Effect of bipolar radiofrequency energy on human articular cartilage. Comparison of confocal laser microscopy and light microscopy

PURPOSE

To evaluate chondrocyte viability using confocal laser microscopy (CLM) following exposure to bipolar radiofrequency energy (bRFE) and to contrast CLM with standard light microscopy (LM) techniques.

TYPE OF STUDY

In vitro analysis using chondromalacic human cartilage.

METHODS

Twelve fresh chondral specimens were treated with the ArthroCare 2000 bRFE system (ArthroCare, Sunnyvale, CA) coupled with 1 of 2 types of probes and at 3 energy delivery settings (S2, S4, S6). A sham-operated group was treated with no energy delivered. Specimens were analyzed for chondrocyte viability and chondral morphology with CLM using fluorescent vital cell staining and with LM using H&E and safranin-O staining.

RESULTS

LM with H&E staining showed smoothing of fine fronds of fibrillated cartilage; thickened fronds were minimally modified. Chondrocyte nuclei were present and not morphologically different than nuclei within sham-operated and adjacent untreated regions. LM with safranin-O staining showed a clear demarcation between treated and untreated regions. CLM, however, showed chondrocyte death: the depth and width of chondrocyte death increased with increasing bRFE settings.

CONCLUSIONS

CLM showed that bRFE delivered through the probes investigated created significant chondrocyte death. These changes were not apparent using LM techniques.

Species differentiation by internally transcribed spacer PCR and HhaI digestion of fluconazole-resistant Candida krusei, Candida inconspicua, and Candida norvegensis strains

PCR amplification of the regions containing the internally transcribed spacers and 5.8S rRNA gene of Candida krusei, C. inconspicua, and C. norvegensis yielded fragments of 510, 460, and 500 bp, respectively. HhaI digestion of these fragments yielded species-specific bands. Random amplification of polymorphic DNA with primer R108 showed interspecific discriminatory band patterns. Susceptibilities to fluconazole and amphotericin B were determined.

Analysis of the Weinbaum-Jiji model of blood flow in the canine kidney cortex for self-heated thermistors

The Weinbaum-Jiji equation can be applied to situations where: 1) the vascular anatomy is know; 2) the blood velocities are known; 3) the effective modeling volume includes many vessels; and 4) the vessel equilibration length is small compared to the actual length of the vessel. These criteria are satisfied in the situation where steady-state heated thermistors are placed in the kidney cortex. In this paper, the Weinbaum-Jiji bioheat equation is used to analyze the steady state response of four different sized self-heated thermistors in the canine kidney. This heat transfer model is developed based on actual physical measurements of the vasculature of the canine kidney cortex. In this model, parallel-structured interlobular arterioles and venules with a 60 microns diameter play the dominant role in the heat transfer due to blood flow. Continuous power is applied to the thermistor, and the instrument measures the resulting steady state temperature rise. If an accurate thermal model is available, perfusion can be calculated from these steady-state measurements. The finite element simulations correlate well in shape and amplitude with experimental results in the canine kidney. In addition, this paper shows that the Weinbaum-Jiji equation can not be used to model the transient response of the thermistor because the modeling volume does not include enough vessels and the vessel equilibration length is not small compared to the actual length of the vessel.