Cesium 137 Irradiator

这一共享资源始于1991年，由治疗放射科提供资金。它的主要设备是J.L.Shepherd and Associates，Inc.制造的铯-137实验室辐照器(Mark I，型号68A)。它包含两个铯-137源，每个源的活度分别为6000和100居里。该仪器由耶鲁医学院(YSM)购买，资金来自国家卫生研究院的共享仪器赠款(赠款编号1-S10-RR04813-01；首席研究员Ravinder Nath博士)。铯-137辐射器共享资源通过电离辐射，特别是铯-137放射性衰变产生的662keV伽马射线，提供对辐射的访问。该设施可在0.01cGy/分钟至1500cGy/分钟的剂量率范围内运行。铯-137辐照器共享资源的目的是为分子化合物、细胞培养、动物和人类肿瘤细胞以及小动物提供准确可靠的照射源。我们的具体目标是为任何需要伽马辐射的癌症研究人员提供一台24小时、365天/年的照射器。这一癌症中心的核心设施使癌症中心的各种科学家能够研究特定辐射诱导的细胞DNA损伤的影响，以及辐射损伤后涉及哪些修复途径，以及其他放射生物学机制。辐射还可用作癌症研究的工具，以抑制细胞培养或动物的免疫反应，例如通过在转基因基因打靶研究实验中产生辐射诱导的骨髓嵌合小鼠，以及诱导小鼠脾细胞的凋亡。铯-137辐照器共享资源在放射学中应用的基于聚合物的三维剂量计的开发以及过热乳胶的辐射物理和剂量学响应的研究中发挥了重要作用。在血液学实验室，细胞血液成分的伽玛照射仍然是预防输血相关性移植物抗宿主病的可接受的方法。铯-137辐照器共享资源还可用于各种细胞、疫苗和药物制剂的灭菌。自成立以来，铯-137辐照器共享资源已使来自耶鲁大学50个系/科的161名首席研究人员(124名YCC成员)能够执行广泛的癌症研究项目，涉及广泛的剂量率和剂量范围内的辐射。在过去的一年里，25个YCC成员创造了铯-137辐射器共享资源总使用量的94%，并参与了YCC 7个研究项目中的6个。

This Shared Resource began in 1991, with funding provided by the Department of Therapeutic Radiology. Its major equipment is a Cesium-137 laboratory irradiator (Mark I, Model 68A) manufactured by J.L. Shepherd and Associates, Inc. It contains two cesium-137 sources with activities of 6,000 and 100 curies each. This instrument has been purchased by the Yale School of Medicine (YSM) with funds provided by a Shared Instrumentation Grant from the National Institutes of Health (grant number 1-S10-RR04813-01; Principal Investigator, Dr. Ravinder Nath). The Cesium-137 Irradiator Shared Resource provides access to irradiations by ionizing radiation, specifically 662 keV gamma rays from the radioactive decay of cesium-137. This facility can operate at dose rates ranging from 0.01 cGy/min to 1500 cGy/min. The purpose of the Cesium-137 Irradiator Shared Resource is to provide an accurate and reliable irradiation resource for molecular compounds, cell culture, animal and human tumor cells, and small animals. Our specific aim is to keep an irradiator available 24 hrs/day, 365 days/year for any cancer researcher that requires gamma irradiation. This cancer-center core facility provides various scientists in the Cancer Center the ability to study the effects of specific radiation-induced lesions in the DNA of cells, as well as what repair pathways are involved after radiation damage, and other radiobiological mechanisms. The radiation delivered can also be used as a tool in cancer research to suppress the immune response in cell cultures or animals, e.g. by generating irradiation-induced bone marrow chimeric mice in transgenic gene targeting research experiments, and the induction of apoptosis in murine spleen cells. The Cesium-137 Irradiator Shared Resource has been instrumental in the development of 3-dimensional polymer based dosimeters for applications in radiology, as well as the investigations ofthe radiation physics and the dosimetric response of superheated emulsion gels. In hematology labs, gamma irradiation of cellular blood components is still the acceptable method for the prevention of transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease. The Cesium- 137 Irradiator Shared Resource can also be used for the sterilization of various cell, vaccine and drug preparations. Since its inception, the Cesium-137 Irradiator Shared Resource has enabled 161 Principal Investigators (124 YCC Members) from 50 departments/sections at Yale the ability to perform a broad range of cancer research projects involving irradiation over a wide range of dose rates and doses. In the past year, 25 YCC members generated 94% of the total usage ofthe Cesium-137 Irradiator Shared Resource and participated in 6 of 7 of the YCC Research Programs.