Assessment of foetal exposure to the homogeneous magnetic field harmonic spectrum generated by electricity transmission and distribution networks

During the last decades studies addressing the effects of exposure to Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields (ELF-EMF) have pointed out a possible link between those fields emitted by power lines and childhood leukaemia. They have also stressed the importance of also including in the assessment the contribution of frequency components, namely harmonics, other than the fundamental one. Based on the spectrum of supply voltage networks allowed by the European standard for electricity quality assessment, in this study the exposure of high-resolution three-dimensional models of foetuses to the whole harmonic content of a uniform magnetic field with a fundamental frequency of 50 Hz, was assessed. The results show that the main contribution in terms of induced electric fields to the foetal exposure is given by the fundamental frequency component. The harmonic components add some contributions to the overall level of electric fields, however, due to the extremely low permitted amplitude of the harmonic components with respect to the fundamental, their amplitudes are low. The level of the induced electric field is also much lower than the limits suggested by the guidelines for general public exposure, when the amplitude of the incident magnetic field is set at the maximum permitted level

Uterine transplantation: the move from the animal model into the human setting – surgical, reproductive and clinical aspects

Women with absolute uterine factor infertility (AUFI) are considered as being ‘unconditionally infertile’. Uterine transplantation (UTx) may be a possible treatment option in the future for such women. This thesis describes a number of key areas of research that are important in order to move closer to a successful and crucially, safe transplant in the human setting. Nine allogeneic transplants were carried out in a rabbit model to investigate anatomical and surgical aspects necessary for a successful UTx. An attempt to characterise and quantify the immunological mechanisms involved in allogeneic UTx (rejection patterns) was made. Out of the nine recipients, one was a long-term survivor. Embryo transfer was performed in this one doe with the aim of establishing pregnancy. Performing UTx in a large-animal model is necessary as the pelvis resembles a woman’s reproductive system more closely. In addition, the anastomotic technique is similar. Five sheep autotransplants were performed to further define surgical techniques. The anastomotic model was internal to external iliac vessel. Out of the five transplants, three sheep demonstrated adequate perfusion in the immediate post-operative period. Furthermore, the suitability of two different imaging modalities, pulse oximetry and multispectral imaging, for assessing uterine perfusion and extent of ischaemia were been studied in both the rabbit and sheep models. Biophotonics was also applied in the form of Endoscopic Laser Speckle Contrast Analysis to characterize blood flow in the two models. Both Multispectral Imaging and Endoscopic Laser Speckle Contrast Analysis have never been assessed before in a gynecological context. In order to transfer the concept of UTx to the human, we carried out a retrospective study of abdominal radical trachelectomy (ART) as a potential replacement for radical hysterectomy in patients with early stage cervical cancer desiring a fertility-sparing procedure. ART forms the foundation of the original work into aspects of UTx. This original body of research revolved around the potential blood supply to a uterus. Furthermore, an attempt has been made to analyse the motivations, aims and feelings of patients diagnosed with AUFI towards UTx. Forty patients were interviewed. The final study involved the evaluation of the perceptions of health care professionals towards UTx, with 528 participants surveyed.Open Acces

Reproductive Health Hazards in the Workplace

A report by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) that "reviews current knowledge of hazards and suspected hazards to the reproductive health of American's working men and women and to the health and well-being of their children" (Foreword)

MRI of foetal development

Foetal MRI represents a non-invasive imaging technique that allows detailed visualisation of foetus in utero and the maternal structure. This thesis outlines the quantitative imaging techniques used to investigate the effect of maternal diabetes and maternal smoking on foetal development at 1.5 Tesla. The effect of maternal diabetes on placental blood flow and foetal growth was studied. The placental images were acquired using Echo Planar Imaging and blood flow was measured using Intra Voxel Incoherent Motion. The results indicate that peak blood flow in the basal plate and chorionic plate increases across gestation in both normal and diabetic pregnancies. Conversely, diffusion in the whole placenta decreases across gestation, with a more pronounced decrease in diabetic placentae. Following this, a method was developed to use a Tl weighted fat suppressed MRI scan to quantify foetal fat images in-utero. In addition, HAlf Fourier Single-shot Turbo spin Echo (HASTE) and balanced Fast Field Echo (bFFE) were used to acquire images encompassing the whole foetus in three orthogonal planes. These scans were used to measure foetal volume, foetal length and shoulder width. The data shows that foetal fat volume and intra-abdominal fat were increased in foetuses of diabetic mothers at third trimester. The HASTE and bFFE sequences were also used to study the effect of maternal smoking on foetal development. Here, foetal organ volumes, foetal and placental volume, shoulder width and foetal length were measured using a semiautomatic approach based on the concept of edge detection and a stereological method, the Cavalieri technique. The data shows that maternal smoking has significant negative effect on foetal organ growth and foetal growth, predominantly foetal kidney and foetal volume. The work described here certainly has a great potential in non-invasive assessment of abnormal placental function and can be used to study foetal development

The Largest Unethical Medical Experiment in Human History

This monograph describes the largest unethical medical experiment in human history: the implementation and operation of non-ionizing non-visible EMF radiation (hereafter called wireless radiation) infrastructure for communications, surveillance, weaponry, and other applications. It is unethical because it violates the key ethical medical experiment requirement for “informed consent” by the overwhelming majority of the participants. The monograph provides background on unethical medical research/experimentation, and frames the implementation of wireless radiation within that context. The monograph then identifies a wide spectrum of adverse effects of wireless radiation as reported in the premier biomedical literature for over seven decades. Even though many of these reported adverse effects are extremely severe, the true extent of their severity has been grossly underestimated. Most of the reported laboratory experiments that produced these effects are not reflective of the real-life environment in which wireless radiation operates. Many experiments do not include pulsing and modulation of the carrier signal, and most do not account for synergistic effects of other toxic stimuli acting in concert with the wireless radiation. These two additions greatly exacerbate the severity of the adverse effects from wireless radiation, and their neglect in current (and past) experimentation results in substantial under-estimation of the breadth and severity of adverse effects to be expected in a real-life situation. This lack of credible safety testing, combined with depriving the public of the opportunity to provide informed consent, contextualizes the wireless radiation infrastructure operation as an unethical medical experiment

International Journal of Medical Students - Year 2015 - Volume 3 - Supplement 1

International Journal of Medical Students - Year 2015 - Volume 3 - Supplement