Blood-Brain Barrier ; radiation effects ; Capillary Permeability ; radiation effects ; Electromagnetic Radiation ; Humans

Observations from clinical trials have frequently demonstrated that light therapy can be an effective therapy for seasonal and non-seasonal major depression. Despite the fact that light therapy is known to have several advantages over antidepressant drugs like a low cost, minimal side-effects, and fast onset of therapeutic effect, the mechanism underlying light therapy remains unclear. So far, it is known that light therapy modulates mood states and cognitive functions, involving circadian and non-circadian pathways from retinas into brain. In this review, we discuss the therapeutic effect of light on major depression and its relationship to direct retinal projections in the brain. We finally emphasize the function of the retino-raphe projection in modulating serotonin activity, which probably underlies the antidepressant effect of light therapy for depression.
Animals ; Brain ; radiation effects ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; therapy ; Humans ; Phototherapy ; methods ; Retina ; radiation effects ; Visual Pathways ; radiation effects

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) on apoptosis and cell cycle of mouse brain and liver cells.

METHODSMice were exposed to 50 Hz, 0.2 mT or 6.0 mT electromagnetic fields for 2 weeks. TUNEL and flow cytometric methods were used to analyze apoptosis and cell cycle of brain and liver cells.

RESULTSAfter exposure to 0.2 mT and 6.0 mT ELF EMFs for 2 weeks, apoptosis rates of brain cells [(5.60 +/- 1.47)% and (4.73 +/- 0.48)% respectively] were higher than that of control [(2.90 +/- 0.75)%], and apoptosis rates of liver cells [(4.19 +/- 2.08)% and (3.38 +/- 0.65)% respectively] were higher than that of control [(1.84 +/- 0.76)%]. G0/G1 cell percentage of brain cells [(80.21 +/- 1.68)% and (79.54 +/- 0.56)% respectively] were higher than that of control [(76.85 +/- 0.83)%], and those of liver cells [(79.42 +/- 1.80)% and (80.47 +/- 1.79)% respectively] were higher than that of control [(73.36 +/- 3.10)%]. The above differences were all statistically significant as P < 0.05. At the same time S and G2 + M cell percentage of brain and liver cells were significantly decreased.

CONCLUSIONExposure to 50 Hz EMFs may alter cell cycle and induce apoptosis of mouse brain and liver cells.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; radiation effects ; Brain ; cytology ; radiation effects ; Cell Cycle ; radiation effects ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Flow Cytometry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Liver ; cytology ; radiation effects ; Male ; Mice

Emerging concerns regarding the hazard from medical radiation including CT examinations has been suggested. The purpose of this study was to observe the longitudinal changes of CT radiation doses of various CT protocols and to estimate the long-term efforts of supervising radiologists to reduce medical radiation. Radiation dose data from 11 representative CT protocols were collected from 12 hospitals. Attending radiologists had collected CT radiation dose data in two time points, 2007 and 2010. They collected the volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) of each phase, number of phases, dose length product (DLP) of each phase, and types of scanned CT machines. From the collected data, total DLP and effective dose (ED) were calculated. CTDIvol, total DLP, and ED of 2007 and 2010 were compared according to CT protocols, CT machine type, and hospital. During the three years, CTDIvol had significantly decreased, except for dynamic CT of the liver. Total DLP and ED were significantly decreased in all 11 protocols. The decrement was more evident in newer CT scanners. However, there was substantial variability of changes of ED during the three years according to hospitals. Although there was variability according to protocols, machines, and hospital, CT radiation doses were decreased during the 3 years. This study showed the effects of decreased CT radiation dose by efforts of radiologists and medical society.
Abdomen/radiation effects ; Angiography ; Brain/radiation effects ; Female ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Liver/radiation effects ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Radiation Dosage ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed/instrumentation

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field(ELF EMF) and its combination with lead on the antioxidant system in mouse brain and liver tissues.

METHODMice were exposed to a 50 Hz sinusoidal 0.2 mT or 6.0 mT EMF for 2 weeks. At the same time, some groups were exposed to lead(50 mg/kg). After the exposure, the antioxidant system and cell membrane fluidity in brain and liver were measured.

RESULTSMalondiadehyde(MDA) content in brain and liver increased from the control levels of (1.33 +/- 0.12) and (3.95 +/- 0.21) nmol/mg pro to (1.35 +/- 0.09) and (6.15 +/- 0.28) nmol/mg pro respectively following 0.2 mT exposure, and to (3.98 +/- 0.10) and (6.50 +/- 0.79) nmol/mg pro respectively following 6.0 mT exposure. Total antioxidant capability(T-AOC) in brain and liver decreased from the control levels of (4.39 +/- 0.48) and (2.45 +/- 0.21) U/mg pro to (3.99 +/- 0.39) and (1.92 +/- 0.32) U/mg pro respectively following 0.2 mT, and to (3.12 +/- 0.37) and (1.57 +/- 0.14) U/mg pro respectively following 6.0 mT. GSH content decreased only in liver tissue from the control level of (194.60 +/- 20.93) mg/g pro to (189.24 +/- 5.61) mg/g pro(0.2 mT) and (153.04 +/- 1.18) mg/g pro(6.0 mT). Cellular membrane fluidity decreased from the control levels of (1.396 +/- 0.040) and (2.899 +/- 0.552) to (1.224 +/- 0.190) and (1.894 +/- 0.0761) (0.2 mT), (1.159 +/- 0.179) and (1.516 +/- 0.204)(6.0 mT) respectively. Compared with single EMF exposure(6.0 mT), EMF combined with lead exposure induced remarkable increase in MDA, GSH content and T-AOC and decrease in cell membrane fluidity both in the brain and liver, and increase in SOD activity only in liver.

CONCLUSIONELF EMF might alter the metabolism of free radicals, decrease anti-oxidant capability and enhance lipid peroxidation. The combination of EMF with lead showed synergic effects on lipid peroxidation.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Electromagnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Glutathione ; analysis ; Lead ; toxicity ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Membrane Fluidity ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Mice ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

The incidence of delayed radiation necrosis is reported to be 0.5% to 5%. Recently, the incidence of delayed radiation necrosis has been increasing due to three major causes. Firstly, the radiation dose is increasing to treat malignant brain tumors aggressively. Secondly, new diagnostic tools such as high resolution brain CT and magnetic resonance imaging enable the precise detection. Finally, survival time after radiation therapy is prolonged so that delayed radiation effect comes out. We experienced one case of delayed radiation necrosis at the temporal lobes after total 11,000 rads irradiation for nasopharyngeal cancer. We report this case with brief reviews of the articles.
Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Incidence ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; Necrosis* ; Radiation Effects ; Temporal Lobe*

With the development of economy and coming of information era, the chance of exposure to electromagnetic fields with various frequencies has been increased for every human. The effects of electromagnetic radiattion on human being's health are versatile. To study the effects of bioelctronic parameters of rats in the electromagnetic radiations of HV transmission line, EEG, ECG and CMAP were measured in rats exposed to simulating high-voltage transmission line electromagnetic radiation for over one year. Brain tissues were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results showed that no significant difference between exposed group and control group in EEG; however the FT-infrared spectra of brain tissues were different; the ECG of the exposed animals was considerably altered. Significant slowing of heart rate was observed in those rates exposed to EMFs; the latent period of CMAP in exposed group were not different compared with those of control group however there was a significant difference in wave amplitude of CMAP between the exposed group and control group. All results indicated that there must be some effects on bioelectric parameters of rats exposed to electromagnetic radiation of high-voltage transmission line for a long time.
Animals ; Brain ; physiopathology ; Electrocardiography ; radiation effects ; Electroencephalography ; radiation effects ; Electromagnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Electromyography ; radiation effects ; Female ; Male ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; etiology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the morphologic changes within 24 hours after a single gamma-irradiation in the rat brain. METHODS: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were used. After a burr hole trephination on right parietal area, cerebral hemisphere was irradiated with 2Gy and 5Gy using iridium-192(192Ir), respectively. The effect was assessed at 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours after irradiation. The histological changes were scored following the detection of edema or disarray severity. TUNEL-positive cells exhibiting apoptotic morphology were counted in irradiated region. RESULTS: Cortical edema and disarray were initially showed at 4 or 8hour and almost all defined at 24hour after irradiation. And the injury was wedge shape. TUNEL-positive cells were minimal at 8hour after irradiation as the number of positive cells were 2.6+/-5.27(n=5) after 2Gy, and 0.8+/-0.84(n=5) after 5Gy. But, the number of apoptotic cells were increased markedly to 60+/-6.24 at 12hour after 2Gy and to 104+/-19.7 at 24hour after 5Gy. CONCLUSION: There were prominent morphologic changes immediately after gamma-irradiation. And, apoptosis was increased according to the time period. These findings implicate that brain irradiation induces rapid apoptotic change, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of radiation-induced pathologic conditions.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Brain* ; Cerebral Cortex* ; Cerebrum ; Cranial Irradiation ; Edema ; Rabeprazole ; Radiation Effects* ; Radiation Injuries ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Trephining

To evaluate the effect of wild-type p53 gene on the growth and radiotherapeutic sensitivity of human glioma cells, plasmid PC53-SN3 carrying wild-type p53 gene was transfected into U251 cells. p53 gene expression in transfected cells was detected by RT-PCR, and the cell growth inhibition and apoptosis in the absence or presence of irradiation were assessed by MTT and flow cytometry. The transfection of p53 gene into U251 cells was confirmed by RT-PCR. MTT showed that p53 gene alone induced strong inhibitory effect on the growth of U251 cells (inhibition rate (IR), (79.60 +/- 5.69)%). The killing effect of irradiation alone on U251 cells was not strong (IR: (17.06 +/- 4.35)% (17.39 +/- 1.67)% (18.73 +/- 4.68)%) and increased with the irradiation doses (3, 6, 9 Gy). When combined treatment of wild-type p53 gene transfection and irradiation was used, the effect was significantly increased (IR:(80.60 +/- 5.35)%. (90.30 +/- 1.67)%, (91.30 +/- 2.01)%). The apoptosis rate of U251 cells induced by p53 gene transfection was 17.38%. The rate induced by irradiation increased (4.61%, 4.84%, 5.40%) with the irradiation doses (3, 6, 9 Gy). The apoptosis rate was also significantly increased (17.80%, 20.03%, 22.34%) after combined treatment of p53 and irradiation with different doses (3, 6, 9 Gy). It is concluded that wild-type p53 gene and irradiation could result in synergistic inhibitory effect on the growth of human glioma cells.
Apoptosis/*radiation effects ; Brain Neoplasms/genetics ; Brain Neoplasms/*pathology ; Genes, p53/*radiation effects ; Glioma/genetics ; Glioma/*pathology ; Transfection ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) on c-fos gene expression in mouse brain and liver tissues.

METHODSMice were exposed to 50 Hz sinusoidal 0.2 mT or 6.0 mT electromagnetic field for 2 weeks or 4 weeks. Competitive RT-PCR method was used to measure c-fos mRNA level.

RESULTSAfter exposure to 0.2 mT or 6.0 mT field for 2 weeks, c-fos mRNA levels in brain tissue [(0.0178 +/- 0.0076) amol/120 ng cDNA and (0.0092 +/- 0.0042) amol/120 ng cDNA respectively] were higher than that of control level [(0.0012 +/- 0.0005) amol/120 ng cDNA] (P < 0.05). In liver tissue c-fos mRNA levels [(0.0117 +/- 0.0055) amol/120 ng cDNA and (0.0148 +/- 0.0162) amol/120 ng cDNA respectively] were also higher than that of control level [(0.0005 +/- 0.0005) amol/120 ng cDNA] (P < 0.05). After exposure to 0.2 mT or 6.0 mT field for 4 weeks, c-fos mRNA levels in brain tissue [(0.0100 +/- 0.0054) amol/120 ng cDNA and (0.0198 +/- 0.0079) amol/120 ng cDNA respectively] were higher than that of control level [(0.0015 +/- 0.0008) amol/120 ng cDNA] (P < 0.05). In liver tissue the exposure induced much higher expression level [(0.0173 +/- 0.0122) amol/120 ng cDNA and (0.0133 +/- 0.0090) amol/120 ng cDNA respectively] while no expression was found in the control.

CONCLUSIONExposure to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields may induce up-regulation of c-fos transcription in mouse brain and liver tissue.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Gene Expression Regulation ; radiation effects ; Genes, fos ; genetics ; Liver ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Male ; Mice ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors