Prevention of gamma-radiation-induced DNA damage in human lymphocytes using a serine-magnesium sulfate mixture

Objectives: Ionising radiation has deleterious effects on human cells. N-acetylcysteine [NAC] and cysteine, the active metabolite of NAC, are well-known radioprotective agents. Recently, a serine-magnesium sulfate combination was proposed as an antidote for organophosphate toxicity. This study aimed to investigate the use of a serine-magnesium sulfate mixture in the prevention of gamma-radiation-induced DNA damage in human lymphocytes as compared to NAC and cysteine

Methods: This study was carried out at the Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, between April and September 2016. Citrated blood samples of 7 mL each were taken from 22 healthy subjects. Each sample was divided into 1 mL aliquots, with the first aliquot acting as the control while the second was exposed to 2 Gy of gamma-radiation at a dose rate of 102.7 cGy/minute. The remaining aliquots were separately incubated with 600 micro M concentrations each of serine, magnesium sulfate, serine-magnesium sulfate, NAC and cysteine before being exposed to 2 Gy of gamma-radiation. Lymphocytes were isolated using a separation medium and methyl-thiazole-tetrazolium and comet assays were used to evaluate cell viability and DNA damage, respectively

Results: The serine-magnesium sulfate mixture significantly increased lymphocyte viability and reduced DNA damage in comparison to serine, magnesium sulfate, NAC or cysteine alone [P <0.01 each]

Conclusion: The findings of the present study support the use of a serine-magnesium sulfate mixture as a new, non-toxic, potent and efficient radioprotective agent

Non invasive XRF analysis of human hair for health state determination of breast tissue

Background: Using hair samples to analyze the trace element concentrations is of interest among many researchers. X-ray fluorescence [XRF] and X-ray diffraction [XRD] are the most common methods in studying the structure and concentration of elements of tissues and also crystalline materials, using low energy X-ray

Objectives: In the present study, the detection ability of Wave Length X-ray Fluorescence [WLXRF] of breast cancer at early stages was evaluated and the results were compared with other routine modalities such as mammography

Materials and Methods: Hair samples of 54 women [including 27 healthy and 27 patients] with average age of 52.03 +/- 11.44 years were analyzed. All the sample donors were Iranian women. For the measurements Wave Length X-ray Fluorescence [WLXRF] method was used

Results: Trace elements in healthy individuals were higher than those in cancer patients. In addition, sensitivity of the used method [WLXRF] was 96% compared to mammography [77%] as a gold standard for breast cancer detection

Conclusions: Trace elements in healthy individuals were higher than cancer patients and it seems that WLXRF may be used as a safe, low cost and reliable method with sensitivity higher than those of the other two relevant methods, XRD and mammography

Evaluation of the role of metabolites in the diagnosis of the brain tumors using the MRS of the intensified nuclear magnet

Nowadays brain tumors remain as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality and are often treatment refractory. The grading of brain tumor has an important implication in clinical management. Currently, magnetic resonance spectroscopy [MRS] is an important modality in evaluating and grading brain tumors. The aim of this study is evaluation of metabolites in the differentiation of brain tumors and grading of brain gliomas using HMRS [proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy].The studies were performed using single voxel MRS ¡3Tesla with pulse of sequence used for MRS was point resolved single volume spectroscopy [PRESS]with repetition time [TR] 1000-6000ms and echo time [TE] 36-136ms and The detected distinguished metabolites was included Choline [Cho], Creatin [Cr], and N-acetyl a aspartate [NAA], 37cases had data which passed quality control. The Patient ages ranged from 7 To 81 years, 17 were male and 20 female.MRS data was processed using SYNGO software to give mean spectra and metabolite concentrations which were compared using min it a band SPSS. To test the primary hypothesis, univariate logistic regression was performed on each individual measured metabolite quantity. Significant differences were found in concentrations of key metabolites and Cho/NAA and Cho/Cr ratios using T-test and significance [P

Measurement of [226]Ra, [232]Th, [137]Cs and [40]K activities of wheat and corn products in Ilam province - Iran and resultant annual ingestion radiation dose

Natural background radiation is the main source of human exposure to radioactive material. Soils naturally have radioactive mineral contents. The aim of this study is to determine natural [[238] U, [232] Th, [40] K] and artificial [[137] Cs] radioactivity levels in wheat and corn fields of Eilam province. HPGe detector was used to measure the concentration activity of [238]U and [232]Th, [40] K and [137] Cs in wheat and corn samples taken from different regions of Eilam province, in Iran. In wheat and corn samples, the average activity concentrations of [226] Ra, [232] Th, [40]K and [137] Cs were found to be 1,67, 0.5, 91.73, 0.01 and 0.81, 0.85, 101.52, 0.07Bp/ kg [dry weight], respectively. H[ex] and H[in] in the present work are lower than 1. The average value of H[ex] was found to be 0.02 and 0.025 and average value of H[in] to be found 0.025 and 0.027 in wheat fields samples and corn samples in Eilam provinces, respectively. The obtained values of AGDE are 30.49 mSv/ yr for wheat filed samples and 37.89 mSv/ yr for corn samples; the AEDE rate values are 5.28 mSv/yr in wheat filed samples and this average value was found to be 6.13 mSv/yr in corn samples in Eilam. Transfer factors [TFs] of long lived radionuclide such as [137]Cs, [226]Ra, [232] Th and [40]K from soils to corn and wheat plants have been studied by radiotracer experiments. The natural radioactivity levels in Eilam province are not at the range of high risk of morbidity and are under international standards

Radiology employees' quality of work life

Quality of work Life [QWL] originates from interactions between employees' needs and relative organizational resources. QWL is aimed to improve and retain employees' satisfaction, productivity and effectiveness of all organizations. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 15 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. A Cross-Sectional, descriptive study was conducted among 15 Tehran University of Medical Sciences' Hospitals' Radiology Departments' Employees by QWL questionnaire. Respondents were asked to express their attitudes about a range of key factors as the most important issues impacting their QWL. The data was collected and analyzed by SPSS version 15 software. Most of the respondents indicated that they were unsatisfied and very unsatisfied with key factors of their QWL. Comparison of QWL key factors of TUMS radiology employees with the other countries indicated that most of the employees are unsatisfied with their poor QWL factors. We hope, the implications of these findings deliberate to improve QWL within each of TUMS hospitals radiology departments and also be relevant and value to policymakers of healthcare organizations in Iran