A comparison of X-ray and proton beam low energy secondary electron track structures using the low energy models of Geant4

Abstract

Purpose: Lethal cell damage by ionising radiation is generally initiated by the formation of complex strand breaks, resulting from ionisation clusters in the DNA molecule. A better understanding of the effect of the distribution of ionisation clusters within the cell and particularly in regard to DNA segments could be beneficial to radiation therapy treatment planning. Low energy X-rays generate an abundance of low energy electrons similar to that associated with MeV protons. The study and comparison of the track structure of photon and proton beams could permit the substitution of photon microbeams for single cell ion irradiations at proton facilities used to predict the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of charged particle fields. Materials and methods: The track structure of X-ray photons is compared with proton pencil beams in voxels of approximate DNA strand size (2 × 2 × 5 nm). The Very Low Energy extension models of the Monte Carlo simulation toolkit GEometry ANd Tracking 4 (Geant4) is used. Simulations were performed in a water phantom for an X-ray and proton beam of energies 100 keV and 20 MeV, respectively. Results: The track structure of the photon and proton beams are evaluated using the ionisation cluster size distribution as well as the radial dose deposition of the beam. Conclusions: A comparative analysis of the ionisation cluster distribution and radial dose deposition obtained is presented, which suggest that low energy X-rays could produce similar ionisation cluster distributions to MeV protons on the DNA scale of size at depths greater than ～10 μm and at distances greater than ～1 μm from the beam centre. Here the ionisation cluster size for each beam is less than ～100. The radial dose deposition is also approximately equal at large depths and at distances greater than 10 μm from the beam centre.     

Monte Carlo simulation of a PhosWatch detector using Geant4 for xenon isotope beta–gamma coincidence spectrum profile and detection efficiency calculations

A simulation tool has been developed using the Geant4 Toolkit to simulate a PhosWatch single channel beta–gamma coincidence detection system consisting of a CsI(Tl)/BC404 Phoswich well detector and pulse shape analysis algorithms implemented digital signal processor. The tool can be used to simulate the detector's response for all the gamma rays and beta particles emitted from ¹³⁵Xe, ^133mXe, ¹³³Xe, ^131mXe and ²¹⁴Pb. Two- and three-dimensional beta–gamma coincidence spectra from the PhosWatch detector can be produced using the simulation tool. The accurately simulated spectra could be used to calculate system coincidence detection efficiency for each xenon isotope, the corrections for the interference from the various spectral components from radon and xenon isotopes, and system gain calibration. Also, it can generate two- and three-dimensional xenon reference spectra to test beta–gamma coincidence spectral deconvolution analysis software.     

辐射环境质量评价模式的建立

IAEA(国际原子能机构)对电离辐射照射伴有的危险的防护和可能产生这种照射的放射源安全提出了基本要求,强调"对放射源所致照射的性质、程度和可能的后果要进行评价"。很明显,要对释放到环境中的放射性所致辐照剂量进行评价,一定形式的环境评价模式是必不可少的。综合近年来辐射防护和放射生态学研究的有关文献,对建立辐射剂量评价模式的基本要求进行了初步归纳。     

电离辐射对胸腺细胞及脾细胞p16、CyclinD1、CDK4蛋白表达的影响

目的　研究电离辐射对小鼠胸腺细胞及脾细胞中p16、CyclinD1及CDK4蛋白表达的影响。方法　采用单克隆抗体免疫荧光标记及流式细胞术检测蛋白表达的变化。结果　时效实验证实 ,2 0GyX射线全身照射后 8,2 4及 48h ,胸腺细胞p16蛋白表达显著增高 (分别P <0 0 5、P <0 0 1及P <0 0 5) ;照射后 2 4h ,脾细胞p16蛋白表达显著增高 (P <0 0 5)。然而 ,照射后 8～ 2 4h ,胸腺细胞CDK4蛋白表达显著降低 (P <0 0 5～P <0 0 1) ;照射后 8～ 72h ,脾细胞CDK4蛋白表达显著降低(P <0 0 5～P <0 0 1)。量效实验证实 ,1 0 ,2 0及 4 0Gy全身照射后 2 4h ,胸腺细胞及脾细胞p16蛋白表达均显著增高 (P <0 0 5～P <0 0 1)。然而 ,2 0Gy照射后胸腺细胞CDK4蛋白表达显著降低(P <0 0 5) ;0 5～ 6 0Gy照射后脾细胞CDK4蛋白表达显著降低 (P <0 0 5～P <0 0 1)。研究还发现 ,胸腺细胞及脾细胞中CyclinD1蛋白表达于照射后均明显降低。结论　电离辐射可诱导胸腺细胞及脾细胞中p16蛋白表达增高。p16 CyclinD1 CDK4通路可能在X射线诱导胸腺细胞G1期阻滞中起重要作用     

Anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins: structure,function and relevance for radiation biology

Purpose : Bcl-2 family members mediate anti-apoptotic signals in a wide variety of human cell systems. Despite its proven antiapoptotic function, several results indicate that overexpression of Bcl-2 is not clearly associated with increased radiation resistance in vitro or in vivo. The reasons for this obvious contradiction are not understood. Materials and methods : Current data on the function of Bcl-2 as an anti-apoptotic protein, its role for the modulation of radiation sensitivity in vitro and its value as prognostic marker in vivo are reviewed. Results : Bcl-2 and related proteins are currently perceived to be the most important anti-apoptotic proteins. Their function is related to their ability to interfere with mitochondrial apoptosis pathways. Contradictory data have been published on the relevance of Bcl-2 and related family members for in vitro and in vivo tumour response. The value of Bcl-2 as a prognostic marker thus remains unclear. Conclusions : Although Bcl-2-related proteins are currently the most relevant anti-apoptotic modulators, their relevance for radiation responses in vivo or in vitro remain undefined. Furthermore, their determination in a routine clinical setting does not appear to be justified.