Detection of breast cancer using non-invasive X-ray diffraction technique of hair: a preliminary study

Background: An early diagnosis of breast cancer relates directly to an accurate treatment plan and strategy. Early detection of breast cancer before its development would be a significant reduction of morbidity and mortality rates. The aim of this preliminary study is to investigate the sensitivity of Wide Angle X-ray diffraction [WAXRD] method on women hair samples of healthy and breast cancer patients in comparison with other modalities such as synchrotron based XRD beam and mammography. Materials and Methods: Hair samples were taken from occipital region of skull from healthy and breast cancer patients [43 women] were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and the results were analyzed and compared with mammography and pathology reports. Results: The results of analyzed samples showed the sensitivity for purposed WAXRD method was 86% in comparison with synchrotron based XRD beam [64%] and also with mammography [70%]. Conclusion: This non-invasive method is less harmful and is more sensitive than the two other methods and help the physicians for choosing accurate treatment plan

Measuring radionuclides concentration in rice field soils using gamma spectroscopy in northern Iran

A few elements of soil are radioactive. Soil can transfer radionuclide into plants feeding human. Sometimes their levels are as high as to be concern of human healthy. Rice has an important share for Iranian foods especially in north of Iran. Therefore we decided to obtain radionuclides concentration emitting g rays in Lahijan City [Northern Iran] rice fields using g spectroscopy. Twenty eight samples from rice field's soils and 12 samples from superficial soils were collected at a square of 10*10 m2 to get 2kg weight. To make dry samples were put into oven at 105oC for 24h. Then they were milled and 950 gr of each sample was transferred to Marinelli container with 1000cc volume, sealed and left for 40 days to get secular equilibrium. After measuring Ph, Electric conductivity and organic carbon, g spectroscopy was done to get sample gamma spectrum at 2000-6000 sec using HpGe detector. It was found 226Ra activity in rice fields of 29.273 +/- 0.72 Bqkg-1 and city soil of 31.02 +/- 1.1 Bqkg-1 and also 232Th activity of 37.47 +/- 1.12 Bqkg-1 for rice fields' soils and 40.47 +/- 1.68 Bqkg-1 for city soil were in standard mode. 40K activities mean value according to UNSCEAR; 2000 was found a little greater than standard. A little value of 137Cs was found in Lahijan rice fields and city soils that could be as a result of Chernobyl accident. In except of 137Cs, for three other under studied city soil elements, activities were greater than that of rice fields

Evaluation of the physical characteristic of Cerrobend blocks used for radiation therapy

In Radiation Therapy, the sparing of normal tissues can be performed using either multi-leaf collimators or Cerrobend blocks. The current work focuses on the physical characteristics of Cerrobend blocks including attenuation coefficient, effective penumbra width and isodose curves undulation in penumbral regions. All measurements were performed using a dual energy linac and the Cerrobend blocks designed and fabricated using a commercial Cerrobend material. Data were collected using a calibrated ionization chamber as well as EDR2 films. The results showed that the attenuation coefficient was found to be 0.4475 and 0.4276 cm[-1] for photon beams 6MV and 15 MV, respectively, and a potential air bubble with a diameter greater than 3 mm affects beam attenuation significantly. The optimum Cerrobend block width was found to be around 16 mm. The isodose curves scalloping achieved for secondary collimator jaws, were also similar. If Cerrobend blocks are used as a basic method to protect normal tissues, its physical characteristics will be recommended to be taken into account comprehensively

Measurement of [226]Ra, [228]Ra, [137]Cs and [40]K in edible parts of two types of leafy vegetables cultivated in Tehran province-Iran and resultant annual ingestion radiation dose

The sources of radioactivity in the environment have natural, terrestrial and extraterrestrial, and anthropogenic origins. Plants may get radioactive nuclides in two ways: [i] by the deposition of radioactive fallout, [ii] by absorption from the soil. The concentrations of the natural radionuclides [[226]Ra, [228]Ra, [40]K] and the artificial radionuclide [[137]Cs] in leek and parsley in Tehran province-Iran were determined using HPGe. Also the effective dose due to the ingestion of such vegetables by the population of Tehran province was studied. The average value of radionuclide concentrations in parsley samples were measured 177.69 +/- 12.47 mBq kg[-1] fresh for [226]Ra; 349.62 +/- 28.42 mBq kg[-1] fresh for [228]Ra; 187364.6 mBq kg[-1] fresh for [40]K. The average value of radionuclide concentrations in leek samples were measured 94.31 +/- 6.46 mBq kg[-1] fresh for [226]Ra; 207.47 +/- 19.46 mBq kg[-1] fresh for [228]Ra; 174555 +/- 1704.21 mBq kg[-1] fresh for [40]K. The concentrations of [137]Cs in most of Parsley and Leek samples were below the minimum detectable activity [MDA]. The Average [226]Ra and [228]Ra activities in 29 leek and parsley samples were about 2.63 and 6.78 times the reference values, respectively. The annual effective dose resulting from the studied radionuclides for the adult population in Tehran province were found to be safe in comparison with normal background areas

Acquiring molecular interference functions of X-ray coherent scattering for breast tissues by combination of simulation and experimental methods

Recently, it has been indicated that X-ray coherent scatter from biological tissues can be used to access signature of tissue. Some scientists are interested in studying this effect to get early detection of breast cancer. Since experimental methods for optimization are time consuming and expensive, some scientists suggest using simulation. Monte Carlo [MC] codes are the best option for radiation simulation; however, one permanent defect with MC codes has been the lack of a sufficient physical model for coherent [Rayleigh] scattering, including molecular interference effects. It was decided to obtain molecular interference functions of coherent X-ray scattering for normal breast tissues by combination of modeling and experimental methods. A Monte Carlo simulation program was written to simulate the angular distribution of scattered photons for the normal breast tissue samples. Moreover, experimental diffraction patterns of these tissues were measured by means of energy dispersive X-ray diffraction [EDXRD] method. The simulation and experimental data were used to obtain a tabulation of molecular interference functions for breast tissues. With this study a tabulation of molecular interference functions for normal breast tissues was prepared to facilitate the simulation diffraction patterns of the tissues without any experimental. The method may lead to design new systems for early detection of breast cancer

study of densitometry comparison among three radiographic processing solutions

The radiographic image accuracy depends on the X-ray film information visibility. Good visibility is found by good contrast. Radiation exposure parameters [kVp, mAs] and film processing conditions have impact on contrast. In dentistry radiography machines, exposure time and processing procedure are set by radiographer. No optimized exposure time and processing conditions may lead to incorrect diagnosis and re-exposure of the patient. Therefore, we studied the performance of the three different available processing solutions with dental X-ray film. Dental intraoral E-speed films, size 2 [Kodak company, USA] were used in this study. These films were developed in a manual processor using three different brands of processing solution: 1] Taifsaz [Iran], 2] Darutasvir [Iran] and 3] Agfa [Germany] for temperatures of 25°C, 28°C and 30°C at the three different exposure times, 0.2 s, 0.25 s and 0.35 s. Performance was evaluated with respect to base plus fog, relative contrast and relative speed. Darutasvir processing solution as the cheapest one showed higher base plus fog density at 25°C and 30°C than that of Taifsaz and Agfa solutions. Also, Darutasvir solution was found to have better relative contrast than that of the others, except for 30°C at 0.25 s. Relative speed was higher in Darutsavir solution than Agfa for 25oC at three exposure times used in this study, for 28oC at 0.2 s and for 30°C at 0.35 s. Taifsaz Processing solution was in the second order with respect to tested conditions. Comparison among available X-ray film processing solutions for different temperatures at different exposure times can help to maintain image quality while patient exposure and film cost are kept considerably low

Application of small angle X-ray scattering [SAXS] for differentiation between normal and cancerous breast tissues

Small angle X-ray scattering [to angles less than 10[degree sign]] is predominantly coherent. Coherent scattering leads to diffraction effects and especially constructive interferences. These interferences carry some information about the molecular structure of the tissue. As breast cancer is the most widespread cancer in women, this project evaluated the application of small angle X-ray scattering [SAXS] for differentiation between normal and cancerous breast tissues. The energy dispersive method with a set up including X-ray tube, primary collimator, sample holder, secondary collimator and HP Ge detector was used. The best constructive interference was found to be at 6.5[degree sign] after doing experiments on adipose breast tissue at several angles of 4, 5, 6, 6.5 and 7.3 degrees. The total number of 99 breast tissue samples, including normal and tumor were studied at the 6.5[degree sign]. The corrected intensity versus momentum transfer was obtained for each sample. Adipose tissue shows a sharp peak in low momentum transfer region. It is easy to separate adipose tissue and mixed tissue [adipose and fibroglandular] from tumor in peak positions [each coherent scattering spectrum has a peak that its position is determined by momentum transfer]. Furthermore adipose tissue has shown significantly higher peaks than other breast tissues. Benign and malignant breast tissues were differentiated by both peak positions and peak heights [each peak has a height in coherent scattering spectrum]. Preservation of samples nitrogen tank had no effects on molecular structure of the breast tissue. By energy dispersive small angle X-ray scattering, it is possible to differentiate between normal, benign and malignant breast tissues

Application of small angle X-ray scattering [SAXS] with synchrotron facility in differentiation between normal and tumoral breast tissues

Breast cancer is the most widespread cancer in women. Early detection of this disease has been identified as a major effective factor to save the lives of many women. The ability of small angle X-ray scattering to provide molecular in formations on live tissue has led to investigate the possibility of exploiting coherent scattered X-rays as a diagnostic tool in breast cancer. In this study an angular dispersive set up was used in Daresbury laboratory [UK]. 84 human breast tissue biopsies including 50 cancerous and 34 normal tissues were studied. For this study a beam size of 0.5 mm2 at the sample and a wavelength of 1.54 ? were used. The other included conditions were, the sample to detector distance [SSD], 2000 m and exposure time of 200 sec. Data were recorded using the Daresbury 2-D multiwire proportional counter operated at 512 512 pixels. The region between the specimen and detector was evacuated to minimize air scatter. With exposure to the each sample, at first a two dimensional image was produced and then the corrected intensity versus momentum transfer [Q] was plotted by using PCDetpack software. It was found that there was a noticeable coherent intensity difference between tumor and normal breast tissues especially in the range of Q from 0.4-0.7 nm-1, that the coherent X-ray scattering intensity in the tumor breast tissue was significantly higher [P < 0.0001, CI= 95%] than in the normal breast tissue in the 0.4-0.7 nm -1 range. In this study, by using 2 m distance of camera collagen diffraction peaks were seen at 0.3 and 0.45 nm-1. Applying SAXS, it is possible to differentiate normal and tumoral breast tissues as separated groups [P < 0.0001, CI = 95%], on the base of integrated intensity, in the 0.4-0.7 nm -1 range. Since having collagen damge in tumors, is probable therefore, it is suggested to do some cytocellular examinations on tumoral tissues

Determination of Superficial Dose Profile in Z-Line for Each Slice in CT. Scan Machines

CT.Scan examinations cause high patient absorbed dose from x-ray ionizing radiation. Therefore it is necessary to obtain superficial dose profile in Z-line. In this research 11 thermoluminecent dosimeter [TLD], after calibration were located on Z line perpendicular to slice thickness. CT.Scan machines did X-ray exposures. The resultant dose profiles showed gussian shape apperience, which has severed dose reduction off the slice thickness. By attention to high patient absorbed dose in CT.Scan machines, it is better to referre that patients towards any other diagnostic methods with lower risk and reasonable quality