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[Response of the glutathione system to chronic irradiation of human population after the Chernobyl accident].

A complex relationship between plasma glutathione level in human population (children living in radionuclide-contaminated regions and the Chernobyl liquidators) exposed to chronic low-level radiation after the Chernobyl accident was demonstrated. The obtained experimental data indicate different responses of the human glutathione system to low (from 0.1 to 20 cSv) and high (from 20 to 150 cSv) doses of ionizing radiation.

Adolescent↗

Possibilities and limitations of fluorescence in situ hybridization technique in retrospective detection of low dose radiation exposure in post-chernobyl human cohorts.

Cytogenetic analysis using the fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) technique was performed late time after the Chernobyl accident in groups of liquidators, evacuees from 30 km exclusive zone, residents of radioactively contaminated areas and control donors age-matched to exposed persons. Stable and unstable chromosome type exchanges were recorded using a hybrid conventional-PAINT nomenclature. The mean yield of stable chromosome exchanges in liquidators did not correlate with registered radiation doses but had a clear negative dependence on the duration of liquidators' staying in Chernobyl zone, that was in a good agreement with early data based on conventional dicentrics plus rings analysis. The overspontaneous excess for stable chromosome exchange level appeared to be higher in evacuees 16-40 years old than that of senior persons, whereas no age-dependent difference occurred for initially induced dicentrics plus rings yields in this cohort. The stable chromosome exchange yield, as well as combined yield of dicentrics plus rings and potentially unstable incomplete translocations in residents of radioactively contaminated areas showed a reasonable positive correlation with levels of 137Cs contamination. The observed yields of stable chromosome exchanges in all three exposed groups appeared to be somewhat lower than those of expected from unstable exchange-based doses which were referred to an in vitro dose response of stable exchanges outcome in human lymphocytes. Thus, FISH analysis can be successfully applied for qualitative cytogenetic indication of past and chronic radiation exposure to low doses but further refinement of FISH-based system for quantitative dose assessment is still required. Some practical approaches of solving this task are discussed.

Adolescent↗

[To 20-years anniversary of Chernobyl catastrophe: an attempt to study the vitamin, calcium, iron and selenium status of children and adult population in Slavutich and to correct elicited deficiencies].

The article concisely illustrates the vitamin and mineral state of population of town of Slavutich, including personal of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station, children of pre-school age and pregnancy women, studied in 1992. Vitamins and minerals deficiency in the main of C and B vitamins and selenium was revealed in all the studied groups. Appropriate measures were developed and introduced to eliminate the detected dusturbances; but however some unsolved problems remained. Taking into account the forthcoming 20th anniversary of Chernobyl disarter, the authors of the come back to considering the obtained data in hope to atlract attention of medical scientific and public to the remained unsolved problems of micronutrient deficiency.

Adult↗

[Cancer morbidity and mortality among the liquidators of the Chernobyl accident: estimation of radiation risks].

The work focuses on the results of the analysis of the cancer incidence among the Chernobyl emergency workers residing in Russia during 1991-2001. The analysis is based on the data for the cohort of male emergency workers from 6 regions of Russia including 55718 persons with documented external radiation doses in the range of 0.001-0.3 Gy who worked within the 30-km zone in 1986-1987. The mean age at exposure for these persons was 34.8 years old and the mean external radiation dose 0.13 Gy. In this cohort 1370 cases of solid cancer were diagnosed. Three follow-up periods were considered: 1991-1995, 1996-2001 and 1991-2001. The second follow-up period was chosen to allow for a minimum latency period of 10 years. Risk assessments were performed for two control groups: the first control group ("external") represented incidence rates for corresponding ages in Russia in general and the second control group ("internal") consisted of emergency workers. The estimated standardized incidence ratio (SIR) is in good agreement with that of the control within 95% CI. The values of the excess relative risk per unit dose 1 Gy (ERR/Gy) for solid malignant neoplasms have been estimated to be 0.33 (95% CI: -0.39, 1.22) (internal control) for the follow-up period 1991-2001 and 0.19 (95% CI: -0.66, 1.27) for 1996-2001. The analysis of cancer morbidity was carried out for the cohort of 29003 emergency workers who took part in liquidation of the consequences of the Chernobyl accident from 26 April 1986 to 25 April 1987. It was shown that the excess relative risk of cancer deaths per unit dose 1 Sv (ERR/Sv) is equal to 1.52 (95% CI: 0.20, 2.85).

Adult↗

[Genetic effects in plant populations in the zone of the Chernobyl accident].

During 6 years, starting from 1986, the monitoring of the dynamics of the frequency of embryo lethal and of chlorophyll mutations was carried out in arabidopsis populations in areas with different levels of radioactive contamination by the Muller embryo-test in the 30 km of ChNPP. The dose rate of chronic irradiation in the examined areas varied from 0.014 to 17 nA/Kg. Monitoring of the dynamics of the mutation process in natural arabidopsis populations showed the correlation between the level of the mutation process and the dose rate of chronic irradiation. The genetic effects of different levels of radioactive contamination were estimated by determining the frequency of mutations occurred in this generation and by calculating the dose of irradiation of one was found. That the dependence of the mutation frequency on the dose of irradiation presents a power function with a power index less 1, which suggests a higher efficiency of low radiation doses per unit dose. Possible explanations of this phenomenon are considered in the work. The studies of cytogenetic effects in chronically exposed Crepis tectorum populations in the zones of the Chernobyl accident showed that starting from the second year after the Chernobyl disaster there appeared plants with an altered karyotype and their frequency of chromosome aberrations correlates in root meristem cells.

Arabidopsis↗

[Somatic mutagenesis at T-cell receptor locus in inhabitants of radiation polluted regions as a result of the Chernobyl disaster].

In the period of 2001-2004, frequency of cells bearing mutations at T-cell receptor (TCR) locus was assessed in 553 inhabitants of radiation polluted regions of the Russian Federation and 154 unexposed control persons. The inhabitants were divided into three groups according to age at the moment of the Chernobyl disaster and 137Cs pollution density: 1) in utero, 37-555 kBq/m2; 2) 0-14 years old, 20-555 kBq/m2; 3) 18 and more years old, highest 137Cs density (185 more than 555 kBq/m2). The most intense changes of the TCR-mutant cell frequency were observed in the group of persons exposed to ionizing radiation in utero. The mean frequency of the mutant cells was higher in the first group than in age-matched control group by about 1.5-fold: 4.0 x 10(-4) vs 2.7 x 10(-4) accordingly (p < 0.0001). Elevation in the mean TCR-mutant cell frequency was less expressed in group of inhabitants aged 0-14 years at the moment of irradiation start: 1.3-fold increase in comparison to age-matched control (3.8 x 10(-4) vs 2.9 x 10(-4), p = 0.0002). It was not found significant differences in mutant cell frequencies between control group and adults consisting in the third group (18 and more years old at the moment of the Chernobyl accident). The changes of the TCR-mutant cell frequency in persons exposed in pre- and postnatal periods differ not only quantitatively, but qualitatively. In the fist case all persons react to irradiation by increasing number of the TCR-mutant cells in some degree. In the second case - only a part of population. Proportion of reacting persons depends on age at the start of irradiation and, perhaps, on dose absorbed. The TCR-mutant frequency was significantly higher in persons with benign tumors of different localizations and nodules in thyroid gland than in persons without this pathology.

Chernobyl Nuclear Accident↗

The gastro-intestinal parasites community of the Przewalski's horse, Equus przewalskii Poljakov, 1881, and the domestic horse in the Chernobyl exclusion zone.

A diagnostic deworming of 21 Przewalski horses, free-living in the Chernobyl exclusion zone Ukraine, and of six stabled domestic horses, has been conducted eighteen years after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. This survey yielded 31 species (of 5 families and 3 classes, 28 species of nematodes, 1 species of cestodes, and 2 larvae of botflies). A total 29 and 19 helmith species has been recorded in the Przewalski horse and domestic horse respectively. Only six helmith species were common for the two horse species. Species from the family Strongylidae constituted the dominant helmith group. Four cyathostomine species (Cyathostomum catinatum, Cylicostephanus minutes, C. longibursatus, Cylicocyclus nassatus) formed the majority of helmith parasites both in the Przewalski and domestic horses. The presently reported study revealed that Przewalski's horses keep their typical biological features and high resistance to parasitic infections. A substantial growth of heard was observed as well as good clinical health state of horses. This can be an argument favouring the use of Przewalski horses in re-naturalization of ecological disaster areas.

Animals↗

131I ablation treatment in young females after the Chernobyl accident.

UNLABELLED: The Chernobyl accident resulted in a number of cases of thyroid cancer in females under the age of 20 y. Many of these individuals were treated with surgical removal of the thyroid gland followed by 131I ablation of residual thyroid tissue. Epidemiologic evidence demonstrates that 131I treatment for thyroid cancer or hyperthyroidism in adult women confers negligible risk of breast cancer. However, comparable data for younger women do not exist. Studies of external radiation exposure indicate that, for radiation exposures of as low as 0.2-0.7 Gy, the risk of breast cancer is greater for infant and adolescent female breast tissues than for adult female breast tissues. METHODS: The effective half-time of 131I measured in athyrotic patients was used together with the OLINDA/EXM computer code to estimate doses to breast tissue in 10-y-old, 15-y-old, and young adult females from ablation treatment. RESULTS: The dose to pediatric and young adult female breast tissue associated with a 5.6-GBq (150 mCi) ablation treatment may range from 0.35 to 0.55 Gy, resulting in a lifetime risk of breast cancer ranging from 2-4 cases per 100 such individuals exposed and a lifetime risk of solid tumors ranging from 8 to 17 solid tumors per 100 such individuals exposed. Administration of multiple ablation treatments, as often occurs with metastases, could result in doses ranging from 0.7 to 1 Gy, with corresponding increases in the lifetime cancer risk. CONCLUSION: These estimates suggest the need for additional research and a possible need for surveillance of young Chernobyl thyroid cancer patients who received 131I ablation treatment.

Adolescent↗

[The problem of the transgeneration phenomenon of genome instability in sick children of different age groups after the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant].

A complex genetic examination of children which belong to two cohorts and their parents were carried out. The first cohort included children and constantly living on territories contaminated with radionuclides (Novozybkov district, Bryansk region). They were subdivided in groups according to the ontogenetic age periods of development of their parents at the time of the Chernobyl accident. In the children born in 1986-1995 the level of aberrant genomes is significantly higher as compared to the control (p < 0.001). In children born in 1998-2002 the differences are insignificant (p > 0.05). The frequency of aberrant genomes had a tendency to decrease with the period of time between the birth date of a child and the moment of the accident. Analysis of the results of cytogenetic investigation for the same living on territories with different densities of radioactive contamination (zone I-- 627-688 kBq/m2, 137Cs and zone II-- 135-402 kBq/m2, 137Cs) revealed insignificant differences in the spectrum and average frequencies of chromosome aberrations. The second cohort included children born in 1987-1991 and 1993-2002 from irradiated fathers (Chernobyl clean-up workers) and unirradiated mothers living on territories without radionuclide contamination. These children also displayed increased frequencies of aberrant genomes as compared to the control (p < 0.001). The analysis of the dynamics years of birth of cytogenetic disturbances in the same cohorts of children showed the average frequencies of aberrant genomes remain higher than the control level. In most of the children of both cohorts the repair synthesis of genome DNA by gamma- and UV-radiation is reduced as compared to one in the children from the control group.

Adolescent↗

[Informative value of the specialized registers in research of leukemia in Chernobyl accident liquidators in Ukraine].

The article considers the possibility of the use of current infrastructure of specialized population registers of Ukraine to study leukemia and other systemic blood diseases revealed in Chernobyl accident liquidators. Advantage and limitation of such registers in the use are discussed in the article. Ukrainian state register of people who suffered from Chernobyl accident and Ukrainian national cancer registers are the largest population registers in the country, which cover all the territory of Ukraine and contain information on each individual and may serve as source base for epidemiological studies. To solve issues on leukemia and other oncological diseases is recommended to use in complex data of specialized registers of Ukraine. It should be also taken into account necessity of using late registered cases and verifying registered diagnoses.

Chernobyl Nuclear Accident↗

Teratogen update: radiation and Chernobyl.

The 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chernobyl caused nonuniform radiocontamination of air and land, primarily within regions of the former Soviet Union and Western Europe. Major exposure groups included the reactor workers, villagers evacuated from within 30 km of the accident, the "liquidators" who decontaminated the evacuation zone afterward, those in radiocontaminated villages not evacuated, and "others" not in the latter categories. The possibility of being exposed to radiation caused considerable anxiety, especially among pregnant women. Were teratogenic levels of radiation (> or = 0.1 Gy) exposure attained? To date there is no consistent proof that this level of radiation exposure was received. Nevertheless, thousands of induced abortions were performed. Radioiodine (I-131) caused thyroid cancer in young children in portions of Belarus, the Ukraine, and Russia. It is not known but very possible that I-131 fetal thyroid exposure contributed to this observation. The relationship between mental retardation and radiation exposure has not been confirmed. Leukemia and other cancers, while predicted for the liquidators (mainly males), has not been found in the other exposure groups at this time. Investigations of aborted fetuses and newborns in Belarus showed an increase in the frequency of both congenital and fetal abnormalities in high and low Cs-137 contaminated regions. This study is unreliable due to detection and selection biases. Accident and environmental factors unrelated to radiation doses may have contributed to these observations. Occasional positive teratogenic studies in less contaminated regions of Western Europe are suspect because of the low radiation doses received. There is no substantive proof regarding radiation-induced teratogenic effects from the Chernobyl accident.

Abortion, Induced↗

Pathology and proliferative activity of renal-cell carcinomas (RCCS) and renal oncocytomas in patients with different radiation exposure after the Chernobyl accident in Ukraine.

During the 13-year period subsequent to the Chernobyl accident, the morbidity of malignant renal tumors in Ukraine has increased from 4. 7 to 7.5 per 100,000 of total population. Cesium 137 ((137)Cs) accounts for 90% of the incorporated radioactivity in the Ukrainian population, which has been exposed to long-term, low dose ionizing radiation and 90% of the more labile pool of ((137)Cs) is excreted via kidneys. The present study was performed to evaluate the histopathological features and the immunohistochemical status of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and K-ras in renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) of 236 Ukrainian patients (groups I to V), which represents a varying degrees of internal exposure to radiation and were operated in 2 different periods of time after the Chernobyl accident. The control group VI of 112 analog patients with RCCs was selected in Spain. The strong significant differences between the Ukrainian and Spanish groups were found in tumoral nuclear grade, in the percentage of sarcomatoid changes, the level of the peritumoral inflammatory response as well as in the peritumoral lesions. The dramatic increase of aggressivity and proliferative activity supported by strong PCNA and K-ras expression of RCCs from Ukrainian groups, associated with chronic radiation nephropathy of peritumoral kidney tissue, showed good correlation with the duration of radiation exposure and confirmed the influence of chronic but regular and sustained low dose of ionizing radiation on renal carcinogenesis of the Ukrainian population.

Adenoma, Oxyphilic↗

A prospective study of thyroid nodular disease in children and adolescents in western Poland from 1996 to 2000 and the incidence of thyroid carcinoma relative to iodine deficiency and the Chernobyl disaster.

BACKGROUND: In Poland, where soil is deficient in iodine, supplementation of iodine was introduced in 1935, discontinued in 1980, and then re-introduced in 1997. One of the effects of inadequate iodine intake, prior to 1997, was an increase in the prevalence of thyroid nodular disease (TND) in children. Chernobyl, located in the neighbouring country of Ukraine, suffered a catastrophic nuclear explosion in April 1986. PROCEDURE: A total of 411 children with TND (an incidence of 7.53/100,000) were diagnosed and registered in western Poland between 1996 and 2000 and further evaluated as a population-based study. RESULTS: Based on the patient's clinical status, ultrasound examination, scintiscan, laboratory tests, cytology and the family history, many of the patients qualified for surgery and, as a result, histopathologic data were obtained from 155 of the 411 patients operated on to date (37.7% of all TND). Thyroid carcinoma was detected in 37 of the operated children, i.e. 23.9% or 9.0% of all children with TND with a median incidence of 0.68/100,000. Papillary carcinoma was the predominant histologic type (26-70.3%) compared to follicular carcinoma (10-27.0%) and medullary carcinoma (1-2.7%). Retrospective analysis of the figures for the 23 years (1972-1995) showed that in that period a total of 23 thyroid carcinomas were registered. However, only 12 of these were detected in the 20-year period between 1972 and 1991, none in the years 1992-1993 and, significantly, 11 from 1994 to 1995. CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid carcinoma appears to be an ongoing and increasing problem in the children and adolescents of our region, and it is developing more intensively when compared, both to other parts of Poland and to previous statistics (2000 vs. 1985; P<0.002). Iodine deficiency and radiation resulting from the Chernobyl disaster might be important risk factors in the development of thyroid carcinoma in the young population analysed in our region in the period since 1994. The high percentage of follicular carcinoma and follicular adenoma with an undetermined prognosis (19 out of 46) indicates that the long-term iodine deficiency in our region may be more significant in the pathogenesis of malignant transformation than has previously been postulated.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗

Changes in registered congenital anomalies in the Republic of Belarus after the Chernobyl accident.

A descriptive analysis of birth defects and malformations was performed to assess whether the rates of these defects correlate with the geographic areas of Belarus that received different levels of 137Cs contamination resulting from the Chernobyl catastrophe. Since this accident in 1986, the frequency of both congenital and fetal abnormalities in the Republic of Belarus has apparently increased. This increase is most prominent in areas with at least 555 9Bq/m2 radioactive contamination, although it has not been possible to correlate the individual dose received by a pregnant woman with the incidence of congenital malformations. The types of anomalies that were most increased in frequency were multiple congenital malformations, polydactyly, and reduction limb defects. These malformations are commonly associated with dominant new mutations. Chromosomal disorders such as occur in Down syndrome were not increased in frequency, nor could teratogenic effects be attributed to exposure to ionizing radiation. Preventive measures have apparently reduced the number of births with congenital abnormalities but have had no apparent effect on the frequency of fetal defects. Results of our analysis are consistent with the hypothesis that ionizing radiation released during the Chernobyl accident may have placed fetuses and neonates at risk for congenital malformations. Epidemiological studies are now required to determine whether a mother's radiation dose correlates with congenital malformations in her children.

Abnormalities, Radiation-Induced↗

Analysis of blood lymphocyte subsets in children living on territory that received high amounts of fallout from Chernobyl accident.

The major lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood were assessed in 120 children 6-13 years old living on areas that received high levels of radioactivity as fallout after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident. Seventy-one of the children were suffering from recurrent respiratory disease (RRDC) and 49 were not (non-RRDC). As controls, a total of 87 RRDC and non-RRDC living on noncontaminated areas were evaluated. We did not find significant differences in major lymphocyte subsets between the values in non-RRDC living on radionuclide-contaminated areas and noncontaminated areas. However, RRDC living on radionuclide-contaminated areas had a significantly lower percentage of CD3+ T and CD3+CD4+ T-helper/ inducer cells compared to control RRDC. Furthermore, the decrease in percentage of CD3+CD4+ cells was more profound in RRDC living in radiation-contaminated settlements with an average summary dose (ASD) Cs-137(134) and Sr-90 for the population > 1.0 mSv than in RRDC living in contaminated settlements with an ASD Cs-137(134) and Sr-90 < 1.0 mSv. These data indicated that long-time exposure to small doses of radiation could affect the immune system in children living around Chernobyl.

CD3 Complex↗

Birth prevalence of congenital malformations in Bavaria, Germany, after the Chernobyl accident.

This study considers whether or not exposure to radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl accident led to an increased prevalence of congenital malformations in infants born in Bavaria, the German state with the highest levels of contamination after the accident. The odds ratios for major malformations after the accident relative to before were used as indicators for adverse health effects. Since measurements of caesium in soil showed that contamination was considerably higher in Southern Bavaria than in Northern Bavaria, the odds ratios were calculated for both regions separately. Analysis did not show a significant increase in any of the odds ratios of the selected malformations in Southern Bavaria as compared to Northern Bavaria. Consequently, this study provides no evidence that radiation from Chernobyl caused an increase in the birth prevalence of major congenital malformations.

Abnormalities, Radiation-Induced↗

Psychological reactions to cancer risks after the Chernobyl accident.

This is a report on an investigation of people's reactions to the Chernobyl accident. Interviews and mail surveys were conducted in July-September 1986 with pregnant women, parents of newborn children, farmers, adolescents and men who were not parents, in various areas of Sweden, differing as to the amount of Chernobyl fallout they had received. The accident had probably doubled the number of people who were negative to nuclear power in the most affected area. Radiation risks were highly salient in most groups. Areas differed in the expected direction, people in the more exposed areas being more concerned. Women were more worried and more negative to nuclear power than men while adolescents appeared to be the group least affected by the accident. Farmers were also strongly opposed to nuclear power and concerned about its risks. Nuclear attitude could be well accounted for by attitude statements and rated basic life values. It was quite stable over a 1 month period.

Accidents↗

Long-term external radiation exposure of inhabitants in the western Bryansk region of Russia as a consequence of the Chernobyl accident.

The western Bryansk region in south-western Russia was highly contaminated with 137Cs and 134Cs due to the Chernobyl accident in 1986. In 1990, a joint Nordic-Russian project was initiated in order to make measurements and estimates of the absorbed doses to selected groups of inhabitants in this area. The participating individuals were living in small villages with contamination levels between 0.9 and 2.7 MBq m(-2). Only some villages had been decontaminated. Both school-children and adults participated in the study and the number of persons was between 100 and 130 each year, residing in 5 villages. Every year in September-October, from 1990 to 1998. we performed individual measurements of external absorbed doses, assessed with thermoluminescent (TL) dosemeters (LiF). The mean effective dose per year from external irradiation due to the Chernobyl accident of the inhabitants in the villages ranged between 0.8 and 2.9 mSv during the study period and decreased with an apparent half-time of 3.7-8.2 years, depending on village and group. The highest individual doses within one village were, on average higher by a factor of 3 than the mean value for that village. Under the conservative assumption of a decrease rate in the external effective dose of 2% per year after 1998, individuals in the most highly exposed village are assumed to receive a life-time effective dose of about 75 mSv (between 1986 and 2056) from external exposure to caesium radionuclides. The mean value for the villages under study was estimated to be around 65 mSv using the assumed rate of decrease.

Cesium Radioisotopes↗