Lessons from Chornobyl: Considerations for Strengthening Radiation Emergency Preparedness in Ukraine.

The response to the accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant was analyzed. Measures taken in the early and late period after the accident were considered, and achievements and mistakes were estimated. The legal framework for dose estimation and registration and treatment of radiation effects were described.

Persistent infections and their relationship with selected oncologic and non-tumor pathologies.

Our earlier studies of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection rates among blood donors at the Kyiv Municipal Blood Center revealed a 3.45% HCV+ prevalence in these "healthy" hosts. In the study here, we analyzed HCV (as well as cytomegalovirus [CMV]) prevalence among Chernobyl nuclear power plant (NPP) accident sufferers--cleanup workers, local residents, NPP workers, and convalescent patients--who suffered acute radiation syndrome (ARS) as a result of the 1986 accident, and individuals who had not been exposed to ionizing radiation (IR).