Thermal Therapy: Far-Infrared https://greenmedinfo.com/category/keywords/Thermal%20Therapy%3A%20Far-Infrared en An update of the effect of far infrared therapy on arteriovenous access in end-stage renal disease patients. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/update-effect-far-infrared-therapy-arteriovenous-access-end-stage-renal-diseas n/a PMID:  J Vasc Access. 2016 Jul 12 ;17(4):293-8. Epub 2016 Jun 1. PMID: 27312759 Abstract Title:  An update of the effect of far infrared therapy on arteriovenous access in end-stage renal disease patients. Abstract:  The life qualities of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients rely largely on adequate dialysis, and a well-functioning vascular access is indispensable for high quality hemodialysis. Despite the advancement of surgical skills and the optimal maintenance of arteriovenous fistula (AVF), malfunction of AVF is still frequently encountered and has great impact on the life of ESRD patients. Several medical, mechanical and genetic prognostic factors are documented to affect the patency of AVF and arteriovenous graft (AVG). Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is one of the genetic factors reported to play a role in cardiovascular disease and the patency of vascular access. Far infrared (FIR), a novel therapeutic modality, can not only conduct heat energy to AVF but also stimulate the non-thermal reactions mediated by HO-1. The use of FIR therapy significantly enhances the primary patency rate and maturation of AVF with fewer unfavorable adverse effects, and also achieves higher post-angioplasty patency rate for AVG. The only limitation in proving the effectiveness of FIR therapy in enhancing patency of AVF is that all the studies were conducted in Chinese people in Taiwan and thus, there is a lack of evidence and experience in people of other ethnicities. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/update-effect-far-infrared-therapy-arteriovenous-access-end-stage-renal-diseas#comments Kidney Failure: Chronic Thermal Therapy: Far-Infrared Kidney Failure: Chronic Thermal Therapy: Far-Infrared Review Fri, 09 Jun 2017 18:47:04 +0000 greenmedinfo 148934 at https://greenmedinfo.com Far infrared therapy may have a beneficial effect on maturity and function of arteriovenous fistulas in hemodialysis patients. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/far-infrared-therapy-may-have-beneficial-effect-maturity-and-function-arteriov n/a PMID:  Ren Fail. 2017 Nov ;39(1):613-622. PMID: 28805538 Abstract Title:  Effects of far infrared therapy on arteriovenous fistulas in hemodialysis patients: a meta-analysis. Abstract:  BACKGROUND: Far infrared (FIR) therapy may have a beneficial effect on maturity and function of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Therefore, we performed this pooled analysis to assess the protective effects of FIR therapy in HD patients. METHODS: The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs of FIR therapy for HD patients were searched from multiple databases. Relevant studies were screened according to the predefined inclusion criteria. The meta-analyses were performed using RevMan 5.2 software (The Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, UK). RESULTS: Meta-analysis showed that FIR therapy could significantly increase the vascular access blood flow level (MD, 81.69 ml/min; 95% CI, 46.17-117.21; p &lt; .001), AVFs diameter level (MD, 0.36 mm; 95% CI, 0.22-0.51; p &lt; .001), and the primary AVFs patency (pooled risk ratio = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.12-1.37, p &lt; .001). In addition, therapy with FIR ray radiation could decrease AVFs occlusion rates (pooled risk ratio = 0.20; 95% CI, 0.08-0.46; p &lt; .001) and the level of needling pain (pooled risk ratio = 0.08; 95% CI, 0.06-0.10, p &lt; .001). CONCLUSIONS: FIR therapy can reduce AVFs occlusion rates and needling pain level, while significantly improve the level of vascular access blood flow, AVFs diameter and the primary AVFs patency. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/far-infrared-therapy-may-have-beneficial-effect-maturity-and-function-arteriov#comments Hemodialysis Thermal Therapy: Far-Infrared Hemodialysis Meta Analysis Thermal Therapy: Far-Infrared Sat, 07 Apr 2018 16:57:29 +0000 greenmedinfo 162352 at https://greenmedinfo.com Preconditioning with far-infrared irradiation enhances proliferation, cell survival, and migration of rat bone marrow-derived stem cells. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/preconditioning-far-infrared-irradiation-enhances-proliferation-cell-survival- n/a PMID:  Sci Rep. 2017 Oct 20 ;7(1):13718. Epub 2017 Oct 20. PMID: 29057951 Abstract Title:  Preconditioning with far-infrared irradiation enhances proliferation, cell survival, and migration of rat bone marrow-derived stem cells via CXCR4-ERK pathways. Abstract:  Far-infrared radiation (FIR) has been shown to exert positive effects on the cardiovascular system. However, the biological effects of FIR on bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) are not understood. In the present study, BMSCs were isolated from rat femur bone marrow and cultured in vitro. To investigate the effects of an FIR generator with an energy flux of 0.13 mW/cmon rat BMSCs, survival of BMSCs was measured by crystal violet staining, and cell proliferation was additionally measured using Ez-Cytox cell viability, EdU, and Brd U assays. FIR preconditioning was found to significantly increase BMSC proliferation and survival against HO. The scratch and transwell migration assays showed that FIR preconditioning resulted in an increase in BMSC migration. qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses demonstrated that FIR upregulated Nanog, Sox2, c-Kit, Nkx2.5, and CXCR4 at both the mRNA and protein levels. Consistent with these observations, PD98059 (an ERK inhibitor) and AMD3100 (a CXCR4 inhibitor) prevented the activation of CXCR4/ERK and blocked the cell proliferation and migration induced by FIR. Overall, these findings provide the first evidence that FIR confers a real and significant benefit on the preconditioning of BMSCs, and might lead to novel strategies for improving BMSC therapy for cardiac ischemia. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/preconditioning-far-infrared-irradiation-enhances-proliferation-cell-survival-#comments Myocardial Ischemia Cardioprotective Thermal Therapy: Far-Infrared Cardioprotective Myocardial Ischemia Thermal Therapy: Far-Infrared In Vitro Study Sat, 07 Apr 2018 16:43:52 +0000 greenmedinfo 162351 at https://greenmedinfo.com Sweating Out Heart Disease: The Cardiovascular Case for Infrared Saunas https://greenmedinfo.com/blog/sweating-out-heart-disease-cardiovascular-case-infrared-saunas <div class="copyright">This article is copyrighted by GreenMedInfo LLC, 2024<br/><strong><a href="/greenmedinfocom-re-post-guidelines">Visit our Re-post guidelines</a></strong></div><p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="//cdn.greenmedinfo.com/sites/default/files/ckeditor/jarret@greenmedinfo.com/images/7.png" style="width: 600px; height: 600px;" /></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px;"><em><strong>With heart disease reaching crisis levels yet most unable to exercise adequately, could simply sitting and sweating in an infrared sauna truly provide comparable cardiovascular benefits?</strong></em></span></p> <p>Regular infrared <strong><a href="/therapeutic-action/sauna-therapy" rel="dofollow" target="_blank">sauna</a></strong> use provides significant cardiovascular benefits akin to exercise - including enhanced vascular function, lowered blood pressure, reduced inflammation and oxidative stress. Likely mechanisms relate to increased nitric oxide, heat shock proteins, and improved autonomic balance. As cardiovascular disease escalates yet recommendations falter, accessible passive heating via infrared saunas offers therapeutic potential for supporting heart health.</p><p><a href="https://greenmedinfo.com/blog/sweating-out-heart-disease-cardiovascular-case-infrared-saunas" target="_blank">read more</a></p> https://greenmedinfo.com/blog/sweating-out-heart-disease-cardiovascular-case-infrared-saunas#comments Aging: Heart Cardiovascular Disease: Prevention LIght Therapy: Colored Heart Health Inflammatory Osteoporosis/Osteopenia Aging: Heart Diseased Heart Sauna Therapy Thermal Therapy: Far-Infrared Wed, 10 Jan 2024 13:51:57 +0000 GMI reporter 286281 at https://greenmedinfo.com This is the first report of high-powered near-infrared light therapy showing efficacy for depression. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/first-report-high-powered-near-infrared-light-therapy-showing-efficacy-depress n/a PMID:  Front Psychiatry. 2017 ;8:187. Epub 2017 Sep 29. PMID: 29033859 Abstract Title:  Multi-Watt Near-Infrared Phototherapy for the Treatment of Comorbid Depression: An Open-Label Single-Arm Study. Abstract:  BACKGROUND: The treatment of depression has been hampered by low efficacy of antidepressant medications and safety concerns with alternative modalities. Recent work demonstrated that multi-Watt transcranial near-infrared light therapy (NILT) can effectively treat traumatic brain injury (TBI). The current objective is to explore multi-Watt NILT efficacy in a proof-of-concept study as a treatment for depression. METHODS: Thirty-nine sequential patients treated for TBI between March 2013 and May 2017 provided depression self-assessment data and/or were administered the Hamilton depression rating scale. Each completed the Quick Inventory of Depression Symptomatology-Self Report (QIDS) before and after treatment. Patients received multi-Watt NILT using near-infrared lasers (810/980 nm at 8-15 W) applied to forehead and temporal regions bilaterally for 9-12 min to each area. Pre- and posttreatment scores were analyzed by paired-tests. RESULTS: All met QIDS criteria for mild to severe depression and 69% had prior antidepressant trials. For 36 of the 39 patients, after 16.82 ± 6.26 treatments, QIDS scores indicated a robust response (decrease of QIDS total score by ≥50%). For 32 of 39 patients, posttreatment QIDS scores indicated a remission from depression (decrease of QIDS total score ≤5). Overall, the QIDS score fell from 14.10 ± 3.39 to 3.41 ± 3.30 SD ( = 6.29 × 10). With 12 or fewer treatments, QIDS score dropped from 14.83 ± 2.55 to 4.17 ± 3.93. Patients receiving ≥13 treatments showed a change in QIDS score from 13.67 ± 3.64 to 3.11 ± 3.14. Those ( = 15) who received the entire treatment course within ≤8 weeks (5.33 ± 1.72 weeks) showed a change in QIDS score from 13.86 ± 3.14 to 4.5 ± 3.94. Suicidal ideation resolved in all, but two patients. Patients remained in remission for up to 55 months after a single courseof treatment. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of high-powered NILT showing efficacy for depression. Multi-Watt NILT showed far greater efficacy and persistent benefit compared to low-power (&lt;1 Watt) infrared light treatments. Patients saw benefit often within four treatments and resolution of depressive symptoms occurred within 4 weeks for some. These data raise an intriguing possibility-that multi-Watt NILT may be a safe, effective, and rapid treatment for depression comorbid with TBI and possibly primary major depression disorder. A double-blind, placebo controlled trial is warranted to verify these proof-of-concept data. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/first-report-high-powered-near-infrared-light-therapy-showing-efficacy-depress#comments Depression Antidepressive Agents Thermal Therapy: Far-Infrared Antidepressive Agents Depression Thermal Therapy: Far-Infrared Human Study Sat, 07 Apr 2018 16:30:26 +0000 greenmedinfo 162348 at https://greenmedinfo.com Waon therapy, a holistic soothing warmth therapy, showed clinical advantages in safety and efficacy among patients with advanced heart failure. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/waon-therapy-holistic-soothing-warmth-therapy-showed-clinical-advantages-safet n/a PMID:  Circ J. 2016 ;80(4):827-34. Epub 2016 Mar 18. PMID: 27001189 Abstract Title:  Waon Therapy for Managing Chronic Heart Failure - Results From a Multicenter Prospective Randomized WAON-CHF Study. Abstract:  BACKGROUND: Waon therapy improves heart failure (HF) symptoms, but further evidence in patients with advanced HF remains uncertain. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 19 institutes, we prospectively enrolled hospitalized patients with advanced HF, who had plasma levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)&gt;500 pg/ml on admission and BNP&gt;300 pg/ml regardless of more than 1 week of medical therapy. Enrolled patients were randomized into Waon therapy or control groups. Waon therapy was performed once daily for 10 days with a far infrared-ray dry sauna maintained at 60℃ for 15 min, followed by bed rest for 30 min covered with a blanket. The primary endpoint was the ratio of BNP before and after treatment. In total, 76 Waon therapy and 73 control patients (mean age 66 years, men 61%, mean plasma BNP 777 pg/ml) were studied. The groups differed only in body massindex and the frequency of diabetes. The plasma BNP, NYHA classification, 6-min walk distance (6MWD), and cardiothoracic ratio significantly improved only in the Waon therapy group. Improvements in NYHA classification, 6MWD, and cardiothoracic ratio were significant in the Waon therapy group, although the change in plasma BNP did not reach statistical significance. No serious adverse events were observed in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Waon therapy, a holistic soothing warmth therapy, showed clinical advantages in safety and efficacy among patients with advanced HF. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/waon-therapy-holistic-soothing-warmth-therapy-showed-clinical-advantages-safet#comments Heart Failure Thermal Therapy: Far-Infrared Heart Failure Thermal Therapy: Far-Infrared Human Study Fri, 09 Jun 2017 23:09:28 +0000 greenmedinfo 148980 at https://greenmedinfo.com