Hematological and neurological impact studies on the exposure to naturally occurring radioactive materials.

Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) contribute to everyone's natural background radiation dose. The technologically advanced activities of the gas and oil sectors produce considerable amounts of radioactive materials as industrial by-products or waste products. The goal of the current study is to estimate the danger of long-term liability to Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (TE-NORM) on blood indices, neurotransmitters, oxidative stress markers, and ß-amyloid in the cerebral cortex of rats' brains. Twenty adult male albino rats were divided into two equal groups (n = 10): control and irradiated. Irradiated rats were exposed to a total dose of 0.016 Gy of TE-NORM as a whole-body chronic exposure over a period of two months. It should be ''The results showed no significant changes in RBC count, Hb concentration, hematocrit percentage (HCT%), and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC). However, there was a significant increase in the Mean Corpuscular Volume of RBCs (MCV) and a significant decrease in cell distribution width (RDW%) compared to the control. Alteration in neurotransmitters is noticeable by a significant increase in glutamic acid and significant decreases in serotonin and dopamine. Increased lipid peroxidation, decreased glutathione content, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities indicating oxidative stress were accompanied by increased ß-amyloid in the cerebral cortex of rats' brains. The findings of the present study showed that chronic radiation liability has some harmful effects, that may predict the risks of future health problems in occupational radiation exposure in the oil industries. Therefore, the control of exposure and application of sample dosimetry is recommended for health and safety.

The impact of gamma-radiation on the cerebral- and cerebellar- cortex of male rats' brain.

This study aims to investigate the impact of gamma-radiation on the cerebral- and cerebellar-cortex of rat's brain. Animals were whole-body exposed to 3 Gy, every 3 days, up to 9 Gy, and sacrificed 1 h, 1, 3, 7 & 10 days post the last radiation-dose. Irradiation triggers oxidative stress. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase decreased, malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl increased from the 1st hour till the 10th day in both tissues. Glutathione peroxidase and glutathione decreased from the 1st hour in the cerebral-cortex, and 3rd day in the cerebellar-cortex. Irradiation increased the inflammatory marker, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and the apoptotic markers, cytochrome-c and caspase-3 from the 1st hour till the 10th day in both tissues. ß-amyloid was observed the 7th and 10th day in cerebral-cortex and 3rd, 7th and 10th day in cerebellar-cortex. Irradiation change the level of neurotransmitters. Norepinephrine decreased from the 1st hour in both tissues, while dopamine, epinephrine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid decreased, and gamma amino butyric acid increased from the 1st hour in the cerebral-cortex and later on the 3rd day in the cerebellar-cortex. Electroencephalographic measurement (EEG) showed significant decreases in the frequencies of beta-(>12 Hz) alpha-(7-12 Hz), theta-(4-7 Hz), and delta-rhythms (1-4 Hz) from the 1st hour in both occipital and parietal areas of the brain. Gamma-irradiation triggers oxidative stress, change the level of neurotransmitters, increase inflammatory and apoptotic responses, enhance deposition of amyloid plaque in the cerebral- and cerebellar- cortex, and decrease brain electrical activity in occipital and parietal areas of the brain.

Anticancer and Radiosensitization Efficacy of Nanocomposite Withania somnifera Extract in Mice Bearing Tumor Cells.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anticancer and radio-sensitizing efficacy of a Withania somnifera extract/Gadolinium III oxide nanocomposite (WSGNC) in mice. WSGNC was injected to solid Ehrlich carcinoma-bearing mice via i.p. (227 mg/kg body weight) 3 times/week during 3 weeks. Irradiation was performed by whole body fractionated exposure to 6Gy, applied in 3 doses of 2 Gy/week over 3 weeks. Biochemical analyses as well as DNA fragmentation were performed. Treatment of solid Ehrlich carcinoma bearing mice with WSGNC combined with γ-radiation led to a significant decrease in the tumor size and weight associated with a significant decrease in mitochondrial enzyme activities, GSH content and SOD activity as well as a significant increase in caspase-3 activity, MDA concentration and DNA fragmentation in cancer tissues. Combined treatment of WSGNC and low dose of γ-radiation showed great amelioration in lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status (GSH content and SOD activity) in liver tissues in animals bearing tumors. It is concluded that WSGNC can be considered as a radio-sensitizer and anticancer modulator, suggesting a possible role in reducing the radiation exposure dose during radiotherapy.

Lycopene protects the structure of the small intestine against gamma-radiation-induced oxidative stress.

The small intestine displays numerous morphological and functional alterations after exposure to ionizing radiations. Oxidative stress and changes in monoamines levels may contribute toward some of these alterations. The objective of the current work is to evaluate the efficacy of lycopene on radiation-induced damage in the small intestine. Lycopene (5 mg/kg BW) was given to male albino rats, via gavages for 7 days before whole body exposure to gamma ray (6 Gy). Irradiated animals, sacrificed 7 days after irradiation, showed sloughing villi, ulcers, and ruptured goblet cells, shrinkage of submucosa layers, more fibers and fibroblasts. Histopathological changes were associated with a significant increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and alteration in xanthine oxidoreductase system (XOR). In parallel, significant decreases in reduced glutathione (GSH) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were recorded. Gamma irradiation has also induced a significant decrease in the level of monoamines: serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), and epinephrine (EPI) associated with an increase in monoamine-oxidase (MAO) activity. Lycopene pretreatment has significantly improved the oxidant/antioxidant status, which was associated with significant regeneration of the small intestine, and improved monoamines levels. Based on these results, it is concluded that lycopene may protect the small intestine against radiation-induced damage.