Pulsed Treatment Research Articles

Ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency of the greater occipital nerve in chronic migraine; proximal approach versus distal approach, a single-blind, randomized controlled trial

Background & Objective: Ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the greater occipital nerve can be used at distal and proximal levels of the greater occipital nerve in patients with chronic migraine. We aimed to evaluate the treatment efficacy, procedure duration, and pain experienced during the procedure for both methods. Methods: In the study, 60 chronic migraine patients randomly divided into two groups using a computer programme were evaluated. In the proximal group, the greater occipital nerve was accessed at the level of the 2nd cervical vertebra, while in the distal group it was accessed at the level of the protuberencia occipitalis. Patients completed the Migraine Disability Rating Scale, Visual Analogue Scale and a headache diary before treatment as well as at 1 month and 3 months afterwards. The time from the beginning of the intervention to the spread of the stimulus to the C2 dermatome during the sensory stimulation test was recorded. Patients were asked to rate their pain during the procedure using a Visual Analogue Scale. Results: The Visual Analog Scale scores and headache frequencies were significantly decreased in both the proximal group and distal group (p<0.001). The procedure time was shorter (p<0.001) and was less painful in the distal group (p<0.001). Conclusions: In this study, we observed that pulsed radiofrequency of both distal and proximal levels of the greater occipital nerves effectively treated migraine. A shorter procedure time and superior patient tolerability make the distal stimulation the procedure of choice.

A Study of the Thermodynamic Properties of Thermosetting Synthetic Resins after Electric Pulse Treatment

A Study of the Thermodynamic Properties of Thermosetting Synthetic Resins after Electric Pulse Treatment

Transcutaneous Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment in Patients with Osteoarthritis of the Upper Extremity

Background: Non-invasive treatment options are preferred for managing upper extremity pain due to osteoarthritis (OA). Transcutaneous pulsed radiofrequency (TcPRF) is a promising technique and appears effective in managing knee and shoulder pain. Objectives: To investigate whether TcPRF treatment is effective in reducing pain and safe to use among patients with OA of the upper extremity. Methods: In this retrospective study, patients with painful OA of the upper extremity who underwent TcPRF treatment from February 2021 to February 2022 were included. The primary outcome measure was the change in NRS pain scores between baseline and 1, 2, and 6 weeks of follow-up. Secondary outcome measures included adverse events. Data were extracted from electronic medical records and via telephone consultation after the 6-week follow-up. Results: A total of 41 initial TcPRF treatments were performed among 37 patients. The NRS score at rest showed a statistically significant improvement at 6 weeks [median = 5 [interquartile range (IQR) 2 - 8)] compared with baseline [median = 6 (IQR 4 - 8)], P = 0.023, with a moderate effect size, r = -0.44. For NRS scores during activity, all follow-up moments had lower NRS scores [median = 7 (IQR 5 - 8)] than before TcPRF [median = 8 (IQR 7 - 9)], P = 0.002 - 0.006, with moderate to large effect sizes, r = -0.45 to r = -0.51. No adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Transcutaneous pulsed radiofrequency treatment is effective in reducing pain and is safe to use among patients with upper extremity pain due to OA.

Non-Targeted Metabolomics Analysis of γ-Aminobutyric Acid Enrichment in Germinated Maize Induced by Pulsed Light.

Pulsed light is an emerging technique in plant physiology recognized for its ability to enhance germination and accumulate γ-aminobutyric acid in maize. Pulsed light involves exposing plants to brief, high-intensity bursts of light, which can enhance photosynthesis, improve growth, and increase resistance to environmental stresses. Despite its promising potential, the specific metabolic changes leading to γ-aminobutyric acid enrichment in maize induced by pulsed light are not fully understood. This study addresses this gap by quantifying key nutrients and γ-aminobutyric acid-related compounds during maize germination and investigating the underlying mechanisms using non-targeted metabolomics. Our findings indicate that pulsed light significantly promotes maize germination and accelerates the hydrolysis of proteins, sugars, and lipids. This acceleration is likely due to the activation of enzymes involved in these metabolic pathways. Additionally, pulsed light markedly increases the content of glutamic acid and the activity of glutamate decarboxylase, which are crucial for γ-aminobutyric acid synthesis. Moreover, pulsed light significantly reduces the activity of γ-aminobutyric transaminase, thereby inhibiting γ-aminobutyric acid decomposition and resulting in a substantial increase in γ-aminobutyric acid content, with a 27.20% increase observed in germinated maize following pulsed light treatment. Metabolomic analysis further revealed enrichment of metabolic pathways associated with γ-aminobutyric acid, including amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, plant hormone signal transduction, energy metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, and ABC transporters. In conclusion, pulsed light is a robust and efficient method for producing sprouted maize with a high γ-aminobutyric acid content. This technique provides a novel approach for developing sprouted cereal foods with enhanced nutritional profiles, leveraging the physiological benefits of γ-aminobutyric acid, which include stress alleviation and potential health benefits for humans.

Improving the creation of SiV centers in diamond via sub-μs pulsed annealing treatment

Silicon-vacancy (SiV) centers in diamond are emerging as promising quantum emitters in applications such as quantum communication and quantum information processing. Here, we demonstrate a sub-μs pulsed annealing treatment that dramatically increases the photoluminescence of SiV centers in diamond. Using a silane-functionalized adamantane precursor and a laser-heated diamond anvil cell, the temperature and energy conditions required to form SiV centers in diamond were mapped out via an optical thermometry system with an accuracy of ±50 K and a 1 μs temporal resolution. Annealing scheme studies reveal that pulsed annealing can obviously minimize the migration of SiV centers out of the diamond lattice, and a 2.5-fold increase in the number of emitting centers was achieved using a series of 200-ns pulses at a 50 kHz repetition rate via acousto-optic modulation. Our study provides a novel pulsed annealing treatment approach to improve the efficiency of the creation of SiV centers in diamond.

Pulsed electric field treatment reduces the internal stress and increases the adhesion of TiAlN coating

Higher temperatures and longer treatment times are necessary in a conventional thermal treatment method, which restricts the substrate materials and treatment efficiency. In this paper, the grain size and orientation of the coating are regulated by pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment, and the adhesion of the coating is enhanced by reducing the internal stress between the grains. The findings demonstrate that the PEF can change the coating to the close-packed (111) with high conductivity and facilitate the short-range diffusion of N atoms. The effects reduce the concentration of defects and reduce the coating’s internal stress, improving the critical load of the coating. The PEF treatment provides an effective solution for low-temperature and high-efficiency treatment coatings.

Pulsed electric current annealing of (Ni,Cu)-rich Ti49Ni41Cu10 shape memory wire for superior superelasticity and stable elastocaloric cooling effect

This study designed a (Ni,Cu)-rich Ti49Ni41Cu10 shape memory wire annealed by pulsed electric treatment of 60 A/mm2 for 0.3 sec. Granular and strip-type Ti(Ni,Cu)2 precipitates, formed before application of the electric current treatment, facilitated the plastic deformation during the wire drawing process. The wire demonstrated stability in superelasticity and elastocaloric cooling capability. The accumulated residual strain was only 0.15 % after 50 superelastic cycles with an applied strain of 3.5 % at 338 K. The elastocaloric temperature drop of the wire remained at about 9.4 K for 50 cycles. Moreover, under 3 % applied strain, the wire exhibited elastocaloric temperature drops of 5.3 K to 8.1 K within the application window of 323 K to 373 K. TEM observations confirmed that the grain size of the wire was about 20–30 nm, which led to the homogeneous superelasticity performance. Furthermore, the superior compatibility between the B2 and B19 phases reduced plastic deformation at the interfaces during martensitic transformation. The stable functionality and elastocaloric cooling capacity of the wire originated from the combination of nanocrystalline structure and superior compatibility between the B2 and B19 phases. These results demonstrated that the Ti49Ni41Cu10 SMA wire could be fabricated due to the presence of ductile Ti(Ni,Cu)2 precipitates, and the subsequent pulsed electric current treatment caused rapid annealing to achieve a stable functional performance.

Electric wind induced texturing for enhanced thermoelectric performance of p-type Mg3Sb2-based materials

High-intensity electric pulse treatment (EPT) can induce electric wind effect in materials, which facilitates the grain rearrangement and reorientation in polycrystalline samples. For the first time, this study employed the EPT technique to construct texture in Mg3.04Ag0.02Sb2 bulk compounds, and a highly conductive channel was produced to promote the charge carrier transport. This leads to a 53 % improvement in carrier mobility of the EPT sample (4#20) over the pristine one at room temperature. Additionally, EPT does not affect the carrier concentration of the material, making the EPT samples possess significantly improved electrical conductivities and untouched Seebeck coefficients. Consequently, a 36 % improvement in zT value is achieved for the EPT sample (4#20) at 723 K, compared to the pristine one. This work demonstrates that EPT technique is an effective approach for constructing textured Mg3Sb2-based materials, offering a valuable avenue for high thermoelectric performance in other potential materials via manipulating properties-related texture.

Evaluation of therapy satisfaction with cladribine tablets in patients with RMS: Final results of the non-interventional study CLEVER

BackgroundCladribine tablets for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) are administered in two pulsed treatment courses in two consecutive years, totalling a maximum of 20 treatment days. Here we present data collected shortly after the launch of cladribine tablets, focusing on the patient's perspective. The objective was to investigate patients’ perceived effectiveness, tolerability, and convenience, as well as global satisfaction of and with cladribine tablets. MethodsCLEVER was a non-interventional multicentre study conducted in Germany from 12/2017 to 7/2020. Adult patients with RMS initiating therapy with cladribine tablets were included. Observation time per patient was 24 weeks, comprising 3 visits (baseline, week 4 and 24). The primary endpoint was overall treatment satisfaction at week 24, assessed by the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication 14 items (TSQM 1.4). Subgroup analyses included stratification by prior treatment. ResultsIn total, 491 patients (69.2 % female; mean (±SD) age 40.3 (±11.5) years, 85.1 % pre-treated, median EDSS 2.5) initiated therapy with cladribine tablets and were included in the analysis. At week 24, the mean (±SD) global TSQM satisfaction score was 75.6 (±19.0). For patients switching from either injectables or oral medication, the change in therapy satisfaction from baseline to week 24 was positive in all TSQM domains with clinically meaningful effect sizes in the global satisfaction and side effects domains. Most patients (85.5 %) remained relapse-free over 24 weeks. Out of 491 patients, 187 (38.1 %) experienced at least one adverse event and 8 patients (1.6 %) one serious adverse event. ConclusionTreatment satisfaction with cladribine tablets was high. The switch from prior injectables or oral medication translated into increased treatment satisfaction at week 24 with clinically meaningful effects in the global satisfaction and side effects domains. Effectiveness and safety were consistent with results from clinical studies.

Synchronous improvement in strength and ductility of Cu-bearing stainless steels through formation of bimodal grain structure induced by short-time electric pulses

Excellent strength and favorable formability are two important mechanical properties of stainless steel, but there is usually a trade-off between both properties. However, it has been suggested in recent studies that preparing microstructures with a non-homogeneous structure can effectively achieve strength-ductility synergy. Given these facts, a microstructure with bimodal grain structures was prepared in this study by short-time electric pulse treatment (EPT). Besides, the evolution of microstructures and mechanical properties of Cu-bearing stainless steel during EPT was analyzed. The results demonstrated that the non-uniform heating in the EPT process can rapidly promote localized grain growth, thus forming a bimodal grain structure compared with conventional heat treatment. The microstructure of the fine grains formed random textures, while the coarsened grains showed stronger textures. After EPT, the amount of S {123} < 634 < 634 >-type textures increased significantly, with the proportion reaching up to 30.1 %. There was also a certain amount of brass {110} < 112 >- and copper {112} < 111 >-type textures. Compared with the solution-treated samples, the best overall mechanical properties were detected under the optimal electric pulse parameters, which ultimately realized a synergistic increase of 11.8 % and 10.2 % in the ultimate tensile strength and ductility. The excellent strength-ductility synergy was closely related to heterogeneous deformation-induced (HDI) strengthening and textures induced by the bimodal grain structure. This finding may provide novel insights for enhancing the formability of biomedical metallic materials.

Inactivation of murine norovirus and hepatitis A virus on various frozen fruits using pulsed light

The frozen fruit sector has experienced significant growth due to improved product quality as well as the advantage of long-term preservation. However, freezing alone does not eliminate foodborne viruses, a major public health concern and considerable economic burden. One promising disinfecting treatment is pulsed light, shown previously to inactivate hepatitis A virus (HAV) and murine norovirus-1 (MNV-1) on the surface of fresh berries. Viral loads were reduced by 1–2 log, with minor visual quality deterioration observed. In this study, an FDA-compliant pulsed light treatment (11.52 J/cm2) was applied to frozen fruits and berries. Infectious MNV-1 and HAV titers were reduced by 1–2 log on most frozen fruits. A noteworthy finding was that reductions of both viruses on cranberries exceeded 3.5 log cycles. Although pulsed light caused a measurable rise in temperature on the product surface, no visible physical changes (e.g., color) were observed, and the fruit pieces were still frozen after treatment. Although the reduction of infectious titer by pulsed light alone was not large (1–2 log), considering the low amount of virus typically found on fruit, it may be beneficial in the frozen fruit sector. It would be easy to combine with other treatments, and synergic interactions might increase virus inactivation.

Different duration of exposure to a pulsed magnetic field can cause changes in mRNA expression of apoptotic genes in oleic acid-treated neuroblastoma cells

Purpose Neuroblastoma, a prevalent childhood tumor, poses significant challenges in therapeutic interventions, especially for high-risk cases. This study aims to fill a crucial gap in our understanding of neuroblastoma treatment by investigating the potential molecular impacts of short- and long-term pulsed magnetic field exposure on the neuronal apoptosis mechanism in an in vitro model of neuroblastoma treated with oleic acid (OA). Materials and methods Cells were cultured and divided into six following experimental groups: (I) Nontreated group (NT); (II) OA-treated group (OA); (III) Group treated with OA after being exposed to the pulsed magnetic field for 15-min (15 min PEMF + OA); (IV) Group treated with OA after being exposed to the pulsed magnetic field for 12 h (12 h PEMF + OA); (V) Group exposed to the pulsed magnetic field for 15 min (15 min PEMF); and (VI) Group exposed to the pulsed magnetic field for 12 h (12 h PEMF). Cell viability, rates of apoptosis, and mRNA levels of key apoptotic genes (TP53, Bcl2, Bax, and Caspase-3) were assessed. Results Significant reductions in cell viability were observed, particularly in the group treated with OA following long-term pulsed magnetic field exposure. Flow cytometry revealed elevated apoptosis rates, notably in the early stages of apoptosis. qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated increased expression of cleaved Caspase-3, Bax/Bcl2 ratio, and TP53 in cells treated with OA following long-term pulsed magnetic field exposure, signifying enhanced apoptotic pathways. Conclusions The findings indicate that long-term pulsed magnetic field exposure and OA treatment exhibit potential synergistic effects leading to the induction of apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells. We have concluded that stimulations of pulsed magnetic field have the potential to serve as an adjuvant therapy for oleic acid-based treatment of neuroblastoma.

Pulsed electric field treatment applied to barley before malting reduces Fusarium pathogens without compromising the quality of the final malt

The growth of micromycetes and the associated production of mycotoxins during malting represents a potential safety issue and an economic challenge regarding the quality of beer as a product manufactured from malt. The treatment of malted cereals with a pulsed electric field (PEF) may be one method to overcome this issue. In this work were tested PEF conditions that would lead to a reduction in fungal growth without suppressing germination and thus causing deterioration in the technological parameters of the malt. Pre-soaking the grain for more than 3.5 h prior to PEF treatment was found to significantly reduce the germination energy and, compared to the untreated sample, enzymatic activity of the resulting malt. Therefore, a modification consisting of a short pre-soaking (10 min) and PEF treatment (field intensity 3.8 kV/cm, 100 pulses with peak width 20 μs) in a high conductivity environment (0.05 mol/L phosphate buffer) was implemented. This treatment led to a reduction (up to 80%) in growth of some Fusarium species (F. sporotrichoides and F. poae) and the production of corresponding mycotoxins, mainly trichothecenes A and ennianthins. Moreover, the treated malt did not differ significantly from the control malt in terms of enzymatic activity.

A prospective, randomised, controlled, double blinded, cross-over study on the effect of a single session of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on signs of hip osteoarthritis in dogs

BackgroundCanine coxofemoral joint osteoarthritis is a common, painful and debilitating condition. The objective of this study was to evaluate if any measurable changes in pain or lameness occurred in this patient group immediately after a single treatment with pulsed electromagnetic field therapy. Eight dogs with coxofemoral joint osteoarthritis presenting with signs of pain and lameness were prospectively recruited to this randomised, controlled, double blinded, cross-over study. Subjects attended the research facility on two occasions for one active and one placebo treatment with pulsed electromagnetic field therapy. The immediate effect of one pulsed electromagnetic field therapy treatment on pain and lameness was measured subjectively with the Helsinki Chronic Pain Index and Visual Analogue Scale and objectively using a pressure sensitive walkway.ResultsA statistically significant difference (P = 0.03) for change in stride length in the affected limb was recorded for subjects between the active and placebo treatments with pulsed electromagnetic field therapy. Within the active treatment results, there was a statistically significant change in the measurement for reach (P = 0.04) and stride length (P = 0.047) which got shorter in the affected limb post treatment. For the subjective outcome measures, there was no statistically significant difference between the active and placebo treatments for the evening of the treatment day or the next morning from pre-treatment values. Within the placebo treatment results a statistically significant change (improvement) was detected in Visual Analogue Score (P = 0.03) between pre-treatment and the next morning values.ConclusionsThe findings of this study do not show demonstrable improvement in owner assessed pain levels or temporospatial performance in dogs with coxofemoral joint osteoarthritis immediately after a single application of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy.

Achieving Stress Relief in Martensitic Stainless Steel Via High-Density Pulsed Electric Current Treatment

Achieving Stress Relief in Martensitic Stainless Steel Via High-Density Pulsed Electric Current Treatment

Pulsing Addition to Modulated Electro-Hyperthermia.

Numerous preclinical results have been verified, and clinical results have validated the advantages of modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT). This method uses the nonthermal effects of the electric field in addition to thermal energy absorption. Modulation helps with precisely targeting and immunogenically destroying malignant cells, which could have a vaccination-like abscopal effect. A new additional modulation (high-power pulsing) further develops the abilities of the mEHT. My objective is to present the advantages of pulsed treatment and how it fits into the mEHT therapy. Pulsed treatment increases the efficacy of destroying the selected tumor cells; it is active deeper in the body, at least tripling the penetration of the energy delivery. Due to the constant pulse amplitude, the dosing of the absorbed energy is more controllable. The induced blood flow for reoxygenation and drug delivery is high enough but not as high as increasing the risk of the dissemination of malignant cells. The short pulses have reduced surface absorption, making the treatment safer, and the increased power in the pulses allows the reduction of the treatment time needed to provide the necessary dose.

The effect of pre- and post-harvest sodium nitroprusside treatments on the physiological changes of cut Alstroemeria aurea ‘Orange Queen’ during vase life

Cut flowers deteriorate rapidly after harvest, lasting mere days. To extend their vase life, various postharvest techniques are employed. Due to limited knowledge about the postharvest physiology of Alstroemeria cut flowers and the specific role of secondary compounds and antioxidant systems in their protection, this study investigated the optimal dosage of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) as a nitric oxide (NO) donor to enhance quality and antioxidant defenses. Preharvest foliar application of SNP at 0, 50, 100, and 200 µM followed by short-term pulsing treatments upon harvest at the same concentrations were applied in a factorial design. Results revealed that a preharvest 100 µM SNP treatment combined with a 50 µM postharvest pulse significantly increased the total amount of phenols (over 20%), antioxidant capacity (more than doubled), and the activity of two antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase by over 35% and guaiacol peroxidase by about 20%). Notably, this combination also diminished ion leakage (by about 20%), ultimately extending the vase life by more than 40% compared to untreated plants. Therefore, SNP application at these specific dosages proves effective in bolstering Alstroemeria cut flower quality and vase life through enhanced total phenols and a strengthened antioxidant system.

Tackling Challenges of Long-Term Electrode Stability in Electrochemical Treatment of 1,4-Dioxane in Groundwater.

Electrochemical advanced oxidation is an appealing point-of-use groundwater treatment option for removing pollutants such as 1,4-dioxane, which is difficult to remove by using conventional separation-based techniques. This study addresses a critical challenge in employing electrochemical cells in practical groundwater treatment─electrode stability over long-term operation. This study aims to simulate realistic environmental scenarios by significantly extending the experimental time scale, testing a flow-through cell in addition to a batch reactor, and employing an electrolyte with a conductivity equivalent to that of groundwater. We first constructed a robust titanium suboxide nanotube mesh electrode that is utilized as both anode and cathode. We then implemented a pulsed electrolysis strategy in which reactive oxygen species are generated during the anodic cycle, and the electrode is regenerated during the cathodic cycle. Under optimized conditions, single-pass treatment through the cell (effective area: 2 cm2) achieved a remarkable 65-70% removal efficiency for 1,4-dioxane in the synthetic groundwater for over 100 h continuous operation at a low current density of 5 mA cm-2 and a water flux of 6 L m-2 h-1. The electrochemical cell and pulse treatment scheme developed in this study presents a critical advancement toward practical groundwater treatment technology.

Epidemic dynamics of complex networks under pulse treatment and vaccination

The dynamics of a new Susceptible-Vaccinated-Infected-Recovered (SVIR) epidemic model in complex networks under constant and pulse control are investigated. Firstly, the epidemic model in complex networks under constant control is proposed. Utilizing the basic reproduction number, the sufficient conditions for stabilizing the epidemic under constant control are established. Since constant control is not conducive to resource conservation, it has been replaced by pulse control in epidemic model. The paper demonstrates the global attractiveness of the disease-free periodic solution of the model under pulse treatment and pulse vaccination. In addition, a sufficient condition is put forward to make sure that the system persists under pulse control, indicating periodic outbreaks of the epidemic. Furthermore, the epidemic is uniformly persistent when the pulse period is greater than the pulse period threshold or the vaccination rate is less than the vaccination threshold. Finally, several numerical simulations prove the feasibility of the theoretical results. By comparing the pulse period with a critical value, the strategy that most contributes to controlling the epidemic propagation is chosen from constant control and pulse control to achieve maximum utilization of resources. Moreover, it shows that decreasing the fraction of pulse treatment and pulse vaccination or prolonging the pulse period is beneficial to epidemic propagation. The topology of complex networks has a non-negligible influence on the epidemic propagation under pulse control, which is demonstrated both theoretically and numerically.

Effects of atmospheric pressure plasma treatment on the quality and cellulose modification of brown rice

This study investigates the effect of atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier pulsed discharge plasma treatment on cooking quality and cellulose modification of brown rice. The results showed that 15 min of plasma treatment reduced the cooking time, hardness, and chewiness of brown rice by 27.40%, 30.68%, and 40.23%, respectively, compared to the control. The etching of the brown rice skin and the formation of water channels lead to increased water absorption. This led to a significant increase in palatability of the treated brown rice. In addition, the crystallinity and average particle size (Dhkl) of the treated brown rice were reduced to 10.93% and 42.85% of the initial level, respectively, and the cellulose solubility increased from 8.20% to 55.20%. The surface microstructure was also found to fracture and destroy of the cellulose structure. These findings suggest that plasma made the originally dense fiber structure of brown rice epidermis loose through the etching effect, thus improving the cooking quality of brown rice. The present conclusions offer fundamental insights into the interaction between plasma treatment and brown rice, which should be beneficial for applying plasma in whole-grain processing.