Agricultural implications of the Fukushima nuclear accident
More than 4 years has passed since the accident at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. Immediately after the accident, 40 to 50 academic staff of the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Tokyo created an independent team to monitor the behavior of the radioactive materials in the field and their effects on agricultural farm lands, forests, rivers, animals, etc. When the radioactive nuclides from the nuclear power plant fell, they were instantly adsorbed at the site where they first touched; consequently, the fallout was found as scattered spots on the surface of anything that was exposed to...
Source: Journal of Radiation Research - August 17, 2016 Category: Physics Authors: Nakanishi, T. M. Tags: Review, Supplement - ICRR highlights Source Type: research
Life science experiments performed in space in the ISS/Kibo facility and future research plans
Over the past several years, current techniques in molecular biology have been used to perform experiments in space, focusing on the nature and effects of space radiation. In the Japanese ‘Kibo’ facility in the International Space Station (ISS), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has performed five life science experiments since 2009, and two additional experiments are currently in progress. The first life science experiment in space was the ‘Rad Gene’ project, which utilized two human cultured lymphoblastoid cell lines containing a mutated p53 gene (mp53 ) and a parental wild-type p53 ...
Source: Journal of Radiation Research - August 17, 2016 Category: Physics Authors: Ohnishi, T. Tags: Supplement - ICRR highlights Source Type: research
Opposing roles of RNF8/RNF168 and deubiquitinating enzymes in ubiquitination-dependent DNA double-strand break response signaling and DNA-repair pathway choice
The E3 ubiquitin ligases ring finger protein (RNF) 8 and RNF168 transduce the DNA double-strand break (DSB) response (DDR) signal by ubiquitinating DSB sites. The depletion of RNF8 or RNF168 suppresses the accumulation of DNA-repair regulating factors such as 53BP1 and RAP80 at DSB sites, suggesting roles for RNF8- and RNF168-mediated ubiquitination in DSB repair. This mini-review provides a brief overview of the RNF8- and RNF168-dependent DDR-signaling and DNA-repair pathways. The choice of DNA-repair pathway when RNF8- and RNF168-mediated ubiquitination-dependent DDR signaling is negatively regulated by deubiquitinating ...
Source: Journal of Radiation Research - August 17, 2016 Category: Physics Authors: Nakada, S. Tags: Supplement - ICRR highlights Source Type: research
The role of the Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1 complex in double-strand break repair--facts and myths
Homologous recombination (HR) initiates double-strand break (DSB) repair by digesting 5'-termini at DSBs, the biochemical reaction called DSB resection, during which DSBs are processed by nucleases to generate 3' single-strand DNA. Rad51 recombinase polymerizes along resected DNA, and the resulting Rad51–DNA complex undergoes homology search. Although DSB resection by the Mre11 nuclease plays a critical role in HR in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, it remains elusive whether DSB resection by Mre11 significantly contributes to HR-dependent DSB repair in mammalian cells. Depletion of Mre11 decreases the efficiency of DSB res...
Source: Journal of Radiation Research - August 17, 2016 Category: Physics Authors: Takeda, S., Hoa, N. N., Sasanuma, H. Tags: Supplement - ICRR highlights Source Type: research
Unsolved mystery: the role of BRCA1 in DNA end-joining
Heritable mutations in the tumor suppressor gene BRCA1 increase a woman's lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. BRCA1's tumor suppressor function is directly linked to its myriad of functions in the cellular response to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). BRCA1 interacts with an extensive array of DNA damage responsive proteins and plays important roles in DSB repair, mediated by the homologous recombination pathway, and in the activation of cell cycle checkpoints. However, the role of BRCA1 in the other two DSB repair pathways, classical non-homologous end-joining (C-NHEJ) and alternative NHEJ (A-NHEJ), rema...
Source: Journal of Radiation Research - August 17, 2016 Category: Physics Authors: Saha, J., Davis, A. J. Tags: Supplement - ICRR highlights Source Type: research
NBS1 and multiple regulations of DNA damage response
DNA damage response is finely tuned, with several pathways including those for DNA repair, chromatin remodeling and cell cycle checkpoint, although most studies to date have focused on single pathways. Genetic diseases characterized by genome instability have provided novel insights into the underlying mechanisms of DNA damage response. NBS1, a protein responsible for the radiation-sensitive autosomal recessive disorder Nijmegen breakage syndrome, is one of the first factors to accumulate at sites of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). NBS1 binds to at least five key proteins, including ATM, RPA, MRE11, RAD18 and RNF20, in th...
Source: Journal of Radiation Research - August 17, 2016 Category: Physics Authors: Komatsu, K. Tags: Supplement-ICRR highlight Source Type: research
In vivo sensitivity of the embryonic and adult neural stem cell compartments to low-dose radiation
The embryonic brain is radiation-sensitive, with cognitive deficits being observed after exposure to low radiation doses. Exposure of neonates to radiation can cause intracranial carcinogenesis. To gain insight into the basis underlying these outcomes, we examined the response of the embryonic, neonatal and adult brain to low-dose radiation, focusing on the neural stem cell compartments. This review summarizes our recent findings. At E13.5–14.5 the embryonic neocortex encompasses rapidly proliferating stem and progenitor cells. Exploiting mice with a hypomorphic mutation in DNA ligase IV (Lig4Y288C ), we found a high...
Source: Journal of Radiation Research - August 17, 2016 Category: Physics Authors: Barazzuol, L., Jeggo, P. A. Tags: Supplement - ICRR highlights Source Type: research
Preface
(Source: Journal of Radiation Research)
Source: Journal of Radiation Research - August 17, 2016 Category: Physics Authors: Tsuzuki, T., Kobayashi, J. Tags: Preface Source Type: research
Characteristics of interventional cardiologists and their work practices for the study on radiation-induced lens opacities based on the methodology developed by ELDO--preliminary results
Preliminary results of the Polish epidemiology study on eye lens opacities among interventional cardiologists (ICs), based on the methodology proposed by ELDO (epidemiological studies of radio-induced cataracts in interventional cardiologists and radiologists: methodology implementation), are presented. The aim of the study is to test the hypothesis concerning the excess risk of cataract in the group of ICs. The first results concern the study population characteristics, including the most important confounding factors for cataract, as well as a detailed description of the work practices in interventional cardiology needed...
Source: Journal of Radiation Research - August 3, 2016 Category: Physics Authors: Domienik, J., Gryglak, S., Jurewicz, J. Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research
A comparison of the dose from natural radionuclides and artificial radionuclides after the Fukushima nuclear accident
In this study, the radon activity concentrations were measured at temporary housing facilities, apartments and detached houses in Fukushima Prefecture in order to estimate the annual internal exposure dose of residents. A passive radon–thoron monitor (using a CR-39) and a pulse-type ionization chamber were used to evaluate the radon activity concentration. The average radon activity concentrations at temporary housing units, including a medical clinic, apartments and detached houses, were 5, 7 and 9 Bq m–3, respectively. Assuming the residents lived in these facilities for one year, the average annual effective...
Source: Journal of Radiation Research - August 3, 2016 Category: Physics Authors: Hosoda, M., Tokonami, S., Omori, Y., Ishikawa, T., Iwaoka, K. Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research
A report that Fukushima residents are concerned about radiation from Land, Food and Radon
In this study, we report public concerns about radiation in Fukushima and Tokyo almost one year after the nuclear disaster. We examined the public concerns by analyzing the data from 1022 participants, 555 in Fukushima and 467 in Tokyo. They were asked whether they were concerned about radiation from some of six different types of sources, which could be answered in a binary way, ‘yes’ or ‘no’. We found not only similarities, but also significant differences in the degrees of concerns between Fukushima residents and Tokyo ones. Fukushima residents more concerned about radiation from land, food and r...
Source: Journal of Radiation Research - August 3, 2016 Category: Physics Authors: Tamari, Y., Kuroda, Y., Miyagawa, R., Nawa, K., Sakumi, A., Sakata, N., Mizushima, N., Sakura, O., Iwamitsu, Y., Takemura, K., Nakagawa, K. Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research
Radiation therapy for localized duodenal low-grade follicular lymphoma
The aim of this study was to evaluate the initial treatment results and toxicities of radiation therapy for patients with early stage low-grade follicular lymphoma (FL) arising from the duodenum. We reviewed 21 consecutive patients with early stage duodenal FL treated with radiation therapy between January 2005 and December 2013 at the Cancer Institute Hospital, Tokyo. The characteristics of patients were: median age 62 years (range, 46–79 years), gender (male, 6; female, 15), clinical stage (I, 20; II1, 1), histological grade (I, 17; II, 4). All patients were treated with radiation therapy alone. The median radiatio...
Source: Journal of Radiation Research - August 3, 2016 Category: Physics Authors: Harada, A., Oguchi, M., Terui, Y., Takeuchi, K., Igarashi, M., Kozuka, T., Harada, K., Uno, T., Hatake, K. Tags: Regular Paper Source Type: research
Preliminary analysis of the sequential simultaneous integrated boost technique for intensity-modulated radiotherapy for head and neck cancers
The aim of this study was to compare three strategies for intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for 20 head-and-neck cancer patients. For simultaneous integrated boost (SIB), doses were 66 and 54 Gy in 30 fractions for PTVboost and PTVelective, respectively. Two-phase IMRT delivered 50 Gy in 25 fractions to PTVelective in the First Plan, and 20 Gy in 10 fractions to PTVboost in the Second Plan. Sequential SIB (SEQ-SIB) delivered 55 Gy and 50 Gy in 25 fractions, respectively, to PTVboost and PTVelective using SIB in the First Plan and 11 Gy in 5 fractions to PTVboost in the Second Plan. Conformity indexes (CIs) (mean &plu...
Source: Journal of Radiation Research - August 3, 2016 Category: Physics Authors: Miyazaki, M., Nishiyama, K., Ueda, Y., Ohira, S., Tsujii, K., Isono, M., Masaoka, A., Teshima, T. Tags: Regular Paper Source Type: research
Stereotactic body radiotherapy for patients with oligometastases from colorectal cancer: risk-adapted dose prescription with a maximum dose of 83-100 Gy in five fractions
We previously reported that the local control of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC) following stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) with moderate prescription dose was relatively worse. We investigated the treatment outcomes and toxicities of patients with oligometastases from CRC treated by SBRT using risk-adapted, very high- and convergent-dose regimens. Among patients referred for SBRT from August 2011 to January 2015, those patients were extracted who had liver or pulmonary metastases from CRC, and they were treated with a total dose of 50–60 Gy in five fractions prescribed to the 60% isodose line ...
Source: Journal of Radiation Research - August 3, 2016 Category: Physics Authors: Takeda, A., Sanuki, N., Tsurugai, Y., Oku, Y., Aoki, Y. Tags: Regular paper Source Type: research
Comparison of implant quality between intraoperatively built custom-linked seeds and loose seeds in permanent prostate brachytherapy using sector analysis
We compared the implant quality of intraoperatively built custom-linked (IBCL) seeds with loose seeds in permanent prostate brachytherapy. Between June 2012 and January 2015, 64 consecutive prostate cancer patients underwent brachytherapy with IBCL seeds (n = 32) or loose seeds (n = 32). All the patients were treated with 144 Gy of brachytherapy alone. Brachytherapy was performed using a dynamic dose calculation technique. Computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging fusion-based dosimetry was performed 1 month after brachytherapy. Post-implant dose–volume histogram (DVH) parameters, prostate sector dosimetry, oper...
Source: Journal of Radiation Research - August 3, 2016 Category: Physics Authors: Katayama, N., Takemoto, M., Takamoto, A., Ihara, H., Katsui, K., Ebara, S., Nasu, Y., Kanazawa, S. Tags: Regular Paper Source Type: research
