Using translucent materials you can kind of achieve the effect, but it's still faking the funk.  It involves you putting lights inside objects, and of course you're still dealing with ye olde fashioned "sphere and spot", not shaped like neon tubing.  Or a bazillion sphere lights made into the shape of the item... sort of.  I don't even want to concieve the render times on that.  My computer hates me enough as is. :c)