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Wang E, Shuryak I, Brenner DJ. Quantifying the effects of neutron dose, dose protraction, age and sex on mouse survival using parametric regression and machine learning on a 21,000-mouse data set. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21841. [PMID: 38071393 PMCID: PMC10710496 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49262-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The biological effects of densely-ionizing radiations such as neutrons and heavy ions encountered in space travel, nuclear incidents, and cancer radiotherapy, significantly differ from those of sparsely-ionizing photons and necessitate a comprehensive understanding for improved protection measures. Data on lifespan studies of laboratory rodents exposed to fission neutrons, accumulated in the Janus archive, afford unique insights into the impact of densely ionizing radiation on mortality from cancers and various organ dysfunction. We extracted and analyzed data for 21,308 individual B6CF1 mice to investigate the effects of neutron dose, fractionation, protraction, age, and sex on mortality. As Cox regression encountered limitations owing to assumption violations, we turned to Random Survival Forests (RSF), a machine learning algorithm adept at modeling nonlinear relationships. RSF interpretation using Shapley Additive Explanations revealed a dose response for mortality risk that curved upwards at low doses < 20 cGy, became nearly-linear over 20-150 cGy, and saturated at high doses. The response was enhanced by fractionation/protraction of irradiation (exhibiting an inverse dose rate effect), and diminished by older age at exposure. Somewhat reduced mortality was predicted for males vs females. This research expands our knowledge on the long-term effects of densely ionizing radiations on mammal mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Wang
- Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 630 West 168th Street, VC-11, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Igor Shuryak
- Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 630 West 168th Street, VC-11, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - David J Brenner
- Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 630 West 168th Street, VC-11, New York, NY, 10032, USA
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2
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Aboelezz E, Pogue BW. Review of nanomaterial advances for ionizing radiation dosimetry. APPLIED PHYSICS REVIEWS 2023; 10:021312. [PMID: 37304732 PMCID: PMC10249220 DOI: 10.1063/5.0134982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
There are a wide range of applications with ionizing radiation and a common theme throughout these is that accurate dosimetry is usually required, although many newer demands are provided by improved features in higher range, multi-spectral and particle type detected. Today, the array of dosimeters includes both offline and online tools, such as gel dosimeters, thermoluminescence (TL), scintillators, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), radiochromic polymeric films, gels, ionization chambers, colorimetry, and electron spin resonance (ESR) measurement systems. Several future nanocomposite features and interpretation of their substantial behaviors are discussed that can lead to improvements in specific features, such as (1) lower sensitivity range, (2) less saturation at high range, (3) overall increased dynamic range, (4) superior linearity, (5) linear energy transfer and energy independence, (6) lower cost, (7) higher ease of use, and (8) improved tissue equivalence. Nanophase versions of TL and ESR dosimeters and scintillators each have potential for higher range of linearity, sometimes due to superior charge transfer to the trapping center. Both OSL and ESR detection of nanomaterials can have increased dose sensitivity because of their higher readout sensitivity with nanoscale sensing. New nanocrystalline scintillators, such as perovskite, have fundamentally important advantages in sensitivity and purposeful design for key new applications. Nanoparticle plasmon coupled sensors doped within a lower Zeff material have been an effective way to achieve enhanced sensitivity of many dosimetry systems while still achieving tissue equivalency. These nanomaterial processing techniques and unique combinations of them are key steps that lead to the advanced features. Each must be realized through industrial production and quality control with packaging into dosimetry systems that maximize stability and reproducibility. Ultimately, recommendations for future work in this field of radiation dosimetry were summarized throughout the review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eslam Aboelezz
- Ionizing Radiation Metrology Department, National Institute of Standards, Giza, Egypt
| | - Brian W. Pogue
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison 53705, USA
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3
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Wilson LJ, Kiffer FC, Berrios DC, Bryce-Atkinson A, Costes SV, Gevaert O, Matarèse BFE, Miller J, Mukherjee P, Peach K, Schofield PN, Slater LT, Langen B. Machine intelligence for radiation science: summary of the Radiation Research Society 67th annual meeting symposium. Int J Radiat Biol 2023:1-10. [PMID: 36735963 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2023.2173823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The era of high-throughput techniques created big data in the medical field and research disciplines. Machine intelligence (MI) approaches can overcome critical limitations on how those large-scale data sets are processed, analyzed, and interpreted. The 67th Annual Meeting of the Radiation Research Society featured a symposium on MI approaches to highlight recent advancements in the radiation sciences and their clinical applications. This article summarizes three of those presentations regarding recent developments for metadata processing and ontological formalization, data mining for radiation outcomes in pediatric oncology, and imaging in lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia J Wilson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Frederico C Kiffer
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Abigail Bryce-Atkinson
- Division of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Olivier Gevaert
- Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research, Department of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Bruno F E Matarèse
- The Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Haematology, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jack Miller
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
- KBR, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
| | - Pritam Mukherjee
- Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research, Department of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Radiology and Imaging Sciences, NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kristen Peach
- Department of Bionetics, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
| | - Paul N Schofield
- Department of Physiology Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Luke T Slater
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham, NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
- MRC Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), Midlands, UK
| | - Britta Langen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Section of Molecular Radiation Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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Haley B, Zander A, Popović J, Paunesku T, Woloschak GE. Findings from international archived data: Fractionation reduces mortality risk of ionizing radiation for total doses below 4 Gray in rodents. MUTATION RESEARCH. GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS 2022; 882:503537. [PMID: 36155139 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2022.503537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Ionizing radiation is omnipresent and unavoidable on Earth; nevertheless, the range of doses and modes of radiation delivery that represent health risks remain controversial. Radiation protection policy for civilians in US is set at 1 mSv per year. Average persons from contemporary populations are exposed to several hundred milliSieverts (mSv) over their lifetimes from both natural and human made sources such as radon, cosmic rays, CT-scans (20-50 mSv partial body exposure per scan), etc. Health risks associated with these and larger exposures are focus of many epidemiological studies, but uncertainties of these estimates coupled with individual and environmental variation make it is prudent to attempt to use animal models and tightly controlled experimental conditions to supplement our evaluation of radiation risk question. Data on 11,528 of rodents of both genders exposed to x-ray or gamma-ray radiation in facilities in US and Europe were used for this analysis; animal mortality data argue that fractionated radiation exposures have about 2 fold less risk per Gray than acute radiation exposures in the range of doses between 0.25 and 4 Gy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Haley
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; ClassDojo, 735 Tehama Street, San Francisco CA 94103, USA
| | - Alia Zander
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Chicago-Tempus Headquarters and Lab, 600 West Chicago Avenue, Suite 510, Chicago, IL 60654, USA
| | - Jelena Popović
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Tatjana Paunesku
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Gayle E Woloschak
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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Abstract
High-throughput omics platforms have pioneered our approach to understanding biological and cellular processes. Omics technologies provide powerful tools for studying various molecules, such as genes, proteins, and metabolites, in a particular state and at a particular time. Although omics has had a presence in the radiation community for more than 3 decades, the use of it is still in its infancy. Omics studies enable radiation researchers to understand the molecular mechanism underlying the biological effects of radiation exposure on normal and cancerous tissues, and to answer critical questions such as individual sensitivity, risk assessment, and biomarker discovery. In this commentary, we take a look back at the omics studies that have been conducted in radiation research in the last 20 years and discuss whether omics has fulfilled expectations by examining the knowledge and research gaps in radiation omics.
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6
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Paunesku T, Stevanović A, Popović J, Woloschak GE. Effects of low dose and low dose rate low linear energy transfer radiation on animals - review of recent studies relevant for carcinogenesis. Int J Radiat Biol 2021; 97:757-768. [PMID: 33289582 PMCID: PMC9216178 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2020.1859155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: Carcinogenic effects of radiation are often assumed to be universally understood, more often than, for example, carcinogenic effects of many different chemicals. This in turn leads to an assumption that any dose of radiation, delivered at any dose rate, poses a serious health challenge. This remains an issue of dispute and low dose radiation research is focused on understanding whether these exposures contribute to cancer incidence. This review is focused on the low linear energy transfer (low LET) radiation exposures for which the data is the most abundant in recent years. Materials and methods: Review of the literature between 2008 and today, highlighting some of the most diverse studies in low dose research. Results: Low dose and low dose rate, low LET ionizing radiation animal studies suggest that the effects of exposure very much depend on animal genotype and health status.Conclusions: Only the integration of all of the data from different models and studies will lead to a fuller understanding of low dose radiation effects. Therefore, we hope to see an increase in international archival efforts and exchange of raw data information opening the possibilities for new types of meta analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Paunesku
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Aleksandra Stevanović
- Multidisciplinary Studies of History and Philosophy of Natural Sciences and Technology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jelena Popović
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Gayle E Woloschak
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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8
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Madas BG, Schofield PN. SURVEY ON DATA MANAGEMENT IN RADIATION PROTECTION RESEARCH. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2019; 183:233-236. [PMID: 30534952 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncy250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The importance of datasharing is of increasing concern to funding bodies and institutions. With some prescience, the radiobiology community has established datasharing infrastructures over the last two decades, including STORE; however, the utilization of these databases is disappointing. The aim of the present study was to identify the current state of datasharing amongst researchers in radiation protection, and to identify barriers to effective sharing. An electronic survey was prepared, including questions on post-publication data provision, institutional, funding agency, and journal policies, awareness of datasharing infrastructures, attitudinal barriers and technical support. The survey was sent to the members of a mailing list maintained by the EC funded CONCERT project. Responses identified that the radiation protection community shared similar concerns to other groups canvassed in earlier studies; the perceived negative impact of datasharing on competitiveness, career development and reputation, along with concern about the costs of data management. More surprising was the lack of awareness of existing datasharing platforms. We find that there is a clear need for education and training in data management and for a significant programme of improving awareness of Open Data issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balázs G Madas
- Radiation Biophysics Group, Environmental Physics Department, MTA Centre for Energy Research, Konkoly-Thege Miklós út 29-33., Budapest, Hungary
| | - Paul N Schofield
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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9
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Schofield PN, Kulka U, Tapio S, Grosche B. Big data in radiation biology and epidemiology; an overview of the historical and contemporary landscape of data and biomaterial archives. Int J Radiat Biol 2019; 95:861-878. [DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2019.1589026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paul N. Schofield
- Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ulrike Kulka
- Bundesamt fuer Strahlenschutz, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Soile Tapio
- Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health GmbH, Institute of Radiation Biology, Neuherberg, Germany
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10
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Zander A, Paunesku T, Woloschak G. Radiation databases and archives - examples and comparisons. Int J Radiat Biol 2019; 95:1378-1389. [PMID: 30676164 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2019.1572249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Studies of ionizing radiation effects through the archiving of data began with standardizing medical treatments in the early 1900s shortly after the discovery of X-rays. Once the breadth of the delayed effects of ionizing radiation was recognized, the need for long-term follow up became apparent. There are now many human archives of data from nuclear disasters and accidents, occupational exposures, and medical procedures. Planned animal irradiation experiments began around the time of the Cold War and included a variety of doses, fractions, dose rates, and types of ionizing radiation. The goal of most of these studies was to supplement information coming from human data through carefully planned experimental conditions and immediate and uninterrupted data collection. This review aims to highlight major archives and databases that have shaped the field of radiation biology and provide a broad range of the types of datasets currently available. By preserving all of these data and tissue sets, radiation biologists can combine databases and conduct large-scale analyses of detailed existing data and perform new assays with cutting edge scientific approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alia Zander
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University , Chicago , IL , USA
| | - Tatjana Paunesku
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University , Chicago , IL , USA
| | - Gayle Woloschak
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University , Chicago , IL , USA
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11
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Rühm W, Azizova T, Bouffler S, Cullings HM, Grosche B, Little MP, Shore RS, Walsh L, Woloschak GE. Typical doses and dose rates in studies pertinent to radiation risk inference at low doses and low dose rates. JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH 2018; 59:ii1-ii10. [PMID: 29432579 PMCID: PMC5941142 DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrx093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Revised: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
In order to quantify radiation risks at exposure scenarios relevant for radiation protection, often extrapolation of data obtained at high doses and high dose rates down to low doses and low dose rates is needed. Task Group TG91 on 'Radiation Risk Inference at Low-dose and Low-dose Rate Exposure for Radiological Protection Purposes' of the International Commission on Radiological Protection is currently reviewing the relevant cellular, animal and human studies that could be used for that purpose. This paper provides an overview of dose rates and doses typically used or present in those studies, and compares them with doses and dose rates typical of those received by the A-bomb survivors in Japan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Werner Rühm
- Institute of Radiation Protection, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Tamara Azizova
- Southern Urals Biophysics Institute (SUBI), Ozyorskoe Shosse 19, 456780, Ozyorsk, Chelyabinsk Region, Russian Federation
| | - Simon Bouffler
- Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England (PHE), Chilton, Didcot OX11 ORQ, UK
| | - Harry M Cullings
- Radiation Effects Research Foundation, 5–2 Hijiyama Park, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 732-0815, Japan
| | - Bernd Grosche
- Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Mark P Little
- Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-9778, USA
| | - Roy S Shore
- New York University School of Medicine, 650 First Ave., New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Linda Walsh
- Medical Physics Group, Department of Physics, Science Faculty, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Gayle E Woloschak
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, Radiology, and Cell and Molecular Biology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 300 E. Superior St., Tarry 4-760, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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12
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Sazykina TG, Kryshev AI. Lower thresholds for lifetime health effects in mammals from high-LET radiation - Comparison with chronic low-LET radiation. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2016; 165:227-242. [PMID: 27792921 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Revised: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Lower threshold dose rates and confidence limits are quantified for lifetime radiation effects in mammalian animals from internally deposited alpha-emitting radionuclides. Extensive datasets on effects from internal alpha-emitters are compiled from the International Radiobiological Archives. In total, the compiled database includes 257 records, which are analyzed by means of non-parametric order statistics. The generic lower threshold for alpha-emitters in mammalian animals (combined datasets) is 6.6·10-5 Gy day-1. Thresholds for individual alpha-emitting elements differ considerably: plutonium and americium - 2.0·10-5 Gy day-1; radium - 2.1·10-4 Gy day-1. Threshold for chronic low-LET radiation is previously estimated at 1·10-3 Gy day-1. For low exposures, the following values of alpha radiation weighting factor wR for internally deposited alpha-emitters in mammals are quantified: wR(α) = 15 as a generic value for the whole group of alpha-emitters; wR(Pu) = 50 for plutonium; wR(Am) = 50 for americium; wR(Ra) = 5 for radium. These values are proposed to serve as radiation weighting factors in calculations of equivalent doses to non-human biota. The lower threshold dose rate for long-lived mammals (dogs) is significantly lower than comparing with the threshold for short-lived mammals (mice): 2.7·10-5 Gy day-1, and 2.0·10-4 Gy day-1, respectively. The difference in thresholds is exactly reflecting the relationship between the natural longevity of these two species. Graded scale of severity in lifetime radiation effects in mammals is developed, based on compiled datasets. Being placed on the severity scale, the effects of internal alpha-emitters are situated in the zones of considerably lower dose rates than effects of the same severity caused by low-LET radiation. RBE values, calculated for effects of equal severity, are found to depend on the intensity of chronic exposure: different RBE values are characteristic for low, moderate, and high lifetime exposures (30, 70, and 13, respectively). The results of the study provide a basis for selecting correct values of radiation weighting factors in dose assessment to non-human biota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana G Sazykina
- Research and Production Association "Typhoon", 4 Pobedy Str., Obninsk, Kaluga Region, 249038, Russia.
| | - Alexander I Kryshev
- Research and Production Association "Typhoon", 4 Pobedy Str., Obninsk, Kaluga Region, 249038, Russia
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Grosche B, Birschwilks M, Wesch H, Kaul A, van Kaick G. The German Thorotrast Cohort Study: a review and how to get access to the data. RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS 2016; 55:281-289. [PMID: 27154786 DOI: 10.1007/s00411-016-0651-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 04/30/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
It is well known that exposures like those from (226)Ra, (224)Ra and Thorotrast(®) injections increase the risk of neoplasia in bone marrow and liver. The thorium-based radioactive contrast agent Thorotrast(®) was introduced in 1929 and applied worldwide until the 1950s, especially in angiography and arteriography. Due to the extremely long half-life of several hundred years and the life-long retention of the thorium dioxide particles in the human body, patients suffer lifetime internal exposure. The health effects from the incorporated thorium were investigated in a few cohort studies with a German study being the largest among them. This retrospective cohort study was set up in 1968 with a follow-up until 2004. The study comprises 2326 Thorotrast patients and 1890 patients of a matched control group. For those being alive at the start of the study in 1968 follow-up was done by clinical examinations on a biannual basis. For the others, causes of death were collected in various ways. Additionally, clinical, radiological and biophysical studies of patients were conducted and large efforts were made to best estimate the radiation doses associated with incorporation of the Thorotrast. The aim of this paper is to describe the cohort, important results and some open questions. The data from the German Thorotrast Study are available to other interested researchers. Information can be found at http://storedb.org .
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Affiliation(s)
- B Grosche
- Department Radiation Protection and Health, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Ingolstaedter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - M Birschwilks
- Department Radiation Protection and Health, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Ingolstaedter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany.
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14
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Rühm W, Azizova TV, Bouffler SD, Little MP, Shore RE, Walsh L, Woloschak GE. Dose-rate effects in radiation biology and radiation protection. Ann ICRP 2016; 45:262-279. [PMID: 26960819 DOI: 10.1177/0146645316629336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Quantification of biological effects (cancer, other diseases, and cell damage) associated with exposure to ionising radiation has been a major issue for the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) since its foundation in 1928. While there is a wealth of information on the effects on human health for whole-body doses above approximately 100 mGy, the effects associated with doses below 100 mGy are still being investigated and debated intensively. The current radiological protection approach, proposed by ICRP for workers and the public, is largely based on risks obtained from high-dose and high-dose-rate studies, such as the Japanese Life Span Study on atomic bomb survivors. The risk coefficients obtained from these studies can be reduced by the dose and dose-rate effectiveness factor (DDREF) to account for the assumed lower effectiveness of low-dose and low-dose-rate exposures. The 2007 ICRP Recommendations continue to propose a value of 2 for DDREF, while other international organisations suggest either application of different values or abandonment of the factor. This paper summarises the current status of discussions, and highlights issues that are relevant to reassessing the magnitude and application of DDREF.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Rühm
- a Helmholtz Centre Munich, German Research Centre for Environmental Health, Department for Radiation Sciences, Institute of Radiation Protection, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - T V Azizova
- b Southern Urals Biophysics Institute, Russian Federation
| | - S D Bouffler
- c Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, UK
| | - M P Little
- d Radiation Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, USA
| | - R E Shore
- e New York University School of Medicine, USA
| | - L Walsh
- f Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Germany
| | - G E Woloschak
- g Department of Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, USA
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15
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Abstract
This forum article discusses issues related to the effects of low dose radiation, an area that is under intense study but difficult to assess. Experiments with large-scale animal studies are included in this paper; these studies point to the need for international consortia to examine and balance the results of these large-scale studies and databases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayle E Woloschak
- *Departments of Radiation Oncology and Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
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16
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Rühm W, Woloschak GE, Shore RE, Azizova TV, Grosche B, Niwa O, Akiba S, Ono T, Suzuki K, Iwasaki T, Ban N, Kai M, Clement CH, Bouffler S, Toma H, Hamada N. Dose and dose-rate effects of ionizing radiation: a discussion in the light of radiological protection. RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS 2015; 54:379-401. [PMID: 26343037 DOI: 10.1007/s00411-015-0613-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2015] [Accepted: 08/18/2015] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The biological effects on humans of low-dose and low-dose-rate exposures to ionizing radiation have always been of major interest. The most recent concept as suggested by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) is to extrapolate existing epidemiological data at high doses and dose rates down to low doses and low dose rates relevant to radiological protection, using the so-called dose and dose-rate effectiveness factor (DDREF). The present paper summarizes what was presented and discussed by experts from ICRP and Japan at a dedicated workshop on this topic held in May 2015 in Kyoto, Japan. This paper describes the historical development of the DDREF concept in light of emerging scientific evidence on dose and dose-rate effects, summarizes the conclusions recently drawn by a number of international organizations (e.g., BEIR VII, ICRP, SSK, UNSCEAR, and WHO), mentions current scientific efforts to obtain more data on low-dose and low-dose-rate effects at molecular, cellular, animal and human levels, and discusses future options that could be useful to improve and optimize the DDREF concept for the purpose of radiological protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Werner Rühm
- Institute of Radiation Protection, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Gayle E Woloschak
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Roy E Shore
- Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF), 5-2 Hijiyama Park, Minami-ku, Hiroshima City, 732-0815, Japan
| | - Tamara V Azizova
- Southern Urals Biophysics Institute (SUBI), Ozyorskoe Shosse 19, Ozyorsk, Chelyabinsk Region, Russian Federation, 456780
| | - Bernd Grosche
- Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Ingolstaedter Landstr. 1, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Ohtsura Niwa
- Fukushima Medical University, Hikarigaoka 1, Fukushima, 960-1295, Japan
| | - Suminori Akiba
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima City, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Ono
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, 1-7 Ienomae, Rokkasho, Aomori-ken, 039-3212, Japan
| | - Keiji Suzuki
- Department of Radiation Medical Sciences, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Toshiyasu Iwasaki
- Radiation Safety Research Center, Nuclear Technology Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), 2-11-1 Iwado-kita, Tokyo, 201-8511, Japan
| | - Nobuhiko Ban
- Faculty of Nursing, Tokyo Healthcare University, 2-5-1 Higashigaoka, Meguro, Tokyo, 152-8558, Japan
| | - Michiaki Kai
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Oita University of Nursing and Health Sciences, 2944-9 Megusuno, Oita, 840-1201, Japan
| | - Christopher H Clement
- International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), PO Box 1046, Station B, 280 Slater Street, Ottawa, ON, K1P 5S9, Canada
| | - Simon Bouffler
- Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England (PHE), Chilton, Didcot, OX11 ORQ, UK
| | - Hideki Toma
- JAPAN NUS Co., Ltd. (JANUS), 7-5-25 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Hamada
- International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), PO Box 1046, Station B, 280 Slater Street, Ottawa, ON, K1P 5S9, Canada.
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17
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Trott K, Grosche B. Obituary Georg Gerber (1926-2014). RADIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS 2015; 54:151-153. [PMID: 25583676 DOI: 10.1007/s00411-015-0583-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 01/04/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- K Trott
- University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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18
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Birschwilks M, Schofield PN, Grosche B. The European Radiobiological Archives: online access to data from radiobiological experiments is available now. HEALTH PHYSICS 2012; 102:220. [PMID: 22217595 DOI: 10.1097/hp.0b013e3182216d02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The European Radiobiological Archive can be accessed at no cost at https://era.bfs.de. The necessary ID and password can be obtained from the curators at era@bfs.de.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Birschwilks
- Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Ingolstaedter Landstr., 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany.
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