Growth factors as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), produced by the endothelial cells, take an essential part in pathological and physiological angiogenesis. The possibility of angiogenesis modulation by application of laser radiation may contribute to the improvement of its use in this process. Thus, the aim of the study was to investigate the influence of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the proliferation of endothelial cells, secretion of VEGF-A and presence of soluble VEGF receptors (sVEGFR-1 and sVEGFR-2) in the medium after in vitro culture. Isolated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were irradiated using a diode laser at a wavelength of 635 nm and power density of 1,875 mW/cm2. Depending on radiation energy density, the experiment was conducted in four groups: I 0 J/cm2 (control group), II 2 J/cm2, III 4 J/cm2, and IV 8 J/cm2. The use of laser radiation wavelength of 635 nm, was associated with a statistically significant increase in proliferation of endothelial cells (p = 0.0041). Moreover, at 635-nm wavelength, all doses of radiation significantly reduced the concentration of sVEGFR-1 (p = 0.0197).

Increasing evidence suggests an essential role of the endocannabinoid system in modulating cognitive abilities, mood, stress, and sleep. The psychoactive effects of cannabis are described as euphoric, calming, anxiolytic, and sleep-inducing and positively affect the mood, but can also adversely affect therapy. The responses to cannabinoid medications depend on the patient's endocannabinoid system activity, the proportion of phytocannabinoids, the terpenoid composition, and the dose used. There is some evidence for a therapeutic use of phytocannabinoids in psychiatric conditions. THC and CBD may have opposing effects on anxiety. Current guidelines recommend caution in using THC in patients with anxiety or mood disorders. In a small number of clinical trials, cannabinoids used to treat cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis, hepatitis C, Crohn's disease, and chronic neuropathic pain report decreases in anxiety or depression symptoms and presented sedative and anxiolytic effects. Several studies have investigated the influence of potential genetic factors on psychosis and schizophrenia development after cannabis use. THC may increase the risk of psychosis, especially in young patients with an immature central nervous system. There is limited evidence from clinical trials that cannabinoids are effective therapy for sleep disorders associated with concomitant conditions. There is evidence for a possible role of cannabis as a substitute for alcohol and drugs, also in the context of the risks of opioid use (e.g., opioid-related mortality). In this narrative review of the recent evidence, we discuss the prospects of using the psychoactive effects of cannabinoids in treating mental and psychiatric disorders. However, this evidence is weak for some clinical conditions and well-designed randomized controlled trials are currently lacking. Furthermore, some disorders may be worsened by cannabis use.

SummaryBackgroundThis article examines the effectiveness of differentiated rehabilitation programs for a patient with frontal syndrome after severe TBI and long-term coma. We hypothesized that there would be a small response to relative beta training, and a good response to rTMS, applied to regulate the dynamics of brain function.Case ReportM. L-S, age 26, suffered from anosognosia, executive dysfunction, and behavioral changes, after a skiing accident and prolonged coma, rendering him unable to function independently in many situations of everyday life. Only slight progress was made after traditional rehabilitation. The patient took part in 20 sessions of relative beta training (program A) and later in 20 sessions of rTMS (program B); both programs were combined with behavioral training. We used standardized neuropsychological testing, as well as ERPs before the experiment, after the completion of program A, and again after the completion of program B. As hypothesized, patient M.L-S showed small improvements in executive dysfunction and behavioral disorders after the conclusion of program A, and major improvement after program B. Similarly, in physiological changes the patient showed small improvement after relative beta training and a significant improvement of the P300 NOGO component after the rTMS program.ConclusionsThe rTMS program produced larger physiological and behavioral changes than did relative beta training. A combination of different neurotherapeutical approaches (such as neurofeedback, rTMS, tDCS) can be suggested for similar severe cases of TBI. ERPs can be used to assess functional brain changes induced by neurotherapeutical programs.

Primary osteoarthritis treatments such as a total hip (THR) or knee (TKR) replacement lead to postural control changes reinforced by age. Balance tests such as standing with eyes open (EO) or closed (EC) give a possibility to calculate both linear and nonlinear indicators. This study aimed to find the group of linear and/or nonlinear measures that can differentiate healthy people and patients with TKR or THR from each other. This study enrolled 49 THR patients, 53 TKR patients, and 16 healthy controls. The center of pressure (CoP) path length, sample entropy (SampEn), fractal dimension (FD), and the largest Lyapunov exponent (LyE) were calculated separately for AP and ML directions from standing with EO/EC. Cluster analysis did not result in correct allocation to the groups according to all variables. The discriminant model included LyE (ML-EO, ML-EC, AP-EC), FD (AP-EO, ML-EC, AP-EC), CoP-path AP-EC, and SampEn AP-EC. Regression analysis showed that all nonlinear variables depend on the group. The CoP path length is different only in THR patients. It was concluded that standing with EC is a better way to assess the amount of regularity of CoP movement and attention paid to maintain balance. Nonlinear measures better differentiate TKR and THR patients from healthy controls.

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