Linear polarized near-infrared irradiation stimulates mechanical expansion of the rat sagittal suture

Do adjunctive interventions in patients undergoing rapid maxillary expansion increase the treatment effectiveness?

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of adjunctive interventions in individuals undergoing rapid maxillary expansion (RME).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane, Scopus, LILACS, and Google Scholar were searched without restrictions up to June 2020. Trials involving participants undergoing orthopedic or surgical RME, along with adjunctive interventions, were included. Risk-of-bias assessments were performed using the Cochrane tool for randomized trials-2. The certainty level of evidence was assessed through the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation tool.

RESULTS

Six randomized clinical trials, with low to high risk of bias, were included. Low certainty of the evidence suggested that low-level laser facilitated opening of the midpalatal suture during the active phase of RME. Likewise, moderate certainty demonstrated that low-level laser accelerated the healing process of the suture during the retention phase. The clinical impact of this outcome, that is, stability and retention time, was not evaluated. Very low evidence indicated that osteoperforations along the midpalatal suture increased maxillary transverse skeletal gains in young adults undergoing RME. Low evidence suggested that platelet-rich plasma therapy did not minimize the vertical and thickness bone loss after RME in the short term.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on currently available information, the use of low-level laser associated with maxillary expansion seems to provide a more efficient suture opening and bone healing. Limited evidence suggests that osteoperforations improve the skeletal effects of RME in non-growing individuals. There are no adjunctive interventions capable of reducing the periodontal side effects of RME.

NIR light-assisted phototherapies for bone-related diseases and bone tissue regeneration: A systematic review

Recently, the rapid development of biomaterials has induced great interest in the precisely targeted treatment of bone-related diseases, including bone cancers, infections, and inflammation. Realizing noninvasive therapeutic effects, as well as improving bone tissue regeneration, is essential for the success of bone‑related disease therapies. In recent years, researchers have focused on the development of stimuli-responsive strategies to treat bone-related diseases and to realize bone regeneration. Among the various external stimuli for targeted therapy, near infrared (NIR) light has attracted considerable interests due to its high tissue penetration capacity, minimal damage toward normal tissues, and easy remote control properties. The main objective of this systematic review was to reveal the current applications of NIR light-assisted phototherapy for bone-related disease treatment and bone tissue regeneration. Database collection was completed by June 1, 2020, and a total of 81 relevant studies were finally included. We outlined the various therapeutic applications of photothermal, photodynamic and photobiomodulation effects under NIR light irradiation for bone‑related disease treatment and bone regeneration, based on the retrieved literatures. In addition, the advantages and promising applications of NIR light-responsive drug delivery systems for spatiotemporal-controlled therapy were summarized. These findings have revealed that NIR light-assisted phototherapy plays an important role in bone-related disease treatment and bone tissue regeneration, with significant promise for further biomedical and clinical applications.

Effect of high-intensity pulse irradiation with linear polarized near-infrared rays on muscle tone in patients with cerebrovascular disease: a randomized controlled trial

[Purpose] This study evaluated effects of a high-intensity linear polarized near-infrared ray irradiation for mitigation of muscle hypertonia. [Subjects] The subjects were 20 patients with cerebrovascular disease. [Methods] Subjects were randomly allocated to an intervention or control group. The intervention group received irradiation of the triceps surae. Passive range of motion and passive resistive joint torque of ankle dorsiflexion were measured before and after the intervention in knee extended and flexed positions. [Results] In the knee extended position, the mean changes in passive range of motion were 2.70° and -0.50° in the intervention and control groups, respectively, and the mean changes in passive resistive joint torque were -1.42 and -0.26 N·m in the intervention and control groups, respectively. In the knee flexed position, the mean changes in passive range of motion were 3.70° and 0.70° in the intervention and control groups, respectively, and the mean changes in passive resistive joint torque were -2.38 and -0.31 N·m in the intervention and control groups, respectively. In both knee positions, the mean changes in the two indices were greater in the intervention group than in the control group. [Conclusion] High-intensity linear polarized near-infrared ray irradiation increases passive range of motion and decreases passive resistive joint torque.

Effect of a low-level laser on bone regeneration after rapid maxillary expansion

INTRODUCTION

In this study, we evaluated the effects of a low-level laser on bone regeneration in rapid maxillary expansion procedures.

METHODS

Twenty-seven children, aged 8 to 12 years, took part in the experiment, with a mean age of 10.2 years, divided into 2 groups: the laser group (n = 14), in which rapid maxillary expansion was performed in conjunction with laser use, and the no-laser group (n = 13), with rapid maxillary expansion only. The activation protocol of the expansion screw was 1 full turn on the first day and a half turn daily until achieving overcorrection. The laser type used was a laser diode (TWIN Laser; MMOptics, São Carlos, Brazil), according to the following protocol: 780 nm wavelength, 40 mW power, and 10 J/cm(2) density at 10 points located around the midpalatal suture. The application stages were 1 (days 1-5 of activation), 2 (at screw locking, on 3 consecutive days), 3, 4, and 5 (7, 14, and 21 days after stage 2). Occlusal radiographs of the maxilla were taken with the aid of an aluminum scale ruler as a densitometry reference at different times: T1 (initial), T2 (day of locking), T3 (3-5 days after T2), T4 (30 days after T3), and T5 (60 days after T4). The radiographs were digitized and submitted to imaging software (Image Tool; UTHSCSA, San Antonio, Tex) to measure the optic density of the previously selected areas. To perform the statistical test, analysis of covariance was used, with the time for the evaluated stage as the covariable. In all tests, a significance level of 5% (P <0.05) was adopted.

RESULTS

From the evaluation of bone density, the results showed that the laser improved the opening of the midpalatal suture and accelerated the bone regeneration process.

CONCLUSIONS

The low-level laser, associated with rapid maxillary expansion, provided efficient opening of the midpalatal suture and influenced the bone regeneration process of the suture, accelerating healing.

Cellular response to force application at craniofacial sutures

OBJECTIVES

To provide a comprehensive review of the literature describing research done on the responses of suture cells to force application in vitro and in vivo.

DESIGN AND RESULTS

This review outlines the types of forces that can be applied, methods of applying the forces, the sutures used in experiments, and the changes in morphology, molecular biology (gene and protein expression), and cell biology (proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis) in response to these forces.

CONCLUSION

The molecular response of sutures to force needs to be further investigated as these molecules can be used to enhance the way in which craniofacial sutures respond to mechanical force during orthopedic-orthodontic treatment.