Evaluation of the osteogenic effect of low-level laser therapy (808 nm and 660 nm) on bone defects induced in the femurs of female rats submitted to ovariectomy.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of LLLT (660- and 808-nm wavelengths) on the process of repairing bone defects induced in the femurs of female rats submitted to ovariectomy. Bilateral ovariectomies were performed on 18 female Wistar rats, which were divided into control and irradiated groups after the digital analysis of bone density showed decreased bone mass and after standardized drilling of the femurs. The irradiated groups received 133 J/cm(2) of AsGaAl (660-nm) and InGaAlP (880-nm) laser radiation. The animals were euthanized on days 14 and 21 after the bone defects were established. Detailed descriptive histological evaluations were performed, followed by semi-quantitative histomorphometry. The results from days 14 and 21 showed that the irradiated groups presented increased density of osteoblasts, fibroblasts, and immature osteocytes on the tissue surface compared with the control (non-irradiated) groups (p < 0.05). Additionally, inflammatory infiltrate evaluations showed that LLLT decreased the accumulation of leukocytes when compared to the control treatment (p < 0.05). We concluded that, in our experimental model, both wavelengths (660-nm and 880-nm) inhibited the inflammatory process and induced the proliferation of cells responsible for bone remodeling and repair.

Hypertonic saline solutions do not influence the solubility of sputum from secretor and non-secretor cystic fibrosis patients.

INTRODUCTION: Functional alterations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene (CFTR) increase the viscoelasticity of pulmonary secretions of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and require the use of therapeutic aerosols. The biochemical properties of exocrine secretions are influenced by the expression of the FUT2 gene which determine the secretor and non-secretor phenotypes of the ABH glycoconjugates. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of secretor and non-secretor phenotypes by means of photoacoustic analysis, both the typical interaction time (t(0)) and the solubilization interval (Δt) of the sputum of secretor and non-secretor CF patients nebulized by hypertonic saline solutions at different concentrations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sputum samples were obtained by spontaneous expectoration from 6 secretor and 4 non-secretor patients with CF. Each sample was nebulized with 3%, 6%, and 7% hypertonic saline solutions in a photoacoustic cell. The values of t(0) and Δt were determined using the Origin 7.5(®) computer program (Microcal Software Inc.). The t-test was employed using the GraphPad Instat 3.0(®) computer program to calculate the mean and standard deviation for each parameter. RESULTS: For all hypertonic saline solutions tested, the mean values of t(0) and Δt do not show statistically significant differences between secretor and non-secretor patients. CONCLUSIONS: The secretor and non-secretor phenotypes do not influence the in vitro solubilization of the sputum nebulized by hypertonic saline solutions at different concentrations when analysed by photoacoustic technique.