RESUMO
We performed this study to evaluate the correlation between Body Mass Index (BMI) and Exposure Rate (ER) of hyperthyroid patients treated with iodine-131 so that in case of any relationship, we can improve the prescribed dose for the treatment of hyperthyroid patients and its side effects on the body and the environment. In this analytical and cross-sectional study, 30 patients with hyperthyroidism treated with liquid iodine-131 were randomly selected. We recorded demographic indicators (age, height, and weight) and ER. Patients were treated with the activity of 8-29 mCi (mean 14.4 mCi) oral I-131. The external radiation of patients was measured from a distance of one meter parallel to the patient's thyroid gland at intervals of 6 to 24 hours post-iodine-131 administration. ER measurements and other acquired data were statistically analyzed by R software and its methods. Data were normalized using the Shapiro method, and due to the non-normality of the data in the correlation test, the Spearman method was used. The measurements of this study represent two main findings: 1. There is a significant relationship between ER and iodine-131 activity because the observed significance level (P-value =0.002) is smaller than the predicted error value (0.01). 2. There is no significant relationship between ER and BMI because the observed significance level (P-value =0.082) is greater than the predicted error value (0.05). The present study's findings show a negative relationship between BMI and ER. Still, since the P-value is more than 0.05, this relationship is not statistically significant.
RESUMO
This study investigated the fluctuation of NF-KB and HIF-1a gene expression between inhabitants of a high-level background radiation area (HBRA) and a normal-level background radiation area (NBRA) of Ramsar, Iran. Sixty participants with the mean age of 48 ± 15 years were selected and divided into two groups. The group receiving a dose of ≤1.5 mGy/year (NBRA) was considered the control group and the target group (HBRA) received a dose of >1.5 mGy/year. These two groups were from neighbor regions to minimize socioeconomic differences between the participants. Blood samples were collected from each group and NF-KB and HIF-1a expression levels were compared using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) based on the stem loop method. The effects of residency duration in the respective areas and gender on the expression of NF-KB and HIF-1a was also examined. The HIF-1a expression level was statistically lower in the HLBRA region (P < 0.0002), while NF-KB expression was upregulated (P < 0.0001). Although the under-expression of HIF-1a in response to dose rate was significant in females (P < 0.0004), it was not different in males (P = 0.74), indicating a significant difference between sexes (P = 0.0047). The upregulation of NF-KB expression related to dose level was also significant for the female group (P < 0.0001), whereas it was not for the male group (P = 0.72). Notably and as expected, there was a significant relation between longer residency in the HBRA and HIF-1A under-expression (P < 0.026), while there was no effect of increasing residency time for NF-KB over-expression level (P = 0.29). The dwellers of the HBRA those noted that despite receiving an elevated radiation level were seemingly good in general health, showed some alterations in their molecular mechanisms, specifically HIF-1a and NF-KB expression levels. It is not clear if this is indicative of a beneficial adaptive response and more research is recommended.
