Increase in Blood Levels of Growth Factors Involved in the Neuroplasticity Process by Using an Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field in Post-stroke Patients.

Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2018 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 5514

Study snapshot

PublicationFrontiers in aging neuroscience · 2018

Study typeother

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Neuroplasticity ensures the improvement of functional status in patients after stroke. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field therapy (ELF-EMF) on brain plasticity in the rehabilitation of patients after stroke. Forty-eight patients were divided into two groups underwent the same rehabilitation program, but in the study group, the patients additionally were exposed to a standard series of 10 ELF-EMF treatments. To determine the level of neuroplasticity, we measured the plasma level of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the vascular-endothelial growth factor, as well as BDNF mRNA expression. Additionally, we determined the molecule levels for hepatocyte growth factor, stem cell factor, stromal cell-derived factor 1α, nerve growth factor β, and leukemia inhibitory factor, using 5plex cytokine panel in plasma. After 4 weeks, during which patients had undergone neurorehabilitation and neurological examinations, we assessed functional recovery using the Barthel Index, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Geriatric Depression Scale, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). We observed that ELF-EMF significantly increased growth factors and cytokine levels involved in neuroplasticity, as well as promoted an enhancement of functional recovery in post-stroke patients. Additionally, we presented evidence that these effects could be related to the increase of gene expression on the mRNA level. Moreover, a change of BDNF plasma level was positively correlated with the Barthel Index, MMSE, and negatively correlated with GDS. Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field therapy improves the effectiveness of rehabilitation of post-stroke patients by improving neuroplasticity processes.

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeother

Effect directionbenefit

PopulationPost-stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation

Sample size48

ExposureELF · standard series of 10 ELF-EMF treatments; outcomes assessed after 4 weeks

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Compared with rehabilitation alone, adding a standard series of 10 ELF-EMF treatments was reported to significantly increase multiple growth factors/cytokines involved in neuroplasticity and to enhance functional recovery after 4 weeks. Change in plasma BDNF was positively correlated with Barthel Index and MMSE and negatively correlated with GDS; effects were suggested to relate to increased mRNA expression.

Outcomes measured

Plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level
Vascular-endothelial growth factor level
BDNF mRNA expression
Plasma hepatocyte growth factor level
Plasma stem cell factor level
Plasma stromal cell-derived factor 1α level
Plasma nerve growth factor β level
Plasma leukemia inhibitory factor level
Barthel Index
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
Modified Rankin Scale (mRS)

Limitations

Frequency/intensity parameters of ELF-EMF exposure not reported in the abstract
Randomization/blinding and allocation methods not described in the abstract
No quantitative effect sizes or between-group statistics provided in the abstract
Follow-up duration limited to 4 weeks in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "therapeutic device (ELF-EMF therapy)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "standard series of 10 ELF-EMF treatments; outcomes assessed after 4 weeks"
  },
  "population": "Post-stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation",
  "sample_size": 48,
  "outcomes": [
    "Plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level",
    "Vascular-endothelial growth factor level",
    "BDNF mRNA expression",
    "Plasma hepatocyte growth factor level",
    "Plasma stem cell factor level",
    "Plasma stromal cell-derived factor 1α level",
    "Plasma nerve growth factor β level",
    "Plasma leukemia inhibitory factor level",
    "Barthel Index",
    "Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)",
    "Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)",
    "National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)",
    "Modified Rankin Scale (mRS)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Compared with rehabilitation alone, adding a standard series of 10 ELF-EMF treatments was reported to significantly increase multiple growth factors/cytokines involved in neuroplasticity and to enhance functional recovery after 4 weeks. Change in plasma BDNF was positively correlated with Barthel Index and MMSE and negatively correlated with GDS; effects were suggested to relate to increased mRNA expression.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Frequency/intensity parameters of ELF-EMF exposure not reported in the abstract",
    "Randomization/blinding and allocation methods not described in the abstract",
    "No quantitative effect sizes or between-group statistics provided in the abstract",
    "Follow-up duration limited to 4 weeks in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low frequency",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "stroke rehabilitation",
    "neuroplasticity",
    "BDNF",
    "growth factors",
    "cytokines",
    "functional recovery"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "rehabilitation-therapeutic-emf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study evaluates ELF-EMF as an adjunct therapy during post-stroke rehabilitation with functional and biomarker outcomes."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00294
PubMed: 30319398

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