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Fig. 4 | BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Fig. 4

From: Biological safety of Electroacupuncture with STS316 needles

Fig. 4

Electron micrographs of STS316 needles after applying EA to tissues, and TUNEL assay results. a, b, c, d: Non-coated STS316 needle, e, f, g, h: Coated STS316 needles, and dashed figure is TUNEL assay correponding with its panel label.  After applying electricity, corrosion was not observed in non-coated STS316 needles, as shown by electron microscopy. In coated STS316 needles, corrosion was observed such that parts of the needle had fallen apart and grooves had formed. The TUNEL assay results showed suspected cell necrosis (brown-colored TUNEL-positive areas) in areas where non-coated 0.25-mm STS316 needles (C-1), coated 0.2-mm STS316 needles (F-1), and coated 0.3-mm STS316 needles (H-1) had been inserted. The needle insertion sites are circled

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