Rechargeable battery-powered bion microstimulators for neuromudulation

The rechargeable battery-powered bion microstimulator is designed to bring neurostimulation to mainstream medicine and improve the quality of life of those suffering from neurological disorders. The bion, through direct electrical stimulation of excitable tissues, is intended to treat numerous disorders including urinary urge incontinence, fecal incontinence, chronic headaches, peripheral pain, angina and obstructive sleep apnea. The rechargeable bion microstimulator, manufactured by Advanced Bionics Corporation, is designed to be implanted using a minimally invasive approach that would appeal to clinicians of different specialties as well as patients suffering from a wide variety of debilitating conditions. The bion is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of urinary urge incontinence and headaches. Other clinical trials are expected to follow in the future.

Endoscopic sclerotherapy in porcine esophagus changes luminal cross-sectional area and wall distensibility dose- and time-dependently

The dose- and time-dependent effects of endoscopic sclerotherapy on luminal cross-sectional area and wall distensibility were studied in pigs at 5 and 12 cm proximal to the gastroesophageal junction by means of impedance planimetry. Sixteen healthy animals underwent two sessions of endoscopic sclerotherapy two weeks apart with injections of either 5 or 10 ml of 1% Polidocanol in the distal 7 cm of the esophagus each time. The animals were investigated before sclerotherapy, two weeks after each session, and finally six weeks after the last session. Six healthy animals were studied as controls. Endoscopic sclerotherapy caused luminal narrowing in the sclerosed zone followed by normalization six weeks after the last treatment (P < 0.05 in both groups). Wall distensibility decreased in the sclerosed zone after treatment with 10 ml sclerosant (P < 0.05) followed by partial normalization, while no effect was found after 5 ml sclerosant (P > 0.2). Progressive dilations were observed in the proximal esophagus in both groups and were most pronounced in the 10 ml group (P < 0.05). Wall distensibility did not change proximal to the site of sclerotherapy in either group (P > 0.1).

Endogenous TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 are not essential for epithelialization and neovascularization in the hairless mouse ear wound model

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

TGF-beta stimulates neovascularization and epithelialization in healing wounds, yet relatively little is known about the mechanisms involved. Using the hairless mouse ear wound model, we studied the effects endogenous TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 have on epithelialization and neovascularization following the application of neutralizing antibodies.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Forty-three adult male hairless mice had an excisional wound made on the dorsum of each ear. Using vital microscopy, epithelialization and neovascularization were measured every third day until completion. TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 antibody, control-IgG, or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) were applied to the wounds.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Excisional wounds treated with anti-TGF-beta 1 and anti-TGF-beta 2, IgGcontrol IgG, and PBS epithelialized in 11.2 +/- 0.5 days (N = 22), 10.9 +/- 0.6 days (N = 17), and 10.6 +/- 0.6 days (N = 15), respectively and neovascularized in 27.9 +/- 0.5 days (N = 17), 27.1 +/- 0.8 days (N = 14), and 26.1 +/- 0.8 days (N = 10), respectively (mean +/- SEM). There were no significant differences in time to epithelialization and neovascularization between the three groups. Furthermore, there were no differences in the average time course of epithelialization and neovascularization between the three groups throughout the healing process. We conclude that endogenous TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 are not essential for epithelialization and neovascularization in the hairless mouse ear wound model.