Pulsed electromagnetic fields promote repair of focal articular cartilage defects with engineered osteochondral constructs

Articular cartilage injuries are a common source of joint pain and dysfunction. We hypothesized that pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) would improve growth and healing of tissue-engineered cartilage grafts in a direction-dependent manner. PEMF stimulation of engineered cartilage constructs was first evaluated in vitro using passaged adult canine chondrocytes embedded in an agarose hydrogel scaffold. PEMF coils oriented parallel to the articular surface induced superior repair stiffness compared to both perpendicular PEMF (p = .026) and control (p = .012). This was correlated with increased glycosaminoglycan deposition in both parallel and perpendicular PEMF orientations compared to control (p = .010 and .028, respectively). Following in vitro optimization, the potential clinical translation of PEMF was evaluated in a preliminary in vivo preclinical adult canine model. Engineered osteochondral constructs (∅ 6 mm × 6 mm thick, devitalized bone base) were cultured to maturity and implanted into focal defects created in the stifle (knee) joint. To assess expedited early repair, animals were assessed after a 3-month recovery period, with microfracture repairs serving as an additional clinical control. In vivo, PEMF led to a greater likelihood of normal chondrocyte (odds ratio [OR]: 2.5, p = .051) and proteoglycan (OR: 5.0, p = .013) histological scores in engineered constructs. Interestingly, engineered constructs outperformed microfracture in clinical scoring, regardless of PEMF treatment (p < .05). Overall, the studies provided evidence that PEMF stimulation enhanced engineered cartilage growth and repair, demonstrating a potential low-cost, low-risk, noninvasive treatment modality for expediting early cartilage repair.     

Net annual global warming potential and greenhouse gas intensity in Chinese double rice‐cropping systems: a 3‐year field measurement in long‐term fertilizer experiments

The impact of agricultural management on global warming potential (GWP) and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) is not well documented. A long‐term fertilizer experiment in Chinese double rice‐cropping systems initiated in 1990 was used in this study to gain an insight into a complete greenhouse gas accounting of GWP and GHGI. The six fertilizer treatments included inorganic fertilizer [nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer (NP), nitrogen and potassium fertilizer (NK), and balanced inorganic fertilizer (NPK)], combined inorganic/organic fertilizers at full and reduced rate (FOM and ROM), and no fertilizer application as a control. Methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes were measured using static chamber method from November 2006 through October 2009, and the net ecosystem carbon balance was estimated by the changes in topsoil (0–20 cm) organic carbon (SOC) density over the 10‐year period 1999–2009. Long‐term fertilizer application significantly increased grain yields, except for no difference between the NK and control plots. Annual topsoil SOC sequestration rate was estimated to be 0.96 t C ha^?1 yr^?1 for the control and 1.01–1.43 t C ha^?1 yr^?1 for the fertilizer plots. Long‐term inorganic fertilizer application tended to increase CH₄ emissions during the flooded rice season and significantly increased N₂O emissions from drained soils during the nonrice season. Annual mean CH₄ emissions ranged from 621 kg CH₄ ha^?1 for the control to 1175 kg CH₄ ha^?1 for the FOM plots, 63–83% of which derived from the late‐rice season. Annual N₂O emission averaged 1.15–4.11 kg N₂O–N ha^?1 in the double rice‐cropping systems. Compared with the control, inorganic fertilizer application slightly increased the net annual GWPs, while they were remarkably increased by combined inorganic/organic fertilizer application. The GHGI was lowest for the NP and NPK plots and highest for the FOM and ROM plots. The results of this study suggest that agricultural economic viability and GHGs mitigation can be simultaneously achieved by balanced fertilizer application.     

表皮生长因子和降钙素基因相关肽在高频电磁场 治疗急性胃损伤中作用研究

目的：探讨高频电磁场（high-frequency electromagnetic fields,HEMFs）曝露治疗急性胃损伤的作用机制。方法：选用健康SD大鼠,以Indomethacin灌胃法复制胃粘膜急性损伤模型,观察40．68MHz HEMFs（波长为7．3m）曝露（微热量,30—50mA,15min,1／d）治疗1或6次后,大鼠胃粘膜损伤程度（胃损伤指数和病理损伤积分）、胃粘膜血流量、血浆表皮生长因子（epidermal growth factor,EGF）和降钙素基因相关肽（calcitonin gene—related peptide,CGRP）水平。结果：HEMFs曝露1次后,胃粘膜血流量较对照组明显升高（P〈0．05）,大鼠胃粘膜损伤程度、血浆EGF和CGRP水平较对照组均无显著性差异（P均〉0．05）;HEMFs曝露6次后,胃粘膜损伤程度较对照组明显改善（P均〈0．05）,胃粘膜血流量显著升高（P〈0．05）,血浆EGF和CGRP水平较对照组无显著性差异（P均〉0.05）。结论：HEMFs曝露治疗大鼠胃粘膜急性损伤可能与其增加胃粘膜血流量有关,与血EGF和CGRP无关。     

酸性矿山废水污染的水稻田土壤中重金属的微生物学效应

采样调查了广东大宝山地区受酸性采矿废水长期污染的亚热带水稻田的土壤理化性质 ,重金属 Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd的全量及其 DTPA浸提量 ,以及微生物生物量及其呼吸活性等指标。利用主成分和逐步回归分析了影响土壤重金属的有效性及其微生物学效应的因素。结果表明 :土壤高含硫 ,强酸性 ,有机碳、全氮较低 ,4种金属的全量普遍超标。DTPA可提取态金属含量较高 ,不仅与其全量呈显著正相关 ,而且与土壤酸度和粘粒含量正相关 ,和 Mn含量负相关。过量的金属显著降低了土壤微生物生物量 C、N、微生物商、生物量 N/全 N比 ,并抑制了微生物呼吸强度和对有机碳的矿化率 ,导致了土壤 C/N比的升高。同时 ,金属对微生物群落及生理代谢指标 ,如微生物生物量 C/N比和代谢商的影响不显著。 DTPA可提取态金属 ,特别是 DTPA- Cu是导致微生物生物量和活性指标变化的主要因素。以有机碳 (或全氮 )为基数的复合微生物指标降低了土壤性质差异造成的干扰 ,较单一指标更能准确指示微生物对金属胁迫的反应。土壤硫没有对金属有效性和微生物指标产生明显影响 ,但其氧化过程可能引起酸化和金属离子的释放     

Effects of ELF magnetic fields on biological magnetite

The effects of 60 Hz magnetic fields of 5 μT (50 mG) or less on biological structures holding magnetite (Fe₃O₄) are shown to be much smaller than that from thermal agitation; hence such interactions cannot be expected to be biologically significant. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Model for external influences on cellular signal transduction pathways including cytosolic calcium oscillations

Experiments on the effects of extremely-low-frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields on cells of the immune system, T-lymphocytes in particular, suggest that the external field interacts with the cell at the level of intracellular signal transduction pathways. These are directly connected with changes in the calcium-signaling processes of the cell. Based on these findings, a theoretical model for receptor-controlled cytosolic calcium oscillations and for external influences on the signal transduction pathway is presented. We discuss the possibility that the external field acts on the kinetics of the signal transduction between the activated receptors at the cell membrane and the G-proteins. It is shown that, depending on the specific combination of cell internal biochemical and external physical parameters, entirely different responses of the cell can occur. We compare the effects of a coherent (periodic) modulation and of incoherent perturbations (noise). The model and the calculations are based on the theory of self-sustained, nonlinear oscillators. It is argued that these systems form an ideal basis for information-encoding processes in biological systems. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Studies on the possible biological effects of 50 Hz electric and/or magnetic fields: Evaluation of some glycolytic enzymes,glycolytic flux,energy and oxido-reductive potentials in human erythrocytes exposed in vitro to power frequency fields

An attempt has been made to understand whether 50 Hz electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) are involved in producing bioeffects by exposing human erythrocytes in vitro. The study evaluated some key glycolytic enzymes, glucose consumption, lactate production, energy charge, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, and reduced glutathione levels. all of which are biochemical parameters significant to erythrocyte function. Cells exposed to individual or superimposed EMFs have not shown any significant difference compared with the controls. © 1993 Wiley-Liss. Inc.     

Effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields on mouse spermatogenesis monitored by flow cytometric analysis

Flow cytometry (FCM) was performed to monitor the cellular effects of extremely-low-frequency magnetic field on mouse spermatogenesis. Groups of five male hybrid F1 mice aged 8–10 weeks were exposed to 50 Hz magnetic field. The strength of the magnetic field was 1.7 mT. Exposure times of 2 and 4 h were chosen. FCM measurements were performed 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days after treatment. For each experimental point, a sham-treated group was used as a control. The possible effects were studied by analyzing the DNA content distribution of the different cell types involved in spermatogenesis and using the elongated spermatids as the reference population. The relative frequencies of the various testicular cell types were calculated using specific software. In groups exposed for 2 h, no effects were observed. In groups exposed for 4 h, a statistically significant (P < 0.001) decrease in elongated spermatids was observed at 28 days after treatment. This change suggests a possible cytotoxic and/or cytostatic effect on differentiating spermatogonia. However, further studies are being carried out to investigate the effects of longer exposure times. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.