Through the Hills and Valleys of Radiation Biology in Hungary*

György J. Köteles

Frédéric Joliot-Curie National Research Institute for Radiobiology and Radiohygiene, József Fodor National Public Health Center, Budapest, Hungary

Corresponding author: György J. Köteles
    Frédéric Joliot-Curie National Research Institute for Radiobiology and Radiohygiene
    József Fodor National Public Health Center
    P.O. Box 101
    H-1775 Budapest, Hungary
    Telephone: +36 1 482 2000/135
    Fax number: +36 1 482 2000/135
    E-mail: koteles@hp.osski.hu

CEJOEM 2004, Vol.10. No.3.: 202–226

* Edited version of the Ernst Award Lecture delivered by the Honorary President as the Opening Lecture
of the 33th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Radiation Biology, Budapest, August 25–28, 2004

Key words:
Radiobiology, radiohygiene, membranes, cytogenetics, antioxidants, chemical protection, hematology

Abstract:
Radiation biology as a scientific discipline borders with several others. Developing in interactions with the latter, the body of knowledge on radiation effects – either in itself or as a tool for other topics like structure and function of biomolecules, immunology, DNA-repair, cellular, tissue and organ reactions, environmental effects on organisms – also depends on the progress of biology. Accordingly, the “hills” and “valleys” appear in each laboratory when it selects, initiates or changes tasks of research. In the present review, examples of “hills” of the Hungarian radiobiological research, i.e., results that have reached the international literature and interest, are dealt with, e.g., those in the fields of cellular membranes, cytogenetics, antioxidant defense, low dose effects, cytokine release, adaptive response, chemical radioprotection, as well as practical applications in microbiology, like corrosion and sterilization. Further issues as the activities of the Hungarian central institution of radiobiology in radiopharmacy and the rapidly developing studies on the effects of non-ionizing radiations are also mentioned. A few notes on the biological basis of radiation protection as a component of public health are included.

Received: 25 October 2004
Accepted: 28 October 2004
| Back |