Radon, the only naturally occurring radioactive noble gas, is among the most common radioactive nuclides to which humans are exposed. Radon can induce various biological effects in the human body and is a risk factor for lung cancer. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are stable, tissue-specific, and abundantly expressed in body fluids. circRNAs can regulate gene expression and play an important role in the development of cancer. In this paper, we summarized the changes in the expression and function of circRNAs, highlighting the potential mechanisms of circRNAs in radon exposure-induced cancers. Our results provided theoretical support for the use of circRNAs as a biomarker of radon exposure-induced radiation damage, and offer a theoretical basis for the early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of radon exposure-induced diseases.

Objective:To investigate the effect of circular RNAs (circRNAs) expressions in peripheral blood of residents around radon hot springs.Methods:Totally 51 residents around radon hot springs were selected as the radon hot sping group, and another 51 residents around non-radon hot springs were selected as the control group. Questionnaires were used to collect demographic information and the radon exposure levels in the two groups. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the relative expressions of selected circRNA candidates in peripheral blood of the two groups. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the differences in the relative expressions of the circRNAs between the two groups. Results:The cumulative doses of radon exposure per capita for residents around radon hot springs was (111.47±99.03) mSv, with dose range 3.32-458.68 mSv. The difference in the relative expressions of hsa_circ_0040573 between the two groups was statistically significant ( Z=-2.88, P<0.05). The expression of hsa_circ_0040573 was suppressed by radon exposure ( t=-2.52, P<0.05) with a dose-dependent manner ( H=12.21, P<0.05). Conclusion:Hsa_circ_0040573 has a potential to serve as a radiological response biomarker for radon exposure, contributing to early diagnosis and monitoring of health risks associated with radon exposure.

Objective:To investigate the effect of circular RNAs (circRNAs) expressions in peripheral blood of residents around radon hot springs.Methods:Totally 51 residents around radon hot springs were selected as the radon hot sping group, and another 51 residents around non-radon hot springs were selected as the control group. Questionnaires were used to collect demographic information and the radon exposure levels in the two groups. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the relative expressions of selected circRNA candidates in peripheral blood of the two groups. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the differences in the relative expressions of the circRNAs between the two groups. Results:The cumulative doses of radon exposure per capita for residents around radon hot springs was (111.47±99.03) mSv, with dose range 3.32-458.68 mSv. The difference in the relative expressions of hsa_circ_0040573 between the two groups was statistically significant ( Z=-2.88, P<0.05). The expression of hsa_circ_0040573 was suppressed by radon exposure ( t=-2.52, P<0.05) with a dose-dependent manner ( H=12.21, P<0.05). Conclusion:Hsa_circ_0040573 has a potential to serve as a radiological response biomarker for radon exposure, contributing to early diagnosis and monitoring of health risks associated with radon exposure.

Objective To investigate the effects of prolonged low-dose neutron-γ radiation on peripheral blood lymphocytes of logging workers. Methods The health information of workers in a logging company was collected by on-site blood sample collection and questionnaire survey. Individual doses of γ and neutron radiation were recorded using LiF elements and CR-39, respectively. Lymphocyte count in peripheral blood was measured by blood cytometer. Cell cycle and cyclins were detected by flow cytometry. Results The annual dose of some logging workers exceeded 5 mSv. Lymphocyte counts showed a difference of 15% between the group exposed to the lowest annual dose of 0–1 mSv (mean: 2.45 × 10⁹/L) and the group exposed to the highest annual dose of 5–25 mSv (mean: 2.08 × 10⁹/L). In comparison to pre-shift workers, logging workers exhibited a G1-phase arrest in the lymphocyte cycle, along with increased expression of cyclins p21 and CDK2. Conclusion Prolonged exposure to low-dose neutron-γ radiation leads to reduced lymphocyte counts as well as changes in lymphocyte cycle and cyclin expression.

Objective:To improve the ability of radiation health technical institutions for biological dose estimation.Methods:A total of 144 institutions nationwide, including the CDC, prevention and treatment center for occupational disease, colleges and universities, scientific research institutes, nuclear industry systems, and medical and physical examination institutions, were organized to carry out the intercomparison of national biological dose estimation capabilities in 2022. The institutions participating in the comparison were divided into two types of A and B, through the identification of chromosome aberrations, to estimate the irradiation dose (A) or chromosome aberration rate (B). The results were summarized and compared, and the main problems were analyzed and discussed.Results:There were 60 institutions in type A, 52 qualified institutions (including 12 excellent institutions) and 8 unqualified institutions, with a pass rate of 86.7% (20.0% excellent) and a failure rate of 13.3%. There were 84 institutions participating in the biological dose estimation comparison of type B, with 48 qualified institutions, and 36 unqualified institutions, the qualified rate was 57.1%, and the unqualified rate was 42.9%.Conclusions:Most of the institutions participating in type A comparison have the ability to estimate biological dose, and more than half of the institutions participating in type B comparison have the ability to analyze chromosome aberration. The overall ability of institutions participating in type A comparison is higher than in type B.

Macrophages, as regulatory cells existing in all tissues, exhibit complex responses to radiation stimulation, including both common processes in response to infection and injury and unique polarization transformation. Radiation-related polarization determines the functional types of macrophages. After being exposed to different irradiations, macrophages are regulated by different cytokines, involving multiple signaling pathways. This leads to differential degrees of polarization. The review summarized the regulatory effects of radiation on the polarization and functions of macrophages in order to provide basis for theoretical research on immunity and clinical radiotherapy.

Objective:To investigate the effect of radon on the expressions of miR-16, miR-106b, miR-449a, let-7g, miR-21, miR-221 and miR-34a in peripheral blood plasma of miners.Methods:A total of 46 randomly selected miners worked underground(the underground group)and 38 miners worked aboveground (the control group). MiRNA levels in the underground and control groups were detected by qRT-PCR and their relationship with cumulative effective dose was further analyzed.Results:The levels of miR-106b, miR-21, miR-221 in plasma of the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group( Z=-2.32, -2.47, -2.79, P<0.05), the corresponding Fc values were 1.61, 1.75, 1.30, respectively. The levels of miR-16, miR-449a, let-7g and miR-34a were slightly higher than those in the control group ( P>0.05). After controlling of confounding factors such as age, BMI and smoking, the alteration of miR-16, miR-106b, let-7g, miR-21 and miR-221 in plasma of the underground group were positively correlated with the cumulative effective dose( t=2.50, 3.31, 2.60, 2.95, 3.25, P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in the plasma levels of miR-449a and miR-34a between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:miR-106b, miR-21 and miR-221 could be used as potential biomarkers of radon exposure.

Objective:To explore artificial intelligence technology and propose an algorithm for automatic identification of dicentric chromosomes to realize fast and high-throughput biodosimetry. In order to solve the time-consuming and laborious problem of manual analysis of dicentric chromosomes.Methods:Combining artificial intelligence technology and image processing technology, based on MATLAB software, algorithms like image preprocessing, threshold segmentation algorithm, binarization processing, area identification algorithm, convolutional neural network algorithm and double centripetal recognition algorithm were applied. A fuzzy membership function was defined to describe the degree of each chromosome belonging to a dicentric chromosome, and the discrimination threshold was set to realize the automatic identification of dicentric chromosomes.Results:Through the test on 1 471 chromosome images, compared with manual recognition, the detection rate of dicentric chromosomes cells of this algorithm reached 70.7%.Conclusions:This algorithm method carries out a preliminary study on the automatic identification of dicentric chromosomes with good result.

Objective To observe potential effect of radon hot springs on the changes of cell cycle and its regulatory proteins of CDK1,CDK2,CDK4,CDK6,CyclinD1,CyclinE1,WEE1,CDC25A in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of residents.Methods A random sampling method was used to persons 46 persons from the residents around radon hot spring in Wentang town,and 39 persons were selected from the control area without radon exposure.Flow cytometry was used to detect the changes of cell cycle and the expressions of cell cycle-related regulatory proteins.Multiple linear regression method was used to analyze the relationship between the expressions of cell cycle regulatory proteins and radon exposure.Results The percentages of cells at G0/G1 phase and S phase in lymphocytes were different in the two groups (t =2.250,-2.382,P ＜ 0.05).The expression levels of CDK1,CDK6 and CyclinE1 in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of radon hot spring group were significantly decreased (t =4.770,11.419,5.238,P ＜ 0.05) and negatively correlated with radon exposure (t =-5.097,-11.128,-5.117,P ＜0.05).The expression levels of CDK2,CDK4,CyclinD1,WEE1 and CDC25A in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of radon hot spring group were increased but not significantly(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The incidences of a higher ratio of S-phase cells and lower expression levels of CDK1,CDK6 and CyclinE1 in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of residents in Wentang town may be related to long-term radon exposure.

Objective To analyze the biological dose estimation ability of the radiation health technology institutions nationwide from 2015 to 2017,and their development in recent years.Methods SPSS 19.0 software was used to analyze and pack the data involved in the 2015-2017 year assessments by using x2 test.Statistical analysis was conducted of qualification rate,excellent rate,participating units and dose estimation deviation distribution.Results The qualification rate gradually increased from 2015 to 2017.Compared with 2015,the passing rate significantly increased in 2017 with statistically significant difference(x2 =3.978,P ＜0.05).A total of 53 units participated in the biological dose assessment,of which 30 units were involved over the three consecutive years,accounting for 57％.In the distribution of the relative deviation of dose estimates made by the units participating in the three-year assessment,the proportion of estimated deviations in the range of 5％-10％ increased whereas those in the range of 15％-20％ and ＞ 20％ decreased.Conclusions During 2015-2017 year period the biological dose estimation ability of all units involved in the assessment nationwide was basically stable,with gradually improved test level,qualification rate and steady excellence rate.