Posted 8/23/2011 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
im not a big fan of the barium swallow...its essentially fluoroscopy, a movie made from xrays...but i recognize sometimes it is indicated if motility-function questions arise
too many in the medical profession are too deep into ionizing radiation imaging
btw after exposure to xrays taking anti oxidants at strong dosses reduces risk to radiation induced cancer
from pub med
"Antioxidants reduce consequences of radiation exposure.
Okunieff P, Swarts S, Keng P, Sun W, Wang W, Kim J, Yang S, Zhang H, Liu C, Williams JP, Huser AK, Zhang L.
Source
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
Abstract
Antioxidants have been studied for their capacity to reduce the cytotoxic effects of radiation in normal tissues for at least 50 years. Early research identified sulfur-containing antioxidants as those with the most beneficial therapeutic ratio, even though these compounds have substantial toxicity when given in-vivo. Other antioxidant molecules (small molecules and enzymatic) have been studied for their capacity to prevent radiation toxicity both with regard to reduction of radiation-related cytotoxicity and for reduction of indirect radiation effects including long-term oxidative damage. Finally, categories of radiation protectors that are not primarily antioxidants, including those that act through acceleration of cell proliferation (e.g. growth factors), prevention of apoptosis, other cellular signaling effects (e.g. cytokine signal modifiers), or augmentation of DNA repair, all have direct or indirect effects on cellular redox state and levels of endogenous antioxidants. In this review we discuss what is known about the radioprotective properties of antioxidants, and what those properties tell us about the DNA and other cellular targets of radiation.
PMID:
18290327
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
PMCID: PMC2800038
Free PMC Article"