A retrospective, controlled trial evaluation of pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation for fusion success following lumbar spinal surgery.

Both pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation and sclerostin monoclonal antibody are useful for treating osteoporosis, but whether the two therapies have synergistic effects on both screw fixation quality and bone metabolism of ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis has not been reported. We used ovariectomy to create a rabbit model of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Then, specimens were fixed with pedicle screws in the L4 vertebral body. Rabbits were randomly divided into an OVX control group, PEMF group, Scl-Ab group, and PEMF+Scl-Ab group. The PEMF group was given PEMF magnetic therapy, the Scl-Ab group was administered a subcutaneous Scl-Ab injection, and the PEMF+SclAb group received both therapies. The OVX group was injected subcutaneously with the same dose of saline instead. After eight weeks of treatment, the bone metabolism index, bone mineral density (BMD), and bone microstructural, biological, and biomechanical parameters were evaluated. BMD significantly decreased six months post-ovariectomy. Compared with that of the OVX group, the BMD of the PEMF, Scl-Ab, and PEMF+Scl-Ab groups increased by 20.3%, 19.9%, and 35.0%, respectively. The maximum pulling force of pedicle screws increased by 14.0%,15.0% and 19.1%, and the maximum failure power consumption of pedicle screws increased by 27.9%, 27.2% and 33.6%, respectively; these differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The bone metabolism index and bone microstructure parameters of the PEMF+Scl-Ab group were more optimal than those in the single treatment group. Both Scl-Ab and PEMF therapy can enhance the BMD and the mechanical strength of pedicle screws in osteoporotic bones of rabbits with postmenopausal osteoporosis. However, combination of the two measures has achieved even better results, yielding potential clinical application value.

BackgroundOsteoarthritis (OA) is the final result of progressive alterations to articular cartilage structure, composition and cellularity, followed by an increase in the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines in joint synovial fluid. Even though the effect of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation in counteracting OA progression and inflammation is of increasing interest, because of its anabolic and anti-inflammatory properties, the present study aimed to improve the knowledge on cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) and chondrocyte changes related to the exposure of PEMF, from a histological and histomorphometric point of view.MethodsAn in vitro OA model was realized, culturing bovine cartilage explants with a high dose of interleukin 1β (IL1β, 50 ng/ml) at different experimental times (24 h, and 7 and 21 days). The effects of PEMFs (75 Hz, 1.5 mT) were evaluated in cartilage explants treated with IL1β or not (control), in terms of cartilage structure, cellularity and proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans, collagen II and transforming growth factor β1 synthesis by using histology, histomorphometry and immunohistochemistry.ResultsMaking a comparison with control cartilage, IL1β-treated explants showed a decrease in cartilage matrix, structure and cellularity parameters. PEMFs were able to counteract the progression of OA acting on both cartilage cellularity and ECM in cartilage previously treated with IL1β. Normal distribution (Kolmogroc-Smirnov test) and homoscedasticity (Levene test) of data were verified, then, the non-parametric Kruskal Wallis test followed by Mann-Whiteny U test for pairwise comparisons were performed. The p-value was adjusted according to the Dunn-Sidak correction.ConclusionsThese results, obtained by culturing and treating cartilage explants from two different joints, confirmed that PEMF stimulation can be used as adjuvant therapy to preserve cartilage from detrimental effects of high inflammatory cytokine levels during OA.

This study investigates the effects of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy on vagus nerve stimulation through non-invasive neck applications. Exploring the efficacy of PEMF across different frequencies (6 hz, 16 hz, and 32 hz), this double-blind placebo-controlled trial included 485 volunteers to assess its impact on autonomic nervous system functions, particularly targeting sleep disturbances and anxiety. Results demonstrated significant improvements in sleep quality and reduction in anxiety levels, especially notable at 16 hz. These findings suggest that PEMF therapy, by modulating autonomic activity, offers a beneficial non-pharmacological treatment option for related disorders.

BackgroundKnee osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of joint disease and the major cause of pain and physical disability among elderly people. To relieve pain, many patients, in order...

We present a case report of anterior cervical fusion non-union that was successfully treated with pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation. In this case, a C6-C7 nonunion was identified clinically and radiographically 1 year after surgery. Imaging revealed nonunion with partial resorption of the bone graft compared with imaging studies performed 8 months earlier. The patient wore a PEMF stimulation device for 3 h/d for 10 months. After 3 months of treatment, the patient's symptoms were resolved. X-rays obtained after 15 weeks of stimulation showed improvement in bone fusion, and x-rays obtained at 31 weeks after stimulation showed even bone density around the C7 screws. The patient remained symptom-free 13 months after the termination of PEMF stimulation at last assessment. PEMF stimulation demonstrated its clinical potential in healing established nonunion of anterior cervical spine fusion. Its use is noninvasive and can be considered an alternative to surgical intervention in selected patients.

To compare the effects of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on osteoblast cells in a cell culture model. Fifty thousand neonatal rat calvarial osteoblast-like cells per milliliter were seeded and 0.06 mT PEMF, 0.2 mT PEMF, and LLLT at 808 nm were applied for 24 and 96 h on the cells. To evaluate cellular proliferation and differentiation, specimens were examined for DNA synthesis, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, cell numbers, and viability of the cells. Morphological appearances of the cells were observed using scanning electron microcopy after 24 and 96 h of incubation. At 24 and 96 h, the control group had a higher cell proliferation than 0.06 and 0.2 mT PEMF groups (p=0.001). At 96 h, 0.2 mT PEMF group had higher cell proliferation rate than 0.06 mT PEMF and LLLT groups (p=0.001). The cell count and cell viability in 0.2 mT PEMF group were higher than the 0.06-mT PEMF and LLLT groups, although these differences were not statistically significant at 96 h (p>0.05). At 24 and 96 h, cell viability in the control group was higher than the test groups. Alkaline phosphatase levels of the groups were comparable in both time intervals (p>0.05). 0.2 mT PEMF application on osteoblast-like cells led to cell proliferation and differentiation better than 0.06 mT PEMF and LLLT at 808 nm, although a remarkable effect of both PEMF and LLLT could not be detected. The ALP activity of 0.2 and 0.06 mT PEMF and LLLT were comparable.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective chemotherapeutic drug for breast cancer. Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation improves the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents. However, whether PEMF stimulation modulates DOX-induced caspase-2-dependent apoptosis remains unclear. Thus, this study investigated the effect of PEMF exposure on DOX-induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. MDA-MB-231 cells were seeded, and the growth medium was replaced with DOX-containing medium and was either unstimulated or stimulated with 1 h PEMF sessions thrice a day at 4-h intervals for up to 72 h. Cell viability was measured using the trypan blue dye exclusion assay, and cell cycles were analyzed using flow cytometry. The molecular mechanisms underlying apoptosis were confirmed by western blotting. PEMF stimulation further reduced the viability of DOX-treated MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, it increased the percentage of cells in the sub-G1 phase and cleavage of PARP in DOX-treated MDA-MB-231 cells. PEMF enhanced the DOX-induced activation of caspase-3/7/9 and truncation of Bid. Additionally, PEMF exposure further enhanced the DOX-induced activation of caspase-2 in MDA-MB-231 cells. Caspase-2 inhibition not only suppressed the PEMF-mediated increase in Bid truncation and cleavage of caspase-3/7/9 and PARP, but also significantly restored the PEMF-enhanced reduction of the viability of DOX-treated MDA-MB-231 cells. PEMF stimulation can further increase DOX-induced caspase-2 activation, which consequently potentiates Bid truncation and the subsequent activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, further reducing the viability of DOX-treated MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

ABSTRACTPrevious studies suggested that pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy can decrease pain. To date, however, it remains difficult to determine whether the analgesic effect observed in patients are attributable to a direct effect of PEMF on pain or to an indirect effect of PEMF on inflammation and healing. In the present study, we used an experimental pain paradigm to evaluate the direct effect of PEMF on pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, and temporal summation of pain. Twenty-four healthy subjects (mean age 22 ± 2 years; 9 males) participated in the experiment. Both real and sham PEMF were administered to every participant using a randomized, double-blind, cross-over design. For each visit, PEMF was applied for 10 minutes on the right forearm using a portable device. Experimental pain was evoked before (baseline) and after PEMF with a 9 cm2 Pelletier-type thermode, applied on the right forearm (120 s stimulation; temperature individually adjusted to produce moderate baseline pain). Pain intensity and unpleasantness were evaluated using a 0–100 numerical pain rating scale. Temporal summation was evaluated by comparing pain intensity ratings obtained at the end of tonic nociceptive stimulation (120 s) with pain intensity ratings obtained after 60 s of stimulation. When compared to baseline, there was no change in pain intensity and unpleasantness following the application of real or sham PEMF. PEMF did not affect temporal summation. The present observations suggest that PEMF does not directly influence heat pain perception in healthy individuals.

Background/Objectives: Doxorubicin (DOX) is commonly used as a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of breast cancer. Nonetheless, its systemic delivery via intravenous injection and toxicity towards healthy tissues commonly result in a broad range of detrimental side effects. Breast cancer severity was previously shown to be correlated with TRPC1 channel expression that conferred upon it enhanced vulnerability to pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy. PEMF therapy was also previously shown to enhance breast cancer cell vulnerability to DOX in vitro and in vivo that correlated with TRPC1 expression and mitochondrial respiratory rates. Methods: DOX uptake was assessed by measuring its innate autofluorescence within murine 4T1 or human MCF7 breast cancer cells following magnetic exposure. Cellular vulnerability to doxorubicin uptake was assessed by monitoring mitochondrial activity and cellular DNA content. Results: Here, we demonstrate that 10 min of PEMF exposure could augment DOX uptake into 4T1 and MCF7 breast cancer cells. DOX uptake could be increased by TRPC1 overexpression, whereas inhibiting the activity of TRPC1 channels with SKF-96356 or genetic knockdown, precluded DOX uptake. PEMF exposure enhances DOX-mediated killing of breast cancer cells, reducing the IC50 value of DOX by half, whereas muscle cells, representative of collateral tissues, were less sensitive to PEMF-enhanced DOX-mediated cytotoxicity. Vesicular loading of DOX correlated with TRPC1 expression. Conclusions: This study presents a novel TRPC1-mediated mechanism through which PEMF therapy may enhance DOX cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells, paving the way for the development of localized non-invasive PEMF platforms to improve cancer outcomes with lower systemic levels of DOX.

Event Abstract Back to Event Effects of PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic fields) treatment on a 68-year-old female with moderate anxiety, chronic neck and low back pain and small vessel ischemia. Beatrice Borges1* and Susan Esposito1 1 Life University, United States BACKGROUND A 68-year-old female presented to a chiropractic university clinic with chief complaints of moderate anxiety/depression as well as chronic neck and low back pain. She also reported constant moderate tinnitus and problems with sleep and concentration. She stated that all her symptoms flared up with changes in barometric pressure. Neurological and musculoskeletal exam revealed aberrant posture and a severe left foot drop. Lumbar, atlantoaxial and TMJ degenerative changes were evidenced on x-ray examination. Computerized Tomography (CT) scan evidenced small vessel ischemia. She was in a severe motor vehicle accident in 2003. The injury sustained in this accident necessitated a laminectomy at the L5-S1 level as a result. METHODS Sixteen one-hour PEMF sessions were given to the participant over a 6-week period. The Pulse XL Pro was used to apply the PEMF. The treatments were given at the Life University Campus Center for Health and Optimal Performance. The first session was exploratory to determine the areas with the greatest sensitivity, and the most comfortable frequencies. Protocols were set with frequencies between 1.5 and 7.8, and intensity was set to the patient’s comfortable tolerance. Pre- and post-outcome written assessments were given to the patient to complete. These included the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Brief Pain Index (BPI), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). RESULTS In this case the BPI scores improved from 5.25 to 4.25 (19%). Her PHQ-9 improved from 15 to 4 (73%) and her anxiety scores improved from 20 to 8 (60%), which evidenced a decrease in her anxiety/depression and pain. Incidental findings included deeper, more restful sleep, increased alertness and markedly reduced tinnitus. CONCLUSION PEMF therapy produced beneficial results in this case. Further investigation is warranted to research the benefits of PEMF therapy for patients with these conditions. Acknowledgements Thanks to Life University Clinics for sponsoring research Keywords: Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF), Anxiety, Chronic back pain, Neck (Pain), Small vessel ischemia Conference: International Symposium on Clinical Neuroscience, Orlando, United States, 24 May - 26 May, 2019. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Clinical Neuroscience Citation: Borges B and Esposito S (2019). Effects of PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic fields) treatment on a 68-year-old female with moderate anxiety, chronic neck and low back pain and small vessel ischemia.. Front. Neurol. Conference Abstract: International Symposium on Clinical Neuroscience. doi: 10.3389/conf.fneur.2019.62.00023 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 31 Mar 2019; Published Online: 27 Sep 2019. * Correspondence: Dr. Beatrice Borges, Life University, Marietta, United States, Bborges0915@gmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Beatrice Borges Susan Esposito Google Beatrice Borges Susan Esposito Google Scholar Beatrice Borges Susan Esposito PubMed Beatrice Borges Susan Esposito Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

(1) Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) significantly impacts patients' quality of life and negatively affects public healthcare costs. The aim of this systematic review is to identify the effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) in OA treatment across different anatomical districts, determining pain reduction and overall improvement in the patient's quality of life. (2) Methods: In this systematic review following PRISMA guidelines, PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for randomized controlled trials involving patients with osteoarthritis undergoing PEMF therapy. Seventeen studies (1197 patients) were included. (3) Results: PEMF therapy demonstrated positive outcomes across various anatomical districts, primarily in knee osteoarthritis. Pain reduction, assessed through VAS and WOMAC scores, showed significant improvement (60% decrease in VAS, 42% improvement in WOMAC). The treatment duration varied (15 to 90 days), with diverse PEMF devices used. Secondary outcomes included improvements in quality of life, reduced medication usage, and enhanced physical function. (4) Conclusions: Diverse PEMF applications revealed promising results, emphasizing pain reduction and improvement in the quality of life of patients. The variability in the treatment duration and device types calls for further investigation. This review informs future research directions and potential advancements in optimizing PEMF therapies for diverse osteoarthritic manifestations.

Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy on Rat Achilles Tendon Healing.

Biochemical and morphological study of human articular chondrocytes cultivated in the presence of pulsed signal therapy

Pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation enhances neurite outgrowth in neural cells and modulates inflammation in macrophages

Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) are used as non-invasive tools to enhance microcirculation and tissue oxygenation, with a modulatory influence on the microvasculature. This study aimed to measure the acute effect of PEMF on muscle oxygenation and its influence on pulmonary oxygen kinetics during exercise. Eighteen male cyclists performed, on different days, a constant-load exercise in both active (ON) and inactive (OFF) PEMF stimulations while deoxyhemoglobin and pulmonary oxygen kinetics, total oxygenation index, and blood lactate were collected. PEMF enhanced muscle oxygenation, with higher values of deoxyhemoglobin both at the primary component and at the steady-state level. Moreover, PEMF accelerated deoxyhemoglobin on-transition kinetic, with a shorter time delay, time constant, and mean response time than the OFF condition. Lactate concentration was higher during stimulation. No differences were found for total oxygenation index and pulmonary oxygen kinetics. Local application of a precise PEMF stimulation can increase the rate of the muscle O2 extraction and utilization. These changes were not accompanied by faster oxygen kinetics, reduced oxygen slow component, or reduced blood lactate level. It seems that oxygen consumption is more influenced by exercise involving large muscle mass like cycling, whereas PEMF might only act at the local level.