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

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.

AI evidence extraction

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

Suggested hubs

• rehabilitation-therapeutic-emf (0.9)
  Study evaluates ELF-EMF as an adjunct therapy during post-stroke rehabilitation with functional and biomarker outcomes.

{
    "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": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "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": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Study evaluates ELF-EMF as an adjunct therapy during post-stroke rehabilitation with functional and biomarker outcomes."
        }
    ]
}

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