Estimation of radiation-induced health hazards from a "dirty bomb" attack with radiocesium under different assault and rescue conditions

Selecting the Most Relevant Mouse Strains for Evaluating Radiation-Induced Multiple Tissue Injury after Leg-Shielded Partial-Body Gamma Irradiation

Animal studies are needed that best simulate a large-scale, inhomogeneous body exposure after a radiological or nuclear incident and that provides a platform for future development of medical countermeasures. A partial-body irradiation (PBI) model using 137Cs gamma rays with hind limb (tibia) shielding was developed and assessed for the sequalae of radiation injuries to gastrointestinal tract, bone marrow (BM) and lung and among different genetic mouse strains (C57BL/6J, C57L/J, CBA/J and FVB/NJ). In this case, a marginal level of BM shielding (∼2%) provided adequate protection against lethality from infection and hemorrhage and enabled escalation of radiation doses with evaluation of both acute and delayed radiation syndromes. A steep radiation dose-dependent body weight loss was observed over the first 5 days attributed to enteritis with C57BL/6J mice appearing to be the most sensitive strain. Peripheral blood cell analysis revealed significant depression and recovery of leukocytes and platelets over the first month after PBI and were comparable among the four different mouse strains. Latent pulmonary injury was observed on micro-CT imaging at 4 months in C57L/J mice and confirmed histologically as severe pneumonitis that was lethal at 12 Gy. The lethality and radiological densitometry (HUs) dose responses were comparable to previous studies on C57L/J mice after total-body irradiation (TBI) and BM transplant rescue as well as after localized whole-thorax irradiation (WTI). Indeed, the lethal radiation doses and latency appeared similar for pneumonitis appearing in rhesus macaques after WTI or PBI as well as predicted for patients given systemic radiotherapy. In contrast, PBI treatment of C57BL/6 mice at a higher dose of 14 Gy had far longer survival times and developed extreme and debilitating pIeural effusions; an anomaly as similarly reported in previous thorax irradiation studies on this mouse strain. In summary, a radiation exposure model that delivers PBI to unanesthetized mice in a device that provides consistent shielding of the hind limb BM was developed for 137Cs gamma rays with physical characteristics and relevance to relatively high photon energies expected from the detonation of a nuclear device or accidental release of ionizing radiation. Standard strains such as C57BL/6J mice may be used reliably for early GI or hematological radiation syndromes while the C57L/J mouse strain stands out as the most appropriate for evaluating the delayed pulmonary effects of acute radiation exposure and recapitulating this disease in humans.

Awareness and preparedness level of medical workers for radiation and nuclear emergency response

Radiological science and nuclear technology have made great strides in the twenty-first century, with wide-ranging applications in various fields, including energy, medicine, and industry. However, those developments have been accompanied by the inherent risks of exposure to nuclear radiation, which is a source of concern owing to its potentially adverse effects on human health and safety and which is of particular relevance to medical personnel who may be exposed to certain cancers associated with low-dose radiation in their working environment. While medical radiation workers have seen a decrease in their occupational exposure since the 1950s thanks to improved measures for radiation protection, a concerning lack of understanding and awareness persists among medical professionals regarding these potential hazards and the required safety precautions. This issue is further compounded by insufficient capabilities in emergency response. This highlights the urgent need to strengthen radiation safety education and training to ensure the well-being of medical staff who play a critical role in radiological and nuclear emergencies. This review examines the health hazards of nuclear radiation to healthcare workers and the awareness and willingness and education of healthcare workers on radiation protection, calling for improved training programs and emergency response skills to mitigate the risks of radiation exposure in the occupational environment, providing a catalyst for future enhancement of radiation safety protocols and fostering of a culture of safety in the medical community.

Consequence assessment of hypothetical urban radiological dispersal device incident in Korea

Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDDs) are designed to disperse radioactive material over a wide area, leading to significant consequences to the environment and public health. This paper discusses the radiological effects of a potential RDD detonation containing 137Cs and 241Am in the commercial area of Busan, South Korea. The assessment, conducted with HotSpot Health Physics and RESRAD-RDD codes, found that summer had the most significant impact, with a maximum total effective dose equivalent (TEDE) of 280 mSv at 100 m and this decreased to 1 mSv at 4.5 km from the detonation point within the time interval of 35 min.

Pushing the frontiers of military medical excellence: updates, progress and future needs

Since its establishment in 2014, Military Medical Research has come a long way in becoming a premier journal for scientific articles from various different specialties, with a special emphasis on topics with military relevance. The field of military medicine may be obscure, and may not be readily encountered by the typical clinician on a day-to-day basis. This journal aims not only to pursue excellence in military research, but also keep current with the latest advancements on general medical topics from each and every specialty. This editorial serves to recap and synthesize the existing progress, updates and future needs of military medical excellence, discussing foremostly the unique traits of literature published in this journal, and subsequently presenting the discourse regarding wartime and peacetime medicine, the role of the military in a public health emergency, as well as wound healing and organ regeneration. Special attention have been devoted to military topics to shed light on the effects of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive (CBRE) warfare, environmental medicine and military psychiatry, topics which rarely have a chance to be discussed elsewhere. The interconnectedness between military combat and soldier physical and mental well-being is intricate, and has been distorted by pandemics such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This journal has come a long way since its first article was published, steadily contributing to the existing knowledge pool on general medical topics with a military slant. Only with continuous research and sharing, can we build upon the work of the scientific community, with hopes for the betterment of patient care.