Search

Dysregulated muscle glycogen metabolism preslaughter contributes to aberrant postmortem muscle pH (>5.8) in dark-cutting beef phenotypes. However, the underlying mechanisms have remained elusive. Herein, we examine the glycogen dependent regulation of postmortem muscle pH decline and darkening in beef. We show that supplementation of glycogen in vitro restores postmortem pH decline in dark-cutting beef by reverting the metabolome toward a typical postmortem muscle state characterized by increased activities of enzymes glycogen phosphorylase and lactate dehydrogenase (p< 0.05) coupled with a pronounced abundance of glycolytic metabolites and reduced abundance of tricarboxylic acid cycle and amino acid metabolites. Furthermore, concurrent inhibition of mitochondrial respiration at complexes I, IV, and V with glycogen supplementation stimulates greater pH decline. Together, our findings show that supplementing glycogen at low concentrations (10 mM) can reprogram the dark-cutting beef muscle’s metabolome toward typical postmortem state and promote muscle acidification. Thus, enhancing glycogen levels could represent a promising strategy for mitigating dark-cutting beef phenotypes and improving meat quality.

IMPORTANCE: Because mentorship is critical for professional development and career advancement, it is essential to examine the status of mentorship and identify challenges that junior surgical faculty (assistant and associate professors) face obtaining effective mentorship. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the mentorship experience for junior surgical faculty and highlight areas for improvement. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This qualitative study was an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study including an anonymous survey on mentorship followed by semistructured interviews to expand on survey findings. Junior surgical faculty from 18 US academic surgery programs were included in the anonymous survey and interviews. Survey responses between “formal” (assigned by the department) vs “informal” (sought out by the faculty) mentors and male vs female junior faculty were compared using χ2 tests. Interview responses were analyzed for themes until thematic saturation was achieved. Survey responses were collected from November 2022 to August 2023, and interviews conducted from July to December 2023. EXPOSURE: Mentorship from formal and/or informal mentors. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Survey gauged the availability and satisfaction with formal and informal mentorship; interviews assessed broad themes regarding mentorship. RESULTS: Of 825 survey recipients, 333 (40.4%) responded; 155 (51.7%) were male and 134 (44.6%) female. Nearly all respondents (319 [95.8%]) agreed or strongly agreed that mentorship is important to their surgical career, especially for professional networking (309 respondents [92.8%]), career advancement (301 [90.4%]), and research (294 [88.3%]). However, only 58 respondents (18.3%) had a formal mentor. More female than male faculty had informal mentors (123 [91.8%] vs 123 [79.4%]; P = .003). Overall satisfaction was higher with informal mentorship than formal mentorship (221 [85.0%] vs 40 [69.0%]; P = .01). Most male and female faculty reported no preferences in gender or race and ethnicity for their mentors. When asked if they had good mentor options if they wanted to change mentors, 141 (47.8%) responded no. From the interviews (n = 20), 6 themes were identified, including absence of mentorship infrastructure, preferred mentor characteristics, and optimizing mentorship. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Academic junior surgical faculty agree mentorship is vital to their careers. However, this study found that few had formal mentors and almost half need more satisfactory options if they want to change mentors. Academic surgical programs should adopt a framework for facilitating mentorship and optimize mentor-mentee relationships through alignment of mentor-mentee goals and needs.

Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are increasingly enrolling veterans. Because MA plans receive full capitated payments regardless of whether or not veterans use Medicare services, the federal government can incur substantial duplicative, wasteful spending if veterans in MA plans predominantly seek care through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system. The recent growth of MA plans that disproportionately enroll veterans could further exacerbate such wasteful spending. Using national data, we found that veterans increasingly enrolled in MA between 2016 and 2022, including in a growing number of MA plans in which 20 percent or more of the enrollees were veterans. Notably, about one in five VHA enrollees in these high-veteran MA plans did not incur any Medicare services paid by MA within a given year—a rate 2.5 times that of VHA enrollees in other MA plans and 5.7 times that of the general MA population. Meanwhile, VHA enrollees in high-veteran MA plans were significantly more likely to receive VHA-funded care. In 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services paid more than $1.32 billion to MA plans for VHA enrollees who did not use any Medicare services, with 19.1 percent going to high-veteran MA plans.

The WHO and International Consensus Classification 2022 classifications of myelodysplastic syndromes enhance diagnostic precision and refine decision-making processes in these diseases. However, some discrepancies still exist and potentially cause inconsistency in their adoption in a clinical setting. We adopted a data-driven approach to provide a harmonisation between these two classification systems. We investigated the importance of genomic features and their effect on the cluster assignment process to define harmonised entity labels. A panel of expert haematologists, haematopathologists, and data scientists who are members of the International Consortium for Myelodysplastic Syndromes was formed and a modified Delphi consensus process was adopted to harmonise morphologically defined categories without a distinct genomic profile. The panel held regular online meetings and participated in a two-round survey using an online voting tool. We identified nine clusters with distinct genomic features. The cluster of highest hierarchical importance was characterised by biallelic TP53inactivation. Cluster assignment was irrespective of blast count. Individuals with monoallelic TP53inactivation were assigned to other clusters. Hierarchically, the second most important group included myelodysplastic syndromes with del(5q). Isolated del(5q) and less than 5% of blast cells in the bone marrow were the most relevant label-defining features. The third most important cluster included myelodysplastic syndromes with mutated SF3B1. The absence of isolated del(5q), del(7q)/-7, abn3q26.2, complex karyotype, RUNX1mutations, or biallelic TP53were the basis for a harmonised label of this category. Morphologically defined myelodysplastic syndrome entities showed large genomic heterogeneity that was not efficiently captured by single-lineage versus multilineage dysplasia, marrow blasts, hypocellularity, or fibrosis. We investigated the biological continuum between myelodysplastic syndromes with more than 10% bone marrow blasts and acute myeloid leukaemia, and found only a partial overlap in genetic features. After the survey, myelodysplastic syndromes with low blasts (ie, less than 5%) and myelodysplastic syndromes with increased blasts (ie, 5% or more) were recognised as disease entities. Our data-driven approach can efficiently harmonise current classifications of myelodysplastic syndromes and provide a reference for patient management in a real-world setting.

Background Ileus is a common complication of major abdominal surgery, including colorectal resection. The present study aimed to assess the predictors of ileus after laparoscopic right colectomy for colon cancer.Methods This study was a retrospective case-control analysis of a prospective IRB-approved database of patients who underwent laparoscopic right colectomy at the Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida. Patients who developed ileus after right colectomy were compared to patients without ileus to determine the risk factors of ileus.Results The present study included 270 patients with a mean age of 68.7 years. Thirty-six patients (13.3%) experienced ileus after laparoscopic right colectomy. The median duration of ileus was 6 days. Factors associated with ileus were age (71.6 vs 68.2 years, P= .158), emergency colectomy (11.1% vs 3.9%, P= .082), extended hemicolectomy (19.4% vs 6.8%, P= .021), green gastrointestinal anastomosis (GIA) 4.8mm staple height cartridge (19% vs 8.1%, P= .114), and longer operative time (177.9 vs 160.4 minutes, P= .157). The only independent predictor of ileus was extended colectomy (OR: 16.7, P= .003).Conclusions Increased age, emergency surgery, green GIA cartridge, and longer operative times were associated with ileus, yet the only independent predictor of ileus was extended right hemicolectomy.

The transcription factor Twist1 plays a vital role in normal development in many tissue systems and continues to be important throughout life. However, inappropriate Twist1 activity has been associated with kidney injury and fibrosis, though the underlying mechanisms involved remain incomplete. Here, we explored the role of Twist1 in regulating fibroblast behaviors and the development kidney fibrosis. Initially Twist1 protein and activity was found to be markedly increased within interstitial myofibroblasts in fibrotic kidneys in both humans and rodents. Treatment of rat kidney interstitial fibroblasts with transforming growth factor-β1 (a profibrotic factor) also induced Twist1 expression in vitro. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments supported that Twist1 signaling was responsible for transforming growth factor-β1–induced fibroblast activation and fetal bovine serum–induced fibroblast proliferation. Mechanistically, Twist1 protein promoted kidney fibroblast activation by driving the expression of downstream signaling proteins, Prrx1 and Tnc. Twist1 directly enhanced binding to the promoter of Prrx1 but not TNC, whereas the promoter of TNC was directly bound by Prrx1. Finally, mice with fibroblast-specific deletion of Twist1 exhibited less Prrx1 and TNC protein abundance, interstitial extracellular matrix deposition and kidney inflammation in both the unilateral ureteral obstruction and ischemic-reperfusion injury–induced-kidney fibrotic models. Inhibition of Twist1 signaling with Harmine, a β-carboline alkaloid, improved extracellular matrix deposition in both injury models. Thus, our results suggest that Twist1 signaling promotes the activation and proliferation of kidney fibroblasts, contributing to the development of interstitial fibrosis, offering a potential therapeutic target for chronic kidney disease.

Little research has examined specific instructional variables that influence the development and effectiveness of task‐analysis instruction. We conducted two experiments using text‐based task analyses to teach college students to create single‐subject reversal design graphs. In Experiment 1, we tested the effects of presenting antecedent and outcome stimuli on graphing performance (accuracy, yield, time to completion). Different groups of participants experienced graphing tutorials with descriptions and pictures of (a) responses; (b) antecedent stimuli and responses; (c) responses and outcomes of correct responses; and (d) antecedent stimuli, responses, and outcomes. In Experiment 2, we compared tutorials with and without pictures. Collectively, the results suggest that graphing accuracy was positively affected by task analyses that included pictures and descriptions of antecedent stimuli and that adding outcome stimuli further benefited graphing accuracy. These results suggest critical instructional elements that should be included in future task analyses of graphing or other complex behavior chains.

While several functions of the endogenous prion protein have been studied, the homeostatic function of prion protein is still debated. Notably, prion protein is highly expressed on mast cells, granular immune cells that regulate inflammation. When activated, mast cells shed prion protein, although the mechanism and consequences of this are not yet understood. First, we tested several mast cell lines and found that, while prion protein was almost always present, the total amount differed greatly. Activation of mast cells induced a cleavage of the N-terminal region of prion protein, and this was reduced by protease inhibitors. Exogenous mast cell proteases caused a similar loss of the prion protein N-terminus. Additionally, mast cells shed prion protein in an ADAM10-dependent fashion, even in the absence of activation. Our results suggest that prion protein is cleaved from resting mast cells by ADAM10 and from activated mast cells by mast cell proteases. Prion protein also appears to affect mast cell function, as Prnp−/−bone marrow–derived mast cells showed lower levels of degranulation and cytokine release, as well as lower levels of both FcεRI and CD117. Finally, we sought to provide clinical relevance by measuring the levels of prion protein in bodily fluids of asthmatic patients, a disease that involves the activation of mast cells. We found an N-terminal fragment of prion protein could be detected in human sputum and serum, and the amount of this prion protein fragment was decreased in the serum of patients with asthma.Loss of prion protein from mast cells occurs constitutively by ADAM10 and as a result of degranulation by mast cell granule proteases.

The powerstroke of human cardiac β-myosin is an important stage of the cross-bridge cycle that generates force for muscle contraction. However, the starting structure of this process has never been resolved, and the relative timing of the powerstroke and inorganic phosphate (Pi) release is still controversial. In this study, we generated an atomistic model of myosin on the thin filament and utilized metadynamics simulations to predict the absent starting structure of the powerstroke. We demonstrated that the displacement of Pi from the active site during the powerstroke is likely necessary, reducing the energy barrier of the conformation change. The effects of the presence of the thin filament, the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutation R712L, and the binding of mavacamten on the powerstroke process were also investigated.

Taurine is a conditionally essential micronutrient and one of the most abundant amino acids in humans1–3. In endogenous taurine metabolism, dedicated enzymes are involved in the biosynthesis of taurine from cysteine and in the downstream metabolism of secondary taurine metabolites4,5. One taurine metabolite is N-acetyltaurine6. Levels of N-acetyltaurine are dynamically regulated by stimuli that alter taurine or acetate flux, including endurance exercise7, dietary taurine supplementation8and alcohol consumption6,9. So far, the identities of the enzymes involved in N-acetyltaurine metabolism, and the potential functions of N-acetyltaurine itself, have remained unknown. Here we show that the body mass index associated orphan enzyme phosphotriesterase-related (PTER)10is a physiological N-acetyltaurine hydrolase. In vitro, PTER catalyses the hydrolysis of N-acetyltaurine to taurine and acetate. In mice, PTER is expressed in the kidney, liver and brainstem. Genetic ablation of Pterin mice results in complete loss of tissue N-acetyltaurine hydrolysis activity and a systemic increase in N-acetyltaurine levels. After stimuli that increase taurine levels, Pterknockout mice exhibit reduced food intake, resistance to diet-induced obesity and improved glucose homeostasis. Administration of N-acetyltaurine to obese wild-type mice also reduces food intake and body weight in a GFRAL-dependent manner. These data place PTER into a central enzymatic node of secondary taurine metabolism and uncover a role for PTER and N-acetyltaurine in body weight control and energy balance.

The solution viscosity and protein–protein interactions (PPIs) as a function of temperature (4–40 °C) were measured at a series of protein concentrations for a monoclonal antibody (mAb) with different formulation conditions, which include NaCl and sucrose. The flow activation energy (Eη) was extracted from the temperature dependence of solution viscosity using the Arrhenius equation. PPIs were quantified via the protein diffusion interaction parameter (kD) measured by dynamic light scattering, together with the osmotic second virial coefficient and the structure factor obtained through small-angle X-ray scattering. Both viscosity and PPIs were found to vary with the formulation conditions. Adding NaCl introduces an attractive interaction but leads to a significant reduction in the viscosity. However, adding sucrose enhances an overall repulsive effect and leads to a slight decrease in viscosity. Thus, the averaged (attractive or repulsive) PPI information is not a good indicator of viscosity at high protein concentrations for the mAb studied here. Instead, a correlation based on the temperature dependence of viscosity (i.e., Eη) and the temperature sensitivity in PPIs was observed for this specific mAb. When kDis more sensitive to the temperature variation, it corresponds to a larger value of Eηand thus a higher viscosity in concentrated protein solutions. When kDis less sensitive to temperature change, it corresponds to a smaller value of Eηand thus a lower viscosity at high protein concentrations. Rather than the absolute value of PPIs at a given temperature, our results show that the temperature sensitivity of PPIs may be a more useful metric for predicting issues with high viscosity of concentrated solutions. In addition, we also demonstrate that caution is required in choosing a proper protein concentration range to extract kD. In some excipient conditions studied here, the appropriate protein concentration range needs to be less than 4 mg/mL, remarkably lower than the typical concentration range used in the literature.

When you read the title Notes to Self, perhaps what comes to mind are the words we write in the margins of notebooks or on scrap pieces of paper stuffed between book pages to be rediscovered in the future. Maybe the title sparks thoughts of voice memos, journal entries, underlined texts, or reminders scribbled on sticky notes that are seen every day with hopes that they will take permanent residence in your mind. The phrase also alludes to a lifelong journey that leads to an ultimate destination: a full, authentic, and evolving sense of self. Notes to self are fragments to lead us closer to a more whole composition and definition of our being. This curatorial project highlights archival materials that lay bare how intimacy, interiority, and reflection show up not only in artists’ moments of introspection, but also in interactions among soulmates, peers, chosen family, and friends. Letters, notes, and photographs created by companions and counterparts, and kept in artists’ papers, hint at the relatable desire to cherish the materials that make us feel cherished. They affirm how we are seen through the eyes of others, especially those who see our depths. They contribute to our sense of self and how we might hope to be remembered.

Phosphorus (P) fertilizers promote soil petroleum‐hydrocarbon (PHC) bioremediation by correcting carbon‐to‐P ratio imbalances. While these inputs create conditions favorable to microbial growth, areas of a site or an entire site with low degradation rates (i.e., “stalled”) occur for unknown reasons. We hypothesized that soil conditions limit P bioavailability, leading to stalls in PHC bioremediation, and adding the correct P amendment restarts microbial activity. Soils were collected and characterized from four cold calcareous PHC‐impacted sites in Saskatchewan, Canada, undergoing bioremediation. A generalized linear mixed model identified that regions with lower degradation rates possessed a neutral pH with high magnetic and salinity values. In a subsequent laboratory experiment, the proportion of benzene degraded at greater rates within active (i.e., higher degradation rates) than stalled soils, thereby following model predictions (p‐value = 0.19, Kruskal–Wallis). The PHC degradation efficiency of different P amendments was tested by doping stalled soils (n= 3) with one of five treatments: 0 (control), 0 (autoclaved control), or 50 mg phosphate kg−1soil as sodium diphosphate, triethyl phosphate, or tripolyphosphate. Tripolyphosphate accelerated benzene degradation (75.5 ± 5.4%) in one stalled soil (Outlook 323) and increased degradation non‐significantly (43.9 ± 9.4%) in another (Allan 917). Alternatively, the final sample (Davidson 421) possessed the greatest benzene removal with no amendments. This implies that soil P bioavailability may not be the sole cause of decreased microbial activity. Accordingly, combining model outputs with mineralogy and microbiology investigations could enhance PHC biodegradation rates in these cold calcareous soils. Soil phosphorus bioavailability may limit petroleum hydrocarbon biodegradation rates.A mixed model identified preferred soil geophysical conditions during petroleum hydrocarbon biodegradation.Phosphorus amendments did not consistently restart PHC degradation activity.

Purpose:To present 2 cases of acute total loss of vision after scleral buckle surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Methods:A retrospective chart review of 2 cases and an analysis of the literature were performed. Results:An 18-year-old woman and a 67-year-old woman suffered complete loss of vision in their operative eye after primary scleral buckle surgery with encircling bands. Conclusions:Profound ocular ischemia resulting in total acute vision loss is a rare and devastating outcome of primary scleral buckle procedures and may be caused by strangulation of the eye with an encircling band. Attention paid to the key tenets of this often successful and useful surgical technique may lower the risk for this complication.

ABSTRACTPsychic development over the course of adulthood has been largely neglected in the psychoanalytic literature over the past 30 years. This paper is an attempt to update a psychoanalytic understanding of adult development and to begin to illustrate its clinical value. Over time, increased longevity has changed the experience of life phases, and our ideas about development have moved away from rigid stage theories and universal concepts toward a more flexible, individualized, and socio-culturally informed understanding of the core challenges that define development of the personality over the course of life. In this paper I will focus on important aspects of self-experience across the adult life cycle to outline a revised and expanded scheme of the key intrapsychic tasks of adulthood. I will use an extended case example to illustrate how the psychoanalytic practitioner can use this adult development perspective to inform treatment. Finally, I will consider the applicability of the “developmental object” concept to adult treatment and to our ideas of how people change over the course of life, both within and outside treatment.

Pilomatrical skin tumors harbor mutations in CTNNB1, which encodes for β-catenin, a downstream effector of the Wnt signaling pathway responsible for the differentiation, proliferation, and adhesion of epithelial stem cells. Therefore, downstream molecules, such as CDX2, LEF-1, and SATB2, in the Wnt signaling pathway could be useful diagnostic markers. Here, we sought to investigate the potential of immunohistochemistry (IHC) to differentiate between pilomatricoma and pilomatrical carcinoma, as well as from other cutaneous adnexal tumors. We studied 88 cases of cutaneous tumors (14 pilomatrical carcinomas, 18 pilomatricomas, 13 basal cell carcinomas, 12 squamous cell carcinomas, 12 sebaceous carcinomas, 10 Merkel cell carcinomas, 7 trichoblastomas, and 2 hidradenocarcinomas) using a broad panel of IHC markers: β-catenin, SATB2, CDX2, LEF1, Ber-EP4, and PRAME. Pilomatricoma and pilomatrical carcinoma displayed >75% nuclear staining for β-catenin. CDX2 also strongly stained pilomatrical tumors; however, the staining distribution was limited in pilomatricoma and more widespread in pilomatrical carcinoma. But, overall, it was less than β-catenin. SATB2 and Ber-EP4 expressions were noted only in a subset of both pilomatrical carcinoma and pilomatricoma, whereas LEF-1 showed strong, diffuse nuclear positivity in both pilomatricoma and pilomatrical carcinoma. Among the IHC markers evaluated, none could distinguish between pilomatricoma and pilomatrical carcinoma. However, the combined use of β-catenin with CDX2 markers may assist in not only confirming the pilomatrical nature of the proliferation but also in differentiating benign from malignant cases when there is a significant presence of CDX2 staining. Despite these findings, the diagnosis should continue to primarily depend on a thorough histopathologic examination.

Treatment of elderly patients with cancer is challenging as they can be overtreated with respect to frailty or undertreated because of advanced age. Maintaining a good quality of life is essential for this population. This study aimed to assess the difference in overall survival and short-term outcomes according to the extent of rectal cancer resection in patients aged ≥80 years.

Background: Available platforms for local excision (LE) of early rectal cancer are rigid or flexible [trans‑anal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS)]. We systematically searched the literature to compare outcomes between platforms. Methods: PRISMA-compliant search of PubMed and Scopus databases until September 2022 was undertaken in this random-effect meta-analysis. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using I2statistic. Studies comparing TAMIS versus rigid platforms for LE for early rectal cancer were included. Main outcome measures were intraoperative and short-term postoperative outcomes and specimen quality. Results: 7 studies were published between 2015 and 2022, including 931 patients (423 females); 402 underwent TAMIS and 529 underwent LE with rigid platforms. Techniques were similar for operative time (WMD 11.1, 95%CI − 2.6 to 25, p = 0.11), percentage of defect closure (OR 0.7, 95%CI 0.06–8.22, p = 0.78), and peritoneal violation (OR 0.41, 95%CI 0.12–1.43, p = 0.16). Rigid platforms had higher rates of short-term complications (19.1% vs 14.2, OR 1.6, 95%CI 1.07–2.4, p = 0.02), although no significant differences were seen for major complications (OR 1.41, 95%CI 0.61–3.23, p = 0.41). Patients in the rigid platforms group were 3-times more likely to be re-admitted within 30 days compared to the TAMIS group (OR 3.1, 95%CI 1.07–9.4, p = 0.03). Rates of positive resection margins (rigid platforms: 7.6% vs TAMIS: 9.34%, OR 0.81, 95%CI 0.42–1.55, p = 0.53) and specimen fragmentation (rigid platforms: 3.3% vs TAMIS: 4.4%, OR 0.74, 95%CI 0.33–1.64, p = 0.46) were similar between the groups. Salvage surgery was required in 5.5% of rigid platform patients and 6.2% of TAMIS patients (OR 0.8, 95%CI 0.4–1.8, p = 0.7). Conclusion: TAMIS or rigid platforms for LE seem to have similar operative outcomes and specimen quality. The TAMIS group demonstrated lower readmission and overall complication rates but did not significantly differ for major complications. The choice of platform should be based on availability, cost, and surgeon’s preference.

Duponchelia fovealis(Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is a polyphagous pest that feeds on a variety of ornamental and crop plants. At least 47 plant families have been identified as hosts for D. fovealisin literature based on empirical data and observations. This list is surely incomplete based on the broad feeding habits of D. fovealis. We sought to expand the list of known D. fovealishost plants and to identify species that may be less preferred or not fed upon by D. fovealis. We used laboratory feeding assays to measure D. fovealisconsumption rate of leaf disks from 32 herbaceous plant species and 32 woody species grown outdoors throughout the Southeastern United States, and 24 tropical species typically grown as house plants. These plants were from 65 genera and 36 families. Between the 3 ornamental plant groups, we tested (herbaceous, woody, and tropical) that, after 24 h, plants in the tropical group were the least consumed by D. fovealis. After 24 h, the average proportion of leaf disks eaten by D. fovealiswas 0.80 or higher for 5 herbaceous and 12 woody species. Proportions of leaf disks eaten varied at the family and genus level in many cases. Our research can improve integrated pest management of D. fovealisby informing growers that plants may be at more or less risk of infestation and damage by larvae.

Morgan, RM, Wheeler, TD, Poolman, MA, Haugen, ENJ, LeMire, SD, and Fitzgerald, JS. Effects of photobiomodulation on pain and return to play of injured athletes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res38(6): e310–e319, 2024—The aims of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to evaluate the effect of photobiomodulation (PBM) on musculoskeletal pain in injured athletes and to determine if the effects of PBM allowed injured athletes to return to play faster. Electronic databases (MEDLINE Complete, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase) were systematically searched (up to and including November 7, 2023) for peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) meeting criteria. Six RCTs, representing 205 competitive and recreational athletes with a mean age of 24 years, were included in the analysis. There were 6 intervention groups using standard physical therapy (n= 1), placebo PBM (n= 4), and aloe gel (n= 1) lasting between 10 minutes and 8 weeks in duration. The level of significance set for the study was p< 0.05. Overall, the use of PBM indicated a positive effect on pain reduction for PBM vs. control groups, standardized mean differences = 1.03, SE= 0.22, 95% confidence intervals = [0.43–1.63], p= 0.0089, but the 2 RCTs found evaluating the effect of PBM on time to return to play after injury in athletes do not support a benefit. Allied healthcare professionals may use PBM to reduce pain, thus allowing an athlete to return to their normal biomechanical movement faster; however, limited evidence suggests that PBM does not reduce time to return to play after an injury.