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Introduction. Adrenal incidentalomas (AI) are a current problem due to their potential hormonal activity. At the same time, their prevalence in the general population is not completely clear. Patients and Methods. We analyzed the chest CT scans of 307 patients treated as inpatients for COVID‑19 in order to identify patients with previously undiagnosed AI among them (study group). A control group was also selected from these 307 patients; it consisted of 27 patients without adrenal masses, similar in sex and age to the study group. Results. Out of 307 patients, 27 (8.7%) patients had AI detected for the first time. The majority of patients with AI were of older age group, predominantly women. The density of the detected masses was low, more than half of the AI were less than 2 cm in size. When comparing clinical, laboratory data and outcome of the study and control groups, no differences were found. Conclusion. The prevalence of AI in our study is higher compared to that in other sources due to targeted revision of the adrenal region on CT by radiology specialists. The absence of differences in the comparison of the two groups relieves clinical specialists of the necessity of additional adrenal examination of patients during inpatient treatment for extra-­adrenal disease, but in the posthospital period such examination may be important.

The activation of Na/ 40 Ca exchange in reverse (R) mode leading to neuronal swelling and muscle contraction has been suggested as a mechanism for generation of pain signals. However, the activation of R Na/ 45 Ca exchange, having higher rate than R Na/ 40 Ca exchange, brings to depression of pain sensation, the mechanism of which is not clear. The previous data that the 4 Hz mechanical vibration (MV) has pain-relieving effects by activation of cGMP-dependent Na/Ca exchange in forward (F) mode, which leads to muscle hydration and neuronal dehydration, as in case of R Na/ 45 Ca exchange activation, allow us to suggest that the comparative study of the effects of 4 Hz MV and R Na/ 45 Ca exchange on thermal pain thresholds, tissue hydrations in different experimental conductions will make it possible to evaluate the mechanisms of R Na/ 45 Ca exchange-induced inhibition of pain sensation. The obtained data show that the R Na/ 45 Ca exchange-induced depression of pain sensation is due to high [Ca 2+ ] i- inactivation of Na/K pump which brings to further increase of [Ca 2+ ] i , while 4 Hz MV-activated F Na/Ca exchange-induced pain-relieving effect is due to Na/K pump activation by low [Ca 2+ ] i . It is suggested that the R Na/ 45 Ca exchange inhibits pain sensation, which is due to high [Ca 2+ ] i- induced depression inhibition of muscle contractility, while the 4 Hz MV-induced pain-relieving effect is due to activation of Na/K pump by cGMP-dependent decrease of [Ca 2+ ] i leading to muscle relaxation and neuronal dehydration. Therefore, the 4 Hz MV has been suggested as a novel quantum-mechanical sensitive target for pain therapy.

The correlation between cell hydration and proliferation is one of the controversial subjects in the present cancer research because the detailed mechanism(s) of correlation between these two cell parameters are not evaluated yet. The fact that magnetic fields have antitumor effects and our previous data that the effect of 4 Hz pulsing magnetic field (PMF) is realized by the activation of Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent Na/Ca exchange allow us to suggest that through the study of PMF effects on cell hydration and proliferation in soft tissues of sarcoma-180 tumor-carrying mice compared with those of healthy ones will be possible to evaluate the character of correlation between cell hydration and proliferation in norm and pathology. The daily 30-min PMF (0.2 mT) exposed on tumor-carrying mice has lifetime prolongation, time-dependent depression of tumor growth, decrease of thermal threshold, and lactate concentration in blood. In the initial (6 days) period tumorigenesis PMF leads to dehydration in spleen cells, which is accompanied by the activation of cell proliferation, while in late periods of tumorigenesis it leads to cell hydration accompanied with proliferation. We are suggesting that PMF-induced overhydration and the increase of cell proliferation in cancer tissue as a consequence of high [Ca]i-induced activation of Ca-calmoduline-NO-cGMP pathway leads to the activation of FNa/Ca exchange, while its antitumor effect expressed in initial period of tumorigenesis is due to the activation of cGMP-dependent FNa/Ca, where because of low [Ca]i, it brings to cell dehydration as a result of reactivation of Na/K pump.

Previously, we have suggested that cell hydration is a universal and extra-sensitive sensor for the structural changes of cell aqua medium caused by the impact of weak chemical and physical factors. The aim of present work is to elucidate the nature of the metabolic messenger through which physiological solution (PS) treated by non-thermal (NT) microwaves (MW) could modulate heart muscle hydration of rats. For this purpose, the effects of NT MW-treated PS on heart muscle hydration, [ 3 H]-ouabain binding with cell membrane, 45 Ca 2+ uptake and intracellular cyclic nucleotides contents in vivo and in vitro experiments were studied. It is shown that intraperitoneal injections of both Sham-treated PS and NT MW-treated PS elevate heart muscle hydration. However, the effect of NT MW-treated PS on muscle hydration is more pronounced than the effect of Sham-treated PS. In vitro experiments NT MW-treated PS has dehydration effect on muscle, which is not changed by decreasing Na + gradients on membrane. Intraperitoneal injection of Sham- and NT MW-treated PS containing 45 Ca 2+ have similar dehydration effect on muscle, while NT MW-treated PS has activation effect on Na + /Ca 2+ exchange in reverse mode. The intraperitoneal injection of NT MW-treated PS depresses [ 3 H]-ouabain binding with its high-affinity membrane receptors, elevates intracellular cAMP and decreases cGMP contents. Based on the obtained data, it is suggested that cAMP-dependent signaling system serves as a primary metabolic target for NT MW effect on heart muscle hydration.

The weak knowledge on the nature of cellular and molecular mechanisms of biological effects of NIR such as static magnetic field, infrasound frequency of mechanical vibration, extremely low frequency of electromagnetic fields and microwave serves as a main barrier for adequate dosimetry from the point of Public Health. The difficulty lies in the fact that the biological effects of NIR depend not only on their thermodynamic characteristics but also on their frequency and intensity "windows", chemical and physical composition of the surrounding medium, as well as on the initial metabolic state of the organism. Therefore, only biomarker can be used for adequate estimation of biological effect of NIR on organisms. Because of the absence of such biomarker(s), organizations having the mission to monitor hazardous effects of NIR traditionally base their instruction on thermodynamic characteristics of NIR. Based on the high sensitivity to NIR of both aqua medium structure and cell hydration, it is suggested that cell bathing medium is one of the primary targets and cell hydration is a biomarker for NIR effects on cells and organisms. The purpose of this article is to present a short review of literature and our own experimental data on the effects of NIR on plants' seeds germination, microbe growth and development, snail neurons and heart muscle, rat's brain and heart tissues.

The aim of the present work is to study the time-dependent effects of mechanical vibration (MV) at infrasound (IS) frequency at 4 and 8 Hz on E. coli K-12 growth by investigating the cell proliferation, using radioactive [(3)H]-thymidine assay. In our previous work it was suggested that the aqua medium can serve as a target through which the biological effect of MV on microbes could be realized. At the same time it was shown that microbes have mechanosensors on the surface of the cells and can sense small changes of the external environment. The obtained results were shown that the time-dependent effects of MV at 4 and 8 Hz frequency could either stimulate or inhibit the growth of microbes depending from exposure time. It more particularly, the invention relates to a method for controlling biological functions through the application of mechanical vibration, thus making it possible to artificially control the functions of bacterial cells, which will allow us to develop method that can be used in agriculture, industry, medicine, biotechnology to control microbial growth.

"Changes in cell hydration" have been hypothesized as an input signal for intracellular metabolic cascade responsible for biological effects of nonionizing radiation (NIR). To test this hypothesis a comparative study on the impacts of different temperature and NIR (infrasound frequency mechanical vibration (MV), static magnetic field (SMF), extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF EMF), and microwave (MW)) pretreated water on the hydration of barley seeds in its dormant and germination periods was performed. In dormant state temperature sensitivity (Q 10) of seed hydration in distilled water (DW) was less than 2, and it was nonsensitive to NIR treated DW, whereas during the germination period (48-72 hours) seeds hydration exhibited temperature sensitivity Q 10 > 2 and higher sensitivity to NIR treated DW. Obtained data allow us to suggest that the metabolic driving of intracellular water dynamics accompanied by hydrogen bonding and breaking is more sensitive to NIR-induced water structure changes in seed bathing aqua medium than the simple thermodynamic processes such as osmotic gradient driven water absorption by seeds in dormant state. Therefore, cell hydration is suggested to be a universal and extrasensitive biomarker for detection of biological effects of NIR on cells and organisms.

Age-dependent effect of Static Magnetic Field (SMF) on rats in a condition of active and inactive Na(+)/K(+) pump was studied for comparison of brain tissues hydration state changes and magnetic sensitivity. Influence of 15 min 0, 2 Tesla (T) SMF on brain tissue hydration of three aged groups of male albino rats was studied. Tyrode's physiological solution and 10(-4) M ouabain was used for intraperitoneal injections. For animal immobilization, the liquid nitrogen was used and the definition of tissue water content was performed by tissue drying method. Initial water content in brain tissues of young animals is significantly higher than in those of adult and aged ones. SMF exposure leads to decrease of water content in brain tissues of young animals and increase in brain tissues of adult and aged ones. In case of ouabain-poisoned animals, SMF gives reversal effects on brain tissue's hydration both in young and aged animals, while no significant effect on adults is observed. It is suggested that initial state of tissue hydration could play a crucial role in animal age-dependent magnetic sensitivity and the main reason for this could be age-dependent dysfunction of Na(+)/K(+) pump.

In the present work, the frequency-dependent effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF EMF) on Escherichia coli K-12 growth have been studied. The frequency-dependent effects of ELF EMF have shown that it can either stimulate or inhibit the growth of microbes. However, the mechanism by which the ELF EMF affects the bacterial cells is not clear yet. It was suggested that the aqua medium can serve as a target through which the biological effect of ELF EMF on microbes may be realized. To check this hypothesis, the frequency-dependent effects (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 Hz, B = 0.4 mT, 30 min) of ELF EMF on the bacterial growth were studied in both cases where the microbes were in the culture media during the exposure and where culture media was preliminarily exposed to the ELF EMF before the addition of bacteria. For investigating the cell proliferation, the radioactive [(3)H]-thymidine assay was carried out. It has been shown that EMF at 4 Hz exposure has pronounced stimulation while at 8 Hz it has inhibited cell proliferation.

The aim of the present work was to investigate the frequency-dependent effects of mechanical vibration at infrasound frequency (MV at IS frequency or MV) on E. coli K-12 growth by investigating the cell proliferation, using radioactive [(3)H]-thymidine assay. The frequency-dependent effects of MV were shown that it could either stimulate or inhibit the growth of microbes. However, the mechanism through which the MV effects affect the bacterial cells is not clear yet. It was suggested that the aqua medium can serve as a target through which the biological effect of MV on microbes could be realized. To check this hypothesis the frequency-dependent effect (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 Hz) of MV on the bacterial growth in cases of exposure the preliminary treated microbes-free medium and microbes containing medium were studied. It has been shown that MV at 4, 8, and 10 Hz frequency has inhibition effects, while at 2 and 6 Hz has stimulation effects on cell proliferation.

At present, when the level of background ionizing radiation is increasing in a number of world locations, the problem of the study of biological effect of high background radiation becomes one of the extremely important global problems in modern life sciences. The modern research in biophysics proved that water is a most essential target, through which the biological effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiations are realized. Therefore, there is no doubt about the strong dependency of non-ionizing radiation-induced effect on the level of background radiation. Findings have shown that illumination and background radiation have a strong modulation effect on infrasound-induced impacts on water physicochemical properties, which could also have appropriate effect on living organisms.

The reason for hyper magnetosensitivity of young animals compared to older ones remains unclear. It has been suggested that age-induced tissue dehydration (decreased water content) could be a basis for the aging-related decrease in the organism's magnetosensitivity. To test this hypothesis, the effect of a 0.2 T static magnetic field (SMF) exposure on heart muscle hydration in three age groups of rats (young, adult, and older) was studied, with and without ouabain poisoning. The SMF exposure resulted in heart muscle dehydration of young (21%) and adult (6.2%) rats but had no effect on older animals. In young animals without ouabin poisoning, SMF exposure caused dehydration of the heart muscle while in the ouabain-poisoned animals it led to hydration (29.6%). These hydration effects were more pronounced in young animals than in adult and older animals. The increased hydration (5.7%) of heart muscles in older animals was evoked by providing distilled water for seven days, which elevated (by 12%) the SMF-induced heart muscle hydration effect. These results suggest that the hyper magnetosensitivity of the young heart muscle and the lower sensitivity of older animals are due to initial high (83.5%) and low (75.3%) tissue hydration levels, respectively. Therefore, the age-induced decrease in the magnetosensitivity of heart muscle is likely to be a result of Na(+)/K(+) pump dysfunction., (Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Non thermal (NT) effect of direct radiation 4 Hz-modulated 90-160 GHz of Millimeter Waves (MMW) and preliminary MMW-treated physiological solution (PS) influence were studied on snail isolated neuron, rat's brain tissue hydration and skin penetration. It was shown that the 4 Hz-modulated low intensity 90-160 GHz MMW direct radiation and MMW-treated PS leads to on single neuron shrinkage, skin and brain tissue dehydration. On the basis of obtained data it was suggested that the cell bathing aqua medium serve as a target through which the NT effect of MMW on cell hydration is realized. The MMW-induced brain tissue dehydration can considering as consequence of MMW-induced skin water structural changes leading to unknown messenger formation able to modulate the brain cell hydration. The extrasensitivity of cell hydration to low intensity of MMW radiation allow to recommend cell hydration as a cellular marker for estimation of the NT biological effect of MMW on cells and organisms.

The effects of dark -(Ev=0 lux) and low-background radiation (BGR), where R<1μRongen/h, on physicochemical properties (specific electrical conductivity, heat fusion, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and oxygen contents) of distilled water (DW) and physiological solution (PS) at 4°C and 18°C were studied. The incubation of DW and PS samples in dark and in low BGR (under dark) medium at 4°C and 18°C brings to changes of their physicochemical properties compared with DW and PS samples incubated in light and normal BGR condition (Ev=500-550 lux and R=17 μRoentgen/h). The observed changes of DW and PS properties depended on their initial temperature, density and ionic composition. It is suggested that water molecules dissociation and ions hydration are sensitive to illumination and BGR. Therefore, the cell-bathing medium can be considered as a messenger through which direct and non direct (by modulating of others factors-induced effects) influences of illumination and BGR on cell metabolism are realized.

The comparative study of the effects of 5.8 mW/cm(2) Millimeter Waves (MMW) and near Infrared (IR) irradiation on thermal properties, specific adsorption rate (SAR), specific electrical conductivity (SEC) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) content of distilled water (DW), and physiological solutions (PS) was performed. The thermal effect of MMW irradiation appeared only after the first minute of irradiation, while the IR heating started from the first minute of irradiation. The heat fusion of frozen MMW-treated DW and PS was significantly less than sham and IR-treated DW and PS. MMW irradiation had time-dependent elevation effect on water SEC and SAR, which was accompanied by the increase of H(2)O(2) formation in it. We suggest that the MMW-induced vibration of water dipole molecules caused the non thermal changes of physicochemical properties of DW and PS, which promote the formation of H(2)O(2) in water.

The dual effect of magnetized physiological solution (MPS) on snail heart muscle contractility (muscle relaxation and stimulation of heartbeat) was shown previously. The MPS-induced relaxation of the heart muscle has been explained by activation of cGMP-dependent Ca(2+) effluxes from the muscle; however, the mechanism of the stimulating effect of MPS on heartbeat remains unclear. As in the presence of paramagnetic oxygen molecules, magnetic fields could generate the exogenous reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), we hypothesize that H(2)O(2) may play a role as the possible messengers through which the activation effect of MPS on heartbeat is realized. To test this hypothesis, the dose-dependent effects of exogenous H(2)O(2) on heart muscle contractility and (45)Ca uptake were studied. Here we compared the obtained data with the previous results of the effects of MPS on heart muscle contractility and (45)Ca uptake. We found that exogenous H(2)O(2) and MPS have similar effects on Na(+)-K(+) pump-induced transient inhibition of muscle contractility and (45)Ca uptake. The Na(+)-K(+) pump-induced depression of H(2)O(2)-sensitivity of muscle contractility is determined by activation of Ca(2+) efflux from the cell. On the basis of these data we suggest the exogenous H(2)O(2) as a possible messenger through which the stimulation effect of MPS on heart muscle is realized.

Objectives: To evaluate the ability of prostate mechanical imaging (PMI) technology to provide an objective and reproducible image and to assess the prostate nodularity., Methods: We evaluated the PMI device developed by Artann Laboratories in a pilot clinical study. For the 168 patients (ages 44 to 94) who presented to an urologist for prostate evaluation, PMI-produced images and assessment of prostate size, shape, consistency/hardness, mobility, and nodularity were compared with digital rectal examination (DRE) findings. The PMI and DRE results were further tested for correlation against a transrectal ultrasound of the prostate (TRUS) guided biopsy for a subgroup of 21 patients with an elevated prostate-specific antigen level., Results: In 84% of the cases, the PMI device was able to reconstruct three-dimensional (3D) and 2D cross-sectional images of the prostate. The PMI System and DRE pretests were able to determine malignant nodules in 10 and 6 patients, respectively, of the 13 patients with biopsy-confirmed malignant inclusions. The PMI System findings were consistent with all 8 biopsy negative cases, whereas the DRE had 1 abnormal reading for this group. The correlation between PMI and DRE detection of palpable nodularity was 81%, as indicated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Estimates of the prostate size provided by PMI and DRE were statistically significantly correlated., Conclusions: The PMI has the potential to enable a physician to obtain, examine, and store a 3D image of the prostate based on mechanical and geometrical characteristics of the gland and its internal structures.

The dose-dependent effect of hydrogen peroxide on snail neuromembrane chemosensitivity was studied by means of standard voltage-clamp method. Short-term exposure (7 min) of neurons to H(2)O(2) (10(-11)-10(-4) M) caused dose-dependent depression of Acetylcholine (Ach)-induced ionic currents in the membrane. The H(2)O(2)-induced depression of Ach-sensitivity of membrane was more pronounced in K(+)-free solution than in normal physiological solution and it disappeared in cold medium (5 degrees C). The H(2)O(2) (10(-11)-10(-4) M) decreased membrane electrical conductivity and cell volume. The dose-dependent decrease in Ach-sensitivity of the snail neuromembrane by H(2)O(2) may be due to a decrease in the number of functionally active membrane receptors caused by a decrease in membrane active surface. H(2)O(2)-induced decrease in Ach-sensitivity has a metabolic but Na(+)-K(+) pump independent character, the nature of which is the subject for current investigation.

The effect of magnetized physiological solution (MPS) on isolated, perfused snail heart muscle contractility, (45)Ca uptake and intracellular level of cAMP, and cGMP was studied. The existence of the relaxing effect of MPS on heart muscle at room temperature (22 degrees C) and its absence in cold medium (4 degrees C) was shown. The MPS had a depressing effect on (45)Ca uptake by muscles and intracellular cAMP content and an elevating effect on intracellular cGMP level. It is suggested that the relaxing effect of MPS on heart muscle is due to the decrease of intracellular Ca ions as the result of activation of cGMP-dependent Ca efflux. The MPS induced decrease of intracellular cAMP content can be considered as a consequence of intracellular Ca loss, leading to the Na + K-ATPase reactivation, and causing the decrease of the intracellular level of ATP, serving as a substrate and positive modulator of cyclase activity., (Bioelectromagnetics (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

The changes of wet and dry weights and germination of barley seed in different periods of its swelling in nontreated (control), extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMF) )-treated, and extremely low frequency vibrations (ELFV)-treated cold (4 degrees C) and warm (20 degrees C) distilled water (DW) were studied. The metabolic-dependent seed hydration, dry weight dissolving, germination, and water binding in seed were modulated by preliminary EMF- and ELFV-treated DW. Frequency "windows" for the effect of EMF and ELFV on seed hydration, solubility, water binding in seed, and germination were discovered. These "windows" were different for EMF and ELFV, as well as in various phases of seed swelling. It is suggested that EMF-induced water structure modification has a different biological effect on the process of seed hydration, solubility, water binding in seed, and germination compared to ELFV.

The effect of 4 Hz EMF treated physiological solution (PS) on acetylcholine (Ach) sensitivity of the snail neuron was studied. The 4 Hz EMF treated normal PS at room temperature (23 degrees C) has a depressing effect on Ach induced current, while in cold medium (12 degrees C) this effect disappeared. EMF treated, ouabain containing, K-free PS elevates the Ach-induced current at room temperature. It is suggested that the metabotropic effect of EMF treated PS is due to the activation of cGMP-dependent Na:Ca exchange, leading to the decrease of the number of functional active receptors in the membrane, through Na-K pump-induced cell shrinkage, and to increase the receptors affinity to Ach, as the result of decrease of intracellular Ca concentration., (Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

The changes of wet and dry weights of barley seed in different periods of swelling were studied in seeds treated with Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields (ELF EMF), Static Magnetic Fields (SMF) and Mechanical Vibrations (MV) in cold (4 degrees C) and warm (20 degrees C) distilled water as well as in seeds non-treated (control). The metabolic dependent seed hydration, dry weight loss and water binding in seed were modulated by preliminary EMF, SMF and MV-induced treatment of distilled water. The specific electrical conductivity (SEC) of control and treated distilled water was measured before the seed incubation. Frequency and intensity "windows" (i.e. range of frequency or intensity) for the effect of EMF, MV and SMF (correspondingly) on seed hydration, solubility and water binding in seed were studied. These "windows" were different in various phases of seed swelling. It is suggested that water structure modification is the result of valence angle changes (SMF and EMF) and dipole molecules vibration (EMF and MV) has different effects on the process of hydration, solubility and water binding in seed. These results are important from the point of understanding the mechanisms of the biological effect of EMF, as well as from the point of agriculture.

Hydration and [3H]ouabain uptake by different tissues of adult male rats were measured immediately after exposure to homogenous 0.2 T steady magnetic field. A time-dependent decrease of hydration and adaptation, followed by disadaptation, was detected in brain and liver tissues in most of the rats after 3.5-5 h of exposure. The number of functional active ouabain binding receptors, which correlates with cell volume, was also decreased in brain, liver, and spleen and increased in kidney tissue after half an hour of exposure. It is suggested that cell hydration is a second messenger through which the SMF exerts its influence.

Radioactive labeled ouabain was used for estimating the static magnetic field (SMF) induced cell volume changes. Ouabain is a specific inhibitor of Na+/K+ ATPase, and can be used for estimating its quantity--thus giving information about the cell volume changes. Ouabain binding by cancer and normal glandular tissues of breast cancer patients and normal glandular tissues of healthy women was measured after exposure of tissues to SMF 0.2T. SMF exposure led to a decrease of ouabain binding in both normal and cancer tissues when ouabain concentration in the external medium was 10(-9) M, while in the case of higher concentrations of ouabain (10(-7) M, 10(-6) M) an increase of ouabain binding was seen. The normal glandular tissues of healthy women were sensitive to SMF only at the highest concentrations of ouabain used in our experiments. The SMF-induced decrease of binding at low ouabain concentrations was considered as an evidence for the dehydration effect of SMF. It is suggested that the SMF could influence the cancer cell metabolism through cell hydration changes.

1. The effects of low concentrations of ouabain on 22Na efflux, 86Rb influx, 45Ca uptake and cyclic AMP levels were studied in snail ganglia. Ouabain, at concentrations below that which inhibits the Na-K pump as monitored by 86Rb influx, activated "reverse mode" Na/Ca exchange, as indicated by an increased 22Na efflux and 45Ca influx. 2. With electrophysiologic recordings ouabain, in the presence of K(+)-free saline to block Na/K transport, caused a membrane hyperpolarization. These concentrations of ouabain also caused elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP levels. 3. We suggest that the ouabain-induced stimulation of Na efflux is due to a stimulation of reverse Na/Ca exchange. since Na/Ca exchange is electrogenic, these observations are most consistent with ouabain stimulation of Na/Ca exchange in a reversed direction (intracellular Na for extracellular Ca). 4. The effect on Na/Ca exchange may be secondary to a rise in intracellular cyclic AMP.

Calcium chloride and snail physiological salt solutions were exposed to static magnetic fields (2.3-350 mT), and the physical properties of the solutions as well as their biologic effects were studied. Our preliminary observations show that these fields alter physicochemical properties of CaCl2 solutions and the functional effects of physiological solutions. Experiments on CaCl2 solutions demonstrated field-dependent changes of electrical conductivity, with the magnitude and the direction of conductivity change being a function of both concentration and field intensity. The changes in conductivity were maintained for periods in excess of 1 h after exposure. Conductivity changes were not found after exposure of physiological solutions to static magnetic fields, but changes of biological consequence did occur. Other experiments showed that there were several changes in cellular function observed in ganglia and isolated neurons of Helix pomatia when the perfusing medium was changed from the normal physiologic solution to the same solution after exposure to magnetic fields. These changes include membrane depolarization and increased action potential discharge, reduced uptake of Ca into cells, altered content of cyclic nucleotides in ganglia, and increased volume of isolated cell bodies. A change in hydration of calcium ions may be one of the consequences of magnetic-field exposure, and in physiological solutions this change may have functional consequences.

1. The effect of outward and inward water flows through the membrane on outward potassium currents of dialyzed Helix pomatia neurons was studied. 2. An outward water flow increased the peak and sustained outward potassium currents and accelerated the kinetics of their activation. An inward water flow had quite opposite effects--it decreased the peak and sustained potassium currents and delayed the kinetics of their activation. 3. The analysis of the effect of water flow on the conductance of potassium channels showed that an outward water flow increased both the potassium conductance at a given potential (gk) and the maximum potassium conductance (gkmax). An inward water flow again had the opposite effect--it decreased the potassium conductance at given potential and the maximum potassium conductance. 4. Neither an outward nor an inward water flow significantly affected the fraction of open potassium channels at a given potential [n infinity(V)]. 5. These data suggest that in dialyzed neurons the changes of outward potassium current during water flow through the membrane are due mainly to the changes in single-channel conductance and the time constant of current activation.