PMID: 

Rev Environ Health. 2015 ;30(4):209-15. PMID: 26372109

Abstract Title: 

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity–an increasing challenge to the medical profession.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: In 1970, a report from the former Soviet Union described the"microwave syndrome"among military personnel, working with radio and radar equipment, who showed symptoms that included fatigue, dizziness, headaches, problems with concentration and memory, and sleep disturbances. Similar symptoms were found in the 1980s among Swedes working in front of cathode ray tube monitors, with symptoms such as flushing, burning, and tingling of the skin, especially on the face, but also headaches, dizziness, tiredness, and photosensitivity. The same symptoms are reported in Finns, with electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) being attributed to exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF). Of special concern is involuntary exposure to radiofrequency (RF)-EMF from different sources. Most people are unaware of this type of exposure, which has no smell, color, or visibility. There is an increasing concern that wireless use of laptops and iPads in Swedish schools, where some have even abandoned textbooks, will exacerbate the exposure to EMF.METHODS: We have surveyed the literature on different aspects of EHS and potential adverse health effects of RF-EMF. This is exemplified by case reports from two students and one teacher who developed symptoms of EHS in schools using Wi-Fi.RESULTS: In population-based surveys, the prevalence of EHS has ranged from 1.5% in Sweden to 13.3% in Taiwan. Provocation studies on EMF have yielded different results, ranging from where people with EHS cannot discriminate between an active RF signal and placebo, to objectively observed changes following exposure in reactions of the pupil, changes in heart rhythm, damage to erythrocytes, and disturbed glucose metabolism in the brain. The two students and the teacher from the case reports showed similar symptoms, while in school environments, as those mentioned above.DISCUSSION: Austria is the only country with a written suggestion to guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of EMF-related health problems. Apart from this, EHS is not recognized as a specific diagnosis in the rest of the world, and no established treatment exists.CONCLUSION: It seems necessary to give an International Classification of Diseases to EHS to get it accepted as EMF-related health problems. The increasing exposure to RF-EMF in schools is of great concern and needs better attention. Longer-term health effects are unknown. Parents, teachers, and school boards have the responsibility to protect children from unnecessary exposure.

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PMID: 

Int J Mol Med. 2018 Oct ;42(4):1885-1898. Epub 2018 Jul 12. PMID: 30015864

Abstract Title: 

Oxidative stress in electrohypersensitivity self‑reporting patients: Results of a prospective in vivo investigation with comprehensive molecular analysis.

Abstract: 

A total of 32 electrohypersensitivity (EHS) self‑reporting patients were serially included in the present prospective study for oxidative stress and antioxidative stress response assessment. All thiobarbituric acid‑reactive substances (TBARs) were measured in the plasma, particularly malondialdehyde (MDA) for lipid peroxidation; additional measurements included total thiol group molecules, reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG) for oxidative stress assessment and nitrotyrosine, a marker of peroxynitrite‑induced oxidative/nitrosative stress. In addition, the activity of Cu‑Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) was measured in red blood cells (RBCs) and glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in RBCs and plasma. Depending of the biomarker considered, 30‑50% of EHS self‑reporting patients presented statistically significantly increased TBARs, MDA, GSSG and NTT mean plasmatic level values in comparison with normal values obtained in healthy controls (P

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PMID: 

Electromagn Biol Med. 2006 ;25(4):245-58. PMID: 17178584

Abstract Title: 

Electrohypersensitivity: state-of-the-art of a functional impairment.

Abstract: 

Recently, a new category of persons, claiming to suffer from exposure to electromagnetic fields, has been described in the literature. In Sweden, electrohypersensitivity (EHS) is an officially fully recognized functional impairment (i.e., it is not regarded as a disease). Survey studies show that somewhere between 230,000-290,000 Swedish men and women report a variety of symptoms when being in contact with electromagnetic field (EMF) sources. The aim of our studies has been to investigate possible alterations, in the cellular and neuronal systems of these person' skin. As controls, age- and sex-matched persons, without any subjective or clinical symptoms or dermatological history, served. Immunohistochemistry using antisera to the previously characterized marker substances of interest has been utilized. In summary, it is evident from our preliminary data that various alterations are present in the electrohypersensitive person' skin. In view of recent epidemiological studies, pointing to a correlation between long-term exposure from power-frequent magnetic fields or microwaves and cancer, our data ought to be taken seriously and further analyzed.

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PMID: 

Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2019 Oct 10 ;21(5). Epub 2019 Oct 10. PMID: 31617966

Abstract Title: 

A Cross-Sectional Study of Serum Folate and Vitamin B12 Levels in Psychiatric Inpatients.

Abstract: 

Objective: To assess the pattern of serum folate and vitamin B₁₂ levels in psychiatric inpatients compared with nonpsychiatric controls.Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 psychiatric inpatients diagnosed with psychiatric illness for the first time per ICD-10 criteria and their age-matched caregivers at a super-specialty center in northern India (from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2012). Complete blood counts and serum levels of vitamin B₁₂, folate, and homocysteine were measured in all patients and caregivers, who were sharing the same kitchen as that of the patients.Results: Twenty-five percent of the patients were found to have low levels of serum vitamin B₁₂, which was significant compared with healthy controls (P

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PMID: 

Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2019 Oct ;32(4):589-592. Epub 2019 Jul 30. PMID: 31656431

Abstract Title: 

Vitamin B12 deficiency mimicking acute leukemia.

Abstract: 

Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause extensive hematologic alterations such as pancytopenia, macrocytosis, hypersegmentation of neutrophils, and hypercellular bone marrow with blastic differentiation. These dysplastic changes can sometimes be so profound that they mimic myelodysplastic syndromes or even acute leukemia, leading to extensive workup and aggressive treatment measures. We present a patient who was referred to our tertiary care medical center for treatment of suspected acute myeloid leukemia on the basis of peripheral smear and bone marrow biopsy findings, and induction chemotherapy was considered. However, the patient was found to have vitamin B12 deficiency, with improvement in pancytopenia and blastic changes with parenteral vitamin B12 supplementation. This highlights the importance of recognizing that dysplastic changes in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency could be misleading.

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PMID: 

Arch Physiol Biochem. 2019 Sep 14:1-10. Epub 2019 Sep 14. PMID: 31522557

Abstract Title: 

Cardioprotective potential of(Spinach) against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats.

Abstract: 

is rich in antioxidant phyto-constituents, termed as the natural antioxidant mixture (NAO).This study investigates the cardioprotective effect of an antioxidant-rich extract of(NAOE) and its phytoconstituent rutin in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction in rats.Rats were treated with NAOE (400 and 800 mg/kg), rutin (50 mg/kg) and the reference drug gemfibrozil (50 mg/kg) daily for 30 days and were administered ISO (85 mg/kg, s.c) on the last 2 days.NAOE treatment attenuated the ISO-elevated levels of serum marker enzymes (AST, LDH and CPK), troponin I, total cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 and malondialdehyde. It also restored the ISO-skewed ECG and systolic blood pressure, and the ISO-depleted marker enzymes and endogenous antioxidants in all treated rats.It may be concluded that NAOE treatment to ISO-challenged rats exhibited significant cardioprotective effect probably due to the potent antioxidant activity of its NAO.

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PMID: 

BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019 Oct 17 ;19(1):270. Epub 2019 Oct 17. PMID: 31623582

Abstract Title: 

A phytosterol-enriched saw palmetto supercritical COextract ameliorates testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia by regulating the inflammatory and apoptotic proteins in a rat model.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a pathological condition affecting older men. BPH complications often lead to deterioration in the quality of life. Serenoa repens (Saw Palmetto) is used for treating lower urinary tract infections in traditional medicine.METHODS: This study was performed to compare the efficacy ofβ-sitosterol enriched saw palmetto oil (VISPO) and conventional saw palmetto oil (SPO) extracted using supercritical fluid extraction, in alleviating the BPH complications using testosterone-induced BPH model rats. The animals received testosterone (5 mg/kg s.c.) with or without SPO and VISPO (200 and 400 mg/kg b.w.) or Finasteride (1 mg/kg b.w.) p.o. for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, overnight fasted animals were euthanized, blood samples collected for serum analysis of testosterone. Prostate tissue histomorphology was examined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Western blot analysis was performed using prostate tissue homogenates.RESULTS: VISPO exhibited superior efficacy compared to SPO as evident from the significant decrease in prostate weight to body weight ratio, serum testosterone level and increase in growth inhibition of prostate tissue compared to BPH group (p 

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PMID: 

Molecules. 2019 Aug 8 ;24(16). Epub 2019 Aug 8. PMID: 31398899

Abstract Title: 

Involvement of Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in Nobiletin-Induced Apoptosis of Human Bladder Cancer Cells.

Abstract: 

Nobiletin (NOB) is a polymethoxylated flavonoid isolated from citrus fruit peel that has been shown to possess anti-tumor, antithrombotic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic activities. The main purpose of this study was to explore the potential of using NOB to induce apoptosis in human bladder cancer cells and study the underlying mechanism. Using an MTT assay, agarose gel electrophoresis, a wound-healing assay, flow cytometry, and western blot analysis, this study investigated the signaling pathways involved in NOB-induced apoptosis in BFTC human bladder cancer cells. Our results showed that NOB at concentrations of 60, 80, and 100μM inhibited cell growth by 42%, 62%, and 80%, respectively. Cells treated with 60 μM NOB demonstrated increased DNA fragmentation, and flow cytometry analysis confirmed that the treatment caused late apoptotic cell death. Western blot analysis showed that mitochondrial dysfunction occurred in NOB-treated BFTC cells, leading to cytochromerelease into cytosol, activation of pro-apoptotic proteins (caspase-3, caspase-9, Bad, and Bax), and inhibition of anti-apoptotic proteins (Mcl-1, Bcl-xl, and Bcl-2). NOB-induced apoptosis was also mediated by regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress via the PERK/elF2α/ATF4/CHOP pathway, and downregulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Our results suggested that the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of NOB on bladder cancer cells are associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.

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PMID: 

Int J Nanomedicine. 2019 ;14:7839-7849. Epub 2019 Sep 26. PMID: 31576127

Abstract Title: 

Nobiletin-loaded micelles reduce ovariectomy-induced bone loss by suppressing osteoclastogenesis.

Abstract: 

Background: Nobiletin (NOB), a polymethoxy flavonoid, possesses anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities, has been reported that it played role in anti-osteoporosis treatment. However, previous research did not focus on practical use due to lack of hydrophilicity and cytotoxicity at high concentrations. The aim of this study was to develop a therapeutic formulation for osteoporosis based on the utilization of NOB.Methods: In this study, NOB-loaded poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(e-caprolactone) (NOB-PEG-PCL) was prepared by dialysis method. The effects on osteoclasts and anti-osteoporosis functions were investigated in a RANKL-induced cell model and ovariectomized (OVX) mice.Results: Dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy examination results revealed that the NOB-PEG-PCL had a round shape, with a mean diameter around 124 nm. The encapsulation efficiency and drug loading were 76.34±3.25% and 7.60±0.48%, respectively. The in vitro release of NOB from NOB-PEG-PCL showed a remarkably sustained releasing characteristic and could be retained at least 48 hrs in pH 7.4 PBS. Anti-osteoclasts effects demonstrated that the NOB-PEG-PCL significantly inhibited the formation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinuclear cells stimulated by RANKL. Furthermore, the NOB-PEG-PCL did not produce cytotoxicity on bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs). The mRNA expressions of genetic markers of osteoclasts including TRAP and cathepsin K were significantly decreasedin the presence of NOB-PEG-PCL. In addition, the NOB-PEG-PCL inhibited OC differentiation of BMMs through RANKL-induced MAPK signal pathway. After administration of the NOB-PEG-PCL, NOB-PEG-PCL prevented bone loss and improved bone density in OVX mice. These findings suggest that NOB-PEG-PCL mighthave great potential in the treatment of osteoporosis.Conclusion: The results suggested that NOB-PEG-PCL micelles could effectively prevent NOB fast release from micelles and extend circulation time. The NOB-PEG-PCL delivery system may be a promising way to prevent and treat osteoporosis.

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PMID: 

Am J Transl Res. 2019 ;11(9):5967-5977. Epub 2019 Sep 15. PMID: 31632564

Abstract Title: 

Nobiletin alleviates cerebral ischemic-reperfusion injury via MAPK signaling pathway.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Nobiletin (NOB), isolated from Citrus nobilis, has been reported to inhibit cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) induced cell apoptosis in the brain. The mechanisms and the protective ability of NOB on cerebral I/R rats are unclear.METHODS: A middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model was established and treated with different doses of NOB. The neurological deficits, brain water content and brain index were explored after reperfusion, and TTC staining was applied to assess the infarct area. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) related enzymes in the ischemic cortex samples from each group was measured. TUNEL staining was performed to evaluate neuronal cell apoptosis in brain tissues. The expression of cell apoptosis related proteins, p-p38 and MAPKAP-2 and the levels of inflammatory factors were examined by western blotting assay and ELISA.RESULTS: NOB treatment notably improved the neurological deficits, brain water content and brain index in an MCAO model, accompanied by decreased infarct area in the brain tissue. Apoptosis induced by cerebral I/R was also decreased by NOB administration via upregulating Bcl-2 and downregulating Bax and caspase3. The levels of pro-inflammatory mediators TNF-α, IL-6 were reduced and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was increased by NOB treatment in MCAO rats. Further, we found that the expression of p-p38 and MAPKAP-2 was reduced by NOB treatment in MCAO rats.CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that NOB serves a protective role in I/R-induced cerebral-neuron injury. The mechanisms underlying these effects may be associated with the MAPK signaling pathway.

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