Radiation research最新文献

{"title":"Using Gene Expression Changes for Monitoring Glioblastoma WHO CNS Grade 4 Recurrence: Validation of NGS Candidate Genes via qRT-PCR.","authors":"R Muhtadi, N Schmid, D Bernhardt, G Multhoff, L Hönikl, S E Combs, S M Krieg, J Gempt, M Bernhard, V Barsegian, M Lindemann, M Kasper, S Stewart, M Port, S Eder, C D Diehl, P Ostheim, M Abend","doi":"10.1667/RADE-25-00226.1","DOIUrl":"10.1667/RADE-25-00226.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Glioblastoma WHO CNS Grade 4 (GBM) is associated with poor prognosis and high recurrence rates despite the current therapeutic interventions. Conventional imaging bears restrictions in detecting tumor recurrence and discriminating it from tissue necrosis and post-operative scar tissues. In a previous study, we conducted a whole-transcriptome screening using next-generation sequencing (NGS) on whole blood samples (n = 33) from seven patients and tumor biopsies to identify tumor-specific gene expression patterns. This revealed downregulation post-surgery, with a return to pre-surgery baseline levels at the time of tumor recurrence. In the screening phase, we were able to identify 374 genes across all patients, and in this study, we aimed to validate the most predictive genes identified in the screening phase using the same samples with qRT-PCR (customized TaqMan array cards). A subset of candidate genes was selected for each patient to reduce the number of screening genes to be validated, resulting in a total of 94 genes for validation using qRT-PCR. All genes were measured in all samples, thus allowing a search for genes methodologically confirming the NGS candidate genes as well as examining qRT-PCR-based gene expression patterns, which were not captured by NGS in certain patients. Filter criteria included a post-surgery fold change (FC) ≤ 0.6 across all or most time points and already cited GBM-related genes. From whole blood, total RNA was isolated, converted into cDNA, and 6,270 gene expression measurements were performed employing custom TaqMan array cards (qRT-PCR). We were able to successfully validate NGS candidate genes for three patients out of seven. Differential gene expression (DGE) of both methods was comparable for these patients (e.g., r2 = 0.76, P < 0.001 for patient #1). Between 38-62% of NGS candidate genes per patient could be successfully validated, but only in patients where the screening comprised ≥20 NGS candidate genes. QRT-PCR also detected tumor recurrence-associated expression patterns in genes that were not captured by NGS, but 2-9-fold more candidates were observed for NGS-selected genes. Furthermore, in a patient receiving additional chemotherapy (CTx) during the tumor recurrence phase, a reduction in DGE of 13 genes was observed. In another patient, DGE indicated recurrence 13 days before radiological examinations confirmed it. The evidence, based on screening and validated, suggests a potential association, but a coincidental link cannot be ruled out. Our findings may point to the possible utility of gene expression measurements in peripheral whole blood as a simplified liquid biopsy method for GBM tumor recurrence. However, further prospective cohort studies with improved control of sampling during clinical follow-up and radiological examinations are needed to strengthen the presumed causality and the clinical value of early gene expression changes as an indicator of tumor recurrence.</p>","PeriodicalId":20903,"journal":{"name":"Radiation research","volume":" ","pages":"197-206"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148043459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Total-Body Irradiation and Muscular Damage: A New Model of Radiation Combined Injury in Rats.","authors":"Chloé Cervera, Laure Bobyk, Marco Valente, Michel Gauthier, Farah Nasser, Hélène Thery, Nathalie Guitard, Sophie Cavallero, Nathalie Guatto, Anne-Laure Favier, Aurélie Trignol, Krisztina Nikovics, Sabine François, Diane Riccobono","doi":"10.1667/RADE-25-00199.1","DOIUrl":"10.1667/RADE-25-00199.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The potential use of tactical nuclear weapons or improvised nuclear devices in conflict scenarios could cause mass casualties, exposing victims to both physical trauma and ionizing radiation, resulting in complex injuries related to irradiation. Due to the synergistic and deleterious effects of radiation combined injuries, including higher mortality and impaired tissue repair, these injuries must be considered in victim management and triage strategies. While muscle injuries are often reported in conflict zones, their interaction with total-body irradiation (TBI) remains poorly understood. In this study, we developed a new in vivo rat model combining total-body irradiation with localized muscle injury. Animals were exposed to 8 Gy of gamma radiation from a cobalt-60 source, causing hematopoietic acute radiation syndrome (H-ARS). Muscle injury was induced by intramuscular injection of notexin into the left soleus muscle. Clinical assessments were performed at multiple time points over 63 days after irradiation and/or muscle injury, with blood, bone marrow, and muscle samples harvested. Total-body irradiation alone caused about 15% lethality, significant weight loss, and temporary bone marrow aplasia, consistent with H-ARS. Notexin-induced muscle injury caused acute muscle necrosis followed by complete regeneration, as shown by the restoration of muscle mass and normal tissue structure. However, under the combined radiation and injury condition, muscle regeneration was markedly impaired. By day 63, the animals had lost about 20% of muscle mass, with ongoing necrotic fibers, chronic inflammation, thickening of the extracellular matrix in the perimysium, and smaller myofibers, indicating long-term functional impairment. This preclinical model captures radiation combined with muscle injury in the context of H-ARS and shows a lasting impairment of muscle regeneration after irradiation. It offers a useful tool to explore underlying mechanisms and improve medical support during future radiological or nuclear mass casualty events.</p>","PeriodicalId":20903,"journal":{"name":"Radiation research","volume":" ","pages":"221-238"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148043446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prussian Blue Nanoparticles and Their Potential for the Treatment of Internal 137Cs Contamination in Mice.","authors":"Lenka Andrejsová, Zuzana Šinkorová, Jiří Janda, Jana Čížková, Erik Rajchl, Uģis Eismonts, Andris Actiņš, Indriķis Muižnieks, Andrejs Grīnbergs, Ingars Reinholds","doi":"10.1667/RADE-25-00213","DOIUrl":"10.1667/RADE-25-00213","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Radiological emergencies, such as nuclear power plant accidents or the detonation of radiation-dispersive devices, can release radionuclides into the environment, with Cesium-137 (137Cs) of particular concern due to its long half-life (30.17 years), high water solubility, and widespread dispersibility. Once incorporated, 137Cs distributes in soft tissues and exhibits a long biological half-life. The approved commercial countermeasure for internal decorporation is Radiogardase®-Cs, the insoluble Prussian Blue (PB; ferric hexacyanoferrate(II)), which binds radiocesium and thallium in the gastrointestinal tract. Since absorption occurs mainly in the small intestine and redistribution via enterohepatic circulation prolongs retention, effective decorporation strategies remain essential. In this study, insoluble PB nanoparticles were synthesized via an optimized indirect route employing hydrogen peroxide treatment, and their structure characteristics were compared to those of Radiogardase®-Cs, followed using an in vivo C57Bl6 mouse model for acute internal 137Cs decorporation assessment. Initially, the elimination kinetics for the ingestion of 137Cs was assessed using control animals. The results revealed a decrease of half of the radionuclides' initial activity within a period of approximately 3.4 days. Following therapeutic effect tests of 1-to-4-day treatment of contaminated mice with Nano-PB formulation indicated by 1.2- to 1.9-fold higher excretion rate of 137Cs compared to that when Radiogardase®-Cs was used. Although the short-term elimination profiles of Nano-PB and Radiogardase®-C appeared comparable, the overall results for the nanosized particles indicated an advantage in enhanced radiocesium decorporation. This effect may be attributed to the higher density of active binding sites, enhancing binding efficiency, while future perspectives should include comparison of absorption capacity and comprehensive toxicity assessments of the nanosized PB formulations.</p>","PeriodicalId":20903,"journal":{"name":"Radiation research","volume":" ","pages":"239-248"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147982677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Smartphone-app for an Interactive Emulation of Various Kinds of Emergency Radiometers for Training (SIEVERT).","authors":"Michael Schwalm","doi":"10.1667/RADE-25-00179","DOIUrl":"10.1667/RADE-25-00179","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the event of incidents involving nuclear hazards, the correct use of the devices deployed for measuring and monitoring γ-radiation fields is important for the safety of all people involved. Accordingly, realistic training is essential for all personnel who may face such scenarios. Unfortunately, this is currently not feasible on a regular basis, as appropriate radioactive sources are only available at a few training sites and the use of high-activity γ-radiation sources for this purpose imposes unnecessary safety and health risks. Furthermore, commercially available training equipment is too expensive for widespread use and covers only a few aspects. The goal of the SIEVERT project is to create an inexpensive and easy-to-use device for the realistic emulation of dose rate meters in freely definable scenarios. Using low-cost, readily available components, we have already developed a prototype of a device that is able to emulate radiometers using high-precision satellite navigation. It allows any number, kind, activity and age of point sources as well as shielding elements of different nature and thickness, e.g., house walls, to be defined and their coordinates stored. The portable emulators determine their positions relative to the virtual sources and the shields in real-time with a precision of a few centimeters. So, they can continuously calculate and display the equivalent γ-ray dose rates and the resulting doses that would be received at the respective locations in a real scenario. The system also accounts for effects such as inertia, limited measurement accuracy, and background radiation.</p>","PeriodicalId":20903,"journal":{"name":"Radiation research","volume":" ","pages":"171-178"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147982656","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of Virtual Reality Training for Improving Proficiency in Standard Patient Medical Treatment and Procedures in Radiation Emergency Medicine.","authors":"Hyung Woo Nam, MinSeok Park, Kihoon Kim, Minsu Cho","doi":"10.1667/RADE-25-00216","DOIUrl":"10.1667/RADE-25-00216","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Conventional radiation emergency medical education has relied on mannequin-based simulations and table-top exercises, which have limitations in reproducing complex contaminated casualty scenarios. To address these limitations, a virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR)-based training simulator was developed and implemented in the 2024 regular training curriculum at the Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences (KIRAMS). This study focused on two VR modules: the treatment process for radiation exposure patients and VR TRIAGE. Both modules were technically refined in 2024, including scenario expansion (e.g., cardiac arrest events), difficulty adjustment, enhanced trauma representation, personal protective equipment donning/doffing procedures, video reference functions, and integration of vital sign monitoring. The VR modules were deployed in radiation emergency training programs for radiological emergency medical personnel and first responders, with structured proficiency and effectiveness evaluations. For the VR treatment process, 45 trainees completed pre- and post-training assessments, showing significant improvement in all five assessment items, including sequential management steps, wound decontamination, and knowledge of required equipment (all P < 0.001). Similar gains were observed in VR TRIAGE, where understanding and confidence in casualty classification improved consistently. Educational effectiveness evaluation across the total curriculum (n = 120 in 2024) showed higher scores compared with the 2023 pilot (n = 151), particularly for presence (from 4.13 to 4.51) and reduced simulation sickness (from 3.26 to 3.96). The integration of VR/AR-based modules into radiation emergency medical education demonstrated improvements in learner proficiency, usability, and overall satisfaction. These results emphasize VR/AR-based training programs as sustainable educational tools for enhancing preparedness and response capacity in radiation emergency medicine.</p>","PeriodicalId":20903,"journal":{"name":"Radiation research","volume":" ","pages":"179-185"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147982727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Proteomic Studies in Rhesus Nonhuman Primates Administered a Promising Radiation Medical Countermeasure under Development, BBT-059.","authors":"Alana D Carpenter, Issa Melendez Miranda, Yaoxiang Li, Sarah A Petrus, Jeyalakshmi Kandhavelu, Stephen Y Wise, Oluseyi O Fatanmi, Christine M Fam, Sharon J Carlson, George N Cox, Amrita K Cheema, Vijay K Singh","doi":"10.1667/RADE-25-00170","DOIUrl":"10.1667/RADE-25-00170","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BBT-059 is a long-acting PEGylated interleukin-11 (IL-11) analog that is believed to have hematopoietic-promoting and anti-apoptotic properties, making it an ideal candidate for further development as a potential radiation medical countermeasure (MCM) for the hematopoietic acute radiation syndrome (H-ARS). The efficacy of BBT-059 has been previously established in an H-ARS murine model and in a nonhuman primate (NHP) model through pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) studies. In the current study, a total of 12 naïve NHPs (rhesus macaques) were administered a single 37.5 µg/kg, 75 µg/kg, or 150 µg/kg dose of BBT-059 (n = 4 animals per group) subcutaneously and monitored for 21 days post-administration. To further evaluate the safety profile of BBT-059 and better understand its mechanism of action, proteomic analyses were performed to assess the impact of BBT-059 on proteins, pathways, and any dose-dependent differences. Blood samples were collected and serum was isolated and analyzed using trapped ion mobility time-of-flight mass spectrometry (timsTOF-MS). Statistically significant time-dependent changes were present in all dose groups when comparing pre-administration to post-administration samples, peaking around 3 days post-administration and reverting to near-normal levels by the end of the study period. Any dose of BBT-059 triggered a robust, acute-phase proteomic response characterized by an increase in platelet and neutrophil counts, elevated IL-6 expression, and an activation of the neutrophil degranulation and platelet activation, signaling and aggregation pathways. Taken together, these observations suggest that BBT-059 has a good safety profile for further development as a radiation MCM.</p>","PeriodicalId":20903,"journal":{"name":"Radiation research","volume":" ","pages":"207-220"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13523666/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147974822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors Influencing Double-Strand Break Focus Biodosimetry for Detection of Internal Low-LET Irradiation in Human Blood Samples.","authors":"Isabella Strobel, Harry Scherthan, Karina Blaurock, Sarah Schumann, Andreas K Buck, Matthias Port, Michael Lassmann, Uta Eberlein","doi":"10.1667/RADE-25-00198","DOIUrl":"10.1667/RADE-25-00198","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Radiological or nuclear incidents can release radionuclide mixtures that contaminate populations in fallout areas. Medical management may involve biodosimetry assays to identify individuals who need care. The γ-H2AX + 53BP1 double-strand break (DSB) focus assay is a rapid triage tool for detecting irradiated individuals, but its specificity is limited by physiological background foci and individual variability. In this study, we characterized baseline γ-H2AX + 53BP1 DSB foci levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 60 healthy volunteers (31 men, 29 women), aged 20-64 years, to assess the influence of age and sex. The detection threshold was set at the 95th percentile of baseline foci values. This threshold was tested against data based on blood samples from 10 donors irradiated ex vivo with [223Ra]RaCl2 and [177Lu]LuCl3 mixtures at absorbed doses to the blood of 25-75 mGy (β-contribution only), measured at 0, 4, and 24 h postirradiation. The median baseline foci value was 0.51 foci/cell (IQR: 0.41-0.63). Older individuals showed significantly higher baseline levels (P = 0.03), with greater variability, while no sex differences were observed. Setting the threshold at 0.86 foci/cell enabled reliable detection of irradiated samples shortly after exposure (sensitivity: 96.7%; specificity: 95.0%). However, sensitivity decreased at 4 h (63.3%) and 24 h (36.7%) postirradiation due to DNA repair. These findings suggest that individuals irradiated with low doses can be identified soon after exposure using the DSB focus assay. Age-related variability and DNA repair kinetics should be considered in emergency biodosimetry planning.</p>","PeriodicalId":20903,"journal":{"name":"Radiation research","volume":" ","pages":"138-145"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147942866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of Widely Available and Easy-to-Prepare Solutions for Skin Decontamination with Manganese-56 Chloride and Oxide as Models for Water-Soluble and Insoluble Radioactive Compounds.","authors":"Cornelius Hermann, Matthias Port, Stefan Eder, Roland Rösch, Frank Stetter, Friedrich Groß-Alltag, Andreas Lamkowski","doi":"10.1667/RADE-25-00214.1","DOIUrl":"10.1667/RADE-25-00214.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Radio nuclear attack scenarios are potential threats that state actors must deal with more than ever in the context of preparedness and response since the Cold War. Radioactive contamination can occur in many scenarios, which means that, in addition to increased skin- and whole-body doses from external radiation exposure, there is also a risk of incorporation and contamination carryover. In many contexts, only theoretical considerations have been made about which substances would be suitable for removing various radioactive compounds. The goal of this work is to systematically investigate the efficacy of various skin decontamination agents in aqueous solutions, e.g., soap, urea peroxide, EDTA, citric acid, and hydrochloric acid. As a model radionuclide we utilized Manganese-56 in two chemical forms: 1. 56MnCl2 and 2. 56MnO2. The contamination was deposited on the surface of ex vivo pig skin during a 15 min contamination protocol. Pre- and post-decontamination measurements were performed by using a lead-shielded gamma spectrometer in a standardized geometry. The counts in 180 s were analyzed after decay and background correction. The decontamination process involved a standardized 30-second spray followed by a single wipe on the pig skin performed by the same decontaminating experimenter. While the tested decontamination agents were approximately equally efficient in removing water-insoluble radioactive contamination (56MnO2), decontamination from water-soluble 56MnCl2 showed a dependency on the decontamination agents. We found that low-concentration aqueous acid solutions (e.g., 3% citric acid) showed a considerably enhanced efficiency compared to a 1% soap solution.</p>","PeriodicalId":20903,"journal":{"name":"Radiation research","volume":" ","pages":"249-255"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147942908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Establishment of Dicentric Chromosome Analysis for Individual Radiation Biodosimetry in MIDI Format.","authors":"Friedrike A Lange, Matthias Port, Christina Beinke","doi":"10.1667/RADE-25-00244","DOIUrl":"10.1667/RADE-25-00244","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Traditionally, the dicentric chromosome assay is performed on large vessels with lymphocyte cultures of 3-5 mL. Our aim was to enhance usability in different settings, focusing on irradiating a thin cell layer to target cells with low-penetration radiation and to handle large-scale triage situations. To achieve this, protocols for irradiation, culture, and metaphase fixation using a MIDI format in 48-well plates were developed. Using 100 μL of isolated lymphocytes in these plates, we systematically optimized cell density, mitogenic stimulation, cell cycle arrest, and metaphase fixation. The semi-automated dicentric scoring with DCSore exhibited a linear-quadratic dose-response relationship up to 8 Gy. This dose-response curve was validated with irradiated and blinded blood samples. The MIDI format provides a reproducible, scaled-down alternative to the classic DCA protocol, enabling exposure of cells to low-penetration radiation and being suitable for both emergency triage and routine biodosimetry.</p>","PeriodicalId":20903,"journal":{"name":"Radiation research","volume":" ","pages":"130-137"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147932654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biodosimetry in a Large-scale Radiation Incident for the Worried Well, i.e., Individuals from Areas Without Risk of Significant Exposure Who Seek Evidence about Their Exposure.","authors":"Harold M Swartz, Ann Barry Flood, Steven G Swarts, Jason W Sidabras","doi":"10.1667/RADE-25-00231.1","DOIUrl":"10.1667/RADE-25-00231.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>After a large-scale radiation incident such as the detonation of an improvised nuclear device, an unplanned release of radiation from a nuclear power plant, or the deployment of a radiation dispersal device, many people who were near the incident will seek medical reassurance, despite the low likelihood of experiencing clinically significant radiation exposure. This group, often called the \"worried well,\" if not addressed separately, could overwhelm facilities and services designed to triage individuals who received high doses of radiation. Therefore, it is crucial to address this group's needs directly and estimate their numbers. Current biodosimetry methods are tailored for triage and dose estimation in individuals with significant exposures. Since first responders and healthcare workers will likely focus on high-dose cases, new methods are needed to serve the worried well. These could involve individuals collecting samples themselves and either reading them at home or transporting them to centers for analysis. Such methods must be able to use parameters valid for periods longer than two weeks. For example, one promising approach is electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis of radiation-induced free radicals in nail clippings. Developing this or other techniques capable of managing the large numbers of worried well, likely to be individuals with insignificant radiation exposure, will require sustained dedicated effort.</p>","PeriodicalId":20903,"journal":{"name":"Radiation research","volume":" ","pages":"160-170"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147932646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}