Effects of Near-Infrared Light on Well-Being and Health in Human Subjects with Mild Sleep-Related Complaints: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study
Marina Cecilia Giménez, Michael R. Krames, Roelof A Hut
Marijke C M Gordijn, Praveen R Arany, Anne C Berends, Pauline P Bollen , Rieks L Hoekman, Marthe A Koopmans, Michael S Kramer, Michelle Luxwolda , Eila G Van Stipriaan
Modern urban human activities are largely restricted to the indoors, deprived of direct sunlight containing visible and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths at high irradiance levels. Therapeutic exposure to doses of red and NIR, known as photobiomodulation (PBM), has been effective for a broad range of conditions. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, we aimed to assess the effects of a PBM home set-up on various aspects of well-being, health, sleep, and circadian rhythms in healthy human subjects with mild sleep complaints. The effects of three NIR light (850 nm) doses (1, 4, or 6.5 J·cm(-2)) were examined against the placebo. Exposure was presented five days per week between 9:30 am and 12:30 pm for four consecutive weeks. The study was conducted in both summer and winter to include seasonal variation. The results showed PBM treatment only at 6.5 J·cm(-2) to have consistent positive benefits on well-being and health, specifically improving mood, reducing drowsiness, reducing IFN-γ, and resting heart rate. This was only observed in winter. No significant effects on sleep or circadian rhythms were noted. This study provides further evidence that adequate exposure to NIR, especially during low sunlight conditions, such as in the winter, can be beneficial for human health and wellness.
PMID 36671752 36671752 DOI 10.3390/biology12010060 10.3390/biology12010060 Giménez et al. 2023, Giménez 2023
Cite this article
Gimenez, M., Luxwolda, M., van Stipriaan, E., Bollen, P. P., Hoekman, R., Koopmans, M., Arany, P., Krames, M., Berends, A., Hut, R. A., & Gordijn, M. (2022). Effects of Near-Infrared Light on Well-Being and Health in Human Subjects with Mild Sleep-Related Complaints: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study. Biology, 12(1), 60. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12010060
Gimenez M, Luxwolda M, van Stipriaan E, Bollen PP, Hoekman R, Koopmans M, et al. Effects of Near-Infrared Light on Well-Being and Health in Human Subjects with Mild Sleep-Related Complaints: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study. Biology (Basel). 2022;12(1):60. doi:10.3390/biology12010060
Gimenez, Marina, et al. "Effects of Near-Infrared Light on Well-Being and Health in Human Subjects with Mild Sleep-Related Complaints: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study." Biology, vol. 12, no. 1, 2022, pp. 60.
De Ponte A et al., 2026·The journal of sexual medicine
[INTRODUCTION] Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an innovative tool in regenerative medicine. It is defined as an autologous product obtained by density gradient centrifugation of blood, resulting in a platelet concentrate rich in growth factors. In gynecology, PRP has been used to treat vaginal atrophy, sexual dysfunction, and inflammatory conditions such as vulvar lichen sclerosus. PRP injection into the vulvo-vaginal area is a potential treatment for several conditions; however, treatment methods and applications vary widely across the published literature. [OBJECTIVE] To provide an updated synthesis of current evidence on the administration of PRP to the vulva and vagina as a stand-alone technique in a non-surgical outpatient setting, and to identify its main clinical indications. [METHODS] A systematic search of PubMed and Embase was conducted for studies published up to October 2024 using the terms "platelet rich plasma" AND "vaginal" and "platelet rich plasma" AND "vulvar." Eligible studies included human case reports, prospective, and retrospective cohort studies, as well as randomized and non-randomized controlled trials, assessing PRP injections as a stand-alone technique in the vulvo-vaginal area. Extracted data included study design, patient characteristics, indications, PRP preparation and administration protocols, number of sessions, outcomes, and adverse events. [RESULTS] Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria: two randomized controlled trials, 10 single-arm clinical trials, one retrospective cross-sectional study, and five case reports, comprising 480 patients (401 treated with PRP). The most frequent indication was vulvar lichen sclerosus (n = 179), followed by sexual dysfunction (n = 133) and vulvovaginal atrophy (n = 87). Protocols varied in preparation methods, injection techniques, and treatment schedules. Across studies, PRP injections were associated with improvements in symptoms, sexual function, and vaginal health, with few and mild adverse events. [CONCLUSION] Current evidence suggests that PRP injections in the vulvo-vaginal area may offer clinical benefits across several indications, with a favorable safety profile. However, the high variability in protocols, small sample sizes, and methodological limitations preclude definitive conclusions. Further high-quality randomized controlled trials are required to establish standardized protocols and confirm efficacy.
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a central role in maintaining immune tolerance and supporting maternal-fetal homeostasis throughout human pregnancy. Clinical and experimental evidence demonstrates that dysregulation of peripheral and decidual Tregs manifested as quantitative deficits, impaired suppressive function or lineage instability increased the risk of various pathological pregnancies, such as recurrent implantation failure (RIF), recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), pre-eclampsia (PE) and preterm birth (PTB). Recently, novel therapeutic strategies targeting Tregs have emerged in oncology, transplantation, and autoimmune diseases. However, their application in pathological pregnancy remains in its infancy. This review outlines the spatiotemporal dynamics of peripheral and decidual Tregs throughout gestation, elucidating their roles in maintaining maternal-fetal homeostasis and their dysregulation in pathological pregnancies. We also critically evaluated the therapeutic strategies targeting Tregs and Tregs-associated signaling pathways, including hormonal support, traditional intravenous immunoglobulin, as well as emerging interventions such as immunometabolic reprogramming and engineered cellular therapies like chimeric antigen receptor Tregs. This review may provide insights for understanding the roles of Tregs in physiological and pathological pregnancy, as well as provide new idea in the immunotherapy of pathological pregnancy.
therapeutics/anti-infective-and-anti-inflammatory-agents/immune-modulating-agents
Open Access
Emerging research underscores the pivotal role of the gut–immune–brain axis, a dynamic bidirectional communication system involving intricate interactions between the gut microbiota, immune responses, and the central nervous system. Gut microbes and their metabolites have profound effects on immune and neurological homeostasis, influencing the development and function of multiple physiological systems. Disruption of the composition of the gut microbiota and barrier integrity has been implicated in various neurological and psychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression, and anxiety. Most insights into these host–microbiota interactions come from preclinical models, revealing both the complexity and potential therapeutic opportunities of the gut–brain communication pathways. This review synthesizes the current understanding of these intricate interactions, exploring how microbiota-driven modulation of the gut and brain barriers, immune signaling, and neuronal pathways, such as those through the vagus nerve, contributes to health and disease. We further explore therapeutic implications, including personalized precision microbiota interventions, microbiome-derived biomarkers, and barrier-strengthening strategies. Advancing this field offers transformative potential for developing innovative, personalized therapies tailored to individual microbiomes and immune profiles, ultimately redefining clinical approaches to neurological and immune-mediated diseases.
genetics-and-immunology/reproductive-immunology/implantation-immunologytherapeutics/anti-infective-and-anti-inflammatory-agents/immune-modulating-agentspregnancy/pregnancy-complications/intrauterine-infection
Open Access
Garmendia JV et al., 2025·International journal of molecular sciences
Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is defined as the occurrence of two or more consecutive pregnancy losses before 24 weeks of gestation. It affects 3-5% of women who are attempting to conceive. RPL can stem from a variety of causes and is frequently associated with psychological distress and a diminished quality of life. By contrast, recurrent implantation failure (RIF) refers to the inability to achieve a successful pregnancy after three or more high-quality embryo transfers or at least two instances of egg donation. RIF shares several causative factors with RPL. The immunological underpinnings of these conditions involve alterations in uterine NK cells, reductions in M2 macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, an increased Th1/Th2 ratio, a decreased Treg/Th17 ratio, the presence of shared ≥3 HLA alleles between partners, and autoimmune disorders. Various therapeutic approaches have been employed to address these immunological concerns, achieving varying degrees of success, although some therapies remain contentious within the medical community. This review intends to explore the immunological factors implicated in RPL and RIF and to analyze the immunological treatments employed for these conditions, which may include steroids, intravenous immunoglobulins, calcineurin inhibitors, anti-TNF antibodies, intralipid infusions, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and lymphocyte immunotherapy.