A semi-automated FISH-based micronucleus-centromere assay for biomonitoring of hospital workers exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation

The aim of the present study was to perform cytogenetic analysis by means of a semi-automated micronucleus-centromere assay in lymphocytes from medical radiation workers. Two groups of workers receiving the highest occupational doses were selected: 10 nuclear medicine technicians and 10 interventional radiologists/cardiologists. Centromere-negative micronucleus (MNCM-) data, obtained from these two groups of medical radiation workers were compared with those obtained in matched controls. The blood samples of the matched controls were additionally used to construct a 'low-dose' (0-100 mGy) MNCM-dose-response curve to evaluate the sensitivity and suitability of the micronucleus-centromere assay as an 'effect' biomarker in medical surveillance programs. The physical dosimetry data of the 3 years preceding the blood sampling, based on single or double dosimetry practices, were collected for the interpretation of the micronucleus data. The in vitro radiation results showed that for small sized groups, semi-automated scoring of MNCM-enables the detection of a dose of 50 mGy. The comparison of MNCM-yields in medical radiation workers and control individuals showed enhanced MNCM-scores in the medical radiation workers group (P=0.15). The highest MNCM-scores were obtained in the interventional radiologists/cardiologists group, and these scores were significantly higher compared with those obtained from the matched control group (P=0.05). The higher MNCM-scores observed in interventional radiologists/cardiologists compared with nuclear medicine technicians were not in agreement with the personal dosimetry records in both groups, which may point to the limitation of 'double dosimetry' procedures used in interventional radiology/cardiology. In conclusion, the data obtained in the present study supports the importance of cytogenetic analysis, in addition to physical dosimetry, as a routine biomonitoring method in medical radiation workers receiving the highest occupational radiation burdens

Impact de l’exposition aux champs magnétiques émanant de l’alimentation en électricité sur la santé de la population -- 9431

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

The effect of high and low frequency cortical stimulation with a fixed or a Poisson distributed interpulse interval on cortical excitability in rats

Neurostimulation is a promising treatment for refractory epilepsy. We studied the effect of cortical stimulation with different parameters in the rat motor cortex stimulation model. High intensity simulation (threshold for motor response - 100 mu A), high frequency (130 Hz) stimulation during 1 h decreased cortical excitability, irrespective of the interpulse interval used (fixed or Poisson distributed). Low intensity (10 mu A) and/or low frequency (5Hz) stimulation had no effect. Cortical stimulation appears promising for the treatment of neocortical epilepsy if frequency and intensity are high enough

Zorgtrajecten van druggebruikers uit etnisch-culturele minderheden

Over het algemeen neemt men aan dat het middelengebruik bij etnisch-culturele minderheidsgroepen even hoog of zelfs hoger ligt dan bij de autochtone bevolking, maar dat eerstgenoemde groep moeilijker de weg vindt naar de hulpverlening. Men schuift verschillende hypothesen naar voor om deze (vermeende) ondervertegenwoordiging te verklaren, zoals het fenomeen van de ‘dubbele uitsluiting’, concurrentie tussen de reguliere hulpverlening en initiatieven vanuit de allochtone gemeenschap en de ‘culturele blindheid’ binnen de verslavingszorg. In dit boek gaan we aan de hand van een uitgebreide literatuurstudie, secundaire analyse van bestaande onderzoeksgegevens en diepte-interviews in op de vertegenwoordiging van etnisch-culturele minderheden in de Belgische verslavings¬zorg, de zorgtrajecten die ze afleggen en de factoren en mechanismen die dit beïnvloeden. Dit leidt tot gerichte aanbevelingen voor het optimaliseren van de bestaande hulpverleningspraktijk