Photobiomodulation Science

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PBM Database info

Why the PBM Database

One therapy, many names in the literature.

Published studies use many terms for PBM.
Manual review helps identify relevant records.

Terms and possible search matches

PBM-related terms

Low-level light therapyLow-level laser therapyLow-power laser therapyLow-intensity laser therapyHigh-intensity laser therapy (HILT)Cold laser therapy (CLT)Laser acupunctureLaser treatmentLaser light irradiationLED phototherapyLight-emitting diode irradiationRed-light photostimulationPhotobiomodulationPhotobiostimulationPhotostimulationNear-infrared light treatmentFar-red lightHelium–neon laser irradiationTranscranial laser stimulation660 nm LED light source904 nm laser

Outside PBM scope - excluded

Red light district studiesLaser tattoo removalLaser hair removalAblative laser resurfacingLaser coagulation of blood vesselsUV phototherapy (UVA/UVB)Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
How the database was built

Search terms, citation checks and manual review

Candidate papers are checked for PBM relevance. Citation searches help find more studies.

Relevant records included

Non-PBM matches excluded

Organized records

PBM Database

  • Study models and publication details
  • Wavelengths and treatment parameters
  • Annotations and study findings
  • Links to original research papers

Relevant research, organized for easier exploration.

Open the database

The PBM Database is a manually curated resource; it is not a formal systematic review.

Finding the literature

Five routes into the PBM literature

These search strings are recorded in the PBM Database Methods section. Broad searches find candidate papers; manual review checks their relevance.

Core PBM terms

Direct searches for the most familiar names.

LLLTphotobiomodulation
View full search string 1LLLT OR photobiomodulation

Related treatment terms

Broader names and light-source terms, with exclusions for unrelated results.

light irradiationLED phototherapyILIBhelium-neon lasertranscranial laser
View full search string 2"light irradiation" OR "LED phototherapy" OR "light treatment" "water-filtered" OR "ILIB" OR "light-emitting diode" OR "transcranial laser" OR "visible light" OR "infrared laser" OR "rhinophototherapy" OR "light therapy" OR "phototherapy" OR "low-power laser" OR "low-level light" OR "low-intensity laser" OR "low energy laser" OR "low energy light" OR "intravascular laser" OR "intravenous laser" OR "helium-neon laser" OR "he-ne laser" OR "low-level light-emitting" OR "class IV laser" NOT LLLT NOT photobiomodulation NOT ultraviolet NOT UVB NOT neonates NOT photodynamic NOT photocatalysis* NOT cataly* NOT transitio* NOT graphene NOT photons* NOT silic* NOT spectrosc* NOT gold NOT nano* NOT *polymer* NOT conjug* NOT phototherm* NOT fluorescen* NOT sensor* NOT imaging

Red & near-infrared light

Light-based terms that can identify papers outside the core PBM searches.

red lightnear-infrared
View full search string 3"red light" OR "near-infrared" NOT imaging NOT spectroscopy NOT photothermal NOT nano* NOT sensor* NOT fluorescen* NOT near-infrared immunohistochemistry NOT LLLT NOT photobiomodulation

Relevant journals

Journal searches provide another route into the literature.

j photochem photobiol bphotobiomodul photomed laser surglasers med scij biophotonics
View full search string 4"j photochem photobiol b" OR "photochem photobiol" OR "photochem photobiol res" OR "photobiomodul photomed laser surg" OR "j biophotonics" OR "lasers med sci" OR "lasers surg med" OR "j lasers med sci"

Forward-citation searching

Start with an important older PBM paper and find newer publications that cite it. This can reveal relevant studies even when their titles use different treatment names.

From an older PBM paper to newer papers that cite it Search direction, left to right: choose a known article such as Karu 2005, open Cited by in Google Scholar, and review newer papers that reference that article. The newer papers are schematic examples. SEARCH DIRECTION: OLDER → NEWER Known PBM article e.g. Karu (2005) Google Scholar Open “Cited by” Newer paper ANewer paper BNewer paper C

Database annotations

What the database symbols mean

The symbols make key details—study models and methods, light delivery and findings—easier to scan. The number beside each marking shows how many database records carry it; records can have several markings, so counts overlap. Curator highlights and interpretive notes reflect the curator’s reading, not an independent rating of study quality.

Study & method

  • HumanResearch involving human participants3,341
  • RatStudy using a rat model1,567
  • MouseStudy using a mouse model637
  • RabbitStudy using a rabbit model157
  • In vitroCells or tissues studied in the lab1,739
  • Sample sizeParticipant number is recorded2,967
  • Study periodTreatment or follow-up duration recorded from the full text2,863
  • Randomized trialControl or PBM add-on group1,785
  • Active comparisonHead-to-head; no negative control306
  • Other studyCase, cohort, single-arm and similar1,161
  • Narrative reviewNon-systematic review1,073
  • Systematic reviewStructured review of studies341
  • Meta-analysisQuantitative synthesis of results356
  • EditorialEditorial or commentary147

Light & delivery

  • Wavelength comparisonDifferent wavelengths compared438
  • Biphasic dose responseResponse rises, then falls with dose261
  • Full-body PBMLight delivered to the whole body27
  • Vascular PBMPBM delivered into or over vessels43
  • PolychromaticMultiple wavelengths from the source195
  • At-home PBMSelf-administered PBM device48

Critical reading

  • Curator highlightSelected as noteworthy by the curator397
  • CautionStudy concern, e.g. poorly reported parameters256
  • Spin warningClaims appear to exceed reported findings20
  • PBM-related harmHarm associated with PBM is reported19
  • Parameter issueDose or parameter discrepancy13
  • Active shamSham group receives lower-dose light7

Context & findings

  • Treatment photographArticle includes a photo of PBM being given307
  • Systemic effectSystem-wide effect is noted105
  • Drug comparatorPBM compared with a drug199
  • Inhibitory PBMSuppression or inhibition is studied7
  • Unexpected findingSurprising observation5
  • Very compelling findingCurator-selected standout4

Database completeness

Much of the parameter data is still unrecorded

Many treatment details have yet to be entered into the PBM Database. This analysis counts fully empty cells in the ten parameter columns L–U, with ten cells per article.

Human studies

3,326 research articles

53.3% of parameter cells are blank

17,736 empty cells

out of 33,260 parameter cells

Animal experiments

2,546 research articles

64.7% of parameter cells are blank

16,470 empty cells

out of 25,460 parameter cells

In vitro studies

1,733 research articles

78.9% of parameter cells are blank

13,670 empty cells

out of 17,330 parameter cells

All three study models combined

46,528

fully empty parameter cells

Share of all parameter cells

62.8%

of 74,120 cells in 7,412 distinct articles

A blank database cell does not necessarily mean the original paper omitted that information. Study-model groups may overlap; each article is counted once in the combined total.

Source: PBM Database parameter-field analysis, supplied snapshot. These figures describe that snapshot, rather than the live database.