Pulsed electromagnetic fields affect the intracellular calcium concentrations in human astrocytoma cells.
Experiments assessed whether long term exposure to 50 Hz pulsed electromagnetic fields with a peak magnetic field of 3 mT can alter the dynamics of intracellular calcium in human astrocytoma U-373 MG cells. Pretreatment of cells with 1.2 &mgr; M substance P significantly increased the [Ca(2+)](i). The same effect was also observed when [Ca(2+)](i) was evaluated in the presence of 20 mM caffeine. After exposure to electromagnetic fields the basal [Ca(2+)](i) levels increased significantly from 143 +/- 46 nM to 278 +/- 125 nM. The increase was also evident after caffeine addition, but in cells treated with substance P and substance P + caffeine we observed a [Ca(2+)](i) decrease after exposure. When we substituted calcium-free medium for normal medium immediately before the [Ca(2+)](i) measurements, the [Ca(2+)](i) was similar to that measured in the presence of Ca(2+). In this case, after EMFs exposure of cells treated with substance P, the [Ca(2+)](i), measured without and with addition of caffeine, declined from 824 +/- 425 to 38 +/- 13 nM and from 1369 +/- 700 to 11 +/- 4 nM, respectively, indicating that electromagnetic fields act either on intracellular Ca(2+) stores or on the plasma membrane. Moreover the electromagnetic fields that affected [Ca(2+)](i) did not cause cell proliferation or cell death and the proliferation indexes remained unchanged after exposure. Pessina G. et.al. Inst. of General Physiology and Nutritional Science, University of Siena, Italy. Bioelectromagnetics
Pulsed electromagnetic fields promote bone formation around dental implants inserted into the femur of rabbits.
The present study examined the effect of applying a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) on bone formation around a rough-surfaced dental implant. A dental implant was inserted into the femur of Japanese white rabbits bilaterally. A PEMF with a pulse width of 25 microseconds and a pulse frequency of 100 Hz was applied. PEMF stimulation was applied for 4 h or 8 h per day, at a magnetic intensity of 0.2 mT, 0.3 mT or 0.8 mT. The animals were sacrificed 1, 2 or 4 weeks after implantation. After staining the resin sections with 2% basic fuchsin and 0.1% methylene blue, newly formed bone around the implant on tissue sections was evaluated by computer image analysis. The bone contact ratios of the PEMF-treated femurs were significantly larger than those of the control groups. Both the bone contact ratio and bone area ratio of the 0.2 mT- and 0.3 mT-treated femurs were significantly larger than the respective value of the 0.8 mT-treated femurs (P < 0.001). No significant difference in bone contact ratio or bone area ratio was observed whether PEMF was applied for 4 h/day or 8 h/day. Although a significantly greater amount of bone had formed around the implant of the 2-week treated femurs than the 1-week treated femurs, no significant difference was observed between the 2-week and 4-week treated femurs. These results suggest that PEMF stimulation may be useful for promoting bone formation around rough-surfaced dental implants. It is important to select the proper magnetic intensity, duration per day, and length of treatment. Matsumoto H. et.al. Dep. of Fixed Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Hokkaido, Ishikari-Tobetsu, Japan. J. of Clin Oral Implants
PEMF data collection and analysis.
Eighty-five patient records were reviewed retrospectively to determine the status of lumbar spinal fusion in patients who had undergone surgery of posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and/or by a posterolateral (PL) approach, and received postoperative therapy with a noninvasive device that generated pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF). Sixty-six patients (77.6%) had risk factors associated with a poor prognosis for healing, including smoking, prior back surgery, multiple spinal levels fused, diabetes millitus, and obesity. Roentgenographic and clinical evidence indicated that all but two patients achieved successful fusion. The characteristics of these two patients were age 40-55 years, 1 male and 1 female, both were smokers, 1 primary fusion and 1 revision fusion, and both patients underwent single-level PLIF using autogenous graft. After the treatment, seven (8%) patients reported no change in level of pain, but the remainder (92%) reported that pain decreased by one to three levels. Of the 83 patients with successful spinal fusion, 29 (34.9%) were assessed as "excellent," 45 (54.2%) as "good," 3 (3.6%) as "fair," and 6 (7.2%) as "poor." Adjunctive treatment with PEMF appeared effective in promoting spinal fusion following PLIF or PL procedures across all patient subgroups. Richard A. Silver, M.D.Tucson Orthopaedic & Fracture Surgery Associates, Ltd., Tucson, AZ.
Therapeutic effects of alternating current pulsed electromagnetic fields in multiple sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis is the third most common cause of severe disability in patients between the ages of 15 and 50 years. The cause of the disease and its pathogenesis remain unknown. The last 20 years have seen only meager advances in the development of effective treatments for the disease. No specific treatment modality can cure the disease or alter its long-term course and eventual outcome. Moreover, there are no agents or treatments that will restore premorbid neuronal function. A host of biological phenomena associated with the disease involving interactions among genetic, environmental, immunologic, and hormonal factors, cannot be explained on the basis of demyelination alone and therefore require refocusing attention on alternative explanations, one of which implicates the pineal gland as pivotal. The pineal gland functions as a magnetoreceptor organ. This biological property of the gland provided the impetus for the development of a novel and highly effective therapeutic modality, which involves transcranial applications of alternating current (AC) pulsed electromagnetic fields flux density. This review summarizes recent clinical work on the effects of transcranially applied pulsed electromagnetic fields for the symptomatic treatment of the disease. Sandyk R. Dep. of Neuroscience, Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Rehab Services of Touro College, Dix Hills, New York.
Double-blind study of pulsing magnetic field effects on multiple sclerosis.
We performed a double-blind study to measure the clinical and sub-clinical effects of an alternative medicine electromagnetic device on disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS). The MS patients were exposed to a magnetic pulsing device where the frequency of the magnetic pulse was in the 4-13 Hz range. A total of 30 MS patients wore the device on pre-selected sites between 10 and 24 hours a day for 2 months. Half of the patients (15) randomly received a device that was magnetically inactive and the other half received an active device. Each MS patient received a set of tests to evaluate MS disease status before and after wearing the device. The tests included (1) a clinical rating (Kurtzke, EDSS), (2) patient-reported performance scales, and (3) quantitative electro-encephalography (QEEG) during a language task. Although there was no significant change between pretreatment and post-treatment in the EDSS scale, there was a significant improvement in the performance scale (PS) combined rating for bladder control, cognitive function, fatigue level, mobility, spasticity, and vision (active group -3.83 +/- 1.08, p < 0.005; placebo group -0.17 +/- 1.07, change in PS scale). There was also a significant change between pre-treatment and post-treatment in alpha EEG magnitude during the language task recorded at various electrode sites on the left side. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we have demonstrated a statistically significant effect of themagnetic pulsing device on patient performance scales and on alpha EEG magnitude during a language task. Richards T. et.al. Dep. Radiology, University of Washington
Pulsing magnetic field effects on brain electrical activity in multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system. Clinical symptoms include central fatigue, impaired bladder control, muscle weakness, sensory deficits, impaired cognition, and others. The cause of MS is unknown, but from histologic, immunologic, and radiologic studies, we know that there are demyelinated brain lesions (visible on magnetic resonance images) that contain immune cells such as macrophages and T-cells (visible on microscopic analysis of brain sections). Recently, a histologic study has also shown that widespread axonal damage occurs in MS along with demyelination. What is the possible connection between MS and bio-electromagnetic fields? We recently published a review entitled "Bio-electromagnetic applications for multiple sclerosis," which examined several scientific studies that demonstrated the effects of electromagnetic fields on nerve regeneration, brain electrical activity (electro-encephalography), neurochemistry, and immune system components. All of these effects are important for disease pathology and clinical symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS). EEG was measured in this study in order to test our hypothesis that the pulsing magnetic device affects the brain electrical activity, and that this may be a mechanism for the effect we have observed on patient-reported symptoms. The EEG data reported previously were measured only during resting and language conditions. The purpose of the current study was to measure the effect of the electromagnetic device on EEG activity during and after photic stimulation with flashing lights. After photic stimulation, there was a statistically significant increase in alpha EEG magnitude that was greater in the active group compared to the placebo group in electrode positions P3, T5, and O1 (analysis of variance p<.001, F=14, DF = 1,16). In the comparison between active versus placebo, changes measured from three electrode positions were statistically significantly even after multiple comparison correction. Richards TL, Acosta-Urquidi, J In Biologic Effects of Light 1998 Symposium
Treatment with weak electromagnetic fields improves fatigue associated with multiple sclerosis.
It is estimated that 75-90% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience fatigue at some point during the course of the disease and that in about half of these patients, subjective fatigue is a primary complaint. In the majority of patients fatigue is present throughout the course of the day being most prominent in the mid to late afternoon. Sleepiness is not prominent, but patients report that rest may attenuate fatigability. The pathophysiology of the fatigue of MS remains unknown. Delayed impulse conduction in demyelinated zones may render transmission in the brainstem reticular formation less effective. In addition, the observation that rest may restore energy and that administration of pemoline and amantadine, which increase the synthesis and release of monoamines, often improve the fatigue of MS suggest that depletion of neurotransmitter stores in damaged neurons may contribute significantly to the development of fatigue in these patients. The present report concerns three MS patients who experienced over several years continuous and debilitating fatigue throughout the course of the day. Fatigue was exacerbated by increased physical activity and was not improved by rest. After receiving a course of treatments with picotesla flux electromagnetic fields (EMFs), which were applied extracranially, all patients experienced improvement in fatigue. Remarkably, patients noted that several months after initiation of treatment with EMFs they were able to recover, after a short period of rest, from fatigue which followed increased physical activity. These observations suggest that replenishment of monoamine stores in neurons damaged by demyelination in the brainstem reticular formation by periodic applications of picotesla flux intensity EMFs may lead to more effective impulse conduction and thus to improvement in fatigue including rapid recovery of fatigue after rest. Sandyk R. NeuroCommunication Research Laboratories, Danbury, CT, USA.
Effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on rat skin metabolism.
In an attempt to approach the mechanism of action of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) on biological systems, the effects on protein synthesizing activity and on membrane transport have been examined in rat skin. PEMF characterized by specific physical parameters stimulate the incorporation of L-[U-14C] isoleucine into the proteins of rat skin as well as the alpha-amino [1-14C] isobutyric acid uptake during incubation in buffer medium with extracellular electrolyte composition. Analogous incubation experiments carried out in an intracellular medium results in an inhibitory effect of PEMF on both biological functions. Addition of 10(-3) M ouabain to the incubation medium, partially blocking the Na+/K+-ATPase pump mechanism, apart from reducing amino acid transport, results in an overall disappearance of any stimulatory effects by PEMF. PEMF applied to the skin in the presence of 10(-3) M 2,4-dinitrophenol uncoupling the oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria and seriously restricting protein synthesis, still provides a limited stimulatory effect on protein synthesizing activity and on membrane transport. The effects of PEMF may well be understood by an increased availability of precursor elements controlled at the cell membrane level. Indeed the observed effects may even be simulated outside electromagnetic fields by modifications in the electrolyte composition of the incubation medium. De Loecker W. Et.al. Biochemal dep. Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. Biochim Biophys Acta
