Red (660 nm) and infrared (830 nm) low-level laser therapy in skeletal muscle fatigue in humans: what is better?

In animal and clinical trials low-level laser therapy (LLLT) using red, infrared and mixed wavelengths has been shown to delay the development of skeletal muscle fatigue. However, the parameters employed in these studies do not allow a conclusion as to which wavelength range is better in delaying the development of skeletal muscle fatigue. With this perspective in mind, we compared the effects of red and infrared LLLT on skeletal muscle fatigue. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial was performed in ten healthy male volunteers. They were treated with active red LLLT, active infrared LLLT (660 or 830 nm, 50 mW, 17.85 W/cm2, 100 s irradiation per point, 5 J, 1,785 J/cm2 at each point irradiated, total 20 J irradiated per muscle) or an identical placebo LLLT at four points of the biceps brachii muscle for 3 min before exercise (voluntary isometric elbow flexion for 60 s). The mean peak force was significantly greater (p < 0.05) following red (12.14%) and infrared LLLT (14.49%) than following placebo LLLT, and the mean average force was also significantly greater (p < 0.05) following red (13.09%) and infrared LLLT (13.24%) than following placebo LLLT. There were no significant differences in mean average force or mean peak force between red and infrared LLLT. We conclude that both red than infrared LLLT are effective in delaying the development skeletal muscle fatigue and in enhancement of skeletal muscle performance. Further studies are needed to identify the specific mechanisms through which each wavelength acts

Role of bronchoalviolar lavage in pulmonary infections

It was aimed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of bronchoalve Veolar lavage (BAL) from cases of infiltrative diseases of lung admitted at Choithram Hospital &#x0026; Re-search Centre, Indore (M.P.) during 2003 to 2004. The analysis included gram&#x2032;s staining, semi quantitative bacterial culture, AFB smear and culture, WBC and dif-ferential count and cytology. The gram&#x2032;s staining was found to have 83.6&#x0025; sensitivity as compared to semi quan-titative culture. Colony count&#62; 10,000 / ml was considered as significant and 142 specimens yielded single organism while 56 had poly-microbial infections. Gram-negative bacilli like E.coli, Klebsiella spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa formed pyogenic infections. The analysis revealed pyogenic infections in 51&#x0025;, tuberculosis in 21&#x0025;, fungal in-fections in 12&#x0025; and malignancy in 2&#x0025; cases. Thus, the analysis of BAL specimen is valuable in the diagnosis of infiltrative disorders of lung

Evaluation of whole blood IFNγ test using PPD and recombinant antigen challenge for diagnosis of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis

463-468Quantiferon TB gold (QFT-G) with recombinant antigen cocktail is well evaluated for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). However, diagnosis of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is more difficult due to limitations of conventional techniques. This study compares recombinant antigens based QFT-G and low cost PPD based interferon test for the diagnosis of PTB and EPTB. IFNγ release, with recombinant antigens and PPD, was assayed by ELISA from 140 cases of EPTB, 100 cases of PTB along with acid fast bacillus (AFB) detection, AFB culture on LJ and MGIT BACTEC. Sensitivity and specificity for QFT-G recombinant antigens was 84.29% and 96%, while for PPD based interferon was 70% and 84% for EPTB group. The sensitivity was far superior to AFB smear and culture for both the antigens. Nine samples were identified as non-tubercular mycobacteria (NTM) in the EPTB group and all were negative for QFT-G, but six of them were positive for PPD based test. Results of the study show that QFT-G using recombinant antigen is sensitive and specific for both PTB and EPTB diagnosis. The PPD based test is economic and offers comparable performance for PTB and EPTB diagnosis and also useful for diagnosis of NTM