Emerging Therapies · Light Therapy
Forret A et al., 2023 · Bulletin du cancer
Anticancer treatments induce vulvovaginal complications that alter the quality of life and sexuality of patients. New technologies, such as photobiomodulation, could address this problem, for which few effective therapeutic solutions exist. The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics of patients seeking treatment and to observe the effects of photobiomodulation. This is a prospective cohort of patients treated for cancer, in failure of first-line medical treatment, managed at the University Hospital of Nîmes. The history, symptoms and impact of the disorders on their quality of life were collected. At follow-up, improvement was assessed using the PGI-I and FSFI questionnaires. Twenty-eight patients were treated. They were all menopausal, half of them after anticancer treatments [chemotherapy (78%), radiotherapy (36%), hormone therapy (36%)]. The main symptom reported was vaginal dryness (72%). Seventy-one percent of patients (n=20) felt that their daily life was affected≥8/10. All patients had sexual dysfunction. Twenty-two patients received at least 6 sessions of photobiomodulation. Seventy-two percent (n=18) of patients felt better or much better after treatment (PGI-I≤2). The median improvement estimated by the patients was 65% (Q1=50%; Q3=72.5%). There was also a significant clinical improvement. No serious adverse events were reported. Due to the small number of patients in a heterogeneous population with no control group, we cannot extrapolate our results. However, the objective was to assess the status of these pathologies and the contribution of photobiomodulation in patients who have failed first-line treatment; and these results are encouraging.
Emerging Therapies · Light Therapy
Fu Q et al., 2024 · Journal of biophotonics
Photobiomodulation (PBM) has attracted widespread attention in suppressing various pain and inflammation. Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) primarily occurs in adolescents and adult females, and the limited effectiveness and side effects of conventional treatments have highlighted the urgent need to develop and identify new adjunct therapeutic strategies. In this work, the results of pain and PGs demonstrated that 850 nm, 630 nm, and 460 nm all exhibited pain inhibition, decreased PGF2α and upregulated PGE2, while 630 nm PBM has better effectiveness. Then to explore the underlying biological mechanisms of red light PBM on PD, we irradiated prostaglandin-F2α induced HUSM cells and found that low-level irradiance can restore intracellular calcium ion, ROS, ATP, and MMP levels to normal levels. And, red light enhanced cell viability and promoted cell proliferation for normal HUSM cells. Therefore, this study proposes that red light PBM may be a promising approach for the future clinical treatment of PD.
Emerging Therapies · Light Therapy
Zheng H et al., 2024 · Photochem & Photobiology
Intrauterine adhesion (IUA), a major cause of uterine infertility, is pathologically characterized by endometrial fibrosis. Current treatments for IUA have poor efficacy with high recurrence rate, and restoring uterine functions is difficult. We aimed to determine the therapeutic efficacy of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy on IUA and elucidate its underlying mechanisms. A rat IUA model was established via mechanical injury, and PBM was applied intrauterinely. The uterine structure and function were evaluated using ultrasonography, histology, and fertility tests. PBM therapy induced a thicker, more intact, and less fibrotic endometrium. PBM also partly recovered endometrial receptivity and fertility in IUA rats. A cellular fibrosis model was then established with human endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) cultured in the presence of TGF‐β1. PBM alleviated TGF‐β1‐induced fibrosis and triggered cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling in ESCs. Pretreatment with the inhibitors targeting this pathway weakened PBM's protective efficacy in the IUA rats and ESCs. Therefore, we conclude that PBM improved endometrial fibrosis and fertility via activating cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling in IUA uterus. This study sheds more lights on the efficacy of PBM as a potential treatment for IUA.
Emerging Therapies · Light Therapy
Phypers R et al., 2025 · Photonics
Female infertility from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis poses a challenge for both clinicians and women who are trying to conceive. The present clinical single case report aimed to evaluate the efficacy of multiple wavelengths of red and near-infrared (NIR) laser photobiomodulation (PBM) for increasing the potential of fertility in a woman with PCOS, endometriosis and low ovarian reserve. The observations helped to inform and establish the following: (1) any adverse effects; (2) the possibility of producing an effective PBM protocol; and (3) a healthy live birth. The case report concerns a female who failed to conceive naturally beyond five years and had experienced one unsuccessful IVF cycle. Case report of one female subject with infertility issues, which included failure to conceive naturally beyond five years. Previous conditions were recorded and then compared with outcomes from after the patient received a course of PBM treatments. PBM treatments were given at weekly and/or at two-week intervals over a 5-month period during the follicular stage of the menstrual cycle, using IR and NIR wavelengths between 600 and 1000 nm. After five months a spontaneous conception was achieved. The case resulted in a full-term pregnancy and the birth of a healthy baby. Improvements in reproductive health outcomes in this case give reason to suggest that PBM helped to alleviate PCOS and endometriosis which could have been associated with a low ovarian reserve. The case report indicates that a multiwavelength of red and NIR-PBM laser therapy could have positively contributed to a healthy live birth in a female diagnosed with PCOS, endometriosis and a low ovarian reserve. Extensive studies with large data are warranted to validate our PBM dosimetry and treatment protocols to assess the potential impact of PBM for treating endometriosis and PCOS. Subsequently, to understand the genetic and phenotype biomarkers would be an important step further to standardise a range of PBM light dosimetry.