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[A quantitative study on early changes in rabbit lens capsule epithelium induced by low power density microwave radiation].

[Zhonghua yan ke za zhi] Chinese journal of ophthalmology · 2003 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 6394

Rabbit eyes exposed to microwave power densities of 5 mW/cm^2 and 10 mW/cm^2 for 3 hours showed significant changes versus self-controls: at 5 mW/cm^2 early apoptosis was significantly increased, while at 10 mW/cm^2 secondary necrotic cells were significantly…

Study snapshot

Publication[Zhonghua yan ke za zhi] Chinese journal of ophthalmology · 2003
Study typeanimal
Reported directionHarm
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To test the safety of guidelines for limiting exposure to low power level microwave radiation and to try to explore the mechanisms of early damages induced by such radiation in rabbit lens capsule epithelial cells, using flow cytometry as a quantitative method of evaluation of these damages. METHODS: The rabbit eyes were exposed to 5 mW/cm(2) (group I) and 10 mW/cm(2) (group II) power densities of microwave for 3 h. Annexin V-PI two-color flow cytometry was used to detect the changes of rabbits lens epithelial cells, apoptosis cells and secondary necrotic cells after radiation. The other eyes served as self-controls. RESULTS: In group I, the percentage of early apoptosis cells in the experimental eyes was significantly greater than that of the controls (P < 0.01), whereas no significantly difference in the percentage of secondary necrotic cells could be observed (P > 0.05). In group II, there was no significant difference between the percentage of early apoptosis cells in experimental eyes and the controls (P > 0.05), whereas the percentage of secondary necrotic cells in the experimental eyes was significantly greater than that of the controls (P < 0.05). The percentage of secondary necrotic cells (16.2 +/- 5.6)% in group II is greater than that in group I (10.3 +/- 6.8)% (P < 0.05), though there is no significant difference in the percentage of early apoptosis cells between these two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Low power density of microwave radiation (5 mW/cm(2) and 10 mW/cm(2)) can induce irreversible damage of rabbit lens epithelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, the safety dosage criterion of microwave exposure needs further investigation.

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal
Effect directionharm
PopulationRabbits (rabbit eyes/lens capsule epithelial cells)
Sample sizeNot supplied
Exposuremicrowave · 3 h
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Rabbit eyes exposed to microwave power densities of 5 mW/cm^2 and 10 mW/cm^2 for 3 hours showed significant changes versus self-controls: at 5 mW/cm^2 early apoptosis was significantly increased, while at 10 mW/cm^2 secondary necrotic cells were significantly increased. Secondary necrosis was higher in the 10 mW/cm^2 group than the 5 mW/cm^2 group.

Outcomes measured

  • Early apoptosis in rabbit lens epithelial cells
  • Secondary necrosis in rabbit lens epithelial cells
  • Cell damage/irreversible damage in rabbit lens epithelial cells

Limitations

  • Microwave frequency not reported in abstract/metadata
  • Sample size not reported
  • Exposure metric reported as power density only; SAR not reported
  • Short-term/early changes only (3-hour exposure)
  • Animal model; generalizability to humans not established in abstract
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "3 h"
  },
  "population": "Rabbits (rabbit eyes/lens capsule epithelial cells)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Early apoptosis in rabbit lens epithelial cells",
    "Secondary necrosis in rabbit lens epithelial cells",
    "Cell damage/irreversible damage in rabbit lens epithelial cells"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Rabbit eyes exposed to microwave power densities of 5 mW/cm^2 and 10 mW/cm^2 for 3 hours showed significant changes versus self-controls: at 5 mW/cm^2 early apoptosis was significantly increased, while at 10 mW/cm^2 secondary necrotic cells were significantly increased. Secondary necrosis was higher in the 10 mW/cm^2 group than the 5 mW/cm^2 group.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Microwave frequency not reported in abstract/metadata",
    "Sample size not reported",
    "Exposure metric reported as power density only; SAR not reported",
    "Short-term/early changes only (3-hour exposure)",
    "Animal model; generalizability to humans not established in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "microwave radiation",
    "low power density",
    "rabbit eye",
    "lens epithelial cells",
    "apoptosis",
    "secondary necrosis",
    "flow cytometry",
    "Annexin V-PI"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.55,
      "reason": "Study explicitly discusses testing safety of exposure guidelines/criteria for microwave exposure."
    }
  ]
}
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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: Not supplied
PubMed: 12895367

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