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Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most frequent joint disease, characterized by degradation of extracellular matrix and alterations in chondrocyte metabolism. Some authors reported that electromagnetic fields (EMFs) can positively interfere with patients affected by OA, even though the nature of the interaction is still debated. Human primary osteoarthritic chondrocytes isolated from the femoral heads of OA-patients undergoing to total hip replacement, were cultured in vitro and exposed 30 min/day for two weeks to extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF) with fixed frequency (100 Hz) and to therapeutic application of musically modulated electromagnetic fields (TAMMEF) with variable frequencies, intensities and waveforms. Sham-exposed (S.E.) cells served as control group. Cell viability was measured at days 2, 7 and 14. After two weeks, cell lysates were processed using a proteomic approach. Chondrocyte exposed to ELF and TAMMEF system demonstrated different viability compared to untreated chondrocytes (S.E.). Proteome analysis of 2D-Electrophoresis and protein identification by mass spectrometry showed different expression of proteins derived from nucleus, cytoplasm and organelles. Function analysis of the identified proteins showed changes in related-proteins metabolism (glyceraldeyde-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase), stress response (Mn-superoxide-dismutase, heat-shock proteins), cytoskeletal regulation (actin), proteinase inhibition (cystatin-B) and inflammation regulatory functions (S100-A10, S100-A11) among the experimental groups (ELF, TAMMEF and S.E.). In conclusion, EMFs do not cause damage to chondrocytes, besides stimulate safely OA-chondrocytes and are responsible of different protein expression among the three groups. Furthermore, protein analysis of OA-chondrocytes treated with ELF and the new TAMMEF systems could be useful to clarify the pathogenetic mechanisms of OA by identifying biomarkers of the disease.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease, characterized by matrix degradation and changes in chondrocyte morphology and metabolism. Literature reported that electromagnetic fields (EMFs) can produce benefits in OA patients, even if EMFs mechanism of action is debated. Human osteoarthritic chondrocytes isolated from femoral heads were cultured in vitro in bidimensional (2-D) flasks and in three-dimensional (3-D) alginate beads to mimic closely cartilage environment in vivo. Cells were exposed 30 min/day for 2 weeks to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF) with fixed frequency (100 Hz) and to therapeutic application of musically modulated electromagnetic field (TAMMEF) with variable frequencies, intensities, and waveforms. Cell viability was measured at days 7 and 14, while healthy-cell density, heavily vacuolized (hv) cell density, and cluster density were measured by light microscopy only for 3-D cultures after treatments. Cell morphology was observed for 2-D and 3-D cultures by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Chondrocyte exposure to TAMMEF enhances cell viability at days 7 and 14 compared to ELF. Light microscopy analysis showed that TAMMEF enhances healthy-cell density, reduces hv-cell density and clustering, compared to ELF. Furthermore, TEM analysis showed different morphology for 2-D (fibroblast-like) and 3-D (rounded shape) cultures, confirming light microscopy results. In conclusion, EMFs are effective and safe for OA chondrocytes. TAMMEF can positively interfere with OA chondrocytes representing an innovative non-pharmacological approach to treat OA.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most frequently occurring rheumatic disease, caused by metabolic changes in chondrocytes, the cells that maintain cartilage. Treatment with electromagnetic fields (MF) produces benefits in patients affected by this pathology. Isolated human osteoarthritic (OA) chondrocytes were cultured in vitro under standard conditions or stimulated with IL-1beta or IGF-1, to mimic the imbalance between chondroformation and chondroresorption processes observed in OA cartilage in vivo. The cells were exposed for a specific time to extremely low frequency (ELF; 100-Hz) electromagnetic fields and to the Therapeutic Application of Musically Modulated Electromagnetic Fields (TAMMEF), which are characterized by variable frequencies, intensities, and waveforms. Using flow cytometry, we tested the effects of the different types of exposure on chondrocyte metabolism. The exposure of the cells to both systems enhances cell proliferation, does not generate reactive oxygen species, does not cause glutathione depletion or changes in mitochondrial transmembrane potential and does not induce apoptosis. This study presents scientific support to the fact that MF could influence OA chondrocytes from different points of view (viability, ROS production and apoptosis). We can conclude that both ELF and TAMMEF systems could be recommended for OA therapy and represent a valid non-pharmacological approach to the treatment of this pathology.

This study investigated the effects of electromagnetic fields on enzymes involved in purine metabolism in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro. Cells were obtained from 20 volunteers. We tested both low-energy, extremely low frequency (ELF; 100-Hz) electromagnetic fields and the Therapeutic Application of Musically Modulated Electromagnetic Fields (TAMMEFs); the latter is characterized by variable frequencies, intensities, and wave shapes. Adenylate kinase activity was increased after ELF field exposure but decreased slightly after TAMMEF exposure. Neither of the two electromagnetic field affected the activities of the purine metabolism enzymes ecto-5'-nucleotidase, adenosine deaminase, and adenosine kinase. We concluded that ELF fields may influence cellular electrical charge stability; stimulation of adenylate kinase activity could restore the cell to a state of equilibrium. In contrast, TAMMEF fields may be useful for maintaining and regulating the cellular electrical charge.

Aims: Numerous studies have demonstrated the utility of extremely low frequencies (ELF) electromagnetic fields in the treatment of pain. Moreover, the effects of these fields seems to depend on their respective codes (frequency, intensity, waveform). In our study we want to assess the effects of the TAMMEF (Therapeutic Application of a Musically Modulated Electromagnetic Field) system, whose field is piloted by a musical signal and its parameters (frequency, intensity, waveform) are modified in time, randomly varying within the respective ranges, so that all possible codes can occur during a single application., Patients and Methods: Sixty subjects, affected by shoulder periarthritis were enrolled in the study and randomly divided into three groups of 20 patients each: A exposed to TAMMEF, B exposed to ELF, C exposed to a simulated field. All subjects underwent a cycle of 15 daily sessions of 30 minutes each and a clinical examination upon enrollment, after 7 days of therapy, at the end of the cycle and at a follow-up 30 days later., Results: All the patients of groups A and B completed the therapy without the appearance of side effects: they presented a significant improvement of the subjective pain and the functional limitation, which remained stable at the follow-up examination. In group C, there was no improvement of the pain symptoms or articular functionality., Conclusions: This study suggests that the TAMMEF system is efficacious in the control of pain symptoms and in the reduction of functional limitation in patients with shoulder periarthritis. Moreover, the effects of the TAMMEF system cover those produced by the ELF field.

Aims: The Authors have evaluated the effects of low frequency electromagnetic fields on human peripheral blood lymphocytes metabolism., Materials and Methods: It has been assayed total proteins and the activities of some purine metabolism enzymes after exposure of the cells to sinusoidal ELF fields (100 Hz frequency) or to the new TAMMEF system fields, characterized by variable frequency, intensity and shape of wave., Results: The protein lymphocytes content, increased after both treatments. Instead, the enzyme activities did not vary, with the exception of Myokinase activity, which, respect to the control, increased after ELF field treatment, and slightly decreased after TAMMEF treatment. This preliminary result was interpreted as a variation of the cellular electric charge stability, stimulated by ELF fields, which induce the Myokinase to increase its rate, to rearrange the correct equilibrium, while the TAMMEF field were useless to maintain the cellular electric charge at normal levels., Conclusions: We interpreted these preliminary results as follow: the ELF fields influence the cellular electric charge stability, so that the cells must increase MK activity to restore the correct equilibrium, while TAMMEF fields are useful to maintain and regulate cellular electric charge. The results obtained by this preliminary study opens interesting prospective to be further investigated.

Objective: Numerous studies have demonstrated the utility of extremely low frequencies (ELF) electromagnetic fields in clinical practice. Moreover, the effects of these fields seems to depend on their respective codes (frequency, intensity, waveform). In our study we want to value the effects of the TAMMEF (Therapeutic Application of a Musically Modulated Electromagnetic Field) system, which field is piloted by a musical signal., Methods: Ninety subjects, affected by primary osteoarthritis of the knee, were enrolled in the study and randomly divided into three groups of 30 patients each: A exposed to TAMMEF, B exposed to ELF, C exposed to a simulated field. All subjects underwent a cycle of 15 daily sessions of 30 minutes each and a clinical examination upon enrolment, after 7 days of therapy, at the end of the cycle and at a follow-up 30 days later:, Results: All the patients of groups A and B completed the therapy without the appearance of side effects: they presented a significant improvement of the subjective pain and the functional limitation, which remained stable at the follow-up examination. In group C, there was no improvement of the pain symptoms or articular functionality., Conclusions: This study suggests that the TAMMEF system is efficacious in the control of pain symptoms and in the reduction of functional limitation in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Moreover, the effects of the TAMMEF system cover those produced by the ELF field.

The analgesic-therapeutic efficacy and tolerability of a low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF), modulated at a frequency of 100 Hz with a sinusoidal waveform and mean induction of a few gauss, has been demonstrated by the authors in numerous previous studies of various hyperalgic pathologies, particularly of the locomotor apparatus. In the present study, the authors tested a new type of all-inclusive field, denoted TAMMEF, whose parameters (frequency, intensity, waveform) are modified in time, randomly varying within the respective ranges, so that all the possible codes can occur during a single application. For the comparison, 150 subjects (118 women and 32 men, between 37 and 66 years of age) were enrolled. They were affected by cervical spondylosis (101 cases) or shoulder periarthritis (49 cases). Unbeknownst to them, they were randomly divided into three groups of 50 subjects. One group was exposed to the new TAMMEF, another group to the usual ELF, and the third group to simulated treatment. The results show that the effects of the new TAMMEF therapy are equivalent to those obtained with the ELF.

Different studies have demonstrated the efficacy of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) in the treatment of pain. In particular, the positive effects of ELF EMFs seems to depend on their respective codes, such as frequency, intensity and waveform, even if the exact mechanism of interaction is still debated. The most commonly used for extremely low frequency magnetotherapy is a 100Hz sinusoidal field (ELF) with a mean of induction of few Gauss. This article reviews the therapeutic application of a musically modulated electromagnetic field (TAMMEF), a new-generation of electromagnetic field used for extremely low frequency magnetotherapy characterized by variable frequencies, intensities and waveforms. Both clinical and experimental studies, performed by authors of the present review, have demonstrated the efficacy of ELF and the new TAMMEF systems in several musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder periarthritis and cervical spondylosis. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that ELF and TAMMEF systems are not only effective, but also safe, from clinical and experimental point of view. In fact, clinical trials did not reported any undesired side effect, while in vitro studies showed that ELF EMFs did not induce uncontrolled cell proliferation, did not affect cell viability and did not induce apoptosis. With their efficacy and safety, ELF and even more the new TAMMEF systems represent a valid complementary or alternative treatment to standard pharmacological therapies in reducing both pain and inflammation of patients affected by musculoskeletal disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our paper we studied the effects of exposure to ELF (extremely low frequency) or musically generated TAMMEF (therapeutic application of musically modulated electromagnetic fields) electromagnetic fields on the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) release induced by a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from cultured human lymphomonocytes of peripheral blood. Lymphomonocytes, isolated from blood donors buffy-coat, were prepared using standard techniques in cell culture flasks, kept in CO2 incubator, with controlled temperature and humidity for 5 days. Flasks were subjected to an ELF electromagnetic field (100 Hz sinusoidal) or to TAMMEF electromagnetic fields (with intensity, frequency, and wave shape randomly modified in time, so that all possible codes can occur during a single application). The TNF-α release was determined by ELISA test every 24 h for 92 h and the results were evaluated by a non-parametric test. LPS induces a stronger TNF-α release in cultures that were subjected to ELF when compared with cultures subjected to TAMMEF, at each time period of the experimental protocol. These results seem to indicate that TAMMEF is able to induce a complex modulation of LPS-induced TNF-α release, a cytokine with pro inflammatory property whose release during chronic or neoplastic inflammatory diseases has strong negative effects on several organ systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]