Objective To investigate the changes of lumbar bone histomorphometry after exposure to low frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs), and to further understand the effect of PEMFs on osteoporosis (OP) in ovariectomizedOP rats. Methods Sixty-six 3-month-old Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: group A(n=12), groupB (n=12), group C (n=12), and group D (n=30). In group A, the ovaries were not resected as sham-ovariectomy; in groupsB, C, and D, the ovaries were resected. At 12 weeks after ovariectomy, the rats were exposed to PEMFs at 8 Hz, 3.8 mT, and 40 minutes/ day for 30 days in group B; the rats were administered with premarin [0.065 mg/(kg·d) by gavage for 30 days] in group C; in group D, the rats were housed as ovariectomy control. The hair and activity of rats were observed; the levels of serum estradiol were determined. At 30 days after intervention, all rats were sacrificed to harvest the L4 vertebrae for bone histomorphometry. Results General observation showed hair loss and decreased activity in group D, and no abnormal appearances in groups A, B, and C. The level of serum estradiol in group A was significantly higher than that in group D [(54.93 ± 23.52) pg/mL vs. (31.99 ± 23.45) pg/mL] (t=2.345, P=0.029). Histological observation showed thinness of sclerotin, bigger medullary cavity, and sparse and thinner bone trabecula in group D; uniform bone trabecula with no breakage in groups A, B, and C at 30 days after intervention. The ratio of trabecular bone area in group B was significantly higher than that in group D (P lt; 0.05); it was higher than that in groups A and C, showing no significant difference (P gt; 0.05). The trabecular thickness in group B was significantly higher than that in group D (P lt; 0.05), but it was lower than that in groups A and C, showing no significant difference (P gt; 0.05). The trabecular number in group B was significantly lower than that in group D (P lt; 0.05), but it was higher than that in groups A and C, showing no significant difference (P gt; 0.05). The trabecular separation in group B was higher than that in group D and lower than that in groups A and C, showing no significant difference (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion PEMFs at 8 Hz and 3.8 mT can significantly improve the character of bone microstructure in ovariectomized OP rats, increase the ratio of bone trabecular area and trabecular thickness, and decrease the trabecular number.
To observe the effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) of different treatment time on bone mineral density of femur in ovariectomized rats, so as to find out the treatment time for the best therapeutic efficacy. Methods Fifty female SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: sham-ovariectomized (SHAM) group (no PEMFs treatment), ovariectomy (OVX) control group (no PEMFs treatment), OVX I, II and III groups (PEMFs treatment at 8 Hz frequency with 3. 8 ×10-10A/m intensity 20, 40, and 60 minutes daily for 30 days, respectively). All rats were given bilateral ovariectomy except those in the SHAM control group. Bone mineral density (BMD) of femur was assessed at 30 days after PEMFs treatment. Results In OVX control group, hypotrichosis, hypoactivity and l istlessness were observed after operation; and in SHAM group, OVX I group, OVX II group and OVX III group, pilus, psyche and activity were normal. The BMD values were (0.226 ± 0.011), (0.210 ± 0.011), (0.231 ± 0.013), (0.231 ± 0.017) and (0.229 ± 0.013) g/cm2 in SHAM group, OVX control group, OVX I group, OVX II group and OVX III group respectively, showing significant differences between OVX control group and other groups (P lt; 0.05), but showing no significant differences between other 4 groups (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion P EMFs of the three different treatment times can maintain the BMD in ovariectomized rats. It shows that PEMFs have the same effect of maintaining BMD with increasing of treatment time at the range of 20-60 minutes in ovariectomized rats.
Objective To study major influential factors of the micturition alert device dedicated to neurogenic bladders for the product design and cl inical appl ication of the device. Methods One ferrite permanent magnet with thickness and diameter of 3 mm and 10 mm, respectively, and three NdFeB permanent magnets with the thickness of 3 mm and diameter of 10, 15 and 20 mm, respectively, were used. The effects of thickness of the abdominal wall as well as the position and type of permanent magnets on the micturition alert device dedicated to neurogenic bladders were measured in vitro simulated test, when the abdominal wall was set to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 cm, respectively, and the position of permanent magnets was 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 cm, respectively. The effect of the geomagnetic field on the device was measured under the condition that the thickness of the simulated abdominal wall was set to 2, 3, 4 and 5 cm, respectively,and the position of permanent magnets was 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 cm, respectively. Results The value showed inthe warning unit was positively correlated with the position of the ferrite permanent magnet only when the thickness ofthe simulated abdominal wall was 2 cm (r=0.632, P lt; 0.05). The correlation between the value of the warning unit andthe position of NdFeB permanent magnets was significant (r gt; 0.622, P lt; 0.05), which was intensified with the increasingdiameter of NdFeB permanent magnets, but weakened with the increasing thickness of the simulated abdominal wall. The effect of the geomagnetic field was correlated with the exposition of the body, the position of the permanent magnet and the thickness of the abdominal wall. Conclusion The major influential factors of the micturition alert device dedicated to neurogenic bladder include the magnetism and location of the permanent magnet, the thickness of the abdominal wall and the geomagnetic field. These factors are correlated with and affect each other. Reasonable allocation of these factors may optimize the device.
Several techniques were used to improve 0.3～0.5 mm microvascular anastomosis. These included (1) non-isolation of adventitia, (2) modified two—point anastomosis, (3) clamping only the inflow in veins anastomosis, (4) atraumatic measurement of vascular patency, (5) post operative stimulation by electromagnetic fields, which accelerated the healing of the vessels. The chance of patency following anastomosis in experimental group was significantly much greater than that in the control one (plt;0.001). We have have also used these techniques in 11 patients with fingers replantion or smaller lymphatic anastomosis. All of the operations were successful.
ObjectiveTo compare the clinical effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) with oral alendronate in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. MethodsFourty patients diagnosed to have postmenopausal osteoporosis (OP) from September 2009 to September 2010 were included in our study. They were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group. All patients were administered the same basic drugs:Caltrate 600 mg and Alfacalcidol 0.5 μg per day. For the experimental group, PEMFs were offered 6 times per week for 5 weeks (30 times in total), and patients in this group were followed up for 12 weeks. For the control group, alendronate was given at a dose of 70 mg per week for 12 weeks. Bone mineral density (BMD), visual analogue scale, and manual muscle testing (MMT) scale were evaluated before, 1 week, 5 weeks, and 12 weeks after intervention. ResultsIncreasing of BMD, pain relieving, and improvement of MMT had a trend of increasing values after 5 weeks of treatment in the experimental group (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). However, there was a significant difference between the two groups in patients' lower back muscle strength after treatment (P<0.05). ConclusionPEMFs have the same effect as alendronate in pain relief, and bone mass and muscle strength improvement, and are even advantageous in increasing back muscle strength compared with alendronate.
We investigated the effects and optimal treatment frequency of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) on postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO). A comparison was performed with the cyclical alendronate and a course of PEMFs in the treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis on bone mineral density (BMD), pain intensity and balance function. There was no significant difference between the two groups on mean percentage changes from baseline of BMD within 24 weeks after random treatments (P≥0.05). However, at the ends of 48 weeks and 72 weeks, the BMD of the PEMFs group were significantly lower than that of the alendronate group (P<0.05). No significant difference was detected between the two groups with regard to treatment effects on Visual Analogue Scale score, the Timed Up & Go Test and Berg Balance Scale score. Compared with cyclical alendronate, a course of PEMFs was as effective as alendronate in treating PMO for at least 24weeks. So its optimal treatment frequency for PMO may be one course per six months.
In the present work, Monte Carlo simulations were employed to study the characteristics of the dose distribution of high energy electron beam in the presence of uniform transverse magnetic field. The simulations carried out the transport processes of the 30 MeV electron beam in the homogeneous water phantom with different magnetic field. It was found that the dose distribution of the 30 MeV electron beam had changed significantly because of the magnetic field. The result showed that the range of the electron beam was decreased obviously and it formed a very high dose peak at the end of the range, and the ratio of maximum dose to the dose of the surface was greatly increased. The results of this study demonstrated that we could change the depth dose distribution of electron beam which is analogous to the heavy ion by modulating the energy of the electron and magnetic field. It means that using magnetic fields in conjunction with electron radiation therapy has great application prospect, but it also has brought new challenges for the research of dose algorithm.
Studying effects of 50 Hz sinusoidal electromagnetic fields (SEMFs) with different intensities on peak bone mass (PBM) of rats may provide a theoretical basis for application of electromagnetic clinical field. 30 female SD rats, 6 weeks of age, were randomly divided into three groups: the control group, 0.1 mT electromagnetic field group (EMFs) and 0.6 mT EMFs. The EMFs groups were treated for 3 h/day. After 8 weeks, we examined their bone mineral densities (BMD), measured their bone biomechanical properties, and made serum levels of osteocalcin (OC), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP 5b), and histomorphometry. It was found that the BMD (P < 0.01), maximum mechanical load (P < 0.01) in the 0.1 mT group were significantly higher than those in the control group, and Yield strength (P < 0.05), the analyses of serum bone turnover markers and histomorphometric parameters were better than those in the control group (P < 0.05). However, the 0.6 mT group did not have significantly difference comparing with that in the control group. This study proved that 50 Hz 0.1 mT SEMFs can increased BMD, bone strength, and bone tissue microstructure. Therefore, 50 Hz 0.1 mT SEMFs can improve peak bone mass of rats.
The present research is to investigate the time effect of sinusoidal electromagnetic fields (SEMFs) at different exposure time on the biomechanical properties in rats, and to find a best time for improving biomechanical properties. Forty female SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, i.e. control group, 45 min SEMFs group, 90 min SEMFs group, 180 min SEMFs group, and 270 min SEMFs group. In addition to the control group, other groups were exposed to 50 Hz and 0.1 mT magnetic field every day for the corresponding time periods. After eight weeks, bone mineral density (BMD), bone biomechanics, bone tissue morphology, micro-CT and pathological examination were performed. The results showed that there was no abnormal pathological finding in the experimental groups. In the 90 min SEMFs group, BMD, femur maximum load, elastic modulus, yield strength, trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) and trabecular area (Tb.Ar) percentage were all significantly higher than those in the control group (P＜0.01), and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) was significantly lower than that of the control group (P＜0.01). However, for other experimental groups, some indices showed statistical significance compared to the control group (P＜0.05), but some did not (P>0.05). This study showed that under 50 Hz and 0.1 mT SEMFs, 90 min is the best time that can effectively increase bone mineral density, improve the bone tissue microstructure organization and the biomechanical properties.
ObjectiveTo investigate whether signal molecule mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) involves in the process of the mineralization and maturation of rat calvarial osteoblasts promoted by 50 Hz, 0.6 mT pulsed electromagnetic fields. MethodsRat calvarial osteoblasts were obtained by enzyme digestion from the skull of 6 neonatal Wistar rats of SPF level. The primary osteoblasts were treated in 50 Hz and 0.6 mT pulsed electromagnetic fields for 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 120 minutes; the protein expression of phosphorylated MAPKs was detected by Western blot. The osteoblasts were randomly divided into group A (control group), group B (low frequency pulse electromagnetic fields treatment group), group C (SB202190 group), and group D (SB202190+low frequency pulse electromagnetic fields treatment group); the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were tested after corresponding treatment for 1, 4, and 7 days. The corresponding treated more than 90% confluenced osteoblasts were cultured under condition of osteogenic induction, then ALP staining and alizarin red staining were carried out at 9 and 12 days respectively. ResultsThe results of Western blot showed that there was no significant changes in the protein expressions of phosphorylated level of extracellular signal-related kinases 1/2 and c-Jun amino N-terminal kinases 1/2 in 50 Hz, 0.6 mT pulsed electromagnetic fields P>0.05), but the phosphorylated level of p38 began to increase at 5 minutes, peaked at 40 minutes, then gradually decreased, and it was significantly higher at 5-120 minutes than at 0 minute (P<0.05). After the activities of p-p38 was inhibited by inhibitor SB202190, the ALP activities, positive colonies and area of ALP and calcified nodules of group B were significantly higher than groups A, C, and D (P<0.05). Conclusionp38 is one of the signal molecules involved in the process of the mineralization and maturation of rat calvarial osteoblasts promoted by 50 Hz, 0.6 mT pulsed electromagnetic fields.