ABSTRACT
Background: Environmental gamma ray refers to the gamma radiation from terrestrial sources and building materials. In enclosed spaces radiation can become a health hazard leading to potential increase in the rates of lung cancer. The goal of this study is to assess the exposure to natural gamma radiation of children in the schools of Zanjan province
Methods: The natural gamma radiation was assessed in 46 primary schools of Zanjan province. A total number of 75 classrooms were studied. The measurements were performed in classrooms and schoolyards using a Geiger-Muller detector [RDS-110]. Alongside radiation measurements, all the data corresponding to the characteristics of each school building were collected
Results: : The results showed that the outdoor dose rate ranged from 82 to 106nSv h-1 while gamma dose rate due to inside classrooms ranged from 106 to 137nSvh-1. The findings represented that the highest indoor gamma dose rate belonged to the buildings of more than 30 years and metal frame and brick [P<0.05]
Conclusion: We concluded that the effective dose due to gamma radiation from terrestrial sources and building materials for students of primary schools in Zanjan province [0.83 mSv] was higher than worldwide average of the annual effective dose [0.48 mSv]
ABSTRACT
Background: Gold nanoparticles [GNPs] play an important role in medical, health and environmental applications. All kinds of microorganisms were found to be able to synthesize GNPs. The optimization of laboratory conditions for achieving more economical benefits of mass production has been studied widely
Methods: This study assesses the enhancing effect of low-level X-rays on the biosynthesis of GNPs by Actinomycetals. The isolated Actinomycetes were grown aerobically in MGYP broth media. The harvested bacteria were suspended in 50 mL aqueous HAuCl4 in 12 Erlenmeyer flask. Each group contained4 flasks. 2 groups of samples were irradiated by 30 mGy and 5 mGy X-rays respectively. The third group as control remained without irradiation. The solutions were shake- incubated for 120 h
Results: After 5 days, the color of first group samples changed from milky to purple, while the color changing occurred after 10 days in the 2nd group samples and the control samples. The UV-vis absorption spectrometry of the irradiated aqueous medium by 30 mGy X-rays confirmed the formation of GNPs
Conclusion: The findings showed that 30 mGy X-rays stimulated the microorganism to form GNPs in a half time in comparison to other groups
ABSTRACT
Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer found in women, and screening is the best way to make an early diagnosis. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of screening mammography and related variables in the mammography center of Mousavi Hospital, located in Zanjan, Iran
Methods: This was a prospective descriptive study. Study sample size was 526 women who were selected by a convenience sampling method. Data collection instrument was a multi-section questionnaire and this was completed by a trained radiology technologist through interviews. In cases referred to ultrasonography or histopathological evaluation, follow-up of the women was conducted to obtain their results
Results: Results showed that the rate of screening mammography was 27.4%. Educated women and women, who had a family history of breast cancer, were more likely to have a screening mammography. Among the referrals, 71% were between the age of 30-50 years and the most common complaint in the diagnostic mammography patients was breast pain. The findings of mammography in 33% of patients were normal, 2.3% were malignant and the rest of the cases were as follows: dense breast, axillary lymph node, benign mass, fibrocystic breast and calcification. For the women who had a further evaluation; 26% were referred to ultrasonography, and 1.4% were referred for a breast biopsy. The findings of ultrasonography and pathology confirmed malignancy in 4 women
Conclusion: According to the study's results, there is a need to provide information and mass education about screening mammography, breast cancer risk factors and symptoms in Zanjan