Low-intensity electromagnetic millimeter waves for pain therapy

Taras I Usichenko, Hardy Edinger, Vasyl V Gizhko, Christian Lehmann, Michael Wendt, Frank Feyerherd, Taras I Usichenko, Hardy Edinger, Vasyl V Gizhko, Christian Lehmann, Michael Wendt, Frank Feyerherd

Abstract

Millimeter wave therapy (MWT), a non-invasive complementary therapeutic technique is claimed to possess analgesic properties. We reviewed the clinical studies describing the pain-relief effect of MWT. Medline-based search according to review criteria and evaluation of methodological quality of the retrieved studies was performed. Of 13 studies, 9 of them were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), only three studies yielded more than 3 points on the Oxford scale of methodological quality of RCTs. MWT was reported to be effective in the treatment of headache, arthritic, neuropathic and acute postoperative pain. The rapid onset of pain relief during MWT lasting hours to days after, remote to the site of exposure (acupuncture points), was the most characteristic feature in MWT application for pain relief. The most commonly used parameters of MWT were the MW frequencies between 30 and 70 GHz and power density up to 10 mW cm(-2). The promising results from pilot case series studies and small-size RCTs for analgesic/hypoalgesic effects of MWT should be verified in large-scale RCTs on the effectiveness of this treatment method.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Generators of electromagnetic millimeter waves. (A) Industrial continuous-wave generator G4-142 (Russia) using the backward-wave oscillator. 1-frequency out selector; 2-output power regulator; 3-output power indicator; 4-waveguide, applied to acupuncture point LI4. (B) Gunn diode-based generator DD 21-10 (Ukraine), over the LI4 point. 1-generator; 2-waveguide; 3-cable for DC supply; 4-extension arm (reproduced with permission, references 27,28).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Both the threshold and tolerance of experimentally induced pain in 12 healthy volunteers increased after exposure to electromagnetic millimeter waves in comparison to sham procedure (details see in the text). Pain characteristics, measured in seconds, expressed here as means ± SEM, *difference is statistically significant (P < 0.05) (reproduced with permission from reference 21).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Pain intensity according to a numerical rating scale from 0 to 10 (NRS-11, ranged from 0 = no pain to 10 = worst imaginable pain) in two patients with rheumatoid arthritis, who were exposed to MWT in crossover manner. Filled arrows, real; hollow arrows, sham MWT sessions (reproduced with permission from reference 28).
Figure 4
Figure 4
The accelerated wound healing in patients treated with millimeter waves (MW) after abdominal surgery (A) was accompanied by pronounced reduction of postoperative pain (B) in comparison with the control group (‘d’ means days on the x-axis). The significant reduction of postoperative pain intensity, measured on numerical rating scale NRS-4, was registered on the third day after the surgery in more than 90% of patients treated with MW (modified according to reference 31).

References

    1. Dolin SJ, Cashman JN, Bland JM. Effectiveness of acute postoperative pain management: I. Evidence from published data. Br J Anaesth. 2002;89:409–23.
    1. Joshi GP, Ogunnaike BO. Consequences of inadequate postoperative pain relief and chronic persistent postoperative pain. Anesthesiol Clin North America. 2005;23:21–36.
    1. Zhao SZ, Reynolds MW, Lejkowith J, Whelton A, Arellano FM. A comparison of renal-related adverse drug reactions between rofecoxib and celecoxib, based on the World Health Organization/Uppsala Monitoring Centre safety database. Clin Therap. 2001;23:1478–91.
    1. Sturkenboom MC, Romano F, Simon G, Correa-Leite ML, Villa M, Nicolosi A, et al. The iatrogenic costs of NSAID therapy: a population study. Arthritis Rheum. 2002;47:132–40.
    1. Graham DJ, Campen D, Hui R, Spence M, Cheetham C, Levy G, et al. Risk of acute myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death in patients treated with cyclo-oxygenase 2 selective and non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: nested case-control study. Lancet. 2005;365:475–81.
    1. Skurikhina LA. The therapeutic use of electromagnetic millimeter waves of nonthermal intensity millimeter-wave therapy. Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult. 1988;5:65–72.
    1. Gandhi OP. Some basic properties of biological tissues for potential biomedical applications of millimeter waves. J Microw Power. 1983;18:295–304.
    1. Webb SJ, Dodds DD. Inhibition of bacterial cell growth by 136 gc microwaves. Nature. 1968;218:374–5.
    1. Zaliubovskaia NP. Biological effect of the millimeter-range radiowaves. Vrach Delo. 1977;3:116–19.
    1. Ryan KL, D'Andrea JA, Jauchem JR, Mason PA. Radio frequency radiation of millimeter wave length: potential occupational safety issues relating to surface heating. Health Phys. 2000;78:170–81.
    1. Rojavin MA, Ziskin MC. Medical application of millimeter waves. Q J Med. 1998;91:57–66.
    1. Pakhomov AG, Akyel Y, Pakhomova ON, Stuck BE, Murphy MR. Current state and implications of research on biological effects of millimeter waves: a review of the literature. Bioelectromagnetics. 1998;19:393–413.
    1. Enin LD, Akoev GN, Potekhina IL, Oleiner VD. Effect of extremely high-frequency electromagnetic radiation on the function of skin sensory endings. Patol Fiziol Eksp Ter. 1992;5-6:23–5.
    1. Akoev GN, Avelev VD, Semenjkov PG. Reception of low-intensity millimeter-wave electromagnetic radiation by the electroreceptors in skates. Neuroscience. 1995;66:15–7.
    1. Rojavin MA, Cowan A, Radzievsky AA, Ziskin MC. Antipruritic effect of millimeter waves in mice: evidence for opioid involvement. Life Sci. 1998;63:251–7.
    1. Radzievsky AA, Rojavin MA, Cowan A, Alekseev SI, Radzievsky AA, Jr, Ziskin MC. Peripheral neural system involvement in hypoalgesic effect of electromagnetic millimeter waves. Life Sci. 2001;68:1143–51.
    1. Novikova NS, Kazakova TB, Rogers VJ, Korneva EA. C-fos gene expression induced in cells in specific hypothalamic structures by noxious mechanical stimulation and its modification by exposure of the skin to extremely high frequency irradiation. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2002;23:315–20.
    1. Novikova NS, Kazakova TB, Rogers V, Korneva EA. Expression of the c-fos gene in spinal cord and brain cells in rats subjected to stress in conditions of exposure to various types of halothane anesthesia. Neurosci Behav Physiol. 2004;34:407–12.
    1. Jadad AR, Moore RA, Carroll D, Jenkinson C, Reynolds DJ, Gavaghan DJ, et al. Assessing the quality of reports of randomized clinical trials: is blinding necessary? Control Clin Trials. 1996;17:1–12.
    1. Radzievsky AA, Rojavin MA, Cowan A, Ziskin MC. Suppression of pain sensation caused by millimeter waves: a double-blinded, cross-over, prospective human volunteer study. Anesth Analg. 1999;88:836–40.
    1. Kuz'menko VM. The role of microwave resonance therapy in the combined treatment of patients with cerebral atherosclerosis. Lik Sprava. 1998;7:146–8.
    1. Nikula TD, Karpenko VV, Voitovich NS, Karmazina EM. Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of quantum methods of treatment of patients with hypertensive disease. Lik Sprava. 1992;10:32–5.
    1. Standard Acupuncture Nomenclature. 1993. Second Edition (ISBN 92 9061 105 7), WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila.
    1. Bakaliuk TG, Zoria LV, Pogorila MA. Microwave resonance therapy in primary osteoarthrosis: the pathogenetic validation of its clinical use. Patol Fiziol Eksp Ter. 1998;4:22–5.
    1. Shliapak EA, Gabidova NT, Evseeva SN, Apanasevich ZK. The EHF therapy of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult. 1996;6:19–21.
    1. Usichenko TI, Herget HF. Treatment of chronic pain with millimetre wave therapy (MWT) in patients with diffuse connective tissue diseases: a pilot case series study. Eur J Pain. 2003;7:289–94.
    1. Usichenko TI, Ivashkivsky OI, Gizhko VV. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with electromagnetic millimeter waves applied to acupuncture points—a randomized double blind clinical study. Acupunct Electrother Res. 2003;28:11–8.
    1. Tyshkevich TG, Bersnev VP, Stepanova TS. The use of millimeter waves in neurosurgery under electrophysiological control. Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult. 1998;1:30–33.
    1. Korpan NN, Resch KL, Kokoschinegg P. Continuous microwave enhances the healing process of septic and aseptic wounds in rabbits. J Surg Res. 1994;57:667–71.
    1. Korpan NN, Saradeth T. Clinical effects of continuous microwave for postoperative septic wound treatment: a double-blind controlled trial. Am J Surg. 1995;170:271–6.
    1. Jin Z, Lin M, Xia J, Zhuang J, Yang R, Li X, et al. A study of millimeter wave’s clinical and immunological effects on oral lichen planus patients. Hua Xi Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2001;19:366–8.
    1. He Y, Lin M, Li BQ, Xia J, Zeng GM. Effect of millimeter therapy in burning mouth syndrome. Zhonghua Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2003;38:89–92.
    1. Megdiatov RS, Vasilenko AM, Arkhipov VV, Kislov VYa, Kolesov VV, Smirnov VF. Use of a ‘Sharm’ therapeutic-diagnostic system in complex therapy of trigeminal nerve neuralgia. Proceedings of the 10th Russian Symposium with International Participation ‘MillimeterWaves in Medicine and Biology’; Moscow, Russia: Russian Academy of Sciences; 1995. pp. 83–4.
    1. Grubnik BP, Sitko SP, Shalimov AA. Experience of using Sitko MRT technology for rehabilitation of III-IV stage oncologic patients. J Physics Alive. 1998;6:97–102.
    1. Droviannikova DP, Volobuev AN, Romanchuk PI. The mechanism of the therapeutic action of the EHF therapy of spinal osteochondrosis. Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult. 1995;2:25–6.
    1. Miryutova NF, Levitskii EF, Kozhemyakin AM, Mavlyautdinova IM. Millimeter waves in the treatment of neurological manifestations of vertebral osteochondrosis. Crit Rev Biomed Eng. 2001;29:613–21.
    1. Moore RA, Gavaghan D, Tramer MR, Collins SL, McQuay HJ. Size is everything—large amounts of information are needed to overcome random effects in estimating direction and magnitude of treatment effects. Pain. 1998;78:209–16.
    1. Radzievsky AA, Gordiienko OV, Szabo I, Alekseev SI, Ziskin MC. Millimeter wave-induced suppression of B16 F10 melanoma growth in mice: involvement of endogenous opioids. Bioelectromagnetics. 2004;25:466–73.
    1. Cheng Xinnong., editor. Principles of selecting points for acupuncture analgesia. Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 1st edition. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press; 1987. pp. 515–16.
    1. Golant MB. Resonance effect of coherent millimeter-band electromagnetic waves on living organisms. Biofizika. 1989;34:1004–14.
    1. Novikova LN, Kaminskaia GO, Efimova LN. Significance of the functional state of blood phagocytes in the choice of optimal regime of EHF therapy of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Probl Tuberk. 1995;6:17–20.
    1. Vilenskaia RL, Smolianskaia AZ, Adamenko VG, Buldasheva ZP, Gel’vich EA. Induction of colicin synthesis by millimeter radiation. Biull Eksp Biol Med. 1972;73:52–4.
    1. Grundler W, Keilmann F, Frölich H. Resonant growth rate response of yeast cells irradiated by weak microwaves. Phys Lett. 1977;62A:463.
    1. Sevast’ianova LA. Characteristics of the biological action of millimeter-range radio waves and the potential for their utilization in medicine. Vestn Akad Med Nauk SSSR. 1979;2:65–8.
    1. Samosiuk IZ, Kulikovich IuN, Tamarova ZA, Samosiuk NI, Kazhanova AK. Pain relief by low-intensity frequency-modulated millimeter waves acting on the acupuncture points. Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult. 2000;4:7–11.

Source: PubMed

Patrocinadores y Colaboradores

Condiciones médicas

Intervenciones de drogas

3
Suscribir