Um dos recursos mais utilizados no processo de reparo de lesões tendíneas é o laser que demonstrou ter resultados satisfatórios quando se buscam efeitos antiinflamatório e cicatrizante. No entanto, por requerer uma tecnologia de alto custo, um outro tipo de fototerapia vem sendo buscado, como o diodo emissor de luz, LED. Porém, o número de pesquisas realizadas para a determinação segura de seus efeitos terapêuticos ainda é muito pequeno, inviabilizando uma proposta de protocolo para adoção do LED. Um outro recurso também utilizado durante a reabilitação de lesões tendíneas, é o ultra-som pulsado de baixa intensidade (LIPUS). Trabalhos realizados até o momento mostram alterações satisfatórias quanto à deposição e alinhamento das fibras de colágeno. Este estudo objetiva testar comparativamente a eficácia da aplicação de LEDs 630 nm e 830 nm em relação à terapia laser de baixa intensidade (LILT), com laser de 685 nm e 830 nm, e à terapia com LIPUS em tendão calcâneo parcialmente lesado. Foram utilizados 56 ratos Wistar, submetidos à lesão mecânica parcial do tendão calcâneo. A análise da evolução do processo foi realizada através da microscopia de polarização. Os resultados mostraram uma real eficácia dos tratamentos com LEDs e lasers, e uma ineficácia do tratamento à base de US. Nosso estudo sugere que uma boa organização e um bom alinhamento das fibras de colágeno são conseguidos no processo de reparo de lesões tendíneas através de aplicações à base de LED 880 nm e laser 630 nm, os quais se mostraram mais eficazes. No entanto, outras pesquisas na área se fazem necessárias para uma determinação segura e eficaz dos protocolos de tratamento utilizando essa modalidade de fototerapia. / Laser is one of the most effective resources of treatment for tendinous injury when anti-inflammatory and cicatrizing effects are wanted. However, it is considered an expensive treatment and so, an alternative and cheaper light therapy as effective as it has been searched and the light emitting diodes, LEDs, are a promising candidate for it. Results from the studies already done have been useful to predict the possible effects of LED on the injured tissues, but are not enough to establish a treatment protocol that guarantees its recommendation as a substitute therapeutic tool for tendinous injury treatment. Another promising resource for tendinous injury healing is the ultra-sound of low intensity (LIPUS). Studies done until the present moment have shown satisfactory results when deposition and alignments of collagens fibers are wanted. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of laser, light emitting diodes (LEDs) and ultra-sound of low intensity on the treatment of Achilles tendon of albino rats, Wistar lineage, exposed to mechanical trauma. The experimental model consisted of a partial mechanical lesion of the right Achilles tendon of 56 rats, which were divided in 6 groups, 5 with 10 animals and one, the control group, with 6. One hour after the lesion, the injured animals received the respective applications of laser, LED or US, and the same procedure was repeated each 24 h. The healing process and the deposition were evaluated by analyze of the alignment of collagens fibers through polarization microscopy. The results showed a real efficiency of treatments based on LEDs and lasers, but the treatment based on US was inefficient. Applications of laser at 830 and LED 880 nm were more efficient when the aim is a good organization and alignment of the collagen fibers on tendon healing. However more research is needed for a safety and more efficient determination of a protocol.

Orientador: Luiz Gonzaga Gandini Junior / Resumo: Aparelhos ortodônticos fixos criam áreas de estagnação para biofilmes dentários e dificultam a limpeza dos dentes; portanto, existe o risco de desenvolver lesões incipientes de cárie durante o tratamento ortodôntico. O objetivo deste estudo é verificar se a aplicação de luz azul antes da clorexidina 0,12% no esmalte, bráquete e elástico ortodôntico reduziria ou inibiria os biofilmes maduros de Streptococcus mutans e seu crescimento nesses substratos 24 horas após a aplicação dos tratamentos; e se esse tratamento interfere na adesão do bráquete ao esmalte. Biofilmes de S. mutans UA159 foram formados por 5 dias sobre amostras compostas por esmalte bovino, bráquete ortodôntico e elástico ortodôntico. Em seguida, as amostras foram tratadas com NaCl 0,89% por 1 minuto (NaCl), luz azul por 12 minutos (BL), clorexidina 0,12% por 1 minuto (CHX) e luz azul por 12 minutos seguido da aplicação de clorexidina 0,12% por 1 minuto (BL+CHX). O acúmulo de biofilme imediatamente após os tratamentos e 24 horas após os tratamentos foram avaliados por unidades formadoras de colônias (CFU) e peso seco (DW). O pH do meio foi medido no quinto dia e sexto dia. A formação de biofilme nas amostras após os tratamentos (Imediato) e no recrescimento (Regrowth) foi avaliada visualmente por microscopia confocal de varredura a laser (CLSM). O teste de adesão (SBS) entre o bráquete e o esmalte foi feito após as amostras serem termocicladas por 500 ciclos (5°C e 55°C), tratadas e termocicladas novamente nas me... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Fixed orthodontic appliances create areas of stagnation for dental biofilms and make it difficult to clean the teeth; therefore, there is a risk of developing incipient lesions of caries during the orthodontic treatment. The objective of this study is to verify if the application of blue light prior to 0.12% chlorhexidine (CHX) on enamel, orthodontic brackets and elastics would reduce or inhibit mature Streptococcus mutans biofilms and their regrowth on these substrates 24 h after the application of the treatment; and if this treatment would interfere with bracket adhesion to the enamel. Biofilms of S. mutans UA159 were formed for 5-days over samples composed by a bovine enamel, an orthodontic bracket and an orthodontic elastic. Then, the samples were treated with 0.89% NaCl for 1 minute (NaCl), blue light for 12 minutes (BL), 0.12% chlorhexidine for 1 minute (CHX) and BL for 12 min + 0.12% CHX for 1 min (BL+CHX). Biofilm accumulation immediately after treatments and 24-h after treatments (regrowth) were evaluated by colonies forming units (CFU) and dry weight (DW). The pH of the spent media was measured on the 5th and 6th day. Biofilm formation on the samples after the treatments and on the regrowth was visually evaluated by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Shear bond strength (SBS) between bracket and enamel was evaluated after specimens were thermocycled for 500 cycles (5° and 55 °C), treated and thermocycled again in the same conditions. Shear forces (N/mm2 ) we... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Much of the research on differential hemispheric activation as a function of age or the presence of depression suggests that a relative decrease in left hemisphere activation is associated with depression, while a decrease of right hemisphere activation is associated with age. Recent research, however, has demonstrated the role of the right hemisphere in maintaining general behavioral arousal. Pilot data suggest that elderly people experience behavioral over-arousal when presented with stressful or novel environmental stimuli. Equally interesting is the finding in a single-case study that ambient light and noise have a differential effect on behavior presumed to be representative of the left and the right cerebral hemispheres. The left hemisphere appears to be more responsive to ambient light level, with the right hemisphere being more responsive to ambient noise level. The present study sought to provide further support of selective hemispheric activation to bright light, and to examine the relationships among hemi-activation, age and depression by using behavioral measures of lateral anterior (finger tapping rate) and posterior (dichotic listening) cortical functioning. Two identical experiments were employed to evaluate old and young, and depressed and non-depressed sUbjects. Direct evidence of right herni-aging effects on laterality was not significant in the first experiment, but data suggested the possibility of a ceiling effect for behavioral arousal in the older group which was not seen in younger subjects. The second experiment yielded no significant results between depressed and non-depressed groups. Hypotheses of under and over arousal in subjects are proposed to explain findings. Possible implications for treatment and recommendations for further research are proposed. / Ph. D.

A fototerapia com lasers em baixa intensidade de lesões de herpes simples tem sido demonstrada clinicamente ora prevenindo a formação de vesículas, ora cicatrizando rapidamente as lesões e até aumentando o espaço de tempo entre o aparecimento dessas manifestações recorrentes. No entanto, os mecanismos básicos de ação dos lasers nessas situações são desconhecidos. Dessa forma, o objetivo do trabalho foi realizar ensaios in vitro utilizando células epiteliais em cultivo e culturas do vírus HSV-1 para estudar a interferência do laser em baixa intensidade na infecção do HSV-1. Material e Métodos: Culturas de vírus HSV-1 e de células epiteliais de macaco (linhagem Vero) infectadas ou não infectadas, crescidas em déficit nutricional (2 % de soro fetal bovino - sfb) foram utilizadas. As irradiações foram realizadas com um laser de GaAlAs (660 e 780 nm, área focal de 3,6 mm2). Uma, duas e três irradiações com intervalos de 6 h foram realizadas. Os grupos experimentais foram: Controle: não-irradiadas; 660 nm/ 3 J/cm2 (28 s); 660 nm/ 5 J/cm2 (38 s); 780 nm/ 3 J/cm2 (19 s) e, 780 nm/ 5 J/cm2 (25 s). Os efeitos citopáticos do HSV-1 e a viabilidade celular de culturas irradiadas e controles foram analisadas em 4 condições: 1) irradiação das células epiteliais não infectadas; 2) células epiteliais irradiadas antes da infecção; 3) irradiação dos vírus antes da infecção; 4) irradiação das células previamente infectadas pelo HSV-1. A viabilidade celular foi obtida pelo teste da redução do MTT e os efeitos citopáticos por observação em microscopia de luz. Resultados: A viabilidade celular de culturas irradiadas crescidas em déficit nutricional, independentemente do número de irradiações, foi sempre significantemente menor que aquela de culturas não-irradiadas e crescidas nas condições ideais de concentração de sfb (10 %). A viabilidade celular de culturas não infectadas foi similar em todos os grupos. O número de irradiações influenciou o crescimento celular positiva e proporcionalmente ao número de irradiações, exceto para o grupo 660 nm/ 3 J/cm2. Nenhuma diferença nos efeitos citopáticos foi observada entre os grupos, independentemente do número de irradiações nas 3 condições do estudo. A viabilidade celular de todos os grupos não mudou nem pela irradiação das células nem do vírus antes da inoculação nas células. A viabilidade de células infectadas antes da irradiação foi significantemente maior que o controle quando 2 irradiações foram realizadas. Conclusão: Nas condições deste estudo a radiação laser em baixa intensidade é capaz de aumentar o crescimento de células Vero crescidas em déficit, no entanto, não o suficiente para atingir o crescimento característico dessas células crescidas nas suas condições ideais. O número de irradiações influencia o crescimento das células de forma positiva e proporcional ao número de irradiações, exceto para o parâmetro 660 nm/ 3 J/cm2. A radiação laser não altera nem a susceptibilidade das células à infecção, nem a virulência do HSV-1. No entanto, ela prolonga a viabilidade das células infectadas pelo HSV-1. Efeitos positivos da fototerapia que tem sido relatados clinicamente parecem ser devido a efeitos no hospedeiro não relacionados com a replicação viral nas células infectadas. / Purpose: The clinical effects attributed to phototherapy relative to Herpes simplex lesions have included prevention of lesion formation, speeding the healing of lesions, and decreasing the frequency of recurrent lesions. The mechanisms underlying these findings have not been established yet. The aim of this in vitro study was to analyze the effect of phototherapy on epithelial cells, on HSV-1, and on infected epithelial cells in culture. Material and Methods: Cultures of HSV-1 and infected or non-infected monkey epithelial cells (Vero cell line) grown in deficient media (2 % fetal bovine serum-fbs) were used. The laser irradiation was delivered using a GaAlAs laser (660 and 780 nm, focal spot of 3.6 mm2). One, two and three irradiations with 6 hourintervals were done. The experimental groups were: Control: non-irradiated; 660 nm/3 J/cm2 (28 sec); 660 nm/5 J/cm2 (38 sec); 780 nm/3 J/cm2 (19 sec), and 780 nm/5 J/cm2 (25 sec). The HSV-1 cytopatic effects and the cell viability of irradiated cultures and controls were analyzed in four different conditions: 1) irradiation of noninfected epithelial cells; 2) epithelial cells irradiated prior infection; 3) virus irradiated prior infection; and 4) irradiation of HSV-1 infected cells. The cell viability was assessed by the reduction of the MTT test and the cytopatic effects by the light microscopy observation. Results: The cell viability of irradiated cultures grown in nutritional deficit, independently of the irradiation numbers, was always significantly smaller than that of non-irradiated cultures grown at the ideal serum concentration condition (10 %). The cell viability of non-infected cells was similar amongst the groups. The number of irradiations influenced the cell growth positively and proportionally to the number of irradiations, except for the 660 nm/3J/cm2 group. Any variation in cytopatic effects was observed amongst the experimental groups, independently of the irradiation numbers at the 3 conditions analyzed. The cell viability of all experimental groups were not altered either by irradiation of the cells or of the virus prior infection. The viability of infected cells prior irradiation was significantly higher than that of non-irradiated cultures when 2 irradiations were done. Conclusion: The experimental conditions for this study demonstrate that the phototherapy is capable of enhancing the growth of Vero cells grown under nutritional deficit conditions, however, not enough to reach the characteristic cell growth of cells grown at the ideal serum concentration condition. The number of irradiations influences the cell growth positive and proportionally, except when the parameter 660 nm and 3 J/cm2 was used. The laser radiation does not change either the susceptibility of the Vero cell to the HSV-1 infection or the HSV-1 virulence; however, prolongs the cell viability of HSV-1 infected cells. Positive benefits of phototherapy that have been reported clinically would appear to be due to host effects unrelated to viral replication in infected cells.

A fototerapia com lasers em baixa intensidade de lesões de herpes simples tem sido demonstrada clinicamente ora prevenindo a formação de vesículas, ora cicatrizando rapidamente as lesões e até aumentando o espaço de tempo entre o aparecimento dessas manifestações recorrentes. No entanto, os mecanismos básicos de ação dos lasers nessas situações são desconhecidos. Dessa forma, o objetivo do trabalho foi realizar ensaios in vitro utilizando células epiteliais em cultivo e culturas do vírus HSV-1 para estudar a interferência do laser em baixa intensidade na infecção do HSV-1. Material e Métodos: Culturas de vírus HSV-1 e de células epiteliais de macaco (linhagem Vero) infectadas ou não infectadas, crescidas em déficit nutricional (2 % de soro fetal bovino - sfb) foram utilizadas. As irradiações foram realizadas com um laser de GaAlAs (660 e 780 nm, área focal de 3,6 mm2). Uma, duas e três irradiações com intervalos de 6 h foram realizadas. Os grupos experimentais foram: Controle: não-irradiadas; 660 nm/ 3 J/cm2 (28 s); 660 nm/ 5 J/cm2 (38 s); 780 nm/ 3 J/cm2 (19 s) e, 780 nm/ 5 J/cm2 (25 s). Os efeitos citopáticos do HSV-1 e a viabilidade celular de culturas irradiadas e controles foram analisadas em 4 condições: 1) irradiação das células epiteliais não infectadas; 2) células epiteliais irradiadas antes da infecção; 3) irradiação dos vírus antes da infecção; 4) irradiação das células previamente infectadas pelo HSV-1. A viabilidade celular foi obtida pelo teste da redução do MTT e os efeitos citopáticos por observação em microscopia de luz. Resultados: A viabilidade celular de culturas irradiadas crescidas em déficit nutricional, independentemente do número de irradiações, foi sempre significantemente menor que aquela de culturas não-irradiadas e crescidas nas condições ideais de concentração de sfb (10 %). A viabilidade celular de culturas não infectadas foi similar em todos os grupos. O número de irradiações influenciou o crescimento celular positiva e proporcionalmente ao número de irradiações, exceto para o grupo 660 nm/ 3 J/cm2. Nenhuma diferença nos efeitos citopáticos foi observada entre os grupos, independentemente do número de irradiações nas 3 condições do estudo. A viabilidade celular de todos os grupos não mudou nem pela irradiação das células nem do vírus antes da inoculação nas células. A viabilidade de células infectadas antes da irradiação foi significantemente maior que o controle quando 2 irradiações foram realizadas. Conclusão: Nas condições deste estudo a radiação laser em baixa intensidade é capaz de aumentar o crescimento de células Vero crescidas em déficit, no entanto, não o suficiente para atingir o crescimento característico dessas células crescidas nas suas condições ideais. O número de irradiações influencia o crescimento das células de forma positiva e proporcional ao número de irradiações, exceto para o parâmetro 660 nm/ 3 J/cm2. A radiação laser não altera nem a susceptibilidade das células à infecção, nem a virulência do HSV-1. No entanto, ela prolonga a viabilidade das células infectadas pelo HSV-1. Efeitos positivos da fototerapia que tem sido relatados clinicamente parecem ser devido a efeitos no hospedeiro não relacionados com a replicação viral nas células infectadas. / Purpose: The clinical effects attributed to phototherapy relative to Herpes simplex lesions have included prevention of lesion formation, speeding the healing of lesions, and decreasing the frequency of recurrent lesions. The mechanisms underlying these findings have not been established yet. The aim of this in vitro study was to analyze the effect of phototherapy on epithelial cells, on HSV-1, and on infected epithelial cells in culture. Material and Methods: Cultures of HSV-1 and infected or non-infected monkey epithelial cells (Vero cell line) grown in deficient media (2 % fetal bovine serum-fbs) were used. The laser irradiation was delivered using a GaAlAs laser (660 and 780 nm, focal spot of 3.6 mm2). One, two and three irradiations with 6 hourintervals were done. The experimental groups were: Control: non-irradiated; 660 nm/3 J/cm2 (28 sec); 660 nm/5 J/cm2 (38 sec); 780 nm/3 J/cm2 (19 sec), and 780 nm/5 J/cm2 (25 sec). The HSV-1 cytopatic effects and the cell viability of irradiated cultures and controls were analyzed in four different conditions: 1) irradiation of noninfected epithelial cells; 2) epithelial cells irradiated prior infection; 3) virus irradiated prior infection; and 4) irradiation of HSV-1 infected cells. The cell viability was assessed by the reduction of the MTT test and the cytopatic effects by the light microscopy observation. Results: The cell viability of irradiated cultures grown in nutritional deficit, independently of the irradiation numbers, was always significantly smaller than that of non-irradiated cultures grown at the ideal serum concentration condition (10 %). The cell viability of non-infected cells was similar amongst the groups. The number of irradiations influenced the cell growth positively and proportionally to the number of irradiations, except for the 660 nm/3J/cm2 group. Any variation in cytopatic effects was observed amongst the experimental groups, independently of the irradiation numbers at the 3 conditions analyzed. The cell viability of all experimental groups were not altered either by irradiation of the cells or of the virus prior infection. The viability of infected cells prior irradiation was significantly higher than that of non-irradiated cultures when 2 irradiations were done. Conclusion: The experimental conditions for this study demonstrate that the phototherapy is capable of enhancing the growth of Vero cells grown under nutritional deficit conditions, however, not enough to reach the characteristic cell growth of cells grown at the ideal serum concentration condition. The number of irradiations influences the cell growth positive and proportionally, except when the parameter 660 nm and 3 J/cm2 was used. The laser radiation does not change either the susceptibility of the Vero cell to the HSV-1 infection or the HSV-1 virulence; however, prolongs the cell viability of HSV-1 infected cells. Positive benefits of phototherapy that have been reported clinically would appear to be due to host effects unrelated to viral replication in infected cells.

Current chemotherapeutics exhibit debilitating side effects as a result of their toxicity to healthy tissues. Reducing these side effects by developing chemotherapeutics with selectivity for cancer cells is an active area of research. Phototherapy is one promising modality for selective treatment, where drug molecules are “turned on” when irradiated with light, reducing damage to healthy tissues by spatially restricting the areas exposed to irradiation. A second approach to improve selectivity is to exploit the differences in cancerous versus healthy cells, such as increased metabolism and/or upregulation of cell surface receptors. Ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes are candidates for phototherapy due to their highly tunable photophysical and photochemical properties. The addition of strain to the metal center is a general approach used to render complexes susceptible to light-induced ligand loss. Upon ejection of a ligand, the Ru(II) center is capable of covalently binding biomolecules within cells to produce a cytotoxic effect. The ligands surrounding the metal center are amenable to chemical modification through the incorporation of pendent functional groups as chemical “handles”, allowing for different directing molecules to be attached. Nucleic acids are important targets for drug discovery, and the development of selective probes to either visualize or selectively damage nucleic acids within the cell is an ongoing area of research. Specifically, G-rich regions are abundant in the human genome, and the presence of G-quadruplexes in telomeres and promoter regions of oncogenes make them potential therapeutic targets. Ru(II) complexes are known to bind nucleic acids, and some have been shown to induce and/or stabilize G-quadruplex Structures. Multiple series of Ru(II) compounds have been synthesized and tested to improve the functional range for Ru(II) complexes for in vivo applications, where they act as “light switches” for DNA. These molecules are “off” when in an aqueous environment but turned “on” in the presence of DNA. Several hit compounds were identified that showed selectivity for specific G-quadruplex structures.

Treatments for chronic pain are inadequate, and new options are needed. Nonpharmaceutical approaches are especially attractive with many potential advantages including safety. Light therapy has been suggested to be beneficial in certain medical conditions such as depression, but this approach remains to be explored for modulation of pain. We investigated the effects of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), in the visible spectrum, on acute sensory thresholds in naive rats as well as in experimental neuropathic pain. Rats receiving green LED light (wavelength 525 nm, 8 h/d) showed significantly increased paw withdrawal latency to a noxious thermal stimulus; this antinociceptive effect persisted for 4 days after termination of last exposure without development of tolerance. No apparent side effects were noted and motor performance was not impaired. Despite LED exposure, opaque contact lenses prevented antinociception. Rats fitted with green contact lenses exposed to room light exhibited antinociception arguing for a role of the visual system. Antinociception was not due to stress/anxiety but likely due to increased enkephalins expression in the spinal cord. Naloxone reversed the antinociception, suggesting involvement of central opioid circuits. Rostral ventromedial medulla inactivation prevented expression of light-induced antinociception suggesting engagement of descending inhibition. Green LED exposure also reversed thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia in rats with spinal nerve ligation. Pharmacological and proteomic profiling of dorsal root ganglion neurons from green LED-exposed rats identified changes in calcium channel activity, including a decrease in the N-type (CaV2.2) channel, a primary analgesic target. Thus, green LED therapy may represent a novel, nonpharmacological approach for managing pain.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy: Biotechnology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is emerging as a viable alternative to invasive anti-cancer treatment regimens such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. A series of metal – based phthalocyanine complexes have been discovered that may be used as a drug or photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy for the treatment of cancers. During photodynamic therapy the photosensitizer is administrated intravenously or topically to the patient before laser treatment at an appropriate wavelength is delivered to the cancerous site to activate the photosensitizer. The activated photosensitizer will react with oxygen typically present in the cancerous tissue to produce reactive oxygen species for the eradication of the cancerous tissue. This is the first study where gallium (GaPcCl), indium (InPcCl) and iron (FePcCl) Pc chloride complexes were used for photodynamic research. These metal – based phthalocyanine complexes were investigated using different cancer cell lines (Caco-2, MCF-7, melanoma and A549). Also, the baseline cellular uptake and photodynamic effect of these complexes were established on healthy normal cells (human fibroblast cells). Fluorescent spectrophotometry showed that all three photosensitizers accumulated in a time-dependent manner in Caco-2, MCF-7, melanoma and A549 cancer cells, as well as in healthy normal fibroblast cell in amounts which increased over a period of 24 hours, with emission peaking at 24 hours for all cell lines. Dark toxicity effects and photodynamic therapy efficacy were established with a MTT assay. High concentrations of inactive GaPcCl, InPcCl and FePcCl was toxic to Caco-2, melanoma, A549 and fibroblast cells. However, all three photosensitizers were in its inactive state at low and high photosensitizing concentrations were highly toxic to MCF-7 cancer cells. On the other hand, in vitro photodynamic therapy treatment with both low and high concentrations of GaPcCl, InPcCl and FePcCl were observed to be potently cytotoxic towards all four cancer cell lines upon exposure to laser light for 22 seconds (2.5 J/cm2), 39 seconds (4.5 J/cm2) and 74 seconds (8.5 J/cm2). These results revealed that all three photosensitizers reacts to photodynamic therapy in a concentration-dependent (photosensitizer) and dose-dependent (light dose/time) manner. At 24 hours after photodynamic therapy, the most effective treatment parameters were laser treatment for 74 seconds with FePcCl concentrations from 60 µg/ml - 100 µg/ml which resulted in 0% cell survival of Caco-2 cancer cells. A short laser treatment time of 74 seconds for activation of FePcCl (20 µg/ml) resulted in 0% cell survival of MCF-7 cancer cells. Similarly, FePcCl (40 µg/ml - 100 µg/ml) activated for 22 seconds, 39 seconds and 74 seconds resulted in 100% cell death of A549 cancer cells. Photodynamic therapy treatment with GaPcCl and InPcCl were very effective in reducing the cell viability of melanoma cancer cells. Healthy normal fibroblast cells survived in vitro photodynamic therapy treatment with all three photosensitizers much better than the cancer (Caco-2, MCF-7, melanoma and A549) cells. This confirms the previously reported results that photosensitizers such as phthalocyanines and its metal-based complexes preferentially accumulate in cancer cells than normal healthy cells. All three photosensitizers localized in mitochondria and lysosomes of the Caco-2, MCF-7 and A549 cancer cells. In melanoma cancer cells InPcCl also localized in the mitochondria and lysosome, but GaPcCl and FePcCl localized in mitochondria only. Apoptosis was identified via microscopical and flow cytometric investigations, as the dominant mode of cell death induced by GaPcCl, InPcCl and FePcCl mediated photodynamic therapy in cancer cell lines tested. Therefore, this study concludes that GaPcCl, InPcCl and FePcCl are effective photosensitizers for the in vitro PDT treatment of cancer cells. The effective in vitro PDT treatment for each cell line was dependent on the photosensitizer concentration and illumination period for each of the different photosensitizers. / D

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Special Education, Counseling and Student Affairs / Judith Hughey / The purpose of this phenomenological research study was to describe and to understand the experience of being in a PhotoTherapy group for adolescent females in treatment for self-injurious behaviors. The research question was as follows: (1) What was the essence of the experience of a series of PhotoTherapy group sessions for female adolescents with a history of self-injurious behaviors? After the completion of two semi-structured interviews with 5 participants, the researcher acknowledged the emergence of four themes that expressed the essence of the experience of being a part of a PhotoTherapy group process as an adolescent female in treatment for self-injurious behaviors. The themes were the following: Self, Connection with others, Emotions, Motivations in treatment. These themes developed a description of the interactions, emotions, behaviors and thoughts that occurred throughout the group work process. Self-injury is a complex issue and the literature states a need for creative interventions. The study collaborated the needs in the field of self-injury treatment with the resources available from PhotoTherapy. The study gained perspective and understanding of how the experience of being in a PhotoTherapy group impacted the individual. In mental health and education, counselors can use the data and conclusions from this research to understand the use of PhotoTherapy group work with adolescent girls that self injure. The researcher concludes that counseling professionals have an understanding of creative interventions and the personal experiences endure with the use of creative interventions such as, PhotoTherapy to have a holistic perspective on treatment practices.

A fototerapia é um procedimento estabelecido há mais de 50 anos no tratamento da icterícia em recém-nascidos. No entanto ainda não há um método padronizado de quantificação da dose fototerápica nos estudos clínicos publicados, dificultando a comparação de estudos prévios sobre a eficácia da fototerapia, bem como o estabelecimento de doses seguras e previsíveis. A dose fototerápica depende, dentre outros fatores, da irradiância média útil entregue pelas unidades fototerápicas. Mas não há procedimentos padronizados tanto na quantificação da irradiância útil ao tratamento, quanto na estimação da irradiância média útil em fontes fototerápicas. Por isso, têm sido relatadas grandes variações nas medições de uma mesma fonte usando os radiômetros disponíveis no mercado, como conseqüência da vasta diversidade de responsividades espectrais dos instrumentos. Um objetivo deste trabalho foi adaptar e aplicar os princípios da radiometria ultravioleta de banda larga na quantificação da irradiância disponível em fontes fototerápicas, estabelecendo procedimentos que permitem comparar irradiâncias medidas em diversas fontes, usando radiômetros com diferentes responsividades espectrais. Outro objetivo foi caracterizar amostras de fontes comumente usadas atualmente, focando o problema da estimação da irradiância média útil em unidades de fototerapia, propondo um método de estimação da irradiância média útil em fontes com foco dirigido. Os resultados experimentais obtidos nos permitem concluir que não somente é necessário padronizar a radiometria fototerápica, como também o método de estimação da irradiância média útil. / Phototherapy is a procedure established more than 50 years ago in the treatment of the newborn jaundice. However there is no a standard method to quantify the phototherapeutic dose in published clinical studies, hindering the comparison of previous studies on phototherapeutic effectiveness, as well as the establishment of safe and predictable doses. The phototherapeutic dose depends, among other factors, on the effective mean irradiance produced by the phototherapeutic unit. There are no standard procedures, however, neither to quantify the effective irradiance, nor to estimate the mean effective irradiance. As a consequence, large measurement variations in a same phototherapeutic unit are observed using different commercially available radiometers, as a consequence of the vast diversity of spectral responsivities of the instruments. An objective of this work was to adapt and to apply the bases of the wideband ultraviolet radiometry to quantify the available irradiance from phototherapeutic units, establishing procedures that allow us to compare measured irradiances from different sources, using radiometers presenting different spectral responsivities. Another objective was to characterize samples of phototherapeutic units commonly used, focusing the problem of the estimation of the effective mean irradiance from phototherapeutic units, proposing a method to estimate of the effective irradiance from focused sources. The experimental results allow us to conclude that it is not only necessary to standardize the phototherapeutic radiometry, but also the method of estimation of the effective mean irradiance.