Research Articles and PatentsINDEX Papers relative to the Microbe Electrifier: Biocompatible Electric Current Attenuates HIV-1 Infectivity PATENT 5,139,684; Electrically conductive methods and systems for treatment of blood
Papers relative to the DC Electrifier: Papers relative to the OMF Generator: Papers relative to the Maxi-Pulser: Health Effects of Electro-Magnetic Fields from Science News, Vol. 156, No. 20 November 13, 1999, p. 316 http://www.sciencenews.org/sn_arc99/11_13_99/bob2.htm http://www.sciencenews.org/sn_arc99/11_13_99/bob2ref.htm Two previous studies had found that electro-magnetic fields (EMFs) reduce pain and swelling. EMFs also have that effect in a new trial headed by orthopedic surgeon Roy K. Aaron. Presumably, he says, it does it "by changing the chemistry of the joint." Studies by his team and others indicate that these fields can increase a joint's production of natural anti-inflammatory agents, such as transforming growth factor-beta. Not surprisingly, Aaron notes, medical supply companies are now developing products, such as a glove with coils, to deliver EMFs to arthritis-ravaged joints. Softer tissues also respond to these fields. For instance, Arthur A. Pilla, a biophysicist at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, observes that many people with bone breaks experience significant pain in muscles around their injuries. Shortly after EMF therapy begins, however, that pain disappears. Though the mechanism remains elusive, Pilla says, the treatment seems to affect swelling, which can cause pain. If this proves true, he says, EMFs might benefit people with carpal tunnel syndrome, where swelling in the wrist pinches nerves going to the fingers. Indeed, that's a possibility that Betty F. Sisken of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexington would like to explore. Currently, she's probing EMFs' direct influence on nerves. In their initial studies, she and her colleagues crushed a nerve in the hind leg of rats and then treated the animals with EMFs for 4 hours daily. William D. Lyman, Irwin R. Merkatz William C. Hatch and Steven C. Kaali Departments of Pathology, and Obstetrics & Gyneclogy Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave. Bronx, N.Y. 10461 Summary In this report, we present the results of double-blinded studies on the use of direct electric current to alter the infectivity of HIV-1 for susceptible cells in vitro. These experimental currents were equal to 3.85 and 7.7µA/mm2 current densities respectively. The reduction of infectivity was dependent upon the total electric charge (µA x min) passing through the chamber to which the virus was exposed. Viral infectivity was determined by two independent measures: a syncytium-formation assay which can be used to quantify the production of infectious particles; and a reverse transcriptase assay which is an index of viral protein production. Results Syncytium-formation assay: Using this index of HIV-1 infectivity, it was determined that exposing virus to direct electric current suppressed its capacity to induce the formation of syncytia. Figure 1 shows a representative experiment and Table 2 shows the Croup data for 3 separate experiments. As can be noted in Figure 1, a statistically significant (p<0.001) reduction in syncytium number was absented and this reduction was dependent upon the current applied to the viral isolate. At three different viral dilutions, there were analogous results in that a total charge of 200µA x min (25µA for 8 minutes) reduced the number of syncytia from 50% to 65% while a charge of 3O0µA x min (50µA for 6 minutes, 75µA for 4 minutes or 100µA for 3 minutes) resulted in 90% reduction. Reverse transcriptase assay: The direct electric currents to which HIV-l was exposed also reduced reverse transcriptase activity. Five separate experiments were conducted and a representative experiment is shown in Figure 2 and the data are included in Table 3. As can be seen in Figure 2, there was a significant decrease in the amount of reverse transcriptase activity after exposure of the virus to either 50A for 3 or 6 minutes. An equivalent reduction in reverse transcriptase activity was also noted with exposure to 100µA for 3 minutes and almost ablation of reverse transcriptase activity was seen with exposure of the viral isolate to 100µA for 6 minutes. The group data (Table 3) show that after exposure to 50µA for 6 minutes, there was a 44% reduction in activity and treatment of virus with 100µA for 6 minutes resulted in a 94% reduction. An analysis of variance indicates that the decrease in reverse transcriptase activity was statistically significant (p<0.0001). DISCUSSION The results reported here demonstrate that HIV-1 treated with direct electric currents from 50 to 100µA has a significantly reduced infectivity for susceptible cells in vitro. This reduction of infectivity correlates with the total electric charge passing through the chamber. The therapeutic potential of electric current may reside in its ability to lower the viral titer to subclinical significance or in its incorporation into a strategy analogous to that of other therapies in which repeated cycles of treatment eventually achieve remission or cure. It may be also feasible to treat AIDS patients with direct electric current using either extracorporeal [out of body] systems or self contained indwelling electrodes. Figure l Syncytium Formation at 1:160 dilution exposure (µA/minute) 0/6 25/8 50/6 75/4 100/3 # of syncytium formed 128 45 9 7 2 Five aliquots of the RF strain of HIV-1 were exposed to direct electric current. At all the dilutions tested, electrical treatment of the virus aliquots resulted in a significant decrease in syncytium formation. Figure 2 Reverse Transcriptase Activity exposure (µA/minute) 0/3 0/6 50/3 50/6 100/3 100/6 reverse transcriptase 300 205 108 105 100 12 count per million x 10-3 Six aliquots of the RF strain of HIV-1 were exposed to different amounts of current for 3 or 6 minutes. A significant decrease (p<0.005) from 0 current levels (0/3 and 0/6) in reverse transcriptase activity is noted. However, the decrease is more significant (p<0.0001) when virus is exposed to 100µA for 6 minutes. Notes: Human CD4 immune blood cells were exposed to various amounts of electric current for various amounts of time and then mixed with HIV-1 virus. The resultant decrease in CD4 infection by the virus (resulting in cell enlargement [syncytium] and reverse transcriptase production) is listed in the two tables under the column headings indicating how much electric current in microamperes (µA= millionths of an ampere) was applied to the virus for how many minutes. 100µA applied for 3 minutes to the virus produced only approximately 2% of the number of enlarged cells (syncytium) as was produced after 6 minutes without electrical treatment of the virus. 100µA is equal to 7.7µA per square millimeter (mm2) of the surface of the electrodes delivering the electric current to the virus. Explanation of tests: Human CD4 immune cells, when exposed to HIV-1 virus, normally become infected with the virus and then enlarged as the virus reproduces itself (with the coerced help of the blood cell) within the CD4 cell. So anything that can reduce the viral infectivity (the ability of the virus to infect a cell) can be tested in the laboratory to see if less enlarged cells (syncytium) are produced which will show the degree of success of the anti-viral. Reverse transcriptase is an enzyme used by retroviruses to form a complementary DNA sequence (cDNA) from their RNA. The resulting DNA is then inserted into the chromosome of the host cell. A test showing how much is being produced is a way to quantify approximately how much viral reproduction has happened as a result of viral infection of the CD4 cells. So a test result showing reduced reverse transcriptase activity is one that shows how successful an anti-viral is at reducing the infectivity of a virus. U.S. PATENT 5,139,684 By Steven Kaali and Peter Schwolsky Filed 11-16-1990, approved 8-18-1992 Electrically conductive methods and systems for treatment of blood and other body fluids and/or synthetic fluids with electric forces Claimed: "...applying... no biologically damaging electric potentials... to the electrically conductive electrode segments whereby electric field forces are produced... that induce biologically compatible current flow through the blood... to attenuate bacteria, virus, parasites, fungus contained in the blood... to render the bacteria, virus, parasites, fungus ineffective while not impairing the biological usefulness of the fluids" Summary: "...to attenuate such contaminants to the extent that bacteria, virus, or fungus, or parasites contained in the blood... are rendered ineffective to infect or affect healthy cells." Best Mode of Practicing Invention: "For example, treatment of AIDS virus in media at 100 microamperes for 3 minutes has been observed to substantially attenuate (render ineffective) the AIDS virus." Experimental Results: "In conclusion, these experiments... indicate at a statistically significant level that direct electric current... can attenuate the ability of HIV-1 to infect normally healthy cells which are susceptible to the HIV-1 AIDS virus." "Both of these assays (syncytia & reverse transcriptase) are widely used as reproducible measures of viral infection and can be used to determine if alternations in viral infectivity as a product of this electrical treatment can be detected." "...it is believed obvious that other modifications and variations of the invention will be suggested to those skilled in the art in the light of the above teachings." "...it is possible that certain virus may be attenuated (or attenuated at a faster rate) if they are exposed to a greater electric current magnitude of the order of 500 microamperes for shorter time periods." Notes: The patent's 1st laboratory test used electrically treated (at 100µA/3min which is 7.7µA per square millimeter for 3 minutes) HIV-l virus mixed with human T cells (immune cells which the HIV likes to infect) and showed 99% less infected & enlarged T cells (syncytia) by viruses after 4 days compared to T cells mixed with HIV-1 not electrically treated. The patents 2nd lab test used electrically treated (l00µA/6min) HIV-1 mixed with blood T cells and showed 72% less virus associated enzymes (reverse transcriptase produced as a result of viral reproduction) after 4 days, compared to T cells mixed with HIV-1 not treated. The patent stated; "it is possible that certain virus may be attenuated (or attenuated at a faster rate) if they are exposed to a greater electric current magnitude of the order of 500 microamperes for shorter time periods." 500 microamperes (500µA) applied to the experiments electrodes with a surface area of 13.3mm2 yields a current of 38.5µA per square millimeter (38.5µA/mm2). In approximation of this idea, my Microbe Electrifier was estimated to produce 17 to 34µA/mm2 (for 4 - 8 mm2 cross sectional arterial area). This high current is necessary due to the short (but repeated) treatment durations of blood when using an electrode on each wrist. Due to the short durations of exposure to the electricity, as the blood passes through the main arteries (~ 1 minute), it is necessary to do treatments of up to 1 - 2 hours. U.S. Patent 4,665,898 Inventor: Jonathan L. Costa, Gunter A. Hofmann Date: May 19, 1987 Malignancy Treatment Abstract A body part of an animal afflicted with malignant cells is disposed within a magnetic coil and subjected to a plurality of magnetic field pulses, the pulses having intensities of between about l and about 100 Tesla and characteristic frequencies of between about 5 and about 100 kHz. The pulses magnetic field selectively inactivates and/or destroys malignant cells with relatively little damage to normal tissue. Summary of the Invention ... Herein, it is discovered that high intensity magnetic fields applied in short pulses with moderate frequencies, can be used to selectively destroy or otherwise inactivate malignant cells within tissue of a living animal. Selective inactivation of malignant cells within animal tissue subjected to a pulsed magnetic field is accomplished without noticeable deterioration of gross characteristics of normal tissue. Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment It is found that subjecting body parts containing cancerous tissue to a plurality of magnetic field pulses, with characteristic frequencies above about 5 kHz and intensities above about 1 Tesla, will either arrest the growth of tumors or progressively reduce the number of cancerous cells, resulting in remission of tumors... The magnetic field in the coil is produced upon discharge of a bank of capacitors. The capacitor bank is charged from a source, and when a switch is closed... an oscillating current can be generated between the plates of the capacitors. The oscillating current, in turn, generates a pulsed magnetic field which is concentrated within the region bounded by the coil... Immediately subsequent to closing the switch, an intense magnetic field is produced by current flowing in one direction. As the current changes direction, the magnetic field changes polarity... The oscillating current and, hence, the oscillating magnetic field rapidly decreases after about ten oscillations dropping to a few percent of the original magnetic field strength. Herein, magnetic field intensities refer to the intensities of the initial peaks... The method is applicable to practically any type of tissue and is believed applicable for treatment of most types of malignancies... In each session, an animal is exposed to at least 1 and up to 1000 magnetic pulses. Generally a living animal would be subjected to at least ten pulses at each therapy session and up to one hundred pulses. An animal will be subjected to additional sessions until tumor remission is achieved... Malignant cells are more susceptible to destruction and/or inactivation by a pulsed intense electromagnetic field because the field may create eddy currents that are unique to the tumor. These localized eddy currents may cause effects that are deleterious to the viability and/or reproductive capability of the tumor cells. Alternatively, there may be macromolecules unique to malignant cells which are especially magnetically susceptible... Furthermore, treatment with a pulsed magnetic field does far less damage to the natural immune system than does radiation treatment or chemotherapy. Frequently, a patient who is treated extensively with ionizing radiation and/or with chemotherapy will experience an almost complete breakdown of the immune system. Subsequent to treatment, the immune system may take up to a year to recover, particularly with respect to immunity to viral infections. As a result, even if a patient is cured of the malignancy by radiation and/or chemotherapy, he is subject to debilitating disease or even death by infections to which his body would ordinarily have built up immunity. With the magnetic treatment described herein, here has been no evidence of major immune system beak-down. TABLE 2 Evaluation of the Growth of Rat Mammary Tumors Following Multiple Exposures to a Rapidly Varying Magnetic Field Partial or Complete Response Total Total Tumors Tumor No. of Interruption Responding Type Tesla/kHz Tumors of Growth Shrinkage No. in percent DMBA 5T / 8kHz 8 2 6 8 100% primary NMU 5T / 8kHz 10 1 9 10 100% primary It can be seen from the above table that the
method of the present invention is useful for treating a variety of
malignancies, although the response varies according to the type of tumor.
Accordingly, the method has general applicability to malignancy treatment. Test Tumor volume (cm3) Rat Day 1 Day 30 1. 1.60 1.95 2. 1.20 3.65 3. 2.10 1.20 4. 1.40 3.81 5. .90 .42 6. 3.00 3.81 7. .38 .45 8. 2.10 8.18 9. 6.79 8.88 10. 1.10 .85It can be seen from the above table that after thirty days the tumors were either diminished in size, stabilized, or at least controlled relative to untreated tumors... The remaining two rats were treated in an identical manner but at 1/4th the field intensity, i.e., 1.2 Tesla, 8 kHz, 20 pulses. One of these died on day 58 while the tumor size of the other had decreased in size from 1.6 cm3 on day 1 to 1.4 cm3 on day 62. The rats generally appeared to exhibit normal behavior and appetite and did not appear to lose weight. The fact that the rats did not die of infections suggested that the immune systems functioned normally. Notes on Patent 4,665,898 This device produces the same type of oscillating magnetic field as does my OMF Generator. The basic design of mine is the same, with a capacitor (charged with high voltage) connected in parallel with a coil by an electrically controlled switch (a xenon flash tube) to produce a decaying oscillating magnetic field. This patents device varies from mine in application only by the test subject being placed inside the coil, whereas mine was used so that the coil rests on the test subject which is effected by the lines of magnetic force emanating from the coil. Field force becomes less and less with more distance from the center of the coil as is indicated by the field force lines separating more. The results of test example 1 is a reduction of live cancer cells (in test tube) of 32% of undifferentiated carcinoma and 29% of embryonic carcinoma after 18 days. This was after 8 pulses of oscillating magnetic field of 5 Tesla at 8 kHz on day 1. The results of test example 2 is 75% and 90% of treated rat mammary tumors (6 of 8 DMBA primary tumors, and 9 of 10 NMU primary tumors) shrunken after 20 pulses daily of OMF at 5 Tesla and 8 kHz for 6 days. The results of test example 3 is an average 86% reduction of tumor size after 30 days (compared to a typical 20 times tumor growth after 30 days). Treatment was with 20 pulses OMF of 5 Tesla at 8 KHZ daily for 30 days. Tumors were induced by injection of the DMBA chemical. The table below has columns for the typical 20x size after 30 days and the percent reduction of the treated tumors compared to the 20x size. It also shows the equally positive lower intensity (1.2 Tesla) test results on one tumor with a resultant 96% reduction.
Rat Day 1 Day 30 if left untreated (x20 size) reduction l. 1.60 1.95 32. 94% 2. 1.20 3.65 24. 85% 3. 2.10 l.20 42. 97% 4. 1.40 3.81 28. 86% 5. .90 .42 18. 98% 6. 3.00 3.81 60. 94% 7. .38 .45 7.6 94% 8. 2.10 8.18 42. 8l% 9. 6.79 8.88 13.6 35% l0. 1.1 .85 22. 96% average 86% treatment with 20 pulses of 1.2 Tesla at 8 kHz for 30 days 11. l.6 1.40 32. 96%
[from: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~comm/ift-omf.html] U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition June 2, 2000 Kinetics of Microbial Inactivation for Alternative Food Processing Technologies Oscillating Magnetic Fields Scope of Deliverables This section reports the effects of magnetic fields on microbial populations. 1. Definition, Description and Application Static (SMF) and oscillating (OMF) magnetic fields have been explored for their potential as microbial inactivation methods... an OMF is applied in the form of constant amplitude or decaying amplitude sinusoidal waves. OMF applied in the form of pulses reverse the charge for each pulse, and the intensity of each pulse decreases with time to about 10% of the initial intensity (Pothakamury and others 1993). Preservation of foods with OMF involves sealing food in a plastic bag and subjecting it to 1 to 100 pulses in an OMF with a frequency between 5 to 500 kHz at temperatures in the range of 0 to 50 degrees Celsius for a total exposure time ranging from 25 to 100 milliseconds. OMF of intensity of 5 to 50 tesla (T) and frequency of 5 to 500 kHz (5000 - 500,000) was applied and reduced the number of microorganisms by at least 2-log cycles (1/100th ). OMF of this intensity can be generated using: (1) superconducting coils; (2) coils which produce DC fields or (3) coils energized by the discharge of energy stored in a capacitor (Gersdof and others 1983). Inhibition or stimulation of the growth of microorganisms exposed to magnetic fields may be a result of the magnetic fields themselves or the induced electric fields. The latter is measured in terms of induced electric field strength and induced current density. 2. Inactivation of Microorganisms Table 1. Effect of magnetic fields in microorganisms.
type of 12 tesla 6000 OMF Streptococcus Cell population reduced Moore (1985) (1 pulse) Themophilus from 25,000 cells/ml to in milk 970 7.5 tesla 8500 OMF Mold spores Population reduced from Hofmann (1985) (1 pulse) 3,000 spores/ml to 1 Hofmann (1985) reported on the inactivation of microorganisms with OMF in milk, yogurt, orange juice and bread roll dough. According to Hofmann (1985) only 1 pulse of OMF was adequate to reduce the bacterial population to between 1% and .1%. References Hofmann G.A. 1985. Deactivation of microorganisms by an oscillating magnetic field. U.S. Patent 4,524,079. Moore, R.L. 1979. Biological effects of magnetic fields Studies with microorganisms. Can. J. Microbiol., 25:1145-1151 Gersdorf, R., deBoer, F.R., Wolfrat, J.C., Muller, F.A., Roeland, L. W. 1983. The high magnetic facility of the University of Amsterdam, high field magnetism. Proceedings International Symposium on High Field Magnetism. Osaka, Japan. 277-287 Pothkamury, U.R., Barbosa-Canovas, G.V., and Swanson, B.G. (1993). Magnetic-field inactivation of microorganisms and generation of biological changes. Food Technol. 47(12):8593 Notes: This papers test results revealing effectiveness against bacteria and fungi/mold, and patent 4,524,079, is what inspired me to create my own version of the mentioned device. The OMF Generator I sell is an oscillating magnetic field generator (with an OMF of decaying amplitude as Hofmann and Moore used) with a magnetic field strength of around 6 Tesla and a frequency of around 8000 cycles per second (8 KHz). Its electromagnetic coil is energized by the discharge of energy stored in a capacitor. The experiences of myself and others with the OMF Generator are in agreement with the scientific test results of Moore and Hofmann in that it appeared effective against bacteria and mold (fungus) although our test medium was human tissue instead of food. Their test results showed a 96% reduction of streptococcus bacteria (at 6kHz/12T) and a 99.9% reduction of mold spores (at 8.5kHz/7.5T). U.S. Patent 4,524,079 Inventor: Gunter A. Hofmann Date: June 18, 1985 Deactivation of Microorganisms by an Oscillating Magnetic Field Abstract Material... such as food products... is disposed within a magnetic coil and subjected to one or more pulses of an oscillating magnetic field having an intensity of between 2 and about 100 Tesla and a frequency of between 5 and about 500 kHz. A single pulse of the magnetic field generally decreases the microorganism population by at least about two orders of magnitude. [1/100th] Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment The magnetic field in the coil is produced upon discharge of a capacitor. The capacitor is charged from a source, and when a switch is closed... an oscillating current is generated between the plates of the capacitor. The oscillating current in turn generates an oscillating magnetic field which is concentrated within the region bounded by the coil... Immediately subsequent to closing the switch, an intense magnetic field is produced by current flowing in one direction. As the current changes direction, the magnetic field changes polarity. The oscillating current and, hence, the oscillating magnetic field rapidly deteriorates, with the field intensity after about ten oscillations dropping to a few percent of the original intensity. Herein, magnetic field intensities refer to the intensity of the initial peaks... Herein pulse duration is considered to be 10 oscillations, after which the substantially decayed field has a negligible effect. Example 1 A sample of pasteurized milk is... inoculated with Streptococcus thermophilus at a concentration of 25,000 bacterium/cm3... The milk is subjected to 1 pulse of a 12 Tesla, 6kHz, oscillating magnetic field... An aliquot of the milk is plated on a standard plate. The colony count of the plate shows a concentration of about 970 Streptococcus thermophilus per cm3. Example 2 350g of plain 4% fat yogurt is opened, inoculated with Saccharomyces at a concentration of 3,500 bacteria/cm3 and stirred thoroughly. The container full of inoculated yogurt is placed centrally within the coil described above and subjected to 10 pulses of a 40 Tesla, 416 kHz oscillating magnetic field. A sample of the yogurt is plated on standard plates, and a count of the cultures reveals a concentration of only about 25 Saccharomyces bacteria per cm3 of yogurt. Example 4 A prepackaged dough product... is thoroughly mixed with mold spores to give a concentration of 3000 spores/cm3. The chopped rolls... was centered in the above-described coil where it was subjected to l pulse of 7.5 Tesla, 8.5 kHz, oscillating magnetic field. A sample of the chopped rolls is plated on standard plates, and a culture count shows a mold spore concentration of only about 1 spore per cm3. Notes on Patent 4,524,079 This device produces the same type of oscillating magnetic field as does my OMF Generator. The basic design of mine is the same, with a capacitor (charged with high voltage) connected in parallel with a coil by an electrically controlled switch (a xenon flash tube) to produce a decaying oscillating magnetic field. This patents device varies from mine in application only by the test product being placed inside the coil, whereas mine is used so that the coil rests on the test subject which is effected by the lines of magnetic force emanating from the coil. Field force becomes less and less with more distance from the center of the coil. The patents results of test example 1 is a 96% reduction of bacteria (from 25,000 to 970). The patents results of test example 2 is a 99.3% reduction of bacteria (from 3,500 to 25). The results of test example 4 is a 99.9% reduction of fungi spores (from 3000 to l ). Quotes from Various Electromedicine Patents Patent 6,675,047 Electromagnetic-field therapy method and device Pulsed [electromagnetic] field therapy produces a complex effect on the living organism, because it contributes to an improvement in the energy metabolism, increases the mobility of lymph, enhances the blood supply of capillaries, and, as a consequence, improves nutrition of all tissues of the organism. The pulse field therapy liquidates stagnation of energy in tissues, whereby painful sensations are eliminated. The pulse therapy improves ion exchange on the level of cells, regulates the intracellular pressure, this contributing to normalization of the overall metabolism. Patent 7,024,239 Pulsed electromagnetic energy treatment apparatus and method Electrotherapy includes various means for applying an electric or electromagnetic field to a wound area to facilitate growth and proliferation of new tissue, i.e., healing. Application of external electrical and electromagnetic fields is now an increasingly standard therapy for the treatment of non-union bone fractures, but these devices have seen limited use in other areas of healing. The present invention may also be utilized in other treatment areas where increasing the rate of growth and proliferation of cells is essential, including the treatment of burns and surgically implanted skin or soft tissue grafts, rehabilitation medicine, post surgical repair, and neuronal/brain/spinal injury repair and regeneration. Patent 6,261,221 Flexible coil pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation therapy system PEMF therapy has been satisfactorily used in treating spinal fusion, failed arthrodeses, osteonecrosis, and chronic refractory tendonitis, decubitus ulcers and ligament, tendon injuries, osteoporosis, and Charcot foot. During PEMF therapy, an electromagnetic transducer coil is generally placed in the vicinity of the musculoskeletal injury (sometimes referred to as the "target area") such that pulsing the transducer coil will produce an applied or driving field that penetrates to the underlying damaged bone or other body tissue. Medical Hypotheses (1997) 49, pg 297-300 Targeting a key enzyme in cell growth: a novel therapy for cancer Abstract --- The enzyme ribonucleotide reductase (RR) controls the synthesis of DNA precursors and thus plays a pivotal role in cell growth. Since the free-radical-containing active-site of this enzyme can be disabled by a lone electron, low-level direct electric current should have an inhibitory effect on RR and, thus, on uncontrolled cell proliferation. This hypothesis is strongly supported by the results of several cancer electrotherapy studies reported over the years. Introduction Cancer is uncontrolled cell growth. For a cell to divide, it must replicate its DNA strand. The building blocks of this strand are in short supply in a healthy, resting cell. However, the building blocks of a related molecule RNA are always in great abundance since RNA is needed for many cellular functions. When a cell is ready to divide, an enzyme called ribonucleotide reductase (RR) converts building blocks of RNA into those of DNA. The enzyme RR is, thus, pivotal for cell growth. Not surprisingly, the activity of this enzyme is tightly linked, much more than that of any other enzyme, to neoplastic transformation and progression (1). A whole class of anti-cancer chemotherapeutic drugs, hydroxy-urea being best known, is aimed at blocking the enzyme RR (2). However, utility of such drugs is limited since inhibition of the enzymic activity is only partial and undesirable side-effects are many. Hypothesis A novel way of arresting the activity of this pivotal enzyme in cell growth is suggested by the fact that the active site of RR contains a stable tyrosyl free radical which is essential for its activity (13). Such free radicals can be neutralized/destroyed by free-floating electrons -- easily available in the form of direct electric current. Thus DC electrotherapy should result in inhibition of RR and cessation of malignant cell proliferation. Low-level surface DC electrotherapy would act selectively on cancerous growth since the concentration of the target enzyme RR is exponentially higher in cancerous cells, as compared to healthy quiescent cells (1). Metastasized cancer should also be treatable by direct current electrotherapy since even in the metastatic state, irrespective of the organ micro-environment, the biochemical mechanism of cell division involving the enzyme RR, remains the same. Experimental evidence The connection between low-level DC electrotherapy and deactivation of enzyme RR is being proposed for the first time. However, use of low-level direct electric currents to treat tumor -- without any clear understanding of the underlying mechanism -- has been reported in scientific literature about ten times during the last four decades (4-13). Three of these papers - the last one in 1985 - reported very encouraging results. For example, in some experiments, there was total regression in 60% of mice (4), an average of 88% tumor necrosis [destruction] in hamsters (5), and 98% reduction in tumor mass, also in hamsters (7). (It is strange that none of these studies had any proper follow-ups.) The outcome of other studies was less positive -- almost certainly due to poor choice of parameters. Following is a summary of these ten reports. (The electrode near the tumor is termed as 'active', the other one being called 'passive'.) 1. Humphrey et al, 1959 (4) ACTIVE Electrode: Copper or Zinc plate with saline-solution-saturated sponge on unbroken skin over tumor. PASSIVE Electrode: Same, over ventral area. BEST RESULTS (Total regression in 60% mice): at cathode, with 3 milliamperes at 3 V, 4.8 hours per day for 21 days. 2. Schauble et al, 1977 (5) ACTIVE Electrode: Silicone covered steel needle - exposed tip implanted. PASSIVE Electrode: Wire-mesh with electrode paste and saline-dampened sponge - over chest skin. BEST RESULTS (88% Necrosis): at positive electrode with 3 mA at 1.5 V, 1 hour per day for 4 days. NOTE: Necrosis was also observed when active electrode was made negative. 3. Habal 1980 (6) Poor results with 0.5 µA at 1.5 V, for 12 days continuous, using an implanted device. 4. David et al, 1985 (7) ACTIVE Electrode: Silicone covered Steel or Platinum-Iridium (70:30) needle - exposed tip implanted. PASSIVE Electrode: Aluminum foil plate with conducting paste - over shaved underbelly. BEST RESULTS (98% Reduction in tumor mass): at either electrode, with 2.4 mA at less than 3 V, for 1 hour per day for 5 days. 5. Marino and Morris et al, 1986 (8) Both Electrodes ACTIVE: Insulated Platinum - except for the implanted tips - at foci of tumor. BEST RESULTS (Total regression in 43% of primary tumors): with 2 mA at about 3 V, 1 hour per day for 3 intermittent days. 6. Morris and Marino et al, 1992 (9) Both Electrodes ACTIVE: Platinum needles - implanted in tumor. BEST RESULTS (Reduction in tumor mass without improved survival): with 20 mA at 8-10 V, for 15 minutes once. 7. Miklavki et al, 1993 (10) ACTIVE Electrode: Platinum-Iridium (90:10), Gold, Silver or Titanium needle tip implanted. PASSIVE Electrode: Same, placed subcutaneously the whole length, near tumor. BEST RESULTS (About 70% necrosis): at cathode, with 0.6 mA at unspecified volts, for 1 hour once. NOTE: "Field" electrotherapy, by placing both electrodes subcutaneously for their entire length, on either side of tumor, also produced similar necrosis. 8. Griffin et al, 1994 (11) ACTIVE Electrode: Gold needle - implanted. PASSIVE Electrode: Copper plate with conducting gel - beneath the animal. BEST RESULTS (Regression proportional to charge passed): at anode, with 1-4 mA at 1-16 V, for 30-90 min. once. 9. Taylor et al, 1994 (12) ACTIVE Electrode: 4 parallel brass plates, vertically mounted, in a specially designed oesophageal tube. PASSIVE Electrode: Large plate with saline-soaked pad on human patient's back. BEST RESULTS (Oesophagus tumor of one patient regressed completely at the primary site): with 20 mA at 7 V, at each of four anodes, for 1 hour. Three treatments over 4+1/2 month period. 10. Miklavki et al, 1994 (13) ACTIVE/PASSIVE Electrodes: Gold needles, placed subcutaneously the whole length, on either side of tumor. BEST RESULTS (Tumor growth slowed by a factor of 3): with 1.0 mA at unspecified volts, for 1 hour, applied once. NOTE: No correlation was observed between the amount of deposited electrode material (gold) and anti-tumor effect. Discussion and conclusion Both positive and negative results of the published low-level electrotherapy studies can be adequately explained by the posited enzyme-mediated mechanism. Various aspects of these reports is being discussed in these sections: Positioning & Polarity of Electrodes If deactivation of the enzyme RR is the dominant mechanism underlying the efficacy of electrotherapy, then it should not matter whether electrodes are implanted or on the surface -- as long as the tumor is in the path of the current. Only in study #1 (4) were both electrodes placed on unbroken skin, and it reported one of the better results. Beside being non-invasive, surface electrodes also minimize electrochemistry and its attendant toxicity. Similar reasoning would suggest that the polarity of the electrodes is inconsequential. Almost all electrotherapy studies where beneficial results were obtained, confirm this. Results of "field" electrotherapy experiments, where electrodes were implanted on either side of tumor (10,13) also show that polarity of electrodes is immaterial, and that electrode-electrolyte interactions are of little significance. Electrode Metal Dissolution If the primary mechanism of electrotherapy involves inhibition of enzyme RR, then electrode metal deposition should have little or no influence on the beneficial outcome. Study 10 (13) has clearly shown that this is so. The fact that different electrode materials produce very similar results, further indicates that electrodes act merely as electron conductors. Thus, virtually all the observed facts are in accord with the proposed mechanism involving the deactivation of the free-radical-containing active site of RR. Furthermore, a recent experiment has shown that the concentration of enzyme RR decreases and cell growth ceases when direct electric current is passed through the tumor (15). The proposed hypothesis, thus, is on the verge of being proved. This novel way of arresting cell growth can be the foundation of a cancer therapy that is non-toxic, non-invasive, site-specific, low-cost and easy to administer. The current cancer treatments are called "slash, burn & poison" by oncologists themselves, and are mostly empirical in nature. The gentle electrotherapy, on the other hand, would be deductively scientific with potential to cure most cancers. References 1. Weber, G. (1983) Biochemical strategy of cancer cells and the design of chemotherapy. Cancer Res. 43, 3466-3492. 2. Cory, J.G., and Cory, A.H. (1989) Inhibition of ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase activity. International encyclopedia of pharmacology and therapeutics. New York: Pergamon Press, pp 1-16. 3. Graslund, A., Ehrenberg, A., and Thelander, L. (1982) Characterization of the free-radical of mammalian ribonucleotide reductase. J. Biol. Chem. 257, 5711-5715. 4. Humphrey, C.E., and Seal, E.H. (1959) Biophysical approach toward tumor regression in mice. Science 130, 388-390. 5. Schauble, Habal, and Gullick, (1977) Inhibition of experimental tumor growth in hamsters by small direct currents. Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 101, 294-297. 6. Habal, M.B. (1980) Effect of applied d.c. currents on experimental tumor growth in rats. J. Biomed. Mat. Res. 14, 789-801. 7. David, Absolom, Smith, Gams, and Herbert, (1985) Effect of low level direct current on in vivo tumor growth in hamsters. Cancer Res. 45, 5625-5631. 8. Marino, A.A., Morris, D., and Arnold, T. (1986) Electric treatment of lewis lung carcinoma in mice. J. Surg. Res. 41, 198-201. 9. Morris, D.M., Marino, A.A., and Gonzalez, E. (1992) Electrochemical modification of tumor growth in mice. J. Surg. Res. 53, 306-309. 10. Miklavki, D., Sersa, G., Kryzanowski, M., Novakovi, S., Bobanovi, Golouh, and Vodovnik, (1993) Tumor treatment by direct electric current - tumor temperature and pH, electrode matterriial and configuration. Bioelectro. B. 30, 209-220. 11. Griffin, D.T., Dodd, N.J.F., Moore, J.V., Pullan, B.R., and Taylor, (1994) The effects of low-level direct current therapy on a preclinical mammary carcinoma: tumor regression and systemic biochemical sequelae. Br. J. Cancer 69, 875-878. 12. Taylor, T.V., Engler, P., Pullan, B.R., and Holt, S. (1994) Ablation of neoplasia by direct current. Br. J. Cancer 70, 342-345. 13. Miklavki, D., Fajgelj, A., and Sersa, G. (1994) Tumor treatment by direct electric current: electrode material deposition. Bioelectro. B. 35, 93-97. 14. Nordenstrom, B.E.W. (1985) Electrochemical treatment of cancer. Ann. Radiol., 43, 84-87. 15. Yen, Y., and Chou, C.K., City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA., USA (personal communication). Comments: The referenced studies were able to acheive 3ma of electrical current with low voltage (~3v) because the electrodes were directly opposite tumors on small mice. On larger animals it is certain that more voltage will be necessary to acheive 3ma current because more living tissue between electrodes presents more resistance. The formula for determining current (I=V/R) shows that with more resistance, more voltage is necessary to acheive the same current. Therefore, our electrifier uses five 9v batteries for a total of 45 volts which may be necessary to acheive 3ma current. The main control on the unit adjusts the amount of resistance between the batteries and the output, and the output current will trigger a red light to come on when 6ma is acheived. It is the current which does the work, not the voltage. ANTIOXIDANT EFFECTS OF ULTRA-LOW MICROCURRENTS Alfred J. Koonin, M.B., Ch, B., Ph.D., FRCS Exerpt from: http://www.eprtech.com/ANTIOXIDANT%20EFFECTS.htm To see if these ultra-low currents could work as an antioxidant, the model chosen was chronic skin wounds. The reason for this was that most of these lesions are found in debilated patients with poor immune systems who probably have a high concentration of free radicals. Further, the wounds themselves are generally necrotic and infected with poor healing potential again indicating a high concentration of free radicals in the local area. The idea was to isolate the injured area as part of the circuit and thereby infuse a steady stream of electrons through the area with as little resistance as possible. The resistance would be reduced by using a low level current and by increasing the diameter of the conductor. Also, the frequency of the current would have to be low in order to prevent the electrons from traveling in short bursts. A low frequency would allow the electrons to move in a steady stream. Method A device was used that produced a current range of 3mA down to .1mA. The frequency used produced a cycle lasting approximately 23 minutes. The device was designed to switch the direction of current flow half way through the cycle. The device runs on a rechargeable battery producing a square wave bipolar current with a Voltage ranging between 5V up to a maximum of 40V. The Voltage range will vary proportionately with the resistance in the tissues. The device will not function if the range goes beyond 40 Volts. The electrodes are applied in two layers using tap water as the conducting medium. Water is a very poor conductor of electricity, but the minerals in tap water are sufficient to carry the current into the tissues. Also, the wraps cover a large surface area thus reducing resistance and allowing an optimum number of electrons to flow freely into the tissues. Patients were treated for approximately 3« hours per day, five days a week until the lesion had healed. A twelve-week maximum was allowed for healing to take place. All patients were in-patients and were on wound care treatments for at least three months prior to this study, with no observable improvement in their condition. The 25 patients treated had lesions present for an average of 18.5 months. For approximately 23 minutes per day the subjects were wrapped with spongy bandages, soaked in water, above and below the wound to make the sites readily receive the electric current later. Conductive silicone electrodes were then wrapped over these areas and attached to the device with stud clips. For the first cycle (23 minutes) the device was set at a current output of 3 mA. For the subsequent eight cycles of treatment (approximately three hours) the device was set at an output of .4mA. Twenty-five chronic wounds were treated. These were present for a period ranging from 3 to 60 months and did not respond to standard therapy. Ages of the patients in the study varied from 20 to 85 years old. Twenty-three of the lesions were stage III or IV. 92 % of the lesions were stages III or IV. The age of the lesions varied from 6 to 60 months with an average of 18.5 months. 100% of the lesions healed in an average of 48 hours of treatment, i.e. an average of 16 days. Electric current helps diabetic foot ulcers heal NEW YORK, Jul 11 2001 (Reuters Health) - A device that delivers high-voltage electric stimulation to the skin can help diabetic foot ulcers heal, preliminary study findings suggest. People with diabetes may develop foot ulcers as a result of poor circulation and a reduced ability to fight infection. Usually, ulcers are treated by cleaning and dressing the wound to keep it moist and resting the affected limb, but in some cases, damage can be severe enough to require amputation. According to a report in the June issue of the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, patients who used an electric stimulation device in addition to standard treatment were more likely to heal. The study of 35 diabetic patients compared high-voltage, pulsed galvanic electric stimulation every night for 8 hours with an inactive placebo treatment that felt the same but delivered no current. Patients also underwent weekly removal of dead tissue, topical treatment and rest. Over 3 months, 65% of patients who received electric stimulation healed, compared with 35% of patients in the placebo group. It is not clear how electric stimulation aids in wound healing, but the researchers suggest that it may enhance blood flow and immune system cell function. "It's not a silver bullet," study author Dr. Lawrence A. Lavery of the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio, told Reuters Health, noting that the device should be used in combination with other measures. However, he added, "it is more promising than some pharmaceuticals that I've seen." There was no difference in the amount of time it took for wounds to heal among groups, the study found. Still, "the results of this study are quite promising and compare favorably with several recent reports in the medical literature on wound healing in persons with diabetes mellitus," Lavery and colleagues conclude. They add that larger trials should be conducted to further investigate whether electric stimulation can help diabetic foot ulcers to heal. SOURCE: Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2001;82:721-724. Electric Current Helps Wipe Out Liver Tumours by Nic Rowan Thursday, November 08, 2001 2:06 p.m. EST - - - - - ADELAIDE, Australia (Reuters Health) - Surgeons here who pioneered the use of electrical current to destroy liver tumours say they are optimistic that the treatment could be used for tumours of the pancreas and kidney as well. The treatment, called electrolysis, involves placing electrodes into liver tumours and surrounding tissue. A small electric current is then passed through the electrodes to destroy the tissue. In some cases, affected parts of the liver are removed surgically. The leader of the surgical team investigating the treatment, Professor Guy Maddern of Adelaide University, told Reuters Health that the method causes a change in the acidity of the tissue and "poisons the tumour." "It is less destructive than surgical removal of the tumour, and can be used to treat tumours that are awkwardly located, such as next to large blood vessels," he added. Maddern and his colleagues have treated 10 patients, with follow-up ranging from 6 to 43 months. Nine of the patients had bowel cancer that had spread to the liver, and one had cancer that originated in the liver. In order to be included in the study, patients had to have no other untreatable tumour outside the liver, and to be fit for major surgery. All patients, said Maddern, had extensive disease in the liver. Eight of the patients show no evidence of residual tumour at the treatment site. Five of these eight patients have developed new areas of tumour spread, while three have no evidence of new cancer growth. "In any case, after surgical intervention without electrolysis, 60% of patients would be expected to develop new disease," Maddern said. "We are trying to increase the percent who don't get new disease." When added to surgery to remove a tumour, Maddern noted, electrolysis increased the percentage of patients who were treatable with surgery from 20% to 25%. "We have been developing this technique for 5 years. We are now ready to move forward and are considering tumours of the pancreas and kidney," Maddern told Reuters Health. "They will be the next step." Alternative cancer treatment with few side effects: The Electro Carcinoma Therapy (ECT) Original article in german: http://www.naturmednet.de/krebs/tumor.ect.html The Electro-Carcinoma Therapy is a form of tumor treatment that is hardly known. So far, some empirical values and a first study are present. The Institute for Natural Health Methods in Marburg Germany uses ECT. The principle: A weak direct current is applied to the tumors, which can shrink, as a direct consequence and even disappear completely. From China came the first results of a larger case study which uses the ECT treatment with over 10,000 patients in the period of 1987 to 2000. One of the central results: in just over 30% of the cases, it brought about the dissolution of the tumors, and in somewhat more than 40%, to the reduction of the tumor. The individual success values hang thereby, among other things on the kind of tumor and size as well as the stage of the illness. The Chinese medical profession apply the energy in particular by means of platinum wire electrodes, in the form of needles, injected directly into the tumors. In contrast; the Marburg Institute works almost exclusively with plate formed metal electrodes applied to the skin. "the use of plates is gentler, possesses a higher acceptance with the patients and is just as effective as the therapy with needles", explains Dr. Bernhard Weber, head of the institute. First intermediate results of the local treatments seem to confirm the results of the Chinese study. The Electro-Carcinoma Therapy is a local, low side-effect procedure that can be treated on an outpatient basis. In the two to three hour treatment, energy flows through the tumor. Some patients need only two or three sessions before the tumour will "melt", others need more. With the help of a special computer monitor program and controls, the physician controls the treatment and observes the procedures in the body and the growth. The medical skill lies in being able to place the electrodes in the correct location and setting of the optimal amperage - this must be different depending upon tumor size, density and type. ECT can and should be used, depending upon illness, together with other forms of treatment. In order to control the formation of secondary growths (metastases) with malicious tumors, Dr. Weber advises to combine the use of ECT with radio and/or chemotherapy. ECT does not replace good conventional therapy possibilities; on the other side ECT can be a new therapeutic chance where conventionally difficult or hardly treatable tumors and secondary growths are present. ECT is suitable for both surface as well as more deeply located tumours, explains the Institute. Secondary growths in bones cannot be treated as effectively with this method. Even if the tumor has already been pre-treated with irradiation or chemotherapy, the Electro Carcinoma Therapy can still be used. Further information: Institut fr Naturheilverfahren & Naturheilkunde-Tagesklinik mit Schmerzambulanz (Institut for natural health method & naturopathy outpatient hospital with pain clinic) Contact: Dr. Bernhard Weber, email: b.weber@firemail.de Uferstr. 1, 35037 Marburg, Germany Tel: +49 6421 68430; FAX: +49 6421 684350 Literature on ECT: Dr. med. Rudolf Pekar: Die perkutane Bio-Elektrotherapie bei Tumouren (The percutaneous bio electrical therapy with tumours). Vienna, Munich, Berlin 1996. Dr. med. Rudolf Pekar/Dr. med. Nikolai N. Korpan: Cancer. Vienna, Munich, Berne 2002. Source: http://www.klinik-st-georg.de/englisch/ELEKTRO.HTM Quote: Electro Cancer Treatment (ECT) I. Introduction Electro medicine has been widely used for many years, especially in orthopedics where it has been used for regeneration, i. e., to increase the healing process in broken bones (1) and pain purposes. In Oncology, however, the use of electromedicine (ECT) is relatively new and stems from research investigations of Pekar (2) and Nordenstrom (3). Since 1987, St. George Hospital has treated hundred of patients with this method of treatment. Direct current can be directed into tumorous tissue (skin metastases, lymph node metastases or isolated organ metastases) through the application of electrodes. If the total amount of direct current is high enough, this procedure results in the destruction of cancerous cells and in extreme cases, no necrotization. II. Physical-chemical principles of ECT As soon as direct current is connected to the electrodes, different electrochemical reactions influence the pH-value and can cause electrolysis of tumor tissue. Depolarization of the cell membranes changes the cellular environment forcing the tumor cells to be gently destroyed. Consequence of this process is the interruption of certain functions within the cancerous cells, which in turn, can lead to the destruction of these cells. Tumor tissue is more susceptible to damage from direct current than normal tissue, thus allowing the destruction of cancerous cells to occur when direct current is applied directly to the malignant tissue. The body `s own catabolic processes remove the destroyed malignant tissue from the body. It is also possible that through this process the immune system starts fighting all other cancer cells within the body. Once ECT or Galvano (as it is commonly known) treatment is successfully completed, the cancerous area heals and is replaced with scar tissue. III. What types of tumor are suitable for ECT? ECT is suitable for all types of superficial or deep seated tumors, which can be reached by needle electrodes. Specifically, however, are: - small breast carcinomas or isolated axiilllaaary, supraclavicular and thoracic nodes. - all tumors of the ENT area, especially after radiation or chemotherapy. - skin carcinomas e. g. Basaliome, Spinoccelllllular carcinoma, Melanoma etc. - gynecological carcinomas - soft tissue tumors IV. Special form of ECT using cytostatic substances (Iontophoresis) The destructive effect of the direct current on tumorous tissue can be enhanced by the simultaneous administration of cytostatic substances, for example, Mitomycin, Adrimycin, Epirubicin and Cis-Platinium. Most cytostatic substances are positively charged, which when inserted onto the anode in an electrical field directed through tumorous tissue move to the cathodes (iontophoresis movement). In this way, cytostatics can be introduced into the tumorous tissue in a very targeted and concentrated manner. This method can be more effective on the tumor side than standard systemic chemotherapy or local cytostatic perfusion. Cytostatic substances are best applied to hollow organs, for example, esophagus, bladder, stomach and rectum. The membrane potentials are changed so much by the current that the cells open and absorb cytostatic substances more rapidly. V. How is the treatment carried out? Normally the treatment is carried out under local anaesthetic and on an outpatient basis. The size of the tumor determines how many needle electrodes are required, however, a minimum of 2 are always used. These are introduced into the tumor through the skin. The electrodes should not be further than 1.5cm apart. The minimum required electric field must be 35 coulombs/ml although up to 90 coulombs/ml are normally used. During the treatment, the patient will experience a slight pressure pain or a slight tingling in the treated area. Direct current brings about long lasting pain relief because it inhibits the activity of sensory nerve fibers. Therefore there is no pain after treatment. However because the cancerous tissue is being destroyed through this method of treatment, it is normal that inflammation occurs for a couple of days afterwards. The cancerous tissue is broken down naturally, which when eliminated from the body is replaced by scar tissue. Superinfections rarely occur. ECT replaces operations and radiation treatment. Judging by the very positive therapy results, it can be assumed, that ECT will become an important form of treatment for malignant diseases. Literature - Senn E., Electro therapy, Thieme-Verlag - Pekar R., Percutaneous galvano therapy of tumors, Verlag W.Maudrich, Vienna-Munich-Bern - Nordenstrom BEW, The European Journal off Surgery, Suppl. 577, Pg 93-109 Scandinavian University Press - Douwes F. R., The basics of electrochemical cancer treatment 1994 - Szasz. A., Advanced alternative medicine AAM-Series - Pleasnicar A., Electric treatment of human melanoma skin lesions with low level direct current. The European Journal of Surgery, Suppl 574, Pg 45-49. Scandinavian University press. - Yunqin Song, Electrochemical treatment in the treatment of malignant tumors on the body surface. The European Journal of Surgery, Suppl 574, Pg 41-43. Scandinavian University Press. - Kuanhong Quan, Analysis of the clinical effectiveness of 144 cases of soft tissue and superficial malignant tumors treated with electrochemical therapy. The European Journal of Surgery, Suppl 574, Pg 37-40. Scandinavian University Press.
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