Review of the scientific evidence on the individual sensitivity to electromagnetic fields (EHS)

Part of the population considers themselves as sensitive to the man-made electromagnetic radiation (EMF) emitted by powerlines, electric wiring, electric home appliance and the wireless communication devices and networks. Sensitivity is characterized by a broad variety of non-specific symptoms that the sensitive people claim to experience when exposed to EMF. While the experienced symptoms are currently considered as a real life impairment, the factor causing these symptoms remains unclear. So far, scientists were unable to find causality link between symptoms experienced by sensitive persons and the exposures to EMF. However, as presented in this review, the executed to-date scientific studies, examining sensitivity to EMF, are of poor quality to find the link between EMF exposures and sensitivity symptoms of some people. It is logical to consider that the sensitivity to EMF exists but the scientific methodology used to find it is of insufficient quality. It is time to drop out psychology driven provocation studies that ask about feelings-based non-specific symptoms experienced by volunteers under EMF exposure. Such research approach produces only subjective and therefore highly unreliable data that is insufficient to prove, or to disprove, causality link between EHS and EMF. There is a need for a new direction in studying sensitivity to EMF. The basis for it is the notion of a commonly known phenomenon of individual sensitivity, where individuals’ responses to EMF depend on the genetic and epigenetic properties of the individual. It is proposed here that new studies, combining provocation approach, where volunteers are exposed to EMF, and high-throughput technologies of transcriptomics and proteomics are used to generate objective data, detecting molecular level biochemical responses of human body to EMF.

An integrated method of management for children with cardiovascular pathology

В последние годы регистрируется все больше случаев кардиоваскулярных заболеваний в детской популяции с длительным бессимптомным течением. При этом манифестация заболевания начинается с тромботических проявлений, которые могут привести к инвалидности и летальному исходу. В настоящее время имеется недостаточно данных о влиянии бета-адреноблокаторов на сосудисто-тромбоцитарное звено гемостаза и контроле эффективности терапии у детей с патологией сердечно-сосудистой системы. Лишь незначительное количество публикаций о влиянии бета-адреноблокаторов на агрегацию тромбоцитов представлено в доступной литературе. Своевременная диагностика и персонифицированный выбор тактики терапии пациентов с различными кардиоваскулярными заболеваниями требуют совершенствования подходов к ведению таких больных, поскольку предрасполагающие факторы – хирургические операции, постельный режим, катетеризация периферических вен и высокий риск развития осложнений основного заболевания, в том числе хроническая сердечная недостаточность, способствуют ранней инвалидизации пациента. Исследование проводилось с целью разработки технологии наблюдения за больными разного возраста с кардиоваскулярной патологией при терапии бета-адреноблокаторами и антиагрегантами для оптимизации фармакотерапевтической стратегии их лечения. В исследование были включены 50 пациентов с кардиомиопатиями, врожденными пороками сердца, клапанной патологией, нарушениями ритма и проводимости, артериальной гипертензией. Все пациенты были обследованы клинически, лабораторно и инструментально. Разработанная и модифицированная в ходе исследования технология наблюдения является пошаговой моделью персонифицированного ведения детей с кардиоваскулярными нарушениями, включает углубленное исследование гемостаза, возможного потенцированного взаимодействия бета-адреноблокаторов и антиагрегантов, методику определения оптимальной индивидуальной чувствительности к препарату. In recent years, more and more cases of cardiovascular diseasesin children have been registered, they often have a long-term asymptomatic course and start with thrombotic manifestations, which can lead to disability and death. Currently, there is insufficient data on the effect of beta-blockers on the vascular-platelet link of hemostasis and monitoring of the effectiveness of therapy in children with cardiovascular diseases. The aim of our study was to develop a technology for monitoring patients with cardiovascular pathologywho receive beta-blockers and antiplatelet agents to optimize the pharmacotherapeutic strategy for their treatment. A complete clinical, laboratory and instrumental examination was performedin 50 patients with suchnosological forms of cardiovascular pathology, as cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, valvular pathology, rhythm and conduction disorders, arterial hypertension. The assessment of the platelet aggregation function was emphasized, which revealed changes in aggregation during therapy in 80% of cases.According to the results of the study, platelet aggregation intervals were established, which allow to prescribe appropriate doses of drugs, a model of personalized management of children with cardiovascular disorders was developed, including an in-depth study of hemostasis, a possible potentiated interaction of beta-blockers and antiplatelet agents, and a method for determining the optimal individual sensitivity to the drug.

ИНДИВИДУАЛЬНАЯ ПРЕДРАСПОЛОЖЕННОСТЬ К ДЕЙСТВИЮ ПРОИЗВОДСТВЕННО-ЭКОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ БИОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ ФАКТОРОВ У ГОРНОРАБОЧИХ ПО АЛЛОАНТИГЕННЫМ ТКАНЕВЫМ СТРУКТУРАМ

This article provides a comparative analysis of individual differences in the development of occupational diseases, which are based on human genetic polymorphism. The genetic systems of the body take part in the formation of chronic diseases in mining workers exposed to the complex effects of harmful production factors and determine individual sensitivity to pathogenic agents. The study of genetic markers allows us to justify the criteria for professional selection and to conduct more effective preventive measures.

Od „śmierdzącego dudka” po banialuki. Obraz ptaków w literaturze renesansu i baroku – rekonesans

Birds function in Polish literature of Renaissance and Baroque in three paradigms. Mostly they appear as creatures gifted with a symbolic (allegoric) meaning, seen through the prism of the tradition reaching to Aristotle’s Zoology, Physiologist, and later symbological compendia. The second category is describing birds as food or pests (especially in hunting and agricultural literature). Apart from this ‘practical’ paradigm, there is also a third one: birds as a source of an aesthetic thrill, fascination with them includes both lyricism and a ludic element. The first two categories fit into a more general utilitarian paradigm. Handbooks, treaties, sermons, fairy tales, paroemias and animal epigrams showcase birds almost exclusivelyas tools of moral, religious and conventional reflection, or as objects to be obtained and consumed. Interestingly, the symbological activity of the creators does not cease in the Renaissance and Baroque periods, the representatives of avifauna are burdened with new meanings, while the fantastic creatures slowly disappear from the creators’ fields of view. In the third group of works distinguished here, one can notice the phenomenon of the emancipation of birds as objects of interest just as they are, although their voice is heard mostly in the digressions scattered throughout the big epic works. The autonomy of birds in the literature of Renaissance and Baroque is not linear, the way of perceiving them is determined by the individual sensitivity of the authors, the most prominent of whom are Hieronim Morsztyn (early 17th century) and an anonymous translator of the Italian Adon (2nd half of the 17th century).

AN EAR FOR LANGUAGE

ABSTRACTThis study tested whether individual sensitivity to an auditory perceptual cue called amplitude rise time (ART) facilitates novel word learning. Forty adult native speakers of Polish performed a perceptual task testing their sensitivity to ART, learned associations between nonwords and pictures of common objects, and were subsequently tested on their knowledge with a picture recognition (PR) task. In the PR task participants heard each nonword, followed either by a congruent or incongruent picture, and had to assess if the picture matched the nonword. Word learning efficiency was measured by accuracy and reaction time on the PR task and modulation of the N300 ERP. As predicted, participants with greater sensitivity to ART showed better performance in PR suggesting that auditory sensitivity indeed facilitates learning of novel words. Contrary to expectations, the N300 was not modulated by sensitivity to ART suggesting that the behavioral and ERP measures reflect different underlying processes.

Anti-angiogenesis and Immunotherapy: Novel Paradigms to Envision Tailored Approaches in Renal Cell-Carcinoma

Although decision making strategy based on clinico-histopathological criteria is well established, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) represents a spectrum of biological ecosystems characterized by distinct genetic and molecular alterations, diverse clinical courses and potential specific therapeutic vulnerabilities. Given the plethora of drugs available, the subtype-tailored treatment to RCC subtype holds the potential to improve patient outcome, shrinking treatment-related morbidity and cost. The emerging knowledge of the molecular taxonomy of RCC is evolving, whilst the antiangiogenic and immunotherapy landscape maintains and reinforces their potential. Although several prognostic factors of survival in patients with RCC have been described, no reliable predictive biomarkers of treatment individual sensitivity or resistance have been identified. In this review, we summarize the available evidence able to prompt more precise and individualized patient selection in well-designed clinical trials, covering the unmet need of medical choices in the era of next-generation anti-angiogenesis and immunotherapy.