Effect of Rehabilitation with Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field on Molecular Mechanism of Apoptosis in Post-Stroke Patients.

Brain sciences · 2020 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5642

In the ELF-EMF rehabilitation group (40 Hz, 5 mT), mRNA expression of several apoptosis-related genes (reported as BAX, CASP8, TNFα, TP53) was significantly increased compared with the non-ELF-EMF group, while BCL-2 mRNA expression remained comparable between…

Study snapshot

PublicationBrain sciences · 2020

Study typeother

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Apoptosis in acute stroke is associated with a negative prognosis and is correlated with the severity of the neurological deficit. However, there is no evidence that indicates that, in the subacute phase of the stroke, the apoptosis process might activate neuroplasticity. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of an extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) on the molecular mechanism of apoptosis, as used in the rehabilitation of post-stroke patients. Patients with moderate stroke severity ( = 48), 3-4 weeks after incident, were enrolled in the analysis and divided into ELF-EMF and non-ELF-EMF group. The rehabilitation program in both groups involves the following: kinesiotherapy-30 min; psychological therapy-15 min; and neurophysiological routines-60 min. Additionally, the ELF-EMF group was exposed to an ELF-EMF (40 Hz, 5 mT). In order to assess the apoptosis gene expression level, we measured the mRNA expression of , -, , , and . We found that ELF-EMF significantly increased the expression of , , , and , whereas the mRNA expression after ELF-EMF exposition remained at a comparable level in both groups. Thus, we suggest that increasing the expression of pro-apoptotic genes in post-stroke patients promotes the activation of signaling pathways involved in brain plasticity processes. However, further research is needed to clarify this process.

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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 directionmixed

PopulationPost-stroke patients (moderate stroke severity), 3–4 weeks after incident

Sample size48

ExposureELF · 0.04 MHz

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes (including BAX, CASP8, TNFα, TP53, BCL-2)

Limitations

Exposure duration not reported in abstract
Study design details (e.g., randomization/blinding) not reported in abstract
Clinical outcomes (e.g., functional recovery) not reported in abstract; only gene expression outcomes described
Authors note further research is needed to clarify the process

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "rehabilitation device/therapy",
    "frequency_mhz": 0.04,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Post-stroke patients (moderate stroke severity), 3–4 weeks after incident",
  "sample_size": 48,
  "outcomes": [
    "mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes (including BAX, CASP8, TNFα, TP53, BCL-2)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In the ELF-EMF rehabilitation group (40 Hz, 5 mT), mRNA expression of several apoptosis-related genes (reported as BAX, CASP8, TNFα, TP53) was significantly increased compared with the non-ELF-EMF group, while BCL-2 mRNA expression remained comparable between groups.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure duration not reported in abstract",
    "Study design details (e.g., randomization/blinding) not reported in abstract",
    "Clinical outcomes (e.g., functional recovery) not reported in abstract; only gene expression outcomes described",
    "Authors note further research is needed to clarify the process"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low frequency electromagnetic field",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "stroke rehabilitation",
    "apoptosis",
    "gene expression",
    "BAX",
    "CASP8",
    "TNFα",
    "TP53",
    "BCL-2",
    "neuroplasticity"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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: 10.3390/brainsci10050266
PubMed: 32366004

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