Tugba Unver1, Emre Aytugar1, Orhan Ozturan2, Tugçe Kıran3, Ebru Ademci4, Aslihan Usumez5. 1. 1 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Bezmialem Vakif University , Istanbul, Turkey . 2. 2 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University , Istanbul, Turkey . 3. 3 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University , Istanbul, Turkey . 4. 4 Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Bezmialem Vakif University , Istanbul, Turkey . 5. 5 Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Bezmialem Vakif University , Istanbul, Turkey .
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of laser irradiation with a novel snoring handpiece on the histological structures of the soft palate in a rat model. BACKGROUND: Snoring is a common problem and studies have shown that 20-50% of the population is affected. An apnea-hypopnea index of <5/h without daytime somnolence is documented as simple snoring. No snoring treatment should ever be attempted until a sleep study has been completed to rule out sleep apnea. METHODS: Twenty adult Wistar rats, weighing 200-250 g, were used in this study. Rats were randomized into two groups: experimental group (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). Laser energy was delivered in a horizontal direction to the surface of the soft palate of each rat in the experimental group for 2 min with an Er:YAG laser (LightWalker AT; Fotona) with snoring handpiece (PS04) in a noncontact mode (1.15 W, 2 Hz, 1.5 J/cm(2)). The animals were sacrificed after 24 h, 1 week, 3 weeks, or 5 weeks. The soft palate of each rat was removed by excisional biopsy. The specimens underwent histological examination. Contractions and fibrosis were reported as grading from 1+ to 3+, while edema and hyperemia were evaluated according to the absence (0) or presence (1) of any changes. Statistical analysis was done with the Mann-Whitney U and Spearman's rho tests. RESULT: A noticeable contraction of the soft palate occurred immediately after laser application. Inflammatory changes were observed histologically at 3 weeks postoperatively. Keratinization appeared after the procedure in both groups and decreased gradually. Statistically, there was a strong correlation among inflammation and time and also keratinization and time (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that Er:YAG laser irradiation with snoring handpiece (PS04) causes acute shrinkage of the mucosa. This contraction decreases gradually but is still present at the end of fifth week.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of laser irradiation with a novel snoring handpiece on the histological structures of the soft palate in a rat model. BACKGROUND: Snoring is a common problem and studies have shown that 20-50% of the population is affected. An apnea-hypopnea index of <5/h without daytime somnolence is documented as simple snoring. No snoring treatment should ever be attempted until a sleep study has been completed to rule out sleep apnea. METHODS: Twenty adult Wistar rats, weighing 200-250 g, were used in this study. Rats were randomized into two groups: experimental group (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). Laser energy was delivered in a horizontal direction to the surface of the soft palate of each rat in the experimental group for 2 min with an Er:YAG laser (LightWalker AT; Fotona) with snoring handpiece (PS04) in a noncontact mode (1.15 W, 2 Hz, 1.5 J/cm(2)). The animals were sacrificed after 24 h, 1 week, 3 weeks, or 5 weeks. The soft palate of each rat was removed by excisional biopsy. The specimens underwent histological examination. Contractions and fibrosis were reported as grading from 1+ to 3+, while edema and hyperemia were evaluated according to the absence (0) or presence (1) of any changes. Statistical analysis was done with the Mann-Whitney U and Spearman's rho tests. RESULT: A noticeable contraction of the soft palate occurred immediately after laser application. Inflammatory changes were observed histologically at 3 weeks postoperatively. Keratinization appeared after the procedure in both groups and decreased gradually. Statistically, there was a strong correlation among inflammation and time and also keratinization and time (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that Er:YAG laser irradiation with snoring handpiece (PS04) causes acute shrinkage of the mucosa. This contraction decreases gradually but is still present at the end of fifth week.
Authors: Alexander Yu Gerasimenko; Elena A Morozova; Dmitry I Ryabkin; Alexey Fayzullin; Svetlana V Tarasenko; Victoria V Molodykh; Evgeny S Pyankov; Mikhail S Savelyev; Elena A Sorokina; Alexander Y Rogalsky; Anatoly Shekhter; Dmitry V Telyshev Journal: Bioengineering (Basel) Date: 2022-05-29