PMID: 

Am J Prev Med. 2018 11 ;55(5):615-623. PMID: 30342627

Abstract Title: 

Associations Between Changes in Cycling and All-Cause Mortality Risk.

Abstract: 

INTRODUCTION: Previous cohort studies have reported relationships of active commuting, walking, and cycling with mortality. No studies have separately examined commuter and recreational cycling and how changes in cycling are related to mortality.METHODS: Prospective cohort study among individuals who were between 50 and 65years and living in Denmark at the baseline examination between 1993 and 1997. Commuter/recreational cycling and changes in cycling were investigated in analytic samples of 28,204 and 15,272 participants, respectively. Participants were asked to provide information on cycling habits and other risk factors for mortality at baseline and 5years later and were followed for risk of death until July 2013. Data were analyzed in 2018.RESULTS: Cycling between 1 and 60 minutes per week was associated with lower risk of all-cause mortality, with an appertaining multivariable adjusted hazard ratio of 0.76 (95% CI=0.69, 0.83) for recreational cycling and 0.78 (95% CI=0.63, 0.96) for commuter cycling when compared with no cycling. Compared with those who never cycled, the hazard ratio for those who initiated cycling was 0.78 (95% CI=0.67, 0.90) and the hazard ratio for those who consistently cycled was 0.77 (95% CI=0.71, 0.84), whereas the hazard ratio for those who stopped cycling was 0.98 (95% CI=0.87, 1.11).CONCLUSIONS: Initiation of, or continued engagement in, cycling late in mid-life is associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality. It may be suggested that national and local governments prioritize resources to promote cycling.

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PMID: 

J Cell Physiol. 2007 Dec ;213(3):759-67. PMID: 17559061

Abstract Title: 

Radiofrequency radiation (900 MHz) induces Egr-1 gene expression and affects cell-cycle control in human neuroblastoma cells.

Abstract: 

Many environmental signals, including ionizing radiation and UV rays, induce activation of Egr-1 gene, thus affecting cell growth and apoptosis. The paucity and the controversial knowledge about the effect of electromagnetic fields (EMF) exposure of nerve cells prompted us to investigate the bioeffects of radiofrequency (RF) radiation on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. The effect of a modulated RF field of 900 MHz, generated by a wire patch cell (WPC) antenna exposure system on Egr-1 gene expression, was studied as a function of time. Short-term exposures induced a transient increase in Egr-1 mRNA level paralleled with activation of the MAPK subtypes ERK1/2 and SAPK/JNK. The effects of RF radiations on cell growth rate and apoptosis were also studied. Exposure to RF radiation had an anti-proliferative activity in SH-SY5Y cells with a significant effect observed at 24 h. RF radiation impaired cell cycle progression, reaching a significant G2-M arrest. In addition, the appearance of the sub-G1 peak, a hallmark of apoptosis, was highlighted after a 24-h exposure, together with a significant decrease in mRNA levels of Bcl-2 and survivin genes, both interfering with signaling between G2-M arrest and apoptosis. Our results provide evidence that exposure to a 900 MHz-modulated RF radiation affect both Egr-1 gene expression and cell regulatory functions, involving apoptosis inhibitors like Bcl-2 and survivin, thus providing important insights into a potentially broad mechanism for controlling in vitro cell viability.

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PMID: 

Sports Med. 2019 Mar ;49(3):437-452. PMID: 30446905

Abstract Title: 

Active Commuting and Multiple Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Active commuting is associated with greater physical activity, but there is no consensus on the actual beneficial effects of this type of physical activity on health outcomes.OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between active commuting and risk of all-cause mortality, incidence and mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes through meta-analysis.METHODS: A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Embase, Google Scholar, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, Transport Research International Documentation database, and reference lists of included articles was conducted. Only prospective cohort studies were included.RESULTS: Twenty-three prospective studies including 531,333 participants were included. Participants who engaged in active commuting had a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality [relative risk (RR) 0.92, 95% CI 0.85-0.98] and cardiovascular disease incidence (RR 0.91; 95% CI 0.83-0.99). There was no association between active commuting and cardiovascular disease mortality and cancer. Participants who engaged in active commuting had a 30% reduced risk of diabetes (RR 0.70; 95% CI 0.61-0.80) in three studies after removal of an outlying study that affected the heterogeneity of the results. Subgroup analyses suggested a significant risk reduction (- 24%) of all-cause mortality (RR 0.76; 95% CI 0.63-0.94) and cancer mortality (- 25%; RR 0.75; 95% CI 0.59-0.895) among cycling commuters.CONCLUSION: People who engaged in active commuting had a significantly reduced risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease incidence and diabetes.

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The media is running a fake news operation around Florida Senate Bill SB 64 which would mandate vaccination for school entry, claiming the bill was withdrawn when it was not. 

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PMID: 

Health Phys. 2000 Mar ;78(3):259-67. PMID: 10688448

Abstract Title: 

Heating and pain sensation produced in human skin by millimeter waves: comparison to a simple thermal model.

Abstract: 

Cutaneous thresholds for thermal pain were measured in 10 human subjects during 3-s exposures at 94 GHz continuous wave microwave energy at intensities up to approximately 1.8 W cm(-2). During each exposure, the temperature increase at the skin's surface was measured by infrared thermography. The mean (+/- s.e.m.) baseline temperature of the skin was 34.0+/-0.2 degrees C. The threshold for pricking pain was 43.9+/-0.7 degrees C, which corresponded to an increase in surface temperature of approximately 9.9 degrees C (from 34.0 degrees C to 43.9 degrees C). The measured increases in surface temperature were in good agreement with a simple thermal model that accounted for heat conduction and for the penetration depth of the microwave energy into tissue. Taken together, these results support the use of the model for predicting thresholds of thermal pain at other millimeter wave (length) frequencies.

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PMID: 

Brain Stimul. 2013 May ;6(3):448-54. Epub 2012 Aug 9. PMID: 22889717

Abstract Title: 

Mobile phone emissions modulate brain excitability in patients with focal epilepsy.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) emitted by mobile phones had been shown to increase cortical excitability in healthy subjects following 45 min of continuous exposure on the ipsilateral hemisphere.OBJECTIVE: Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), the current study assessed the effects of acute exposure to mobile phone EMFs on the cortical excitability in patients with focal epilepsy.METHODS: Ten patients with cryptogenic focal epilepsy originating outside the primary motor area (M1) were studied. Paired-pulse TMS were applied to the M1 of both the hemisphere ipsilateral (IH) and contralateral (CH) to the epileptic focus before and immediately after real/sham exposure to the GSM-EMFs (45 min). The TMS study was carried out in all subjects in three different experimental sessions (IH and CH exposure, sham), 1 week apart, according to a crossover, double-blind and counter-balanced paradigm.RESULTS: The present study clearly demonstrated that an acute and relatively prolonged exposure to GSM-EMFs modulates cortical excitability in patients affected by focal epilepsy; however, in contrast to healthy subjects, these effects were evident only after EMFs exposure over the hemisphere contralateral to the epileptic focus (CH). They were characterized by a significant cortical excitability increase in the exposed hemisphere paired with slight excitability decrease in the other one (IH). Both sham and real EMFs exposure of the IH did not affect brain excitability.CONCLUSION: Present results suggest a significant interaction between the brain excitability changes induced by EMFs and the epileptic focus, which eliminated the excitability enhancing effects of EMFs evident only in the CH.

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PMID: 

Int J Psychophysiol. 2012 May ;84(2):164-71. Epub 2012 Feb 16. PMID: 22326594

Abstract Title: 

Mobile phone emission increases inter-hemispheric functional coupling of electroencephalographicα rhythms in epileptic patients.

Abstract: 

It has been reported that GSM electromagnetic fields (GSM-EMFs) of mobile phones modulate – after a prolonged exposure – inter-hemispheric synchronization of temporal and frontal resting electroencephalographic (EEG) rhythms in normal young and elderly subjects (Vecchio et al., 2007, 2010). Here we tested the hypothesis that this can be even more evident in epileptic patients, who typically suffer from abnormal mechanisms governing synchronization of rhythmic firing of cortical neurons. Eyes-closed resting EEG data were recorded in ten patients affected by focal epilepsy in real and sham exposure conditions. These data were compared with those obtained from 15 age-matched normal subjects of the previous reference studies. The GSM device was turned on (45 min) in the"GSM"condition and was turned off (45 min) in the other condition ("sham"). The mobile phone was always positioned on the left side in both patients and control subjects. Spectral coherence evaluated the inter-hemispheric synchronization of EEG rhythms at the following frequency bands: delta (about 2-4 Hz), theta (about 4-6 Hz), alpha1 (about 6-8 Hz), alpha2 (about 8-10 Hz), and alpha3 (about 10-12 Hz). The effects on the patients were investigated comparing the inter-hemispheric EEG coherence in the epileptic patients with the control group of subjects evaluated in the previous reference studies. Compared with the control subjects, epileptic patients showed a statistically significant higher inter-hemispheric coherence of temporal and frontal alpha rhythms (about 8-12 Hz) in the GSM than"Sham"condition. These results suggest that GSM-EMFs of mobile phone may affect inter-hemispheric synchronization of the dominant (alpha) EEG rhythms in epileptic patients. If confirmed by future studies on a larger group of epilepsy patients, the modulation of the inter-hemispheric alpha coherence due to the GSM-EMFs could have clinical implications and be related to changes in cognitive-motor function.

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PMID: 

Environ Int. 2018 12 ;121(Pt 1):721-727. Epub 2018 Oct 12. PMID: 30321847

Abstract Title: 

Active commuting through natural environments is associated with better mental health: Results from the PHENOTYPE project.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Commuting routes with natural features could promote walking or cycling for commuting. Commuting through natural environments (NE) could have mental health benefits as exposure to NE can reduce stress and improve mental health, but there is little evidence. This study evaluates the association between NE and commuting, whether active or not, and the association between commuting (through NE), whether active or not, and mental health. We also evaluate the moderating effect of NE quality on the association between NE commuting and mental health.METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on adult respondents (n = 3599) of the Positive Health Effects of the Natural Outdoor Environment in Typical Populations in Different Regions in Europe (PHENOTYPE) project. Data were collected in four European cities in Spain, the Netherlands, Lithuania and the United Kingdom. Data on commuting behavior (active commuting at least one day/week, daily NE commuting) and mental health were collected with questionnaires. Associations were estimated with multilevel analyses including random intercepts at city- and neighborhood level.RESULTS: Adjusted multilevel analyses showed that daily NE commuters were more often active commuters (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.19, 1.70). There was no association between active commuting and mental health, but daily NE commuters had on average a 2.74 (95% CI 1.66, 3.82) point higher mental health score than those not commuting through NE. The association with mental health was stronger among active commuters (4.03, 95% CI 2.13, 5.94) compared to non-active commuters (2.21; 95% CI 0.90, 3.51) when daily commuting through NE, but NE quality did not have a moderating effect.CONCLUSIONS: Daily NE commuting was associated with better mental health, especially for active commuters. Daily NE commuters were likely to be active commuters. Active commuting itself was not associated with mental health. These findings suggest that cities should invest in commuting routes with nature for cycling and walking.

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PMID: 

Neurosci Lett. 2002 Nov 29 ;333(3):175-8. PMID: 12429376

Abstract Title: 

Responses of neurons to an amplitude modulated microwave stimulus.

Abstract: 

In this study we investigated the effects of a pulsed radio frequency signal similar to the signal produced by global system for mobile communication telephones (900 MHz carrier, modulated at 217 Hz) on neurons of the avian brain. We found that such stimulation resulted in changes in the amount of neural activity by more than half of the brain cells. Most (76%) of the responding cells increased their rates of firing by an average 3.5-fold. The other responding cells exhibited a decrease in their rates of spontaneous activity Such responses indicate potential effects on humans using hand-held cellular phones.

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PMID: 

Biophys Chem. 2005 Mar 1 ;113(3):245-53. PMID: 15620509

Abstract Title: 

Structural and kinetic effects of mobile phone microwaves on acetylcholinesterase activity.

Abstract: 

The present study provides evidence that"in vitro"simple exposure of an aqueous solution of electric eel acetylcholinesterase (EeAChE; EC 3.1.1.7.) to cellular phone emission alters its enzymatic activity. This paper demonstrates, by combining different experimental techniques, that radio frequency (RF) radiations irreversibly affect the structural and biochemical characteristics of an important CNS enzyme. These results were obtained by using a commercial cellular phone to reproduce the reality of the human exposition. This experimental procedure provided surprising effects collected practically without experimental errors because they were obtained comparing native and irradiated sample of the same enzyme solution. Although these results cannot be used to conclude whether exposure to RF during the use of cellular phone can lead to any hazardous health effect, they may be a significant first step towards further verification of these effects on other"ex vivo"or"in vivo"biological systems.

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