Abstract
This short report is about the International Society for Medical Laser Applications (ISLA). A short list of the most frequently used methods within the research areas of the ISLA is included along with a description of how the great potential of these new laser methods led to numerous improvements in patient treatment. The ISLA attaches great importance to being an opinion leader in the context of evidence-based laser medicine. Many further developments are planned that will enrich the range of methods.
The medical applications of the laser are manifold. In our society, these range from laser acupuncture to external, interstitial, interarticular, and intravenous laser therapy, and, finally, to photobiomodulation and photodynamic therapy (PDT).
For external therapies, lasers are used successfully in acupuncture for pain reduction, rehabilitation, stroke treatment, dermatology and cosmetics, dentistry, and human and veterinary medicine. Percutaneous interstitial laser therapy with sterile catheters, enables us to bring the laser light even more powerfully into the depth of tissue for a successful treatment of herniated disks or spinal stenosis, or even for an intra-articular treatment. With this technique, it is possible to irradiate directly inside of damaged joints, which leads to better therapeutic results. Penetration depths of up to 12 cm can be reached. Also green and blue lasers, which are normally absorbed directly by the surface of the skin, can be applied deep in the joints to develop anti-inflammatory effects. In addition to use for interstitial laser therapy, the new technologies also enable direct intra-articular treatment of injured joints (e.g., knee or shoulder). This method can be used for treating arthrosis of the knee, hip, ankle, or chronic shoulder syndromes.
Intravenous-laser blood irradiation was accomplished for the first time ∼30 years ago in the former Soviet Union. Laser light was brought directly into flowing blood through a 1-way-catheter. Various in-vitro tests were performed before it could be verified that biologic soft-laser irradiation of white blood cells induced various positive effects, in particular, expression of immunoglobulins, interferons, and interleukins. After the introduction of this new method, clinical studies were published, showing additional effects on various metabolic pathways.
PDT is one of the most-interesting and promising treatment approaches in modern medicine up to now. PDT is already used successfully in oncology and dermatology. The principle is stimulation of a nontoxic light-sensitive substance (a photosensitizer) by specific (laser-)light. The sensitizers bind to any type of targeted malignant or other diseased cells in an organism with very high specificity. After stimulation with (laser)-light, the targeted cells are destroyed by formation of active oxygen radicals. One of the major advantages of PDT is that it can be applied with nearly no side-effects.
As a so-called “young” society, the International Society for Medical Laser Applications (ISLA) already has a very important history behind it. In 2006, Dr. Weber founded the European Society for Biological Laser Therapy and Acupuncture (EGLA ), which was renamed the ISLA (International Society for Medical Laser Applications) in 2012. Elections for the board of directors as well as for the presidents and vice-presidents also took place at the first general assembly of the ISLA in 2012 in Frankfurt, Germany. Both of us stood for election as the new dual leadership, sharing the function of president of the ISLA. Responsibility was divided into “Clinical Applications” that Dr. Weber took on, and “Science and Research” that Dr. Litscher was happy to share responsibility for and to continue to feel responsible.
At the founding session Dr. Weber stated: “You all recognize the international orientation in this new name ISLA on the one hand, but also the detachment from a 1-sided focus on acupuncture and purely biological laser therapy methods on the other.” This statement is still valid today after 10 years.
As presidents of the society, the two of us are very pleased about the commitments made by Michael Grandjean, MD, who is, among other things, a lecturer on acupuncture at the University of Frankfurt and by Volkmar Kreisel, MD, an expert in anesthesiology from Bietigheim-Bissingen in Germany. Both Drs. Grandjean and Kreisel support the ISLA as vice presidents. In this context, we would also like to thank Frank R. Bahr, MD, who supported the ISLA from its early beginning and who recruited many of his own members of the German Academy of Acupuncture and the European Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine for the ISLA and the EGLA respectively.
In well-considered anticipation, the ISLA was given the additional designation transcontinental 10 years ago, which, in retrospect, also proved to be more than correct. In the meantime, 10 years have passed and the term ISLA transcontinental has emerged from our point of view as a synonym for precision, future, and innovation in the field of most medical-laser applications—as we have emphasized several times. Even the COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped ISLA activities. ISLA members take on responsible and leading activities, are involved in organizations, or give well-noticed lectures worldwide.
What is a scientific success? Is it the development of the COVID-19 vaccinations? From our point of view, yes, because it is also a good example of basic and applied research. More practical relevance, not research that only asks for money and brings nothing. Is that not what we researchers used to hear before the COVID-19 crisis? Now we can see how important both basic and applied research are. From our humble point of view, our society— and by society we definitely mean also the ISLA—needs both: scientists and practitioners who conduct application-oriented research as well as those who feel committed to basic research. It is important that the ISLA stands by this across the continent, and we would like to thank the members for that and make an appeal to not forget this even in difficult times.
Many goals have been achieved within the ISLA in recent years, despite the crisis and difficult situations. It is our conviction that the ISLA can only survive in the long run if it is of very good quality. We claim clearly to be the quality leader in our field of research. The ISLA is constantly growing and does so on a healthy foundation. However, we should never stop trying to improve.
Please have a look at the 2 pictures (Figs. 1 and 2) that are intended to illustrate selected successful ISLA congresses.
In the course of its 10th year existence, the ISLA has organized many international workshops and congresses worldwide. The inset shows the 2 ISLA presidents (Gerhard Litscher, Msc, PhD, MDsc, left, and Michael Hans Weber, MD, DiplChem, right), who were at the joint congress in Hangzhou in 2015 in China, May 22–24.
Many international speakers have also participated at the annual ISLA annual congress in Beverungen, Germany. Not all are shown in here. Those that are shown are with the consent of the respective persons. In 2022, the ISLA Congress in Beverungen will take place between September 9th and 10th (Visit www.isla-laser.org/de/ for more information).
Footnotes
AUTHOR DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
No financial conflicts of interest exist.
FUNDING INFORMATION
No funding was obtained for work on this article.