title: Far-infrared therapy for cardiovascular, autoimmune, and other chronic health problems: A systematic review.
abstract: Physical therapy (physiotherapy), a complementary and alternative medicine therapy, has been widely applied in diagnosing and treating various diseases and defects. Increasing evidence suggests that convenient and non-invasive far-infrared (FIR) rays, a vital type of physiotherapy, improve the health of patients with cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms by which FIR functions remain elusive. Hence, the purpose of this study was to review and summarize the results of previous investigations and to elaborate on the molecular mechanisms of FIR therapy in various types of disease. In conclusion, FIR therapy may be closely related to the increased expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase as well as nitric oxide production and may modulate the profiles of some circulating miRNAs; thus, it may be a beneficial complement to treatments for some chronic diseases that yields no adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China.
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shui
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science & Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan Department of Healthcare Administration and Medical Informatics, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan lzheng@hfut.edu.cn chiang@cse.nsysu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: John Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China lzheng@hfut.edu.cn chiang@cse.nsysu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D008954:Models, Biological; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D010789:Phototherapy; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
keywords: Physical therapy; cardiovascular disease (CVD); diabetes mellitus (DM); far-infrared (FIR); miRNA