Protein Kinase C ; Radiation, Nonionizing

OBJECTIVETo investigate the non-ionizing radiation hazards from physiotherapy equipment in medical institutions and to explore feasible control measures for occupational diseases.

METHODSOn-site measurement and assessment of ultra-high-frequency radiation, high-frequency electromagnetic field, microwave radiation, and laser radiation were carried out in 16 medical institutions using the methods in the Measurement of Physical Agents in Workplace (GBZ/T189-2007).

RESULTSAll the investigated medical institutions failed to take effective protective measures against non-ionizing radiation. Of the 17 ultra-short wave therapy apparatus, 70.6%, 47.1%, and 17.64% had a safe intensity of ultra-high-frequency radiation on the head, chest, and abdomen, respectively. Of the 4 external high-frequency thermotherapy apparatus, 100%, 75%, and 75%had a safe intensity of high-frequency electromagnetic field on the head, chest, and abdomen, respectively. In addition, the intensities of microwave radiation and laser radiation produced by the 18 microwave therapy apparatus and 12 laser therapeutic apparatus met national health standards.

CONCLUSIONThere are non-ionizing radiation hazards from physiotherapy equipment in medical institutions, and effective prevention and control measures are necessary.

Electromagnetic Fields ; Humans ; Microwaves ; adverse effects ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; statistics & numerical data ; Physical Therapy Modalities ; instrumentation ; Radiation, Nonionizing ; adverse effects

Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Humans ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Radiation, Nonionizing ; adverse effects

BACKGROUNDMicrofracture is a type of bone marrow stimulation in arthroscopic cartilage repair. However, the overall concentration of the mesenchymal stem cells is quite low and declines with age, and in the end the lesion is filled by fibrocartilage. The aim of this research was to investigate a novel method of enhancing microfracture by determining whether low-energy shock waves in microfracture holes would facilitate cartilage repair in a rabbit model.

METHODSFull-thickness cartilage defects were created at the medial femoral condyle of 36 mature New Zealand white rabbits without penetrating subchondral bone. The rabbits were randomly divided into three groups. In experimental group A, low-energy shock-wave therapy was performed in microfracture holes (diameter, 1 mm) at an energy flux density (EFD) of 0.095 mJ/mm² and 200 impulses by DolorClast Master (Electro Medical Systems SA, Switzerland) microprobe (diameter, 0.8 mm). In experimental group B, microfracture was performed alone. The untreated rabbits served as a control group. At 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the operations, repair tissues at the defects were analyzed stereologically, histologically, and immunohistochemically.

RESULTSThe defects were filled gradually with repair tissues in experimental groups A and B, and no repair tissues had formed in the control group at 12 weeks. Repair tissues in experimental group A contained more chondrocytes, proteoglycans, and collagen type II than those in experimental group B. In experimental group B, fibrous tissues had formed at the defects at 8 and 12 weeks. Histological analysis of experimental group A showed a better Wakitani score (P < 0.05) than in experimental group B at 8 and 12 weeks after the operation.

CONCLUSIONSIn the repair of full-thickness articular cartilage defects in rabbits, low-energy shock waves in microfracture holes facilitated the production of hyaline-like cartilage repair tissues more than microfracture alone. This model demonstrates a new method of improving microfracture and applying shock waves in vivo. However, longer-term outcomes require further study.

Animals ; Cartilage, Articular ; injuries ; radiation effects ; Female ; Male ; Rabbits ; Radiation, Nonionizing ; Random Allocation ; Wound Healing ; radiation effects

Humans ; Radiation Injuries ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Radiation, Nonionizing ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Radioactive Hazard Release ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between microwave radiation and male reproductivity.

METHODSAfter filling out questionnaire and body check, we carried out molecular epidemiological studies, using single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) and sperm automatic analysis among people working on radar.

RESULTSQuality of semen and semi-clinical injury of sperm among the people working on radar had changed when radar electromagnetic wave frequency distance, intensity, lasting time and protection shield were changing. Dose-response relationship was noticed and the increase of sperm dysmorphia played a principal role. The results between exposed group and control group showed significant difference (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPeople working on radar who suffered from non-ionization for long time and had bad radar shield protection would show semi-clinical injury on sperm and bad semen quality. However, it did not affect the male reproductive function. It was necessary to reinforce the protection of non-ionization and to improve male reproductive health care of people working on radar.

Adult ; Comet Assay ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Fertility ; physiology ; radiation effects ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Radar ; Radiation, Nonionizing ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; radiation effects ; Time Factors

Studies have demonstrated that electromagnetic waves, as the one of the most important physical factors, may alter cognitive and non-cognitive behaviors, depending on the frequency and energy. Moreover, non-ionizing radiation of low energy waves e.g. very low frequency waves could alter this phenomenon via alterations in neurotransmitters and neurohormones. In this study, short, medium, and long-term exposure to the extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) (1 and 5 Hz radiation) on behavioral, hormonal, and metabolic changes in male Wistar rats (250 g) were studied. In addition, changes in plasma concentrations for two main stress hormones, noradrenaline and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were evaluated. ELF-EMF exposure did not alter body weight, and food and water intake. Plasma glucose level was increased and decreased in the groups which exposed to the 5 and 1Hz wave, respectively. Plasma ACTH concentration increased in both using frequencies, whereas noradrenaline concentration showed overall reduction. At last, numbers of rearing, sniffing, locomotor activity was increased in group receiving 5 Hz wave over the time. In conclusions, these data showed that the effects of 1 and 5 Hz on the hormonal, metabolic and stress-like behaviors may be different. Moreover, the influence of waves on stress system is depending on time of exposure.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Blood Glucose ; Body Weight ; Corticosterone ; Drinking ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Electromagnetic Radiation* ; Epinephrine ; Humans ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Norepinephrine ; Plasma ; Radiation, Nonionizing ; Rats, Wistar*

This paper explored the feasibility of using ultrasonic Nakagami statistic parameter imaging to evaluate the thermal lesion induced by microwave ablation (MWA) in porcine models. In this paper, thermal lesions were induced in livers and kidneys in 5 swines using a clinical MWA system. During this treatment progress, ultrasonic radiofrequency (RF) data were collected. The dynamic changes of Nakagami parameter in the thermal lesion were calculated, and the ultrasonic B-mode images and Nakagami images were reconstructed simultaneously. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between the thermal lesion and the surrounding normal tissue was calculated over the MWA procedure. After MWA, a bright hyperechoic region appeared in the ultrasonic Nakagami image as an indicator of the thermal lesion and this bright spot enlarged with lesion development during MWA exposure. The mean value of Nakagami parameter in the liver and kidney increased from 0.78 and 0.79 before treatment to 0.91 and 0.92 after treatment, respectively. During MWA exposure, the mean values of CNR calculated from the Nakagami parameter increased from 0.49 to 1.13 in the porcine liver and increased from 0.51 to 0.85 in the kidney, which were both higher than those calculated from the B-mode images. This study on porcine models suggested that the ultrasonic Nakagami imaging may provide an alternative modality for monitoring MWA treatment.
Animals ; Kidney ; diagnostic imaging ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; Microwaves ; Radio Waves ; Radiofrequency Ablation ; Swine ; Ultrasonography

The vast majority of the published papers dealing with the treatment of wounds in the past few decades reported that extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) used in wound repair is easy in manipulation, noninvasive, safe, effective, and well tolerated by patients. However, little is known about the mechanism of ESWT in wound healing to date. In this article, we reviewed the literature to identify the potential cellular and molecular mechanisms of ESWT in the process of wound healing, and the results of the literature showed that the mechanism of ESWT in promoting wound healing is the result of heterogeneous biological effects.
High-Energy Shock Waves ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Skin ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; therapy ; Ultrasonic Therapy ; methods ; trends ; Wound Healing ; physiology

The auditory system recognized sound waves. The sound waves are longitudinal waves in the air, where the pressure varies in time. It is distinguished as the rapid pressure changes, referred to as 'fine structure', and slower overall changes of amplitude fluctuations, as 'envelope'. The auditory system has a limited ability to follow the time-varying envelope, and this ability is known as 'temporal resolution'. Our auditory system analyzes sound waves in frequency, intensity, and time domain. The understanding about frequency and intensity domain is relatively easy compare to time domain. Hearing threshold is measured by sound intensity in frequency domain. However the speech discrimination and understanding of the sentence in quiet and noise are associated with temporal resolution. So for the comprehensive understanding about the auditory system and hearing ability, we must extend our knowledge to the temporal ability of the auditory system.
Hearing ; Noise ; Sound ; Speech Perception