[en] This article emphasizes the importance of the program on radiation protection; making a historical review since the creation of IAN. Its objectives, functions and development in the different sections, and its present and future perspectives are presented

[en] Since its beginnings, the Agricultural Area had a selected research team involved in the development of different agricultural techniques. Currently, there are two main branches engaged in the solution of agricultural problems: Soil fertility and induced mutations. Soil fertility: Within this branch, studies on soil nutrients and availability of water and light resources, have been made by using isotope methods. In the near future studies on nitrogen and potassium content in potato, rice and wheat plantations will be held. Induced mutations: The main objective of this team is to obtain through radioinduced mutations, as well as in vitro growth, improved rice and other cereal seeds to be used under hostile environmental conditions. The further goal will be to develop new genotypes straight from the mutants or by utilization of this material as breeding materials in interchange programs

[en] The article reviews the historical development of the nuclear medicine in Colombia and the primordial role of the IAN in this field. The main objective of the Biochemistry and Radiopharmacy Area is go to give technical support for the application of the nuclear energy in the human and veterinary medicine. The department has laboratories for the production of radiopharmaceuticals to be labelled with Tc-99m and quality control of the same human and veterinary RIA. Each one of the laboratories develops its work in three different areas: research and development, production, training and teaching. An actualization of the programs, results and publications are analyzed in this review also. Some of these programs have the support of the IAEA

[en] Potato tubers Solatum tuberosum L. cv. Alpha were irradiated with 0.12 kgy and stored at room temperature. The endogenous hormones were extracted and determined using bioassay at dormant, budding and sprouting stages. The studied promoters were IAA, IAN, GA3 and Gibberellin like substances besides the inhibitors which included ABA and B-inhibitors. The results indicated that IAA was more sensitive to irradiation than IAN, GA3 but ABA was more stable than B-inhibitors during the dormancy. Irradiation decreased IAA and Gibberellin like substances and B-inhibitors but no change was observed in ABA content at dormant period. Irradiation caused a balance between promoters inhibitors at the end of tuber storage and after tubers sprouting

[en] Geriatric oncology is defined by the multidimensional and multidisciplinary approach of the elderly cancer patients. Autonomy, beneficence, non maleficence and justice are the four fundamental principles on which are based the treatment objectives and practical management of these patients. The Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment is the most used tool to detect the functional problems in these elderly patients. The standard oncologic managements of cancer is applies to these patients. However treatment plan and geriatric interventions must be adapted to each individual characteristics of the patients.Thus a strong interdependence between oncologic and geriatric teams is warranted. This implies specific teaching programs during initial medical studies and in the setting of continuous medical education. Furthermore, such wold wide teaching programs may help to the implementation of Geriatric Oncology. In the Geriatric Oncology Program in Lyon we have developed a specific miniassessement to be practiced in an oncologic setting. Geriatric data were obtained by the version of the geriatric multidimensional assessment tool, which we have called minimal comprehensive geriatric assessment” or mini-CGA. This procedure has been designed to collect information on several major domains including medical (co-morbidity), functional, cognitive, affective, social, and environmental aspects. It is essentially based on a very careful medical examination. We also used other evaluation tools previously validated in elderly people. Dependence was measured using three tools: Katz’s Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) scale that focuses on six basic activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, toile ting, transferring, continence, and feeding); Lawton’s Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) scale that appraises more complex activities essential for independence in community residence; and the Karnofsky Performance scale (KPS) that is widely used in the oncology setting to subjectively appreciate performance status. Folstein’s Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to evaluate patient cognitive status. Depressive symptoms were detected with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Nutritional status was assessed through the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA). The Performance-Oriented Assessment of Mobility instrument provided information on patient physical ability and fall risk. Co morbidity, that corresponds to all medical conditions a patient may have, excluding the disease of primary interest, was assessed using the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale-Geriatrics (CIRS-G). This scale classifies co morbid events by organ system affected, and rates their severity from 0 to 4, with a grading similar to that of the Common Toxicity Criteria scale (none, mild, moderate, severe, extremely severe/life-threatening). This scale has 14 organ system categories and collects information such as the total number of categories involved, total score, severity index (total score/total number of categories involved), the number of categories at level 3 severity, the number of categories at level 4 severity. We also assessed biological functions such as hemoglobin, white blood cell count and differential, creatinine clearance, serum albumin level. Mini-CGA is performed by a multidisciplinary team, including a geriatric ian, a medical oncologist (geriatrics certified), a social worker, a dietician, a physiotherapist, a pharmacist and a research nurse. Each mini-CGA evaluation lasts from ninety to one hundred and twenty minutes. At the end of the procedure, both the geriatric ian and the oncologist draw up an inventory of the different problems identified, and propose an individualized intervention program with specific advice on cancer treatment options