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A histopathologic investigation on the effects of electrical stimulation on periodontal tissue regeneration in experimental bony defects in dogs.

BACKGROUND: One endpoint of periodontal therapy is to regenerate the structure lost due to periodontal disease. In the periodontium, gingival epithelium is regenerated by oral epithelium. Underlying connective tissue, periodontal ligament, bone, and cementum are derived from connective tissue. Primitive connective tissue cells may develop into osteoblasts and cementoblasts, which form bone and cementum. Several procedural advances may support these regenerations; however, the regeneration of alveolar bone does not always occur. Therefore, bone stimulating factors are a main topic for periodontal reconstructive research. The present study was designed to examine histopathologically whether the application of an electrical field could demonstrate enhanced alveolar and cementum regeneration and modify tissue factors. METHODS: Seven beagle dogs were used for this experiment. Mandibular left and right sides served as control and experimental sides, respectively, and 4-walled intrabony defects were created bilaterally between the third and fourth premolars. The experimental side was treated with a capacitively coupled electrical field (CCEF) (sinusoidal wave, 60 kHz, and 5 V peak-to-peak), applied for 14 hours per day. The following measurements were performed on the microphotographs: 1) the distance from the cemento-enamel junction to the apical notch (CEJ-AN) and from the crest of newly formed bone (alveolar ridge) to the apical notch (AR-AN); 2) the thickness of new cementum in the apical notch region; and 3) the length of junctional epithelium. The following histopathologic parameters were assessed by a semiquantitative subjective method: 1) inflammatory cell infiltration (ICI); 2) cellular activity of the periodontal ligament; 3) number and morphology of osteoclasts; 4) resorption lacunae; and 5) osteoblastic activity. RESULTS: The results showed that the quantity of new bone fill and the mean value of the thickness of the cementum were significantly higher for the experimental side (P < 0.01). The location of the base of the pocket was positioned more coronally with respect to the apical point of the coronal notch in the experimental side (statistically significant P < 0.01). The length of the junctional epithelium and the number of osteoclasts were higher in the stimulated side than the coronal side; these findings were also statistically significant (P < 0.01). The comparison of the electrically stimulated versus non-stimulated mandibles with the semiquantitative subjective method demonstrated statistically significant differences in defined histopathologic parameters, except for osteoclast morphologies (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the CCEF method has the potential to produce reconstructive effects and bone deposits. Further investigations with respect to the theoretical determination of local field parameters of the periodontal tissue complex, such as permittivity, conductivity, strength of the field electrical stimulation applied to the periodontal field current density, wavelength, and signal frequency appropriate for this field, should be undertaken. Using different electromotive forces alone or in combination with bone graft materials, guided tissue regeneration techniques, and dental implants may achieve a new dimension in periodontal therapy in the near future.

Alveolar Bone Loss↗

Electrochemical organization of monolayer protected gold nanoclusters on single-walled carbon nanotubes: significantly enhanced double layer capacitance.

This paper reports a novel electrochemical route for anchoring monolayer protected gold nanoclusters (size 8 +/- 0.2 nm) on single-walled carbon nanotube bundles, resulting in the formation of hybrid materials. Monolayer protected gold nanoclusters prepared by modified Brust synthesis route were organized on SWNT bundles by cycling the potential in dichloromethane between -1 to +1 V at a scan rate of 50 mV/s. Monolayer protected nanoclusters in electrolyte solutions possess ionic space charge around them (double layer charging), making them suitable for organization on nanotube bundles, by tuning the electrostatic interactions. More significantly, analysis of the double layer capacitance of these hybrid materials shows almost ten times increase in capacitance compared to that of bare SWNT bundles. We believe that these hybrid materials are potentially useful in nanoelectronics.

Crystallization↗

Physical modelling of electroporation in close cell-to-cell proximity environments.

Many applications of electroporation, especially those utilizing electrofusion and in-vivo electroporation, involve cell environments that include close cell-to-cell proximity and a wide range of target cell size. It is important to understand how this kind of environment may alter optimum electroporation electrical parameters for any given application. A physical, electrically equivalent model of biological cell electroporation, based on aqueous solution filled thin latex rubber membrane spheroids, was used to investigate membrane permeabilization behaviour where there is both close cell-to-cell proximity and different cell radii. Cell model arrangements were pulsed using either a 50 micros or 10 micros, 1/e decay time constant dc capacitive discharge electric field, with peak amplitudes of 160-500 kV m(-1). Results indicate that, compared to cells in isolation, electroporation initiates at substantially decreased applied electric field magnitudes in regions of close cell-to-cell proximity where the external media conductivity is lower than the cell interior conductivity, and the membrane is maximally polarized. Additionally, the use of shorter time constant, higher peak magnitude pulse parameters should reduce the relative difference in threshold membrane permeabilization in regions of close cell-to-cell proximity for cells of different size so that the degree of electroporation is more uniform for variable size and shape target cell populations.

Animals↗

Skin capacitance mapping of psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: The pathobiological dynamics of psoriatic lesions are complex and difficult to perceive by clinical inspection alone. Non-invasive bioengineering methods may prove to be useful in this field. OBJECTIVE: To identify some subtle capacitance variations in the stratum corneum of chronic psoriasis lesions. METHOD: The newly developed method of skin capacitance imaging was used to provide non-optical images of the hydration of the superficial layers of the stratum corneum. RESULTS: Compared to the uninvolved skin, psoriatic lesions usually showed an overall lowered capacitance, admixed with foci of moderately higher capacitance. Still other sharply circumscribed blotches with higher capacitance were present. The latter aspect corresponded to inflammatory areas. Sweating appeared markedly impaired inside the lesions. The fingerprint of some patients was altered, thus potentially interfering with the current biometric security procedures using the same method. CONCLUSION: Skin capacitance imaging is a non-invasive, non-optical method that distinguishes three contrasting levels of stratum corneum hydration in psoriatic lesions. The lowest capacitance level probably corresponded to xerotic orthokeratosis. The medium capacitance level presumably identified foci of parakeratosis and clumps of neutrophils. The highest capacitance level suggested exsudation at the site of prominent vessel dilation and dermal inflammation. Impaired sweating in the psoriatic lesions may potentially interfere with body thermoregulation.

Dermatoglyphics↗

Cyclopiazonic acid activates a Ca2+-permeable, nonselective cation conductance in porcine and bovine tracheal smooth muscle.

Capacitative Ca2+ entry has been examined in several tissues and, in some, appears to be mediated by nonselective cation channels collectively referred to as "store-operated" cation channels; however, relatively little is known about the electrophysiological properties of these channels in airway smooth muscle. Consequently we examined the electrophysiological characteristics and changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration associated with a cyclopiazonic acid (CPA)-evoked current in porcine and bovine airway smooth muscle using patch-clamp and Ca2+-fluorescence techniques. In bovine tracheal myocytes, CPA induced an elevation of intracellular Ca2+ that was dependent on extracellular Ca2+ and was insensitive to nifedipine (an L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channel inhibitor). Using patch-clamp techniques and conditions that block both K+ and Cl- currents, we found that CPA rapidly activated a membrane conductance (I(CPA)) in porcine and bovine tracheal myocytes that exhibits a linear current-voltage relationship with a reversal potential around 0 mV. Replacement of extracellular Na+ resulted in a marked reduction of I(CPA) at physiological membrane potentials (i.e., -60 mV) that was accompanied by a shift in the reversal potential for I(CPA) toward more negative membrane potentials. In addition, I(CPA) was markedly inhibited by 10 microM Gd3+ and La3+ but was largely insensitive to 1 microM nifedipine. We conclude that CPA induces capacitative Ca2+ entry in porcine and bovine tracheal smooth muscle via a Gd3+- and La3+-sensitive, nonselective cation conductance.

Animals↗

Linear and nonlinear equivalent circuit modeling of CMUTs.

Using piston radiator and plate capacitance theory capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers (CMUT) membrane cells can be described by one-dimensional (1-D) model parameters. This paper describes in detail a new method, which derives a 1-D model for CMUT arrays from finite-element methods (FEM) simulations. A few static and harmonic FEM analyses of a single CMUT membrane cell are sufficient to derive the mechanical and electrical parameters of an equivalent piston as the moving part of the cell area. For an array of parallel-driven cells, the acoustic parameters are derived as a complex mechanical fluid impedance, depending on the membrane shape form. As a main advantage, the nonlinear behavior of the CMUT can be investigated much easier and faster compared to FEM simulations, e.g., for a design of the maximum applicable voltage depending on the input signal. The 1-D parameter model allows an easy description of the CMUT behavior in air and fluids and simplifies the investigation of wave propagation within the connecting fluid represented by FEM or transmission line matrix (TLM) models.

Computer Simulation↗

Calcium dependence of exocytosis in lacrimal gland acinar cells.

Simultaneous measurements of membrane capacitance and intracellular calcium concentration were used to examine the calcium dependence of exocytosis in single acinar cells from mouse lacrimal gland and to establish the quantitative relation between calcium concentration and rate of exocytosis. Application of adrenergic or muscarinic agonists elevated intracellular calcium and evoked exocytosis, as indicated by an increase in membrane capacitance of single cells. The capacitance response to agonist stimulation was eliminated by internal dialysis with the calcium buffer EGTA, which demonstrated that the increase in intracellular calcium was necessary for agonist-evoked exocytosis. When internal calcium was elevated by application of the calcium ionophore ionomycin, exocytosis was evoked in the absence of agonist stimulation. Thus an increase in intracellular calcium was necessary and sufficient for exocytosis in single acinar cells. The rate of change of membrane capacitance increased as approximately the third power of the calcium concentration, which is similar to the dependence of exocytosis rate on calcium concentration in other secretory cells.

Adrenergic Agonists↗

Tissue and electrode capacitance reduce neural activation volumes during deep brain stimulation.

OBJECTIVE: The growing clinical acceptance of neurostimulation technology has highlighted the need to accurately predict neural activation as a function of stimulation parameters and electrode design. In this study we evaluate the effects of the tissue and electrode capacitance on the volume of tissue activated (VTA) during deep brain stimulation (DBS). METHODS: We use a Fourier finite element method (Fourier FEM) to calculate the potential distribution in the tissue medium as a function of time and space simultaneously for a range of stimulus waveforms. The extracellular voltages are then applied to detailed multi-compartment cable models of myelinated axons to determine neural activation. Neural activation volumes are calculated as a function of the stimulation parameters and magnitude of the capacitive components of the electrode-tissue interface. RESULTS: Inclusion of either electrode or tissue capacitance reduces the VTA compared to electrostatic simulations in a manner dependent on the capacitance magnitude and the stimulation parameters (amplitude and pulse width). Electrostatic simulations with typical DBS parameter settings (-3 V or -3 mA, 90 micros, 130 Hz) overestimate the VTA by approximately 20% for voltage- or current-controlled stimulation. In addition, strength-duration time constants decrease and more closely match clinical measurements when explicitly accounting for the effects of voltage-controlled stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Attempts to quantify the VTA from clinical neurostimulation devices should account for the effects of electrode and tissue capacitance. SIGNIFICANCE: DBS has rapidly emerged as an effective treatment for movement disorders; however, little is known about the VTA during therapeutic stimulation. In addition, the influence of tissue and electrode capacitance has been largely ignored in previous models of neural stimulation. The results and methodology of this study provide the foundation for the quantitative analysis of the VTA during clinical neurostimulation.

Algorithms↗

Theoretical analysis of the potential distribution and transportation behavior of the ordered alkyl monolayer-silicon junction.

A theoretical approach to the determination of the potential distribution within an organic monolayer sandwiched metal-insulator-semiconductor junction has been proposed with two simplified models, e.g. static (capacitance) model and dynamic (resistance) model. Compared with the resistance model, the capacitance model has been confirmed to be more valid for determining the potential distribution of the system. Further, the transportation behavior of the system has been simulated with a modified electron-tunneling model.

Computer Simulation↗

Artifactual synchrony via capacitance coupling in multi-electrode recording from cat striate cortex.

Elucidation of neural connectivity patterns in the brain are thought to give us a mechanistic understanding of how the brain works. Functional connectivity is best studied by simultaneous recording of single-unit activity from many neurons. Accordingly, various types of multiple-microelectrode systems have been developed. We have studied long-range lateral interactions in cat striate cortex. To physiologically characterize interacting cells recorded simultaneously, we used two microelectrodes whose movements were controlled by two independently-movable microdrives. The tips of the two microelectrodes were separated by approximately 2 mm or more. During preliminary plotting of two receptive fields of cell pairs, we often noted the emergence of perfectly synchronous firing between two spike trains (amplitude ratio, about 20:1) registered with two microelectrodes. Synchronously firing, smaller spikes disappeared when larger spikes of the pair were lost to either substantial advancement of or placing an electrolytic lesion at the electrode registering the latter. The synchrony also disappeared when two microdrive systems were shielded individually. We concluded that the synchrony was attained through capacitance coupling between two microdrive systems. We proposed a few practical recommendations to avoid the contamination of cross correlograms with the false-positive, narrow peak at time zero due to the presence of reflected spike trains.

Action Potentials↗

New immobilization method for immunoaffinity biosensors by using thiolated proteins.

A new immobilization method for immunoaffinity (IA) biosensors that ensures the high surface density and the stability of the IA layer was developed. For the immobilization of biomolecules, the molecular recognition protein was first thiolated by covalent conjugation of mercaptopropionic acid, and then the thiolated protein was attached on the gold surface of the transducer. In this work, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and its antibody were used as a model antigen-antibody, and the following properties of the IA layer prepared by thiolated protein were estimated: (i) biological integrity of HRP after the immobilization process by using activity assay, (ii) charge transfer resistance by immobilization, (iii) mass loading by the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor, (iv) number of binding sites, and (v) feasibility test for the measurement of capacitive change by the antigen-antibody interaction. Based on these parameters, the immobilization method by using thiolated protein was determined to be feasible for application to IA biosensors.

Affinity Labels↗

Capacitance-derived dielectric constants demonstrate differential preinitiation complexes in TBP-independent and TBP-dependent transcription.

The electronic properties of proteins and DNA may change dramatically upon complex formation, yet there are not many experimental methods which can be used to measure these properties. It has been previously shown that measuring the capacitance of a solution containing interacting DNA and protein species can yield information about changing dipole moments. The measured dielectric constant relates directly to the dipole moment of the complexes in solution. Here, we apply this method to partial transcription initiation complexes in order to investigate the changing electronic properties in the transcriptional preinitiation complex. These experiments are the first reported observations relating to the overall dipole moment and its changes in preinitiation complex formation. Comparing results from TBP-independent and TBP-dependent transcriptional systems shows a divergence in the electronic properties of built-up transcription complexes, suggesting that they initiate transcription by significantly different electronic and structural pathways.

DNA-Binding Proteins↗

The adsorption and condensed film formation of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide at the mercury/electrolyte interface.

The adsorption of cetyltrimethyammonium bromide (CTAB) on a hanging mercury electrode is studied in various electrolyte systems and temperatures. A condensed film is formed at negative potentials and at room temperature only in the presence of KBr. The decrease of the temperature favors the formation of the condensed film. Hysterisis phenomena are observed during the potential scans at both directions. Capacity time curves at the potentials where the film is formed show a nucleation and growth mechanism, with induction time depending on potential, which has been investigated using Avrami formulation and has been explained as a progressive one-dimensional nucleation with constant growth rate. The nucleation rate increases while moving toward more negative potentials. A linear decrease of the capacitance with time was observed in some cases independent of the measuring potential in a relative large potential range. The different types of micelles can affect the adsorption of CTAB on mercury. An unusual capacitance transient observed at a very narrow negative potential range is attributed to the formation of hemicylinders. The condensed film in the presence of the other electrolytes is observed only at high concentrations (1 M) and very low temperatures (5 degrees C).

Adsorption↗

Capacitance measurements at the calyx of Held in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body.

We have recently applied Lindau-Neher's capacitance measurement technique to study vesicle trafficking at the calyx-type synapse in the rat medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) in slice conditions. This application made the MNTB synapse an excellent model for the study of exocytosis and endocytosis at conventional active zones. However, the application was only made at calyces that are presumably equivalent to a single-compartment circuit because their passive current transients decayed mono-exponentially. Here, we determined whether the application could be extended to majority of calyces whose passive current transients decayed bi-exponentially. By comparison of calyces with mono- or bi-exponential decay in their passive current transients, we found similar properties in respect to: (1) the capacitance jump induced by trains of action-potential equivalent stimuli, which reflects exocytosis; (2) the size of a releasable vesicle pool; (3) the time course of the decay after the capacitance jump, which reflects endocytosis; and (4) the transient capacitance artifact observed in the presence of Cd(2+) that blocks exocytosis. These similar properties were also obtained from modeling calyces as a single- or two-compartment circuit. Thus, capacitance measurements may be extended to the majority of calyces, which may facilitate the study of rapid vesicle trafficking at conventional active zones.

Animals↗

Experimental and theoretical studies of the effect of electrode polarisation on capacitances of blood and potassium chloride solution.

The effects of electrode polarisation on the observed capacitances of electrolytic solutions, including whole blood, plasma and potassium chloride solution, have been investigated experimentally in the frequency region from 10 to 10(5) Hz, by varying the area of the electrodes using plate and mesh electrodes, by varying the electrode distance, and by varying the concentration of KCl in the potassium chloride solution. The effects of the electrode polarisation on the observed capacitances were most significant in the frequencies lower than 10(2) Hz, but cannot be neglected in any frequency region. The so-called alpha dispersion observed in the frequencies lower than about 10(3) Hz was reproduced theoretically with an equivalent circuit model, using constant values independent of frequency for the four circuit parameters: sample capacitance, sample conductivity, electrode polarisation capacitance and electrode polarisation conductivity. It was concluded that the observed alpha dispersion is not a real one that represents the specific features of the samples themselves, but an apparent one that represents the characteristics of the whole measurement system, including the electrode polarisation.

Blood Physiological Phenomena↗

Furosemide alters nonlinear capacitance in isolated outer hair cells.

The outer hair cell (OHC) from the organ of Corti plays a crucial role in hearing through its unique voltage-dependent mechanical responses. Furosemide, one of the loop diuretics, disrupts normal cochlear function. Here we report on direct effects of furosemide on OHC motility-related, voltage-dependent capacitance using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Extracellularly applied furosemide reversibly shifted the voltage at peak capacitance (V(pkC(m))) to positive levels. The shift, whose maximum approached 90 mV, evidenced a Hill coefficient of 1.5 and K(1/2) of 10 mM. Changes in the magnitude of nonlinear capacitance were not fully reversible. While it is clear that the overwhelming effect of furosemide on hearing results via its effects on the endolymphatic potential, the present results indicate that furosemide directly alters OHC motility and may, in part, contribute to sensory dysfunction.

Animals↗

Skin capacitance imaging, a new technique for investigating the skin surface.

Thanks to the recently introduced silicone image sensor technology, skin capacitance imaging has now been made possible. The dedicated device is called SkinChip. This method is easy to handle and provides information about the skin microrelief, the level of stratum corneum hydration and the sweat gland activity. The apparatus sees and measures these parameters with a 50 microm resolution. A series of conditions have been explored using skin capacitance imaging. This review summarizes relevant findings about regional variability on the body, changes occurring with ageing, effects of a hydrating formulation, reactivity kinetics of corneocytes to surfactants, acne and skin pores characteristics, as well as hyperkeratotic dermatoses and tumours.

Dermatology↗