This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy for postoperative pain and secondary wound healing at the palatal donor site after connective tissue harvesting. Following PRISMA guidelines, five databases were searched through 20 October 2025 for randomized controlled trials comparing PBM therapy with appropriate controls. Primary outcomes were postoperative pain (visual analogue scale, VAS) and epithelialization; secondary outcomes were analgesic consumption, remaining wound area, and bleeding. Random-effects meta-analysis was used, risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool and certainty of evidence with GRADE. Nine randomized controlled trials with 299 participants were included. Day-1 pain could not be pooled. No statistically significant difference in postoperative pain was observed at day 3 or day 7, with reductions of approximately 1.2 and 0.4 points on a 0–10 scale. Complete epithelialization at 14 days was more than twice as frequent, with no significant difference at day 21. The remaining wound area at day 7 was smaller by approximately 22 mm². Heterogeneity was moderate for pain and low for healing outcomes. PBM therapy may increase the proportion of palatal donor sites achieving complete epithelialization at 14 days. For postoperative pain the evidence is very uncertain, and no statistically significant reduction was observed at either pooled time point. Most trials carried a high or unclear risk of bias, and treatment protocols were heterogeneous. Larger trials with standardized dosimetry are needed to establish the clinical value of PBM therapy at the palatal donor site.
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) have shown potential in regenerative medicine, particularly when combined with light-emitting diode (LED) radiation. This study aimed to explore the effects of ZnONPs combined with LED radiation on human stem cells derived from the apical papilla (HSCAPs), focusing on primary outcomes of cell viability, odontoblast-like differentiation, and mineralization. This in vitro experimental study utilized ZnONPs synthesized via a green method using pomegranate peel extract. HSCAPs were divided into four groups: control, ZnONPs-only, LED-only, and ZnONPs + LED (experimental group). Cell viability, a primary outcome, was assessed using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay at 24 h. Odontogenic and osteogenic differentiation, evaluated through dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP), bone sialoprotein (BSP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and dentin matrix acidic phosphoprotein 1 (DMP1) gene expression using qRT-PCR, were assessed on day 7. Mineralization, determined through Alizarin Red S staining, was measured on day 14. The doses used were 1 μg/mL ZnONPs and 620–640 nm range, 85
Background and Objectives. Prophylactic management of early postoperative linear scars remains a clinical challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of sequential dye pulsed light (DPL) and fractional CO2 laser (CO2 laser) versus CO2 laser monotherapy in the prevention of scar hypertrophy, and to explore potential simplified early interventions. Patients and Methods. In this exploratory retrospective study, 38 patients with early postoperative linear scars were enrolled. They were divided into a sequential DPL-CO2 laser group and a CO2 laser monotherapy group (19 patients each). All received six monthly prophylactic treatments. Efficacy was assessed by two independent surgeons using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS). Results. After six treatments, no statistically significant difference was detected in the total POSAS score between the two groups (p = 0.988, mean difference = -0.26, 95
To evaluate the efficacy of ablative laser therapy, compared to sham laser or topical corticosteroids, or an alternative laser treatment protocol for improving symptom burden and disease severity in women with vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS). Systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for RCTs evaluating fractional ablative lasers in adult women with confirmed VLS. Primary outcomes were change in patient-reported symptom burden (visual analog scale [VAS]) and objective disease severity (LS Score, Clinical Scoring System, vulvar-appearance VAS). Mean differences and standardized mean differences were pooled using a random-effects model with restricted maximum-likelihood (REML) estimation of between-study variance and Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman (HKSJ) adjustment of confidence intervals; heterogeneity was assessed with I²; risk of bias was assessed with Cochrane RoB 2.0. Three RCTs (151 patients) evaluating fractional CO2 laser versus sham laser, topical clobetasol propionate 0.05
Dysgeusia is a frequent complication in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) undergoing radiotherapy and may negatively affect nutritional status and quality of life. This pilot study evaluated the effect of photobiomodulation (PBM) on the management of radiotherapy-induced dysgeusia. Sixteen patients undergoing radiotherapy for HNC were randomly assigned to either a PBM group (n = 8) or a zinc sulfate group (n = 8). Objective taste identification tests evaluating sweet, bitter, sour, and salty tastes were performed at three time points: before radiotherapy (T0), at the 15th radiotherapy session (T1), and at the 30th radiotherapy session (T2). Salty taste was the most affected taste modality in both groups. At T2, sweet taste was correctly identified by 75.0
