Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28441605›Full record

ReviewJournal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology2017

Biological effects and medical applications of infrared radiation.

Shang-Ru Tsai, Michael R Hamblin

2 registry-linked trialsOpen access · greenAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 163 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
163citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
22.7field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04651426 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2019, after this paper: background citation

Use of a Non-medicated Plaster in Chronic Lumbar Back Pain.

TypeinterventionalSponsorAzienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata VeronaRan2019 to 2019Enrolled54ConditionsBack PainArmsThe FIT Therapy patch (D. FENSTEC s.r.l. Altavilla Vicentina, Italy) is a medical device class 1
NCT05391178 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2022, after this paper: background citation

Improving Disease Severity in Alopecia Areata, Polymorphous Light Eruption, and Psoriasis Patients With Lumiton Technology

TypeinterventionalSponsorWake Forest University Health SciencesRan2022 to 2024Enrolled18ConditionsPsoriasis, Alopecia Areata, Polymorphous Light EruptionArmsLumiton yarn sleeve, Lumiton yarn hat, Lumiton yarn shirt
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

163 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 456 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Efficacy of energy-based devices on episiotomy pain and healing: A systematic review and meta-analysis.International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Transabdominal photobiomodulation applications: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity · 2025
    Pooled it
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  9. A Single Sauna Session Does Not Improve Postprandial Blood Glucose Handling in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Over, Randomized, Controlled Trial.Experimental and clinical endocrinology & diabetes : official journal, German Society of Endocrinology [and] German Diabetes Association · 2024
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  18. Acute Foot Warming Enhances Plantar Tactile Sensitivity With Limited Postural Control Effects in Obese Older Adults.Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy · 2026
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  20. Review

103 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Shang-Ru TsaiGraduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Michael R HamblinWellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. Electronic address: Hamblin@helix.mgh.harvard.edu.
Harvard University · USMassachusetts General Hospital · US

Funding

Photodynamic Therapy of Localized InfectionsR01AI050875 · NIAID · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI HAMBLIN, MICHAEL R · 2003 to 2017
$4.8M
Synergistic Photodynamic Therapy for Catherer-Associated Urinary Tract InfectionsR21AI121700 · NIAID · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI HAMBLIN, MICHAEL R · 2016 to 2017
$462k
NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI050875NIAID NIH HHS R21 AI121700
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between 760nm and 100,000nm. Low-level light therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy generally employs light at red and near-infrared wavelengths (600-100nm) to modulate biological activity. Many factors, conditions, and parameters influence the therapeutic effects of IR, including fluence, irradiance, treatment timing and repetition, pulsing, and wavelength. Increasing evidence suggests that IR can carry out photostimulation and photobiomodulation effects particularly benefiting neural stimulation, wound healing, and cancer treatment. Nerve cells respond particularly well to IR, which has been proposed for a range of neurostimulation and neuromodulation applications, and recent progress in neural stimulation and regeneration are discussed in this review. The applications of IR therapy have moved on rapidly in recent years. For example, IR therapy has been developed that does not actually require an external power source, such as IR-emitting materials, and garments that can be powered by body heat alone. Another area of interest is the possible involvement of solar IR radiation in photoaging or photorejuvenation as opposites sides of the coin, and whether sunscreens should protect against solar IR? A better understanding of new developments and biological implications of IR could help us to improve therapeutic effectiveness or develop new methods of PBM using IR wavelengths.

Indexed as

Infrared RaysAdipose TissueCell ProliferationHumansLow-Level Light TherapyNeuronsPhototherapyRegenerationSkin AgingWound HealingATPBrain neuroprotectionDNA damageHeatingInfrared neural stimulationPhotoagingROSWater molecules

Identifiers

PMID28441605
PMCPMC5505738
OpenAlexW2607303579

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.