Effect of Short-term 900 MHz low level electromagnetic radiation exposure on blood serotonin and glutamate levels.

BACKGROUND: Long term exposure to low level electromagnetic radiation (LLER) by using cellular phones causes serious health problems. METHODS: Ten male Wistar Albino rats were anesthetized 30 min before the LLER exposure, 0.5 ml blood was taken from the tail vein of rats in order to determine control values. Rats were grouped by three and placed on a plexi-glass flat. A fixed equivalent frequency emitter device was used. A sign to be an electromagnetic field 15.14 V/m (608 mW/m(2)) in strength in the head region with 100 kHz FM modulation at 900 MHz was applied to the animals. After calculating the ideal position for the device, electromagnetic LLER energy was applied for 45 minutes from a distance to be equal with energy transmitted by a mobile phone from a 0.5-1 cm distance to their head regions. After 1.5 hours and before the rats awoke, 0.5 ml of blood was taken from the tail veins in order to determine the treatment values. RESULTS: Plasma 5-HT and glutamate levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using commercial kits. It was found that a single 45 min of LLER exposure increased the blood 5-HT level significantly, but did not change the glutamate level of rats. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that even a single 45 min of LLER exposure may produce an increase in 5-HT level without changing the blood glutamate level. Increased 5-HT level may lead to a retarded learning and a deficit in spatial memory (Tab. 2, Fig. 2, Ref. 24).

Evaluation of the effectiveness of home based or hospital based calisthenic exercises in patients with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of calisthenic exercises on balance, walking speed, fatigue, quality of life, and psychological status in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty patients diagnosed with MS were randomized into two exercise groups (group 1 = hospital-based, group 2 = home-based). Outcome measures including the MS International Quality of Life Scale, 10-meter walking test, Berg Balance Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale and the Hospital Anxiety Depression Inventory were assessed at the baseline and at 12-weeks. RESULTS: Thirty-six participants completed the exercise programme (hospital based = 16, home based = 20). The mean age was 32.83 ± 3.64 years. The mean duration of disease was 6.97 ± 3.15 years. Hospital-based and home-based exercise groups had significant improvements in the balance, 10-meter walking test, anxiety, and the quality of life after the 12-week exercise programme. There was a significant improvement in the hospital-based patients in terms of the depression scores. No significant improvement was observed in terms of fatigue in any of the groups. When both groups were compared, the improvement in the balance and depression scores of the hospital-based patients was significantly higher than the home-based patients. CONCLUSIONS: Calisthenic exercises can be easily performed both at home and in hospital setting. In patients with MS, calisthenic exercises performed at home or at the hospital may improve the balance, quality of life, and the functional and psychological status, while no significant effect has been observed on fatigue.