Chromosomal studies in peripheral lymphocytes from 63 residents near the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, at ages of 52-63 years old, were performed in 2001-2002. A higher rate of chromosome aberrations was observed in the two contaminated villages, Dolon and Sarjal, compared with the control village, Kokpekti. Moreover, a relationship of frequency of cells with radiation induced chromosome aberrations and the previously estimated exposure dose was observed. Furthermore, apparent nuclear abnormalities (ANA) of thyroid follicular cells were studied in 30 out of 63 residents, who were examined for chromosome aberrations. A higher rate of ANA was also found in the residents in the exposed villages compared with those in the control village. These results suggest radiation effects both on the chromosomes in peripheral lymphocytes and on the follicular cells in the thyroid.
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) collapsed in 1991 and separated into the 15 post-Soviet countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. The post-Soviet countries have faced many economic problems, including unemployment. The association between suicide and unemployment in post-Soviet countries has not been well studied. Here, we researched the annual suicide rate and the unemployment rate during the 28-year period from 1992 to 2019 in the 15 post-Soviet countries. We calculated the correlation coefficients between the suicide rate and the unemployment rate in each of the countries during this period, and we determined the association between the suicide rate and unemployment rate. Our major findings were that (1) the suicide rates among both males and females were significantly associated with the unemployment rate in nearly half of the 15 countries, and (2) for nearly 70% of the males in the entire set of 15 countries, there was an association between the suicide rate and the unemployment rate. Suicide-prevention researchers and organizations should be aware of our findings, and specific suicide-prevention measures based on these results are desirable.
Introduction: In the future, detailed studies will need to be performed in Japan in order to devise more effective measures to prevent traffic accidents. Statistical approaches that are applicable not just to Japan but to other countries as well also need to be developed. Materials and Methods: The occurrence of traffic accidents in Tokyo from 2010–2014 was studied based on a report from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, and specific aspects of those accidents were examined. Those findings indicated important measures to prevent future traffic accidents in Tokyo. In addition, the use of this methodology in a study of traffic accidents in Kazakhstan and the use of the current findings to devise measures to prevent traffic accidents in that country have also been described. Results and Conclusion: Over the 5 years studied, there were 233,144 traffic accidents in total. By day of the week, accidents occurred most often on Friday and least often on Sunday. A comparison of traffic accidents by time on weekdays (Mon.–Fri.) and weekends (Sat. & Sun.) indicated that accidents on weekdays occurred most often from 8–10 AM, followed by 4–6 PM. Accidents on weekends occurred most often from 4–6 PM, followed by 2–4 PM, then 12–2 PM, and finally 10–12 AM. In light of these findings, further enhancing preventive measures on weekdays and weekends and examining times when accidents occur are key to educational efforts to further reduce traffic accidents. We plan to conduct a study to determine which measures will prove effective at preventing traffic accidents in Kazakhstan. The current methodology could be used to study traffic accidents in different countries, such as Kazakhstan. Введение: Необходимо проведение детальных исследований с целью разработки мероприятий для предотвращения дорожно-транспортных происшествий в будущем. Так же, необходима разработка статистических методов, применимых не только в Японии, но и в других странах. Материалы и Методы: Распространенность дорожно-транспортных происшествий в Токио в период с 2010-2014 гг. была исследована на основе доклада департамента столичной полиции. Так же, были изучены особенности этих происшествий. Полученные результаты выявили острую необходимость в разработке мер по предотвращению ДТП в Токио. Кроме того, использование этой методологии в исследовании дорожно-транспортных происшествий в Казахстане и использование текущих результатов были описаны для разработки мер по предотвращению дорожно-транспортных происшествий в этой стране. Результаты и Заключение: За 5 лет, что были исследованы, произошло 233 144 дорожно-транспортных происшествий. Чаще всего ДТП происходили в пятницу, а реже всего в воскресенье. Сравнивая распространенность ДТП между будними (пн.-пт.) и выходными (сб.-вс.) днями выяснилось, что в будние дни ДТП чаще всего случались в промежутке времени с 8-10 часов утра и с 16-18 часов вечера. ДТП в выходные дни чаще всего случались в промежутке времени с 16-18 часов вечера, затем с 12-2 часов ночи и, наконец, с 10-12 часов утра. С учётом полученных данных становится ясно, что последующее увеличение мер предотвращения и исследование времени, когда ДТП имеют место быть, являются своего рода ключом к снижению распространенности дорожно-транспортных происшествий. Мы планируем провести исследование, чтобы определить эффективные меры по предотвращению дорожно-транспортных происшествий и в Казахстане. Данная методология могла бы использоваться для исследования ДТП в различных странах, включая Казахстан. Кіріспе: Келешекте жол–көлік оқиғаларыалдын алу үшін іс – шаралар әдістеу мақсатында егжей-тегжейлі зерттеулер өткізу қажет болады. Сол сияқты Жапонияда ғана емес, сонымен қатар басқа мемлекеттерде қолданылатын статистикалық әдістерді әдістеу қажет. Материалдар және әдістер: 2010-2014 жж. мерзімдегі Токиодағы жол–көлік оқиғаларының таралуы астаналық полиция департаменті баяндамасы негізінде зерттелген болатын. Сол сияқты, осы апаттар ерекшеліктері зерттелген болатын. алынған нәтижелер Токиодағы ЖКО алдын алу бойынша іс – шараларын әдістеуде жіті қажеттілікті анықтады. Содан басқа, Қазақстандағы жол–көлік оқиғаларының таралуын зерттеуде және осы методологияны пайдалану және осы мемлекеттегі жол–көлік оқиғаларының алдын алу бойынша іс шараларды әдістеу үшін ағымдағы нәитижелерді пайдалану суреттелді. Нәтижелер және қорытындылар: Зерттелген 5 жыл ішінде 233144 жол–көлік оқиғалары орын алды. ЖКО әдетте жұма күндері орын алған, ал жексенбіде сирек. ЖКО таралуын салыстыра отырып күнделікті (дүйс-жұма) жәнедемалыс (сенбі – жекс.) арасында ЖКО күнделікті күндері8-10 сағат таңертеңгі уақытта және16-18 сағат кешкі уақытта болатыны анықталды. Демалыс күндері ЖКО 16-18 сағат кешкі уақытта, сосын 12-2 сағат түнгі уақытта жиі кездеседі, және10-12 сағ. таңертеңгі уақытта болады. ЖКО болған жағдайда алдын алу шараларын көбейту және уақытты зерттеу үшін алынған мәліметтерді ескерумен анық болатын жол-көлік оқиғалары төмендеуінің таралуының кілті болып табылады. Біз Қазақстандағы жол–көлік оқиғаларының алдын алу бойынша тиімді іс - шараларды анықтау үшін зерттеуді өткізуді жоспарлаудамыз. Осы методология әртүрлі мемлекеттерде, Қазақстанды қоса алғанда ЖКО зерттеу үшін пайдаланылуы мүмкін.
The Republic of Kazakhstan has one of the world’s highest suicide rates. A detailed study of the risk factors for suicide in that country is therefore important. We investigated country-wide statistics related to labor, financial, and economic factors and whether any of these factors contribute to the risk of suicide in Kazakhstan. Using the 20 year period from 2000 to 2019, we examined the annual suicide rates overall (all citizens) and for males and females in Kazakhstan, annual unemployment rates, annual rates of increase in the country’s consumer price index, annual total exports, and annual total imports. We then calculated the correlations between the suicide rates and these four items. We also performed a multiple regression analysis of the relationship between the suicide rate and those four items. The results of these analyses indicated that the unemployment rate was the correlation coefficient most highly correlated with the suicide rate; unemployment was significantly related to suicide and should be targeted as a risk factor in suicide prevention interventions in Kazakhstan. With this in mind, organizations, government agencies, and professionals in relevant fields need to devise and implement suicide prevention measures.
Abstract Internal radiation exposure from neutron-induced radioisotopes environmentally activated following atomic bombing or nuclear accidents should be considered for a complete picture of pathologic effects on survivors. Acute and localized high dose radiation exposure from hot particles taken into the body must induce cell death and severe damage to tissues, whether they are proliferating or not. However, very little the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this internal radiation pathology has been investigated. Male Wistar rats were internally exposed to 56 MnO 2 powder by inhalation. Small intestine samples were investigated by histological staining at acute phase (6 h, 3 days and 14 days) and late phase (2, 6 and 8 months) after the exposure. Histological location and chemical properties of the hot particles embedded in small intestinal tissues were analyzed by synchrotron radiation—X-ray fluorescence—X-ray absorption near-edge structure (SR–XRF–XANES). Hot particles located in the intestinal cavity were identified as accumulations of Mn and iron. Pathological changes showed evidence of crypt shortening, massive cell death at the position of stem cell zone, including apoptosis and pyroptosis from 6 h through 8 months in the internal exposed rats.
Abstract The experiment was performed in support of a Japanese initiative to investigate the biological effects of irradiation from residual neutron-activated radioactivity that resulted from the A-bombing. Radionuclide 56 Mn (T 1/2 = 2.58 h) is one of the main neutron-activated emitters during the first hours after neutron activation of soil dust particles. In our previous studies (2016–2017) related to irradiation of male Wistar rats after dispersion of 56 MnO 2 powder, the internal doses in rats were found to be very inhomogeneous: distribution of doses among different organs ranged from 1.3 Gy in small intestine to less than 0.0015 Gy in some of the other organs. Internal doses in the lungs ranged from 0.03 to 0.1 Gy. The essential pathological changes were found in lung tissue of rats despite a low level of irradiation. In the present study, the dosimetry investigations were extended: internal doses in experimental mice and rats were estimated for various activity levels of dispersed neutron-activated 56 MnO 2 powder. The following findings were noted: (a) internal radiation doses in mice were several times higher in comparison with rats under similar conditions of exposure to 56 MnO 2 powder. (b) When 2.74 × 10 8 Bq of 56 MnO 2 powder was dispersed over mice, doses of internal irradiation ranged from 0.81 to 4.5 Gy in the gastrointestinal tract (small intestine, stomach, large intestine), from 0.096 to 0.14 Gy in lungs, and doses in skin and eyes ranged from 0.29 to 0.42 Gy and from 0.12 to 0.16 Gy, respectively. Internal radiation doses in other organs of mice were much lower. (c) Internal radiation doses were significantly lower in organs of rats with the same activity of exposure to 56 MnO 2 powder (2.74 × 10 8 Bq): 0.09, 0.17, 0.29, and 0.025 Gy in stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and lungs, respectively. (d) Doses of internal irradiation in organs of rats and mice were two to four times higher when they were exposed to 8.0 × 10 8 Bq of 56 MnO 2 (in comparison with exposure to 2.74 × 10 8 Bq of 56 MnO 2 ). (e) Internal radiation doses in organs of mice were 7–14 times lower with the lowest 56 MnO 2 amount (8.0 × 10 7 Bq) in comparison with the highest amount, 8.0 × 10 8 Bq, of dispersed 56 MnO 2 powder. The data obtained will be used for interpretation of biological effects in experimental mice and rats that result from dispersion of various levels of neutron-activated 56 MnO 2 powder, which is the subject of separate studies.
Investigating initial behavioral changes caused by irradiation of animals might provide important information to aid understanding of early health effects of radiation exposure and clinical features of radiation injury. Although previous studies in rodents suggested that radiation exposure leads to reduced activity, detailed properties of the effects were unrevealed due to a lack of proper statistical analysis, which is needed to better elucidate details of changes in locomotor activity. Ten-week-old male Wistar rats were subjected to single point external whole-body irradiation with 60Co gamma rays at 0, 2.0, 3.5, and 5.0 Gy (four rats per group). Infrared sensors were used to continuously record the locomotor activity of each rat. The cumulative number of movements during the night was defined as “activity” for each day. A non-linear mixed effects model accounting for individual differences and daily fluctuation of activity was applied to analyze the rats’ longitudinal locomotor data. Our statistical method revealed characteristics of the changes in locomotor activity after radiation exposure, showing that (1) reduction in activity occurred immediately—and in a dose-dependent manner—after irradiation and (2) recovery to pre-irradiation levels required almost one week, with the same recovery rate in each dose group.
Manganese-56 (56Mn) is among the predominant radioisotopes produced in soil by neutrons from atomic bombs. Previously, we examined the effects of the internal exposure of this radioisotope in Wistar rats and reported significant pathological changes in the lung and small intestine. In the present study, we focused on its effects on hyaluronan synthase 2 (Has2) gene expression that may related to pathological changes in the lung. Ten-week-old male Wistar rats were exposed to neutron-activated 56MnO2 powder, non-radioactive MnO2 powder or external 60Co γ-rays (2 Gy, whole body). Animals were examined on days 3, 14, and 60 post-exposure. Absorbed doses in the lung of rats exposed to 56Mn were 55-110 mGy. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that 56Mn exposure significantly reduced the expression of Has2 gene in the lung, while γ-rays did not change it. Our findings suggest that internal exposure to 56Mn, even at low doses, has a significant biological impact on the lung compared with external radiation.
To fully understand the radiation effects of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki among the survivors, radiation from neutron-induced radioisotopes in soil and other materials should be considered in addition to the initial radiation directly received from the bombs. This might be important for evaluating the radiation risks to the people who moved to these cities soon after the detonations and probably inhaled activated radioactive "dust." Manganese-56 is known to be one of the dominant radioisotopes produced in soil by neutrons. Due to its short physical half-life, 56Mn emits residual radiation during the first hours after explosion. Hence, the biological effects of internal exposure of Wistar rats to 56Mn were investigated in the present study. MnO2 powder was activated by a neutron beam to produce radioactive 56Mn. Rats were divided into four groups: those exposed to 56Mn, to non-radioactive Mn, to 60Co γ rays (2 Gy, whole body), and those not exposed to any additional radiation (control). On days 3, 14, and 60 after exposure, the animals were killed and major organs were dissected and subjected to histopathological analysis. As described in more detail by an accompanying publication, the highest internal radiation dose was observed in the digestive system of the rats, followed by the lungs. It was found that the number of mitotic cells increased in the small intestine on day 3 after 56Mn and 60Co exposure, and this change persisted only in 56Mn-exposed animals. Lung tissue was severely damaged only by exposure to 56Mn, despite a rather low radiation dose (less than 0.1 Gy). These data suggest that internal exposure to 56Mn has a significant biological impact on the lungs and small intestine.