Aphrodisiacs are required to improve male sexual function under stressful conditions. Due to the effects of oxidative stress and dopamine on male sexual fu

Computed tomography examinations have caused high radiation doses for patients, especially for CT scans of the brain. This study aimed to optimize the radiation dose and image quality in adult brain CT protocols. Images were acquired using a Catphan 700 phantom. Radiation doses were recorded as CTDI_vol and dose length product (DLP). CT brain protocols were optimized by varying parameters such as kVp, mAs, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) level, and Clearview iterative reconstruction (IR). The image quality was also evaluated using AutoQA Plus v.1.8.7.0 software. CT number accuracy and linearity had a robust positive correlation with the linear attenuation coefficient (µ) and showed more inaccurate CT numbers when using 80 kVp. The modulation transfer function (MTF) showed a higher value in 100 and 120 kVp protocols (p < 0.001), while high-contrast spatial resolution showed a higher value in 80 and 100 kVp protocols (p < 0.001). Low-contrast detectability and the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) tended to increase when using high mAs, SNR, and the Clearview IR protocol. Noise decreased when using a high radiation dose and a high percentage of Clearview IR. CTDI_vol and DLP were increased with increasing kVp, mAs, and SNR levels, while the increasing percentage of Clearview did not affect the radiation dose. Optimized protocols, including radiation dose and image quality, should be evaluated to preserve diagnostic capability. The recommended parameter settings include kVp set between 100 and 120 kVp, mAs ranging from 200 to 300 mAs, SNR level within the range of 0.7–1.0, and an iterative reconstruction value of 30% Clearview to 60% or higher.

This study aims to investigate the effect of Polygonum odoratum leaf extract (POE) on oxidative stress markers and cell death induced by low dose ionizing radiation (LDIR) in Raw 264.7 cells. The biological activities, chromatographic fingerprint, and cytotoxicity of POE were investigated. To determine the radioprotective effect of POE, Raw 264.7 cells were incubated with POE for 1 hr prior to 100 mGy x-irradiation. The cell viability, oxidative stress damage marker (malondialdehyde level; MDA), and endogenous antioxidant markers (superoxide dismutase: SOD, catalase: CAT, and glutathione peroxidase: GSH-Px) were also determined. The results showed that POE contained 8 essential substances and exhibited a potent antioxidant without any cytotoxicity. It was found that POE significantly decreased the MDA level and activated cell viability, SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities. The results from this study indicate that POE is a potent antioxidant, which can be developed as a radioprotector for diagnostic procedures. Practical applications Polygonum odoratum leaf extract (POE) is a potent antioxidant that attenuates oxidative stress and cell death induced by low dose ionizing radiation (LDIR). POE might protect against cell damage from LDIR, particularly in diagnostic radiology procedures. Therefore, the development of functional food containing POE might be beneficial for patients who plan to undergo the diagnostic radiology procedure. The functional food containing POE might prevent stochastic and deterministic effects for these patients.

Evaluation of patient radiation dose after the implementation of a high kV technique during a cerebral angiographic procedure is an important issue. This study aimed to determine and compare the patient radiation dose of intracranial aneurysm patients undergoing cerebral angiography using the conventional and high kV techniques in a retrospective study and a phantom study. A total of 122 cases (61 cases with conventional technique and 61 cases with high kV technique) of intracranial aneurysm patients, who underwent cerebral angiographic procedure and met the inclusion criteria, were recruited. The radiation dose and the angiographic exposure parameters were reviewed retrospectively. The radiation dose in the phantom study was conducted using nanoDot^TM optically stimulating luminescence (OSLD), which were placed on the scalp of the head phantom, the back of the neck, and the phantom skin at the position of the eyes. The standard cerebral angiographic procedure using the conventional and high kV techniques was performed following the standard protocol. The results showed that the high kV technique significantly reduced patient radiation dose and phantom skin dose. This study confirms that the implementation of a high kV technique in routine cerebral angiography for aneurysm diagnosis provides an effective reduction in radiation dose. Further investigation of radiation dose in other interventional neuroradiology procedures, particularly embolization procedure, should be performed.

Computed tomography examination plays a vital role in imaging and its use has rapidly increased in radiology diagnosis. This study aimed to assess radiation doses of routine CT protocols of the brain, chest, and abdomen in three different CT scanners, together with a qualitative image quality assessment. Methods: A picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and Radimetrics software version 3.4.2 retrospectively collected patients’ radiation doses. Radiation doses were recorded as the CTDI_vol, dose length product, and effective dose. CT images were acquired using the Catphan700 phantom to evaluate image quality. Results: The findings revealed that median values for the CTDI_vol and DLP across the brain, chest, and abdomen protocols were lower than the national and international DRLs. Effective doses for brain, chest, and abdomen protocols were also below the median value of R. Smith-Bindman. Neusoft achieved higher spatial frequencies in brain protocols, while Siemens outperformed others in chest protocols. Neusoft consistently exhibited superior high-contrast resolution. Siemens and Neusoft outperformed low-contrast detectability, while Siemens also outperformed the contrast-to-noise ratio. In addition, Siemens had the lowest image noise in brain protocols and high uniformity in chest and abdomen protocols. Neusoft showed the lowest noise in chest and abdomen protocols and high uniformity in the brain protocol. The noise power spectrum revealed that Philips had the highest noise magnitude with different noise textures across protocols and scanners. Conclusions: This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of radiation doses and image quality for three different CT scanners using standard clinical protocols. Almost all CT protocols exhibited radiation doses below the DRLs and demonstrated varying image qualities across each protocol and scanner. Selecting the right CT scanner for each protocol is essential to ensure that the CT images exhibit the best quality among a wide range of CT machines. The MTF, HCR, LCD, CNR, NPS, noise, and uniformity are suitable parameters for evaluating and monitoring image quality.

Background: Endovascular treatment using coiling embolization for intracranial aneurysms is common in interventional neuroradiology (INR). However, it is associated with high radiation exposure to both patients and medical staff. The assessment and management of radiation risk have been a concern. Objective: To evaluate patient and scatter radiation doses at INR staff working position during the coiling embolization procedure in a phantom study. Materials and methods: An anthropometric phantom from head to pelvis was placed on an angiographic table. To determine the phantom’s entrance skin dose (ESD), 19 NanoDot optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters (OSLDs) were placed on the surface of the head phantom. Moreover, 6 NanoDot OSLDs were also placed on the surface of the phantom at 3 critical organs (eyes, thyroid, ovaries). To determine the scatter radiation dose at staff working position, polyvinyl chloride pipes (150 cm height) were placed at the position of all staff, including interventional radiologist (IR), radiology resident (RR), scrubbed nurse (SN), radiologic technologist (RT), circulating nurse (CN), and nurse anesthetists (AN). The InLight® OSLDs were placed on each PVC pipe at 50, 100, and 150 cm height from the floor level. Coiling embolization was simulated following the standard procedure using a bi-plane digital subtraction angiography unit with standard radiation protective equipment. The patient doses from the radiation dose structured report (RDSR) were also recorded. Results: The highest ESDs were observed in the occipital part (1,631.56±36.97 mGy). These ESD peaks were also observed within the safety limit and produced no skin reaction. The radiation dose at the left eye was observed to be the highest value among critical organs. The highest scatter radiation dose was observed at the position of IR at 100 cm level. Among CN, AN, and RT positions, the highest dose was recorded at the RT position at the level of 150 cm. The RDSR showed that most of the patient radiation dose was received from the 2-dimension angiography. Conclusion: The distribution of radiation dose varied across different staff positions. As the key person conducting the coiling embolization procedure, the IR position received the highest radiation dose. Thus, close monitoring and development of additional radiation protection methods for this position are essential. Although the radiation dose at the back of the head was elevated, it remained within safety limits. Nevertheless, the monitoring of potential radiation effects should not be neglected.