L. improves airway hyperresponsiveness and suppresses inflammation in a murine model of allergic asthma.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a hydroethanolic extract of L. ("bitter melon", Cucurbitaceae) leaves (MCHA) on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma model. Balb/c mice were sensitized twice and challenged for 4 alternate days with OVA and then treated with MCHA (500 mg/kg) for 7 consecutive days.

Low level laser therapy (830nm) improves bone repair in osteoporotic rats: similar outcomes at two different dosages.

Background And Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of low level laser therapy (LLLT) in osteoporotic rats by means of subjective histopathological analysis, deposition of collagen at the site of fracture, biomechanical properties and immunohistochemistry for COX-2, Cbfa-1 and VEGF.

Material And Methods: A total of 30 female Wistar rats (12weeks-old, ±250g) were submitted to ovariectomy (OVX). Eight weeks after the OVX, a tibial bone defect was created in all animals and they were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=10): control bone defect group (CG): bone defects without any treatment; laser 60J/cm(2) group (L60): animals irradiated with LLLT, at 60J/cm(2) and laser 120J/cm(2) group (L120): animals irradiated with LLLT, at 120J/cm(2).