1.Space magnetic environment and circadian rhythm.
Bing-Xin GAO ; Cao WANG ; Rui-Xian JIANG ; Wei-Ming TIAN
Acta Physiologica Sinica 2025;77(4):721-730
In recent years, China's manned space program has advanced rapidly, with deep space exploration missions such as manned lunar landing steadily progressing, leading to a significant extension of astronauts' duration in outer space. In this context, the impact of the space magnetic field environment on astronaut health has become increasingly conspicuous. Characterized by its complexity, the spatial magnetic field indirectly regulates the circadian rhythm system by interfering with mitochondrial functions, such as electron transport chain activity, ATP synthesis efficiency, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) balance. This disruption can lead to circadian misalignment, sleep disorders, metabolic dysregulation, and other issues, severely compromising astronauts' physical and mental well-being, as well as mission performance. Currently, researchers have carried out extensive investigations into the influence of the space magnetic environment on circadian rhythms. Nevertheless, due to disparities in magnetic field parameters, exposure durations, and the model organisms employed in experiments, the results have been inconsistent. This review systematically elaborates on ground-based simulation technologies for spatial magnetic field environments and their applications, summarizes the effects of magnetic fields with varying intensities and types on core circadian rhythm biomarkers in model organisms and humans, and explores the underlying molecular and physiological mechanisms of magnetic field-induced circadian rhythm perturbation. This work aims to deepen the understanding of the mechanisms of the space magnetic environment on biological rhythms, and establish a scientific basis for formulating adaptive protective strategies centered on circadian regulation for astronauts, thereby ensuring the successful implementation of long-term deep-space missions.
Circadian Rhythm/physiology*
;
Humans
;
Magnetic Fields/adverse effects*
;
Space Flight
;
Animals
;
Extraterrestrial Environment
2.Spherical measurement-based analysis of gradient nonlinearity in magnetic resonance imaging.
Xiaoli YANG ; Zhaolian WANG ; Qian WANG ; Yiting ZHANG ; Zixuan SONG ; Yuchang ZHANG ; Yafei QI ; Xiaopeng MA
Journal of Biomedical Engineering 2025;42(1):174-180
The gradient field, one of the core magnetic fields in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, is generated by gradient coils and plays a critical role in spatial encoding and the generation of echo signals. The uniformity or linearity of the gradient field directly impacts the quality and distortion level of MRI images. However, traditional point measurement methods lack accuracy in assessing the linearity of gradient fields, making it difficult to provide effective parameters for image distortion correction. This paper introduced a spherical measurement-based method that involved measuring the magnetic field distribution on a sphere, followed by detailed magnetic field calculations and linearity analysis. This study, applied to assess the nonlinearity of asymmetric head gradient coils, demonstrated more comprehensive and precise results compared to point measurement methods. This advancement not only strengthens the scientific basis for the design of gradient coils but also provides more reliable parameters and methods for the accurate correction of MRI image distortions.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging/instrumentation*
;
Humans
;
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods*
;
Nonlinear Dynamics
;
Magnetic Fields
;
Algorithms
;
Phantoms, Imaging
3.Effect of 40 Hz pulsed magnetic field on mitochondrial dynamics and heart rate variability in dementia mice.
Lifan ZHANG ; Duyan GENG ; Guizhi XU ; Hongxia AN
Journal of Biomedical Engineering 2025;42(4):707-715
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common degenerative disease of the nervous system. Studies have found that the 40 Hz pulsed magnetic field has the effect of improving cognitive ability in AD, but the mechanism of action is not clear. In this study, APP/PS1 double transgenic AD model mice were used as the research object, the water maze was used to group dementia, and 40 Hz/10 mT pulsed magnetic field stimulation was applied to AD model mice with different degrees of dementia. The behavioral indicators, mitochondrial samples of hippocampal CA1 region and electrocardiogram signals were collected from each group, and the effects of 40 Hz pulsed magnetic field on mouse behavior, mitochondrial kinetic indexes and heart rate variability (HRV) parameters were analyzed. The results showed that compared with the AD group, the loss of mitochondrial crest structure was alleviated and the mitochondrial dynamics related indexes were significantly improved in the AD + stimulated group ( P < 0.001), sympathetic nerve excitation and parasympathetic nerve inhibition were improved, and the spatial cognitive memory ability of mice was significantly improved ( P < 0.05). The preliminary results of this study show that 40 Hz pulsed magnetic field stimulation can improve the mitochondrial structure and mitochondrial kinetic homeostasis imbalance of AD mice, and significantly improve the autonomic neuromodulation ability and spatial cognition ability of AD mice, which lays a foundation for further exploring the mechanism of ultra-low frequency magnetic field in delaying the course of AD disease and realizing personalized neurofeedback therapy for AD.
Animals
;
Heart Rate/physiology*
;
Mice
;
Alzheimer Disease/therapy*
;
Mice, Transgenic
;
Mitochondrial Dynamics/radiation effects*
;
Magnetic Field Therapy/methods*
;
Magnetic Fields
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Mitochondria
;
Male
;
Maze Learning
;
Cognition
;
Dementia/therapy*
4.Experimental study on the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis with low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields.
Zidong AN ; Liqiang WANG ; Yi WU ; Yongjie PANG ; Keming CHEN ; Yuhai GAO
Journal of Biomedical Engineering 2025;42(5):1054-1061
This study aims to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of 50 Hz-0.6 mT low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) on postmenopausal osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats. Thirty 3-month-old female SD rats were selected and divided into a sham operation group (Sham), an ovariectomized model group (OVX), and a low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) treatment group, with 10 rats in each group. After 8 weeks, the whole-body bone mineral density (BMD) of each group of rats was measured. The treatment group began to receive PEMF stimulation for 90 minutes daily, while the OVX group only received a simulated placement without electricity. After 6 weeks of intervention, all rats were sacrificed and tested for in vitro BMD, micro-CT, biomechanics, serum biochemical indicators, and bone tissue-related proteins. The results showed that the BMD of the OVX group was significantly lower than that of the Sham group 8 weeks after surgery, indicating successful modeling. After 6 weeks of treatment, compared with the OVX group, the PEMF group exhibited significantly increased BMD in the whole body, femur, and vertebral bodies. Micro-CT analysis results showed improved bone microstructure, significantly increased maximum load and bending strength of the femur, elevated levels of serum bone formation markers, and increased expression of osteogenic-related proteins. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that daily 90-minute exposure to 50 Hz-0.6 mT PEMF effectively enhances BMD, improves bone biomechanical properties, optimizes bone microstructure, stimulates bone formation, and inhibits bone resorption in ovariectomized rats, highlighting its therapeutic potential for postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Female
;
Animals
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/therapy*
;
Rats
;
Bone Density
;
Ovariectomy
;
Magnetic Field Therapy/methods*
;
Electromagnetic Fields
5.Study on Vibration Characteristics of Deep Brain Stimulator Induced by Magnetic Resonance Gradient Magnetic Field.
Ya CHEN ; Peng CAO ; Sheng HU ; Kai ZHENG ; Xun LIU
Chinese Journal of Medical Instrumentation 2025;49(1):8-14
The gradient coils of MRI equipment can induce vibrations in implantable medical devices, causing periodic vibrations of implantable medical devices with respect to the surrounding tissue. This not only results in instrument failure but also causes discomfort to the patient. Therefore, studying the vibration characteristics of implantable devices under different scanning sequences and the orientation of the device relative to the magnetic field is crucial for comprehending vibration performance. This study observed the vibration spectra of a full cranial bone-implanted neurostimulator by using laser vibrometry under typical rapid imaging sequences and explored the impact of different magnetic field orientations on vibration. The results demonstrated that the rapid echo sequences induced diverse and rich vibration components, whereas the planar echo sequences caused relatively simple vibrations. Additionally, the strongest vibrations normally occurred in the maximum conductive surface parallel to the phase-coded direction. It revealed the factors influencing the vibrations of skull fixation active implantable devices and provided guidance for enhancing device safety and protecting patient well-being during MR examinations.
Vibration
;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
;
Deep Brain Stimulation/instrumentation*
;
Magnetic Fields
;
Humans
6.Research on MRI Gradient Coil Magnetic Field Induced Eddy Current Method.
Xiaotao ZHANG ; Yicheng LI ; Zhanping ZHENG ; Mingke WANG ; Like FENG ; Congbo LI
Chinese Journal of Medical Instrumentation 2025;49(3):263-268
After the production of the gradient coil of the magnetic resonance imaging system, electromagnetic field testing is required to verify whether the assembly accuracy meets the electromagnetic field requirements. Since the passive magnetic field B z satisfies the Laplace ,s equation and is a harmonic function, and according to the extreme value principle of harmonic function, the maximum or minimum values of B z can only appear on the boundaries, so the observation points of the magnetic field are generally selected on the surface of the spherical imaging area. For superconducting magnets used for human body magnetic resonance imaging, a spherical area with a center diameter of 40~50 cm is generally selected as the shimming target area. Only the field value of the target area needs to be measured, and the spherical harmonic coefficients obtained after data processing are used to determine the magnetic field performance of the gradient coil. There are many testing principles and methods for electromagnetic fields, so there is no unified way and method in the field of commercial applications. This article is based on the Gauss-Legendre numerical integration, measures and analyzes the magnetic field performance of gradient coils by building a data acquisition system, and this article applies numerical analysis methods to calculate the spherical harmonic coefficients of the magnetic field using discrete test data, providing a feasible method for the production and testing of gradient coils.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods*
;
Magnetic Fields
;
Electromagnetic Fields
;
Equipment Design
7.Synthesis of a temperature-responsive multimodal motion microrobot capable of precise navigation for targeted controllable drug release.
Xuhui ZHAO ; Mengran LIU ; Xi CHEN ; Jing HUANG ; Yuan LIU ; Haifeng XU
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(8):1758-1767
OBJECTIVES:
To synthesize a temperature-responsive multimodal motion microrobot (MMMR) using temperature and magnetic field-assisted microfluidic droplet technology to achieve targeted drug delivery and controlled drug release.
METHODS:
Microfluidic droplet technology was utilized to synthesize the MMMR by mixing gelatin with magnetic microparticles. The microrobot possessed a magnetic anisotropy structure to allow its navigation and targeted drug release by controlling the temperature field and magnetic field. In the experiment, the MMMR was controlled to move in a wide range along a preset path by rotating a uniform magnetic field, and the local circular motion was driven by a planar rotating gradient magnetic field of different frequencies. The MMMR was loaded with simulated drugs, which were released in response to laser heating.
RESULTS:
Driven by a rotating magnetic field, the MMMR achieved linear motion following a predefined path. The planar gradient rotating magnetic field controlled circular motion of the MMMR with an adjustable radius, utilizing the centrifugal force generated by rotation. The drug-loaded MMMR successfully reached the target location under magnetic guidance, where the gelatin matrix was melted using laser heating for accurate drug release, after which the remaining magnetic particles were removed using magnetic field.
CONCLUSIONS
The MMMR possesses multimodal motion capabilities to enable precise navigation along a predefined path and dynamic regulation of drug release within the target area, thus having great potential for a wide range of biomedical applications.
Drug Delivery Systems/methods*
;
Temperature
;
Drug Liberation
;
Magnetic Fields
;
Robotics
;
Gelatin/chemistry*
;
Delayed-Action Preparations
;
Microfluidics
;
Motion
8.Study on deep brain magnetic stimulation method based on magnetic replicator.
Nianshuang WU ; Haijun LIU ; Jiahao WANG ; Cheng ZHANG ; Changzhe WU ; Xiaolin HUO ; Guanghao ZHANG
Journal of Biomedical Engineering 2023;40(1):1-7
Existing neuroregulatory techniques can achieve precise stimulation of the whole brain or cortex, but high-focus deep brain stimulation has been a technical bottleneck in this field. In this paper, based on the theory of negative permeability emerged in recent years, a simulation model of magnetic replicator is established to study the distribution of the induced electric field in the deep brain and explore the possibility of deep focusing, which is compared with the traditional magnetic stimulation method. Simulation results show that a single magnetic replicator realized remote magnetic source. Under the condition of the same position and compared with the traditional method of stimulating, the former generated smaller induced electric field which sharply reduced with distance. By superposition of the magnetic field replicator, the induced electric field intensity could be increased and the focus could be improved, reducing the number of peripheral wires while guaranteeing good focus. The magnetic replicator model established in this paper provides a new idea for precise deep brain stimulation, which can be combined with neuroregulatory techniques in the future to lay a foundation for clinical application.
Brain
;
Cerebral Cortex
;
Computer Simulation
;
Electricity
;
Magnetic Fields
9.Simulation study of force and temperature field during transcranial magnetic stimulation application working with magnetic resonance imaging simultaneously.
Journal of Biomedical Engineering 2022;39(4):685-693
Currently, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been widely used in the treatment of depression, Parkinson's disease and other neurological diseases. To be able to monitor the brain's internal activity during TMS in real time and achieve better treatment outcomes, the researchers proposed combining TMS with neuroimaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), both of which use Tesla-level magnetic fields. However, the combination of strong current, large magnetic field and small size is likely to bring physical concerns which can lead to mechanical and thermal instability. In this paper, the MRI static magnetic field, the TMS coil and human head model were built according to the actual situations. Through the coupling of the magnetic field and the heat transfer module in the finite element simulation software COMSOL, the force and temperature of the TMS coil and head were obtained when the TMS was used in combination with MRI (TMS-MRI technology). The results showed that in a 3 T MRI environment, the maximum force density on the coil could reach 2.51 × 109 N/m3. Both the direction of the external magnetic field and the current direction in the coil affected the force distributions. The closer to the boundary of the external magnetic field, the greater the force. The magnetic field generated by the coil during TMS treatment increased the temperature of the brain tissue by about 0.16 °C, and the presence of the MRI static magnetic field did not cause additional thermal effects. The results of this paper can provide a reference for the development of the use guidelines and safety guidelines of TMS-MRI technology.
Brain/physiology*
;
Humans
;
Magnetic Fields
;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods*
;
Temperature
;
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation/methods*
10.Study on the thermal field distribution of cholangiocarcinoma model by magnetic fluid hyperthermia.
Journal of Biomedical Engineering 2021;38(3):528-538
Cholangiocarcinoma is a highly malignant tumor. It is not sensitive to radiotherapy and chemotherapy and has a poor prognosis. At present, there is no effective treatment. As a new method for treating cancer, magnetic fluid hyperthermia has been clinically applied to a variety of cancers in recent years. This article introduces it to the cholangiocarcinoma model and systematically studies the effect of magnetic fluid hyperthermia on cholangiocarcinoma. Starting from the theory of magnetic fluid heating, the electromagnetic and heat transfer models were constructed in the finite element simulation software COMSOL using the Pennes biological heat transfer equation. The Helmholtz coil was used as an alternating magnetic field generating device. The relationship between the magnetic fluid-related properties and the heating power was analyzed according to Rosensweig's theory. After the multiphysics coupling simulation was performed, the electromagnetic field and thermal field distribution in the hyperthermia region were obtained. The results showed that the magnetic field distribution in the treatment area was uniform, and the thermal field distribution met the requirements of hyperthermia. After the magnetic fluid injection, the cholangiocarcinoma tissue warmed up rapidly, and the temperature of tumor tissues could reach above 42 °C, but the surrounding healthy tissues did not heat up significantly. At the same time, it was verified that the large blood vessels around the bile duct, the overflow of the magnetic fluid, and the eddy current heat had little effect on thermotherapy. The results of this article can provide a reference for the clinical application of magnetic fluid hyperthermia for cholangiocarcinoma.
Cholangiocarcinoma
;
Humans
;
Hyperthermia
;
Hyperthermia, Induced
;
Magnetic Fields
;
Magnetics

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail