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At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Disruption of a putative working memory task and selective expression of brain c-fos following microwave-induced hyperthermia.

To discern the effects of hyperthermia on working memory, we recorded the ability of rats to discriminate between objects following microwave radiation exposure. Memory changes were evaluated by measuring relative exploration time of a familiar vs. a new stimulus object. A subject that extensively reexplores a stimulus with which it has previous experience is presumed to exhibit memory loss associated with that object. Between training and testing, rats were exposed to various doses of microwave radiation, were sham irradiated, or remained in their home cage. Brain (dural) and rectal temperatures were recorded. To discern brain regions activated or possibly damaged by microwave exposure, we also used immunocytochemistry techniques to identify sites of c-fos protein expression in the brains of several irradiated/sham-irradiated subjects. Rats exposed to > 5 W/kg exhibited hyperthermia when compared to nonirradiated controls. Normothermic control subjects (sham-irradiated rats and rats exposed to 0.1 W/kg) showed a distinct preference for the new object although other microwave-exposed rats (1, 5, 8.5, 9.3, 10 W/kg) did not. Microwave hyperthermia evoked prominent c-fos expression in periventricular strata, hypothalamic nuclei, amygdala, and several areas of the cortex. These data suggest that performance on a putative working memory task may be disrupted by a sufficiently intense microwave-induced hyperthermia. The pattern of expression of the early proto-oncogene c-fos may suggest candidate brain nuclei that mediate the behavioral changes we observed.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Effect of microwave pretreatment of coal for improvement of rheological characteristics of coal-water slurries.

Indian high-ash coal contains alpha-silica components of the mineral matter. When coal is transported in the form of a slurry, alpha-silica adds to the settling properties of coal and enhances erosion of pipelines. As such any technique that will contribute to changing the characteristics of mineral matter by selective demineralization is bound to supplement the knowledge of coal slurries in the science of rheology. One such method is the use of a novel microwave technology, which changes the alpha-silica to less harmful beta-silica. Thus microwave-treated coal slurry facilitates enhanced flow characteristics and abates the erosion problem in pipeline transport as well as in coal-slurry injection furnaces. This paper reports on the rheological study of closely sized coal particles of medium-volatile, low-ash, low-moisture cleans and high-ash rejects with and without microwave treatment. Viscosity of suspensions of microwave-treated coal was found to be less than that of untreated coal, in the case of both cleans and rejects. Microwave pretreatment thus reduces the viscosity and the pumping cost and opens a new outlook for pipeline transport. An attempt has been made to quantify the improvement of rheological characteristics due to microwave pretreatment.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Effects of Microwave Heating on the Loss of Vitamin B(12) in Foods.

To clarify the effects of microwave heating on the loss of vitamin B(12) in foods, raw beef, pork, and milk were treated by microwave heating and then their vitamin B(12) contents were determined according to a chemiluminescent vitamin B(12) assay with hog intrinsic factor. Appreciable loss ( approximately 30-40%) of vitamin B(12) occurred in the foods during microwave heating due to the degradation of vitamin B(12) molecule by microwave heating. When hydroxo vitamin B(12), which predominates in foods, was treated by microwave heating and then analyzed by silica gel 60 thin layer chromatography, two vitamin B(12) degradation products were found. One of the compounds with a R(f)() of 0.16 was purified and partially characterized. The vitamin B(12) degradation product did not show any biological activity in the growth of a vitamin B(12) requiring microorganism, Euglena gracilis Z, and was not bound to hog intrinsic factor, a mammalian vitamin B(12) binding protein. Intravenous administration of the compound (1 µg/day) for 7 days to rats showed that the compound neither has toxicity nor acts as a vitamin B(12) antagonist in mammals. These results indicate that the conversion of vitamin B(12) to the inactive vitamin B(12) degradation products occurs in foods during microwave heating.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1967

Effect of Microwaves on Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis.

Suspensions of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis spores were exposed to conventional thermal and microwave energy at 2,450 MHz. The degrees of inactivation by the different energy sources were compared quantitatively. During the transient heating period by microwave energy, approximately a 6 log cycle reduction in viability was encountered for E. coli. This reduction was nearly identical to what is expected for the same time-temperature exposure to conventional heating. Heating of B. subtilis spores by conventional and microwave energy was also carried out at 100 C, in ice and for transient heating. The degree of inactivation by microwave energy was again identical to that by conventional heating. In conclusion, inactivation of E. coli and B. subtilis by exposure to microwaves is solely due to the thermal energy, and there is no per se effect of microwaves.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Resection of meningiomas with implantable microwave coagulation.

Implantable microwave coagulation was used to perform resection on 62 patients that had intracranial meningiomas. When 20-60 W microwave power was applied for 15 s, the temperature at the center of the tumor tissue was 43-63 degrees C; 30 mm from the center, the temperature was under 40 degrees C. Histological changes in the center of the tumor showed coagulative necrosis, diminished nuclei, and obliterated blood vessels. The changes at 10-20 mm from the center of the tumor showed coagulative necrosis and degeneration and, 30-50 mm from the center of the tumor, showed normal cell morphology after microwave coagulation. The thermal field in brain tumor has an effective diameter of about 40 mm. No side effects on the normal brain tissues were observed. The amount of blood loss during the operation was minimal while the meningioma was coagulated, especially when the meningioma was located at the skull base or in the parasagittal or cerebral convexity region. After microwave coagulation, the entire tumor could easily be removed. Among the 62 surgically treated cases, gross total tumor excision was 85 percent. No postoperative complications occurred after microwave coagulation, and there was no operative mortality in the series. We believe that this new technique has the advantage of simplicity, less blood loss, and smooth postoperative procedures. Hemostatic effects during the operation are satisfactory, and blood transfusion can be reduced by 50-60 percent.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Effects of microwave and radio frequency electromagnetic fields on lichens.

The effects of electromagnetic fields on lichens were investigated. Field experiments of long duration (1-3 years) were combined with laboratory experiments and theoretical considerations. Samples of the lichen species Parmelia tiliacea and Hypogymnia physodes were exposed to microwaves (2.45 GHz; 0.2, 5, and 50 mW/cm2; and control). Both species showed a substantially reduced growth rate at 50 mW/cm2. A differentiation between thermal and nonthermal effects was not possible. Temperature measurements on lichens exposed to microwaves (2.45 GHz, 50 mW/cm2) showed a substantial increase in the surface temperature and an accelerated drying process. The thermal effect of microwave on lichens was verified. The exposure of lichens of both species was repeated near a short-wave broadcast transmitter (9.5 MHz, amplitude modulated; maximum field strength 235 V/m, 332 mA/m). No visible effects on the exposed lichens were detected. At this frequency, no thermal effects were expected, and the experimental results support this hypothesis. Theoretical estimates based on climatic data and literature showed that the growth reductions in the initial experiments could very likely have been caused by drying of the lichens from the heating with microwaves. The results of the other experiments support the hypothesis that the response of the lichens exposed to microwaves was mainly due to thermal effects and that there is a low probability of nonthermal effects.

Electromagnetic Fields↗
PubMed1999

Catheter microwave ablation therapy for cardiac arrhythmias.

This article describes three microwave catheter antennas for percutaneous cardiac ablation. A particular design feature of these antennas is that there is no reflected microwave current from the antenna flowing up the transmission line. Thus, it minimizes heating of the coaxial cable. The power reflection coefficients are very low (4% or less) in phantom equivalent materials. These antennas can also serve as bipolar electrodes for sensing endocardiac electrograms. Our studies in dogs, during both cardiopulmonary bypass and closed-chest operations via the femoral vein, have shown microwave energy greater than 200 joules (J) delivered to the heart through a split-tip dipole catheter antenna can produce irreversible block of the heart rhythms. This energy was achieved either by increasing the delivered power from 20 to 40 watts or by increasing the treatment duration from 7 to 11 s (210 to 330 J per application). It produced an endocardium temperature of about 65 degrees C. We found that the percutaneous, transcatheter microwave system is capable of inducing AV blocks consistently in dogs using the flexible, curved tip, split-tip catheter antenna. In addition, our studies have shown that the width and height of SAR distributions for cap-choke and split-tip catheter antennas are similar for the same antenna length. The cap-slot design had a much longer SAR distribution compared to the others. Moreover, a longer (4 mm) split-tip antenna can also induce larger lesions. These results suggest that it could be possible to ablate a ventricular tachycardia focus using the 4 mm split-tip as well as the cap-slot microwave catheter antennas.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Behavioral evaluation of microwave irradiation.

Establishing safe exposure levels for microwave irradiation is important since new, more powerful emitters are developed and the potential for accidental exposure is increasing. Analysis of the behavior of exposed laboratory animals has proven to be an accurate and repeatable metric for assessing the effects of microwave irradiation. Determining the specific absorption rate (SAR) at which an animal will cease an ongoing behavior has proven useful in the development of safe exposure levels for humans. Behaviors that have been used are simple tasks, and the point at which behavior changes significantly or ceases has often been referred to as "work stoppage." The tasks have been used to evaluate the overwhelming effects of heating produced by microwave irradiation. Both whole-body exposures and partial-body exposures with hotspots have been evaluated. Recent studies have suggested that microwave effects on specific cognitive aspects of behavior such as attention, learning, memory, discrimination, and time perception may occur at SAR levels far below the SARs needed to cause work stoppage. New research studies are underway to evaluate microwave-induced cognitive effects.

Absorption↗
PubMed2001

Drying of olive pomace by a combined microwave-fan assisted convection oven.

The drying rate curves in terms of moisture content versus time for olive oil pomace have been experimentally obtained using microwave and combined microwave-convection oven. The effects of microwave power (350, 490, 700 W), thickness (6, 9, 14 mm) and temperature (100, 160, 225 degrees C) have been investigated. It has been found that the effects of power output and thickness are negligible in microwave oven, whereas the drying rate increases with temperature increase in combined microwave-convection oven. The diffusion model fitted well to the drying curve of experimental data obtained for olive pomace at the studied conditions of drying.

Convection↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Optimization of microwave digestion for mercury determination in marine biological samples by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry.

Optimization of acid digestion method for mercury determination in marine biological samples (dolphin liver, fish and mussel tissues) using a closed vessel microwave sample preparation is presented. Five digestion procedures with different acid mixtures were investigated: the best results were obtained when the microwave-assisted digestion was based on sample dissolution with HNO3-H2SO4-K2Cr2O7 mixture. A comparison between microwave digestion and conventional reflux digestion shows there are considerable losses of mercury in the open digestion system. The microwave digestion method has been tested satisfactorily using two certified reference materials. Analytical results show a good agreement with certified values. The microwave digestion proved to be a reliable and rapid method for decomposition of biological samples in mercury determination.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

A small temperature rise may contribute towards the apparent induction by microwaves of heat-shock gene expression in the nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans.

We have previously reported that low intensity microwave exposure (0.75-1.0 GHz CW at 0.5 W; SAR 4-40 mW/kg) can induce an apparently non-thermal heat-shock response in Caenorhabditis elegans worms carrying hsp16-1::reporter genes. Using matched copper TEM cells for both sham and exposed groups, we can detect only modest reporter induction in the latter exposed group (15-20% after 2.5 h at 26 degrees C, rising to approximately 50% after 20 h). Traceable calibration of our copper TEM cell by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) reveals significant power loss within the cell (8.5% at 1.0 GHz), accompanied by slight heating of exposed samples (approximately 0.3 degrees C at 1.0 W). Thus, exposed samples are in fact slightly warmer (by < or =0.2 degrees C at 0.5 W) than sham controls. Following NPL recommendations, our TEM cell design was modified with the aim of reducing both power loss and consequent heating. In the modified silver-plated cell, power loss is only 1.5% at 1.0 GHz, and sample warming is reduced to approximately 0.15 degrees C at 1.0 W (i.e., < or =0.1 degrees C at 0.5 W). Under sham:sham conditions, there is no difference in reporter expression between the modified silver-plated TEM cell and an unmodified copper cell. However, worms exposed to microwaves (1.0 GHz and 0.5 W) in the silver-plated cell also show no detectable induction of reporter expression relative to sham controls in the copper cell. Thus, the 20% "microwave induction" observed using two copper cells may be caused by a small temperature difference between sham and exposed conditions. In worms incubated for 2.5 h at 26.0, 26.2, and 27.0 degrees C with no microwave field, there is a consistent and significant increase in reporter expression between 26.0 and 26.2 degrees C (by approximately 20% in each of the six independent runs), but paradoxically expression levels at 27.0 degrees C are similar to those seen at 26.0 degrees C. This surprising result is in line with other evidence pointing towards complex regulation of hsp16-1 gene expression across the sub-heat-shock range of 25-27.5 degrees C in C. elegans. We conclude that our original interpretation of a non-thermal effect of microwaves cannot be sustained; at least part of the explanation appears to be thermal.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Microwave radiation (2450 MHz) alters the endotoxin-induced hypothermic response of rats.

The parenteral administration of bacterial endotoxin to rats causes a hypothermia that is maximal after approximately 90 minutes. When endotoxin-injected rats were held in a controlled environment at 22 degree C and 50% relative humidity and exposed for 90 minutes to microwaves (2450 MHz, CW) at 1 mW/cm2, significant increases were observed in body temperature compared with endotoxin-treated, sham-irradiated rats. The magnitude of the response was related to power density (10 mW/cm2 greater than 5 mW/cm2 greater than 1 mW/cm2). Saline-injected rats exposed for 90 minutes at 5 mW/cm2 (specific absorption rate approximately 1.0 mW/g) showed no significant increase in body temperature compared with saline-injected, sham-irradiated rats. The hypothermia induced by endotoxin in rats was also found to be affected by ambient temperature alone. Increases in ambient temperature above 22 degree C in the absence of microwaves caused a concomitant increase in body temperature. This study reveals that subtle microwave heating is detectable in endotoxin-treated rats that have impaired thermoregulatory capability. These results indicate that the interpretation of microwave-induced biological effects observed in animals at comparable rates and levels of energy absorption should include a consideration of the thermogenic potential of microwave.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed1983

Effects of microwave exposure on the hamster immune system. I. Natural killer cell activity.

Hamsters were exposed to repeated or single doses of microwave energy and monitored for changes in core body temperature, circulating leukocyte profiles, serum corticosteroid levels, and natural killer (NK) cell activity in various tissues. NK cytotoxicity was measured in a 51Cr-release assay employing baby hamster kidney (BHK) targets or BHK infected with herpes simplex virus. Repeated exposure of hamsters at 15 mW/cm2 for 60 min/day had no significant effect on natural levels of spleen-cell NK activity against BHK targets. Similarly, repeated exposure at 15 mW/cm2 over a 5-day period had no demonstrable effect on the induction of spleen NK activity by vaccinia virus immunization, that is, comparable levels of NK were induced in untreated and microwave-treated animals. In contrast, treatment of hamsters with a single 60-min microwave exposure at 25 mW/cm2 caused a significant suppression in induced spleen NK activity. A similar but less marked decrease in spleen NK activity was observed in sham-exposed animals. Moreover, the sham effects on NK activity were not predictable and appeared to represent large individual animal variations in the response to stress factors. Depressed spleen NK activity was evident as early as 4 h postmicrowave treatment and returned to normal levels by 8 h. Hamsters exposed at 25 mW/cm2 showed an elevated temperature of 3.0-3.5 degrees C that returned to normal within 60 min after termination of microwave exposure. These animals also showed a marked lymphopenia and neutrophilia by 1 h posttreatment that returned to normal by 8-10 h. Serum glucocorticosteroids were elevated between 1 aNd 8 h after microwave treatment. Sham-exposed animals did not demonstrate significant changes in core body temperature, peripheral blood leukocyte (PBL) profile, or glucocorticosteroid levels as compared to minimum-handling controls.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1983

Hematologic and immunologic effects of pulsed microwaves in mice.

Mice were exposed in the far field in an anechoic chamber to 2,880-MHz pulsed microwaves 3 to 7.5 h daily, 5 days/week for 60 to 360 h. Three experiments were performed at average power densities of 5 mW/cm2 and six at 10 mW/cm2, corresponding to averaged specific absorption rates (SARs) of 2.25 and 4.50 mW/g, respectively. Each experiment consisted of eight mice, with a concurrently sham-exposed group of eight. In two of three studies at 5 mW/cm2, there was a significant increase in bone marrow cellularity in the microwave-exposed groups compared to the sham-exposed groups. Significant differences were occasionally seen in erythrocyte, leukocyte, and platelet values from microwave-exposed groups, but were not consistently observed. In one of six groups exposed at 10 mW/cm2, mean bone marrow cellularity was reduced significantly in the microwave-exposed mice; in another group, the lymphocyte count was increased. In only one exposure (10 mW/cm2 for 360 h) was any significant effect noted on serum proteins: a reduction to 5.1 +/- 0.3 g/dl in the exposed versus 5.6 +/- 0.4 g/dl in the sham-exposed mice. This was due to a decrease in alpha and beta globulins, with no effect on albumin or gamma globulin concentrations. No effect on bone marrow granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming units (CFU) was revealed following exposure of mice to pulsed microwaves at 5 mW/cm2. In one of four exposures at 10 mW/cm2, there was a significant increase in CFU-agar colonies. No significant effects of exposures at 10 mW/cm2 were observed on in vivo and in vitro assays of cell-mediated immune functions. No exposure-related histopathologic lesions were found from examination of several tissues and organs. Results of these series of exposures of mice at SARs of 2.25 and 4.50 mW/g indicated no consistent effects on the hematologic, immunologic, or histopathologic variables examined.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

The effect of exposure of acetylcholinesterase to 2,450-MHz microwave radiation.

The effect of 2,450-MHz pulsed microwave radiation on the enzyme activity of membrane-free acetylcholinesterase was studied while the enzyme was in the microwave field. We found no significant effect of microwave radiation on enzyme activity using a wide variety of power densities, pulse widths, repetition rates, and duty cycles. This suggests that simple, direct modification by microwave energy of acetylcholinesterase structure and enzymic activity is not related to microwave alteration of acetylcholinesterase central nervous system levels.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1985

Thermoregulatory adjustments in squirrel monkeys exposed to microwaves at high power densities.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the thermal adjustments of squirrel monkeys exposed in a cold environment to relatively high energy levels of microwave fields. The animals (Saimiri sciureus) were equilibrated for 90 min to a cool environment (Ta = 20 degrees C) to elevate metabolic heat production (M). They were then exposed for brief (10-min) or long (30-min) periods to 2,450-MHz continuous-wave microwaves. Power densities (MPD) were 10, 14, 19, and 25 mW/cm2 during brief exposures and 30, 35, 40, and 45 mW/cm2 during long exposures (rate of energy absorption: SAR = 0.15 [W/kg]/[mW/cm2]). Individual exposures were separated by enough time to allow physiological variables to return to baseline levels. The results confirm that each microwave exposure induced a rapid decrease in M. In a 20 degree C environment, the power density of a 10-min exposure required to lower M to approximate the resting level was 35 mW/cm2 (SAR = 5.3 W/kg). During the long exposures, 20 min was needed to decrease M to its lowest level. Cessation of irradiation was associated with persistence of low levels of M for periods that depended on the power density of the preceding microwave exposure. Vasodilation, as indexed by changes in local skin temperature, occurred at a high rate of energy absorption (SAR = 4.5 W/kg) and was sufficient to prevent a dramatic increase in storage of thermal energy by the body; vasoconstriction was reinstated after termination of irradiation. Patterns of thermophysiological responses confirm the influence both of peripheral and of internal inputs to thermoregulation in squirrel monkeys exposed to microwaves in a cool environment.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Microwave-induced changes in nerve cells: effects of modulation and temperature.

Helix aspersa neurons were irradiated with continuous-wave (CW) and noise-amplitude-modulated microwaves (carrier frequency 2450 MHz, 20% AM, 2 Hz-20 kHz) in a specially designed waveguide exposure system. Continuous-wave microwave irradiations were conducted at 8 degrees, 21 degrees, and 28 degrees C, while noise-modulated irradiation was performed at 21 degrees C. The results showed that exposure of snail neurons to CW microwaves for 60 min at 12.9 W/kg inhibited spontaneous activity and reduced input resistance at 8 degrees and 21 degrees C but not at 28 degrees C. The relative decrease in resistance at 21 degrees C was half that at 8 degrees C. Exposure of neurons to noise-modulated microwaves at 6.8 and 14.4 W/kg predominately caused excitatory responses characterized by augmented membrane resistance and the appearance of greater activity. The effect differed qualitatively from the inhibition observed with continuous, unmodulated microwave irradiation.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Effects of microwave radiation (340 and 900 MHz) on different structural levels of erythrocyte membranes.

By use of fluorescence probes 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonic acid, 2-toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonate, pyrene, perylene and chemical label phosphatidylethanolamine 2,4,6-trinitrobenzele sulfonic acid, the effect of microwave radiation on the erythrocyte membrane was studied. The studies with the fluorescence probes were carried out on erythrocyte ghosts and with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid on whole erythrocytes. The fluorescence was measured during irradiation of the membranes with 340-MHz microwaves at an SAR of 100 W/kg. Trinitrophenylation of phosphatidylethanolamine from whole erythrocytes was performed simultaneously with microwave irradiation at 900 MHz (10 mW/cm2). It was shown that the microwave field decreased lipid viscosity, altered the structural state of lipid-protein contact regions, and decreased the protein shielding of lipids. These changes corresponded to those produced by thermal action of microwaves.

Animals↗