Effects of electromagnetic radiation from a cellular phone on human sperm motility: an in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: There has been growing public concern on the effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted by cellular phones on human health. Many studies have recently been published on this topic. However, possible consequences of the cellular phone usage on human sperm parameters have not been investigated adequately. METHODS: A total number of 27 males were enrolled in the study. The semen sample obtained from each participant was divided equally into two parts. One of the specimens was exposed to EMR emitted by an activated 900 MHz cellular phone, whereas the other was not. The concentration and motility of the specimens were compared to analyze the effects of EMR. Assessment of sperm movement in all specimens was performed using four criteria: (A) rapid progressive, (B) slow progressive, (C) nonprogressive, (D) no motility. RESULTS: Statistically significant changes were observed in the rapid progressive, slow progressive and no-motility categories of sperm movement. EMR exposure caused a subtle decrease in the rapid progressive and slow progressive sperm movement. It also caused an increase in the no-motility category of sperm movement. There was no statistically significant difference in the sperm concentration between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that EMR emitted by cellular phone influences human sperm motility. In addition to these acute adverse effects of EMR on sperm motility, long-term EMR exposure may lead to behavioral or structural changes of the male germ cell. These effects may be observed later in life, and they are to be investigated more seriously.

Some sociodemographic and diagnostic characteristics of military patients treated in the Department of Medical Oncology, Gülhane Military Medical Academy.

Today, chronic diseases have increased importance. Cancer, for which 10 million new cases are diagnosed around the world each year, is in the lead of such diseases. This study included military personnel with cancer who applied to the Department of Medical Oncology, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, in the period between 1998 and 2003, and it aims to describe some sociodemographic and diagnostic characteristics of the patients. The total number of cases was 938, which included both active duty and retired military personnel with diagnoses of cancer who were given medical care between 1998 and 2003 in the Department of Medical Oncology. For the study group, the five most common diagnoses were lung cancer, colorectal cancer, testicular cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and Hodgkin's disease. Although the first three diagnoses among officers were lung cancer, testicular cancer, and Hodgkin's disease, those among retired officers were colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer. Among noncommissioned officers, the first three diagnoses were colorectal cancer, testicular cancer, and Hodgkin's disease for active duty patients and lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and gastric cancer for retired patients. In the group of privates, testicular cancer, Hodgkin's disease, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were the first three diagnoses. When we consider the characteristics of cancers, such as high costs of treatment, loss of manpower, and high mortality rates, prevention of cancers and early diagnosis are very important. Because the frequent types of cancers differed for groups according to age and occupation, those characteristics should be considered when cancer screening programs are being developed for the Armed Forces.

A study of the opinions and behaviors of physicians with regard to informed consent and refusing treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the opinions and the self-reported behaviors of physicians regarding the issues of informed consent and refusing treatment. DESIGN: This study was performed between July and September 2003, with 51 physicians selected by simple random sampling. The data were collected by using a questionnaire. SETTING: A training hospital of medicine faculty. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-one clinicians working in the branches of internal medicine and surgery. RESULTS: Although the majority (80.4%) of the participants think that information about diagnosis and treatment should always be disclosed to patients, 60.8% reported that they always disclose information about the diagnosis and 49% did the same for information about treatment. A total of 84.3% think that patients' consent should always be obtained before diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, whereas 47% reported that they always obtain consent in their clinical practice. It was also seen that physicians have doubts concerning the comprehension of the information they disclose to their patients. In addition, most (86.3%) of the participants think that a competent patient always has the right to refuse treatment, regardless of the disease and the outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Although opinions favoring the duties implied by informed consent are in the majority, these do not always reflect the behaviors in daily clinical practice, and there may be problems in carrying out the duties implied by the elements of informed consent. Some recommendations that could be beneficial in addressing these problems are presented at the end of the study.