Integration of new biological and physical retrospective dosimetry methods into EU emergency response plans : joint RENEB and EURADOS inter-laboratory comparisons

Purpose: RENEB, 'Realising the European Network of Biodosimetry and Physical Retrospective Dosimetry,' is a network for research and emergency response mutual assistance in biodosimetry within the EU. Within this extremely active network, a number of new dosimetry methods have recently been proposed or developed. There is a requirement to test and/or validate these candidate techniques and inter-comparison exercises are a well-established method for such validation. Materials and methods: The authors present details of inter-comparisons of four such new methods: dicentric chromosome analysis including telomere and centromere staining; the gene expression assay carried out in whole blood; Raman spectroscopy on blood lymphocytes, and detection of radiation induced thermoluminescent signals in glass screens taken from mobile phones. Results: In general the results show good agreement between the laboratories and methods within the expected levels of uncertainty, and thus demonstrate that there is a lot of potential for each of the candidate techniques. Conclusions: Further work is required before the new methods can be included within the suite of reliable dosimetry methods for use by RENEB partners and others in routine and emergency response scenarios

Revisiting Biomarkers of Total-Body and Partial-Body Exposure in a Baboon Model of Irradiation.

In case of a mass casualty radiation event, there is a need to distinguish total-body irradiation (TBI) and partial-body irradiation (PBI) to concentrate overwhelmed medical resources to the individuals that would develop an acute radiation syndrome (ARS) and need hematologic support (i.e., mostly TBI victims). To improve the identification and medical care of TBI versus PBI individuals, reliable biomarkers of exposure could be very useful. To investigate this issue, pairs of baboons (n = 18) were exposed to different situations of TBI and PBI corresponding to an equivalent of either 5 Gy 60Co gamma irradiation (5 Gy TBI; 7.5 Gy left hemibody/2.5 right hemibody TBI; 5.55 Gy 90% PBI; 6.25 Gy 80% PBI; 10 Gy 50% PBI, 15 Gy 30% PBI) or 2.5 Gy (2.5 Gy TBI; 5 Gy 50% PBI). More than fifty parameters were evaluated before and after irradiation at several time points up to 200 days. A partial least square discriminant analysis showed a good distinction of TBI from PBI situations that were equivalent to 5 Gy. Furthermore, all the animals were pooled in two groups, TBI (n = 6) and PBI (n = 12), for comparison using a logistic regression and a non parametric statistical test. Nine plasmatic biochemical markers and most of hematological parameters turned out to discriminate between TBI and PBI animals during the prodromal phase and the manifest illness phase. The most significant biomarkers were aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, lactico dehydrogenase, urea, Flt3-ligand, iron, C-reactive protein, absolute neutrophil count and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio for the early period, and Flt3-ligand, iron, platelet count, hemoglobin, monocyte count, absolute neutrophil count and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio for the ARS phase. These results suggest that heterogeneity could be distinguished within a range of 2.5 to 5 Gy TBI

DIC assay estimations of the percentage of circulating blood exposed from a sample taken 1 day after exposure.

<p>LP = Legs Protected. HP = Head Protected.</p><p>DIC assay estimations of the percentage of circulating blood exposed from a sample taken 1 day after exposure.</p

Validation of the animal exposure model using PLSDA.

<p>a) The R2 value of a given model may be used to assess its degree of fit to the data (99.8%) and the Q2 value of the model is used to assess the predictive power of the model (82.0%). b) Scores plot showing a clear distinction of 5Gy TBI animals from the 5 Gy equivalent PBI. LP = Legs Protected. HP = Head Protected.</p

Kinetics of Creatine Kinase (CK) as an example of an early biomarker.

<p>The average of CK values of TBI animals are significantly higher than PBI animals from 1d after exposure (*p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001).</p

Flt-3 ligand kinetics as an example of biomarker with long time window of relevance.

<p>The averaged values of TBI animals are significantly higher than PBI animals from 3d after exposure (*p<0.05) and peak 21d post-exposure (**p<0.01 and ***p<0.001).</p

Hematopoietic bone marrow (BM) colony-forming units from exposed and shielded humerus.

<p>The values here represented are the average of the 2 animals of each exposure group. The exposed areas showed a dose-dependent decrease 1d after exposure and there’s a start of recovery at 42d. In the legend “10 Gy 50% PBI exposed side” refers to bone marrow cells extracted from the exposed side of the animal subjected to a 10 Gy 50% PBI. “10 Gy 50% PBI shielded side” refers to bone marrow cells extracted from the shielded side of the animal (shielded using a 20 cm thick lead screen) subjected to a 10 Gy 50% PBI.</p

Atlas of Genetics and Cytogenetics in Oncology and Haematology in 2013

International audienceThe Atlas of Genetics and Cytogenetics in Oncology and Haematology (http://AtlasGeneticsOncology.org) is a peer-reviewed internet journal/encyclopaedia/database focused on genes implicated in cancer, cytogenetics and clinical entities in cancer and cancer-prone hereditary diseases. The main goal of the Atlas is to provide review articles that describe complementary topics, namely, genes, genetic abnormalities, histopathology, clinical diagnoses and a large iconography. This description, which was historically based on karyotypic abnormalities and in situ hybridization (fluorescence in situ hybridization) techniques, now benefits from comparative genomic hybridization and massive sequencing, uncovering a tremendous amount of genetic rearrangements. As the Atlas combines different types of information (genes, genetic abnormalities, histopathology, clinical diagnoses and external links), its content is currently unique. The Atlas is a cognitive tool for fundamental and clinical research and has developed into an encyclopaedic work. In clinical practice, it contributes to the cytogenetic diagnosis and may guide treatment decision making, particularly regarding rare diseases (because they are numerous and are frequently encountered). Readers as well as the authors of the Atlas are researchers and/or clinicians