Olga Zeni

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive, treatment-resistant tumor requiring novel therapeutic approaches. Electroporation (EP)-based strategies are promising tools for local tumor control and enhanced drug delivery. However, cellular responses and protocols optimization remain poorly investigated in PDAC. Here, we investigated the effects of variable microsecond pulsed electric fields (PEFs) on PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 PDAC cells. Immediate responses were assessed via membrane permeabilization and cell death. Delayed effects were evaluated through viability, growth, cell cycle and expression of stress markers. Immediate cell death occurred above specific thresholds in PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells (16 pulses at 1 kV/cm and 30 pulses at 2.5 kV/cm, respectively), suggesting differential sensitivity to PEFs. Delayed analyses confirmed differences in both viability (−19.3% vs. −46.4% with 4 pulses, 1 kV/cm, 48 h) and growth (−30.3% vs. −57.6% with 4 pulses, 1 kV/cm, 48 h). An opposite modulation of the S-phase population was also observed at 48 h (+7.4% with 20 pulses at 1 kV/cm and −9.2% with 8 pulses at 1 kV/cm for PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2, respectively). Both cell lines showed similar regulations of apoptosis-associated and autophagy-related markers. Overall, PEFs elicited parameter- and cell-specific responses, supporting fine-tuned EP protocols for pancreatic cancer therapy.

In our previous studies, we demonstrated that 20 h pre‐exposure of SH‐SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells to 1950 MHz, UMTS signal, at specific absorption rate of 0.3 and 1.25 W/kg, was able to reduce the oxidative DNA damage induced by a subsequent treatment with menadione in the alkaline comet assay while not inducing genotoxicity per se. In this study, the same cell model was used to test the same experimental conditions by setting different radiofrequency exposure duration and timing along the 72 h culture period. The results obtained in at least three independent experiments indicate that shorter exposure durations than 20 h, that is, 10, 3, and 1 h per day for 3 days, were still capable to exert the protective effect while not inducing DNA damage per se. In addition, to provide some hints into the mechanisms underpinning the observed phenomenon, thioredoxin‐1, heat shock transcription factor 1, heat shock protein 70, and poly [ADP‐ribose] polymerase 1, as key molecular players involved in the cellular stress response, were tested following 3 h of radiofrequency exposure in western blot and qRT‐PCR experiments. No effect resulted from molecular analysis under the experimental conditions adopted.

This study aims to investigate the cellular effects of radiofrequency exposure, 1950 MHz, long‐term evolution (LTE) signal, administered alone and in combination with mitomycin‐C (MMC), a well‐known cytotoxic agent. Chinese hamster lung fibroblast (V79) cells were exposed/sham exposed in a waveguide‐based system under strictly controlled conditions of both electromagnetic and environmental parameters, at specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0.3 and 1.25 W/kg. Chromosomal damage (micronuclei formation), oxidative stress (reactive oxygen species [ROS] formation), and cell cycle progression were analyzed after exposure and coexposure. No differences between exposed samples and sham‐controls were detected following radiofrequency exposure alone, for all the experimental conditions tested and biological endpoints investigated. When radiofrequency exposure was followed by MMC treatment, 3 h pre‐exposure did not modify MMC‐induced micronuclei. Pre‐exposure of 20 h at 0.3 W/kg did not modify the number of micronuclei induced by MMC, while 1.25 W/kg resulted in a significant reduction of MMC‐induced damage. Absence of effects was also detected when CW was used, at both SAR levels. MMC‐induced ROS formation resulted significantly decreased at both SAR levels investigated, while cell proliferation and cell cycle progression were not affected by coexposures. The results here reported provide no evidence of direct effects of 1950 MHz, LTE signal. Moreover, they further support our previous findings on the capability of radiofrequency pre‐exposure to induce protection from a subsequent toxic treatment, and the key role of the modulated signals and the experimental conditions adopted in eliciting the effect.

The evolution of emerging technologies that use Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Field (RF-EMF) has increased the interest of the scientific community and society regarding the possible adverse effects on human health and the environment. This article provides NextGEM’s vision to assure safety for EU citizens when employing existing and future EMF-based telecommunication technologies. This is accomplished by generating relevant knowledge that ascertains appropriate prevention and control/actuation actions regarding RF-EMF exposure in residential, public, and occupational settings. Fulfilling this vision, NextGEM commits to the need for a healthy living and working environment under safe RF-EMF exposure conditions that can be trusted by people and be in line with the regulations and laws developed by public authorities. NextGEM provides a framework for generating health-relevant scientific knowledge and data on new scenarios of exposure to RF-EMF in multiple frequency bands and developing and validating tools for evidence-based risk assessment. Finally, NextGEM’s Innovation and Knowledge Hub (NIKH) will offer a standardized way for European regulatory authorities and the scientific community to store and assess project outcomes and provide access to findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) data.

Objectives: The cultural heritage (CH) represents the proof of human achievements from the past in terms of historical and technological progress. One of the main issues regarding CH preservation is the bio-deterioration phenomenon which arises from biological colonization of artistic materials with consequent aesthetic, chemical and structural damage. The most common disinfestation methods are based on mechanical, chemical, biological or physical treatments. Among the physical methods, microwave heating has high potentialities, but its application is not a standard. Here we reviewed relevant literature on the use of microwave heating for the disinfestation of artworks from biodeteriogens. Method: We performed a systematic literature search, identified twenty relevant publications, and extracted relevant information. Results: Microwave heating resulted effective for total disinfestation of various infesting agents on several materials, rapid, safe for operators and the environment. However, we highlighted the lack of a systematic approach to the planning of artworks treatment with microwave heating and developed operative guidelines that include dielectric characterization of materials, prediction and control of electric field distribution in the artwork, identification of lethal doses for infesting agents. Impact: The proposed approach might contribute to boost the use of this promising, non-invasive, and safe technology for artworks conservation.

In the last years, radiofrequency (RF) has demonstrated that it can reduce DNA damage induced by a subsequent treatment with chemical or physical agents in different cell types, resembling the adaptive response, a phenomenon well documented in radiobiology. Such an effect has also been reported by other authors both in vitro and in vivo, and plausible hypotheses have been formulated, spanning from the perturbation of the cell redox status, to DNA repair mechanisms, and stress response machinery, as possible cellular mechanisms activated by RF pre-exposure. These mechanisms may underpin the observed phenomenon, and require deeper investigations. The present study aimed to determine whether autophagy contributes to RF-induced adaptive response. To this purpose, SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells were exposed for 20 h to 1950 MHz, UMTS signal, and then treated with menadione. The results obtained indicated a reduction in menadione-induced DNA damage, assessed by applying the comet assay. Such a reduction was negated when autophagy was inhibited by bafilomycin A1 and E64d. Moreover, CRISPR SH-SY5Y cell lines defective for ATG7 or ATG5 genes did not show an adaptive response. These findings suggest the involvement of autophagy in the RF-induced adaptive response in human neuroblastoma cells; although, further investigation is required to extend such observation at the molecular level.

In the last decades, experimental studies have been carried out to investigate the effects of radiofrequency (RF, 100 kHz–300 GHz) electromagnetic fields (EMF) exposure on the apoptotic process. As evidence-based critical evaluation of RF and apoptosis in vitro is lacking, we performed a scoping literature review with the aim of systematically mapping the research performed in this area and identifying gaps in knowledge. Eligible for inclusion were in vitro studies assessing apoptosis in mammalian cells exposed to RF-EMF, which met basic quality criteria (sham control, at least three independent experiments, appropriate dosimetry analysis and temperature monitoring). We conducted a systematic literature review and charted data in order to overview the main characteristics of included studies. From the 4362 papers retrieved with our search strategy, 121 were pertinent but, among them, only 42 met basic quality criteria. We pooled data with respect to exposure (frequency, exposure level and duration) and biological parameters (cell type, endpoint), and highlighted some qualitative trends with respect to the detection of significant effect of RF-EMF on the apoptotic process. We provided a qualitative picture of the evidence accumulated so far, and highlighted that the quality of experimental methodology still needs to be highly improved.