OBJECTIVETo investigate the influences of mobile phone radiation on the quality and DNA methylation of human sperm in vitro.

METHODSAccording to the fifth edition of the WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen, we randomly selected 97 male volunteers with normal semen parameters and divided each semen sample from the subjects into two equal parts, one exposed to mobile phone radiation at 1950 M Hz, SAR3. 0 W/kg for 3 hours while the other left untreated as the control. We obtained routine semen parameters as well as the acrosomal reaction ability, apoptosis and DNA methylation of sperm, and compared them between the two groups.

RESULTSCompared with the control, the radiation group showed significantly decreased progressive sperm motility ([36.64 ± 16.93] vs [27.56 ± 16.92]%, P < 0.01) and sperm viability ([63.72 ± 16.35] vs [54.31 ± 17.35]%, P < 0.01) and increased sperm head defects ([69.92 ± 4.46] vs [71.17 ± 4.89]%, P < 0.05), but no significant differences in sperm acrosomal reaction ([66.20 ± 6.75] vs [64.50 ± 3.47]%, P > 0.05). The early apoptosis rate of sperm cells was remarkably higher in the radiation group ([6.89 ± 9.84]%) than in the control ([4.44 ± 5.89]%) (P < 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were found between the control and radiation groups in the DNA methylation patterns of the paternal imprinting gene H19 ICR ([0.60 ± 0.02] vs [1.40 ± 0.03]%, P > 0.05) or the maternal imprinting gene KvDMR1 ([0.00 ± 0.00] vs [1.80 ± 0.031%, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMobile phone radiation reduces the progressive motility and viability of human sperm and increases sperm head defects and early apoptosis of sperm cells.

Cell Phone ; DNA Methylation ; radiation effects ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Semen ; radiation effects ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Head ; radiation effects ; Sperm Motility ; radiation effects ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; radiation effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of long-term microwave radiation on male reproduction in rats.

METHODSA total of 100 male Wistar rats were exposed to microwave radiation with average power density of 0, 2.5, 5 and 10 mW/cm2 for 4 weeks, 5 times a week and 6 minutes per time. Changes in serum testosterone, testicular index, histology and ultrastructure, and the percentage of teratospermia in the epididymis were observed dynamically at 6 h, 7 d, 14 d, 28 d and 60 d after the exposure.

RESULTSThere was a significant decrease in serum testosterone concentration at 28 d after microwave radiation at 2.5, 5 and 10 mW/cm2 ([10.20 +/- 4.31] ng/ml, [5.56 +/- 3.47] ng/ml and [7.53 +/- 4.54] ng/ml) and at 60 d at 10 mW/cm2 ( [15.95 +/- 9.54] ng/ml), as compared with the control group ([23.35 +/- 8.06] ng/ml and [31.40 +/- 9.56] ng/ml) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). No significant changes were found in the testis index at 6 h -60 d after microwave radiation at the three doses, but different degrees of degeneration, necrosis and shedding of spermatogenic cells, thinning of spermatogenic epithelia, and decrease or deletion of spermatozoa were observed, and more obvious at 28 d and 60 d. Swelling and cavitation of mitochondria in all spermatogenic cells, agglutination and margin translocation of nuclear chromatin in the spermatogonial and Leydig cells were seen at 7 d and 60 d after 5 mW/cm2 microwave radiation. The rate of teratospermia of the epididymis was increased, more obviously at 7 d after 2.5, 5 mW/cm2, 60 d after 5 mW/cm2, and 7 d, 28 d and 60 d after 10 mW/cm2 microwave radiation (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONLong-term microwave radiation may cause injury to male reproduction, which is positively correlated with the radiation dose, and has an obvious late effect.

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Male ; Microwaves ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reproduction ; radiation effects ; Sperm Head ; radiation effects ; Testis ; radiation effects

Action of electromagnetic radiation exerting on human body has been a concerned issue for people. Because electromagnetic waves could generate an electric stress in a discontinuous medium, we used the finite difference time domain (FDTD) as calculation methods to calculate the electric stress and its distribution in human head caused by high-frequency low-power electromagnetic environment, which was generated by dual-band (900 MHz and 1 800 MHz) PIFA antennas with radiated power 1 W, and we then performed the safety evaluation of cell phone radiation from the angle whether the electric stress further reached the human hearing threshold. The result showed that there existed the electric stress at the interface of different permittivity organization caused by the two kinds of high-frequency low-power electromagnetic environment and the maximum electric stress was located at the interface between skin and air of the phone side, and the electric stress peak at skull did not reach the threshold of auditory caused by bone tissue conduction so that it can not produce auditory effects.
Auditory Threshold ; Cell Phone ; Electricity ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Electromagnetic Radiation ; Head ; radiation effects ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: We intended to calculate approximate fetal doses in pregnant women who underwent diagnostic radiology procedures and to evaluate the safety of their pregnancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We contacted hospitals in different cities in Turkey where requests for fetal dose calculation are usually sent. Fetal radiation exposure was calculated for 304 cases in 218 pregnant women with gestational ages ranging from 5 days to 19 weeks, 2 days. FetDose software (ver. 4.0) was used in fetal dose calculations for radiographic and computed tomography (CT) procedures. The body was divided into three zones according to distance from the fetus. The first zone consisted of the head area, the lower extremities below the knee, and the upper extremities; the second consisted of the cervicothoracic region and upper thighs; and the third consisted of the abdominopelvic area. Fetal doses from radiologic procedures between zones were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test and a Bonferroni-corrected Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: The average fetal doses from radiography and CT in the first zone were 0.05 ± 0.01 mGy and 0.81 ± 0.04 mGy, respectively; 0.21 ± 0.05 mGy and 1.77 ± 0.22 mGy, respectively, in the second zone; and 6.42 ± 0.82 mGy and 22.94 ± 1.28 mGy, respectively, in the third zone (p < 0.001). Our results showed that fetal radiation exposures in our group of pregnant women did not reach the level (50 mGy) that is known to increase risk for congenital anomalies. CONCLUSION: Fetal radiation exposure in the diagnostic radiology procedures in our study did not reach risk levels that might have indicated abortion.
Female ; Fetus/*radiation effects ; Gestational Age ; Head/radiation effects ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; *Radiation Dosage ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk ; Software ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Turkey

The objective of this study was to investigate the compositional profiles and microbial shifts of oral microbiota during head-and-neck radiotherapy. Bioinformatic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing was performed to assess the diversity and variation of oral microbiota of irradiated patients. Eight patients with head and neck cancers were involved in this study. For each patient, supragingival plaque samples were collected at seven time points before and during radiotherapy. A total of 147,232 qualified sequences were obtained through pyrosequencing and bioinformatic analysis, representing 3,460 species level operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and 140 genus level taxa. Temporal variations were observed across different time points and supported by cluster analysis based on weighted UniFrac metrics. Moreover, the low evenness of oral microbial communities in relative abundance was revealed by Lorenz curves. This study contributed to a better understanding of the detailed characterization of oral bacterial diversity of irradiated patients.
Actinomyces ; classification ; radiation effects ; Actinomycetaceae ; classification ; radiation effects ; Alcaligenaceae ; classification ; radiation effects ; Bacteria ; classification ; radiation effects ; Capnocytophaga ; classification ; radiation effects ; Carnobacteriaceae ; classification ; radiation effects ; Computational Biology ; Dental Plaque ; microbiology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gemella ; classification ; radiation effects ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neisseria ; classification ; radiation effects ; Prevotella ; classification ; radiation effects ; Propionibacteriaceae ; classification ; radiation effects ; RNA, Bacterial ; analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; analysis ; Streptococcus ; classification ; radiation effects ; Veillonella ; classification ; radiation effects

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of different planning target volume (PTV) margin settings on surface and superficial dose distribution and explore the resolution of high superficial dose when the target area is close to the surface during head and neck intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

METHODSA typical superficial target volume was designed in an circular neck phantom. Two experimental inverse IMRT plans were conducted with 8MV X ray, and in plan A, the superficial side of PTV margin ranged from 0 to 5 mm, while other side margins were 5 mm; in plan B, an suppositional machine dosimetry data for IMRT optimization was established in which the build-up dose was eliminated, and this machine data was used to optimize the inverse IMRT plan followed by recalculation of the planned dose distribution with the actual clinical machine dosimetry data. The variation of the surface and superficial dose resulting from set-up error and the dose distribution to CTV were compared. The adequate PTV margin was analyzed when the CTV approached the surface.

RESULTSIn plan A, the high dose greater than the prescribed dose was found in the surface and superficial region when the superficial sparing distance was between the surface and PTV d<3 mm, and the 3 mm set-up margin increased this superficial dose remarkably. Reducing the superficial side of PTV margin lowered the high superficial dose effectively and allowed maintenance of the prescribed dose to the CTV. To avoid reduction of the dose to the CTV to below 95% of the prescribed dose, the superficial side of PTV margin should be greater than 1 mm. Plan B effectively lowered the surface doses and maintained the prescribed dose to the CTV.

CONCLUSIONSWith appropriate techniques for optimizing inverse IMRT, more homogeneous superficial dose can be achieved.

Computer Simulation ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Humans ; Radiation Injuries ; prevention & control ; Radiation Protection ; methods ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; methods ; standards ; Skin ; radiation effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the potential benefit of carbon ion radiotherapy (C-ion RT) through comparison with photon intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in dose distribution for prostatic adenocarcinoma.

METHODSIn randomly selected 5 patients, treatment planning of C-ion RT (4 coplanar beams) and IMRT (7 coplanar fields) were worked out by computer working station. In order to make a meaningful comparison, it was defined that the 95% isodose surface had to cover 100% of the PTV in each plan; all dose was given as normalized dose with the definition of the minimum dose of the PTV being equal to 95% of prescribed dose. Dose-volume histograms (DVHs) of the tumor and organ-at-risks (OARs) were calculated. Volume irradiated more than or equal to some specified doses, conformity index ( CI) , and inhomogeneity coefficient (IC) of each treatment plan was compared, respectively.

RESULTSWith C-ion RT, the mean irradiated volumes (in %) of the rectum were significantly smaller than that with IMRT except for 95% dose level, and C-ion RT could provide complete protection to the posterior rectal wall. In addition, C-ion RT could also remarkably reduce the dose to the bladder, femoral heads and non-target normal tissues at each dose level. Dose conformation and homogeneity in the target volume of C-ion RT were better than that in IMRT (mean CI50%, 3.36 vs. 5.04, mean CI95%, 1.20 vs. 1.46, mean IC, 0.03 vs. 0.12).

CONCLUSIONCompared with IMRT, C-ion RT can obtain better dose distribution, and may reduce tumor recurrence and radiation-induced complications in prostatic adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Aged ; Carbon Radioisotopes ; therapeutic use ; Femur Head ; radiation effects ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; methods ; Rectum ; radiation effects ; Urinary Bladder ; radiation effects

The volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) technique, in the form of RapidArc, is widely used to treat prostate cancer. The full-single arc (f-SA) technique in RapidArc planning for prostate cancer treatment provides efficient treatment, but it also delivers a higher radiation dose to the rectum. This study aimed to compare the dosimetric results from the new partial-single arc (p-SA) technique with those from the f-SA technique in RapidArc planning for prostate cancer treatment. In this study, 10 patients with low-risk prostate cancer were selected. For each patient, two sets of RapidArc plans (f-SA and p-SA) were created in the Eclipse treatment planning system. The f-SA plan was created using one full arc, and the p-SA plan was created using planning parameters identical to those of the f-SA plan but with anterior and posterior avoidance sectors. Various dosimetric parameters of the f-SA and p-SA plans were evaluated and compared for the same target coverage and identical plan optimization parameters. The f-SA and p-SA plans showed an average difference of ±1% for the doses to the planning target volume (PTV), and there were no clear differences in dose homogeneity or plan conformity. In comparison to the f-SA technique, the p-SA technique reduced the doses to the rectum by approximately 6.1% to 21.2%, to the bladder by approximately 10.3% to 29.5%, and to the penile bulb by approximately 2.2%. In contrast, the dose to the femoral heads, the integral dose, and the number of monitor units were higher in the p-SA plans by approximately 34.4%, 7.7%, and 9.2%, respectively. In conclusion, it is feasible to use the p-SA technique for RapidArc planning for prostate cancer treatment. For the same PTV coverage and identical plan optimization parameters, the p-SA technique is better in sparing the rectum and bladder without compromising plan conformity or target homogeneity when compared to the f-SA technique.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Femur Head ; radiation effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Organs at Risk ; radiation effects ; Penis ; radiation effects ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Radiometry ; methods ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; methods ; Rectum ; radiation effects ; Urinary Bladder ; radiation effects

OBJECTIVETo study the radiosensitizing effect of resveratrol on human hypo pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (FaDu) cells in nude mice.

METHODSForty-three nude mice bearing FaDu cell xenografts were randomized into control group, radiotherapy (12 Gy) group, resveratrol treatment (50 mg/kg) group, and radiotherapy plus resveratrol treatment group. After corresponding treatments, the tumor volume in the mice was measured every 3 days, and the microvessel density (MVD) in the tumor was evaluated with CD31 immunofluorescence histochemical staining.

RESULTSThe tumor volume and weight were the smallest in mice receiving radiotherapy plus resveratrol treatment (P<0.05) but comparable between those having resveratrol treatment alone and the control mice. Radiotherapy plus resveratrol treatment resulted in a tumor inhibition rate of 76.64% and a significantly decreased MVD in the tumor compared with the other 3 groups.

CONCLUSIONResveratrol can produce a radiosensitizing effect on human hypopharyngeal carcinoma in nude mice.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; Cell Line, Tumor ; radiation effects ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Radiation Tolerance ; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents ; pharmacology ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Tumor Burden

Amifostine ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Humans ; Oral Health ; Radiation Injuries ; etiology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Radiotherapy ; adverse effects ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; Salivary Glands ; radiation effects ; Salivation ; radiation effects ; Submandibular Gland ; surgery ; transplantation ; Xerostomia ; etiology ; prevention & control ; therapy