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The Therapeutic Role of Millimeter Waves in Severe Acute Pancreatitis

The onset and progression of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) are closely linked to disturbances in blood microcirculation, with pancreatic ischemia serving as one of the primary initiating factors in the development of acute pancreatitis⑴. Ischemia can lead to reduced pancreatic perfusion and microcirculatory dysfunction, resulting in acinar edema, inflammation, and necrosis. Over the past few decades, the treatment of SAP has increasingly shifted toward comprehensive medical management, leading to a significant improvement in cure rates compared to previous years. However, clinical practice still faces challenges such as prolonged recovery times and difficulties in resolving exudative fluid accumulation. Research conducted by scholars both domestically and internationally has demonstrated that millimeter waves possess the ability to improve microcirculation and alleviate pain⑵⑶. In this study, the authors supplemented standard medical treatment for SAP patients with millimeter wave therapy and compared the outcomes with those of a control group, aiming to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of millimeter wave treatment in SAP patients. Materials and Methods I. Clinical Data Between 1997 and 2001, 36 SAP patients hospitalized at our institution were randomly divided into two groups. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of mean age, admission white blood cell count (WBC), blood glucose (GLU), or serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (all P > 0.05). The control group (n = 17) received standard medical care, including fasting, gastrointestinal decompression to restore intravascular volume, anti-infective therapy, maintenance of water and electrolyte balance, acid suppression, and inhibition of pancreatic enzyme secretion. The treatment group (N = 19) received the aforementioned treatments while also undergoing millimeter wave therapy. None of the patients underwent surgical intervention. II. Instruments A millimeter wave therapy device operating at a frequency of 31.9 GHz, with an output power of 100 mW and a power density of 8 mW/cm². III. Methods Patients in the millimeter wave group had their treatment administered by targeting the area corresponding to the superficial projection of the pancreas—namely, the left upper and mid-abdomen, as well as the left lumbar region. The millimeter wave therapy probe was placed in close contact with the skin, twice daily for 1 hour each session, over a continuous period of two weeks. On Day 1 and Day 10, the same physician performed B‑ultrasound or CT scans to assess changes in pancreatic morphology, while simultaneously measuring serum WBC, blood GLU, and serum LDH levels. The time required for clinical symptoms and physical signs to return to normal was recorded for both groups. IV. Efficacy Assessment⑷ – Marked improvement: Clinical symptoms disappeared, serum and urinary amylase levels returned to normal, and B‑ultrasound or CT imaging revealed no significant pancreatic edema, exudation, or fluid accumulation. – Effective improvement: Clinical symptoms were alleviated, serum and urinary amylase levels normalized, though ultrasound or CT imaging still showed increased echogenicity in the pancreas without evidence of pseudocysts or pancreatic abscesses. – Ineffective: Serum and urinary amylase levels remained elevated, and ultrasound or CT imaging continued to show pancreatic edema, exudation, fluid accumulation, or the presence of pseudocysts or pancreatic abscesses. Total effective rate = (Number of cases with marked improvement + Number of cases with effective improvement) / Total number of cases × 100%. V. Statistical Analysis Data are presented as X ± s. Continuous variables were analyzed using t-tests, while comparisons of proportions were conducted using corrected χ² tests. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results 1. Comparison of Time to Recovery of Clinical Symptoms and Physical Signs Between the Two Groups: The results indicated that, following millimeter wave therapy, the time required for patients to experience improvement in symptoms and physical signs was significantly shorter than in the control group. 3. Imaging Findings B‑ultrasound and CT follow‑up examinations revealed that the pancreas in the millimeter wave group had fully recovered; in the control group, 13 patients exhibited normal findings, while 4 showed increased echogenicity, and 2 developed pancreatic pseudocysts. 4. Comparison of Treatment Outcomes Between the Two Groups: In the millimeter wave group, 14 cases achieved marked improvement, 3 showed effective improvement, resulting in a total effective rate of 100%. In the control group, 13 cases achieved marked improvement, 4 showed effective improvement, and 2 were classified as ineffective, yielding a total effective rate of 89%. The difference in total effective rates was statistically significant (χ² = 15.05, P < 0.01). 5. Length of Hospital Stay The millimeter wave group had a hospital stay ranging from 15 to 31 days, with an average of 22.5 ± 4.2 days; the control group’s stay ranged from 16 to 37 days, averaging 26.6 ± 5.6 days. The millimeter wave group’s length of hospital stay was significantly shorter than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Discussion SAP is a rapidly progressing condition characterized by numerous complications, and its incidence has been increasing markedly in recent years. Due to the high cost of treatment and prolonged hospital stays, many patients find it difficult to afford the necessary care. It is well known that pancreatic ischemia caused by microcirculatory dysfunction, along with the excessive release of inflammatory mediators and cytokines, plays a critical role in the onset and progression of SAP [5, 6]. Millimeter waves refer to electromagnetic waves with wavelengths on the order of millimeters. These waves possess high quantum energy and operate at frequencies similar to the intrinsic oscillation frequencies of proteins, DNA, RNA, and other molecular structures within human tissues, enabling strong resonance. Upon absorption by the body, millimeter waves alter the physicochemical state of tissues, triggering a series of non‑thermal biological effects that can improve microcirculatory blood flow at the site of disease [3]. The results of this study demonstrate that millimeter wave therapy can lead to rapid and substantial improvement in clinical symptoms among SAP patients, as evidenced by notable reductions in markers of pancreatic injury—such as serum WBC, blood GLU, and serum LDH—as well as shortened hospital stays and significantly higher overall efficacy rates compared to the conventional treatment group. These benefits may be attributed to millimeter waves’ ability to promote blood and lymphatic circulation, enhance metabolic processes, correct microcirculatory disorders, reduce vascular permeability, alleviate local hypoxia, and boost the phagocytic capacity of the mononuclear macrophage system and polymorphonuclear cells [2, 7–10]. Through these multifaceted effects, millimeter wave therapy helps suppress the excessive release of inflammatory mediators, reduce pancreatic tissue swelling, and facilitate the repair of acinar cells, thereby preventing the progression of SAP and the onset of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). The present study also found that bowel sounds returned more quickly in the millimeter wave group, suggesting that millimeter waves can improve gastrointestinal bioelectrical activity and motility, aiding in the restoration of the intestinal barrier and preventing intestinal content stasis, excessive bacterial overgrowth, and endotoxin translocation. These findings indicate that millimeter wave therapy demonstrates certain therapeutic benefits in the treatment of SAP. Given its low cost, ease of use, favorable safety profile, and lack of pain or adverse effects during treatment, millimeter wave therapy is worthy of further clinical application and widespread adoption. References (omitted)

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2021-04

Efficacy Analysis of 8 mm Wave Therapy for Duodenal Ulcers in 58 Cases

In recent years, research on the biological effects of millimeter waves has gradually attracted increasing attention from scholars, and several domestic reports have emerged regarding their clinical applications. Below is a report analyzing the therapeutic efficacy of treating 58 cases of duodenal ulcer using an 8-mm wave therapy device in our laboratory. 1. Clinical Data 1.1 General Characteristics: This group comprised 37 males and 21 females, aged 17–61 years, with an average age of 32.2 years. The duration of illness ranged from 2 months to 25 years, including 9 cases with a disease course of less than 1 year, 33 cases lasting 1–3 years, and 16 cases exceeding 3 years. Among the 58 patients, 35 were diagnosed via gastroscopy; 9 were confirmed by X‑ray barium meal radiography. Thirty-one patients had isolated duodenal ulcers; 7 had duodenal ulcers complicated by bleeding; and 10 had concurrent superficial gastritis. The smallest ulcer measured 0.4 cm × 0.16 cm, while the largest was 1.1 cm × 1.3 cm. Thirty-seven patients presented with typical epigastric pain exacerbated by hunger; 33 also experienced acid reflux and hiccups. Prior to treatment, all patients had previously taken medications such as Gaotde’an, Weishuping, and Cimetidine. 1.2 Treatment: Patients were placed in the supine position, with the upper abdominal skin exposed. The millimeter wave radiation head was positioned perpendicular to the patient’s abdomen, just below the xiphoid process, using a contact method. Each session lasted 20 minutes, administered once daily for a total of 15 consecutive treatments. Patients who underwent at least 10 treatments were included in the efficacy assessment, and a subset of those who achieved clinical remission were re‑examined via gastroscopy. Some patients also received irradiation at the Zhongwan acupoint. 2. Results 2.1 Efficacy Criteria: Complete Remission: Disappearance of subjective symptoms, normalization of physical signs, and resolution of ulcers on gastroscopic examination or disappearance of ulcer shadows on X‑ray or barium meal studies. Marked Improvement: Significant alleviation of both subjective symptoms and physical signs, with reduction in ulcer size observed on gastroscopy or barium meal imaging. Improvement: Moderate improvement in both subjective symptoms and physical signs. No Effect: No change after treatment. 2.2 Results: Among the 58 patients treated with millimeter waves, after an average of 14.3 treatments per course (ranging from 10 to 20 sessions), 37 cases achieved complete remission (63.5%), 11 cases showed marked improvement (18.5%), 9 cases improved (15.5%), and 1 case remained unchanged (1.7%). Of the 37 patients who achieved clinical remission, 20 were selected for follow‑up gastroscopy; among them, 18 showed complete resolution of ulcers, while 2 exhibited a reduction in ulcer size compared to baseline—results that were largely consistent with the clinical efficacy assessments. 3. Discussion Millimeter waves represent a relatively new technology that has emerged over the past decade, with numerous domestic reports appearing in recent years [1–3]. However, the biological effects of millimeter waves remain poorly understood, and there are still many differing interpretations regarding their mechanisms of action. Some researchers suggest that biomolecules possess intrinsic oscillation frequencies; when millimeter waves of an appropriate frequency interact with cells, they induce resonant vibrations, leading to the absorption of millimeter wave energy and, consequently, the generation of certain non‑thermal effects. In this study, we used 8‑mm wave radiation to treat 58 cases of duodenal ulcer, achieving a marked improvement rate of 82.0% within 15 days. These results indicate that millimeter waves can accelerate the healing of duodenal ulcers, thereby enhancing clinical cure rates and establishing this modality as an effective therapeutic approach. During treatment, we found that appropriately increasing the number of sessions could further improve the cure rate. References (omitted)

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2021-04

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2021-04

Clinical Observation on the Efficacy of Millimeter Wave Therapy for 38 Cases of Functional Dyspepsia

Functional Dyspepsia (FD) is one of the most commonly encountered functional gastrointestinal disorders in clinical practice, closely associated with psychoneurological dysfunction and gastric motility disorders [1, 2]. The prevalence in the general population ranges from 19% to 41%, accounting for more than one-third of all patients seen in gastroenterology outpatient clinics. Due to the unclear etiology and pathogenesis of FD, there is currently no universally accepted treatment protocol. From January to May 2000, the authors treated 38 patients with FD using millimeter wave therapy and achieved satisfactory outcomes, which are reported here. 1. Materials and Methods 1.1 General Characteristics: All 68 patients were outpatients or inpatients at our hospital and met the diagnostic criteria for FD [3], including: (1) persistent, recurrent upper abdominal pain or discomfort; (2) the presence of one or more of the following symptoms—postprandial fullness, abdominal bloating, belching, early satiety, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, retrosternal pain, or regurgitation; (3) symptoms lasting for at least 4 weeks; and (4) exclusion of peptic ulcers, gastric neoplasms, and organic diseases of the liver, biliary tract, or pancreas through gastroscopy, B‑ultrasound, and laboratory tests within the preceding month. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: Group A (treatment group), consisting of 38 cases—18 males and 20 females, aged 38–47 years, with an average age of 44 years and a disease duration of 1.5–7 years, averaging 4 years; and Group B (control group), comprising 30 cases—12 males and 18 females, aged 37–48 years, with an average age of 45 years and a disease duration of 2.1–8.6 years, averaging 4.8 years. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of gender, age, or disease duration. 1.2 Methods: Group A (millimeter wave therapy group) received treatment using a millimeter wave device operating at a frequency of 42 GHz, a wavelength of 4 mm, and a power output of 60 mW, with a power density of 8 mW/cm². Patients were instructed to lie supine; the device was preheated for 15 minutes, and the probe was placed over the Zhongwan acupoint, firmly pressed against the skin, delivering radiation for 30 minutes once daily, with each treatment course lasting 2 weeks. Group B (drug therapy control group) received domperidone 10 mg and ranitidine 0.15 g, both administered orally three times daily, for a treatment course lasting 15 days. During the treatment period, both groups were advised to abstain from smoking, alcohol, and acidic or irritating foods. 1.3 Efficacy Criteria: Remarkable improvement—complete or near-complete resolution of dyspeptic symptoms such as upper abdominal discomfort, fullness, burning sensation, belching, acid reflux, and nausea, accompanied by a noticeable increase in appetite compared to baseline. Effective—partial relief of dyspeptic symptoms and a slight increase in appetite compared to before treatment. Ineffective—no reduction in symptoms, or even worsening of symptoms compared to baseline. 1.4 Statistical Analysis: The Mann–Whitney U test was employed for statistical analysis. 2. Results Comparison of therapeutic outcomes between the two groups: The difference was statistically significant, with the treatment group demonstrating markedly superior efficacy compared to the control group. 3. Discussion The etiology and pathogenesis of FD are influenced by a variety of factors, including gastric and duodenal motility disorders, gastric sensory abnormalities, gastric electrical rhythm disturbances, abnormal gastric acid secretion, secondary Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection, and psychological factors. Consequently, treatments targeting a single factor—such as acid suppression or prokinetic therapy—often fail to provide effective relief for most patients. Previously, based on differing pathogenic mechanisms and disease subtypes, the authors had achieved relatively high therapeutic efficacy by employing various drug combinations to treat FD [4]; however, these treatments often required prolonged durations and involved multiple medications, significantly impacting patients’ quality of life and generating substantial medical costs. Therefore, how to manage dyspepsia safely and effectively at a lower cost has become a topic of considerable interest among gastroenterologists. Millimeter waves, as a novel medical physical modality, have been used in medicine for more than a decade. In recent years, they have garnered widespread attention in medical research, particularly in exploring their mechanisms of action and therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of peptic ulcers [5, 6]. However, reports on the use of millimeter waves for the treatment of FD remain scarce. Millimeter waves are classified as non-ionizing radiation. Extensive research conducted by scientists—at the molecular and cellular levels, as well as in living organisms—has revealed that the frequency of millimeter waves closely approximates the intrinsic vibrational frequencies of human tissue cells. Although the energy levels used in millimeter wave therapy are relatively low and the depth of penetration into skin tissue is less than 1 mm, millimeter waves can still exert non-thermal effects on organs and tissues distant from the irradiation site. These waves can be transmitted throughout the body via resonance and are readily absorbed by the body’s tissues and cells, offering protective effects on healthy tissues while promoting repair of damaged ones. As a result, normal metabolic processes are maintained, enabling human tissues to operate at their optimal state and correcting various functional imbalances. Millimeter waves exhibit the following biological effects: (1) They regulate the metabolism of gastric mucosal and smooth muscle cells, promote epithelial growth, and accelerate wound or ulcer healing; (2) They enhance gastric mucosal protective factors, reduce damaging factors, increase the phagocytic capacity of leukocytes, modulate immune function, facilitate inflammatory resolution, and alleviate swelling and pain; (3) They dilate capillaries, increase tissue blood flow, and improve microcirculation; (4) They inhibit viral and bacterial growth; (5) They relieve smooth muscle spasms, reduce muscle tension, and help restore normal physiological rhythms of gastric and duodenal motility, strengthening the function of the pyloric sphincter and preventing duodenogastric reflux. All of these effects contribute to the alleviation of FD symptoms and signs, allowing patients to return to their normal lives. No obvious toxic side effects were observed during treatment, and the therapy is inexpensive and easy to administer, making it worthy of wider clinical adoption. References: (omitted)

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2021-03

A study on the efficacy of millimeter wave therapy for non-ulcer dyspepsia.

Keywords: Millimeter Wave, Non-Ulcer Dyspepsia, Treatment of Indigestion Non-ulcer dyspepsia (Nor-Ulcer dyspepsia, NUD) is a common group of gastrointestinal symptoms. From 1994 to 1997, our hospital treated 164 patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia, and the results are reported as follows: 1. Clinical Data and Methods 1.1 Diagnostic Criteria for NUD Diagnostic criteria: Patients present with chronic upper abdominal pain, bloating, acid reflux, belching, nausea, and vomiting—symptoms that persist and recur frequently; endoscopic findings are either normal or show no evidence of erosions, ulcers, or neoplastic lesions; laboratory tests, B‑ultrasound, and X‑ray examinations have ruled out hepatobiliary disorders. 1.2 Clinical Data The 164 NUD patients meeting the above diagnostic criteria were divided into two groups: the treatment group received millimeter wave therapy alone, comprising 104 cases—90 males and 14 females, aged 20–60 years, with disease durations ranging from 4 months to 10 years. The control group received domperidone alone, consisting of 60 cases—57 males and 3 females, aged 18–60 years, with disease durations ranging from 4 months to over 8 years. In addition to fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for NUD, all patients in both groups exhibited gastric gastritis, duodenal bulbitis, and mucosal changes on endoscopy (excluding erosions and ulcers). Gastric emptying function was assessed via gastric emptying studies and B‑ultrasound measurements of liquid clearance: after an 8–12 hour fast, 500 ml of water was ingested, and the inner diameters of the gastric body–antrum junction and the anterior and posterior walls of the antrum were measured at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 minutes post‑ingestion. The time required for the gastric lumen diameter to decrease by 50% was used to calculate gastric emptying half‑time (T1/2) [1]. 1.3 Treatment Methods During treatment, patients were placed in a supine position with the upper abdomen exposed. A cylindrical radiation head was positioned over the epigastric region, directly over the xiphoid process, ensuring close contact with the skin. Each session lasted 30 minutes, administered twice daily for 2 weeks per course of treatment. The control group received domperidone 10 mg orally three times daily, with each course lasting 14 days. 2. Efficacy Observation and Evaluation Criteria Following the guidelines of the National Cisapride Trial Collaboration Group [2], symptom severity was graded into four categories: 0, +, ++, and +++—with improvement of one symptom grade considered effective; improvement of two grades or complete resolution of symptoms classified as marked efficacy; and no change or worsening of symptoms designated as ineffective. The majority of cases in this study were characterized as motility‑related (Type I) or ulcer‑associated (Type II). Simultaneously, gastroscopic examinations were performed by specialists to assess the resolution of gastric and duodenal inflammation. B‑ultrasound was conducted using an EVB40 probe with a frequency of 3.5 MHz, following the same procedures as before; the time taken for the inner diameter of the gastric body–fundus junction and the anterior and posterior walls of the stomach to decrease by 50% was used to determine gastric emptying T1/2. 3. Results In the millimeter wave treatment group, symptoms of indigestion—including early satiety, abdominal distension, upper abdominal pain, belching, and heartburn—began to subside within 3–5 days after treatment, accompanied by improved appetite and the disappearance of acid reflux and bloating. Endoscopic examination revealed that inflammation of the gastric and duodenal mucosa had resolved, and gastric emptying returned to near‑normal levels following treatment. 4. Discussion NUD is a common group of gastrointestinal symptoms, and its pathogenesis may involve mucosal inflammation, gastric dysfunction, emotional and psychological factors, as well as dietary influences. In the United States, treatment for NUD often focuses on modulating gastric motility and other related mechanisms [3]. In recent years, this condition has garnered increasing attention among domestic scholars; dopamine receptor antagonists, domperidone, and cisapride have begun to be used clinically. However, reports on millimeter wave radiation therapy for NUD remain scarce. Millimeter waves are electromagnetic waves in the millimeter range, classified as non‑ionizing radiation. Their energy is non‑thermal in nature, and it is transmitted through intense resonant coupling, significantly enhancing the body’s absorption of millimeter wave energy. Millimeter wave irradiation can cause capillary dilation and increase blood flow velocity, promoting tissue perfusion and improving the nutrition and metabolism of cells, thereby boosting their functional capacity. It also accelerates the absorption and excretion of pathological and metabolic byproducts, facilitating local circulation and supporting the amelioration of relevant pathological processes [4]. The therapeutic mechanism underlying NUD treatment involves eliminating inflammation, improving local blood supply, reducing patient sensitivity to pain and discomfort, and regulating gastric motility. Clinical observations indicate that millimeter wave therapy for NUD outperforms domperidone. During millimeter wave treatment, the energy is primarily delivered to the surface projection area of the body; through indirect effects, energy accumulates in the gastric body, stimulating metabolism, reversing pathological processes, and accelerating inflammatory resolution, ultimately leading to therapeutic outcomes. However, due to the limited number of cases followed up in this study and the relatively short follow‑up period, further experience needs to be accumulated. References (omitted)

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