Reversal of an acute parkinsonian syndrome associated with multiple sclerosis by application of weak electromagnetic fields

Extremely Low-Frequency Pulsed Magnetic Fields and Multiple Sclerosis: Effects on Neurotransmission Alone or Also on Immunomodulation? Building a Working Hypothesis

This paper outlines the current state of knowledge on the pathology and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and critically analyses the vast clinical experience of Sandyk in the use of pulsed magnetic fields of 5 Hz at 7.5 pT to treat many symptoms of MS. A complete regression of symptoms, or at least a major improvement, is sometimes so rapid as to suggest that ELF fields exert a greater effect on axonal and synaptic neurotransmission than on the processes leading to demyelination. Pulsed magnetic fields of 50–100 Hz and a few mT (whose flux intensity is 109 times greater than that of the fields used by Sandyk) have been seen to induce profound morphological changes (the Marinozzi effect) in the plasma membrane of several cell types, including Raji human lymphoblastoid cells. These observations underlie the author's hypothesis on the possible use of such fields in the treatment of MS. Indeed, these fields should induce the functional arrest of the cells (B- and T-lymphocytes, macrophages, microglia, dendritic cells) of the MS plaque, thereby providing an ‘electromagnetic immunomodulatory boost’ to the effects of drug therapy. To test this working hypothesis, it is suggested that preliminary experimental research be carried out to ascertain: 1) the Marinozzi effect in vivo; 2) the Marinozzi effect on microglia and dendritic cells; and 3) the duration of the membrane changes and their relaxation rate. ELF magnetic fields in the picotesla and millitesla ranges are aimed at improving neurotransmission and correcting local immune pathology, respectively. Both types of field might find application in the treatment of MS patients who no longer respond to or tolerate currently used drugs.

Does Schumann resonance affect our blood pressure?

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether Schumann resonance (SR) affects blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and depression and, if so, whether the putative BP reactivity to SR (BPR-SR) is associated with health-related lifestyle (HLS), disease-related illnesses (DRI), and depression.

METHODS

A sample of 56 adults in Urausu, Hokkaido, Japan, wore an ambulatory BP monitor, except for the time in the shower, for seven consecutive days. They completed the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form and a health survey questionnaire on HLS and DRI. Group mean differences and within-individual differences in systolic (S) and diastolic (D) BP, mean arterial pressure (MAP), double product (DP), and HR were, respectively, compared between normal and enhanced SR days, using Student's t-test. Correlations between BPR-SR and other characteristics (i.e. age, gender, HLS, DRI, subjective health, and depression) were analyzed, using Pearson's product moment correlation.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Group mean SBP, DBP, MAP, and DP for enhanced SR days were lower than those for normal days (P=0.005-0.036). DRI was negatively associated with BPR-SR in SBP, DBP, MAP, and DP (P=0.003-0.024), suggesting a better health status for those who showed lower BP on enhanced SR days. HLS was negatively associated with BPR-SR in DBP and MAP (P=0.016-0.029). Males showed higher BPR-SR in DBP and MAP than females (P=0.004-0.016). Neither subjective health nor depression was significantly associated with BPR-SR. Future studies based on larger sample sizes are planned to see whether possible health effects can be generalized.

Decrease in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion following exposure to magnetic fields

We evaluated the effects of extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELFMF) on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from HIT-T15 cells and investigated the mechanisms of these effects. We demonstrated that exposure to ELFMF at 5mT decreased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion by preventing the increases in cellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate/adenosine 5'-diphosphate, membrane depolarization, and cytosolic free calcium ion concentration. The glucose-induced upregulation of insulin mRNA expression was also attenuated by exposure to ELFMF, although cell viability was not affected. These findings demonstrate the potential of exposure to ELFMF for clinical use as a novel inhibitory method of insulin secretion.

Alternating extremely low frequency magnetic field increases turnover of dopamine and serotonin in rat frontal cortex

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of an extremely low frequency sinusoidal magnetic field (ELF MF) with frequency of 10 Hz and intensity of 1.8-3.8 mT on the levels of the biogenic amines dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA), and noradrenaline (NA), as well as on DA and 5-HT turnover in corpus striatum and frontal cortex of adult male Wistar rats. We found that ELF MF exposure for 14 days, 1 h daily, did not influence the level of the examined biogenic amines and metabolites, but increased the rate of synthesis (turnover) of DA and 5-HT in rat frontal cortex as compared to control, sham exposed rats. On the basis of the present results and our previous findings, extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF MF) exposure has been found to alter both turnover and receptor reactivity of monoaminergic systems, as well as some behaviors induced by these systems or their agonists and antagonists.