[ RadSafe ] Protecting Cells From Lethal Radiation (third try)

[George Stanford]

         Congratulations to the researchers at
Washington University.  It sounds like a potential
lifesaver -- although I believe that a credible
"dirty bomb" scenario leading to multi-Gray levels
of exposure has not yet been postulated..

         A question comes to mind.  Since the
protection works by suppressing apoptosis, and
since apoptosis is one of the mechanisms
postulated for protection against the effects of
low-level radiation, is there perhaps the
potential for over-enthusiastic use of such
pills?  Should they be limited to individuals with
life-threatening levels of exposure -- say above
~2.5 Gy?  (An acquaintance received almost 2 Gy
[whole body] some 50 years ago, and he is now a
healthy octogenarian.)

         Is there a chance that "protective"
administration to low-dose subjects could be
counterproductive, leading to the survival of
cancer-precursor cells that otherwise would be
eliminated?

George Stanford
Reactor physicist, retired

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

At 10:36 AM 5/10/2007, Boby Mathew wrote:
Dear radsafers. Just came across this article. It is something new. 
Follow the link to read the full item.
   Boby Mathew

   http://interactive.snm.org/index.cfm?PageID=6216&RPID=10

   Protecting Cells From Lethal Radiation
Posted May 10, 2007
Source: Washington University School of Medicine