title: Non-thermal radio frequency and static magnetic fields increase rate of hemoglobin deoxygenation in a cell-free preparation.
abstract: The growing body of clinical and experimental data regarding electromagnetic field (EMF) bioeffects and their therapeutic applications has contributed to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of action. This study reports that two EMF modalities currently in clinical use, a pulse-modulated radiofrequency (PRF) signal, and a static magnetic field (SMF), applied independently, increased the rate of deoxygenation of human hemoglobin (Hb) in a cell-free assay. Deoxygenation of Hb was initiated using the reducing agent dithiothreitol (DTT) in an assay that allowed the time for deoxygenation to be controlled (from several min to several hours) by adjusting the relative concentrations of DTT and Hb. The time course of Hb deoxygenation was observed using visible light spectroscopy. Exposure for 10-30 min to either PRF or SMF increased the rate of deoxygenation occurring several min to several hours after the end of EMF exposure. The sensitivity and biochemical simplicity of the assay developed here suggest a new research tool that may help to further the understanding of basic biophysical EMF transduction mechanisms. If the results of this study were to be shown to occur at the cellular and tissue level, EMF-enhanced oxygen availability would be one of the mechanisms by which clinically relevant EMF-mediated enhancement of growth and repair processes could occur.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA. davmumu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Muehsam
authors.forename: Parviz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lalezari
authors.forename: Rukmani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lekhraj
authors.forename: Provvidenza M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Abruzzo
authors.forename: Provvidenza
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abruzzo
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bolotta
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bersani
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aicardi
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pilla
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Casper
mesh_terms: D002474:Cell-Free System; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D011846:Radio Waves; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D055672:Static Electricity; D014508:Urea / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D014508:Urea; C100003:deoxyhemoglobin