CT and MRI imaging in Sweden: retrospective appropriateness analysis of large referral samples.

Objectives: The numbers of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations per capita continue to increase in Sweden and in other parts of Europe. The appropriateness of CT and MRI examinations was audited using established European appropriateness criteria. Alternative modalities were also explored.

Feasibility study of computational occupational dosimetry: evaluating a proof-of-concept in an endovascular and interventional cardiology setting.

Individual monitoring of radiation workers is essential to ensure compliance with legal dose limits and to ensure that doses are As Low As Reasonably Achievable. However, large uncertainties still exist in personal dosimetry and there are issues with compliance and incorrect wearing of dosimeters. The objective of the PODIUM (Personal Online Dosimetry Using Computational Methods) project was to improve personal dosimetry by an innovative approach: the development of an online dosimetry application based on computer simulations without the use of physical dosimeters.

IDAC-Bio, A Software for Internal Dosimetry Based on the New ICRP Biokinetic Models and Specific Absorbed Fractions.

Radiation dosimetry is central to virtually all radiation safety applications, optimization, and research. It relates to various individuals and population groups and to miscellaneous exposure situations-including planned, existing, and emergency situations. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has developed a new computational framework for internal dose estimations.

Temporal escape-adaptation to eutrophication by Skeletonema marinoi.

Diatoms commonly set off the spring-bloom in temperate coastal environments. However, their temporal offset may change in regions subject to nutrient enrichment, and by peaking earlier, such populations can maintain their position in the vernal plankton succession. We tested whether the marine keystone diatom Skeletonema marinoi can accomplish this through thermal evolutionary adaptation.

Paediatric diagnostic reference levels for common radiological examinations using the European guidelines.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility to determine regional diagnostic reference levels (RDRLs) for paediatric conventional and CT examinations using the European guidelines and to compare RDRLs derived from weight and age groups, respectively.

Methods: Data were collected from 31 hospitals in 4 countries, for 7 examination types for a total of 2978 patients. RDRLs were derived for each weight and age group, respectively, when the total number of patients exceeded 15.

Artificial intelligence and the medical physics profession - A Swedish perspective.

Background: There is a continuous and dynamic discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) in present-day society. AI is expected to impact on healthcare processes and could contribute to a more sustainable use of resources allocated to healthcare in the future. The aim for this work was to establish a foundation for a Swedish perspective on the potential effect of AI on the medical physics profession.

Establishing paediatric diagnostic reference levels using reference curves - A feasibility study including conventional and CT examinations.

Purpose: To derive Regional Diagnostic Reference Levels (RDRL) for paediatric conventional and CT examinations using weight-based DRL curves and compare the outcome with DRL derived using the weight groups.

Methods: Data from 1722 examinations performed at 29 hospitals in four countries were included. DRL was derived for four conventional x-ray (chest, abdomen, pelvis, hips/joints) and two types of CT examinations (thorax, abdomen).

IMPROVED AGE- AND GENDER-SPECIFIC RADIATION RISK MODELS APPLIED ON COHORTS OF SWEDISH PATIENTS.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study is to implement lifetime attributable risk (LAR) predictions for radiation induced cancers for Swedish cohorts of patients of various age and sex, undergoing diagnostic investigations by nuclear medicine methods.

Methods: Calculations are performed on Swedish groups of patients with Paget's disease and with bone metastases from prostatic cancer and diagnosed with bone scintigraphy with an administration of 500 MBq 99mTc-phosphonate.

Results: The inclusion of patient survival rates into the calculations lowers the induced radiation cancer risk, as it takes into account that cohorts of patients have shorter predicted survival times than the general population.

ALIGNING VIDEO-AND STRUCTURED DATA FOR IMAGING OPTIMISATION.

Imaging optimisation can benefit from combining structured data with qualitative data in the form of audio and video recordings. Since video is complex to work with, there is a need to find a workable solution that minimises the additional time investment. The purpose of the paper is to outline a general workflow that can begin to address this issue.

Fast Monte Carlo codes for occupational dosimetry in interventional radiology.

Purpose: Interventional radiology techniques cause radiation exposure both to patient and personnel. The radiation dose to the operator is usually measured with dosimeters located at specific points above or below the lead aprons. The aim of this study is to develop and validate two fast Monte Carlo (MC) codes for radiation transport in order to improve the assessment of individual doses in interventional radiology.

A MODEL FOR EVALUATING THE USE OF IMAGING IN IMAGE-GUIDED INTERVENTIONAL PROCEDURES-POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS ON OPTIMISATION OF RADIATION PROTECTION.

The present study focuses on introducing the concept of optimisation and proposing a model, including evaluation of image quality, to be used in the clinical routines where image-guided intervention is being performed. The overall aim of the study was to develop a model for evaluating the use of imaging in X-ray-guided interventional procedures and its possible implications on optimisation of radiation protection. In the search for an adequate evaluation model, data from endovascular interventions of the aorta (EVAR procedures) were used.

PERSONAL DOSIMETRY USING MONTE-CARLO SIMULATIONS FOR OCCUPATIONAL DOSE MONITORING IN INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY: THE RESULTS OF A PROOF OF CONCEPT IN A CLINICAL SETTING.

Exposure levels to staff in interventional radiology (IR) may be significant and appropriate assessment of radiation doses is needed. Issues regarding measurements using physical dosemeters in the clinical environment still exist. The objective of this work was to explore the prerequisites for assessing staff radiation dose, based on simulations only.

Effects of Distal Mutations on Prolyl-Adenylate Formation of Escherichia coli Prolyl-tRNA Synthetase.

Enzymes play important roles in many biological processes. Amino acid residues in the active site pocket of an enzyme, which are in direct contact with the substrate(s), are generally believed to be critical for substrate recognition and catalysis. Identifying and understanding how these "catalytic" residues help enzymes achieve enormous rate enhancement has been the focus of many structural and biochemical studies over the past several decades.

In vivo measurement of pre-operational spallation source workers: baseline body burden levels and detection limits of relevant gamma emitters using high-resolution gamma spectrometry.

As a measure to prepare for long-term internal dose monitoring of workers at the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Lund, Sweden, operated by the European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC), as well as to enhance emergency preparedness against accidental releases, a series of in vivo measurements were conducted using a high-resolution HPGe detector with a 123% relative efficiency (1.332 MeV). This study describes the whole-body counting set-up, calibration procedure, and subsequent validation measurements using conventional NaI(Tl)-scanning-bed geometry on a selection of workers from the ESS.

Challenges assessing radiation risk in image-guided treatments-implications on optimisation of radiological protection.

The present work explores challenges when assessing organ dose and effective dose concerning image-guided treatments. During these treatments considerable x-ray imaging is employed using technically advanced angiographic x-ray equipment. Thus, the radiation dose to organs and the related radiation risk are relatively difficult to assess.

Radiological protection of foetuses and breast-fed children of occupationally exposed women in nuclear medicine - Challenges for hospitals.

This paper describes issues of concern for protecting foetuses and breast-fed children of occupationally exposed women in nuclear medicine from unnecessary exposure of ionising radiation. The protection principle is to ensure the same level of protection for the foetus and child as for the general public. Therefore international radiation protection standards recommend a dose constraint of 1mSv to a foetus during the remaining time of pregnancy after it is known/declared and a yearly dose constraint of 1mSv to a breast-fed child.

Changes in wintertime pH and hydrography of the Gulf of Finland (Baltic Sea) with focus on depth layers.

We studied changes in sea water pH, temperature and salinity with focus on two depth layers, along the Gulf of Finland (the Baltic Sea) using long-term monitoring data from 1979 to 2015. Data from the most frequently sampled monitoring stations between western and eastern Gulf of Finland were used. The main result of the study reveals that pH has decreased both in surface and deep-water in the western Gulf of Finland with values ranging between -0.

OPTIMISATION OF OCCUPATIONAL RADIATION PROTECTION IN IMAGE-GUIDED INTERVENTIONS: EXPLORING VIDEO RECORDINGS AS A TOOL IN THE PROCESS.

The overall purpose of this work was to explore how video recordings can contribute to the process of optimising occupational radiation protection in image-guided interventions. Video-recorded material from two image-guided interventions was produced and used to investigate to what extent it is conceivable to observe and assess dose-affecting actions in video recordings. Using the recorded material, it was to some extent possible to connect the choice of imaging techniques to the medical events during the procedure and, to a less extent, to connect these technical and medical issues to the occupational exposure.

A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR MANAGING RADIATION DOSE TO PATIENTS IN DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY USING REFERENCE DOSE LEVELS.

The overall aim of the present work was to develop a conceptual framework for managing radiation dose in diagnostic radiology with the intention to support optimisation. An optimisation process was first derived. The framework for managing radiation dose, based on the derived optimisation process, was then outlined.

Eye dosimetry and protective eyewear for interventional clinicians.

Doses to the eyes of interventional clinicians can exceed 20 mSv. Various protective devices can afford protection to the eyes with the final barrier being protective eyewear. The protection provided by lead glasses is difficult to quantify, and the majority of dosimeters are not designed to be worn under lead glasses.

Optimisation of occupational radiological protection in image-guided interventions: potential impact of dose rate measurements.

The optimisation of occupational radiological protection is challenging and a variety of factors have to be considered. Physicians performing image-guided interventions are working in an environment with one of the highest radiation risk levels in healthcare. Appropriate knowledge about the radiation environment is a prerequisite for conducting the optimisation process.

A management system integrating radiation protection and safety supporting safety culture in the hospital.

Quality assurance has been identified as an important part of radiation protection and safety for a considerable time period. A rational expansion and improvement of quality assurance is to integrate radiation protection and safety in a management system. The aim of this study was to explore factors influencing the implementing strategy when introducing a management system including radiation protection and safety in hospitals and to outline benefits of such a system.

Derivation and application of dose reduction factors for protective eyewear worn in interventional radiology and cardiology.

Doses to the eyes of interventional radiologists and cardiologists could exceed the annual limit of 20 mSv proposed by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Lead glasses of various designs are available to provide protection, but standard eye dosemeters will not take account of the protection they provide. The aim of this study has been to derive dose reduction factors (DRFs) equal to the ratio of the dose with no eyewear, divided by that when lead glasses are worn.

Evaluation of the impact of a system for real-time visualisation of occupational radiation dose rate during fluoroscopically guided procedures.

Optimisation of radiological protection for operators working with fluoroscopically guided procedures has to be performed during the procedure, under varying and difficult conditions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of a system for real-time visualisation of radiation dose rate on optimisation of occupational radiological protection in fluoroscopically guided procedures. Individual radiation dose measurements, using a system for real-time visualisation, were performed in a cardiology laboratory for three cardiologists and ten assisting nurses.