• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 2005

According to the Para. 5 of Art 2 of the Korean Nuclear Safety Regulations, which was revised in 1999, internal dose assessment as well as external one should be performed by law for employees at a nuclear power plant from 2003, and their estimate errors should also be within 50%. Thus, more accurate internal dosimetry becomes important. Corresponding to such regulation revision, we are developing a more accurate thyroid-uptake internal dosimetric system and have developed a Monte Carlo simulation code, the so-called CALEFF, to calculate the detection efficiency of the dosimetric system. In this paper, we calculated detection efficiencies with various test conditions by using the CALEFF code and discussed their characteristics. We may use the detection efficiency calculated by the code in calibrating the thyroid internal dose from measured data.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.111-122
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• 2021

Objectives: There was a judgment of acquittal for the manufacturer SK Chemical and the vendor Aekyung regarding humidifier disinfectant (HD) containing 5-chloro-2-methylisothiazol-3(2H)-one/2-methylisothiazol-3(2H)-one (CMIT/MIT). The rationale used in this judgement is discussed here in the light of scientific consideration. Methods: The sentencing document for the judgements was obtained from the Korea Supreme Court Service. In particular, the judgements made by the court related to the risk of HD and external and internal exposure to CMIT/MIT are discussed based on scientific evidence. Results: Rendering a determination in a criminal trial of insufficient evidence of causation, the court dismissed the prosecution's motion that humidifier disinfectant-associated lung injuries (HDLI) and asthma were associated with the utilization of these products. However, CMIT/MIT, a strong sensitizing and corrosive substance, has been reported to be associated with brain toxicity, allergic contact dermatitis, and asthma. Furthermore, the judgment did not consider total consumption amounts or the cumulative dose of CMIT/MIT in the humidifier. Lastly, there are several cases supporting the fact that exposure to water-soluble substances including CMIT/MIT can cause lower respiratory tract diseases. In addition to cases of asthma among the workers exposed to CMIT/MIT, we identified lung injury victims who were exposed to HDs exclusively containing CMIT/MIT. Conclusions: We conclude that there is sufficient evidence supporting the assertion that HDs containing CMIT/MIT cause lung injuries, including asthma, contrary to the court's judgement.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.80-85
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• 2012

Purpose: The whole body bone scan is an examination that visualizing physiological change of bones and using bone-congenial radiopharmaceutical. The patients are intravenous injected radiopharmaceutical which labeled with radioactive isotope ($^{99m}Tc$) emitting 140 keV gammarays and scanned after injection. The 3 principles of radiation protection from external exposureare time, distance and shielding. On the 3 principles of radiation protection basis, radiopharmaceutical might just as well be injected rapidly for reducing radiation because it might be the unopened radiation source. However the radiopharmaceuticals are injected into patient directly and there is a limitation of distance control. This study confirmed the change of radiation exposure as change of distance from radiopharmaceutical and observed the change of radiation exposure afte rsetting a shelter for help to control radio-technician's exposure. Materials & methods: For calculate the average of injection time, the trained injector measured the injection time for 50 times and calculated the average (2 minutes). We made a source as filled the 99mTc-HDP 925 MBq 0.2 mL in a 1 mL syringe and measured the radiation exposure from 50 cm,100 cm,150 cm and 200 cm by using Geiger-Mueller counter (FH-40, Thermo Scientific, USA). Then we settled a lead shielding (lead equivalent 6 mm) from the source 25 cm distance and measured the radiation exposure from 50 cm distance. For verify the reproducibility, the measurement was done among 20 times. The correlation between before and after shielding was verified by using SPSS (ver. 18) as paired t-test. Results: The radiation doses according to distance during 2 minutes from the source without shielding were $1.986{\pm}0.052{\mu}$ Sv in 50 cm, $0.515{\pm}0.022{\mu}$ Sv in 100 cm, $0.251{\pm}0.012{\mu}$ Sv in 150 cm, $0.148{\pm}0.006{\mu}$ Sv in 200 cm. After setting the shielding, the radiation dose was $0.035{\pm}0.003{\mu}$ Sv. Therefore, there was a statistical significant difference between the radiation doses with shielding and without shielding ($p$<0.001). Conclusion: Because the great importance of whole body bone scan in the nuclear medicine, we should make an effort to reduce radiation exposure during radiopharmaceutical injections by referring the principles of radiation protection from external exposure. However there is a limitation of distance for direct injection and time for patients having attenuated tubules. We confirmed the reduction of radiation exposure by increasing distance. In case of setting shield from source 25 cm away, we confirmed reducing of radiation exposure. Therefore it would be better for reducing of radiation exposure to using shield during radiopharmaceutical injection.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2004

MIRD-type Korean adult male phantom, 'KMIRD' was constructed to calculate Korean-specific dosimetric quantities for radiation protection consideration. The external shape of KMIRD was based on national physical standard data of Korean. KMIRD has thicket trunk than MIRD5 and arm models divided from trunk. The height and weight of the KMIRD are 171 cm and 63.8 kg. ICRP23 data were referred to constitute organs and tissues of KMIRD. However nine organs were constructed based on Korean reference data provided by Radiation Health Research Institute. In the present study, the MCNPX2.3 Monte Carlo transport code was combined with KMIRD to calculate dose conversion coefficients for photon in the energy range from 0.05 to 10 MeV. The simulated irradiation geometries are broad parallel photon beams in AP, PA, LLAT and RLAT direction. Absorbed dose conversion coefficients were compared with data calculated with MIRD5, MIRD-type phantom based on ICRP23 reference man. In some organs, the discrepancies between two phantoms amount up to nearly 30%. The effective doses conversion coefficients of KMIRD are lower than those of MIRD5. The dose discrepancies between two MIRD-type phantoms ate because of physical differences between Korean and Western, also geometric differences between two phantoms. KMIRD should be revised using the full set of Korean reference data of all organs. The developed MIRD-type Korean adult male phantom can be applied to dose assessment of internal exposure.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1247-1259
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• 2009

We investigated the toxic effects of carbaryl on early embryo development in the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. To test the toxic effects, frog embryo teratogenesis assays using Xenopus were performed. Embryos were exposed to various concentrations of carbaryl ($5{\sim}320\;{\mu}M$). $LC_{100}$ for carbaryl was $320\;{\mu}M$, and the $LC_{50}$ determined by probit analysis was the concentration of $235.68\;{\mu}M$. Exposure to $160\;{\mu}M$ of carbaryl resulted in 10 different types of severe external malformations. Histological examination revealed dysplasia of the eyes, heart, guts, somatic muscle, dorsal, liver, blood vessel and swelling of the pronephric ducts. Malformation of neural tissue and brain was not severe even in the high dose of carbaryl. Benzidine blood stain showed distinct inhibition of inducing erythrocytes in embryos and animal cap explants. Electron micrographs of embryo revealed retinal detachment, loose photoreceptor lamella and the degeneration of sarcomeres in the carbaryl-treated group. The mitochondrial degeneration was also observed in the test group.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.56-60
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• 1994

In the past, brachytherapy was carried out mostly with radium or radon sources. Currently. use of artificially produced radionuclially produced radionuclides such as $^{137}Cs,\;^{192}Ir,\;^{198}Au,\;and\;^{125}I$ is rapidly increasing. Although electrons are often used as an alternative to interstitial implants, brachytherapy continues to remain an important mode of therapy, either alone or combined with external beam. The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements(NCRP) recommends that the strength of any ${\gamma}$ emitter should be specified directly in terms of exposure rate in air at a specified distance such as 1m. The air kerma strength is defined as the product of air kerma rate in 'free space' and the square of the disrance of the calibration point from the source center along the perpendicular bisector, i. e., $S_k=K_L{\times}L^2$. Where $S_K$ is the the air kerma strength and K is the air kerma rate at a specified distance L. (usually 1m). Recommended units for all kerma strength are ${\mu}Gym^{2}h^{-1}$.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.185-192
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• 2010

Objectives: We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the relationship between low external doses of ionizing radiation exposure and the risk of cancer mortality among nuclear power plant workers. Methods: We searched MEDLINE using key words related to low dose and cancer risk. The selected articles were restricted to those written in English from 1990 to January 2009. We excluded those studies with no fit to the selection criteria and we included the cited references in published articles to minimize publication bias. Through this process, a total of 11 epidemiologic studies were finally included. A publication bias was tested for using Egger's test. The homogeneity test was performed before the integration of each of the standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and the result proved that the studies were heterogeneous. Results: We found significant decreased deaths from all cancers (SMR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.62 - 0.90), all cancers excluding leukemia, solid cancer, mouth and pharynx, esophagus, stomach, rectum, liver and gallbladder, pancreas, lung, prostate, lymphopoietic and hematopoitic cancer. The findings of this meta-analysis were similar with those of the 15 Country Collaborative Study conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. A publication bias was found only for liver and gallbladder cancer (p = 0.015). Heterogeneity was observed for all cancers, all cancers excluding leukemia, solid cancer, esophagus, colon and lung cancer. Conclusions: Our findings of low mortality for stomach, rectum, liver and gallbladder cancers may explained by the health worker effect. Yet further studies are needed to clarify the low SMR of cancers, for which there is no useful screening tool, in nuclear power plant workers.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to provide resources for medical exposure reduction through evaluation of organ dose and image resolution for lumbar spine around according to the size of the collimator in DR system. The size of the collimator were varied from $8^{\prime\prime}{\times}17^{\prime\prime}$ to $14^{\prime\prime}{\times}17^{\prime\prime}$ by 1" in AP and lateral projection for the lumbar spine radiography with RANDO phantom. The organ dose measured for liver, stomach, pancreas, kidney and gonad by the glass dosimeter. The image resolution was analyzed using the Image J program. The organ dose of around lumbar spine were reduced as the size of the collimator is decreased in AP projection. There were no significant changes decreasing rate whenever the size of the collimator were reduced 1" in the gonad. The organ dose showed higher on liver and kidney near the surface in lateral projection. There were decreasing rate of less than 5% in liver and kidney, but decreasing rate was 24.34% in the gonad whenever the size of the collimator were reduced 1". Organ dose difference for internal and external of collimator measured $549.8{\mu}Gy$ in the liver and $264.6{\mu}Gy$ in the stomach. There were no significant changes organ dose difference that measured $1,135.1{\mu}Gy$ in the gonad. Image Quality made no difference because SNR and PSNR were over than 30 dB when the collimator size is less than $9^{\prime\prime}{\times}17^{\prime\prime}$ on AP projection and $10^{\prime\prime}{\times}17^{\prime\prime}$ on lateral projection. Therefore, we are considered that the recommendations criterion for control of collimator were suggested in order to reduce unnecessary X-ray exposure and to obtain good image quality because lumbar spine radiography contains a lot of peripheral organs rather than other area radiography.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine usefulness of 3T equipment-based time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (3T-TOF MRA) by comparing standard technique (ST) with high resolution technique (HRT) in evaluation of cerebral blood vessel. The 3T-TOF MRA was performed for 31 patients who were suspected of having cerebrovascular disease from March to July 2010. For evaluation of cerebral blood vessel, classification was conducted randomly: group I that included vertebral artery and basilar artery, group II that ranged from 2.5cm before basin part of common carotid artery to basin part of internal and external carotid arteries and to genu part of internal carotid artery, group III that ranged from vertebral part of internal carotid artery to the first basin art of anterior and middle cerebral through education recognizes the importance of dose reduction and examine if their efforts and further reduce patient dose could achieve optimization of the medical exposure is considered.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.231-239
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• 1990

From May 1979 through December 1981 a total of 524 patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix were treated by radiation therapy with curative intent. Among the 524 patients, 350 were treated with a high-dose-rate (HDR), remote-controlled, afterloading intracavitary irradiation (ICR) system using a cobalt source (Ralstron), and 168 patients received a low-dose-rate (LDR) ICR using a radium source. External beam irradiation with a total dose of 40-50 Gy to the whole pelvis followed by intracavitary irradiation with a total dose of 30-39 Gy in 10-13 fractions to point A was the treatment protocol. ICR was given three times a week with a dose of 3 Gy per fraction. Five-year actuarial survival rates in the HDR-ICR group were $77.6{\%}$ in stage IB (N=20), $68.2{\%}$ in stage II (N=182), and $50.9{\%}$ in stage III (N=148). In LDR-ICR group, 5-year survival rates were $87.5{\%}$ in stage IB (N=22), $66.3{\%}$ in stage II (N=91), and $55.4{\%}$ in stage III (N=52). Survival rates showed a statistically significant difference by stage, but there was no significant difference between the two ICR groups. Late bowel complications after radiotherapy were noted in $3.7{\%}$ of the HDR-ICR group and $8.4{\%}$ of the LDR-ICR group. There was no severe complication requiring surgical management. The incidence of bladder complications was $1.4{\%}$ in the HDR-ICR group and $2.4{\%}$ in the LDR-ICR group. The application of HDR-ICR was technically simple and easily performed on an outpatient basis without anesthesia, and the patients tolerated it very well. Radiation exposure to personnel was virtually nil in contrast to that of LDR-ICR. Within a given period of time, more patients can be treated with HDR-ICR because of the short treatment time. Therefore, the HDR-ICR system is highly recommended for a cancer center, particularly one with a large number of patients to be treated. In order to achieve an improved outcome, however, the optimum dose-fractionation schedule of HDR-ICR and optimum combination of intracavitary irradiation with external beam irradiation should be determined through an extensive protocol.