VADER: a variable dose-rate external 137Cs irradiator for internal emitter and low dose rate studies.

Scientific Reports
Guy GartyDavid J Brenner

Abstract

In the long term, 137Cs is probably the most biologically important agent released in many accidental (or malicious) radiation disasters. It can enter the food chain, and be consumed, or, if present in the environment (e.g. from fallout), can provide external irradiation over prolonged times. In either case, due to the high penetration of the energetic γ rays emitted by 137Cs, the individual will be exposed to a low dose rate, uniform, whole body, irradiation. The VADER (VAriable Dose-rate External 137Cs irradiatoR) allows modeling these exposures, bypassing many of the problems inherent in internal emitter studies. Making use of discarded 137Cs brachytherapy seeds, the VADER can provide varying low dose rate irradiations at dose rates of 0.1 to 1.2 Gy/day. The VADER includes a mouse "hotel", designed to allow long term simultaneous residency of up to 15 mice. Two source platters containing ~ 250 mCi each of 137Cs brachytherapy seeds are mounted above and below the "hotel" and can be moved under computer control to provide constant low dose rate or a varying dose rate mimicking 137Cs biokinetics in mouse or man. We present the VADER design and characterization of its performance over 18 months of use.

References

Jun 1, 1985·Journal of Radiation Research·M YamamotoS Okajima
Jun 1, 1983·The British Journal of Radiology·T J BatemanD B Skeggs
Nov 21, 2001·Pharmacotherapy·D F Thompson, C O Church
Jun 1, 1962·Health Physics·D N TAPPERC L COMAR
Apr 6, 2004·Journal of Environmental Radioactivity·Steven L SimonHarold L Beck
Nov 16, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Teppei J YasunariTetsuzo Yasunari
Jul 31, 2012·Journal of Radiation Research·Sanchita P GhoshK Sree Kumar
Jan 9, 2013·Journal of Radiological Protection : Official Journal of the Society for Radiological Protection·R W Leggett
Jan 7, 2014·Medical Physics·I MéndezB Casar
Aug 28, 2014·Radiation Research·Sunirmal PaulSally A Amundson
Jan 27, 2015·Environmental Science & Technology·Stefan MerzGeorg Steinhauser
May 13, 2015·BMC Medical Genomics·Shanaz A GhandhiSally A Amundson
Feb 18, 2017·Radiation Research·Guy GartyDavid J Brenner
Aug 16, 2019·Physics in Medicine and Biology·Guy GartyDavid J Brenner
Jan 4, 2020·Radiation and Environmental Biophysics·Qi WangHelen C Turner

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
X-ray
chip
flow cytometry

Software Mentioned

IDEAS
VADER
Visual
excel
GraphPad
GraphPad Prism
MATLAB
FIGARO

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.