The effect of electromagnetic radiation due to mobile phone use on thyroid function in medical students studying in a medical college in South India

The extensive use of mobile phones worldwide has raised increasing concerns about the effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on the brain due to the proximity of the mobile phone to the head and the appearance of several adverse neurological effects after mobile phone use. It has been hypothesized that the EMR-induced neurological effects may be mediated by amino acid neurotransmitters. Thus, the present study investigated the effect of EMR (frequency 1800 MHz, specific absorption rate 0.843 W/kg, power density 0.02 mW/cm2, modulated at 217 Hz) on the concentrations of amino acid neurotransmitters (glutamic acid, aspartic acid, gamma aminobutyric acid, glycine, taurine, and the amide glutamine) in the hippocampus, striatum, and hypothalamus of juvenile and young adult rats. The juvenile and young adult animals were each divided into two groups: control rats and rats exposed to EMR 1 h daily for 1, 2, and 4 months. A subgroup of rats were exposed daily to EMR for 4 months and then left without exposure for 1 month to study the recovery from EMR exposure. Amino acid neurotransmitters were measured in the hippocampus, striatum, and hypothalamus using high-performance liquid chromatography. Exposure to EMR induced significant changes in amino acid neurotransmitters in the studied brain areas of juvenile and young adult rats, being more prominent in juvenile animals. It could be concluded that the alterations in amino acid neurotransmitters induced by EMR exposure of juvenile and young adult rats may underlie many of the neurological effects reported after EMR exposure including cognitive and memory impairment and sleep disorders. Some of these effects may persist for some time after stopping exposure.

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Prevalence of depression and its associated factors among medical students of a private medical college in south India

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20161594 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 1393-1398 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ranu Rawat ◽

Santosh Kumar ◽

Manju L.

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Associated Factors ◽

South India ◽

Medical College ◽

Prevalence Of Depression

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Relationship between Nomophobia and Attention among Medical Students in Jakarta

Althea Medical Journal ◽

10.15850/amj.v7n4.2033 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Kevin Tanoto ◽

Eva Suryani ◽

Satya Joewana

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Mobile Phone ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Simple Linear Regression ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Mobile Phone Use ◽

Regression Test ◽

The Relationship ◽

Test Result

Background: The advancements in technology in the form of smartphones have made life easier; however, some negative effects have been recorded with regards to the use of smartphone. Among these negative effects are nomophobia, or a phobia of no mobile phone, and lack of attention. This study explored the relationship between nomophobia and attention in medical students. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytic study on medical students in Jakarta in 2019. The Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) was used to measure the level of nomophobia and the Six Letter Cancellation Test (SLCT) was used to measure attention. Data collected were analyzed using a simple linear regression test. Result: There was a weak negative relationship between the severity of nomophobia and attention (r=.161). However, nomophobia score was a very weak predictor for attention with an adjusted r-squared score of .021. Conclusions: Nomophobia does not necessarily affect the attention of medical students. Excessive mobile phone use does cause nomophobia and lack of attention. Therefore, smartphones need to be used wisely.

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