ABSTRACT
We have previously shown near infrared light (NIr), directed transcranially, mitigates the loss of dopaminergic cells in MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine)-treated mice, a model of parkinsonism. These findings complement others suggesting NIr treatment protects against damage from various insults. However one puzzling feature of NIr treatment is that unilateral exposure can lead to a bilateral healing response, suggesting NIr may have 'indirect' protective effects. We investigated whether remote NIr treatment is neuroprotective by administering different MPTP doses (50-, 75-, 100-mg/kg) to mice and treating with 670-nm light directed specifically at either the head or body. Our results show that, despite no direct irradiation of the damaged tissue, remote NIr treatment produces a significant rescue of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells in the substantia nigra pars compacta at the milder MPTP dose of 50-mg/kg (â¼30% increase vs sham-treated MPTP mice, p<0.05). However this protection did not appear as robust as that achieved by direct irradiation of the head (â¼50% increase vs sham-treated MPTP mice, p<0.001). There was no quantifiable protective effect of NIr at higher MPTP doses, irrespective of the delivery mode. Astrocyte and microglia cell numbers in substantia nigra pars compacta were not influenced by either mode of NIr treatment. In summary, the findings suggest that treatment of a remote tissue with NIr is sufficient to induce protection of the brain, reminiscent of the 'abscopal effect' sometimes observed in radiation treatment of metastatic cancer. This discovery has implications for the clinical translation of light-based therapies, providing an improved mode of delivery over transcranial irradiation.
Subject(s)
Microglia/metabolism , Neuroprotective Agents , Parkinsonian Disorders/therapy , Pars Compacta/metabolism , Phototherapy , Animals , Astrocytes/metabolism , Cell Count , Disease Models, Animal , Low-Level Light Therapy , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Parkinsonian Disorders/metabolism , Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase/metabolismABSTRACT
A wireless 64-channel ElectroCorticoGram (ECoG) recording implant named WIMAGINE(®) has been designed for clinical applications. This active implantable medical device is able to record ECoG on 64 electrodes with selectable gain and sampling frequency, with less than 0.7 µVRMS input referred noise in the [0.5 Hz - 300 Hz] band. It is powered remotely through an inductive link at 13.56 MHz, communicates wirelessly on the MICS band at 402-405 MHz with a custom designed base station connected to a PC and complies with the regulations applicable to class III AIMD. The design of the housing and the antenna have been optimized to ease the surgery and to take into account all the requirements of a clinical trial in particular patient safety and comfort. The main features of this WIMAGINE(®) implantable device and its architecture will be presented, as well as its performances and in vivo validations.
Subject(s)
Electrodes, Implanted , Electroencephalography/instrumentation , Neural Prostheses , Neurons/physiology , Wireless Technology , Animals , Evoked Potentials, Visual/physiology , Humans , PrimatesABSTRACT
The literature contains many results from in vitro friction and wear tests for simulating the behaviour of human joint prostheses. However, they are difficult to correlate, even when they are not contradictory. In friction tests, several friction-mechanisms occur when the Ti-6AI-4V titanium alloy rubs against the UHMWPE polyethylene. Corrosion effects which increase wear happen when the 316L stainless steel is used in Ringer's solution. Ion implantation surface treatments have been performed on these three materials. When the operating conditions were optimized, an important reduction of wear and corrosion was observed. The property improvements are due to structural modifications in a thin layer of the materials.
Subject(s)
Alloys , Joint Prosthesis , Materials Testing , Nitrogen/chemistry , Polyethylenes , Polypropylenes , Titanium , Corrosion , Stainless Steel , Surface PropertiesABSTRACT
Materials for orthopaedic implants can fail for several combined reasons: corrosion, fatigue and wear for metals, wear and creep for polymers, fracture for ceramics. Some typical cases are analysed and it is demonstrated that ion implantation improves metals and polymers used for joint prosthesis. Implantations of nitrogen, oxygen and argon ions modify the structure of a 2-500 nm thick layer in the materials. The results of friction tests on the couple metal-polymer are correlated with the surface properties.