Dye-doped cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) behaves like a one-dimensional photonic crystal laser when pumped by a second harmonic Nd-YAG pulsed laser. Usually circularly polarized laser light in the same sense as the cholesteric helix is emitted from both directions of the lasing cell. In this paper, we experimentally demonstrate the laser emission enhancement and investigate the corresponding ...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Laser thrombolysis is a means for clearing blood clots in occluded arteries. Many researchers have studied the mechanisms of clot ablation, and research clinicians have used the technique to treat myocardial infarction with a number of different laser systems. Specifically, a 1-microsec pulsed dye laser has been used clinically to remove blood clots in coronary arteries...

BACKGROUND So far, pulsed dye lasers have been regarded as the gold standard in the treatment of port-wine stains (PWS). Recently, intense pulsed light (IPL) has been reported to achieve more pronounced fading in some patients. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy and the side effects of IPL treatment of PWS in a direct comparison to the short-pulsed dye laser (SPDL) and the long-pulsed dye la...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Infantile hemangiomas are the most common benign tumor in children. They have 3 phases of development: a proliferative phase, an involuting phase, and involution. Although active treatment is often not required, it is necessary in some cases. Of the possible treatments for hemangiomas, lasers have been shown to be effective in all phases of development. We report our e...

Nail changes are present in about 50% of psoriasis patients and tend to be refractory to conventional treatments. Pulsed dye laser has emerged as an alternative therapy. Our aim is to evaluate the efficacy of pulsed dye laser in nail psoriasis and the impact of treatment on quality of life. Fourteen patients were treated in monthly sessions for three months. The outcome assesment was made by th...

BACKGROUND Port wine stains (PWS) affect 0.3-0.5% of both sexes of newborns, usually occurring on the face. OBJECTIVE To document safety and effectiveness of cryogen spray cooled, pulsed-dye laser at higher fluences than previously used to lighten facial PWS in infants < or =6 months, and establish that frequent treatment early in life yields better clearance than if delayed until later in li...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Nonablative dermal remodeling is an evolving technology that has generated great interest among both laser surgeons and patients. Evidence indicates that dermal collagen formation is the key mechanism of action for the nonablative techniques. We studied, with ultrasound, new collagen formation after nonablative laser irradiation. METHODS Ten patients with facial rhyt...

BACKGROUND Nodular amyloidosis is a rare form of primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis which is characterized by single or multiple nodules located on the extremities, trunk, genitalia, or face. OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical and histologic response of nodular amyloidosis to pulsed dye laser treatment. METHODS Biopsy-proven amyloid nodules were treated with a 585-nm pulsed dye laser ...