Impact of Neutron Exposure on Global Gene Expression in a Human Peripheral Blood Model.

The detonation of an improvised nuclear device would produce prompt radiation consisting of both photons (gamma rays) and neutrons. While much effort in recent years has gone into the development of radiation biodosimetry methods suitable for mass triage, the possible effect of neutrons on the endpoints studied has remained largely uninvestigated. We have used a novel neutron irradiator with an energy spectrum based on that 1-1.5 km from the epicenter of the Hiroshima blast to begin examining the effect of neutrons on global gene expression, and the impact this may have on the development of gene expression signatures for radiation biodosimetry. We have exposed peripheral blood from healthy human donors to 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 or 1 Gy of neutrons ex vivo using our neutron irradiator, and compared the transcriptomic response 24 h later to that resulting from sham exposure or exposure to 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1, 2 or 4 Gy of photons (X rays). We identified 125 genes that responded significantly to both radiation qualities as a function of dose, with the magnitude of response to neutrons generally being greater than that seen after X-ray exposure. Gene ontology analysis suggested broad involvement of the p53 signaling pathway and general DNA damage response functions across all doses of both radiation qualities. Regulation of immune response and chromatin-related functions were implicated only following the highest doses of neutrons, suggesting a physiological impact of greater DNA damage. We also identified several genes that seem to respond primarily as a function of dose, with less effect of radiation quality. We confirmed this pattern of response by quantitative real-time RT-PCR for BAX, TNFRSF10B, ITLN2 and AEN and suggest that gene expression may provide a means to differentiate between total dose and a neutron component.

Modeling time variation of blood temperature in a bioheat equation and its application to temperature analysis due to RF exposure.

The present study discusses a scheme to take into account core temperature variation in a well-known bioheat equation. First, the limitation in conventional modeling of the bioheat equation was investigated for a problem in which the whole-body phantom should be taken into account. Then, schemes for varying body-core temperature in the bioheat equation were discussed for radio-frequency exposures. The computational uncertainty in the core temperature elevation was found to be reasonable when a proper scheme for computing the net rate of heat acquisition by blood from body tissue was introduced.

Radioprotective effects of ATP in human blood ex vivo.

Damage to healthy tissue is a major limitation of radiotherapy treatment of cancer patients, leading to several side effects and complications. Radiation-induced release of pro-inflammatory cytokines is thought to be partially responsible for the radiation-associated complications. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of extracellular ATP on markers of oxidative stress, radiation-induced inflammation and DNA damage in irradiated blood ex vivo. ATP inhibited radiation-induced TNF-alpha release and increased IL-10 release. The inhibitory effect of ATP on TNF- alpha release was completely reversed by adenosine 5'-O-thiomonophosphate, indicating a P2Y(11) mediated effect. Furthermore, ATP attenuated radiation-induced DNA damage immediate, 3 and 6h after irradiation. Our study indicates that ATP administration alleviates radiation-toxicity to blood cells, mainly by inhibiting radiation-induced inflammation and DNA damage.

Magnetic field influence on electrical properties of human blood measured by impedance spectroscopy.

The impedance spectroscopy technique (IST) was used for studying the effect of a 0.5 T magnetic field on the electrical properties of whole human blood. A Solartron SI 1260 spectrometer was used to measure the impedance spectra of magnetic field exposed blood samples compared to non-exposed samples. An equivalent electrical circuit model, consisting in a resistance Rs in series with a parallel circuit formed by a constant phase element (CPE) and another resistance Rp, is proposed to fit the data in both cases. The experiment used 3 ml human blood samples from 160 healthy donors. A Wilcoxon matched pairs statistical test was applied to the data. The data analysis seems to show a statistically significant increase of the values of resistance Rp (Z = 5.06, P < 0.001) and capacitance CT (Z = 3.32, P < 0.001) of the blood exposed to magnetic field, by approximately 10.4% and 1.9%, respectively.

[Enhancement of growth promoting activity of human blood on keratinocytes after its irradiation in vivo (transcutaneously) and in vitro with visible and infrared polarized light]. / Povyshenie rostostimuliruiushchei aktivnosti krovi cheloveka dlia keratinotsitov posle ee oblucheniia in vivo (transkutanno) i in vitro vidimym i infrakrasnym poliarizovannym svetom.

To stimulate wound healing, current medicine uses various methods of phototherapy. The induced activation of proliferative processes in the wound occurs due to development of not only local, but also systemic processes, whose nature remains largely uninvestigated. The present work provides evidences that as early as 30 min after irradiation of a small area of the volunteer's body surface with polychromatic visible light + infrared polarized light (400-3400 nm, 95% of polarization) at a therapeutic dose (12 J/cm2), soluble factors appear in the circulating blood, which are able to stimulate proliferation of human keratinocytes in primary culture. A similar effect was also revealed after a direct blood irradiation. A proof is provided in favor of a hypothesis that a rapid rise of growth promoting activity of the entire circulating blood may be a consequence of transcutaneous photomodification of the small amount of light-modified blood in superficial skin vessels, and of the effect of such blood on its entire circulating volume. A possibility of a release into plasma of growth factors from blood cells and complexes with alpha 2-macroglobulin is discussed.

[Hemo-physiotherapy: its basis and the outlook for its use and study]. / Gemofizioterapiia: obosnovanie, perspektivy ispol'zovaniia i issledovaniia.

The author gives grounds for future therapeutic and prophylactic application of physical factors' impact on blood (hemophysiotherapy). Today's opportunities of hemophysiotherapy and lines for future research are described.

[Effects of microwave acute irradiation on biomechanic properties of rabbit tissues].

The rabbit body was irradiated acutely by 2.45 GHz continuous microwave. After irradiation, the values of blood viscosity, blood viscoelasticity, platelet aggregation, erythrocyte fragility, erythrocyte deformation, erythrocyte aggregation, the compressive mechanic property and flexible property of bones were tested. The data of irradiated group and unirradiated group were compared. The results showed: after microwave irradiation, the rabbit blood viscosity and viscoelasticity decreased; the rabbit platelet aggregation rate decreased and the disaggregation rate increased; the erythrocyte fragility increased; the biomechanic properties of bones did not change considerably.