Exposure to radiofrequency radiation emitted from mobile phone jammers adversely affects the quality of human sperm

Background: The health effect of rapidly increasing everyday exposure of humans to radiofrequency radiation is a major global concern. Mobile phone jammers prevent the mobile phones from receiving signals from base stations by interfering with authorized mobile carriers' services. In spite of the fact that mobile jammer use is illegal, they are occasionally used in offices, shrines, conference rooms and cinemas. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological effects of short term exposure of human sperm to radiofrequency radiation emitted from a commercial mobile phone jammer

Materials and Methods: Fresh semen samples were obtained by masturbation from 50 healthy donors who had referred with their wives to Infertility Treatment Center at the Mother and Child Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Female problem was diagnosed as the reason for infertility in these couples. The semen sample of each participant was divided into 4 aliquots. The first aliquot was subjected to swim-up and exposed to jammer radiation. The second aliquot was not subjected to swim-up but was exposed to jammer radiation. The third and fourth aliquots were not exposed to jammer radiation but only the 3rd aliquot was subjected to swim-up

Results: Semen samples exposed to radiofrequency radiation showed a significant decrease in sperm motility and increase in DNA fragmentation

Conclusion: Electromagnetic radiation in radiofrequency range emitted from mobile phone jammers may lead to decreased motility and increased DNA fragmentation in human semen. It can be concluded that mobile phone jamming might exert adverse reproductive health effects

Increased Mercury release due to exposure to electromagnetic radiation as a limiting factor for using dental amalgam

Background: although it is one of the most toxic nonradioactive elements, mercury is widely used in dental amalgam. Mercury is a toxic element which can damage various organs such as central nervous system, renal, respiratory and hematologic systems. The adverse health impacts associated to exposure to some common sources of electromagnetic fields including laptop computers, mobile phones, MRI and mobile phone jammers have been evaluated by our laboratory in our previous investigations. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of X ray exposure on microleakage of amalgam restoration

Materials and Methods: standardized class V cavities were prepared on the buccal surfaces of 46 non-carious freshly extracted human premolars. The teeth were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Experimental group were exposed to X-ray using an intraoral radiography machine at 60 kVp, 0.1 s, 7 mA with 2.5 mm Al total filtration. The absorbed dose was 245.0 +/- 0.5 microGy. All specimens were placed in 2 % basic fuchsin solution for 24 hours. Then the specimens were sectioned and microleakage was assessed according to dye penetration using a stereomicroscope. Statistical analysis was performed with the Mann-Whitney U-test

Results: microleakage was significantly higher in the X-ray exposed teeth compared to those of the non-irradiated samples

Conclusion: the results of the present study suggest that X-ray exposure increased microleakage of amalgam restorations

Future role of vitamin C in radiation mitigation and its possible applications in manned deep space missions: survival study and the measurement of cell viability

Astronauts will be exposed to both chronic space radiation and acute high doses of energetic radiation of solar particle events in long-term deep space missions. The application of radioprotectors in space missions has basic limitations such as their very short time window as well as their acute toxicity and considerable side effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential radiation mitigation effect of vitamin C that is known as an effective antioxidant and free radical scavenger. One hundred twenty male Wistar albino rats weighing 250-300 g were randomized into the following study groups: I, control; II, Only exposure to gamma-radiation [LD50/30]; treated with a single dose of vitamin C, III, 1h before irradiation, IV, V and VI, 1h, 12h and 24 h after irradiation. Measurement of cell viability and proliferation was also performed by using MTT cell proliferation assay. The survival rate in animals received vitamin C 1h, 12h and 24h after irradiation were 55%, 60%, and 80%, respectively. The viability of cells in animals received vitamin C 1h, 12h and 24h after irradiation were 94.9%, 99.0%, and 100%, respectively. The viability of the cells in animals only exposed to gamma rays was 50.1%. These findings reveal that a single dose of vitamin C can potentially be used up to 24 hours after exposure to reduce the detrimental effects of high levels of ionizing radiation in cases such as the occurrence of currently unpredictable solar particle events

Natural ventilation considerations for radon prone areas of Ramsar

In Iran, architectures are often unaware of the risk of radon inhalation and how to reduce radon levels. Furthermore, radon considerations are not implemented in construction methods, construction materials and building utilization by regulatory authorities. In this study after reviewing the meteorological changes of Ramsar over the past 50 years [1955-2005], a novel design for constructing dwellings in radon prone areas is introduced. Out of building interventions such as planting wind-tunnel-making trees will be discussed in another paper. Ramsar soil samples with 4 levels of specific activities [extremely hot, severely hot, very hot, and hot] were placed in a model house. Radon level monitoring was performed by using a PRASSI portable radon gas survey meter. For extremely hot soil samples, the radon levels inside the model house when windows were closed for 24 hours were 1615 +/- 516 Bq/m3. When windows which were in the wind direction or opposite the wind direction were opened for 24 h, the radon level decreased to 89 +/- 286 and 139 +/- 314 Bq/m3, respectively. Interestingly, when crossed windows were opened for the same duration, Radon level was 144 +/- 92 Bq/m3. In cold seasons, when windows are usually closed, Chimney effect reduced the radon level to 323 +/- 641. For severely hot, very hot and hot soil samples, natural ventilation-based interventions effectively reduced the radon level. Results obtained in this study clearly show that natural ventilation-based simple cost-effective interventions can significantly reduce the radon concentration in radon prone areas of Ramsar

Alterations of PSA, CA15.3, CA125, Cyfra21-1, CEA, CA19.9, AFP and Tag72 tumor markers in human blood serum due to long term exposure to high levels of natural background radiation in Ramsar, Iran

Ramsar [Mazandran province] is known for its extremely high levels of natural background radiation. Although no excess cancer rate is reported in these areas by epidemiological studies, the study of tumor markers in the inhabitants of these areas may shed some light on the impact of high levels of background radiation on cancer induction. The level of background gamma radiation as well as indoor radon was determined using RDS-110 and CR-39 dosimeters. Thirty five individuals from a high background radiation area [HBRA] and 53 individuals from a normal background radiation area [NBRA] were randomly selected to participate in the study. Commercial ELISA kits [sandwich type ELISA tests] were used to measure the serum levels of PSA, CA15.3, CA125, Cyfra21-1, CEA, CA19.9, AFP and Tag72 tumor markers. Among the eight biomarkers investigated, the means of PSA, CA15.3, CA125, CA19.9 and AFP concentrations between the HBRAs and NBRAs were not significantly different. However, Cyfra21, CEA and Tag72 in HBRA group revealed statistically significant increases compared to those of NBRA group [P<0.05]. Furthermore, a statistically significant correlation between the external gamma dose as well as indoor radon level and the concentration of CEA [P<0.001], Cyfra-21[P<0.001] and TAG 72 [P<0.001 and 0.01 respectively] biomarkers were observed. Chronic exposure to high background radiation induces significant alterations in Cyfra21, CEA and Tag72 levels. We believe that studies with other relevant tumor markers might overcome the limitations of epidemiological studies on cancer incidence in high background radiation areas

[Burnout and its relationship with the nurses' characteristics]

A number of studies have been done on the topic of nurses' burnout. However social and cultural context of caring institutes and the characteristics of nurses working in these centers would add to the knowledge about this organizational behavior. Accordingly this study aims at identifying the frequency and intensity of nurses' burnout and its relationship with nurses' characteristics in hospitals affiliated to Arak University of Medical Sciences. It was a descriptive correlational study. Two hundred nurses working in hospitals affiliated to Arak University of Medical Sciences were recruited by Stratified probability sampling with proportional allocation. The instruments included Demographic information questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout inventory [MBI]. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, independent t-test, chi-square, and ANOVA using SPSS-PC [v.16]. The findings revealed that 39.5% and 37% of nurses have reported high levels of frequency and low levels of severity of emotional exhaustion respectively. the majority of nurses [75%] reported high levels of personal accomplishment frequency and 70% of them reported high levels of personal accomplishment severity. Nurses also reported low levels of frequency [47%] and intensity [45%] of depersonalization. Significant relationship was found between frequency of emotional exhaustion and sex [p=0.05], severity of emotional exhaustion and sex [p=0/05], and severity of depersonalization and age [P=0/04]. Identification of work place stressors in order to prevent emotional exhaustion, and also providing conditions for continuous job promotion and experiencing personal success for nurses working in Arak city is recommended

[ evaluation of anti-rabies antibody titer in vaccinated individuals in Shahrekord district]

Background and aims: Rabies is a viral disease which occurs commonly through the bite of a rabid animal. Anti rabies vaccination is an important prophylaxis after having contact with the disease agent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-rabies anti-body titer among individuals who have had received 3-5 times anti-rabies vaccine

Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, according to the data collected from Shahrekord health centers, the blood serums of 63 individual's encountered animal bites within 4 years were collected and their anti-rabies antibody titer was tested using Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test [RFFIT]. The anti-rabies titer more than 0.5 ul/ml was considered as protected against rabies. Data were analyzed using Spearman and the dependant t-test

Results: In this study, 30 individuals were vaccinated 3 times and other 33 individuals were vaccinated 5 times. In all cases, 5 individuals received rabies vaccine together with Human Rabies Immune Globulin [HRIG]. The mean time since last vaccination was 23.3+/-9.6 months [range, 5-38 months] and the mean antibody titer against rabies was 2.5+/-1.9 IU/ml [range, 0.4- 14 IU/ml] only 3 individuals [4.8%] had the anti rabies titer less than recommended titer [0.5 IU/ml]. There was no significant relationship between the numbers of vaccinations, individual's gender, mean time since last vaccination and the age of the individuals with antibody titer against rabies [P>0.05]

Conclusion: In the case of encountering to suspected human rabies, it is better to check their serum anti-rabies antibody titer. If their anti body value is below than the global standard, they should receive a secondary doze of anti-rabies vaccination

comparative study on the increased radioresistance to lethal doses of gamma rays after exposure to microwave radiation and oral intake of flaxseed oil

Mobile phones, use electromagnetic radiation in the microwave range. On the other hand, there is only one report on radioprotective effects of flaxseed oil. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of irradiation of rats with microwaves and/or treatment with flaxseed oil on the induction of adaptive response to a subsequent lethal dose [LD] of gamma rays. Eighty male rats were randomly divided into 6 groups of 13-15 animals. The animals in the 1[st] to 5[th] groups received microwave exposure, microwave+flaxseed oil [dissolved in olive oil], flaxseed [continued after LD], flaxseed, and olive oil. At day 5, all animals were whole-body irradiated with a previously reported LD 50/30 of 8 Gy gamma radiation. The 6th group [controls] received the same LD 50/30, but there was not any other treatment before or after the LD. No death event was observed during days 1-9 after LD irradiation in either group. At day 10, death events started in the 4[th] group. Thirty days after irradiation of the animals, the survival fractions for the control group, as expected, was 53.3% while there was no death event in the 1[st] group [survival rate of 100% in microwave-pretreated animals]. The survival fractions for the 2[nd] to 5[th] groups were 69.2%, 92.3%, 46.1%, and 61.5%, respectively. While these findings open new horizons in radiation protection, the radioresistance induced by microwave radiations emitted by a mobile phone may interfere with the outcome of any subsequent therapeutic application of photons or radioisotopes