• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.73-84
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• 2024

A pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) enhances the efficacy of several anticancer drugs. Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anticancer agent used to treat various malignancies, including breast cancer. This study examined whether a PEMF increases the anticancer effect of DOX on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and elucidated the underlying mechanisms affected by PEMF stimulation in DOX-treated MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. A cotreatment with DOX and a PEMF potentiated the reduction in MCF-7 cell viability compared to the treatment with DOX alone. The PEMF elevated DOX-induced G1 arrest by affecting cyclin-dependent kinase 2 phosphorylation and the expression of G1 arrest-related molecules, including p53, p21, cyclin E2, and polo like kinase 1. In addition, PEMF increased the DOX-induced upregulation of proapoptotic proteins, such as Fas and Bcl-2-associated X, and the downregulation of antiapoptotic proteins, including myeloid leukemia 1 and survivin. PEMF promoted the DOX-induced activation of caspases-8, -9, and -7 and poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase cleavage in MCF-7 cells. In conclusion, PEMF enhances the anticancer activity in DOX-treated MCF-7 breast cancer cells by increasing G1 cell cycle arrest and caspase-dependent apoptosis. These findings highlight the potential use of a PEMF as an adjuvant treatment for DOX-based chemotherapy against breast cancer.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.377-380
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• 2015

Muscle contusion has a negative effect on muscle function. Although several studies showed that pain control and muscle recovery is facilitated by pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF), there has not been much research regarding the specific effects of PEMF on them. The aim of the present study is to investigate effects of PEMF on pain and muscle recovery following extensor digitorum longus (EDL) contusion injury through measuring the expression of the c-fos proto-oncogene and nerve growth factor (NGF). Significantly reduced c-fos expression in the spinal cord was shown in PEMF groups compared with control (CON) groups. There was no significant difference between PEMF1 and CON1, but significantly increased NGF expression was shown in PEMF3 and PEMF5 compared with in CON groups, where the numbers in the group names are the days from contusion. In conclusion, PEMF could be used to not only reduce pain in muscle injuries by down-regulating c-fos expression in the spinal cord, but it could also influence muscle healing through increasing NGF expression in the injured muscle.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.486-494
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• 2021

The growth of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy and its progress over the years for use in post-operative bone growth has been revolutionary in its effect on bone tissue proliferation and vascular flow. However, further progress in PEMF therapy has been difficult due to lack of more evidence-based understanding of its mechanism of action. Our objective was to review the current understanding of bone growth physiology, the mechanism of PEMF therapy action along with its application in spinal surgery and associated outcomes. The authors of this review examined multiple controlled, comparative, and cohort studies to compare fusion rates of patients undergoing PEMF stimulation. Examining spinal fusion rates, a rounded comparison of post-fusion outcomes with and without bone stimulator was performed. Results showed that postoperative spinal surgery PEMF stimulation had higher rates of fusion than control groups. Though PEMF therapy was proven more effective, multiple factors contributed to difficulty in patient compliance for use. Extended timeframe of treatment and cost of treatment were the main obstacles to full compliance. This review showed that PEMF therapy presented an increased rate of recovery in patients, supporting the use of these devices as an effective post-surgical aid. Given the recent advances in the development of PEMF devices, affordability and access will be much easier suited to the patient population, allowing for more readily available treatment options.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.20 no.3 s.32
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• pp.499-517
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• 1990

Electrical stimulation among several factors that influence bone remodeling has been studied by many investigators with great enthusiasm in orthodontic field. The action mechanisms of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) are different from those of the conventional electrode application method in that PEMF induces endogenous current in the living tissues. PEMF is known to have the healing effect in nonunion of bone and osteoporosis. It is widely used in orthopaedic scopes and the possibility of using the method in clinical orthodontics Is also conceivable. But the exact mechanisms by which the PEMF exerts its effects are not clearly understood. Therefore, the author wanted to see the effect of PEMF on five groups of rat calvarial cells obtained by sequential enzyme digestion method, and observed the changes in enzyme activation, collagen synthesis and $^3H-thymidine$ incorporation. The results were as follows: 1. Under the effect of PEMF, there were no changes in the alkaline phosphatase activity in five groups of cell populations. 2. Both the PEMF group and the PTH with PEMF group shelved no changes in acid phosphatase activities and there were no differences between two experimental groups. 3. Under the effect of PEMF, there was significant increase of collagen synthesis in the group V cell population. 4. Under the effect of PEMF, there were significant increases of $^3H-thymidine$ incorporation in the group IV and V cell populations.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.68-71
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• 2012

Acute injuries to skeletal muscles can lead to significant pain and disability. Muscle pain results in muscle weakness and range of motion (ROM) decreases. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) promote tissue repair, healing rates and reduce musculoskeletal pain. The results of many previous studies suggest that PEMF can contribute to chronic pain reduction, particularly in musculoskeletal injurys. However, we do not have enough information of its effects compared to a placebo. The principal objective of this study was to investigate differences in acute pain induced by the direct destruction of muscle tissue (extensor digitorum) with varying times of the application of PEMF, measured through the expression of c-fos on the spinal cord. Significant reduction of pain was found in groups exposed to PEMF and the group exposed to PEMF immediately after muscle injury showed the most significant differences. In conclusion, PEMF may be a useful strategy in reducing acute pain in muscle injury.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.11-19
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• 2013

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a painful condition that arises from exercise-induced muscle damage after unaccustomed physical activities. Various therapeutic interventions have been applied to reduce the intensity and duration of DOMS-related symptoms. Recently, pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) intervention has been introduced as an alternative noninvasive treatment for DOMS. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment was conducted to examine the effects of PEMF therapy on DOMS in elbow flexors at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the experimental DOMS induction. Thirty healthy volunteers ($23{\pm}2.4$ yrs, $175{\pm}5.7$ cm, and $74{\pm}7.8$ kg) participated in this study. Each was randomly assigned to a PEMF or placebo group. On the first day, DOMS was induced in the elbow flexors by repeated isokinetic motions at low ($60^{\circ}/s$) and fast ($120^{\circ}/s$) speeds in all subjects. Thereafter, the PEMF group received 15-min daily treatment with a PEMF device. The placebo group received sham treatment of the same duration. Overall, PEMF application was more effective than the sham treatment in reducing the physiological symptoms associated with the DOMS including perceived soreness, median frequency, and electromechanical delay of the surface electromyography. In addition, median frequency and isokinetic peak torque of the PEMF group recovered to the pre-DOMS induction level earlier than the placebo group. In conclusion, this study suggests that PEMF can be applied as a new recovery strategy in reducing DOMS symptoms. Further experiments are required to examine the effect of the PEMF treatment on different types of exercise conditions and to determine the optimal treatment dosage and duration in a real clinical setting.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2021

Objective: The aim of this study is to consider the effect of skin tissue necrosis by improving blood flow in animal skin models for low frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (LF_PEMF) stimulation. Methods: Twenty rats (Wistar EPM-1 male, 280-320 g) were randomly divided into control groups (n=10) and the PEMF groups (n=10). To induce necrosis of the skin tissue, skin flap was treated in the back of the rat, followed by isolation film and skin flap suturing. Subsequently, the degree of necrosis of the skin tissue was observed for 7 days. The control group did not perform any stimulation after the procedure. For the PEMF group, LF_PEMF (1 Hz, 10 mT) was stimulated in the skin flap area, for 30 minutes a day and 7 days. Cross-polarization images were acquired at the site and skin tissue necrosis patterns were analyzed. Results: In the control group, skin tissue necrosis progressed rapidly over time. In the PEMF group, skin tissue necrosis was slower than the control group. In particular, no further skin tissue necrosis progress on the day 6. Over time, a statistically significant difference from the continuous necrosis progression pattern in the control group was identified (p<0.05). Conclusions: It was confirmed that low frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (LF_PEMF) stimulation can induce relaxation of skin tissue necrosis.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.225-228
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• 2012

Muscle contusion usually results from a direct blunt impact and is frequently associated with contact sports. Muscle contusion results from microscopic muscle fiber and capillary disruption causing a microhemorrhage dissecting torn fibers and remaining viable muscle fibers. Recent studies concluded that some physical methods, including pulsed ultrasound (PU) and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) treatment, accelerate and facilitate wound healing, improve scar quality and have beneficial effects on muscle and tendon healing. However, there are few studies on the effects of the early use of physical methods, such as PU and PEMF, on the expression of neurotrophic factors. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the early application of PU and PEMF, measured through the expression of BDNF in the muscles (gastrocnemius) and spinal cords of rats after skeletal muscle contusion. In the spinal cords and muscles, there was a significant increase of BDNF expression in the PEMF and PU groups, a greater increase was found in the PEMF group than in the PU group. In conclusion, PEMF is a useful therapeutic method that improves muscle healing after muscle contusion.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.443-449
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to observe cell death in human keratinocytes stimulated against the infectious cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ, and to observe the expression of Phospho-NF-κB due to phosphorylation of IkB to confirm the mechanism of inhibiting the expression of inflammatory cytokines. As a result of cell viability analysis, differences in PEMF stimulation time were observed little by little after 1 hour, 3 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours, but there was no statistical significance according to PEMF stimulation time for each time (p>0.05). No significant difference was observed in the total amount of NF-κB present in the cytoplasm and nucleus, but a significant decrease in the expression of phosphorylated NF-κB was observed in the group exposed to PEMF stimulation for 24 hours (^*p<0.05). The expression of IL-1β was observed in all inflammation-induced groups, and the concentration of IL-1β compared to α-Tubulin expression was reduced by about 54% in the PEMF-stimulated group for 24 hours compared to the control group (^***p<0.001). As a result of the study, it is shown that PEMF stimulation does not negatively affect HaCaT cells from 0 to 48 hours and can inhibit the expression of inflammatory cytokines by inhibiting the pathway of NF-κB.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.161-169
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• 2014

The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) on the alleviation of lumbar myalgia. This is a randomized, real-sham, double blind pilot study. 38 patients were divided into the PEMF group and the Sham group, each of which was composed of 19 patients (1 patient dropped out in the Sham group) of randomized allocation. The PEMF group was treated by using the PEMF device and the Sham group by using a sham device on the lumbar muscle and acupuncture points, three times a week for a total of two weeks. Evaluations of Visual Analogue Scale for bothersomeness (VASB), Visual Analogue Scale for pain intensity (VASP), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Instrument (SF-36), EuroQol-5Dimension (EQ-5D), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), etc. before and 1 week after treatment were carried out. The primary outcome measure was the VASB, measured 1 week after the end of the pulsed electromagnetic therapy. VASB scores for the PEMF group changed by $-2.06{\pm}2.12$ from the baseline, and that for the Sham group changed by $-0.52{\pm}0.82$ (p < 0.05). VASP scores for the PEMF group were reduced by $-2.10{\pm}2.12$ from the base line, and that for the Sham group was reduced by $-0.53{\pm}1.50$ (p < 0.05). PEMF group showed significant improvements in all VASB, VASP, ODI, SF-36, EQ-5D, BDI and RMDQ scores, while the Sham group showed significant improvements in all scores, except the VASP score. However, the VASB, VASP and RMDQ scores of the PEMF group were much lower than those of the Sham group. The two groups showed no significant difference in ODI, SF-36, EQ-5D and BDI. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of PEMF treatment for alleviating lumbar myalgia.