INTRODUCTION: When a gas is used for therapy, often the kinetic behavior and their distribution in biological systems is not known, leading to unsatisfactory results for clinical application. The use of ozone in living organisms has been scientifically released worldwide under the name of ozone therapy. The efficacy of this technique is determined primarily by the diffusion of gas within the tissues or fluids and which determines their action in the entire target region. We propose the development of technique to monitoring the O3 dissolved in the biological fluid using an optical device operating in the red-infrared region. METHODS: The recombination of O3 in O2 enables the monitoring of the latter by the measurement of SpO2, and, based on this phenomenon, we propose to use an optical device operating in the red-infrared region to monitoring indirectly the diffusion of O3 in fluids. The system was based on optomechanical arrangement using a capsule containing fluid that was ozonated or oxygenated during the process. A pulse oximeter is a noninvasive device used for continuously measure of SpO2 resulting from the recombination of ozone. RESULTS: The measurements of SpO2 when subjected to ozone and oxygen, showed an increased rate of SpO2 function of time for both cases reaching its peak in 80s and 160s, respectively. The experimental data concerning the SpO2 saturation as a function of time can be fitted by the theoretical model, showing a good correlation between them. CONCLUSION: A technique was developed using an optical device operating in the red-infrared region to monitoring ozone dissolved in biological fluid, showing a simple and effective way to indirectly monitoring the presence of ozone in fluids.

OBJETIVO: Verificar se o uso do laser de InGaAlP com comprimento de onda de 685 nm pode reduzir a incidência de xerostomia, gravidade da mucosite oral e da dor associada à mucosite em pacientes portadores de câncer de cabeça e pescoço submetidos a radioterapia. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Sessenta pacientes portadores de carcinoma de cabeça e pescoço foram submetidos a radioterapia com dose diária de 1,8 a 2,0 Gy e dose final de 45 a 72 Gy. O volume salivar foi medido nos dias um, 15, ao final do tratamento e após 15 e 30 dias, e a mucosite oral em avaliações semanais. Vinte e nove pacientes se submeteram a radioterapia sem laser e 31 foram submetidos a radioterapia e laser com dose diária de 2 joules/cm² em pontos pré-determinados da mucosa oral e glândulas parótida e submandibular. RESULTADOS: No grupo submetido a radioterapia e laser, a incidência de mucosite (p < 0,001) e dor (p < 0,016) foram significativamente menores e o volume salivar se manteve maior (p < 0,001) durante e após o tratamento. CONCLUSÃO: Os pacientes submetidos à associação de radioterapia e laser tiveram menor incidência de xerostomia, mucosite oral e dor quando comparados ao grupo de radioterapia sem laser, com resultados com significância estatística.

OBJECTIVE: To verify if the use of InGaAIP laser with 685 nm wave length can reduce the xerostomy incidence, the oral mucositis severity and the pain related to mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer submitted to radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients presenting head and neck carcinoma were submitted to radiotherapy with daily doses of 1.8 to 2.0 Gy and a final dose of 45 to 72 Gy. The salivary volume was evaluated in the first and fifteenth days, at the end of the treatment and after 15 and 30 days. The oral mucositis was evaluated on a weekly basis. Twenty-nine patients were submitted to radiotherapy without laser and 31 were submitted to radiotherapy and laser with daily doses of 2 joules/cm² in predetermined areas of the oral mucosa and the parotid and submandibular glands. RESULTS: In the group submitted to radiotherapy and laser the incidence of mucositis (p < 0.001) and pain (p < 0.016) was significantly lower and the salivary volume (p < 0.001) was kept higher during and after the treatment. CONCLUSION: The group of patients submitted to radiotherapy and laser had lower incidence of xerostomy, oral mucositis and pain when compared to the group treated with radioteraphy without laser, producing statistically significant results.

OBJETIVO: Este trabalho teve por objetivo a utilização da técnica de espectroscopia de fluorescência induzida por laser para a caracterização de tecido normal e neoplásico em mucosa jugal de hamster, visando diagnosticar tecidos neoplásicos in vivo. MÉTODOS: O carcinógeno DMBA foi aplicado na bochecha direita de 31 hamsters com 150 ± 10g, três vezes por semana durante 12 semanas. Um animal foi mantido como controle (sem aplicação da droga). Após este período, os animais foram submetidos à espectroscopia de fluorescência induzida por laser de argônio (488nm), acoplado a um cabo de fibras ópticas. A autofluorescência do tecido foi guiada pelo cabo de fibras e analisada por um espectrógrafo e uma câmera CCD 1024X256 pixels, cobrindo a faixa espectral de 550nm a 700nm. Os espectros foram coletados na área da lesão induzida e na bochecha contralateral (normal) de todos os animais, além do animal de controle. Subseqüente à espectroscopia, foi realizada a biópsia da lesão para a análise histopatológica. Dois algoritmos de diagnóstico dos espectros de tecido neoplásico, baseados na razão entre regiões espectrais e na técnica de análise das componentes principais (PCA) foram implementados. RESULTADOS: Foi demonstrada a existência de um pico intenso na região de 630nm nos tecidos neoplásicos (atribuído à protoporfirina IX), quando comparados com o tecido normal. O algoritmo baseado na razão entre regiões espectrais obteve 100% de sensibilidade e especificidade. O algoritmo baseado na PCA obteve 94% e 100% de sensibilidade e especificidade, respectivamente. CONCLUSÕES: Este trabalho indica que a autofluorescência de tecidos da mucosa oral poderá ser utilizada como uma técnica não-invasiva de diagnóstico, com alta sensibilidade e especificidade.

OBJECTIVE: This work analyzes use of the Laser Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy technique for characterization of normal and neoplastic tissue in the oral mucosa of hamsters, with potential to diagnose neoplastic tissue in vivo. METHODS: Carcinogen DMBA was applied to the right cheek of 31 hamsters weighing 150 ± 10g, three times per week during 12 weeks. One animal was kept as a control (without application of the drug). At the end of this period, the animals were submitted to fluorescence spectroscopy excited by an argon laser (488nm) connected to an optical fiber cable. Tissue autofluorescence was analyzed by a spectrograph and a CCD camera with 1024X256 pixels covering the spectral range of 550nm to 700nm. Fluorescence emission spectra were collected in the induced region and normal counter side cheek of all the animals and also in the control animal. After spectroscopy, biopsy was carried out for histopathological analysis. Two diagnosis algorithms, one based on the ratio of spectral regions and another based on Principal Components Analysis (PCA) were implemented. RESULTS: Spectral analysis had demonstrated existence of an intense peak in the region of 630nm in neoplastic tissues (attributed to protoporphyrin IX) when compared to the normal tissue. The algorithm based on the ratio of two spectral regions had 100% of sensitivity and specificity. The algorithm based on the PCA had 94% and 100% of specificity and sensitivity, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This work indicates that tissue autofluorescence may be used as a non-invasive technique for diagnosis of the neoplastic oral mucosa.