The capacity of environmental pollutants to generate oxidative stress is known to affect the development and progression of chronic diseases. This scientific review identifies previously published experimental studies using preclinical models of exposure to environmental stress agents, such as black carbon and/or RF-EMF, which produce cellular oxidative damage and can lead to different types of cell death. We summarize in vivo and in vitro studies, which are grouped according to the mechanisms and pathways of redox activation triggered by exposure to BC and/or EMF and leading to apoptosis, necrosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis and cuproptosis. The possible mechanisms are considered in relation to the organ, cell type and cellular-subcellular interaction with the oxidative toxicity caused by BC and/or EMF at the molecular level. The actions of these environmental pollutants, which affect everyday life, are considered separately and together in experimental preclinical models. However, for overall interpretation of the data, toxicological studies must first be conducted in humans, to enable possible risks to human health to be established in relation to the progression of chronic diseases. Further actions should take pollution levels into account, focusing on the most vulnerable populations and future generations.

UNASSIGNED: In the process of bone regeneration, a prominent role is played by macrophages involved in both the initial inflammation and the regeneration/vascularization phases, due to their M2 anti-inflammatory phenotype. Together with osteoclasts, they participate in the degradation of the bone matrix if the inflammatory process does not end. In this complex scenario, recently, much attention has been paid to extracellular communication mediated by nanometer-sized vesicles, with high information content, called exosomes (EVs). Considering these considerations, the purpose of the present work is to demonstrate how the presence of a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) can positively affect communication through EVs.
UNASSIGNED: To this aim, macrophages and osteoclasts were treated in vitro with PEMF and analyzed through molecular biology analysis and by electron microscopy. Moreover, EVs produced by macrophages were characterized and used to verify their activity onto osteoclasts.
UNASSIGNED: The results confirmed that PEMF not only reduces the inflammatory activity of macrophages and the degradative activity of osteoclasts but that the EVS produced by macrophages, obtained from PEMF treatment, positively affect osteoclasts by reducing their activity.
UNASSIGNED: The co-treatment of PEMF with M2 macrophage-derived EVs (M2-EVs) decreased osteoclastogenesis to a greater degree than separate treatments.

Electromagnetic tracking (EMT) can benefit image-guided interventions in cases where line of sight is unavailable. However, EMT can suffer from electromagnetic distortion in the presence of metal instruments. Metal instruments are widely used in laparoscopic surgery, ENT surgery, arthroscopy and many other clinical applications. In this work, we investigate the feasibility of tracking such metal instruments by placing the inductive sensor within the instrument shaft. We propose a magnetostatic model of the field within the instrument, and verify the results experimentally for frequencies from 6 kHz to 60 kHz. The impact of the instrument\'s dimensions, conductivity and transmitting field frequency is quantified for ranges representative of typical metal instruments used in image-guided interventions. We then performed tracking using the open-source Anser EMT system and quantify the error caused by the presence of the rod as a function of the frequency of the eight emitting coils for the system. The work clearly demonstrates why smaller tool diameters (less than 8 mm) are less susceptible to distortion, as well as identifying optimal frequencies (1 kHz to 2 kHz) for transmitter design to minimise for distortion in larger instruments.

Several medical techniques are based on the application of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on the human body with therapeutic and/or diagnostic aims. The response of human tissues to the applied EMF is mediated by the tissues\' dielectric properties, which must therefore be characterized at the frequencies of the considered technique. Due to the heterogeneity and complexity of biological tissues, it is necessary to know their properties in vivo for the specific condition of interest. Traditional techniques for the dielectric characterization of biological tissues are invasive and, as such, not adoptable for this aim. Accordingly, alternative sensors and/or sensing methods are needed. Recently, a new wideband spectroscopy technique was proposed, based on quantities derived from the Magnetic Resonance (MRI) signal. Among these quantities, the water content was proposed to evaluate the dielectric properties at frequencies around a few GHz. This work verifies the possibility of deriving tissues\' dielectric properties in the frequency range of 1-20 GHz based on knowledge of the water content. The water content was retrieved through a dehydration procedure for five different ex vivo tissues. The achieved results were compared with references from the literature.

Tendon disorders often result in decreased muscle function and atrophy. Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMFs) have shown potential in improving tendon fiber structure and muscle recovery. However, the molecular effects of PEMF therapy on skeletal muscle, beyond conventional metrics like MRI or markers of muscle decline, remain largely unexplored. This study investigates the metabolic and structural changes in PEMF-treated muscle tissue using proteomics in a rat model of Achilles tendinopathy induced by collagenase. Sprague Dawley rats were unilaterally induced for tendinopathy with type I collagenase injection and exposed to PEMFs for 8 h/day. Gastrocnemius extracts from untreated or PEMF-treated rats were analyzed with LC-MS/MS, and proteomics differential analysis was conducted through label-free quantitation. PEMF-treated animals exhibited decreased glycolysis and increased LDHB expression, enhancing NAD signaling and ATP production, which boosted respiratory chain activity and fatty acid beta-oxidation. Antioxidant protein levels increased, controlling ROS production. PEMF therapy restored PGC1alpha and YAP levels, decreased by tendinopathy. Additionally, myosins regulating slow-twitch fibers and proteins involved in fiber alignment and force transmission increased, supporting muscle recovery and contractile function. Our findings show that PEMF treatment modulates NAD signaling and oxidative phosphorylation, aiding muscle recovery through the upregulation of YAP and PGC1alpha and increasing slow myosin isoforms, thus speeding up physiological recovery.

The widespread use of wireless communication devices has necessitated unavoidable exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF). In particular, increasing RF-EMF exposure among children is primarily driven by mobile phone use. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of 1850 MHz RF-EMF exposure at a specific absorption rate of 4.0 W/kg on cortical neurons in mice at postnatal day 28. The results indicated a significant reduction in the number of mushroom-shaped dendritic spines in the prefrontal cortex after daily exposure for 4 weeks. Additionally, prolonged RF-EMF exposure over 9 days led to a gradual decrease in postsynaptic density 95 puncta and inhibited neurite outgrowth in developing cortical neurons. Moreover, the expression levels of genes associated with synapse formation, such as synaptic cell adhesion molecules and cyclin-dependent kinase 5, were reduced in the cerebral cortexes of RF-EMF-exposed mice. Behavioral assessments using the Morris water maze revealed altered spatial learning and memory after the 4-week exposure period. These findings underscore the potential of RF-EMF exposure during childhood to disrupt synaptic function in the cerebral cortex, thereby affecting the developmental stages of the nervous system and potentially influencing later cognitive function.

In this systematic review, the potential role of in vivo RF-EMF exposure combined with the administration of well-known carcinogens in tumor promotion/progression is assessed. A total of 25 papers were included in the review. Each paper was assessed for Risk of Bias and for the attribution of the quality category. A meta-analysis was conducted on 18 studies, analyzing data for nine different organs/tumors to assess the potential increased risk for the onset of tumors as well as the effects on survival. A descriptive review was performed for the remaining seven eligible papers. In most cases, the results of the meta-analysis did not reveal a statistically significant difference in tumor onset between the sham and co-exposed samples. There was a numerically small increase in the risk of malignant tumors observed in the kidney and liver, as well as benign lung tumors. The level of evidence for health effects indicated \"inadequate\" evidence for an association between in vivo co-exposure to RF-EMF and known carcinogens and the onset of malignant or benign tumors in most of the analyzed tissues. Nevertheless, the limited number of eligible papers/studies for most of the analyzed tissues suggests that these results cannot be considered definitively conclusive.

Melatonin is a relic, due to its millions-of-years-old presence in chemical reactions, found in evolutionarily diverse organisms. It has a multidirectional biological function. It controls diurnal rhythms, redox homeostasis, intestinal motor functions, mitochondrial biogenesis and fetal development and has antioxidant effects. It also has analgesic and therapeutic effects. The purpose of this paper is to describe the role of melatonin in vital processes occurring in interaction with the environment, with particular reference to various magnetic fields ubiquitous in the life of animate matter, especially radio frequency/extra low frequency (RF/ELF EMF) and static magnetic fields. The most important part of this article is to describe the potential effects of magnetic fields on melatonin secretion and the resulting possible health effects. Melatonin in some cases positively amplifies the electromagnetic signal, intensifying health effects, such as neurogenesis, analgesic effects or lowering blood pressure. In other cases, it is a stimulus that inhibits the processes of destruction and aggravation of lesions. Sometimes, however, in contrast to the beneficial effects of electromagnetic fields in therapy, they intensify pathogenic effects, as in multiple sclerosis by intensifying the inflammatory process.

The influence of weak radio-frequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) on living organisms raises new concern because of the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) frequency band at 6.78 MHz being promoted by the AirFuel Alliance for mid-range wireless power transfer (WPT) applications and product development. Human exposure to the RF-EMF radiation is unavoidable. In this study, we employed in vitro cell culture and molecular biology approach coupled with integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analyses to uncover the effects of RF-EMF on cells at molecular and cellular levels. Our study has demonstrated that weak RF-EMF is sufficient to exert non-thermal effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Exposure of weak RF-EMF promotes cell proliferation, inhibits apoptosis and deregulates ROS balance. Alteration of several signaling pathways and key enzymes involved in NADPH metabolism, cell proliferation and ferroptosis were identified. Our current study provide solid evidence for the first time that the present safety standards that solely considered the thermal effect of RF-EMF on cell tissue are inadequate, prompt response and modification of existing Guidelines, Standards and Regulation are warranted.

This study introduces a novel volume coil design that features two slotted end-plates connected by six rungs, resembling the traditional birdcage coil. The end rings are equipped with six evenly distributed circular slots, inspired by Mansfield\'s cavity resonator theory, which suggests that circular slots can generate a baseline resonant frequency. One notable advantage of this proposed coil design is its reduced reliance on electronic components compared to other volume coils, making it more efficient. Additionally, the dimensions of the coil can be theoretically computed in advance, enhancing its practicality. To evaluate the performance and safety of the coil, electromagnetic field and specific absorption rate simulations were simulated using a cylindrical saline phantom and the finite element method. Furthermore, a transceiver coil prototype optimized for 7 Tesla and driven in quadrature was constructed, enabling whole-body imaging of rats. The resonant frequency of the coil prototype obtained through experimental measurements closely matched the theoretical frequency derived from Mansfield\'s theory. To validate the coil design, phantom images were acquired to demonstrate its viability and assess its performance. These images also served to validate the magnetic field simulations. The experimental results aligned well with the simulation findings, confirming the reliability of the proposed coil design. Importantly, the prototype coil showcased significant improvements over a similarly-sized birdcage coil, indicating its potential for enhanced performance. The noise figure was lower in the prototype versus the birdcage coil (NFbirdcage-NFslotcage= 0.7). Phantom image data were also used to compute the image SNR, giving SNRslotcage/SNRbirdcage= 34.36/24.34. By proving the feasibility of the coil design through successful rat whole-body imaging, the study provides evidence supporting its potential as a viable option for high-field MRI applications on rodents.