Evaluation of Knowledge, Attitude, and Performance of Radiographers towards Radiation Protection in Southern Khorasan Province, Iran

Introduction: Nowadays, X-ray radiographic imaging plays an essential role in disease diagnosis and treatment. In addition to benefits, X-rays have harmful effects for both patients and radiographers. Observing radiation protection principles reduces radiation exposure and the probability of radiation risk. Therefore, we sought to assess the knowledge, attitude, and performance of radiographers in this regard. Material and Methods: This descriptive and analytic study was performed in South Khorasan Province in 2017. Data collection was performed by using a questionnaire containing items on knowledge, attitude, and performance. By using the census sampling method, 100 radiographers and senior radiology students were enrolled. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics were used in SPSS, version 20. Results: The mean scores of knowledge, attitude, and performance were 61.8±13.8, 67.4±21.5, and 50.7±18.4, respectively. Gender had no significant effect on the radiographers' knowledge, attitude, and performance. The level of education was not significantly related to performance, while it had a significant direct association with knowledge and attitudes of the participants. Conclusion: Considering the knowledge, attitude, and performance scores of the radiographers and their willingness to attend retraining courses, we recommend holding  such courses. It seems that these courses could be very effective in improving the knowledge, attitude, and performance of radiographers towards the principles of radiation protection

Assessment of the Preventive Effect of Pilocarpine on Radiotherapy-Induced Xerostomia in Patients with Head and Neck Cancers

Introduction Xerostomia is one of side-effects of radiotherapy for head and neck cancers. No definitive method has been proposed for the treatment of this condition. However, pilocarpine is considered effective for the management of chronic xerostomia. The purpose of the present study was to assess the preventive effect of pilocarpine. Materials and Methods This study was performed on 34 patients with head and neck cancers, undergoing radiation therapy (5000 cGy). The patients were randomly divided into two groups. The case group was administered 16 drops of pilocarpine (2%) eye drops per day, while the control group received normal saline; the treatment plan continued for four weeks. Unstimulated whole saliva flow rate was measured at four stages: two weeks before radiotherapy (baseline), the first day of radiotherapy, and two and four weeks after the initiation of radiotherapy. Results At baseline and the first day of radiotherapy, no significant differences were observed in the amount of saliva between the case and control groups (P<0.76 and P<0.054, respectively). However, by starting radiotherapy, a statistically significant improvement was reported in saliva production in the case group, compared to the control group (P<0.00); this trend continued during the next four weeks of radiotherapy (P<0.003). Generally, a significant difference was observed between the two groups at all stages of data evaluation (P<0.00). Conclusion According to the findings, pilocarpine was found to be effective for the prevention of xerostomia. Moreover, it could restrain the decline in the amount of saliva and reduce the rate of xerostomia

Local Diagnostic Reference Levels for Some Common Diagnostic X-Ray Examinations In Sabzevar County of Iran

Introduction: Diagnostic reference level (DRL) is a useful tool for the promotion of optimization. The national DRLs (NDRLs) are useful, brief, and robust guidelines for optimizing radiation protection in a country. The aim of this study was to extract the local DRLs (LDRLs) for some common radiologic examination in Sabzevar county. Materials and Methods: There are eight radiology departments in Sabzevar County, Iran. The entrance skin dose (ESD) distributions were determined by use of thermoluminescence dosimeter (TLD) chips for 10 standard projections (i.e., anterioposterior [AP] abdomen, AP and posteroanterior [PA] chest, AP and lateral [LAT] lumbar spine, AP pelvis, cervical AP, cervical LAT, as well as AP and LAT skull). The third quartiles of the measured ESDs were compared with the previously published data. Results: In the present study, the third quartile of the measured ESDs for the patients undergoing specific examination were selected as LDRLs. The calculated LDRLs for the chest PA, chest AP, lumbar spine PA, lumbar spine LAT, pelvis AP, abdomen AP, cervical AP, cervical LAT, skull PA, and skull LAT were 0.54, 0.64, 1.99, 3.83, 1.47, 2.15, 0.54, 0.78, 1.22, and 1.01 mGy, respectively. Conclusion: Our results were compared with the DRLs reported in Iran, UK, and Japan as well as those reported by the National Radiological Protection Board (NPRB) for the UK. The ESDs obtained in this study for the chest PA, cervical AP, cervical LAT, AP and LAT skull, abdomen AP, pelvis AP, lumbar PA, and lumbar LAT examinations did not exceed the DRL values reported by NPRB

Excess Cancer Risk Assessment from Some Common X-Ray Examinations in Sabzevar County

Introduction: Nowadays ionizing radiation has a considerable contribution in medical diagnostic and treatment. Using ionizing radiation is increasing rapidly, so biological effects of ionizing radiation should be considered more. X-rays in the range of diagnostic radiology have hazardous effects and risks that are defined as random effects. These effects obey the LNT hypothesis that occur at low doses and include many types of cancer and genetic mutations. So it is very important to assess the risk of exposure in medical examinations. Cancer is one of these hazardous risks caused by low dose ionizing radiation that may occur during life after exposure. According to BEAR 7, low dose radiation is defined as radiation that produces doses near zero up to 100 mSv. Materials and Methods: This work was carried out in eight radiology centers in the Sabzevar county of Iran for 485 patients in eight typical x-ray examinations chosen for the study: chest PA, chest AP, lumbar spine AP, lumbar spine LAT, pelvis AP, abdomen AP, skull AP and Lat. In order to estimate the excess cancer risk, we need to obtain collective effective dose caused by radiation in the study population. Usually effective dose offers precise assessment of radiography examination injuries in adult patients. In this study, we used the PCXMC Monte Carlo based software to obtain effective dose and organ dose. This software calculates organ and effective dose following input of patient and radiographic conditions. Results: Average patient weight and height, entrance surface dose, parameters used for each type of examination, and DAP values were entered. Effective dose, collective effective dose, number of radiographs per year and the excess cancer risk arising from these radiographic examinations were then calculated.  Discussion and Conclusion: Excess risk of fatal cancer due to x-ray examinations in the study population was calculated by collective effective dose. This risk in the population is about 0.42 cases suffering fatal cancer per year in this county. If the doses from other diagnostic radiology procedures, in which absorbed dose to patients are considerably higher than conventional radiography, are added to this amount, then the excess risk will be significantly greater than that obtained in this assessment

Calculation the Received dose by gonads arising from some common diagnostic radiography

Background and Aim: The basic aim in radiography is to acquire a good image from the body organs, but never the issue of the patient's protection against the harmful effects of ionizing radiation should be neglected. One of the most important factors for assessing the radiation risk is the dose received by sensitive organs such as gonads. Radiation damage to the gonads can be lead to genetic damages at the progeny of the radiated individuals, and that damage can be transmitted to the next generation. Materials and Methods: In this study the thermoluminescence dosimeters were used to measure the entrance skin dose. DAP values for each examination and also the patients information such as age, &nbsp;size, weight and machine setting like that mA, time, kVp and focal spot to film distance were recorded. By means of PCXMC software version 2 gonadal doses were calculated. Results: The maximum dose received by the testicles was for the pelvis AP projection, 0.45mGy and for the ovaries maximum dose was for abdomen PA, 0.306 mGy. The minimum dose received by the testicles and ovaries was for lumbar LAT 0.065, 0.101 respectively. Conclusion: One of the ways for patient and gonadal dose reduction is to use appropriate shields for radiosensitive organs such as gonads. Hence its recommended to use appropriate shields for gonads because of their high radiosensitivity

ON MOLIEN SERIES OF THE INVARIANT RING ASSOCIATED TO THE UNITARY REFLECTION GROUP G(m,p,n) G(m,p,n)

A novel application of the Friction stir processing (FSP) in surface modification of walls of the cylindrical hole is presented. Predrilled holes in commercially available aluminum plate were friction stirred using a specially fabricated tapered tool that rotates and simultaneously traverses through the hole. The tapered tool expands the hole to the desired diameter and also stirs the internal wall of the hole. In order to understand the role of frictional heating and stirring in the FSP of holes three mediums, namely, dry (without cooling and lubricating), metal working fluid (cooling and lubricating) and Al2O3 nanoparticles (lubricating and frictional heating) were used. The surface roughness and hardness of the wall of the holes were measured. Significant hardness improvement with reasonable surface finish is obtained. Moreover the FSPed holes showed improvement in the fatigue life of the holes. The results are promising enough however many more investigation need to be carried out to fully understand the physics of the process and subsequently apply the same at the shop-floor