The effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields exposure on tinnitus, migraine and non-specific symptoms in the general and working population: A protocol for a systematic review on human observational studies.
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of longer-term or repeated local and whole human body RF-EMF exposure on the occurrence of symptoms evaluating migraine, tinnitus, headaches, sleep disturbances and composite symptom scores as primary outcomes.
About: This article is published in Environment International.The article was published on 2021-09-06 and is currently open access. It has received 10 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Systematic review & Cochrane Library.
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TL;DR: An explanation based on the radical pair mechanism, which involves the quantum dynamics of the electron and nuclear spins of transient radical molecules, is suggested for magnetic field effects on various physiological functions as well as isotope effects.
Abstract: Hundreds of studies have found that weak magnetic fields can significantly influence various biological systems. However, the underlying mechanisms behind these phenomena remain elusive. Remarkably, the magnetic energies implicated in these effects are much smaller than thermal energies. Here, we review these observations, and we suggest an explanation based on the radical pair mechanism, which involves the quantum dynamics of the electron and nuclear spins of transient radical molecules. While the radical pair mechanism has been studied in detail in the context of avian magnetoreception, the studies reviewed here show that magnetosensitivity is widespread throughout biology. We review magnetic field effects on various physiological functions, discussing static, hypomagnetic and oscillating magnetic fields, as well as isotope effects. We then review the radical pair mechanism as a potential unifying model for the described magnetic field effects, and we discuss plausible candidate molecules for the radical pairs. We review recent studies proposing that the radical pair mechanism provides explanations for isotope effects in xenon anaesthesia and lithium treatment of hyperactivity, magnetic field effects on the circadian clock, and hypomagnetic field effects on neurogenesis and microtubule assembly. We conclude by discussing future lines of investigation in this exciting new area of quantum biology.
39 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to pool the effect of PM exposure on obesity, which showed associations between PM and obesity tended to vary by region, age group, participants number, etc.
Abstract: Among various air pollutants, particulate matter (PM) is the most harmful and representative pollutant. Although several studies have shown a link between particulate pollution and obesity, the conclusions are still inconsistent.We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to pool the effect of PM exposure on obesity. Five databases (including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane) were searched for relevant studies up to Jan 2022. Adjusted risk ratio (RR) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were retrieved from individual studies and pooled with random effect models by STATA software. Besides, we tested the stability of results by Egger's test, Begg's test, funnel plot, and using the trim-and-fill method to modify the possible asymmetric funnel graph. The NTP-OHAT guidelines were followed to assess the risk of bias. Then the GRADE was used to evaluate the certainty of evidence.26 studies were included in this meta-analysis. 19 studies have shown that PM2.5 can increase the risk of obesity per 10 μg/m3 increment (RR: 1.159, 95% CI: 1.111-1.209), while 15 studies have indicated that PM10 increase the risk of obesity per 10 μg/m3 increment (RR: 1.092, 95% CI: 1.070-1.116). Besides, 5 other articles with maternal exposure showed that PM2.5 increases the risk of obesity in children (RR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02-1.11). And we explored the source of heterogeneity by subgroup analysis, which suggested associations between PM and obesity tended to vary by region, age group, participants number, etc. The analysis results showed publication bias and other biases are well controlled, but most certainties of the evidence were low, and more research is required to reduce these uncertainties.Exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 with per 10 μg/m3 increment could increase the risk of obesity in the global population.
13 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (compared to no or lower exposure levels) on symptoms in human subjects were assessed using a systematic review protocol of experimental studies in humans.
8 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (compared to no or lower exposure levels) on symptoms in human subjects were assessed using a systematic review protocol of experimental studies in humans.
8 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the consequences of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields emitted by radiofrequency devices are analyzed and reviewed, as well as their evaluation techniques in the case of wireless digital communication tools.
Abstract: Nowadays, environmental electromagnetic fields exist everywhere and the whole population is exposed. The most widespread technologies engendering exposure to electromagnetic fields for the public and workers are radiofrequency wireless communication systems. Such exposure can have direct effects on living tissue involving biological problems or personal symptoms, as well as indirect effects restricting healthcare appliances. This assessment aims to analyze, examine and categorize the consequences of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields emitted by radiofrequency devices. This concerns biological effects in living tissues and atypical personal symptoms for short and long-term exposures. The evaluation methodology in this field of investigation is also discussed. In the article, these consequences as well as their evaluation techniques, in the case of wireless digital communication tools, are analyzed and reviewed. The categorization of exposure sources, the corresponding effects and their assessment methodologies are analyzed. The concept of systematic reviews and meta-analyses and their applications in various assessments of these effects and symptoms are reviewed and discussed.
2 citations
References
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TL;DR: An Explanation and Elaboration of the PRISMA Statement is presented and updated guidelines for the reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses are presented.
Abstract: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are essential to summarize evidence relating to efficacy and safety of health care interventions accurately and reliably. The clarity and transparency of these reports, however, is not optimal. Poor reporting of systematic reviews diminishes their value to clinicians, policy makers, and other users.
Since the development of the QUOROM (QUality Of Reporting Of Meta-analysis) Statement—a reporting guideline published in 1999—there have been several conceptual, methodological, and practical advances regarding the conduct and reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Also, reviews of published systematic reviews have found that key information about these studies is often poorly reported. Realizing these issues, an international group that included experienced authors and methodologists developed PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) as an evolution of the original QUOROM guideline for systematic reviews and meta-analyses of evaluations of health care interventions.
The PRISMA Statement consists of a 27-item checklist and a four-phase flow diagram. The checklist includes items deemed essential for transparent reporting of a systematic review. In this Explanation and Elaboration document, we explain the meaning and rationale for each checklist item. For each item, we include an example of good reporting and, where possible, references to relevant empirical studies and methodological literature. The PRISMA Statement, this document, and the associated Web site (http://www.prisma-statement.org/) should be helpful resources to improve reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
25,711 citations
TL;DR: The advantages of the GRADE system are explored, which is increasingly being adopted by organisations worldwide and which is often praised for its high level of consistency.
Abstract: Guidelines are inconsistent in how they rate the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations. This article explores the advantages of the GRADE system, which is increasingly being adopted by organisations worldwide
13,324 citations
University of Bristol1, Harvard University2, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust3, Research Triangle Park4, University of Toronto5, University of Oxford6, University of Ottawa7, Paris Descartes University8, University of London9, University of York10, University of Birmingham11, University of Southern Denmark12, University of Liverpool13, University of East Anglia14, Loyola University Chicago15, University of Aberdeen16, Kaiser Permanente17, Baruch College18, McMaster University19, Cochrane Collaboration20, McGill University21, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute22, University of Louisville23, University of Melbourne24
TL;DR: Risk of Bias In Non-randomised Studies - of Interventions is developed, a new tool for evaluating risk of bias in estimates of the comparative effectiveness of interventions from studies that did not use randomisation to allocate units or clusters of individuals to comparison groups.
Abstract: Non-randomised studies of the effects of interventions are critical to many areas of healthcare evaluation, but their results may be biased. It is therefore important to understand and appraise their strengths and weaknesses. We developed ROBINS-I (“Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies - of Interventions”), a new tool for evaluating risk of bias in estimates of the comparative effectiveness (harm or benefit) of interventions from studies that did not use randomisation to allocate units (individuals or clusters of individuals) to comparison groups. The tool will be particularly useful to those undertaking systematic reviews that include non-randomised studies.
8,028 citations
TL;DR: The updating of the QUOROM Statement is described, to ensure clear presentation of what was planned, done, and found in a systematic review, and the name of the reporting guidance was changed to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses).
3,513 citations
McMaster University1, Mayo Clinic2, University Hospital of Basel3, Autonomous University of Barcelona4, University of South Florida5, United States Department of Veterans Affairs6, Case Western Reserve University7, Duke University8, University Medical Center Freiburg9, Oregon Health & Science University10, University at Buffalo11
TL;DR: In the GRADE approach, randomized trials start as high-quality evidence and observational studies as low- quality evidence, but both can be rated down if a body of evidence is associated with a high risk of publication bias.
1,295 citations