[Effect of low intensity and very high frequency electromagnetic radiation on occupationally exposed personnel].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of low intensity and very high frequency (VHF) electromagnetic radiation (170 MHz) on nervous system function and serum enzymes and immune function in human subjects with occupational exposure to VHF. METHODS: To measure the intensity of VHF and other environmental factors on the spot, to hold the questionnaire about chief complaints, to examine the rheoencephalography and the neurobehavior function, to analyze ALT, AST, ALP and LDH, and IgA, IgM and IgG in experimental group and control group. RESULTS: The intensity of VHF (direction of antenna: 0 degrees, 10 m and 135 degrees, 20 m) was higher than that of national standard on-the-spot. The incidences of symptoms such as headache, insomnia and amnesia etc. was significantly higher in experimental group (P < 0.01). Rheoencephalography indicated that the raising time of both left [(0.155 3 +/- 0.057 9) s] and right [(0.154 1 +/- 0.059 2) s] in the experimental group after exposure were significantly longer than before exposure [(0.104 4 +/- 0.030 2) s, (0.103 2 +/- 0.030 4) s respectively] or in the control [(0.118 5 +/- 0.056 8) s, (0.117 7 +/- 0.057 5) s respectively, (P < 0.01)]. Neurobehavior function test showed that digital symbol, digital span and pursuit aiming test were decreased after exposure in the experimental group (P < 0.01). Serum enzyme analysis showed that AST, ALP and LDH were significantly increased after exposure in the experimental group (P < 0.01). No marked change was found in IgA level, while the levels of IgM and IgG after exposure in the experimental group especially the latter were significantly increased (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Low-intensity VHF radiation can decrease the nervous system function in occupationally exposed personnel and induce increase in some kinds of enzymes and immunoglobulins.

The regulatory effect of polychromatic (visible and infrared) light on human humoral immunity.

The immunological effects of visible and infrared light from laser and non-laser sources have remained insufficiently studied, which has restricted the use of light in the treatment of diseases associated with immune system disorders. The present randomised, placebo-controlled double-blind trial was designed to study changes in the humoral immunity of a large group of volunteers after exposure of a small body area to polychromatic visible and infrared polarized (VIP) and non-polarized (VInP) light (400-3400 nm, 95% polarization, 40 mW cm(-2), 12 J cm(-2) and 400-3400 nm, no polarization, 38 mW cm(-2), 11.2 J cm(-2), respectively). Serum immunoglobulins (Ig) M, A, and G were determined turbidimetrically, and the immune complexes (ICs) by precipitation with 5% polyethylene glycol and subsequent spectrophotometric analysis. A single VIP irradiation induced an average rise in serum IgM levels of 13% (p < 0.05). By the end of the 10 day course, it has exceeded the baseline level by 26%, with an increase in IgA levels of 17 and 12% (p < 0.04) one week after the last session. In subjects with a high IC content, it decreased rapidly to the normal level. A single exposure of volunteers to VInP light rapidly produced changes similar to those observed on VIP irradiation, but with an increase in IgM 2.3 to 3 times lower, independent of the initial levels. On the other hand, VInP light exposure decreased the IC content more than VIP light.

Early detection of epidermal dust-like particles in experimentally UV-induced lesions in patients with photosensitivity and lupus erythematosus.

Dust-like particles, producing a specific fine-speckled, epidermo-subepidermal direct immunofluorescence staining pattern, have been associated mainly with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (LE). Under experimental conditions the appearance of immunoglobulins along the basement membrane in ultraviolet (UV) light-induced lesions has been reported as a late phenomenon. In this study, photoprovocations with UVA and UVB light were carried out in 16 photosensitive patients with discoid (n = 13), subacute cutaneous (n = 2) or systemic LE (n = 1) and serial biopsies from UV-induced lesions were processed for direct immunofluorescence. A specific, fine-speckled epidermal staining was detected within 7 to 14 days after UV provocation in 7/16 of the patients; in the majority of those patients associated with anti-SSA antibodies adn discoid LE without systemic manifestations of their disease.

Travel to sunny countries is associated with changes in immunological parameters.

Under laboratory conditions, various studies have shown that changes in immunological parameters must be expected after exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. The objective of the present study was to evaluate, whether such changes can also be revealed after a vacation to a sunny country without prior adaptation to ultraviolet radiation. In 32 volunteers white blood cells, lymphocyte subpopulations, sIL2-R, sCD14, immunoglobulins and complement factor C3 were determined before and after a vacation in a country with abundant sunshine during winter. The subjects received relevant doses of UVB as confirmed by questionnaires, UVB-dosimetry and the significant increase of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. After vacation, there was a significant decrease of the CD4/8 ratio and the serum concentration of IgG. The serum concentration of sIL2-R, sCD14, IgA and C3 was increased after the journey. Sunshine exposure without prior adaptation may be responsible for significant alterations in the immune system in association with a vacation during winter.

Autoantibodies and immunoglobulins among atomic bomb survivors.

The purpose of this study was to determine if exposure to atomic bomb radiation affects immune responsiveness, such as the occurrence of autoantibodies and levels of immunoglobulins. Rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibody, antithyroglobulin antibody, anti-thyroid-microsomal antibody and immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgM, IgA and IgE) were measured among 2,061 individuals exposed to atomic bomb radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki whose estimated doses ranged from 0 to 5.6 Gy. The prevalence and titers of rheumatoid factor were found to be increased in the individuals exposed to higher radiation doses. The IgA level in females and the IgM level in both sexes increased as radiation dose increased, although the effects of radiation exposure were not large. No effect of radiation was found on the prevalence of antinuclear antibody, antithyroglobulin antibody and anti-thyroid-microsomal antibody or on the levels of IgG and IgE.

Preferential damage to IgM production by ultraviolet B in the cells of patients with Bloom's syndrome.

In most patients with Bloom's syndrome (BS), selective IgM deficiency is commonly found. We examined proliferative responses by incorporation of [3H]-thymidine and the production of immunoglobulin after ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation in the cells of two patients with BS. With regard to the proliferative responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cultured with pokeweed mitogen (PWM), the patients' PBMC were more sensitive to UVB irradiation than controls. Although the effect of UVB irradiation in lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) after 0 days of culture showed no difference between one patient and controls, the patient's LCL were more sensitive to UVB than the controls after 3 and 7 days of culture. These results suggest that the proliferative responses of the patient's LCL recovered later than those of controls. IgM production was the most sensitive to UVB in the patients' PBMC and LCL. IgG and IgA production in the patients' PBMC and LCL showed the same sensitivity as controls. From our results, it is suspected that the preferential damage to IgM production by UVB is connected with the selective IgM deficiency of BS.

[Quantitative, functional and cytogenetic characteristics of lymphocytes and various indicators of immunity in persons participating in the decontamination work at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant]. / Kolichestvennaia, funktsional'naia i tsitogeneticheskaia kharakteristika limfotsitov i nekotorye pokazateli immuniteta u lits, prinimavshikh uchastie v avariino-vosstanovitel'nykh rabotakh na Chernobyl'skoi AES.

Immunologic and cytogenetic investigations conducted in subjects, who had been engaged in liquidation of consequences of the Chernobyl NPS catastrophe, during the first months after their work was finished, showed decreased content of large granulo-containing lymphocytes and serum IgM in the blood, their levels were completely recovered 3 years later. A complex of unfavourable factors attending radiation (stress, changes in the way of life, chemical actions etc.) played an important role in the genesis of these changes.

[Effect of electromagnetic radiation on T-lymphocyte subpopulations and immunoglobulin level in human blood serum after occupational exposure]. / Wplyw promieniowania elektromagnetycznego na subpopulacje limfocytów T oraz poziom immunoglobulin w surowicy krwi u czlowieka w warunkach ekspozycji zawodowej.

The study was aimed at evaluation of the total lymphocyte, the T lymphocyte (T3), the T helper (T4) and the T suppressor (T8) count in the peripheral blood as well as of the IgG, IgA and IgM level in sera of 39 radar operators aged from 20 to 22 years. The operators were exposed to electromagnetic radiation at frequencies ranging from 390 MHz to 10.96 GHz and power from 500 kW to 1.5 MW for a period from 720 to 7560 hours. As compared to the control group in the radar operators a statistically significant decrease in the total T8 cell count and a significant increase in the IgM level was found pointing to the radiation induced disorders in lymphocyte system.

[Changes in isoagglutinin titers after high-voltage therapy with the large-field technic in Hodgkin's disease patients]. / Anderungen der Isoagglutinintiter nach Hochvolttherapie mit Grossfeldtechnik bei Patienten mit Morbus Hodgkin.

In 48 patients with Hodgkin's disease, the naturally occurring isoagglutinins anti A1, anti A2 and anti B were investigated and their titer determined before commencement of radiotherapy as well as after the end of radiotherapy, and in a proportion of the patients six and twelve months after the end of radiotherapy. Radiotherapy resulted in a highly significant fall in the isoagglutinin titer amounting on average to one titer level compared to the initial value before radiotherapy. After the end of radiotherapy, there was no further fall of the isoagglutinin titers, but a marked reduction of the isoagglutinin titers was still shown six and twelve months later. A long lasting reduction of serum immunoglobulins after radiotherapy in patients with Hodgkin's disease is known from earlier investigations; this applies in particular to IgM. Since the isoagglutinins mainly belong to the IgM fraction, our finding of persistent reduction of isoagglutinin titers after radiotherapy correlates with the known long-lasting reduction of serum IgM concentration.

Radiofrequency radiation and the immune system. Part 3. In vitro effects on human immunoglobin and on murine T- and B-lymphocytes.

Radiofrequency radiation (RFR) altered the physical separation of immunoglobulin (Ig) and of T- and B-lymphocytes during liquid gel chromatography. Exposure of human serum to a 10 MHz electric field (8500 V/m, less than or equal to 0.134 W kg-1) during chromatography resulted in accelerated elution of the IgM, IgA and IgG fractions. This effect is consistent with an increase in steric resistance of Ig molecules to the gel pores resulting in rapid elution. The low level of absorbed power employed did not lead to measurable heating of the gel media (25.00 +/- 0.05 degrees C). Effects on lymphocyte separation were investigated by performing immunoaffinity cell chromatography during exposure to 2500 MHz RFR (194 V/m, less than or equal to 0.117 W kg-1). Murine spleen lymphocytes were fractionated at 4.0 degrees C over Ig-derivatized agarose beads into Ig- and Ig+ lymphocyte subpopulations. RFR exposures resulted in premature elution of 19 per cent of the Ig+ (B-cell) population indicating an alteration of Ig binding. Temperature excursions in excess of +/- 0.05 degree C were not observed during exposures. These in vitro results demonstrate that Ig, whether freely diffusing in solution or bound to the lymphocyte cell surface, is influenced by RFR at absorbed power levels below the current recommended safety limit of 0.4 W kg-1 (U.S.A.). A possible mode of interaction for these effects as well as the relevance of these findings to in vivo biological processes are discussed.