Global Analysis of Transcriptional Expression in Mice Exposed to Intermediate Frequency Magnetic Fields Utilized for Wireless Power Transfer Systems.

BACKGROUND: Intermediate frequency magnetic fields (IF-MFs) at around 85 kHz are a component of wireless power transfer systems used for charging electrical vehicles. However, limited data exist on the potential health effects of IF-MFs. We performed a comprehensive analysis of transcriptional expression in mice after IF-MF exposure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We developed an IF-MF exposure system to generate a high magnetic flux density (25.3 mT). The system can expose the IF-MF for a mouse whole-body without considering thermal effects. After 10 days (1 h/day) of exposure, a comprehensive expression analysis was performed using microarray data from both the brain and liver. RESULTS: No significant differences in transcriptional expression were detected in the 35,240 probe-sets when controlling the false discovery rate (FDR) under a fold change cutoff >1.5. However, several differential expressions were detected without FDR-adjustment, but these were not confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first in vivo study to evaluate the biological effects of IF-MF exposure with an intense magnetic flux density 253 times higher than the occupational restriction level defined by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection guidelines. However, our findings indicate that transcriptional responses in the living body are not affected under these conditions.

Exposure time-dependent thermal effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure on the whole body of rats.

We investigated the thermal effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) on the variation in core temperature and gene expression of some stress markers in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 2.14 GHz wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA) RF signals at a whole-body averaged specific absorption rate (WBA-SAR) of 4 W/kg, which causes behavioral disruption in laboratory animals, and 0.4 W/kg, which is the limit for the occupational exposure set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection guideline. It is important to understand the possible in vivo effects derived from RF-EMF exposures at these intensities. Because of inadequate data on real-time core temperature analyses using free-moving animal and the association between stress and thermal effects of RF-EMF exposure, we analyzed the core body temperature under nonanesthetic condition during RF-EMF exposure. The results revealed that the core temperature increased by approximately 1.5°C compared with the baseline and reached a plateau till the end of RF-EMF exposure. Furthermore, we analyzed the gene expression of heat-shock proteins (Hsp) and heat-shock transcription factors (Hsf) family after RF-EMF exposure. At WBA-SAR of 4 W/kg, some Hsp and Hsf gene expression levels were significantly upregulated in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum following exposure for 6 hr/day but were not upregulated after exposure for 3 hr/day. On the other hand, there was no significant change in the core temperature and gene expression at WBA-SAR of 0.4 W/kg. Thus, 2.14-GHz RF-EMF exposure at WBA-SAR of 4 W/kg induced increases in the core temperature and upregulation of some stress markers, particularly in the cerebellum.

The effects of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields on T cell function during development.

With the widespread use of radio-frequency devices, it is increasingly important to understand the biological effects of the associated electromagnetic fields. Thus, we investigated the effects of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on T cell responses during development due to the lack of science-based evidence for RF-EMF effects on developmental immune systems. Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were exposed to 2.14-GHz wideband code division multiple-access (W-CDMA) RF signals at a whole-body specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0.2 W/kg. Exposures were performed for a total of 9 weeks spanning in utero development, lactation and the juvenile period. Rats were continuously exposed to RF-EMF for 20 h/day, 7 days/week. Comparisons of control and exposed rats using flow cytometry revealed no changes in the numbers of CD4/CD8 T cells, activated T cells or regulatory T cells among peripheral blood cells, splenocytes and thymocytes. Expression levels of 16 genes that regulate the immunological Th1/Th2 paradigm were analyzed using real-time PCR in the spleen and thymus tissues of control and RF-EMF-exposed rats. Although only the Il5 gene was significantly regulated in spleen tissues, Il4, Il5 and Il23a genes were significantly upregulated in thymus tissues following exposure to RF-EMF. However, ELISAs showed no changes in serum IL-4 protein concentrations. These data indicate no adverse effects of long-term RF-EMF exposure on immune-like T cell populations, T cell activation, or Th1/Th2 balance in developing rats, although significant transcriptional effects were observed.

Patients with 47, XXX karyotype who experienced premature ovarian failure (POF): two case reports.

PURPOSE: Pubertal onset and sexual development are usually normal in 47, XXX individuals; however, we report two cases of premature ovarian failure (POF) in infertile women with trisomy X. METHODS: Chromosome analysis was conducted with G-banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization using X- and Y-bearing probe. Hormonal administration was primarily Kaufmann's treatment or long-term estradiol treatment, followed by withdrawal bleeding from estrogen and progesterone. RESULTS: Two patients with trisomy X, aged 31 (patient 1) and 27 years (patient 2), were diagnosed with POF due to hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. Their ovaries were small. Patient 1 had a FSH level of 44.6 mIU/ml and patient 2 had a FSH level of 74.6 mIU/ml. In patient 1, with Kaufmann's treatment, the FSH decreased to 13.5 mIU/ml; however, follicle growth did not occur following HMG stimulation. In patient 2, FSH did not decrease despite Kaufmann's treatment; therefore, she was given a GnRH agonist and her FSH level decreased to 7.1 mIU/ml. However, her ovaries never responded to HMG stimulation. CONCLUSION: We report on two patients with a 47, XXX karyotype who became infertile due to POF. We recommend that when a patient is diagnosed with trisomy X, the possibility of POF must be strongly considered.

Sex-discordant twins despite single embryo transfer: a report of two cases.

We report two extremely rare cases in which the patients delivered male and female infants that were dizygotic twins (DZT) despite single embryo transfer. Case 1: The patient was a 35-year-old woman with a 9-year history of unexplained infertility. In an oocyte retrieval cycle, one blastocyst was transferred; at 26 weeks of gestation, she delivered a 704-g female infant and a 420-g male infant by cesarean section. Because both infants were of extremely low birth weight, they were placed in the neonatal intensive care unit. Congenital anomalies were not found in either infant. Case 2: The patient was a 30-year-old woman with a 1-year history of infertility. Hysterosalpingogram revealed bilateral tubal occlusion. In a frozen/thawed cycle one blastocyst was transferred during her natural ovulation cycle. She achieved a pregnancy and delivered a 2,877-g female infant and a 2,544-g male infant at 36 weeks of gestation by cesarean section. The female infant was diagnosed with a neural tube defect. No congenital anomalies were detected in the male infant. We hypothesize that the DZTs might have been the result of concurrent embryo transfer and natural ovulation and intercourse.

Lack of promotion activity of diacylglycerol oil on 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide induced carcinogenesis in the oral cavity of SD rats.

A recent study using c-Ha-ras proto-oncogene transgenic (rasTg) rats demonstrated possible enhancing effects of diacylglycerol (DAG) on 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) induced carcinogenesis of the tongue. To assess effects in their Sprague-Dawley back strain, a two-stage carcinogenesis study using 4NQO as an initiator was performed. Groups of 30 male rats were initially treated with 4NQO at a dose of 10ppm in the drinking water for the first 10 weeks followed after a 1 week recovery interval by 11% DAG, 5.5% DAG+5.5% triacylglycerol (TAG), 2.75% DAG+8.25% TAG, 1.38 DAG+9.62% TAG, 11% TAG, 11% high linoleic acid TAG (HLTG), 5.5% DAG or 2.75% DAG in the diet for 35 weeks. Further groups of animals were treated with distilled water instead of 4NQO followed by 11% DAG, 11% TAG or 11% HLTG in the same manner. The final survival rates in 4NQO-treated groups were from 50 to 77%. However, incidences and multiplicities of squamous cell papillomas and carcinomas in the oral cavity induced by 4NQO were not affected by any of the dietary treatments. Thus, in contrast to the positive data using rasTg rats, DAG had no potential for enhancing 4NQO-induced tumorigenesis in their back strain.

Induction of characteristic hepatocyte proliferative lesion with dietary exposure of Wistar Hannover rats to tocotrienol for 1 year.

Tocotrienol is an antioxidant which has found commercial application as a food additive and health supplement all over the world. Since there have been no reports regarding toxicological effects of long-term exposure, we performed a 52-week chronic study using Wistar Hannover rats of both sexes given the compound at doses of 0, 0.08, 0.4 or 2% in powdered basal diet. Since 6 animals in the 2% male group died of hemorrhage of several organs by week 50, the maximum dose level was changed to 1% in both sexes for the last 2 weeks. Decrease of body weight gain was observed in the 2% males from week 5 and females from week 10, this persisting to the end of the study. With the high dose, prolongation of prothrombin time and increase of serum ALT in males, and increase of serum ALP in both sexes were observed with statistical significance. In male and female rats receiving 0.4% or less, there were no toxicological changes in any of the parameters examined. At necropsy, multiple cyst-like nodules on the liver surface were macroscopically pronounced in both sexes receiving 2%. On histopathological examination, hepatocellular nodules were evident with distortion of hepatic cords and compression of the surrounding tissue, almost all including areas of spongiosis hepatis. The constituent hepatocytes were immunohistochemically stained with proliferation cell nuclear antigen at high rates. Nevertheless, they did not exhibit overt atypia and the basic lobular architecture remained intact. Additionally, they were consistently negative for glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P). Accordingly, we propose the newly categorized but previously used name 'nodular hepatocellular hyperplasia', which may not necessarily have a neoplastic or regenerative nature. However, quantitative GST-P analysis of the liver sections overall showed numbers of GST-P foci in the high dose females to be significantly elevated as compared to the control value. Based on the present data demonstrating nodular liver lesions only at the high dose of both sexes, we conclude that the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) is 0.4% (303 mg/kg/day for males, and 472 mg/kg/day for females).

A successful pregnancy outcome using frozen testicular sperm from a chimeric infertile male with a 46, XX/46, XY karyotype: case report.

BACKGROUND: We report a very rare case of the successful delivery of a healthy infant fathered by an infertile chimera. METHODS: ICSI was performed using frozen sperm. The karyotypes of peripheral lymphocytes were examined with a G-banding stain. RESULTS: Chromosomal analysis prior to ICSI revealed a 46, XX [28]/46, XY [2] karyotype chimera. As an infant, the subject was diagnosed as a true hermaphrodite, and underwent a hysterectomy and oophorectomy. A small number of sperm were found in minced testicular tissue, and they were stored for ICSI. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of a successful pregnancy and delivery of a healthy infant fathered by an infertile chimera (46, XX/46, XY) following ICSI using frozen testicular sperm.