Low-level light therapy reduces platelet destruction during extracorporeal circulation

Biphasic dose-response and effects of near-infrared photobiomodulation on erythrocytes susceptibility to oxidative stress in vitro

The effect of simultaneous application of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP) and polychromatic near-infrared (NIR) radiation on bovine blood was examined to determine whether NIR light decreases the susceptibility of red blood cells (RBCs) to oxidative stress. The study assessed various exposure methods, wavelength ranges, and optical filtering types. Continuous NIR exposure revealed a biphasic response in cell-free hemoglobin changes, with antioxidative effects observed at low fluences and detrimental effects at higher fluences. Optimal exposure duration was identified between 60 s and 15 min. Protective effects were also tested across wavelengths in the range of 750-1100 nm, with all of them reducing hemolysis, notably at 750 nm, 875 nm, and 900 nm. Comparing broadband NIR and far-red light (750 nm) showed no significant difference in hemolysis reduction. Pulse-dosed NIR irradiation allowed safe increases in radiation dose, effectively limiting hemolysis at higher doses where continuous exposure was harmful. These findings highlight NIR photobiomodulation's potential in protecting RBCs from oxidative stress and will be helpful in the effective design of novel medical therapeutic devices.

Platelet Storage-Problems, Improvements, and New Perspectives

Platelet transfusions are routine procedures in clinical treatment aimed at preventing bleeding in critically ill patients, including those with cancer, undergoing surgery, or experiencing trauma. However, platelets are susceptible blood cells that require specific storage conditions. The availability of platelet concentrates is limited to five days due to various factors, including the risk of bacterial contamination and the occurrence of physical and functional changes known as platelet storage lesions. In this article, the problems related to platelet storage lesions are categorized into four groups depending on research areas: storage conditions, additive solutions, new testing methods for platelets (proteomic and metabolomic analysis), and extensive data modeling of platelet production (mathematical modeling, statistical analysis, and artificial intelligence). This article provides extensive information on the challenges, potential improvements, and novel perspectives regarding platelet storage.

The effect of solarium light therapy on selected biological and biochemical parameters of peripheral blood in young and old horses

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of solarium light therapy on selected biological and biochemical parameters of peripheral blood in recreational horses. The study involved 10 horses divided into two groups of young (aged 5 to 7 years) and old (aged 14 to 19 years) individuals. All animals participated in light therapy sessions every other day. Blood was sampled three times during the study: before the treatment, after five light sessions, and after ten light sessions. Morphological parameters, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, TAS values, and the levels of glutathione (GSH), vitamin D3, vitamin C, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in the whole blood. Light therapy contributed to an increase in MCV, HDW, MCVr, CHr and MPV indices, and simultaneously a decrease in the basophil counts, MCHC, RDW and CHCMr indices in both groups of horses (p ≤ 0.05). At the same time reticulocytes fell in older whereas white blood cells and monocytes counts expanded in younger individuals. The treatment also increased the activity of glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in young but decreased the activity of mentioned enzymes in blood plasma of old horses. The total antioxidant status (TAS) of the blood plasma rose progressively, whereas GSH levels declined in all individuals. Moreover, vitamin D3 levels did not change, whereas vitamin C levels gradually decreased during the experiment. The therapy also helped to reduce levels of MDA in the blood plasma, especially of older horses (p ≤ 0.05). In turn, GPx and GR activities as well as MDA levels significantly declined, whereas GSH levels notably elevated in erythrocytes (p ≤ 0.05). Solarium light therapy appears to have a beneficial impact on the morphological parameters and antioxidant status of blood in recreational horses in the winter season. However, the observed results could in part be attributed to the natural physiological adaptation of each individual organism to the treatment.

The effect of near-infrared low-level light on the in vitro quality of platelets during storage

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Near-infrared (NIR) light has been successfully applied to improve the quality of mouse platelets during storage. Because it is suspected that the mitochondria contain the primary photon acceptor, we hypothesized that human platelets for transfusion may be affected similarly and could benefit from NIR light treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The optimal light dose was determined using portions of platelet concentrates (PCs) in PAS-E. A pool-and-split design was used to prepare PCs in PAS-E or plasma (n = 6). On day 1, one unit of both pairs was illuminated with 830 nm light (light-emitting diodes, 15 J/cm2). PCs were stored at 22°C and sampled regularly for analysis. Data were compared with their corresponding controls with a paired two-sided t-test.

RESULTS

Illuminated platelets in PAS-E were less activated with significantly lower CD62P expression (day 8: 10.8 ± 1.8 vs. 12.2 ± 2.6, p < 0.05) and lower Annexin A5 binding (day 8: 11.8 ± 1.9 vs. 13.1 ± 2.4, ns). They produced significantly less lactate resulting in a higher pH (days 6-10). ATP content and mitochondrial membrane potential were not affected. Although these trends were also observed for PCs in plasma, the differences did not reach statistical significance as compared with the control group.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates that the glycolysis rate of human platelets can be modulated through the use of NIR, possibly through mitochondrial aerobic metabolism, but this requires confirmation. If NIR illumination can be further optimized, it may potentially become a useful tool in situations in which glycolysis and platelet activation are exacerbated.

Effect of photobiomodulation therapy on the morphology, intracellular calcium concentration, free radical generation, apoptosis and necrosis of human mesenchymal stem cells-an in vitro study

The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of multiwave locked system (MLS M1) emitting synchronized laser radiation at 2 wavelength simultaneous (λ = 808 nm, λ = 905 nm) on the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Human MSCs were exposed to MLS M1 system laser radiation with the power density 195-318 mW/cm2 and doses of energy 3-20 J, in continuous wave emission (CW) or pulsed emission (PE). After irradiation exposure in doses of energy 3 J, 10 J (CW, ƒ = 1000 Hz), and 20 J (ƒ = 2000 Hz), increased proliferation of MSCs was observed. Significant reduction of Fluo-4 Direct™ Ca2+ indicator fluorescence over controls after CW and PE with 3 J, 10 J, and 20 J was noticed. A decrease in fluorescence intensity after the application of radiation with a frequency of 2000 Hz in doses of 3 J, 10 J, and 20 J was observed. In contrary, an increase in DCF fluorescence intensity after irradiation with laser radiation of 3 J, 10 J, and 20 J (CW, ƒ = 1000 Hz and ƒ = 2000 Hz) was also shown. Laser irradiation at a dose of 20 J, emitted at 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz, and 3 J emitted at a frequency of 2000 Hz caused a statistically significant loss of MSC viability. The applied photobiomodulation therapy induced a strong pro-apoptotic effect dependent on the laser irradiation exposure time, while the application of a sufficiently high-energy dose and frequency with a sufficiently long exposure time significantly increased intracellular calcium ion concentration and free radical production by MSCs.

Biochemical Changes in Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Cardiac Surgery: New Insights

Patients undergoing coronary revascularization with extracorporeal circulation or cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may develop several biochemical changes in the microcirculation that lead to a systemic inflammatory response. Surgical incision, post-CPB reperfusion injury and blood contact with non-endothelial membranes can activate inflammatory signaling pathways that lead to the production and activation of inflammatory cells, with cytokine production and oxidative stress. This inflammatory storm can cause damage to vital organs, especially the heart, and thus lead to complications in the postoperative period. In addition to the organic pathophysiology during and after the period of exposure to extracorporeal circulation, this review addresses new perspectives for intraoperative treatment and management that may lead to a reduction in this inflammatory storm and thereby improve the prognosis and possibly reduce the mortality of these patients.

The Clinical Effects of Laser Acupuncture on Hospitalized Patients With Severe COVID-19: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was extended to the entire population in China and around the world, and its mortality rate was about 3.4%. The impact of laser therapy on chronic respiratory diseases has been shown in previous studies. This study was aimed at examining the effects of laser acupuncture (LA) on patients with severe COVID-19. Methods: In the present study, 60 patients with a positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test were assigned to the intervention and control groups (30 patients in each group). The intervention group was treated with LA, that is, laser light with low energy on acupuncture points, once a day for five consecutive days. Results: The participants' mean age in the intervention and control groups was 48.96±12.65 and 53.16±12.28 respectively; 70% of the patients were male and 30% of them were female. IL6 had a significant reduction in the intervention group (P value=0.038) in comparison with the control group (P value=0.535). Furthermore, the mean admission time in the control group was significantly higher than that in the intervention group (P value=0.047). However, the mortality rate in the intervention group was zero, but three patients in the control group died. Conclusion: Our study showed that LA can be used as supportive therapy for routine treatment in patients with severe COVID-19. Moreover, due to LA safety and it's low cost, it could be recommended as an adjuvant to conventional therapy in patients interested in treating their disease with such a method.

Invitro impact of a combination of red and infrared LEDs, infrared laser and magnetic field on biomarkers of oxidative stress and hemolysis of erythrocytes sampled from healthy individuals and diabetes patients

AIMS

Low-intensity infrared laser irradiation with output emissions of the laser and LED for in vitro irradiation of plasma and erythrocyte samples collected from healthy individuals and diabetes mellitus (DM) patients was used in the current study.

METHODS

The generated emission was in the range 0.85-0.89 nm with pulse duration near 130 ns and repetition rates of pulses 50, 150, 600, and 1500 Hz, average power 0, 50, or 100 mW, in the range of 1-9 min for different 30 variants of irradiation. The levels of 2-thiobarbituric-acid reactive substances (TBARS), aldehydic and ketonic derivatives of oxidatively modified proteins (OMP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), acid-induced resistance of erythrocytes, and activities of the main antioxidant enzymes were assessed in erythrocyte and plasma samples after irradiation.

RESULTS

The low-intensity infrared laser irradiation and low-intensity light emitted by a red LED decreased the lipid peroxidation levels in the erythrocytes of both healthy individuals and DM patients. A statistically significant decrease in TBARS and OMP levels and an increase in the TAC level were observed at the irradiation energy of 34.39 and 68.79 J/cm² for samples collected from both healthy individuals and DM patients. The effects of the irradiation were accompanied by a statistically significant decrease in catalase activity of both healthy individuals and DM patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In many variants of the laser irradiation and low-intensity light emitted by a red LED used in our study, a decrease in the percent of hemolyzed erythrocytes was observed, suggesting that laser therapy protocols should take into account fluencies, frequencies, and wavelengths of the laser before the beginning of treatment, especially in DM patients.

Effect of Near-Infrared Blood Photobiomodulation on Red Blood Cell Damage from the Extracorporeal Circuit during Hemodialysis In Vitro

The contact of blood with the bioincompatible membranes of the dialyzer, which is part of the extracorporeal circuit during hemodialysis (HD), causes upregulation of various cellular and non-cellular processes, including massive generation and release of reactive oxygen species (ROS), (which is one of the primary causes of anemia in chronic renal failure). We hypothesize that near-infrared (NIR) radiation possesses antioxidant properties and is considered to protect the red blood cell (RBC) membrane by enhancing its resilience to negative pressures. Our experimental setup consisted of an HD machine equipped with a dialyzer with a polyamide membrane; whole bovine blood was examined in vitro in blood-treated circulation. Blood samples were taken at 0, 5, 15, and 30 min during the HD therapy. We also assessed osmotic fragility, hematocrit, hemolysis, and oxidative stress as a concentration of reactive thiobarbituric acid substances (TBARS). Our results have shown that RBC membrane peroxidation increased significantly after 30 min of circulation, whereas the TBARS level in NIR-treated blood remained relatively steady throughout the experiment. The osmotic fragility of NIR-irradiated samples during dialysis was decreased compared to control samples. Our studies confirm that in vitro, blood photobiomodulation using NIR light diminishes oxidative damage during HD and can be considered a simultaneous pretreatment strategy for HD.

Rationale for 1068 nm Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT) as a Novel, Non-Invasive Treatment for COVID-19 and Other Coronaviruses: Roles of NO and Hsp70

Researchers from across the world are seeking to develop effective treatments for the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, which arose as a major public health issue in 2019, and was declared a pandemic in early 2020. The pro-inflammatory cytokine storm, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multiple-organ failure, neurological problems, and thrombosis have all been linked to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) fatalities. The purpose of this review is to explore the rationale for using photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) of the particular wavelength 1068 nm as a therapy for COVID-19, investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved. Our findings illustrate the efficacy of PBMT 1068 nm for cytoprotection, nitric oxide (NO) release, inflammation changes, improved blood flow, and the regulation of heat shock proteins (Hsp70). We propose, therefore, that PBMT 1068 is a potentially effective and innovative approach for avoiding severe and critical illness in COVID-19 patients, although further clinical evidence is required.

Near-infrared photobiomodulation of blood reversibly inhibits platelet reactivity and reduces hemolysis

Photobiomodulation (PBM) in the red/near-infrared (R/NIR) spectral range has become widely recognized due to its anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective potential. We aimed to assess the effects of blood PBM on platelets function and hemolysis in an in vitro setting. Porcine blood samples were separated into four aliquots for this study, one of which served as a control, while the other three were subjected to three different NIR PBM dosages. The platelet count and functions and the plasma free haemoglobin and osmotic fragility of red blood cells were measured during the experiment. The control group had a considerable drop in platelet number, but the NIR exposed samples had more minimal and strictly dose-dependent alterations. These modifications were consistent with ADP and collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Furthermore, red blood cells that had received PBM were more resistant to osmotic stress and less prone to hemolysis, as seen by a slightly lower quantity of plasma free hemoglobin. Here we showed under well-controlled in vitro conditions that PBM reversibly inhibits platelet activation in a dose-dependent manner and reduces hemolysis.

Therapeutic potential of intranasal photobiomodulation therapy for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders: a narrative review

The application of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) for neuronal stimulation is studied in different animal models and in humans, and has shown to improve cerebral metabolic activity and blood flow, and provide neuroprotection via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant pathways. Recently, intranasal PBMT (i-PBMT) has become an attractive and potential method for the treatment of brain conditions. Herein, we provide a summary of different intranasal light delivery approaches including a nostril-based portable method and implanted deep-nasal methods for the effective systemic or direct irradiation of the brain. Nostril-based i-PBMT devices are available, using either lasers or light emitting diodes (LEDs), and can be applied either alone or in combination to transcranial devices (the latter applied directly to the scalp) to treat a wide range of brain conditions such as mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cerebrovascular diseases, depression and anxiety as well as insomnia. Evidence shows that nostril-based i-PBMT improves blood rheology and cerebral blood flow, so that, without needing to puncture blood vessels, i-PBMT may have equivalent results to a peripheral intravenous laser irradiation procedure. Up to now, no studies were conducted to implant PBMT light sources deep within the nose in a clinical setting, but simulation studies suggest that deep-nasal PBMT via cribriform plate and sphenoid sinus might be an effective method to deliver light to the ventromedial part of the prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortex. Home-based i-PBMT, using inexpensive LED applicators, has potential as a novel approach for neurorehabilitation; comparative studies also testing sham, and transcranial PBMT are warranted.

Photobiomodulation Therapy for Dementia: A Systematic Review of Pre-Clinical and Clinical Studies

BACKGROUND

Photobiomodulation (PBM) involves the use of red and/or near-infrared light from lasers or LEDs to improve a wide range of medical disorders. Transcranial PBM, sometimes accompanied by intranasal PBM, has been tested to improve many brain disorders, including dementia.

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a systematic review according to PRISMA guidelines of pre-clinical and clinical studies reporting the use of PBM, which were considered relevant to dementia.

METHODS

Literature was searched between 1967 and 2020 using a range of keywords relevant to PBM and dementia. The light source and wavelength(s), output power, irradiance, irradiation time, fluence or total energy (dose), operation mode (continuous or pulsed) irradiation, approach and site, number of treatment sessions, as well as study outcome(s) were extracted.

RESULTS

Out of 10,473 initial articles, 36 studies met the inclusion criteria. Nine articles reported in vitro studies, 17 articles reported studies in animal models of dementia, and 10 studies were conducted in dementia patients. All of the included studies reported positive results. The clinical studies were limited by the small number of patients, lack of placebo controls in some instances, and only a few used objective neuroimaging methods.

CONCLUSION

The preliminary evidence of clinical benefit, the lack of any adverse effects, and the remarkable ease of use, suggest larger clinical trials should be conducted as soon as possible.

The Effects of Photobiomodulation on Leukocyte and Platelet-Rich Fibrin as Barrier Membrane on Bone Regeneration: An Experimental Animal Study

Objective: To compare the effects of leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) and photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT)-applied L-PRF (PBMT/L-PRF) as barrier membranes on new bone formation (BV/TV) for the treatment of critical-sized bone defects. Materials and methods: The right iliac crests of five sheep were used in this experimental animal study. Eight critical-sized defects were surgically created in each sheep and a total of 40 defects were obtained. A deproteinized bovine bone graft was placed in all defects, and the defects were divided into four groups to be covered with L-PRF membrane, PBMT/L-PRF membrane, collagen membrane, or left uncovered as controls. Animals were sacrificed at 1 month. The sections obtained were histomorphometrically analyzed. Results: The results showed that the collagen group presented significantly higher values for main bone healing parameters (BV/TV, bone volume, and bone surface; p < 0.05). The PBMT/L-PRF group presented higher values than the L-PRF group and controls for these parameters though not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The findings show that PBMT may provide additional regenerative properties to L-PRF when used as barrier membranes. However, these results did not reach the collagen membranes, which warrants further studies for adapting the laser parameters to increase regenerative capacity of L-PRF.

Resistance to Acetylsalicylic Acid in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease Is the Result of Metabolic Activity of Platelets

Sensitivity to acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is important in the treatment of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Patients were divided into ASA sensitive (sASA) and ASA resistant (rASA) by the activity of platelet aggregation induced arachidonic acid (ARA) together with ASA. Induced platelet aggregation activity was studied in sASA and rASA patients with CHD before and after CABG. The level of synthesis of primary and secondary reactive oxygen species (ROS) by platelets was determined using chemiluminescent analysis. The activity of NAD- and NADP-dependent dehydrogenases in platelets was determined by the bioluminescent method. It was found that the aggregation activity of platelets depended on the sensitivity of CHD patients to ASA and decreased during postoperative ASA therapy. The most pronounced differences in metabolic parameters of platelets in sASA and rASA patients were detected by Nox2 activity. The synthesis of secondary ROS by platelets of CHD patients did not depend on the sensitivity of patients to ASA but increased during postoperative treatment with ASA. The activity of NAD(P)-dependent dehydrogenases in platelets did not differ in sASA and rASA patients with CHD.