Earticle

콤프턴 카메라는 검출 신호의 동시성 판단을 기반으로 한 전자적 집속방식을 이용하기 때문에, 기존의 물리적 집속기를 이용하는 감마선 영상 장비의 가시영역이 좁고 투과력이 높은 고에너지 감마선에 적용하기 어렵다는 한계를 극복할 수 있다. 특히 대면적의 콤프턴 카메라는 절대 검출 효율이 높아 영상 장비의 운반이 요구되지 않는 대규모 공정 시설 내 핵물질의 모니터링용으로 매우 적합하다. 본 연구팀은 한국원자력연구원에서 개발 중인 파이로 시험 공정 시설에서의 안전조치 수립을 위해 대면적 콤프턴 카메라를 적용하고자 한다. 대면적 콤프턴 카메라를 구성하는 대면적의 검출기는 그 형태나 구성 방식에 따라 에너지 분해능이나 위치 분해능이 달라질 수 있다. 이는 콤프턴 영상의 질에 직접적으로 영향을 미치므로, 본 연구에서는 전산모사를 통해 그 영향을 예측하여 대면적 검출기의 설계 방향을 결정하였다. 또한 한국원자력연구원으로부터 파이로 시험 공정 시설의 정보를 전달받아 전산모사를 수행하였고, 여러 계측 환경에 대해 대면적 콤프턴 카메라의 성능을 예측하여 보았다. 그 결과 대면적 검출기는 에너지 분해능 측면에서의 손실을 최소화 할 수 있도록 구성하여야 한다는 결론을 얻었으며, 에너지 분해능 10%, 위치 분해능 7 mm 정도 성능의 검출기를 이용하여 콤프턴 카메라를 구성할 경우 1 m 거리에 위치한 감손우라늄 선원을 영상 해상도 16.3 cm(각도 분해능 9.26°)으로 영상화할 수 있음을 확인하였다.

Compton cameras overcome several limitations of conventional mechanical collimation based gamma imaging devices, such as pin-hole imaging devices, due to its electronic collimation based on coincidence logic. Especially large-scale Compton camera has wide field of view and high imaging sensitivity. Those merits suggest that a large-scale Compton camera might be applicable to monitoring nuclear materials in large facilities without necessity of portability. To that end, our research group have made an effort to design a large-scale Compton camera for safeguard application. Energy resolution or position resolution of large-area detectors vary with configuration style of the detectors. Those performances directly affect the image quality of the large-scale Compton camera. In the present study, a series of Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations were performed in order to examine the effect of those detector parameters. Performance of the designed large-scale Compton camera was also estimated for various monitoring condition with realistic modeling. The conclusion of the present study indicates that the energy resolution of the component detector is the limiting factor of imaging resolution rather than the position resolution. Also, the designed large-scale Compton camera provides the 16.3 cm image resolution in full width at half maximum (angular resolution: 9.26°) for the depleted uranium source considered in this study located at the 1 m from the system when the component detectors have 10% energy resolution and 7 mm position resolution.

성장기 동물에서 방사선 노출은 뼈의 변화를 일으킨다. 본 연구에서는 성장기 동물에서 방사선 유도 골소실 연구를 위한 동물모델을 확립하고자하였다. 성장기(4주령) 마우스에 방사선 노출(2 Gy) 후 시간경과(4, 8 및 12주)에 따른 경골 해면뼈 및 치밀뼈의 변화를 관찰하고, 방사선 비노출군과의 차이가 확연한 방사선 노출 후 8주에 방사선(0.5, 1.0, 2.0 및 4.0 Gy)을 조사하고 조사선량에 따른 변화를 관찰하였다. 동물의 희생 전 악력을 측정하였으며, 경골의 해면뼈 및 치밀뼈를 미세단층촬영 분석하였고, 해면뼈에서 뼈파괴세포의 활성도를 관찰하였다. 혈청내 alkaline phosphatase (ALP) 농도 및 경골의 물리적 강도를 측정하였다. 해면뼈의 확연한 차이는 8주에 관찰되었으며, 조사선량증가에 비례하여 해면뼈량(trabecular bone volume, BV/TV) 및 골밀도(bone mineral density, BMD)의 감소가 관찰되었다. 방사선조사선량에 따른 변화를 나타내는 이차방정식은 BV/TV (%) = 0.9584D2–6.0168D+20.377 (r2 = 0.946, D = 방사선조사선량, Gy), BMD(mg·cm-3) = 8.8115D2–56.197D+194.41 (r2 = 0.999, D = 방사선조사선량, Gy) 였다. 뼈의 물리적 강도, 길이 및 무게의 변화는 없었으며, 혈청ALP 농도 및 뼈파괴세포 활성도도 차이가 없었다. 본 연구의 결과는 성장기 동물에서 방사선에 의한 뼈손상 연구에 동물모델 기초자료가 될 수 있을 것이다.

Bone changes are common sequela of irradiation in growing animal. The purpose of this study was to establish an experimental model of radiation-induced bone loss in growing mice using micro-computed tomography (µCT). The extent of changes following 2 Gy gamma irradiation (2 Gy·min-1) was studied at 4, 8 or 12 weeks after exposure. Mice that received 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 or 4.0 Gy of gamma-rays were examined 8 weeks after irradiation. Tibiae were analyzed using µCT. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and biomechanical properties were measured and the osteoclast surface was examined. A significant loss of trabecular bone in tibiae was evident 8 weeks after exposure. Measurements performed after irradiation showed a dose-related decrease in trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and bone mineral density (BMD), respectively. The best-fitting dose-response curves were linear-quadratic. Taking the controls into accounts, the lines of best fit were as follows: BV/TV (%) = 0.9584D2–6.0168D+20.377 (r2 = 0.946, D = dose in Gy) and BMD (mg·cm-3) = 8.8115D2–56.197D+194.41 (r2 = 0.999, D = dose in Gy). Body weight did not differ among the groups. No dose-dependent differences were apparent among the groups with regard to mechanical and anatomical properties of tibia, serum ALP and osteoclast activity. The findings provide the basis required for better understanding of the results that will be obtained in any further studies of radiation-induced bone responses.

To improve accuracy of dose calculation on kilovoltage cone beam computed tomography (kV CBCT) images, a custom-made phantom was fabricated to acquire an accurate CT number to electron density curve by full scatter of cone beam x-ray. To evaluate the dosimetric accuracy, 9 volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans for head and neck (HN) cancer and 9 VMAT plans for lung cancer were generated with an anthropomorphic phantom. Both CT and CBCT images of the anthropomorphic phantom were acquired and dose-volumetric parameters on the CT images with CT density curve (CTCT), CBCT images with CT density curve (CBCTCT) and CBCT images with CBCT density curve (CBCTCBCT) were calculated for each VMAT plan. The differences between CTCT vs. CBCTCT were similar to those between CTCT vs. CBCTCBCT for HN VMAT plans. However, the differences between CTCT vs. CBCTCT were larger than those between CTCT vs. CBCTCBCT for lung VMAT plans. Especially, the differences in D98% and D95% of lung target volume were statistically significant (4.7% vs. 0.8% with p = 0.033 for D98% and 4.8% vs. 0.5% with p = 0.030 for D95%). In order to calculate dose distributions accurately on the CBCT images, CBCT density curve generated with full scatter condition should be used especially for dose calculations in the region of large inhomogeneity.

We analyzed the differential effects of histopathology, apoptosis and expression of radiation response genes after chronic low dose rate (LDR) and acute high dose rate (HDR) radiation exposure in spleen, lung and liver of rats. Female 6-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were used. For chronic low-dose whole body irradiation, rats were maintained for 14 days in a 60Co gamma ray irradiated room and received a cumulative dose of 2 Gy or 5 Gy. Rats in the acute whole body exposure group were exposed to an equal dose of radiation delivered as a single pulse (137Cs-gamma). At 24 hours after exposure, spleen, lung and liver tissues were extracted for histopathologic examination, western blotting and RT-PCR analysis. 1. The spleen showed the most dramatic differential response to acute and chronic exposure, with the induction of substantial tissue damage by HDR but not by LDR radiation. Effects of LDR radiation on the lung were only apparent at the higher dose (5 Gy), but not at lower dose (2 Gy). In the liver, HDR and LDR exposure induced a similar damage response at both doses. RT-PCR analysis identified cyclin G1 as a LDR-responsive gene in the spleen of rats exposed to 2 Gy and 5 Gy gamma radiation and in the lung of animals irradiated with 5 Gy. 2. The effects of LDR radiation differed among lung, liver, and spleen tissues. The spleen showed the greatest differential effect between HDR and LDR. The response to LDR radiation may involve expression of cyclin G1.

by providing objective information regarding medical radiation for elementary, middle, and high school students in Korea, who are expected to have a high ripple effect in education, and by analyzing behavioral changes in the selection of medical radiation, this study aimed to deduce the basis for educational intervention. The tools used in the study were a questionnaire, including questions about perception, knowledge, attitude, and behavior toward medical radiation; video and Power-point materials for the lesson; simulated radiation diagnosis selection form; and radiation treatment selection form to find out about behavior. A post-test demonstrated that the objective knowledge about medical radiation of all the students turned out to be significantly higher (p<0.000) after the lesson compared to before the lesson. However, there were no statistically significant behavioral changes. Rather, for high school students, the behavior of selecting medical radiography and treatment was significantly lower (p<0.000) after the lesson. For the more impressionable children in the lower grades, the lesson must not only provide an opportunity to understand and pay attention to diverse viewpoints, but also encourage them to make ethical decisions based on value. Since it can be predicted that attitude or behavioral changes through education or publicity can be expected from adults older than high school students, issues regarding dangers like radiation exposure must be treated as an issue of value judgment predicated on multifaceted considerations

열이나 빛의 자극에 의한 물질의 발광현상, 즉 열자극발광(thermoluminescence, TL)과 광자극발광(optically stimulated luminescence, OSL)의 메커니즘을 규명하고, 이 현상을 방사선량의 측정에 활용할 수 있는 새로운 발광물질을 개발하는데 활용할 수 있는 측정장치를 개발하였다. 이는 열자극과 광자극을 동시에 가할 수 있는 장치로서, 열자극에 필요한 온도제어를 위하여 35kHz의 정현파 전원으로 변환하여 스트립 형태의 발열부에 걸어주게 되며, 최대 20 K․s-1의 온도상승률로 약 1K의 정밀도로 온도를 제어할 수 있었다. 광자극을 위한 광원으로 중심파장이 470 nm인 Luxeon V형 고휘도 LED 등 여러 파장영역의 LED나 레이저를 사용할 수 있도록 하였다. 대표적으로 470 nm의 LED로 Al2O3:C의 OSL을 측정하는 경우, 시료의 발광에서 자극광을 분리시키기 위하여 LED의 자극광은 단파장차단필터인 GG420을 통과시켜서 시료에 걸리게 하고, 시료의 발광은 대역통과필터인 UG11를 통과하여 광증배관에 걸리게 하였다. 아울러 시료에 따라 LED나 필터들을 다르게 조합할 수 있도록 하여 시료의 발광특성에 맞는 최적의 측정을 수행할 수 있다. PC로 측정장치의 전체적인 제어가 이루어지며 LabView로 개발한 제어프로그램은 그래픽사용자환경(GUI)으로 되어 있다. 이 연구를 통해서 개발한 장치로 LiF:Mg,Cu,Si와 Al2O3:C를 표준시료로 하여 TL과 OSL을 측정하였고, 이들의 발광특성이 기존에 알려진 특성을 재현하여 이 장치가 신뢰할 수 있는 성능을 내는 것을 확인할 수 있었다.

The thermoluminescence (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) are commonly used to measure and record the expose of individuals to ionization radiation. Design and performance test results of a newly developed TL and OSL measurement system are presented in this paper. For this purpose, the temperature of the TL material can be controlled precisely in the range of 1~1.5℃ by using high-frequency (35kHz) heating system. This high-frequency power supply was made of transformer with ferrite core. For optical stimulation, we have completed an optimal combination of the filters with the arrangement of GG420 filter for filtering the stimulating light source and a UG11 filter at the detecting window (PMT). By using a high luminance blue LED (Luxeon V), sufficient luminous intensity could be obtained for optical stimulation. By using various control boards, the TL/OSL reader device was successfully interfaced with a personal computer. A software based on LabView program (National Instruments, Inc.) was also developed to control the TL/OSL reader system. In this study, a multi-functional TL/OSL dosimeter was developed and the performance testing of the system was carried out to confirm its reliability and reproducibility.

방사선치료계획장치의 핵심기술인 선량분포 계산은 빠르고 정확함을 요구한다. 기존 상용화된 치료계획장치의 선량계산 방법은 빠르지만 정확성이 부족하고, 몬테칼로 방법은 시뮬레이션 시간과다 문제가 있다. 관심영역의 일부만 몬테칼로 방법이 계산하고 나머지 영역은 비선형함수사상 능력이 뛰어난 신경회로망이 계산하는 시스템은 상대적으로 빠르고 정확한 선량분포를 계산해낼 수 있다. 비균질 매질의 선량분포에 나타나는 불연속점과 변곡점의 특성을 신경회로망이 학습가능 하다는 것을 사전 작업을 통해 확인하였다. 이때 사용된 신경회로망은 Feedforward Multi-Layer Perceptron에 Scaled Conjugated Gradient 알고리즘과 Levenberg-Marquardt 알고리즘으로 각각 학습하여 성능비교를 하였고, 은닉층의 뉴런 개수에 따른 성능비교도 하였다. 마지막으로 균질매질의 팬텀에 대해 상용 치료계획장치의 선량계산 알고리즘으로 계산한 선량분포를 사전작업을 통해 확인된 신경회로망에 학습하여 깊이선량율의 평균제곱오차가 0.00214인 결과를 보여주었다. 균질 및 비균질 매질의 팬텀에 대한 3차원 선량분포를 계산하는 신경회로망 모델 개발 연구가 추가로 진행될 것이다.

Dose calculations which are a crucial requirement for radiotherapy treatment planning systems require accuracy and rapid calculations. The conventional radiotherapy treatment planning dose algorithms are rapid but lack precision. Monte Carlo methods are time consuming but the most accurate. The new combined system that Monte Carlo methods calculate part of interesting domain and the rest is calculated by neural can calculate the dose distribution rapidly and accurately. The preliminary study showed that neural networks can map functions which contain discontinuous points and inflection points which the dose distributions in inhomogeneous media also have. Performance results between scaled conjugated gradient algorithm and Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm which are used for training the neural network with a different number of neurons were compared. Finally, the dose distributions of homogeneous phantom calculated by a commercialized treatment planning system were used as training data of the neural network. In the case of homogeneous phantom, the mean squared error of percent depth dose was 0.00214. Further works are programmed to develop the neural network model for 3-dimensinal dose calculations in homogeneous phantoms and inhomogeneous phantoms.

방사선 노출에 따른 피부손상의 기본이론들은 정립되어 있지만, 정확한 기전에 관해서는 알려지지 않은 실정이다. 본 연구에서는 감마선 조사 후 용량 및 시간에 따라 돼지 피부의 장애를 육안 및 조직학적인 변화를 통해 평가하고 cyclooxygenase(COX)-2 발현 정도를 비교하고자 하였다. 미니돼지의 등 쪽 피부에 20-70 Gy 감마선을 국소조사 후 12 주 동안 육안적인 변화를 관찰하고 생검을 통해 조직학적인 변화를 관찰하였다. 방사선 조사 후 피부의 기저세포층에서의 세포자멸사와 표피층의 두께 변화를 평가하였고 COX-2 발현 정도를 면역염색을 통하여 비교하였다. 방사선 조사 후 피부 장애는 용량이 증가할수록 피부손상이 더욱 심하였으며 초기에 발적 소견을 보이다가 50 Gy 이상 조사군에서는 미란과 궤양으로 이어졌다. 조직학적인 변화는 육안적인 소견과 일치하였다. 방사선 조사 후 3일부터 기저세포에서 세포자멸사가 관찰되었으며 기저세포수의 감소가 유발되었으며 이러한 변화는 용량이 증가할수록 더욱 증가하였다. 방사선 조사 후 표피층의 두께는 3일 무렵에 일시적으로 증가하다가 점차 감소하였으며 20, 30, 40 Gy 조사 군에서는 다시 회복되는 소견이 관찰되었으나 50, 70 Gy 조사 군에서는 다시 회복되지 못하고 표피창의 두께 소실을 보였다. 방사선 조사 후 피부에서의 COX-2 발현은 피부손상정도와 일치하게 관찰되었다. 방사선 조사 후 COX-2 발현은 방사선의 용량이 증가할수록 발현이 증가하였고 시간이 증가할수록 증가하였다. 이러한 조직학적인 변화와 함께 방사선 손상을 일으키는 신호전달에 관여하는 COX-2 발현이 방사선조사 용량에 비례하여 증가하며 이러한 단백질의 발현은 피부손상과 관련성이 높은 것으로 사료된다.

The basic concepts of radiation-induced skin damage have been established, the biological mechanism has not been studied. In this study, we have examined the effects of gamma rays on skin injury and cyclooxygenase(COX)-2 expression. Gamma irradiation induced clinicopathological changes in a dose- and time-dependent manner in mini-pig skin. The histological changes were consistent with the changes in gross appearance at 12 weeks after irradiation. After three days’ irradiation, apoptotic cells in the basal layer were found more frequently in irradiated skin than in normal skin, with the magnitude of the effect being dose-dependent. The thickness of the epidermis transiently increased 3 days after irradiation, and then gradually decreased, although changes in the epithelial thickness of the irradiated field were not observed with irradiation doses over 50 Gy. In the epithelium, there was an initial degenerative phase, during which the rate of basal cell depletion was dependent on the radiation dose (20–70 Gy). One week after irradiation, COX-2 expression was mostly limited to the basal cell layer and was scattered across these cells. High COX-2 expression was detected throughout the full depth of the skin after irradiation. The COX-2 protein is upregulated after irradiation in mini-pig skin. These histological changes associated with radiation exposure dose cause the increased COX-2 expression in a dose-dependent fashion.