Wound healing is crucial for the survival of an organism. Therefore, in the perspective of space exploration missions, it is important to understand if and how microgravity conditions affect the behavior of the cell populations involved in wound healing and the evolution of the process. Since fibroblasts are the major players in tissue repair, this study was focused on the behavior of fibroblasts in microgravity conditions, modeled by a RCCS. Cell cytoskeleton was studied by immunofluorescence microscopy, the ability to migrate was assessed by microchemotaxis and scratch assay, and the expression of markers of fibroblast activation, angiogenesis, and inflammation was assessed by western blot. Results revealed that after cell exposure to modeled microgravity conditions, a thorough rearrangement of microtubules occurred and α-SMA bundles were replaced by a tight network of faulty and disorganized filaments. Exposure to modeled microgravity induced a decrease in α-SMA and E-CAD expressions. Also, the expression of the pro-angiogenic protein VEGF decreased, while that of the inflammatory signal COX-2 increased. Fibroblast ability to adhere, migrate, and respond to chemoattractants (PRP), closely related to cytoskeleton integrity and membrane junctions, was significantly impaired. Nevertheless, PRP was able to partially restore fibroblast migration
Over the past three decades, physicians have used laser sources for the management of different pain conditions obtaining controversial results that call for further investigations. In order to evaluate the pain relieving possibilities of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), we tested two near infrared (NIR) laser systems, with different power, against various kinds of persistent hyperalgesia animal models. In rats, articular pain was reproduced by the intra-articular injection of sodium monoiodoacetate (MIA) and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), while compressive neuropathy was modelled by the chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve (CCI). In MIA and CFA models, (NIR) laser (MLS-Mphi, ASA S.r.l., Vicenza, Italy) application was started 14 days after injury and was performed once a day for a total of 13 applications. In MIA-treated animals, the anti-hyperalgesic effect of laser began 5 min after treatment and vanished after 60 min. The subsequent applications evoked similar effects. In CFA-treated rats, laser efficacy started 5 min after treatment and disappeared after 180 min. In rats that underwent CCI, two treatment protocols with similar fluence but different power output were tested using a new experimental device called Multiwave Locked System laser (MLS-HPP). Treatments began 7 days after injury and were performed during 3 weeks for a total of 10 applications. Both protocols reduced mechanical hyperalgesia and hindlimb weight bearing alterations until 60 min after treatment with a higher efficacy recorded for the animals treated using the higher power output. In conclusion, this study supports laser therapy as a potential treatment for immediate relief of chronic articular or neuropathic pain.
Candida spp. usually colonize ulcerative lesions of atrophic mucosa in patients with chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis inducing severe inflammation. The spread of antifungal-resistant strains strongly encouraged the search of complementary or alternative therapeutic strategies to cure inflamed mucosa. In this paper, we studied the effects of a near-infrared (NIR) laser system with dual-wavelength emission (808 nm + 904 nm) on the survival and inflammatory potential of C. albicans, C. glabrata, and C. parapsilosis. Laser treatment was performed with a Multiwave Locked System laser. Survival and apoptosis of fungal strains were evaluated by colony-forming units (CFU) counting and annexin V staining. Cytokine production was evaluated by ImmunoPlex array. Laser treatment significantly affected the survival of Candida spp. by inducing apoptosis and induced a lower production of inflammatory cytokines by dendritic cells compared to untreated fungi. No differences in the survival and inflammatory potential were recorded in treated or untreated Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, used as the control non-pathogenic microorganism. Laser treatment altered the survival and inflammatory potential of pathogenic Candida spp. These data provide experimental support to the use of NIR laser radiation as a co-adjuvant of antifungal therapy in patients with oral mucositis (OM) complicated by Candida infections.
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