title: Effects of a pulsatile electrostatic field on ischemic injury to the diabetic foot: evaluation of refractory ulcers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The macro- and microcirculation disease, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), induces ischemic wounds of the lower limbs. We have tried to reduce the aggregation of red blood cells and to improve the O2 supply to the tissues and speed the healing of ulcers in T2DM patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 25 obese subjects without glucose intolerance (group A; BMI greater than 30 kg/m2), 20 obese adults intolerant to glucose (group B) and two subgroups, groups C and D, with T2DM and with leg ulcers. The groups A, B and C were treated with PESF. Body weight, O2 extraction, the capillary pulse, blood pressure and the surface of the ulcers were monitored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The technique PESF shows to have positive effects on the metabolism, on the reduction of body weight in the groups A and B, increasing extraction of O2 in group C and increase the speed of healing of wounds in group C compared to group D. In group A, there was a significant reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The technique PESF has affected the metabolic processes and the speed of wound healing ulcer in patients with T2DM.
authors.affiliation: "S. Massimo" Hospital, Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, Penne, PE, Italy. Electronic address: mario.liani@tin.it.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liani
authors.affiliation: "S. Massimo" Hospital, Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, Penne, PE, Italy.
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trabassi
authors.affiliation: "Maggiore della Carità" Hospital, University of Eastern Piedmont "Amedeo Avogadro", Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Novara, NO, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cusaro
authors.affiliation: "Maggiore della Carità" Hospital, University of Eastern Piedmont "Amedeo Avogadro", Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Novara, NO, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zoppis
authors.affiliation: "Maggiore della Carità" Hospital, University of Eastern Piedmont "Amedeo Avogadro", Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Novara, NO, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maduli
authors.affiliation: HUB Unit Health Bio, Policlinic and Analysis, Vicenza, VI, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pezzato
authors.affiliation: HUB Unit Health Bio, Policlinic and Analysis, Vicenza, VI, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piccoli
authors.affiliation: HUB Unit Health Bio, Policlinic and Analysis, Vicenza, VI, Italy.
authors.forename: Maddalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maraschin
authors.affiliation: "San Bassano" Hospital, Department of Geriatrics, Bassano del Grappa, VI, Italy.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bau
authors.affiliation: "San Bassano" Hospital, Department of Geriatrics, Bassano del Grappa, VI, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cortese
authors.affiliation: Diabetic Foot Unit, Villa Berica Hospital, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vicenza, VI, Italy.
authors.forename: Albero
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cogo
authors.affiliation: "Ortona and Guardiagrele" Hospital, Department of General Medicine, Guardiagrele, CH, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salvati
authors.affiliation: Ce.S.I., Center of Excellence on Aging, University of Chieti "G. d'Annunzio", Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, Chieti, CH, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005528:Foot / Q000098:blood supply*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D055672:Static Electricity; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D010100:Oxygen; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human
keywords: Foot; Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); Ulcers