• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.143-150
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• 2014

This study was designated to investigate the bremsstrahlung and radiation dose by beta rays. Radiation attenuation from I-131 treatment ward was analyzed using radio protective apron. Shielding materials which is included lead or water were simulated in Monte Carlo Simulation then the spectrum on interaction was analyzed. The shielding materials were categorized according to the thickness. 0.25mm and 0.5mm thick lead and 0.1mm and 0.2mm thick water shielding materials were configured in Monte Carlo Simulation for this study. Only lead shielding method and water plus lead shielding method were carried. As a results, when 0.5mm thick lead shielding method was performed, the radiation dose was similar to the results with water plus lead shielding method. In case of using 0.25mm thick lead shielding, the shielding effect was somewhat less. However, that shielding method cause dose reduction of about 60% compare with non-shielding material.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.98-103
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• 2014

Purpose: The effective half life of I-131 is useful to calculate radiation dose, period of hospitalization, and exposure dose of surrounding people from patient. However, it is difficult to measure. This study estimates the effective half life in whole body and thyroid in using of value of residual radioactivity obtained from the early and delay images of Dual time I-131 whole body scan. Also, the correlations between the effective half life and serum creatinine, GFR, and administration dose were investigated in this study. Materials and Methods: The targets were 50 patients administration high dose of I-131 from February to August in 2013, having normal range of serum creatinine and over $30{\mu}IU/mL$ of TSH levels. After administration radioactive I-131, the early scan in the 3rd day and the delay scan in the 5-6th days were performed. To measure the residual radioactivity in the whole body and thyroid, ROI was set and then background radioactivity was corrected to estimate. The effective half life was estimated by calculating the ratio of measured values between the early and delay images. To compare the effective half lives of the whole body and thyroid, it was analyzed by Independent t-test, and each correlation of the effective half life, GFR, serum creatinine, and the dose of administration were analyzed by calculating the pearson's correlation coefficient. All of the analysis were determined to be statistically significant when P<0.05. Results: The effective half life of the whole body was $17.06{\pm}5.50$ hours and of the thyroid was $17.22{\pm}5.41$ hours. The two effective half life did not show significant difference (P=0.887). As the value of GFR was increased, the effective half life of whole body (r=-0.407, P=0.003) and of thyroid (r=-0.473, P=0.001) were significantly decreased; as the value of serum creatinine was increased, the effective half life of whole body (r=0.309, P=0.029) and of thyroid (r=0.371, P=0.008) were significantly increased. In the administration dose, effective half life did not have correlations. Conclusion: The effective half life of I-131 of patients treated for their thyroids were estimated only by using the images of Dual time I-131 whole body scan. Also, the correlations with the effective life, GFR, and serum creatinine were examined. This study might be utilized for a study on optimization for the period of hospitalization of patients treated by high dose of I-131 and on evaluation for internal absorbed dose of MIRD schema in application of the effective half life.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2020

To ensure food safety of berries from radioactive contamination, radioactivity monitoring was conducted with a total 258 samples of the berries and processed berry products distributed in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, from 2016 to 2018. The concentration of artificial radionuclides, ¹³¹I, ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs, was analyzed using gamma-ray spectrometry. ¹³¹I and ¹³⁴Cs were not detected above the MDA (Minimum Detectable Activity) value from any of the samples. However, the range of radioactivity concentration of ¹³⁷Cs was 0.69-808.90 Bq/kg in 39 cases of berries. ¹³⁷Cs was detected at 0.70-3.29 Bq/kg from 6 cases of domestic berries, which were manufactured from imported raw materials. Among 33 cases of imported berries, ¹³⁷Cs was detected at 0.69-808.90 Bq/kg. The concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs in 1 case of blueberry powder product (808.90 Bq/kg) and 2 cases of lingonberry powder products (103.93, 188.46 Bq/kg) exceed domestic maximum radioactivity limits, and these were detected in the berries from Poland. These results suggest that monitoring system for imported berries and processed berry products should be continuously intensified to secure food safety.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2013

Objectives: It is certain that Radioactive iodine thyroid uptake(RAIU) rate should be measured with the standard counts considering the thyroid gland depth in enlarged thyroid patients for the variation from geometric factors. The purpose of this paper is to consider the effects of geometric factors according to detector to source distance and the effective thyroid depth on RAIU rate with experiment test. Materials and Methods: I-131 370 kBq ($10{\mu}Ci$) point source was measured by Captus-3000 thyroid uptake system (Capintec, NJ, USA) with a change Detector-Source Distance from 20 cm to 30 cm at an interval of 1 cm. And we changed the Neck phantom surface-Source Depth in the phantom with 1 cm, 2 cm, 5 cm using the neck phantom in order to reproduce the effective thyroid depth. Results: Every experimental group follows power curve as inverse square curve ($$R2{\geq_-}0.915$$). The average count rates in the case not using a phantom and the every case applied the effective thyroid depth using a phantom was not identical each other. There was significant fluctuations upon the effective thyroid depths applied the effective thyroid depth above 1 cm in $364.4 keV{\pm}10%$ energy ROI (p<0.01). There was not significant difference between the count rates of 1 cm and 2 cm in $364.4keV{\pm}20%$ and $637.1keV{\pm}6.2%$ (p=0.354, p=0.397). In assumed RAIU rate from regression equation, $364.4keV{\pm}20%$ was lower difference than $364.4keV{\pm}10%$ as 6.42% and 5.09% per 1 cm. Every change of count rate upon depth appears decreased line on Linear Regression, but the case of $284.3keV{\pm}10%$ increased only. And also, The graphs of coefficient of variation upon depth increased as straight line on every experimental group. Conclusion: The result appears that application of $364.4keV{\pm}20%$ energy ROI is more suitable for reducing error from the effective thyroid depth. And also, we can estimate the error of 20 cm should be highly reduced than 30 cm for Inverse Square Law. Therefore, If there is not information of the thyroid depth, it is considered that the error from thyroid depth can reduce through set up energy ROIs for $364.4keV{\pm}20%$, and increase Detector-Source Distances.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.70-75
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• 2017

Purpose Radioactive iodine thyroid uptake (RAIU) rate is an examination which determines and seeks about general functions of thyroid gland. The size of thyroid gland is normally different between each person, also patients having thyroid diseases have had a variety of size of thyroid gland compared with others. The purpose of this study will investigate about the counting rate which is effected by the geometric factors through the length and volume changes of the source in RAIU rate. Materials and Methods I-131 185 kBq ($5{\mu}Ci$) were placed in a cylindrical phantom of 0.5 cm, 1 cm, 1.5 cm, and 3 cm in diameter, respectively, and saline was added to gradually increase the length by 1 cm in the horizontal and vertical directions to give a change in volume. The source was measured 20 times for 20 seconds from a distance of 25 cm to $364.4keV{\pm}20%$ energy ROI with Captus 3000 thyroid uptake system (Capintec, NJ, USA). Results When the source was located in the transverse direction of the detector, the consequence of one-way ANOVA is that even though the length of source is increased each diameter, there is mostly no significant difference. When the source was located in the longitudinal direction and the counting rate of length 1 cm at all diameter is set to 100%, the average is 92.57% for length 2 cm, 86.1% for 3 cm, 80.69% for 4 cm, 74.82% for 5 cm, and 69.68% at 6 cm. Conclusion According to this study, it is expected that the gap of RAIU rate has been depended on the thickness of thyroid gland as well as the diameter of the beaker. We know that the change of the volume with the increase of the length of the source had less effect on the change of the counting rate. Thus, in order to reduce the error in the measurement of the counting rate with the thyroid uptake rate equipment, an accurate counting rate can be relatively measured if the counting rate which is measured is corrected by thickness or the distance between the thyroid and the thyroid uptake rate equipment is changed.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.148-151
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• 2014

Radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy is widely used for the treatment of Graves disease. After RAI therapy, 44% become hypothyroid and up to 28% remain hyperthyroid. The development of thyrotoxicosis after RAI therapy is believed to be mediated by 2 different mechanisms: a transient increased release of thyroid hormone due to radiation thyroiditis and the rare development of Graves disease due to the formation of antibodies to the thyroid-associated antigens released from the damaged follicular cells. A 55-year-old woman was hospitalized with severe headache, weight loss, and palpitation. She received a dose of 7 mCi of RAI (I-131) about 6 weeks earlier. Thyroid function test showed 7.98 ng/dL free T4, >8 ng/mL T3, < $0.08{\mu}IU/L$ thyroid stimulating hormone, and high titer thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) (85.8 IU/L). She improved with propylthiouracil, propranolol, and steroid treatment. The TSI, however, was persistently elevated for 11 months.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.49-54
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• 2017

Purpose The high-dose administration of I-131 has been standing for the basic therapy method of thyroid cancer. In korea, it is not necessary for patients to be hospitalized if the administration dose are under 1.2 GBq. However, if the dose are over 1.2 GBq, the patients should be stay in special ward with radiation shield. In such cases, the radioactivity level upon release should be under a dose of $70{\mu}Sv/hr$ at a distance of approx. 1m. This regulation bring the patients to stay for about 2 to 3 days in ward before the release. Materials and Methods Using the inpatients' release data of severance hospital, an inpatient-days were retrospectively calculated and compared with practical data and estimate the inpatient-days with the conditions of korea ($70{\mu}Sv/hr$), Japan ($30{\mu}Sv/hr$), germany ($3.5{\mu}Sv/hr$ at a distance of approx. 2 m), and other european countries. Results When a effective half-life of 15.4 was used, the expected inpatient-days were calculated as 2.15 days in the condition of Japanese regulation and 1.37 days in the condition of korean regulation. The practical inpatient-days of patients in Severance hospital were 1.32 days. Conclusion As ICRP 94 has been mentioned that the release of patients administrated with I-131 for the therapy should be carefully considered because each patients has different thyroid uptake rate and their conditions with family members after the release from the ward. Nonetheless, efforts to bring more aquate data which is for getting closer to the practical data should be continuously studied.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.62-66
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• 2013

Purpose: I-131 is a radioisotope widely used for thyroid gland treatments. The physical half life is 8.01 and characterized by emitting beta and gamma rays which is used in clinical practice for the purpose of acquiring treatment and images. In order to reduce the recurrence rate after surgery in high-risk thyroid cancer patients, the remaining thyroid tissue is either removed or the I-131 is used for treatment during relapse. In cases of using a high dosage of radioactive iodine requiring hospitalization, the patient is administered dosage in the hospital isolation ward over a certain period of time preventing I-131 exposure to others. By checking the radiation amount emitted from patients before discharge, the patients are discharged after checking whether they meet the legal standards (50 uSv/h). After patients are discharged from the hospital, the contamination level is checked in many parts of the ward before the next patients are hospitalized and when necessary, decontamination operations are performed. It is expected that there is exposure to radiation when measuring the ward contamination level and dose check emitted from patients at the time of discharge whereby the radiation exposure by health workers that come from the patients in this process is the main factor. This study analyzed the correlation between discharge dose of patients and ward contamination level through a variety of factors such as renal functions, gender, age, dosage, etc.). Materials and Method: The study was conducted on 151 patients who received high-dosage radioactive iodine treatment at Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital during the period between 8/1/2011~5/31/2012 (Male: Female: 31:120, $47.5{\pm}11.9$, average dosage of $138{\pm}22.4$ mCi). As various factors expected to influence the patient discharge dose & ward contamination such as the beds, floors, bathroom floors, and washbasins, the patient renal function (GFR), age, gender, dosage, and the correlation between the expected Tg & Tg-Tb expected to reflect the remaining tissue in patients were analyzed. Results: In terms of the discharge dose and GFR, a low correlation was shown in the patient discharge dose as the GFR was higher (p < 0.0001). When comparing the group with a dosage of over 150mCi and the group with a lower dosage, the lower dosage group showed a significantly lower discharge dose ($24{\pm}10.4uSv/h$ vs $28.7{\pm}11.8uSv/h$, p<0.05). Age, gender, Tg, Tg-Tb did not show a significant relationship with discharge dose (p> 0.05). The contamination level in each spot of the treatment ward showed no significant relationship with GFR, Tg, Tg-Tb, age, gender, and dosage (p>0.05 ). Conclusion: This study says that discharge of the dose in the patient's body is low in GFR higher and Dosage 150mCi under lower. There was no case of contamination of the treatment ward, depending on the dose and renal association. This suggests that patients' lifestyles or be affected by a variety of other factors.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.176-188
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• 1995

A particle tracking scheme was developed in order to model radionuclide transport through a tortuous flow Held in a rock fracture. The particle tacking method may be used effectively in a heterogeneous flow field such as rock fracture. The parallel plate representation of the single fracture fails to recognize the spatial heterogeneity in the fracture aperture and thus seems inadequate in describing fluid movement through a real fracture. The heterogeneous flow field une modeled by a variable aperture channel model after characterizing aperture distribution by a hydraulic test. To support the validation of radionuclide transport models, a radionuclide migration experiment was performed in a natural fracture of granite. $^3$$H_2O$ and $^{131}$ I are used as tracers. Simulated results were in agreement with experimental result and therefore support the validity of the transport model. Residence time distributions display multipeak curves caused by the fast arrival of solutes traveling along preferential fracture channels and by the much slower arrival of solutes following tortous routes through the fracture. Results from the modelling of the transport of nonsorbing tracer through the fracture show that diffusion into the interconnected pore space in the rock mass has a significant effect on retardation.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.387-392
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• 2020

Eight dried ear mushroom products (three domestic and five Chinese products) distributed in Korea were analyzed for 321 residual pesticides, 7 heavy metals, and 3 types of radioactivity. Residual pesticides in the domestic products were not detected. However, chlorpyrifos, isoprocarb, mepiquat chloride, and carbendazim were detected in four Chinese products, all of which were below the allowable residual limit. Among the detected pesticide ingredients, only the residue for mepiquat chloride has been established to be present in ear mushrooms. In the heavy metal test, trace amounts of heavy metals were detected in all samples. However, none of the samples exceeded the allowable residual limits, except for one domestic sample that exceeded the standard value of 0.3 mg/kg for lead. Radioactivity tests confirmed that levels were below the minimal detectable activity value in all samples.