Adverse events due to unnecessary radiation exposure in medical imaging reported in Finland

IntroductionAdverse events in radiology are quite rare, but they do occur. Radiation safety regulations and the law obligate organizations to report certain adverse events, harm and near misses, especially events related to patients' health and safety. The aim of this study was to describe and analyse incidents related to radiation safety issues reported in Finland.MethodsThe data were collected from incident reports documented by radiology personnel concerning notifications of abnormal events in medical imaging made to the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority between 2010 and 2017. During these eight years, 312 reports were submitted. Only events reported from radiology departments were included; nuclear medicine, radiotherapy and animal radiology cases were excluded. The final number of reports was 293 (94%).ResultsThe majority of the 293 approved reports were related to computed tomography (CT, 68.3%) and to X-ray examinations (27.6%). Altogether 82.9% of those irradiated were adults, most of whom were exposed to unnecessary radiation through CT (86.5%), 5.5% were children, and 4.4% pregnant women. The most common effective dose of unnecessary radiation was 1 mSv or less (89.7% of all examinations). The highest effective doses were reported in CT (from under 1 mSv–20 mSv and above). The reasons for the adverse events were incorrect identification (32%), incorrect procedure, site or side (30%); and human errors or errors of knowledge (20%).ConclusionAdverse events occurred especially in CT examinations. It is important to collect and analyse incident data, assess the harmful events, learn from them and aim to reduce adverse events.Implications for practiceThis study emphasizes the need for radiological personnel to obtain evidence-based information on adverse events and focus on training to improve patient safety.     

省级辐射事故应急演习存在问题及对策研究

本文概述了2014年以来全国各省开展省级辐射事故应急演习的基本情况和特点，对演习中在预案修订、实战性、规范性、应急准备能力等方面存在问题进行了分析，并提出了针对性对策建议，为今后各省改进演习工作提供参考和借鉴。     

北京市核医学科辐射安全管理现状与对策研究

通过对核医学科辐射安全管理现状的调研，结合辐射安全日常监督检查情况，基于北京市的实际，通过研究、分析、归纳、概括，理清了北京市核医学科辐射安全管理中存在的突出问题，针对问题依据现有法律、法规对北京市核医学科辐射安全规范化管理提出对策，以确保辐射安全、促进行业健康发展。     

AERMOD在核设施辐射环境影响评价中的应用研究

目的 基于AERMOD模型机理，研究其在核设施辐射环境影响评价中的应用。方法 根据给定的释放源项和厂址气象数据，模拟获取核设施常规运行时气态放射性核素浓度分布，并进一步定性分析气态流出物浓度峰值落地点和时间分布，研究AERMOD模型在核设施辐射环境影响评价中的适用性和应用前景。结果 通过AERMOD模型适用性和应用前景分析，得出该模型总体满足核设施气态流出物浓度分布计算需求，可应用于核设施气态流出物扩散趋势和敏感点分析，并可为核设施常规运行的监测计划提供数据支撑。结论 本研究可为今后深入开展AERMOD模型在核设施辐射环境影响评价中的应用提供参考。     

Does obesity put your brain at risk?

Background and aimsThe negative impact of obesity on the brain is an issue of increasing clinical interest. Hence, this review summarized evidence linking obesity with brain morphology (gray and white matter volume), brain function (functional activation and connectivity), and cognitive function.MethodsA criticals review of the relevant published English articles between 2008 and 2022, using PubMed, Google Scholar and Science Direct. Studies were included if (1) an experimental/intervention study was conducted (2) the experiment/intervention included both high fat diet or body weight, whether it could counteract the negative effect brain morphological or functional change. Critical analysis for a supporting study was also carried out.ResultsBrain dysfunction can be recognized as result from neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, change in gut-brain hormonal functionality decrease regional blood flow or diminished hippocampal size and change in gut-brain hormonal functionality; which collectively translate into a cycle of deranged metabolic control and cognitive deficits, often obesity referred as changes in brain biochemistry and brain function. Recently, a few changes in brain structure and functions could be traced back even to obese children or adult. Evidence here suggested that obesity elicits early neuroinflammation effects, which likely disrupt the normal metabolism in hypothalamus, and hippocampus result from brain insulin resistance. The mechanisms of these robust effects are discussed herein.ConclusionBrain disease is inseparable from obesity itself and requires a better recognition to allow future therapeutic targeting for treatment of obesity. Additional research is needed to identify the best treatment targets and to identify if these changes reversible.