Search

Objectives: The currently widely used technological devices give rise to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) at various frequencies. Recent studies have reported that EMFs damage the central nervous system. The cerebellum is of considerable importance to human life due to its involvement in motor control, language, and cognitive-sensory functions. Damage occurring in the histological layers of the cerebellar cortex causes various neurological and psychiatric diseases, such as paralysis, tumor, autism, and schizophrenia. Our study involved a histopathological evaluation of the effects of communication systems' standard 900-MHz EMF on the cerebellum., Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into two groups containing six animals each: control and EMF. The EMF group was exposed to a 24-h 900-MHz radiofrequency EMF over 20 days with a digital modulation signal generator installed in the middle of their cage. Ten days after EMF application, the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation under anesthesia induced with 50 mg/kg ketamine hydrochloride and 10 mg/kg intraperitoneal xylazine HC1., Results: Intense caspase-3 expression was seen in the Purkinje cells and granular cells exposed to a 900-MHz frequency EMF (p<0.05). Pyknotic nuclei were notable in the Purkinje and granular cells exposed to a 900-MHz EMF. We also observed a decrease in the cytoplasm of the Purkinje and granular cells. Specimens from the EMF group exhibited decreases in the thickness of the molecular cell layer, Purkinje cell layer, and granular cell layer compared with those from the control group. However, the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05)., Conclusion: A 900-MHz EMF causes deleterious effects on the cerebellum by giving rise to apoptosis accompanied by caspase-3 expression in the Purkinje and granular cells in particular., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: None declared., (Copyright: © 2018 by The Medical Bulletin of Sisli Etfal Hospital.)

Playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMD) in professional musicians are common. Existing literature demonstrates that up to 86 % of musicians are affected. The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of musculoskeletal pain in professional orchestral musicians with regard to their instrument affiliation. Of special interest were pain intensity and its association with predictors such as gender, instrument group, age or stage fright. Professional orchestra players completed a self-report questionnaire to assess playing-related musculoskeletal pain and its frequency and intensity in various body regions on a numeric rating scale (NRS). Relative frequencies and prevalence ratios for different instrument groups were estimated. Out of 720 approached musicians, 408 were included in the sample (response rate 57 %); overall, 89.5 % had been affected by current or past playing-related musculoskeletal pain, 62.7 % reported pain in the previous 3 months, and 8.6 % reported current pain. Pain distribution and frequency varied between instrument groups. For all instrument groups, the neck was the most common pain region. About 43 % of musicians presented more than five pain regions, in particular violin players. Approximately 40 % of musicians indicated frequent or permanent pain. Average pain intensities increased from NRS 3.8 up to a range of 5.9 and 7.4 for frequent and permanent pain, respectively. Female gender and stage fright were proven to be predictors for musculoskeletal pain. Professional orchestral musicians are greatly affected by PRMD, often experiencing frequent or permanent pain, high pain levels and pain in various body regions. As PRMD might contribute considerably to performance disability, sick leave and the possibility of premature termination of a musicians' career, this study highlights the necessity for tailored therapeutic and preventive strategies in performing arts medicine.

We describe a method of removing a posteriorly dislocated lens involving the use of a Machemer lens to visualize displaced lens remnants. Following core vitrectomy, the lens remnants are brought anteriorly and then removed by phacoemulsification. Lens implantation may then be performed with sulcus fixation. Eight of 10 patients in which this technique was used achieved 20/40 or better visual acuity.