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Journal of Vascular and Interventional... Apr 2023To evaluate the prevalence of surface lead-dust contamination on radiation protection apparel (RPAs) in the radiology department and compare findings with those from...
PURPOSE
To evaluate the prevalence of surface lead-dust contamination on radiation protection apparel (RPAs) in the radiology department and compare findings with those from other studies of RPA lead-dust contamination.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A survey of RPAs was conducted between June and December 2021 in radiology departments at a tertiary-care university hospital. A convenience sample of RPAs located on wall-mounted racks outside the angiography suite and emergency department was surveyed. Surface lead dust on RPAs was detected using a rapid qualitative test.
RESULTS
A total of 69 RPAs included full-length frontal lead aprons (n = 11), full-length frontal lead aprons (n = 25) with thyroid collars (n = 25), and thyroid collars alone (n = 8). Garments consisted mainly of a lead/antimony composite core with a 0.5-mm lead equivalency. One RPA failed radiologic quality inspection, and 8 garments were in poor or worn condition. The overall prevalence of surface lead-dust contamination on RPAs was 60.9% (95% CI, 49.1%-71.5%) and was significantly (P = .0035) higher on thyroid collars (78.8% [95% CI, 62.2%-89.3%]) than on lead aprons (44.4% [95% CI, 29.5%-60.4%]).
CONCLUSIONS
A high prevalence of surface lead-dust contamination was detected on RPAs using a rapid qualitative test. There is currently no established safe level of lead, and these findings suggest RPAs be monitored frequently not only for physical defects limiting radiation protection but also for lead-dust contamination.
Topics: Humans; Radiation Protection; Radiation Dosage; Dust; Protective Clothing; Radiology Department, Hospital
PubMed: 36539152
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvir.2022.12.030 -
CA: a Cancer Journal For Clinicians Jan 2022
Topics: Genomics; Humans; Radiation Dosage
PubMed: 34874554
DOI: 10.3322/caac.21711 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Mar 2023Long-term exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) can cause dire health consequences even less than the dose limits. Previous biomonitoring studies have focused more on...
Long-term exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) can cause dire health consequences even less than the dose limits. Previous biomonitoring studies have focused more on complete blood counts (CBCs), with non-coherent results. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between exposure to IR and cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) along with hematological parameters in Tabriz megacity's radiation workers. In this hospital-based study, blood samples were taken from 33 radiation workers (exposed group) and 34 non-radiation workers (control group) in 4 hospitals. Absorbed radiation dose was measured by a personal film badge dosimeter in radiation workers. The studied biomarkers and all of the selected covariates were measured and analyzed using adjusted multiple linear regression models. The exposed doses for all radiation workers were under the dose limits (overall mean = 1.18 mSv/year). However, there was a significant association between exposure to ionizing radiation and IL-6 (49.78 vs 36.17; t = 2.4; p = 0.02) and eosinophils (0.17 vs 0.14; t = 2.02; p = 0.049). The difference between the mean of the other biomarkers in radiation workers was not statistically significant compared to the control group. This study demonstrated that long-term exposure to ionizing radiation, even under the dose limits, is related to a significantly increased level of some blood biomarkers (Il-6 and eosinophil) that, in turn, can cause subsequent health effects such as cancer.
Topics: Interleukin-6; Radiation, Ionizing; Blood Cells; Biomarkers; Occupational Exposure; Radiation Dosage; Radiation Exposure
PubMed: 36538225
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24652-8 -
Abdominal Radiology (New York) May 2023To review the effects of ionizing radiation to the conceptus and the relationship to the timing of the exposure during pregnancy. To consider strategies that would...
PURPOSE
To review the effects of ionizing radiation to the conceptus and the relationship to the timing of the exposure during pregnancy. To consider strategies that would mitigate potential harms associated with exposure to ionizing radiation during pregnancy.
METHODS
Data reported in the peer-reviewed literature on entrance KERMA received from specific radiological examinations were combined with published results from experiment or Monte Carlo modeling of tissue and organ doses per entrance KERMA to estimate total doses that could be received from specific procedures. Data reported in the peer-reviewed literature on dose mitigation strategies, best practices for shielding, consent, counseling and emerging technologies were reviewed.
RESULTS
For procedures utilizing ionizing radiation for which the conceptus is not included in the primary radiation beam, typical doses are well below the threshold for causing tissue reactions and the risk of induction of childhood cancer is low. For procedures that include the conceptus in the primary radiation field, longer fluoroscopic interventional procedures or multiphase/multiple exposures potentially could approach or exceed thresholds for tissue reactions and the risk of cancer induction must be weighed against the expected risk/benefit of performing (or not) the imaging examination. Gonadal shielding is no longer considered best practice. Emerging technologies such as whole-body DWI/MRI, dual-energy CT and ultralow dose studies are gaining importance for overall dose reduction strategies.
CONCLUSION
The ALARA principle, considering potential benefits and risks should be followed with respect to the use of ionizing radiation. Nevertheless, as Wieseler et al. (2010) state, "no examination should be withheld when an important clinical diagnosis is under consideration." Best practices require updates on current available technologies and guidelines.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Radiation Dosage; Fetus; Radiography; Radiation, Ionizing; Radiation Exposure
PubMed: 36933026
DOI: 10.1007/s00261-023-03861-w -
Radiation and Environmental Biophysics Nov 2022A key activity of MELODI is to organise annual European meetings where scientific results and future directions and strategies of relevant research are discussed. The...
A key activity of MELODI is to organise annual European meetings where scientific results and future directions and strategies of relevant research are discussed. The annual meetings, previously organised solely under the auspices of MELODI are, since 2016, jointly organised by the European platforms and referred to as European Radiation Protection Weeks (ERPW). In addition to ERPW meetings, MELODI organises and finances annual workshops dedicated to specific topics. Outputs and recommendations from the meetings are published as review articles. The 2020 workshop focussed on one of the cross cutting topics: the effects of spatial and temporal variation in dose delivery on disease risk. The current issue of REBS includes five review articles from the workshop on the effects of spatial and temporal variation in dose delivery and this editorial is a short summary of their content.
Topics: Radiation Dosage; Radiation Protection
PubMed: 36280614
DOI: 10.1007/s00411-022-01002-3 -
Nuclear Medicine and Biology 2021In oncology, the holy grail of radiotherapy is specific radiation dose deposition in tumours with minimal healthy tissue toxicity. If used appropriately, injectable,... (Review)
Review
In oncology, the holy grail of radiotherapy is specific radiation dose deposition in tumours with minimal healthy tissue toxicity. If used appropriately, injectable, systemic radionuclide therapies could meet these criteria, even for treatment of micrometastases and single circulating tumour cells. The clinical use of α and β particle-emitting molecular radionuclide therapies is rising, however clinical translation of Auger electron-emitting radionuclides is hampered by uncertainty around their exact subcellular localisation, which in turn affects the accuracy of dosimetry. This review aims to discuss and compare the advantages and disadvantages of various subcellular localisation methods available to localise radiopharmaceuticals and radionuclides for in vitro investigations.
Topics: Alpha Particles; Radiation Dosage; Radiopharmaceuticals
PubMed: 33964707
DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2021.03.010 -
European Radiology Dec 2022Evaluation of image characteristics at ultra-low radiation dose levels of a first-generation dual-source photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) compared to a...
OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of image characteristics at ultra-low radiation dose levels of a first-generation dual-source photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) compared to a dual-source dual-energy CT (DECT) scanner.
METHODS
A multi-energy CT phantom was imaged with and without an extension ring on both scanners over a range of radiation dose levels (CTDI 0.4-15.0 mGy). Scans were performed in different modes of acquisition for PCCT with 120 kVp and DECT with 70/Sn150 kVp and 100/Sn150 kVp. Various tissue inserts were used to characterize the precision and repeatability of Hounsfield units (HUs) on virtual mono-energetic images between 40 and 190 keV. Image noise was additionally investigated at an ultra-low radiation dose to illustrate PCCT's ability to remove electronic background noise.
RESULTS
Our results demonstrate the high precision of HU measurements for a wide range of inserts and radiation exposure levels with PCCT. We report high performance for both scanners across a wide range of radiation exposure levels, with PCCT outperforming at low exposures compared to DECT. PCCT scans at the lowest radiation exposures illustrate significant reduction in electronic background noise, with a mean percent reduction of 74% (p value ~ 10) compared to DECT 70/Sn150 kVp and 60% (p value ~ 10) compared to DECT 100/Sn150 kVp.
CONCLUSIONS
This paper reports the first experiences with a clinical dual-source PCCT. PCCT provides reliable HUs without disruption from electronic background noise for a wide range of dose values. Diagnostic benefits are not only for quantification at an ultra-low dose but also for imaging of obese patients.
KEY POINTS
PCCT scanners provide precise and reliable Hounsfield units at ultra-low dose levels. The influence of electronic background noise can be removed at ultra-low-dose acquisitions with PCCT. Both spectral platforms have high performance along a wide range of radiation exposure levels, with PCCT outperforming at low radiation exposures.
Topics: Humans; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Radiation Dosage; Phantoms, Imaging
PubMed: 35708838
DOI: 10.1007/s00330-022-08933-x -
Scientific Reports Jun 2022Gene expression (GE) analysis of FDXR, DDB2, WNT3 and POU2AF1 is a promising approach for identification of clinically relevant groups (unexposed, low- and high exposed)...
Gene expression (GE) analysis of FDXR, DDB2, WNT3 and POU2AF1 is a promising approach for identification of clinically relevant groups (unexposed, low- and high exposed) after radiological/nuclear events. However, results from international biodosimetry exercises have shown differences in dose estimates based on radiation-induced GE of the four genes. Also, differences in GE using next-generation-sequening (NGS) and validation with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was reported. These discrepancies could be caused by radiation-responsive differences among exons of the same gene. We performed GE analysis with qRT-PCR using TaqMan-assays covering all exon-regions of FDXR, DDB2, WNT3 and POU2AF1. Peripheral whole blood from three healthy donors was X-irradiated with 0, 0.5 and 4 Gy. After 24 and 48 h a dose-dependent up-regulation across almost all exon-regions for FDXR and DDB2 (4-42-fold) was found. A down-regulation for POU2AF1 (two- to threefold) and WNT3 (< sevenfold) at the 3'-end was found at 4 Gy irradiation only. Hence, this confirms our hypothesis for radiation-responsive exon-regions for WNT3 and POU2AF1, but not for FDXR and DDB2. Finally, we identified the most promising TaqMan-assays for FDXR (e.g. AR7DTG3, Hs00244586_m1), DDB2 (AR47X6H, Hs03044951_m1), WNT3 (Hs00902258_m1, Hs00902257_m1) and POU2AF1 (Hs01573370_g1, Hs01573371_m1) for biodosimetry purposes and acute radiation syndrome prediction, considering several criteria (detection limit, dose dependency, time persistency, inter-individual variability).
Topics: Acute Radiation Syndrome; Biological Assay; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Exons; Humans; Radiation Dosage; Radiometry
PubMed: 35680903
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13577-4 -
Acta Cardiologica May 2021The awareness of radiation doses and risks, also during interventional cardiology procedures, is essential today in order to apply the risk-benefit assessment and to...
INTRODUCTION
The awareness of radiation doses and risks, also during interventional cardiology procedures, is essential today in order to apply the risk-benefit assessment and to reinforce the principles of justification and optimisation in clinical practice.
METHODS
A voluntary survey with 10 questions and multiple-choice answers was run on a popular cardiology website (www.cardiolink.it) independently by a scientific publisher, in order to evaluate the contemporary level of radiation awareness in a multi-speciality sample of physicians in Italy.
RESULTS
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one physicians completed the test. The survey showed good results since both prescribers and practitioners (mostly cardiologists) working in Italy are largely aware of the cancer and non-cancer risks of medical radiation use, regardless of their subspecialty background.
CONCLUSION
Physicians are largely aware of the cancer and non-cancer risks of medical radiation use, regardless of their subspecialty background. However, there is still broad space for improvement; in the future, the awareness of radiation risk is a prerequisite to create a culture of respect for radiation hazard and a commitment to minimise exposure and maximise protection.
Topics: Cardiology; Humans; Internet; Italy; Occupational Exposure; Radiation Dosage; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 32228163
DOI: 10.1080/00015385.2020.1733303 -
The British Journal of Radiology Oct 2021
Topics: History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Occupational Exposure; Patient-Centered Care; Radiation Dosage; Radiation Monitoring; Radiation Protection
PubMed: 34545765
DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20219004