNYL demonstrating superior efficacy in FST III-IV. Safety profiles were similar comparable.