In the present study, we evaluated the effect of CGM on osteogenic differentiation of cultured osteoblasts, and determined whether combination treatment with LLLT had synergistic effects on osteogenic differentiation. The results indicated that CGM promoted proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of osteoblasts at the threshold concentration of 10 μg/ml; whereas, CGM showed cytotoxic properties at concentrations above 100 μg/ml. ALP activity and mineralization were increased at concentrations above 10 μg/ml . CGM in concentrations up to 10 μg/ml also increased the expression of osteoblast-activated factors including type I collagen, BMP-2, RUNX2, and Osterix. The CGM (50 μg/ml) and LLLT (80 mW for 15 sec) combination treatment group showed the highest proliferation levels, ALP activity, and mineralization ratios. The combination treatment also increased the levels of phosphorylated forms of p38, ATF2, PKD, ERK, and JNK. In addition, the osteoblast differentiation factors including type I collagen, BMP-2, RUNX2, and Osterix protein levels were clearly increased in the combination treatment group. These results suggested that the combination treatment of CGM and LLLT has synergistic effects on the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblastic cells.

We conducted a series of in vitro experiments to evaluate the anticancer effect of photodynamic therapy using hypericin and 532㎚ DPSS (diode pumped solid state laser). The cultured KB cells were treated with serial concentrations of hypericin ranging from 0.01㎍/㎖ to 5㎍/㎖ (two-fold dilution) with variable laser dosage (10J, 20J, 30J). The cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay. The type of cell death was detected by fluorescent microscope using Hoechst 33342 / PI (propidium iodide) stain methods. In this study, IC50 value with hypericin-mediated PDT with 10J DPSS laser was 35 ng/ml. The maximum cytotoxicity with Photofrin II-based PDT was observed at high drug concentrations(> 90 ng/ml) independent with laser dose. And the in vitro PDT effects depended on the laser dose and drug concentrations were displayed by the difference in the type of cell death, namely apoptosis or necrosis. According to this result, the hypericin based photodynamic therapy with DPSS laser was effective photodynamic therapy.

This study was designed to determine the efficacy of ultrasound and laser therapy for sub-acute lower back pain. Twenty-seven patients with sub-acute low back pain were recruited, who were randomly assigned to three groups: Ultrasound group (actual ultrasound, 1.1 MHz, , duty cycle 100%, 10 min/session, n=9), laser group (actual laser, 904 nm, 155 ns, 13.5 W, 12 mW, 90 sec/point, n=9), and control group (placebo ultrasound or placebo laser, n=9). All of treatments including placebo procedures were applied to patients over a period of 2 weeks, five times a week. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Modified Schober's Test (MST), and Modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (MODQ) were used by the clinical and functional evaluations before and after intervention. At post-hoc, significant differences were observed in all groups with respect to VAS, MST (p<.05), except MODQ. VAS and MST score were more significantly improved in the ultrasound group than the laser and control group (p<.0167). However, no significant difference was present between the laser group and the control group. Therefore, this study revealed that ultrasound therapy was effective in pain relief and improvement of lumbar mobility in patients with sub-acute lower back pain. However, laser therapy did not show the effects for sub-acute lower back pain.

This study was conducted to test the anticancer effect of photodynamic therapy using chlorophyll derivative (9-HpbD-a) and 632nm diode laser. Human SNU 1041 cells were seeded into 96 well plate of 104cells/well and cultured for 24 hours. Cells were washed with media containing various concentration of 9-HpbD-a ranging from Oug/ml to 3.75ug/ml. Then 932 nm diode laser was given at various lasering time setting, and at various starting time after ini tial 24 hours of culture. The treated cells were incubated 48 hours and tetrazolium-based colorimetric(M'IT) assay was done to measure the viability of cells For in vivo study, SNU- 1041 cells were xenografted into the back of nude mouse. When the xenografted tumors grew up to 400-600 mm3, the animals were randomly placed into 4 groups: Group 1 (n=20) , PDT group, interstitial injection of 9-HpbD- a (47 ug/kg) followed by irradiation with 3.2 J/c야 of light 6 hours after then i띠 ection; Group II (n=lO) , irradiation with 3.2 J/crrf of light using diode laser; Group III (n=lO), in terstitial injection of 9-HpbD- a only(47 ug/kg); Group IV (n=lO), normal control group. The viability of cells was de creased with increasing lasering time No significant difference of cell viability was noted by variously delayed starting time of lasering. PDT effects were observed in the xenografted nude mouse model Group IV (no 9-HpbD-a, no laser irradiation) was a control group which showed a continuous tumor growth. Group III (9-HpbD-a i띠 ection only) showed no response, Group II (laser irradiation only) sho￦ed 1 complete remission out of 10 (10%) , Group 1 (9-HpbD-a and laser irradiation) showed 13 cpmplete remission out of 20 (65%) , Group 1 showed significant remission rate, comparing to other groups (p<0.05). This study demonstrated anticancer effect of photodynamic therapy using 9-HpbD-a and 632nm diode laser on human squamous cell carcinoma cell line.