Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) affect numerous biological functions such as gene expression, cell fate determination and even cell differentiation. To investigate the correlation between ELF-EMF exposure and differentiation, bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) were subjected to a 50-Hz electromagnetic field during in vitro expansion. The influence of ELF-EMF on BM-MSCs was analysed by a range of different analytical methods to understand its role in the enhancement of neural differentiation. ELF-EMF exposure significantly decreased the rate of proliferation, which in turn caused an increase in neuronal differentiation. The ELF-EMF-treated cells showed increased levels of neuronal differentiation marker (MAP2), while early neuronal marker (Nestin) was down-regulated. In addition, eight differentially expressed proteins were detected in two-dimensional electrophoresis maps, and were identified using ESI-Q-TOF LC/MS/MS. Among them, ferritin light chain, thioredoxin-dependent peroxide reductase, and tubulin β-6 chain were up-regulated in the ELF-EMF-stimulated group. Ferritin and thioredoxin-dependent peroxide reductase are involved in a wide variety of functions, including Ca(2+) regulation, which is a critical component of neurodegeneration. We also observed that the intracellular Ca(2+) content was significantly elevated after ELF-EMF exposure, which strengthens the modulatory role of ferritin and thioredoxin-dependent peroxide reductase, during differentiation. Notably, western blot analysis indicated significantly increased expression of the ferritin light chain in the ELF-EMF-stimulated group (0.60 vs. 1.08; P < 0.01). These proteins may help understand the effect of ELF-EMF stimulation on BM-MSCs during neural differentiation and its potential use as a clinically therapeutic option for treating neurodegenerative diseases.

The aim of this study was comparing measuring tools for detecting physical comfortness with variation of garment pressure. The measuring tools for detecting physical comfortness were EEG and survey questionnaire. Two low-pressure compressionwears and a commercial compressionwear (girdle) were tested. Results showed that the questionnaire survey well detected suffocation or motion comfortness. But it did not discrete the appropriate tightness of the compressionwears. The results of EEG analysis show that the absolute power of α-wave value was elevated with the low-pressure compressionwears. It also showed lower stress value. The high-pressure compressionwear presented decreased absolute power of α-wave value. It showed higher stress value. These results implicate that EEG can appropriatly indicate the change of physical comfortness of compressionwear. The appropriate tightness of compressionwear can be measured with EEG analysis rather than survey questionnaire.

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