Adult Patient Doses for Chest, Skull and Lumbar Spine Examinations

A dosimetry study for chest, skull and lumbar spine examinations in adults has been carried out at two hospitals. The aim of the study was the assessment of adult patient’s dose for chest PA, chest LAT, skull AP and lumbar spine AP examinations. The Entrance Surface Dose (ESD) and the Effective Dose (ED) for each examination were obtained using DoseCal software. For each examination, different results were obtained at the two hospitals. At hospital A (IFF Hospital), the total number of patients studied was 140. The mean ESD values obtained for chest PA, chest LAT, skull AP and lumbar spine AP were 0.20 mGy, 0.47 mGy, 1.25 mGy, and 1.61 mGy, respectively. At hospital B (HGB Hospital), the total number of patients studied was 369 for similar examinations and projections. The ESD values were 0.10 mGy, 0.28 mGy, 0.66 mGy and 2.47 mGy, respectively. The mean ED values at hospital A and B were 0.02 mSv and 0.01 mSv for chest PA, 0.04 mSv and 0.03 mSv for chest LAT, 0.1 mSv and 0.06 mSv for skull AP, and 0.15 mSv and 0.26 mSv for lumbar spine AP, respectively. The results were compared with the European Community Reference Levels. Although the doses were low, there was still a need for personnel training and national guidance on good practice for optimization of patients’ doses.

Innovative Technology to Produce Safe and High Quality African Catfish, C/arias gariepinus, Products from Aquaculture in Egypt

The present study was designed to test the intra-specific crossing of two Egyptian populations from African catfish （Clarias gariepinus）, EI-Manzalah catfish （MCF） characterized by tolerates for poor water quality and easily farmed in captivity and EI-Qanater catfish （QCF） characterized by rapid growth and high quality flesh, for hybrid vigor, production and food processing to create new high quality products. Crosses of these populations were carried out in EI-Gamalia hatchery, EI-Manzalah, Egypt, during spring of 2008 between MCF~~ QCF~. African catfish hybrid, MCF and QCF fingerlings with a mean weight of 24.02 ＋ 1.38 g were stocked at a density of 50-fish per m3 in cages （112 m3 each） suspended in lake El-Manzalah. Fish were fed a formulated diet containing 31.20% crude protein and cultured for 214 days. The growth, survival and production data confirmed that catfish hybrid has been successful and showed a strong heterotic effect. Hybrid catfish had a significantly highest production, 47.5 kg per m3 and best feed conversion ratio （1.33） which demonstrates that cages are a viable alternative to ponds for the commercial production of African catfish and its hybrids. Recently, the African catfish market has required more processed products. The results indicated that： （1） there are slightly variations in African catfish population＇s products quality; and （2） the hot-smoked and fried-coated fish fillets products are more safe foods and acceptable to consumers due to their physic-chemical properties and microbial load acceptable results.

Evaluation of X-Ray Doses on Children, from Paediatric Hospitals in Sudan

Children are more sensitive to radiation than adults, so radiation protection in paediatric radiology deserves special attention. This work estimates the effective doses and body organ doses due to chest examinations in infants and paediatrics. Two examination incidences, AP and PA for chest X-ray exposures were evaluated and compared with respect to the radiographic technique employed. This study was carried out in three paediatric hospitals in Sudan. The age intervals considered were 0 - 1 year, 1 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years and 10 - 15 years. The results obtained for organ doses and effective doses were calculated using a software package developed by the Radiological Protection Centre of the Saint George’s Hospital, London. Effective dose values were also evaluated considering weight intervals from 1 - 10 kg, 10 - 20 kg, 20 - 30 kg and 30 - 40 kg. Large discrepancies were encountered between the three hospitals, probably due to the different radiographic technique employed, calibration and maintenance of the X-ray equipment, technicians’ expertise, processing conditions.