Int J Radiat Biol 1989 Dec;56(6):963-73 
<b>Nuclear lysate sedimentation measurements of peripheral blood lymphocytes from radiotherapy patients.</b> 
Deeley JO, Moore JL. South Wales Radiotherapy and Oncology Service, Velindre Hospital, Cardiff, U.K. 
When isolated nuclei of human lymphocytes are challenged with 2 M NaCl a histone-free-DNA-protein (HF-DNA) complex is released. In a linear sucrose gradient (pH 8.0) the sedimentation distance of HF-DNA is reduced when immediately isolated from cells irradiated in vitro. At low doses, if irradiated cells are incubated at 37 degrees C the sedimentation behaviour approaches that of unirradiated cells (i.e. repair). In the present study such repair was usually complete within 1 h. The radiation damage to lymphocytes from a healthy donor group and three patient groups consisting of new patients (before radiotherapy), well patients (2 to 6 years post-radiotherapy) and patients with complications attributed to radiotherapy was similar. The lymphocytes from most healthy donors and new patients demonstrated complete repair of radiation damage following an incubation of 1 h at 37 degrees C. However, 2/29 (6.9 per cent) healthy donors and 2/25 (8 per cent) new patients demonstrated poor repair. Of those patients now attending with 'bowel complications' attributed to radiotherapy 7/16 (44 per cent) demonstrated poor repair. In contrast, all those (11/11) described as 'well and complication-free' showed good repair. 
&&url PMID: 2574224 


Med Klin 1975 Feb 28;70(9):385-91
<b>[Radiation late damage of the thoracic marrow after irradiation in the thoracic region (author's transl)].</b> [Article in German] 
Busse O, Wieland C, Egge M. 
A report is given about radiation late damage on the thoracic marrow, ... in irradiation of the mediastinal region, the exposure of the spinal marrow should be reduced, although the dose alone is not decisive for the development of a radiation myelopathy. 
&&url PMID: 1124051 


Indian J Exp Biol 1989 Nov;27(11):1005-7 
Radiat Med 1989 Jan-Feb;7(1):32-5 
<b>Thoracic vertebral photopenia may predict fatty changes of the corresponding bone marrow following irradiation.</b> 
Shih WJ, Li CY, Coffey CW, Maruyama Y. Nuclear Medicine Division, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky.

 ... At autopsy a section of the corresponding bone marrow showed extensive fatty changes with very few residual blood vessels. Radiation damage of the vascular networks may significantly reduce the blood supply, when integrity of the blood supply is essential for delivery of a normal bone image by the bone-imaging agent. Interruption of blood supply may cause photopenia, and this interruption plus irradiation to marrow elements may also affect the hematopoietic activity of the corresponding bone marrow. The occurrence of radiation-induced photopenia on a bone-imaging study may indicate fatty changes of the corresponding marrow. 
&&url PMID: 2762587