Colorimetric detection of serum creatinine on a miniaturized platform using hue-saturation-value space analysis.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a widespread condition with considerable health and economic impacts globally. However, existing methodologies for serum creatinine assessment often involve prolonged wait times and sophisticated equipment, such as spectrometers, hindering real-time diagnosis and care. Innovative solutions like point-of-care (POC) devices are emerging to address these challenges. In this context, there is a recognized need for remote, regular, automated, and low-cost analysis of serum creatinine levels, given its role as a critical parameter for CKD diagnosis and management. This study introduces a miniaturized system with integrated heater elements designed for precise serum creatinine measurement. The system operates based on the Jaffe method and accurate serum creatinine measurement within a microreservoir chip. Smartphone-based image processing using the hue-saturation-value (HSV) color space was applied to captured images of microreservoirs. The creatinine analyses were conducted in serum with a limit of detection of ~ 0.4 mg/dL and limit of quantification of ~ 1.3 mg/dL. Smartphone-based image processing employing the HSV color space outperformed spectrometric analysis for creatinine measurement conducted in serum. This pioneering technology and smartphone-based processing offer the potential for decentralized renal function testing, which could significantly contribute to improved patient care. The miniaturized system offers a low-cost alternative ($87 per device), potentially reducing healthcare expenditures (~ $0.5 per test) associated with CKD diagnosis and management. This innovation could greatly improve access to diagnosis and monitoring of CKD, especially in regions where access to sophisticated laboratory equipment is limited.

Radiosensitization with metallic nanoparticles under MeV proton beams: local dose enhancement.

In addition to specific dosimetric properties of protons, their higher biological effectiveness makes them superior to X-rays and gamma radiation, in radiation therapy. In recent years, enrichment of tumours with metallic nanoparticles as radiosensitizer agents has generated high interest, with several studies attempting to confirm the efficacy of nanoparticles in proton therapy. In the present study Geant4 Monte Carlo (MC) code was used to quantify the increased nanoscopic dose deposition of 50 nm metallic nanoparticles including gold, bismuth, iridium, and gadolinium in water upon exposure to 5, 25, and 50 MeV protons. Dose enhancement factors, radial dose distributions in nano-scale, as well as secondary electron and photon energy spectra were calculated for the studied nanoparticles and proton beams. The obtained results demonstrated that in the presence of metallic nanoparticles an increase in proton energy leads to a decrease in secondary electron and photon production yield. Additionally, an increase in the radial dose enhancement factor from 1.4 to 16 was calculated for the studied nanoparticles when the proton energy was increased from 5 to 50 MeV. It is concluded that the dosimetric advantages of proton beams could be improved significantly in the presence of metallic nanoparticles.

Evaluating deposited radiation energy amount and collision quantities of small-molecule radiosensitizers through Monte Carlo simulations.

This study investigates the photon interaction mechanism of various small molecule radiosensitizers, including Hydrogen Peroxide, Nimorazole, 5-Fluorouracil, NVX-108, and others, using the MCNP 6.3 Monte Carlo simulation code. The simulations focused on quantifying the linear attenuation coefficients, mean free path, and accumulation factors of these radiosensitizers, as well as their interactions in a simulated spherical water phantom irradiated with a 100 keV mono-energetic X-ray source. Our findings reveal significant variations in deposited energy, collision events, and mean free path among the radiosensitizers, indicating different efficacy levels in enhancing radiation therapy. Notably, NVX-108 demonstrated the highest energy deposition, suggesting its potential as a highly effective radiosensitizer. The study also examined the individual attenuation properties of these radiosensitizers against energetic photons, with NVX-108 showing the highest attenuation coefficient and a shorter mean free path, further supporting its superior potential in effective radiosensitization. It can be concluded that NVX-108 has higher interaction tendency with the energetic photons comparing other small-molecules under investigation.

In-depth exploration of the radiation exposure to staff performing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedures (ERCP) through RANDO phantom and TLDs.

This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the occupational radiation exposure faced by healthcare professionals during Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures. Utilizing an anthropomorphic RANDO phantom equipped with Thermoluminescent Dosimeters (TLDs), we replicated ERCP scenarios to measure radiation doses received by medical staff. The study meticulously assessed radiation exposure in various corresponding body regions typically occupied by medical staff during ERCP, with a focus on eyes, thyroid, hands, and reproductive corresponding organ regions. The findings revealed significant variations in radiation doses across different body parts, highlighting areas of higher exposure and underscoring the need for improved protective measures and procedural adjustments. The effective radiation doses were calculated using standard protocols, considering the varying levels of protection offered by lead aprons and thyroid shields. The results demonstrate the substantial radiation exposure experienced by healthcare staff, particularly in regions not adequately shielded. This study emphasizes the necessity for enhanced radiation safety protocols in clinical settings, advocating for advanced protective equipment, training in radiation safety, and the exploration of alternative imaging modalities. The findings have crucial implications for both patient and staff safety, ensuring the continued efficacy and safety of ERCP and similar interventional procedures. This research contributes significantly to the field of occupational health and safety in interventional radiology, providing vital data for the development of safer medical practices.

The effect of Annona muricata (Graviola) on the prevention of brain damage due to ionizing radiation in rats.

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the effect of ethanol extract of Annona Muricata (AM) leaves in the prevention of brain damage caused by ionizing radiation (IR). This study was conducted in the Experimental Animal Research Unit of a university with 28 adults female Wistar Albino rats. The experimental groups were as follows: Control group (n = 8), AM group (n = 6), IR group (n = 8), AM + IR group (n = 6). In the IR group, astrocyte hypertrophy, microglial reaction and inflammatory reaction levels were significantly higher than the control and AM groups (P < 0.001). Edema was significantly higher in the IR group compared to the control group (P=0.001). The MDA of the IR group was significantly higher compared to the control group and AM group (P=0.031, P=0.006, respectively). The MDA of the AM + IR group was significantly higher than the AM group (P=0.039). Our findings show that histomorphology and oxidant damage caused by IR can be ameliorated using AM, as demonstrated by the comparison of the controls to AM + IR recipients, which showed similar histomorphology and oxidant damage levels.

An investigation on protection properties of Tantalum (V) oxide reinforced glass screens on unexposed breast tissue for mammography examinations.

INTRODUCTION: The utilization of radiation shielding material positioned between the both breasts are crucial for the reduction of glandular dose and the safeguarding of the contralateral breast during mammographic procedures. This study proposes an alternative substance for shielding the contralateral breast from radiation exposure during mammography screening. METHODS: In this study, we present an analysis of the shielding effectiveness of transparent glass that has been doped with Tantalum (V) oxide encoded as BTZT6. The evaluation of this shielding material was conducted using the MCNPX code, specifically for the ipsilateral and contralateral breasts. The design of the left and right breast phantoms involved the creation of three-layer heterogeneous breast phantoms, consisting of varying proportions of glandular tissue (25%, 50%, and 75%). The design of BTZT6 and lead-acrylic shielding screens is implemented using the MCNPX code. The comparative analysis of dose outcomes is conducted to assess the protective efficacy of BTZT6 and lead-acrylic shielding screens. RESULTS: The utilization of BTZT6 shielding material resulted in a reduction in both breast dose and skin dose exposure when compared to the lead-acrylic shield. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings acquired, the utilization of BTZT6 shielding material screens during mammography procedures involving X-rays with energy levels ranging from 26 to 30 keV is associated with a decrease in radiation dose. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: It can be inferred that the utilization of BTZT6 demonstrates potential efficacy in mitigating excessive radiation exposure to the breasts and facilitating the quantification of glandular doses in mammography procedures.

Investigating influences of intravenous fluids on HUVEC and U937 monocyte cell lines using the magnetic levitation method.

Intravenous fluids are being widely used in patients of all ages for preventing or treating dehydration in the intensive care units, surgeries in the operation rooms, or administering chemotherapeutic drugs at hospitals. Dextrose, Ringer, and NaCl solutions are widely received as intravenous fluids by hospitalized patients. Despite their widespread administration for over 100 years, studies on their influences on different cell types have been very limited. Increasing evidence suggests that treatment outcomes might be altered by the choice of the administered intravenous fluids. In this study, we investigated the influences of intravenous fluids on human endothelial (HUVEC) and monocyte (U937) cell lines using the magnetic levitation technique. Our magnetic levitation platform provides label-free manipulation of single cells without altering their phenotypic or genetic properties. It allows for monitoring and quantifying behavior of single cells by measuring their levitation heights, deformation indices, and areas. Our results indicate that HUVEC and U937 cell lines respond differently to different intravenous fluids. Dextrose solution decreased the viability of both cell lines while increasing the heterogeneity of areas, deformation, and levitation heights of HUVEC cells. We strongly believe that improved outcomes can be achieved when the influences of intravenous fluids on different cell types are revealed using robust, label-free, and efficient methods.

Tungsten (VI) oxide reinforced antimony glasses for radiation safety applications: A throughout investigation for determination of radiation shielding properties and transmission factors.

We report the functional assessment of tungsten (VI) oxide on gamma-ray attenuation properties of 60Sb2O3-(40-x)NaPO3-xWO3 antimony glasses. The elemental mass-fractions and glass-densities of each glass sample are specified separately for the MCNPX Monte Carlo code. In addition to fundamental gamma absorption properties, Transmission Factors throughout a broad radioisotope energy range were measured. According to findings, holmium (Ho) incorporation into the glass structure resulted in a net increase of 0.3406 g/cm3, whereas cerium (Ce) addition resulted in a net increase of 0.2047 g/cm3. The 40% WO3 reinforced S7 sample was found to have the greatest LAC value, even though seven glass samples exhibited identical behavior. The S2 sample had the lowest HVL values among the glass groups evaluated in this work, computed in the energy range of 0.015-15 MeV. The lowest EBF and EABF values were reported for 40% WO3 reinforced S7 sample with the highest LAC and density values. According to the findings of this research, WO3 will likely make a significant contribution to the gamma ray absorption properties of antimony glasses, which are employed for optical and structural modification. Therefore, it can be concluded that WO3 may be treated monotonically and can be employed successfully in circumstances where gamma-ray absorption characteristics, optical properties, and structural qualities need to be enhanced.

A closer look at the utilized radiation doses during computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for COVID-19 patients.

Introduction: CTPA stands for computed tomography pulmonary angiography. CTPA is an X-ray imaging that combines X-rays and computer technology to create detailed images of the pulmonary arteries and veins in the lungs. This test diagnoses and monitors conditions like pulmonary embolism, arterial blockages, and hypertension. Coronavirus (COVID-19) has threatened world health over the last three years. The number of (CT) scans increased and played a vital role in diagnosing COVID-19 patients, including life-threatening pulmonary embolism (PE). This study aimed to assess the radiation dose resulted from CTPA for COVID-19 patients. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from CTPA examinations on a single scanner in 84 symptomatic patients. The data collected included the dose length product (DLP), volumetric computed tomography dose index (CTDIvol), and size-specific dose estimate (SSDE). The organ dose and effective dose were estimated using VirtualDose software. Results: The study population included 84 patients, 52% male and 48% female, with an average age of 62. The average DLP, CTDIvol, and SSDE were 404.2 mGy cm, 13.5 mGy, and 11.6 mGy\, respectively. The mean effective doses (mSv) for males and females were 3.01 and 3.29, respectively. The maximum to minimum organ doses (mGy) between patients was 0.8 for the male bladder and 7.33 for the female lung. Conclusions: The increase in CT scans during the COVID-19 pandemic required close dose monitoring and optimization. The protocol used during CTPA should guarantee a minimum radiation dose with maximum patient benefits.

Toward the strengthening of radioprotection during mammography examinations through transparent glass screens: A benchmarking between experimental and Monte Carlo simulation studies.

Introduction: A lead-acrylic protective screen is suggested to reduce radiation exposure to the unexposed breast during mammography. The presence of toxic lead in its structure may harm the tissues with which it comes in contact. This study aimed to design a CdO-rich quaternary tellurite glass screen (C40) and evaluate its efficiency compared to the Lead-Acrylic protective screen. Methods: A three-layer advanced heterogeneous breast phantom designed in MCNPX (version 2.7.0) general-purpose Monte Carlo code. Lead acrylic and C40 shielding screens were modeled in the MCNPX and installed between the right and left breast. The reliability of the absorption differences between the lead acrylic and C40 glass were assessed. Results and discussion: The results showed that C40 protective glass screen has much superior protection properties compared to the lead acrylic protective screen. The amount of total dose absorbed in the unexposed breast for C40 was found to be much less than that for lead-based acrylic. The protection provided by the C40 glass screen is 35-38% superior to that of the Lead-Acrylic screen. The C40 offer the opportunity to avoid the toxic Pb in the structure of Lead-Acrylic material and may be utilized for mammography to offer superior radioprotection to Lead-Acrylic and significantly lower the dose amount in the unexposed breast. It can be concluded that transparent glass screens may be utilized for radiation protection purposes in critical diagnostic radiology applications through mammography.

Tailoring optimal translocation conditions towards proximity of borotellurite glasses to the red spectrum through CeO2 for practical applications.

We report the critical optical properties such as Average Visible Transmittance (AVT), colour, Color Rendering Index (CRI), and Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) of a multicomponent glass system with a nominal composition of 50TeO2-30B2O3-(20-x)Li2O-xCeO2 (x = 0,0.5,1,2,3,4,5,10,15,20 mol%). Various advanced theoretical approaches as well as calculations are utilized in terms of determining the optical properties of studied glasses. The maximum transmittance and AVT values of the glass system exceeded 80% and 79.59%, respectively. The colour coordinates are found extremely near to D65 and the achromatic point without CeO2 contribution. According to our results, the current system has a promising ability to be utilized for coloured window applications in terms of both AVT and colour with 2% CeO2 doping. Our results showed that, the CeO2 additive is able to move the glass colour straight into the red spectrum by shifting the transmittance spectrum to the long-wavelength portion of the visible spectrum. With 10% CeO2 doping, opacity in the visible area and permeability in the NIR region are obtained, and the CCT value changes from 5002 K to 2560 K. It can be concluded that a filter system with modifiable NIR or red optical characteristics may be produced through the CeO2 alterations in borotellurite glass systems.

Microfluidic-based technologies for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of COVID-19: recent advances and future directions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges to existing healthcare systems around the world. The urgent need for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for COVID-19 has boomed the demand for new technologies that can improve current healthcare approaches, moving towards more advanced, digitalized, personalized, and patient-oriented systems. Microfluidic-based technologies involve the miniaturization of large-scale devices and laboratory-based procedures, enabling complex chemical and biological operations that are conventionally performed at the macro-scale to be carried out on the microscale or less. The advantages microfluidic systems offer such as rapid, low-cost, accurate, and on-site solutions make these tools extremely useful and effective in the fight against COVID-19. In particular, microfluidic-assisted systems are of great interest in different COVID-19-related domains, varying from direct and indirect detection of COVID-19 infections to drug and vaccine discovery and their targeted delivery. Here, we review recent advances in the use of microfluidic platforms to diagnose, treat or prevent COVID-19. We start by summarizing recent microfluidic-based diagnostic solutions applicable to COVID-19. We then highlight the key roles microfluidics play in developing COVID-19 vaccines and testing how vaccine candidates perform, with a focus on RNA-delivery technologies and nano-carriers. Next, microfluidic-based efforts devoted to assessing the efficacy of potential COVID-19 drugs, either repurposed or new, and their targeted delivery to infected sites are summarized. We conclude by providing future perspectives and research directions that are critical to effectively prevent or respond to future pandemics.

Utilization of three-layers heterogeneous mammographic phantom through MCNPX code for breast and chest radiation dose levels at different diagnostic X-ray energies: A Monte Carlo simulation study.

Introduction: We report the breast and chest radiation dose assessment for mammographic examinations using a three-layer heterogeneous breast phantom through the MCNPX Monte Carlo code. Methods: A three-layer heterogeneous phantom along with compression plates and X-ray source are modeled. The validation of the simulation code is obtained using the data of AAPM TG-195 report. Deposited energy amount as a function of increasing source energy is calculated over a wide energy range. The behavioral changes in X-ray absorption as well as transmission are examined using the F6 Tally Mesh extension of MCNPX code. Moreover, deposited energy amount is calculated for modeled body phantom in the same energy range. Results and discussions: The diverse distribution of glands has a significant impact on the quantity of energy received by the various breast layers. In layers with a low glandular ratio, low-energy primary X-ray penetrability is highest. In response to an increase in energy, the absorption in layers with a low glandular ratio decreased. This results in the X-rays releasing their energy in the bottom layers. Additionally, the increase in energy increases the quantity of energy absorbed by the tissues around the breast.

Comparative analysis on application conditions of indium (III) oxide-reinforced glasses in nuclear waste management and source transportation: A Monte Carlo simulation study.

This study's primary objective is to provide the preliminary findings of novel research on the design of Indium (III) oxide-reinforced glass container that were thoroughly developed for the purpose of a nuclear material container for transportation and waste management applications. The shielding characteristics of an Indium (III) oxide-reinforced glass container with a certain elemental composition against the 60Co radioisotope was thoroughly evaluated. The energy deposition in the air surrounding the designed portable glass containers is measured using MCNPX general-purpose Monte Carlo code. Simulation studies were carried out using Lenovo-P620 workstation and the number of tracks was defined as 108 in each simulation phase. According to results, the indium oxide-doped C6 (TZI8) container exhibits superior protective properties compared to other conventional container materials such as 0.5Bitumen-0.5 Cement, Pb Glass composite, Steel-Magnetite concrete. In addition to its superiority in terms of nuclear safety, it is proposed that the source's simultaneous observation and monitoring, as well as the C6 (TZI8) glass structure's transparency, be underlined as significant advantages. High-density glasses, which may replace undesirable materials such as concrete and lead, provide several advantages in terms of production ease, non-toxic properties, and resource monitoring. In conclusion, the use of Indium (III) oxide-reinforced glass with its high transparency and outstanding protection properties may be a substantial choice in places where concrete is required to ensure the safety of nuclear materials.

Spheroid Engineering in Microfluidic Devices.

Two-dimensional (2D) cell culture techniques are commonly employed to investigate biophysical and biochemical cellular responses. However, these culture methods, having monolayer cells, lack cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions, mimicking the cell microenvironment and multicellular organization. Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture methods enable equal transportation of nutrients, gas, and growth factors among cells and their microenvironment. Therefore, 3D cultures show similar cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation properties to in vivo. A spheroid is defined as self-assembled 3D cell aggregates, and it closely mimics a cell microenvironment in vitro thanks to cell-cell/matrix interactions, which enables its use in several important applications in medical and clinical research. To fabricate a spheroid, conventional methods such as liquid overlay, hanging drop, and so forth are available. However, these labor-intensive methods result in low-throughput fabrication and uncontrollable spheroid sizes. On the other hand, microfluidic methods enable inexpensive and rapid fabrication of spheroids with high precision. Furthermore, fabricated spheroids can also be cultured in microfluidic devices for controllable cell perfusion, simulation of fluid shear effects, and mimicking of the microenvironment-like in vivo conditions. This review focuses on recent microfluidic spheroid fabrication techniques and also organ-on-a-chip applications of spheroids, which are used in different disease modeling and drug development studies.

Electromechanical RT-LAMP device for portable SARS-CoV-2 detection.

Rapid point-of-care tests for infectious diseases are essential, especially in pandemic conditions. We have developed a point-of-care electromechanical device to detect SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA using the reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) principle. The developed device can detect SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA down to 103 copies/mL and from a low amount of sample volumes (2 µL) in less than an hour of standalone operation without the need for professional labor and equipment. Integrated Peltier elements in the device keep the sample at a constant temperature, and an integrated camera allows automated monitoring of LAMP reaction in a stirring sample by using colorimetric analysis of unfocused sample images in the hue/saturation/value color space. This palm-fitting, portable and low-cost device does not require a fully focused sample image for analysis, and the operation could be stopped automatically through image analysis when the positive test results are obtained. Hence, viral infections can be detected with the portable device produced without the need for long, expensive, and labor-intensive tests and equipment, which can make the viral tests disseminated at the point-of-care.

Infection control and radiation safety practices in the radiology department during the COVID-19 outbreak.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Radiology personnel must have good knowledge, experience and adherence to radiation protection and infection control practices to ensure patient safety and prevent the further spread of the COVID-19 virus. This study analysed compliance and adherence to radiation protection and infection control during COVID-19 mobile radiography. METHODS: A cross-sectional using online survey was conducted from September to December 2021. Data on demographic characteristics, adherence to radiation protection and infection control practice were collected during mobile radiography for COVID-19 patients in the study. A random sample of the radiographers working in COVID-19 centres in the United Arab Emirates. RESULTS: Responses were received from 140 participants, with a response rate of 87.5%. Females were the predominant participants (n = 81; 58%). Participants aged ages between 18-25 years (n = 46; 33%) and 26-35 years (n = 42; 30%), (n = 57; 41%) had less than five years of experience, followed by participants who had more than 15 years (n = 38; 27%). Most participants (n = 81; 57.9%) stated that they performed approximately 1-5 suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases daily. The participants had moderate to high adherence to radiation protection, with a mean and standard deviation of 42.3 ± 6.28. Additionally, infection control adherence was high, with 82% of the participants showing high adherence. CONCLUSION: Continuous guidance, training and follow-up are recommended to increase adherence and compliance to radiation protection and infection control compliance. Educational institutions and professional organisations must collaborate to provide structured training programmes for radiology practitioners to overcome the practice and knowledge gap.

A closer look at the efficiency calibration of LaBr3(Ce) and NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors using MCNPX for various types of nuclear investigations.

The nuclear spectroscopy method has long been used for advanced studies on nuclear physics. In order to decrease costs and increase the efficiency of nuclear radiation investigations, quick and efficient solutions are required. The purpose of this research was to calculate the whole energy peak efficiency values for a range of gamma-ray energies, from 30.973 keV to 1408 keV, at various source-detector distances using the MCNPX Monte Carlo code, which is extensively used in nuclear medicine, industry, and scientific research. As a result, the modeled detectors' full-energy peak efficiencies were calculated and compared to both experimental data and Monte Carlo simulations. Experiment results and prior studies using Monte Carlo simulations were found to be very consistent with these results. The counting efficiency against source-detector distance is then calculated using the modeled detectors. The data we have show that LaBr3(Ce) has outstanding detection properties. This study's findings might be used to improve the design of detectors for use in wide range of high-tech gamma spectroscopy and nuclear research applications.

Development of acceptable quality radiation dose levels for common computed tomography examinations: A focused multicenter study in United Arab Emirates.

Purpose: Diagnostic Reference Level (DRL) is a practical tool for radiation dose optimization, yet it does not indicate the patient size or image quality. The Acceptable Quality Dose (AQD) introduced to address the limitations of the DRLs and it is based on image quality, radiation dose, and patient weight. The aim of this study is to establish the AQD for adult patients' undergoing Computed Tomography (CT) examinations (Head, chest, abdomen). Methods: This study is conducted in the four main hospitals at the Ministry of Health and Prevention. Patient information and exposure parameters were extracted. All the acceptable images are scored for their quality assessments. Data is classified as seven weight groups, <50, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-89, 90-99, and ≥100 kg. The mean ± SD, median, and 75th are calculated for the CTDIvol and DLP for each weight group per examination. Results: Out of 392, 358 CT examinations are scored with acceptable quality. The median CTDIvol values for the weight groups are obtained as 24.6, 25.4, 25.4, 25.0, 26.0, 27.0, and 29.0 mGy. Moreover, median DLP values are obtained as 576.7, 601.0, 616.5, 636.1, 654.0, 650.0, 780.0, and 622.5 mGy.cm, respectively, for head CT without Contrast Media (CM). Similar calculation for head CT with (CM), chest without CM, abdomen without CM, and chest and abdomen (with and without CM) CTs are presented. Conclusion: Images with bad, unacceptable and higher than necessary qualities contribute to increasing patient dose and increasing the DRLs. The AQD for the selected examinations were lower than the proposed DRLs in the United Arab Emirates. The integration of image quality and patients size in the assessment of the AQD values provide effective model to compare radiation dose indices within facility and compare with others. The obtained results may be useful in terms of improving dose and the diagnostic quality in the national and international levels.

Utilization of artificial intelligence approach for prediction of DLP values for abdominal CT scans: A high accuracy estimation for risk assessment.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate Artificial Neural Network (ANN) modeling to estimate the significant dose length product (DLP) value during the abdominal CT examinations for quality assurance in a retrospective, cross-sectional study. Methods: The structure of the ANN model was designed considering various input parameters, namely patient weight, patient size, body mass index, mean CTDI volume, scanning length, kVp, mAs, exposure time per rotation, and pitch factor. The aforementioned examination details of 551 abdominal CT scans were used as retrospective data. Different types of learning algorithms such as Levenberg-Marquardt, Bayesian and Scaled-Conjugate Gradient were checked in terms of the accuracy of the training data. Results: The R-value representing the correlation coefficient for the real system and system output is given as 0.925, 0.785, and 0.854 for the Levenberg-Marquardt, Bayesian, and Scaled-Conjugate Gradient algorithms, respectively. The findings showed that the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm comprehensively detects DLP values for abdominal CT examinations. It can be a helpful approach to simplify CT quality assurance. Conclusion: It can be concluded that outcomes of this novel artificial intelligence method can be used for high accuracy DLP estimations before the abdominal CT examinations, where the radiation-related risk factors are high or risk evaluation of multiple CT scans is needed for patients in terms of ALARA. Likewise, it can be concluded that artificial learning methods are powerful tools and can be used for different types of radiation-related risk assessments for quality assurance in diagnostic radiology.