Book - Fields of the Cell

In recent years, an increasing number of results from basic research support the view that biophysical, in particular bioelectromagnetic and photobiological factors are fundamental for the functional and structural organization of biosystems. 

Despite the relatively well-known and well researched bioelectromagnetic factors (endogenous currents, static and dynamic electric and magnetic fields as well as electromagnetic fields) in the context of biological function, photobiological factors (endogenous photon emissions) have become the focus of research as an additional entity influencing and guiding life processes. 

Are we heading towards a new paradigm in the understanding of life?

One of the manifestations of living system’s non-equilibrium behavior is the permanent production of electron excitation in biomolecules leading to ultra-weak photon emission. 

...

Based on solid experimental evidence, chapter six explains the generation of electron excited chemical species due to free radical and reactive oxygen species reactions. 

Biological ultra-weak photon emission is of very general nature. It is detectable from every metabolically active biological species under suitable conditions. 

Chapter seven focuses on ultraweak photon emission from multicellular organisms, namely plants, tumor tissues and humans. It relates photon emission to development and structure as well as to tumor and normal cells comparing them with reference to growth properties. 

The eighth chapter explains the peculiar phenomenon of non-chemical influences between cell cultures through glass barriers. It is suspected that the non-chemical interaction between cell cultures is mediated by photon emission generated by cells. A special emphasis is given on confounding effects and the method itself in order to gain understanding about the function. 

As statistical properties of biological ultra-weak photon emission have been a source of controversy in past decades; chapter nine assesses available experiments studying optical coherence, quantum states and signal properties of biological ultra-weak photon emission. 

Chapter ten aims to explain that the electrodynamic activity of living cells involves a broad range of frequencies, namely from kilohertz to terahertz. 

These frequency ranges are related to electromechanical vibrations of subcellular structures. It is hypothesized that electrodynamic fields generated by such sub-cellular coupled oscillations contribute significantly to biological self-organization

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Daniel_Fels/publication/281409607_Fields_of_the_cell/links/5615216108aed47facefb302/Fields-of-the-cell.pdf

Effects of Ion Resonance Tuned Magnetic Fields on N-18 Murine Neuroblastoma Cells

Numerous experiments by various laboratories have demonstrated that the effects of ELF magnetic fields on living systems may be dependent upon resonance effects. Bawin and Adey (1976) and Blackman, et. al. (1984) observed such responses for calcium efflux from chick brains. Dutta, et. al. (1984) saw similar effects in neuroblastoma cells. Liboff (1985) suggested that these effects might be due to cyclotron resonance effects on transmembrane movement of ions. Since then, the theory has been expanded and refined a number of times, and the interested reader is directed to one of the recent theoretical papers by Liboff and McLeod (e.g. 1988) for an analytical discussion. In sum, the theory states that transport will be affected if the combined ac and static magnetic fields satisfy the cyclotron resonance conditions for a particular ion as given by the formula: 2πfc=(q/m)(B)$2\pi {\mathrm{f}}_{\mathrm{c}}=(\mathrm{q}/\mathrm{m})(\mathrm{B})$, where; fc = fundamental resonance frequency in Hz q/m = charge (Coulombs) to mass (Kg) ratio of the ion B = static magnetic field (Tesla {1 T = 1 × 104Gauss})
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4615-9837-4_22

Electromagnetic Field Therapy Reduces Cancer Cell Radioresistance by Enhanced ROS Formation and Induced DNA Damage

Abstract

Each year more than 450,000 Germans are expected to be diagnosed with cancer subsequently receiving standard multimodal therapies including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. On top, molecular-targeted agents are increasingly administered. Owing to intrinsic and acquired resistance to these therapeutic approaches, both the better molecular understanding of tumor biology and the consideration of alternative and complementary therapeutic support are warranted and open up broader and novel possibilities for therapy personalization. Particularly the latter is underpinned by the increasing utilization of non-invasive complementary and alternative medicine by the population. One investigated approach is the application of low-dose electromagnetic fields (EMF) to modulate cellular processes. A particular system is the BEMER therapy as a Physical Vascular Therapy for which a normalization of the microcirculation has been demonstrated by a low-frequency, pulsed EMF pattern. Open remains whether this EMF pattern impacts on cancer cell survival upon treatment with radiotherapy, chemotherapy and the molecular-targeted agent Cetuximab inhibiting the epidermal growth factor receptor. Using more physiological, three-dimensional, matrix-based cell culture models and cancer cell lines originating from lung, head and neck, colorectal and pancreas, we show significant changes in distinct intermediates of the glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle pathways and enhanced cancer cell radiosensitization associated with increased DNA double strand break numbers and higher levels of reactive oxygen species upon BEMER treatment relative to controls. Intriguingly, exposure of cells to the BEMER EMF pattern failed to result in sensitization to chemotherapy and Cetuximab. Further studies are necessary to better understand the mechanisms underlying the cellular alterations induced by the BEMER EMF pattern and to clarify the application areas for human disease.

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0167931

Mitotic Spindle Disruption by Alternating Electric Fields Leads to Improper Chromosome Segregation and Mitotic Catastrophe in Cancer Cells

Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) are low intensity, intermediate frequency, alternating electric fields. TTFields are a unique anti-mitotic treatment modality delivered in a continuous, noninvasive manner to the region of a tumor. It was previously postulated that by exerting directional forces on highly polar intracellular elements during mitosis, TTFields could disrupt the normal assembly of spindle microtubules. However there is limited evidence directly linking TTFields to an effect on microtubules. Here we report that TTFields decrease the ratio between polymerized and total tubulin, and prevent proper mitotic spindle assembly. The aberrant mitotic events induced by TTFields lead to abnormal chromosome segregation, cellular multinucleation, and caspase dependent apoptosis of daughter cells. The effect of TTFields on cell viability and clonogenic survival substantially depends upon the cell division rate. We show that by extending the duration of exposure to TTFields, slowly dividing cells can be affected to a similar extent as rapidly dividing cells.
https://www.nature.com/articles/srep18046