Preliminary studies about effects of ELF and TAMMEF electromagnetic fields on human lymphomonocytes

In our paper we studied the effects of exposure to ELF (extremely low frequency) or musically generated TAMMEF (therapeutic application of musically modulated electromagnetic fields) electromagnetic fields on the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) release induced by a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from cultured human lymphomonocytes of peripheral blood. Lymphomonocytes, isolated from blood donors buffy-coat, were prepared using standard techniques in cell culture flasks, kept in CO₂ incubator, with controlled temperature and humidity for 5 days. Flasks were subjected to an ELF electromagnetic field (100 Hz sinusoidal) or to TAMMEF electromagnetic fields (with intensity, frequency, and wave shape randomly modified in time, so that all possible codes can occur during a single application). The TNF-α release was determined by ELISA test every 24 h for 92 h and the results were evaluated by a non-parametric test. LPS induces a stronger TNF-α release in cultures that were subjected to ELF when compared with cultures subjected to TAMMEF, at each time period of the experimental protocol. These results seem to indicate that TAMMEF is able to induce a complex modulation of LPS-induced TNF-α release, a cytokine with pro inflammatory property whose release during chronic or neoplastic inflammatory diseases has strong negative effects on several organ systems.     

TAMMEF therapy in the treatment of shoulder periarthritis: efficacy and safety

The utility and the safety of the extremely low frequencies (ELF) electromagnetic fields in the treatment of numerous diseases have been demonstrated. Moreover, the effects of these fields seem to depend on their respective codes (frequency, intensity, waveform). We want to value the effects and the safety of the therapeutic application of a musically modulated electromagnetic field (TAMMEF) system, which field is piloted by a musical signal and its parameters (frequency, intensity, waveform) are modified in time, randomly varying within the respective ranges, so that all possible codes can occur during a single application. Sixty subjects, affected by shoulder periarthritis were enrolled in the study and randomly divided into three groups of 20 patients each: the first exposed to TAMMEF, the second exposed to ELF, the third exposed to a simulated field. All subjects underwent a cycle of 15 daily sessions of 30 min each and a clinical examination upon enrolment, after 7 days of therapy, at the end of the cycle and at a follow-up 30 days later. All the patients of TAMMEF group and ELF group completed the therapy without the appearance of side effects: they presented a significant improvement of the subjective pain and the functional limitation, which remained stable at the follow-up examination. In those exposed to a simulated field group, there was no improvement of the pain symptoms or articular functionality. This study suggests that the TAMMEF system is efficacious and safe in the control of pain symptoms and in the reduction of functional limitation in patients with shoulder periarthritis. Moreover, the effects of the TAMMEF system cover those produced by the ELF field.     

Efficacy and safety of new TAMMEF (therapeutic application of musically modulated electromagnetic fields) system in the treatment of chronic low back pain

Numerous studies have demonstrated the utility of extremely low frequencies (ELF) electromagnetic fields in the treatment of pain. Moreover, the effects of these fields seems to depend on their respective codes. In our study we want to value the effects and the safety of the TAMMEF (Therapeutic Application of a Musically Modulated Electromagnetic Field) system, which field is piloted by a musical signal and its parameters are modified in time, randomly varying within the respective ranges, so that all possible codes can occur during a single application. Ninety subjects, affected by chronic low back pain, were enrolled in the study and randomly divided into three groups of 30 patients each: A exposed to TAMMEF, B exposed to ELF, C exposed to a simulated field. All subjects underwent a cycle of 15 daily sessions of 30 minutes each and a clinical examination upon enrolment, after 7 days of therapy, at the end of the cycle and at a follow-up 30 days later. All the patients of groups A and B completed the therapy without the appearance of side effects: they presented a significant improvement of the subjective pain and the functional limitation, which remained stable at the follow-up examination. In group C, there was no improvement of the pain symptoms or articular functionality. This study suggests that the TAMMEF system is efficacious and safe in the treatment of patients with chronic low back pain.     

The role of TAMMEF therapy on the antioxidant status in osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder, associated with loss of articular cartilage, osteophyte formation, subchodral bone change, synovitis and characterized by chronic and often disabling pain and stiffness of one or more joints. The pathogenesis of the disease is complex and still debated, even if recent studies have shown that reactive oxygen species may participate in the initiation and progression of OA. Moreover, it is known that pulsed electromagnetic fields are useful in the OA treatment, owing to their analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. This work evaluated lipid peroxidation, glutathione, and ascorbic acid levels in patients with OA of spine, before and after the application of a new electromagnetic system, the TAMMEF (Therapeutic Application of a Musically Modulated Electromagnetic Field) system. In TAMMEF system, the extremely low frequencies electromagnetic field is piloted by a musical signal and its parameters (frequency, intensity, waveform) are modified in time, randomly varying within the respective ranges: so all possible codes can occur during a single application. Twenty patients affected by OA of spine and 20 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Plasma levels of ascorbic acid (AA), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (as index of lipid peroxidation) were determined in patients and controls, before the beginning of treatment (first day of therapy) and at the end of cycle. All patients underwent a cycle of 10 daily sessions of 30 min each. Our study showed a significant increase of MDA level and a significant decrease of both AA and GSH levels in patients with OA compared to control group. These findings support the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of OA. After TAMMEF treatment in the OA group, analysis revealed a significant decrease in plasma MDA and AA levels (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), no significant difference in GSH levels. Reduction in MDA level could be due to the decreased generation of reactive oxygen species and/or to the increased detoxification activity mediated by GSH. No significant difference in GSH levels, evidenced in OA patients after TAMMEF treatment, could be due to effect sparing of AA on GSH. Furthermore, a beneficial symptomatic effect was observed in all patients.