RESUMO
The widespread use of cell phones has made the researchers focus on its health effects. However, the biological effects of electromagnetic fields have not been clearly known. This study was performed to determine the effect of microwave radiation emitted by mobile phones on the human short term memory. This interventional study has been performed on 70 male sets who were studying at Rafsanjani University of Medical sciences [RUMS] in 2006. Participants were divided into two groups. The First group which included 25 students whose short term memory was tested by using Wechsler test. Ten minute real/sham exposure intervals to microwave radiations emitted from a mobile phone were performed at 0 h [sham], 24 h [real] and 48 h [sham] and the participants were tested using 5 Wechsler subsets immediately after each real/sham exposure. The second group included 45 males were exposed/ sham exposed to microwave radiation at 0 h [real], 24 h [sham]. Data were statistically analyzed using student's t test. The means of memory scores in both groups were increased in the next day. This clearly shows the role of learning in these tests. No statistical relationship was found between exposure to the microwave radiation and memory scores. Overall the data could not show a significant effect of the mobile phone on short term memory. Repeating the memory tests after 24, 48 h clearly increased the scores in both groups. These findings confirm the role of learning in memory tests and lack of any link to cell phone use
RESUMO
Electroconvulsive therapy [ECT] is one of the most effective treatment methods for recovery of the major depressed patients. The most important concerning in the case of ECT is temporary or permanent memory loss. Many patients who have no satisfactory recovery after receiving ECT, claim they have memory dysfunction. The aim of this research was to evaluat memory of the patients hospitalized in psychiatry department of Rafsanjan Moradi teaching hospital before and after receiving ECT in 2003.This analytical study was performed on 50 patients with major depression who received ECT at psychiatry department of Moradi hospital in six months. Memory status of each patient was evaluated by using Wechsler and Babkak memory tests before treatment, 24 hours after each ECT and one week after ending the treatment. The results presented in the form of diagrams and tables and to analyze the data wilcoxon sign rank test and paired t test were used for data analysis.After the first and the second ECTs, 18%-45% and 6%-15% of the patients showed short and long term memory dysfunction respectively. From the second ECT an increased short-term memory was observed, while long-term memory in the third and fourth ECT increased. From the fifth ECT there was no change in patients' memory. Relative frequency of long and short term memory dysfunction in the age group of 45 years old and above, married persons, low educated patients, farmers, house workers; and the patients with previous history of depression was the highest. [p<0.05].This study showed that after treating major depression by using ECT, the patients' memory was improved. However after the first and the second ECTs, some of the patients showed memory dysfunction. It can be concluded that ECT can be used as an effective way for treatment of depressed patients without risk of memory dysfunction