Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the effect of short-wave therapy (SWT) devices emitting radiofrequency (RF) waves on the proliferation rates of fibroblasts and neoplastic cells. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, fibroblasts cultured from sternal mesenchymal cells of a bypass surgery patient were enriched using stem cell techniques between January 2004 and February 2004. The K-562 and ML-1 neoplastic cell lines were prepared for analysis. Fibroblasts and neoplastic cell lines were exposed to 27.12 MHz short-waves at different energy levels. Continuous short-wave (CSW) was applied at 200 W power, and pulsed short-wave (PSW) was applied at three different mean powers: 1.6 W (PSW-1), 14.9 W (PSW-2), and 54 W (PSW-3). Fibroblast colonies were counted using inverted microscopy, and neoplastic cell proliferation rates were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All short-wave-exposed cells were compared to the controls with no exposure. RESULTS: Short-waves increased the number of fibroblast colonies three- to four-fold across all power levels (1.6 W, 14.9 W, 54 W, and 200 W). They significantly increased K-562 cell proliferation only at 1.6 W and 54 W power levels (p=0.044 and p=0.004, respectively). In contrast, there was no significant increase in ML-1 cell proliferation at any power level tested (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: This study found that short-waves can boost fibroblast proliferation, potentially aiding tendon healing. However, it also had unpredictable proliferative effects on K-562 cells, as an inconsistent correlation with energy levels was observed. The ML-1 cells were not affected by short-waves, suggesting variability in tumor biology. These findings emphasize the need for precise dosing and personalized treatment strategies when using SWT devices.