Alster TS, Bryan H, Williams CM Long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser-assisted hair removal in pigmented skin: a clinical and histological evaluation. Arch Dermatol. 2001 Jul;137(7):885-9.
Hegedus B, Viharos L, Gervain M, Gálfi M The effect of low-level laser in knee osteoarthritis: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Photomed Laser Surg. 2009 Aug;27(4):577-84. doi: 10.1089/pho.2008.2297.
Meireles SM, Jones A, Jennings F, Suda AL, Parizotto NA, Natour J Assessment of the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy on the hands of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized double-blind controlled trial. Clin Rheumatol. 2010 May;29(5):501-9. doi: 10.1007/s10067-009-1347-0. Epub 2010 Jan 16.
Moritz AR Studies of Thermal Injury: III. The Pathology and Pathogenesis of Cutaneous Burns. An Experimental Study. Am J Pathol. 1947 Nov;23(6):915-41.
Naeser MA Photobiomodulation of pain in carpal tunnel syndrome: review of seven laser therapy studies. Photomed Laser Surg. 2006 Apr;24(2):101-10. Review.
Laser Therapy Treatment of Peripheral Neuropathic Pain in Individuals With Diabetes
Interventional studies are often prospective and are specifically tailored to evaluate direct impacts of treatment or preventive measures on disease.
Observational studies are often retrospective and are used to assess potential causation in exposure-outcome relationships and therefore influence preventive methods.
Expanded access is a means by which manufacturers make investigational new drugs available, under certain circumstances, to treat a patient(s) with a serious disease or condition who cannot participate in a controlled clinical trial.
Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.
Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.
