Andrew F. Mester

Olfactory function in young adolescents with Down's syndrome.

Decreased ability to smell is present in adults with Downs syndrome, many of whom are known to have brain pathology analogous to that seen in Alzheimers disease. Because olfactory loss is well documented in Alzheimers disease, the question arises whether young adolescents with Downs syndrome, who have no clear Alzheimers disease-like neuropathology, also exhibit olfactory dysfunction. To consider this issue, standardised tests of odour discrimination and identification were administered to 20 young adolescents with Downs syndrome (mean age (SD) 13.89 (1.98) years) and their test scores were compared with 20 mentally retarded and 20 non-mentally retarded control subjects matched to the patients with Downs syndrome on the basis of cognitive ability. No significant differences in olfactory function were found among the three study groups. These findings, along with those from studies of olfactory function in older patients with Downs syndrome, suggest that Downs syndrome related olfactory dysfunction occurs only at ages when Alzheimers disease-like pathology is present.

Photochemical effects of laser irradiation on neuritic outgrowth of olfactory neuroepithelial explants.

The photochemical effect of low-intensity laser irradiation (LILI) on the maturation and regeneration of olfactory-Immature estrus day 15 (E15) and olfactory-mature estrus day 22 (E22) rat fetuses was studied. Neuritic outgrowths of olfactory bipolar receptor cells were quantified in olfactory neuroepithelial explants. Explants in the experimental groups were irradiated with a helium-neon laser using different incident energy densities (IEDs). Explants in another group were exposed to fluorescent light. Control explants did not receive laser or fluorescent light irradiation. Neuritic outgrowths were analyzed on a regular basis for 12 days. Analysis of variance was used to evaluate the data. The parameters of neuritic outgrowth in E15 fetuses showed a significant increase of 30% to 50% vs. the control with a single laser irradiation of 0.5 J/cm2 IED. The rate of neuritic outgrowth observed in the E22 fetuses was less than in the E15 fetuses. The parameters of neuritic outgrowth in E22 fetuses showed a significant and substantially greater percentage increase than in the E15 fetuses with daily laser irradiations of 0.05 and 0.5 J/cm2 IED when compared to the control. The magnitude of these increases appears to be of biological significance as well as statistical significance.

Mester’s Method of Laser Biostimulation

One of the most significant discoveries of present medical engineering is that of the laser. It involves new, almost inconcievable perspectives in the fields of biological research and applications in the medical practice. In the very early time of the laser, there was a great expectation in connection with it’s special burning, vaporizing and coagulating effect. This idea proved to be true in the medical practice many times.

Data for Laser Biostimulation in Wound-Healing

Since the first ruby laser was made in 1960, multiple applications of lasers have been identified. The special burning, coagulating, and vaporizing effects of high output lasers, together with their easy manipulation using optical systems, have resulted in extensive medical use. Additionally, there is much interest in the nonthermic effects of lasers in photodynamic tumor therapy and in biostimulation.

A comparison of mathematical models of nasal pressure-flow data and the contribution of compliant and inertial parameters

The fit of two mathematical models to nasal pressure-flow data from subjects with normal and pathological nasal airways is examined. The use of compliance and inertance parameters within these equations was assessed. Results indicate that the right hyperbolic and Rohers equation models gave analogous fits, and that the compliance and inertance parameters which are related to nasal pathology significantly increased the R/sup 2/ value of the fits.<<ETX>>

Effects of laser irradiation on immature olfactory neuroepithelial explants from the rat

The photobiological effect of low‐output laser irradiation on the maturation and regeneration of immature olfactory bipolar receptor cells of the rat was studied. The maturation and regeneration of the receptor cells of rat fetuses were quantified in neuroepithelial explants with morphometric analysis. The number of explants with outgrowth and the number and length of neuritic outgrowths were determined on a regular basis for 12 days. Explants in the experimental group were irradiated with a helium‐neon laser using different incident energy densities (IED). Explants in the fluorescent light control group were exposed to fluorescent light for the same periods of time as those in the experimental group were exposed to laser irradiation. Explants in another control group were not exposed to laser or fluorescent light irradiation. The IED of 0.5 J/cm2 laser irradiation has been found to increase significantly the number of explants with outgrowth and the number and length of the outgrowths. Other laser IEDs or fluorescent light irradiation did not influence maturation or regeneration.

Basic research in biostimulation

The following biological systems and physiologic processes were influenced by a variety of low-output lasers: 1) Repeated laser irradiation of the skin 2) Hair growth in depilated mice 3) Phagocytosis of bacteria by human and rat leukocytes 4) Spontaneous activity of jejunal villi in dogs 5) Neurotransmitter release following ruby laser exposure in guinea-pig ileum 6) DNA and RNA content in ruby laser irradiated Escherichia coli cultures 7) Laser irradiation on Ehrlich’s ascites tumor cells 8) Remote effect of laser irradiation on vessel formation in rabbit cornea 9) Low-output laser irradiation and wound healing: A) electronmicroscopy of granulation tissue: collagen production in fibroblasts B) enzymatic events in the early stages of wound healing C) regeneration of microcirculation in rabbit ear D) regeneration of muscle fiber E) tensile strength of He-Ne laser-irradiated wounds in rat’s skin F) immunosuppressive effect of laser-irradiation: – skin allotransplant survival time in rat – blast formation of phytohemagglutine stimulated lumphocytes – effect of noncoherent light sources on T and B lymphocytes G) prostaglandin content in wounded dorsal skin of the rat Biostimulatory effects of low-output laser irradiation have been demonstrated at a variety of molecular and cellular levels, as well as at whole organ and tissue levels. Under certain circumstances, syner-gistic effects with laser irradiation have been demonstrated; e.g. an effect on the immune system. Evidence exists which indicate that effects remote to the irradiated site occur, suggesting the presence of a circulatory active substance. Furthermore, the biostimulatory effects of low-output laser irradiation are dose dependent and, with sufficient intensity, the stimulatory effect disappears and inhibition occurs.The following biological systems and physiologic processes were influenced by a variety of low-output lasers: 1) Repeated laser irradiation of the skin 2) Hair growth in depilated mice 3) Phagocytosis of bacteria by human and rat leukocytes 4) Spontaneous activity of jejunal villi in dogs 5) Neurotransmitter release following ruby laser exposure in guinea-pig ileum 6) DNA and RNA content in ruby laser irradiated Escherichia coli cultures 7) Laser irradiation on Ehrlich’s ascites tumor cells 8) Remote effect of laser irradiation on vessel formation in rabbit cornea 9) Low-output laser irradiation and wound healing: A) electronmicroscopy of granulation tissue: collagen production in fibroblasts B) enzymatic events in the early stages of wound healing C) regeneration of microcirculation in rabbit ear D) regeneration of muscle fiber E) tensile strength of He-Ne laser-irradiated wounds in rat’s skin F) immunosuppressive effect of laser-irradiation: – skin allotransplant survival time in rat – blast formatio...

Mathematical models of the nasal airway: ability to discriminate between normal and abnormal static resistive components

Data from subjects with normal and partially obstructed airways were used to compare the goodness of fit and sensitivity to abnormal air flow from Rohrers equation and a right hyperbolic equation. The two goodness of fit measures used (adjusted R/sup 2/ and standard error of the estimate) indicate that the right hyperbole did not fit the data significantly better than Rohrers equation. Only parameters derived from Rohrers equation could discriminate between the normal and partially obstructed airways.<<ETX>>