Assessment of function, histopathological changes, and oxidative stress in liver tissue due to ionizing and non-ionizing radiations.

PAPER pubmed Caspian journal of internal medicine 2020 Animal study Effect: mixed Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.22088/cjim.11.3.315 PMID: 32874440 Evidence Lab

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Compared to past decades, humans are exposed to rapidly increasing levels of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiations (RF-EMF). Despite numerous studies, the biological effects of human exposure to different levels of RF-EMF are not fully understood yet. This study aimed to evaluate the bioeffects of exposure to "900/1800 MHz" and "2.4 GHz" RF-EMFs, and x-rays alone as well as their potential interactions, i.e. inducing simple additive, adaptive, or synergistic effects. METHODS: 120 Wistar rats were randomly divided into ten groups of 12 each. The rats were exposed to RF-EMF, 10 cGy, and 8 Gy x-rays, a combination of these exposures, or only sham-exposed. The levels of liver enzymes were determined in serum samples by an auto-analyzer. Moreover, the histopathological changes, and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide, ferric reducing antioxidant power, total thiols, and protein carbonyl (PCO) were measured. RESULTS: Among the markers of liver function, gamma-glutamyltransferase was not associated with irradiation but, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase showed some levels of association. MDA and PCO levels after 8 Gy irradiation increased, but pre-exposure to RF-EMF could modulate their changes. At the cellular level, the frequency of lobular inflammation was associated with the type of intervention. CONCLUSION: The exposure to both ionizing and non-ionizing radiations could alter some liver function tests. A short term pre-exposure to RF-EMF before exposure to an 8 Gy challenging dose of x-rays caused the alterations in oxidative stress markers and liver function tests, which indicate that oxidative stress is possibly involved in the adaptive response.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

mixed

Population

Wistar rats

Sample size

120

Exposure

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 74% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

In rats, some liver function tests (AST, ALT, ALP) showed some association with irradiation, while gamma-glutamyltransferase was not associated. After 8 Gy x-ray irradiation, MDA and protein carbonyl increased, and pre-exposure to RF-EMF could modulate these changes; lobular inflammation frequency was associated with intervention type.

Outcomes measured

Liver enzymes (gamma-glutamyltransferase, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase)
Histopathological changes (including lobular inflammation)
Oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, ferric reducing antioxidant power, total thiols, protein carbonyl)

Limitations

Exposure duration and detailed RF-EMF exposure metrics (e.g., SAR) not reported in the abstract
Specific direction/magnitude of changes for several biomarkers not fully described in the abstract
Animal study; human relevance not directly established in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Wistar rats",
    "sample_size": 120,
    "outcomes": [
        "Liver enzymes (gamma-glutamyltransferase, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase)",
        "Histopathological changes (including lobular inflammation)",
        "Oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, ferric reducing antioxidant power, total thiols, protein carbonyl)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In rats, some liver function tests (AST, ALT, ALP) showed some association with irradiation, while gamma-glutamyltransferase was not associated. After 8 Gy x-ray irradiation, MDA and protein carbonyl increased, and pre-exposure to RF-EMF could modulate these changes; lobular inflammation frequency was associated with intervention type.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Exposure duration and detailed RF-EMF exposure metrics (e.g., SAR) not reported in the abstract",
        "Specific direction/magnitude of changes for several biomarkers not fully described in the abstract",
        "Animal study; human relevance not directly established in the abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "radiofrequency",
        "RF-EMF",
        "900 MHz",
        "1800 MHz",
        "2.4 GHz",
        "x-rays",
        "ionizing radiation",
        "non-ionizing radiation",
        "liver enzymes",
        "oxidative stress",
        "malondialdehyde",
        "protein carbonyl",
        "adaptive response",
        "Wistar rats"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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