Modulation of Inflammatory Response by Electromagnetic Field Stimulation in Traumatic Brain Injury in Yucatan Swine.

PAPER pubmed Journal of surgery and research 2024 Animal study Effect: benefit Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.26502/jsr.10020338 PMID: 38389906 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of disability and death worldwide and represents a high economic burden for families and national health systems. After mechanical impact to the head, the first stage of the damage comprising edema, physical damage, and cell loss gives rise to a second phase characterized by glial activation, increased oxidative stress and excitotoxicity, mitochondrial damage, and exacerbated neuroinflammatory state, among other molecular calamities. Inflammation strongly influences the molecular events involved in the pathogenesis of TBI. Therefore, several components of the inflammatory cascade have been targeted in experimental therapies. Application of Electromagnetic Field (EMF) stimulation has been found to be effective in some inflammatory conditions. However, its effect in the neuronal recovery after TBI is not known. In this pilot study, Yucatan miniswine were subjected to TBI using controlled cortical impact approach. EMF stimulation via a helmet was applied immediately or two days after mechanical impact. Three weeks later, inflammatory markers were assessed in the brain tissues of injured and contralateral non-injured areas of control and EMF-treated animals by histomorphometry, immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR, Western blot, and ELISA. Our results revealed that EMF stimulation induced beneficial effect with the preservation of neuronal tissue morphology as well as the reduction of inflammatory markers at the transcriptional and translational levels. Immediate EMF application showed better resolution of inflammation. Although further studies are warranted, our findings contribute to the notion that EMF stimulation could be an effective therapeutic approach in TBI patients.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

benefit

Population

Yucatan miniswine with traumatic brain injury induced by controlled cortical impact

Sample size

—

Exposure

helmet · applied immediately or two days after mechanical impact; assessed three weeks later

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 74% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

In this pilot swine TBI model, EMF stimulation delivered via a helmet was associated with preserved neuronal tissue morphology and reduced inflammatory markers in brain tissue compared with controls. Immediate EMF application showed better resolution of inflammation than application two days after injury.

Outcomes measured

Inflammatory markers in brain tissue (transcriptional and translational levels)
Neuronal tissue morphology preservation
Resolution of inflammation (immediate vs delayed EMF application)

Limitations

Pilot study
Frequency/dose parameters of EMF stimulation not reported in the abstract
Sample size not reported in the abstract
Follow-up limited to three weeks post-injury

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "helmet",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "applied immediately or two days after mechanical impact; assessed three weeks later"
    },
    "population": "Yucatan miniswine with traumatic brain injury induced by controlled cortical impact",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Inflammatory markers in brain tissue (transcriptional and translational levels)",
        "Neuronal tissue morphology preservation",
        "Resolution of inflammation (immediate vs delayed EMF application)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In this pilot swine TBI model, EMF stimulation delivered via a helmet was associated with preserved neuronal tissue morphology and reduced inflammatory markers in brain tissue compared with controls. Immediate EMF application showed better resolution of inflammation than application two days after injury.",
    "effect_direction": "benefit",
    "limitations": [
        "Pilot study",
        "Frequency/dose parameters of EMF stimulation not reported in the abstract",
        "Sample size not reported in the abstract",
        "Follow-up limited to three weeks post-injury"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic field stimulation",
        "traumatic brain injury",
        "Yucatan miniswine",
        "controlled cortical impact",
        "neuroinflammation",
        "inflammatory markers",
        "helmet"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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

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