Purpose. To study the effectiveness of intravenous laser blood irradiation (ILBI) for the correction of immune disorders in Raynaud’s disease. Material and methods. The researchers evaluated outcomes of examination and management of 57 patients with Raynaud’s disease. 40 (70.2%) women and 17 (29.8%) men. The angiospastic stage was registered in 7 patients, the angioparalytic stage - in 31 and the stage of trophic disorders - in 19. All patients had conservative therapy. Immunostimulating drugs were not prescribed. Ultrasound Dopplerography and duplex scanning were used to study blood circulation in hands. To assess the immune status, the following parameters of cellular chain - (CD₃ (T-rosettes), CD₄ (T-helpers), CD₈ (T-suppressors), CD₂₀ (B-lymphocytes), CD₉₅ (apoptosis), CD₁₆ (NK-cells), CD₇₁ ( proliferation receptor) and CD₃₂ (phagocytosis) - as well as the humoral chain (serum immunoglobulins LgA, IgM, IgG) were tested. For the immunocorrection, ILBI technique was applied with laser device Mustang-2000 (Russia): wavelength - 0.63 μm, radiation frequency 80 Hz, power - 2.0 mW, exposure - 20 min, course - 10 daily sessions. Results. All patients with Raynaud’s disease prior to ILBI had the established significant decrease in blood flow in the arteries of their hands, dysfunction of cellular and humoral chains of the immune system, in particular: suppression of all types of T-lymphocytes; decrease of serum immunoglobulins of class A and increase in immunoglobulins of class M in blood. After 10 ILBI sessions, one could observe normalized parameters of both cellular and humoral chains of the immunity. Conclusion. ILBI with low-level laser therapy as a part of complex treatment normalizes immune system, improves microcirculation in hands as well as leads to the regression of main symptoms of Raynaud’s disease.

Purpose. The presented trial was aimed to study the influence of intravenous laser blood irradiation (ILBI) at the elasticity of vascular walls and at the concentration of C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). Material and methods. 154 patients with MS (average age 36.5 ± 3.6 year) were examined and treated. All patients were divided into two groups: control group (32 patients) and studied group (122 patients). In the control group, MS was treated with the standard medicamentous approach: lipid-lowering therapy, hypoglycemic drugs, antihypertensive therapy. Patients from the studied group, in addition to medicamentous treatment, had a course of laser therapy by the ILBI technique (VLOK-405). Laser device “Matrix-VLOK” (Matrix Ltd, Russia) with wavelength 0.405 mkm, output power at the tip of main fiber 1–1.5 mW was used. Laser irradiation of blood lasted for 15 minutes in continuous mode; therapy course had 10 daily procedures with an interval for Saturday and Sunday. The hsCRP level was defined with Beckman Coulter AU480 analyzer (Beckman Coulter, USA) and Beckman Coulter diagnostic kits. To assess the elastic properties of blood vessels, the pulse wave propagation velocity (SRW) technique with Poly-Spectrum-12 sphygmographic attachment (Neurosoft Ltd, Ivanovo) was used. Results. ILBI has been found to have a positive effect at the elasticity of vascular walls which was manifested with reducing the pulse wave propagation velocity via vessels of muscle and elastic types till normal limits; ILBI also decreased hsCRP concentration till parameters which were seen in healthy subjects. Conclusion. ILBI can be used as a method of treating the metabolic syndrome, since laser therapy helps to significantly reduce the initially elevated levels of CRP in such patients which, most likely, is associated with subclinical inflammation in the vascular wall caused by the insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia. ILBI also reduces the pulse wave propagation velocity via vessels of both types, thereby improving elastic properties of the vascular wall.

Purpose. To define the effectiveness of photochromotherapy (PCT) with narrow-band optical radiation of wavelength 540 nm (NBOR λ = 540 nm) in the complex therapy of patients with psoriasis. Material and methods. 57 patients with the verified diagnosis were taken into the trial: common psoriasis, progressive stage, non-seasonal form. All patients were randomized by the random number table into 3 clinically comparable groups: Group 1 (18 patients) had standard therapy; Group 2 (24 patients) had standard therapy plus PCT (NBOR λ = 540 nm); Placebo Group 3 (15 patients) had standard medicamentous therapy plus simulated effect of photochromotherapy. PCT with NBOR λ = 540 nm (green light) was performed using therapeutic device “Spectrum LC” laser-LED (model 02) simultaneously with the standard medicamentous therapy for 10 days. The following research techniques were used: clinical examination, psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), pruritus index BRS (behavioral rating scores), questionnaires (Spielberg–Khanin anxiety scale, Dermatology Life Quality Index – DLQI), ultrasonic dermascanning. Results. The complex therapy with NBOR λ = 540 nm resulted in : decreased PASI index from 15.6 to 7.1 points; PASI 55 – a significant decrease in psoriatic plaque thickness ; improved quality of life by 3.8 points; 100% reduction in the increased anxiety and 100% pruritus control. Conclusion. PCT (NBOR λ = 540 nm) applied for the treatment of progressive psoriatic stage has a statistically significant positive effect at the clinical course of the disease and at parameters of the Dermatological Life Quality Index (DLQI) as well as at the parameters of personal and situational anxiety.

Purpose: To study predictors (risk factors) of recurrences of basal cell skin cancer (BCSC) after photodynamic therapy (PDT) with photosensitizer Photolon. Materials and methods. 321 patients with basal cell skin cancer were examined. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 – 118 patients, with relapses after PDT and Group 2 – 203 patients, without relapses after PDT. All patients had PDT with preliminary administration of photosensitizer Photolon at the dosage 1.1–1.2 mg/kg. Laser irradiation of tumor lesions was made in 3 hours after preliminary Photolon injection with laser apparatus “Latus-2” (wavelength 662 nm, light dose 200–300 J/cm² , power density 300–400 mW/cm² ). Results. In the presented trial, the impact of following factors (predictors ) at PDT outcomes as gender, age, neoplasm size, clinical features of the process (previous treatment, what technique) was studied. The analysis performed has shown that in Group 1 (with recurrences after PDT), tumors larger than 2.0 cm (z = 5.07, p < 0.00001) prevailed in men and in women of all age groups. In addition, in this group there were more patients who had been treated previously and who had tumors larger than 2.0 cm after previous radial therapy (z = 3.53, p < 0.00002), after coagulation (z = 1.68, p < 0.05) and after PDT (z = 1.97, p < 0.03). In Group 2 (without recurrences), tumor foci were up to 2.0 cm in all patients, regardless of the antitumor treatment modality. Conclusion. Risk factors for BCSC recurrences after PDT with Photolon in men and women in all age groups are: size of malignant neoplasm more than 2.0 cm; previous treatment: radial therapy, to a greater extent; coagulation and PDT, to a lesser extent.

Purpose. The article presents the authors’ clinical experience in the surgical treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scars using the curative algorithm which has been developed at the Skobelkin State Scientific Center of Laser Medicine (SSC LM) in Moscow because the discussed problem is quite actual for today, though not enough covered in the domestic literature. Material and methods. 94 patients with keloid and hypertrophic scars of varying severity and location were operated on in 2014–2019. Of all patients, 29 were operated with a carbon dioxide laser (Lancet-2); the rest, 65 patients, were operated on with the same CO₂ laser but in addition, they had low-level laser therapy with laser therapeutic devices Uzor or Omega in their preoperative and postoperative periods. A technique of laser photohydraulic preparation which has been developed in the Skobelkin State Scientific Center of Laser Medicine (Moscow) for cutting and separating skin grafts was used. Results. Recurrences were recorded in 7 patients (11.4%) out of 61 cases; all these patients were under long-term observation. Their outcomes were much better than after standard surgical techniques where the percentage of relapses, according to the published data, is 45% and more. Conclusion. The combined application of low-level and high-level laser energy for the surgical treatment of hypertrophic and keloid scars has undoubted advantages over the existing surgical techniques. However, surgical interventions in pathological scarring of wounds are recommended to perform not earlier than in 6–12 months after their healing. Indications for surgical treatment of hypertrophic and keloid scars are ineffective conservative treatment or cicatricial contractures of the joints.

Purpose. To identify clinical features of laser light application for correcting the contour of soft tissues in aesthetic and functional zones at various stages of orthopedic rehabilitation of patients with fixed dentures. Material and methods. Results of examination and primary or repeated treatment of 66 patients aged 30-75 with defects in the tooth crown were taken as a basic clinical part of the work. Correction of the gingival contour by cutting off and coagulation was made with a laser device (Siro Laser Advance), fiber diameter 200 μm, output power 6W and 3W, in continuous mode. Results. In 12-36 months of follow-up, clinically and by photo protocols as well as by the index assessment, there was seen a positive trend in the inflammatory process in the periodontal tissues comparing to the initial examination; there were no signs of recession and changes in the gingival contour either. Radiographically, dentures fitted snugly, there were no signs of bone resorption as well as no signs of root caries by the cone-beam computed tomography. Conclusion. Laser light, being used at the preparatory stages of the dental orthopedic treatment, significantly improves aesthetic and functional outcomes in rehabilitation of patients with fixed dentures.

Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLEM) - or “optical biopsy” is a new technology that provides a real-time imaging at the cellular level using miniature optical systems built into the tip of a small probe or endoscope. The paper analyzes CLEM economic feasibility as a rationale for this technology to be included into the list of medical services for patients as high-tech medical care.

Purpose. The paper presents results of the trial aimed to find out the influence of intravenous laser blood irradiation (ILBI) at the dynamics of carbohydrate metabolism in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). Material and methods. 154 patients (average age 36.5 ± 3.6 years) with metabolic syndrome were examined and treated. All patients were randomly divided into two groups: control (32 patients) and studied (122 patients). In the control group, MS was treated with the standard medicamentous approach: lipid-lowering therapy, hypoglycemic drugs, antihypertensive therapy. Patients from the studied group, in addition to medicamentous treatment, had a course of laser therapy by the ILBI technique (VLOK-405). Laser device “Matrix-VLOK” (Matrix Ltd, Russia) with wavelength 0.405 mkm, output power at the tip of main fiber 1-1.5 mW was used. Laser irradiation of blood lasted for 15 minutes in continuous mode; therapy course had 10 daily procedures with an interval for Saturday and Sunday. Patients’ were examined in the morning on the first and second days and in 14 days after the laser therapy course. Results. It has been shown that the comprehensive therapy with included intravenous laser blood irradiation (ILBI) normalizes carbohydrate metabolism in patients with metabolic syndrome.