01.15.21

Researchers find that CRY-1, a regulator of circadian rhythms, promotes tumor progression by altering DNA repair.

PHILADELPHIA – Our biological or circadian clock synchronizes all our bodily processes to the natural rhythms of light and dark. It’s no wonder then that disrupting the clock can wreak havoc on our body. In fact, studies have shown that when circadian rhythms are disturbed through sleep deprivation, jet lag, or shift work, there is an increased incidence of some cancers including prostate cancer, which is the second leading cause of cancer death for men in the U.S. With an urgent need to develop novel therapeutic targets for prostate cancer, researchers at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer – Jefferson Health (SKCC) explored the circadian clock and found an unexpected role for the clock gene CRY-1 in cancer progression. The study was published on January 15th in Nature Communications.

“When we analyzed human cancer data, the circadian factor CRY-1 was found to increase in late stage prostate cancers, and is strongly associated with poor outcomes,” explains Karen Knudsen, MBA PhD, executive vice president of oncology services for Jefferson Health and enterprise director of SKCC, and senior author of the study. “However, the role CRY-1 in human cancers has not been explored.”

A common therapy for prostate cancer involves suppressing the male hormone androgen and/or the androgen receptor, as prostate tumors require androgens to develop and progress to advanced disease. With their collaborators in the U.S. and Europe, the researchers found that CRY-1 is induced by the androgen receptor in prostate tumor tissue obtained from patients, thus explaining in part the high levels of CRY-1 observed in human disease.

“This was a clear indication of CRY-1’s link to prostate cancer,” says Ayesha Shafi, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Knudsen’s lab and first author of the study. “As we looked further into the role of CRY1, we unexpectedly found that the circadian factor was altering the way that cancer cells repair DNA.”

Read more at: https://www.jefferson.edu/about/news-and-events/2021/1/an-unexpected-and-novel-target-for-prostate-cancer-our-biological-clock.html

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Abstract

Previous studies have shown the effect of extremely low-frequency (ELF) magnetic fields on the hematopoietic system. However, molecular modification and biological toxicity are not known yet. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of occupational exposure to ELF magnetic field on the hemoglobin and DNA alteration using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Twenty nine individuals were selected among those working as the controller in a powerhouse in order to be studied as the population exposed to ELF magnetic field. Control group comprised of 29 administrative employees voluntarily participated who were matched with the exposed subjects in terms of sex, age, work experiences, smoking habit, and socioeconomic status. DNA and hemoglobin were extracted from blood samples and then were studied by FTIR spectroscopy. The results showed the level of magnetic field exposure was between 0.38 to 50 μT in the exposed subjects while the level of magnetic field exposure was between 0.19 and 20 μT for the unexposed people. Hemoglobin level was equal to 15.67 ± 1.42 g/dL for exposed subjects which is significantly lower than that of the unexposed people (p = 0.0001). There was a significant alteration in CH content and COO structure of the hemoglobin structure. Moreover, DNA showed significant changes by functional group of organic base. This change in the structure of DNA and hemoglobin can lead to the creation of risks in human health. In conclusion, FTIR method could reveal the quality of DNA and hemoglobin structure in subjects after exposure to ELF magnetic field.

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The article “5G and its effects on human health” by Abbas Haider was published on the 18 June 2020 in Electronics 360.

The author discusses:

•What is 5G?

•5G technology and millimeter-wave

•Cancer and tumors

•Electrohypersensitivity (EHS)

•The impacts of 5G technology on children

•Skin amplifies human health risks

•5G, DNA damage and the future of the human genome

The author of the article can be contacted at:  engineering360editors@ieeeglobalspec.com

Link to the article: https://electronics360.globalspec.com/article/15299/5g-and-its-effects-on-human-health?fbclid=IwAR2bJJL5v80WEVdxGablVmqQVmq-vK7_bhXMNIZPZHFDxD7XjZA8DvGEbfc

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Abstract

Repetitive DNA (RE-DNA) was long thought to be silent and inert; only recent research has shown that it can be transcribed and that transcription alteration can be induced by environmental stress conditions, causing human pathological effects. The aim of this study was to determine whether exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) could affect the transcription of RE-DNA. To this purpose, three different human cell lines (HeLa, BE(2)C and SH-SY5Y) were exposed to 900 MHz GSM-modulated RF-EMF at specific absorption rate of 1 W/kg or to sham. After exposure, mRNA levels of RE-DNA were evaluated through quantitative real-time PCR. The following RE-DNA types were investigated: Long Interspersed nucleotide Element 1, DNA alpha satellite and Human Endogenous Retroviruses-like sequences. When comparing cells exposed to RF-EMF versus control samples, different results were found for the three cell lines evaluated, indicating that RF-EMF exposure can significantly affect RE-DNA transcription and that the effects strongly depend on the cellular context and the tissue type. Further studies are needed to elucidate which molecular mechanisms could be involved.

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Contemporary Mobile Technology and Child and Adolescent Development,
edited by Zheng Yan and Lennart Hardell, May 15, 2017

Article by
Cindy Sage and Ernesto Burgio

Abstract

Mobile phones and other wireless devices that produce electromagnetic fields (EMF) and pulsed radiofrequency radiation (RFR) are widely documented to cause potentially harmful health impacts that can be detrimental to young people. New epigenetic studies are profiled in this review to account for some neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral changes due to exposure to wireless technologies. Symptoms of retarded memory, learning, cognition, attention, and behavioral problems have been reported in numerous studies and are similarly manifested in autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, as a result of EMF and RFR exposures where both epigenetic drivers and genetic (DNA) damage are likely contributors. Technology benefits can be realized by adopting wired devices for education to avoid health risk and promote academic achievement.

Citation Sage, C. and Burgio, E. (2017), Electromagnetic Fields, Pulsed Radiofrequency Radiation, and Epigenetics: How Wireless Technologies May Affect Childhood Development. Child Dev. doi:10.1111/cdev.12824

Contact Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Cindy Sage, Sage Associates,
1396 Danielson Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108. Electronic mail may be sent to sage@silcom.com.

Discussion

The wide array of pathophysiological effects of EMF and RFR exposures from wireless sources do not require “the breaking of molecular bonds” as done by ionizing radiation in order for physiologically damaging effects to occur. Epigenetic mechanisms alone can change fetal development in profound ways, disrupting health by causing changes in gene activation and expression without change in gene sequences. Environmental epigenetic influences in the fetal and neonatal development (i.e., epigenetic regulation of genes rather than direct genetic effects by gene mutation) have been plausibly established to cause pathophysiological changes that can result in altered neurological development. Symptoms of neurodevelopmental problems in children like retarded memory, impaired learning, cognition, attention, and behavioral aberrations that are similarly expressed in autism and ADHD have been reported in numerous scientific studies to occur as a result of EMF and RFR exposures. Epigenetic drivers are the most likely causes, and persistent exposures contribute to chronic dysfunction and addiction that can overwhelm adaptive biological responses.

Epigenetics provides an under-recognized mechanism for the cell phone radiation damage seen in epidemiological studies on humans, and in animal toxicity studies. Epigenetics is redefining the traditional interpretations of ‘Mendelian genes and genetic inheritance’, and legitimizing mechanisms that account for health effects that are already epidemiologically visible.

Epigenetic mechanisms rebut the outdated thinking for experts like David Savitz, a leading US epidemiologist to argue that ” (C)ell phones (and to a lesser extent cordless phones) give off non-ionizing radiation, which unlike ionizing radiation such as X-rays, CT scans and radon do not have the potential to damage DNA. “There is no known pathway for any adverse health effects,” http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/28/health/cell-phones- brain-tumor- risk-berkeley/

Global saturation by wireless device emissions is our largest modifiable and preventable childhood contaminant. It may exacerbate health harm from chemical toxins such as environmental tobacco, mercury, lead and pthalate toxicity that already burden the developing child. We should think first of reducing the body-burden of wireless emissions which cause epigenetic changes leading to cognitive and behavioral issues in the young child, as well as the underlying neurodevelopmental problems of the fetus, before widely prescribing chemical and/or behavioral interventions.

Public health experts, educators and psychologists have gained a strong new tool to argue against pulsed radiofrequency radiation saturation by wireless devices and infrastructure. Wireless exposures are modifiable and largely avoidable by choosing wired for technology access. This may hold the largest potential for global preventative health action we have. In comparison to chemical toxicants and other neurotoxins and neurodevelopmental contaminants, we have a clear and immediate choice to avoid wireless technologies in favor of wired connectivity. Prevention of environmental exposures that can lead to disease and developmental disabilities is within reach, now that we are coming to understand how epigenetic mechanisms can modify the expression of the human genome. http://www.bioinitiative.org/how-wireless-technologies-may-affect-childhood-development/

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The Missing Link:
Why your government isn’t protecting you from Wi–Fi and cell phone radiation when
research shows this radiation causes cancer.

The American scientific journal Environmental Pollution reports, in its next issue, that
government safety guidelines for microwave radiation emitted by mobile phones, Wi-Fi, smart
meters, and other common wireless devices, are fundamentally flawed and fail to protect the
public from this possible carcinogen.

Increasing scientific evidence shows wireless radiation causes cancer and infertility and other
health effects, but due to a flawed assumption in safety guidelines, governments in the United
States, Canada, and the UK are allowing their citizens to be overexposed to microwave
radiation from wireless technology.

Why?
Because governments relied on the wrong model when declaring these devices to be safe.
Ionizing radiation such as x-rays and gamma rays are known to cause cancer by detaching the
negative ion – the electron – at the heart of human cell structure. Non-ionizing radiation, such
as microwaves, do not detach electrons. Therefore when determining whether microwaveemitting
devices were safe to be sold to the public, governments formulated their consumer
safety guidelines with the understanding that microwave radiation does not directly or
immediately discharge electrons. Despite the growing number of scientific studies documenting
that microwave radiation causes cancer, governments have refused to update their guidelines.
One critical aspect of non-ionizing radiation has been overlooked.

Ionizing radiation increases free radicals in the body directly. Non-ionizing radiation increases
free radicals in the body indirectly, by interfering with repair mechanisms that neutralize free
radicals. Free radicals are carcinogenic. Therefore by interfering with the body’s ability to
repair free radical damage, microwave radiation is also carcinogenic.

Microwave radiation was used in the 1940s for military radar, and was widely adopted for
civilian residential use in the 1970s to cook food. Microwave ovens are shielded because
microwaves are known to cause heating. At that time, it was assumed that the only danger from
microwave exposure was tissue heating, known as the “thermal effect”. This led to thermal
guidelines for microwave radiation.

This paper shines a spotlight on the misguided genesis of government regulations that are
based on the thermal effect and documents free-radical damage induced by non-ionizing
radiation.

As usage of microwave–emitting devices increases and is marketed to younger consumers
without caution, we can expect a societal increase of certain types of cancers including
glioblastoma as well as infertility and other health effects associated with free-radical damage.
Indeed this is already happening.

Publication:
Havas, M. 2016. When theory and observation collide: Can non-ionizing radiation cause
cancer? Environmental Pollution, 219: 000-000. Online release November 28, 2016.
Contact information for the author:
Dr. Magda Havas, BSc. PhD.
Trent School of the Environment, Trent University,
Peterborough, ON, Canada, K9J 0G2,
email: mhavas@trentu.ca
phone: 1 705 748-1011 ext 7882

Paper abstract:

Abstract
This paper attempts to resolve the debate about whether non-ionizing radiation (NIR) can
cause cancer–a debate that has been ongoing for decades. The rationale, put forward
mostly by physicists and accepted by many health agencies, is that, “since NIR does not
have enough energy to dislodge electrons, it is unable to cause cancer.” This argument is
based on a flawed assumption and uses the model of ionizing radiation (IR) to explain
NIR, which is inappropriate. Evidence of free-radical damage has been repeatedly
documented among humans, animals, plants and microorganisms for both extremely low
frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) and for radio frequency (RF) radiation,
neither of which is ionizing. While IR directly damages DNA, NIR interferes with the
oxidative repair mechanisms resulting in oxidative stress, damage to cellular components
including DNA, and damage to cellular processes leading to cancer. Furthermore, free radical
damage explains the increased cancer risks associated with mobile phone use,
occupational exposure to NIR (ELF EMF and RFR), and residential exposure to power
lines and RF transmitters including mobile phones, cell phone base stations, broadcast
antennas, and radar installations.

New paper: When theory and observation collide: Can non-ionizing radiation cause cancer?