title: Effect of low-level laser therapy (660 nm) on the healing of second-degree skin burns in rats.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 660 nm laser on the healing of burn wounds made on the backs of rats. Thirty-two Wistar male rats were used. The animals were randomly distributed into 2 groups of 16 animals each: control group (burned rats without treatment) and laser-treated group (burned rats treated with laser therapy). Each group was divided into two different subgroups, euthanized in different periods (subgroup A: 7 days post-surgery and subgroup B: 14 days post-surgery). Histopathological analysis revealed a significant decrease in the necrotic area in the laser-treated group compared to the controls at days 7 and 14 post-injury. COX-2 positive cells were found in a strong pattern in the group submitted to laser therapy after 7 days. Regarding VEGF immunomarker, a significant VEGF immunoexpression was detected in the laser-exposed group after 14 days when compared to the negative control group. Taken together, our results demonstrate that laser therapy is able to promote skin repair of burned rats as a result of decreasing necrotic area and an up-regulation of COX-2 and VEGF immunoexpression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, Federal University of São Paulo, UNIFESP, SP, Brazil. acmr_ft@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Ana Claudia Muniz
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Renno
authors.forename: Angela May
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Iwama
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shima
authors.forename: Kelly Rossetti
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Juliana Gonçalves
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Poliani
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Oliveira
authors.forename: Daniel Araki
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2