PMID: 

Electromagn Biol Med. 2019 ;38(1):66-73. Epub 2018 Nov 2. PMID: 30388901

Abstract Title: 

Effects of exposure to electromagnetic field from mobile phone on serum hepcidin and iron status in male albino rats.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Electromagnetic fields (EMF) created by mobile phones during communication have harmful effects on different organs.OBJECTIVES: To explore the effects of exposure to EMF of mobile phones for different durations on hematological parameters and serum hepcidin in male albino rats.METHODS: Three groups of eight rats: Sham group: rats were exposed to a mobile phone while it was switched off, Experimental group I: rats were exposed to microwave radiation from a mobile phone at 9 am for 30 min. Experimental group II: rats were exposed to microwave radiations from a mobile phone at 9 am for an hour. In all groups, the exposure was conducted daily for a total period of 5 months, followed by estimation of serum hepcidin, total leukocyte count (TLC), interleukin 6 (IL6), serum iron, serum ferritin, plasma hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit value (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC), total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and 1.25 dihydroxycholecalciferol levels.RESULTS: In Experimental group II, there was a significant increase in serum hepcidin, TLC, IL6 and serum ferritin; however, serum iron, TIBC, UIBC, 1.25 dihydroxycholecalciferol, plasma Hb, Hct, MCV and MCH were significantly lower in comparison to sham-exposed group. In Experimental group I, there was a significant increase in serum hepcidin, IL6 and TLC, along with non-significant changes in the remaining studied parameters in comparison to the sham-exposed group.CONCLUSION: Chronic exposure to EMF from mobile phones increases hepcidin level with subsequent impairment of iron parameters, in addition to negatively affecting both UIBC and TIBC.

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PMID: 

Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2018 Dec 9 ;16(1):118. Epub 2018 Dec 9. PMID: 30445985

Abstract Title: 

Radiations and male fertility.

Abstract: 

During recent years, an increasing percentage of male infertility has to be attributed to an array of environmental, health and lifestyle factors. Male infertility is likely to be affected by the intense exposure to heat and extreme exposure to pesticides, radiations, radioactivity and other hazardous substances. We are surrounded by several types of ionizing and non-ionizing radiations and both have recognized causative effects on spermatogenesis. Since it is impossible to cover all types of radiation sources and their biological effects under a single title, this review is focusing on radiation deriving from cell phones, laptops, Wi-Fi and microwave ovens, as these are the most common sources of non-ionizing radiations, which may contribute to the cause of infertility by exploring the effect of exposure to radiofrequency radiations on the male fertility pattern. From currently available studies it is clear that radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) have deleterious effects on sperm parameters (like sperm count, morphology, motility), affects the role of kinases in cellular metabolism and the endocrine system, and produces genotoxicity, genomic instability and oxidative stress. This is followed with protective measures for these radiations and future recommendations. The study concludes that the RF-EMF may induce oxidative stress with an increased level of reactive oxygen species, which may lead to infertility. This has been concluded based on available evidences from in vitro and in vivo studies suggesting that RF-EMF exposure negatively affects sperm quality.

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PMID: 

J Clin Neurophysiol. 2019 Mar ;36(2):112-118. PMID: 30507655

Abstract Title: 

Electrophysiological Assessment of the Impact of Mobile Phone Radiation on Cognition in Persons With Epilepsy.

Abstract: 

PURPOSE: Serious concerns about the effect of mobile phone radiation on cognition are growing. This study aimed to assess the possible effect of mobile phone radiation in persons with epilepsy and in normal subjects.METHODS: The amplitude and reaction time of auditory event-related potentials (P300) and occipital alpha frequency were compared before and after exposure with a 30-minute call in 30 persons with epilepsy and in 30 control subjects. Alpha power was monitored before, during, and after exposure to mobile phone radiation. Moreover, correlations with clinical aspects were analyzed.RESULTS: Increased reaction time and decreased P300 amplitude were more evident in persons with epilepsy. A significant decrease in alpha power was noted in control subjects and persons with epilepsy and was associated with an increased bilateral alpha frequency. In persons with epilepsy, such changes significantly correlated with the time since the last seizure and with the therapy regimen.CONCLUSIONS: Thirty-minute exposure to mobile phone radiation has a significant effect on the electrophysiological correlates of cognition, especially in persons with epilepsy.

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PMID: 

J Ethnopharmacol. 2019 Apr 24 ;234:172-179. Epub 2019 Jan 17. PMID: 30660712

Abstract Title: 

Viscothionin purified from mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum Ohwi) induces insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells.

Abstract: 

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Mistletoe (Viscum album), an evergreen parasitic plant, has been widely used as an oriental phytomedicine to treat diabetes mellitus. However, it is unknown which mistletoe constituent exerts the beneficial effect against the disease. In this study, we examined the hypoglycemic activity of mistletoe and investigated whether the polypeptide viscothionin, purified from mistletoe, was responsible for the activity.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mistletoe extracts were prepared by heating mistletoe powder made of leaves and twigs in water for 3, 6, 9, and 12 h. Rat insulinoma RINm5F cells were used to test the cytotoxicity of the extracts and their effects on the secretion of insulin and its precursor, C-peptide. The inhibitory effects of a mistletoe extract on glucose absorption were measured using an α-glucosidase inhibition assay. To determine the component of mistletoe responsible for the observed effects, the mistletoe extract was precipitated with ethanol or hydrolyzed with a protease for further testing. A potential active constituent of mistletoe was isolated by chromatography and molecular weight cut-off fractionation, and its abilityto induce insulin secretion was investigated.RESULTS: A 12-h heat-treated mistletoe extract, showing no cytotoxicity, significantly increased the secretion of insulin and C-peptide by RINm5F cells and enhanced the expression of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT-4), insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), and protein kinase B (also known as AKT) in differentiated C2C12 cells. The extract also inhibitedα-glucosidase activity. After ethanol precipitation, the extract showed much stronger effects on insulin- and C-peptide-secreting activities of cells, whereas the enzyme-hydrolyzed extract was less effective than the original extract, suggesting that the effect was mediated by a proteinaceous constituent of mistletoe. Subsequent analysis showed that viscothionin, a heat-stable 6-kDa polypeptide isolated from mistletoe, increased the level of insulin secretion by more than 20-fold compared to that induced by the extract.CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that the hypoglycemic effect of mistletoe is mediated by its insulinotropic action andα-glucosidase inhibitory activity, and the effect is due to viscothionin, one of the major bioactive constituents of mistletoe.

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PMID: 

Complement Med Res. 2019 Mar 20:1-4. Epub 2019 Mar 20. PMID: 30897582

Abstract Title: 

Chemoimmunotherapy in Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report of a Long-Term Survivor Adjunctly Treated with Viscum album Extracts.

Abstract: 

INTRODUCTION: Metastatic renal cell carcinoma has a poor prognosis. Treatment approaches with immunotherapy show promising results in subpopulations. Viscum album extracts – used as an adjunct to cancer treatment – have cytotoxic, apoptogenic, and immune-stimulating properties and show synergistic effects with chemotherapy agents.CASE REPORT: A 51-year-old man was diagnosed with metastatic renal cell carcinoma of clear cell histology which was classified as pT3a, N1, M1, G3. Nephrectomy was performed, and the patient received chemoimmunotherapy (interferon-α2a, interleukin-2, fluorouracil, isotretinoin). Additionally, he received V. album extracts as intravenous infusions and subcutaneous injections. One year after surgery, the patient was in complete remission, which is ongoing 18 years after the initial diagnosis.DISCUSSION: This case shows an extraordinarily long survival of a metastasized renal cell carcinoma patient under chemoimmunotherapy and fever-inducing V. album extracts. This combined treatment might have synergistically contributed to tumor remission and control. With regard to clinical relevance, further investigations are needed.

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PMID: 

Front Microbiol. 2019 ;10:1423. Epub 2019 Jun 25. PMID: 31293553

Abstract Title: 

A Purified Anthraquinone-Glycoside Preparation From Rhubarb Ameliorates Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Modulating the Gut Microbiota and Reducing Inflammation.

Abstract: 

L. is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of constipation. Here, the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of purified anthraquinone-glycoside preparation from rhubarb (RAGP) on the type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats were investigated. After 6 weeks of metformin and RAGP treatment, the weight returned to normal. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated serum protein (GSP), insulin concentration and HOMA-IR index had significantly decreased, and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) concentrations had increased. Histological abnormalities in the pancreas and ileum had improved. These effects were associated with enhanced intestinal integrity, thereby reducing the absorption of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and inflammation. To investigate whether RAGP ameliorated insulin resistanceeffects on the gut microbiota, we performed 16s rDNA sequencing of ileal gut contents. This showed an amelioration of gut dysbiosis, with greater abundance of probioticand short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria, and lower abundance of the Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group and LPS-producing. The mechanism of the hypoglycemic effect of RAGP involves regulation of the gut microbiota, activation of the GLP-1/cAMP pathway to ameliorate insulin resistance. Thus, this study provides a theoretical basis for the use of RAGP to treat T2DM, and it may be a novel approach to restore the gut microbiota.

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PMID: 

Oncol Lett. 2019 Mar ;17(3):2953-2959. Epub 2019 Jan 14. PMID: 30854073

Abstract Title: 

Stilbenes contribute to the anticancer effects ofL. through activation of apoptosis.

Abstract: 

L. () is a medicinal plant used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases in East Asian countries. Numerous stilbenes isolated fromhave been revealed to possess anticancer effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of extracts and compounds isolated fromon human gastric cancer cell viability and to elucidate their molecular mechanism of action on the apoptosis pathway. The results demonstrated that aloe-emodin and chrysophanol 1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, isolated from the methanolic extract of dried rhizomes of, exhibited anti-proliferative effects on the human gastric carcinoma cell line AGS, with ICvalues of 84.66±0.44 and 68.28±0.29 µM, respectively. The percentage of apoptotic cells increased significantly following treatment with each compound at a concentration of 100 µM, compared with that in the non-treated group in the image-based cytometry assay. Western blot analysis revealed that these compounds activated the caspase cascade and inhibited B-cell lymphoma-2, an anti-apoptotic protein.

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PMID: 

Sci Rep. 2019 Apr 23 ;9(1):6428. Epub 2019 Apr 23. PMID: 31015523

Abstract Title: 

Mistletoe extract Fraxini inhibits the proliferation of liver cancer by down-regulating c-Myc expression.

Abstract: 

Mistletoe (Viscum album) is a type of parasitic plant reported to have anticancer activity including in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanism of mistletoe's anticancer activity, and its effectiveness in treating HCC are not fully understood. We report here that mistletoe extracts, including Fraxini (grown on ash trees) and Iscador Q and M (grown on oak and maple trees), exert strong antiproliferative activity in Hep3B cells, with median inhibitory concentrations (IC) of 0.5 µg/mL, 7.49 µg/mL, and 7.51 µg/mL, respectively. Results of Reversed Phase Proteomic Array analysis (RPPA) suggests that Fraxini substantially down-regulates c-Myc expression in Hep3B cells. Fraxini-induced growth inhibition (at a concentration of 1.25 μg/ml) was less pronounced in c-Myc knockdown Hep3B cells than in control cells. Furthermore, in the Hep3B xenograft model, Fraxini-treated (8 mg/kg body weight) mice had significantly smaller tumors (34.6 ± 11.9 mm) than control mice (161.6 ± 79.4 mm, p 

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PMID: 

J Int Adv Otol. 2019 Jul 9. Epub 2019 Jul 9. PMID: 31287434

Abstract Title: 

Assessment of the Effectiveness of Quercetin on Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity in Rats.

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of quercetin on cochlear function and morphology, and its possible protective effect against acute cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in rats.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective and controlled animal study was conducted on Wistar albino rats divided into four groups. Otoacoustic emission measures were performed three days after the first infiltration in Group 1 (saline), 2 (cisplatin), and 3 (quercetin). This interval was five days for Group 4 (cisplatin+quercetin). At the end of the study, the rats were decapitated with deep anesthesia, and histological changes in the cochleas were observed by light microscopy.RESULTS: Group 2 (cisplatin) revealed significant differences between the first and second measures in all frequencies. When compared to other group, the difference of the changes in Group 2 statistically significantly decreased, especially in higher frequencies. Morphologically, there were no acute changes in Group 1 and Group 3. Outer hair cell loss and the degeneration of stria vascularis and spiral ganglion were observed in both Groups 2 and 4; the damages in the latter were lesser.CONCLUSION: Quercetin does not have negative effect on cochlea, and it has protective effect on cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.

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PMID: 

Oncol Lett. 2019 Jul ;18(1):153-160. Epub 2019 May 2. PMID: 31289484

Abstract Title: 

Combination of quercetin and Adriamycin effectively suppresses the growth of refractory acute leukemia.

Abstract: 

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of combined treatment with quercetin and Adriamycin (doxorubicin) on the development of refractory acute leukemia. Primary leukemic cells were isolated from patients with refractory drug-resistant acute leukemia. The Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to detect the proliferation of cells treated with a range of doses of Adriamycin, quercetin and a combination of the two drugs. Non-irradiated mice were used to establish a T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) model, which was subsequently treated with Adriamycin, quercetin and a combination of the two drugs. The survival time was recorded, and white and red blood cells and platelets in mouse peripheral blood were counted. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of cardiac tissues were measured as indicators of oxidative stress and damage. Proliferation of primary leukemic cells was reduced by Adriamycin depending on the dose (0.06, 0.6 or 6µg/ml) and treatment duration (24, 48 or 72 h) compared with the vehicle treated group. Co-treatment with quercetin achieved a similar suppression of leukemic cell proliferation when a lower dose of Adriamycin (0.03, 0.3 or 3 µg/ml) was administered for the same duration. The survival of non-irradiated mice with T-ALL was improved by co-treatment with a high dose of Adriamycin and quercetin compared with either treatment alone. Compared with treatment with Adriamycin alone, the combined treatment with Adriamycin and quercetin significantly enhanced the SOD activity and reduced the MDA content in the heart. Therefore, quercetin may enhance the effects of Adriamycin on refractory acute leukemia.

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