Effects of low power laser irradiation on bone healing in animals: a meta-analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Purpose</p> <p>The meta-analysis was performed to identify animal research defining the effects of low power laser irradiation on biomechanical indicators of bone regeneration and the impact of dosage.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We searched five electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Database of Randomised Clinical Trials) for studies in the area of laser and bone healing published from 1966 to October 2008. Included studies had to investigate fracture healing in any animal model, using any type of low power laser irradiation, and use at least one quantitative biomechanical measures of bone strength. There were 880 abstracts related to the laser irradiation and bone issues (healing, surgery and assessment). Five studies met our inclusion criteria and were critically appraised by two raters independently using a structured tool designed for rating the quality of animal research studies. After full text review, two articles were deemed ineligible for meta-analysis because of the type of injury method and biomechanical variables used, leaving three studies for meta-analysis. Maximum bone tolerance force before the point of fracture during the biomechanical test, 4 weeks after bone deficiency was our main biomechanical bone properties for the Meta analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Studies indicate that low power laser irradiation can enhance biomechanical properties of bone during fracture healing in animal models. Maximum bone tolerance was statistically improved following low level laser irradiation (average random effect size 0.726, 95% CI 0.08 - 1.37, p 0.028). While conclusions are limited by the low number of studies, there is concordance across limited evidence that laser improves the strength of bone tissue during the healing process in animal models.</p

Local Activation of Immune-response In Bladder-cancer Patients Treated With Intraarterial Infusion of Recombinant Interleukin-2

umor regression induced in cancer patients by i.v. infusion of interleukin-2 (IL-2) is often accompanied by severe side effects. To investigate whether local administration would affect immune response without the side effects, two 5-day cycles of continuous intraarterial [internal iliac artery] infusion of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) were performed in 12 patients with transitional cell carcinoma (tumor stage 1, node stage 0, metastasis stage 0, and grade 1–2) of the bladder. Four groups of 3 patients were treated at each of 4 escalating doses of rIL-2 (18 × 103, 18 × 104, 18 × 105, and 18 × 106 IU/m2/day) throughout the course of the two IL-2 cycles. This treatment was effective in inducing a marked intratumor inflammatory response, consisting mainly of T-lymphocytes and macrophages. A remarkable dose-dependent increase in the levels of soluble CD25 was observed in the urine of all patients, which was associated constantly with an enhanced number of intratumor CD25+ cells. Intratumor macrophages were often immunoreactive for interleukin-1 and/or tumor necrosis factor, suggesting an activated status. Increased levels of soluble CD25 and CD25+ lymphocytes were observed in peripheral blood only at the two highest doses of rIL-2, while increased percentages of circulating HLA-DR+ and CD71+ lymphoid cells and enhancement of CD3+/CD16+ T-lymphocytes were found at lower doses. Peripheral blood eosinophils were augmented in almost all patients but were rarely increased in situ. We provide evidence that continuous intraarterial infusion of rIL-2 activates host immune response, acting preferentially at the tissue level