Wound Healing
Wound Care specialists:
Burns, Pressure/ Bed Sores; diabetic leg and foot ulcers, venous stasis ulcers, surgical incisions/ wound dehiscence, decubitus ulcers, arteriosclerotic ulcers, ischaemic ulcers, post burn ulcers, non-healing lacerations, amputee stumps, spider bite ulcers (brown recluse), autoimmune ulcers; sickle cell ulcers, schleroderma ulcers, traumatic ulcers, chronic or re-occurring wound, with or without MRSA, VRE, pseudomonas, strep. staph. or fungi.
So how does tissue regeneration via improved cellular function actually work? Let’s take a look at some research from NASA scientist, Dr. Harry Whelan... "Low-energy photon irradiation by light in the far-red to near-IR spectral range with low-energy lasers or LED arrays has been found to modulate various biological processes in cell culture and animal models. This phenomenon of photobiomodulation has been applied clinically in the treatment of soft tissue injuries and the acceleration of wound healing. The mechanism of photobiomodulation by red to near-IR light at the cellular level has been ascribed to the activation of mitochondrial respiratory chain components, resulting in initiation of a signaling cascade that promotes cellular proliferation and cytoprotection."
"A growing body of evidence suggests that cytochrome oxidase is a key photoacceptor of light in the far-red to near-IR spectral range."
Dr. Harry Whelan (NASA)
"Cytochrome oxidase is an integral membrane protein that contains four redox active metal centers and has a strong absorbance in the far-red to near-IR spectral range detectable in vivo by near-IR spectroscopy."
"Moreover, 660-680 nm of irradiation has been shown to increase electron transfer in purified cytochrome oxidase, increase mitochondrial respiration and ATP synthesis in isolated mitochondria, and up-regulate cytochrome oxidase activity in cultured neuronal cells."
"LED photostimulation induces a cascade of signaling events initiated by the initial absorption of light by cytochrome oxidase. These signaling events may include the activation of immediate early genes, transcription factors, cytochrome oxidase subunit gene expression, and a host of other enzymes and pathways related to increased oxidative metabolism."
"In addition to increased oxidative metabolism, red to near-IR light stimulation of mitochondrial electron transfer is known to increase the generation of reactive oxygen species. These mitochondrially generated reactive oxygen species may function as signaling molecules to provide communication between mitochondria and the cytosol and nucleus."
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 2003 Mar 18;100(6):3439-44.
NASA photobiomodulation research with LED’s published here.
"The photo biological action mechanism via activation of the respiratory chain is a universal mechanism. Primary photo acceptors are terminal oxidases. Primary reactions in or with a photo acceptor molecule lead to photo biological responses at the cellular level through cascades of biochemical homeostatic reactions. Crucial events of this type of cell metabolism activation occur due to a shift of cellular redox potential in the direction of greater oxidation. Cell-metabolism activation via the respiratory chain occurs in all cells susceptible to light irradiation. Susceptibility to irradiation and capability for activation depend on the physiological status of irradiated cells; cells whose overall redox potential is shifted to a more reduced state (e.g., certain pathological conditions) are more sensitive to irradiation."
0-8493-1116-0/03/$0.00+$1.50 © 2003 by CRC Press LLC
Research:
THE USE OF LOW ENERGY PHOTON THERAPY (LEPT) IN VENOUS LEG ULCERS:
A DOUBLEBLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY
Adltya K. Gupta, MD, FRCP(C)), Natalia Filonenko, PhD, Norman Salansky, PhD, flms, Daniel N. Sadder, MD, FRCP (C)
Background:
Venous ulcers are estimated to be present in 0.2 to 0.4% of the population. Although new therapies have significant promise, non healing ulcers still represent a significant problem. Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of low energy photon therapy (LEPT) in the treatment of venous leg ulcers.
Methods:
A placebo-controlled, double-blind study using low energy photon therapy was performed in nine patients with 12 venous ulcers. Treatment was given three times a week for 10 weeks, using two monochromatic optical sources. One source provided a wavelength (A) of 660 nm (red) while the second source delivered a wavelength of 880 nm (infrared). Two optical probes were used, one consisted of an array of 22 monochromatic sources, operating at a wavelength of 660 nm and covering an area 6 x 10 cm2. The second probe had seven infrared sources, operating at a wavelength of 880 nm and covering an area of 4 cm2 The above configuration of optical probes was selected to cover the majority of the ulcer area being treated. The patients who were randomized to placebo treatment received sham therapy from an identical-appearing light source from the same delivery system.
Results:
Nine patients with 12 venous ulcers were randomized to receive LEPT or placebo therapy. At the conclusion of the study, the percentage of the initial ulcer area remaining unhealed in the LEPT and placebo groups was 24.4% and 84.7%, respectively (P = 0.0008). The decrease in ulcer area (compared to baseline) observed in the LEPT and placebo groups was 193.0 mm2 and 14.7 mm2, respectively (P = 0.0002). One patient dropped out of the study, complaining of lack of treatment efficacy; he was found to be randomized to the placebo group. There were no adverse effects.
Conclusion:
In this placebo-controlled, double-blind study LEPT was an effective modality for the treatment of venous leg ulcers. © 1998 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc. Dermatol Surg 1998;24:1383-1386.From the Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto; International Medical Instruments Inc.; and Selye-Toffler University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
© 1998 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc. • Published by Elsevier Science Inc. 1076-0512/98/$19.00 -- • PII S1076-0512(98)00168-X
Lucas C, van Gemert MJ, de Haan RJ. Efficacy of low-level laser therapy in the management of stage III decubitus ulcers: a prospective, observer-blinded multicentre randomized clinical trial. Lasers Med Sci 2003; 18(2):72-7.