Effects of Long-Term Exposure of Intermediate Frequency Magnetic Fields (20 kHz, 360 µT) on the Development, Pathological Findings, and Behavior of Female Mice.

The use of magnetic fields in the intermediate-frequency (IF) range to wirelessly charge electric cars with power transfer in the kilowatt range has become increasingly widespread, leading to unavoidable stray fields in the microtesla range. Only a handful of studies have assessed the potential biological risks associated with exposure to such fields. We exposed female mice (n = 80 per group) to either 20 kHz, 360 µT (rms), or sham in Helmholtz coils to conduct a blind design study. Exposure started at 3 months of age (24 h/day). Body mass was recorded every 1-2 weeks. At 10 months of age, three behavioral tests were performed on 24 animals per group. Three months later, the mice were sacrificed and organs (brain, liver, kidney, spleen, and lung) were removed and prepared for microscopic analysis. Our findings demonstrate no differences in the development of body mass and survival rates (96% and 89%, respectively). Similarly, no significant differences were observed in tumor incidence rates. When it comes to behavioral tests, the 8-arm maze results revealed no significant differences. In contrast, the Rotarod data were significantly (P < 0.001) different with longer retention times seen in the exposed mice. In the open field, the number of supported rears was significantly lower (P < 0.01), whereas the other endpoints did not show any differences. Overall, our data reveal no adverse effects of exposure to 20 kHz, 360 µT on the development and tumor incidences, while the significant differences in the behavioral tests may indicate higher levels of alertness in mice.

Radiation therapy as part of the therapeutic regimen for extensive multilocular myxedema in a patient with exophthalmos, myxedema and osteoarthropathy syndrome: A case report.

Exophthalmos, myxedema and osteoarthropathy (EMO) comprise the triad known as EMO syndrome, which is rarely observed in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease. The present study reports the case of a patient with EMO, including the response of this rare combination to radiotherapy. A 48-year-old patient with EMO syndrome presented to the Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital of Muenster, eight years prior to writing with therapy-resistant pretibial myxedema and hypertrophic osteoarthropathy of the metacarpal bones. The patient had been diagnosed with Graves' disease (GD) 26 years prior to presentation, which was treated by thyroidectomy and radioiodine therapy. Four years subsequent to the diagnosis of GD, the patient developed exophthalmos, which was treated using radiotherapy. An evident pretibial, foot and hand myxedema developed within the 10 years following the onset of orbitopathy. The skin lesions were treated using radiation therapy subsequent to the failure of multiple surgical procedures and medical treatments. Almost eight years subsequent to the administration of irradiation, no recurrence was observed on the lower right leg, nor was any recurrence on the lower left leg observed approximately four years subsequent to the completion of radiotherapy. However, an additional lesion on the left hand demonstrated slow progression following treatment with radiation therapy. The present study indicates that radiation therapy can be considered as adjuvant therapy for patients with refractory myxedema, to prevent or delay the recurrence of myxedema subsequent to surgical excision.