Effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on Steinberg ratings of femoral head osteonecrosis.

Between 1979 and 1985, 95 patients with femoral head osteonecrosis met the protocol for treatment of 118 hips with selected pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs). Etiologies included trauma (17), alcohol (9), steroid use (46), sickle cell disease (2), and idiopathy (44). The average age was 38 years, and the average follow-up period since the onset of symptoms was 5.3 years. PEMF treatment had been instituted an average of 4.1 years earlier. By the Steinberg quantitative staging method of roentgenographic analysis, none of the 15 hips in Stages 0-III showed progression, and grading improved in nine of 15. Eighteen of 79 hips (23%) with Stage IV lesions progressed and none improved. In the Stage V category, one of 21 hips (5%) worsened and none improved. Three Stage VI lesions were unchanged. The overall rate of quantified progression for the 118 hips, 87% of which had collapse present when entering the program, was 16%. This value represents a reversal of the percentage of progression reported recently by other investigators using conservative and selected surgical methods. PEMF patients also have experienced long-term improvements in symptoms and signs, together with a reduction in the need for early joint arthroplasty.

A preliminary investigation of the effect of selected electromagnetic field devices on healing of cannon bone osteotomies in horses.

The effect of electrical stimulation by means of selected electromagnetic field devices on healing of cannon bone osteotomies in horses was examined. The defects were created as 3 cm x 1 mm longitudinal osteotomies through the dorsal cortices of the mid-metacarpi/metatarsi of adult horses. This type of defect would asses bone healing in a situation similar to an acute, stable fracture of the cortex. Three electromagnetic devices of different design were tested in three different groups of horses. Healing was evaluated radiographically and histologically. Results showed that osteotomies treated with the electromagnetic devices healed similarly to untreated controls. Our conclusion is that the electromagnetic devices studied did not have a local effect on the repair process of an acute, stable, osseous defect.

Loosely coupled coaxial TEM applicators for deep-heating.

The development of a coaxial TEM (transverse electromagnetic) deep-heating, non-contacting applicator employing two axially spaced concentric sleeves is described which has electrostatic characteristics and has been named the ESA. Thermal data obtained with the FDA/CDRH elliptic-shaped human torso phantom (with fat overlay) showed nearly uniform heating (+/- 10%) throughout the inner cross-section. Saline tank measurements on a torso cross-section confirmed similar SAR uniformity. Animal experiments with a pig, both with and without blood flow, verified deep-heating and suggested that some preferential central heating occurred. The absence of excessive surface heating indicated that the major portion of the E-field excitation is axially aligned. The non-contacting applicator does not require a water bolus, and experiments showed that moderate patient movement had minor effect on performance.

[Effectiveness of the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers by low-intensity electromagnetic (laser) radiation]. / Effektivnost' lecheniia iazvennoi bolezni zheludka i dvenadtsatiperstnoi kishki nizkointensivnym elektromagnitnym (lazernym) izlucheniem.

The effectiveness of treatment of ulcer patients with various types of laser radiation by the argon, heliun-neon and crypton lasers was studied in 137 patients. The results of laser treatment were compared with those in controls constituting 60 patients who were treated with commonly used therapeutic methods. The sparing techniques of laser therapy promote much earlier cicatrization of gastric and duodenal ulcers, shorter terms of hospital stay and reduction of temporary working disability. Laser therapy leads to a decrease in the number of disease recurrences in the first two months and has no significant influence on the incidence of recurrences in the remote period.

[Analysis of plasma fibrinogen in evaluating the effectiveness and prognosis of polyradiomodifying therapy of malignant tumors of the upper respiratory tract]. / Fibrinogen plazmy krovi v otsenke éffektivnosti poliradio-modifitsiruiushchei terapii i prognoza zlokachestvennykh opukholei verkhnikh dykhatel'nykh putei.

Patients with malignant tumors of the upper respiratory tract showed higher concentrations of fibrinogen in plasma the level of which was correlated with the stage of disease. Measurements of the protein in the course of radiation therapy demonstrated that two months after effective treatment fibrinogen concentrations decreased to normal values and remained at that level throughout the remission time. If radiation therapy was ineffective, fibrinogen concentrations remained high during 2 to 4 months after exposure. Metastases and recurrent tumors caused a drastic increase in the fibrinogen content, the change occasionally occurring prior to clinical manifestations. In view of this, plasma fibrinogen can be recommended as an additional measure that can be used to evaluate therapy effectiveness, to prognose the course of disease and to identify metastases in patients with malignant tumors of the upper respiratory tract.

Prevention of osteoporosis by pulsed electromagnetic fields.

Using an animal model, we examined the use of pulsed electromagnetic fields, induced at a physiological frequency and intensity, to prevent the osteoporosis that is concomitant with disuse. By protecting the left ulnae of turkeys from functional loading, we noted a loss of bone of 13.0 per cent compared with the intact contralateral control ulnae over an eight-week experimental period. Using a treatment regimen of one hour per day of pulsed electromagnetic fields, we observed an osteogenic dose-response to induced electrical power, with a maximum osteogenic effect between 0.01 and 0.04 tesla per second. Pulse power levels of more or less than these levels were less effective. The maximum osteogenic response was obtained by a decrease in the level of intracortical remodeling, inhibition of endosteal resorption, and stimulation of both periosteal and endosteal new-bone formation. These data suggest that short daily periods of exposure to appropriate electromagnetic fields can beneficially influence the behavior of the cell populations that are responsible for bone-remodeling, and that there is an effective window of induced electrical power in which bone mass can be controlled in the absence of mechanical loading.

A 20-gauge intraocular electromagnetic tip for simplified intraocular foreign-body extraction.

A modified tip for the Bronson intraocular electromagnet has been developed. The tip was machined to a 20-gauge cylinder that can be inserted readily into the eye either through an entrance wound or through a pars plana incision. Placement of the tip of the magnet inside the eye allows the foreign body to impact the tip of the magnet rather than the wall of the eye.

[Treatment of peptic ulcer by electromagnetic irradiation of the millimetric range]. / Lechenie iazvennoi bolezni elektromagnitnymi izlucheniiami millimetrovogo diapazona.

Blood rheologic properties (blood and plasma viscosity, packed cell volume, erythrocyte aggregation rate and deformability) were examined in 40 patients with gastric and duodenal ulcers during a relapse and after treatment with millimetric electromagnetic waves (21) and medication (19). Relapses were associated with considerable disorders of both macrorheology and microrheologic erythrocyte properties. Conventional medication has no significant effect on those. Therapeutic use of millimetric electromagnetic waves contributes to the normalization of blood rheologic properties and thus improves the efficiency of treatment for gastric and duodenal ulcers.

[Current methods of pathogenetic therapy of infectious-allergic polyradiculoneuritis]. / Sovremennye metody patogeneticheskoi terapii infektsionno- allergicheskikh poliradikulonevritov.

This is a survey of the experience in using corticosteroids, plasmapheresis, immunodepressants, hyperbaric oxygenation, laser and magnetotherapy in treating the infectious-allergic Guillain-Barre polyradiculoneuritis. The indications and counter-indications to individual techniques are presented as related to the character and course of the disease. The principles of interrelation of these techniques with other drug and physical therapies are discussed. The authors infer that combination of plasmapheresis with corticosteroids is the best for acute polyradiculoneuritis and prolonged use of maintenance doses of corticosteroids and immunodepressants, physical methods and gymnastics are recommended for chronic polyradiculoneuritis.

[Characteristics of the effect of a constant electromagnetic field on reparative processes in spinal cord injuries]. / Osobennosti vozdeistviia postoiannogo élektromagnitnogo polia na vosstanovite'lnye protsessy pri travmakh spinnogo mozga.

In 171 white rats the spinal cord was completely sectioned in the upper thoracic region. In 46 control rats an early crude spinal cord scar was identified which precluded the growth of nervous fibers. On the contrary, in animals exposed to constant magnetic field a smooth spinal cord scar was found with collaterals of anterior spinal arteria, recrease of the destruction zone and nervous fiber growth across the scar, This resulted in restored hind paw motility by 56 +/- 4.8% as related to control rats in which motility did not restore. Magnet therapy applied as a part in combined restitutional therapy in 104 patients in early restitution period yielded a 46.15 +/- 4.89% to 76.32 +/- 4.87% increase in the rate of restoration of motor and sensory functions. With the therapy applied in late periods, the restitution was 48.1 +/- 5.6% and 78.1 +/- 3.9%, respectively. The magnetic field is considered as a reparation booster in spinal cord trauma applicable in any stage of the disease.

Electrical stimulation of human femoral intertrochanteric osteotomies. Double-blind study.

Low-frequency pulsing electromagnetic fields (PEMF) are being used in nonunion healing at several centers around the world. Much debate exists about quantification of PEMF effects, especially in humans where no randomized studies have been performed. The results of a double-blind treatment of 32 consecutive patients treated with femoral intertrochanteric osteotomy for hip degenerative arthritis are reported. Roentgenographic evaluation and callus density measurements performed with an image analyzer showed a statistically significant difference between controls and stimulated patients (p less than 0.01). In this extremely homogeneous patient population, PEMF stimulation favored osteotomy healing.

Properties of electromagnetic field focusing probe.

The electromagnetic field focusing (EFF) apparatus consists of a radio frequency generator, solenoidal coil, and a hand-held or catheter probe. Applications such as aneurysm treatment, angioplasty, and neurosurgery in various models have been reported. The probe is operated in the near field (within one wavelength of an electromagnetic field source) of a coil inducing eddy currents in biological tissues, producing maximal convergence of the induced current at the probe tip. The probe produces very high temperatures depending on the wattage selected for the given radio frequency of output power. The high temperature can be used in cutting, cauterizing, or vaporizing. The EFF probe is comparable to different types of lasers and to bipolar and monopolar cautery. The EFF probe can be used with catheters or endoscopes. Objectives of this study were to determine what the thermal properties of the EFF probe are and how instrument parameters can be varied to obtain different temperatures in the tissue near the probe tip. In this study an F2 catheter was used as an insulated sheath and the tip of the guide wire was used as the probe tip. Different powers, wave forms, coil-to-probe distances, and probe-tip lengths were tested on a phantom that simulates tissue electrical properties. Some of the experiments were conducted under normal saline to simulate treatment of tissue with body fluids such as blood vessels or brain tissue under normal physiologic conditions. It is concluded that the EFF probe has the advantages of easy manipulation, relative safety, cost effectiveness, and a high degree of spatial control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[An experimental attempt to potentiate therapeutic effects of combined use of pulsing magnetic fields and antitumor agents].

With a view to examining the possible clinical applicability of pulsing magnetic fields (PMF), we investigated the effects of weak, non-heat inducing, PMF on DNA synthesis and sensitivity of cancer cells to antitumor agents. Leukemic T-cells (Molt-4) and a pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (solid tumor) transplanted in a Syrian golden hamster were used for the in vitro experiment and in vivo experiment respectively. In order to evaluate the effects of PMF on the DNA synthesis of cancer cells and the incorporation of antitumor agent into cancer cells, cultured cells or solid tumor were exposed to PMF generated by a solenoid coil immediately after 3H-or 14C-thymidine and 3H-methotrexate administration respectively. Thymidine uptake was found to increase by exposure to PMF, as did also 3H-methotrexate uptake by leukemic T-cells. Following exposure to PMF immediately after administration of methotrexate or mitomycin C, antitumor activity in both cells was increased. From these results it appears that the incorporation of antitumor agents into the cells increases by eddy current stimulation induced by PMF, and that the cell cycle shifts from the non-proliferative to proliferative phase, resulting in increased antitumor activity.

Magnet extraction of frontal sinus foreign body.

We report a metallic foreign body that entered through the anterior table of the frontal sinus, and rolled down to lodge in the nasofrontal duct. An electromagnet was used to remove the foreign body through a trephination.