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Introduction: Radiographers’ awareness about the principles of radiation protection and the physical principles of digital radiology devices can play an important role in obtaining quality images and reducing the dose of patients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the level of students and radiologists awareness of Khorasan province in the field of radiation protection principles and physical principles of digital imaging systems. Methods and Materials: A digital radiography questionnaire was used in this study whose validity and reliability were confirmed. The first part of the questionnaire included demographic questions. The second part included 11 questions about the principles of radiation protection and 11 questions about the physical basics of working with digital radiography devices. If the answer is correct, a positive score is given and other options are given a zero score. The third part, which was specific to radiographers, included a question about participating in previous training workshops. Results: The level of awareness about the principles of radiation protection in radiographers (score 49.08 ± 14.45) was significantly higher than that of students (score 66.63 ± 16.99) (P < 0.05). The level of awareness about physical basics in students (score 54.27 ± 17.09) was significantly higher than radiographers (score 39.36 ± 10.45) (P < 0.05). The level of awareness about physical principles had a significant and negative relationship with age and work experience (P < 0.05). Discussion and Conclusion: Radiographer’s level of awareness about the physical basics of digital imaging systems is insufficient. It is necessary to increase radiographer’s level of awareness in this field through the development of continuous training programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Training and improving the surgical team's awareness of radiation protection is necessary to prevent severe and irreparable damage. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to compile and psychometrically evaluate (content and face validity) the educational booklet on the principles of radiation protection to promote the knowledge and culture of radiation safety of the operating room staff and prevent injuries. Materials and Methods: The current research is a methodology carried out in Iran University of Medical Sciences in 2022-2023 in three stages: first, the content of the educational booklet was selected based on the needs of the target audience, and the related articles and sources were reviewed. Then, the initial draft of the educational manual was designed and prepared. After that, expert judges in related fields as well as anesthesia and operating room technologists evaluated the formal and content validity of the manual. The content validity index at the item level (I-CVI) and the content validity index at the scale level (S-CVI) equal to or greater than 0.78 and 0.9, respectively, were considered as criteria for validity of the booklet. The binomial test was used to check the reliability of the content validity index of the items so that the significance level was 0.05 and the expected agreement ratio was 0.8. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26 software. Findings: In this research, 22 experts in related fields and 22 anesthesia and operating room technologists with an average work experience of 13.8±4.3 years and 15.6±6.3 years participated, respectively. After sending and receiving the draft version of the booklet along with its evaluation scale, the specialists and experts participating in the study were given the minimum values of I-CVI and S-CVI values for the desired scale items to check the face validity and content of the booklet. According to experts, it was equal to 0.9 and 0.97, respectively. The minimum observed agreement ratio of the binomial test was 0.9, which was more than the expected agreement ratio (0.8). The values of I-CVI, S-CVI, and agreement ratio between anesthesia and operating room technologists were all equal to 1. Conclusion: The present educational booklet has an acceptable form and content validity based on the research findings. Therefore, it can be used as a simple tool to promote radiation safety culture and prevent radiation damage in operating rooms.

Introduction: Due to the increasing use of angiography procedures and the higher risk of deterministic and stochastic effects for radiation workers of these sections than other radiological procedures, radiation safety is very important among angiography staff. Therefore, this study aimed to obtain the effective dose of angiography staff, compare them with the standard dose limit, and finally outline the strategies for occupational dose reduction in angiography. Methods: In this study, the report of film dosimetry of angiography staff was studied and the effective periodic and annual doses of 34 radiographs were reported from the year 2015 to 2018. The relationship between effective dose and body mass index, work experience, gender and age of staff was also evaluated. Results: The results showed that the average effective dose of the physicians, nurses and radiographers in 2 months period were 0.2 mSv and their average annual effective dose were 1.6, 1.2 and 1.2, respectively. In addition, there were no significant relationship between effective dose and work experience, age, sex and BMI of the radiation workers. Conclusion: The effective dose of radiation in this study is less than the annual dose.. Low effective doses do not make their radiation protection less important because this reduction can be due to radiation protection by personnel in this ward. Therefore, as far as possible, radiation protection measures should be taken to reduce the radiation exposure of catheterization lab staff. In these radiologists thyroid protection, eyes, gonads, and the organs that are usually outside the lead apron is of great importance.

Background: Today, with the increasing use of ionizing radiation like X-rays in diagnosis and treatment of diseases, the risk of fetal exposure in pregnant women also increases. Therefore, protecting pregnant women from ionizing radiation is essential and is considered as the standard criterion for Medical Radiation Center. So the aim of this study was to investigate the observance of protective principles and 10-day rule in imaging of susceptible women. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at the Radiography Centers of Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, from July 2017 to September 2017. First, patients who were under radiography, were asked about the knowledge of the radiographers about the 10-day rule and radiation protection. Then a questionnaire with 12 questions was given to the radiographers in radiology and CT scan center. Finally, the existence of protection guidelines for pregnant women was determined by asking manager and checking at the moment. Results: The patient's question about pregnancy failed about 19%, which did not have a significant relationship with patients' singleness (P=0.0004). Also the mean scores for the knowledge of radiographers about radiation protection were 14.21±0.96, which did not have a significant relationship with their work record and place of employment and their educational level (P=0.09). On the other hand, in half of the radiography centers, the written radiation protection guidelines were not available. Conclusion: Principles of radiation protection and 10-day rule for radiography of women who were prone to pregnancy were desirable but due to importance of radiation protection, the rules should be more carefully implemented.

Background and Aim: More than 80% of patients need to take x-rays during their diagnosis and treatment stages. Due to the biological effects of ionizing radiation, observance of radiation protection principles are necessary. The observance of radiation protection principles in intensive care units at Imam Reza hospital of Kermanshah in 2014 was evaluated in this study. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study which was performed by census method, performance of 38 radiographers working in target center was investigated regarding the following of the principles of radiation protection in respect of patients, nurses, radiographers, and other clients in intensive care units. Data collection tool included a questionnaire and a checklist of 31 principles of radiation protection. Results: The overall level of observance of radiation protection principles in intensive care units was at an appropriate level (94.7%) in 36 radiographies. The highest and lowest levels of principle observance of radiographers were in respect to themselves (94.7%) and nurses in the intensive care units and other clients (26.3%), respectively. Conclusion: According to results in this study, radiation protection principles observance by radiographers during portable radiography examinations respect of themselves is appropriate but respect of other nurses is not satisfactory. It seems that it can be improved to 100% of the optimum level by equipping intensive care units to protective equipment, setting some obligations to use them, and controlling and continuous monitoring of protective measures of radiographers.

Introduction and purpose: The growing use of ionizing radiation in disease diagnosis necessitaes the appropriate use of devices and awareness regarding the principles of radiation protection. With appropriate adoption of personal protection equipment and compliance with the existing regulations in relation to protection of the buildings where sources of ionizing radiation are located in, the adverse effects of radiation can be curtailed to a great extent. Methods: In this descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional study, we investigated the rate of compliance with radiation protection standards of 45 radiography rooms in 32 diagnostic imaging centers in Khuzestan Province, Iran, 2015. The centers were chosen through random cluster sampling method. The data were obtained using open-ended interview and a checklist designed based on the recommendations of the International Commission for Radiation Protection and Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. Results: The compliance rates with regard to radiology room, radiology equipment, darkroom, and radiographer’s protection were 80.76%, 80.47%, 69.28%, and 93.12%, respectively. Maximum and minimum rates of compliance with the standards were related to performance of the cassette tray (100%) and hopper status (25%), respectively. Comparison of public and private imaging centers in terms of safety standards showed no significant differences (P>0.05).Conclusion: The observance of the radiation protection standards in Khuzestan Province was in a relativly desirable condition. However, there are some shortcomings in compliance with the principles of protection in the darkroom. In this regard, with recommend adopting protection measures such as timelyreplacement of processing solution, appropriate ventilation of darkroom, provisionof protection equipment and appliances, and protection training required for entering the darkroom.

Discovery of x-ray and using of it for medical imaging have produced tremendous outcomes for diagnosis and treatment of diseases. More than 10 million diagnostic radiological procedures and 100,000 nuclear medicine exams are being performed daily around the world. According to the national commission on radiological protection and measurements (NCRP)-report 160, medical x-ray is contribute to approximately 95% of all radiological examinations that is responsible for 74% of the collective dose to the US population. Despite of unique benefits of ionizing radiations, in the field of radiation protection, they are associated with potential risks such as cancer and genetically abnormalities. The cancer risk attributable to diagnostic radiology is estimated about 0.6% to 3%. It is estimated that the radiation dose from diagnostic x-ray procedures are annually responsible for 7,587 and 5,695 cases of radiation induced cancer in the population of Japan and US, respectively. Although the radiation dose associated with most radiological procedures are very low, but rapid increasing use of radiography procedures during two past decades have been concerned due to the cancer risk associated with ionizing radiations. On the base of linear no-threshold (LNT) model of dose-response curve, any level of exposure is dangerous. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the main target of ionizing radiation. For radiological exposure with low dose, the stochastic effects such as genetic damages and leukemia are concerned. According to the recommendations of the radiation protection regulatory organizations, radiological procedure must be done with respect to social and economic factors in which exposure of patient and population kept as low as reasonable and achievable. Hence, prescription of a radiological test is acceptable only when its advantages are higher than its damages. Optimizing the different parameters such as: collimating the primary beam field to the area of diagnostic interest, exposure conditions (high kVp and low mAs), projections, exposure time and shielding can reduce the patients' exposure besides the saving of image quality. Following the radiation protection guidelines can considerably decrease the exposure risks.

In this research, the protection properties of tellurites metal oxide glasses such as TPZ, TNS, TBN, TSW, TBB glass and concrete (SSC) against 10 radiation gamma radioisotopic sources were investigated. For this purpose, the MCNPX code was used to simulate the photon transport in the samples and the XCOM cross section database was applied to calculate the mass attenuation coefficient. The effective atomic number, linear attenuation coefficient, and flux buildup factor against radiation of gamma radioisotopic sources were determined for the mentioned shields. The results show that considering the average energy in the radiation protection calculations for a multienergy gamma source cannot be a suitable criterion; therefor it should be considered the whole energy spectrum of the source. The TBB glass was the best photon attenuator compared to other tellurites metal oxide glasses, because it had the highest effective atomic number, linear attenuation coefficient, and minimum flux buildup factor for all gamma-radioisotopic sources.

Background & Objectives: Although ionizing radiation is effective in the diagnosis of illnesses, it is dangerous from the perspective of protection for patients and radiographers working in radiology sections. Therefore, knowledge, understanding, and application of radiation protection can play an important role. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the radiation protection principles in radiation workers in medical imaging centers and hospitals in Fasa, Fars, Iran. Materials & Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional one among all 50 radiation workers employed in radiology departments of this city. A questionnaire was the means of evaluation which contained demographic information and questions about the knowledge, attitude, and practice of radiology staff regarding the radiation protection. All of the completed questionnaires were analyzed, using SPSS19 software. Results: Radiographers’ participation rate was 100%, and the mean score of knowledge, attitude, and practice of radiation workers in the field of radiation protection was 42.36, 62.4, and 48.54, respectively. Depending on the degree of their knowledge, there was no statistically significant difference between the radiographers’ age, gender, and work experience, and the relationship between the following factors was not substantial. Conclusion: The results showed that by increasing the level of education, the awareness of radiation workers increases, too. To raise awareness of radiation protection for radiation workers, it is better to hold training courses.

Introduction & Purpose: Radiation had been as a continuous and constant hazard in modern medicine which there is no doubt about its harmful effects. The purpose of this study of knowledge, attitude and practice of Radiation worker Khuzestan province towards radiation Protection And provide controlling solutions. Methods: This is a cross-sectional and descriptive analytical study was conducted in Imaging Centers of Khuzestan province in2013. research material contain three questionnaire (Demographic, Knowledge, attitude and practice in radiation protection and open-ended questionnaire), sampling method was Cluster – randomized which After distributing the questionnaires and data collection were analyzed by Using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation test (SPSS16). Result: Range of age workers was 21-55year with mean 33/92years also. Also not fund a significant relationship Between age, gender, work experience, with knowledge, practice and attitude(P>.05), But between participate in training classes with the knowledge, practice and attitude found positive and significant relationship(p

Background & Objective: In the recent years, nuclear medicine has enjoyed remarkable growth thanks to such novel technologies as SPECT-CT and PET, which are utilized for the recognition of new detectable molecules and radiopharmaceutical medicines. Therefore, the current regulations on radiation protection require revision. Namazi Hospital of Shiraz is one of the first nuclear medicine centers in Iran. Many patients visit this hospital every year; consequently, radiation protection must be screened and evaluated regularly. Radiation protection in the nuclear medicine department has not been assessed in detail yet, so we sought to conduct the first general radiation protection study. Materials & Methods: The radiation dose in each zone was measured and regulated according to the International Commission on Radiological Protection. To this end, measurements were performed over a three-day period, five times a day. Results: The maximum and minimum doses in the nuclear medicine center in Namazi Hospital were 25µSv/h and 0.13µSv/h, respectively. The maximum dose was measured in the SPECT room next to the patient's bed during infusion. The minimum dose was measured behind the SPECT room wall next to the reception. In terms of quality assessment, there are several major environmental problems such as lack of suitable warning signs and sufficient ventilation; however, the main problem is the absence of routine periodical radiation protection studies. Conclusion: The results of these experiments revealed that the radiation protection in the nuclear department of Namazi Hospital met the international standards.

"nBackground and Aim: In recent decades many guidelines has been conducted by radiation protection organizations about radiation protection in dentistry. This study was designed to evaluate the observance of these guidelines in educational clinics of all dental schools in Iran."nMaterials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study a questionnaire based on National Radiation Protection guidelines was conducted. The questionnaire consisted of questions about radiation protection principles in dental radiography that is needed for patients and personnel protection and quality control of radiological instruments. The questionnaires were completed by the responsible person of each radiology department of dental schools (18 schools). After gathering the data, the results were compared with radiation protection standards."nResults: There was proper condition in the case of the existence of radiation protection facilities, such as lead apron, thyroid shield and lead impacted walls. However, personnel rarely use these facilities. Usage of high speed films and existence of automatic processor in dental schools was an appreciable point. The main problem was related to the lack of regular quality control programs."nConclusion: The observance of radiation protection regulations in radiology departments of dental schools was proper. But majority of departments had no regular quality control programs; and the use of digital systems in dental radiography was not common.

Background and purpose: The antioxidant property of lycopene is well proven. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of lycopene on Oral Mucositis (OM) in rat induced by gamma radiation. Materials and methods: This experimental study was conducted in 28 male Wistar rats. They were divided into four groups (n=7 per group). 15 Gy of gamma radiation was used for 7 min and 39 sec. The rats were intraperitoneally (IP) injected within 6 days (daily) and their lips and tongues were examined to assess the incidence and severity of mucositis. Blood samples were also taken from the mice on days zero and six and the serum total antioxidant was evaluated by biochemical assays. Data analysis was done in SPSS V18. One-way ANOVA was done to analyze the datasets for mucositis and serum antioxidant capacity. Mann–Whitney test was applied for pairwise comparison of therapeutic groups in terms of the severity of mucositis. Results: Lycopene caused no delay in the onset of mucositis but the severity of mucositis was lower in lycopene groups compared to that in the placebo group. According to FRAP test, total antioxidant capacity changes of serum were significant between treatment groups on day six between L50 and PR, L50 and LR25, PR and LR50, and LR25 and LR50 groups. Conclusion: Lycopene did not delay the onset of mucositis in treatment groups, but the severity of mucositis was lower in lycopene groups compared with that in placebo group.

Abstract Background & Aim: Radiographic tests are used to diagnose various types of diseases, but they are potentially dangerous for patients and radiographers who work in radiology departments. These risks are minimized if the protective measures are observed. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of knowledge, attitude and the performance of radiographers working in the radiological departments of Sanandaj city with regard to radiation protection guidelines. Methods & Materials: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was carried out using a 30-item questionnaire completed by all radiographers working in Radiology Centers in Sanandaj. The questionnaire included demographic information and questions about the level of knowledge, attitude and performance of radiologists on radiation protection. The data of the questionnaire was analyzed using SPSS18 and descriptive statistics including absolute frequency, relative frequency, mean, standard deviation, range, knowledge, performance, and attitude of the radiologists with gender and degree, age group and work experience. Results: The rate of participation of radiographers was 94.16%, and the mean and standard deviation of knowledge, attitude and practice regarding radiation protection were 20.65±2.725, 16.59± 2.09, 592.22, 11.43±1. The mean and standard deviation of age and work experience were 34.19±7, 158, 9.96±931.3, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that with increasing age and reduction of educational degree, the knowledge and awareness of the radiographers with regard to radiation protection was reduced and also there was a direct relation between the knowledge and awareness of the radiographers and their performance in the field of radiation protection.

Background and Objectives: Radiology technicians have a critical role in protecting patients along with providing high-quality images. The present study assessed radiology students' last semester about the principles of protection, dose level, and cancer risk of ionizing radiation applied for diagnostic imaging. This study was conducted in training hospitals of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz City, Iran. Subjects and Methods This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed using a study-designed questionnaire. The sample size was 40, and statistical analysis was performed in SPSS v. 24. Results Only 15% of students correctly answered the question of ionizing radiation stochastic effect. While 70% of students stated the average dose of an abdominal ultrasound correctly, only 2.5% of them determined the average dose of a myocardial nuclear medicine scan correctly. In total, the respondents received 35% of the overall score of knowledge about cancer risk caused by ionizing radiation of imaging examinations. Conclusion The students' knowledge about the principles of radiation protection was moderate, and their knowledge about the level of radiation dose and cancer risk caused by various imaging procedures was insufficient. Theoretical and practical education has a significant role in improving the knowledge and skills of radiology technicians. So, repeating and emphasizing the principles of radiation protection and paying more attention to these topics in the courses and internships of radiology technology students seems necessary. These measures will improve the performance of students and make them prepared to accept their future professional responsibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

​ Background and Objectives : If proper diagnosis is regarded as the basis of modern medicine, medical radiography is the foundation of medical diagnosis. Properly applied radiography helps physicians to diagnose problems. On one side, using it to improve quality of life is essential but on the other hand, its hazards are obvious. A reasonable usage and according to protection standards are the best way to benefit its advantages and reduce the hazards. Material and Methods : This cross-sectional study was conducted by a researcher-made check list that its validity and reliability were confirmed by experts. It was performed as direct observation in Shohada teaching hospital. Collected data were entered into Excel software and analyzed applying descriptive statistics. Results : The results indicated that compliance with protection standards regarding staff protection ranged from 73.6 to 100 percent and it ranged from 0 to 99.2 percent regarding patient protection. Compliance with protection standards concerning the availability of the devices was lower than average but it was rated higher than average regarding environmental protection. Conclusion : In general, not all protection standards for radiological diagnostic tests are followed at the radiology ward in the shohada teaching hospital. Continuous training courses and increasing staff and patients' awareness might resolve this problem.

Background and Aim: Ionizing radiation protection is one of the most fundamental research and application fields in reducing the absorbed dose of sensitive internal organs. The presence of lead as the first radiation shield with a series of good features such as high density and having some flexibility and a series of bad features such as toxicity, low physical and chemical stability and high weight, have been thinking about replacing it for a long time. In the mammography section, the lead shields present during mammography cause limitations in the patient's work and are generally not used. As a result, they lose their efficiency. Therefore, it is necessary to propose and design a lead-free shield that can have suitable radiation attenuation in the range of mammography energy up to 60 keV and does not create limitations for the patient compared to the existing shields in this sector. Methods: In this study, the evaluation of X-ray and gamma-ray shielding for nine different proposed compounds was done using a computational code MCNPX based on the Monte Carlo method, in the photon energy range of 15 to 400 keV, which is the energy range used in Covers the mammography section. Results: Among the selected protective compounds, the combination of Kennertium showed a more suitable protective function than the other compounds. To reach such a result, the mass attenuation coefficient of the Kennertium compound has been calculated in three thicknesses of 0.1, 0.5, and 1 cm. In the following, to check the performance of selected shields of ionizing radiation, for the thickness of 1 mm of Kennertium composition, the dose reached the tissues close to the tumoral area located in the patient's left breast, such as the left lung, thyroid, and heart, has been calculated with the presence of such protection. Conclusion: Quantitative results show that the Kennertium compound completely covers the energy range above 60 keV and as a proposed compound for interacting with X-rays, does not produce secondary particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and purposeUse of radiological equipment in dentistry is vital for the diagnosis and treatment of oral and dental diseases. However, concerns about the leakage of radiation from these devices and its impact on public health are inevitable. The present study aimed to investigate the extent of radiation leakage in dental clinics in the city of Kashan, Iran, and its results can significantly contribute to the improvement of the safety of these environments. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 30 randomly selected dental clinics. Data collection was performed using the Smart Ion Mini_Instruments Ltd (UK) for measuring radiation leakage, along with observations and inquiries to obtain demographic and protective information. The collected data were entered into the SPSS 24 and analyzed using statistical tests. Results: Based on the findings, 6 out of the 30 sampled clinics had radiation leakage values higher than the permissible limit, while 24 clinics were within the safe range. Moreover, in assessing the relationship between variables and radiation leakage, no significant correlation was found between radiation leakage and the demographic information of radiologists, such as gender, specialty, and work experience. Among protective measures, the presence of lead shielding showed the highest significant correlation with radiation leakage. Conclusion: The study showed that 20% of the sampled offices had a high radiation leakage rate and that protective measures, especially the use of lead shields, were very important in reducing the radiation leakage rate in dental offices. The results indicated that the offices that used lead shields had less radiation leakage than other offices. Lack of a significant relationship between the demographic information of radiographers and the amount of radiation leakage indicated that this phenomenon is more related to technical factors and radiation equipment rather than personal factors, such as gender or expertise. These results revealed the necessity of emphasizing education and retraining and the implementation of safety standards and guidelines related to the use of radiology equipment in dental environments, as well as the necessity of periodic visits to dental offices.

Radiation safety is one of the main concerns in nuclear medicine treatments. After the discharge of thyroid cancer patients treated with radioactive iodine, the radiation exposure to family members of the patients is one of the main concerns of the patients and the society, which in some cases can cause the patient to be stigmatized and not receive the necessary care and emotional support from family and community members. Therefore, in order to reduce the side effects of this issue through the most essential strategic and executive recommendations mentioned in this policy summary, the following hint can be pointed out: training and raising the awareness of medical staff, patients, and society regarding the concepts related to ionizing radiation, permissible radiation dose, radiation hazards, principles of radiation protection, absorbed radiation dose, and factors affecting the absorbed radiation dose during therapeutic and supportive care of the patient under treatment, eliminating the influence of socio-economic factors, lifestyle and literacy level of the patient's family members on the compliance of caregivers with safety recommendations and eventually the radiation exposure to the family members of the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Today, with the increasing use of ionizing radiation like X-rays in diagnosis and treatment of diseases, the risk of fetal exposure in pregnant women also increases. Therefore, protecting pregnant women from ionizing radiation is essential and is considered as the standard criterion for Medical Radiation Center. So the aim of this study was to investigate the observance of protective principles and 10-day rule in imaging of susceptible women. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at the Radiography Centers of Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, from July 2017 to September 2017. First, patients who were under radiography, were asked about the knowledge of the radiographers about the 10-day rule and radiation protection. Then a questionnaire with 12 questions was given to the radiographers in radiology and CT scan center. Finally, the existence of protection guidelines for pregnant women was determined by asking manager and checking at the moment. Results: The patient's question about pregnancy failed about 19%, which did not have a significant relationship with patients' singleness (P=0.0004). Also the mean scores for the knowledge of radiographers about radiation protection were 14.21±0.96, which did not have a significant relationship with their work record and place of employment and their educational level (P=0.09). On the other hand, in half of the radiography centers, the written radiation protection guidelines were not available. Conclusion: Principles of radiation protection and 10-day rule for radiography of women who were prone to pregnancy were desirable but due to importance of radiation protection, the rules should be more carefully implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discovery of x-ray and using of it for medical imaging have produced tremendous outcomes for diagnosis and treatment of diseases. More than 10 million diagnostic radiological procedures and 100,000 nuclear medicine exams are being performed daily around the world. According to the national commission on radiological protection and measurements (NCRP)-report 160, medical x-ray is contribute to approximately 95% of all radiological examinations that is responsible for 74% of the collective dose to the US population. Despite of unique benefits of ionizing radiations, in the field of radiation protection, they are associated with potential risks such as cancer and genetically abnormalities. The cancer risk attributable to diagnostic radiology is estimated about 0.6% to 3%. It is estimated that the radiation dose from diagnostic x-ray procedures are annually responsible for 7,587 and 5,695 cases of radiation induced cancer in the population of Japan and US, respectively. Although the radiation dose associated with most radiological procedures are very low, but rapid increasing use of radiography procedures during two past decades have been concerned due to the cancer risk associated with ionizing radiations. On the base of linear no-threshold (LNT) model of dose-response curve, any level of exposure is dangerous. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the main target of ionizing radiation. For radiological exposure with low dose, the stochastic effects such as genetic damages and leukemia are concerned. According to the recommendations of the radiation protection regulatory organizations, radiological procedure must be done with respect to social and economic factors in which exposure of patient and population kept as low as reasonable and achievable. Hence, prescription of a radiological test is acceptable only when its advantages are higher than its damages. Optimizing the different parameters such as: collimating the primary beam field to the area of diagnostic interest, exposure conditions (high kVp and low mAs), projections, exposure time and shielding can reduce the patients' exposure besides the saving of image quality. Following the radiation protection guidelines can considerably decrease the exposure risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: More than 80% of patients need to take x-rays during their diagnosis and treatment stages. Due to the biological effects of ionizing radiation, observance of radiation protection principles are necessary. The observance of radiation protection principles in intensive care units at Imam Reza hospital of Kermanshah in 2014 was evaluated in this study. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study which was performed by census method, performance of 38 radiographers working in target center was investigated regarding the following of the principles of radiation protection in respect of patients, nurses, radiographers, and other clients in intensive care units. Data collection tool included a questionnaire and a checklist of 31 principles of radiation protection. Results: The overall level of observance of radiation protection principles in intensive care units was at an appropriate level (94.7%) in 36 radiographies. The highest and lowest levels of principle observance of radiographers were in respect to themselves (94.7%) and nurses in the intensive care units and other clients (26.3%), respectively. Conclusion: According to results in this study, radiation protection principles observance by radiographers during portable radiography examinations respect of themselves is appropriate but respect of other nurses is not satisfactory. It seems that it can be improved to 100% of the optimum level by equipping intensive care units to protective equipment, setting some obligations to use them, and controlling and continuous monitoring of protective measures of radiographers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead is the most widely used material for radiation protection in diagnostic radiology because its ability to attenuate x-rays is superior to other materials due to its high atomic number, high density, and its higher economic affordability. However, lead shields have serious disadvantages, such as high toxicity, heavy weight, poor flexibility, and low chemical stability. These disadvantages have oriented extensive research toward the use of non-lead composite shields. This study aims to review the materials and compounds proposed as alternatives to lead in x-ray shields and investigate their effectiveness in removing the limitations of standard lead shields. In total, 83 articles were reviewed using databases such as Google Scholar, Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase with the keywords of radiation protection, lead-free shields, and dianostic radiology. Since a wide range of materials can be used as radiation shields, the results show that in addition to the atomic number, the size of the particles can also be effective in increasing the radiation attenuation efficiency to the extent that the nano-sized non-lead shields have been more effective in radiation protection. Also, compared to common single and combined materials, multilayer polymer composites have better photon attenuation capability and reduce the possibility of x-ray penetration more effectively. Research to find appropriate alternative materials for lead and the optimization of the efficacy of radiation shields, should be continued, as it is difficult to achieve a light, flexible, low cost shield with a high x-ray attenuation in the entire range of diagnostic photon energies.

Background and purpose: Increasing number of patients undergoing x-ray examinations has created a global concern due to the deleterious biological effects associated with x-ray exposure. Adherence to ionizing radiation protection principles could be of great benefit in decreasing these effects. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to survey radiation protection in diagnostic x-ray imaging in Iran using systematic review of published articles. Materials and methods: Without any time limitation, some databases including SID, Magiran, IranMedex, Irandoc, Google-Scholar, Medlin, Embase and PubMed were searched. A total of 122 articles was obtained during the primary research. After elimination of duplicate and irrelevant articles, 39 articles (published in 1997 to 2015) were selected for final review. Results: The researches were performed in conventional radiology centers (n=24), dental radiography (n= 8), nuclear medicine (n=2), mammography (n= 1), computed tomography (n=1), dental radiography and radiology (n= 1), and total diagnostic X-ray departments (n= 2). Totally, 874 diagnostic centers and 1677 radiographers were studied. These studies revealed undesirable level of radiation protection regarding the use of shielding tools for patients, radiation collimation, use of film bag in dental radiography, and quality control programs. But, environmental radiation doses and the use of film bag in radiology centers were found to be in appropriate level. Conclusion: Despite increasing application of x-ray in medical diagnosis, radiation protection did not considerably change in Iran. So a national strategic program on radiation protection seems to be necessary. Such programs must be developed by ministry of health and radiation protection affairs of national atomic energy organization and its administration must be monitored permanently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objectives: Although ionizing radiation is effective in the diagnosis of illnesses, it is dangerous from the perspective of protection for patients and radiographers working in radiology sections. Therefore, knowledge, understanding, and application of radiation protection can play an important role. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the radiation protection principles in radiation workers in medical imaging centers and hospitals in Fasa, Fars, Iran. Materials & Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional one among all 50 radiation workers employed in radiology departments of this city. A questionnaire was the means of evaluation which contained demographic information and questions about the knowledge, attitude, and practice of radiology staff regarding the radiation protection. All of the completed questionnaires were analyzed, using SPSS19 software. Results: Radiographers' participation rate was 100%, and the mean score of knowledge, attitude, and practice of radiation workers in the field of radiation protection was 42.36, 62.4, and 48.54, respectively. Depending on the degree of their knowledge, there was no statistically significant difference between the radiographers' age, gender, and work experience, and the relationship between the following factors was not substantial. Conclusion: The results showed that by increasing the level of education, the awareness of radiation workers increases, too. To raise awareness of radiation protection for radiation workers, it is better to hold training courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: The antioxidant property of lycopene is well proven. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of lycopene on Oral Mucositis (OM) in rat induced by gamma radiation. Materials and methods: This experimental study was conducted in 28 male Wistar rats. They were divided into four groups (n=7 per group). 15 Gy of gamma radiation was used for 7 min and 39 sec. The rats were intraperitoneally (IP) injected within 6 days (daily) and their lips and tongues were examined to assess the incidence and severity of mucositis. Blood samples were also taken from the mice on days zero and six and the serum total antioxidant was evaluated by biochemical assays. Data analysis was done in SPSS V18. One-way ANOVA was done to analyze the datasets for mucositis and serum antioxidant capacity. Mann-Whitney test was applied for pairwise comparison of therapeutic groups in terms of the severity of mucositis. Results: Lycopene caused no delay in the onset of mucositis but the severity of mucositis was lower in lycopene groups compared to that in the placebo group. According to FRAP test, total antioxidant capacity changes of serum were significant between treatment groups on day six between L50 and PR, L50 and LR25, PR and LR50, and LR25 and LR50 groups. Conclusion: Lycopene did not delay the onset of mucositis in treatment groups, but the severity of mucositis was lower in lycopene groups compared with that in placebo group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High energy photons (10-20 MeV) that originate form medical linear accelerator in Radiotherapy treatment room, produce neutron. The produced neutrons id absorbed with different materials in the accelerator, the environment and even patient body that produced radioactive materials. These radioactive materials may pose a risk of radiation exposure to the radiotherapists who go to the treatment room frequently between patients. This process may cause internal radiation exposure in addition to external radiation exposure. In this research after the expose of 18 MV X-Ray by medical accelerator (Varian 2300C/D), the spectrum of accelerator head was collected by portable HPGe detector and 19 radioisotopes were recognized.

Background and Aims: Radiography is one of the most important para-clinical methods in diagnosing and selecting treatment in dentistry. Due to the potential dangers of X-rays for patients, the professional responsibility of the dentist requires that unnecessary radiographs to be avoided. The aim of this study was to investigate the awareness of dentists in Zanjan about the principles of radiation protection in 2019. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 107 general dentists and specialists working in Zanjan and the questionnaires were distributed among them. The level of awareness of dentists in 27 questions of radiographic prescribing questionnaire was evaluated and in each of the mentioned questions, their gender, age, work experience, participation in retraining, having X-ray machine in the field of dentistry and type of activity were evaluated. Data were analyzed by Chi-square test, Independent T-test, and ANOVA using SPSS software version 22. Results: The results showed that the level of knowledge of general dentists about the principles of radiation protection (14.35±3.08) was lower than that of specialized dentists (17.19±2.35). Those who participated in retraining workshops (13.85±2.99) had less knowledge than those who did not (15.97±3.97), which was statistically significant (P<0.05); However, there was no significant difference in the dentists' knowledge about the principles of radiation protection based on gender, age, type of activity, having an X-ray machine at the place of treatment, and history of clinical experience (P≥0.05). Conclusion: Awareness of dentists at various levels was moderate. Therefore, designing and holding more purposeful retraining courses to maintain and improve the level of awareness of dentists according to the guidelines provided by the authorities, still seems to be necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Radiography is one of the most important para-clinical methods in diagnosing and selecting treatment in dentistry. Due to the potential dangers of X-rays for patients, the professional responsibility of the dentist requires that unnecessary radiographs to be avoided. The aim of this study was to investigate the awareness of dentists in Zanjan about the principles of radiation protection in 2019. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 107 general dentists and specialists working in Zanjan and the questionnaires were distributed among them. The level of awareness of dentists in 27 questions of radiographic prescribing questionnaire was evaluated and in each of the mentioned questions, their gender, age, work experience, participation in retraining, having X-ray machine in the field of dentistry and type of activity were evaluated. Data were analyzed by Chi-square test, Independent T-test, and ANOVA using SPSS software version 22. Results: The results showed that the level of knowledge of general dentists about the principles of radiation protection (14.35±3.08) was lower than that of specialized dentists (17.19±2.35). Those who participated in retraining workshops (13.85±2.99) had less knowledge than those who did not (15.97±3.97), which was statistically significant (P

Sandwich panels are used in various industries due to their high special strength. It is used in ultra-light aerospace structures. In this paper the protective effect of sandwich structures used in ultralight space structures against gamma rays is investigated. Eight structures of the most widely used structures used in space structures such as telecommunication antennas and satellite bodies are exposed to radioisotopic sources of gamma rays (Amercium barium and cesium) with energies of 60 kV, 80 kV, 382 and 66 kV, have been compared to each other. Surface material (aluminum and carbon), surface thicknesses and honeycomb cell dimensions are the most important evaluation parameters. In this paper, different structures have been compared using the "special protection" parameter and the best structure from a protection perspective has been identified and reported.

Introduction: The formation and evolution of culture in organizations are related to the learning experiences of their members over time. In this regard, the present study was conducted to empirically investigate the correlation relationship between the Learning Organization (LO) and safety culture concepts in Iran’s nuclear and radiological industries. Material and Methods: A theoretical model concerning the connections between seven facets of LO and safety culture was proposed. It was then empirically tested with a structural equation modeling PLS analysis of a survey data set of 388 observations, collected from the radiation workers of 45 organizations in 4 Iranian industrial groups i.e. medical radiation, industrial radiography, nuclear installations, and radiological installations. Yang’s DLOQ questionnaire in 2004 and IAEA’s SCPQ-LH questionnaire in 2017 were used to measure LO and safety culture, respectively. Results: According to the findings of this study, being a LO could explain 52% of the variance in safety culture. Besides, it was observed that the strength of this relationship between four different subpopulations of Iran’s radiological and nuclear industries due to their different contexts, had significant differences and they vary from 34% for industrial radiography to 65% for nuclear installations. Conclusion: The existence of LO conditions in the working environment is linked to high safety culture. Thus, the LO can be joined to the toolbox of consultants, managers, and other organizational developers attempting to advance the conditions for safety at work.

Introduction and Aims: Diagnostic Radiology has the largest share in the artificial ionizing radiation sources in the society. One of the most important factors in reducing radiation dose is quality control and ensuring the quality and performance of radiology devices.Quality control is conducted to produce high-quality radiographic images with minimum radiation dose. Materials and Methods: Ten normal X-ray machines in 5 hospitals affiliated to Kurdistan university of Medical Sciences were studied. Then, 10 standard test of quality control were conducted based on the protocol recommended by the 74 report (quality control standards) American Association of Medical Physics (AAMP) and Report No. 103 of the International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP). Finally, data were statistically evaluated and the percentage of error of each parameter was compared with existing standards. Results: In some devices the overall filtration parameters’ error and voltage accuracy was higher than acceptable range and needed to be reformed. Also, in some devices the percentage of parameter error of radiation field compliance and light field was more than acceptable range based on the existing standards. Some devices in the province had boundary and threshold error. Conclusion: According to the recommendations of the Commission on Radiation Protection and Medical Physics Society of America, most of the parameters of the devices in question were in agreement with existing standards and were in acceptable range

Background: Cerium oxide nanoparticles, or nanoceria, as radioprotectors can play an important role in reducing complication of ionizing radiation. The aim of this study was to reduce the mortality of normal lung cells against 6-MV photon beams by using nanoceria; so that through identifying optimal concentration of nanoceria, it could be used in radiation therapy. Methods: Nanoceria suspensions were sterilized with 70% ethyl alcohol. In order to optimize the nanoparticles distribution in aqueous medium, suspension was shaken by vortex for 3 minutes. Then, the sonication was performed for 2 hours using ultrasound sonicator. MRC-5 cells were cultured in Dulbecco's modified eagle medium/F12 (DMEM/F12) medium, and placed in a high-humidity incubator at 37 °C. To determine the non-toxic concentration, the cells were treated with serial concentrations of 5, 10, 30, 50, 70, 90, 110, 150, 200, 250, and 300 µM of nanoceria. Quantitative radio-protection effect of nanoceria was performed in non-toxic concentrations against 6-MV X-ray with doses of 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 cGy. Findings: The concentration of 70 μM and low concentrations did not have toxicity for MRC-5 cells. The mean cell viability (%) in this concentration of nanoceria was 89.4 ± 2.6 percent. MRC-5 cells at presence of 70 µM anoceria had significant radiation protection against radiation doses of 40, 80, and 100 cGy compared to the control group. Conclusion: Using cerium oxide nanoparticles can increase the precision of treatment, and reduce secondary effects of radiotherapy.

Introduction: Currently, panoramic radiography is very popular with dentists due to its proper cost and low radiation dose in terms of the data it provides. During the diagnosis and treatment process, a dentist should keep himself and the patient safe from the dangerous effects of ionizing radiation during radiography. Therefore, this study was undertaken to present a guideline for dentists and technicians for better patient protection. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional, descriptive/analytical study, 4 calibrated TLDs were placed in appropriate positions within a holder and placed on the surface of a lead apron on the anterior and posterior aspects. One TLD was also placed in the environment as a control. One hundred patients, candidates for taking panoramic radiographs, wore the lead apron and underwent conventional panoramic radiography. Then the TLDs were sent for processing and the results were analyzed with repeated-measurements ANOVA, post hoc least significant difference, one-sample t-test and paired-samples t-test (α = 0.01). Results: TLDs that had undergone radiographic exposure 100 times showed the absorbed dose in millisievert unit. Skin dose on the postero-superior region (0.31) was the highest amount measured, followed by the absorption dose on the postero-inferior region (0.28), antero-inferior region (0.22), antero-superior region (0.19); the control TLD which was placed outside the room showed insignificant absorption dose. Conclusion: In this study, the patients’ radiation doses were separately reported for the anterior and posterior mid-body regions. The skin absorbed dose in the posterior mid-body region was higher in comparison with the anterior region. Therefore, it is advisable for the patients to wear the lead apron like a coat on the posterior region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the vicinity of some of radiation therapy centers, measured exposure may not agree with calculated values due to the skyshine phenomenon. The aim of this study was to determine a computational model to predict the dose of radiation skyshine via Monte Carlo simulations. Methods: The simulation of linear accelerator head, skyshine geometry, and skyshine dose calculation at several heights and for different roof thicknesses was done using Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended (MCNPX) code. The simulation results were validated via measuring and then were compared with the Council on Radiation Protection-151 (NCRP151) model results. Findings: The results of dose distribution in skyshine simulated model for all thicknesses of roof and every height from ground level showed an increase in the dose up to about 10 meters distance from the isocenter and then a decrease by distance from the isocenter; while the dose in the NCRP151 model, continuously decreases by distance. In addition, the amount of dose in each point was around 50 times larger than the simulated values. Dose reduction in both methods was proportional to the inverse-square. Conclusion: The model developed in this study can be used to predict the skyshine dose when designing a radiotherapy facility. The developed model is superior to the NCRP151 model due to its ability to calculate the dose in every point, inside and outside of treatment room, to investigate the influence parameters such as ceiling thickness and height from ground level and to determine the point with maximum dose.

Background: Anode heel effect refers to reduction of radiation intensity in the anode side of X-ray tube. This variation in radiation intensity across the anode-cathode of X-ray tube can be benefited for decrease radiation exposure in some radiological examinations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of anode heel orientation on the radiation dose received by the testes in male patients undergoing pelvic radiography. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, conducted at one of the teaching hospitals of Ahvaz, Jundishapur University of Medical Science Ahvaz, Iran, from September 2015 to March 2016. In order to measure the profile of radiation intensity variation, 13 paired sets of high radiosensitive cylindrical lithium fluoride thermo-luminescent dosimeters (TLD) aligned on the cathode-anode central axis upon the table and then irradiated using routine exposure parameters. The anode of X-ray tube was positioned toward the feet for 40 patients and toward the head for 39 patients undergoing pelvic radiography. For measure the entrance skin dose (ESD), 8 TLD chips were located on the central point of the radiation field and 5 TLDs were located on the testes position to measure the dose received. Results: Radiation intensity profile showed that radiation intensity decrease from the cathode to the anode side. Discrepancy of radiation intensity on central axis of cathode-anode was calculated about 35%. The radiation dose received by the testes was 26.74% lower for patients the anode directed toward the feet, compared to the patients in which the anode directed toward the head (FTC: 1.260±0.296 mGy, FTA: 0.923±0.167 mGy, P

AbstractIntroduction: Radiography is a commonly used paraclinical technique to diagnose and cure orodental diseases. Due to possible dangers of x-rays, it is very important for dental practitioners to be familiar with methods to protect themselves and their patients against x-rays. The aim of the present study was to evaluate awareness, performance and attitudes of general dental practitioners in Yazd about ionizing radiation and protection methods.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive‒analytical study data was collected by one standard questionnaire filled by 92 general dental practitioners. Data was analyzed by t-test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient using SPSS 15 statistical software (α=0.05).Results: The results showed that the average scores of awareness, attitude and performance of general dental practitioners were 8.57, 35.84 and 7.90, respectively. There were direct relationships between job experience and awareness (r = 0.532, p value = 0.00), job experience and performance (r = 0.339, p value = 0.01), and awareness and performance (r = 0.367, p value < 0.001).Conclusion: Due to poor awareness and performance of dental practitioners in relation to protective measures against ionizing radiation, more educational classes and long-term planning are necessary to improve the situation. Since conventional educational methods have not been able to improve the situation, new educational techniques are necessary. Key words: Dental, Ionizing radiation, Radiation protection, Radiography

Introduction & Objective: Biological effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the body of live organisms, have been studied by researchers in recent years. UV affects human organs such as skin, eyes and immune system, as well as animals and plants. The main natural source of UV radiation is the Sun. So, the integral observation of UV levels and their effects at ground level is important to determine the present and future environmental and health implications of the solar UV radiation. Since the amount of UVR (UV radiation) has not already been measured in Hamadan, the aim of this study was to measure the amount in Hamadan city in different months of the year. Materials & Methods: This work was a cross-sectional study and has assessed the solar UVA radiation, by calibrated Hagner digital radiometer, model EC1 UV-A. The monthly quantity of solar UVR was measured in Hamadan during one year (2011-2012). Results: The maximum UVA received on the ground level was 27.3±1.09 W/m2 in Shahrivar month (Aug 23 – Sep 22) while the minimum was 11.8±1.32 W/m2 in Azar month (Nov 22 – Dec 21) . Total UVA radiation received on the ground level was 19.74±1.56 W/m2 during the period of measurment. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it seems that the annual UVA in Hamadan city exceeded the amounts recommended by the WHO and further studies are needed to measure UVB and UVC to determine the total UV radiation level in thecity. Based on these results, it is recommended to wear appropriate sunglasses and minimize sun exposure during the midday hours.

مقدمه: هیچ شکی در مورد سودمند بودن معاینات رادیوگرافی در تشخیص بیماری و بررسی پیشرفت آن وجود ندارد. هرچند اطلاعات تشخیصی به دست آمده توسط رادیوگرافی‏ها ارزشمند است، اما پزشکان باید از اثرات مضر اشعه یونیزان آگاه و با اصول حفاظت اشعه آشنایی داشته باشند. هدف از این مطالعه ارزیابی میزان آگاهی دندانپزشکان عمومی شهر رشت در مورد حفاظت اشعه در معاینات رادیوگرافی دهان بود. مواد و روش‏ها: این مطالعه توصیفی-مقطعی، بر روی 110 نفر از دندانپزشکان عمومی شهر رشت انجام شد. اطلاعات درباره مشخصات دموگرافیک و فردی دندانپزشکان، وآگاهی آنها در رابطه با حفاظت اشعه در معاینات رادیوگرافی دهان از طریق یک پرسشنامه به دست آمد. سپس آنالیز آماری داده‏ها توسط ANOVA انجام شد. یافته‏ها: 2/68% از دندانپزشکان مرد و 8/31% زن بودند. 6/53% تجربه کاری بیشتر از 10 سال داشتند. تنها 7/12% از آنها به صورت عمومی کار می‏کردند و 6/73% آنها از زمان فارغ‏التحصیلی سابقه شرکت در دوره‏های آموزشی رادیولوژی دهان نداشتند. میانگین نمره آگاهی کل دندانپزشکان 09/4±66/13 از 27 بود. جنسیت، کار در اماکن دولتی یا خصوصی و سال‏های تجربه کاری و شرکت در دوره‏های آموزشی رادیولوژی دهان با میزان آگاهی ارتباط معنی‏داری نداشت (05/0

Background and Objectives: The radiation protection of patients in CT examinations is important due to its wide application and high contribution in collective dose of public, and its radiation effects. The purpose of this study was to estimate the mean patient dose indices in chest and abdomen/pelvic examinations as the first step in patient radiation protection process. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was performed on the dose indices of adult patients in chest and abdomen/pelvis examinations in CT institute in Rafsanjan Ali Ibn Abitalib Hospital, for 5 months in 2018. The volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) and size specific dose estimate (SSDE) were collected for 135 patients. The mean of dose indices were calculated for the body mass index (BMI), weight and lateral diameter groups and were compared to the diagnostic reference level (DRL) of Iran and threshold dose curve method. Results: The ranges of mean CTDIvol for lateral diameter, BMI and weight groups and for chest were 4.4-16.2, 5.6- 16.2 and 4.1-16.2 mGy and for abdomen/pelvis were 5.9-19.3, 6.8-25.6 and 6.5-25.6 mGy. The corresponding values for SSDE and for chest were 7.7-11.9, 8.5-11.9 and 7.7-11.9 mGy and for abdomen/pelvis were 9.8-21.5, 10.7-21.5 and 10.5-21.5 mGy. Also, the mean of CTDIvol and DLP for standard size patients were lower than DRL of Iran. Conclusion: Comparison of mean patient dose indices for lateral diameter, BMI and weight groups for chest and abdomen/pelvis examinations with the threshold dose curve shows that the relatively optimum protocols are applied in this CT institute. However, more optimization in CT protocols can result in more patient dose reduction in CT examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In angiography and especially in angioplasty, large amounts of X-rays are emitted to the patient's body, which causes the patient to be exposed to a lot of radiation. Saba Shield is a type of highpass shield that was introduced recently. Moreover, its effectiveness in reducing the dose of patients during CT scan imaging has been investigated and confirmed. It seems that the use of Saba shield with optimal thickness can significantly reduce the dose received by patients in angiography and angioplasty. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of Saba Shield with Zn-Bi combination on reducing the dose received by patients and its effect on the quality of images in angiography and angioplasty. Methods and Materials: One shield with dimensions of 60 x 40 cm and thickness of 0.04 mm equivalent to lead was prepared in order to investigate the efficiency of Saba shield with Zn-Bi combination in angiography and angioplasty. Angiography machine was used for radiation and CTDI phantom was used to simulate the patient's body. Dosimetry using TLDs was performed on the CTDI phantom without shield and with shield. Then, the values of dose reduction and image quality were examined. In order to check the quality of the image, according to the radiology experts, it was used in a double-blind manner. Results: The findings of the present study showed that the use of Saba Shield with Zn-Bi combination in angiography and angioplasty has reduced the dose between 30 and 37% of the dose received by patients with moderate and acceptable image quality. Discussion and Conclusion: Saba shield with Zn-Bi composition and thickness of 0.04 mm equivalent to lead can significantly reduce the dose received by the patients and it does not have a degrading effect on the quality of the images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: While ionizing radiation benefits the general population, its stochastic and nonstochastic effects necessitate the protection of patients against possible injuries. This study evaluated X-ray equivalent dose at radiology centers in Zahedan in 2017. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in radiology and dentistry departments and waiting rooms. The census method was used for sampling. Six radiology centers, four public hospitals, and thirteen dental offices were chosen for this study. X-ray equivalent dose was measured in μSv/h using MKS-05 ―TERRA dosimeter radiometer. The collected data were analyzed through SPSS version 22. Results: The highest and lowest mean equivalent doses were, respectively, related to machine operators in public hospitals (0.36 ± 0.06 µsv/hr) and dental department staff (0.06 ± 0.01 µsv/hr), which were lower than the permissible level. On the other hand, exposure rate of the radiology staff of some departments was found to be 0.55 μSv/h, which is above the permissible level. Also, the operators' highest amount of radiation exposure was related to dental, chest, and lumbosacral radiographies. Conclusion: Given that the radiology staff is indirectly but constantly subjected to ionizing radiation above the standard dose, it is recommended to take preventive measures such as observing an appropriate distance from the radiology room, reinspection of shields, applying protective devices, and monitoring the exposure dose for this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Today, OSL (Optically Stimulated Luminescence) dosimetry system based on optical stimulation, includes systems that can meet many requirements for radiation protection in the field of medicine and space. The Calcium Sulfide (CaS) is one of the earth's alkaline sulfide materials which can be used as a detector in this system. In this research, some of the dosimetry properties of CaS doped with Cerium, (Ce), and Samarium, (Sm) elements were investigated as OSL dosimeter sensor. Materials and Methods: First, attenuation of x-rays through the sensors were analyzed and the absorbed dose rate was evaluated using MCNP code. After calcium sulfide tablets were fabricated and their concentration optimized, the maximum waiting time prior to readout was obtained. In addition, the repeatability and linear response of the detector were determined as a function of CaS concentration. Results: Eight minutes after radiation exposure of detectors, the detection output signals became stable. This stability was monitored for at least 30 minutes after irradiation. The repeatability in measurements was observed within the dose ranges of 100 to 860 mGy. The dosimeter response was observed linear over this dose ranges. Conclusion: According to the above-observed results and statistical evaluations, one can conclude that the CaS:Ce,Sm crystal is a proper sensor for OSL dosimeter systems in medicine and space studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]