Testicular injury induced by exposure to electromagnetic field associated with the use of mobile phones: a biochemical and ultrastructural study

The use of mobile phones with the resulting generation of potentially harmful electromagnet fields [EMF] is the focus of public interest. The harmful effect induced by pulsed microwave, currents associated with the use of mobile phones is now considered one of the physical injuries. This study was carried out on 60 male albino rats, divided into prepubertal group [one month old] and young adult group [7 months old]. Each group was sub-divided into control group [6 animals and exposed group [24 animals] the latter was furtherly subdivided equally into 10 minutes exposed group and 20 minutes exposed group according to the duration of exposure to EMF of mobile phone. In this study there were significant increases in the premeiotic testicular enzymes [B- glucuronidase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase] and significant decreases in the post-meiotic testicular enzymes [sorbitol dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase] in the exposed groups as compared to their corresponding control groups. However the young adult exposed groups have shown significant changes in these testicular enzymes whe compared to their corresponding prepubertal exposed groups. The histopathological and ultrastructural studies have shown severe damage of the semineferous tubules and shrinkage in the tubular components of the testis that was more obvious in the 20 minutes exposed groups. After 10 minutes of exposure, the prepubertal group showed thickening and splitting of the basement membrane of seminiferous tubules with seperation of germ cells while ultrastructural examination revealed few spermatogonia with marked apoptotic changes in the form of chromatin condensation, swollen mitochondria with degenerated cristae. There was slight necrotic changes in the form of vacuolizations and active lysozomes in most of germ and Sertoli cells. In the 20 minutes exposed prepubertal group there were: decrease in the diameter of seminiferous tubules with seperation of germ cells away from the basment membrane of the seminiferous tubules, shrunken nucleous of Sertoli cells and abnormal opermatid. Also, there were marked necrotic changes in the germ an Sertoli cells indicated by marked rarifaction of the cytoplasm. However, the young adult exposed groups have shown lesser ultrastructural changes than the prepubertal exposed groups. In conclusion exposure to EMF associated with mobile phones has shown detremintal effect on the process of spermatogenesis particularly before puberty

Herpes simplex virus type-1 and apoptosis in pemphigus: a causal relationship

The objective of this study was to evaluate the possible role of herpes simplex virus type-I [HSV-I] infection and apoptosis in the etiopathogenesis of pemphigus vulgaris [PV]. The study included 29 patients with PV and 7 apparently healthy subjects as controls. The patients were grouped into three groups: Group I [recent acute onset [6 cases]], group II [chronic exacerbated under steroid therapy [16 cases]] and group III [chronic controlled with steroid therapy [7 cases]]. Apoptosis was detected in peripheral blood monocytes [PBMC] using flow cytometry and that in the skin by TUNEL. HSV-I DNA was detected in PBMC and the skin using PCR. The antibody titer of serum IgG for HSV-I was detected using indirect immunofluorescence technique [IF]. The study concluded that apoptosis is increased in PV. Both HSV-I and apoptosis have to be considered in the immune-pathogenesis and can be used for immuno-modulation and suggestion of strategy of therapy or even to prevent exacerbation

Effect of pentoxifylline on cell adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix in chronic venous ulcer: a reappraisal of pathogenic mechanism

The pathogenesis of venous ulceration is unknown. It has been early proposed that the pathogenesis of venous ulceration involves formation of pericapillary fibrin cuffs. More recent hypothesis suggests that macromolecules leaking into dermis may bind or trap growth factors. The role of leukocyte and its adherece to endothelial cells by adhesion molecules in damaged tissue of venous diseas has been considered. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of pharmacotherapy as pentoxifylline in treatment of non complicated chronic venous ulcer. This was performed through immunohistochemical staining of tissue distribution of fibronectin [FN], transforming growth factor beta-1 [TGF beta 1] and ICAM-1 in damaged skin of 19 patients. Also, plasma level of soluble L-selectin was measured. All these parameters were estimated before and after pentoifylline administration and external compression bandage for 3 months. The results of this study demonstrated that pentoxifylline administration was associated with significant clinical improvement of the uicerative area and induced decrease of 1C AM-1 expression in skin. There were changes of TGF beta1 and fibronectin [FN] distribution from non-healed to the healed ulcer. Also there was significant rise in plasma level SL-selectin [p > 0.001] which decreased after clinical improvement. It could be concluded that the accumulation of activated leukocyte is the key event in venous leg ulcer and TGF beta1 in extracellular matrix is critical in wound healingThe pathogenesis of venous ulceration is unknown. It has been early proposed that the pathogenesis of venous ulceration involves formation of pericapillary fibrin cuffs. More recent hypothesis suggests that macromolecules leaking into dermis may bind or trap growth factors. The role of leukocyte and its adherece to endothelial cells by adhesion molecules in damaged tissue of venous diseas has been considered. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of pharmacotherapy as pentoxifylline in treatment of non complicated chronic venous ulcer. This was performed through immunohistochemical staining of tissue distribution of fibronectin [FN], transforming growth factor beta-1 [TGF beta 1] and ICAM-1 in damaged skin of 19 patients. Also, plasma level of soluble L-selectin was measured. All these parameters were estimated before and after pentoifylline administration and external compression bandage for 3 months