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Effect of 2450 MHz microwave energy on the blood-brain barrier to hydrophilic molecules. B. Effect on the permeability to HRP.

Alteration of blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability by 2450 MHz CW microwaves was assessed semi-quantitatively after intravenous injection of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and exposure of conscious, unrestrained rats to incident power densities of 0, 20 or 65 mW/cm2 for 30, 90 or 180 min. Additional rats were exposed to ambient heat (42 +/- 2 degrees C) for 30 or 90 min. None of the brain regions studied, with the exception of the normally leaky pineal gland, showed extracellular HRP leakage attributable to microwave or thermally-induced breakdown of the blood-brain barrier. The mean ratio of HRP-labeled microvessel endothelium/total number of microvessels counted was determined for each brain region. Mean values for the cortex, hypothalamus, cerebellum and medulla of microwave-exposed and heated rats were consistently below those of corresponding sham levels. This decrease appeared to correlate inversely with power density and duration of exposure. Statistically significant deviation (P less than 0.05) from sham mean values occurred in the cortex, hypothalamus, cerebellum and medulla of animals made hyperthermic with ambient heat or exposure to microwaves at 65 mW/cm2 (specific absorption rate approximately equal to 13.0 W/kg) for 30 or 90 min. Additionally, electron microscopic evaluation of ultrathin sections taken from each of the 4 brain regions revealed no significant extravasation of HRP indicative of microwave or ambient heat-induced disruption of the blood-brain barrier.

Animals↗

Effect of 2450 MHz microwave energy on the blood-brain barrier to hydrophilic molecules. C. Effect on the permeability to [14C]sucrose.

Intravenously injected [14C]sucrose was used as a small molecular weight (342 daltons), hydrophilic tracer for determination of 2450 MHz CW microwave and ambient heat effects on rat blood-brain barrier permeability in the cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, cerebellum and medulla. The tracer was injected 4 min following exposure of conscious, unrestrained rats to microwaves at 0 or 65 mW/cm2 for 30 or 90 min (SAR approximately equal to 13.0 W/kg) or to ambient heat (42 +/- 2 degrees C) for 90 min. Comparison of mean permeability-surface area products (PA) and uptake ratios between sham and microwave-exposed animals revealed a statistically significant (P less than 0.05) decrease of both PA and uptake ratios for the hypothalamus, cerebellum and medulla of rats exposed to microwaves for 30 min. This decrease was not apparent for rats exposed to microwaves for 90 min. A pertinent observation, with regard to this latter group of animals, was the increased circulating levels of the tracer when colonic temperature was raised to approximately 41.4 degrees C or higher.

Animals↗

Overview of Microwave Applications in the Neurosciences.

This paper gives an overview of Microwave Applications in the Neurosciences and introduces this issue of the Journal of Neuroscience Methods. Emphasis is laid on: temperature, hotspots, hazards and cycle times in the use of the microwave oven. Consequences of the tissue dimensions and masking of antigens are discussed. Special problems encountered are: bulk preparation of specimens, brain electron microscopy, cooling of specimens during microwaving and the combination of microwave techniques. The recent developments discussed are vacuum-microwave application for large brain specimens and antigen retrieval.

Animals↗

High quality of DNA retrieved for Southern blot hybridization from microwave-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver tissues.

To overcome the degradation problem encountered in DNA extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks, several methods of tissue fixation were examined in order to improve the quality of the DNA recovered for use in nucleic acid analysis. The fixation methods included formalin fixation alone, alcohol fixation alone, and microwave fixation with tissues immersed in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), alcohol, or formalin. Unfixed fresh frozen tissue served as the control. Using hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA sequences and the type I human procollagen gene as markers and liver tissue as a target, microwave fixation, with formalin omitted, not only preserved the DNA very well, but also the labile viral antigen. Both high molecular weight-integrated and free-form HBV DNAs were well preserved, and suitable for polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analysis. The restriction enzyme fragment pattern of DNA recovered from these paraffin blocks was identical to that of unfixed fresh frozen tissue. Microwave fixation also preserved the labile preS2 epitope of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) considerably better than formalin. These results suggest that microwave fixation is superior to routine formalin fixation for the preservation of excellent quality of genomic and viral DNAs for nucleic acid hybridization analysis. Alcohol, often used for nucleic acid purification, was also a good fixative for preserving DNA and the antigenicity of the labile antigen, especially when carried out in combination with microwave fixation.

Base Sequence↗

Effect of microwave radiation on permeability of liposomes. Evidence against non-thermal leakage.

The effect of 2.45 GHz microwave radiation on the permeability of unilamellar phosphatidylcholine liposomes has been studied. Leakage of 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein from the liposomes was measured using spectrofluorimetry after exposure to either microwaves or thermal heating for 5-20 min intervals. The exposure temperature, 37.6 +/- 0.5 degrees C, was well above the phase transition temperature of the lipid membrane. The microwave exposure did not result in any non-thermal increase in permeability above that produced by thermal heating. This study refutes the results reported by Saalman et al. [1] in which an increased liposome permeability due to microwave exposure was reported. The refined analysis in the present study shows that this increased liposome permeability was not a non-thermal microwave effect.

Fluoresceins↗

Combined effect of microwave and activated carbon on the remediation of polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated soil.

The application of microwave and activated carbon for the treatment of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminated soil was explored in this study with a model compound of 2,4,5-trichlorobiphenyl (PCB29). PCB-contaminated soil was treated in a quartz reactor by microwave irradiation at 2450MHz with the addition of granular activated carbon (GAC). In this procedure, GAC acted as microwave absorbent for reaching high temperature and reductant for dechlorination. A sheltered type-K thermocouple was applied to record the temperature rising courses. It was shown that the addition of GAC could effectively promote the temperature rising courses. The determination of PCB residues in soil by gas chromatography (GC) revealed that rates of PCB removal were highly dependent on microwave power, soil moisture content, and the amount of GAC added. GC with mass spectrum (MS) detector and ion chromatography were employed for the analysis of degradation intermediates and chlorine ions, respectively. It was suggested that microwave irradiation with the assistance of activated carbon might be a potential technology for the remediation of PCB-contaminated soil.

Carbon↗

Improved solvent-free microwave extraction of essential oil from dried Cuminum cyminum L. and Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim.

Solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME) is a recently developed green technique which is performed in atmospheric conditions without adding any solvent or water. SFME has already been applied to extraction of essential oil from fresh plant materials or dried materials prior moistened. The essential oil is evaporated by the in situ water in the plant materials. In this paper, it was observed that an improved SFME, in which a kind of microwave absorption solid medium, such as carbonyl iron powders (CIP), was added and mixed with the sample, can be applied to extraction of essential oil from the dried plant materials without any pretreatment. Because the microwave absorption capacity of CIP is much better than that of water, the extraction time while using the improved SFME is no more than 30 min using a microwave power of 85 W. Compared to the conventional SFME, the advantages of improved SFME were to speed up the extraction rate and need no pretreatment. Improved SFME has been compared with conventional SFME, microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD) and conventional hydrodistillation (HD) for the extraction of essential oil from dried Cuminum cyminum L. and Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. By using GC-MS system the compositions of essential oil extracted by applying four kinds of extraction methods were identified. There was no obvious difference in the quality of essential oils obtained by the four kinds of extraction methods.

Chromatography, Liquid↗

On-line coupling of dynamic microwave-assisted extraction with high-performance liquid chromatography for determination of andrographolide and dehydroandrographolide in Andrographis paniculata Nees.

A novel technique based on dynamic microwave-assisted extraction (DMAE) coupled on-line with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) through a flow injection interface has been developed for determination of andrographolide and dehydroandrographolide in Andrographis paniculata Nees. A TM(010) microwave resonance cavity built in the laboratory was applied to concentrating the microwave energy. An extraction vessel was placed in microwave irradiation zone. The extraction was performed in a recirculating system. When a number of extraction cycles were completed, the fractional extract (20muL) was driven to the analytical column by 65% aqueous methanol and was measured by diode array detector (DAD) at 225nm. The optimized extraction conditions are follows: extraction solvent 60% aqueous methanol; microwave forward power 80W; extraction time 6min; extraction solvent flow-rate 1.0mLmin(-1). The detection and quantification limits obtained are 0.5 and 1.7microgmL(-1) for andrographolide and 0.6 and 1.9microgmL(-1) for dehydroandrographolide, respectively. The within-day and between-day precision (RSD) are 2.1% and 3.7% for andrographolide and 1.7% and 4.1% for dehydroandrographolide, respectively. Mean recoveries for andrographolide and dehydroandrographolide are 97.7% and 98.7%, respectively. Compared with ultrasonic extraction used in the Chinese pharmacopoeia, the proposed method was demonstrated to obtain higher extraction yield in a shorter time. In addition, only small quantities of solvent (5mL) and sample (10mg) were required.

Andrographis↗

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous thermal ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma using microwave and radiofrequency ablation.

AIM: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of thermal ablation for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using microwave and radiofrequency (RF) energy application. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 190 nodules in 97 patients (84 male, 13 female; mean age 53.4 years, range 24-74 years) with HCC were treated with microwave or RF ablation in the last 4 years. The applicators were introduced into the tumours under conscious analgesic sedation by intravenous administration of fentanyl citrate and droperidol and local anaesthesia in both thermal ablation procedures. The patients were then followed up with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) to evaluate treatment response. Survival was analysed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Complete ablation was obtained in 92.6% (176/190) nodules. The complete ablation rates were 94.6% (106/112) in microwave ablation and 89.7% (70/78) in RF ablation. The complete ablation rates in tumours</=2.0, 2.1-3.9 and >/=4.0 cm were 93.1, 93.8 and 86.4%, respectively. Local recurrence was found in 9.5% nodules and the rates in tumours</=2.0, 2.1-3.9 and >/=4.0 cm in diameter were 3.4, 9.9 and 31.8%, respectively. In the follow-up period, 7.1% nodules ablated by microwave and 12.8% by RF presented local recurrence. The 1, 2 and 3-year distant recurrence-free survivals were 47.2, 34.9 and 31.0%, respectively. Estimated mean survival was 32 months, and 1, 2 and 3-year cumulative survivals were 75.6, 58.5, and 50.0%, respectively. One and 2 years survivals of Child-Pugh class A, B and C patients were 83.8 and 70.4%, 78.2 and 53.2%, 36.3 and 27.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Thermal ablation therapy by means of microwave and RF energy application is an effective and safe therapeutic technique for hepatocellular carcinoma. Large tumours can be completely ablated, but have a significantly higher risk of local recurrence at follow-up.

Adult↗

Microwave ablation of hepatic tumors using dual-loop probes: results of a phase I clinical trial.

Hepatic tumors are a common cause of death worldwide. However, few patients are candidates for resection at the time of presentation. Microwave ablation is a viable alternative available for these patients. To date, only straight antennas are used for microwave ablation. Recently, a prototype loop-shaped microwave antenna was developed that, in animal studies, more effectively kills tumors. For this study, the dual-probe lesions were created by placing the probes in both tumors and normal livers. Lesions were created with 60 watts applied power for 5-7 minutes. The livers were sectioned and stained for viability. The average ablation volume was 63.9 +/- 8.7 cm(3). Microwave ablation with the loop probes results in complete tumor kill at the ablation/tumor interface, and adjacent to surrounding blood vessels. In addition, vessels within the ablation/tumor interface failed to show viable cells. The shape of the lesions was not distorted by proximity to blood vessels. The advantages of this configuration over conventional straight probes include the ability to encircle a tumor, deliver large amounts of precisely targeted microwave energy to the tumor, and spare normal liver outside the loop.

Equipment Design↗

Microwave enhanced stabilization of heavy metal sludge.

A microwave process can be utilized to stabilize the copper ions in heavy metal sludge. The effects of microwave processing on stabilization of heavy metal sludge were studied as a function of additive, power, process time, reaction atmosphere, cooling gas, organic substance, and temperature. Copper leach resistance increased with addition of aluminum metal powder, with increased microwave power, increased processing time, and using a gaseous environment of nitrogen for processing and air for cooling [N2/air]. The organic in the sludge affected stabilization, whether or not the organic smoldered. During heating in conventional ovens, exothermic oxidation of the organic resulted in sludge temperatures of about 500 degrees C for oven control temperatures of 200-500 degrees C. After microwave heating dried the sludge, the sludge temperature rose to 500 degrees C. The reaction between copper ions and metal aluminum in the dried sludge should be regarded as a solid phase reaction. Adding aluminum metal powder and reaction temperature were the key parameters in stabilizing copper in the heavy metal sludge, whether heated by microwave radiation or conventional oven. The mass balance indicates insignificant volatization of the copper during heating.

Aluminum↗

Microwave assisted rapid and complete degradation of atrazine using TiO(2) nanotube photocatalyst suspensions.

A technology, microwave-assisted photocatalysis on TiO(2) nanotubes, which can be applied to degrade atrazine rapidly and completely, was investigated. TiO(2) nanotubes were prepared, and confirmed by XRD, TEM and ESR. Microwave-assisted photocatalytic degradation of atrazine in aqueous solution was investigated. The result indicates that atrazine is completely degraded in 5min and the mineralization efficiency is 98.5% in 20min, which is obviously more efficient than that by the traditional photocatalytic degradation methods. It may be attributed to the intense UV radiation generated by electrodeless discharge lamps under microwave irradiation, the increased number of OH, additional defect sites on TiO(2) under the irradiation of microwave and larger specific surface area of TiO(2) nanotubes which could adsorb more organic substances to degrade than TiO(2) nanoparticles. Along with the degradation of atrazine, the concentrations of Cl(-) and NO(3)(-) increase gradually. In 20min [Cl(-)] and [NO(3)(-)] are 3, 27.8mg/L, respectively, which are close to their stoichiometric values. The major intermediates of atrazine were identified by HPLC/MS and possible degradation pathways of atrazine in microwave-assisted photocatalysis on TiO(2) nanotubes were proposed.

Atrazine↗

Focused microwave irradiation of the brain preserves in vivo protein phosphorylation: comparison with other methods of sacrifice and analysis of multiple phosphoproteins.

At any point in time, net protein phosphorylation represents the contribution of protein kinase and protein phosphatase activities affecting a specific site on a given substrate. Preservation of phosphorylated proteins in neural tissues has traditionally included flash-freezing or fresh tissue processing following tissue isolation. Rapid heat inactivation of protein kinases and phosphatases by focused microwave irradiation sacrifice represents another method to preserve, in vivo, brain protein phosphorylation state. In this study, we compared preservation of the phosphorylation state of a variety of phosphoproteins in the brain following sacrifice of mice by decapitation, decapitation into liquid nitrogen and focused microwave irradiation. We found that microwave irradiation generally provided the highest and most consistent levels of protein phosphorylation, regardless of the substrates examined in striatum and hippocampus. In general, flash-freezing resulted in the least preservation of phospho-state with ERK1/2 and CREB showing almost complete dephosphorylation. When regions of freshly decapitated brains were homogenized and incubated on ice for 30 min, ERK1/2 phosphorylation was completely lost, whereas it was well preserved in microwaved samples left at room temperature for 2 h. Loss of ERK1/2 phosphorylation in the fresh samples could not be attributed to substrate proteolysis. Our results indicate that focused microwave irradiation sacrifice may be required to achieve biologically relevant data for the in vivo protein phosphorylation state of many phosphoproteins.

Animals↗

Individual responsiveness to induction of micronuclei in human lymphocytes after exposure in vitro to 1800-MHz microwave radiation.

The widespread application of microwaves is of great concern in view of possible consequences for human health. Many in vitro studies have been carried out to detect possible effects on DNA and chromatin structure following exposure to microwave radiation. The aim of this study is to assess the capability of microwaves, at different power densities and exposure times, to induce genotoxic effects as evaluated by the in vitro micronucleus (MN) assay on peripheral blood lymphocytes from nine different healthy donors, and to investigate also the possible inter-individual response variability. Whole blood samples were exposed for 60, 120 and 180 min to continuous microwave radiation with a frequency of 1800 MHz and power densities of 5, 10 and 20 mW/cm(2). Reproducibility was tested by repeating the experiment 3 months later. Multivariate analysis showed that lymphocyte proliferation indices were significantly different among donors (p<0.004) and between experiments (p<0.01), whereas the applied power density and the exposure time did not have any effect on them. Both spontaneous and induced MN frequencies varied in a highly significant way among donors (p<0.009) and between experiments (p<0.002), and a statistically significant increase of MN, although rather low, was observed dependent on exposure time (p=0.0004) and applied power density (p=0.0166). A considerable decrease in spontaneous and induced MN frequencies was measured in the second experiment. The results show that microwaves are able to induce MN in short-time exposures to medium power density fields. Our data analysis highlights a wide inter-individual variability in the response, which was confirmed to be a characteristic reproducible trait by means of the second experiment.

Adult↗

Chronic exposure to GSM 1800-MHz microwaves reduces excitatory synaptic activity in cultured hippocampal neurons.

The world wide proliferation of mobile phones raises the concern about the health effects of 1800-MHz microwaves on the brain. The present study assesses the effects of microwave exposure on the function of cultured hippocampal neurons of rats using whole cell patch-clamp analysis combined with immunocytochemistry. We showed that chronic exposure (15 min per day for 8 days) to Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) 1800-MHz microwaves at specific absorption rate (SAR) of 2.4 W/kg induced a selective decrease in the amplitude of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-soxazole propionic acid (AMPA) miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs), whereas the frequency of AMPA mEPSCs and the amplitude of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) mEPSCs did not change. Furthermore, the GSM microwave treatment decreased the expression of postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95) in cultured neurons. Our results indicated that 2.4 W/kg GSM 1800-MHz microwaves may reduce excitatory synaptic activity and the number of excitatory synapses in cultured rat hippocampal neurons.

Animals↗

The effect of polymerization cycles on porosity of microwave-processed denture base resin.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Although most of the physical properties of denture base resin polymerized by microwave energy have been shown to be similar to resins polymerized by the conventional heat polymerization method, the presence of porosity is a problem. PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effect of different microwave polymerization cycles on the porosity of a denture base resin designed for microwave polymerization. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-two rectangular resin specimens (65 x 40 x 5 mm) were divided into 3 experimental groups (A, B, and C; Onda-Cryl, microwave-polymerized resin) and 1 control group (T; Clássico, heat-polymerized resin), according to the following polymerization cycles: (A) 500 W for 3 minutes, (B) 90 W for 13 minutes+500 W for 90 seconds, (C) 320 W for 3 minutes+0 W for 4 minutes+720 W for 3 minutes, and (T) 74 degrees C for 9 hours. Porosity was calculated by measurement of the specimen volume before and after its immersion in water. Data were analyzed using 1-way analysis of variance (alpha=.05). RESULTS: The mean values and SDs of the percent mean porosity were: A=1.05%+/-0.28%, B=0.91%+/-0.15%, C=0.88%+/-0.23%, T=0.93%+/-0.23%. No significant differences were found in mean porosity among the groups evaluated. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, a denture base resin specifically designed for microwave polymerization tested was not affected by different polymerization cycles. Porosity was similar to the conventional heat-polymerized denture base resin tested.

Acrylic Resins↗

In vitro effect of microwave irradiation on the retentive force of magnets.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Few studies have addressed the possible effect(s) of microwave irradiation on the magnetic properties of "permanent" magnets during the fabrication of dental and maxillofacial prostheses. PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of microwave irradiation energy on the retentive force of a magnetic attachment system used in maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A heat-polymerized PMMA disk (6 cm in diameter) was fabricated. Seven magnets were placed around the wafer in a circumferential fashion: 1 in the center and 6 surrounding it. The 7 magnets were spaced 2 cm from their respective centers. Seven heat-polymerized PMMA cylinders were also used, and a magnet (counter-magnet) was placed in the center of each even with the cylinder's surface. Once the investment had set (45 minutes after mixing), the 7 counter-magnets in the cylinders were placed against the 7 magnets in the acrylic wafer. A second mixture of investment material was added. The flasks were separated, and the acrylic wafer was removed to accommodate the 7 counter-magnets in the base mold in the same geometric configuration and to serve as a "spacer" for the silicone material. A 1:1 mixture of medical grade elastomer (MDX4-4210) and medical adhesive silicone (type A) was packed and compressed, the molds were reclamped, and the excess silicone was removed. The elastomer/silicone wafer was packed and compressed into the test and base molds, the molds were reclamped, and excess silicone was removed. The first group of magnets, designated Group A, received microwave irradiation for 5 minutes at low power (112 W). This procedure was repeated for each group of magnets at the following polymerizing times (n=14): Group B, 10 minutes; Group C, 15 minutes; Group D, 20 minutes; Group E, 25 minutes; Group F, 30 minutes; and Group G, 35 minutes. Measurements of retentive force (N) at 10 mm/min ramp rate of speed of separation was conducted. The specimen rate read 5.0 points/second. Data were analyzed using a 1-way analysis of variance (alpha=.05); individual mean values were compared using the Tukey test (alpha=.05). RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in retentive force between groups D, E, and F (20, 25, and 30 minutes, respectively) or between groups A, B, C, D, F, and G (5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 35 minutes, respectively). When the microwave-irradiated groups A through G were compared with the control group, there was a significant difference (P<.05) in retentive force (N). Group E (25 minutes) showed the largest reduction of retentive force (0.3 N, a reduction of 12%). CONCLUSION: If a prosthesis is processed using a microwave and contains samarium cobalt magnets, the retentive force may be reduced up to 12% under specific conditions.

Cobalt↗

Application of microwave energy in cardiac tissue ablation: from in vitro analyses to clinical use.

BACKGROUND: Recently, there has been renewed interest in simplifying a surgical cure for atrial fibrillation. Microwave energy ablation provides an easier and faster surgical technique, in lieu of traditional "cut and sew," which can also be applied on the beating heart. METHODS: Specific absorption rate (SAR) and thermal profiles were determined after microwave energy ablation intended for clinical application. Lesion geometry measures obtained in vitro with tissue equivalent media were compared with values collected from animal myocardium. RESULTS: Thermal profile analysis demonstrated lesion penetration depths of 2.5, 3, and 5 mm after 8, 16, and 24 seconds, respectively, with microwave power application of 40 W. Dosimetric studies performed using animal myocardium corresponded to the thermal profile analysis and showed that lesion depth was controlled by the output power and the ablation time. CONCLUSIONS: Lesion geometry in tissue using microwave energy is similar to that predicted from in vitro analysis. The ablation depths and thermal profile of microwave ablation is favorable for performing atrial ablation, and this is corroborated by favorable early clinical results.

Animals↗