Establishment of recurrent exposures reference levels for repeated computed tomography examinations in adult patients on a nationwide level in Slovakia.

Introduction: The study aims were: (1) to assess the incidence in 1 year, the cumulative incidences and the period prevalence in 3/5 years of the condition of patients accruing cumulative effective dose (CED) ≥ 100 mSv in health care centres providing CT examinations in Slovakia; and (2) to quantify their variability among different centres, to test the feasibility of establishing recurrent exposure reference levels (RERL) on a nationwide level.

Materials And Methods: The data were tracked during five consecutive years using the CT dose index and dose-length-product along with the patient's ID. ED was calculated using conversion factors.

Effects of low-dose ionizing radiation on genomic instability in interventional radiology workers.

Interventional radiologists are chronically exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation (IR), which may represent a health risk. The aim of the present study was to evaluate genomic instability by analyzing chromosomal aberrations, micronuclei, and 53BP1 DNA repair foci in peripheral blood lymphocytes of radiologists. Based on the IAEA guidelines on biodosimetry using dicentrics, the average protracted whole-body dose in radiologists were estimated.

Chromosome damage in regions with different levels of air pollution.

Air pollution is an important environmental factor influencing human health. In this study, we compared chromosome damage in city policemen from three cities in the Czech Republic: industrial Ostrava characterized by high levels of benzo[a]pyrene, Prague with heavy traffic emitting nitrogen oxides, and relatively clean Ceske Budejovice located in an area with predominantly agricultural activity. Chromosomal aberrations in lymphocytes were evaluated by fluorescence in situ hybridization with painting probes for chromosomes 1, 2, 3, and 4 in spring and autumn.

Embolization of Ruptured Infratentorial Pial AVM in Pregnancy.

A primigravida 22-year-old woman, at a gestation of 23 weeks, experienced bleeding from a pial arteriovenous malformation (AVM) located in the right cerebellum. After interdisciplinary consensus and with the informed consent of the patient and her family, AVM embolization was performed. Complete occlusion of the AVM was achieved by embolization with PHIL (precipitating hydrophobic injectable liquid).

Radiation dose and image quality of CT coronary angiography in patients with high heart rate or irregular heart rhythm using a 16-cm wide detector CT scanner.

Aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of high and irregular heart rate on the image quality and on the radiation exposure using a 256-row, 16-cm wide detector computed tomography (CT) system. Between March and December 2019, 349 patients undergoing CT coronary angiography (CTCA) were prospectively enrolled. Patients were divided into 2 study groups; Group 1 included patients with a regular heart rate of ≤70 bpm, while Group 2 included patients with an irregular heart rhythm or heart rate of >70 bpm.

DIAGNOSTIC REFERENCE LEVELS IN SCREENING MAMMOGRAPHY CENTERS IN SLOVAKIA.

Optimization in mammography remains the most important tool in practice. In the optimization process, we look for a balanced relationship between image quality and patient dose. For mammographic examinations, the diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) are expressed as the average glandular dose (AGD) based on the thickness of the compressed breast.

Response of minimal operon to UVC and auto-aggregation: pilot study.

Aim: The study of minimal operon as a determinant of tellurium resistance (Te) is important for the purpose of confirming the relationship of these genes to the pathogenicity of microorganisms. The operon is widespread among bacterial species and pathogens, implicated also in phage inhibition, oxidative stress and colicin resistance. So far, there is no experimental evidence for the role of the minimal operon in ultraviolet C (UVC) resistance, biofilm formation and auto-aggregation.

Neurointerventionalist and Patient Radiation Doses in Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Purpose: To evaluate the patient and the neurointerventionalist radiation dose levels during endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke, and to analyze factors affecting doses.

Materials And Methods: From October 2017 to January 2019, we prospectively collected patient radiation data and neurointerventionalist data from real-time dosimetry from all consecutive thrombectomies. Multivariate analysis was performed to analyze patient total dose area product (DAP) and neurointerventionalist dose variability in terms of clinical characteristics and the technical parameters of thrombectomies.

Patients undergoing recurrent CT scans: assessing the magnitude.

Objectives: To assess percent of patients undergoing multiple CT exams that leads to cumulative effective dose (CED) of ≥ 100 mSv and determine their age distribution.

Methods: Data was retrieved retrospectively from established radiation dose monitoring systems by setting the threshold value of 100 mSv at four institutions covering 324 hospitals. The number of patients with CED ≥ 100 mSv only from recurrent CT exams during a feasible time period between 1 and 5 years was identified.

RISK EVALUATION IN THE LOW-DOSE RANGE CT FOR RADIATION-EXPOSED CHILDREN, BASED ON DNA DAMAGE.

One of the most common usages of radiation in current medical diagnosis is computed tomography (CT) using X-rays. The potential health risk of CT scans has been discussed in various studies to determine whether low-dose radiation from CT could enhance the chromosome aberration yields in pediatric patients and increase their risk of carcinogenesis. For this reason, it is of great interest to study the effects of low-dose radiation.

IAEA survey of dental cone beam computed tomography practice and related patient exposure in nine Central and Eastern European countries.

Objectives: Cone beam CT (CBCT) in dentistry and maxillofacial surgery is a widely used imaging method for the assessment of various maxillofacial and dental pathological conditions. The objective of this study was to summarize the results of a multinational retrospectiveprospective study that focused on patient exposure in this modality.

Methods: The study included 27 CBCT units and 325 adult and paediatric patients, in total.