The effect of systemic versus local transcutaneous laser therapy on tension-type cephalea and orofacial pain in post-COVID-19 patients: A pragmatic randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Orofacial pain and tensional cephalea were symptoms commonly reported in COVID-19 patients, even after recovery, and were considered chronic pain in these cases. The aim of this research is to evaluate the effect of the application of photobiomodulation with red and infrared lasers applied locally and systemically. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: For this purpose, individuals who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and have had a tension headache and/or orofacial pain for more than 3 months will be selected by convenience. The participants will be divided into two different groups: G1-photobiomodulation with red and infrared laser with local application on the pain points (808 nm and 660 nm, 100 mW, 6 J per point) and G2-photobiomodulation with red laser with transcutaneous application on the radial artery (660 nm, 100 mW, 30 minutes). All participants will be treated for a period of 4 weeks, with 8 application sessions. The effects will be measured by means of blood lactate level, Brief Pain Inventory, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Cephalea Impact Test. The data will be collected weekly before and after the treatment, and the following tests will be applied: Analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey paired t test, Kruskal-Wallis, or Wilcoxon, according to data distribution. α = 0.05 will be considered as the level of statistical significance. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Research Projects Committee of the Nove de Julho University (approval number 4.673.963). Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and events for the scientific and clinical community, and the general public. It is registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov database with the number NCT05430776.

Effect of the combination of photobiomodulation therapy and the intralesional administration of corticoid in the preoperative and postoperative periods of keloid surgery: A randomized, controlled, double-blind trial protocol study.

Keloid scars are characterized by the excessive proliferation of fibroblasts and an imbalance between the production and degradation of collagen, leading to its buildup in the dermis. There is no "gold standard" treatment for this condition, and the recurrence is frequent after surgical procedures removal. In vitro studies have demonstrated that photobiomodulation (PBM) using the blue wavelength reduces the proliferation speed and the number of fibroblasts as well as the expression of TGF-ß. There are no protocols studied and established for the treatment of keloids with blue LED. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the effects of the combination of PBM with blue light and the intralesional administration of the corticoid triamcinolone hexacetonide on the quality of the remaining scar by Vancouver Scar Scale in the postoperative period of keloid surgery. A randomized, controlled, double-blind, clinical trial will be conducted involving two groups: 1) Sham (n = 29): intralesional administration of corticoid (IAC) and sham PBM in the preoperative and postoperative periods of keloid removal surgery; and 2) active PBM combined with IAC (n = 29) in the preoperative and postoperative periods of keloid removal surgery. Transcutaneous PBM will be performed on the keloid region in the preoperative period and on the remaining scar in the postoperative period using blue LED (470 nm, 400 mW, 4J per point on 10 linear points). The patients will answer two questionnaires: one for the assessment of quality of life (Qualifibro-UNIFESP) and one for the assessment of satisfaction with the scar (PSAQ). The team of five plastic surgeons will answer the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). All questionnaires will be administered one, three, six, and twelve months postoperatively. The keloids will be molded in silicone prior to the onset of treatment and prior to excision to assess pre-treatment and post-treatment size. The same will be performed for the remaining scar at one, three, six, and twelve months postoperatively. The removed keloid will be submitted to histopathological analysis for the determination of the quantity of fibroblasts, the organization and distribution of collagen (picrosirius staining), and the genic expression of TGF-ß (qPCR). All data will be submitted to statistical analysis. Trial registration: This study is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT04824612).

Treatment of halitosis with photodynamic therapy in older adults with complete dentures: A randomized, controlled, clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Halitosis of oral origin is mainly caused by the release of H2S (hydrogen sulfide) by bacteria lodged on the tongue. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) has been evaluated for the treatment of halitosis, but there are no previous reports of the use of this treatment modality in older people with dentures. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of aPDT and tongue scraping (standard treatment) in older people with complete dentures diagnosed with halitosis (H2S gas concentration>112 ppb). METHODS: The participants were divided into two groups: G1- treatment with a tongue scraper (n = 20); G2- treatment with aPDT (n = 20). Halimeter testing was performed before and after treatments using gas chromatography and was repeated after seven days. RESULTS: After treatment, the group treated with aPDT had a lower mean concentration of H2S gas (18.5 ppb) than the tongue scraping group (185.3 ppb). After one week, the mean concentration of H2S increased to 218.2 ppb in the tongue scraping group and 39 ppb in the PDT group. CONCLUSIONS: Both treatments were able to reduce the concentration of H2S but only treatment with aPDT was able to decrease halitosis to socially unnoticeable levels. Moreover, this normal breath condition remained for seven days only in the aPDT group.

Remineralization of early enamel caries lesions induced by bioactive particles: An in vitro speckle analysis.

This study aimed at evaluating the remineralization effect promoted by different bioactive fillers on simulated early caries lesions in enamel (ECLE). Forty sound bovine incisors were used to prepare buccal enamel specimens (6 × 6 × 2 mm). The specimens were divided into two areas (3 × 3 mm²): control (CTR) and experimental (EXP). All the enamel specimens were then submitted to a specific protocol for a period of 48 h to induce simulated caries lesions. Subsequently, the specimens were treated for 7 days (2 min, twice a day) with a slurry pastes containing different bioactive particles (P/L ratio: 1 g/mL). All the specimens were analyzed by laser speckle before and after treatments. The results showed after the first analysis that the ECLE had very low average intensity (back-scattered light). Conversely, after application of the bioactive pastes, higher average intensity was always detected; this was comparable to CTR sound specimens. In conclusion, innovative pastes/gels developed for enamel remineralization should contain bioactive particles that when applied daily on early caries lesions may "boost" the remineralization process to reestablish a sound enamel.

Effect of photodynamic therapy for the treatment of halitosis in adolescents - a controlled, microbiological, clinical trial.

Halitosis can exert a negative influence on the social relations of adolescents and affect one's self-image. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and microbiological effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) on halitosis in adolescents. Forty-six individuals aged 12 to 19 years were randomly allocated: Group 1 - treatment with photodynamic therapy; Group 2 - treatment with a tongue scraper and Group 3 - treatment with a tongue scraper and photodynamic therapy. The count of bacterial colony-forming units per milliliter was used for the microbiological analysis. Statistical analysis involved the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by the Student-Newman-Keuls test. ANOVA was used for the determination of colony-forming units after treatment. The level of significance for all statistical tests was 5% (p < 0.05). After treatment, a statistically significant reduction in total volatile sulfur compounds was found in all groups (p < 0.001), with the largest reduction (median: 0) found in Group 3 (tongue scraper and photodynamic therapy). Moreover, a statistically significant difference was found between treatment with aPDT and a tongue scraper alone (p < 0.001). The present findings demonstrate an option for the treatment of halitosis in adolescents, with an immediate effect and without the mechanical aggression to the toungue. Clinical Trials: NCT02007993.

Photomodulation of the osteoclastogenic potential of oral squamous carcinoma cells.

The treatment for oral cancer usually involves surgical excision followed by chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The combination of these therapies generally promotes a serious inflammation of the mucosa of the digestive tract, denominated mucositis, which compromises continuity of treatment. Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy has been used successfully to reduce the oral mucositis, however there is still some controversy regarding the effects of this therapy on unintentionally irradiated tumor cells that may remain after cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of PBM therapy (using parameters for mucositis) on the modulation of osteoclastogenic potential of a cell line derived from human lingual squamous cell carcinoma (SCC9). Previously irradiated SCC9 cells were co-cultured with human osteoclast precursors. Co-cultures performed with non-irradiated SCC9 cells served as control. After 7, 14 and 21 days the co-cultures were evaluated for the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity, an osteoclastogenic marker. Additionally, the monocultures of SCC9 cells (non-irradiated and irradiated) were analyzed for cell viability/proliferation and for the expression of IL-11 and PTHrP. The irradiation of SCC9 cells with PBM with an energy density of 4 J/cm2 decreased the pro-osteoclastogenic potential of those cells. This may represent a potential useful side effect of PBM therapy. PBM (using recommended parameters for mucositis treatment) decreases the osteoclastogenic potential of oral squamous carcinoma cells.

Avaliação da citotoxicidade da pasta a base de caseína-fosfato de cálcio amorfo (CPP-ACP) / Cytotoxicity assessment of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) paste

Introduction: Casein phosphopeptides (CPP) have been shown to be good carriers of calcium, phosphate, and hydroxide ions to promote enamel remineralization with applications in oral care products, professional dental products, and food products. Objectives: Evaluate the cytotoxicity of a casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) paste in rat fibroblasts. Materials and methods: Cytotoxicity was measured by the Trypan blue dye exclusion assay and the MTT assay. Results: Long term (1, 3, 5, and 7 days) and short term tests (0, 4, 8, and 12 hours) were performed with the Trypan blue dye exclusion assay. Data were analyzed with ANOVA and Kruskall Wallis tests. After one day, the cell viability of the CPP-ACP study group was between 80 and 100%. In the short term experiments, a reduction of cell viability in the study group was observed compared with the control group; yet viable cells were present over the evaluation period. With the MTT assay, a viability of 76.43% was observed in the study group, a significant difference from the control group (P = 0.003). Conclusion: CPP-ACP paste demonstrates low cytotoxicity in rat fibroblast culture.

Introdução: A caseína fosfopeptídea (CPP) tem demonstrado ser uma provedora de cálcio, fosfato e hidróxido, capaz de promover a remineralização do esmalte dentário, sendo utilizada em produtos de higiene oral, materiais dentários e alimentos. Objetivos: Avaliar a citotoxicidade da pasta a base de caseína (CPP-ACP) em fibroblastos de ratos. Materiais e métodos: A citotoxicidade foi avaliada pelos testes de exclusão azul de Tripan e MTT. Resultados: Testes de longo prazo (1, 3, 5 e 7 dias) e de curto prazo (0, 4, 8 e 12 horas) foram realizados com o teste azul de Tripan. Os dados foram analisados com os testes de ANOVA e Kruskall Wallis. Após um dia, a viabilidade celular do grupo de estudo CPP-ACP estava entre 80 e 100%. Nos experimentos de curto prazo, uma redução de viabilidade celular no grupo de estudo foi observada em relação ao grupo controle, mas as células viáveis foram observados durante todo o período de avaliação. Com o método MTT, foi observada no grupo de estudo a viabilidade de 76,43% f, com diferença significativa do grupo controle (P = 0,003). Conclusão: A pasta CPP-ACP demonstra baixa citotoxicidade em cultura de fibroblastos de ratos.

Avaliação do desconforto postural em manicures / Evaluation of postural discomfort in manicures

Introdução: As desordens musculoesqueléticas encontram-se no topo das doenças ocupacionais e a manicure pertence a um grupo profissional exposto ao risco de adquirir algum tipo desses distúrbios. Objetivo: Descrever a frequência das queixas osteomusculares e os principais fatores associados em manicures. Método: Realizou-se um estudo de corte transversal e de caráter descritivo em cem manicures, utilizou-se o mapa de desconforto postural como instrumento de avaliação. Foram calculadas as frequências e porcentagens da idade, do tempo de profissão e das regiões com mais desconforto das voluntárias. Para as associações entre as regiões anatômicas e idade e tempo de profissão, usou-se o teste Qui-quadrado. Resultados: Houve associação de desconforto na mão esquerda com relação à idade das mulheres. Observou-se que 33% das manicures encontravam-se na faixa etária entre 21 a 30 anos e 56% tinham entre 1 a 10 anos de profissão. Conclusão: Não houve muito desconforto nas regiões anatômicas estatisticamente significantes.

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders are on top of occupational diseases and manicure belongs to a professional group exposed to a risk of acquiring any type of these disorders. Objective: To describe the frequency of musculoskeletal complaints and associated factors in manicures. Method: It was conducted a cross-sectional and descriptive study with one hundred manicures, we used the map of postural discomfort as an evaluation tool. We calculated frequencies and percentages of age, length of service, and regions with more discomfort of the volunteers. For associations between anatomical regions, age and length of employment was used chi-square. Results: There was an association of discomfort of the left hand with age of women. It was observed that 33% of manicures were aged between 21 and 30 years old, and 56% were from 1 to 10 years in this occupation. Conclusion: There was not much discomfort in anatomical regions statistically significant.