Journal of Radiation Research最新文献

Ionizing radiation is of huge benefit to society; however, the risks of radiation overexposure in occupational settings or due to accidents or other incidents are of growing concern, not least due to the potential implications for exposed individuals in terms of acute high dose (e.g. ARS) and/or longer term low dose health effects such as cancer or genetic effects. This manuscript considers the state of the art for biological and 'fortuitous' physical retrospective dose estimation either in blood or in materials being carried by suspected exposed individuals, respectively, in support of routine and emergency radiation incident response, and the potential future progress in this fascinating and active field. In recent years, international experts in this field have engaged in active collaboration and networking on support of these goals, and continued efforts in this area will ensure the global community remains ready to respond to radiation accidents and incidents. In addition, over and above improved dose and exposure characterization in the field of radiation emergency medicine, scientific developments in biological markers may contribute to potential contributions to individualized or stratified risk estimation in molecular epidemiology to assess long term, low dose radiation risk; in personalized medical dosimetry for better justification and optimization for use of radiation in such settings, and even perhaps for potential future situations involving radiation exposure, for example protection of individuals traveling to space.

Despite advances in multimodality therapy, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and chemoradiation, the fatality rate for esophageal cancer remains high. Specifically, Fusobacterium nucleatum, due to its aggregation capacity, has shown a tendency to form biofilms. The biofilm-forming capabilities of microbial communities are of utmost importance in the context of cancer treatment, as they have been shown to drive significant losses in the efficaciousness of various cancer treatments. Therefore, elucidating the dynamics of F. nucleatum will be important for the development of effective treatments for esophageal cancer. Therefore, this review summarizes the current knowledge of F. nucleatum, its involvement in cancer and its impact on chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In conclusion, further research on the role of F. nucleatum is essential for the continued advancement of the treatment of esophageal cancer and patient care.

As Fukushima grapples with ongoing challenges related to reputational damage, it is becoming increasingly imperative to establish an effective means for global audiences to access, comprehend, and support the region's recovery efforts. To achieve this, Fukushima Prefecture has been strategically organizing educational tours tailored for international visitors, operating under the umbrella of ``Hope Tourism.'' These tours aim to bring about positive change by dispelling negative perceptions, offering a nuanced understanding of Fukushima's ongoing revitalization, and fostering connections between visitors and local residents. This study aims to contribute to the understanding of such tourism by providing an overview of Hope Tourism and addressing the reputational challenges faced by the prefecture. It will illustrate how experiences in Dark Tourism can effectively reshape a region's place identity, and serve as a proactive measure to alter perceptions of visitors to disaster-affected communities. Additionally, the study will analyze the learning outcomes of Hope Tourism experiences through the Fukushima Ambassadors Program, a short-term study abroad initiative provided by Fukushima University since 2012, which incorporates elements of Dark Tourism. Through these analyses, this study seeks to offer insights into the potential of educational tourism as a tool for fostering global support and understanding in the face of reputational challenges.

Radiation is a pervasive natural phenomenon that has been present on earth since its inception. However, exposure to high background radiation levels can pose significant health risks to individuals living in affected areas. In recent years, several studies have been conducted in high background radiation areas (HBRAs), including high radon concentration areas, to understand the radiological aspects and the lessons learned of radiation exposure. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of radiological hazards and lessons learned from studies in high-background radiation areas in some countries of Asia (India, China and Indonesia). In this article, we will explore the hazards associated with radiation exposure from terrestrial radiation and additionally radon inhalation, the different studies conducted in HBRA and the lessons learned from these studies. Ultimately, this article aims to provide a better understanding of the radiological aspects of HBRAs and to identify the key lessons learned from previous studies to prevent future health risks. Likewise, research conducted in different high-background radiation areas in some countries of Asia has provided valuable insights into the radiological aspects of these areas and their potential impact on human health.

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident occurred after the Great East Japan Earthquake on 11 March 2011. The regulations for food items contaminated with radioiodine or radioactive cesium were introduced immediately after the accident by establishing a tentative limit for the contamination level. These regulations excluded or minimized the excessive internal radiation exposure in Japan. Subsequently, the Food Safety Commission of the Japanese Cabinet Office established based on the Food Safety Basic Act evaluated the influence of food items on human health, and the information was reviewed to establish finalized reference values according to the Food Sanitation Act. This study aimed to compile a summary from published sources to examine the risk analysis conducted by the Japanese government over 5 years since the disaster occurred, which was carried out to prevent internal exposure to radioactive substances in food. Findings revealed that items exceeding the reference value were mostly found in the item group not under cultivation/feeding management. In addition, the risk management measures to prevent internal exposure to radioactive substances in food have proven to be effective.

In radiological disasters, evacuating institutionalized individuals such as hospitalized patients and nursing home residents presents complex challenges. The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear power plant (FDNPP) accident, triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE), exposed critical issues in evacuation planning. This case series investigates the evacuation difficulties encountered by three hospitals situated 20 to 30 km from the FDNPP following the GEJE and FDNPP accident. Data collection involved reviewing records, stakeholder interviews and analyzing publicly available resources. Six key challenges emerged: acute phase influx-hospitals faced an abrupt surge in patients, including trauma victims and vulnerable individuals; initial discharge and transfers-coordinating patient discharges and transfers during the chaotic aftermath proved daunting; staff shortages-evacuation and personal factors lead to reduced staffing levels and strained hospital capabilities; infrastructure damage and logistics suspension-infrastructure issues, such as burst water pipes, halted gas supplies, and heavy oil shortage disrupted hospital operations; unclear evacuation criteria-ad hoc evacuation decisions underscored the lack of clear criteria; and limited preparation time-minimal preparation time hindered communication and planning. These findings underscore the need for robust disaster planning, resource management, and communication strategies to ensure the safety of patients and staff during radiological emergencies. Government interventions, early patient discharge, and improved medical record communication may alleviate the burden of evacuation. The lessons learned emphasize the importance of maintaining hospital functions in disaster-prone areas, particularly for vulnerable populations, and highlight the necessity for comprehensive community-wide disaster prevention planning.

Exposure to ionizing radiation can induce harmful biological effects on the human body, particularly in cases of high-dose γ-irradiation affecting the gastrointestinal tract, bone marrow, skin and lung. Such exposures lead to lethal outcomes as individuals experience a breakdown in their immune system's ability to defend against pathogens, predisposing them to sepsis-induced multiple organ failures. Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) possess diverse biological characteristics, including immunomodulation, anti-inflammation and tissue regeneration. Off-the-shelf culture-expanded human bone marrow- or adipose tissue-derived MSCs are clinically available to treat graft-versus-host disease following hematopoietic cell transplantation and perianal fistulas in Crohn's disease in Japan. While preclinical studies showcase encouraging outcomes in radiation-induced injuries, the effectiveness of MSC transplantation in addressing acute radiation syndrome affecting organs in irradiated individuals is limited. Recent studies have highlighted MSC-releasing extracellular vesicles as nanoparticle substances responsible for outlining the mechanism of action and have identified various components, including proteins and microRNA, that serve as functional molecules. MSC-releasing extracellular vesicle-based therapy emerges as a promising avenue, offering a potential solution to the challenges posed by radiation-induced injuries. However, further investigation is required, especially regarding whether MSC-releasing extracellular vesicles have regenerative effects on tissue-resident stem cells. These unresolved issues represent key aspects that need to be addressed to optimize the therapeutic potential of cell-based and extracellular vesicle-based MSC therapies for interventions in the context of radiation-induced injuries.

Epidemiological studies for atomic bomb (A-bomb) survivors clearly demonstrated that A-bomb radiation increased the risk of hematological neoplasms, such as acute and chronic leukemia, and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) among survivors. Several studies on MDS among survivors investigated its characteristics, and it seems that MDS among survivors has different features from those seen in de novo MDS and therapy-related MDS. In this short review, we describe the differences of clinical features, chromosomal alterations and genome aberrations among them.

Radiotherapy platforms integrated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been significantly successful and widely used in X-ray therapy over the previous decade. MRI provides greater soft-tissue contrast than conventional X-ray techniques, which enables more precise radiotherapy with on-couch adaptive treatment planning and direct tracking of moving tumors. The integration of MRI into a proton beam irradiation system (PBS) is still in the research stage. However, this could be beneficial as proton therapy is more sensitive to anatomical changes and organ motion. In this simulation study, we considered the integration of PBS into the 0.3-T superconducting open MRI system. Our proposed design involves proton beams traversing a hole at the center of the iron yoke, which allows for a reduced fringe field in the irradiation nozzle while maintaining a large proton scan field of the current PBS. The shape of the bipolar MRI magnets was derived to achieve a large MRI field-of-view. To monitor the beam position and size accurately while maintaining a small beam size, the beam monitor installation was redesigned from the current system. The feasibility of this system was then demonstrated by the treatment plan quality, which showed that the magnetic field did not deteriorate the plan quality from that without the magnetic field for both a rectangular target and a prostate case. Although numerous challenges remain before the proposed simulation model can be implemented in a clinical setting, the presented conceptual design could assist in the initial design for the realization of the MR-guided proton therapy.