Objective:To investigate the radiation-induced abscopal effect in terms of oxidative stress, apoptosis and DNA damage in the spleen cells following cranial X-rays irradiation of rats.Methods:Rats were cranially irradiated using 2 Gy X-rays. Another group was whole-body irradiated with 2 Gy X-rays and a third group was exposed to scattered radiation (measured to be 3 mGy). 24 hours following irradiation, sections from the spleen of the rats were dissected as well as plasma samples. The samples were examined for the desired endpoints.Results:The cranially irradiated animals showed a significant increase in the levels of glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase with no significant change in the lipid peroxidation product in the spleen cells with a significant increase in the C-reactive protein level the plasma. Apoptotic cell death in the spleen cells was demonstrated as indicated by the decrease of Bcl-2; the increase of p53, Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-8 and induction of DNA damage in the spleen in bo...

ObjectiveTo study image quality of CT scanner using the American College of Radiology (ACR) phantom.Material and methodsA multidetector CT scanner was used to measure parameters of image quality using ACR phantom. The phantom included four modules to measure these parameters. We obtained CT image for each module to measure these parameters for the brain protocol.ResultsThe acceptable levels of image quality were obtained for the positioning, CT number accuracy, slice thickness, low contrast resolution, uniformity and high contrast resolution tests that represent the parameters of image quality. In positioning test, the three BBs were visible. In CT number accuracy, the CT number of three materials was in the range of tolerance values unlike the bone value which was 846 HU. In low contrast resolution test the smallest contrast groups were seen. In High contrast resolution test the 5lp/cm was visible. All these tests of image quality were accepted because they were within the tolerance values, so the quality of Philips CT scanner was improved. Ring artifact was indicated also, which is a type of scanner performance errors.ConclusionsImage quality tests are very important tests in acceptance of any CT scanner after installation and maintenance to approve that the image parameters are acceptable by using ACR phantom