Abstract

Background: COVID-19, as a newly-emerged viral infection has now spread all over the world after originating in Wuhan, China. Pneumonia is the hallmark of the disease, with dyspnea in half of the patients and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in up to one -third of the cases. Pulmonary edema, neutrophilic infiltration, and inflammatory cytokine release are the pathologic signs of this disease. The anti-inflammatory effect of the photobiomodulation (PBM) has been confirmed in many previous studies. Therefore, this review study was conducted to evaluate the direct effect of PBM on the acute lung inflammation or ARDS and also accelerating the regeneration of the damaged tissues. The indirect effects of PBM on modulation of the immune system, increasing the blood flow and oxygenation in other tissues were also considered.

Methodology: The databases of PubMed, Cochrane library, and Google Scholar were searched to find the relevant studies. Keywords included the PBM and related terms, lung inflammation, and COVID-19 -related signs. Studies were categorized with respect to the target tissue, laser parameters, and their results.

Results: Seventeen related papers were included in this review. All of them were in animal models. They showed that the PBM could significantly decrease the pulmonary edema, neutrophil influx, and generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM), reactive oxygen species (ROS), isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2)).

Conclusion: Our findings revealed that the PBM could be helpful in reducing the lung inflammation and promoting the regeneration of the damaged tissue. PBM can increase the oxygenation indirectly in order to rehabilitate the affected organs. Thus, the infra-red lasers or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are recommended in this regard.

5. Conclusion from full text

Despite the lack of available studies on the PBM effects on the COVID-19, but it is assumed that the PBM may be a helpful adjunctive treatment in management of the COVID-19 disease. PBM can reduce the lung edema, neutrophil influx and promote the regeneration of the lung tissue and better oxygenation for all the related organs. Infra-red lasers are recommended because of their higher ability for penetration into the lung tissue. Dosimetry of 6.5–7.5 J/cm² energy density is suitable for the red lasers and an amount of 9.5–10.5 J/cm² is a suitable dose for the infra-red lasers. Continous mode irradiation at different points of the respiratory system may be helpful in management of the COVID-19 pneumonia. PBM may be used as a preventive approach in the high -risk patients who could receive pre-treatment PBM while being still at a relatively mild stage of the disease. Also, PBM may be considered as a therapeutic approach in the hospitalized patients before their condition worsens sufficiently to require the ICU admission. Therefore, randomized clinical trials should be carried out on the PBM effects for the COVID-19 disease, and indeed some have already been started in various parts of the world.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7550078/

The post Probable positive effects of the photobiomodulation as an adjunctive treatment in COVID-19: A systematic review appeared first on EMFSA.

Abstract

Both obesity and breast cancer are already recognized worldwide as the most common syndromes in our modern society. Currently, there is accumulating evidence from epidemiological and experimental studies suggesting that these syndromes are closely associated with circadian disruption. It has been suggested that melatonin (MLT) and the circadian clock genes both play an important role in the development of these syndromes. However, we still poorly understand the molecular mechanism underlying the association between circadian disruption and the modern health syndromes. One promising candidate is epigenetic modifications of various genes, including clock genes, circadian-related genes, oncogenes, and metabolic genes. DNA methylation is the most prominent epigenetic signaling tool for gene expression regulation induced by environmental exposures, such as artificial light-at-night (ALAN). In this review, we first provide an overview on the molecular feedback loops that generate the circadian regulation and how circadian disruption by ALAN can impose adverse impacts on public health, particularly metabolic disorders and breast cancer development. We then focus on the relation between ALAN-induced circadian disruption and both global DNA methylation and specific loci methylation in relation to obesity and breast cancer morbidities. DNA hypo-methylation and DNA hyper-methylation, are suggested as the most studied epigenetic tools for the activation and silencing of genes that regulate metabolic and monostatic responses. Finally, we discuss the potential clinical and therapeutic roles of MLT suppression and DNA methylation patterns as novel biomarkers for the early detection of metabolic disorders and breast cancer development.

https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/jbcpp.2017.28.issue-4/jbcpp-2016-0116/jbcpp-2016-0116.xml?fbclid=IwAR34QU4_6kFMMQlnri7mq9RKN0Pg3x7jblo3ixr8A_WoW655PqyzKmNbuwI

[Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology] Artificial light-at-night a novel lifestyle risk factor for metabolic disorder and cancer morbidity

The post Artificial light-at-night – a novel lifestyle risk factor for metabolic disorder and cancer morbidity appeared first on EMFSA.