The present study investigated the hypothesis that a extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) partially suppresses the synthesis of human growth hormone (HGH) in a group of 28 primary schoolchildren living nearby and 60 primary schoolchildren aged 12 years living far away from overhead transmission power lines from December 2003 to April 2004 in Seoul, Korea. The mean personal exposure levels of the primary schoolchildren living nearby overhead transmission power line were 0.37 μT, whereas the levels for the primary schoolchildren living away from overhead transmission power line was 0.05 μT. From simple analyses, the mean growth hormone levels in the primary schoolchildren living nearby were lower than away from overhead transmission power line, and statistically significant differences in the levels of the growth hormone (p = 0.0316), whereas not statistically significant differences in the levels of the growth hormone related to the distance from residence to power line less and more than 100 m by cut-off point (p = 0.4017). In conclusion, these results may indicate that urinary levels of nocturnal growth hormone are altered in primary schoolchildren exposed to extremely low frequency magnetic field at overhead transmission power line.

Electromagnetic fields of all frequencies represent one of the most common and fastest growing environmental influences, about which anxiety and speculation are spreading. All populations are now exposed to varying degrees of electromagnetic field, and the levels will continue to increase as technology advances. The objectives of this study were to measure and analyze emitting characteristics of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field at micro-environments. We measured magnetic field at microenvironments such as home, school, educational institute, internet pc game room for children attending the primary school. The range of time weighted average (TWA) of 60 Hz EMF in micro-environment were 0.26∼ 7.62 mG and the highest TWA 7.62 mG was measured in PC room possessed more than 50 computers. We will measure personal exposure levels of primary students and analyze correlation between major micro-environments and personal exposure level.

In mammals, male and female germline stem cells are derived from primodial germ cells. Despite many efforts to identify stem cells from gonads, there has been little successe to identify germline stem cells yet. In this study, we isolate and characterized porcine germline stem cells using only stem cell markers that are prevalently expressed in various tissues. Gonadal cells derived from both male and female formed colonies and showed AP activities and different lectin binding properties. Pluripotency of germline stem cells was also identified by positive signals against putative stem cells markers such as SSEA-1 and SSEA-3. In addition, nestin was also found in primary gonad cells that have a similar morphology to the AP-positive cells. The nestin expression suggests that the germline stem cells may have similar expression of the prevalent stem cell markers found in other tissues. The demonstration of nestin expression together with pluripotent cell markers calls further investigation of the possible differentiation of nestin-positive cells into neurons.