[en] The authors observed that low gamma-ray doses regularly improve the survival (plating efficiency) above that of unirradiated control cultures. It is postulated that this could arise through inducible DNA repair, and would have profound effects on the interpretation of cell culture experiments. (author)

[en] When isolated nuclei of human lymphocytes are challenged with 2M NaCl a histone-free-DNA-protein (HF-DNA) complex is released. In a linear sucrose gradient (pH 8.0) the sedimentation distance of HF-DNA is reduced when immediately isolated from cells irradiated in vitro. At low doses, if irradiated cells are incubated at 37⁰C, sedimentation behaviour approaches that of unirradiated cells (i.e. repair). Such repair was usually complete within 1 h. Radiation damage to lymphocytes from a healthy donor group and three patient groups consisting of new patients (before radiotherapy), well patients (2 to 6 years post-radiotherapy) and patients with complications attributed to radiotherapy was similar. Lymphocytes from most healthy donors and new patients demonstrated complete repair of radiation damage following an incubation of 1 h at 37⁰C. 2/29 (6.9%) healthy donors and 2/25 (8%) new patients demonstrated poor repair. Of those patients with 'bowel complications' attributed to radiotherapy 7/16 (44%) demonstrated poor repair. All those (11/11) described as 'well and complication-free' showed good repair. (author)

[en] By using poly(A)-selected RNA from Berne virus (BEV)-infected embryonic mule skin cells as a template, cDNA was prepared and cloned in plasmid pUC9. Recombinants covering a contiguous sequence of about 10 kilobases were identified. Northern (RNA) blot hybridizations with various restriction fragments from these clones showed that the five BEV mRNAs formed a 3'-coterminal nested set. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of four complete open reading frames of 4743, 699, 426, and 480 nucleotides, with initiation codons coinciding with the 5' ends of BEV RNAs 2 through 5, respectively. By using primer extension analysis and oligonucleotide hybridizations, RNA 5 was found to be contiguous on the consensus sequence. The transcription of BEV mRNAs was studied by means of UV mapping. BEV RNAs 1, 2, and 3 were shown to be transcribed independently, which is also likely--although not rigorously proven--for RNAs 4 and 5. Upstream of the AUG codon of each open reading frame a conserved sequence pattern was observed which is postulated to function as a core promoter sequence in subgenomic RNA transcription. In the area surrounding the core promoter region of the two most abundant subgenomic BEV RNAs, a number of homologous sequence motifs were identified

[en] The radiosensitivities and the kinetics for removal of radiation-induced DNA damage were compared for proliferative (P) and quiescent (Q) cells of the lines 66 and 67 derived from a mouse mammary adenocarcinoma. As determined from cell survival assays, the 66 and 67 Q cells were more radiosensitive than their 66 and 67 P counterparts. The rank order of their radiosensitivity was: 67 Q>66 Q≥67 P>66 P. Induction of radiation damage in the DNA of these cells, as measured by the alkaline elution technique, was identical for 66 and 67 P and Q cells. The repair of this DNA damage was biphasic for 66 and 67 P and Q cells. The half-times for the fast and slow repair phases in 66 Q cells were identical to those previously measured in 67 Q cells. The half-times of the fast and slow repair phases in 66 P cells were also identical to those previously measured in 67 P cells. However, the half-times for the fast and slow repair phases in 66 and 67 Q cells were longer than those measured in their 66 and 67 P counterparts. The 66 cell data are consistent with our previously published hypothesis that Q cells are more radiosensitive than their corresponding P cells because they repair their radiation-induced DNA damage slower. However, our results are not consistent with hypotheses that attempt to explain the radiosensitivity differences between lines 66 and 67 solely on the basis of measurable induction and repair of DNA damage. (orig.)

[en] Six numerical examples of optimization of radiation protection are provided in the appendices of International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Publication No. 37 (1983). In each case, the calculations were based on well-defined parameters and assumptions. In this paper, we examined three different numerical examples that were based on empirical data and less-certain assumptions. In the first example, the optimum sampling frequency for a typical 3H bioassay program was found to be once every 2 mo. However, this result depended on assumed values for several variables that were difficult to evaluate. The second example showed that the optimum frequency for recalibrating a group of cutie pie (CP) ionization chamber survey instruments was once every 85 d. This result depended largely on the assumption that an improperly operating CP instrument could lead to a serious overexposure. In the third example, one continuous air monitor (CAM) was determined to be the optimum number in a workplace at a Department of Energy (DOE) Pu facility. The optimum location of the CAM was determined from past glove-box release studies. These examples demonstrated that cost-benefit analysis of individual elements of radiation protection programs can be useful even if limited data are available

[en] In order to estimate the public radiation burden from nuclear medicine studies, a TLD chip in a sealed plastic bag was taped on the abdomen of patients who received ¹¹¹In as chloride or oxine, ²⁰¹T1 chloride, or one of four common ^99mTc agents. The TLD chip was removed after 24 h. Additionally, abdominal skin surface exposure rate measurements were performed with an ionization chamber survey meter at various times (0 to about 60 h). There was superb correlation between TLD and integrated exposure rate measurements and between TLD and ionization chamber measurements and MIRD calculated doses. Scenarios postulated for exposure of co-workers and family members yielded doses between 7 muSv (0.7 mrem) and 20 muSv (2 mrem) for the selected radiopharmaceuticals. Calculations of the total population exposure from nuclear medicine procedures indicate the per capita dose (amortized over the entire population) is approximately 0.4 muSv (0.04 mrem), a negligible dose compared to natural background and total medical irradiation

[en] Gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) enhancement of radiation-induced apical pulmonary fibrosis was observed in two patients previously treated for breast cancer. In one case the fibrosis was biopsied twice, with no change in its CT appearance over 3 years. Gadolinium-DTPA may enhance benign apical fibrosis after radiation therapy and should not, in and of itself, be used as evidence of recurrent malignancy

[en] We studied the relation of radon exposure and tobacco use to lung cancer among tin miners in Yunnan Province in the People's Republic of China. Interviews were conducted in 1985 with 107 living tin miners with lung cancer and an equal number of age-matched controls from among tin miners without lung cancer to obtain information on lung cancer risk factors including a detailed history of employment and tobacco use. Occupational history was combined with extensive industrial hygiene data to estimate cumulative working level months (WLM) of radon daughter exposure. Similar data were also used to estimate arsenic exposure for control in the analysis. Results indicate an increased risk of lung cancer for water pipe smoking, a traditional form of tobacco use practiced in 91% of cases and 85% of controls. The use of water pipes was associated with a twofold elevation in risk when compared with tobacco abstainers, and a dose-response relation was observed with increasing categories of pipe-year (dose times duration) usage. Estimated WLM of radon exposure varied from 0 to 1,761 among subjects but averaged 515 in cases versus only 244 in controls. Analyses indicated that the persons in the highest quarter of the radon exposure distribution had an odds ratio (OR) = 9.5 (95% confidence interval = 2.7-33.1) compared to persons without radon exposure after controlling for arsenic exposure and other potential confounders. Examination of duration and rate of radon exposure indicated higher risk associated with long duration as opposed to high rate of exposure. Cross-categorizations of radon exposure and tobacco use suggest greater risk associated with radon exposure than tobacco in these workers

[en] N(isopropyl)- and N(isobutyl)-Iodo-amphetamine were double labelled with ¹³¹I and deuterium. The deuterium labelled radiopharmaceuticals showed in mice and rats a higher brain uptake and a lower blood concentration than the controls (injection of the ¹³¹I-labelled amphetamine without deuterium). The deuterium effect does not increase with higher deuterium content in the radiopharmaceuticals. (author)

[en] Radiation damage from ²⁴¹Am to bone marrow cells was manifest in long-term bone marrow cultures (LTC) from offspring of mice radiocontaminated at 14th day of gestation (119, 479, 803, 1754 kBq ²⁴¹Am kg). Offspring were reared by their own contaminated mother for 3 weeks postnatal. LTC from these offspring were less able to support in vitro CFC proliferation than control LTC. This radiation damage persisted 71 weeks after radiocontamination in utero. Damage was observed at lower doses if ²⁴¹Am contamination occurred at foetal rather than adult ages. Radiation damage was observed only using LTC. After culturing LTC in 25% FCS and recharging the stromal adherent layer with bone marrow cell suspensions originating either from control offspring or from offspring contaminated with ²⁴¹Am in utero evidence was found that the proliferation capacity of haemopoietic cells was diminished. However, the nature of effects on the stromal elements is currently somewhat equivocal. Following in utero contamination stromal adherent cells appeared to support better production of in vitro CFC. (author)