Effects of electromagnetic field on thyroid functions in rats

The effect of electromagnetic field [EMF] on serum thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] and triiodothyronine-thyroxin [T3-T4] hormones levels of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were studied. Fifty rats were used in three independent groups, 20 of which were control [without stress and EMF], 20 of which were exposed to 900 MHz EMF and 10 of which were sham-exposed. The exposures were performed 30 min/day, for 5 days/week for 4 weeks to 900 MHz EMF. Sham-exposed animals were kept under the same environmental conditions as the study groups except with no EMF exposure. The concentration of TSH and T3-T4 hormones in the rat serum was measured by using an enzyme liked immunsorbent assay [ELISA] method for TS, T3, and T4 hormones. TSH values and T3-T4 at the 900 MHz EMF group were significantly lower than the sham-exposed group [p<0.01]. There were no statistically significant differences in serum TSH values and T3-T4 hormones concentrations between the control and the sham-exposed group [p>0.05]. These results indicate that 900 MHz EMF emitted by cellular telephones decrease serum TSH and T3-T4 levels

On the pathogenesis of platelet dysfunction of undialyzed and hemodialysed chronic renal failure [CFR] patients

Patients with chronic renal failure CRF suffer form abnormalities of primary hemostasis due to platelet dysfunction. Dialysis improves platelet abnormalities but does not eliminate the risk of hemorrhage. Hemodialysis can even contribute to the bleeding through the continuous platelet activation induced by the interaction between blood and artificial surfaces. The aim is to study the changes in the biostructure of platelets in ESRD and the effect of HD on it, and to find its relation to its function. The platelet biostructure [total protein, total lipids, total carbohydrates, total phospholipids [PL], total cholesterol] and enzymatic activities [Na[+]-K[+]-ATPase, monoamine oxidase, [MAO] often healthy control, 15 undialyied CRF patients, and 15 hemodialyzed CRF patients [before and after dialysis] were studied. The results revealed an increase of total lipids, total PL concentrations and decrease in the activities of Na[+]-K[+]-ATPase, MAO of platelets of CRF compared to their healthy controls. After dialysis results as compared to those before dialysis revealed decreased concentration of total PL of the platelets and increased activity of Na[+]-K[+]-ATPase. Whereas if the results after dialysis were compared to those of healthy controls total lipids, PL, total cholesterol concentration and Na[+]-K[+]-ATPase showed significant increased values whereas MAO activity decreased significantly. Correlation studies showed insignificant correlation for all the parameters studied before or after dialysis as compared with the age of patients or duration of dialysis-in years. It may be concluded that the biochemical aberrations that were revealed form the present study concerning End Stage Renal Disease [ESRD] patients [dialyzed and undialyzed] may be looked upon as a causative factor in the well known physiological impairment of platelet function in uremia which appears not to be totally corrected by hemodialysis