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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a progressive common autoimmune disorder and is one of the most functional limiting diseases in elderly. Until recently, its treatment is mainly based on physical locations and meetings while being face to face. However, laser acupuncture tele-therapy approaches can significantly provide the patient with safety during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as changing the disorder's prognosis. Sixty patients were assigned randomly into 2 groups with 1:1 ratio. Patients in group A are treated remotely by laser acupuncture in addition to methotrexate and a tele-rehabilitation program in the form of aerobic exercise training. Patients in group B are treated by methotrexate and a tele-rehabilitation program in the form of aerobic exercise. There was a statistically significant difference in health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) pre- and post-treatment in group A (p < 0.05). The C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) inflammatory markers as well as the malondialdehyde (MDA) oxidative marker showed a significant reduction pre- and post-treatment in group A (p < 0.05). Additionally, there was a significant increase in the adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP) antioxidant marker pre- and post-treatment in group A (p < 0.05). The comparison between groups A and B showed a statistically significant post-treatment difference in RAQoL, CRP, IL-6, ATP, and MDA in group A than group B. Considering the significant improvement that was found in the laser acupuncture group, it can be concluded that the use of laser acupuncture as adjunctive was effective in the treatment of elderly patients with RA. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04758689 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease is a systemic progressive inflammatory autoimmune disorder. Elderly-onset RA can be assumed as a benign form of RA. Until recently, face-to-face therapeutic sessions between health professionals and patients are usually the method of its treatment. However, during pandemics, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), teletherapeutic sessions can extensively increase the patient safety especially in elderly patients who are more vulnerable to these infections. Thus, the aim of this randomized clinical trial was to evaluate a novel teletherapy approach for management of elderly patients suffering from RA by utilizing laser acupuncture.Methods: A teletherapy system was used for management of elderly patients suffering from RA. Sixty participants were allocated randomly into two groups and the ratio was 1:1. Patients in the first group were treated with laser acupuncture and telerehabilitation sessions, which consisted of aerobic exercise and virtual reality training. Patients in the second group received telerehabilitation sessions, which consisted of aerobic exercise and virtual reality training. Evaluation of patients was done by using the Health Assessment questionnaire (HAQ), the Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life (RAQoL) questionnaire, and the analysis of interleukin-6 (IL-6), serum C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA).Results: A statistically significant difference was found in CRP, RAQoL, IL-6 and MDA between the pre- and post-treatments in the first group (p < 0.05) favouring the post-treatment group, while the HAQ showed a statistically significant difference between pre- and post-treatments (p < 0.05) in both groups. Statistically significant post-treatment differences were also observed between the two groups (p < 0.05) in RAQoL, CRP, ATP and MDA, favouring the first group.Discussion: Laser acupuncture teletherapy could be suggested as a reliable treatment method for elderly patients suffering from RA, as it can provide a safe and effective therapeutic approach. Teletherapy provided safer access to health professionals and patients while giving a high patient satisfaction value with a relatively lower cost (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04684693). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To assess effect of orthodontic treatment on anterior or lateral functional shift in mixed dentition stage by telemonitoring mandibular movements in four-dimensions using a novel objective method that can assist in orthodontics and other dental specialties without the need of expensive, bulky or complicated equipment.Methods: A sample of 60 patients was divided into two groups. Group I included 30 patients with normal occlusion and TMJ functions. Group II included 30 patients that were diagnosed with an abnormal path of closure in antero-posterior or transverse directions due to disharmony between centric occlusion and centric relation. The latter group was orthodontically treated and mandibular movements were measured before, during, directly after orthodontic treatment, and one year after treatment using our proposed method. To evaluate validity and reliability of our method, it was compared with two methods, a commercially available mandibular scanner, and a low-cost graphical method that utilizes a sheet of wax and a stylus.Results: It was found that the overall differences between opening and closing curves of our proposed method and the other two methods were small and negligible (p > 0.05).Discussion: It was found that our proposed method is offering a reasonably accurate, simple and rapid way to telemonitor the mandible movements in four-dimensions using the rear/front camera of any smart-phone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of evidence-based reviews on the effects of laser irradiation on blood coagulation in the literature, despite a large number of clinical trials. We therefore evaluated the available evidence on laser irradiation parameters used in coagulation of blood to optimize physical parameters. We performed a literature search for recent scientific studies indexed between 2017 and 2023 using the databases of PubMed and ScienceDirect. Articles were selected based on defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and 78 publications in total were eventually included in this scoping review. The following were found to produce significant benefits in blood coagulation for surgical application: (1) dentistry and oral surgeries: 980 nm, 27 s, 2 W, 1502.7 W/cm2, 26.5 J, 622 J/cm2, 400 μm; (2) urogenital disorders: 532 nm, 4 s, 40 W, 10600 W/cm2, 1.3 J, 424 J/cm2, 600 μm; (3) ophthalmic disorders: 810 nm, 1 s, 1 W, 3540 W/cm2, 0.75 J, 1326 J/cm2, 100 μm; (4) embryological surgeries: 1064 nm, 10 s, 25 W, 35400 W/cm2, 262.5 J, 371000 J/cm2, 332.5 μm; (5) dermatological disorders: 1064 nm, 20 W, 2440 W/cm2, 0.1 J, 24 J/cm2, 670 μm; (6) gastrointestinal disorders: 532 nm, 3 s, 20 W, 1051 W/cm2, 120 J, 26500 J/cm2, 760 μm; (7) neurological surgeries: 2.5 s, 1.5 W, 1035 W/cm2, 2 J, 1584 J/cm2, 385 μm; (8) pulmonary disorders: 1320 nm, 5s, 35 W, 12450 W/cm2, 250 J, 65000 J/cm2, 700 μm (9) cardiovascular disorders: 1064 nm, 16.5 s, 5 W, 1980.5 W/cm2, 900 J, 760 J/cm2, 400 μm. In conclusion, our scoping review identifies that combining data from all clinically heterogeneous studies suggests that laser irradiation reflects an effective method for inducing blood coagulation in several medical fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purposes of this study are to determine and compare efficacy of laser acupuncture versus reflexology in elderly with rheumatoid arthritis. Thirty elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis aged between 60 and 70 years were classified into two groups, 15 patients each. Group A received laser acupuncture therapy (904 nm, beam area of 1cm2, power 100 mW, power density 100 mW/cm2, energy dosage 4 J, energy density 4 J/cm2, irradiation time 40 s, and frequency 100,000 Hz). The acupuncture points that were exposed to laser radiation are LR3, ST25, ST36, SI3, SI4, LI4, LI11, SP6, SP9, GB25, GB34, and HT7. While group B received reflexology therapy, both offered 12 sessions over 4 weeks. The changes in RAQoL, HAQ, IL-6, MDA, ATP, and ROM at wrist and ankle joints were measured at the beginning and end of treatment. There was significant decrease in RAQoL, HAQ, IL-6, and MDA pre/posttreatment for both groups (p < 0.05); significant increase in ATP pre/posttreatment for both groups (p < 0.05); significant increase in ankle dorsi-flexion, plantar-flexion, wrist flexion, extension, and ulnar deviation ROM pre/posttreatment in group A (p < 0.05); and significant increase in ankle dorsi-flexion and ankle plantar-flexion ROM pre/posttreatment in group B (p < 0.05). Comparison between both groups showed a statistical significant decrease in MDA and a statistical significant increase in ATP in group A than group B. Percent of changes in MDA was 41.82%↓ in group A versus 21.68%↓ in group B; changes in ATP was 226.97%↑ in group A versus 67.02%↑ in group B. Moreover, there was a statistical significant increase in ankle dorsi-flexion, ankle plantar-flexion, wrist flexion, wrist extension, and radial deviation in group A than group B. Laser therapy is associated with significant improvement in MDA and ATP greater than reflexology. In addition, it is associated with significant improvement in ankle dorsi-flexion, ankle plantar-flexion, wrist flexion, wrist extension, and radial deviation greater than reflexology in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]