Abstract
Electromagnetic radiation (in the form of pulsed magnetic fields, radiofrequency and intense pulsed light) and mechanical agents (such as sonic waves) have been used in physical therapy. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of low-intensity magnetic fields, sonic and radiofrequency waves, and intense pulsed light on the survival of Escherichia coli cultures and on the electrophoretic mobility of plasmid DNA. Exponentially growing E. coli AB1157 cultures and plasmid DNA samples were exposed to these physical agents and 0.9% NaCl (negative control) and SnCl2 (positive control) solutions. Aliquots of the cultures were diluted and spread onto a solidified rich medium. The colony-forming units were counted after overnight incubation and the survival fraction was calculated. Agarose gel electrophoresis was performed to visualise and quantify the plasmid topological forms. The results suggest that these agents do not alter the survival of E. coli cells or plasmid DNA electrophoresis mobility. Moreover, they do not protect against the lesive action of SnCl2. These physical agents therefore had no cytotoxic or genotoxic effects under the conditions studied.
Highlights
Low frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) could be used to treat diseases characterised by pain, inflammation and regeneration
Lanes 3 to 5 show the electrophoretic profiles of plasmid DNA submitted to physical agents, suggesting no modifications in plasmid topology when compared with the control (Lane 1)
There is little information about the biological effects of sonic and radiofrequency waves, low intensity magnetic fields and Intense pulsed light (IPL) that have been used in therapeutic practice.[18]
Summary
Physical therapy devices used for the treatment of aesthetic disorders[1,2] such as facial acne, can emit sonic and ultrasonic waves and electromagnetic radiation at an extremely low frequency as well as radiofrequency, light and infrared radiation.[2,3] Low frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) could be used to treat diseases characterised by pain, inflammation and regeneration. Biological effects on the organs and body systems associated with the energies generated by these sources have been reported, but the findings remain inconsistent.[4] Beneficial effects of electromagnetic fields on bone metabolism and hydroxyapatite osteointegration, suggesting osteogenesis stimulation, have been described.[5]. Some authors have suggested that audible sonic waves could interact with proteins, moving them to the lymphatic system, as in the bioresonance phenomenon.[4] According to this phenomenon, proteins move to the lymphatic system as a result of the harmonics created by the sonic waves, thereby exiting the extracellular compartment.[6]
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