Technological devices have become essential components of daily life. However, their deleterious effects on the body, particularly on the nervous system, are well known. Electromagnetic fields (EMF) have various chemical effects, including causing deterioration in large molecules in cells and imbalance in ionic equilibrium. Despite being essential for life, oxygen molecules can lead to the generation of hazardous by-products, known as reactive oxygen species (ROS), during biological reactions. These reactive oxygen species can damage cellular components such as proteins, lipids and DNA. Antioxidant defense systems exist in order to keep free radical formation under control and to prevent their harmful effects on the biological system. Free radical formation can take place in various ways, including ultraviolet light, drugs, lipid oxidation, immunological reactions, radiation, stress, smoking, alcohol and biochemical redox reactions. Oxidative stress occurs if the antioxidant defense system is unable to prevent the harmful effects of free radicals. Several studies have reported that exposure to EMF results in oxidative stress in many tissues of the body. Exposure to EMF is known to increase free radical concentrations and traceability and can affect the radical couple recombination. The purpose of this review was to highlight the impact of oxidative stress on antioxidant systems.Abbreviations: EMF, electromagnetic fields; RF, radiofrequency; ROS, reactive oxygen species; GSH, glutathione; GPx, glutathione peroxidase; GR, glutathione reductase; GST, glutathione S-transferase; CAT, catalase; SOD, superoxide dismutase; HSP, heat shock protein; EMF/RFR, electromagnetic frequency and radiofrequency exposures; ELF-EMFs, exposure to extremely low frequency; MEL, melatonin; FA, folic acid; MDA, malondialdehyde.

Pregnancy complications may cause morphological changes and circulation defects in the placenta, which may lead to morbidity and mortality in fetuses and newborns. We investigated structural changes in the placenta and umbilical cord under various abnormal maternal conditions. Placenta and umbilical cord specimens were obtained from pregnant women during labor at 37 - 42 weeks gestation. Volumetric measurements were made for each placenta and umbilical cord using the Cavalieri method. Significant differences were observed for volumetric densities of total villi, syncytial knots, intervillous vessels and perivillous fibrin deposition. We observed particular increases in the volumetric parameters of the pre-eclampsia group compared to the other groups. The tunica media of the umbilical arteries was increased significantly with intrahepatic cholestasis.

In conclusion, the mechanism of the effect of topiramate to create a state of obesity is thought to involve the decrease in the levels of NPY and FTO.

No abstract

The radiation emitted from mobile phones has various deleterious effects on human health. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of exposure to the 900-MHz radiation electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by mobile phones on Ammon’s horn and the dentate gyrus (DG) in the hippocampus and cerebellum of male Wistar albino rats. We also investigated the neuroprotective effects of the antioxidants Boswellia sacra (BS) and folic acid (FA) against exposure to EMF. Twenty-four adult male rats were randomly divided into four groups of six animals each, an EMF group, an EMF + FA exposure group (EFA), an EMF + BS exposure group (EBS) and a control group (Cont). The EMF, EFA and EBS groups were exposed to 900-MHz EMF radiation inside a tube once daily over 21 days (60 min/day). The Cont group was not exposed to 900-MHz EMF. The results showed that EMF caused a significant decrease in total pyramidal and granular cell numbers in the hippocampus, and DG and in Purkinje cell numbers in the cerebellum in the EMF group compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). BS and FA attenuated the neurodegenerative effects of EMF in the hippocampus and cerebellum. Significant differences were also determined between the numbers of neurons in the EFA and EMF groups, and between the EBS and EMF groups (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences among Cont, EFA and EBS (p > 0.05). Our results may contribute to ongoing research into the effects of 900-MHz EMF exposure.Abbreviations: BS, Boswellia sacra; CA, cornu ammonis; CAT, catalase; CE, coefficient of error; CV, coefficient of variation; DG, dentate gyrus; DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid; EMF, electromagnetic field; EBS, the group that is exposed to EMF and received a single daily gavage of BS (500 mg/kg/day) during 21 days; EEG, electroencephalogram; EFA, the group that is exposed to EMF and received a single daily gavage of folic acid (50 mg/kg/day) during 21 days; FA, folic acid; gr, granular layer; H2O2, hydrogen peroxide; MHz, Megahertz; ml, molecular layer; RF, radiofrequency; ROS, reactive oxygen specimens; SEM, standard error of the mean.