Refine
Year of publication
Document Type
- Article (17)
- Part of a Book (6)
- Conference Proceeding (2)
Has Fulltext
- yes (25)
Is part of the Bibliography
- no (25)
Keywords
Institute
- Sportwissenschaften (25)
Aim of the study: Investigation, whether water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) irradiation during moderate bicycle ergometer endurance exercise has effects especially on local fat reduction and on weight reduction beyond the effects of ergometer exercise alone.
Methods: Randomised controlled study with 40 obese females (BMI 30-40 (median: 34.5), body weight 76-125 (median: 94.9) kg, age 20-40 (median: 35.5) years, isocaloric nutrition), 20 in the wIRA group and 20 in the control group. In both groups each participant performed 3 times per week over 4 weeks for 45 minutes bicycle ergometer endurance exercise with a constant load according to a lactate level of 2 mmol/l (aerobic endurance load, as determined before the intervention period). In the wIRA group in addition large parts of the body (including waist, hip, and thighs) were irradiated during all ergometries of the intervention period with visible light and a predominant part of water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA), using the irradiation unit “Hydrosun® 6000” with 10 wIRA radiators (Hydrosun® Medizintechnik, Müllheim, Germany, radiator type 500, 4 mm water cuvette, yellow filter, water-filtered spectrum 500-1400 nm) around a speed independent bicycle ergometer.
Main variable of interest: change of “the sum of circumferences of waist, hip, and both thighs of each patient” over the intervention period (4 weeks). Additional variables of interest: body weight, body mass index BMI, body fat percentage, fat mass, fat-free mass, water mass (analysis of body composition by tetrapolar bioimpedance analysis), assessment of an arteriosclerotic risk profile by blood investigation of variables of lipid metabolism (cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoproteins HDL, low density lipoproteins LDL, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B), clinical chemistry (fasting glucose, alanin-aminotransferase ALT (= glutamyl pyruvic transaminase GPT), gamma-glutamyl-transferase GGT, creatinine, albumin), endocrinology (leptin, adiponectin (= adipo Q), homocysteine, insulin). All variables were at least measured before and after the intervention period. Ergometry (ECG, blood pressure behaviour, lactate curve with power at 2, 3 and 4 mmol/l) before the intervention period. In addition: nutrition training ahead of and during the intervention period with a nutrition protocol over one week for assessment of the daily energy intake; calculation of basic metabolic rate and total energy requirement. Assessment of undesired effects.
Only methods of non-parametric statistics were used, both descriptive (median, percentiles of 25 and 75 (= interquartile range), minimum, maximum) and confirmatory (two-sided Mann-Whitney U test for unpaired samples for the only one main variable of interest). Total error probability: .05 (5%). An intention to treat analysis ITT with last observed carry forward method was used preferably (presented results) and in addition an on treatment analysis OT. Only 2 (treatment group) and 4 (control group) drop-outs occurred (mostly due to lack of time).
Results: The “sum of circumferences of waist, hip, and both thighs of each patient” decreased during the 4 weeks significantly more (p<.001) in the wIRA group than in the control group: medians and interquartile ranges: -8.0 cm (-10.5 cm/-4.1 cm) vs. -1.8 cm (-4.4 cm/0.0 cm).
As well “body weight of each patient” decreased during the 4 weeks markedly more in the wIRA group than in the control group: medians and interquartile ranges: -1.9 kg (-4.0 kg/0.0 kg) vs. 0.0 kg (-1.5 kg/+0.4 kg); median of body weight changed from 99.3 kg to 95.6 kg (wIRA) vs. 89.9 kg to 89.6 kg (control). A similar effect showed the body mass index BMI.
Blood variables of interest remained unchanged or showed some slight improvements during the treatment period, concerning most variables with no obvious differences between the two groups; insulin showed a slight trend to decrease in the wIRA group and to increase in the control group.
Undesired effects of the treatment were not seen.
Discussion: The results of the study suggest, that wIRA – during moderate bicycle ergometer endurance exercise as lipolytic stimulus – increases local lipolysis with a local fat reduction (thighs) in the otherwise bradytrophic fatty tissue. The presumably underlying mechanisms of wIRA have already been proven: wIRA acts both by thermal effects and by non-thermal effects. Thermal effects of wIRA are the generation of a therapeutic field of warmth with the increase of tissue temperature, tissue oxygen partial pressure, and tissue blood flow, and by this regional metabolism. As fatty tissue normally has a slow metabolism (bradytrophic and hypothermic tissue) with a low rate of lipolysis, wIRA can increase lipolysis in fatty tissue and the mobilized fats are burned in musculature during the ergometer exercise.
Conclusion: The results of the study indicate, that wIRA irradiation during moderate ergometer endurance exercise can be used – in combination with an appropriate nutrition – to improve body composition, especially local fat distribution, and the reduction of fat and body weight in obese persons.
Keywords: water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA), weight reduction, local fat reduction, bicycle ergometer endurance exercise, lipolysis, randomised controlled study, intervention trial, body weight, body mass index BMI, analysis of body composition, tetrapolar bioimpedance analysis, lactate, lipid metabolism, cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoproteins HDL, low density lipoproteins LDL
Aim of the study: Investigation, whether water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) irradiation during moderate bicycle ergometer endurance exercise has effects especially on local fat reduction and on weight reduction beyond the effects of ergometer exercise alone.
Methods: Randomised controlled study with 40 obese females (BMI 30-40 (median: 34.5), body weight 76-125 (median: 94.9) kg, age 20-40 (median: 35.5) years, isocaloric nutrition), 20 in the wIRA group and 20 in the control group. In both groups each participant performed 3 times per week over 4 weeks for 45 minutes bicycle ergometer endurance exercise with a constant load according to a lactate level of 2 mmol/l (aerobic endurance load, as determined before the intervention period). In the wIRA group in addition large parts of the body (including waist, hip, and thighs) were irradiated during all ergometries of the intervention period with visible light and a predominant part of water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA), using the irradiation unit “Hydrosun® 6000” with 10 wIRA radiators (Hydrosun® Medizintechnik, Müllheim, Germany, radiator type 500, 4 mm water cuvette, yellow filter, water-filtered spectrum 500-1400 nm) around a speed independent bicycle ergometer.
Main variable of interest: change of “the sum of circumferences of waist, hip, and both thighs of each patient” over the intervention period (4 weeks). Additional variables of interest: body weight, body mass index BMI, body fat percentage, fat mass, fat-free mass, water mass (analysis of body composition by tetrapolar bioimpedance analysis), assessment of an arteriosclerotic risk profile by blood investigation of variables of lipid metabolism (cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoproteins HDL, low density lipoproteins LDL, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B), clinical chemistry (fasting glucose, alanin-aminotransferase ALT (= glutamyl pyruvic transaminase GPT), gamma-glutamyl-transferase GGT, creatinine, albumin), endocrinology (leptin, adiponectin (= adipo Q), homocysteine, insulin). All variables were at least measured before and after the intervention period. Ergometry (ECG, blood pressure behaviour, lactate curve with power at 2, 3 and 4 mmol/l) before the intervention period. In addition: nutrition training ahead of and during the intervention period with a nutrition protocol over one week for assessment of the daily energy intake; calculation of basic metabolic rate and total energy requirement. Assessment of undesired effects.
Only methods of non-parametric statistics were used, both descriptive (median, percentiles of 25 and 75 (= interquartile range), minimum, maximum) and confirmatory (two-sided Mann-Whitney U test for unpaired samples for the only one main variable of interest). Total error probability: .05 (5%). An intention to treat analysis ITT with last observed carry forward method was used preferably (presented results) and in addition an on treatment analysis OT. Only 2 (treatment group) and 4 (control group) drop-outs occurred (mostly due to lack of time).
Results: The “sum of circumferences of waist, hip, and both thighs of each patient” decreased during the 4 weeks significantly more (p<.001) in the wIRA group than in the control group: medians and interquartile ranges: -8.0 cm (-10.5 cm/-4.1 cm) vs. -1.8 cm (-4.4 cm/0.0 cm).
As well “body weight of each patient” decreased during the 4 weeks markedly more in the wIRA group than in the control group: medians and interquartile ranges: -1.9 kg (-4.0 kg/0.0 kg) vs. 0.0 kg (-1.5 kg/+0.4 kg); median of body weight changed from 99.3 kg to 95.6 kg (wIRA) vs. 89.9 kg to 89.6 kg (control). A similar effect showed the body mass index BMI.
Blood variables of interest remained unchanged or showed some slight improvements during the treatment period, concerning most variables with no obvious differences between the two groups; insulin showed a slight trend to decrease in the wIRA group and to increase in the control group.
Undesired effects of the treatment were not seen.
Discussion: The results of the study suggest, that wIRA – during moderate bicycle ergometer endurance exercise as lipolytic stimulus – increases local lipolysis with a local fat reduction (thighs) in the otherwise bradytrophic fatty tissue. The presumably underlying mechanisms of wIRA have already been proven: wIRA acts both by thermal effects and by non-thermal effects. Thermal effects of wIRA are the generation of a therapeutic field of warmth with the increase of tissue temperature, tissue oxygen partial pressure, and tissue blood flow, and by this regional metabolism. As fatty tissue normally has a slow metabolism (bradytrophic and hypothermic tissue) with a low rate of lipolysis, wIRA can increase lipolysis in fatty tissue and the mobilized fats are burned in musculature during the ergometer exercise.
Conclusion: The results of the study indicate, that wIRA irradiation during moderate ergometer endurance exercise can be used – in combination with an appropriate nutrition – to improve body composition, especially local fat distribution, and the reduction of fat and body weight in obese persons.
Wassergefiltertes Infrarot A (wIRA) stellt eine spezielle Form der Infrarotstrahlung (Wärmestrahlung) im Bereich von 780–1400 nm dar, die aufgrund ihrer sehr guten Verträglichkeit in der Medizin zur Prävention und Therapie verwendet wird. wIRA entspricht dem Großteil der in gemäßigten Klimazonen die Erdoberfläche wassergefiltert erreichenden Infrarotstrahlung der Sonne (Filterwirkung des Wassers und des Wasserdampfs der Erdatmosphäre). Durch die Wasserfilterung werden die Strahlungsanteile gemindert, die sonst durch Wechselwirkung mit Wassermolekülen in der Haut eine unerwünschte thermische Belastung der obersten Hautschicht hervorrufen würden. Technisch wird wIRA in speziellen Strahlern erzeugt, in denen die gesamte Strahlung eines Halogenstrahlers durch eine Wasser enthaltende Küvette hindurchtritt. wIRA wirkt beim Menschen über thermische und nicht thermische Effekte. Es steigert Temperatur, Sauerstoffpartialdruck und Durchblutung im Gewebe. Wesentliche klinische Wirkungen sind – indikationsübergreifend – eine Minderung von Schmerzen, Entzündung und vermehrter Sekretion sowie eine Verbesserung der Infektabwehr und der Regeneration. wIRA kann eingesetzt werden zur Therapie von akuten und chronischen Wunden, bei verschiedenen Hauterkrankungen (vulgären Warzen, Herpes labialis, Herpes Zoster, Sklerodermie, Morphaea, Akne papulopustulosa), zur Resorptionsverbesserung topisch aufgetragener Substanzen, im Rahmen einer photodynamischen Therapie (PDT; zur Therapie aktinischer Keratosen), bei bewegungssystembezogenen Erkrankungen (muskulären Verspannungen, Myogelosen, Lumbago, rheumatischen Erkrankungen, Morbus Bechterew, Arthrose, Arthritis, Fibromyalgie), zur Regeneration nach Sport, zur lokalen Beeinflussung der Fettverteilung sowie zum Aufrechterhalten oder Erhöhen der Körpertemperatur (z.B. in der Neonatologie) einschließlich Kompensation einer Hypothermie. Außerdem kann wIRA zur lokalen oder systemischen Hyperthermie im Rahmen der Onkologie mit Strahlentherapie oder Chemotherapie kombiniert werden.
Wassergefiltertes Infrarot A (wIRA) stellt eine spezielle Form der Infrarotstrahlung im Bereich von 780–1400 nm dar, die aufgrund ihrer sehr guten Verträglichkeit in der Medizin zur Prävention und Therapie verwendet wird. wIRA steigert Temperatur, Sauerstoffpartialdruck und Durchblutung im Gewebe. wIRA mindert indikationsübergreifend Schmerzen, Entzündung und vermehrte Sekretion und verbessert die Infektabwehr und Regeneration. wIRA hat in den letzten 20 Jahren eine deutliche Verbreitung in der Medizin gefunden. So wird wIRA z. B. in 1045 (ca. 28%) von 3767 erfassten dermatologischen Praxen oder Versorgungszentren in Deutschland genutzt (Stand: Februar 2012). wIRA-Strahler werden auch bei Patienten zu Hause eingesetzt...
Wassergefiltertes Infrarot A (wIRA) stellt eine spezielle Form der Infrarotstrahlung im Bereich von 780–1400 nm dar, die aufgrund ihrer sehr guten Verträglichkeit in der Medizin zur Prävention und Therapie verwendet wird. wIRA entspricht dem Großteil der in gemäßigten Klimazonen die Erdoberfläche wassergefiltert erreichenden Infrarotstrahlung (Wärmestrahlung) der Sonne (Filterung der Infrarotstrahlung der Sonne durch Wasser und Wasserdampf in der Erdatmosphäre). Durch die Wasserfilterung werden die Strahlungsanteile gemindert, die sonst durch Wechselwirkung mit Wassermolekülen in der Haut eine unerwünschte thermische Belastung der obersten Hautschicht hervorrufen würden. Technisch wird wIRA in speziellen Strahlern erzeugt, in denen die gesamte Strahlung eines Halogen-Strahlers durch eine Wasser enthaltende Küvette hindurchtritt. wIRA wirkt beim Menschen über thermische und nicht-thermische Effekte. wIRA steigert Temperatur, Sauerstoffpartialdruck und Durchblutung im Gewebe. wIRA mindert indikationsübergreifend Schmerzen, Entzündung sowie vermehrte Sekretion und verbessert Infektabwehr und Regeneration, insbesondere auch nach sportlicher Belastung. Zudem kann wIRA als kontaktfreies Verfahren simultan mit Bewegung und Training kombiniert werden. Außer zur Regeneration nach sportlicher Belastung kann wIRA eingesetzt werden zur Erwärmung der Muskulatur vor sportlicher Belastung sowie vor und während Massage, bei bewegungssystembezogenen Erkrankungen (muskulären Verspannungen, Myogelosen, Lumbago, rheumatischen Erkrankungen, Arthrose, Arthritis, Morbus Bechterew, Fibromyalgie), zur lokalen Beeinflussung der Fettverteilung, zur Therapie von akuten und chronischen Wunden und Verletzungen, bei verschiedenen Hauterkrankungen (vulgären Warzen, Herpes labialis, Herpes Zoster, Sklerodermie, Morphea, Akne papulopustulosa), zur Resorptionsverbesserung topisch aufgetragener Substanzen, im Rahmen einer photodynamischen Therapie (PDT; zur Therapie aktinischer Keratosen) sowie zum Aufrechterhalten oder Erhöhen der Körpertemperatur einschließlich Kompensation einer Hypothermie.
Wassergefiltertes Infrarot A (wIRA) stellt eine spezielle Form der Infrarotstrahlung im Bereich von 780–1400 nm dar, die aufgrund ihrer sehr guten Verträglichkeit in der Medizin zur Prävention und Therapie verwendet wird. wIRA entspricht dem Großteil der in gemäßigten Klimazonen die Erdoberfläche wassergefiltert erreichenden Infrarotstrahlung (Wärmestrahlung) der Sonne (Filterung der Infrarotstrahlung der Sonne durch Wasser und Wasserdampf in der Erdatmosphäre). Durch die Wasserfilterung werden die Strahlungsanteile gemindert, die sonst durch Wechselwirkung mit Wassermolekülen in der Haut eine unerwünschte thermische Belastung der obersten Hautschicht hervorrufen würden. Technisch wird wIRA in speziellen Strahlern erzeugt, in denen die gesamte Strahlung eines Halogen-Strahlers durch eine Wasser enthaltende Küvette hindurchtritt. wIRA wirkt beim Menschen über thermische und nicht-thermische Effekte. wIRA steigert Temperatur, Sauerstoffpartialdruck und Durchblutung im Gewebe. wIRA mindert indikationsübergreifend Schmerzen, Entzündung sowie vermehrte Sekretion und verbessert Infektabwehr und Regeneration, insbesondere auch nach sportlicher Belastung. Zudem kann wIRA als kontaktfreies Verfahren simultan mit Bewegung und Training kombiniert werden. Außer zur Regeneration nach sportlicher Belastung kann wIRA eingesetzt werden zur Erwärmung der Muskulatur vor sportlicher Belastung sowie vor und während Massage, bei bewegungssystembezogenen Erkrankungen (muskulären Verspannungen, Myogelosen, Lumbago, rheumatischen Erkrankungen, Arthrose, Arthritis, Morbus Bechterew, Fibromyalgie), zur lokalen Beeinflussung der Fettverteilung, zur Therapie von akuten und chronischen Wunden und Verletzungen, bei verschiedenen Hauterkrankungen (vulgären Warzen, Herpes labialis, Herpes Zoster, Sklerodermie, Morphea, Akne papulopustulosa), zur Resorptionsverbesserung topisch aufgetragener Substanzen, im Rahmen einer photodynamischen Therapie (PDT; zur Therapie aktinischer Keratosen) sowie zum Aufrechterhalten oder Erhöhen der Körpertemperatur einschließlich Kompensation einer Hypothermie.
The central portion of chronic wounds is often hypoxic and relatively hypothermic, representing a deficient energy supply of the tissue, which impedes wound healing or even makes it impossible. Water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) is a special form of heat radiation with a high tissue penetration and a low thermal load to the skin surface. wIRA produces a therapeutically usable field of heat and increases temperature, oxygen partial pressure and perfusion of the tissue. These three factors are decisive for a sufficient tissue supply with energy and oxygen and consequently as well for wound healing, especially in chronic wounds, and infection defense. wIRA acts both by thermal and thermic as well as by non-thermal and non-thermic effects. wIRA can advance wound healing or improve an impaired wound healing process and can especially enable wound healing in non-healing chronic wounds. wIRA can considerably alleviate the pain and diminish wound exudation and inflammation and can show positive immunomodulatory effects.
In a prospective, randomized, controlled study of 40 patients with chronic venous stasis ulcers of the lower legs irradiation with wIRA and visible light (VIS) accelerated the wound healing process (on average 18 vs. 42 days until complete wound closure, residual ulcer area after 42 days 0.4 cm² vs. 2.8 cm²) and led to a reduction of the required dose of pain medication in comparison to the control group of patients treated with the same standard care (wound cleansing, wound dressing with antibacterial gauze, and compression garment therapy) without the concomitant irradiation.
Another prospective study of 10 patients with non-healing chronic venous stasis ulcers of the lower legs included extensive thermographic investigation. Therapy with wIRA(+VIS) resulted in a complete or almost complete wound healing in 7 patients and a marked reduction of the ulcer size in another 2 of the 10 patients, a clear reduction of pain and required dose of pain medication, and a normalization of the thermographic image.
In a current prospective, randomized, controlled, blinded study patients with non-healing chronic venous stasis ulcers of the lower legs are treated with compression garment therapy, wound cleansing, wound dressings and 30 minutes irradiation five times per week over 9 weeks. A preliminary analysis of the first 23 patients of this study has shown in the group with wIRA(+VIS) compared to a control group with VIS an advanced wound healing, an improved granulation and in the later phase of treatment a decrease of the bacterial burden.
Some case reports have demonstrated that wIRA can also be used for mixed arterial-venous ulcers or arterial ulcers, if irradiation intensity is chosen appropriately low and if irradiation is monitored carefully. wIRA can be used concerning decubital ulcers both in a preventive and in a therapeutic indication. wIRA can improve the resorption of topically applied substances also on wounds.
An irradiation with VIS and wIRA presumably acts with endogenous protoporphyrin IX (or protoporphyrin IX of bacteria) virtually similar as a mild photodynamic therapy (endogenous PDT-like effect). This could lead to improved cell regeneration and wound healing and to antibacterial effects.
In conclusion, these results indicate that wIRA generally should be considered for the treatment of chronic wounds.
Background: Common warts (verrucae vulgares) are human papilloma virus (HPV) infections with a high incidence and prevalence, most often affecting hands and feet, being able to impair quality of life. About 30 different therapeutic regimens described in literature reveal a lack of a single striking strategy. Recent publications showed positive results of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) in the treatment of HPV-induced skin diseases, especially warts, using visible light (VIS) to stimulate an absorption band of endogenously formed protoporphyrin IX. Additional experiences adding waterfiltered infrared A (wIRA) during 5-ALA-PDT revealed positive effects. Aim of the study: First prospective randomised controlled blind study including PDT and wIRA in the treatment of recalcitrant common hand and foot warts. Comparison of "5-ALA cream (ALA) vs. placebo cream (PLC)" and "irradiation with visible light and wIRA (VIS+wIRA) vs. irradiation with visible light alone (VIS)". Methods: Pre-treatment with keratolysis (salicylic acid) and curettage. PDT treatment: topical application of 5-ALA (Medac) in "unguentum emulsificans aquosum" vs. placebo; irradiation: combination of VIS and a large amount of wIRA (Hydrosun® radiator type 501, 4 mm water cuvette, waterfiltered spectrum 590-1400 nm, contact-free, typically painless) vs. VIS alone. Post-treatment with retinoic acid ointment. One to three therapy cycles every 3 weeks. Main variable of interest: "Percent change of total wart area of each patient over the time" (18 weeks). Global judgement by patient and by physician and subjective rating of feeling/pain (visual analogue scales). 80 patients with therapy-resistant common hand and foot warts were assigned randomly into one of the four therapy groups with comparable numbers of warts at comparable sites in all groups. Results: The individual total wart area decreased during 18 weeks in group 1 (ALA+VIS+wIRA) and in group 2 (PLC+VIS+wIRA) significantly more than in both groups without wIRA (group 3 (ALA+VIS) and 4 (PLC+VIS)): medians and interquartile ranges: -94% (-100%/-84%) vs. -99% (-100%/-71%) vs. -47% (-75%/0%) vs. -73% (-92%/-27%). After 18 weeks the two groups with wIRA differed remarkably from the two groups without wIRA: 42% vs. 7% completely cured patients; 72% vs. 34% vanished warts. Global judgement by patient and by physician and subjective rating of feeling was much better in the two groups with wIRA than in the two groups without wIRA. Conclusions: The above described complete treatment scheme of hand and foot warts (keratolysis, curettage, PDT treatment, irradiation with VIS+wIRA, retinoic acid ointment; three therapy cycles every 3 weeks) proved to be effective. Within this treatment scheme wIRA as non-invasive and painless treatment modality revealed to be an important, effective factor, while photodynamic therapy with 5-ALA in the described form did not contribute recognisably - neither alone (without wIRA) nor in combination with wIRA - to a clinical improvement. For future treatment of warts an even improved scheme is proposed: one treatment cycle (keratolysis, curettage, wIRA, without PDT) once a week for six to nine weeks. © 2004 Fuchs et al; licensee German Medical Science. This is an Open Access article: verbatim copying and redistribution of this article are permitted in all media for any purpose, provided this notice is preserved along with the article's original URL : http://www.egms.de/en/gms/volume2.shtml
Water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) can act as a penetration enhancer for topically applied substances
(2008)
Background: Water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) irradiation has been shown to enhance penetration of clinically used topically applied substances in humans through investigation of functional effects of penetrated substances like vasoconstriction by cortisone.
Aim of the study: Investigation of the influence of wIRA irradiation on the dermatopharmacokinetics of topically applied substances by use of optical methods, especially to localize penetrating substances, in a prospective randomised controlled study in humans.
Methods: The penetration profiles of the hydrophilic dye fluorescein and the lipophilic dye curcumin in separate standard water-in-oil emulsions were determined on the inner forearm of test persons by tape stripping in combination with spectroscopic measurements. Additionally, the penetration was investigated in vivo by laser scanning microscopy. Transepidermal water loss, hydration of the epidermis, and surface temperature were determined. Three different procedures (modes A, B, C) were used in a randomised order on three separate days of investigation in each of 12 test persons. In mode A, the two dyes were applied on different skin areas without water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) irradiation. In mode B, the skin surface was irradiated with wIRA over 30 min before application of the two dyes (Hydrosun® radiator type 501, 10 mm water cuvette, orange filter OG590, water-filtered spectrum: 590–1400 nm with dominant amount of wIRA). In mode C, the two dyes were applied and immediately afterwards the skin was irradiated with wIRA over 30 min. In all modes, tape stripping started 30 min after application of the formulations. Main variable of interest was the ratio of the amount of the dye in the deeper (second) 10% of the stratum corneum to the amount of the dye in the upper 10% of the stratum corneum.
Results: The penetration profiles of the hydrophilic fluorescein showed in case of pretreatment or treatment with wIRA (modes B and C) an increased penetration depth compared to the non-irradiated skin (mode A): The ratio of the amount of the dye in the deeper (second) 10% of the stratum corneum to the amount of the dye in the upper 10% of the stratum corneum showed medians and interquartile ranges for mode A of 0.017 (0.007/0.050), for mode B of 0.084 (0.021/0.106), for mode C of 0.104 (0.069/0.192) (difference between modes: p=0.0112, significant; comparison mode A with mode C: p<0.01, significant). In contrast to fluorescein, the lipophilic curcumin showed no differences in the penetration kinetics, in reference to whether the skin was irradiated with wIRA or not. These effects were confirmed by laser scanning microscopy. Water-filtered infrared-A irradiation increased the hydration of the stratum corneum: transepidermal water loss rose from approximately 8.8 g m-2 h-1 before wIRA irradiation to 14.2 g m-2 h-1 after wIRA irradiation and skin hydration rose from 67 to 87 relative units. Skin surface temperature increased from 32.8°C before wIRA to 36.4°C after wIRA irradiation.
Discussion: The better penetration of the hydrophilic dye fluorescein after or during skin irradiation (modes B and C) can be explained by increased hydration of the stratum corneum by irradiation with wIRA.
Conclusions: As most topically applied substances for the treatment of patients are mainly hydrophilic, wIRA can be used to improve the penetration of substances before or after application of substances – in the first case even of thermolabile substances – with a broad clinical relevance as a contact free alternative to an occlusive dressing.
Background: Water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) is a special form of heat radiation with a high tissue-penetration and with a low thermal burden to the surface of the skin. wIRA is able to improve essential and energetically meaningful factors of wound healing by thermal and non-thermal effects.
Aim of the study: prospective study (primarily planned randomised, controlled, blinded, de facto with one exception only one cohort possible) using wIRA in the treatment of patients with recalcitrant chronic venous stasis ulcers of the lower legs with thermographic follow-up.
Methods: 10 patients (5 males, 5 females, median age 62 years) with 11 recalcitrant chronic venous stasis ulcers of the lower legs were treated with water-filtered infrared-A and visible light irradiation (wIRA(+VIS), Hydrosun® radiator type 501, 10 mm water cuvette, water-filtered spectrum 550–1400 nm) or visible light irradiation (VIS; only possible in one patient). The uncovered wounds of the patients were irradiated two to five times per week for 30 minutes at a standard distance of 25 cm (approximately 140 mW/cm2 wIRA and approximately 45 mW/cm2 VIS). Treatment continued for a period of up to 2 months (typically until closure or nearly closure of the ulcer). The main variable of interest was “percent change of ulcer size over time” including complete wound closure. Additional variables of interest were thermographic image analysis, patient’s feeling of pain in the wound, amount of pain medication, assessment of the effect of the irradiation (by patient and by clinical investigator), assessment of feeling of the wound area (by patient), assessment of wound healing (by clinical investigator) and assessment of the cosmetic state (by patient and by clinical investigator). For these assessments visual analogue scales (VAS) were used.
Results: The study showed a complete or nearly complete healing of lower leg ulcers in 7 patients and a clear reduction of ulcer size in another 2 of 10 patients, a clear reduction of pain and pain medication consumption (e.g. from 15 to 0 pain tablets per day), and a normalization of the thermographic image (before the beginning of the therapy typically hyperthermic rim of the ulcer with relative hypothermic ulcer base, up to 4.5°C temperature difference). In one patient the therapy of an ulcer of one leg was performed with the fully active radiator (wIRA(+VIS)), while the therapy of an ulcer of the other leg was made with a control group radiator (only VIS without wIRA), showing a clear difference in favour of the wIRA treatment. All mentioned VAS ratings improved remarkably during the period of irradiation treatment, representing an increased quality of life. Failures of complete or nearly complete wound healing were seen only in patients with arterial insufficiency, in smokers or in patients who did not have venous compression garment therapy.
Discussion and conclusions: wIRA can alleviate pain considerably (with an impressive decrease of the consumption of analgesics) and accelerate wound healing or improve a stagnating wound healing process and diminish an elevated wound exudation and inflammation both in acute and in chronic wounds (in this study shown in chronic venous stasis ulcers of the lower legs) and in problem wounds including infected wounds. In chronic recalcitrant wounds complete healing is achieved, which was not reached before. Other studies have shown that even without a disturbance of wound healing an acute wound healing process can be improved (e.g. reduced pain) by wIRA.
wIRA is a contact-free, easily used and pleasantly felt procedure without consumption of material with a good penetration effect, which is similar to solar heat radiation on the surface of the earth in moderate climatic zones. Wound healing and infection defence (e.g. granulocyte function including antibacterial oxygen radical formation of the granulocytes) are critically dependent on a sufficient energy supply (and on sufficient oxygen). The good clinical effect of wIRA on wounds and also on problem wounds and wound infections can be explained by the improvement of both the energy supply and the oxygen supply (e.g. for the granulocyte function). wIRA causes as a thermal effect in the tissue an improvement in three decisive factors: tissue oxygen partial pressure, tissue temperature and tissue blood flow. Besides this non-thermal effects of infrared-A by direct stimulation of cells and cellular structures with reactions of the cells have also been described. It is concluded that wIRA can be used to improve wound healing, to reduce pain, exudation, and inflammation and to increase quality of life.
Water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) as a special form of heat radiation with a high tissue penetration and with a low thermal load to the skin surface acts both by thermal and thermic as well as by non-thermal and non-thermic effects. wIRA produces a therapeutically usable field of heat in the tissue and increases tissue temperature, tissue oxygen partial pressure, and tissue perfusion. These three factors are decisive for a sufficient tissue supply with energy and oxygen and consequently as well for wound healing and infection defense.
wIRA can considerably alleviate the pain (with remarkably less need for analgesics) and diminish an elevated wound exudation and inflammation and can show positive immunomodulatory effects. wIRA can advance wound healing or improve an impaired wound healing both in acute and in chronic wounds including infected wounds. Even the normal wound healing process can be improved.
A prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind study with 111 patients after major abdominal surgery at the University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany, showed with 20 minutes irradiation twice a day (starting on the second postoperative day) in the group with wIRA and visible light VIS (wIRA(+VIS), approximately 75% wIRA, 25% VIS) compared to a control group with only VIS a significant and relevant pain reduction combined with a markedly decreased required dose of analgesics: during 230 single irradiations with wIRA(+VIS) the pain decreased without any exception (median of decrease of pain on postoperative days 2-6 was 13.4 on a 100 mm visual analog scale VAS 0-100), while pain remained unchanged in the control group (p<0.001). The required dose of analgesics was 57-70% lower in the subgroups with wIRA(+VIS) compared to the control subgroups with only VIS (median 598 versus 1398 ml ropivacaine, p<0.001, for peridural catheter analgesia; 31 versus 102 mg piritramide, p=0.001, for patient-controlled analgesia; 3.4 versus 10.2 g metamizole, p=0.005, for intravenous and oral analgesia). During irradiation with wIRA(+VIS) the subcutaneous oxygen partial pressure rose markedly by approximately 30% and the subcutaneous temperature by approximately 2.7°C (both in a tissue depth of 2 cm), whereas both remained unchanged in the control group: after irradiation the median of the subcutaneous oxygen partial pressure was 41.6 (with wIRA) versus 30.2 mm Hg in the control group (p<0.001), the median of the subcutaneous temperature was 38.9 versus 36.4°C (p<0.001). The overall evaluation of the effect of irradiation, including wound healing, pain and cosmesis, assessed on a VAS (0-100 with 50 as indifferent point of no effect) by the surgeon (median 79.0 versus 46.8, p<0.001) or the patient (79.0 versus 50.2, p<0.001) was markedly better in the group with wIRA compared to the control group. This was also true for single aspects: Wound healing assessed on a VAS by the surgeon (median 88.6 versus 78.5, p<0.001) or the patient (median 85.8 versus 81.0, p=0.040, trend) and cosmetic result assessed on a VAS by the surgeon (median 84.5 versus 76.5, p<0.001) or the patient (median 86.7 versus 73.6, p=0.001). In addition there was a trend in favor of the wIRA group to a lower rate of total wound infections (3 of 46, approximately 7%, versus 7 of 48, approximately 15%, p=0.208) including late infections after discharge, caused by the different rate of late infections after discharge: 0 of 46 in the wIRA group and 4 of 48 in the control group. And there was a trend towards a shorter postoperative hospital stay: 9 days in the wIRA group versus 11 days in the control group (p=0.037). The principal finding of this study was that postoperative irradiation with wIRA can improve even a normal wound healing process.
A prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind study with 45 severely burned children at the Children’s Hospital Park Schönfeld, Kassel, Germany, showed with 30 minutes irradiation once a day (starting on the first day, day of burn as day 1) in the group with wIRA and visible light VIS (wIRA(+VIS), approximately 75% wIRA, 25% VIS) compared to a control group with only VIS a markedly faster reduction of wound size. On the fifth day (after 4 days with irradiation) decision was taken, whether surgical debridement of necrotic tissue was necessary because of deeper (second degree, type b) burns (11 of 21 in the group with wIRA, 14 of 24 in the control group) or non-surgical treatment was possible (second degree, type a, burns). The patients treated conservatively were kept within the study and irradiated till complete reepithelialization. The patients in the group with wIRA showed a markedly faster reduction of wound area: a median reduction of wound size of 50% was reached already after 7 days compared to 9 days in the control group, a median reduction of wound size of 90% was already achieved after 9 days compared to 13 days in the control group. In addition the group with wIRA showed superior results till 3 months after the burn in terms of the overall surgical assessment of the wound, cosmesis, and assessment of effects of irradiation compared to the control group.
In a prospective, randomized, controlled study with 12 volunteers at the University Medical Center Charité, Berlin, Germany, within each volunteer 4 experimental superficial wounds (5 mm diameter) as an acute wound model were generated by suction cup technique, removing the roof of the blister with a scalpel and a sterile forceps (day 1). 4 different treatments were used and investigated during 10 days: no therapy, only wIRA(+VIS) (approximately 75% wIRA, 25% VIS; 30 minutes irradiation once a day), only dexpanthenol (= D-panthenol) cream once a day, wIRA(+VIS) and dexpanthenol cream once a day. Healing of the small experimental wounds was from a clinical point of view excellent with all 4 treatments. Therefore there were only small differences between the treatments with slight advantages of the combination wIRA(+VIS) and dexpanthenol cream and of dexpanthenol cream alone concerning relative change of wound size and assessment of feeling of the wound area. However laser scanning microscopy with a scoring system revealed differences between the 4 treatments concerning the formation of the stratum corneum (from first layer of corneocytes to full formation) especially on the days 5-7: fastest formation of the stratum corneum was seen in wounds treated with wIRA(+VIS) and dexpanthenol cream, second was wIRA(+VIS) alone, third dexpanthenol cream alone and last were untreated wounds. Bacterial counts of the wounds (taken every 2 days) showed, that wIRA(+VIS) and the combination of wIRA(+VIS) with dexpanthenol cream were able to inhibit the colonisation with physiological skin flora up to day 5 when compared with the two other groups (untreated group and group with dexpanthenol cream alone). At any investigated time, the amount of colonisation under therapy with wIRA(+VIS) alone was lower (interpreted as more suppressed) compared with the group with wIRA(+VIS) and dexpanthenol cream.
During rehabilitation after hip and knee endoprosthetic operations the resorption of wound seromas and wound hematomas was both clinically and sonographically faster and pain was reduced by irradiation with wIRA(+VIS).
wIRA can be used successfully for persistent postoperative pain e.g. after thoracotomy.
As perspectives for wIRA it seems clinically prudent to use wIRA both pre- and postoperatively, e.g. in abdominal and thoracic operations. wIRA can be used preoperatively (e.g. during 1-2 weeks) to precondition donor and recipient sites of skin flaps, transplants or partial-thickness skin grafts, and postoperatively to improve wound healing and to decrease pain, inflammation and infections at all mentioned sites. wIRA can be used to support routine pre- or intraoperative antibiotic administration or it might even be discussed to replace this under certain conditions by wIRA.
Principles and working mechanisms of water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) in relation to wound healing
(2007)
The experience of the pleasant heat of the sun in moderate climatic zones arises from the filtering of the heat radiation of the sun by water vapor in the atmosphere of the earth. The filter effect of water decreases those parts of infrared radiation (most parts of infrared-B and -C and the absorption bands of water within infrared-A), which would cause – by reacting with water molecules in the skin – only an undesired thermal load to the surface of the skin. Technically water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) is produced in special radiators, whose full spectrum of radiation of a halogen bulb is passed through a cuvette, containing water, which absorbs or decreases the described undesired wavelengths of the infrared radiation. Within infrared the remaining wIRA (within 780-1400 nm) mainly consists of radiation with good penetration properties into tissue and therefore allows – compared to unfiltered heat radiation – a multiple energy transfer into tissue without irritating the skin, similar to the sun’s heat radiation in moderate climatic zones. Typical wIRA radiators emit no ultraviolet (UV) radiation and nearly no infrared-B and -C radiation and the amount of infrared-A radiation in relation to the amount of visible light (380-780 nm) is emphasized.
Water-filtered infrared-A as a special form of heat radiation with a high tissue penetration and with a low thermal load to the skin surface acts both by thermal (related to heat energy transfer) and thermic (temperature depending, with a relevant change of temperature) as well as by non-thermal (without a relevant transfer of heat energy) and non-thermic (not depending on temperature, without a relevant change of temperature) effects. wIRA produces a therapeutically usable field of heat in the tissue and increases tissue temperature, tissue oxygen partial pressure, and tissue perfusion. These three factors are vital for a sufficient tissue supply with energy and oxygen. As wound healing and infection defense (e.g. granulocyte function including their antibacterial oxygen radical formation) depend decisively on a sufficient supply with energy and oxygen, one explanation for the good clinical effect of wIRA on wounds and wound infections can be the improvement of both the energy supply per time (increase of metabolic rate) and the oxygen supply. In addition wIRA has non-thermal and non-thermic effects, which are based on putting direct stimuli on cells and cellular structures.
wIRA can considerably alleviate the pain (with remarkably less need for analgesics) and diminish an elevated wound exudation and inflammation and can show positive immunomodulatory effects. wIRA can advance wound healing or improve an impaired wound healing both in acute and in chronic wounds including infected wounds. Even the normal wound healing process can be improved.
Keywords: water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA), infrared-A radiation, wound healing, thermal and non-thermal effects, thermic and non-thermic effects, energy supply, oxygen supply, tissue oxygen partial pressure, tissue temperature, tissue blood flow, reduction of pain, wound exudation, inflammation, immunomodulatory effects, acute wounds, chronic venous stasis ulcers of the lower legs, problem wounds, wound infections, infection defense, contact-free method, absent expenditure of material, quality of life, prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind studies
Water-filtered infrared-A radiation (wIRA) is not implicated in cellular degeneration of human skin
(2007)
Background: Excessive exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation is involved in the complex biologic process of cutaneous aging. Wavelengths in the ultraviolet-A and -B range (UV-A and UV-B) have been shown to be responsible for the induction of proteases, e. g. the collagenase matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1), which are related to cell aging. As devices emitting longer wavelengths are widely used in therapeutic and cosmetic interventions and as the induction of MMP-1 by water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) had been discussed, it was of interest to assess effects of wIRA on the cellular and molecular level known to be possibly involved in cutaneous degeneration.
Objectives: Investigation of the biological implications of widely used water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) radiators for clinical use on human skin fibroblasts assessed by MMP-1 gene expression (MMP-1 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression).
Methods: Human skin fibroblasts were irradiated with approximately 88% wIRA (780-1400 nm) and 12% red light (RL, 665-780 nm) with 380 mW/cm² wIRA(+RL) (333 mW/cm² wIRA) on the one hand and for comparison with UV-A (330-400 nm, mainly UV-A1) and a small amount of blue light (BL, 400-450 nm) with 28 mW/cm² UV-A(+BL) on the other hand. Survival curves were established by colony forming ability after single exposures between 15 minutes and 8 hours to wIRA(+RL) (340-10880 J/cm² wIRA(+RL), 300-9600 J/cm² wIRA) or 15-45 minutes to UV-A(+BL) (25-75 J/cm² UV-A(+BL)). Both conventional Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative real-time RT-PCR techniques were used to determine the induction of MMP-1 mRNA at two physiologic temperatures for skin fibroblasts (30°C and 37°C) in single exposure regimens (15-60 minutes wIRA(+RL), 340-1360 J/cm² wIRA(+RL), 300-1200 J/cm² wIRA; 30 minutes UV-A(+BL), 50 J/cm² UV-A(+BL)) and in addition at 30°C in a repeated exposure protocol (up to 10 times 15 minutes wIRA(+RL) with 340 J/cm² wIRA(+RL), 300 J/cm² wIRA at each time).
Results: Single exposure of cultured human dermal fibroblasts to UV-A(+BL) radiation yielded a very high increase in MMP-1 mRNA expression (11 ±1 fold expression for RT-PCR and 76 ±2 fold expression for real-time RT-PCR both at 30°C, 75 ±1 fold expression for real-time RT-PCR at 37°C) and a dose-dependent decrease in cell survival. In contrast, wIRA(+RL) did not produce cell death and did not induce a systematic increase in MMP-1 mRNA expression (less than twofold expression, within the laboratory range of fluctuation) detectable with the sensitive methods applied. Additionally, repeated exposure of human skin fibroblasts to wIRA(+RL) did not induce MMP-1 mRNA expression systematically (less than twofold expression by up to 10 consecutive wIRA(+RL) exposures and analysis with real-time RT-PCR).
Conclusions: wIRA(+RL) even at the investigated disproportionally high irradiances does not induce cell death or a systematic increase of MMP-1 mRNA expression, both of which can be easily induced by UV-A radiation. Furthermore, these results support previous findings of in vivo investigations on collagenase induction by UV-A but not wIRA and show that infrared-A with appropriate irradiances does not seem to be involved in MMP-1 mediated photoaging of the skin. As suggested by previously published studies wIRA could even be implicated in a protective manner.
Wassergefiltertes Infrarot A (wIRA) als spezielle Form der Wärmestrahlung mit hohem Penetrationsvermögen in das Gewebe bei geringer thermischer Oberflächenbelastung vermag über thermische und nicht-thermische Effekte wesentliche, auch energetisch bedeutsame Faktoren der Wundheilung - messtechnisch belegt - zu verbessern.
wIRA kann sowohl bei akuten Wunden (prospektive, randomisierte, kontrollierte, doppeltblinde Studien der chirurgischen Universitätsklinik Heidelberg bei frischen abdominellen Op-Wunden, n=94, und der Kinderchirurgie Kassel bei schwerbrandverletzten Kindern, n=45) als auch bei chronischen Wunden und Problemwunden (prospektive, randomisierte, kontrollierte Studie in Basel, n=40, sowie prospektive Studie der Universität Tromsø/Norwegen in Hillerød/Dänemark mit u. a. auch aufwendiger thermographischer Verlaufskontrolle, n=10, in beiden Studien chronische venöse Unterschenkel-Ulzera) einschließlich infizierter Wunden Schmerzen deutlich mindern und die Wundheilung beschleunigen oder bei stagnierender Wundheilung verbessern sowie eine erhöhte Wundsekretion und Entzündung mindern. Insbesondere ist auch ohne Wundheilungsstörung eine positive Beeinflussung der Wundheilung möglich. Bei chronischen Wunden werden vollständige Abheilungen erreicht, die zuvor nicht erreicht wurden.
wIRA ist ein kontaktfreies, verbrauchsmaterialfreies, leicht anzuwendendes, als angenehm empfundenes Verfahren mit guter Tiefenwirkung, das der Sonnenwärmestrahlung auf der Erdoberfläche in gemäßigten Klimazonen nachempfunden ist. Die Bestrahlung der unbedeckten Wunde erfolgt typischerweise aus ca. 25 cm Abstand mit einem wIRA-Strahler.
Wundheilung und Infektionsabwehr (z.B. Granulozytenfunktion einschließlich antibakterieller Sauerstoffradikalbildung der Granulozyten) hängen ganz entscheidend von einer ausreichenden Energieversorgung (und von ausreichend Sauerstoff) ab.
Die klinisch gute Wirkung von wIRA auf Wunden und auch auf Problemwunden und Wundinfektionen lässt sich u. a. über die Verbesserung sowohl der Energiebereitstellung pro Zeit (Steigerung der Stoffwechselleistung) als auch der Sauerstoffversorgung (z.B. für die Granulozytenfunktion) erklären. wIRA bewirkt als thermischen Effekt eine Verbesserung aller drei entscheidender Faktoren Sauerstoffpartialdruck im Gewebe, Gewebetemperatur und Gewebedurchblutung. Daneben wurden auch nicht-thermische Effekte von Infrarot A im Sinne einer Reizsetzung auf Zellen und zelluläre Strukturen mit Reaktionen der Zellen beschrieben.
Water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) as a special form of heat radiation with a high tissue penetration and with a low thermal load to the skin surface acts both by thermal and thermic as well as by non-thermal and non-thermic effects. wIRA produces a therapeutically usable field of heat in the tissue and increases tissue temperature, tissue oxygen partial pressure, and tissue perfusion. These three factors are decisive for a sufficient tissue supply with energy and oxygen and consequently as well for wound healing and infection defense.
wIRA can considerably alleviate the pain (with remarkably less need for analgesics) and diminish an elevated wound exudation and inflammation and can show positive immunomodulatory effects. wIRA can advance wound healing or improve an impaired wound healing both in acute and in chronic wounds including infected wounds. Even the normal wound healing process can be improved.
A prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind study with 111 patients after major abdominal surgery at the University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany, showed with 20 minutes irradiation twice a day (starting on the second postoperative day) in the group with wIRA and visible light VIS (wIRA(+VIS), approximately 75% wIRA, 25% VIS) compared to a control group with only VIS a significant and relevant pain reduction combined with a markedly decreased required dose of analgesics: during 230 single irradiations with wIRA(+VIS) the pain decreased without any exception (median of decrease of pain on postoperative days 2-6 was 13.4 on a 100 mm visual analog scale VAS 0-100), while pain remained unchanged in the control group (p<0.001). The required dose of analgesics was 57-70% lower in the subgroups with wIRA(+VIS) compared to the control subgroups with only VIS (median 598 versus 1398 ml ropivacaine, p<0.001, for peridural catheter analgesia; 31 versus 102 mg piritramide, p=0.001, for patient-controlled analgesia; 3.4 versus 10.2 g metamizole, p=0.005, for intravenous and oral analgesia). During irradiation with wIRA(+VIS) the subcutaneous oxygen partial pressure rose markedly by approximately 30% and the subcutaneous temperature by approximately 2.7°C (both in a tissue depth of 2 cm), whereas both remained unchanged in the control group: after irradiation the median of the subcutaneous oxygen partial pressure was 41.6 (with wIRA) versus 30.2 mm Hg in the control group (p<0.001), the median of the subcutaneous temperature was 38.9 versus 36.4°C (p<0.001). The overall evaluation of the effect of irradiation, including wound healing, pain and cosmesis, assessed on a VAS (0-100 with 50 as indifferent point of no effect) by the surgeon (median 79.0 versus 46.8, p<0.001) or the patient (79.0 versus 50.2, p<0.001) was markedly better in the group with wIRA compared to the control group. This was also true for single aspects: Wound healing assessed on a VAS by the surgeon (median 88.6 versus 78.5, p<0.001) or the patient (median 85.8 versus 81.0, p=0.040, trend) and cosmetic result assessed on a VAS by the surgeon (median 84.5 versus 76.5, p<0.001) or the patient (median 86.7 versus 73.6, p=0.001). In addition there was a trend in favor of the wIRA group to a lower rate of total wound infections (3 of 46, approximately 7%, versus 7 of 48, approximately 15%, p=0.208) including late infections after discharge, caused by the different rate of late infections after discharge: 0 of 46 in the wIRA group and 4 of 48 in the control group. And there was a trend towards a shorter postoperative hospital stay: 9 days in the wIRA group versus 11 days in the control group (p=0.037). The principal finding of this study was that postoperative irradiation with wIRA can improve even a normal wound healing process.
A prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind study with 45 severely burned children at the Children’s Hospital Park Schönfeld, Kassel, Germany, showed with 30 minutes irradiation once a day (starting on the first day, day of burn as day 1) in the group with wIRA and visible light VIS (wIRA(+VIS), approximately 75% wIRA, 25% VIS) compared to a control group with only VIS a markedly faster reduction of wound size. On the fifth day (after 4 days with irradiation) decision was taken, whether surgical debridement of necrotic tissue was necessary because of deeper (second degree, type b) burns (11 of 21 in the group with wIRA, 14 of 24 in the control group) or non-surgical treatment was possible (second degree, type a, burns). The patients treated conservatively were kept within the study and irradiated till complete reepithelialization. The patients in the group with wIRA showed a markedly faster reduction of wound area: a median reduction of wound size of 50% was reached already after 7 days compared to 9 days in the control group, a median reduction of wound size of 90% was already achieved after 9 days compared to 13 days in the control group. In addition the group with wIRA showed superior results till 3 months after the burn in terms of the overall surgical assessment of the wound, cosmesis, and assessment of effects of irradiation compared to the control group.
In a prospective, randomized, controlled study with 12 volunteers at the University Medical Center Charité, Berlin, Germany, within each volunteer 4 experimental superficial wounds (5 mm diameter) as an acute wound model were generated by suction cup technique, removing the roof of the blister with a scalpel and a sterile forceps (day 1). 4 different treatments were used and investigated during 10 days: no therapy, only wIRA(+VIS) (approximately 75% wIRA, 25% VIS; 30 minutes irradiation once a day), only dexpanthenol (= D-panthenol) cream once a day, wIRA(+VIS) and dexpanthenol cream once a day. Healing of the small experimental wounds was from a clinical point of view excellent with all 4 treatments. Therefore there were only small differences between the treatments with slight advantages of the combination wIRA(+VIS) and dexpanthenol cream and of dexpanthenol cream alone concerning relative change of wound size and assessment of feeling of the wound area. However laser scanning microscopy with a scoring system revealed differences between the 4 treatments concerning the formation of the stratum corneum (from first layer of corneocytes to full formation) especially on the days 5-7: fastest formation of the stratum corneum was seen in wounds treated with wIRA(+VIS) and dexpanthenol cream, second was wIRA(+VIS) alone, third dexpanthenol cream alone and last were untreated wounds. Bacterial counts of the wounds (taken every 2 days) showed, that wIRA(+VIS) and the combination of wIRA(+VIS) with dexpanthenol cream were able to inhibit the colonisation with physiological skin flora up to day 5 when compared with the two other groups (untreated group and group with dexpanthenol cream alone). At any investigated time, the amount of colonisation under therapy with wIRA(+VIS) alone was lower (interpreted as more suppressed) compared with the group with wIRA(+VIS) and dexpanthenol cream.
During rehabilitation after hip and knee endoprosthetic operations the resorption of wound seromas and wound hematomas was both clinically and sonographically faster and pain was reduced by irradiation with wIRA(+VIS).
wIRA can be used successfully for persistent postoperative pain e.g. after thoracotomy.
As perspectives for wIRA it seems clinically prudent to use wIRA both pre- and postoperatively, e.g. in abdominal and thoracic operations. wIRA can be used preoperatively (e.g. during 1-2 weeks) to precondition donor and recipient sites of skin flaps, transplants or partial-thickness skin grafts, and postoperatively to improve wound healing and to decrease pain, inflammation and infections at all mentioned sites. wIRA can be used to support routine pre- or intraoperative antibiotic administration or it might even be discussed to replace this under certain conditions by wIRA.
Principles and working mechanisms of water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) in relation to wound healing
(2007)
The experience of the pleasant heat of the sun in moderate climatic zones arises from the filtering of the heat radiation of the sun by water vapor in the atmosphere of the earth. The filter effect of water decreases those parts of infrared radiation (most parts of infrared-B and -C and the absorption bands of water within infrared-A), which would cause – by reacting with water molecules in the skin – only an undesired thermal load to the surface of the skin. Technically water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) is produced in special radiators, whose full spectrum of radiation of a halogen bulb is passed through a cuvette, containing water, which absorbs or decreases the described undesired wavelengths of the infrared radiation. Within infrared the remaining wIRA (within 780-1400 nm) mainly consists of radiation with good penetration properties into tissue and therefore allows – compared to unfiltered heat radiation – a multiple energy transfer into tissue without irritating the skin, similar to the sun’s heat radiation in moderate climatic zones. Typical wIRA radiators emit no ultraviolet (UV) radiation and nearly no infrared-B and -C radiation and the amount of infrared-A radiation in relation to the amount of visible light (380-780 nm) is emphasized. Water-filtered infrared-A as a special form of heat radiation with a high tissue penetration and with a low thermal load to the skin surface acts both by thermal (related to heat energy transfer) and thermic (temperature depending, with a relevant change of temperature) as well as by non-thermal (without a relevant transfer of heat energy) and non-thermic (not depending on temperature, without a relevant change of temperature) effects. wIRA produces a therapeutically usable field of heat in the tissue and increases tissue temperature, tissue oxygen partial pressure, and tissue perfusion. These three factors are vital for a sufficient tissue supply with energy and oxygen. As wound healing and infection defense (e.g. granulocyte function including their antibacterial oxygen radical formation) depend decisively on a sufficient supply with energy and oxygen, one explanation for the good clinical effect of wIRA on wounds and wound infections can be the improvement of both the energy supply per time (increase of metabolic rate) and the oxygen supply. In addition wIRA has non-thermal and non-thermic effects, which are based on putting direct stimuli on cells and cellular structures. wIRA can considerably alleviate the pain (with remarkably less need for analgesics) and diminish an elevated wound exudation and inflammation and can show positive immunomodulatory effects. wIRA can advance wound healing or improve an impaired wound healing both in acute and in chronic wounds including infected wounds. Even the normal wound healing process can be improved. wIRA is contact-free, easily applied, without discomfort to the patient, with absent consumption of material and with a good effect in the depth. The irradiation of the typically uncovered wound is carried out with a wIRA radiator.
Wassergefiltertes Infrarot A (wIRA) als spezielle Form der Wärmestrahlung ist ein kontaktfreies, verbrauchsmaterialfreies, leicht anwendbares, als angenehm empfundenes Verfahren mit guter Tiefenwirkung, das der Sonnenwärmestrahlung auf der Erdoberfläche in gemäßigten Klimazonen (Filterwirkung des Wasserdampfs der Erdatmosphäre) nachempfunden ist. Durch die Wasserfilterung werden die Strahlungsanteile des Infrarot gemindert (sogenannte Wasserbanden innerhalb des Infrarot A sowie die meisten Teile des Infrarot B und C), die sonst durch Wechselwirkung mit Wassermolekülen in der Haut eine unerwünschte thermische Belastung der obersten Hautschicht bewirken würden. Anwendung: Die Bestrahlung der unbedeckten Haut oder Wunde erfolgt typischerweise aus ca. 25 cm Abstand senkrecht zur Haut mit einem Bestrahlungsabstand, der mindestens der Distanzstablänge des Strahlers entsprechen sollte (abhängig vom Strahlertyp z.B. ca. 25 cm), mit einem wIRA-Strahler täglich ein- bis zweimal über 20-30 Minuten oder länger. Bei Patienten mit gestörtem Sensorium (z.B. diabetischer Polyneuropathie) oder gestörter Rückäußerungsfähigkeit, bei kaltem oder schlecht durchblutetem Gewebe oder geringem Unterhautgewebe (z.B. Schienbeinkante) ist ein größerer Bestrahlungsabstand (geringere Bestrahlungsstärke) zu wählen. Wirkungsweise: wIRA hat ein hohes Penetrationsvermögen in das Gewebe bei geringer thermischer Oberflächenbelastung und vermag über thermische und nicht-thermische Effekte wesentliche, auch energetisch bedeutsame Faktoren der Wundheilung zu verbessern. Die klinische Wirkung von wIRA auf Wunden einschließlich Problemwunden und Wundinfektionen lässt sich unter anderem über die Verbesserung sowohl der Energiebereitstellung pro Zeit (Steigerung der Stoffwechselleistung) als auch der Sauerstoffversorgung (z.B. für die Granulozytenfunktion) erklären. wIRA bewirkt als thermischen Effekt eine Verbesserung der drei entscheidenden Faktoren für die Wundheilung: der Gewebetemperatur, des Sauerstoffpartialdrucks im Gewebe und der Gewebedurchblutung. Zu den thermischen Effekten gehört der Aufbau eines therapeutischen Wärmefelds über das Erreichen hautoberflächennaher Kapillarbereiche durch die Infrarot-A-Strahlung (Primärerwärmung), Wärmeabtransport durch das Blut (Kühlung hautoberflächennaher Gewebebereiche, Wärmetransport in die Tiefe), Erhöhung der Kapillardurchblutung mit Ausweitung der der Strahlung zugänglichen Durchblutungsbereiche, Gewebewärmeleitung in die Tiefe und sekundäre Energiefreisetzung durch Stoffwechselanregung (Stoffwechselsteigerung) infolge Temperatursteigerung (gemäß der Reaktions-Geschwindigkeits-Temperatur-Regel bedeuten z. B. 3°C mehr Temperatur ca. 30% mehr Reaktionsgeschwindigkeit und damit mehr Energiebereitstellung im Gewebe) bei relativ hoher primärer Tiefenwirksamkeit von wIRA. Daneben wurden auch nicht-thermische Effekte von Infrarot A auf Zellen und zelluläre Strukturen mit Reaktionen der Zellen im Sinne einer Reizsetzung zum Teil auch bei sehr kleinen Bestrahlungsintensitäten beschrieben, wie zielgerichtetes Plasmodienwachstum, Beeinflussung der Cytochrom-c-Oxidase, zielgerichtetes Wachstum von Neuronen sowie zellschützende Effekte von Infrarot A und wassergefiltertem Infrarot A (wIRA). Eine Bestrahlung mit sichtbarem Licht und wassergefiltertem Infrarot A (VIS+wIRA) wirkt vermutlich mit endogenem Protoporphyrin IX (oder Protoporphyrin IX von Bakterien) quasi als milde Photodynamische Therapie (endogener PDT-ähnlicher Effekt) zellregenerationsfördernd und damit wundheilungsfördernd und wahrscheinlich auch infektionspräventiv bzw. antibakteriell (mögliche wIRA-bedingte Verstärkung der Photoinaktivierung von Bakterien durch sichtbares Licht). Von der klinischen Erfahrung werden unter Bestrahlung mit VIS+wIRA einfache Wundinfektionen zum Teil ohne Antibiotikum oder Antiseptikum binnen Tagen überwunden. Verträglichkeit: Für wIRA in angemessenen therapeutischen Bestrahlungsstärken und -dosen konnte nicht nur gezeigt werden, dass es für menschliche Haut unbedenklich ist (unter anderem keine Induktion von Matrix-Metalloproteinasen), sondern dass es zellschützende Effekte gegen die durch UV-Strahlung hervorgerufenen Schäden hat. Technische Erzeugung: In speziellen Strahlern tritt die gesamte Strahlung eines 3000-Kelvin-Halogen-Strahlers durch eine Wasser enthaltende Küvette hindurch, so dass die unerwünschten Strahlungsanteile gemindert oder herausgefiltert werden. Das verbleibende wassergefilterte Infrarot A (wIRA, im Bereich 780-1400 nm) besteht hauptsächlich aus Strahlung mit gutem Eindringvermögen ins Gewebe und erlaubt deshalb gegenüber ungefiltertem Infrarot einen mehrfachen Energieeintrag in das Gewebe bei geringerer thermischer Belastung der Hautoberfläche. Indikationsbereich: Wassergefiltertes Infrarot A kann sowohl bei akuten Wunden (prospektive, randomisierte, kontrollierte, doppeltblinde Studien bei frischen abdominellen Op-Wunden und bei schwerbrandverletzten Kindern) als auch bei chronischen Wunden und Problemwunden (prospektive, randomisierte, kontrollierte Studie sowie prospektive Studie bei chronischen venösen Unterschenkel-Ulzera mit unter anderem aufwendiger thermographischer Verlaufskontrolle) einschließlich infizierter Wunden Schmerzen deutlich mindern, die Wundheilung beschleunigen oder bei stagnierender Wundheilung verbessern sowie eine erhöhte Wundsekretion und Entzündung mindern. Insbesondere ist auch ohne Wundheilungsstörung eine positive Beeinflussung der Wundheilung möglich. Weiterhin kann wIRA auch bei Wunden zur Resorptionsverbesserung und damit Wirkungsverstärkung topisch aufgetragener Substanzen eingesetzt werden.
Wassergefiltertes Infrarot A (wIRA) wird erfolgreich in der Wundbehandlung, selbst bei chronischen Problemwunden, eingesetzt. Prof. Dr. Gerd Hoffmann, Facharzt für Innere Medizin, Sportmedizin und Notfallmedizin, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt a. M., erklärt, was bei diesem Verfahren passiert.
Wassergefiltertes Infrarot A (wIRA) stellt eine spezielle Form der Infrarotstrahlung im Bereich von 780–1400 nm dar, die aufgrund ihrer sehr guten Verträglichkeit in der Medizin zur Prävention und Therapie verwendet wird.
wIRA steigert Temperatur, Sauerstoffpartialdruck und Durchblutung im Gewebe. wIRA mindert indikationsübergreifend Schmerzen, Entzündung und vermehrte Sekretion und verbessert die Infektabwehr und Regeneration, insbesondere auch nach sportlicher Belastung. Zudem kann wIRA als kontaktfreies Verfahren simultan mit Bewegung und Training kombiniert werden.
Die klinische Anwendung von wIRA kann präventiv, therapeutisch, regenerativ oder rehabilitativ erfolgen.
Der hier vorliegenden Übersicht liegen u.a. 6 sportmedizinische Studien mit wIRA zugrunde.
So nahmen beispielsweise 25 Probanden an einer prospektiven, randomisierten, kontrollierten Studie mit stufenweise ansteigender ausbelastender Fußkurbelergometrie teil, an einem Tag mit anschließender Bestrahlung der ventralen Oberschenkelmuskulatur mit wIRA (bzw. am Kontrolltag stattdessen Pause) in Ruhe über 20 Minuten. Am Tag mit Bestrahlung verbesserte sich das Befinden der belasteten Oberschenkelmuskulatur auf einer visuellen Analogskala (umsetzbar in 0–100) von 36 auf 71 signifikant mehr (p=0,0138) als am Kontrolltag in Ruhe ohne Bestrahlung (von 34 auf 54). Erstaunlicherweise erreichte das Befinden nach 20 Minuten Bestrahlung wieder den Ausgangswert vor der Ergometrie von 70. Nach den 20 Minuten Ruhe (mit Bestrahlung bzw. Pause) folgte eine zweite Ergometrie, in der die Leistungsfähigkeit am Tag mit Bestrahlung signifikant weniger (p=0,0128) als am Kontrolltag absank.
Es werden ausführlich die Anwendungsmöglichkeiten von wIRA in der Sport- und Präventivmedizin dargestellt.
Wassergefiltertes Infrarot A (wIRA) als spezielle Form der Wärmestrahlung mit hohem Eindringvermögen in das Gewebe bei geringer thermischer Oberflächenbelastung kann die Heilung akuter und chronischer Wunden sowohl über thermische und temperaturabhängige als auch über nicht-thermische und temperaturunabhängige Effekte verbessern. wIRA steigert Temperatur (+2,7°C in 2 cm Gewebetiefe) und Sauerstoffpartialdruck im Gewebe (+32% in 2 cm Gewebetiefe) sowie die Gewebedurchblutung. Diese drei Faktoren sind entscheidend für eine ausreichende Versorgung des Gewebes mit Energie und Sauerstoff und deshalb auch für Wundheilung und Infektionsabwehr.
wIRA vermag Schmerzen deutlich zu mindern (ausnahmslos bei 230 Bestrahlungen) mit bemerkenswert niedrigerem Analgetikabedarf (52–69% niedriger in den Gruppen mit wIRA verglichen mit den Kontrollgruppen) und eine erhöhte Wundsekretion und Entzündung herabzusetzen sowie positive immunmodulierende Effekte zu zeigen. Die Gesamtbeurteilung des Effekts der Bestrahlung wie auch die Wundheilung und das kosmetische Ergebnis (erhoben mittels visueller Analogskalen) waren in der Gruppe mit wIRA wesentlich besser verglichen mit der Kontrollgruppe. wIRA kann sowohl bei akuten als auch bei chronischen Wunden einschließlich infizierter Wunden die Wundheilung beschleunigen (Abnahme der Wundfläche im Median um 90% bei schwerbrandverletzten Kindern bereits nach 9 Tagen in der Gruppe mit wIRA verglichen mit 13 Tagen in der Kontrollgruppe; im Durchschnitt 18 versus 42 Tage bis zum kompletten Wundschluss bei chronischen venösen Unterschenkelulzera) oder bei stagnierender Wundheilung verbessern (mit Erreichen eines kompletten Wundschlusses und Normalisierung des thermographischen Bildes bei zuvor therapierefraktären chronischen venösen Unterschenkelulzera). Nach großen abdominalen Operationen zeigte sich ein Trend zugunsten der wIRA-Gruppe hin zu einer niedrigeren Rate von Wundinfektionen insgesamt (7% versus 15%) einschließlich später Infektionen nach der Entlassung aus dem Krankenhaus (0% versus 8%) und ein Trend hin zu einem kürzeren postoperativen Krankenhausaufenthalt (9 versus 11 Tage).
Selbst der normale Wundheilungsprozess kann verbessert werden.
Die erwähnten Effekte wurden in 6 prospektiven Studien belegt, die meisten mit einem Evidenzgrad von Ia/Ib.
wIRA stellt eine wertvolle Therapieoption dar und kann generell für die Therapie von akuten und chronischen Wunden empfohlen werden.