[ RadSafe ] The Role of Low-Dose Radiation in the Maintenance ofLife

[Muckerheide, Jim (CDA)]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Jacobus [mailto:crispy_bird at yahoo.com] 
> Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 1:17 PM
> 
> Jim,
> I am not sure what we all know.  

Right.  My point exactly.  You really should read the literature more.

>My point is that the
> mechanisms for cell, and particularly cancer cell
> repair is not clear.  You say the low doses of
> ionizing radiation "stimulate" repair enzymes.  What
> if the same radiation stimulates cancer stem cells? 
> Are you saying that could not happen? Cells and their
> interactions are complex, and I doubt all repairs
> actions are beneficial.  Do you?

Sure; it happens.  But other mechanisms destroy cancer cells.  We know
that, before angiogenesis in solid tumors, low-dose radiation protects
against (suppresses, kills) pre-cancerous cells and early cancer cells
and metastatic cells through specific stimulation/suppression
mechanisms.  Note that these functions are primarily mediated through
tissue responses, not just the cell/DNA responses that are used/abused
by LNT apologists to claim a biological basis for "any radiation is
damaging" (especially when we know that, without low-dose radiation,
organisms are debilitated, and even die.

> By the way, you really do not have to defend Dr.
> Scott.  I am sure that if he wants to respond to me,
> he will do so.

I certainly don't HAVE to; but I would think that I can if I want to!
:-) (At least as much as you can take cheap shots; especially since,
like many serious research scientists, he might not deign to respond to
such disingenuous commentary.)

Regards, Jim


> --- "Muckerheide, Jim  (CDA)"
> <Jim.Muckerheide at state.ma.us> wrote:
> 
> > John,
> > 
> > You misrepresent the paper. It does NOT report that
> > "radiation may increase cancer cell proliferation."  
> > It does say that (as we all know), the cell cycle 
> > checkpoint mechanism is a delay that provides for repair
> > of radiation damage.  Of course, this is a high dose
> > condition.  We also know that low doses stimulate 
> > repair enzymes that enhance that function in cells,
> > in_vivo, ex_vivo and in_vitro.  The paper does say that
> > they found that this also applies to radiation-resistant
> > cancer "stem cells" (again at high rad therapy doses).
> > 
> > However, Dr Scott is a research scientist of
> > long-standing and high credentials.  He reports what 
> > he finds is known to science.  Unlike political 
> > operatives, he is not obliged to mischaracterize 
> > information to create "another side" like ICRP, NCRP,
> > BRER/BEIR and other politically motivated individuals.  
> > 
> > As I have said for 10 years re NCRP's claim that they
> > stand in the
> > middle of "the two extremes" (especially after their
> > explicit misrepresentations of data at our June 1995
> > sessions) they saying that they stand in the middle 
> > of people saying 2+2=4 and the anti's who say
> > 2+2=22.  So NCRP says 2+2=13 and claims the moral
> > high ground.  They even wrote this in a letter 
> > equating Bernie Cohen and two other credible
> > scientists, to Helen Caldicott and two other antis.
> > 
> > Regards, Jim 
> > 
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl 
> > > [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On Behalf Of
> > John Jacobus
> > > Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 10:12 AM
> > > To: Scott, Bobby; radsafe at radlab.nl
> > > Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] The Role of Low-Dose
> > > Radiation in the Maintenance of Life 
> > > 
> > > Dr. Scott,
> > > Do you also note that radiation may increase
> > > cancer cell proliferation?  I also try to present 
> > > both sides of controversial topics.  
> > > 
> > > From another posting:  
> > > 
> > http://www.dukemednews.org/news/article.php?id=9922
> > >    
> > >   Cancer stem cells linked to radiation resistance
> >  
> > > DURHAM, N.C. -- 
> > > 
> > > Certain types of brain cancer cells, called cancer
> > > stem cells, help brain 
> > > tumors to buffer themselves against radiation
> > > treatment by activating a 
> > > "repair switch" that enables them to continue to
> > > grow unchecked, 
> > > researchers at Duke University Medical Center have
> > > found.
> > > . . .
> > > 
> > > --- "Scott, Bobby" <BScott at lrri.org> wrote:
> > > 
> > > > Dear Colleagues:
> > > > 
> > > > Today I presented an in-house seminar at our
> > > > Institute entitled "The
> > > > Role of Low-Dose Radiation in the Maintenance of
> > > > Life".  The seminar
> > > > points out how low doses and dose rates of
> > > > low-LET radiation have been
> > > > demonstrated to suppress the occurrence of
> > > > cancer and other diseases. I
> > > > have made a pdf version of seminar slides.  I
> > > > would be happy to send the
> > > > pdf file to those who have and interest.  Just
> > > > send an e-mail to me
> > > > requesting the presentation.  Other related
> > > > presentations are available
> > > > in the Low Dose Research section of my website:
> > > > www.radiation-scott.org.
> > > > 
> > > > Best wishes,
> > > > Bobby R. Scott
> > > > Senior Scientist
> > > > Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute
> > > > 2425 Ridgecrest Drive SE
> > > > Albuquerque, NM 87108 USA