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Auditory unit responses to single-pulse and twin-pulse microwave stimuli.

Responses of units in the cat cochlear nucleus to single microwave pulses with different durations and to twin microwave pulses with different interpulse delays are used to study microwave hearing. Inferred threshold specific absorption rate is less than 6 mW/g; inferred threshold specific absorption, less than 0.5 microJ/g. The existence of responses from units with characteristic frequencies (CFs) from 931 Hz to 25.5 kHz is not consistent with a primary role for head resonance in microwave hearing. Patterns of response amplitude have a periodicity of 1/CF and are fully explained by frequency content of the pulse stimulus and signal processing of the auditory system. For pulses shorter than about 0.24/CF, it is shown that response amplitude is predictably proportional to pulse energy.

Animals↗

Ocular injury in children from exploding microwaved eggs.

PURPOSE: To report an ocular injury caused by exploding microwave-cooked eggs. DESIGN: Case reports. METHODS: Two children exposed to exploding microwaved eggs were examined for facial burns and ocular trauma. RESULTS: One patient sustained mild corneal epithelial damage in both eyes and eyelid burn, which were treated conservatively. The other, injured in the same event, had symblepharon and moderate keratopathy requiring intensive lysis. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians should be alerted to the potential risk of vision-threatening ocular injury from exploding microwaved foods, and the public should be educated not to cook eggs in microwave ovens.

Blast Injuries↗

RNA integrity and in situ RT-PCR in dento-alveolar tissues after microwave accelerated demineralisation.

OBJECTIVE: The structural organization of oral soft tissue and its relationship with highly calcified teeth are difficult to preserve unless tissues are decalcified, paraffin embedded and subsequently sectioned. However, enamel decalcification time and its negative impact on RNA integrity makes it difficult to effectively analyse in situ gene expression. This study examined the impact of microwave-enhanced decalcification on processing time, RNA integrity and detection of in situ mRNA expression in hard and soft tissue for cell type specific markers of Keratinocyte growth factor receptor, Scleraxis and Osteonectin. DESIGN: Maxillas and mandibles were obtained from three male Wistar strain rats. Right side tissues were decalcified using a microwave plus 10% EDTA solution (M+) while left side tissues were decalcified in 10% EDTA solution alone (M-). RESULTS: Microwave use reduced decalcification time by up to 50% and had no significant impact on morphology, RNA quality and in situ detection of gene expression relative to the M-group. CONCLUSIONS: In situ RT-PCR gene expression of microwave decalcified paraffin-embedded oral tissues is an effective technique to localize in situ gene expression while maintaining excellent soft and hard tissue architecture.

Animals↗

Combining robotic mitral valve repair and microwave atrial fibrillation ablation: techniques and initial results.

BACKGROUND: Left atrial microwave ablation for atrial fibrillation has become popular for isolating autonomous atrial foci. Previously, mitral valve repairs (MVP) with atrial fibrillation ablation have been performed through sternotomy. We present a technique that combines robotic MVP with left atrial fibrillation ablation. METHODS: Through a 4-cm right minithoracotomy and using cardiopulmonary bypass, the transverse and oblique sinuses are accessed. A Flex-10 microwave catheter is passed around the pulmonary veins, and after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass, peripulmonary vein microwave ablations are performed. After cardioplegic arrest, the da Vinci system is used to manipulate the catheter to create endocardial lesions around the left atrial appendage. Another endocardial lesion is made connecting the pulmonary venous line with the mitral annulus near P3. The left atrial appendage is closed, and the MVP performed robotically. Data are expressed as mean +/- standard deviation. RESULTS: Sixteen patients underwent this combined procedure, with 80% returning to a normal sinus rhythm at 6 weeks and 73% remaining in normal sinus rhythm at 6 months. Only 1 patient was in atrial fibrillation at 6 months. The ablation procedure added 42 +/- 16.1 minutes to a robotic MVP. The average length of hospital stay was 6.3 +/- 2.2 days, 1.3 days longer than the mean of the prior 50 consecutive robotic MVP patients without a concomitant ablation. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic microwave ablation during robotic MVP is a safe, effective way to resolve atrial fibrillation. These methods offer a promising prelude to the combined totally endoscopic treatment of atrial arrhythmias and mitral insufficiency.

Aged↗

Microwave ablation for atrial fibrillation: dose-response curves in the cardioplegia-arrested and beating heart.

BACKGROUND: Microwave ablation has been used to replace the traditional incisions used in the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation. However, dose-response curves have not been established in surgically relevant models. The purpose of this study was to develop dose-response curves for the Flex 10 (Guidant, Inc) microwave device in both the acute cardioplegia-arrested heart and on the beating heart. METHODS: Twelve domestic pigs (40 to 45 kg) were subjected to microwave ablation in either the arrested (n = 6) or beating heart (n = 6). The cardioplegia-arrested heart was maintained at 10 degrees to 15 degrees C while six atrial endocardial and seven right ventricular epicardial lesions were created in each animal. On the beating heart, six right atrial and seven ventricular epicardial lesions were created. Ablations were performed for 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, and 150 seconds (65 W, 2.45 GHz). The tissue was stained with 2,3,5-triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride, and sectioned at 5-mm intervals. Lesion depth and width were determined from digital micrographs. RESULTS: Mean atrial wall thickness was 2.8 mm (range, 1 to 8 mm). In the arrested heart, 94% of atrial lesions were transmural at 45 seconds and 100% were transmural at 90 seconds. In the beating heart, only 20% of atrial lesions were transmural despite prolonged ablation times (90 seconds). Ventricular lesion width and depth increased with duration of application, and were similar on the arrested and beating hearts. CONCLUSIONS: Microwave ablation produces linear dose-response curves. Transmural lesions can be reliably produced on the arrested heart, but not consistently on the beating heart.

Acute Disease↗

Production of bio-fuels by high temperature pyrolysis of sewage sludge using conventional and microwave heating.

The pyrolysis of sewage sludge was investigated using microwave and electrical ovens as the sources of heat, and graphite and char as microwave absorbers. The main objective of this work was to maximize the gas yield and to assess its quality as a fuel and as a source of hydrogen or syngas (H2 + CO). Both gases were produced in a higher proportion by microwave pyrolysis than by conventional pyrolysis, with a maximum value of 38% for H2 and 66% for H2 + CO. The oils obtained were also characterized using FTIR and GC-MS. The use of conventional electrical heating in the pyrolysis of sewage sludge produced an oil that could have a significant environmental and toxicological impact. Conversely, microwave pyrolysis still preserved some of the functional groups of the initial sludge such as aliphatic and oxygenated compounds, whereas no heavy PACs were detected.

Bioelectric Energy Sources↗

Insecticidal lead identification by screening benzopyrano[4,3-c] pyrazol-3(2H)-ones library constructed from multiple-parallel synthesis under microwave irradiation.

A rapid library-generation via liquid-phase multiple-parallel synthesis of 2-(substituted)benzyl-1-benzopyrano[4,3-c]pyrazol-3(2H)-ones, bearing two points of diversity, under microwave irradiation was successfully performed using chromenone-3-carboxylic acids as starting materials. Compared to an identical library generated by conventional parallel synthesis, microwave-assisted parallel synthesis dramatically decreased reaction times from an average of 16h to 13min, and the yields of products and intermediates were improved in most cases. A bioassay indicated that the compounds of the library exhibited excellent insecticidal activity against T. cinnabarinus at the dosage of 250mgL(-1), and some compounds still exhibited insecticidal activity when the dosage was reduced to 50mgL(-1). This shows that 2-(substituted) benzyl-1-benzopyrano[4,3-c]pyrazol-3(2H)-ones might be used as lead structures for further optimization. To our knowledge, this is the first report about the application of solution-phase multiple-parallel synthesis under microwave irradiation to construct libraries of benzopyrano-[4,3-c]pyrazol-3(2H)-ones with insecticidal activity. The coupling of microwave technology with liquid-phase parallel synthesis constitutes a novel and particularly attractive avenue for the rapid generation of structurally diverse libraries for lead discovery.

Animals↗

Microwave-promoted hydrolysis of plant seed gums on alumina support.

Using a catalytic amount of potassium persulfate (1.48 x 10(-4)M), eight different seed gums were fully hydrolyzed on alumina support under microwave irradiation. The hydrolysis time varied between 1.33 and 2.33 min depending upon the seed gum structure. The used solid support could be easily separated from the hydrolyzates and recycled. However, under microwave field in an aqueous medium, the same amount of persulfate was unable to hydrolyze the seed gums. Solid-supported microwave hydrolysis has been compared with the microwave-enhanced aqueous hydrolysis (using K2S2O8 or 0.1N H2SO4) and also with the conventional hydrolysis procedures.

Aluminum Oxide↗

Comparison of solid phase extraction, saponification and gel permeation chromatography for the clean-up of microwave-assisted biological extracts in the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

The feasibility of different clean-up procedures was studied for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in biota samples such as oysters, mussels and fish liver. In this sense, once the samples were extracted--essentially with acetone and in a microwave system--and before they could be analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), three different approaches were studied for the clean-up step: solid phase extraction (SPE), microwave-assisted saponification (MAS) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The main aim of this work was to maximise the recoveries of PAHs and to minimise the presence of interfering compounds in the last extract. In the case of SPE, Florisil cartridges of 1, 2 and 5 g, and silica cartridges of 5 g were studied. In that case, and with oysters and mussels, microwave-assisted extraction and 5 g Florisil cartridges provided good results. In addition, the concentrations obtained for Standard Reference Material (SRM) NIST 2977 (mussel tissue) were in good agreement with the certified values. In the case of microwave-assisted saponification, the extracts were not as clean as those obtained with 5 g Florisil and this fact lead to overestimate the concentration of the heaviest PAHs. Finally, the cleanest extracts were obtained by GPC. The method was successfully applied to mussels, oysters and hake liver, and the results obtained for NIST 2977 (mussel tissue) were within the confidence interval of the certified reference material for most of the certified analytes.

Animals↗

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry following microwave distillation and headspace solid-phase microextraction for fast analysis of essential oil in dry traditional Chinese medicine.

In this paper, a novel method based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) following microwave distillation-headspace solid-phase microextraction (MD-HS-SPME) was developed for the determination of essential oil in dry traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). TCM is dried before being preserved and used, there is too little water to absorb microwave energy and heat the TCM samples. In the work, carbonyl iron powders (CIP) was added and mixed with the dried TCM sample, which was used as microwave absorption solid medium for dry distillation of the TCM. At the same time, SPME was used for the extraction and concentration of essential oil after MD. The dry rhizomes of Atractylodes lancea DC was used as the model TCM, and used in the study. The MD-HS-SPME parameters including fiber coating, microwave power, irradiation time, and the amount of added CIP, were studied. To demonstrate the method feasibility, the conventional HS-SPME method was also used for the analysis of essential oil in the TCM. Experimental results show that more compounds were isolated and identified by MD-HS-SPME than those by HS-SPME. Compared to conventional HS-SPME, the advantages of the proposed method are: short extraction time and high extraction efficiency. All experimental results show that the proposed method is an alternative tool for fast analysis of essential oils in dry TCMs.

Chemical Fractionation↗

Influence of mechanical and chemical polishing in the solubility of acrylic resins polymerized by microwave irradiation and conventional water bath.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this work was to evaluate the solubility of acrylic resin activated by microwave irradiation (MI) or water bath (WB), when submitted to chemical (CP) or mechanical (MP) polishing. METHODS: Forty acrylic resin samples were made and processed either by water bath (74 +/- 1 degrees C, 9 h) or microwave irradiation (500 W, 3 min). After deflasking, the samples were finished with aluminum oxide sandpapers in decreasing granulations till reaching similar dimensions. The samples were divided into four groups according to the association between kind of polymerization and polishing: A (WB + CP), B (WB + MP), C (MI + CP) and D (MI + MP). Solubility test was performed for each group and percentile solubility was calculated. Data were statistically analyzed using variance analysis and Kruskal-Wallis. RESULTS: The average of percentile solubility (%) was obtained: A = 0.07, B = 0.02, C = 0.04, D = -0.14, however, no significant difference was found between types of polishing in the samples polymerized by water bath (A and B). When processed by microwave irradiation (C and D), there was significant difference between the applied methods of polishing, so that mechanical polishing lead to a lower solubility. SIGNIFICANCE: Solubility is a property of acrylic resins, representing not reacted substances releasing that could promote tissular reactions in prosthesis users. The association between polymerization by microwave irradiation and mechanical polishing showed less residual substances releasing for heat-cured acrylic resins, reducing the probability of developing tissular reactions.

Acrylic Resins↗

Synthesis by microwave irradiation of a substituted benzoxazine parallel library with preferential relaxant activity for guinea pig trachealis.

An efficient, facile, and practical parallel combinatorial synthesis of substituted-benzoxazines under microwave irradiation was described. The procedure involved the use of a microwave oven especially designed for organic synthesis suitable for parallel synthesis of solution libraries. A demonstration 19-membered library of substituted N,N-dimethyl- and N-methyl-benzoxazine amide derivatives, structurally related to the potassium channel opener cromakalim, was generated by both conventional and microwave procedures, achieving a reduction from 7 h to 30-36 min in library generation time for the microwave approach. All the synthesized compounds were tested using the in vitro models of rat aorta and guinea pig trachea rings pre-contracted with phenylephrine and carbachol, respectively. All N,N-dimethyl amide derivatives showed a relaxant activity higher on guinea pig trachea rings than on rat aorta rings.

Animals↗

Microwave processing of natural biopolymers--studies on the properties of different starches.

In this study, the influence of microwave irradiation on some physico-chemical properties and several pharmaceutical technological parameters of potato and maize starches was investigated. Changes in their habits were observed and decrease in moisture contents caused by the electromagnetic irradiation was determined. The crystalline structures and the micromorphological parameters of the starches were affected by microwave irradiation in different ways depending on the botanical origin of the samples. The tensile strengths of the compacts containing starches were decreased, their wetting properties were enhanced by the thermal process applied. Furthermore, microwave irradiation reduced the surface free energy and the polarity of the compacts significantly. Samples treated by conventional heating were used to compare the effects of microwave irradiation on the examined properties and parameters of these starches.

Biopolymers↗

Stabilization of Cu in acid-extracted industrial sludge using a microwave process.

The leaching concentration of copper ions from the industrial sludge that has been extracted using sulfuric acid may still exceed 15 mg/L, which is the leaching standard of the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) for hazardous waste in Taiwan. Therefore, the acid-extracted industrial sludge is still an important source of hazardous waste. Usually, hazardous waste in Taiwan must be solidified and passed through the TCLP test before it is disposed in a landfill. The aim of this study is to develop a microwave process to stabilize copper ions in the sludge to replace the use of traditional solidification. In this study, two parameters--the reaction time of the microwave process and the additive reagents--were considered. The efficiency of stabilization of the microwave process was evaluated from the result of the TCLP test. The results showed that the stabilization efficiency of copper ions obtained using a microwave process without any added reagent depends highly on the property of the original acid-extracted sludge. Under some conditions, the leaching concentrations were much lower than those of the raw sludge. In additive reagent systems, the results showed that iron powder promoted the stabilization of copper ions more than the other additives such as sodium carbonate and sodium silicate. The leaching concentration of copper ions decreased dramatically from 179.4 to 6.5mg/L below in the iron additive system.

Acids↗

Microwave enhanced-sorption of dyestuffs to dual-cation organobentonites from water.

The microwave enhanced-sorption of dyestuffs such as Neutral Red S-BR, Neutral Dark Yellow GL and Acid Blue B onto organobentonites from water was investigated. The decolorization rates of various dyestuffs by organobentonites were increased from 18.0% to 71.8%, the saturated sorption capacity of Neutral Red S-BR and Acid Blue B were increased 83.9% and 76.3% by microwave irradiation, respectively. The value of the microwave enhanced-sorption parameter R(m) increased in the following order: Neutral Red S-BR>Acid Blue B>Neutral Dark Yellow GL, which corresponded with their aqueous solubility. The zeta potentials of particles were decreased greatly by microwave, which is very significant for improving both sorption of dyestuffs to organobentonites from water and the separation of the adsorbents from treated water.

Adsorption↗

An easy-to-use microwave hyperthermia system combined with spatially resolved MR temperature maps: phantom and animal studies.

BACKGROUND: Hyperthermia has been used in multimodal cancer treatments, and in randomized, controlled studies, hyperthermia is an effective cancer therapy. For clinical accuracy and safety, however, temperature monitoring during treatment is essential. We aimed to develop a convenient microwave hyperthermia system combined with spatially resolved real-time temperature monitoring to improve its efficacy and safety. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using an MR-compatible irradiation-type microwave applicator, agar phantoms, thigh muscles of rabbit, and subcutaneous VX2 tumors of rabbit were heated in combination with noninvasive MR temperature maps. For MR temperature calculation, a proton resonance frequency method was used. After determination of temperature coefficients and evaluation of the precision in MR thermometry, distribution of microwave heating over time was examined for each substance. RESULTS: The temperature coefficients of phantoms, rabbit muscles, and VX2 tumors were -0.00977, -0.00976, and -0.01027 ppm/ degrees C, respectively. The 95% limits of agreement of MR and fluoroptic thermometry in the three subjects were +0.318/-0.339 degrees C, +0.693/-0.661 degrees C, and +0.564/-0.526 degrees C, respectively. Concerning VX2 tumor, the average tumor temperature was 42.60 +/- 0.14 degrees C and the surface of skin was 43.27 +/- 0.45 degrees C in the 60-min experimental period. CONCLUSIONS: With this easy-to-use microwave hyperthermia system, effective hyperthermia was accomplished in phantoms and living animals in combination with MR temperature maps.

Agar↗

Epicardial microwave ablation on the beating heart for atrial fibrillation: the dependency of lesion depth on cardiac output.

BACKGROUND: Microwave energy is commonly used on the beating heart to create lesions for the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation. However, lesion transmurality is likely to depend on several factors including tissue thickness and blood flow. This study was designed to determine the effect of cavitary blood flow on transmurality of acute atrial lesions with the FLEX 10 (Guidant Corporation, Santa Clara, Calif) microwave device. METHODS: Six pigs underwent median sternotomy and were placed on cardiopulmonary bypass. Microwave lesions on the atrium were performed for 60 seconds at 65 Watts at 4 different levels of cardiac output by varying cardiopulmonary bypass flow rates. Cardiac output was measured with a pulmonary artery flow probe. Four additional lesions on 2 animals were done for 120 seconds at 65 Watts with 0.0 to 0.5 L/min cardiac output. The animals were sacrificed, and tissue was stained with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride and sectioned at 5-mm intervals. Lesion depth and width were determined from photomicrographs. RESULTS: Sixty-second lesions were transmural in 90%, 65%, 54%, and 46% of atrial sections at cardiac output of 0.0 to 0.5 L/min, 0.6 to 1.9 L/min, 2.0 to 3.9 L/min, and 4.0 L/min or greater, respectively (P < .001). When ablations were performed for 120 seconds with a cardiac output of 0.0 to 0.5 L/min, 100% of lesions were transmural. Lesion width was also related to cardiac output, with the widest lesions produced when cardiac output was 0.0 to 0.5 L/min. CONCLUSIONS: Acute microwave ablation lesion depth and width are strongly dependent on the magnitude of cardiac output. Transmural lesions can be reliably produced on the porcine heart only while on cardiopulmonary bypass.

Animals↗

Effect of microwave disinfection on the hardness and adhesion of two resilient liners.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Microwave irradiation has been suggested for denture disinfection. However, the effect of this procedure on the hardness and bond strength between resilient liners and denture base acrylic resin is not known. PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effect of water storage time and microwave disinfection on the hardness and peel bond strength of 2 silicone resilient lining materials to a heat-polymerized acrylic resin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Acrylic resin (Lucitone 199) specimens (75 x 10 x 3 mm) were stored in water at 37 degrees C (2 or 30 days) before bonding (n = 160). The resilient lining materials (GC Reline Extra Soft and Dentusil) were bonded to the denture base and divided into the following 4 groups (n = 10): Tests performed immediately after bonding (control); specimens immersed in water (200 mL) and irradiated twice, with 650 W for 6 minutes; specimens irradiated daily for 7 total cycles of disinfection; specimens immersed in water (37 degrees C) for 7 days. Specimens were submitted to a 180-degree peel test (at a crosshead speed of 10 mm/min) and the failure values (MPa) and mode of failure were recorded. Pretreatment and posttreatment hardness measurements (Shore A) of the resilient materials were also performed. Three-way analysis of variance, followed by the Tukey HSD test, was performed (alpha = .05). RESULTS: The analysis revealed that, for all conditions, the mean failure strengths of GC Reline Extra Soft (0.95-1.19 MPa) were significantly higher ( P < .001) than those of Dentusil (0.45-0.50 MPa). The adhesion of the liners was not adversely affected by water storage time of Lucitone 199 or microwave disinfection. All peel test failures were cohesive. There was a small but significant difference ( P < .001) between the pretreatment (34.33 Shore A) and posttreatment (38.69 Shore A) hardness measurements. CONCLUSION: Microwave disinfection did not compromise the hardness of either resilient liners or their adhesion to the denture base resin Lucitone 199.

Acrylic Resins↗