Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leave 72-91).

Thesis (doctoral)--Department of Physics, Lund Institute of Technology, 1998. / "October 1998." Added t.p. with thesis statement inserted. Includes bibliographical references.

M.Tech.: Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2006. / The purpose of this pragmatic controlled clinical trial was to investigate the efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLL T) as a part of the palliative management of the hand symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The results were based upon subjective and objective clinical findings. LLLT may offer a viable treatment option for the hand symptoms of RA as its application theoretically supports and suggests that the physiological effects of LLL Tare biostimulation, improved metabolism, increased cell metabolism, improved blood circulation, vasodilatation, analgesic effects, anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effects; all of which are desired in the treatment of RA (Baxter, 1994; Kahn, 1994, Liggins, 2002). There is however controversy within the literature as to the efficacy of LLLT (Asada et al., 1991; Bliddal et al., 1987; Goats. et al., 1996; Hall et al., 1994; Heussier et al., 1993; Johannsen et al., 1994; Palmagren et al., 1989; Walker et aI., 1987). This is partially attributable to the lack of consensus regarding the methodology applied in these studies. Other inconsistencies regarding the efficacy of laser in the treatment of RA exist due to the wide range of differing wavelengths and doses that have been used in the published reports, thereby making it difficult to effectively compare studies (Asada et al., 1991; Goats et al., 1996; Hall et ai., 1994; Haslett et al., 2001, Heussier et ai., 1993; Johannsen et al., 1994; Palmagren et al., 1989; Walker et al., 1987). This study included a sample of 24 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. They were divided into two groups (Group A and Group B) based on their DASH score and their primary medication. Group A (treatment group) received LLLT of the metacarpophalangeal (Mep) joints and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints of their more severely affected hand. Patients in Group B (placebo / M

published_or_final_version / Physiology / Master / Master of Philosophy

Thesis (M.S.), Oregon Graduate Institute of Science & Technology, 1995.

M.Tech. (Biomedical Technology) / Collagen Type I (Col- I) as well as collagen types III and V, form most of the connective tissues, smooth muscle cells and, endothelial cells in wound healing (Stuart and Leaper, 2008). Col-I is also the main extracellular matrix (ECM) protein (Ricard-Blum and Ruggiero, 2005). Low intensity laser irradiation (LILI) is a non-invasive, photobiomodulatory therapy. Huang et al., (2009a) have shown LILI to be involved in Col-I production both in vitro and in vivo. Enhanced collagen production in human skin fibroblasts is common shortly after irradiation (Illsley et al., 2000). However, its synthesis in wounded fibroblasts has not been well established in an in vitro model. Healing is impaired in chronic diabetic wounds which exhibit reduced proliferation rate and collagen synthesis (Beldon, 2010; Falanga, 2005). Studies have shown that LILI using a wavelength of 632.8 nm was not the only wavelength biostimulated in cultured cells: biological responses were also generated from various wavelengths within the visible to Near Infrared (NIR) spectral region (Hawkins and Abrahamse, 2005; Karu and Kolyakov, 2005). This study aimed to establish if LILI influenced collagen production and related cellular responses at a wavelength of 660 or 830 nm, with a fluence of 5 J/cm2 in an in vitro normal and wounded fibroblasts model. The study also evaluated the expression profiling of genes related to the ECM and adhesion. This study was performed on isolated human skin fibroblasts collected from a consenting adult undergoing abdominoplasty. Cells were routinely cultured according to standard techniques (Houreld and Abrahamse, 2010; Hawkins and Abrahamse, 2007a; Hawkins and Abrahamse, 2006a; Hawkins and Abrahamse, 2005).

In this thesis, experiments into artificially guiding neuronal growth cones using tightly focused laser beams were performed and evaluated. The experiments are performed by focusing a laser beam to the leading edge of a developing growth cone and attempting to change the direction of growth cone. These experiments were carried out using Gaussian, line and asymmetric line beam profiles. There was no noticeable change in the success rate with different beam profiles. Following this, I assisted my colleague Dr Michael Mazilu in the construction of a mathematical model of filopedia in an optical field in order to help explain the mechanism for optically guided neuronal growth which suggests that optical trapping forces on filopedia are responsible. Next, I set about implementing a system to automate the process of laser guided neuron growth by employing a spatial light modulator and a custom-built computer program. This allowed the computer to track a developing growth cone and automatically adjust the position of the laser beam as the growth cone developed. This program was successfully employed to artificially grow neuronal growth cones towards a user-inputted target point. The use of the spatial light modulator to beam shape was also demonstrated with the use of a Bessel beam being used to guide neurons for the first time. I also used a transgenic cell line of neurons to show for the first time that HSP70 is not involved in this phenomenon. This was accomplished by transfecting NG108’s with a plasmid containing HSP70 promoter tagged GFP. Under enough thermal or mechanical stress, the cells would express HSP70 which would produce a detectable GFP signal. No GFP was detected in cells after being exposed to laser irradiation of a power higher than would normally be used to guide neurons. Combined, these experiments show that the beam profile of the operating laser does not significantly affect the success of artificial growth and that the optical force on filopedia near the laser beam is likely to be the mechanism for this phenomenon. A possible heating effect of the laser has also been shown to not be strong enough to elicit a heat shock stress response from the cell. The demonstration of an automatic system which incorporates beam shaping has also been shown and such a system shows the potential to advance the investigation of artificial neuron growth using lasers.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 223-242). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon Graduate Institute, 2001.

Thesis (Ph. D. in Biomedical Engineering)--Vanderbilt University, Aug. 2002. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.