1. NAME OF STUDENT:
2. TITLE OF PROJECT:
3. SUPERVISORS:
1. TITLE OF THE PROJECT
2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT:
(a) Aims and objectives:
This proposal mainly aims to:
- develop a system of strategy to decrease the exposure of patients and workers in X-ray radiation;
- Make a proposal on the determination of the effect of the X-ray on cellular metabolisms of reproductive cells of sample populations;
- Develop a method of procedure to lessen the X-ray exposure among the patients and workers;
- Test the effectivity of the developed method; and,
- do a comparative study with direct exposure of X-ray radiation with ambient exposure at different times.
(b) Justification:
The varying intensities of radiation produced by X-ray disrupt the cellular activities of any organisms. It can affect the growth and can develop into more serious consequences if left untreated. In recent years, the use of X-ray radiation in medical procedures increased and the application become very useful in treating certain diseases such as cancer, surgical procedures, imaging and radiotherapy. The advancement of the procedures also poses a danger in handling the effects and consequences so the regulation of X-rays received by the patients and the workers is a must. There are methods that are being imposed in order to limit the radiation exposure of the patients and the workers, but it is not enough. There should be a devised method in order to limit the exposure to the radiation. This research enables to assess the right parameters of time, location and amount of radiation with respect to the response of the sex cells.
Reproductive systems have specialized cells, the ovaries and testes which are proven to be very sensitive with the varying exposure to radiation. The most common result is the sterility of the sperm cells and the premature development of egg cells. The goal of this project is to compare the varying changes of the sex cells before and after the exposure to varying levels of radiation produced by the machine at different locations.
3. METHOD
The method of this proposal action is concerned on the following parameters:
- Time of Exposure
- Amount or Intensity of radiation
- Frequency of exposure
The machines that are built now for X-ray experimentation are safe. However, there are certain factors that put it to a limitation. The degree of risk increases as the time of exposure increases which is related with the emitted radiation. Also, the risk of individuals being affected with radiation increases because of the availability of the radiation machines in the hospitals. The ethical concerns here are the compromised choice of the patients to the use of these machines.
Cultured cells derived from the lab and are tested for the sterility, life and death. Sperm and egg cells can be retrieved from a donor bank through the use of permit from the working institution. The groups of the cultured cells are as follows: (1) controlled, (2) direct exposure from an X-ray unit with doses of 50 Gy and 100 Gy X-rays with 8 mA, 2.5 mm Aluminium filter and (3) varying distances from the X-ray machine. This set-up measures at different time and intensity of the radiation.
The cells are analyzed using a microscope to determine the life and morphology of the cells that were exposed in X-ray radiation at different times.
4. LITERATURE REVIEW
X-ray is a form of electromagnetic radiation that have a wavelength at about 0.01 to 10 nanometers that have a corresponding energy from 3×1016 Hz to 3×1019 Hz. X-rays radiation, discovered in the late 18th century are shorter than UV rays but longer than gamma rays. Electrons emits X-ray radiation through series of bombardment with high-energy and they can be generated through an X-ray tube, a vacuum tube that uses a high voltage to accelerate the electrons released by a hot cathode to a high velocity. The application of X-ray has been extensively being researched in many ways. X-ray radiation has been a tool for medical researchers in the last 5 decades. It is a powerful tool for imaging and radiotherapy since it can be used to virtually classify part of the internal organs of the body, locate possible problems and propose proper diagnoses. X-ray radiation can also aid in determining the presence of cancer cells in bones, teeth and thyroid gland (Gofman, 2009 & Chen, 2013).
However, exposure to X-rays can give certain consequences. The radiation that it emits can harm our bodies to some extent. X-rays have high energy that can also be a source of heat. In the early times, the use of X-rays gave skin burns, hair loss and rashes to patients and workers since they are not capable of controlling the amount of radiation it emits. There is a link between genetic damage and the radiation exposure that brought alarm to the medical world in terms of extensive radiation usage.
There is a high risk in the apparent radiation exposure of organisms particularly in sensitive areas of the organism. Cancer-related diseases are linked to the excessive X-ray exposure in time. Children are more sensitive to X-ray radiation that can affect their reproductive organs. Exposure to radiation of foetuses can increase the chances of cancer to evolve before they are even born. Foetal radiation exposure can have 50% chance of developing tumors and 70% chance of leukemia. There is also a risk in X-ray shots by the dentist can cause cancer in the thyroid. X-ray radiation exposure can also give genetic damage in the body. Series of disruption with high energy radiation produces genetic alterations that can cause abnormalities in the genetic functions of a particular organism (Santra, 2009).
Sex cells are one of the major concerns in the radiation exposure. Current X-ray imaging in the bones particularly the hip, femur and prostate can give danger to the testes and ovaries. Advanced X-ray machines are capable of limiting the exposure to the radiation however, the scattering of the light is hard to control, and it is relatively high. Exposure to the scattered X-ray radiation can augment the possibility of cancer cells to perturb in the organisms, if not, sterility can occur in reproductive organs (Sayed, 2005 & Panis, 2007).
Birth defects are also being seen in radiation exposure. X-rays have the capacity to disorient the chemical orientation of some bonds that can give abnormal outcome. Small changes in the DNA sequence can give an abnormal translation of the genes that can induce aberrations. Studies about the genetic effects of a nuclear bomb in Japan showed that there is a possibility of chromosomal abnormalities or genetic effects. They are currently monitoring the effects on the next generation of descendants. However, that there are no genetic changes in the lineage of people exposed in high radiation during the World War II with the current descendants, although patients did suffer from infertility problems (Subrapanya, 2003).
A study done by Ogilvy-Stuart about the effects of X-ray radiation with the sterility of sperm and egg cells showed that there is a sudden decreased in the fertility rate of the sex cells exposed in higher irradiation doses (>15Gy). Part of the research showed that the effect of sterility is due to the age of the samples. Egg cell samples from women at the age of 40 has 100% incidence of sterility compared with younger women with 40% incidence (Ogilvy-Stuart, 1993). There are several method employed in order to limit the exposure to the radiation brought by X-ray machines.
5. EQUIPMENT:
X-ray radiation is hard to create since it is dangerous, and it requires expertise in handling the effects. In order to attain the experimentation, the cultured cells are brought to any hospital with source of radiation. Consent should be made in order to maintain the legality of the procedures of the operations.
6. TIME PERIOD REQUIRED:
a) Commencement:
The Proposal is a 3-month program of a series of exposure in X-ray radiation. The results of the experiment will pursue every week, or it may vary depending on the availability of the set-up.
B) Completion of various stages:
Preparation of the equipments, set-ups and machines – 1 week
Gathering of cell donors and permit – 1 week
X-ray exposure experiment – 5 weeks
Collection and analysis of data – 2 weeks
Data collection:
1) The implementation of IMRT at PAH. From 1st February 2011 till 1st March 2011
2) Conducting the safety aspects (quality assurance tests required at PAH). From 2st March 2011 till 17th March 2011
3) The implementation of IMRT at POWH. From 19th March 2011 till 20 April 2011
4) Conducting the safety aspects (quality assurance tests required at POWH).
Data analysis:
The data will be analyzed according to the knowledge obtained from the sperm and ovary samples before and after the clinical trial tests.
6. ETHICAL APPROVAL:
The sources of the sex cell will have proper legal documents to avoid the ethical issues. However, these cells are subjected to certain laws provided by the donor institution.
References list:
CHEN, D. (2013). Cone beam x-ray luminescence computed tomography: a feasibility study. Med Phys.
DNA WEB TEAM. (2013). X-Rays and their harmful effects
GOFMAN, J. (2009). Medical X-Rays As an Environmental Toxin: Proposal for Professional Action. San Francisco Medical Society.
OGILVY-STUART, A.L. (1993). Effect of radiation on the human reproductive system. Environ Health Perspect.
PANIS, B. (2007). Proposal for the prevention of osteoporosis in paediatric patients with classical galactosaemia. J Inherit Metab Dis.
SANTRA, K.B. (2009). X-Ray induced changes in biochemical and histochemical parameters in the testis of male wild Indian house rat, Rattus rattuus. Cey. J. Sci. (Bio. Sci.)
SAYED, L. (2005). The Protective Effect of Vitamin C on Irradiated Testes of Albino Rat. The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine
SUBRAMANYA, P. (2010). Effect of X-ray Irradiation on the Male Moths of Two Tropical Races of the silkworm Bombyx mori and Inheritance of Induced sterility in the progenies. International Journal of Insect Science
