The relationship between a comprehensive index of prosperity and suicide rates in former Soviet countries, including a comparison with European and Asian countries: Discussion from a new perspective.

Investigations of suicide in countries of the former Soviet Union, which broke into 15 different countries in the early 1990s, require examinations of a combination of economic, social, and health factors. It is important to address these factors individually and to examine the various composite indicators for each. Moreover, it would be worthwhile to explore the potential applicability of a comprehensive worldwide index. We analyzed data from nine of the former Soviet countries for which both the annual suicide rate and the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) were available for the years 2006-2017. We determined the precise relationships between the suicide rate and the GCI during this period in these nine countries as well as in nine countries with high suicide rates in Europe and Asia. The results indicated the following: (i) In six of the nine former Soviet countries with complete data, the suicide rate showed a relationship with the GCI. Notably, this relationship was inverse in all but one country. (ii) Among the nine European and Asian countries with high suicide rates, three exhibited a correlation between the suicide rate and the GCI. Measures to prevent suicide should be devised especially in countries of the former Soviet Union through collaboration among multiple fields and organizations, as necessary, with particular attention paid to countries with worse or worsening GCI values.

Radiation makes cells select the form of death dependent on external or internal exposure: apoptosis or pyroptosis.

Internal radiation exposure from neutron-induced radioisotopes environmentally activated following atomic bombing or nuclear accidents should be considered for a complete picture of pathologic effects on survivors. Acute and localized high dose radiation exposure from hot particles taken into the body must induce cell death and severe damage to tissues, whether they are proliferating or not. However, very little the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this internal radiation pathology has been investigated. Male Wistar rats were internally exposed to 56MnO2 powder by inhalation. Small intestine samples were investigated by histological staining at acute phase (6 h, 3 days and 14 days) and late phase (2, 6 and 8 months) after the exposure. Histological location and chemical properties of the hot particles embedded in small intestinal tissues were analyzed by synchrotron radiation-X-ray fluorescence-X-ray absorption near-edge structure (SR-XRF-XANES). Hot particles located in the intestinal cavity were identified as accumulations of Mn and iron. Pathological changes showed evidence of crypt shortening, massive cell death at the position of stem cell zone, including apoptosis and pyroptosis from 6 h through 8 months in the internal exposed rats.

Microdistribution of internal radiation dose in biological tissues exposed to 56Mn dioxide microparticles.

Manganese-56 (56Mn) was one of the dominant neutron-activated radionuclides during the first hours following the atomic-bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The radiation spectrum of 56Mn and the radiation emission from excited levels of 56Fe following 56Mn beta-decay include gamma-quanta, beta-particles, Auger electrons and X-rays. The dispersion of neutron activated 56Mn in the air can lead to entering of radioactive microparticles into the lungs. The investigation of spatial microdistribution of an internal dose in biological tissue exposed to 56Mn is an important matter with regards to the possible elevated irradiation of the lung alveoli and alveolar ducts. The Monte Carlo code (MCNP-4C) was used for the calculation of absorbed doses in biological tissue around 56Mn dioxide microparticles. The estimated absorbed dose has a very essential gradient in the epithelium cells of lung alveoli and alveolar duct: from 61 mGy/decay on the surface of simple squamous cells of epithelium to 0.15 mGy/decay at distance of 0.3 µm, which is maximal cell thickness. It has been concluded that epithelial cells of these pulmonary microstructures are selectively irradiated by low-energy electrons: short-range component of beta-particles spectrum and Auger electrons. The data obtained are important for the interpretation of biological experiments implementing dispersed neutron-activated 56Mn dioxide powder.

External dose estimates of laboratory rats and mice during exposure to dispersed neutron-activated 56Mn powder.

Estimates of external absorbed dose in experimental animals exposed to sprayed neutron-activated 56Mn powder are necessary for comparison with internal absorbed doses estimated under the same exposure conditions, which is required for a correct interpretation of the observed biological effects. It has been established that the measured dose of external absorbed dose as a result of gamma irradiation range 1-15 mGy, which is order of magnitude less than the maximal dose of internal gamma and beta irradiation of the whole body of the same experimental animals irradiated under the same conditions: according to the available literature data, the maximal values ​​of absorbed dose of internal gamma-beta irradiation of the whole body are in the range of 330 mGy-1200 mGy for mice and 100 mGy-150 mGy for rats. It is concluded that under the conditions of experiments with dispersed neutron-activated powder 56MnO2, internal gamma-beta irradiation of experimental animals is the main factor of radiation exposure compared to external gamma irradiation.

Effects of internal exposure to neutron-activated 56MnO2 powder on locomotor activity in rats.

At the detonation of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a significant amount of radionuclides was produced by the neutron induced activation. The residual radiation from the explosion is crucial to the health risk of the people who entered these cities after the bombing and might have inhaled these radioactive materials. Because 56Mn is one of the major radionuclides produced in soil and have not been studied until now, we had conducted a series of experiments using rats to investigate the biological impacts of exposure of 56MnO2 particles. In these experiments, the rats' spontaneous locomotor activity was also assessed to examine the possible effects of 56Mn on their behavior. However, the locomotor activity data obtained from an individual experiment failed to identify radiation effects due to the large variation among animals and the small sample size. In the present study, all available data from our previous studies on 56MnO2 exposure (0.02-0.15 Gy of whole-body doses) as well as 60Co-γ exposure (at 2-5 Gy of whole-body doses) were pooled. Our statistical method, which takes into account individual differences and daily fluctuations, successfully identified a decrease in locomotor activity caused by 56MnO2 exposure, where the changes were gradual and reached the maximum reduction around 2 weeks after exposure. In contrast, exposure to 60Co-γ rays produced the highest decline of activity within one day. These results suggest that internal exposure to 56Mn at whole-body doses of even less than 0.15 Gy may have a long-lasting impact on locomotor activity.

Is the Association between Suicide and Unemployment Common or Different among the Post-Soviet Countries?

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) collapsed in 1991 and separated into the 15 post-Soviet countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. The post-Soviet countries have faced many economic problems, including unemployment. The association between suicide and unemployment in post-Soviet countries has not been well studied. Here, we researched the annual suicide rate and the unemployment rate during the 28-year period from 1992 to 2019 in the 15 post-Soviet countries. We calculated the correlation coefficients between the suicide rate and the unemployment rate in each of the countries during this period, and we determined the association between the suicide rate and unemployment rate. Our major findings were that (1) the suicide rates among both males and females were significantly associated with the unemployment rate in nearly half of the 15 countries, and (2) for nearly 70% of the males in the entire set of 15 countries, there was an association between the suicide rate and the unemployment rate. Suicide-prevention researchers and organizations should be aware of our findings, and specific suicide-prevention measures based on these results are desirable.

An Exploration of the Labor, Financial, and Economic Factors Related to Suicide in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The Republic of Kazakhstan has one of the world's highest suicide rates. A detailed study of the risk factors for suicide in that country is therefore important. We investigated country-wide statistics related to labor, financial, and economic factors and whether any of these factors contribute to the risk of suicide in Kazakhstan. Using the 20 year period from 2000 to 2019, we examined the annual suicide rates overall (all citizens) and for males and females in Kazakhstan, annual unemployment rates, annual rates of increase in the country's consumer price index, annual total exports, and annual total imports. We then calculated the correlations between the suicide rates and these four items. We also performed a multiple regression analysis of the relationship between the suicide rate and those four items. The results of these analyses indicated that the unemployment rate was the correlation coefficient most highly correlated with the suicide rate; unemployment was significantly related to suicide and should be targeted as a risk factor in suicide prevention interventions in Kazakhstan. With this in mind, organizations, government agencies, and professionals in relevant fields need to devise and implement suicide prevention measures.

The indicators associated with increasing suicide trends: Need for harmony in discussing suicide in legal medicine and other fields.

Each year in Japan from 1990 to 1997, approx. 21,000-24,000 individuals committed suicide. In 1998, the number of suicides increased to >30,000, and a trend of high suicide numbers then persisted for >10 years. Although Japan's annual number of suicides has recently been decreasing, it remains among the highest worldwide. Herein, we assessed the annual suicide data (numbers and rates) related to three economic and life indicators: (1) the difference between actual income and consumer spending of one average month per year in one household, (2) the annual difference between exports and imports, and (3) the annual total debt determined by statistical analyses for both sexes/males/females during the 40-year period from 1979 to 2018 in Japan. Our findings indicated that [1] total debt may be associated with both the number of suicides and the suicide rate for both sexes, for males, and for females, and [2] the difference between actual income and consumer spending may be associated with both the number of suicides and the suicide rate only in females. These findings revealed factors that are clearly suicide-related, and it is necessary to design suicide prevention strategies based on the factors. Relevant public and private entities should become aware of the involvement of both debt and the difference between income and spending in suicide trends as they plan suicide prevention measures. Further analyses of suicide data should be performed in a wide range of fields including legal medicine, toward a greater understanding of suicide risk factors.

Internal doses in experimental mice and rats following exposure to neutron-activated 56MnO2 powder: results of an international, multicenter study.

The experiment was performed in support of a Japanese initiative to investigate the biological effects of irradiation from residual neutron-activated radioactivity that resulted from the A-bombing. Radionuclide 56Mn (T1/2 = 2.58 h) is one of the main neutron-activated emitters during the first hours after neutron activation of soil dust particles. In our previous studies (2016-2017) related to irradiation of male Wistar rats after dispersion of 56MnO2 powder, the internal doses in rats were found to be very inhomogeneous: distribution of doses among different organs ranged from 1.3 Gy in small intestine to less than 0.0015 Gy in some of the other organs. Internal doses in the lungs ranged from 0.03 to 0.1 Gy. The essential pathological changes were found in lung tissue of rats despite a low level of irradiation. In the present study, the dosimetry investigations were extended: internal doses in experimental mice and rats were estimated for various activity levels of dispersed neutron-activated 56MnO2 powder. The following findings were noted: (a) internal radiation doses in mice were several times higher in comparison with rats under similar conditions of exposure to 56MnO2 powder. (b) When 2.74 × 108 Bq of 56MnO2 powder was dispersed over mice, doses of internal irradiation ranged from 0.81 to 4.5 Gy in the gastrointestinal tract (small intestine, stomach, large intestine), from 0.096 to 0.14 Gy in lungs, and doses in skin and eyes ranged from 0.29 to 0.42 Gy and from 0.12 to 0.16 Gy, respectively. Internal radiation doses in other organs of mice were much lower. (c) Internal radiation doses were significantly lower in organs of rats with the same activity of exposure to 56MnO2 powder (2.74 × 108 Bq): 0.09, 0.17, 0.29, and 0.025 Gy in stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and lungs, respectively. (d) Doses of internal irradiation in organs of rats and mice were two to four times higher when they were exposed to 8.0 × 108 Bq of 56MnO2 (in comparison with exposure to 2.74 × 108 Bq of 56MnO2). (e) Internal radiation doses in organs of mice were 7-14 times lower with the lowest 56MnO2 amount (8.0 × 107 Bq) in comparison with the highest amount, 8.0 × 108 Bq, of dispersed 56MnO2 powder. The data obtained will be used for interpretation of biological effects in experimental mice and rats that result from dispersion of various levels of neutron-activated 56MnO2 powder, which is the subject of separate studies.

Quantitative Analysis of Effects of a Single 60Co Gamma Ray Point Exposure on Time-Dependent Change in Locomotor Activity in Rats.

Investigating initial behavioral changes caused by irradiation of animals might provide important information to aid understanding of early health effects of radiation exposure and clinical features of radiation injury. Although previous studies in rodents suggested that radiation exposure leads to reduced activity, detailed properties of the effects were unrevealed due to a lack of proper statistical analysis, which is needed to better elucidate details of changes in locomotor activity. Ten-week-old male Wistar rats were subjected to single point external whole-body irradiation with 60Co gamma rays at 0, 2.0, 3.5, and 5.0 Gy (four rats per group). Infrared sensors were used to continuously record the locomotor activity of each rat. The cumulative number of movements during the night was defined as "activity" for each day. A non-linear mixed effects model accounting for individual differences and daily fluctuation of activity was applied to analyze the rats' longitudinal locomotor data. Our statistical method revealed characteristics of the changes in locomotor activity after radiation exposure, showing that (1) reduction in activity occurred immediately-and in a dose-dependent manner-after irradiation and (2) recovery to pre-irradiation levels required almost one week, with the same recovery rate in each dose group.

Impact of Local High Doses of Radiation by Neutron Activated Mn Dioxide Powder in Rat Lungs: Protracted Pathologic Damage Initiated by Internal Exposure.

Internal radiation exposure from neutron-induced radioisotopes environmentally activated following atomic bombing or nuclear accidents should be considered for a complete picture of pathologic effects on survivors. Inhaled hot particles expose neighboring tissues to locally ultra-high doses of ß-rays and can cause pathologic damage. 55MnO2 powder was activated by a nuclear reactor to make 56MnO2 which emits ß-rays. Internal exposures were compared with external γ-rays. Male Wistar rats were administered activated powder by inhalation. Lung samples were observed by histological staining at six hours, three days, 14 days, two months, six months and eight months after the exposure. Synchrotron radiation - X-ray fluorescence - X-ray absorption near-edge structure (SR-XRF-XANES) was utilized for the chemical analysis of the activated 56Mn embedded in lung tissues. 56Mn beta energy spectrum around the particles was calculated to assess the local dose rate and accumulated dose. Hot particles located in the bronchiole and in damaged alveolar tissue were identified as accumulations of Mn and iron. Histological changes showed evidence of emphysema, hemorrhage and severe inflammation from six hours through eight months. Apoptosis was observed in the bronchiole epithelium. Our study shows early event damage from the locally ultra-high internal dose leads to pathogenesis. The trigger of emphysema and hemorrhage was likely early event damage to blood vessels integral to alveolar walls.

Effects of Internal Exposure to 56MnO2 Powder on Blood Parameters in Rats.

OBJECTIVE: The pathological effects of internal exposure to manganese dioxide-56 (56MnO2) radioisotope particles have been previously examined in rats. Here we further examine the effects of 56MnO2, focusing on changes in blood parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten-week-old male Wistar rats were exposed to 3 doses of neutron-activated 56MnO2 powder, nonradioactive MnO2 powder, or external 60Co γ-rays (1 Gy, whole body). On days 3 and 61 postexposure, the animals were necropsied to measure organ weights and clinical blood parameters, including red blood cell and white blood cell counts; concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium; and levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase, amylase, creatinine, urea, total protein, albumin, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, and glucose. RESULTS: In the 56MnO2-exposed animals, accumulated doses were found to be highest in the gastrointestinal tract, followed by the skin and lungs, with whole-body doses ranging from 41 to 100 mGy. There were no 56MnO2 exposure-related changes in body weights or relative organ weights. The ALT level decreased on day 3 and then significantly increased on day 61 in the 56MnO2-exposed groups. There were no exposure-related changes in any other blood parameters. CONCLUSION: Although the internal doses were less than 100 mGy, internal exposure of 56MnO2 powder showed significant biological impacts.

Association of radiation risk in the second and third generations with polymorphisms in the genes CYP1A1, CYP2E1, GSTP1 and changes in the thyroid.

BACKGROUND: To study the association of radiation risk in the 2nd -3rd generations with polymorphisms in the genes CYP1A1, CYP2E1, GSTP1 and changes in the thyroid. METHODS: 5 polymorphic gene variants (rs1048943, rs4646421, rs2070676, rs3813867, rs1695) were studied in 399 people living in the East Kazakhstan region in this research. 248 people of the 2nd - 3rd generation lived in the territory with radiation exposure in Abai, Borodulikha areas, and 151 people the comparison group lived in Kurchum district without radiation exposure comparable in sex and age with control group. RESULTS: The results show that there is a significant association of rs1048943 in exposed and unexposed groups (p < 0.003), and the absence of association of rs4646421, rs2070676, rs3813867, rs1695 in the studied groups. The mean value of thyroxine in carriers of the AG + GG genotype of rs4646421 is significantly lower than in AA genotype carriers (p = 0.04); no significant changes were found in genotypes' distribution with thyroid-stimulating hormone and anti-thyroid peroxidase indicators. Significant changes were in levels of anti-thyroid peroxidase between exposed and unexposed groups (p = 0.007). The thyroxine - thyroid-stimulating hormone levels were not significantly different in exposed and unexposed groups (p > 0.3). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the association of rs1048943 polymorphism with living in the radiation zone in the 2nd and 3rd generations for the first time. Thyroxine levels decrease was identified in the 2nd and 3rd generation residents of the exposed area, as well as a significant increase of anti-thyroid peroxidase occurs in individuals of the 2nd and 3rd generation living in areas with radiation exposure.

Cytogenetic abnormalities of the descendants of permanent residents of heavily contaminated East Kazakhstan.

More than 400 nuclear explosion tests were conducted at the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site (SNTS) and significant radioactive substances were released. The long-term consequences of the activities at the SNTS and the appearance of any hereditary effects remain insufficiently studied about 25 years after the test site was closed. The population living in villages near the SNTS are considered to have been heavily exposed to external and internal radiation. This study aims to perform an assessment and comprehensive cytogenetic analysis of the inhabitants living near the SNTS, and their first-(F1) and second-(F2) generation children. Residents of the East Kazakhstan region living in the area covered by the former SNTS were included in the study. To evaluate the hereditary effects of nuclear testing, comprehensive chromosome analyses were performed in lymphocytes using conventional Giemsa and fluorescent in situ hybridization methods in 115 F1 and F2 descendants in the villages of Dolon and Sarzhal, which were heavily contaminated. The parents of the subjects had permanently lived in the villages. A higher number of stable-type chromosome aberrations such as translocations was found in these residents than in 80 residents of the control area, Kokpecty, which indicates the possibility that radiation had biological effects on the exposed subjects.

Endothelial dysfunction in rectal cancer patients chronically exposed to ionizing radiation.

We sought to identify the features of endothelial function in rectal cancer patients who were exposed to chronic ionizing radiation from a nuclear test site in Kazakhstan. We examined 146 individuals, 76 of whom were rectal cancer patients. The existence of a complex of disturbances of the endothelium and hemostasis systems in patients vs non-patients was revealed. Endothelial dysfunction was expressed as an increase of nitric oxide (NO) production along with decreases in vasodilatation function, and increased levels of von Willebrand factor in blood, along with an increase in the number of circulating endotheliocytes. Significant correlations between indicators of endothelial function and vascular-platelet hemostasis were observed. These changes and their interrelations were expressed more strongly in the patients who lived in the contaminated area around the nuclear test site. Such patients could have an increased risk of thrombosis and other complications after the treatment of a malignant neoplasm.

Internal exposure to neutron-activated 56Mn dioxide powder in Wistar rats-Part 2: pathological effects.

To fully understand the radiation effects of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki among the survivors, radiation from neutron-induced radioisotopes in soil and other materials should be considered in addition to the initial radiation directly received from the bombs. This might be important for evaluating the radiation risks to the people who moved to these cities soon after the detonations and probably inhaled activated radioactive "dust." Manganese-56 is known to be one of the dominant radioisotopes produced in soil by neutrons. Due to its short physical half-life, 56Mn emits residual radiation during the first hours after explosion. Hence, the biological effects of internal exposure of Wistar rats to 56Mn were investigated in the present study. MnO2 powder was activated by a neutron beam to produce radioactive 56Mn. Rats were divided into four groups: those exposed to 56Mn, to non-radioactive Mn, to 60Co γ rays (2 Gy, whole body), and those not exposed to any additional radiation (control). On days 3, 14, and 60 after exposure, the animals were killed and major organs were dissected and subjected to histopathological analysis. As described in more detail by an accompanying publication, the highest internal radiation dose was observed in the digestive system of the rats, followed by the lungs. It was found that the number of mitotic cells increased in the small intestine on day 3 after 56Mn and 60Co exposure, and this change persisted only in 56Mn-exposed animals. Lung tissue was severely damaged only by exposure to 56Mn, despite a rather low radiation dose (less than 0.1 Gy). These data suggest that internal exposure to 56Mn has a significant biological impact on the lungs and small intestine.