Antonio Eduardo de Aquino Junior

The potential of phototherapy to reduce body fat, insulin resistance and “metabolic inflexibility” related to obesity in women undergoing weight loss treatment

The metabolic flexibility is often impaired in diseases associated with obesity, and many studies are based on the hypothesis that dysfunction in peripheral tissues such as skeletal muscle, liver and adipose tissue represent the etiology of development of metabolic inflexibility. Experimental evidence shows that the use of phototherapy combined with exercise was effective in controlling the lipid profile, reducing the mass of adipose tissue, suggesting increased metabolic activity and changes in lipid metabolism. However, we found few data in the literature involving the use of phototherapy in association to physical training in the obese population. Thus, our objective was to evaluate the effects of exercise training (aerobic plus resistance exercises) plus phototherapy (laser, 808 nm) on metabolic profile and adiponectinemia in obese women.

Can low-level laser therapy (LLLT) associated with an aerobic plus resistance training change the cardiometabolic risk in obese women? A placebo-controlled clinical trial

INTRODUCTION Obesity is one of the most important link factors to coronary artery disease development mainly due to the pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic states favoring atherosclerosis progression. The LLLT acts in the cellular metabolism and it is highly effective to improve inflammation. The same occur in response to different kinds of exercise. However, we have not known the associate effects using LLLT therapies with aerobic plus resistance training as strategy specifically with target at human obesity control and its comorbidities. OBJECTIVE Investigate the effects of the LLLT associated with aerobic plus resistance training on cardiometabolic risk factors in obese women. METHODOLOGY Women aged 20-40 years (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2)), were divided into 2 groups: Phototherapy (PHOTO) and Placebo. They were trained aerobic plus resistance exercises (in a concurrent mode), 1h, 3 times/week during 16 weeks. Phototherapy was applied after each exercise session for 16 min, with infrared laser, wavelength 808 nm, continuous output, power 100 mW, and energy delivery 50 J. The body composition was measured with bioimpedance. Inflammatory mark concentrations were measured using a commercially available multiplex. RESULTS LLLT associated with aerobic plus resistance training was effective in decrease neck (P=0.0003) and waist circumferences (P=0.02); percentual of fat (P=0.04); visceral fat area (P=0.02); HOMA-IR (P=0.0009); Leptin (P=0.03) and ICAM (P=0.03). Also, the reduction in leptin (P=0.008) and ICAM-1 (0, 05) was much more expressive in the phototherapy group in comparison to placebo group when analyzed by delta values. CONCLUSION LLLT associated with concurrent exercise (aerobic plus resistance training) potentiates the exercise effects of decreasing the cardiometabolic risk factors in obese woman. These results suggest the LLLT associated with exercises as a new therapeutic tool in the control of obesity and its comorbidities for obese people, targeting to optimize the strategies to control the cardiometabolic risk factors in these populations.

Photodynamic Therapy, Laser Therapy and Cellulose Membrane for the Healing of Venous Ulcers: Results of a Pilot Study

Background: Venous ulcers, characterized as discontinuous areas of epidermis, are caused by venous hypertension and insufficiency of the muscle pump. They can affect the patients life quality and cause aesthetic deformity, complications and serious sequelae. Objective: This study investigates the combined effects of photodynamic therapy, laser therapy and cellulose membrane on the healing of venous wounds. Methods: Seven patients at an average of 70 years old and with ulcer history for more than one year were selected. The patients received 3 times per week the application of photodynamic therapy and cellulose membrane; and 2 times per week was applied laser therapy. Results: The results show the reduction of area of ulcer in 7 session (p<0.04) and 8 session (p<0.02). Conclusion: The ulcers treatment proposes can decrease the healing time of venous ulcers and promote higher life quality for patients.

Can Combined Ultrasound and Laser Therapy Potentiate the Treatment of a Symptomatic Osteoarthritis? A Case Report

Osteoarthritis of the knee (KOA) is a chronic degenerative musculoskeletal disease associated with functional disability and chronic pain. Currently, physical modalities, such as ultrasound and Laser therapies, are usually prescribed in rehabilitation scenarios as an adjunctive treatment of symptomatic KOA. These therapies have demonstrated great potential to reduce pain and improve the functional capacity of patients with this disease. Thus, the purpose of this case report was to show the effects of prototype equipment specially developed to perform the combined application of therapeutic ultrasound and laser therapy in the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. The present case reports the use of a prototype of equipment developed to perform the combined application of ultrasound and laser therapy. A 63-year-old woman with KOA for 12 years with painful complaints and worsening of functional capacity was submitted to 12 sessions using the prototype. After treatment, she observed a 95% reduction in pain and a decrease in the WOMAC questionnaire indexes related to pain, morning stiffness, and disability. In addition, to a 50% improvement in the sit and put test. Like this, a single case study shows the efficacy of the combined US and laser therapy on pain and function in the treatment of the symptomatic KOA. The results analyzed, as well as the patients report make it possible to show the effectiveness in the conjugated treatment and the new equipment.

Efeito da suplementação com ácido linoléico conjugado e do treinamento em natação sobre a composição corporal e os parâmetros bioquímicos de ratos Wistar em crescimento

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of conjugated linoleic acid supplementation associated with moderate swimming training on body composition, food efficiency and consumption, blood glucose, lipid profile, and muscle and liver glycogen of Wistar rats. METHODS: Thirty-day old Wistar rats were divided into the following groups: inactive, inactive with 2% conjugated linoleic acid supplementation, active, and active with 2% conjugated linoleic acid supplementation. They remained in individual cages with food and water ad libitum, temperature of 23±1oC and a light and dark cycle of 12 hours for 8 weeks. The active groups swam for one hour three times per week. The animals were killed and the plasma, white and brown fat tissues, gastrocnemius muscle and liver were collected and weighted. RESULTS: Supplementation per se did not promote food intake or body weight changes in the animals. Fasting glucose (p<0.05) and high density lipoproteins (HDL, p<0.05) increased and triacylglycerols decreased. Supplementation associated with activity decreased body mass (p<0.05) and increased the relative weight of fat tissues, liver and fasting glucose. CONCLUSION: Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation associated with physical activity seems to influence energy balance. On the other hand, the increased liver weight indicates that intake of this fatty acid may have undesirable side-effects, increasing the chances of developing fatty liver. This new perspective makes way for new studies including histological analyses of the liver and gene expression of key enzymes from the lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, associated or not with different physical training protocols.

Photonic technology for the treatments of the venous and arterial ulcers: Case report

In this report, we report a case study on a 50-year-old male patient with different chronic wounds, such as venous ulcer and arterial ulcer in both legs. These wounds have persisted for more than 10 years, despite the different treatments applied, including, different dressings, hyperbaric camera, as well as the used of several medicines of oral and topical application. The case is addressed with the aim to evaluate if treatment that uses combined techniques such as low level laser therapy (LLLT), photodynamic therapy and cellulose membrane is able to improve healing and reduction of time of treatment in those types of chronic wounds. The results show the clinical protocol is effective for the healing of arterial and venous ulcers and can be considered as a promising possibility.

Fibromyalgia Treatment: A New and Efficient Proposal of Technology and Methodological - A Case Report

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease with a higher prevalence in women, associated with functional disability and chronic pain. The most common treatments include medicines, physical exercise, nutritional reeducation, and psychological help. Physiotherapy commonly uses resources like therapeutic ultrasound and laser therapy. These therapies demonstrate great potential to decrease pain and the functional capacity of fibromyalgia patients. Fibromyalgia brings to the patient a characteristic of the excessive existence of sensory innervations in the palms of the hands. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a conjugated therapy between ultrasound and laser therapy, in a symptomatic patient of fibromyalgia, considering as region of application of therapy the palms of the hands. The present study used a prototype of equipment developed to perform the combined application of ultrasound and laser therapy. A caucasian woman, 61 years old, with diagnostis of fibromyalgia, with pain complaints and decrease of functional capacity was submitted to 10 sessions, 2 times per week, with application on palms of the hands, 3 minutes in each hand. After treatment, it was observed a reduction of 8.900% in pain (Visual analogue Scale) and an increase of 335% (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire), enabling the patient to return to daily activities. This form, a case study shows the efficacy in a new proposal of technology and methodology using equipment that enables the field overlap, as well as the application on palms of the hands, bringing to the patient, once again, the quality of life.

Regression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver by Metabolic Reduction: Phototherapy in Association with Aerobic Plus Resistance Training In Obese Man - A Pilot Study

The excessive body fat, one of the results of obesity, brings with it comorbidities such as lipid changes, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus type 2 and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In this controlled and randomized pilot study, as a non-pharmacological and non-invasive strategy, we consider two groups during 8 weeks: the use of moderate intensity physical exercise and nutritional education, as control group (n=10) and moderate intensity physical exercise, nutritional education and phototherapy (n=10), as phototherapy group. The used phototherapy parameters were: laser Ga-Al-As, wavelength 808 nm, continuous mode, output power 100 mW, and total energy delivery 92.16 J. Selected patients were men with age between 20 and 40 years old, primary obesity, body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 34.9 kg/ m2. The special device as described in the text was applied, allocated in the anterior region and posterior region of body during 5 minutes each side, totalizing 10 minutes of application of light, always at the end after session of exercise. Comparing the control group in relation to the phototherapy group, the better results were obtained for the phototherapy group, with statistical difference in all anthropometric variables, such as the increase of 3.54% (p<0.007) in total skeletal muscle mass; as well as, 2.77% (p<0.005) in the basal metabolic rate body; 5.47% (p<0.04) for metabolic progress; reduction of 4.67% (p<0.007) for body mass and reduction was also observed for total body fat, total trunk fat and visceral fat of which the phototherapy group showed the following reduction percentages: 14.3% (p<0.01), 14.7% (p<0.005) and 16.4% (p<0.03), respectively. A significant improvement was also observed in all the biochemical parameters and enzymatic analyzed, such as total cholesterol, triglyceride, the basal insulin, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, and gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase. Therefore the proposed treatment in this work suggests that the association of physical exercise, the nutritional education and phototherapy applied in obese men for two months caused great improvement in all anthropometric parameters, as well as, in all biochemistry and enzymatic parameters indicating that phototherapy is a potential instrument in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, being able to reverse the degree of steatosis in 8 weeks, besides it can be a new non-invasive treatment to obesity and its comorbidities.