Pre-Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields and Induction of Radioadaptive Response in Rats Irradiated with High Doses of X-Rays.

Background: Some evidence shows that a pre-exposure to RF can mitigate the effects of subsequent exposures to high doses of ionizing radiation. Objective: We aimed to assess the effect of a pre-exposure to non-ionizing RF radiation on survival, weight changes, food consumption, and water intake of lethally irradiated rats. Material and Methods: In this case-control study, we used a commercial mobile phone (GSM, 900/1800 MHz) as well as a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi router as the sources of pre-exposure to RF radiation. Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into six groups of control, "8 Gy X-rays", mobile phone, "mobile phone+8 Gy", Wi-Fi, and "Wi-Fi+8 Gy". Then, the survival fraction, weight loss, water, and food consumption changes were compared in different groups. Results: The survival analysis indicated that the survival rates in all of the exposed animals ("8 Gy X-rays", "mobile phone+8 Gy", "Wi-Fi+8 Gy") were significantly lower than the control, "Wi-Fi", and "mobile phone" groups. The changes in survival rates of "mobile+8 Gy", "Wi-Fi+8 Gy", and 8 Gy alone were not statistically significant. However, food and water intake were significantly affected by exposure to both RF pre-exposures and exposure to high dose ionizing radiation. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, the existence of a dose window for the induction of AR can be the cause of the lack of AR in our experiment. Our findings confirm that in a similar pattern with the adaptive responses induced by pre-exposure to ionizing radiation, the induction of adaptive response by RF-pre-exposures requires a minimum level of damage to trigger adaptive phenomena.

Combined Effects of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields and X-Ray in Renal Tissue and Function.

PURPOSE: Biochemical and histopathological properties of renal tissues were reported to be affected by both radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) and ionizing radiation. The radiation-induced changes in the kidney, including the serum levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr), could lead to adverse health outcomes such as chronic kidney disease. These complications signify the importance of the research in this field. Thus, in this study, the effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiations, as well as their combination, were assessed by evaluating the alteration in BUN, Cr, and histopathological changes in kidney tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups and were exposed to either 900/1800MHz (mobile phone) or 2.4 GHz RF-EMF (Wi-Fi) radiation for 14 days, 8Gy x-ray, or their combination. Sera were collected from 2 mL of rat blood, then BUN and Cr levels were determined. Also, renal samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and evaluated histopathologically. RESULTS: Both BUN and Cr levels raised non-significantly after exposure to 8 Gy x-rays. Moreover, all measurements in the samples of x-ray groups were in borderline or higher than normal values. The BUN levels of control, Wi-Fi, x-ray, and Wi-Fi+x-ray groups were not significantly different. However, Cr levels in the Wi-Fi group were significantly higher than those of the controls, and BUN to Cr ratio levels were significantly lower than those of the controls. Also, tubular atrophy and vessel wall thickening were associated with these exposures. CONCLUSION: Exposure to 900/1800MHz, 2400 MHz EMF can alter the kidney function. However, pre-exposure to 900/1800MHz EMF could modulate the acute adverse effects of lethal x-ray dose, which addresses the adaptive response in the kidney.

Assessment of function, histopathological changes, and oxidative stress in liver tissue due to ionizing and non-ionizing radiations.

BACKGROUND: Compared to past decades, humans are exposed to rapidly increasing levels of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiations (RF-EMF). Despite numerous studies, the biological effects of human exposure to different levels of RF-EMF are not fully understood yet. This study aimed to evaluate the bioeffects of exposure to "900/1800 MHz" and "2.4 GHz" RF-EMFs, and x-rays alone as well as their potential interactions, i.e. inducing simple additive, adaptive, or synergistic effects. METHODS: 120 Wistar rats were randomly divided into ten groups of 12 each. The rats were exposed to RF-EMF, 10 cGy, and 8 Gy x-rays, a combination of these exposures, or only sham-exposed. The levels of liver enzymes were determined in serum samples by an auto-analyzer. Moreover, the histopathological changes, and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide, ferric reducing antioxidant power, total thiols, and protein carbonyl (PCO) were measured. RESULTS: Among the markers of liver function, gamma-glutamyltransferase was not associated with irradiation but, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase showed some levels of association. MDA and PCO levels after 8 Gy irradiation increased, but pre-exposure to RF-EMF could modulate their changes. At the cellular level, the frequency of lobular inflammation was associated with the type of intervention. CONCLUSION: The exposure to both ionizing and non-ionizing radiations could alter some liver function tests. A short term pre-exposure to RF-EMF before exposure to an 8 Gy challenging dose of x-rays caused the alterations in oxidative stress markers and liver function tests, which indicate that oxidative stress is possibly involved in the adaptive response.

Relationship between seminal malondialdehyde levels and sperm quality in fertile and infertile men

The aim of this study was to determine the level of malondialdehyde in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men and investigate its relationship with sperm quality. Results showed that the mean of ± S.D. MDA concentration in seminal plasma of infertile men (0.94 ± 0.28 nmol/ml) was significantly higher than fertile men (0.65 ± 0.17 nmol/ml) (p value< 0.001), and had negative relationship with sperm count, motility and morphology. Therefore it could be concluded that increase in lipid peroxidation was associated with sperm membrane destructed and high level of MDA.

Serum cyclosporine level and orange juice in pediatric renal-transplanted patients.

Organ transplant survival has been improved with CsA, but the PK of CsA may be affected by many drugs and foods. This study was performed to investigate the impact of orange juice on PK of CsA in children who had received a renal transplant. This cross-over placebo-controlled study was performed on 10 pediatric kidney-transplanted patients. All children received orange juice (Thomson novel) or water. After morning dose of CsA, patients were given 250 mL orange juice or water and investigation of the PK was performed in 12 h. Co-administration of orange juice with CsA compared with water did not significantly increase the area under the curve from 0-12 h (AUC(0-12)) of CsA (orange juice 2833 +/- 553, water 3053 +/- 1532, p > 0.05). Also, there were not significant effects on peak concentration (C(max)) or time to C(max) (t(max)). Orange juice can be used with CsA and there was no interaction between the juice and CsA in pediatric renal transplants.

Development and characterization of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for aflatoxin B1 measurement in urine sample using penicillinase as label.

A simple, sensitive, rapid and specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for quantitative measurement of aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) in urine samples was developed in this study. Polyclonal antibodies were raised against a C(1)-carboxymethyl oxime (CMO) derivative of AFB(1) conjugated bovine serum albumin (BSA). AFB(1)-C(8)-penicillinase (AFB(1)-C(8)-P) and AFB(1)-C(1)-carboxymethyl oxime-penicillinase (AFB(1)-CMO-P) were prepared and used as tracer molecule. A heterologous combination of antibody and enzyme conjugates (AFB(1)-C(1)-CMO-BSA and AFB(1)-C(8)-P) proved to work better with respect to specificity and sensitivity. Ig purified antibody (4 microg/well) was coated onto the pre-coated (BSA) wells of microtiter plate. The assay procedure was completed within 3 hr and the sensitivity was calculated to be from 200 pg/ml. The standard curve was linear up to 10 ng/ml so was able to detect high concentration of AFB(1) in sample. Affinities were calculated for homologous and heterologous system in which the heterologous system showed better affinities (1.9 x 10(8) M(-1)). The antibody prepared in this study showed minimal cross-reaction with structurally related molecules being affected by homology and heterology of the assay system that is the site of conjugation of carrier protein for antibody production using the hapten BSA conjugate and the site of enzyme conjugated on the hapten molecule used as tracer as well as direct and indirect coating of antibody on the surface of microtiter plat. The results reported here indicated that the heterologous combination of antibody and enzyme conjugate performs better in assay qualities in general. More than 90% recovery of AFB(1) added to stripped urine samples were observed in this type of assay. Inter and intra-assay percent of coefficient of variations for ten successive assays were found to be 10.2 and 6.9% respectively. Logit -log transformation of standard curve and sample dilution with urine sample containing no AFB(1) in a serial manner exhibited parallel line with the slope of -1.03 and -1.03 respectively. A correlation of 0.90 was found between the ELISA reported in this study and radioimmunoassay (RIA) of AFB(1) in urine samples.

Investigation of the effect of ginger on the lipid levels. A double blind controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of fine powder of ginger on lipid level in volunteer patients. METHODS: This is a double blind controlled clinical trial study in 2 cardiac clinics Cardiac Disease Clinic, Babol, north of Iran, between April to May 2004. We randomly divided the patients with hyperlipidemia into 2 groups, treatment group (receiving ginger capsules 3 g/day in 3 divided doses) and placebo group (lactose capsule 3 g/day in 3 divided doses) for 45 days. All subjects with diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, nephrotic syndrome, and alcohol drinking, pregnancy and peptic ulcer were excluded. Lipid concentrations profile before and after treatment was measured by enzymatic assay. RESULTS: Forty-five patients in the treatment group and 40 patients in placebo group participated in this study. There was a significant reduce in triglyceride, cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), levels of before and after study separately in each group (p<0.05). Mean changes in triglyceride and cholesterol levels of ginger group were significantly higher than placebo group (p<0.05). Mean reduction in LDL level and increase in high density lipoprotein level of ginger group were higher than the placebo group, but in VLDL level of placebo was higher than ginger (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The results show that ginger has a significant lipid lowering effect compared to placebo.

Effect of tangerine juice on cyclosporine levels in renal transplant children.

The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of tangerine juice on the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine A (CsA), in children who had received a renal transplant. This placebo-controlled study was done on ten kidney transplant recipients with stable cyclosporine trough levels who received either tangerine (Unshio Satsuma) juice or water. Patients were given their morning doses of CsA and then 250 ml water or the juice, and 12 h, investigations of the pharmacokinetics (PK) were performed. The main outcome measures were peak concentration and time to peak and area under the concentration-time curve. Administration of CsA with tangerine juice compared with water did not increase significantly the area under the whole-blood concentration versus time curve from 0-12 h (AUC(0-12)) of CsA, (tangerine juice 2,797 +/- 1,361 (P = 0.5); water 3,053 +/- 1,532). Co-administration of tangerine juice with CsA compared with water had no significant effects on the AUC(0-12), peak concentration (C(max)) or time to C(max) (t(max)) of the CsA in pediatric renal transplantation.