It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of Professor Reza Fekrazad, an eminent researcher and teacher in the field of laser dentistry and photobiomodulation, as well as a member of the Editorial Board of Laser Therapy. [...]
Adequate enamel conditioning is vital for reliable bracket bonding. Laser-assisted alternatives to conventional acid etching exist, but their impact on shear bond strength (SBS) remains highly controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Er,Cr:YSGG laser enamel conditioning on the SBS of orthodontic brackets bonded using different composite materials in the presence or absence of a bonding agent. Thirty-six extracted human premolars and molars were randomly allocated into four groups (n=9). Group A received Er,Cr:YSGG laser conditioning followed by bonding with 3M Universal Bonding Agent (3M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA) and 3M composite (3M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA). Group B (control) received conventional phosphoric acid etching followed by bonding with 3M Universal Bonding Agent and 3M composite. Group C received Er,Cr:YSGG laser conditioning followed by bonding with Nova composite (Imicryl, Konya, Turkey) without a bonding agent, while Group D received conventional phosphoric acid etching followed by bonding with Nova composite without a bonding agent. SBS testing was performed using a universal testing machine, and failure patterns were qualitatively assessed using the Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI). Artificial intelligence technology of IBM SPSS Statistics software (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used for the statistical analysis. The mean SBS values were 13.06±4.20 MPa, 15.29±9.52 MPa, 13.20±8.04 MPa, and 11.41±6.22 MPa for Groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed no statistically significant difference among the four groups (F(3,32)=0.428, p=0.734). Although Group B demonstrated the highest mean SBS and Group D the lowest, substantial overlap in standard deviation (SD) values was observed among all groups. The qualitative ARI assessment indicated that the predominant failure mode corresponded to score 2. No significant difference in orthodontic bracket SBS was observed between Er,Cr:YSGG laser conditioning and conventional phosphoric acid etching.
The objective of this article is to reconstruct the development of Lithuanian laser science on the 60th anniversary of the first laser constructed and fired at Vilnius University in 1966, with particular attention to the role of Professor Juozas Vidmantis Vaitkus. Historical and published sources show that the first Lithuanian laser was developed for semiconductor research and initiated laser-based materials studies at Vilnius University (VU). Under Vaitkus’s scientific leadership, this research expanded into international research on radiation-hard semiconductor materials and detectors at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), as well as interdisciplinary applications in laser medicine, biomedical optics, and personalized optical diagnostics. The establishment of the Institute of Applied Sciences at VU in 1992 helped preserve and develop interdisciplinary collaboration between physics, engineering, chemistry, computer science and medicine during the transition from the Soviet research system. These activities contributed to the development of laser surgery, fluorescence spectroscopy and optical diagnostic methods, alongside education and international scientific cooperation. The first Lithuanian laser, fired on Vaitkus’s initiative in 1966, marked the beginning of continuous development from fundamental semiconductor research to laser-based materials science and the establishment of a Lithuanian photonics school with broad applications, including medicine. Its 60th anniversary in 2026 also marks the vision, determination and scientific leadership that laid the foundations for these developments and contributed to Lithuania’s international achievements in science, technology and medicine.
Menopause, physiological or iatrogenic, in a wide variety of expressions from the peri- to postmenopausal period, marks a significant transition in women’s life, due to remarkable hormonal changes. The most common and impactful symptoms affect the vaginal and urogenital area, often referred to as genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) and vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA). The onset of the condition is due to systemic and local estrogen deficiency, which can lead to symptoms such as irritation, itching, burning sensation, dryness, and dyspareunia. These symptoms can significantly affect both intimate health and psychological well-being. Despite their prevalence, vaginal symptoms are often under-reported and under-treated. The objective of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the clinical outcomes and tolerability of a novel non-ablative 1470 nm laser treatment (LadyLift®, Eufoton, Trieste, Italy) in women with GSM and VVA. Thirty-four women with GSM and VVA were treated with the non-ablative 1470 nm LadyLift® laser procedure for three sessions, performed at 15-day intervals. A 6-month follow-up was performed and an adjunctive Ladylift® session was assessed as maintenance. A 7-point questionnaire was submitted before the first session and after 6 months, leading to an objective measurement of individual perception of symptoms. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The self-perception questionnaire revealed an approximately 33% reduction in vaginal dryness, 32% reduction in lacerations, 33% reduction in itching and/or burning sensation, 40% reduction in genitourinary infections, 30% reduction in incontinence, 26% reduction in dyspareunia, and 35% reduction in post-coital pain after three sessions. In this retrospective pilot study, non-ablative 1470 nm laser treatment (LadyLift®) was associated with significant improvement in several GSM- and VVA-related symptoms in perimenopausal, natural postmenopausal, and iatrogenic menopausal women. The treatment proved to be a safe, effective, and well-tolerated therapeutic option, leading to early and clinically meaningful improvements in vaginal health and pain symptoms, with no reported side effects or downtime following the procedure. Although the findings are encouraging, the progressive reduction in symptom relief over time suggests that maintenance or periodic treatment sessions may be required to sustain the clinical benefits. Further prospective controlled studies with larger cohorts, longer follow-up periods, validated outcome measures, and subgroup statistical analyses are warranted to better define efficacy, durability of response, optimal patient selection, and treatment protocols.
The current evidence suggests that antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) with the application of methylene blue as a photosensitizer and red laser activation is suitable for disinfecting carious tissue. However, since many dental practices lack access to lasers, a standard dental curing light could be an alternative light source. This study evaluated the use of fuchsin as a photosensitizer in aPDT and a blue light-emitting diode (LED) dental curing light for the disinfection of carious dentin. Sixty permanent third molars were selected, cut to obtain flat dentin surfaces, and subjected to a 15-day cariogenic challenge with Streptococcus mutans. The specimens were allocated into four groups (n=15): no disinfection; fuchsin; blue LED irradiation; and aPDT (fuchsin plus blue LED irradiation). S. mutans counts were obtained in the remaining carious dentin from all specimens across all groups. Results were analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis test (Student-Newman-Keuls). The percentage reduction in microbial load was 96.07% for aPDT, 88.85% for LED alone, and 85.46% for fuchsin alone. SEM demonstrated a greater reduction in microbial burden after aPDT with fuchsin and blue LED light, with removal of the smear layer and exposure of dentin tubules. Fuchsin-mediated aPDT using blue LED irradiation significantly reduced microbial load and may represent a viable alternative for the disinfection of carious tissue, particularly in settings without access to laser devices.
