Efficacy of High-Power Laser in Alleviating Pain and Improving Function of Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction: In this study, a single-blind and randomized controlled trial (RCT) for assessing the effectiveness of high-power (up to 12 W) laser therapy (HPLT) on patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) was carried out.Methods: Forty-four patients were randomly assigned to two treatment groups by generating random numbers with MATLAB 2014b software, where odd and even numbers were attributed to sham laser group (group A) and actual laser group (group B), respectively. Group B patients underwent HPLT with total dose of 300 J/session for 5 consecutive sessions separated by a 2-day interval. On the other hand, sham laser was applied to group A patients. Both groups had the same exercise therapy programs during the study period (3 months). The exercise therapy program included isometric knee exercise for 3 sets per day and 10 times in each set, with duration of 10 seconds per time and straight leg raise for 15 seconds 10 times a day. The group codes of patients were not revealed to subjects and data analyzer until completion of the study. Kujala, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and visual analog scale (VAS) questionnaires were chosen as outcome measures. These questionnaires were completed at three points during the study; at the beginning of the study to obtain the pre-therapy conditions and one month and three months after the start of the study to evaluate post-therapy conditions.Results: Two main analyses were conducted: within-group and between-group analyses. Within-group analyses indicated significant improvements in respect to all measurements where pre-therapy and post-therapy comparisons were conducted in both groups (P < 0.05). On the other hand, between-group comparisons did not reveal any statistically significant functional difference between group A and group B regarding the evaluative criteria (P > 0.05) except for pain VAS (P < 0.05).Conclusion: This study indicated that short-term HPLT accompanied by appropriate exercise regimen significantly decreased pain in patients with PFPS. But it was not recommended as an efficient modality in functional improvement. Also, it was observed that, in the short-term period of study, HPLT was a safe modality

PARAXONASE (PON) ACTIVITY IN LESS THAN 40 YEARS OLD NON- DIABETIC PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

Abstract &nbsp;&nbsp; INTRODUCTION: Regarding the increasing incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CAD) in people younger than 40 years old, without any major risk factors, this study aimed to find if atherosclerosis of serum Paraxanase (PON) activity is a probable risk factor. &nbsp;&nbsp; METHOD: This was a case-control study on 80 non diabetic persons younger than 40 years old, with chest pain. Patients were divided in two groups based on their results of coronary angiography test: patients with and without CAD (angoi-positive and angio-negative). We also divided patients based on major coronary artery disease risk factors in two groups: with and without risk factors. We measured and compared PON activity, body mass index (BMI), serum triglyceride (TG), fasting blood sugar (FBS), C- reactive protein (CRP), apolipoprotein A1 and B (APO A1, and APO B), total cholesterol and low and high density lipoproteins (LDL and HDL) together in these groups. &nbsp;&nbsp; RESULTS: In angio-negative and angio-positive groups, the difference between PON activity (121.44 vs. 89.58), HDL (44.58 vs. 37.11), TG (149.31 vs. 199.7), APO B (87.48 vs. 99.50), CRP (4.38 vs. 7.32) was significant (P &lt; 0.05). There was not seen any significant difference between two groups regarding LDL, total cholesterol, APOA, and BMI (P &gt; 0.05). We didn&rsquo;t find any relationship between PON activity and HDL levels.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; CONCLUSION: This study suggests that low PON activity level might be considered as a risk factor for coronary artery disease, especially in patients who don&rsquo;t have any other major risk factors. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of these risk factors on each other. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Keywords: Paraoxonase activity, CRP, BMI, triglyceride, APO A1, APO B, HDL, LDL and total cholesterol, coronary artery disease.</p