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Objective: To measure the Achilles tendon length, thickness and cross-sectional area in asymptomatic adult Saudi participants and to investigate the possible changes in these measurements based on their different ages and body height. Methods: The prospective cohort study was done between January 2014 and March 2015. A total of 200 asymptomatic participants with 175 males (87.5%) and 25 females (12.5%) between the ages of 14 and 65 years, with the mean age of 25 ± 1.5 years, were scanned at two radiology departments. Ultrasound (US) scans for the Achilles tendons were performed using a Hitachi (EZU-MT30-S1 HI Vision Avius, Hitachi, Japan) US machine. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used to analyse the results. Results: There was no significant difference in the length, cross-sectional area and thickness of the Achilles tendons among the participants of different ages; however, the cross-sectional area of Achilles tendons of the older participants (= 47 years) was higher than that of the participants of the younger age groups. Moreover, there was no correlation between the length, cross-sectional area, and thickness of the Achilles tendons and their body heights; however, the participants of = 153 cm in height showed an increase in their Achilles tendon cross-sectional areas. Conclusion: Ultrasound is a useful imaging tool in the assessment of the Achilles tendons. The normal variations of the tendon morphological characteristics should be considered in the clinical diagnosis. Additional studies on the correlations among the Achilles tendon length, thickness and cross-sectional areas of ethnicity of the participants in Saudi Arabia are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to estimate the annual effective dose for cardiologists and nurses by measuring Hp(10) and Hp(0.07) during cardiac catheterization procedures. A total of 16 staffs members were working in interventional cardiology during 1 year at a tertiary hospital. The occupational dose was measured using calibrated thermo-luminescent dosemeters (TLD-100, LiF:Mg,Ti). The overall mean and range of the annual Hp(10) and Hp(0.07) (mSv) for cardiologists were 3.7 (0.13–14.5) and 3.2 (0.21–14.7), respectively. Cardiologists were frequently exposed to higher doses compared with nurses and technologists. The exposure showed wide variations, which depend on occupation and workload. Staff is adhered to radiation protection guidelines regarding shielding the trunk, thyroid shield, thus appropriately protected. Lens dose measurement is recommended to ensure that dose limit is not exceeded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study has sought to evaluate patient exposures during the course of particular diagnostic positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) techniques. A total of 73 patients were examined using two types of radiopharmaceutical: 18F-fluorocholine (FCH, 48 patients) and 68Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA, 25 patients). The mean and range of administered activity (AA) in MBq, and effective dose (mSv) for FCH were 314.4 ± 61.6 (462.5–216.8) and 5.9 ± 1.2 (8.8–4.11), respectively. Quoted in the same set of units, the mean and range of AA and effective dose for 68Ga-PSMA were 179.3 ± 92.3 (603.1–115.1) and 17.9 ± 9.2 (60.3–11.5). Patient effective doses from 18F-FCH being a factor of two greater than the dose resulting from 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT procedures. CT accounts for some 84 and 23% for 18F-FCH and 68Ga-PSMA procedures, accordingly CT acquisition parameter optimization is recommended. Patient doses have been found to be slightly greater than previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research paper is to estimate the mean value of extremely low frequency (ELF) exposure in schools in Greece. Detailed ELF measurements were conducted and analyzed by the Weighted Peak Method (WPM), which estimates the overall contribution of electromagnetic waves from 1 Hz to 400 kHz, including their phases. A sample of 243 schools was sampled to calculate. The mean value of ELF magnetic fields (MFs) measured in these two groups comprising 243 schools was the principal focus of interest. ELF MF measurements taken in schools situated both far from and near ELF sources had mean and maximum values well below the current International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) standard. The mean value of ELF MFs from all sources within the sampled schools in Greece was 0.21 μΤ. A statically significant difference between the mean MFs measured in the two groups of schools was found, but the MFs in both groups were much lower than the ICNIRP standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical exposure of the general population due to radiological investigations is the foremost source of all artificial ionising radiation. Here, we focus on a particular diagnostic radiological procedure, as only limited data are published with regard to radiation measurements during urethrograpic imaging. Specifically, this work seeks to estimate patient and occupational effective doses during urethrographic procedures at three radiology hospitals. Both staff and patient X-ray exposure levels were calculated in terms of entrance surface air kerma (ESAK), obtained by means of lithium fluoride thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD-100(LiF:Mg:Cu.P)) for 243 urethrographic examinations. Patient radiation effective doses per procedure were estimated using conversion factors obtained from the use of Public Health England computer software. In units of mGy, the median and range of ESAK per examination were found to be 10.8 (3.6–26.2), 7.0 (0.2–32.3), and 24.3 (9.0–32.0) in Hospitals A, B, and C, respectively. The overall mean and range of staff doses (in µGy) were found to be 310 (4.0–1750) per procedure. With the exception of hospital C, the present evaluations of radiation dose have been found to be similar to those of previously published research. The wide range of patient and staff doses illustrate the need for radiation dose optimisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]