Gonad shielding in pelvic radiography: modern optimised X-ray systems might allow its discontinuation.

Objective: As gonad shielding is currently under debate, this study evaluates the practice, from its introduction in about 1905 until today.

Methods: The literature was searched for developments in shielding and insights into the effects of ionising radiation on gonads. Based on own pre-1927 dose reconstructions, reported doses after 1927, a 2015-report from the European Union and recent own measurements, the effects of technological evolution and optimisation on radiation dose and hereditary risk were assessed.

A clinical and pathological description of 320 cases of naturally acquired Babesia rossi infection in dogs.

Babesia rossi causes the most severe clinical disease in dogs of all the babesia parasites. We included 320 naturally-infected dogs that presented for care at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital between 2006 and 2016. All dogs had mono-infections confirmed by multiplex PCR.

Disease severity and blood cytokine concentrations in dogs with natural Babesia rossi infection.

Aims: Babesia rossi causes severe disease in dogs. Here, we describe the association between serum cytokine concentrations and disease severity.

Methods: Seventeen controls and 55 PCR confirmed B rossi-infected dogs were included.

The skin dose of pelvic radiographs since 1896.

Objectives: To derive conversions of antiquated exposure data into modern equivalents and to apply these in the assessment of the skin dose of pelvic radiographs since 1896.

Methods: The literature 1896-2018 was searched for implicit and explicit dose information. The early implicit dose data contained now obsolete descriptions of radiation quality and quantity for long since disappeared X-ray systems of limited efficiency.

Early X-ray workers: an effort to assess their numbers, risk, and most common (skin) affliction.

Objective: To assess quantitatively the number of early X-ray workers, their risk of becoming a radiation victim, and their most common radiation-induced (skin) disease.

Methods: Information on professional life and occupational disease was retrieved from the Ehrenbuch, a book of honour containing biographies of 404 radiation victims, as well as member and congress lists of the German and US radiological societies, obituaries, books, articles, and the Internet.

Results: The estimated numbers of X-ray users in a medical setting in the US increased from about 300 to 600 in 1900-1903, in Germany from about 700 to 1200 during 1905-1908.