Cellular phones and risk of brain tumors

Medical faculty members' perception of smartphones as an educational tool

BACKGROUND

The rapid adoption of modern technology has changed many aspects of our life and communication; it has the power to influence and change the way we teach, learn and practice different types of professions mainly teaching and health care providing. Smartphone applications are increasingly becoming popular and widespread. Generally, these applications are likely to play a significant role in supporting education, in general, and medical education, in particular. This study aims at investigating how medical faculty members are using smartphones in medical education and practice, and how they perceive them as an educational tool at university level.

METHODS

The researchers have distributed an online questionnaire - including three parts: a demographic part with five variables; a 15-item part of various applications of the smartphones; and a 14-item part measuring attitudes towards using these smartphones - among medical faculty members at two Palestinian universities.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Medical faculty members working at two Palestinian universities. Data have been collected from 30 participants out of 72 representing a response rate of 41.6%.

RESULTS

The average skills score with smartphones usage is (3.18) which tells that faculty members use smartphones to support their teaching practices. In general, faculty members are positive towards smartphones as a prospective teaching tool since the average attitude towards using smartphones is (3.60). The study results show no significant differences among faculty members based on the five demographic variables, i.e. university, title, department affiliation, gender, and years of experience.

CONCLUSION

It seems that the majority of faculty members believe that smartphones would be a significant instrument as well as addition to their teaching practices.

Epidemiological trends, relative survival, and prognosis risk factors of WHO Grade III gliomas: A population-based study

Background

Population‐based studies on grade III gliomas are still lacking. The purpose of our study was to investigate epidemiological characteristics, survival, and risk factors of these tumors.

Patients and methods

All data of patients with grade III gliomas were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. This database provides analysis to evaluate age‐adjusted incidence, incidence‐based mortality, and limited‐duration prevalence. The trends of incidence and mortality were modeled using Joinpoint program. Relative survival was also available in this database. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to access the prognostic significance of risk factors on cancer‐specific survival. Nomogram was constructed to predict 3‐, 5‐, and 10‐year survival.

Results

Our study showed that during 2000‐2013, the incidence was stable and the mortality rate dropped significantly with APC as −1.95% (95% CI: −3.35% to −0.54%). Patients aged 40‐59 had the highest prevalent cases. The 1‐, 3‐, 5‐, and 10‐year relative survival rates for all patients were 74.7%, 52.8%, 44.4%, and 32.4%. And it varied by risk factors. Cox regression analysis showed older age, male, black race, divorced status, histology of AA, tumor size <3.5 cm and no surgery were associated with worse survival.

Conclusion

Our study provides reasonable estimates of the incidence, mortality, and prevalence for patients with grade III gliomas during 2000‐2013. The results of relative survival and Cox regression analysis revealed that age, race, sex, year of diagnosis, tumor site, histologic type, tumor size, and surgery were the identifiable prognostic indicators. The effects of radiotherapy still need further study. We integrated these risk factors to construct an effective clinical prediction model.

The Effect of Electromagnetic Radiation due to Mobile Phone Use on Thyroid Function in Medical Students Studying in a Medical College in South India

BACKGROUND

Enormous increase in mobile phone use throughout the world raises widespread concerns about its possible detrimental effect on human health. Radiofrequency waves are emitted by cell phones. They are non-ionising and the effect on the thyroid gland is part of their non thermal effects. The thyroid gland may be particularly vulnerable to this effect because of its normal anatomical position.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was done to explore the association between radiation exposure and thyroid dysfunction among mobile phone users. It had an exploratory design and unit survey method to collect information from all medical students in a medical college in South India. Inclusion criteria included active use of mobile phone prior to and during the study period. Criteria for exclusion was presence of pre-existsting thyroid disease,thyroid nodule,thyroid goitre/nodule and altered thyroid function.

RESULTS

The sample size was 83 undergraduate students. 71% of respondents had no family history of thyroid illness. Among the remainder,20.5% had a first degree relative with thyroid dysfunction,8.4% had a second degree relative affected. Clinical examination revealed that 79.5% of the respondents were normal,13.6% had thyroid swelling,3.6% had symptoms of thyroid dysfunction and 3.6% had both thyroid swelling and symptoms of thyroid dysfunction. 53% of the respondents spent 0.5 hrs on an average talking on the phone daily,28.9% spent 1.5 hrs daily and 10.8% of respondents spent over 3.5 hours. We found there was a significant correlation between total radiation exposure and an increase in TSH among both groups -in those with and without family history of thyroid illness.

CONCLUSION

In our study there was a significant correlation between total radiation exposure and increasing TSH values among both all respondents.

Adolescent Health Implications of New Age Technology

This article examines the health implications of new age technology use among adolescents. As Internet prevalence has increased, researchers have found evidence of potential negative health consequences on adolescents. Internet addiction has become a serious issue. Pornography is now easily accessible to youth and studies have related pornography with several negative health effects. Cyberbullying has become a large problem as new age technologies have created a new and easy outlet for adolescents to bully one another. These technologies are related to increased morbidity and mortality, such as suicides due to cyberbullying and motor vehicle deaths due to texting while driving.

Association between number of cell phone contracts and brain tumor incidence in nineteen U.S. States

Some concern has arisen about adverse health effects of cell phones, especially the possibility that the low power microwave-frequency signal transmitted by the antennas on handsets might cause brain tumors or accelerate the growth of subclinical tumors. We analyzed data from the Statistical Report: Primary Brain Tumors in the United States, 2000-2004 and 2007 cell phone subscription data from the Governing State and Local Sourcebook. There was a significant correlation between number of cell phone subscriptions and brain tumors in nineteen US states (r = 0.950, P < 0.001). Because increased numbers of both cell phone subscriptions and brain tumors could be due solely to the fact that some states, such as New York, have much larger populations than other states, such as North Dakota, multiple linear regression was performed with number of brain tumors as the dependent variable, cell phone subscriptions, population, mean family income and mean age as independent variables. The effect of cell phone subscriptions was significant (P = 0.017), and independent of the effect of mean family income (P = 0.894), population (P = 0.003) and age (0.499). The very linear relationship between cell phone usage and brain tumor incidence is disturbing and certainly needs further epidemiological evaluation. In the meantime, it would be prudent to limit exposure to all sources of electro-magnetic radiation.

Thyroid cancer incidence and survival in the national cancer institute surveillance, epidemiology, and end results race/ethnicity groups

BACKGROUND

Thyroid cancer incidence has continuously increased for decades and the causes of this increase are still controversial. The objective of this study was to examine if the increased trend is different among the different National Cancer Institute (NCI) Race/Ethnicity Groups (REGs) within the NCI surveillance epidemiology and end results database for the United States.

METHODS

Using recent 13-year surveillance epidemiology and end results data, we described the specific incidence trend of thyroid cancer for the REGs by tumor size, tested the statistical significance of the trend of incidence, and estimated the annual percentage change (APC) and 95% confidence interval. In addition, we compared the difference of 5-year survival rate among the REGs.

RESULTS

Papillary thyroid cancer incidence significantly increased over 13 years from 1992 to 2004 among the five major REGs. The estimated APC was 5.6% (95% confidence interval = 5.1%-6.1%, p < 0.01) for the non-Hispanic whites group, 4.3% (3.0-5.5, p < 0.01) for the Blacks group, 2.8% (1.5-4.2, p < 0.01) for the Hispanic whites group, 1.5% (0.5-2.5, p < 0.01) for the Asians group, and 1.1% (-2.2-4.6, p = 0.477) for the American Indians/Alaska Natives group, respectively. The APCs among the REGs were significantly different (Z = 7.89, p < 0.001). The upward incidence trend could be seen in all small or large tumors as well as in women or in men. The proportion of local staged thyroid cancer increased by 24% in the Blacks group, 14.4% in the Hispanic whites group, 14.3% in the non-Hispanic whites group, and only 4.0% in the Asians group between two periods of 1992-1996 and 2000-2004. Five-year survival rates of patients with papillary tumor were about 95%, but that of anaplastic tumor ranged from 5.6% to 11.4% among REGs.

CONCLUSION

The time trend of incidence of thyroid cancer is different among the different NCI REGs. Differences in diagnostic scrutiny may explain the differences in the REG-related trend, but this cannot easily explain the relatively small degree of increase in the trend in the Asian and the Indians/Alaska Natives groups nor can it explain the increase in the trend of large tumors that are likely to be discovered by self-palpation by patients.

Alterations in TSH and Thyroid Hormones following Mobile Phone Use

OBJECTIVES

In recent years, the widespread use of mobile phones has lead to a public debate about possible detrimental effects on human health. In spite of years of research, there is still a great controversy regarding the possibility of induction of any significant physiological effects in humans by microwave radiations emitted by mobile phones. This study aims to investigate the effects of electromagnetic fields induced by the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) mobile phones on the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and thyroid hormones in humans.

METHODS

77 healthy university students participated in this study. The levels of T3, T4 and TSH were measured by using appropriate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits (Human, Germany).

RESULTS

The average levels of T3, T4 and TSH in students who moderately used mobile phones were 1.25±0.27 ng/ml, 7.76±1.73 µg/dl and 4.25±2.12 µu/l respectively. The levels in the students who severely used mobile phones were 1.18±0.30, 7.75±1.14 and 3.75±2.05 respectively. In non-users, the levels were 1.15±0.27, 8.42±2.72 and 2.70±1.75, respectively. The difference among the levels of TSH in these 3 groups was statistically significant (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

As far as the study is concerned, this is the first human study to assess the associations between mobile phone use and alterations in the levels of TSH and thyroid hormones. Based on the findings, a higher than normal TSH level, low mean T4 and normal T3 concentrations in mobile users were observed. It seems that minor degrees of thyroid dysfunction with a compensatory rise in TSH may occur following excessive use of mobile phones. It may be concluded that possible deleterious effects of mobile microwaves on hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis affects the levels of these hormones.

Epidemiological risk assessment of mobile phones and cancer: where can we improve?

This paper aims to provide an overview of factors affecting the validity of epidemiological studies on health effects of mobile phone use. A qualitative review of published studies is presented, covering both risk assessment and exposure assessment. Considerable random error is likely to have occurred in studies carried out so far, primarily related to exposure assessment. Self-reported use of mobile phone appears to be imprecise. The relationship between the amount of mobile phone use and the radio-frequency field is unclear. Several factors affect the strength of the radio-frequency field emitted by the phone, and accommodating their effect has the potential to improve exposure assessment. The major opportunity to improve the quality of evidence is, however, through prospective studies. The major limitation of epidemiological studies addressing the health effects of mobile phone use is related to exposure assessment. These limitations are inherent in case-control studies. Quality of evidence can be improved by conducting prospective cohort studies.

The Effects of Pulsed 860 MHz Radiofrequency Radiation on the Promotion of Neurogenic Tumors in Rats

In a previous study, this laboratory reported a statistically nonsignificant trend for shortened latency of ethylnitrosourea (ENU)-induced brain tumors in Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to an 860 MHz pulsed radiofrequency (RF) signal. The present study was designed to investigate further any promoting effect of the pulsed RF signal on latency and other characteristics of neurogenic tumors in the progeny of pregnant rats treated with 6.25 or 10 mg/kg ENU. The resulting 1080 offspring were randomized equally by number, sex and ENU dose into pulsed RF, sham and cage control groups. The rats were exposed to the pulsed RF signal 6 h per day 5 days per week; the sham-exposed group was similarly confined for the same periods, and the cage controls were housed in standard cages. An essentially equal number of rats from each group were killed humanely every 30 days between the ages of 171 and 325 days; 32 rats died and 225 rats were killed when they were moribund. Postmortem examinations on the 1080 rats revealed 38 spinal cord tumors, 191 spinal nerve tumors, 232 cranial nerve tumors, and 823 brain tumors. A methodical study of the tumor characteristics disclosed no evidence that exposure to the pulsed RF signal affected the incidence, malignancy, volume, multiplicity, latency or fatality associated with any kind of neurogenic tumor.

Growing concern over the safety of using mobile phones and male fertility

There are growing concerns about the possible hazards of electromagnetic waves emitted by mobile phones on human health. One of the biggest concerns is their possible association with increased risk of cancer and their possible effects on cellular DNA. Electromagnetic waves can inflict their results through both thermal and non-thermal effects. There are many animal studies that show that electromagnetic waves have a wide range of damaging effects on the male reproductive system and sperm parameters. However, similar studies are quite limited in humans, and the results of animal studies should be interpreted with caution when considering their application to humans. Large controlled studies are required before confirming such possible effects on male fertility.

The effects of mobile phones on pacemaker function

OBJECTIVES

The electromagnetic field generated by different systems have well-recognized adverse effects on pacemaker functions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the adverse effects of mobile phones on pacemaker functions.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 679 patients with permanent pacemakers were enrolled in this study. The study was performed in two steps. Pacemaker lead polarity was unipolar in the first step and bipolar in the second step. Pacemaker sensitivity was first at nominal values, it was then reduced to the minimal value for that pacemaker and tested again. Two mobile phones were symmetrically located on both sides of the pacemaker pocket with the antennas being equidistant at 50, 30, 20 and 10 cm and in close contact with the pocket. The tests were performed when both mobiles were opened, on stand-by, were receiving a call, during the call and were closed. Thirty-seven patients with pacemakers were adversely affected (5.5%) (33 VVI-R pacemakers were converted to asynchronous mode, and 3 were inhibited, 1 DDD-R pacemaker developed ventricular triggering). When the lead polarity was unipolar, the rate of adverse effect was higher when compared to the bipolar state (4.12% and 1.40%, p<0.01). The increase in sensitivity was not an independent factor on the rate of being affected (p>0.05). The rate of observing an adverse effect increased as the pacemaker got older (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Mobile phones might have adverse effects on pacemaker functions under certain conditions. This does not result in any symptoms other than the inhibition of pacemakers, and pacemaker functions return to normal when the mobile phones are removed away from the patient.

Epidemiology and etiology of gliomas

Gliomas of astrocytic, oligodendroglial and ependymal origin account for more than 70% of all brain tumors. The most frequent (65%) and most malignant histological type is the glioblastoma. Since the introduction of computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, the incidence rates of brain tumors have been rather stable, with a tendency of higher rates in highly developed, industrialized countries. Some reports indicate that Caucasians have higher incidence than black or Asian populations, but to some extent, this may reflect socio-economic differences and under-ascertainment in some regions, rather than a significant difference in genetic susceptibility. With the exception of pilocytic astrocytomas, the prognosis of glioma patients is still poor. Less than 3% of glioblastoma patients are still alive at 5 years after diagnosis, higher age being the most significant predictor of poor outcome. Brain tumors are a component of several inherited tumor syndromes, but the prevalence of these syndromes is very low. Several occupations, environmental carcinogens, and diet (N-nitroso compounds) have been reported to be associated with an elevated glioma risk, but the only environmental factor unequivocally associated with an increased risk of brain tumors, including gliomas, is therapeutic X-irradiation. In particular, children treated with X-irradiation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia show a significantly elevated risk of developing gliomas and primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET), often within 10 years after therapy. TP53 mutations are frequent in low-grade gliomas and secondary glioblastomas derived therefrom. Approximately 60% of mutations are located in the hot spot codons 248 and 273, and the majority of these are G:C-->A:T transitions at CpG sites. TP53 mutations are significantly more frequent in low-grade astrocytomas with promoter methylation of the O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase repair gene, suggesting that, in addition to deamination of 5-methylcytosine, exogenous or endogenous alkylation in the O(6) position of guanine may contribute to the formation of these mutations.