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Purpose: There are few areas in the world where ionizing radiation (IR) dose received by the public from radon gas and other radioactive elements are much higher than recommended limits. Telomere length is a potential biomarker of genomic instability due to oxidative stress from IR exposure. In this study, we investigated the impact of chronic exposure to environmental IR on relative telomere length (RTL) in white blood cells (WBC) among inhabitants of high background radiation areas (HBRA) of Ramsar, Iran. Materials and methods: One hundred and four individuals from HBRAs of Ramsar and 104 age-matched subjects from normal background radiation areas (NBRA) of Iran were enrolled in the study. The RTLs of WBC DNA samples were measured by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) approach. Results: Mean RTL in HBRA and NBRA groups did not show any significant difference (1.21 ± 0.71 versus 1.22 ± 0.66, p = .306). After controlling for all demographic variables, less than 1% of the variances in RTL values were related to background radiation exposure. Conclusion: We conclude that chronic exposure to natural IR has no statistically significant effect on RTL among the inhabitants of HBRAs of Ramsar compared with a control group.

Purpose Our current study aims to consider the image biomarkers extracted from the MRI images for exploring their effects on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients' survival. Determining its biomarker helps better manage the disease and evaluate treatments. It has been proven that imaging features could be used as a biomarker. The purpose of this study is to investigate the features in MRI and clinical features as the biomarker association of survival of GBM. Methods 55 patients were considered with five clinical features, 10 qualities pre-operative MRI image features, and six quantitative features obtained using BraTumIA software. It was run ANN, C5, Bayesian, and Cox models in two phases for determining important variables. In the first phase, we selected the quality features that occur at least in three models and quantitative in two models. In the second phase, models were run with the extracted features, and then the probability value of variables in each model was calculated. Results The mean of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and area under curve (AUC) after running four machine learning techniques were 80.47, 82.54, 79.78, and 0.85, respectively. In the second step, the mean of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and AUC were 79.55, 78.71, 79.83, and 0.87, respectively. Conclusion We found the largest size of the width, the largest size of length, radiotherapy, the volume of enhancement, volume of nCET, satellites, enhancing margin, and age feature are important features.

Purpose: One of the promising radiosensitizers is the ultrasmall gold nanoparticle (GNP) with a hydrodynamic diameter vβ3) in the murine ALTS1C1 glioma cell line. Materials and methods: We investigated the uptake, toxicity and radiosensitivity of GNP–PEG–cRGDfKs in ALTS1C1 cells exposed to protons, kilovoltage photons and megavoltage photons. The in vitro uptake and toxicity of GNPs in the hepatocytes and Kupffer cells were assessed for murine AML12 hepatocyte and RAW 264.7 macrophage cell lines. The in vivo biodistribution of GNPs in the ALTS1C1 tumor model was tested using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results: Results indicated GNPs accumulated in the cytoplasm with negligible toxicity for a moderate concentration of GNPs. Observed sensitizer enhancement ratios and dose enhancement factors are 1.21–1.66 and 1.14–1.33, respectively, for all radiations. Conclusion: Ultrasmall GNP–PEG–cRGD can be considered as a radiosensitizer. For radiotherapy applications, the delivery method should be developed to increase the GNP uptake in the tumor and decrease the uptakes in undesirable organs.

Nuclear reactions of high-energy protons with treatment equipment, air, and patient tissue during proton therapy generate residual radioactivity and secondary particles including protons, deuterons, alphas, and neutrons. The most up-to-date versions of INCL++ (v5.2.9), TALYS (v1.8), EMPIRE (v3.2.2 Malta), and ALICE/ASH were used in this study to calculate the excitation functions of proton-induced reactions with carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, aluminum, calcium, iron, nickel, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, and lead nuclei. The cross sections of different nuclear reaction mechanisms, gamma particles, and residual radionuclides were calculated. The obtained results were compared with available experimental data and the ENDF/B-VII.1.

In the present study, ytterbium-169 was produced via the 169Tm(p, n)169Yb nuclear process at the AMIRS (Cyclone-30, IBA, Belgium) cyclotron, irradiating Tm2O3 with proton particles of 15 MeV primary energy and 20 μA current for 20 min. Deposition of Tm2O3 on Cu substrate was carried out via by the sedimentation method. The 543 mg of thulium(III)oxide with 108 mg of ethyl cellulose and 8 mL of acetone were used to prepare a Tm2O3 layer of 11.69 cm2. Yields of about 0.643 MBq 169Yb per μAh were experimentally obtained. 169Yb was separated in 80 ± 5% radiochemical yield using liquid–liquid extraction. Solvent extraction of no-carrier-added 169Yb from irradiated thulium(III)oxide target hydrochloric solution was investigated using di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP).

This article presents, 122Sb (T 1/2 = 2.723 days, I β- = 97.59%) was produced via the natSn(p,xn) nuclear process at the AMIRS (Cyclone-30, IBA, Belgium). The electrodeposition experiments were carried out by potassium stannate trihydrate (K2Sn(OH)6) and potassium hydroxide. The optimum conditions of the electrodeposition of tin were as follows: 40 g/L natSn, 20 g/L KOH, 115 g/L K2Sn(OH)6, DC current density of 5 A/dm2 with a bath temperature of 75 °C. The electroplated Tin-target was irradiated with 26.5 MeV protons at current of 180 μA for 20 min. Solvent extraction of no-carrier-added 122Sb from irradiated Tin-natural target hydrochloric solution was investigated using di-n-butyl ether (C8H18O). Yields of about 3.61 MBq/μAh were experimentally obtained.

172Lu due to its suitable (T1/2 = 6.7 days) and high detection sensitivity, is used as a radiotracer in different fields. 172Lu appears to be suitable as a long-lived rare-earth tracer for compound labelling and biodistribution studies. In the present study, excitation functions via 172Yb(p,n)172Lu, natYb(p,xn)172Lu, 172Yb(d,2n)172Lu and natYb(d,xn)172Lu reactions were calculated by ALICE/91, ALICE/ASH and TALYS-1.2 codes. Deposition of natYb2O3 on Cu substrate was carried out via sedimentation method for the production of 172Lu. Cementation separation process and liquid–liquid extraction (LLX) of no-carrier-added (nca) radiolutetium from irradiated ytterbium(III)oxide target hydrochloric solution was described using Na(Hg) amalgam, α-hydroxyisobutyric acid (α-HIB) and di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP).

Amongst the various radioisotopes of molybdenum, 93mMo in its no-carrier added form might be a potential candidate radionuclide in the field of nuclear medicine due to its suitable half-life (T1/2 = 6.85 h) and for its intense gamma line at 263.14 keV. Aim of the presented study is to compare the calculated cross sections for the production of 93mMo incident proton energy up to 30 MeV, theoretical calculation of production yield and calculation of target thickness requirement. Also, deposition of 93NbO2 on Cu substrate was carried out via two special sedimentation methods for the production of 93mMo and a simple and selective extraction of molybdenum was described.

Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the modern world. Treatment modalities comprise radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. Radiation therapy can be performed by using external or internal radiation therapy. However, each method has its unique properties which undertakes special role in cancer treatment, this question is brought up that: For cancer treatment, whether external radiation therapy is more efficient or internal radiation therapy one? To answer this question, we need to consider principles and structure of individual methods. In this review, principles and application of each method are considered and finally these two methods are compared with each other.