Assessment of low-level laser therapy effects after extraction of impacted lower third molar surgery

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of low-level laser therapy [LLLT] on pain, swelling and maximum mouth opening in patients undergoing third molar surgery

Methods: A prospective, randomized double-blind study was undertaken on 44 patients at the Dental School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, in 2015. A low-level laser was randomly applied on one of the two sides after surgery of 15 patients. The experimental side received 18 J/cm2 of energy density, wavelength of 980 nm, and output power of 1.8 W. On the control side, a hand-piece was applied intra-orally, but laser was not activated. In addition, in order to evaluate trismus, 13 patients were treated by unilateral laser therapy and 16 patients did not receive laser therapy at all. The laser was administered intraorally on two points of vestibular and lingual sides at 1 cm from the surgery site, and extraorally at the emergence of the masseter muscle, immediately after surgery, and repeated 24 hours later. The pain, swelling and maximum mouth opening [MMO] were compared between the two groups at 24 hours and a week after surgery

Results: The mean score of pain 24 hours after surgery in the laser therapy group [2.3 +/- 3.5] was significantly lower than the mean score of pain in the drug therapy [4.19 +/- 3.09] [P = 0.036]. Moreover, the mean score of pain at one week after surgery in the laser therapy group [0.13 +/- 2.33] was significantly lower than the drug therapy group [1.43 +/- 2.45] [P = 0.046]. The amount of swelling according to different measurements did not significantly differ between the two groups neither at 24 hours nor at 1 week after surgery

Conclusion: Our findings showed that LLLT was useful in reducing pain and could slightly reduce swelling compared to drug therapy in impacted third molar surgery

effect of positive family history of autoimmunity in juvenile idiopathic arthritis characteristics; a case control study

Patients with and without family history of autoimmune disease with respect to clinical features and laboratory data. Sixteen JIA patients with family history of autoimmune disease were identified during study, 32 patients were chosen for comparative group from referred patients to the rheumatology clinic according to the date of referral. Two groups were compared with respect to age of onset, sex, subtype, disease activity, duration of active disease and laboratory variables. The age of onset was significantly lower in JIA patients with family history of autoimmunity [4.7 years vs. 7.0 years; P=0.02], polyarthicular subtype was more frequent in patients with positive family history [50% vs.25%; P=0.04] most of JIA patients with positive family history were in the active phase at the time of study [64% vs 25%; P=0.02] and had a longer duration of active disease [21.0 months vs 12.3 months; P=0.04]. Patients with positive family history had more positive ANA [43.5%% vs 12.5%; P=0.01] and also more positive ADA [75% vs 20.8%; P=0.002]. Two groups were similar according to sex, and other laboratory variables. JIA patients with family history of autoimmune disease seem to have a more severe disease than patients without such family history, they are younger at the onset, and have mostly poyarthicular subtype. They also have more ANA and ADA positivity. These findings are different from familial JIA case-control studies according to active disease duration, subtype, and ANA positivity