Quality control and diagnostic reference levels in intraoral dental radiographic facilities.

Objectives: A quality control program in intraoral radiographic equipment was conducted aiming to verify compliance with the latest legal requirements and to measure radiation dose in order to contribute to the establishment of appropriate diagnostic reference levels.

Methods: This study was performed in 191 intraoral radiographic facilities in Northern Greece. The quality control program included visual inspection of the unit, registration of its characteristics, measurement and calculation of several radiological parameters, including entrance surface dose, and overall compliance with legislation requirements.

Protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein, enhances apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in K562 cells treated with gamma-irradiation.

Genistein, is a natural isoflavone compound with a potent activity against protein tyrosine kinases. The leukemic cell line, K562, is a bcr/abl (Philadelphia chromosome) positive cell line that is resistant to DNA-damaging agents, including gamma-irradiation. Treatment with genistein increased apoptosis and promoted G2-phase arrest in the non-apoptotic population of the gamma-irradiated K562 cells.

Dosimetric considerations in mammography.

The aim of this study was to measure the absorbed dose to seven organs other than the breast in mammography in order to calculate their contribution to the effective dose. The absorbed dose to these organs was measured using a lucite upper body anthropomorphic phantom containing thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) at appropriate locations, exposed as in a mammographic examination. In addition, the dependence of the absorbed dose on kVp, mAs and breast thickness was examined.