A method to predict space radiation biological effectiveness for non-cancer effects following intense Solar Particle Events.

In addition to the continuous exposure to cosmic rays, astronauts in space are occasionally exposed to Solar Particle Events (SPE), which involve less energetic particles but can deliver much higher doses. The latter can exceed several Gy in a few hours for the most intense SPEs, for which non-stochastic effects are thus a major concern. To identify adequate shielding conditions that would allow respecting the dose limits established by the various space agencies, the absorbed dose in the considered organ/tissue must be multiplied by the corresponding Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE), which is a complex quantity depending on several factors including particle type and energy, considered biological effect, level of effect (and thus absorbed dose), etc. While in several studies only the particle-type dependence of RBE is taken into account, in this work we developed and applied a new approach where, thanks to an interface between the FLUKA Monte Carlo transport code and the BIANCA biophysical model, the RBE dependence on particle energy and absorbed dose was also considered. Furthermore, we included in the considered SPE spectra primary particles heavier than protons, which in many studies are neglected. This approach was then applied to the October 2003 SPE (the most intense SPE of solar cycle 23, also known as "Halloween event") and the January 2005 event, which was characterized by a lower fluence but a harder spectrum, i.e., with higher-energy particles. The calculation outcomes were then discussed and compared with the current dose limits established for skin and blood forming organs in case of 30-days missions. This work showed that the BIANCA model, if interfaced to a radiation transport code, can be used to calculate the RBE values associated to Solar Particle Events. More generally, this work emphasizes the importance of taking into account the RBE dependence on particle energy and dose when calculating equivalent doses.

Disturbance response indicators of Impatiens walleriana exposed to benzene and chromium.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the remediation potential and disturbance response indicators of Impatiens walleriana exposed to benzene and chromium. Numerous studies over the years have found abundant evidence of the carcinogenicity of benzene and chromium (VI) in humans. Benzene and chromium are two toxic industrial chemicals commonly found together at contaminated sites, and one of the most common management strategies employed in the recovery of sites contaminated by petroleum products and trace metals is in situ remediation. Given that increasing interest has focused on the use of plants as depollution agents, direct injection tests and benzene misting were performed on I. walleriana to evaluate the remediation potential of this species. I. walleriana accumulated hexavalent chromium, mainly in the root system (164.23 mg kg-1), to the detriment of the aerial part (39.72 mg kg-1), and presented visible damage only at the highest concentration (30 mg L-1). Unlike chromium (VI), chromium (III) was retained almost entirely by the soil, leaving it available for removal by phytotechnology. However, after the contamination stopped, I. walleriana responded positively to the detoxification process, recovering its stem stiffness and leaf color. I. walleriana showed visible changes such as leaf chlorosis during the ten days of benzene contamination. When benzene is absorbed by the roots, it is translocated to and accumulated in the plant's aerial part. This mechanism the plant uses ensures its tolerance to the organic compound, enabling the species to survive and reproduce after treatment with benzene. Although I. walleriana accumulates minor amounts of hexavalent chromium in the aerial part, this amount suffices to induce greater oxidative stress and to increase the amount of hydrogen peroxide when compared to that of benzene. It was therefore concluded that I. walleriana is a species that possesses desirable characteristics for phytotechnology.

Reprint of Bioneutronics: Thermal scattering in organics tissues and its impact on BNCT dosimetry.

Neutron transport calculation is a key factor in BNCT numerical dosimetry assessments where thermal neutron flux is intimately related to the neutron dose, specially, the therapeutic boron dose. In this work, numerical calculations in phantoms were performed to determine the importance of utilizing the appropriate thermal scattering treatment for different organic tissues. Two thermal treatments for the neutron scattering were included in the simulations: hydrogen bounded in bulk water and hydrogen bounded in a lipid like carbon chain (polyethylene). The results showed difference between both thermal treatments that can reach several percent points depending on the type of source and irradiated geometry.

Spontaneous malformations of the cerebellar vermis: Prevalence, inheritance, and relationship to lobule/fissure organization in the C57BL/6 lineage.

The complex neuronal circuitry of the cerebellum is embedded within its lamina, folia, and lobules, which together play an important role in sensory and motor function. Studies in mouse models have demonstrated that both cerebellar lamination and lobule/fissure development are under genetic control. The cerebellar vermis of C57BL/6 mice exhibits spontaneous malformations of neuronal migration of posterior lobules (VIII-IX; molecular layer heterotopia); however, the extent to which other inbred mice also exhibit these malformations is unknown. Using seven different inbred mouse strains and two first filial generation (F1) hybrids, we show that only the C57BL/6 strain exhibits heterotopia. Furthermore, we observed heterotopia in consomic and recombinant inbred strains. These data indicate that heterotopia formation is a weakly penetrant trait requiring homozygosity of one or more C57BL/6 alleles outside of chromosome 1 and the sex chromosomes. Additional morphological analyses showed no relationship between heterotopia formation and other features of lobule/fissure organization. These data are relevant toward understanding normal cerebellar development and disorders affecting cerebellar foliation and lamination.

Bioneutronics: Thermal scattering in organics tissues and its impact on BNCT dosimetry.

Neutron transport calculation is a key factor in BNCT numerical dosimetry assessments where thermal neutron flux is intimately related to the neutron dose, specially, the therapeutic boron dose. In this work, numerical calculations in phantoms were performed to determine the importance of utilizing the appropriate thermal scattering treatment for different organic tissues. Two thermal treatments for the neutron scattering were included in the simulations: hydrogen bounded in bulk water and hydrogen bounded in a lipid like carbon chain (polyethylene). The results showed difference between both thermal treatments that can reach several percent points depending on the type of source and irradiated geometry.

Immunocytochemical localization of DNA double-strand breaks in human and rat brains.

Post-mitotic neurons are particularly susceptible to DNA double-strand breaks during their relatively long lifespan. Here, we report the anatomical distribution and subcellular localization of a molecule first identified as a DNA damage checkpoint protein. Immunocytochemical analysis of 53BP1 showed that this nuclear molecule is widely expressed in adult human and rat brains. Further, we showed that 53BP1 routinely co-clusters with γ-aminobutyric acid neurons throughout the rat neuraxis. Notably, 53BP1 is only expressed in neuronal cells as the DNA damage checkpoint protein was virtually absent from glial cells. Finally, we found that human neural progenitors showed a differential index of DNA fragmentation at different stages of cellular differentiation. These data provide additional and important anatomical findings for the distribution and phenotype of DNA double-strand breaks in the mammalian brain, and suggest that DNA fragmentation is a spontaneous event routinely occurring in neural progenitors and adult neurons.

Ulcera gastroduodenal perfurada: resultados imediatos do tratamento cirúrgico / Perforated gastric and duodenal ulcer: immediate results of surgical treatment

Säo relatados os resultados imediatos em 26 casos de úlcera gastroduodenal perfurada, operados no Hospital de Pronto Socorro da FUSAM, num período de 3 anos. A perfuraçäo ocorreu, em mais da metade dos pacientes (57,7%), na face anterior do duodeno. A técnica cirúrgica preferencialmente utilizada foi a sutura da perfuraçäo, associada ou näo à epiploplastia (53,8%). Ocorreram complicaçöes pós-operatórias em 7 pacientes (26,9%) e a mortalidade foi de 11,6%. Em relaçäo à mortalidade, houve uma diferença significativa (p < 0.05) entre os pacientes situados nas faixas etárias superior e inferior a 60 anos e entre os operados antes e após 48 horas do início dos sintomas. Os índices de complicaçöes e mortalidade correlacionaram-se diretamente com a idade do paciente, o grau de contaminaçäo peritoneal e o período decorrido entre o ínicio dos sintomas e a operaçäo, independentemente do tipo de cirurgia realizada ou do local da perfuraçäo