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

[John Jacobus]

Dr. Scott,
Yes, I have heard the old saw too many times.  I
prefer caveat emptor.

Of course dose rate is important.  That is the basis
for fractionation of radiation therapy.  So does the
end point of the study.  Exactly what doses and dose
rates above background are you talking about?  Are the
effects seen in humans?  And what effects are you
monitoring.  If you monitor the blood of a patient and
find an increase of some cellular component, this may
indicate that the response is due to cellular damage
and of or the cytokines being released from the
affected cells.  If the immune cells attack the
damaged cells and not the undamaged tumor cells, what
is the consequence?  Does the tumor survive?  

If radiation is recognized as a weak carcinogen, is it
also a weak benefactor?
--- "Scott, Bobby" <BScott at lrri.org> wrote:

> Hi John:
> 
> The dose makes the poison.  Dose rate is also quite
> important. The
> biological responses to the very high radiation
> doses and dose rates
> currently used in radiation therapy are very
> different than the
> responses to low doses and dose rates (e.g. natural
> background
> radiation).  For example, high doses and dose rates
> suppress immunity
> while low doses and dose rates stimulate protective
> processes that
> include immunity.
> 
> Bobby R. Scott
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Jacobus [mailto:crispy_bird at yahoo.com] 
> Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 8:12 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.
> . . .
> 
> -- John
> John Jacobus, MS
> Certified Health Physicist
> e-mail:  crispy_bird at yahoo.com
> 
> 


+++++++++++++++++++
May we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion. 
Dwight D. Eisenhower  

-- John
John Jacobus, MS
Certified Health Physicist
e-mail:  crispy_bird at yahoo.com


 
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