NON-LINEAR ADAPTIVE PHENOMENA WHICH DECREASE THE RISK OF INFECTION AFTER PRE-EXPOSURE TO RADIOFREQUENCY RADIATION

Substantial evidence indicates that adaptive response induced by low doses of ionizing radiation can result in resistance to the damage caused by a subsequently high-dose radiation or cause cross-resistance to other non-radiation stressors. Adaptive response contradicts the linear-non-threshold (LNT) dose-response model for ionizing radiation. We have previously reported that exposure of laboratory animals to radiofrequency radiation can induce a survival adaptive response. Furthermore, we have indicated that pre-exposure of mice to radiofrequency radiation emitted by a GSM mobile phone increased their resistance to a subsequent Escherichia coli infection. In this study, the survival rates in animals receiving both adapting (radiofrequency) and challenge dose (bacteria) and the animals receiving only the challenge dose (bacteria) were 56% and 20%, respectively. In this light, our findings contribute to the assumption that radiofrequency-induced adaptive response can be used as an efficient method for decreasing the risk of infection in immunosuppressed irradiated individuals. The implication of this phenomenon in human’s long term stay in the space is also discussed

Short communication: First report of mangrove whipray Himantura granulata (Macleay, 1883) from the Persian Gulf, Iran

Dasyatidae is primarily a marine subfamily, which is most common in shallow tropical waters. The species of this family are distributed worldwide; from tropical to warm temperate; Atlantic (Including the Mediterranean Sea), the Indian, and Pacific Ocean. Six genera, Dasyatis (synonyms Trygon and Urolophoides), Himantura, Pastinachus (synonym Hypolophus), Pteroplatytrygon, Taeniura, and Urogymnus, with about 68 species are included in this family. In the Persian Gulf, some members of family Dasyatidae are important species in terms of number and biomass. This family is represented by three genera (Dasyatis, Himantura and Pastinachus) and seven species, although they have been frequently confused by forms and colors. ... In this study, first report of H. granulata from the northern Persian Gulf with some morphometric measurements is given

Feeding habits and trophic level of Himantura gerrardi (Elasmobranchii; Dasyatidae) in northern Oman Sea: effects of sex and size class

The feeding habits and trophic level of Himantura gerrardi were studied according to sex and size classes of 80 individuals obtained using bottom trawl between May and December 2014 from the Oman Sea. Collected specimens were divided into three size classes (small58 cm) based on disk width. Prey was identified in seven main zoological categories, where crustacean and polychaetes were the dominant in diets, indicating this species is a demersal dwelling species. No significant differences were observed between sexes, but size classes showed significant differences in their diets. Also, results showed a decrease in feeding overlap between size classes with an increase in disk width, suggesting that intraspecific competition reduced, which allows the coexistence of different size classes. Trophic level was positively correlated with the disk width, which was lower than 4.0 for both sexes and different size classes, placing it in an intermediate trophic level

Effectiveness of platelet function analysis-guided aspirin and/or clopidogrel therapy in preventing secondary stroke : A systematic review and meta-analysis

Antiplatelet medications such as aspirin and clopidogrel are used following thrombotic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) to prevent a recurrent stroke. However, the antiplatelet treatments fail frequently, and patients experience recurrent stroke. One approach to lower the rates of recurrence may be the individualized antiplatelet therapies (antiplatelet therapy modification (ATM)) based on the results of platelet function analysis (PFA). This review was undertaken to gather and analyze the evidence about the effectiveness of such approaches. We searched Medline, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases up to 7 January 2020. Two observational studies involving 1136 patients were included. The overall effects of PFA-based ATM on recurrent strokes (odds ratio (OR) 1.05; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.69 to 1.58), any bleeding risk (OR 1.39; 95% CI 0.92 to 2.10) or death hazard from any cause (OR 1.19; 95% CI 0.62 to 2.29) were not significantly different from the standard antiplatelet therapy without ATM. The two studies showed opposite effects of PFA-guided ATM on the recurrent strokes in aspirin non-responders, leading to an insignificant difference in the subgroup meta-analysis (OR 1.59; 95% CI 0.07 to 33.77), while the rates of any bleeding events (OR 1.04; 95% CI 0.49 to 2.17) or death from any cause (OR 1.17; 95% CI 0.41 to 3.35) were not significantly different between aspirin non-responders with ATM and those without ATM. There is a need for large, randomized controlled trials which account for potential confounders such as ischemic stroke subtypes, technical variations in the testing protocols, patient adherence to therapy and pharmacogenetic differences

Comment on ‘Cell phone use and ill health: is there a definite relationship?’

Prof Gboyega A Ogunbanjo, in his editorial entitled ‘Cell phone use and ill health: is there a definite relationship?’, published in South African Family Practice, has addressed the possible link between mobile phone use and adverse health effects such as cancer. He has also discussed the challenging issue of electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS). Although his editorial has remarkable strengths, this paper needs some clarifications. The main concerns regarding the evidence presented in this paper about possible association of mobile phone use with cancer are discussed. In this light, recent evidence that supports a possible link as well as the shortcomings of the reports claiming no association between exposure to radiofrequency radiation and cancer are presented

Can Reactivation of SARS-CoV-2 Decrease the Chance of Success of Future Deep Space Missions?

Korean CDC experts first reported the likelihood of reactivation in COVIOD-19 patients. They hypothesized that like childhood chicken pox infections which lie dormant for tens of years only to cause shingles in seniors, SARS-CoV-2 can reactivate. However, as testing for the virus had been flawed at that time, U.S. infectious disease experts were skeptical about the reports of second COVID-19 infections. New reports have addressed the urgent need to conduct large-scale studies to better understand the potential recurrence of SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 patients. Moreover, some case studies show possible reactivation of SARS-CoV-2 in a family cluster. Given this consideration, major space stressors such as microgravity and space radiation and their interactions which are not fully known, so far can increase the risk of reactivation of SARS-CoV-2 in future space missions, an event that can easily impact the success of any space mission. Since about 80% of infected people are either asymptomatic or show only mild symptoms, in a near future, it would be likely that astronauts who start their mission even after complex medical examinations, experience reactivation of the virus during their mission. Moreover, we have previously addressed the potential higher fatality of COVID-19 infections in space due to 1) uselessness of social distancing due to microgravity 2) immune system dysregulation 3) possibly higher mutation rates of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) as a RNA virus 4) higher risk of reactivation of the virus 5) existence of strong selective pressure and 6) decreased maximum oxygen uptake

A case of polypoid intraoral nevus in buccal mucosa: A case report

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Mouth discoloration can be of internal or external origin. Melanotic nevus are the result of benign proliferation of melanocytes, the intraoral type of which is not as common as melanotic skin moles. In addition, they have the potential for malignant changes and can develop into oral melanoma. In this article, a case of Polypoid Intraoral Nevus is reported. CASE REPORT: In intraoral examination, a 21-year-old man who had referred to the Oral Diseases Department for dental scaling and examination showed a prominent black lesion with a smooth, 1�1 cm long lobular surface and a firm consolidation in the buccal mucosa. The lesion was asymptomatic and not sensitive to touch. Chronic stimulation was not reported on clinical examination and history, and the diascopy test was negative. Systemic disease and history of drug and tobacco use were not reported. The lesion was removed by excisional biopsy while maintaining a safe margin. The macroscopic specimen was a brownish-gray lesion with elastic consolidation and the microscopic appearance of benign proliferation of nevus cells and melanin production in the connective tissue was observed. The final diagnosis was an intra-mucosal lesion. The patient referred for regular six-month examinations for two years, during which no recurrence or similar symptoms were observed in the oral mucosa. CONCLUSION: In the present case, the histopathological result indicated a mucosal nevus after excisional biopsy. © 2020, Babol University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Assessment of Bagging Operators Exposure to with PVC Airborne Particulates

Dust consists of tiny solid particles carried by air currents. These particles are formed by many differentprocesses. One of these processes is polymerization of inert plastic such as Polyvinyl Chloride productionplant. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series requirements, section 4.4.6,occupational health and safety risks must be defined and controlled where needed. This field study wasconducted to evaluate the occupational exposure of packaging operators to airborne polyvinyl chloridedust in order to health risk assessment and recommend feasible controlling methods. The massconcentration of polyvinyl chloride particulate was measured in two fractions according to the particlesize that expressed as total and respirable particulates. The Air Sampling Methods, Methods for theDetermination of Hazardous Substances 14/3, of Health and Safety Executive were used as a standardsampling protocol. The average mass concentrations for respirable and total particulates were measured3.54±0.3 mg/m3 and 11.89±0.8 mg/m3 respectively. Also health risks of studied condition were estimatedas significant level, category one, therefore the risk must be reduced below the standard level. Accordingto the work requirements to reduce the emission rate and mitigate the health risk exposure, a local exhaustventilation system design was recommended for bag-filters of hopper tank