Current status and research activity at the INRNE cyclotron laboratory

A review and update on the status of the Cyclotron Physics Laboratory at the Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy as well as related research activity is presented. The main part of the research activities at the Cyclotron Physics Laboratory is directed to simulations for design considerations, for the cyclotron vault for some of the target radioisotopes. In this paper, a review on the simulations, conducted at the laboratory, related to 18F production is included. A model for studying the effect of attenuation and absorption of neutron radiation, emitted by a point source with fixed energy of 14.1 MeV is developed. Preliminary results from this study are shown

ANTISENSE OLIGONUCLEOTIDES AND RADIONUCLIDES – PERSPECTIVES

Over the past decade, antisense technology has successfully established itself as an entirely innovative platform for research and creation of new therapies. Significant advances in the design of antisense oligonucleotides, as well as a deeper understanding of their mechanisms of action, have led to their successful clinical application in many RNA-targeted therapies. In addition, their potential for in vivo imaging by radiolabeling has been identified. Here are discussed the prospects for the use of antisense oligonucleotides in nuclear medicine and highlighted some of the advantages and disadvantages of labelling them with radionuclides.</jats:p

INVESTIGATION OF NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY OF MINERAL WATERS IN SOUTHERN BULGARIA

The activity of naturally occurring radionuclides in mineral waters from certain most frequently used sources in Rhodope Mountains region, Southern Bulgaria has been measured with high precision by means of nuclear and radiochemical methods. The survey is pointed at radium-226 (226Ra), lead-210 (210Pb) and natural uranium (nat. U), which are most important from the point of view of public health in Bulgaria, because of their high toxicity and radiotoxicity in drinking water. Seventeen water sources were under investigation. The activity concentrations of 226Ra and 210Pb varied from 13 to168 mBq/L and from ≤ 1.8 to 104 mBq/L respectively. The concentration of nat. U in the mineral water was in the range ≤ 3 to 21 µg/L. The annual effective doses were calculated for all investigated waters for adult inhabitants assuming yearly consumption of 730 litres. The results have shown that all values of the annual effective dose of ingestion of mineral waters were below the individual dose criterion of 100 µSv/y reported by World Health Organization (WHO). The obtained new results are used to assess the radiation status of the investigated waters. They will support timely and adequate measures to reduce the harmful impact of ionizing radiation on the population in cases of increased radioactivity</jats:p