John Cormack

Calculation of radiation exposures from patients to whom radioactive materials have been administered

Spreadsheet templates which calculate cumulative exposures to other persons from patients to whom radioactive materials have been administered have been developed by the authors. Calculations can be based on any specified single-, bi- or tri-exponential whole-body clearance rate and a diurnal (or any other periodic) contact pattern. The time (post-administration) during which close contact should be avoided in order to constrain the radiation exposure and exposure rates to selected limits is also calculated using an iterative technique (Newtons method), and the residual activity at the time when contact can resume is also calculated. These templates find particular application in the calculation of exposures to persons who are in contact with patients who have received 131I for therapeutic purposes. The effect of changing dose limits, contact patterns and using individually derived clearance rates may be readily modelled.

Editorial: the ACPSEM diagnostic imaging TEAP project

The issue of names and acronyms for specialties and subspecialties of medical physics is largely political but very important—it helps define and differentiate us with government agencies, other professional organisations, regulators and even industrial bodies. In Australia, Radiation Oncology Medical Physicists have adopted the term ‘‘ROMPs’’ amongst themselves quite readily. With this in mind, after some debate with interested parties and consideration of all the options, the name Diagnostic Imaging Medical Physics (DIMP) was coined as a blanket term covering the interlinked sub-specialties of diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine and hospital radiation safety. A recent survey of college membership [1] has indicated that around 14% of members fall into the DIMP category (see Fig. 1).

Nuclear New Zealand: Sorting Fact from Fiction [Book Review]

Publication details for: Andrew McEwan. Nuclear New Zealand: sorting fact from fiction, Hazard Press, PO Box 2151, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2004. 275 pages, Appendices, References. Index Paperback

Neutrophil trafficking into inflamed joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and the effects of methylprednisolone

39.99(NZD). ISBN 187727058X.