Low-Level Laser Therapy for Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background and aim Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is considered a promising non-invasive treatment option for osteoarthritis (OA). The current study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of LLLT on patients with OA of the first carpometacarpal joint (CMC1) of the thumb. Methods An open-level, prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, for one year.

Pericyte-mediated vasoconstriction underlies TBI-induced hypoperfusion.

Objectives: Endothelin-1 is a 21-amino acid peptide that together with specific receptors, A (ETrA) and B (ETrB) is induced following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and has been closely linked to regulation of cerebral vasospasm, oxidative stress, and hypoperfusion. Specific endothelin receptor antagonists have been shown to ameliorate early evidence of neuronal cell injury, activation of microglial cells, and hypoperfusion following TBI. The exact mechanism involved in TBI-induced hypoperfusion is still unclear; however, it is thought that endothelin-1 engagement of ETrA is primarily responsible for changes in blood flow.

Immortalized CNS pericytes are quiescent smooth muscle actin-negative and pluripotent.

Despite their identification more than 100 years ago by the French scientist Charles-Marie Benjamin Rouget, microvascular pericytes have proven difficult to functionally characterize, due in part to their relatively low numbers and the lack of specific cell markers. However, recent progress is beginning to shed light on the diverse biological functions of these cells. Pericytes are thought to be involved in regulating vascular homeostasis and hemostasis as well as serving as a local source of adult stem cells.

Differential expression of capillary VEGF isoforms following traumatic brain injury.

Objectives: While it is known that angiogenesis occurs after trauma, we sought to characterize the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) subtypes, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and angiopoietin within capillaries of animals subjected to traumatic brain injury (TBI). Further, we sought to characterize pericyte cell death in isolated capillaries.

Methods: We used Marmarou's acceleration impact model to induce head trauma and measured VEGF, VEGFR2 and angiopoietin levels in isolated capillaries.