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Relationship between the use of electronic devices and susceptibility to multiple sclerosis

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Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Dirty electricity generated by electronic equipment is one of the environmental factors that may directly or indirectly impact MS susceptibility. The current Study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the usage time of electronic equipment and susceptibility to MS in North–West Iranian people. This approach was carried out upon 471 MS-diagnosed patients and 453 healthy participants as control group in East Province of Azerbaijan. By utilizing structured questionnaires, the information of all participants about usage status of some electronic devices was obtained. Data were analyzed by IBM SPSS Statistics version 18.0 and the quantitative variables were analyzed by Chi Square and Independent sample t tests. P values below or equal to 0.05 were considered as significant. Among the evaluated items in this approach, the utilization of cell phones and satellite television dishes were significantly higher in MS patients (p < 0.001, p = 0.07). Furthermore, a correlation was observed between sleeping with cell phone and/or laptop under the pillow (p = 0.011) and MS disease; however, there was no significant differences between MS patients and controls in computer using and television watching. Our study reinforces the concept that the utilization of some electronic devices and the continuous exposure to dirty electricity would increase the risk of MS disease thereupon by enhancing the cognizance of adverse effects of dirty electricity and reducing the time spent over electronic devices during adolescence and adulthood the occurrence probability of MS could be declined.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran (Project Number 1082). We gratefully acknowledge all the patients, who generously participated in this study. Also, we express our appreciation to staffs of the East Azerbaijan MS Society.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Fatemeh Khaki-Khatibi

  2. Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Fatemeh Khaki-Khatibi & Alireza Nourazarian

  3. Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Fatemeh Ahmadi & Mohammad Asgharzadeh

  4. Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Mehdi Farhoudi & Daryoush Savadi-Oskouei

  5. Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Mahya Pourostadi

  6. Biotechnology Research Center, Paramedical Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Mohammad Asgharzadeh

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  1. Fatemeh Khaki-Khatibi
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  2. Alireza Nourazarian
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  3. Fatemeh Ahmadi
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  4. Mehdi Farhoudi
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Correspondence to Mohammad Asgharzadeh.

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Khaki-Khatibi, F., Nourazarian, A., Ahmadi, F. et al. Relationship between the use of electronic devices and susceptibility to multiple sclerosis. Cogn Neurodyn 13, 287–292 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11571-019-09524-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11571-019-09524-1

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