1
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Babini G, Tanno B, De Stefano I, Giardullo P, Leonardi S, Pasquali E, Baiocco G, Ottolenghi A, Mancuso M. BIOINFORMATIC ANALYSIS OF DOSE- AND TIME-DEPENDENT miRNome RESPONSES. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2019; 183:151-155. [PMID: 30520994 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncy215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The advent of new 'omics' techniques determined a massive boost in the measurement of the whole spectra of molecules within cells, favoring promising new radiobiological studies at low doses. The main aim of this work was to assess the radiation-induced perturbations of miRNA profiles and their temporal dynamics. Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells were irradiated with low doses of γ-rays. At different time points post-irradiation, cells were harvested and miRNAs isolated. A full mapping of the miRNA sequences via Next-Generation-Sequencing analysis was performed followed by bioinformatic analyses. Pathway enrichment analyses on the differentially expressed miRNAs focused both on the averaged effects of different doses over the 24-h experiment and on the altered temporal dynamics of the miRNA profiles. These complementary analyses provided a picture of the dose- and time-dependent miRNAs responses, allowing to better explore the candidate biomarkers linked to radiation exposures and their corresponding pathways and functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Babini
- Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - B Tanno
- Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - I De Stefano
- Department of Radiation Physics, Guglielmo Marconi University, Rome, Italy
| | - P Giardullo
- Department of Radiation Physics, Guglielmo Marconi University, Rome, Italy
| | - S Leonardi
- Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - E Pasquali
- Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - G Baiocco
- Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - A Ottolenghi
- Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - M Mancuso
- Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
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2
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Baiocco G, Bocchini L, Giraudo M, Barbieri S, Narici L, Lobascio C, Ottolenghi A. INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR PERSONAL RADIATION SHIELDING IN SPACE. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2019; 183:228-232. [PMID: 30521032 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncy216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Personal radiation shielding is likely to play an important role in the strategy for radiation protection of future manned interplanetary missions. There is potential for the successful adoption of wearable shielding devices, readily available in case of accidental exposures or used for emergency operations in low-shielded areas of the habitat, particularly in case of solar particle events (SPEs). Based on optimization of available resources, conceptual models for radiation protection spacesuits have been proposed, with elements made of different materials, and the first prototype of a water-fillable garment was designed and manufactured in the framework of the PERSEO project, funded by the Italian Space Agency, leading to the successful test of such prototype for ease of use and wearability on-board the International Space Station. We present results of Monte Carlo calculations offering a proof-of-principle validation of the shielding efficacy of such prototype in different SPE environments and shielding conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Baiocco
- Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - L Bocchini
- Physics Department, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Thales Alenia Space - Italy, Turin, Italy
| | - M Giraudo
- Thales Alenia Space - Italy, Turin, Italy
| | - S Barbieri
- Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - L Narici
- Physics Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- INFN-Roma2, Rome, Italy
| | - C Lobascio
- Thales Alenia Space - Italy, Turin, Italy
| | - A Ottolenghi
- Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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3
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Morini J, Babini G, Barbieri S, Baiocco G, Ciocca M, Ivaldi GB, Liotta M, Molinelli S, Tabarelli de Fatis P, Ottolenghi A. A COMPARISON BETWEEN X-RAY AND CARBON ION IRRADIATION IN HUMAN NEURAL STEM CELLS. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2019; 183:102-106. [PMID: 30535035 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncy231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is characterized by a poor prognosis and a median survival of ~12-18 months. GBM is usually managed by neurosurgery followed by both chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Since GBM develops resistance to conventional therapies, treatment with C-ions is promising to completely eradicate the tumoural mass. During cranial irradiation, exposure of healthy tissues is inevitable. Because of the presence of neural stem cells, a deep investigation on the effects of C-ion irradiation with respect to X-ray induced damage is mandatory to allow a better definition of treatments. In this work, the comparison of X-rays and C-ion irradiation-induced effects on human neural stem cell, focusing on multiple endpoints, such as cell viability, cytokine secretion and spheroid formation is presented. Results show different temporal and dose responses of human neural stem cells to the different radiation qualities, suggesting different underpinning mechanisms of radiation-induced damages.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Morini
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia, Italy
| | - G Babini
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia, Italy
| | - S Barbieri
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia, Italy
| | - G Baiocco
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia, Italy
| | - M Ciocca
- Department of Medical Physics, National Center of Oncological Handrontherapy (CNAO), Strada Campeggi 53, Pavia, Italy
| | - G B Ivaldi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, ICS Maugeri, via Maugeri 10, Pavia, Italy
| | - M Liotta
- Department of Medical Physics, ICS Maugeri, via Maugeri 10, Pavia, Italy
| | - S Molinelli
- Department of Medical Physics, National Center of Oncological Handrontherapy (CNAO), Strada Campeggi 53, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - A Ottolenghi
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia, Italy
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4
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Baiocco G, Babini G, Barbieri S, Morini J, Friedland W, Villagrasa C, Rabus H, Ottolenghi A. WHAT ROLES FOR TRACK-STRUCTURE AND MICRODOSIMETRY IN THE ERA OF -omics AND SYSTEMS BIOLOGY? Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2019; 183:22-25. [PMID: 30535167 PMCID: PMC6525334 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncy221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Ionizing radiation is a peculiar perturbation when it comes to damage to biological systems: it proceeds through discrete energy depositions, over a short temporal scale and a spatial scale critical for subcellular targets as DNA, whose damage complexity determines the outcome of the exposure. This lies at the basis of the success of track structure (and nanodosimetry) and microdosimetry in radiation biology. However, such reductionist approaches cannot account for the complex network of interactions regulating the overall response of the system to radiation, particularly when effects are manifest at the supracellular level and involve long times. Systems radiation biology is increasingly gaining ground, but the gap between reductionist and holistic approaches is becoming larger. This paper presents considerations on what roles track structure and microdosimetry can have in the attempt to fill this gap, and on how they can be further exploited to interpret radiobiological data and inform systemic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Baiocco
- Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Corresponding author:
| | - G Babini
- Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - S Barbieri
- Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - J Morini
- Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - W Friedland
- Institute of Radiation Protection, Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - C Villagrasa
- Institut de Radioprotection et Sûreté nucléaire (IRSN), Fontenay aux Roses Cedex, France
| | - H Rabus
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig, Germany
| | - A Ottolenghi
- Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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5
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Schuemann J, McNamara AL, Warmenhoven JW, Henthorn NT, Kirkby KJ, Merchant MJ, Ingram S, Paganetti H, Held KD, Ramos-Mendez J, Faddegon B, Perl J, Goodhead DT, Plante I, Rabus H, Nettelbeck H, Friedland W, Kundrát P, Ottolenghi A, Baiocco G, Barbieri S, Dingfelder M, Incerti S, Villagrasa C, Bueno M, Bernal MA, Guatelli S, Sakata D, Brown JMC, Francis Z, Kyriakou I, Lampe N, Ballarini F, Carante MP, Davídková M, Štěpán V, Jia X, Cucinotta FA, Schulte R, Stewart RD, Carlson DJ, Galer S, Kuncic Z, Lacombe S, Milligan J, Cho SH, Sawakuchi G, Inaniwa T, Sato T, Li W, Solov'yov AV, Surdutovich E, Durante M, Prise KM, McMahon SJ. A New Standard DNA Damage (SDD) Data Format. Radiat Res 2018; 191:76-92. [PMID: 30407901 DOI: 10.1667/rr15209.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Our understanding of radiation-induced cellular damage has greatly improved over the past few decades. Despite this progress, there are still many obstacles to fully understand how radiation interacts with biologically relevant cellular components, such as DNA, to cause observable end points such as cell killing. Damage in DNA is identified as a major route of cell killing. One hurdle when modeling biological effects is the difficulty in directly comparing results generated by members of different research groups. Multiple Monte Carlo codes have been developed to simulate damage induction at the DNA scale, while at the same time various groups have developed models that describe DNA repair processes with varying levels of detail. These repair models are intrinsically linked to the damage model employed in their development, making it difficult to disentangle systematic effects in either part of the modeling chain. These modeling chains typically consist of track-structure Monte Carlo simulations of the physical interactions creating direct damages to DNA, followed by simulations of the production and initial reactions of chemical species causing so-called "indirect" damages. After the induction of DNA damage, DNA repair models combine the simulated damage patterns with biological models to determine the biological consequences of the damage. To date, the effect of the environment, such as molecular oxygen (normoxic vs. hypoxic), has been poorly considered. We propose a new standard DNA damage (SDD) data format to unify the interface between the simulation of damage induction in DNA and the biological modeling of DNA repair processes, and introduce the effect of the environment (molecular oxygen or other compounds) as a flexible parameter. Such a standard greatly facilitates inter-model comparisons, providing an ideal environment to tease out model assumptions and identify persistent, underlying mechanisms. Through inter-model comparisons, this unified standard has the potential to greatly advance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of radiation-induced DNA damage and the resulting observable biological effects when radiation parameters and/or environmental conditions change.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Schuemann
- a Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - A L McNamara
- a Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - J W Warmenhoven
- b Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - N T Henthorn
- b Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - K J Kirkby
- b Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - M J Merchant
- b Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - S Ingram
- b Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - H Paganetti
- a Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - K D Held
- a Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - J Ramos-Mendez
- c Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - B Faddegon
- c Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - J Perl
- d SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California
| | - D T Goodhead
- e Medical Research Council, Harwell, United Kingdom
| | | | - H Rabus
- g Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig, Germany.,h Task Group 6.2 "Computational Micro- and Nanodosimetry", European Radiation Dosimetry Group e.V., Neuherberg, Germany
| | - H Nettelbeck
- g Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig, Germany.,h Task Group 6.2 "Computational Micro- and Nanodosimetry", European Radiation Dosimetry Group e.V., Neuherberg, Germany
| | - W Friedland
- h Task Group 6.2 "Computational Micro- and Nanodosimetry", European Radiation Dosimetry Group e.V., Neuherberg, Germany.,i Institute of Radiation Protection, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - P Kundrát
- i Institute of Radiation Protection, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - A Ottolenghi
- j Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - G Baiocco
- h Task Group 6.2 "Computational Micro- and Nanodosimetry", European Radiation Dosimetry Group e.V., Neuherberg, Germany.,j Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - S Barbieri
- h Task Group 6.2 "Computational Micro- and Nanodosimetry", European Radiation Dosimetry Group e.V., Neuherberg, Germany.,j Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - M Dingfelder
- k Department of Physics, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina
| | - S Incerti
- l CNRS, IN2P3, CENBG, UMR 5797, F-33170 Gradignan, France.,m University of Bordeaux, CENBG, UMR 5797, F-33170 Gradignan, France
| | - C Villagrasa
- h Task Group 6.2 "Computational Micro- and Nanodosimetry", European Radiation Dosimetry Group e.V., Neuherberg, Germany.,n Institut de Radioprotection et Sûreté Nucléaire, F-92262 Fontenay aux Roses Cedex, France
| | - M Bueno
- n Institut de Radioprotection et Sûreté Nucléaire, F-92262 Fontenay aux Roses Cedex, France
| | - M A Bernal
- o Applied Physics Department, Gleb Wataghin Institute of Physics, State University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - S Guatelli
- p Centre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - D Sakata
- p Centre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - J M C Brown
- q Department of Radiation Science and Technology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Z Francis
- r Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - I Kyriakou
- s Medical Physics Laboratory, University of Ioannina Medical School, Ioannina, Greece
| | - N Lampe
- l CNRS, IN2P3, CENBG, UMR 5797, F-33170 Gradignan, France
| | - F Ballarini
- j Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,t Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Section of Pavia, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - M P Carante
- j Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,t Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Section of Pavia, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - M Davídková
- u Department of Radiation Dosimetry, Nuclear Physics Institute of the CAS, Řež, Czech Republic
| | - V Štěpán
- u Department of Radiation Dosimetry, Nuclear Physics Institute of the CAS, Řež, Czech Republic
| | - X Jia
- v Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - F A Cucinotta
- w Health Physics and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada
| | - R Schulte
- x Division of Biomedical Engineering Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California
| | - R D Stewart
- y Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - D J Carlson
- z Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - S Galer
- aa Medical Radiation Science Group, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, United Kingdom
| | - Z Kuncic
- bb School of Physics, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - S Lacombe
- cc Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay (UMR 8214) University Paris-Sud, CNRS, University Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France
| | | | - S H Cho
- ee Department of Radiation Physics and Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - G Sawakuchi
- ee Department of Radiation Physics and Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - T Inaniwa
- ff Department of Accelerator and Medical Physics, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba, Japan
| | - T Sato
- gg Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Nuclear Science and Engineering Center, Tokai 319-1196, Japan
| | - W Li
- i Institute of Radiation Protection, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.,hh Task Group 7.7 "Internal Micro- and Nanodosimetry", European Radiation Dosimetry Group e.V., Neuherberg, Germany
| | - A V Solov'yov
- ii MBN Research Center, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - E Surdutovich
- jj Department of Physics, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan
| | - M Durante
- kk GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Biophysics Department, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - K M Prise
- ll Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - S J McMahon
- ll Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
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6
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Baiocco G, Giraudo M, Bocchini L, Barbieri S, Locantore I, Brussolo E, Giacosa D, Meucci L, Steffenino S, Ballario A, Barresi B, Barresi R, Benassai M, Ravagnolo L, Narici L, Rizzo A, Carrubba E, Carubia F, Neri G, Crisconio M, Piccirillo S, Valentini G, Barbero S, Giacci M, Lobascio C, Ottolenghi A. A water-filled garment to protect astronauts during interplanetary missions tested on board the ISS. Life Sci Space Res (Amst) 2018; 18:1-11. [PMID: 30100142 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2018.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
As manned spaceflights beyond low Earth orbit are in the agenda of Space Agencies, the concerns related to space radiation exposure of the crew are still without conclusive solutions. The risk of long-term detrimental health effects needs to be kept below acceptable limits, and emergency countermeasures must be planned to avoid the short-term consequences of exposure to high particle fluxes during hardly predictable solar events. Space habitat shielding cannot be the ultimate solution: the increasing complexity of future missions will require astronauts to protect themselves in low-shielded areas, e.g. during emergency operations. Personal radiation shielding is promising, particularly if using available resources for multi-functional shielding devices. In this work we report on all steps from the conception, design, manufacturing, to the final test on board the International Space Station (ISS) of the first prototype of a water-filled garment for emergency radiation shielding against solar particle events. The garment has a good shielding potential and comfort level. On-board water is used for filling and then recycled without waste. The successful outcome of this experiment represents an important breakthrough in space radiation shielding, opening to the development of similarly conceived devices and their use in interplanetary missions as the one to Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Baiocco
- Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
| | - M Giraudo
- Thales Alenia Space - Italy, Turin, Italy
| | - L Bocchini
- Thales Alenia Space - Italy, Turin, Italy; Physics Department, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - S Barbieri
- Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - E Brussolo
- Società Metropolitana Acque Torino S.p.A., Turin, Italy
| | - D Giacosa
- Società Metropolitana Acque Torino S.p.A., Turin, Italy
| | - L Meucci
- Società Metropolitana Acque Torino S.p.A., Turin, Italy
| | - S Steffenino
- Società Metropolitana Acque Torino S.p.A., Turin, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - L Narici
- Physics Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; INFN-Roma2, Rome Italy
| | - A Rizzo
- Physics Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; INFN-Roma2, Rome Italy
| | | | - F Carubia
- Kayser Italia S.r.l., Livorno, Italy
| | - G Neri
- Kayser Italia S.r.l., Livorno, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - C Lobascio
- Thales Alenia Space - Italy, Turin, Italy
| | - A Ottolenghi
- Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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7
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Baiocco G, Barbieri S, Babini G, Morini J, Friedland W, Kundrát P, Schmitt E, Puchalska M, Giesen U, Nolte R, Ottolenghi A. AT THE PHYSICS-BIOLOGY INTERFACE: THE NEUTRON AFFAIR. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2018; 180:278-281. [PMID: 29069437 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncx222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We present predictions of neutron relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for cell irradiations with neutron beams at PTB-Braunschweig. A neutron RBE model is adopted to evaluate initial DNA damage induction given the neutron-induced charged particle field. RBE values are predicted for cell exposures to quasi-monoenergetic beams (0.56 MeV, 1.2 MeV) and to a broad energy distribution neutron field with dose-averaged energy of 5.75 MeV. Results are compared to what obtained with our RBE predictions for neutrons at similar energies, when a 30-cm sphere is irradiated in an isotropic neutron field. RBE values for experimental conditions are higher for the lowest neutron energies, because, as expected, target geometry determines the weight of the low-effectiveness photon component of the neutron dose. These results highlight the importance of characterizing neutron fields in terms of physical interactions, to fully understand neutron-induced biological effects, contributing to risk estimation and to the improvement of radiation protection standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Baiocco
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - S Barbieri
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - G Babini
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - J Morini
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - W Friedland
- Institute of Radiation Protection, Helmholtz Zentrum Mu¨nchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - P Kundrát
- Institute of Radiation Protection, Helmholtz Zentrum Mu¨nchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - E Schmitt
- Institute of Radiation Protection, Helmholtz Zentrum Mu¨nchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | | | - U Giesen
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig, Germany
| | - R Nolte
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig, Germany
| | - A Ottolenghi
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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8
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Kreuzer M, Auvinen A, Cardis E, Durante M, Harms-Ringdahl M, Jourdain JR, Madas BG, Ottolenghi A, Pazzaglia S, Prise KM, Quintens R, Sabatier L, Bouffler S. Multidisciplinary European Low Dose Initiative (MELODI): strategic research agenda for low dose radiation risk research. Radiat Environ Biophys 2018; 57:5-15. [PMID: 29247291 PMCID: PMC5816101 DOI: 10.1007/s00411-017-0726-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 12/10/2017] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
MELODI (Multidisciplinary European Low Dose Initiative) is a European radiation protection research platform with focus on research on health risks after exposure to low-dose ionising radiation. It was founded in 2010 and currently includes 44 members from 18 countries. A major activity of MELODI is the continuous development of a long-term European Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) on low-dose risk for radiation protection. The SRA is intended to identify priorities for national and European radiation protection research programs as a basis for the preparation of competitive calls at the European level. Among those key priorities is the improvement of health risk estimates for exposures close to the dose limits for workers and to reference levels for the population in emergency situations. Another activity of MELODI is to ensure the availability of European key infrastructures for research activities, and the long-term maintenance of competences in radiation research via an integrated European approach for training and education. The MELODI SRA identifies three key research topics in low dose or low dose-rate radiation risk research: (1) dose and dose rate dependence of cancer risk, (2) radiation-induced non-cancer effects and (3) individual radiation sensitivity. The research required to improve the evidence base for each of the three key topics relates to three research lines: (1) research to improve understanding of the mechanisms contributing to radiogenic diseases, (2) epidemiological research to improve health risk evaluation of radiation exposure and (3) research to address the effects and risks associated with internal exposures, differing radiation qualities and inhomogeneous exposures. The full SRA and associated documents can be downloaded from the MELODI website ( http://www.melodi-online.eu/sra.html ).
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kreuzer
- Department of Radiation Protection and Health, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, BfS, Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - A Auvinen
- University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
- STUK, Helsinki, Finland
| | - E Cardis
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Durante
- Institute for Fundamental Physics and Applications, TIFPA, Trento, Italy
| | - M Harms-Ringdahl
- Centre for Radiation Protection Research, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - J R Jourdain
- Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety, IRSN, Fontenay-aux-roses, France
| | - B G Madas
- Environmental Physics Department, MTA Centre for Energy Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - A Ottolenghi
- Physics Department, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - S Pazzaglia
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - K M Prise
- Queens University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - R Quintens
- Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK-CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - L Sabatier
- French Atomic Energy Commission, CEA, Paris, France
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Vuolo M, Baiocco G, Barbieri S, Bocchini L, Giraudo M, Gheysens T, Lobascio C, Ottolenghi A. Exploring innovative radiation shielding approaches in space: A material and design study for a wearable radiation protection spacesuit. Life Sci Space Res (Amst) 2017; 15:69-78. [PMID: 29198316 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2017.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Revised: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We present a design study for a wearable radiation-shielding spacesuit, designed to protect astronauts' most radiosensitive organs. The suit could be used in an emergency, to perform necessary interventions outside a radiation shelter in the space habitat in case of a Solar Proton Event (SPE). A wearable shielding system of the kind we propose has the potential to prevent the onset of acute radiation effects in this scenario. In this work, selection of materials for the spacesuit elements is performed based on the results of dedicated GRAS/Geant4 1-dimensional Monte Carlo simulations, and after a trade-off analysis between shielding performance and availability of resources in the space habitat. Water is the first choice material, but also organic compounds compatible with a human space habitat are considered (such as fatty acids, gels and liquid organic wastes). Different designs and material combinations are proposed for the spacesuits. To quantify shielding performance we use GRAS/Geant4 simulations of an anthropomorphic phantom in an average SPE environment, with and without the spacesuit, and we compare results for the dose to Blood Forming Organs (BFO) in Gy-Eq, i.e. physical absorbed dose multiplied by the proton Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) for non-cancer effects. In case of SPE occurrence for Intra-Vehicular Activities (IVA) outside a radiation shelter, dose reductions to BFO in the range of 44-57% are demonstrated to be achievable with the spacesuit designs made only of water elements, or of multi-layer protection elements (with a thin layer of a high density material covering the water filled volume). Suit elements have a thickness in the range 2-6 cm and the total mass for the garment sums up to 35-43 kg depending on model and material combination. Dose reduction is converted into time gain, i.e. the increase of time interval between the occurrence of a SPE and the moment the dose limit to the BFO for acute effects is reached. Wearing a radiation shielding spacesuit of the kind we propose, the astronaut could have up to more than the double the time (e.g. almost 6 instead of 2.5 h) to perform necessary interventions outside a radiation shelter during a SPE, his/her exposure remaining within dose limits. An indicative mass saving thanks to the shielding provided by the suits is also derived, calculating the amount of mass needed in addition to the 1.5 cm thick Al module considered for the IVA scenario to provide the same additional shielding given by the spacesuit. For an average 50% dose reduction to BFO this is equal to about 2.5 tons of Al. Overall, our results offer a proof-of-principle validation of a complementary personal shielding strategy in emergency situations in case of a SPE event. Such results pave the way for the design and realization of a prototype of a water-filled garment to be tested on board the International Space Station for wearability. A successful outcome will possibly lead to the further refining of the design of radiation protection spacesuits and their possible adoption in future long-duration manned missions in deep space.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Vuolo
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Thales Alenia Space Italia, Torino, Italy
| | - G Baiocco
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
| | - S Barbieri
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - L Bocchini
- Thales Alenia Space Italia, Torino, Italy; Department of Physics, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - M Giraudo
- Thales Alenia Space Italia, Torino, Italy; Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - T Gheysens
- Advanced Concepts Team, European Space Agency (ESA), Noordwijk, The Netherlands
| | - C Lobascio
- Thales Alenia Space Italia, Torino, Italy
| | - A Ottolenghi
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Friedland W, Schmitt E, Kundrát P, Dingfelder M, Baiocco G, Barbieri S, Ottolenghi A. Comprehensive track-structure based evaluation of DNA damage by light ions from radiotherapy-relevant energies down to stopping. Sci Rep 2017; 7:45161. [PMID: 28345622 PMCID: PMC5366876 DOI: 10.1038/srep45161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Track structures and resulting DNA damage in human cells have been simulated for hydrogen, helium, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and neon ions with 0.25–256 MeV/u energy. The needed ion interaction cross sections have been scaled from those of hydrogen; Barkas scaling formula has been refined, extending its applicability down to about 10 keV/u, and validated against established stopping power data. Linear energy transfer (LET) has been scored from energy deposits in a cell nucleus; for very low-energy ions, it has been defined locally within thin slabs. The simulations show that protons and helium ions induce more DNA damage than heavier ions do at the same LET. With increasing LET, less DNA strand breaks are formed per unit dose, but due to their clustering the yields of double-strand breaks (DSB) increase, up to saturation around 300 keV/μm. Also individual DSB tend to cluster; DSB clusters peak around 500 keV/μm, while DSB multiplicities per cluster steadily increase with LET. Remarkably similar to patterns known from cell survival studies, LET-dependencies with pronounced maxima around 100–200 keV/μm occur on nanometre scale for sites that contain one or more DSB, and on micrometre scale for megabasepair-sized DNA fragments.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Friedland
- Institute of Radiation Protection, Department of Radiation Sciences, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - E Schmitt
- Institute of Radiation Protection, Department of Radiation Sciences, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - P Kundrát
- Institute of Radiation Protection, Department of Radiation Sciences, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - M Dingfelder
- Department of Physics, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - G Baiocco
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - S Barbieri
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - A Ottolenghi
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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11
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Baiocco G, Barbieri S, Babini G, Morini J, Alloni D, Friedland W, Kundrát P, Schmitt E, Puchalska M, Sihver L, Ottolenghi A. The origin of neutron biological effectiveness as a function of energy. Sci Rep 2016; 6:34033. [PMID: 27654349 PMCID: PMC5032018 DOI: 10.1038/srep34033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Accepted: 09/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The understanding of the impact of radiation quality in early and late responses of biological targets to ionizing radiation exposure necessarily grounds on the results of mechanistic studies starting from physical interactions. This is particularly true when, already at the physical stage, the radiation field is mixed, as it is the case for neutron exposure. Neutron Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) is energy dependent, maximal for energies ~1 MeV, varying significantly among different experiments. The aim of this work is to shed light on neutron biological effectiveness as a function of field characteristics, with a comprehensive modeling approach: this brings together transport calculations of neutrons through matter (with the code PHITS) and the predictive power of the biophysical track structure code PARTRAC in terms of DNA damage evaluation. Two different energy dependent neutron RBE models are proposed: the first is phenomenological and based only on the characterization of linear energy transfer on a microscopic scale; the second is purely ab-initio and based on the induction of complex DNA damage. Results for the two models are compared and found in good qualitative agreement with current standards for radiation protection factors, which are agreed upon on the basis of RBE data.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Baiocco
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - S. Barbieri
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - G. Babini
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - J. Morini
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - D. Alloni
- INFN, National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Sezione di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- LENA, Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Energy, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - W. Friedland
- Institute of Radiation Protection, Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - P. Kundrát
- Institute of Radiation Protection, Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - E. Schmitt
- Institute of Radiation Protection, Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | | | - L. Sihver
- Technische Universität Wien, Wien, Austria
| | - A. Ottolenghi
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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12
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Abstract
A method has been developed for the histochemical demonstration of phospholipase B (lysolecithinase) of rat tissues. The enzyme attacks lysolecithin with liberation of 1 mole of glycerylphosphorylcholine and 1 mole of fatty acid. The recommended procedure involves use of 6-10 µ frozen sections, fixed in cold calcium-formol and incubated at 37°C in Tris buffered medium at pH 6.6 containing 2.2 x 10–3 M lysolecithin and 1% cobalt acetate. The fatty acid liberated by enzymatic hydrolysis is trapped as a cobalt precipitate and is then converted to a blackbrown precipitate by treatment with dilute ammonium sulfide in cold isotonic saline. Equivalent amounts of fatty acid and glycerylphosphorylcholine are recovered by extraction and analysis of the incubated sections and of the incubation medium, thus proving that lysolecithin hydrolysis occurs under the proposed reaction conditions. Staining is reduced by treating the sections with copper ions, mercury compounds, alcohols, acetone and by heating at 60°C prior to incubation with substrate. Lowering of the pH of the incubation medium has similar effect. These findings are interpreted as evidence of the enzymatic nature of the reaction. Cells exhibiting a positive staining are found in the lamina propria of the intestinal villi and crypts, in the red pulp of the spleen and in the interstitial tissue of lung, liver and thymus. Similar elements are present in bone marrow smears and in leukocyte preparations obtained by peritoneal lavage. The morphologic and staining characteristics of these cells correspond to those of the eosinophilic leukocytes. Physical and chemical agents (x-irradiation corticosteroids) which sharply decrease the number of eosinophils also reduce the number of cells shown histochemically to hydrolyze lysolecithin. A correspondent. diminution of phospholipase B activity of homogenates of the same tissues can be shown in vitro. Differences in tissue distribution and chemical properties distinguish the phospholipase B from less specific esterases and lipases.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Ottolenghi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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13
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Schulte R, Clarke S, Pryser E, Wieger B, Norsworthy M, Pozzi S, Hälg R, Lomax A, Smyth V, Ottolenghi A. PO-0835: A system for measuring and calculating neutron doses in paediatric proton patients. Radiother Oncol 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/s0167-8140(16)32085-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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14
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Ottolenghi A, Smyth V, Trott K. EP-2043: The ANDANTE project: a re-evaluation of the risk from scattered neutrons during proton therapy. Radiother Oncol 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/s0167-8140(16)33294-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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15
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Alloni D, Prata M, Salvini A, Ottolenghi A. Neutron flux characterisation of the Pavia TRIGA Mark II research reactor for radiobiological and microdosimetric applications. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2015; 166:261-265. [PMID: 25958412 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncv291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays the Pavia TRIGA reactor is available for national and international collaboration in various research fields. The TRIGA Mark II nuclear research reactor of the Pavia University offers different in- and out-core neutron irradiation channels, each characterised by different neutron spectra. In the last two years a campaign of measurements and simulations has been performed in order to guarantee a better characterisation of these different fluxes and to meet the demands of irradiations that require precise information on these spectra in particular for radiobiological and microdosimetric studies. Experimental data on neutron fluxes have been collected analysing and measuring the gamma activity induced in thin target foils of different materials irradiated in different TRIGA experimental channels. The data on the induced gamma activities have been processed with the SAND II deconvolution code and finally compared with the spectra obtained with Monte Carlo simulations. The comparison between simulated and measured spectra showed a good agreement allowing a more precise characterisation of the neutron spectra and a validation of the adopted method.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Alloni
- LENA, Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Energy, University of Pavia, Via Aselli 41, Pavia, Italy Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Via Bassi 6, Pavia, Italy INFN National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Pavia Section, Via Bassi 6, Pavia, Italy
| | - M Prata
- LENA, Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Energy, University of Pavia, Via Aselli 41, Pavia, Italy INFN National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Pavia Section, Via Bassi 6, Pavia, Italy
| | - A Salvini
- LENA, Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Energy, University of Pavia, Via Aselli 41, Pavia, Italy INFN National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Pavia Section, Via Bassi 6, Pavia, Italy
| | - A Ottolenghi
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Via Bassi 6, Pavia, Italy INFN National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Pavia Section, Via Bassi 6, Pavia, Italy
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16
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Schmitt E, Friedland W, Kundrát P, Dingfelder M, Ottolenghi A. Cross-section scaling for track structure simulations of low-energy ions in liquid water. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2015; 166:15-18. [PMID: 25969528 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncv302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Radiation damage by low-energy ions significantly contributes to the high biological efficiency of ion beams in distal Bragg peak regions as well as to the energy-dependent efficiency of neutron irradiation. To enable assessing biological effects of ions at energies <1 MeV u(-1) with track-structure based models, a Barkas-like scaling procedure is developed that provides ion cross sections in liquid water based on those for hydrogen ions. The resulting stopping power and range for carbon ions agree with the ICRU 73 database and other low-energy stopping power data. The method represents the basis for extending PARTRAC simulations of light ion track structures and biological effects down to the keV u(-1) range.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Schmitt
- Institute of Radiation Protection, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - W Friedland
- Institute of Radiation Protection, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - P Kundrát
- Institute of Radiation Protection, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - M Dingfelder
- Department of Physics, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - A Ottolenghi
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, and INFN Section of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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17
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Mariotti LG, Abdelrazzak AB, Ottolenghi A, O'Neill P, Hill MA. Stimulation of intercellular induction of apoptosis in transformed cells at very low doses of ionising radiation: spatial and temporal features. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2015; 166:161-164. [PMID: 25883313 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncv176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The ultimate response of a cell or tissue to radiation is dependent in part on intercellular signalling. This becomes increasingly important at low doses, or at low dose rates, associated with typical human exposures. In order to help characterise the underlying mechanism of intercellular signalling, and how they are perturbed following exposure to ionising radiation, a previously well-defined model system of intercellular induction of apoptosis (IIA) (Portess et al. 2007, Cancer Res. 67, 1246-1253) was adopted. The aim of the present work is to evaluate the signalling mechanisms underpinning this process through exploring the variables that can affect the IIA, i.e. dose, time and space.
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Affiliation(s)
- L G Mariotti
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Universit Degli Studi di Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia I-27100, Italy Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia I-27100, Italy CRUK/MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, Gray Laboratories, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - A B Abdelrazzak
- CRUK/MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, Gray Laboratories, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK Physics Research Division, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
| | - A Ottolenghi
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Universit Degli Studi di Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia I-27100, Italy Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia I-27100, Italy
| | - P O'Neill
- CRUK/MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, Gray Laboratories, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - M A Hill
- CRUK/MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, Gray Laboratories, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
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18
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Baiocco G, Alloni D, Babini G, Mariotti L, Ottolenghi A. Reaction mechanism interplay in determining the biological effectiveness of neutrons as a function of energy. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2015; 166:316-319. [PMID: 25848097 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncv134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Neutron relative biological effectiveness (RBE) is found to be energy dependent, being maximal for energies ∼1 MeV. This is reflected in the choice of radiation weighting factors wR for radiation protection purposes. In order to trace back the physical origin of this behaviour, a detailed study of energy deposition processes with their full dependences is necessary. In this work, the Monte Carlo transport code PHITS was used to characterise main secondary products responsible for energy deposition in a 'human-sized' soft tissue spherical phantom, irradiated by monoenergetic neutrons with energies around the maximal RBE/wR. Thereafter, results on the microdosimetric characterisation of secondary protons were used as an input to track structure calculations performed with PARTRAC, thus evaluating the corresponding DNA damage induction. Within the proposed simplified approach, evidence is suggested for a relevant role of secondary protons in inducing the maximal biological effectiveness for 1 MeV neutrons.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Baiocco
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy INFN, National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Sezione di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - D Alloni
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy INFN, National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Sezione di Pavia, Pavia, Italy LENA, Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Energy, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - G Babini
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy INFN, National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Sezione di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - L Mariotti
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy INFN, National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Sezione di Pavia, Pavia, Italy Department of Oncology, Gray Institute, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - A Ottolenghi
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy INFN, National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Sezione di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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19
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Babini G, Ugolini M, Morini J, Baiocco G, Mariotti L, de Fatis PT, Liotta M, Ottolenghi A. Investigation of radiation-induced multilayered signalling response of the inflammatory pathway. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2015; 166:157-160. [PMID: 25877540 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncv132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Ionising radiation exposure of cells might induce the perturbation of cell functions and, in particular, the activation or inhibition of several important pathways. This perturbation can cause the deregulation of both intra- and extra-cellular signalling cascades (such as the inflammatory pathway) and alter not only the behaviour of directly exposed cells but also the neighbouring non-irradiated ones, through the so-called bystander effect. The aim of the present work was to investigate the complex nonlinear interactions between the inflammatory pathway and other strictly interlaced signalling pathways, such as Erk1/2 and Akt/PKB, focusing on the radiation-induced perturbation of such pathways in the dose range of 0-2 Gy. The results show how radiation affects these interconnected pathways and how confounding factors, such as the change of culture medium, can hide radiation-induced perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Babini
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Universitá degli Studi di Pavia, via Bassi 6, I-27100 Pavia, Italy Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Pavia, via Bassi 6, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - M Ugolini
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Universitá degli Studi di Pavia, via Bassi 6, I-27100 Pavia, Italy Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Pavia, via Bassi 6, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - J Morini
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Universitá degli Studi di Pavia, via Bassi 6, I-27100 Pavia, Italy Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Pavia, via Bassi 6, I-27100 Pavia, Italy Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Universitá degli Studi di Pavia, via Forlanini 14, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - G Baiocco
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Universitá degli Studi di Pavia, via Bassi 6, I-27100 Pavia, Italy Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Pavia, via Bassi 6, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - L Mariotti
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Universitá degli Studi di Pavia, via Bassi 6, I-27100 Pavia, Italy Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Pavia, via Bassi 6, I-27100 Pavia, Italy Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology and Biology, Old Road Campus Research Building, Off Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - P Tabarelli de Fatis
- Servizio di Fisica Sanitaria, IRCCS Salvatore Maugeri, via Maugeri 4, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - M Liotta
- Servizio di Fisica Sanitaria, IRCCS Salvatore Maugeri, via Maugeri 4, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - A Ottolenghi
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Universitá degli Studi di Pavia, via Bassi 6, I-27100 Pavia, Italy Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Pavia, via Bassi 6, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
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20
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Alloni D, Baiocco G, Babini G, Friedland W, Kundrát P, Mariotti L, Ottolenghi A. Energy dependence of the complexity of DNA damage induced by carbon ions. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2015; 166:86-90. [PMID: 25958411 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncv292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
To assess the complexity of DNA damage induced by carbon ions as a function of their energy and LET, 2-Gy irradiations by 100 keV u(-1)-400 MeV u(-1) carbon ions were investigated using the PARTRAC code. The total number of fragments and the yield of fragments of <30 bp were calculated. The authors found a particularly important contribution of DNA fragmentation in the range of <1 kbp for specific energies of <6 MeV u(-1). They also considered the effect of different specific energies with the same LET, i.e. before and after the Bragg peak. As a first step towards a full characterisation of secondary particle production from carbon ions interacting with tissue, a comparison between DNA-damage induction by primary carbon ions and alpha particles resulting from carbon break-up is presented, for specific energies of >1 MeV u(-1).
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Affiliation(s)
- D Alloni
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Via Bassi 6, Pavia, Italy LENA, Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Energy, University of Pavia, Via Aselli 41, Pavia, Italy INFN National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Sezione di Pavia, Via Bassi 6, Pavia, Italy
| | - G Baiocco
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Via Bassi 6, Pavia, Italy INFN National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Sezione di Pavia, Via Bassi 6, Pavia, Italy
| | - G Babini
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Via Bassi 6, Pavia, Italy INFN National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Sezione di Pavia, Via Bassi 6, Pavia, Italy
| | - W Friedland
- Institute of Radiation Protection, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg 85764, Germany
| | - P Kundrát
- Institute of Radiation Protection, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg 85764, Germany
| | - L Mariotti
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Via Bassi 6, Pavia, Italy INFN National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Sezione di Pavia, Via Bassi 6, Pavia, Italy Department of Oncology, Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology and Biology, Old Road Campus Research Building, Off Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - A Ottolenghi
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Via Bassi 6, Pavia, Italy INFN National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Sezione di Pavia, Via Bassi 6, Pavia, Italy
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Abstract
UNLABELLED The usual method for estimating the risk from exposure to neutrons uses the concept of relative biological effectiveness (RBE) compared with the risk from photons, which is better known. RBE has been evaluated using cellular and animal models. But this causes difficulties in applying the concept to humans. The ANDANTE project takes a new approach using three different disciplines in parallel: Physics: a track structure model is used to contrast the patterns of damage to cellular macro-molecules from neutrons compared with photons. The simulations reproduce the same energy spectra as are used in the other two approaches. Stem cell radiobiology: stem cells from thyroid, salivary gland and breast tissue are given well characterised exposures to neutrons and photons. A number of endpoints are used to estimate the relative risk of damage from neutrons compared with photons. Irradiated cells will also be transplanted into mice to investigate the progression of the initial radiation effects in stem cells into tumours in a physiological environment. EPIDEMIOLOGY the relative incidence rates of second cancers of the thyroid, salivary gland and breast following paediatric radiotherapy (conventional radiotherapy for photons and proton therapy for neutrons) are investigated in a pilot single-institution study, exploring the possible design of a multi-institution prospective study comparing the long-term out-of-field and in-field effects of scanned and scattered protons. The results will be used to validate an RBE-based risk model developed by the project, and validate the corresponding RBE values.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Ottolenghi
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy INFN, sezione di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - G Baiocco
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy INFN, sezione di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - V Smyth
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - K Trott
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Babini G, Bellinzona VE, Morini J, Baiocco G, Mariotti L, Unger K, Ottolenghi A. Mechanisms of the induction of apoptosis mediated by radiation-induced cytokine release. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2015; 166:165-169. [PMID: 25848101 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncv133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the present work was to investigate the mechanisms of radiation-induced bystander signalling leading to apoptosis in non-irradiated co-cultured cells. Cultured non-transformed cells were irradiated, and the effect on the apoptosis rate on co-cultured non-irradiated malignant cells was determined. For this, two different levels of the investigation are presented, i.e. release of signalling proteins and transcriptomic profiling of the irradiated and non-irradiated co-cultured cells. Concerning the signalling proteins, in this study, the attention was focussed on the release of the active and latent forms of the transforming growth factor-β1 protein. Moreover, global gene expression profiles of non-transformed and transformed cells in untreated co-cultures were compared with those of 0.5-Gy-irradiated non-transformed cells co-cultured with the transformed cells. The results show an effect of radiation on the release of signalling proteins in the medium, although no significant differences in release rates were detectable when varying the doses in the range from 0.25 to 1 Gy. Moreover, gene expression results suggest an effect of radiation on both cell populations, pointing out specific signalling pathways that might be involved in the enhanced induction of apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Babini
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia I-27100, Italy Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia I-27100, Italy
| | - V E Bellinzona
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia I-27100, Italy Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia I-27100, Italy
| | - J Morini
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia I-27100, Italy Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia I-27100, Italy Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Università degli Studi di Pavia, via Forlanini 14, Pavia I-27100, Italy
| | - G Baiocco
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia I-27100, Italy Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia I-27100, Italy
| | - L Mariotti
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia I-27100, Italy Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia I-27100, Italy Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology and Biology, Old Road Campus Research Building, Off Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - K Unger
- Research Unit of Radiation Cytogenetics, Helmholtz-Zentrum München (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, Neuherberg 85764, Germany
| | - A Ottolenghi
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia I-27100, Italy Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Pavia, via Bassi 6, Pavia I-27100, Italy
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Morini J, Babini G, Mariotti L, Baiocco G, Nacci L, Maccario C, Rößler U, Minelli A, Savio M, Gomolka M, Kulka U, Ottolenghi A, Danesino C. Radiosensitivity in lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from Shwachman-Diamond syndrome patients. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2015; 166:95-100. [PMID: 25870433 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncv152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Shwachman-Diamond syndrome is an autosomal-recessive disorder characterised by bone marrow failure and a cumulative risk of progression to acute myeloid leukaemia. The Shwachman-Bodian-Diamond syndrome (SBDS) gene, the only gene known to be causative of the pathology, is involved in ribosomal biogenesis, stress responses and DNA repair, and the lack of SBDS sensitises cells to many stressors and leads to mitotic spindle destabilisation. The effect of ionising radiation on SBDS-deficient cells was investigated using immortalised lymphocytes from SDS patients in comparison with positive and negative controls in order to test whether, in response to ionising radiation exposure, any impairment in the DNA repair machinery could be observed. After irradiating cells with different doses of X-rays or gamma-rays, DNA repair kinetics and the residual damages using the alkaline COMET assay and the γ-H2AX assay were assessed, respectively. In this work, preliminary data about the comparison between ionising radiation effects in different patients-derived cells and healthy control cells are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Morini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Biology and Medical Genetics Unit, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy INFN National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Section of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - G Babini
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy INFN National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Section of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - L Mariotti
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy INFN National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Section of Pavia, Pavia, Italy Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology and Biology, Oxford, UK
| | - G Baiocco
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy INFN National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Section of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - L Nacci
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Biology and Medical Genetics Unit, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - C Maccario
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Immunology and General Pathology Unit, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - U Rößler
- Department of Radiation Protection and Health, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Germany
| | - A Minelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Biology and Medical Genetics Unit, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - M Savio
- Department of Radiation Protection and Health, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Germany
| | - M Gomolka
- Department of Radiation Protection and Health, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Germany
| | - U Kulka
- Department of Radiation Protection and Health, Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Germany
| | - A Ottolenghi
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy INFN National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Section of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - C Danesino
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Biology and Medical Genetics Unit, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Babini G, Morini J, Baiocco G, Mariotti L, Ottolenghi A. In vitro γ-ray-induced inflammatory response is dominated by culturing conditions rather than radiation exposures. Sci Rep 2015; 5:9343. [PMID: 25791775 PMCID: PMC4366819 DOI: 10.1038/srep09343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The inflammatory pathway has a pivotal role in regulating the fate and functions of cells after a wide range of stimuli, including ionizing radiation. However, the molecular mechanisms governing such responses have not been completely elucidated yet. In particular, the complex activation dynamics of the Nuclear transcription Factor kB (NF-kB), the key molecule governing the inflammatory pathway, still lacks a complete characterization. In this work we focused on the activation dynamics of the NF-kB (subunit p65) pathway following different stimuli. Quantitative measurements of NF-kB were performed and results interpreted within a systems theory approach, based on the negative feedback loop feature of this pathway. Time-series data of nuclear NF-kB concentration showed no evidence of γ-ray induced activation of the pathway for doses up to 5Gy but highlighted important transient effects of common environmental stress (e.g. CO2, temperature) and laboratory procedures, e.g. replacing the culture medium, which dominate the in vitro inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Babini
- 1] Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy [2] INFN, National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Sezione di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - J Morini
- 1] Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy [2] INFN, National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Sezione di Pavia, Pavia, Italy [3] Department of Molecular Medicine, Biology and Medical Genetics Unit, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - G Baiocco
- 1] Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy [2] INFN, National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Sezione di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - L Mariotti
- 1] Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy [2] INFN, National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Sezione di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - A Ottolenghi
- 1] Department of Physics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy [2] INFN, National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Sezione di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Abstract
One of the main issues of low-energy internal emitters concerns the very short ranges of the beta particles, versus the dimensions of the biological targets. Depending on the chemical form, the radionuclide may be more concentrated either in the cytoplasm or in the nucleus of the target cell. Consequently, since in most cases conventional dosimetry neglects this issue it may overestimate or underestimate the dose to the nucleus and hence the biological effects. To assess the magnitude of these deviations and to provide a realistic evaluation of the localized energy deposition by low-energy internal emitters, the biophysical track-structure code PARTRAC was used to calculate nuclear doses, DNA damage yields and fragmentation patterns for different localizations of radionuclides in human interphase fibroblasts. The nuclides considered in the simulations were tritium and nickel-63, which emit electrons with average energies of 5.7 (range in water of 0.42 μm) and 17 keV (range of 5 μm), respectively, covering both very short and medium ranges of beta-decay products. The simulation results showed that the largest deviations from the conventional dosimetry occur for inhomogeneously distributed short-range emitters. For uniformly distributed radionuclides selectively in the cytoplasm but excluded from the cell nucleus, the dose in the nucleus is 15% of the average dose in the cell in the case of tritium but 64% for nickel-63. Also, the numbers of double-strand breaks (DSBs) and the distributions of DNA fragments depend on subcellular localization of the radionuclides. In the low- and medium-dose regions investigated here, DSB numbers are proportional to the nuclear dose, with about 50 DSB/Gy for both studied nuclides. In addition, DSB numbers on specific chromosomes depend on the radionuclide localization in the cell as well, with chromosomes located more peripherally in the cell nucleus being more damaged by short-ranged emitters in cytoplasm compared with chromosomes located more centrally. These results illustrate the potential for over- or underestimating the risk associated with low-energy emitters, particularly for tritium intake, when their distribution at subcellular levels is not appropriately considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Alloni
- a Department of Physics, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy
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Alloni D, Campa A, Friedland W, Mariotti L, Ottolenghi A. Integration of Monte Carlo simulations with PFGE experimental data yields constant RBE of 2.3 for DNA double-strand break induction by nitrogen ions between 125 and 225 keV/μm LET. Radiat Res 2013; 179:690-7. [PMID: 23647004 DOI: 10.1667/r3043.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The number of small radiation-induced DNA fragments can be heavily underestimated when determined from measurements of DNA mass fractions by gel electrophoresis, leading to a consequent underestimation of the initial DNA damage induction. In this study we reanalyzed the experimental results for DNA fragmentation and DNA double-strand break (DSB) yields in human fibroblasts irradiated with γ rays and nitrogen ion beams with linear energy transfer (LET) equal to 80, 125, 175 and 225 keV/μm, originally measured by Höglund et al. (Radiat Res 155, 818-825, 2001 and Int J Radiat Biol 76, 539-547, 2000). In that study the authors converted the measured distributions of fragment masses into DNA fragment distributions using mid-range values of the measured fragment length intervals, in particular they assumed fragments with lengths in the interval of 0-48 kbp had the mid-range value of 24 kbp. However, our recent detailed simulations with the Monte Carlo code PARTRAC, while reasonably in agreement with the mass distributions, indicate significantly increased yields of very short fragments by high-LET radiation, so that the actual average fragment lengths, in the interval 0-48 kbp, 2.4 kbp for 225 keV/μm nitrogen ions were much shorter than the assumed mid-range value of 24 kbp. When the measured distributions of fragment masses are converted into fragment distributions using the average fragment lengths calculated by PARTRAC, significantly higher yields of DSB related to short fragments were obtained and resulted in a constant relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for DSB induction yield of 2.3 for nitrogen ions at 125-225 keV/μm LET. The previously reported downward trend of the RBE values over this LET range for DSB induction appears to be an artifact of an inadequate average fragment length in the smallest interval.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Alloni
- Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Energy, Università degli studi di Pavia, Italy
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Ottolenghi A, Trott K, Smyth V. SP-0223: ANDANTE: The project: a multidisciplinary approach to neutron RBE. Radiother Oncol 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/s0167-8140(15)32529-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Trott K, Hildebrandt G, Ottolenghi A, Smyth V. SP-0542 THE RISK OF SECOND CANCERS FOLLOWING PROTON THERAPY. Radiother Oncol 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/s0167-8140(12)70881-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Ottolenghi A, Smyth V, Trott K. SP-0541 THE ANDANTE PROJECT: REFINING RISK ESTIMATES FROM NEUTRONS. Radiother Oncol 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/s0167-8140(12)70880-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Abstract
The importance of research to reduce uncertainties in risk assessment of low and protracted exposures is now recognised globally. In Europe a new initiative, called 'Multidisciplinary European LOw Dose Initiative' (MELODI), has been proposed by a 'European High Level and Expert Group on low-dose risk research' (www.hleg.de), aimed at integrating national and EC (Euratom) efforts. Five national organisations: BfS (DE), CEA (FR), IRSN (FR), ISS (IT) and STUK (FI), with the support of the EC, have initiated the creation of MELODI by signing a letter of intent. In the forthcoming years, MELODI will integrate in a step-by-step approach EU institutions with significant programmes in the field and will be open to other scientific organisations and stakeholders. A key role of MELODI is to develop and maintain over time a strategic research agenda (SRA) and a road map of scientific priorities within a multidisciplinary approach, and to transfer the results for the radiation protection system. Under the coordination of STUK a network has been proposed in the 2009 Euratom Programme, called DoReMi (Low-Dose Research towards Mutidisciplinary Integration), which can help the integration process within the MELODI platform. DoReMi and the First MELODI Open Workshop, organised by BfS in September 2009, are now important inputs for the European SRA.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Belli
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, and INFN-Roma1-gr.coll.Sanità, Roma, Italy.
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Alloni D, Campa A, Belli M, Esposito G, Mariotti L, Liotta M, Friedland W, Paretzke H, Ottolenghi A. Monte Carlo evaluation of DNA fragmentation spectra induced by different radiation qualities. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2011; 143:226-231. [PMID: 21084331 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncq384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The PARTRAC code has been developed constantly in the last several years. It is a Monte Carlo code based on an event-by-event description of the interactions taking place between the ionising radiation and liquid water, and in the present version simulates the transport of photons, electrons, protons, helium and heavier ions. This is combined with an atom-by-atom representation of the biological target, i.e. the DNA target model of a diploid human fibroblast in its interphase (genome of 6 Gigabase pairs). DNA damage is produced by the events of energy depositions, either directly, if they occur in the volume occupied by the sugar-phosphate backbone, or indirectly, if this volume is reached by radiation-induced radicals. This requires the determination of the probabilities of occurrence of DNA damage. Experimental data are essential for this determination. However, after the adjustment of the relevant parameters through the comparison of the simulation data with the DNA fragmentation induced by photon irradiation, the code has been used without further parameter adjustments, and the comparison with the fragmentation induced by charged particle beams has validated the code. In this paper, the results obtained for the DNA fragmentation induced by gamma rays and by charged particle beams of various LET are shown, with a particular attention to the production of very small fragments that are not detected in experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Alloni
- LENA, Laboratory of Applied Nuclear Energy, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
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Mariotti L, Facoetti A, Bertolotti A, Ranza E, Alloni D, Ottolenghi A. Radiation-induced perturbation of cell-to-cell signalling and communication. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2011; 143:294-300. [PMID: 21112887 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncq405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The investigation of the bystander phenomena (i.e. the induction of damage in cells not directly traversed by radiation) is strictly related to the study of the mechanisms of intercellular communication and of the perturbative effects of radiation. A new possible way to try to solve the bystander puzzle is through a 'systems radiation biology' approach with the total integration of experimental and theoretical activities. In particular, this contribution will focus on: (1) 'ad hoc' experiments designed to quantify key parameters involved in intercellular signalling (focusing, as a pilot study, on release, decay and internalization of interleukine-6 molecules, their modulation by radiation, and possible differences between in vivo/in vitro behaviour); (2) the implementation and the development of two different modelling approaches: a stochastic model (based on a Monte Carlo code) that takes account of the local mechanisms of release and internalization of signalling molecules (e.g. cytokines) and an analytical model where signal molecules are treated as a population and their temporal behaviour is described by differential equations. This approach provided instruments to investigate the complex phenomena of signal transmission and the role of cell communication to guarantee (maintain) the robustness of the in vitro experimental systems against the effects of perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Mariotti
- Dipartimento di Fisica Nucleare e Teorica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, via Bassi 6, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
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Alloni D, Campa A, Belli M, Esposito G, Facoetti A, Friedland W, Liotta M, Mariotti L, Paretzke HG, Ottolenghi A. A Monte Carlo Study of the Radiation Quality Dependence of DNA Fragmentation Spectra. Radiat Res 2010; 173:263-71. [DOI: 10.1667/rr1957.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Zampieri N, Zamboni C, Ottolenghi A, Camoglio FS. Unilateral hydronephrosis due to ureteropelvic junction obstruction in children: long term follow-up. MINERVA UROL NEFROL 2009; 61:325-329. [PMID: 19816385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
AIM Hydronephrosis is one of the most common urological disease detected on prenatal ultrasound; The aim of this study was evaluate the role of long-term follow-up in patients with unilateral hydronephrosis. METHODS On January 2009, the medical charts of patients observed at the Department and Institution for unilateral hydronephrosis were reviewed, for a long-term follow-up evaluation (10 years). All diagnosis were done prenatally. Long term follow-up is described. RESULTS One hundred and seventy-four 174 patients were observed. At diagnosis grading of hydronephrosis was: 3% grade 0, 25% grade I, 41% grade II, 31% grade IV. At the end of the study, 94 patients underwent surgery, while 80 were managed conservatively. CONCLUSIONS Grade of hydronephrosis and renal function still remain the most important variables to decide the surgical management. Long-term follow-up shows that over the years many patients need surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Zampieri
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Pediatric Surgical Unit, G.B. Rossi Polyclinic, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
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Ranza E, Bertolotti A, Facoetti A, Mariotti L, Pasi F, Ottolenghi A, Nano R. Influence of imatinib mesylate on radiosensitivity of astrocytoma cells. Anticancer Res 2009; 29:4575-4578. [PMID: 20032406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Imatinib mesylate (STI571), an inhibitor of alpha- and beta-platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFR) and other tyrosine kinases, is a well established treatment for chronic myeloid leukaemia and gastrointestinal stromal tumours. Moreover, it is under investigation for the therapy of several other malignant tumours since protein kinases are frequently mutated or otherwise deregulated in human malignancies and they serve as a target for differentiating between tumour cells and normal tissues. The objective of this study was to determine whether gamma radiation could sensitize astrocytoma cell lines to the effects of imatinib in vitro. For this purpose, T98G and MOG-G-UVW astrocytoma cells were treated with imatinib alone or in combination with gamma radiation. The clonogenic survival assays performed with the combination of imatinib with radiation demonstrated that the drug had an additive antiproliferative effect in both cell lines considered. Imatinib confered greater radiosensitivity on the T98G tumour cells effecting a significant decrease in colony formation compared with radiation alone. These data provide a rationale to further investigate the combination of imatinib with radiation, keeping in mind that this may result in unexpected toxicities that are not observed with either treatment alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Ranza
- Department of Nuclear and Theoretical Physics, University of Pavia, Via Bassi 6, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
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Abstract
Desmoid tumour is relatively rare and generally non-metastatisizing lesion of mesenchymal origin composed of fibrous tissue and fitting in the group of aggressive fibromatosis; it is a locally aggressive proliferative soft-tissue lesion with controversial nature. This tumour accounts for 0.03% of all tumours and 3% of soft-tissue tumours with annual incidence of two to four cases per million. Although desmoid tumours are more common in persons aged 10-40 years than in others, they do occur in young children and older adults; in children the sex incidence is equal. This is a rare case of extra-abdominal desmoid tumour in a 14-year-old girl affected by spastic tetraparesis. To our knowledge no similar cases are present in literature to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Zampieri
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Pediatric Surgical Unit, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
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Zampieri N, Cecchetto M, Ottolenghi A, Camoglio FS. Bilateral testicular torsion: an extremely tragic rare condition. Minerva Pediatr 2009; 61:455-457. [PMID: 19752855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Bilateral intrauterine torsion of the testes and neonatal testicular torsion are rare conditions that sometimes result in a catastrophic event. Surgical exploration is mandatory and sometimes a second-look management should be considered. After describing a rare condition, the authors came to the conclusion that bilateral orchidectomy should be performed only in patients with bilateral necrotic testes.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Zampieri
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Pediatric Surgical Unit, University of Verona, G. B. Rossi, Polyclinic Hospital, Verona, Italy.
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Campa A, Ballarini F, Belli M, Cherubini R, Dini V, Esposito G, Friedland W, Gerardi S, Molinelli S, Ottolenghi A, Paretzke H, Simone G, Tabocchini MA. DNA DSB induced in human cells by charged particles and gamma rays: Experimental results and theoretical approaches. Int J Radiat Biol 2009; 81:841-54. [PMID: 16484153 DOI: 10.1080/09553000500530888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To quantify the role played by radiation track structure and background fragments in modulating DNA fragmentation in human cells exposed to gamma-rays and light ions. MATERIALS AND METHODS Human fibroblasts were exposed in vitro to different doses (in the range from 40 - 200 Gy) of (60)Co gamma-rays and 0.84 MeV protons (Linear Energy Transfer, LET, in tissue 28.5 keV/microm). The resulting DNA fragments were scored under two electrophoretic conditions, in order to optimize separation in the size ranges 0.023 - 1.0 Mbp and 1.0 - 5.7 Mbp. In parallel, DNA fragmentation was simulated both with a phenomenological approach based on the "generalized broken-stick" model, and with a mechanistic approach based on the PARTRAC (acronym of PARticle TRACk) Monte Carlo code (1.32 MeV photons were used for the simulation of (60)Co gamma-rays). RESULTS For both gamma-rays and protons, the experimental dose response in the range 0.023 - 5.7 Mbp could be approximated as a straight line, the slope of which provided a yield of (5.3 +/- 0.4) x 10(-9) Gy(-1) bp(-1) for gamma-rays and (7.1 +/- 0.6) x 10(-9) Gy(-1) bp(-1) for protons, leading to a Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) of 1.3 +/- 0.2. From both theoretical analyses it appeared that, while gamma-ray data were consistent with double-strand breaks (DSB) random induction, protons at low doses showed significant deviation from randomness, implying enhanced production of small fragments in the low molecular weight part of the experimental range. The theoretical analysis of fragment production was then extended to ranges where data were not available, i.e. to fragments larger than 5.7 Mbp and smaller than 23 kbp. The main outcome was that small fragments (<23 kbp) are produced almost exclusively via non-random processes, since their number is considerably higher than that produced by a random insertion of DSB. Furthermore, for protons the number of these small fragments is a significant fraction (about 20%) of the total number of fragments; these fragments remain undetected in these experiments. Calculations for 3.3 MeV alpha particle irradiation (for which no experimental data were available) were performed to further investigate the role of fragments smaller than 23 kbp; in this case, besides the non-random character of their production, their number resulted to be at least as much as half of the total number of fragments. CONCLUSION Comparison between experimental data and two different theoretical approaches provided further support to the hypothesis of an important role of track structure in modulating DNA damage. According to the theoretical approaches, non-randomness of fragment production was found for proton irradiation for the smaller fragments in the experimental size range and, in a significantly larger extent, for fragments of size less than 23 kbp, both for protons and alpha particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Campa
- Health and Technology Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, INFN Sezione di Roma1, Gruppo Collegato Sanità, Roma, Italy.
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Campa A, Alloni D, Antonelli F, Ballarini F, Belli M, Dini V, Esposito G, Facoetti A, Friedland W, Furusawa Y, Liotta M, Ottolenghi A, Paretzke HG, Simone G, Sorrentino E, Tabocchini MA. DNA Fragmentation Induced in Human Fibroblasts by56Fe Ions: Experimental Data and Monte Carlo Simulations. Radiat Res 2009; 171:438-45. [DOI: 10.1667/rr1442.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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42
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Zampieri N, Zamboni C, Ottolenghi A, Camoglio FS. The role of lifestyle changing to improve the semen quality in patients with varicocele. MINERVA UROL NEFROL 2008; 60:199-204. [PMID: 18923357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
AIM To evaluate the recovery of semen quality in patients with high grade varicocele without hypotrophy and abnormal semen analysis using a simple lifestyle changing protocol. METHODS Fifty-two patients were eligible for this study. Two semen sample were collected at baseline and other two after treatment. PROTOCOL patients had to stop or decrease the number of cigarette per day, reduce the coffee and alcohol consumption, introduce fruits and vegetables in the daily diet and have a normal sexual activity with an abstinence of tree days before semen collection. All the variables and the semen parameters were evaluated and correlated between responders and non-responders. RESULTS Forty patients (76%) had an improvement of semen quality showing a normal semen analysis following the WHO criteria. The other 12 patients had an improvement of the semen quality but without statistical differences. Smokers and drinkers (for both coffee and alcohol) had lower sperm volume, lower sperm motility and vitality when compared to the others. CONCLUSIONS The analysis of data collected by the spermiograms showed that semen quality could benefit from lifestyle changing. This finding is important for the management of patients with varicocele, suggesting that lifestyle changing could avoid surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Zampieri
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Pediatric Surgical Unit, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
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Scibilia J, Pastorello EA, Zisa G, Ottolenghi A, Ballmer-Weber B, Pravettoni V, Scovena E, Robino A, Ortolani C. Maize food allergy: a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Clin Exp Allergy 2008; 38:1943-9. [PMID: 18778272 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2008.03094.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maize allergy is not very common especially in Europe. The number of studies that address IgE mediated maize allergy is all too few. OBJECTIVE Evaluate subjects with a history of maize allergy by double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge; identify the spectrum of symptoms manifested during challenge; determine the lowest provocation dose (PD) during challenge; determine the performance characteristics of maize skin prick test and specific IgE. METHODS Twenty-seven patients with a history of maize allergy were enrolled to be evaluated by skin test, specific IgE and double-blind placebo-controlled maize challenge. RESULTS Forty-eight percent of the patients were challenge positive. PD range was 0.1-25 g. Fifty-four percent of the maize allergic subjects had a PD that was < or = 2.5 g; two subjects reacted to 100 mg of maize. Comparison of maize specific IgE levels and skin test results to the challenge results revealed the following (specific IgE level/skin testing): sensitivity 1.00/0.846, specificity 0.077/0.384, positive predictive value 0.520/0.579, and negative predictive value 1.00/0.714. CONCLUSION Maize is a cause of IgE-mediated allergic reactions to foods in adults and children. Nearly half of the subjects recruited were confirmed by challenge to be allergic to maize. Twenty-three percent of the positive challenge patients manifested symptoms that involved two organ systems, thus fulfilling the criteria for maize induced anaphylaxis. Maize is allergenic and can pose a risk for symptomatic food allergy at a dose of 100 mg.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Scibilia
- Unit of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, A.O. Niguarda Hospital, Milan, Italy
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44
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Zampieri N, Camoglio F, Corroppolo M, Cecchetto M, Ornis S, Ottolenghi A. Botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma of the biliary tract in children: a unique case report. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2007; 15:463-6. [PMID: 17177904 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2354.2006.00683.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common tumour of the biliary tree in childhood. In children, it is a rare lesion, accounting for about 1% of all RMS. Hepatobiliary botryoid RMS is a disease affecting young children at a median age of about 3 years. In literature, the radiological findings of hepatobiliary RMS have been described in small series and some case reports. In this case report, we present a rare case of RMS of the extrahepatic biliary tree initially diagnosed as a choledochal cyst.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Zampieri
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Pediatric Surgical Unit, University of Verona, Verona, Italy, and Department of Woman and Children, King's College Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK.
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Garzelli MV, Ballarini F, Battistoni G, Cerutti F, Fassò A, Ferrari A, Gadioli E, Ottolenghi A, Pinsky LS, Sala PR, Ranft J. Heavy-ion collisions: preliminary results of a new QMD model coupled with FLUKA. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006. [DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/41/1/059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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Ballarini F, Alloni D, Battistoni G, Cerutti F, Ferrari A, Gadioli E, Garzelli MV, Liotta M, Mairani A, Ottolenghi A, Paretzke HG, Parini V, Pelliccioni M, Pinsky L, Sala P, Scannicchio D, Trovati S, Zankl M. Modelling human exposure to space radiation with different shielding: the FLUKA code coupled with anthropomorphic phantoms. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006. [DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/41/1/012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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Cerutti F, Ballarini F, Battistoni G, Colleoni P, Ferrari A, Förtsch SV, Gadioli E, Garzelli MV, Mairani A, Ottolenghi A, Pepe A, Pinsky LS, Sala PR, Scannicchio D, Steyn GF. Carbon induced reactions at low incident energies. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006. [DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/41/1/021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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48
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Facoetti A, Ballarini F, Cherubini R, Gerardi S, Nano R, Ottolenghi A, Prise KM, Trott KR, Zilio C. Gamma ray-induced bystander effect in tumour glioblastoma cells: a specific study on cell survival, cytokine release and cytokine receptors. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2006; 122:271-4. [PMID: 17251249 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncl431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Recent experimental evidence has challenged the paradigm according to which radiation traversal through the nucleus of a cell is a prerequisite for producing genetic changes or biological responses. Thus, unexposed cells in the vicinity of directly irradiated cells or recipient cells of medium from irradiated cultures can also be affected. The aim of the present study was to evaluate, by means of the medium transfer technique, whether interleukin-8 and its receptor (CXCR1) may play a role in the bystander effect after gamma irradiation of T98G cells in vitro. In fact the cell specificity in inducing the bystander effect and in receiving the secreted signals that has been described suggests that not only the ability to release the cytokines but also the receptor profiles are likely to modulate the cell responses and the final outcome. The dose and time dependence of the cytokine release into the medium, quantified using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, showed that radiation causes alteration in the release of interleukin-8 from exposed cells in a dose-independent but time-dependent manner. The relative receptor expression was also affected in exposed and bystander cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Facoetti
- Department of Animal Biology, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 10, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
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49
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Trovati S, Ballarini F, Battistoni G, Cerutti F, Fassò A, Ferrari A, Gadioli E, Garzelli MV, Mairani A, Ottolenghi A, Paretzke HG, Parini V, Pelliccioni M, Pinsky L, Sala PR, Scannicchio D, Zankl M. Human exposure to space radiation: role of primary and secondary particles. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2006; 122:362-6. [PMID: 17151013 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncl438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Human exposure to space radiation implies two kinds of risk, both stochastic and deterministic. Shielding optimisation therefore represents a crucial goal for long-term missions, especially in deep space. In this context, the use of radiation transport codes coupled with anthropomorphic phantoms allows to simulate typical radiation exposures for astronauts behind different shielding, and to calculate doses to different organs. In this work, the FLUKA Monte Carlo code and two phantoms, a mathematical model and a voxel model, were used, taking the Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR) spectra from the model of Badhwar and O'Neill. The time integral spectral proton fluence of the August 1972 Solar Particle Event (SPE) was represented by an exponential function. For each aluminium shield thickness, besides total doses the contributions from primary and secondary particles for different organs and tissues were calculated separately. More specifically, organ-averaged absorbed doses, dose equivalents and a form of 'biological dose', defined on the basis of initial (clustered) DNA damage, were calculated. As expected, the SPE doses dramatically decreased with increasing shielding, and doses in internal organs were lower than in skin. The contribution of secondary particles to SPE doses was almost negligible; however it is of note that, at high shielding (10 g cm(-2)), most of the secondaries are neutrons. GCR organ doses remained roughly constant with increasing Al shielding. In contrast to SPE results, for the case of cosmic rays, secondary particles accounted for a significant fraction of the total dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Trovati
- Department of Nuclear and Theoretical Physics, University of Pavia, via Bassi 6, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
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Ballarini F, Alloni D, Facoetti A, Mairani A, Nano R, Ottolenghi A. Modelling radiation-induced bystander effect and cellular communication. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2006; 122:244-51. [PMID: 17142819 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncl446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
In the last 10 years evidence has accumulated on the so-called radiation-induced 'non-targeted effects' and in particular on bystander effects, consisting of damage induction in non-irradiated cells most likely following the release of soluble factors by the irradiated ones. These phenomena were observed for different biological endpoints, both lethal and non-lethal for the cell. Although the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown, it is now widely recognised that two types of cellular communication (i.e. via gap junctions and/or release of molecular messengers into the extracellular environment) play a pivotal role. Furthermore, the effects can be significantly modulated by parameters such as cell type and cell-cycle stage, cell density, time after irradiation etc. Theoretical models and simulation codes can be of help to improve our knowledge of the mechanisms, as well as to investigate the possible role of these effects in determining deviations from the linear relationship between dose and risk which is generally applied in radiation protection. In this paper three models, including an approach under development at the University of Pavia, will be presented in detail. The focus will be on the various adopted assumptions, together with their implications in terms of non-targeted radiobiological damage and, more generally, low-dose radiation risk. Comparisons with experimental data will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Ballarini
- Dipartimento di Fisica Nucleare e Teorica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, via Bassi 6, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
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