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PubMed2004

Clinical analysis of thyroid cancer in adult patients exposed to ionizing radiation due to the Chernobyl nuclear accident: 5-year comparative investigations based on the results of surgical treatment.

The aim of study was to compare clinical and pathologic findings of surgically removed thyroid tumors in adults with or without history of irradiation due to the Chernobyl accident. From 1990 to 2003, 2363 adults with no evidence of radiation influence in their history (group A) have undergone operation for thyroid nodules. During the same period, 311 patients (born before 1969) with strict evidence of Chernobyl irradiation also underwent operation (group B). Both groups were similar in age, sex, and preoperative examination. Group B represented three of the four official categories of people affected by the Chernobyl accident: 1-recovery operation workers; 2-people evacuated from the restricted area; 3-inhabitants of contaminated areas. The rate of thyroid carcinoma among all cases of thyroid nodules was significantly higher in group B--32.8% (102 patients) versus 27.2% (644 patients) in group A (p < 0.05). But a more distinct difference was observed in 1 and 2 categories of group B patients (the rate of cancer was, correspondingly, 54.8% and 47.8%;p < 0.01). The percentage of the invasive form of cancer (T4) was significantly higher in irradiated patients-39% versus 23% (p < 0.05) as were regional metastases (N1a,1b)--41% versus 19% (p < 0.01) and frequency of multifocality (33% versus 24%; p < 0.05). The most distinguished features were found in 1 category of group B: T4--in 47%, N1a-1b--in 62%, multifocality--in 41%. Our results suggest the irradiation as a cause of thyroid cancer in adult victims of Chernobyl and confirm the increasing aggressiveness of such tumors.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Thyroid consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

It is well recognized that the use of external irradiation of the head and neck to treat patients with various non-thyroid disorders increases their risk of developing papillary thyroid carcinoma years after radiation exposure. An increased risk of thyroid cancer has also been reported in survivors of the atomic bombs in Japan, as well as in Marshall Island residents exposed to radiation during the testing of hydrogen bombs. More recently, exposure to radioactive fallout as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident has clearly caused an enormous increase in the incidence of childhood thyroid carcinoma in Belarus, Ukraine, and, to a lesser extent, in the Russian Federation, starting in 1990. When clinical and epidemiological features of thyroid carcinomas diagnosed in Belarus after the Chernobyl accident are compared with those of naturally occurring thyroid carcinomas in patients of the same age group in Italy and France, it becomes apparent that the post-Chernobyl thyroid carcinomas were much less influenced by gender, virtually always papillary (solid and follicular variants), more aggressive at presentation and more frequently associated with thyroid autoimmunity. Gene mutations involving the RET proto-oncogene, and less frequently TRK, have been shown to be causative events specific for papillary cancer. RET activation was found in nearly 70% of the patients who developed papillary thyroid carcinomas following the Chernobyl accident. In addition to thyroid cancer, radiation-induced thyroid diseases include benign thyroid nodules, hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis, with or without thyroid insufficiency, as observed in populations after environmental exposure to radioisotopes of iodine and in the survivors of atomic bomb explosions. On this basis, the authors evaluated thyroid autoimmune phenomena in normal children exposed to radiation after the Chernobyl accident. The results demonstrated an increased prevalence of circulating thyroid antibodies not associated with significant thyroid dysfunction. This finding is consistent with the short period of follow-up, but it is highly likely that these children will develop clinical thyroid autoimmune diseases in the future. Therefore, screening programmes for this at-risk population should focus, not only on the detection of thyroid nodules and cancer, but also on the development of thyroid autoimmune diseases.

Autoimmunity↗

PubMed1996

Cancer risk estimation in Belarussian children due to thyroid irradiation as a consequence of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

The thyroid doses received by the juvenile population of Belarus following the Chernobyl accident ranged up to about 10 Gy. The thyroid cancer risk estimate recommended in NCRP Report No. 80 was used to predict the number of thyroid cancer cases among children during 1990-1992 in selected Belarussian regions and cities. The results obtained using this risk estimate show an excess of thyroid cancer cases being registered vs. the predicted cases. Thyroid cancer incidence rate among boys under investigation is higher than among girls in the postaccident period. The excess of the observed over the expected incidence in the general juvenile population is caused by the high thyroid cancer incidence rate among boys. These results, which can be considered part of the first stage of a thorough thyroid cancer risk estimation after the Chernobyl accident, demonstrate the critical need to complete these studies in depth.

Child↗

PubMed2000

[The results of cytogenetic survey in liquidators of the Chernobyl nuclear accident].

The article represents results of long cytogenetic survey among liquidators of Chernobyl accident. The parameters studied are frequency of unstable chromosomal aberrations and frequency of symmetrical translocations. The authors show that, in spite of long term after irradiation, average frequency of cells with dicentrics and centric fusions (unstable chromosomal aberrations) remains relatively high. Discussion includes possible use of cytogenetic methods in reconstruction of absorbed radiation doses in many years after exposure.

Chromosome Aberrations↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Hyperinsulinemia as a factor preceding body mass increase in liquidators of the Chernobyl nuclear accident].

Basal hyperinsulinemia has been recordable over several years in liquidators of the effects of Chernobyl Accident (ChAEL). There was no dependence of hyperinsulinemia on age, body mass or lenght of service of those persons having worked within the 30-km zone. The findings secured suggest to us that increase in the body mass index (BMI) in ChAEL is preceded by a rise in the blood level of insulin; there is no relatedness of the basal level of insulin in the blood to BMI.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Tradescantia stamen-hair mutation bioassay on the mutagenicity of radioisotope-contaminated air following the Chernobyl nuclear accident and one year later.

This paper presents results of the research on the mutagenic effect of ambient air in the Cracow area. Initial studies were conducted in May 1986, following the Chernobyl accident. Other studies were performed at various sites within the Cracow area in the Spring of 1987. Counts were made of stunted hairs and pink cells in the stamen hairs of Tradescantia clone 4430. Mutations scored from the 11th day after the beginning of exposure were used as a measure of the mutagenic effect. The mean mutation frequencies measured in 1986 and 1987 were 0.43 and 0.21 per 100 hairs respectively. The time-dependent development of mutation frequencies observed after the Chernobyl accident showed a correlation with the time-dependent development of total radioactivities measured in the air at that time. The results obtained in 1987 showed on average a significant decrease of ambient air mutagenicity. Still, the variation of mutation rates observed during the investigated period at different sites in the Cracow area was rather high (0.09-0.38 mut/100 hairs). Only the highest frequencies observed in the Spring of 1987 were comparable to the level detected after the Chernobyl accident.

Accidents↗

PubMed1992

The monitoring of herbaceous seeds in the 30-km zone of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

Species of wild herbaceous plants growing over a period of 3 years under chronic irradiation resulting from the Chernobyl accident were studied. Examining the mass of 1000 seeds and their germination did not yield any significant differences between groups of seeds of the same species collected from different contaminated zones. Nor did the frequency of aberrant cells in roots of germinated seeds reveal any significant differences between zones. Seeds of Plantago lanceolata, growing in areas with higher levels of radiation, did appear to be more sensitive to additional gamma-irradiation.

Accidents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Frequency of stable chromosomal aberrations determined by FISH in 49 Chernobyl nuclear accident liquidators exposed to various doses of radiation].

FISH technique was tested on the 49 liquidators of the Chernobyl Accident. Groups were formed according to average group exposure doses and/or individual ones determined by the method of EPR. The essential variability of spontaneous and irradiation-induced frequencies of reciprocal translocations was observed. In groups with the lowest EPR-doses (below 25 cGy) the average cytogenetic dose was considerably higher then doses determined by EPR-method. The best coincidences between average in-group EPR- and FISH-doses were in the group with 25-50 cGy doses for "acute irradiation" model and in the group with 50-100 cGy and higher for "chronic irradiation" model.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Immunomodulatory and clinical effects of Viscum album (Iscador M and Iscador P) in children with recurrent respiratory infections as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

Ninety-two children 5 to 14 years of age living in areas exposed to the radioactive fallout from Chernobyl with recurrent respiratory infections (RRIs) were treated after randomization with either Viscum album praeparatum mali or pini (Iscador M or P). The dosage was two subcutaneous injections a week for 5 weeks with individual doses of 0.001 mg to 1.0 mg. Both Viscum album preparations were effective in significantly reducing clinical symptoms. One year after a single treatment course, the frequency of RRI relapses decreased by 78% and 73%, respectively. Immunomodulatory effects were assessed by investigation of lymphocyte subsets, natural killer (NK) cell activity, phagocytic and oxidative activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and antiviral activity of serum before and 1 week after treatment. Viscum album therapy resulted in normalization of initial immune indices either below or above the normal ranges. High levels of antiviral activity before treatment were significantly decreased by Viscum album mali. Viscum album treatment should be studied further in children with RRI.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Incidence of congenital anomalies in 2 communities in Croatia before and after the Chernobyl nuclear accident].

The Institute for Medical Protection of Mothers and Children, being regional centre of European registry of congenital malformations (EUROCAT) since 1982, registers congenital anomalies in municipals of Varazdin and Rijeka. Following the nuclear disaster of Chernobyl, there were numerous articles published mainly in daily newspapers, pointing to the increased number of malformations, particularly to Down's syndrome, due to additional irradiation imposed on population. Through this study we wanted to find out whether in Varazdin and Rijeka, following the Chernobyl's accident, there has been any increase of congenital anomalies and whether our regional and EUROCAT registry have been adequate to find out genetic effects of small doses of ionizing radiation. The total incidence of registered congenital anomalies in Varazdin and Rijeka in previous four-year period, amounted to 12.97%, while following Chernobyl, it amounted to 12.7%. Not even nine marker malformations, including Down's syndrome, show any statistically significant increased number of malformations, a year after this nuclear accident. In 18 EUROCAT registries, on almost half a million of newly born children and foetuses, conceived before and after May 1, 1986, the frequency of Down's syndrome and congenital malformations of central nervous system and eyes has been compared. There have been no important differences between two compared groups, and the rate of Down's syndrome was 1.26% before, and 0.91% after the accident. Anticipated stochastic genetic effects of measured and estimated additional doses of radiation imposed to our and Western European populations are too small to be found out neither by regional nor by EUROCAT registries.

Abnormalities, Radiation-Induced↗

PubMed1989

Acute effects of the Chernobyl nuclear accident on Irish mortality?

This report examines the claim that Irish mortality in the second quarter (April-June) of 1986 increased due to the cloud of radioactive material released by the damaged reactor in Chernobyl. Over the period 1971-1987, based on date of registration, the death rates in the second quarter showed marked year to year variation often exceeding that expected on the basis of chance alone. In 1986 the percentage of annual deaths occurring between April and June, and the death rate itself, were both significantly higher than in most other years between 1981 and 1987. The 1986 figures were not however, significantly higher than those observed in years prior to 1981. Since the distribution of mortality by cause was not consistent with the hypothesis relating low level radiation to immediate mortality, and since causality cannot be inferred from a temporal association per se, the Chernobyl accident cannot be implicated in the excess mortality observed in the second quarter of 1986.

Accidents↗

PubMedDate not supplied