Microwave thermotherapy: historical overview.

The application of heat with curative aim is an old and very well-known principle in medicine. A review of the history of heat use in the treatment of prostatic disease is presented. The article is based on bibliographic research (MEDLINE Search and PubMed) and focuses on treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) since the first clinical documentation of transrectal hyperthermia for this condition. Then, in a chronological sequence, not only the evolution toward thermotherapy but also enhancements of the latest techniques are presented. The new advances in the field of patient selection, indications, and outcome predictors, as well as new trends in treatment are briefly considered.

A century with hyperthermic oncology in Scandinavia.

The hyperthermic research during the last 100 years is reviewed with the aim to describe a research activity which has been performed in parallel to and associated with the development of radiation oncology. Basic and clinical research in several Scandinavian centres has made major international contributions to the establishment of a rationale for and implementation of hyperthermia as a combined modality treatment with chemotherapy or radiation in oncology. At the same time it has been demonstrated that collaboration and integration easily could be performed within the Scandinavian centres. Hyperthermic oncology is therefore a typical example of how research involving both biological, physical/engineering, and clinical skills in a proper environment can create valuable results.

Microwave applications in neuromorphology and neurochemistry: safety precautions and techniques.

In science, the introduction of a new method is never easy, not even if it concerns the use of a simple microwave oven. Most scientists do not realize the numerous applications of microwave techniques. This paper gives a broad overview of the application of microwave techniques in neuromorphology and neurochemistry, starting with a historical overview ranging from the introduction of microwave techniques as a scientific method in the 1970s to present. Organizations and publication rules are highlighted in the next part. The effect of microwave irradiation is discussed in two sections relating to microwave effects on the whole organism and on the neuron. The main body of the paper discusses the application of microwave techniques in the fields of neuromorphology and neuropathology. The paper then presents aspects of microwave irradiation as applied to ELISA techniques. In addition, cell fusion and cell reproduction under microwave irradiation are discussed.