Observation of morphological abnormalities in silkworm pupae after feeding 137CsCl-supplemented diet to evaluate the effects of low dose-rate exposure.

Since the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, morphological abnormalities in lepidopteran insects, such as shrinkage and/or aberration of wings, have been reported. Butterflies experimentally exposed to radiocesium also show such abnormalities. However, because of a lack of data on absorbed dose and dose-effect relationship, it is unclear whether these abnormalities are caused directly by radiation. We conducted a low dose-rate exposure experiment in silkworms reared from egg to fully developed larvae on a 137CsCl-supplemented artificial diet and estimated the absorbed dose to evaluate morphological abnormalities in pupal wings. We used 137CsCl at 1.3 × 103 Bq/g fresh weight to simulate 137Cs contamination around the FDNPP. Absorbed doses were estimated using a glass rod dosimeter and Monte Carlo particle transport simulation code PHITS. Average external absorbed doses were approximately 0.24 (on diet) and 0.016 mGy/day (near diet); the average internal absorbed dose was approximately 0.82 mGy/day. Pupal wing structure is sensitive to radiation exposure. However, no significant differences were observed in the wing-to-whole body ratio of pupae between the 137CsCl-exposure and control groups. These results suggest that silkworms are insensitive to low dose-rate exposure due to chronic ingestion of high 137Cs at a high concentration.

Medical Therapy of Patients Contaminated with Radioactive Cesium or Iodine.

Follow-up studies after the Chernobyl and Fukushima accidents have shown that 137Cs and 131I made up the major amount of harmful contaminants in the atmospheric dispersion and fallout. Other potential sources for such radionuclide exposure may be terrorist attacks, e.g., via contamination of drinking water reservoirs. A primary purpose of radionuclide mobilization is to minimize the radiation dose. Rapid initiation of treatment of poisoned patients is imperative after a contaminating event. Internal contamination with radioactive material can expose patients to prolonged radiation, thus leading to short- and long-term clinical consequences. After the patient's emergency conditions are addressed, the treating physicians and assisting experts should assess the amount of radioactive material that has been internalized. This evaluation should include estimation of the radiation dose that is delivered and the specific radionuclides inside the body. These complex assessments warrant the reliance on a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates regional experts in radiation medicine and emergencies. Regional hospitals should have elaborated strategies for the handling of radiation emergencies. If radioactive cesium is a significant pollutant, Prussian blue is the approved antidote for internal detoxification. Upon risks of radioiodine exposure, prophylactic or immediate treatment with potassium iodide tablets is recommended. Chelators developed from calcium salts have been studied for gastrointestinal trapping and enhanced mobilization after strontium exposure.

Chronic exposure of adult, postnatal and in utero rat models to low-dose 137Cesium: impact on circulating biomarkers.

The presence of 137Cesium (137Cs) in the environment after nuclear accidents at Chernobyl and more recently Fukushima Daiichi raises many health issues for the surrounding populations chronically exposed through the food chain. To mimic different exposure situations, we set up a male rat model of exposure by chronic ingestion of a 137Cs concentration likely to be ingested daily by residents of contaminated areas (6500 Bq.l-1) and tested contaminations lasting 9 months for adult, neonatal and fetal rats. We tested plasma and serum biochemistry to identify disturbances in general indicators (lipids, proteins, carbohydrates and electrolytes) and in biomarkers of thyroid, heart, brain, bone, kidney, liver and testis functions. Analysis of the general indicators showed increased levels of cholesterol (+26%), HDL cholesterol (+31%), phospholipids B (+15%) and phosphorus (+100%) in the postnatal group only. Thyroid, heart, brain, bone and kidney functions showed no blood changes in any model. The liver function evaluation showed changes in total bilirubin (+67%) and alkaline phosphatase (-11%) levels, but only for the rats exposed to 137Cs intake in adulthood. Large changes in 17ß-estradiol (-69%) and corticosterone (+36%) levels affected steroidogenesis, but only in the adult model. This study showed that response profiles differed according to age at exposure: lipid metabolism was most radiosensitive in the postnatal model, and steroid hormone metabolism was most radiosensitive in rats exposed in adulthood. There was no evidence of deleterious effects suggesting a potential impact on fertility or procreation.

Phase I/II study of resection and intraoperative cesium-131 radioisotope brachytherapy in patients with newly diagnosed brain metastases.

OBJECT: Resected brain metastases have a high rate of local recurrence without adjuvant therapy. Adjuvant whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) remains the standard of care with a local control rate > 90%. However, WBRT is delivered over 10-15 days, which can delay other therapy and is associated with acute and long-term toxicities. Permanent cesium-131 ((131)Cs) implants can be used at the time of metastatic resection, thereby avoiding the need for any additional therapy. The authors evaluated the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of a novel therapeutic approach with permanent (131)Cs brachytherapy at the resection for brain metastases. METHODS: After institutional review board approval was obtained, 24 patients with a newly diagnosed metastasis to the brain were accrued to a prospective protocol between 2010 and 2012. There were 10 frontal, 7 parietal, 4 cerebellar, 2 occipital, and 1 temporal metastases. Histology included lung cancer (16), breast cancer (2), kidney cancer (2), melanoma (2), colon cancer (1), and cervical cancer (1). Stranded (131)Cs seeds were placed as permanent volume implants. The prescription dose was 80 Gy at a 5-mm depth from the resection cavity surface. Distant metastases were treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or WBRT, depending on the number of lesions. The primary end point was local (resection cavity) freedom from progression (FFP). Secondary end points included regional FFP, distant FFP, median survival, overall survival (OS), and toxicity. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 19.3 months (range 12.89-29.57 months). The median age was 65 years (range 45-84 years). The median size of resected tumor was 2.7 cm (range 1.5-5.5 cm), and the median volume of resected tumor was 10.31 cm(3) (range 1.77-87.11 cm(3)). The median number of seeds used was 12 (range 4-35), with a median activity of 3.82 mCi per seed (range 3.31-4.83 mCi) and total activity of 46.91 mCi (range 15.31-130.70 mCi). Local FFP was 100%. There was 1 adjacent leptomeningeal recurrence, resulting in a 1-year regional FFP of 93.8% (95% CI 63.2%-99.1%). One-year distant FFP was 48.4% (95% CI 26.3%-67.4%). Median OS was 9.9 months (95% CI 4.8 months, upper limit not estimated) and 1-year OS was 50.0% (95% CI 29.1%-67.8%). Complications included CSF leak (1), seizure (1), and infection (1). There was no radiation necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: The use of postresection permanent (131)Cs brachytherapy implants resulted in no local recurrences and no radiation necrosis. This treatment was safe, well tolerated, and convenient for patients, resulting in a short radiation treatment course, high response rate, and minimal toxicity. These findings merit further study with a multicenter trial.

Measurement of radioactivity levels and assessment of radioactivity hazards of soil samples in Karaman, Turkey.

In this study, the levels of the natural and artificial radioactivity in soil samples collected from surrounding of Karaman in Turkey were measured. Activity concentrations of the concerned radionuclides were determined by gamma-ray spectrometry using a high-purity germanium detector with a relative efficiency of 40 % at 1.332 MeV. The results obtained for the (238)U series ((226)Ra, (214)Pb and (214)Bi), (232)Th series ((228)Ac), (40)K and fission product (137)Cs are discussed. To evaluate the radiological hazard of radioactivity in samples, the radium equivalent activity (Raeq), the absorbed dose rate (D), the annual effective dose and the external (Hex) and internal hazard index (Hin) were calculated and presented in comparison with the data collected from different areas in the world and Turkey.

Testicular steroidogenesis is not altered by 137 cesium Chernobyl fallout, following in utero or post-natal chronic exposure.

The testis is especially sensitive to pollutants, including radionuclides. Following the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident, several of these radionuclides were emitted and spread in the environment. Subsequently, children presented some disruptions of the endocrine system. To determine whether these disruptions were due to 137 cesium ((137)Cs) exposure, the effects of chronic contamination with low doses of (137)Cs in utero or from birth on testicular steroidogenesis in rats were studied. Contamination was continued for 9 months. No modification was observed in circulating level of hormones (17beta-estradiol, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone) following in utero or post-natal contamination. Expression of several genes involved in testicular steroidogenesis was affected (cyp19a1, fxr, sf-1), without modification of protein expression or activity. Our results suggest that growing organisms may be affected at the molecular level by (137)Cs contamination at this post-accidental dose.

Threshold effect for teratogenic risk of radiation depends on dose-rate and p53-dependent apoptosis.

PURPOSE: To obtain evidence that the p53 gene is indispensable for reduction of high teratogenic risk of radiation at a high dose-rate to zero risk by lowering the dose-rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wild-type p53(+/+), heterozygous p53(+/-) and null p53(-/-) mice were exposed to gamma-rays at high or low dose-rates during days 9.5-10.5 of gestation. The incidence of malformations and prenatal deaths was studied. Frequencies of cells dying by apoptosis were measured during or after protracted irradiation. RESULTS: After irradiation with 2 Gy, the frequency of apoptotic cells increased to 20% for p53(+/+) mice and did not increase at all for p53(-/-) mice. For p53(+/+) mice, 2 Gy y-rays induced 70% malformations when given at 1.06 Gy/min, but no malformations above the control when given at 1.2 mGy/min. In contrast, after irradiation of p53(-/-) foetuses with 2 Gy at 1.2mGy/min, the incidence of malformations increased 12% above control levels. CONCLUSION: Foetal irradiation with 2 Gy at 1.2 mGy/min was not teratogenic for p53(+/+) mice but teratogenic for p53(-/-) mice. This indicates that the p53 gene is indispensable for a threshold effect in the risk of radiation at low doses or dose-rates.

Modelling the contribution of individual radionuclides to the total gamma air kerma rate for the sediments of the Ribble Estuary, NW England.

The aim of this study was to test the performance of a published dose-rate model, investigate the contribution of individual radionuclides to the total gamma air kerma rate (GAKR) and derive external doses to man in the Ribble Estuary, NW England. GAKRs were measured and sediment cores were collected in order to determine radionuclide specific activities with depth. The latter values were used as input data for the external dose-rate model. The model has a slight tendency to over-predict the GAKR, but, on average, the model predictions fall within +/-26% of the measured value. Improvements, in the present case, might be made by accounting for core shortening and variations in soil density in the input data. The model predicted that, for exposed intertidal mud sites, a range of GAKRs between 0.011 and 0.022 microGy h(-1) was attributable to Springfields discharges alone. The contribution due to 234mPa and 234Th ranged between 20 and 60%. An excess GAKR (GAKR arising from anthropogenic emissions alone) of 0.139-0.150 microGy h(-1), used in conjunction with relevant habit-survey data (for a potential critical group) and conversion factors, yielded a dose to man of 0.029-0.031 mSv year(-1).

[The use of bee and plant products in the treatment and rehabilitation of subjects exposed to the effect of ionizing radiation]. / Vykorystannia apifitoproduktiv u likuvannia ta reabilitatsiï osib, iaki zaznaly vplyvu ionizuiuchoho vyprominiuvannia.

The necessity is substantiated for use of apiphytoproducts in patients with duodenal ulcer who had become victims of Chernobyl accident. Apiphytoproducts were found out to accelerate the natural elimination of cesium radionuclides from the body, to normalize the indices for lipid peroxidation; they can be used on a monotherapy basis or combined with antisecretory or anti-Helicobacter drug preparations.

[The variability of the biochemical status of populations of the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) subjected to the chronic action of ionizing radiation in relation to the time of their inhabiting radionuclide-contaminated areas]. / Izmenchivost' biokhimicheskogo statusa populiatsii ryzhikh polevok (Clethrionomys glareolus), podvergshikhsia khronicheskomu deistviiu ioniziruiushchei radiatsii, v zavisimosti ot vremeni ikh obitaniia na territoriiakh, zagriaznennykh radionuklidami.

The existence of a population of bank voles in the course of long time (50-60 years) in conditions of chronic ionizing radiation at low doses, promoted adaptation of this populations of rodents to the action of this factor. As opposed to, in a population of bank voles, living radionuclide-contaminated areas during 8-years after the Chernobyl accident, adaptation was not observed.

[Decrease in internal irradiation dose from cesium radionuclides by using ferrocin (Prussian blue)]. / Snizhenie dozy vnutrennego oblucheniia radionuklidami tseziia ferrotsinom (berlinskaia lazur').

The Chernobyl accident gave rise to a problem of development and testing of a method to control the alimentary intake of radioactive Cs and to reduce an internal irradiation dose by adding ferrocin in some food components. Some clinico-experimental investigations have shown that the use of ferrocin-containing foodstuffs in populated areas of strict radiation control will permit a considerable reduction of the body level of radioactive Cs, thus decreasing an internal irradiation dose and will return the population of these areas to their normal way of life.

Advanced stage IIIB cancer of the cervix treatment by hyperthermia and radiation.

Treatment records of patients with primary untreated Stage IIIB carcinoma of the cervix treated at Indiana University Department of Radiation Oncology from November 1964 through January 1979 were reviewed. During this period, 79 patients were treated; 46 received external therapy using cobalt-60, 15 received a 25-MV photon beam, and 18 received a 25-MV photon beam followed by 45 min of 434-MHz microwave hyperthermia producing central tumor core temperatures of 39.5 to 41.5 degrees C. All patients received similar doses of radiation using combination intracavitary radioactive isotopes and external therapy. Patients who received heat therapy in combination with radiation therapy did not have increased acute or chronic complications of normal tissues. Local tumor control was superior when regional heat therapy was given; however, long-term absolute survival rates were not affected as the survival rate at 5 years was not statistically different in any of the three treatment groups.