Objectives:Despite its impact on health policy, the relationship between geographical proximity and health careseeking has received scant attention in the medical literature. This...Full Text Available
BackgroundLittle is known about differences in professional careseeking based on marital status. The few existing studies show more professional careseeking among the divorced...Full Text Available
The utilization of health care services in children and adolescents with chronic benign pain was studied in a Dutch population sample of 254 chronic pain sufferers aged 0-18 years. Children and adolescents who had reported chronic pain (continuous or recurrent pain >3 months) in our previous prevalence study were asked to keep a 3-week diary on their pain and to fill out questionnaires on background factors, health care use and the impact of pain. Parent ratings were used for children aged 0-11 years, self-report was used in adolescents (12-18 years). In a 3-month period, in 53.4% of the cases medication was used for pain, and general practitioners and specialists were consulted for pain in 31.1% and 13.9% of subjects, respectively. Physiotherapists, psychologists and alternative health providers were visited by 11.5, 2.8, and 4.0%, respectively. In the preceding year, 6.4% had been hospitalized due to pain. The most important factors linked to utilizing ...
Therapeutic decisions are quite clear-cut for asymptomatic gallstone disease and acute cholecystitis. However, the appropriate therapeutic course for older patients with chronic cholecystitis may be less obvious. Watchful waiting may be reasonable for patients with mild and infrequent symptoms. For healthy patients, cholecystectomy is recommended if symptoms are becoming more frequent and severe. Laparoscopy may reduce the complication rate and be safely performed even in those with underlying medical illness. Oral dissolution therapy can be attempted for qualifying symptomatic patients who are at poor surgical risk or who refuse surgery. Shock wave lithotripsy and contact dissolution therapy show some promise but are currently experimental. PMID:8339941
As medical schools incorporate medical informatics into their curriculum the problems of implementation arise. Because there are no standards regarding a medical informatics curriculum, medical schools...Full Text Available
BackgroundToday, there is a trend towards establishing the medical humanities as a component of medical education. However, medical humanities programs that exist within the context...Full Text Available
One case of esophagitis caused by oral medication of Tetracycline is reported. The cause and factors predisposing to this uncommon complication of oral medication are discussed.
DescriptionM291272: Annex A: Project specification Introduction Lowland grassland habitats host a wide range of rare, scarce and declining flowering plants, some of which are afforded protection under UK and EU legislation, as well as qualifying for Red Data lists and Biodiversity Action Plan priority lists. Other scarce species while not qualifying for the above designations are still of conservation significance and should help inform our priorities for lowland grassland habitat management. At prese [continued...
Software quality assurance is an area of concern for DOE, EPA, and other agencies due to the poor quality of software and its documentation they have received in the past. This report briefly summarizes the software development concepts and terminology increasingly employed by these agencies and provides a workable approach to scientific programming under the new requirements. Following this is a practical description of how to qualify a simulation code, based on a software QA plan that has been reviewed and officially accepted by DOE/OCRWM. Two codes have recently been baselined and qualified, so that they can be officially used for QA Level 1 work under the DOE/OCRWM QA requirements. One of them was baselined and qualified within one week. The first of the codes was the multi-phase multi-component flow code TOUGH version 1, an already existing code, and the other was a geochemistry transport code STATEQ that was under ...
Innovative therapy may appear to coincide with medical experimentation, raising ethical and legal issues, for instance on informed consent and institutional review. Medical treatments may be classified,...Full Text Available
Patients rely on their primary care physician to manage multiple, often chronic medical conditions that require prescription medications. Balancing the risk to benefit of treatments can be challenging...Full Text Available
Recent studies have shown that there is a wide variety of approaches to education and training of the Qualified Expert across the European Union. National education and training programmes show often large differences in content, duration, level, the introduction of practical work, etc. As they stand, such differences are a barrier to the mutual recognition of the Qualified Expert status and, in part, are contributing to a perceived shortage in expertise in radiation protection and safety. The overall aim of ENETRAP is to determine mechanisms that in the longer term will facilitate better integration of education and training activities (with a view to mutual recognition across the European Union) and to ensure the ongoing provision of the necessary competence and expertise at the level of the Qualified Expert. The ENETRAP project is a 6FP coordination action. It started in April 2005 and runs over a period of 24 months. ...
...qualified and who were under consideration at the time, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack chose an animal husbandry specialist employed by one of the largest organic livestock product marketers in the country. While this appointee had grown up on a conventional farm, her immediate occupation is not that of ...
The current conception of the employment process is that positions become available, are publicized, and are filled by the most qualified job seekers. An alternative conception is proposed that social...Full Text Available
In the process of forming a new medical malpractice reinsurance company, the authors analyzed thousands of medical malpractice cases, settlements, and verdicts. The evidence of those analyses indicated...Full Text Available
Continuing Medical Education (CME) is a requirement among practicing physicians to promote continuous enhancement of clinical knowledge to reflect new developments in medical care. Previous research...Full Text Available
Nearly every drug may cause changes to ocular tissues through a variety of mechanisms. Medication overdoses, drug–drug interactions but also chronic administration of medications at...Full Text Available
In 18 months the Canadian Medical Discoveries Fund (CMDF) has attracted investments worth $180 million to spend on biotechnology and medical research. Although eight initial investments totalled only...Full Text Available
PurposePrevious studies suggest that some common medications alter prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. It remains unclear whether these reported medication effects are due to...Full Text Available
ObjectiveWhile essential for patient care, information related to medication is often written as free text in clinical records and, therefore, difficult to use in computerized systems....Full Text Available
BACKGROUND. Diabetes can be effectively treated and monitored in general practice. Postgraduate medical education at a local level is required to support this strategic shift of medical care from hospital...Full Text Available
In this article, transhumanism is considered to be a quasi‐medical ideology that seeks to promote a variety of therapeutic and human‐enhancing aims. Moderate conceptions are distinguished...Full Text Available
... Harbor Township Vineland Voorhees Pediatric Partner Hospitals AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center- City Campus, Atlantic City AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center - ...
BackgroundAs long-term nursing home care is likely to increase with the aging of the population, identifying chronic medical conditions is of particular interest. Although need factors...Full Text Available
... an endocrinologist here and am part of the Diabetes and Endocrinology Associates here at Shawnee Mission Medical ... also an endocrinologist and a member of the Diabetes and Endocrinology Associates here at Shawnee Mission Medical ...
MD, Chief, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed...
The economics of medical computer networks are presented in context with the patient care and administrative goals of medical networks. Design alternatives and network topologies are discussed with...Full Text Available
SummaryNineteenth-century Vienna is well known to medical historians as a leading centre of medical research and education, offering easy access to patients and corpses to students...Full Text Available
RationaleProcedures for studying the effects of medications on satiation will assist the development of obesity medications.ObjectivesFull Text Available
The organizational structure of medical record departments in Iran is not appropriate for the efficient management of healthcare information. In addition, there is no strong information management division...Full Text Available
Safety related equipment installed in Korean Nuclear Power Plants are required to perform a safety function during and after a seismic event. To accomplish this safety function, they must be seismically qualified in accordance with the intent and requirements of the USNRC Reg. Guide 1.100 Rev. 02 and IEEE Std. 344-1987. This paper defines and summarizes acceptable criteria and procedures, based on the Korean experience, for seismic qualification of purchased equipment to be installed in a nuclear power plant. As such the paper is intended to be a concise reference by equipment designers, architectural engineering company and plant owners in uniform implementation of commitments to nuclear regulatory agencies such as the USNRC or Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) relating to adequacy of seismic Category 1 equipment. Thus, the paper provides the methodologies which can be used for qualifying equipment for safely related service in Nuclear ...
This document describes payload control at LLNL to ensure that all shipments of CH-TRU waste in the TRUPACT-II (Transuranic Package Transporter-II) meet the requirements of the TRUPACT-II SARP (safety report for packaging). This document also provides specific instructions for the selection of authorized payloads once individual payload containers are qualified for transport. The physical assembly of the qualified payload and operating procedures for the use of the TRUPACT-II, including loading and unloading operations, are described in HWM Procedure No. 204, based on the information in the TRUPACT-II SARP. The LLNL TRAMPAC, along with the TRUPACT-II operating procedures contained in HWM Procedure No. 204, meet the documentation needs for the use of the TRUPACT-II at LLNL. Table 14-1 provides a summary of the LLNL waste generation and certification procedures as they relate to TRUPACT-II payload compliance.
This document describes an educational program designed to provide a pool of highly qualified administrative, technical, and managerial graduates that are familiar with the Hanford Site and business operations. The program is designed to provide work experience and mentoring to a culturally diverse student base which enhances affirmative employment goals. Short-term and long-term objectives of the program are outlined in the report, and current objectives are discussed in more detail. Goals to be completed by the year 2003 are aimed at defining the criteria necessary to establish partnerships between schools, community organizations, and human resources departments. Actions to be implemented includes providing instructors and equipment, enhancing skills of local teachers, and establishing collaboration with human resources organizations. Long-term goals of the program are to ensure a constant supply of qualified, trained workers to support ...
The Health Physics, Safety and Medical Services Report for Harwell Laboratory for 1989 includes data on the monitoring of the working environment, personnel monitoring, radiological incidents, disposal of radioactive waste and protection of the public. Work on emergency planning, non-radiological health and safety, occupational hygiene, operations support is also discussed. Finally the medical services available and the medical examinations performed are described. (UK).
Choosing a medical device is complex and requires a transparent process based on reason, evidence and assessment of prioritized public health needs. Poor choices lead to inappropriate use or non-use of medical devices and a waste of resources.This report suggests how an agenda to improve access to appropriate medical devices could be devised from applying the crucial 4 components - Availability, Accessibility, Appropriateness, and Affordability, to the 15 global high-burden diseases and some cross-cutting issues. The results of this exercise suggest several areas of research necessary to help
s. Manufacturing Yes No. t. Renewable Energy Yes No ...... Computational software is sought to simulate of the response of advanced composite fan ...... Thermal energy storage and utilization using bulk or processed regolith ...... scale up roadmap to 1 to 2+ meter class space qualifiable flight optics systems. ...
125I-seeds are extensively used in ocular and interstitial brachytherapy for the treatment of various malignant lesions. Quality assurance and classification performance testing of indigenously produced 125I-seeds were carried out for ensuring their safety in different brachytherapy applications. The sources were found to qualify Class -43211 specifications, in accordance with AERB SS-3 and ISO-2919. (author)
Revisions at steam turbines should present a problem-free procedure due to the long use of these machines. Changes in the market result in difficulties during the inspection work. The shortage of qualified personnel and manufacturing capacities are the cause for these difficulties. Important procedures of revisions are described in detail in the VGB regulations. Direct contacts between the customers and the suppliers facilitate the expirations substantially. In the case of good planning and under consideration of the well-known regulations, a revision can be accomplished to the satisfaction of customers and suppliers.
Data Qualification (DQ) is a formal, technical process whose objective is to affirm that experimental data are suitable for their intended use. Although it is not possible to develop a fixed recipe for the DQ process to cover all test situations, these general guidelines have been developed for the Nuclear Engineering Section to establish a framework for qualifying data from steady-state processing. These guidelines outline the role of the DQ team providing insight into the planning and conducting of the DQ process.
Qualifying corrosion inhibitors for use in high velocity multiphase flowlines in arctic or subsea environments is discussed. The tests include high velocity flow loop corrosion tests, pumpability through 0.125 (0.318 cm) inch capillary at low temperatures, compatibility with Nylon 11, emulsion tendency testing, and partitioning characteristics. Laboratory and field data show the importance for using the above criteria for inhibitor selection.
... be able to watch the many intricate steps Dr. Richard Alexander must accomplish to remove the cancer. ... door to informed medical care. Now let's join Dr. Richard Alexander at the University of Maryland Medical ...
The study examines the question of whether or not civilian marketing practices and principles can be applied in the military care setting. Using the NRMC Great Lakes as a basis, the answer is yes--consumers of military medical care are ready to be the rec...
This paper describes how a computerized MIS is used to assist HMO management to conduct utilization and quality of care review activities in a prepaid medical care network. The HMO is a ‘network’...Full Text Available
What do we mean when we say that a mental condition is a medical disorder rather than a normal form of human suffering or a problem in living? The status of psychiatry as a medical discipline depends...Full Text Available
By analyzing the data of 459 patients who completed the Supportive Care Needs Survey (SCNS), the prevalence, medical and non-medical predictors of unmet needs were investigated. Breast cancer patients...Full Text Available
As the Medical Library Association (MLA) enters its second century, its role in providing leadership and focus for the education of health information professionals in a changing environment will be...Full Text Available
Patient-centered interdisciplinary health care for children with chronic medical disorders represents an evolution from the traditional “stop and go” treatment for acute illnesses. This...Full Text Available
ObjectivesModernising Medical Careers (MMC) emerged in response to acknowledged problems in training in the Senior House Officer grade. The objective of this study was to assess...Full Text Available
One membrane oxygen enricher (Oxygen Enrichment Company OE-4E) and four molecular sieve (MS) concentrators (Mountain Medical Econo2, De Vilbiss MINI DeVO2, Cryogenic Roomate III, and Mountain Medical...Full Text Available
There is a pressing need for medical graduates to be fully prepared to take on the responsibilities of prescribing and to be able to respond to continual inevitable rapid changes in therapeutics. The...Full Text Available
We propose new method of assessment of histological images for medical diagnostics. 2-D image is preprocessed to form 1-D landscapes or 1-D signature of the image contour and then their complexity is...Full Text Available
A theoretical framework centering on four classes of self-referent constructs is offered as a device for integrating the diverse areas constituting medical sociology. Guidance by this framework...Full Text Available
OJECTIVEThis study seeks to identify practices of self-medication in the treatment of ocular emergencies. We examine patients’ use of both homemade preparations and manufactured...Full Text Available
ObjectiveComputerized physician order entry with clinical decision support has been shown to improve medication safety in adult inpatients, but few data are available regarding its...Full Text Available
The paper demonstrates several ways that medical language processing can be combined with emerging display technologies to facilitate the extraction of data from free-text patient documents. The techniques...Full Text Available
The strong value in American medical practice placed on the disclosure of terminal illness conflicts with the cultural beliefs of many recent refugees and immigrants to the United States, who often...Full Text Available
In the information age, information utilities like libraries are as sensitive to the stresses of change as any other organization. This article is a case study of a small, specialized medical library...Full Text Available
BackgroundEstablishing an evidence-based method of improving knowledge and attitudes concerning depression has been identified as a priority in Chinese medical education. The purpose...Full Text Available
PURPOSE This study was designed to evaluate the impact of electronic medical record (EMR) implementation on quality of diabetes care.METHODS We conducted a 5-year longitudinal...Full Text Available
Few data exist about the impact of computerized prescribing systems on outpatient medication errors (MEs) and adverse drug events (ADEs). We compared the rates of MEs and ADEs in handwritten sites versus...Full Text Available
The concept of "one-stop information shopping" is becoming a reality at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. Our goal is to provide access from a single workstation to clinical, research, and library...Full Text Available
... different personal wellness goals for you. HIV Health Management With a good medical team and a desire to reach wellness goals , people with HIV can have a virtually normal lifespan. Take the HIV Wellness Quiz Test your knowledge and find out where you need to learn ...
The development of the Multimedia Electronic Medical Record System (MEMRS) promises new opportunities to significantly reduce the routine use of film as the medium for viewing radiological medical images....Full Text Available
BackgroundProfessionalism is a difficult construct to define in medical students but aspects of this concept may be important in predicting the risk of postgraduate misconduct. For...Full Text Available
It is usually very complex to design an Integrated Information System in a hospital that includes both in-patient and out-patient medical care data. The difficulty appears because each department...Full Text Available
Certain structural and environmental factors other than technical combination of resources and firm size are hypothesized to affect medical practice output. Four groups of variables related to physician...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe purpose of the study was to compare the knowledge scores of medical students in Problem-based Learning and traditional curriculum on public health topics.Full Text Available
The overarching goal of medical training is to nurture the growth of knowledgeable, caring and insightful clinicians guided by the ideals of medical professionalism. Recent definitions of professional...Full Text Available
This article describes a new set of revised standards for the medical laboratory, which have been produced by Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd (CPA). The original standards have been in use...Full Text Available
In a mass casualty situation, medical personnel at the disaster site and other field treatment settings may need to monitor the vital signs of hundreds of seriously injured patients with minimal staffing....Full Text Available
Realization of Pharmacological Tests, Development of the Specifications and Technical Documentation and Registration in the Russian Federation of Medical Products as Soluble Tablets of Acetylsalicylic Acid/Calcium Carbonate in Two Dosages Intended for use as Medical Products Smoothing, Febrifugal and Antiaggregation Action and Development of Technology of Tableting the Above-Stated Preparations
BackgroundErrors have been the concern of providers and consumers of health care services. However, consumers' perception of medical errors in developing countries is rarely explored....Full Text Available
... military medical education, environmental security activities, and provides e-mail capabilities and other basic information management capabilities. ...
... Title : Mental Health and Resilience: Soldiers' Perceptions about Psychotherapy, Medications, and Barriers to Care in the United States Military. ...
Only a small number of radiation accidents in the United States have been severe enough to result in multi-organ failure (MOF). Medical details of selected medical misadministration and criticality cases are reviewed, with an emphasis on pathophysiology. The four criticality cases are particularly relevant for analysis of MOF, since medical treatment was supportive and did not appreciably alter the clinical evolution of radiation injury. PMID:15975871
This study mainly concerns medical explorations by radioisotopes. Detectors with medical exams and applications are described. Ionisation chambers, semiconductor detectors and scintillation counters are also presented. Uses of radioisotopes in medicine in vivo and in vitro techniques are explained. Examples of scintiscanning are given like: angiography, nuclear cardiography and thyroid scintiscanning. The importance of the study is to present a panorama of nuclear medicine laboratories -at the time- in hospitals in Lebanon.
Information technology plays an important role in medicine because of the advanced decision support systems (DSS) it can provide. We provide an overview of the building blocks necessary for a medical decision support system and introduce seven research articles in this special issue that describe the development and evaluation of individual medical DSS building blocks or complete medical DSS.
Throughout most of the 1980s, both private organizations and government agencies were concerned about the availability of an adequate supply of qualified nuclear engineers. This concern was primarily the result of a number of nuclear engineering academic programs being eliminated coupled with a continuous decline in graduate and undergraduate enrollments and degrees. By the early 1990s, the number of degrees and available supply had declined to new lows, but cutbacks in funding for the nuclear weapons program and nuclear energy R&D, and in hiring by the electric utility industry, offset in large measure the declining supply. Recently, concerns about environment and waste management and about nuclear safety have again generated questions about the adequacy of supply of qualified personnel for nuclear energy activities. This report briefly examines the nuclear engineering labor market. Trends in employment, new graduates, job openings, and ...
Radiation protection in medicine has unique aspects and is an essential element of medical practice. Medical uses of radiation occur throughout the world, from large cities to rural clinics. It has been estimated that the number of medical procedures using radiation grew from about 1.7 billion in 1980 to almost 4 billion in 2007. In spite of these large numbers, there are many parts of the world without adequate equipment, where the ability to perform additional medical procedures would likely result in a net benefit. Medicine accounts for more than 99.9% of the per caput effective dose from man-made sources. The goal in medical exposure is not to give the lowest dose, but to provide the correct dose to enable the practitioner to make the diagnosis or cure a tumour. Too little or too much ...
Since several years, several manufacturers of circuit breakers from various countries (South Africa, UK, The Netherlands, USA..) try to impose in accommodations a highly sensitive electronic-type of differential circuit-breaker initially devoted to industrial installations where qualified and experienced professionals are present. This technical paper presents first the principles of the classical electromechanical circuit breakers and of the electronic circuit breaker, and then compares their relative efficiency and level of safety in residential use conditions (grounding schemes, voltage drops, rupture of the neutral conductor, rupture of the phase conductor, overvoltages). (J.S.)
In the 1988 February issue of this magazine the units olf and decipol were introduced. Olf is a measure for the pollution load and decipol for the indoor air quality. This article discusses a new ventilation theory which is quantified by the new indoor air quality thermal comfort balance based on the units olf and decipol. This balance requires more ventilation air than for the present regulations. It takes into account all pollution sources. 2 figs., 9 refs., 3 tabs.
Prior to routine use, all newly installed x-ray machines must have a radiation-protection survey by a qualified expert. The survey is an evaluation of existing or potential radiation hazards associated with the use of diagnostic x-ray equipment under specific conditions. Such evaluation includes the measurement of exposure levels in the environment as well as environmental levels arising from operation of the equipment. The survey also includes an evaluation of the safety characteristics of the x-ray unit.
BACKGROUND: The urgent need for patient safety education for healthcare students has been recognised by many accreditation bodies, but to date there has been sporadic attention to undergraduate/graduate medical programmes. Medical students themselves have identified quality and safety of care as an important area of instruction; as future doctors and healthcare leaders, they must be prepared to practise safe healthcare. Medical education has yet to fully embrace patient safety concepts and principles into existing medical curricula. Universities are continuing to produce graduate doctors lacking in the patient safety knowledge, skills and behaviours thought necessary to deliver safe care. A significant challenge is that patient safety is still a relatively new concept and area of study; thus, many medical educators are unfamiliar with the literature and unsure how to integrate ...
BACKGROUND: The urgent need for patient safety education for healthcare students has been recognised by many accreditation bodies, but to date there has been sporadic attention to undergraduate/graduate medical programmes. Medical students themselves have identified quality and safety of care as an important area of instruction; as future doctors and healthcare leaders, they must be prepared to practise safe healthcare. Medical education has yet to fully embrace patient safety concepts and principles into existing medical curricula. Universities are continuing to produce graduate doctors lacking in the patient safety knowledge, skills and behaviours thought necessary to deliver safe care. A significant challenge is that patient safety is still a relatively new concept and area of study; thus, many medical educators are unfamiliar with the literature and unsure how to integrate ...
Weakly absorbing materials, such as biological, soft tissues, can be imaged by generating contrast due to the phase shift of X-rays. In the past decade, several methods for X-ray phase imaging were proposed and demonstrated. The performance of X-ray phase imaging is attractive in the field of medical imaging technology, and its development for practical use is expected. Many methods, however, have been developed under the assumption of the use of synchrotron radiation, which is an obstacle to practical use. The method based on Talbot (-Lau) interferometry enables us to use a compact X-ray source, and its development is expected as a breakthrough for medical applications. (author)
The book is intended as a source of information for general practioners and for medical students doing their practical training. Efficient application of imaging methods is explained with great emphasis on practical aspects, concentrating on typical tasks to be solved for adult patients with internal disease or surgical problems. The material is arranged by various organic systems of the body. Graded diagnostics for a stepwise approach to the final diagnosis is the concept described, and is shown to be of advantage to the patient and in terms of cost and time.
During the 1990s, a debate took place in Sweden concerning Conductive Education. Proponents of this method focused their critique on the role and methods of physiotherapists but this profession was not active in the debate. Instead, the medical profession came out as defenders of habilitation services and methods. Departing from sociology of the professions, our objective in this article is to analyze the physiotherapists' silence in relation to the profession's position and its relation to the medical profession. The analysis is based on data from interviews with members of habilitation teams and other key persons, and on documents. The relative silence of physiotherapists is found to be related to both interprofessional factors (the subordination under the medical profession paired with ...
Radiology departments often underestimate the importance of protecting medical data during transmission, including the precautions taken to ensure data protection. In teleradiology, transmitted as well as stored patient data have to be signed digitally according to the currently valid regulation (Roentgenverordnung, RoeV). The DICOM standard facilitates a digital signature. So far, medical image manufacturers only announced to support this security feature. We introduce a solution that extends the feature of digital signing to older modalities. (orig.)
The article examines the contribution of the Military Medical Academy as an educational, research and medical institutions in the establishment and development of the national Russian manned spaceflight. Lists the names of the Academy's scientists, working in laboratories and in the Cosmonaut Training Center. In 1958 the academy was formed Department of Aviation Medicine from the research laboratories of aviation medicine, psychophysiology, and encephalography, a division of pressure chambers and furnaces. Direct contribution to the preparation of the first manned space flight made by graduates of the academy, E.A. Karpov (the first chief of Cosmonauts Training Center. Yuri Gagarin) and I.A. Kolosov. Over the half century history of the Russian Space Military Medical Academy, prepared and sent to the CPC Gagarin more than 110 of its graduates. PMID:21770320
Aim:To present three patients with ocular disease who developed a range of complications following use of traditional medications.Settings...Full Text Available
BackgroundProfessionalism is a critical quality for physicians to possess. Physician professionalism has received increased attention in recent years, with many authorities suggesting...Full Text Available
Abstract The authors provide a survey of how images are used in radiation therapy to improve the precision of radiation therapy plans, and delivery of radiation treatment. In contrast...Full Text Available
Though notes in electronic medical record systems (EMRs) have advantages, they are often criticized for their unattractive and unprofessional appearance. We sought to identify notes regarded by physicians...Full Text Available
The WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardization authorized the National Institute for Medical Research to establish an International Reference Preparation of Erythropoietin on the basis of the...Full Text Available
PurposeTo describe etiologies and clinical characteristics of corneal opacities leading patients to seek cosmetic treatments.MethodsThe medical records...Full Text Available
The practice of urology is changing, not only from a medical and technological standpoint, but also from a business standpoint. New and improved computer technology and enhanced databases have allowed...Full Text Available
Abstract An important aspect of Chinese academic health science libraries is their involvement in teaching medical information retrieval courses as part of the medical curriculum. Health science librarians in China have a more formal teaching role than is generally found in Western countries, including many full time teaching positions. This article provides a case study of Kunming Medical University Library, where courses are provided as credit units at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The teaching practices of Chinese health science libraries are compared with teaching experiences reported in Western countries. It is noted that Chinese government s educational policy is similar to that of the United States in promoting the role of the library in teaching subjects as part of th...
High-throughput technologies for DNA sequencing and for analyses of transcriptomes, proteomes and metabolomes have provided the foundations for deciphering the structure, variation and function of the...Full Text Available
In the wake of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, medical relief organizations and individual practitioners mobilized to provide assistance. Here, an emergency medicine physician who worked with a Louisiana-based...Full Text Available
Securing the co-operation of persons supplying information required for medical statistics is essentially a problem in human relations, and an understanding of the motivations, attitudes, and behaviour...Full Text Available
AIM: To analyze the contribution of Orvosi Hetilap (Hungarian Medical Journal) to the field of gastroenterology.METHODS: All issues of the journal between 1857 and 2008 and identified...Full Text Available
ROBOT-ASSISTED RADICAL LAPAROSCOPIC PROSTATECTOMY WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER WINSTON-SALEM, NC 00:00:08 ANTHONY ATALA, MD: I would like ...
Objectives:Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of death in both the industrialized and developing countries globally. The economic evaluation of MI is undertaken...Full Text Available
... as the difference between date of birth and date of ... Final model selections were based on the ... approval by the Naval Submarine Medical Research ...
The practice of medical tourism depends on successfully informing potential patients about procedure options, treatment facilities, tourism opportunities, travel arrangements, and destination countries. The promotion of medical tourism includes a wide range of marketing materials such as flyers, booklets, and websites. Yet, there is a paucity of knowledge about the dissemination, content, and reception of these promotional materials. Drawing on a thematic content analysis of the promotional print material distributed at the first medical tourism trade show in Canada in 2009, the main purpose of this article is to identify and understand the messages and images that companies use to market India as a global destination. While researchers and news media frequently cite low cost procedures as...
Improving patient compliance with physicians’ treatment or prescription recommendations is an important goal in medical practice. We examine the relationship between treatment progress...Full Text Available
brain Printer-friendly version Email this page to a friend Share Primary lymphoma of the brain is cancer of the lymph cells that starts in the brain. Causes The cause of primary...
BackgroundMedication errors are common among inpatients and many are preventable with computerized prescribing. Relatively little is known about outpatient prescribing errors or...Full Text Available
Selected applications of novel techniques in Agricultural Biotechnology, Health Food formulations and Medical Biotechnology are being reviewed with the aim of unraveling future developments and policy changes that are likely to open new markets for Biotechnology and prevent the shrinking or closing of existing ones. Amongst the selected novel techniques with applications in both Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology are: immobilized bacterial cells and enzymes, microencapsulation and liposome production, genetic manipulation of microorganisms, development of novel vaccines from plants, epigenomics of mammalian cells and organisms, and biocomputational tools for molecular modeling related to disease and Bioinformatics. Both fundamental and applied aspects of the emerging new techniques are being discussed in relation to their anticipated, marked impact on future markets and present policy changes that are needed for success in either ...
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a life-threatening reaction of neuroleptic medication. The estimated incidence rate of neuroleptic malignant syndrome is between 1% and 1.5% of patients treated with...Full Text Available
... with the symptoms of MS have MS. Diagnosis Physical examination and medical history are very important in diagnosing MS. Physical exams include a variety of tests to check ...
The physical demands of performing on musical instruments can cause pain, sensory loss, and lack of coordination. Five cases illustrate common problems. Knowledge of the interaction between the technique...Full Text Available
ObjectiveFamily-centered bedside rounds (FCBR) are recommended to improve trainee education, patient outcomes, and family satisfaction. However, bedside teaching...Full Text Available
The Department of Defense (DOD) will soon issue a directive to test all incoming military personnel for the presence of hemoglobin S. The military testing program for hemoglobin S is an occupational...Full Text Available
... The AAT Z mutation involves a single amino acid substitution (glutamine for lysine) at position 342, resulting in abnormal folding and polymerization of the ...
BackgroundLymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare lung disease characterised by progressive airflow obstruction. No effective medical treatment is available but therapy with sirolimus...Full Text Available
Hyperglycemia frequently occurs with acute medical illness, especially among patients with cardiovascular disease, and has been linked to increased morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients....Full Text Available
This study was carried out to determine the rate and types of injuries experienced by boardsailors. Results derive from: (a) a review of hospital medical records for water sports injuries, and (b) a...Full Text Available
... objective of this research work were to 1 ... function of experimentally manipulated dogs to define ... Escherichia coli; Sepsis; Military medicine; Medical ...
Invasive fungal infections can be devastating, particularly in immunocompromised patients, and difficult to treat with systemic drugs. Furthermore, systemic administration of those medications...Full Text Available
Because the proportion of Hispanic patients is increasing rapidly, most physicians are now coming into daily contact with Hispanics. In addition to obvious difficulty with oral communication, Hispanics...Full Text Available
PurposeHealth information technology (HIT) and physician career satisfaction are associated with higher-quality medical care. However, the link between HIT and physician...Full Text Available
The invention of the microscope disclosed a whole new world, that of the hitherto invisibly small. Histologic evidence as revealed by the microscope has become a cornerstone of medical diagnosis, and...Full Text Available
The purpose of this note is to provide guidance to those who have duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act and other relevant legislation. It gives guidance on the practical application of legislation, concerning radiotherapy equipment. Two particular issues arise out of the requirements of Regulation 33 of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985 (IRR85) in relation to equipment which is used for medical exposures. These are the requirement to select, install and maintain this type of equipment in such a way that it is capable of restricting, so far as reasonably practicable, the medical exposure of any person where this is compatible with the intended clinical purpose, including the need to ensure that equipment used for radiotherapy is properly calibrated, and the requirement to notify the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) when an incident occurs involving a malfunction or defect in any 'radiation equipment' which ...
Privacy-preserving machine learning algorithms are crucial for the increasingly common setting in which personal data, such as medical or financial records, are analyzed. We provide general...Full Text Available
BackgroundAlthough advances in rehydration therapy have made cholera a treatable disease with low case-fatality in settings with appropriate medical care, cholera continues...Full Text Available
In 2005, the American Medical Informatics Association undertook a set of activities relating to clinical decision support (CDS), with support from the office of the national coordinator and the Agency...Full Text Available
CESAREAN SECTION SHAWNEE MISSION MEDICAL CENTER MERRIAM, KANSAS March 13, 2008 00:00:09 ANNOUNCER: Tonight you will experience the miracle of birth during ...
CESAREAN SECTION SHAWNEE MISSION MEDICAL CENTER MERRIAM, KANSAS March 13, 2008 00:00:09 ANNOUNCER: Tonight you will experience the miracle of birth during a live ...
The Systems Development Group and the Pharmacy Service of the Washington D.C. VAMC are involved in automating the administrative and clinical data requirements of a satellite out-patient pharmacy....Full Text Available
INTRODUCTIONInformatics and automation are important tools for the reduction of work, errors and costs in a hospital pharmacy.OBJECTIVESTo describe...Full Text Available
Cholera is a severe diarrheal disease caused by specific serogroups of Vibrio cholerae that are pathogenic to humans. Cholera can become epidemic and deadly without adequate medical...Full Text Available
... in MEDCAP "the level of interface was left up ... of these patients had peripheral nerve injuries, head ... with poorly constructed prosthesis or waiting for ...
Malformations of the cerebral cortex are recognized as a common cause of developmental delay, neurological deficits, mental retardation and epilepsy. Currently, the diagnosis of cerebral cortical...Full Text Available
Chinese and Chumash traditional medical approaches are similar in terms of disease causation, use of acupuncture or healing touch, plants, spiritual and philosophical approaches. This article provides...Full Text Available
This bibliography of nonserial publications consists of 610 annotations. It is intended as a guide to the development of a collection for librarians and for health professionals in research and education....Full Text Available
Instructions and control measures related to enteric contagious diseases at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Montreal are presented....Full Text Available
A Real-Time Operating System(RTOS) is an Operating System(OS) intended for real-time applications. Benchmarking is a point of reference by which something can be measured. The QNX is a Real Time Operating System(RTOS) developed by QSSL(QNX Software Systems Ltd.) in Canada. The ELMSYS is the brand name of commercially available Personal Computer(PC) for applications such as Cabinet Operator Module(COM) of Digital Plant Protection System(DPPS) and COM of Digital Engineered Safety Features Actuation System(DESFAS). The ELMSYS PC Hardware is being qualified by KTL(Korea Testing Lab.) for use as a Cabinet Operator Module(COM). The QNX RTOS is being dedicated by Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). This paper describes the outline and benchmarking test results on Context Switching, Message Passing, Synchronization and Deadline Violation of QNX RTOS under the ELMSYS PC platform
Over a 6.5-year period a total of 2554 values were reported by nine laboratories for 259 certified or reference nutrient concentrations in 26 certified reference materials (CRM) submitted to contract laboratories, blinded, as part of the qualifying process for analytical contracts and in the routine sample stream as part of the National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program. Each value was converted to a Z?-score, reflecting the difference from the assigned value related to the combined expected analytical uncertainty plus the uncertainty in the CRM value. Z?-scores >|3.0| were considered unacceptable. For some nutrients (Na, folate, dietary fiber, pantothenic acid, thiamin, tocopherols, carotenoids, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids), >20% of Z?-scores were >|3.0|. For total f...
This manual was written for individuals who wish to become qualified in radiation protection as an adjunct to working with sources of ionizing radiation or using radionuclides in the field of medicine. It provides the radiation user with information needed to protect himself and others and to understand and comply with governmental and institutional regulations regarding the use of radionuclides and radiation machines. It is designed for a wide spectrum of users, including physicians, research scientists, engineers, and technicians. It should be useful also to radiation safety officers, members of radiation safety committees, and others who are responsible for the proper use of radiation sources, although they may not be working with the sources directly. The presentation in this manual is designed to obviate the need for reviews of atomic and radiation physics, and the mathematics has been limited to elementary arithmetical and algebraic operations.
Fetal exposure to phthalates may be associated with adverse reproductive effects, including cryptorchidism and decreased semen quality. Information about human placental transfer is needed to qualify the hypotheses. A dual recirculating placenta perfusion system to monitor concentrations of eight phthalate monoesters in fetal and maternal perfusates was established. In addition to perfusate background measures of phthalate monoesters, the concentrations in umbilical cord plasma and placenta tissue were measured. Monomethyl phthalate (mMP), monoethyl phthalate (mEP), monobutyl phthalate (mBP), and mono (2-ethyl-hexyl) phthalate (mEHP) were detected in both maternal and fetal perfusate, demonstrating a release of compounds from tissue or blood to perfusates. The distribution of compounds bet...
Objective: To describe the meaning of the theme of empowerment from research on health promotion in nursing from the perspective of nurses participating in the study. Methods: Manual data analysis and QSR NUD*IST Vivo were used to analyse the data generated by individual and focus group interviews and the critical incident technique with 32 qualified nurses working in an acute hospital setting in the UK. Results: The participants identified a number of issues related to the theme of empowerment. These included the nurse as patient informer, psychological supporter and rapport builder and the concepts of informed choice/decision making, gatekeeping, coping, patient assertiveness, self-esteem and confidence. Conclusion: Empowerment is a complex, multi-dimensional, contested concept which can...
The RD50 collaboration has been exploring the development of radiation hard semiconductor devices for very high-luminosity colliders since 2002. The target fluence to qualify detectors set by the anticipated dose for the innermost tracking layers of the future upgrade of the CERN large hadron collider (LHC) is 1016 1 MeV neutron equivalent (neq) cm-2. This is about an order of magnitude higher than the maximum dose for the most exposed silicon detectors in the current machine. RD50 investigates the radiation hardening of silicon sensors from many angles: improvement of the intrinsic tolerance of the substrate material, optimisation of the readout geometry and study of novel design of detectors. A review of some of the recent activities within RD50 is here presented.
The RD50 collaboration has been exploring the development of radiation hard semiconductor devices for very high-luminosity colliders since 2002. The target fluence to qualify detectors set by the anticipated dose for the innermost tracking layers of the future upgrade of the CERN large hadron collider (LHC) is 1016 1MeV neutron equivalent (neq) cm-2. This is about an order of magnitude higher than the maximum dose for the most exposed silicon detectors in the current machine. RD50 investigates the radiation hardening of silicon sensors from many angles: improvement of the intrinsic tolerance of the substrate material, optimisation of the readout geometry and study of novel design of detectors. A review of some of the recent activities within RD50 is here presented.
In 1977 and 1978, Sandia National Laboratories, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and operated for the US Department of Energy (DOE), filmed a series of crash and fire tests performed on three casks designed to transport irradiated nuclear fuel assemblies. While the tests were performed to assess the applicability of scale and computer modeling techniques to actual accidents, films of them were quickly pressed into service by the DOE and nuclear utilities as ``proof`` to the public of the safety of the casks. In the public debate over the safety of irradiated nuclear fuel transportation, the films have served as the mainstay for the nuclear industry. Although the scripts of all the films were reviewed by USDOE officials before production, they contain numerous misleading concepts and images, and omit significant facts. The shorter versions eliminated qualifying statements contained in the longer version, and created false impressions. This paper discusses factors ...
Excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance combined with low weight qualify ?-titanium materials for lightweight applications in aviation, automotive and energy engineering. Thus far, actual applications of these materials have been limited due to high material costs and limited processing knowledge. One approach for developing resource-efficient manufacturing methods is the application of incremental forming methods. This article focuses on the development of the incremental spin extrusion process, which creates hollow profiles from solid bars. This method allows hollow shape manufacturing with a much higher flexibility than other forming methods and a significantly improved material utilization in comparison to machining methods, such as deep hole drilling. Beta-titanium al...
The authors discuss 84 cases of laparoscopic examination of women with primary or secondary infertility. The patients qualified for this examination had undergone at least 26 weeks of conventional treatment with no effect. In 7 cases the reproductive organ was found to be in order, with fallopian tubes fully patent. In 43 cases tubar inpatency was found (using hysterosalpingographic examination). The remaining patients suffered from other reproductive organ disorders. Therefore, the laparoscopic examination made detailed recognition of the causes of infertility possible and thus helped to establish the proper treatment. Additionally, in some cases it enabled the immediate removal of the source of infertility. (author)
We present preliminary analysis for the feasibility of the attosecond x-ray pulses at a proposed FERMI@ELETTRA free electron laser (FEL) [1]. In part 1 we restrict ourselves to minimal modifications to the proposed FEL and consider a scheme for attosecond x-ray production which can be qualified as a small add-on to a primary facility. We demonstrate that at 5-nm wavelength our scheme is capable for production of pulses with an approximate duration of 100 attoseconds at approximately 2 MW peak power and with an absolute temporal synchronization to a pump laser pulse. In part 2 we propose to use an FEL amplifier seeded by a VUV signal and to follow it by the scheme for attosecond x-ray production described in part 1.
The most effective way to generate electricity out of biomass is the gasification and the use of the gas in a gas engine. The conversion of the organic carbon with the gasification of biomass is higher than 95 %. Depending on the gasification concept, the efficiency of gasifiers is found between 70 and 90 %. If the pyrolysis gas is used in a gas engine, an electric efficiency of about 26 % referring to the primary amount of energy can be obtained. With efficient gas cleaning (cleaning for tar and dust), pyrolysis gas is well qualified for engine combustion. Through modern state of engine controlling there are ways to have complete control of the fluctuations in the gas composition. Furthermore, the minor calorific value of offered wood gas poses no problem for turbo charged lean-burn gas engines. (orig.)
The National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program (NFNAP) was implemented in 1997 to update and improve the quality of food composition data maintained by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). NFNAP was designed to sample and analyze frequently consumed foods in the U.S. food supply using statistically rigorous sampling plans, established sample handling procedures, and qualified analytical laboratories. Methods for careful handling of food samples from acquisition to analysis were developed to ensure the integrity of the samples and subsequent generation of accurate nutrient values. The infrastructure of NFNAP, under which over 1500 foods have been sampled, mandates tested sample handling protocols for a wide variety of foods. The majority of these foods were categorized into ...
In spite of recent education reform and reorganization efforts requiring the use of research-based methods, the fundamental elements of an effective program for children and youth with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) have not been succinctly identified. This article presents the essential features of programs for students with EBD. Program elements include (a) qualified and committed professionals, (b) utilitarian environmental supports, (c) effective behavior management plans, (d) valid social skill and social interpretation training and social interaction programs, (e) proven academic support systems, (f) strong parent- and family-involvement programs, (g) coordinated community support mechanisms, and (h) ongoing evaluation of essential program components and student outcomes and progress. A justification for the program and a comparison of the proposed program with existing models is included in the discussion. (Contains 1 figure.)
Sandia National Laboratories has the qualification evaluation responsibility for the design of certain components intended for use in nuclear weapons. Specific techniques in assurance and assessment have been developed to provide the quality evidence that the software has been properly qualified for use. Qualification Evaluation is a process for assessing the suitability of either a process used to develop or manufacture the product, or the product itself The qualification process uses a team approach to evaluating a product or process, chaired by a Quality Assurance professional, with other members representing the design organization, the systems organization, and the production agency. Suitable for use implies that adequate and appropriate definition and documentation has been produced and formally released, adequate verification and validation activities have taken place to ensure proper operation, and the software product meets all requirements, explicitly or ...
This paper shows how molecular theory paves the way for accelerated aging tests of safety-related equipment in nuclear power plants, as required by NRC qualification programs. Arrhenius' model, based on an equation, provides useful information regarding the extent of molecular change as a function of time and temperature. Critical to determining the aging characteristics and qualified life of organic materials is the activation energy concept, which is derived from information gathered when the molecular reaction of the material is documented over the entire life cycle. In accelerated-aging applications, the importance of the model lies in characterizing the chemical related reactions of materials. The problem with the Arrhenius approach is that, in generating a testing period of reasonable duration, a rather high test temperature must be selected which may lead to an added and unrelated environmental effect.
On the basis of legally provided area dose measurements and time records of fluoroscopic examinations during the operation, radiation doses to medical personnel and patients are evaluated. Adequate radiation protection measures and a careful behaviour in the operating room keep the radiation exposure to the personnel below the maximum permissible exposure. Taking into account the continuous personnel radiation monitoring and medical supervision, radiation hazards in the operating room can be considered low.
An introduction is presented on the radiation hazards connected with biomedical radiography and nuclear medicine. The frequency of radiodiagnostic efforts was rather high in the Netherlands. This was reduced considerably by abolishing the thorax screening of the population. About diagnostic nuclear medicine less can be said because far fewer numerical data are available. An exposition of genetically and somatically significant doses and how to compute them is given. The drawing up of a profit versus risk evaluation for medical applications of ionizing radiations is recommended. (Auth.).
... orthopaedics, waiting times, NHS, private hospitals,health news, medical news, health services, medical treatments, health tips NHS ...be sent to private hospitals for surgery in a bid to bring orthopaedic waiting times under control. Plan to send NHS patients for ...
Neutron activation of nitrogen and hydrogen in the body, the isotope dilution technique and the measurement of naturally radioactive potassium in the body are among the new nuclear methods, now under collaborative development by the Australian Nuclear Scientific and Technology Organization and medical specialists from several Sydney hospitals. These methods allow medical specialists to monitor the patient's response to various diets and dietary treatments in cases of cystic fibrosis, anorexia nervosa, long-term surgical trauma, renal diseases and AIDS. ills.
We describe the architecture of LifeCode® (A-Life Medical, Inc.), a natural language processing system for free-text clinical information extraction, our methodology in applying LifeCode®...Full Text Available
This report is a brief review of biological and medical applications of ion-track membranes. The review aims at informing nuclear physicists about alternative (i.e. non-fundamental-science) use of heavy ion accelerators such as production of micro- and nano-porous materials. The ion-track membranes produced this way are employed in life sciences and numerous technological applications. The author focuses on recent results from the Flerov laboratory in co-operation with other scientific institutions and industrial partners.
We have investigated the detection performance of GaAs detectors made with different thickness and contact geometries. A comparison is made between these detection capabilities and the imaging requirements for the following medical applications: digital mammography, digital chest radiography and nuclear medicine. Experimental results and preliminary images are presented and discussed. (author)
This paper describes the research and development activities in three areas of radiation processing, namely: food irradiation, medical product sterilization and wood plastic combination. Plans and efforts exerted to acquire a larger gamma source to augment our present 5,000 curie source are discussed. Cost estimates for a radiation facility are presented on the basis of the market potential of food irradiation and medical product sterilization. Existing local industries that can benefit from the adaptation of irradiation technology in their processing requirements are described.
A team of physicians, pharmacists, and informatics professionals developed a CDSS added to a commercial electronic medical record system to provide prescribers with patient-specific maximum dosing recommendations...Full Text Available
Divided into diagnostic and treatment sections, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the most common medical procedures performed in modern clinical settings. Each section presents common names for the procedure; an outline of the disease or injury for which the procedure is performed; a brief review of the anatomical structures and physiological processes that are involved; staffing, equipment, and pre-procedure requirements; a detailed description of the procedure itself; and, a discussion of expected outcomes as well as potential complications. Each chapter includes a summary and
The paper is based on a NEA study entitled `Past Trends and Current State of Nuclear Research Institutes`, which has been published in 1996. The evolution of nuclear research institutes (NRIs) in NEA countries is described from their establishment in the early fifties to present. The objectives, missions, purposes, and competences of NRIs are highlighted. Further, the resources (budget, qualified manpower, equipment such as research reactors and laboratories) are analysed, emphasising the role of the government. Country specific examples are given to illustrate different aspects of the historic evolution, present status and trends of NRIs. It is expected that the future role of NRIs will reflect the progress in nuclear science and technology and the evolving requirements of the nuclear industry with regard to safety enhancement, fuel cycle optimisation, plant life time management and extension, decommissioning of nuclear facilities and radioactive waste disposal. ...
The paper is based on a NEA study entitled 'Past Trends and Current State of Nuclear Research Institutes', which has been published in 1996. The evolution of nuclear research institutes (NRIs) in NEA countries is described from their establishment in the early fifties to present. The objectives, missions, purposes, and competences of NRIs are highlighted. Further, the resources (budget, qualified manpower, equipment such as research reactors and laboratories) are analysed, emphasising the role of the government. Country specific examples are given to illustrate different aspects of the historic evolution, present status and trends of NRIs. It is expected that the future role of NRIs will reflect the progress in nuclear science and technology and the evolving requirements of the nuclear industry with regard to safety enhancement, fuel cycle optimisation, plant life time management and extension, decommissioning of nuclear facilities and radioactive waste disposal. ...
Objectives: Acupuncture has served as a major complementary and alternative therapy that supplements conventional medicine and is the subject of growing public interest. This study was conducted to estimate the usage rate of acupuncture as a supplemental treatment in acute ischaemic stroke patients and to identify factors associated with the choice to use this therapy. Methods: Using the registry of stroke patients admitted to an academic medical centre in Korea, the use of acupuncture therapy was recorded and analysed, along with the patients' socio-demographic characteristics, hospital access variables, risk factors for ischaemic stroke and clinical characteristics. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analyses. Results: O...
This book examines the applications of Monte Carlo (MC) calculations in therapeutic nuclear medicine, from basic principles to computer implementations of software packages and their applications in radiation dosimetry and treatment planning. It is written for nuclear medicine physicists and physicians as well as radiation oncologists, and can serve as a supplementary text for medical imaging, radiation dosimetry and nuclear engineering graduate courses in science, medical and engineering faculties. With chapters is written by recognised authorities in that particular field, the book covers the entire range of MC applications in therapeutic medical and health physics, from its use in imaging prior to therapy to dose distribution modelling targeted radiotherapy. The contributions discuss the fundamental concepts of radiation dosimetry, radiobiological aspects of targeted radionuclide therapy and the various components and ...
The first part of the study contains a literature compilation of more than 50 original publications reporting the radiation induced effects in 17 different high polymer materials and glass which are relevant in the manufacturing of medical devices or packing materials. The results collected demonstrate that high energy radiation, i.e. gamma- or X-rays, causes various physical and chemical alterations in high polymer materials. A detailed summary and discussion of the results of the original publications is not included in the present report, it will be presented in the second part of the study. Furthermore, the second part of the study will refer to the aspect of wholesomeness of irradiated medical devices or packing materials in a more general manner of representation. (orig.).
When evaluating the risks of oncogenesis and cancer mortality following exposure to the radiations of the atomic bombs (A-bombs), the medical X-ray doses received by the A-bomb survivors must also be estimated and considered. Using a human phantom, dosimetry was performed to estimate the X-ray doses received by A-bomb survivors during medical examinations at the Radiation Effects Foundation (RERF) as part of the long-term follow-up on the Adult Health Study (AHS). These examinations have been estimated to represent nearly 45% of the survivors' cumulative medical irradiation dose. Doses to the salivary glands, thyroid gland, lung, breast, stomach and colon were measured using thermoluminescent dosemeters. The results, which are reported here, will aid in estimating organ doses received by individual AHS participants. (Author).
When evaluating the risks of oncogenesis and cancer mortality following exposure to the radiations of the atomic bombs (A-bombs), the medical X-ray doses received by the A-bomb survivors must also be estimated and considered. Using a human phantom, dosimetry was performed to estimate the X-ray doses received by A-bomb survivors during medical examinations at the Radiation Effects Foundation (RERF) as part of the long-term follow-up on the Adult Health Study (AHS). These examinations have been estimated to represent nearly 45% of the survivors' cumulative medical irradiation dose. Doses to the salivary glands, thyroid gland, lung, breast, stomach and colon were measured using thermoluminescent dosemeters. The results, which are reported here, will aid in estimating organ doses received by individual AHS participants. (Author).
Medical Science Liaison (MSL) teams are a well-recognized function within the pharmaceutical and medical products industries. While in most organizations, MSLs have focused on the development of relationships with individual Key Opinion Leaders, progressive companies have realized the value that MSLs can also bring to Key Account Management (KAM). This article discusses the five steps that should be followed in order to successfully integrate the support of Key Accounts into an MSL function. These include understanding the business approach to KAM, identifying what MSL resources are available, developing a comprehensive strategic plan, implementing the plan, and evaluating and making any necessary adjustments. Finally, a case example outlining the experience of a small pharmaceutical compa...
One of the goals of the DARPA Virtual Soldier Project is to aid the field medic in the triage of a casualty. In Phase I, we are currently collecting 12 baseline experimental physiological variables and a cardiac gated Computed Tomography (CT) imagery for use in an prototyping a futuristic electronic medical record, the "Holomer". We are using physiological models and Kalman filtering to aid in diagnosis and predict outcomes in relation to cardiac injury. The physiological modeling introduces another few hundred variables. Reducing the complexity of the above into easy-to-read text to aid in the triage by the field medic is the challenge with multiple display solutions. A description of the possible techniques follows. PMID:15718701
ObjectiveThe aims of the study were to: determine the attitudes of parents, pediatric residents, and medical students from a Turkish population toward childhood disciplinary methods; ascertain the association of participants' abusive childhood history with their attitudes toward discipline; and assess their attitudes about disciplinary actions, which should be reported as abuse.MethodA cross-sectional survey was conducted in Ankara University School of Medicine, Department of Social Pediatrics. Sixty-five parents, 39 pediatric residents, and 106 medical students completed a questionnaire (Survey of Standards of Discipline). This questionnaire was designed to measure sociodemographic characteristics, attitudes toward childhood disciplinary practices, and abusive childhood experiences. There...
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic neurobehavioral disorder afflicting adults worldwide. This article is an update on the evidence supporting medications for adult ADHD, with particular emphasis on cardiovascular implications. Relevant clinical literature was sought using PubMed searches, with an emphasis on new reports from April 2009 to April 2011. This review describes the efficacy and general tolerability of stimulant and nonstimulant medications for adults with ADHD as seen in contemporary clinical trials. Cardiovascular response to medications for ADHD is primarily seen in heart rate and blood pressure elevations, while less is known about the etiology of rare cardiovascular events or long-term sequelae. Further research is indicated to delineate clinical an...
Most standard accounts of human anatomy and physiology are designed to meet the requirements of medical education and therefore consider their subject matter from the standpoint of typical rather than...Full Text Available
Bloodstream infection by highly antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), is a growing clinical problem that increasingly defies medical intervention....Full Text Available
BackgroundStrategies to accurately identify the occurrence of specific health care events in administrative data is central to many quality improvement and research efforts. Many...Full Text Available
Animal facilities generate a large amount of used bedding containing excrement as medical waste. We developed a recycling system for used bedding that involves soft hydrothermal processing. In this...Full Text Available
ObjectiveThis report provides updated estimates on use of electronic medical records (EMRs) in US home health and hospice (HHH) agencies, describes utilization of EMR functionalities,...Full Text Available
ObjectivesUse of prescription opioids for chronic pain is increasing, as is abuse of these medications, though the nature of the link between these trends is unclear....Full Text Available
Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) are potentially devastating, and due to their asymptomatic behavior, pose a serious health risk characterized by the lack of medical treatment options and high...Full Text Available
Technology is now available to allow a complete haemodynamic analysis; however this is only used in a small proportion of patients and seems to occur when the medical staff have the time and inclination....Full Text Available
BackgroundThroughout China, a growing number of physicians are leaving or intending to depart from their organizations owing to job dissatisfaction. Little information is available...Full Text Available
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between bladder trabeculation, urinary function, and the stage of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). The medical records of 104 patients with POP who underwent...Full Text Available
In a new approach to medical computer based education (CBE) students at several U.S. and Canadian health professions schools have been using an optical videodisc under computer control to study basic...Full Text Available
BackgroundIt remains unclear if certain antiretroviral medications, particularly abacavir, compromise response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy. Such data can inform...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe link between maternal factors and birth outcomes is well established. Substantial changes in society and medical care over time have influenced women's reproductive...Full Text Available
Abstract The Read Thesaurus (Version 3 of the Read Codes) is a controlled medical vocabulary produced during the Clinical Terms Projects with the involvement of over 2,000 health care...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe National Consortium for Multicultural Education for Health Professionals (Consortium) comprises educators representing 18 US medical schools, funded by the National...Full Text Available
Oxidative stress contributes to the pathophysiology of exposure to heavy metals/metalloid. Beneficial renal effects of some medications, such as chelation therapy depend at least partially on the ability...Full Text Available
This paper describes the deliverables framework developed by Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in its IAIMS planning process. The key deliverables include: visions for the future; mission,...Full Text Available
Every cook knows that microwaves and metal don't mix. But scientists at the National Institute of Standards have devised a way to make them compatible. If it all pans out, hospitals may be able to sterilize medical instruments and waste in a device similar to a conventional microwave oven.
Embryonic stem cells have the ability to develop into virtually any cell in the body, and may have the potential to treat medical conditions such as diabetes and Parkinsons disease. On August 9, 2001, President Bush announced that for the first time feder...
The likelihood that past experience will produce correct guides to current practice depends on the signal-to-noise ratio for the clinical problem of interest. If the signal-to-noise ratio is high, the...Full Text Available
Pain caused by chronic pancreatitis is medically intractable and resistant to conventional interventional or surgical treatment. We report a case of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for intractable pain...Full Text Available
To assess the merits of currently available treatment options in the management of patients with low rectal cancer, a review of the medical literature pertaining to the operative and non-operative management...Full Text Available
This study assesses the contribution of smoking to all-cause mortality among a primarily minority cohort of urban transit operators. Survey and medical exam data, obtained from 1,785 workers (61% African...Full Text Available
Papers are presented in the areas of: Medical Technologies; Non-Destructive Evaluation; Applications of Signal/Image Processing; Laser Guide Star and Adaptive Optics; Computational Electromagnetic, Acoustics and Optics; Micro-Impulse Radar Processing; Optical Applications; TANGO Space Shuttle.
BackgroundPostoperative delirium is a topic of great importance in the geriatric surgical specialty. Although antipsychotic drugs are the medications most frequently used to treat...Full Text Available
The most publicly justifiable application of human cloning, if there is one at all, is to provide self-compatible cells or tissues for medical use, especially transplantation. Some have argued that...Full Text Available
BackgroundTo determine male outpatient attenders' sexual behaviours, expectations and experience of talking about their sexuality and sexual health needs with a doctor.MethodsA...Full Text Available
BackgroundDiscovery of biomarkers that are correlated with therapy response and thus with survival is an important goal of medical research on severe diseases, e.g. cancer. Frequently,...Full Text Available
The noninvasive assessment of cardiac function is of first importance for the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. Among all medical scanners only a few enables radiologists to evaluate the local cardiac...Full Text Available
In May 2002, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) signed Assistance Instrument Number DE-FC09-02CH11109 with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) to support the Environmental Biosciences Program (EBP). This funding instrument replaces DOE Assistance Instrument Number DE-FC02-98CH10902. EBP is an integrated, multidisciplinary scientific program, employing a range of research initiatives to identify, study and resolve environmental health risk issues. These initiatives are consistent with the Medical University's role as a comprehensive state-supported health sciences institution and the nation's need for new and better approaches to the solution of a complex and expansive array of environment-related health problems. The intrinsic capabilities of a comprehensive health sciences institution enable the Medical University to be a national resource for the scientific investigation of ...
Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are highly prevalent in older men. Medical therapy is the first-line treatment for LUTS associated with BPH. Mainstays...Full Text Available
The planned spallation source can be of considerable significance for biomedical basic research and for clinically relevant diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The following gives a brief description and explanations for its possible use in clinical medicine: I. Treatment of Malignant Tumors II. Production of Isotopes for Biochemical Investigations in Living Organisms for Diagnostic Purposes.
Atypical antipsychotic medications have assumed growing importance for the treatment of bipolar disorder, an illness that affects approximately 1.2%–3.7% of the general population in a given...Full Text Available
SummaryBackgroundThe US FDA has been collecting information on medical devices involved in significant adverse advents since 1984. These reports have...Full Text Available
ObjectivesTo examine the strength of the volume–outcome relationship among paramedics, a group of providers that has not been previously studied in this context. By identifying...Full Text Available
...broad range of experience in designing and building research and development laboratories for products such as vaccines, blood and sera, biological products, medical devices, solid dosage forms , highly potent products and cytotoxic material. We also have experience in a range of modular laboratories for TSE research, ...
ObjectiveTo test whether a disclosure intervention improves subjective health and reduces medical consumption and sick leave in somatising patients in general practice.DesignNon-blind...Full Text Available
The achievements made in the field of radiation protection over the past 20 years are outlined. Risk analysis as applied to medicine is considered and genetic significant doses, genetic risks, somatic effective doses and somatic risks are discussed. (C.F.).
... His work has been recognised with numerous honours, including Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science; International Research Scholarships from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ; a Wellcome Trust Fellowship; the Glaxo-Wellcome Australia Medal; the Australian Academy of Science Gottschalk Medal; the Boehringer Mannheim Medal;...
... Previous Topic Pain Next Topic Scars and wounds Prostheses Prostheses (pross-THEE-sees) are man-made substitutes ... covered by medical insurance (this includes wigs). Breast prostheses: Contact your local chapter of the American Cancer ...
ORDINARY HUMAN REASONING MAY LEAD PATIENTS to provide an unreliable history of past experiences because of errors in comprehension, recall, evaluation and expression. Comprehension of a question may...Full Text Available
A patient’s electronic medical record contains a large amount of unstructured textual information. As patient records become increasingly dense owing to an aging population and increased occurrence...Full Text Available
Background:Falls have been identified as a potential adverse event associated with the administration of psychotropic medications to older patients.Objective:The...Full Text Available
Idiopathic frozen shoulder is a common medical diagnosis for patients seeking physical therapy. Radiographic and surgical evidence exists that describes the coracohumeral ligament (CHL) as a major contributor...Full Text Available
Medical treatment of heroin addiction with methadone and other pharmacotherapies has important benefits for individuals and society. However, regulatory policies have separated this treatment from the...Full Text Available
Severe pericardial effusion is a rare complication of bacterial pneumonia and it usually disappears under medical treatment. Herein we report a case of a girl with a congenital immunodeficient syndrome...Full Text Available
OBJECTIVE: To determine the common types of injuries among children (0-14 years) in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE). DESIGN: A retrospective descriptive hospital based study. SETTING: Al-Ain Medical...Full Text Available
Nowadays, percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation is a successful alternative to surgery for patients requiring treatment of pulmonary valve dysfunction. However, owing to the wide variety of implantation...Full Text Available
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of pregabalin in painful cervical or lumbosacral radiculopathy treated in Primary Care settings under routine clinical practice. An observational,...Full Text Available
Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society. Neurology. 2007;69:1991-2007. Rubin DH, Kornblau DH, Conway Jr EE, et al. Neurologic Disorders. In: Marx, JA, ed. Rosen's...
Background: Health information technologies (HIT) such as electronic medical records (EMR), computerized physician order entry (CPOE), and clinical decision support systems (CDSS) have...Full Text Available
The outcome of patients admitted to intensive care units is known to be influenced by such factors as age, previous health status, severity of disease, and diagnosis. To estimate the outcome of such...Full Text Available
... Biomedical Engineering Optical and Photonic Materials and Devices Fundamental Optical Interactions ... of Texas Medical School OPTICAL AND PHOTONIC MATERIALS AND DEVICES Gary Bjorklund, IBM, Chair Nan ...
Opioids have been regarded for millennia as among the most effective drugs for the treatment of pain. Their use in the management of acute severe pain and chronic pain related to advanced medical...Full Text Available
This article describes the new Health Sciences Library at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Virginia. The library was under construction for about two years and opened in...Full Text Available
The developing Integrated Academic Information System (IAIMS) at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center provides data sharing links between two separate corporate entities, namely Columbia University...Full Text Available
Reliable values of x-ray and gamma-ray attenuation coefficients of elements and compounds are required in spectrometry as well as in many other scientific, engineering and medical disciplines involving photon radiation
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating disorder, which produces profound deficits in volitional motor control. Following medical stabilization, recovery from SCI typically involves long term rehabilitation....Full Text Available
Objective:Parkinson disease (PD) may affect the autonomic nervous system and may cause constipation; however, few studies have explored constipation preceding the motor onset of...Full Text Available
Driving buses in London is an occupation in which the standards of fitness have been defined and in which the frequency of, and clinical reason for, exclusion from the occupation have been recorded.The...Full Text Available
The prognosis for patients with newly diagnosed malignant gliomas remains poor; however there have been some recent advances in treatment that have generated optimism. Medical management usually includes...Full Text Available
Multimodality imaging with PET/CT and SPECT/CT has become commonplace in clinical practice and in preclinical and basic medical research. Do other combinations of imaging modalities have a similar...Full Text Available
Less than half of older adults with depression achieve remission with antidepressant medications, and rates of remission are even poorer for those with comorbid conditions. Psychosocial interventions...Full Text Available
... of the American Medical Association JAMA PATIENT PAGE Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation W hen the heart stops beating (cardiac arrest), ... circulation (blood flow) returns or is restored. Providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation ( CPR ) is a way to keep some circulation ...
BackgroundIntegration of medical care across clinicians and settings could enhance the quality of care for patients. To date, there is limited data on the levels of integration in...Full Text Available
An ex-employee's claims that inadequate enforcement of radiation safety regulations allowed excess radiation exposure thereby causing his deteriorating health was not substantiated by a thorough investigation.
IntroductionThe aim of the study was to assess and classify incidents of electromagnetic interference (EMI) by second-generation and third-generation mobile phones on critical care...Full Text Available
In 2008, a clinical information tool was developed and embedded in the electronic health record system of an academic medical center. In 2009, the initial information tool, Clinical-e, was superseded...Full Text Available
Homeopathy was born as an experimental discipline, as can be seen from the enormous amount of homeopathic data collected over more than two centuries. However, the medical tradition of homeopathy has...Full Text Available
This paper describes Image Engine, an object-oriented, microcomputer-based, multimedia database designed to facilitate the storage and retrieval of digitized biomedical still images, video, and text...Full Text Available
Background and AimsSulfonylurea (SU) herbicides are used extensively in cereal–livestock farming zones as effective and cheap herbicides with useful levels of residual activity....Full Text Available
More than 30 years of experience in developing a computer-based patient record system, The Medical Record (TMR), in multiple settings, in multiple specialty groups, and at multiple sites has taught...Full Text Available
AimsTo identify the completeness of documentation of Complementary And Alternative Medicine (CAM) use in hospital medical records of patients before and after an education programme.Full Text Available
This paper presents HEARTVIEW - a knowledge base (KB) that offers aid for clinical research in cardiology. This KB is an essential component of the medical workstation MW2000, now under development...Full Text Available
BackgroundHerbs and other dietary supplements are among the most commonly used complementary medical therapies. However, clinicians generally have limited knowledge, confidence and...Full Text Available
Contemporary Western medicine has witnessed a fragmentation of our conceptualization of the medical endeavor into ‘traditional medicine’ and ‘non-traditional medicine’....Full Text Available
Porous Nitinol (PNT) has found vast applications in the medical industry as interbody fusion devices, synthetic bone grafts, etc. However, the tendency of the PNT to corrode is anticipated to...Full Text Available
...comply with funding body archiving policies, including the policies put in place by the National Institutes of Health, The Wellcome Trust and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute . Delayed Access Select journals provide content to some or all of a journalrsquo;s backfile. For example, articles in ...
Current methods of detecting confidentiality breaches in electronic medical record systems are inadequate, partially due to the lack of necessary information at the point of audit trail analysis. In...Full Text Available
Journal editorials are an important medium for communicating information about medical innovations. Evaluative statements contained in editorials pertain to the innovation's technical merits, as well...Full Text Available
New forms of payment, growing competition, the continued evolution of multiunit hospital systems, and associated forces are redefining the fundamental relationship between hospitals and physicians....Full Text Available
Psychological illness influences the experience and expression of pain and disability. We tested three null hypotheses: (1) patients with nonspecific pain (medically unexplained and idiopathic) and...Full Text Available
BackgroundWebsites of many rogue sellers of medications are accessible through links in email spam messages or via web search engines. This study examined...Full Text Available
For the evaluation of the kidney impairment, serum creatinine concentrations or glomerular filtration rates are mainly used, and the conditions of solitary or transplanted kidney and chronic dialysis...Full Text Available
BackgroundThis study investigated the knowledge of depression and preference for professional help, medications and treatment methods among Australians of Chinese-speaking background,...Full Text Available
In summer 2000, the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library at Yale University began a demonstration project to digitize classic articles in neurosurgery from the late 1800s and early 1900s. The objective of...Full Text Available
... Search Help? Coping with Test Pain, Discomfort, and Anxiety Introduction | Be Prepared | Know Your Tests | Relax | Conclusion ... though they may feel some embarrassment, discomfort, or anxiety at the outset. If undergoing medical tests makes ...
BackgroundAcute low back pain is a very common symptom and reason for many medical consultations. In some unusual circumstances it could be linked to a rare aetiology.Case...Full Text Available
Purpose:To provide a literature review of implant related complications from bilateral NewColorIris implantation (Kahn Medical Devices, Panama City, Panama).Methods:A...Full Text Available
BackgroundInvestigation of the functioning of the brain in living systems has been a major effort amongst scientists and medical practitioners. Amongst the various disorder of the...Full Text Available
child becomes unresponsive, stops breathing, or turns blue: Shout for help. Give infant CPR. Call 911 after one minute of CPR. If you can SEE the object blocking the airway, try...
A randomized intervention study was conducted to determine if discontinuing use of calf milk replacer medicated with oxytetracycline results in increased tetracycline susceptibility in Salmonella...Full Text Available
Carotid artery stenosis is a major risk factor for stroke, and treatments for this condition to decrease the risk of stroke include medical therapy, carotid endarterectomy (CEA), and, more recently,...Full Text Available
Drownings in Recreational Water Settings - United States, 2001-2002 While immediate CPR can save someone's life, often medical care in the hospital cannot prevent serious...
- flushing Chemotherapy - what to ask your doctor Dry Mouth Oral mucositis Peripherally inserted central catheter Radiation therapy - what to ask your doctor Safe drinking during...
SUMMARYThis article looks at medical approaches to women’s fertility in Argentina in the 1930s and explores the ways in which eugenics encouraged the reproduction of the...Full Text Available
... Since then he has pursued an academic career at the University of Bristol with a one year Fellowship at the the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in the USA. Through his work with ProXara (a biotechnology company) and committee work within Bristol University, Jeremy has amassed ...
The devastating earthquake in Sichuan, China on 12 May 2008 left thousands of survivors requiring medical care and intensive rehabilitation. In view of this great demand, the Chinese Speaking Orthopaedic...Full Text Available
BackgroundIn Germany, there is a shortage of young physicians in several specialties, the situation of general practitioners (GP) being especially precarious. The factors influencing...Full Text Available
This joint statement was developed by the CMA and the Canadian Pharmaceutical Association, a national association of pharmacists, and includes the goal of drug therapy, strategies for collaboration...Full Text Available
Described and discussed in this paper are radiation processes and their advantages over the conventional techniques. Radiation sterilization of medical products, food irradiation, wood plastic composites, and radiation treatment of sewage and waste waters are presented. The Philippine experience in using these technologies, its problems and barriers are also given. (ELC).
Alton Ochsner was a giant of American surgery. His career encompassed patient care, teaching, and research as symbolized on the original seal of the Ochsner Clinic. His ideas were innovative and groundbreaking...Full Text Available
Very few areas of medical science have experienced more rapid development of new and beneficial treatment approaches during the past two decades than the disciplines required for total care of patients...Full Text Available
CONTEXTThe impact of residents on hospital finance has been studied; there are no data describing the economic effect of residents on attending physicians.OBJECTIVEIn...Full Text Available
OBJECTIVE: To increase cost-efficiency while maintaining the standard of medical care, an accelerated surgical stay program for patients having breast surgery was instituted. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA:...Full Text Available
Sensitivity and specificity measure inherent validity of a diagnostic test against a gold standard. Researchers develop new diagnostic methods to reduce the cost, risk, invasiveness, and time. Adequate...Full Text Available
IntroductionA rare side effect of antipsychotic medication is neuroleptic malignant syndrome, mainly characterized by hyperthermia, altered mental state, haemodynamic dysregulation,...Full Text Available
Image enhancement is of great importance in medical imaging where image resolution remains a crucial point in many image analysis algorithms. In this paper, we investigate brain hallucination...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe Emergency Care Summary (ECS) was introduced in 2006 to allow aspects of the general practitioner (GP; family doctor, equivalent to primary care physician) medical record...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe relationships between worker health and productivity are becoming clearer. However, few large scale studies have measured the direct and indirect cost...Full Text Available
BackgroundInsurance coverage of tobacco cessation medications increases their use and reduces smoking prevalence in a population. However, uncertainty about the impact of this coverage...Full Text Available
... York, 7/15/2008) Cancers Adrenal Gland Cancer Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy (Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Shawnee Mission, KS, ... MN, 1/24/2007) Colorectal Cancer Advances in Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery (Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical ...
The document published under A/63:46 and titled report of the scientific committee of United Nations for the study of ionizing radiations effects, gives the situation of the fifty sixth session of the committee that stood at Vienna from the 10. to 18. july 2008. In the chapter 3 of this report the writers summarize the strategic planning and the working program of the scientific committee for the period 2009-2013. They note that the committee worry about the inadequate means, particularly in personnel. The priorities for the given period will be the medical exposure of patients, the radiation levels and the effects of energy production, the exposure to natural radiation sources and the improvement of the understanding of the effects of the low doses radiation exposure. (N.C.)
Depending on their unique physical properties, proton and heavy ions have taken an irreplaceable role in modern means of tumor treatment. One-step process and two-step process physical models were employed to explain the mechanism of ion energy loss. The transport process of proton and "1"2C in water was simulated by Geant4 toolkit to study the physical properties of ion beam. The calculation results were discussed, which showed the advantages and disadvantages of proton and "1"2C in the medical application. (authors)
This is a review of recently published literature on surgery in tropical Africa. It presents the current state of surgical need and surgical practice on the continent. We discuss the enormous burden of surgical pathology (as far as it is known) and the access to and acceptability of surgery. We also describe the available facilities in terms of equipment and manpower. The study looked at the effects of the human immunodeficiency virus, the role of traditional healers, anesthesia, and the economics of surgery. Medical training and research are discussed, as are medical migration out of Africa and the concept of task shifting, where surgical procedures are performed by others when surgeons are not available. It closes with recommendations for involvement and action in this area of great glob...
Oral mucositis associated with head and neck radiotherapy can substantially hinder completion of cancer therapy. Alleviation of this often severe stomatitis can provide enhanced patient comfort and facilitate appropriate care. A double-blind format was used in a pilot project to measure, against a control rinse, the effectiveness of an oral rinse consisting of hydrocortisone, nystatin, tetracycline, and diphenhydramine in controlling radiation-related mucositis. A combination of clinical evaluation and patient responses to a questionnaire was used to judge the results of the topical medications. Patients using the experimental medication developed less mucositis than did patients in the control group.
The document represents a guide for the external decontamination of persons accidentally radio contaminated due to the use, production or transport of radioactive materials. The general conditions, from the medical point of view, to be kept in mind, in the event of accidental overexposures as decontamination treatment and the handling of samples are detailed throughout report. The external contamination without injury in skin or with wound its considered. The distribution of measures and responsibilities for the therapy of the irradiated patients with radioactive materials are enumerated. The preparations of decontaminate solutions are detailed in this work. Moreover, forms for the reception, physical evaluation of the patient and external contamination are presented. (author)
A compact medical synchrotron is being developed which aims to promote the advanced radiotherapy based on the accelerator. As it is small-sized, a high field dipole magnet of 3 T at 200 kA is used. It is excited by the discharge current of the capacitor bank of which waveform is half sinusoidal. To provide with the flat field of 10 - 20 #mu#s duration for the multi-turn injection an additional power supply is developed. For the quadrupole magnet a 100 kHz switch-mode power supply is adopted as it requires the fine tuning and accurate field tracking to the dipole field. (author)
This book constitutes the thoroughly refereed post proceedings of the international workshop Computer Vision Approaches to Medical Image Analysis, CVAMIA 2006, held in Graz, Austria in May 2006 as a satellite event of the 9th European Conference on Computer Vision, EECV 2006. The 10 revised full papers and 11 revised poster papers presented together with 1 invited talk were carefully reviewed and selected from 38 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on clinical applications, image registration, image segmentation and analysis, and the poster session. (orig.)
Jurisdictional wetlands of the Argonne National Laboratory-East (ANL-E) site in DuPage County, Illinois, were delineated in the summer and autumn of 1993 in accordance with the 1987 US Army Corps of Engineers methodology. Potential wetland sites with an area greater than 500 m{sup 2} (0.05 ha [0.124 acre]) were identified for delineation on the basis of aerial photographs, the DuPage County soil survey, and reconnaissance-level field studies. To qualify as a jurisdictional wetland, an area had to support a predominance of hydrophytic vegetation as well as have hydric soil and wetland hydrology. Thirty-five individual jurisdictional wetlands were delineated at ANL-E, totaling 180,604 m{sup 2} (18.1 ha [44.6 acres]). These wetlands were digitized onto the ANL-E site map for use in project planning. Characteristics of each wetland are presented -- including size, dominant plant species and their indicator status, hydrologic characteristics (including water source), ...
The objective of this paper is to perform an impact analysis of the Interim Storage Cask (ISC) of the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) for a 4-ft end drop. The ISC is a concrete cask used to store spent nuclear fuels. The analysis is to justify the impact force calculated by General Atomics (General Atomics, 1994) using the ILMOD computer code. ILMOD determines the maximum force developed by the concrete crushing which occurs when the drop energy has been absorbed. The maximum force, multiplied by the dynamic load factor (DLF), was used to determine the maximum g-level on the cask during a 4-ft end drop accident onto the heavily reinforced FFTF Reactor Service Building`s concrete surface. For the analysis, this surface was assumed to be unyielding and the cask absorbed all the drop energy. This conservative assumption simplified the modeling used to qualify the cask`s structural integrity for this accident condition.
A CANDU nuclear reactor was shut down for over one year because steam generator (SG) tubes had failed with outer diameter stress-corrosion cracking (ODSCC) in the U-bend section. Novel, single-pass eddy current transmit-receive probes, denoted as C3, were successful in detecting all significant cracks so that the cracked tubes could be plugged and the unit restarted. Significant numbers of tubes with SCC were removed from a SG in order to validate the results of the new probe. Results from metallurgical examinations were used to obtain probability-of-detection (POD) and sizing accuracy plots to quantify the performance of this new inspection technique. Though effective, the above approach of relying on tubes removed from a reactor is expensive, in terms of both economic and radiation-exposure costs. This led to a search for more affordable methods to validate inspection techniques and procedures. Methods are presented for calculating POD curves based on signal-to-noise studies using ...
A CANDU nuclear reactor was shut down for over one year because steam generator (SG) tubes had failed with outer diameter stress-corrosion cracking (ODSCC) in the U-bend section. Novel, single-pass eddy current transmit-receive probes, denoted as C3, were successful in detecting all significant cracks so that the cracked tubes could be plugged and the unit restarted. Significant numbers of tubes with SCC were removed from a SG in order to validate the results of the new probe. Results from metallurgical examinations were used to obtain probability-of-detection (POD) and sizing accuracy plots to quantify the performance of this new inspection technique. Though effective, the above approach of relying on tubes removed from a reactor is expensive, in terms of both economic and radiation-exposure costs. This led to a search for more affordable methods to validate inspection techniques and procedures. Methods are presented for calculating POD curves based on signal-to-noise studies using ...
Shut-off rod drive mechanism forms a safety critical system of a nuclear reactor. It is the space constraints for the given reactor layout, which makes design of shut-off rod drive mechanism (SRDM) a custom built design. Design of SRDM adopts fail-safe, replaceability and the simplicity criterion ensuring very high reliability of its operation. Shut-off rod drive mechanism for TAPP-3 and 4 and 'Critical Facility' have been recently designed and developed at Division of Remote Handling and Robotics (DRHR), BARC. These are designed with a number of advanced features and these are significantly different than those used in Dhruva and 220 MWe PHWRs. Design of SRDM is qualified through proto typing and life cycle testing on a full-scale test set-up. This paper gives details of qualification and life cycle test data for prototype SRDM for TAPP-3 and 4 and 'Critical Facility' and reliability assessment. (author)
Using a unique high-frequency futures dataset, we characterize the response of U.S., German and British stock, bond and foreign exchange markets to real-time U.S. macroeconomic news. We find that news produces conditional mean jumps; hence high-frequency stock, bond and exchange rate dynamics are linked to fundamentals. Equity markets, moreover, react differently to news depending on the stage of the business cycle, which explains the low correlation between stock and bond returns when averaged over the cycle. Hence our results qualify earlier work suggesting that bond markets react most strongly to macroeconomic news; in particular, when conditioning on the state of the economy, the equity and foreign exchange markets appear equally responsive. Finally, we also document important contemporaneous links across all markets and countries, even after controlling for the effects of macroeconomic news.
The quality insurance in radiotherapy in the frame of highly complex technical process as Intensity modulated radiotherapy (I.M.R.T.) needs independent control of the delivered dose to the patient. Actually, up to now, most of the radiotherapy treatments rely only on computed dosimetry through a rather complicated series of linked simulation tool. This dosimetry approach requires also qualified treatment means based on cautious quality insurance procedures. However, erroneous parameters could be difficult to detect and systematical errors could happen leading to radiotherapy accidents. In this context, in vivo dosimetry has a critical role of final control of the delivered dose. As many beam incidences and ports are used for any photon therapy treatment, external control could be very tedious and time consuming. Therefore, innovations are needed for in vivo dosimetry to provide ergonomic and efficient tools for these controls. This paper presents a review of ...
Fetal exposure to phthalates may be associated with adverse reproductive effects, including cryptorchidism and decreased semen quality. Information about human placental transfer is needed to qualify the hypotheses. A dual recirculating placenta perfusion system to monitor concentrations of eight phthalate monoesters in fetal and maternal perfusates was established. In addition to perfusate background measures of phthalate monoesters, the concentrations in umbilical cord plasma and placenta tissue were measured. Monomethyl phthalate (mMP), monoethyl phthalate (mEP), monobutyl phthalate (mBP), and mono (2-ethyl-hexyl) phthalate (mEHP) were detected in both maternal and fetal perfusate, demonstrating a release of compounds from tissue or blood to perfusates. The distribution of compounds between perfusate, umbilical cord plasma, and tissue was in accordance with the physical-chemical properties of the compounds. Results from the present study of compounds residing in ...
For satisfaction of international growing demand for electrical energy it is impossible to ignore contribution of nuclear power. With an expected lifespan for nuclear plants estimated to 50-60 years of operation (years for decommissioning added), there is a need for a steady multi-generational stream of competent staff to ensure safe operations of nuclear plants. It is incumbent to governments to invest in education, research, and training for the three to five generations of people who will construct, operate and eventually decommission nuclear plants over the duration of their life cycle. To develop sustained nuclear programs it is necessary to carry out a lot of major problems, but three of them look like as most important: 1. Training a qualified and competent personal to ensure all nuclear activities; 2. Multilateral approach for nuclear fuel cycle, with a guaranteed framework for ensuring the supply of NPP owners with the necessary nuclear fuel; 3. ...
'Full text:' In Germany, Alloy 800 (high nickel austenitic stainless steel) was modified and qualified for the use as steam generator tubing by Siemens/KWU (now AREVA NP GmbH). The service reliability of Alloy 800 has been demonstrated over a long period of time. 1968 Siemens/KWU decided to use this material for the NPP Stade, which started operation in 1972. The steam generators operating with Alloy 800 tubes have now been in service for more than 30 years. Up to now no PWSCC or secondary-side SCC has been observed in the more than 285,000 tubes installed in Siemens/KWU steam generators (including RSG) in 19 PWRs in Europe. The operating experience will be shown and discussed. During the past regular SG tubing inspections using eddy current testing, a few indications were detected within the tube sheet between upper and lower tube expansion. These indications were limited to the outer tube positions. The number of affected positions is small. Two ...
'Full text:' In Germany, Alloy 800 (high nickel austenitic stainless steel) was modified and qualified for the use as steam generator tubing by Siemens/KWU (now AREVA NP GmbH). The service reliability of Alloy 800 has been demonstrated over a long period of time. 1968 Siemens/KWU decided to use this material for the NPP Stade, which started operation in 1972. The steam generators operating with Alloy 800 tubes have now been in service for more than 30 years. Up to now no PWSCC or secondary-side SCC has been observed in the more than 285,000 tubes installed in Siemens/KWU steam generators (including RSG) in 19 PWRs in Europe. The operating experience will be shown and discussed. During the past regular SG tubing inspections using eddy current testing, a few indications were detected within the tube sheet between upper and lower tube expansion. These indications were limited to the outer tube positions. The number of affected positions is small. Two tubes had been ...
The broad objective of the engineered barriers studies was to demonstrate and qualify the use of different materials and techniques for sealing water flow paths in the Stripa granite, the mine excavations and the excavation disturbed zones. As may be anticipated from the application of the observational method that forms the basis for design of geotechnical structures, the programme evolved with the finding being made at Stripa and other underground laboratories. During phase 1, the engineered barriers investigations focussed on the heat affected zone of the repository. Specifically, the response of clay buffers and the interactions between waste containers, clay buffer materials and the rock were studied. The phase 2 investigations examined the feasibility of sealing boreholes shafts and tunnels with clay sealants. The phase 3, studies of the ability to grout and seal fractured granite including the excavation disturbed zone were effected and specific studies into ...
In 1977 and 1978, Sandia National Laboratories, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and operated for the US Department of Energy (DOE), filmed a series of crash and fire tests performed on three casks designed to transport irradiated nuclear fuel assemblies. While the tests were performed to assess the applicability of scale and computer modeling techniques to actual accidents, films of them were quickly pressed into service by the DOE and nuclear utilities as proof'' to the public of the safety of the casks. In the public debate over the safety of irradiated nuclear fuel transportation, the films have served as the mainstay for the nuclear industry. Although the scripts of all the films were reviewed by USDOE officials before production, they contain numerous misleading concepts and images, and omit significant facts. The shorter versions eliminated qualifying statements contained in the longer version, and created false impressions. This paper ...
A detailed assessment of the consumption of mercury, divided into use areas, was carried out. Disposal and emissions to the environment were also qualified. The assessment is mainly based on data from 1992 - 1993. The most important source of emission of mercury to air is solid waste incineration which is assessed in particular to be due to the supply of mercury in batteries (most likely mercury oxide batteries from photo equipment) and to dental fillings. The second most important source of mercury emission to air is coal-fired power plants which are estimated to account for 200-500 kg of mercury emission p.a. Other mercury emissions are mainly related to waste treatment and disposal. The consumption of mercury is generally decreasing. During the period from 1982/83 - 1992-93, the total consumption of mercury in Denmark was about halved. This development is related to the fact that consumption with regard to several important use areas (batteries, dental fillings, ...
Current light water reactor (LWR) steam generators have been affected by a variety of corrosion and mechanical damage degradation mechanisms. Included are wear caused by tube vibration, intergranular corrosion, pitting, and thinning or wastage of the steam generator tubing and accelerated corrosion of carbon steel supports (denting). The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Steam Generator Owners Groups (I, II) have sponsored laboratory and field studies to provide ameliorative actions for the majority of the damage forms experienced to date. Some of the current corrosion mechanisms are aggravated or caused by unique materials choices or materials interactions. New materials have been proposed and at least partially qualified for use in replacement model steam generators, including an advanced LWR design. In so far as possible, the materials choices for the advanced LWR steam generator avoid the corrosion pitfalls seemingly inherent in the current ...
This study examines some radiation accidents occurred in the past. This information has been systematically assessed to get global lessons. The experience feedback shows that the most of accidents happened in certain conditions. These conditions can be distributed in four categories: 1- perception and vigilance in occupation: accidental exposure happened by lack of vigilance in details and lack of vigilance and perception; 2- procedures: accidental exposure happened following a lack of procedures or control that were not enough complete, not enough documented or not completely implemented; 3- training and understanding: accidental exposures happened because the personnel was not enough qualified and educated, did not get the general training nor the the necessary specialized training; 4- liabilities: accidental exposures happened following lacks and ambiguity in the definition of functions of the personnel and in the hierarchy liabilities. In these precise cases ...
The 105-KE and 105-KW Fuel Storage Basins were constructed more than 35 years ago as repositories for irradiated fuel from the K East and K West Reactors. Currently, the basins contain irradiated fuel from the N Reactor. To continue to use the basins as desired, seismic adequacy in accordance with current US Department of Energy facility requirements must be demonstrated. The 105-KE and 105-KW Basins are reinforced concrete, belowground reservoirs with a 16-ft water depth. The entire water retention boundary, which currently includes a portion of the adjacent reactor buildings, must be qualified for the Hanford Site design basis earthquake. The reactor building interface joints are sealed against leakage with rubber water stops. Demonstration of the seismic adequacy of these interface joints was initially identified as a key issue in the seismic qualification effort. The issue of water leakage through seismicly induced cracks was also investigated. This issue, ...
This paper describes the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) Operations initial training program utilizing the Operator Training Simulator (OTS). The OTS is a computer-driven system that provides real time response of essential FFTF plant functions to a control room mockup. The FFTF, a 400 Megawatt, three-loop, sodium-cooled fast test reactor will test fuels, materials and equipment for the U.S. Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor Program. Construction is expected to be completed in August 1978. Initial criticality is expected in early 1979. This schedule will require FFTF control room operators to be fully qualified to operate the facility by late 1979. Because FFTF is like no other U.S. nuclear reactor, existing U.S. utility plants could not be depended on to provide highly experienced people to operate FFTF. Therefore, an Operator Training Simulator has been built. The OTS will play a vital role in the formal operator qualification program.
A computer-aided detection (CAD) system was evaluated for its ability to detect microcalcifications and masses on images obtained with a digital phase-contrast mammography (PCM) system, a system characterised by the sharp images provided by phase contrast and by the high resolution of 25-{mu}m-pixel mammograms. Fifty abnormal and 50 normal mammograms were collected from about 3,500 mammograms and printed on film for reading on a light box. Seven qualified radiologists participated in an observer study based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The average of the areas under ROC curve (AUC) values for the ROC analysis with and without CAD were 0.927 and 0.897 respectively (P = 0.015). The AUC values improved from 0.840 to 0.888 for microcalcifications (P = 0.034) and from 0.947 to 0.962 for masses (P = 0.025) respectively. The application of CAD to the PCM system is a promising approach for the detection of breast cancer in its early stages. (orig.)
This book is designed to provide occupational therapist and occupational therapists and assistant educators with information on the rights of higher education students with disabilities and the rights of the occupational therapy profession to uphold its standards. Chapter 1, "Legal Foundations," provides an overview of federal law, implementing regulations, and student and faculty rights and responsibilities. Chapter 2, "Investigating Existing Institutional Resources and Establishing Linkages," discusses required campus access services, campus support structures, compliance officers, and student advocacy groups. The following chapter, "Technical Standards and Essential Requirements," addresses qualified students, technical standards determination, and essential program requirements. Chapter 4, "Auxiliary Aids, Academic Adjustments, and Reasonable Accommodations," discusses test-taking accommodations, waiving course requirements, tape recorders, honoring ...
As a three-year joint university-industry effort, development of a generalized boiling transition analysis method has been started in 2002 aiming at enhanced capabilities of subchannel analysis for a wide variety of BWR-type fuel bundle geometry from ordinary BWR to tight lattice fuel bundles. For this purpose, five dominant factors affecting boiling transition phenomena have been identified on which our efforts of experimentation and numerical analyses are focused. In this report, as the first-year achievement, we will describe a master plan of the development and contents for experimental approaches to construct thermal-hydraulic databases. The databases will be utilized for the developments of constitutive equations to describe the basic characteristics of the elementary processes. The planned experiments are divided into two groups. One is air-water experiments at atmospheric pressure, and the other is steam-water experiments up to 1 MPa. The former group of experiments will be ...
As a three-year joint university-industry effort, development of a generalized boiling transition analysis method has been started in 2002 aiming at enhanced capabilities of subchannel analysis for a wide variety of BWR-type fuel bundle geometry from ordinary BWR to tight lattice fuel bundles. For this purpose, five dominant factors affecting boiling transition phenomena have been identified on which our efforts of experimentation and numerical analyses are focused. In this report, as the first-year achievement, we will describe a master plan of the development and contents for experimental approaches to construct thermal-hydraulic databases. The databases will be utilized for the developments of constitutive equations to describe the basic characteristics of the elementary processes. The planned experiments are divided into two groups. One is air-water experiments at atmospheric pressure, and the other is steam-water experiments up to 1 MPa. The former group of experiments will be ...
This report describes a comparison result of technical standards applied to instrumentation and control systems for nuclear power plants between in Korea and in Russia. Russia also has a state-run organization authorized to conduct approval, cancellation, and audit in use of nuclear facility or equipment. The Russian standards for nuclear instrumentation and control equipment are analogous with the Korean ones in the aspect of basic concepts and principles. However, there are some differences in document structure, design requirements, qualification test items, depth of contents between two standard systems. The biggest deviation exists in the standard documents for seismic qualification and electromagnetic interference qualification. Korean seismic qualification standard utilizing US approach, defines testing and qualification methods specifically and clearly. Russian standards however provide only conceptual definitions and requirements in the seismic related aspects. Therefore, it ...
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories` Zephyr System provides a showcase for the ways in which emerging technologies can help streamline procurement processes and improve the coordination between participants in engineering projects by allowing collaboration in ways that have not been possible before. The project also shows the success of a highly pragmatic approach that was initiated by the end user community, and that intentionally covered standard situations, rather than aiming at also automating the exceptions. By helping push purchasing responsibilities down to the end user, thereby greatly reducing the involvement of the purchasing department in operational activities, it was possible to streamline the process significantly resulting in time savings of up to 90%, major cost reductions, and improved quality. Left with less day-to- day purchasing operations, the purchasing department has more time for strategic tasks such as selecting and pre-qualifying new ...
A 4-loop Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) primary coolant system has been analysed for the postulated Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) event in order to derive peak dynamic loads for qualifying the design of equipment supports and pipe whip restraints. Pipe whip restraints as well as pipe and equipment supports are nonlinear by nature because of the presence of gaps and the different directional stiffnesses arising from snubber, steelwork and geometric and material interaction at the concrete to steel embedment. The different structural idealisations for the supports and restraints have an influence on the dynamic response of the structure. In the first of the two part paper a range of idealisation models for the Steam Generator and Reactor Coolant Pump vertical columns ranging from elastic stiffnesses to bilinear stiffnesses with or without preload were examined. Due to both structural and loading complexity, the behaviour of these supports were analysed by the ...
TNF-doped Mylar is a new radiation-hard dielectric that has recently been qualified as a viable substitute for Mylar in capacitors. The advantage of TNF-doped Mylar is that it satisfies both the nuclear safety and radiation hardness requirements of weapons. Mylar is not radiation-hard. Aging and compatibility studies were carried out to insure that (1) TNF does not diffuse from the film during fabrication of the capacitor or during storage; and (2) there are no compatibility problems with aluminum foil (the conductor) or Fluorinert (the secondary dielectric). Losses of TNF were barely detectable during the vacuum bakes used in fabricating capacitors or during accelerated aging tests carried out below T{sub g} (70C) over a two year period in air. In other accelerated tests, no compatibility problems were detected with aluminum or Fluorinert. TNF-doped Mylar is now being used in the MC-4109 capacitor that was called out for use in SRAM II. We anticipate no ...
This report was prepared in response to a request from the Nuclear Energy Research Advisory Committee (NERAC) subcommittee on ''Long-Term Isotope Research and Production Plans.'' The NERAC subcommittee has asked for a reply to a number of questions regarding (1) ''How well does the Department of Energy (DOE) infrastructure sme the need for commercial and medical isotopes?'' and (2) ''What should be the long-term role of the federal government in providing commercial and medical isotopes?' Our report addresses the questions raised by the NERAC subcommittee, and especially the 10 issues that were raised under the first of the above questions (see Appendix). These issues are related to the isotope products offered by the DOE Isotope Production Sites, the capabilities and condition of the facilities used to produce these products, the management of ...
In the medical and occupational exposures, there is a tradition to use the genetically significant dose as an index of harm to the population although it only includes the genetical effects from ionizing radiations. A similar significant dose for somatic effects such as radiation leukemogenesis and carcinogenesis should be added to the genetically significant dose in order to approach an index of total harm to the population from medical and occupational exposures. For this purpose, leukemia and malignant significant factors were determined based on the induction of malignant diseases including leukemia for the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the life expectancy of individuals subject to medical examinations or treatments as well as radiation workers, taking account of the possibility of their deaths due to other diseases or accidents during a latent period of malignant diseases. The resultant significant factors ...
The medical applications of radiation comprise three main fields namely: Diagnostic Radiology, Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine. With the new weighting factors of ICRP (IC91a) the effective dose due to medical applications can be established. I is common to separate the effective dose into the genetic part and the somatic part, SED. In dealing with gonad doses it is important to account for the age of the person at the time of exposure as this will influence the number of children still to be expected from that person. The resulting dose will then be called the genetically significant dose, GSD. In a similar fashion this age factor will be important in considering the chance of tumor induction. The age of patients differs considerably from the average age of the general population. This age difference has to be accounted for if a comparison is to be made with other sources of radiation. This justifies establishing a somatically significant ...
In consistency with the increasing requests from Member States for establishing radiotherapy programmes, an IAEA Technical Co-operation project was initiated in Latin America aimed at improving the physical aspects (as a complement to the clinical issues) of quality assurance in radiotherapy; this ARCAL XXX project (RLA/6/032) was classified as a Model Project of the IAEA. Among the important outcomes of the project were (i) the training of a considerable number of medical physicists in hospitals of the region, (ii) the development of a protocol for quality control procedures, and (iii) the organization of quality audit site visits (to the participant countries) where the implementation in hospitals of the developed quality control procedures is verified. The present publication is the protocol for quality control of the physical aspects of radiotherapy. It contains detailed procedures on what should be measured by a medical physicist in a ...
National efforts to improve the quality and safety of health care present challenges for medical education and training. Today's doctors need to be skilled communicators who know how to identify, prevent and manage adverse events and near misses, how to use evidence and information, how to work safely in a team, how to practise ethically, and how to be workplace teachers and learners. These competencies (knowledge, skills and attitudes) are set out in the National Patient Safety Education Framework (NPSF) of the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care. The NPSF is designed to help medical schools, vocational colleges, health organisations and private practitioners develop curricula to enable health professionals to work safely. The NPSF describes what doctors (depending on their level of knowledge and experience) can do to demonstrate competencies in a range of quality and safety activities. Medical ...
The authors describe the application of an approximate fuzzy C-means (AFCM) clustering algorithm as a data dimension reduction approach to medical magnetic resonance images (MRI). Image data consisted of one T1-weighted, two T2-weighted, and one T2*-weighted (magnetic susceptibility) image for each cranial study and a matrix of 10 images generated from 10 combinations of TE and TR for each body lymphoma study. All images were obtained with a 1.5 Tesla imaging system (GE Signa). Analyses were performed on over 100 MR image sets with a variety of pathologies. The cluster analysis was operated in an unsupervised mode and computational overhead was minimized by utilizing a table look-up approach without adversely affecting accuracy. Image data were first segmented into 2 coarse clusters, each of which was then subdivided into 16 fine clusters. The final tissue classifications were presented as color-coded anatomically-mapped images and as two and three dimensional ...
To quantify the number of cases and clinical courses of Acanthamoeba keratitis treated at the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital (KKESH) between December 1982 and May 2005, and to review their clinical course and response to medical and surgical therapy. Retrospective review of medical records of all patients with Acanthamoeba keratitis diagnosed by the KKESH Microbiology or Pathology or Pathology Laboratory since the opening of the hospital. During a period of over 22 years, only six cases of confirmed. Acanthamoeba keratitis were diagnosedand treated at KKESH. In two cases the diagnosis was made by corneal biopsy, while four cases required examination of a histopathology specimen obtained at the time of therapeutic keratoplasty to establish the diagnosis. One eye was cured by medical therapy, while five eyes required one (4eyes) or two (1 eye) therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) to achieve a clinical cure. Three ...
The main facets of professor N.I. Pirogov's professional activity are outlined. Forensic medicine (in the first place its organizational and practical aspects) was an integral component of his scientific and clinical work, along with applied anatomy and surgery. Landmark publications of N.I. Pirogov are listed with special reference to those concerned with forensic medical expertise of medical malpractice cases, postmortem inspection and intravital examination procedures, wound ballistics studies, the atlas of forensic pathology, etc. The surgeon and anatomist N.I. Pirogov can be justly regarded as a founder of forensic medicine in this country. PMID:21866839
One important market related capability for firms which seek to develop radical innovations is the competence to involve the 'right' users at the 'right' time in the 'right' form. While former studies have identified a rather passive role of users in the radical innovation process, this paper focuses on the involvement of such users that are in the position to play an active role as inventors and (co)-developers. A multiple case study analysis was conducted in the field of medical technology. Five radical innovation projects within four firms were selected including medical robots and computer-assisted navigation systems. The case study analysis reveals that firms who closely interact with specific users benefit significantly for their radical innovation work. These users have a high motivation toward new solutions, are open to new technologies, possess diverse competencies, and are embedded into a very supportive environment.
Summary Background Pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus are rare, potentially life-threatening, autoimmune disorders characterized by antibodies to epidermal adhesion molecules. Clinical characteristics are painful chronic erosions of mucous membranes and of the skin. There are only few published studies on the impact of the disease on the health status (HS) of patients with these conditions. Objectives To assess the impact of disease on the HS of patients with pemphigus. Methods Fifty-eight patients enrolled at the Bullous Skin Diseases Unit of IDI-IRCCS in the period January-June 2006 were assessed for their HS using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) questionnaire and for anxiety and depression using the Institute for Personality and Ability Testin...
New cassettes for 201 mm{times}252 mm (8{double_prime}{times}10{double_prime}) and 201 mm{times}400 mm (8{double_prime}{times}15.75{double_prime}) storage phosphor plates have been developed at the Synchrotron Resource of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The purpose for this work was mainly twofold. Firstly, to diminish the number of manual operations when putting the storage phosphor plate into the cassette or when extracting it from the cassette. Secondly, to render such a cassette much lighter than the former metal cassette previously in use. These two goals were achieved by making new cassettes that are operated as one piece instead of two or three independent parts as with the former systems. The cassettes have been extensively tested and found to be very useful.
Pai ALH, Gray E, Kurivial K, Ross J, Schoborg D, Goebel J. The Allocation of Treatment Responsibility scale: A novel tool for assessing patient and caregiver management of pediatric medical treatment regimens. Pediatr Transplantation 2010: 14:993 999. 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: The purpose of the current study is to report preliminary psychometric properties of the ATR scale, a brief measure of the distribution of treatment tasks across the family members of children with a kidney transplant. Pediatric patients with renal transplants (ages 7 18 yr) and their caregivers completed the ATR and measures of adherence and family functioning. Internal consistency for the ATR (total score and subscales) was strong (range = 0.75 0.93). Validity for the ATR was supported by significant co...
Current medical visualization technology intended for positional guidance in surgical applications may only ever have limited utility in the operating room due to the preexisting visual requirements of surgical practice. Additionally, visual systems impose limits as a result of their high latency, poor image resolution, problems with stereopsis and physical strain upon the user. Audio technology is relatively unexamined in the broad range of available methodologies for medical devices. The potential to translate surgical instrument position into audio feedback presents a novel solution to the human factors and engineering problems faced by visual display technology because audio technology employs a rich and as yet unburdened sensory modality. We describe an experimental system we have developed for investigating this new interface design approach using commercially available hardware. PMID:10173065
Objectives The optimal timing of pyeloplasty for children diagnosed with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) after workup for antenatal hydronephrosis is disputed. We sought to examine the potential costs and clinical outcomes of treatment protocols featuring different indications for pediatric pyeloplasty using Markov models. Methods Cost and outcomes analysis using Markov modeling was performed for three treatment algorithms: medical management, immediate pyeloplasty (during the first year of life), and pyeloplasty after no improvement on imaging. The costs were determined from the perspective of the medical institution. The variables tracked during Markov model simulation included age at resolution of UPJO, the proportion of patients with worsened hydronephrosis, the number of pye...
Background/Purpose: Peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICCs) are commonly used for neonatal vascular access. The aim of this study was to look at PICC line complication rates and possible predictors of PICC infection in a neonatal intensive care unit. Method: This was a prospective study of 226 neonates who had PICCs on our neonatal intensive care unit between January 2006 and June 2009. Complete data was available on 218 neonates who had 294 PICC lines. Criteria for catheter-related sepsis was positive blood cultures (peripheral/central) and/or a positive catheter tip culture after removal in the presence of a clinical suspicion of line sepsis. Results: Of 218 neonates, 132 (169 lines) were medical, and 86 (125 lines) were surgical. Our PICC line infection rate was 17 infect...
This article presents an orthognathic treatment case after severe apical root resorption of maxillary anterior teeth using anterior segmental osteotomy. This case involved a 20-year-old female with the chief complaint of maxillary protruding and irregularly aligned mandibular anterior teeth. Her medical history showed no allergies or medical problems. The overbite was +3.0mm, and the overjet +3.0mm. After extraction of the four first premolars, a multi-bracket treatment was started. A severe root resorption of the maxillary anterior teeth was found 12 months after active treatment. The maxillary anterior segmental osteotomy was chosen as the compensatory treatment. The total treatment period was 2 years and 7 months. The post-retention panoramic radiograph showed no developmental root reso...
Background: Intestinal failure (IF) is the dependence upon parenteral nutrition to maintain minimal energy requirements for growth and development. It may occur secondary to a loss of bowel length, disorders of motility, or both. Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a malabsorptive state resulting from surgical resection, congenital defect, or diseases associated with loss of absorptive surface area. A particularly vexing problem is associated with whole bowel and/or segmental intestinal dysmotility. Motility disorders within the context of SBS and IF may relate to rapid intestinal transit secondary to loss of intestinal length, dysmotility associated with loss or poor antegrade peristalsis, or gastroparesis. Therapy may be classified into medical (prokinetic and antidiarrheal agents) and surgica...
Background The Committee for the Standardization of Renal Pathological Diagnosis and the Working Group for Renal Biopsy Database of the Japanese Society of Nephrology started the first nationwide, web-based, and prospective registry system, the Japan Renal Biopsy Registry (J-RBR), to record the pathological, clinical, and laboratory data of renal biopsies in 2007. Methods The patient data including age, gender, laboratory data, and clinical and pathological diagnoses were recorded on the web page of the J-RBR, which utilizes the system of the Internet Data and Information Center for Medical Research in the University Hospital Medical Information Network. We analyzed the clinical and pathological diagnoses registered on the J-RBR in 2007 and 2008. Results Data were collected from 818 patien...
Pregraduate medical curricula are currently undergoing a reform process that is moving away from a traditional discipline-related structure and towards problem-based integrated forms of teaching. Imaging sciences, with their inherently technical advances, are specifically influenced by the effects of paradigm shifts in medical education. The teaching of diagnostic radiology should be based on the definition of three core competencies: in vivo visualization of normal and abnormal morphology and function, diagnostic reasoning, and interventional treatment. On the basis of these goals, adequate teaching methods and e-learning tools should be implemented by focusing on case-based teaching. Teaching materials used in the fields of normal anatomy, pathology, and clinical diagnosis may help diagnostic radiology to play a central role in modern pregraduate curricula. (orig.)
Abstract Purpose: We evaluated complications of urologic laparoscopic surgery at our institution. Patients and Methods: From December 1991 to January 2009, 1017 urologic laparoscopic surgical procedures were performed in Kansai Medical University, including 277 radical prostatectomies, 13 donor nephrectomies, 74 partial nephrectomies, 158 radical nephrectomies, 55 pyeloplasties, 97 nephrouretectomies, 54 simple nephrectomies, 128 adrenalectomies, 34 varicocelectomies, and 127 other procedures. Medical records of each procedure were retrospectively evaluated. The difficulty of each procedure was classified according to the European Scoring System (ESS). Intraoperative and postoperative complications were graded according to the Satava and Clavien classifications, respectively. Results: Amon...
Abstract This study explored the demographic and diagnostic features of children who were currently receiving antipsychotics compared to children who were receiving other psychotropics in a cohort of children with and without elevated symptoms of mania (ESM). Participants were recruited from 10 child outpatient mental health clinics associated with four universities. Guardians with children between 6?12 years who presented for new clinical evaluations completed the Parent General Behavior Inventory-10 Item Mania Scale (PGBI-10M). All children who scored ?12 on the PGBI-10M and a select demographically matched comparison group of patients who scored ?11 were invited to participate. Children were divided into two groups: those receiving at least one antipsychotic medication and those receivi...
The performance and characteristics of a medical linear accelerator ''NELAC-1018'' for the electron beam therapy were discussed. Measurement of deep dose distribution revealed that the 80% range was 1.9 cm by 6 MeV, 2.8 cm by 9 MeV, 3.9 cm by 12 MeV, 4.9 cm by 15 MeV and 5.5 cm by 18 MeV. Iso-dose distribution with each tubus and cone showed a favorable flatness by any of the energies. The degree of flatness was extremely favorable, being +-1.7% or less.
Summary Objectives To describe the pattern of incident illness in children after initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in a large public health sector programme in Lusaka, Zambia. Methods Systematic chart review to retrospectively extract data from medical records of children (i.e. <15 years) initiating ART in the Lusaka, Zambia public sector. Incident conditions were listed separately and then grouped according to broad categories. Predictors for incident diagnoses were determined using univariate and multivariable analysis. Results Between May 2004 and June 2006, 1705 HIV-infected children initiated ART. Of these, 1235 (72%) had their medical records reviewed. Median age at ART initiation was 77 months and 554 (45%) were females. Eight hundred and forty-one (68%) children had an inc...
An assessment is made of the biological effects and physical hazards of static and time-varying fields associated with the NMR devices that are being used for clinical imaging and in vivo spectroscopy. A summary is given of the current state of knowledge concerning the mechanisms of interaction and the bioeffects of these fields. Additional topics that are discussed include: (1) physical effects on pacemakers and metallic implants such as aneurysm clips, (2) human health studies related to the effects of exposure to nonionizing electromagnetic radiation, and (3) extant guidelines for limiting exposure of patients and medical personnel to the fields produced by NMR devices. On the basis of information available at the present time, it is concluded that the fields associated with the current generation of NMR devices do not pose a significant health risk in themselves. However, rigorous guidelines must be followed to avoid the physical interaction of these fields ...
The colonization of an implant surface by bacteria is an extremely important medical problem, which often leads to the failure of medical devices. Modern surface modification techniques, such as ion implantation, can confer to the surfaces very different properties from those of the bulk underlying material. In this work, austenitic stainless steel 316 LVM has been superficially modified by Si^+ ion implantation. The effect of surface modification on the biocompatibility and bacterial adhesion to 316 LVM stainless steel has been investigated. To this aim, human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), as precursor of osteoblastic cells, and bacterial strains relevant in infections related to orthopedic implants, i.e., Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, have been assayed. For the ...
Feature selection refers to the problem of selecting relevant features which produce the most predictive outcome. In particular, feature selection task is involved in datasets containing huge number of features. Rough set theory has been one of the most successful methods used for feature selection. However, this method is still not able to find optimal subsets. This paper proposes a new feature selection method based on Rough set theory hybrid with Bee Colony Optimization (BCO) in an attempt to combat this. This proposed work is applied in the medical domain to find the minimal reducts and experimentally compared with the Quick Reduct, Entropy Based Reduct, and other hybrid Rough Set methods such as Genetic Algorithm (GA), Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO).
The effect of 50 Hz and 60 Hz (frequencies of current distribution) and 20 kHz to 50 kHz (frequencies of induction cooktop) magnetic interference on implanted pacemakers have been assessed with the present generation of device technology. Sixty patients implanted in 1998 and 1999 with dual chamber pacemakers from 9 different manufacturers were monitored with telemetry while passing through, and standing between a system of two coils. They generated a 50 Hz or a 60 Hz magnetic field at 50 microT. Then, patients used a cooktop at different power. The recordings were made with the standard setting of "medically correct" sensing parameters chosen for the patients. Then pacemakers were reprogrammed to the unipolar mode, with the highest atrial (A) and ventricular (V) sensitivity that did not induce muscular inhibition while moving. Between each exposure (50 Hz, 60 Hz or 20 kHz to 50 kHz), the pacemaker programmation was controlled. At the end of the tests, pacemakers ...
In this paper the main design requirements concerning the setting up of a telemetry ECG monitoring system are presented. The design's most important technical solutions as well as some details are also discussed. This system is intended to provide skilled medical assistance during the cardiac rehabilitation of both asymptomatic and high risk coronary patients
This chapter is concerned with standards and guidances for limiting radiation exposures. It is divided into three sections, each of which has several parts. Section 1: Ionizing Radiation -- Standards and Guidances Applicable to the Public: Part A, Radiation Protection Standards; Part B, Environmental Radiation Standards; Part C, Exempt Levels of Radioactivity; Part D, Protective Action Guides for Accidents. Section 2: Ionizing Radiation -- Standards Applicable to the Workplace. Section 3: Medical and Other Standards.
Brachytherapy consists of sealed radioactive source implantation. The diversity in the nature of radioelements, in their energy and activity requires strict implantation and utilization rules. These rules include radioactive source physical parameters check, after-loading machine and treatment planning system quality assurance and safe and reproducible dosimetric systems. Patient and medical workers information guarantee radioprotection and prevention of accidental exposures. (authors)
The proton therapy gives an irradiation adapted to the shape and the depth of tumors ( eyes, head and neck) with a millimetric, even sub millimetric precision for the ophthalmological tumors. It is equally an excellent tool for the pediatrics tumors. For numerous treatments in France the proton therapy is associated to the photons treatments (x radiation). however, others physical treatments could modulate the medical offer, such thermal therapy or treatments by ultrasonic waves. (N.C.)
The advantages of radiofrequency and microwaves, such as volumetric heating, rapid and selective heating, compactness of equipment and ease of operation, offer sound economic alternative heating techniques. This article discusses dielectric loss, its quantification, and how it is put to effective use, including the use of applicators. Brief recommendations are presented for whether to select radio frequency or microwaves for a particular application. Uses of radiofrequency and microwaves in the industrial, domestic and medical sectors are described.
Military working dogs are rapidly becoming integral to military operations. While they bring many valuable capabilities to the battlefield, it is important that Special Operations leaders consider canine team capabilities and requirements when planning missions. Careful logistical and operational planning can optimize the health, performance, and readiness of the working dog while protecting the safety and well-being of the team members working with them. We also offer recommendations for medical treatment of dog bites. PMID:19813342
Phthalate esters (PE's) are plasticizers used to soften PVC-based medical devices. PE's are the most abundant man-made pollutants and increase the risk of developing an allergic respiratory disease...Full Text Available
A 56-year-old man admitted to our hospital for cardiac tamponade due to dilated cardiomyopathy did not respond to treatment by usual medical means or surgery. Pericardio-peritoneal drainage was conducted using a subcostal approach. Seven months later, the patient remains well and free of signs of pericardial tamponade. This method has proved to be safe and effective in patients with persistent massive pericardial effusion. PMID:10496067
A survey to determine the annual genetically significant dose and mean bone-marrow dose to the Australian population from radiological procedures has been undertaken. For diagnostic radiology the following were carried out: determination of the frequency of a procedure; measurement of patient doses using TLD and processing of data and calculation of gonadal and bone-marrow doses.
The Commission of the European Communities has submitted a directive for the protection against microwaves. According to this directive, exposures above the upper limit established for the protection of individuals and the general population are permissible only if the respective individuals are required to submit to occupational medical control. An introductory overview is presented giving information on microwaves, applied techniques and available protective means.
Medico-biological aspects of Chernobyl accident among suffered children and adult population in Ukraine are exposed. Health condition of children irradiated in postnatal period and born from irradiated parents are described. Results of the most important organs and systems monitoring in different categories of suffered adults and data about non-stochastic and stochastic effects are given. Special attention is given to neuropsychiatric and endocrinological effects, conditions of visceral systems
Accidents from three main practices: medical applications, industrial radiography and industrial irradiators are used to illustrate some common causes of accidents and the main lessons to be learned. A brief description of some of these accidents is given. Lessons learned from the described accidents are approached by subjects covering: safety culture, quality assurance, human factors, good engineering practice, defence in depth, security of sources, safety assessment and monitoring and verification compliance. (author)
An animated test is made for mice with malignant tumors irradiated by a self-made millimetre wave radiator for medical purpose. It is observed that S-180 sarcomas in mice after irradiation has been distinctly suppressed. And remarkable effects are shown through a lot of clinical practices on peptic ulcer, skin-deep ulcer, acute and chromic soft tissue injuries etc.
In a joint study conducted by the University Clinic of Radiology, Graz, and the Medical University Clinic, Innsbruck, the results of computer tomography examinations of the abdomen and pelvis in 23 cases of tumours in children are discussed. In children computer tomography resents special difficulties on account of the very poorly developed fatty layers between the organs and the increased incidence of movement artifacts. The importance of computer tomography for the diagnosis of abdominal and pelvic tumours is discussed.
This report summarizes the activities and major accomplishments for the Idaho National Laboratory Advanced Radiotherapy Research Program for calendar year 2004. Topics covered include boron analysis in biological samples, computational dosimetry and treatment planning software development, medical neutron source development and characterization, and collaborative dosimetry studies at the RA-1 facility in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
This report summarizes the activities and major accomplishments for the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) Advanced Radiotherapy Research Program for calendar year 2002. Topics covered include computational dosimetry and treatment planning software development, medical neutron source development and characterization, and boron analytical chemistry.
This report summarizes the activities and major accomplishments for the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) Advanced Radiotherapy Research Program for calendar year 2002. Topics covered include computational dosimetry and treatment planning software development, medical neutron source development and characterization, and boron analytical chemistry.
Biomedical science researchers often express frustration that health physics practices vary widely between individual institutions. A survey examining both internal and external dose assessment practices was devised and mailed to fifty institutions supporting biomedical science research. The results indicate that health physics dose assessment practices and policies are highly variable. Factors which may contribute to the degree of variation are discussed. 2 tabs.
In this article, the author presents the main technological solutions, available or in development, on X-ray detectors in order to obtain a digital image in biomedical radiography or in industrial radiography: linear x-ray detectors and bidimensional x-ray detectors (memory radioluminescent screens, matrix plan detectors).
There have been many questions about the costs of providing medical services. These questions have resulted in the development of Resource-Based Relative Values Scale (RBRVS) at the national level. Policymakers view RBRVS as a potential tool to pay physicians. The questions, about the cost of operations of HSE-2 at Los Alamos National Laboratory, revolve around doing routine occupation health physicals for the Laboratory. Generally, these questions are concerned about why the costs appear to be high relative to what private physician suggests the costs should be. There is also an interest in trying to find methods to reduce these costs if possible. Many of the tools developed to help in construction estimating can be applied to estimating medical costs. With the need to perform many thousands of physicals each year the saving of even a few dollars for each exam can quickly add up to a large saving. There are a number of different types of ...
In November 1998, President Clinton charged the National Bioethics Advisory Commission with the task of conducting a thorough review of the issues associated with human stem cell research, balancing all ethical and medical considerations. The President's ...
Present-day requirements for radiotherapy equipment are considered. The recently developed linacs of LUE-5, LUE-25, LUE-15MM models, as well as a newly designed unified series of medical linacs of LUER-5M, LUER-20M, LUER-40M models are described in brief. The main scientific and technical problems that were solved during their construction, namely, development of accelerating structures, a radiation head, dosimetry equipment, a programming unit, a magnetic mirror etc. are described.
A method is described to smear extremely thin layers of nuclear emulsion on labeled electron microscope preparations and to measure the thicknesses of these layers, Without further separation, preparation and emulsion can be observed after exposure and development in an electron microscope. The source of the tracks formed in the emulsion can be exactly identified and the size and structure determined. This method finds applications in dust research and also in the analysis of medical and biological sections. Further information can be obtained about properties of different emulsions. (auth)
In addition to their use in high-speed ovens, microwaves are also finding applications in industrial manufacture, quality control and storage - anywhere where the high-frequency transmission or reflection properties of a material can be exploited. Microwaves are also being used in medical applications for the characterization of certain type of tumours. They are also being used in research into ultrasonic cavitation. (authors) 5 refs.
Caring for a child with a potentially fatal medical condition is a challenge for parents or caregivers. The ability to measure parental self-efficacy in pediatric palliative care may be an important component of targeting supportive services that address individual needs of families. Therefore, the goal was to develop a Pediatric Palliative Care Parental Self-Efficacy Measure (PCPEM). First, a list of questions were generated that asked parents their level of confidence in carrying out tasks involved in caring for a child with a potentially fatal medical condition in 6 palliative care domains: 1) medical discussion/decisions; 2) symptom management/medication; 3) daily activities; 4) feelings/concerns; 5) spirituality; and 6) end-of-life care. The PCPEM was narrowed to 58 questions after expert reviews. Then, 16 caregivers of children receiving palliative care services and 9 bereaved caregivers ...
The reactions of alpha particles on natural abundance chromium have been studied between 40 and 110 MeV, in order to produce "5"2Fe for medical use. The yield of the reaction "5"2Cr(#alpha#,4n)"5"2Fe for Esub(#alpha#) = 85 #-># 53 MeV is only 30 #mu#Ci/#mu#Ah. (orig.).
Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) remains an enigmatic medical condition. Creation of the (NIH) Chronic Prostatitis Collaborative Research Network (CPCRN) funded by...Full Text Available
The physical principals of the interaction between microwaves and matter are considered along with the physical-chemical mechanisms for the absorption of microwave energy by biological tissue. Consideration is given to results of studies of the effects of microwaves on cells, subcellular structures, and membranes. Medical applications of microwaves are discussed along with the development of health standards for the use of microwaves. 122 references.
Proceeding from analysis of the influence of parameters of the target-filter system on radiation-physical characteristics of braking radiation, some recommendations were issued for assessment of the forming systems of medical accelerators of electrons. A new criterion - a coefficient of the forming system efficacy - was introduced, characterizing a beam formation tract with relation to a whole set of radiotherapeutic problems.
When a staff physician says to an intern he is supervising “I think you should try medication X,” this statement may differ in meaning from the same string of words spoken between colleagues....Full Text Available
One example of basic and applied research at LLNL that has produced major, highly visible scientific and engineering advances has been the research related to controlled fusion energy. Continuing experimentation at LLNL and elsewhere is likely to demonstrate that fusion is a viable, inexhaustible alternative source of energy. Having conducted major fusion energy experiments for over 30 years at LLNL, it scientists and engineers recognized the enormous challenges that lay ahead in this important endeavor. To be successful, it was clear that collaborative efforts with universities, private industry, and other national laboratories would need to be greatly expanded. Along with invention and scientific discovery would come the challenge of transferring the myriad of new technologies from the laboratories to the private sector for commercialization of the fusion energy process and the application of related technologies to yet unimagined new industries and products. Therefore, using fusion ...
Different cases exist in various countries regarding the institutional status, the organization and the technical resources of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA): there are NRAs having extended internal technical capability and others relying mostly on external technical support. Considering the research and development activities and the very broad range of technical matters on which the regulatory and licensing activity are based, the NRA can not rely only on internal resources, and generally there is the need of technical and scientific support together with enhanced international cooperation. The international cooperation and networking among NRAs, and their Technical Support Organizations (TSO), represents a fundamental way to maintain competence, capability and knowledge. Within the EU member states this is becoming more and more an institutional duty. In providing technical support for regulatory activity, the experience shows, from one side, the importance to have TSO with ...
Thin-film solar cells on flexible, lightweight, space-qualified substrates provide an attractive approach to fabricating solar arrays with high mass-specific power. A polycrystalline chalcopyrite absorber layer is among the new generation of photovoltaic device technologies for thin film solar cells. At NASA Glenn Research Center we have focused on the development of new single-source precursors (SSPs) for deposition of semiconducting chalcopyrite materials onto lightweight, flexible substrates. We describe the syntheses and thermal modulation of SSPs via molecular engineering. Copper indium disulfide and related thin-film materials were deposited via aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition using SSPs. Processing and post-processing parameters were varied in order to modify morphology, stoichiometry, crystallography, electrical properties, and optical properties to optimize device quality. Growth at atmospheric pressure in a horizontal hotwall reactor at 395 C ...
The Outstanding Achievement Award in Water Pollution Control' is intended to recognize the water pollution control program that best demonstrates achieving significant, lasting, and measurable excellence in water-quality improvement in preventing water-quality degradation in a region, basin, or water body. This article is about the 1991 Award. This year, WPCF honored Los Angeles Hyperion Treatment Plant with a citation of outstanding achievement. To qualify for this honor, Hyperion has remarkably improved the quality of wastewater discharged to Santa Monica Bay since 1985. Capital programs developed by Los Angeles to achieve this rapid improvement, coined the Hyperion Improvement Program (HIP), reflect the city's commitment to protect the valuable resource of Santa Monica Bay. The HIP was conceived in 1986 to cease sludge ocean disposal by the end of 1987 and expedite effluent quality improvement before 1991, when the full secondary expansion is ...
By 1970 the first edition of the ASME Code Section XI, Inservice Inspection of Nuclear Reactor Coolant Systems was published. From its inception, the Section XI inservice inspection scope was based on a fundamental risk-based selection process. In other words the inservice inspection scope included components where the consequences of a pressure boundary failure were high. Once the consequence significant system boundaries were established, inspections would then be performed at locations believed to be most susceptible service induced failure. Current Section XI requirements require that inspection locations be selected on the basis of peak stress and fatigue usage values contained in the Design Reports. These original stress calculations were designed to qualify a design and assure that the plant would provide reliable service throughout its design life. For the most part, the fatigue usage values in these reports do not provide an accurate measure of service ...
Reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels are subjected to neutron irradiation at a temperature of about 290 deg C. This radiation exposure alters the mechanical properties, leading to a shift of the brittle-to-ductile transition temperature toward higher temperatures and to a diminution of the rupture energy as determined by Charpy V-notch tests. This radiation embrittlement is one of the important aging factors of nuclear power plants. U.S. NRC recommended the basic requirements for the determination of the pressure vessel fluence by regulatory guide DG-1025 in order to reduce the uncertainty in the determination of neutron fluence calculation and measurements. The determination of the pressure vessel fluence is based on both calculations and measurements. The fluence prediction is made with a calculation and the measurements are used to qualify the calculational methodology. Because of the importance and the difficulty of these calculations, the method`s ...
The R&D in satellite communications in Korea has been driven mainly by KCC (Korea Communications Commission) but in a small scale compared to Korea space development program organized by MEST (Ministry of Education, Science and Technology). Public and civilian satcom sector R&D has been led mainly by ETRI with small/medium companies contrary to rare investment in private sector while military sector R&D has been orchestrated by ADD with defense industry. By the COMS (Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite) experimental Ka-band payload, Korea pursues a space qualification of own technology for national infrastructure evolution as well as industrialization of space R&D results. Once COMS launched and space qualified in 2009, subsequent application experiments and new technology R&D like UHDTV will entail service and industry promotion. The payload technology is expected for the next Korean commercial satellites or for new OBP ...
Piping systems transporting high-pressure fluid will release a large amount of energy, leading to whipping of the broken pipe as well as impingement of the ejecting fluids on adjacent structures if they fracture unstably. Postulation of such an event in design of piping systems in nuclear power plants often requires various counter measures such as installation of pipe whip restraints or jet impingement shields to prevent such damage. One of the approaches to justify exclusion of unstable fracture from the design conditions is leak-before-break (LBB) analysis. In order to demonstrate LBB behavior, it is necessary to prove that in the presence of a part-through wall flaw in the pipe, this flaw will not grow through the wall under fatigue loading and is stable (level 2 LBB) and that the leak of fluid through the penetration is detected by leak detection systems before unstable fracture occurs (level 3 LBB). If this can be demonstrated in plant design, significant reduction of ...
Lacustrine rocks are a significant component of many rift-valley sequences. Comparisons of both active and ancient rift valleys indicate that the lacustrine facies are commonly rich in organic matter and may be important sources for oil. For example, Holocene sediments in Lake Tanganyika and Cretaceous lacustrine rocks in west Africa contain as much as 12% and 20% TOC, respectively. The Newark Supergroup contains abundant lacustrine rocks. The widespread occurrence of black shales, the general similarity to known organically rich rift systems, and a few isolated geochemical analyses have caused some speculation about the potential of the Newark Supergroup to be an effective source of oil and gas. Sufficient geochemical analyses are available from lacustrine rocks in the Newark, Connecticut, and Deep River basins to evaluate their potential as hydrocarbon sources. In general, both the quantity and quality of organic matter in these rocks are less than that required for potential source ...
Intensive harvesting, whole-tree harvesting, and complete-tree utilization are being incorporated into management plans. Plants require sixteen or more nutrients. To determine impacts of intensive harvesting, research has begun to investigate nutrient losses associated with the removal of harvested material. Research efforts are focusing on quantifying direct nutrient loss from removal of additional biomass and identifying direct nutrient losses associated with whole-tree harvesting operations. An estimated 30-65% increase in biomass removal (from whole-tree harvesting operations as opposed to stem-only harvests) is accompanied by a 100-215% increase in nutrient removal. Whole-tree harvesting of hardwoods doubles the removal of nutrients from stem-only harvests. The significance of direct nutrient loss is not agreed upon. Some studies indicate that while stem-only harvests remove nutrients at rates replenishable from other sources, there is insufficient data to determine if whole-tree ...
One of the Eddy Current Testing issues in aeronautics is the inspection of fastened structures to detect flaws nearby rivets which can grow because of mechanical stress. EADS and the CEA LIST have started a collaborative work with the support of the Ile-de-France Region to develop a simulation tool of EC fastened structures testing, integrated to the CIVA platform, aimed at conceiving testing methods, optimizing and qualifying it. The volume integral method using the Green dyadics formalism has been chosen in order to get a fast resolution of Maxwell equations. A first milestone was to build a simulation model of multilayer structures testing, thanks to the use of the multilayer Green dyads. Because of the rivet volume, 60 times bigger than the one of a typical flaw, a large number of discretization cells are needed. Therefore an iterative method has been developed in order to numerically solve large calculation zones. Finally, the flaw response simulation mostly ...
Shortened excerpt from the head notes: The emission limits laid down in the TA Luft concretize the scope of the measures ordered by the law to provide for protection against harmful effects on the environment. Air pollution abatement measures imposed by the competent authority as post-licensing requirements based on the BImSchG (German Federal Emission Control Act) in general are in compliance with the principle of reasonableness considering the terms allowed by the TA Luft for backfitting measures. With this decision, the court qualified the emission limits defined in the TA Luft to be substantial and legally binding standards, to be applied by the competent authorities in licensing and post-licensing administrative procedures, also in order to fulfill the intended task of concretizing the less definite concepts of law laid down in the relevant legislation. (orig./CB) [Deutsch] Verkuerzte Zitierung aus den Leitsaetzen: Die in der TA Luft aufgestellten ...
In order to qualify corrosion resistant materials for high level waste (HLW) packagings acting as a long-term barrier in a rock salt repository, the corrosion behaviour of the preselected materials Ti 99.8-Pd, Hastelloy C4 and two unalloyed steels was investigated. The resistance of the materials to general corrosion, local corrosion and stress corrosion cracking was examined under postulated accident conditions in the repository by long-term immersion tests of up to 4 years duration and electrochemical methods. The parameters investigated were different salt brines, temperatures of 90 deg. C, 170 deg. C and 200 deg. C as well as a gamma radiation field of 10"3Gy/h (10"5rad/h). Among the materials studied, Ti 99.8-Pd exhibited the highest corrosion resistance. This material corroded at a very low rate (
The bobbin probe technique is basically one of the important ECT methods for the steam generator tube integrity assessment that is practiced during each plant outage. The bobbin probe also is the essential component which consists of the whole ECT examination system, and provides a decisive data for the evaluation of tube integrity in compliance with acceptance criteria described in specific procedures. The selection of probe is especially important because the quality of acquired ECT data is determined by the probe design characteristics, such as geometry and operation frequency, and has an important effect on examination results. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has recently defined the procedures for the qualification of eddy current hardware and technique. These procedures provide two basic methods for qualification. Flawed tube removed from operation, or artificial flaw is required for the original qualification of technique combined with related flaw mechanism. In ...
The bobbin probe technique is basically one of the important ECT methods for the steam generator tube integrity assessment that is practiced during each plant outage. The bobbin probe also is the essential component which consists of the whole ECT examination system, and provides a decisive data for the evaluation of tube integrity in compliance with acceptance criteria described in specific procedures. The selection of probe is especially important because the quality of acquired ECT data is determined by the probe design characteristics, such as geometry and operation frequency, and has an important effect on examination results. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has recently defined the procedures for the qualification of eddy current hardware and technique. These procedures provide two basic methods for qualification. Flawed tube removed from operation, or artificial flaw is required for the original qualification of technique combined with related flaw mechanism. In ...
Cryogenic coolers are often used in modern spacecraft in conjunction with sensitive electronics and sensors of military, commercial and scientific instrumentation. The typical space requirements are: power efficiency, low vibration export, proven reliability, ability to survive launch vibration/shock and long-term exposure to space radiation. A long-standing paradigm of exclusively using "space heritage" equipment has become the standard practice for delivering high reliability components. Unfortunately, this conservative "space heritage" practice can result in using outdated, oversized, overweight and overpriced cryogenic coolers and is becoming increasingly unacceptable for space agencies now operating within tough monetary and time constraints. The recent trend in developing mini and micro satellites for relatively inexpensive missions has prompted attempts to adapt leading-edge tactical cryogenic coolers for suitability in the space environment. The primary emphasis has been on ...
Phase contrast X-ray imaging has been studied intensively using X-rays from synchrotron radiation and micro-focus X-ray tubes. However, these studies have revealed the difficulty of this technique's application to practical medical imaging. We have created a phase contrast imaging technique using a molybdenum X-ray tube with a small focal spot size for mammography. We identified the radiographic conditions in phase contrast magnification mammography with a screen-film system, where edge effect due to phase contrast overcomes geometrical unsharpness caused by the 0.1 mm-focal spot of a molybdenum X-ray tube. The edge enhancement due to phase imaging was observed in an image of a plastic tube, and then geometrical configuration of the X-ray tube, the object and the screen-film system was determined for phase imaging of mammography. In order to investigate a potential for medical application of this method, we conducted evaluation of the images of ...
In this paper, we put forward a systematic method to analyze, control and evaluate the safety issues of medical robotics. We created a safety model that consists of three axes to analyze safety factors. Software and hardware are the two material axes. The third axis is the policy that controls all phases of design, production, testing and application of the robot system. The policy was defined as hazard identification and safety insurance control (HISIC) that includes seven principles: definitions and requirements, hazard identification, safety insurance control, safety critical limits, monitoring and control, verification and validation, system log and documentation. HISIC was implemented in the development of a robot for urological applications that was known as URObot. The URObot is a universal robot with different modules adaptable for 3D ultrasound image-guided interstitial laser coagulation, radiation seed implantation, laser resection, and electrical ...
The ability to use an acoustic stethoscope to detect lung and/or heart sounds, and then to then communicate one's interpretation of those sounds is an essential skill for many medical professionals. Interpretation of lung and heart sounds, in the context of history and other examination findings, often aids the differential diagnosis. Bedside assessment of changing auscultation findings may also guide treatment. Learning lung and heart auscultation skills typically involves listening to pre-recorded normal and adventitious sounds, often followed by laboratory instruction to guide stethoscope placement, and finally correlating the sounds with the associated pathophysiology and pathology. Recently, medical simulation has become an important tool for teaching prior to clinical practice, and for evaluating bedside auscultation skills. When simulating cardiovascular or pulmonary problems, high-quality lung and heart sounds should be able to ...
The Synchrotron Resource of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute will be dedicated to structural analyses of biological macromolecules, primarily through crystallography. This facility is under construction at the X4 port of the National Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven National Laboratory, and it will comprise three beamlines. The first line to be built has been devised to apply the multiwavelength anomalous diffraction method which provides direct estimates for the phases of reflections. The second line will be devoted to rapid and essentially routine diffraction measurements, mainly through the rotation method. These two experimental stations are contained within refrigerated radiation enclosures that will maintain clean environments, narrowly defined constant temperatures, and protection against biohazard at biosafety level BL-2. At the same time as the second line will be developed, the swath center is planned to first serve as a monitor of the white ...
Peer assessment provides a powerful avenue for students to receive feedback on their learning. Although student perceptions of peer assessment have been studied extensively in higher education, little qualitative research has been undertaken with medical students in problem-based learning (PBL) curricula. A qualitative study of students' attitudes to, and perceptions of, peer assessment was undertaken within the framework of a larger study of metacognition with first-year medical students at the University of Queensland. A highly structured format for provision of feedback was utilised in the study design. Many recommendations from the higher education literature on optimal implementation of peer-assessment procedures were put into practice. Results indicated the existence of six main themes: (1) increased responsibility for others, (2) improved learning, (3) lack of relevancy, (4) challenges, (5) discomfort, and (6) effects on the PBL process. ...
A new miniature high-frequency (HF) plasma source intended for bio-medical applications is studied using nitrogen/oxygen mixture at atmospheric pressure. This plasma source can be used as an element of a plasma source array for applications in dermatology and surgery. Nitric oxide and ozone which are produced in this plasma source are well-known agents for proliferation of the cells, inhalation therapy for newborn infants, disinfection of wounds and blood ozonation. Using optical emission spectroscopy, microphotography and numerical simulation, the gas temperature in the active plasma region and plasma parameters (electron density and electron distribution function) are determined for varied nitrogen/oxygen flows. The influence of the gas flows on the plasma conditions is studied. Ozone and nitric oxide concentrations in the effluent of the plasma source are measured using absorption spectroscopy and electro-chemical NO-detector at variable gas flows. Correlations ...
For the risk estimate of fatal malignancies, an effective dose was proposed on the basis of the assumption that the risk should be equal whether the whole body irradiated uniformly or whether there is non-uniform irradiation. The effective dose was defined by the product of organ or tissue doses and a weighting factor representing the proportion of risk factor for a fatal malignancy resulting from organ or tissue irradiation to the total malignant factor. The risk of malignancies can be derived by multiplying the malignant significant factor by the product of the risk factor and the effective dose. For the genetic risk, a significant factor was a relative child expectancy and organ or tissue doses were gonad doses. And, for the leukemogenic risk, a significant factor was the leukemia significant factor and organ or tissue dose was mean bone marrow dose. The present method makes it easy to estimate the risk for individuals and population from medical and ...
Experiments were carried out on mice and the subjects irradiated for cancer therapy to evaluate the protective efficacy of a Chinese medicinal herb-compound (CMHC). The lethality and the degree of leucopenia caused by radiation in mice medicated with CMHC were significantly less in comparison with control mice (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.001, respectively). CMHC significantly improved the WBC and the thrombocytes in irradiated workers (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.001, respectively). The WBC count of 40 patients under radiotherapy while treated with CMHC recovered from 3450 +/- 77/c.mm to 5425 +/- 264/c.mm (p less than 0.001); whereas, in the control group, without any medication, the WBC count dropped significantly (p less than 0.001). Our results revealed the applicabilities of CMHC in protection against radiation damage in spaceflight and in other fields.
As compared with terrestrial circuits, the communication satellite possesses superior characteristics such as wide area coverage, broadcasting, high capacity, and robustness to disasters. Utilizing the narrow band channel (64 kbps) of the geostationary satellite JCSAT 1 located at the altitude of 36,000 km above the equator, the authors investigated satellite-relayed medical imagings by video signals, with bone scintigraphy as a model. Each bone scintigraphy was taken by a handy-video camera, digitalized and transmitted from faculty of technology located at 25 kilometers apart from our department. Clear bone scintigraphy was obtained via satellite, as seen on the view box. Eight nuclear physicians evaluated 20 cases of bone scintigraphy. ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) analysis was performed between the scintigraphies on view box and via satellite by the rating method. The area under the ROC curve was 91.6#+-#2.6% via satellite, and 93.2#+-#2.4% on the view ...
Forty cases of Ewing's sarcoma of various sites had attended the Department of Radiotherapy at the Wanless Hospital and the Miraj Medical Centre, attached to the Government Medical College, Miraj, Maharashtra, from January, 1970 through December, 1979. There were 28 male patients and 12 female patients in the series with a male to female ratio of 2.3:1. The youngest patient in the series was a female of 6 years of age with the tumour in the scapula and the oldest patient was a 32-year-old male with a lesion in the metacarpal bone. Sixty per cent of the cases were seen in the second decade. The average age of the patients was 13.5 years. The bones of the lower extremities were most commonly involved with the highest number (35 per cent) of the cases occurring in the femur. Involvement of the bones of the right side of the body was almost equal to that of the left side. Swelling over the site of the lesion and pain over the swelling were the most ...
Scientists have just taken a big step toward understanding the cause of Lou Gehrig's disease, one of the most devastating nerve degenerative diseases. A large team of researchers, led by Robert Brown Jr. of Harvards's Massachusetts General Hospital and Robert Horvitz, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, report in the 4 March Nature that they've identified the gene that causes a hereditary form of the condition, which also goes by the name amyothophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). While most ALS cases - approximately 90% - are apparently sporadic' and not caused by an inherited gene defect, all the patients have such similar symptons that researchers are hopeful that what they learn about hereditary ALS will also apply to the sporadic form, possibly leading to new therapeutic strategies that will help both. It's a very important finding,' says neurobiologist ...
The principle and history of free-electron laser (FEL), first evidenced in 1977, the relationship between FEL wavelength and output power, the high-power FEL driven by the superconducting linac, the X-ray FEL by the linac, and the medical use are described. FEL is the vacuum oscillator tube and essentially composed from the high-energy linac, undulator and light-resonator. It utilizes free electrons in the vacuum to generate the beam with wavelength ranging from microwave to gamma ray. The first high-power FEL developed in Japanese Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI) is based on the development of superconducting linac for oscillating the highest power beam. In the medical field, applications to excise brain tumors (in US) and to reconstruct experimentally blood vessels in the pig heart (in Gunma University) by lasing and laser coagulator are in progress with examinations to remove intra-vascular cholesterol mass by irradiation of 5.7#mu#m ...
The design of a small injection linac for a compact medical synchrotron is discussed. The linac design is based on interdigital H-type (IH) drift-tube structure with alternative phase focusing (APhF). A high acceleration rate and an absence of magnetic lenses inside drift-tubes reduce the cost and length of APhF-IH linac in comparison with HIMAC linac based on Alvarez structure with magnet quadrupoles inside drift-tubes. To reduce effects of emittance growth, the RFQ structure is used in front of the APhF linac. In such linac layout, the current transmission of a carbon beam can reach up to 90-100%. In this report, the basic parameters of whole linac are presented, while the design of APhF structure is considered in details. Two reference designs of 4 MeV/u 200 MHz APhF linacs with different voltage distributions along the whole tank have been generated and analyzed numerically. For the first design, a constant voltage distribution along the tank is assumed. The ...
The thermal neutron column of the JRR-2 reactor was remodelled in order to install a medical irradiation facility. The design experience and the cource of this remodelling are presented. At first, the thermal neutron flux was lower than expected, and the expected radiation condition was achieved by the following improvements: (1) removal of graphite from the thermal neutron column to increase the neutron flux, (2) twice increase of bismuth shielding and the shift of its position to improve the shielding effect against gamma ray, (3) application of B{sub 4}C rubber on the both surfaces of the shielding door to suppress the secondary gamma ray generation from the structural materials, (4) LiF tiles are applied on the inner face of the neutron beam exit hole to suppress the secondary gamma ray from the beam exit, and (5) installment a cone-shape polyethylene collimator to relieve the decay of thermal neutron. After the improvements, medical ...
Clinical-HINTS (Health Intelligence System) is a horizontally integrated decision support system (DSS) designed to meet the requirements for intelligent real-time clinical information management in critical care medical environments and to lay the foundation for the development of the next generation of intelligent medical instrumentation. The system presented was developed to refine and complement the information yielded by clinical laboratory investigations, thereby benefiting the management of the intensive care unit (ICU) patient. More specifically, Clinical-HINTS was developed to provide computer-based assistance with the acquisition, organisation and display, storage and retrieval, communication and generation of real-time patient-specific clinical information in an ICU. Clinical-HINTS is an object-oriented system developed in C+2 to run under Microsoft Windows as an embryo intelligent agent. Current generic reasoning skills include ...
Most of the tissue banks in the Asia Pacific region have been using ionising radiation at 25 kGy to sterilise human tissues for save clinical usage. Under tissue banking quality system, any dose employed for sterilisation has to be validated and the validation exercise has to be a part of quality document. Tissue grafts, unlike medical items, are not produced in large number per each processing batch and tissues relatively have a different microbial population. A Code of Practice established by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2004 offers several validation methods using smaller number of samples compared to ISO 11137 (1995), which is meant for medical products. The methods emphasise on bioburden determination, followed by sterility test on samples after they were exposed to verification dose for attaining of sterility assurance level (SAL) of 10{sup -1}. This paper describes our experience in using the IAEA Code of Practice in ...
In 2000, the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) laid out a definition of competence that included six specific areas of focus: patient care (including clinical reasoning), medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice. The ACGME's intention was to mandate increasingly reliable and valid assessment measures to be used by all training programs over the next decade, with the goal of providing "more credible, accurate, reliable and useful educational outcome data." In this article, the authors will review definitions of competency according to the new ACGME standards and examine the assessment tools currently available, including global evaluations, 360-degree evaluations, checklists, standardized examinations and direct observations. The authors will provide an overview of critical considerations in different assessment ...
Lupus pernio of the nose is the most characteristic cutaneous lesion of sarcoidosis. It is cosmetically disfiguring and can be the cause of significant morbidity. In particular, the affected skin is often red or purple due to increased vasculature. It is particularly resistant to both surgical and medical therapy. We describe a patient with lupus pernio affecting her nose, which showed a dramatic improvement following treatment with the pulse dye laser (PDL). A biopsy taken after treatment showed the continued presence of sarcoidal granulomas. We therefore feel that treatment with the PDL is an effective tool in improving the cosmetic appearance of lupus pernio, but does not influence the underlying disease process. PMID:11360426
In the Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology research on microbiological decontamination of medicinal herbs by irradiation has been carried out since 1996. It was shown that using ionizing radiation (a dose of 10 kGy) can obtain satisfactory results of microbiological decontamination of these products. The content of essential biologically active substances such as essential oils, flavonoids, glycosides, anthocyans, antra-compounds, poliphenoloacids, triterpene saponins, oleanosides and plants mucus did not change significantly after irradiation. Pharmacological activity of medicinal herbs has been found satisfactory after microbiological decontamination by irradiation.
Abstract Although neonatology, the study of the newborn, is well established in medical science, psychological research on the newborn is relatively scarce. Can we justify this period as a distinct stage of human development in Psychology? This introductory article considers the unique characteristics of the neonatal period, the impact of the transition to extrauterine life, including the impact of birth itself, and the stages of brain development that characterize this period. It presents evidence of an intentional, intersubjective neonate, and uses behavioural and neuroscientific evidence to argue that the neonate's early social preferences and responses indicate a unique, sensitive, experience-expectant stage of development. The authors of this issue agree in proposing that the newborn ...
The assumed linear relationship between exposure to radiation and cancer incidence is questioned in this article. The current research data on radiation effects at the cellular level is reviewed, as are epidemiological studies of background radiation effects and health effects of populations exposed to low levels of radiation exposure via employment or medical treatments. Statistics reveal that threshold levels currently in force need to be reviewed. Some evidence of beneficial effects of low level radiation exposure effects of low level radiation exposure is also presented, and so regulations should be reviewed at an international level. (UK).
This year was spent in perfecting details of the new design blood irradiator, i.e., having male fittings made for shunt insertion and in acquiring preliminary biological data on its effectiveness. Fabrication of units was slowed by an unanticipated reaction of the resin with the steel injection mold, by occasional thrombogenic flaws in the blood interface layer, by thrombus formation at the points of connection to the shunt and by nonavailability of a reactor for activating the "1"6"9Tm to "1"7"0Tm. The remaining unsolved problem is that of thrombus formation at the connectors.
Abstract Background- Vitiligo, characterized by destruction of melanocytes, causes a patchy depigmentation of the skin. It has been hypothesized to have an autoimmune pathogenesis. Autoimmune disorders are more common among women and may be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as recurrent abortions, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and pre-eclampsia. Objective- The purpose of this study was to investigate whether patients with vitiligo have increased rates of gestational complications. Methods- A retrospective comparative study was undertaken comparing pregnancy complications of patients with and without vitiligo. The population was composed of all singleton deliveries that occurred at the Soroka University Medical Center in Israel during the years 1988-2006. Women lack...
This article reviews antisocial personality disorder, psychopathy, and violence and develops a three factor model of personality traits. Then a discussion of related personality disorders precedes the development of a categorical two factor model of impulsive versus remorseless violence. A paradigm of proactive, medical, and school based early intervention and prevention is advocated as a useful addition to the reactive detention of criminal justice. Integration of psychological tests, neuroimaging, and genomic data in early childhood and school based intervention strategies to prevent the development of conduct disorder and attenuate criminal propensity inform this approach. PMID:20422651
Contributions to the population dose due to medical applications of ionising radiation are presented. It appears that contributions due to radiotherapy and X ray diagnosis are of comparable magnitude. To account for the age dependency of the radiation risks, contributions in terms of somatically significant dose equivalent are calculated as 0.3 mSv per caput per annum for X ray diagnosis and as 0.2 mSv per caput per annum for radiotherapy, the latter referring to only doses to organs outside the target volume. (author).
This review begins with an historical account of biomaterials applications followed by a concise description of the phenomena taking place between the living tissues and non-living materials containing them. After describing the requirements for biodegradability and the mechanisms involved, a thorough literature survey of such polymers is presented. In the end a very short review of the work done in this area by the authors in recent years is given, including: the synthesis of a wide variety of biodegradable di-and tri-block copolymers, preparation of microparticles; stealth-and immuno-liposomes; dendrosomes and polymersomes; and some of their applications in drug and gene delivery.
The great uranium debate throughout the industrialised world has intensified awareness of the biological hazards from ionizing radiation. It is therefore appropriate to use this awareness to draw attention to medical X-Radiation which today represents the most significant risk to future generations. There is ample legislation to control proliferation of nuclear development but in diagnostic radiology proliferation is unlimited; most international surveys indicate an unchecked annual growth rate of 15%. The article looks at risk hypotheses, dose measurements and the responsibilities of practising radiographers, and also reviews the international situation as reported at the 1977 world congress of radiation protection.
The High Exposure Facility is a collimated high-level gamma irradiator that is located in the basement of the 318 building. It was custom developed by PNNL back in 1982 to meet the needs for high range radiological instrument calibrations and dosimeter irradiations. At the time no commercially available product existed that could create exposure rates up to 20,000 R/h. This document is intended to pass on the design criteria that was employed to create this unique facility, while maintaining compliance with ANSI N543-1974, "General Safety Standard for Installations Using Non-Medical X-Ray and Sealed Gamma-Ray Sources, Energies up to 10 MeV."
An interferometric technique for hard X-rays is presented. It is based on two transmission gratings and a phase-stepping technique, and it provides separate radiographs of the phase and absorption profiles of bulk samples. Tomographic reconstruction yields quantitative three-dimensional maps of the X-ray refractive index and of the attenuation coefficient, with a spatial resolution down to a few microns. The method is mechanically robust, it requires little monochromaticity, and can be scaled up to large fields of view. These are important prerequisites for use with laboratory X-ray sources. Numerous applications ranging from wave front sensing to medical radiography are presently under investigation.
Objective: Results of reliability and agreement studies are intended to provide information about the amount of error inherent in any diagnosis, score, or measurement. The level of reliability and agreement among users of scales, instruments, or classifications is widely unknown. Therefore, there is a need for rigorously conducted interrater and intrarater reliability and agreement studies. Information about sample selection, study design, and statistical analysis is often incomplete. Because of inadequate reporting, interpretation and synthesis of study results are often difficult. Widely accepted criteria, standards, or guidelines for reporting reliability and agreement in the health care and medical field are lacking. The objective was to develop guidelines for reporting reliability and...
Information security involves many branches of effort, including information assurance, host level security, physical security, and network security. Computer network security methods and implementations are given a top-down description to permit a medically focused audience to anchor this information to their daily practice. The depth of detail of network functionality and security measures, like that of the study of human anatomy, can be highly involved. Presented at the level of major gross anatomical systems, this paper will focus on network backbone implementation and perimeter defenses, then diagnostic tools, and finally the user practices (the human element). Physical security measures, though significant, have been defined as beyond the scope of this presentation.
This report describes the activities conducted with DOE funds at Oregon Health Sciences University between 9/15/94 and 9/29/99. The activities fall into four major categories: Information Technology, Information Services and Support, Medical Informatics and Outcomes Research, and collaboration with other institutions. The focus of these activities was to implement and maintain a regional healthcare information network.
We explore autofluorescence endomicroscopy as a potential tool for real-time visualization of epithelial tissue microstructure and organization in a clinical setting. The design parameters are explored using two experimental systems--an Olympus Medical Systems Corp. stand-alone clinical prototype probe, and a custom built bench-top rigid fiber conduit prototype. Both systems entail ultraviolet excitation at 266 nm and/or 325 nm using compact laser sources. Preliminary results using ex vivo animal and human tissue specimens suggest that this technology can be translated toward in vivo application to address the need for real-time histology.
Chronic benign pain is commonly associated with chronic fatigue and depression. Depression and chronic fatigue syndrome are also associated with each other and often include pain. Psychologic factors are prominent in these conditions, and they may share neurobiologic factors as well. Management requires separately addressing each component of patients' distress and usually includes physical rehabilitation, education, administration of nonhabituating medications and often counseling. Depression may be a favorable prognostic sign, as it suggests a treatable condition and provides incentive for recovery. PMID:1876618
In November 1977, 627 soldiers belonging primarily to the First Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, stationed at Fort Bragg, were sent to the Canal Zone, Panama, for jungle warfare training. A medical surveillance program incorporating pre- and post-evaluations over a 6-month period with dermatologic examinations, questionnaires, and serologic tests was established. Ten cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis (1.6/100 men) were diagnosed by positive Leishmania culture. The demonstrated lack of sensitivity and specificity of the indirect fluorescent antibody test and the direct agglutination test render these serological methods useless as diagnostic screening methods in the early stages of this disease. PMID:7406101
Optimal neutron energy for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) has been studied. Epithermal neutron is superior to thermal neutrons in treating deep-seated tumors. Design of the epithermal neutron column for BNCT has been performed by using a two-dimensional transport calculation code. Aluminum and heavy water are used as moderation materials. A thermal neutron column is also designed using heavy water as thermalization material. The configuration of the facility for treatment and research of BNCT and also for basic radio-biological studies of neutrons has been presented.
Optimal neutron energy for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) has been studied. Epithermal neutron is superior to thermal neutrons in treating deep-seated tumors. Design of the epithermal neutron column for BNCT has been performed by using a two-dimensional transport calculation code. Aluminum and heavy water are used as moderation materials. A thermal neutron column is also designed using heavy water as thermalization material. The configuration of the facility for treatment and research of BNCT and also for basic radio-biological studies of neutrons has been presented. (author).
In recent years, several groups, including the physician assistant, health information management, ophthalmic medical technician/technologist, and athletic training review committees, have left the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) system to form their own, profession-specific accrediting bodies. Their motivation was typically a desire for greater professional visibility and autonomy. Combined, these professions represented one third of the CAAHEP's programs. This article reviews the history of allied health and examines current attempts to bring cohesion and identity to this increasingly fractured segment of the U.S. health care system. PMID:18444439
The focus of the Chernobyl Studies Project has now turned to the issue of health effects from the Chernobyl accident. Currently, we are involved in and making progress on the case-control and co-hort studies of thyroid diseases among Belarussian children. Dosimetric aspects are a fundamental part of these studies. We are working to implement similar studies in Ukraine. A major part of the effort of these projects is supporting these studies, both by providing methods and applications of dose reconstruction and by providing support and equipment for the medical teams.
Botulinum neurotoxin is produced by the bacterium, Clostridium botulinum. The neurotoxin inhibits acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, thus interfering with overall muscular contraction. Botulinum neurotoxin is commonly used for the following medical conditions: cervical dystonia, upper limb spasticity, blepharospasm, strabismus, and hyperhydrosis. However, the use of botulinum neurotoxin was recently approved for the prophylaxis of headaches in adults with chronic migraines. The proposed mechanism of botulinum neurotoxin is no longer solely limited to the inhibition of acetylcholine. There are new mechanisms emerging that involve inhibition of proinflammatory agents and neuropeptides involved in chronic pain. Consequently, there is a disruption of the overall sensory feedback loop...
The present Annual Report of Activities of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ARN), prepared regularly from the creation as independent institution, describes across tree parts and seven annexes the activities developed by the organism during 2007. The main topic are: the organization and the activity of the ARN; the regulatory standards; the licensing and inspection of nuclear power plants and critical facilities; the emergency systems; the occupational surveillance; the environmental monitoring; improved organizational. Also, this publication have annexes with the following content: regulatory documents; inspections to medical, industrial and training installations; regulatory guides; measurement and evaluation of the drinking water of Ezeiza.
Anesthetic techniques vary widely in the endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (EVAR). Previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of using local anesthesia. However, the ideal anesthetic technique has not been determined. This study examines whether anesthesic technique influences the outcomes of EVAR. Data regarding demographics, risk factors, procedural characteristics, recovery characteristics, treatment complications, acute ( 0.05, ANOVA). From these results we concluded that EVAR with local anesthesia is a safe and efficacious method that may reduce recovery times and postoperative medical morbidity compared to use of genera1 or spinal/epidural anesthesia.
The Fuels Material Examination Facility/Fuel Assembly Area is proposed to be used for fabrication of mixed oxide fuel to support the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) tritium/medical isotope mission. The plutonium isotope mix for the new mission is different than that analyzed in the FMEF safety analysis report. A reanalysis was performed of three representative accidents for the revised plutonium mix to determine the impact on the safety analysis. Current versions computer codes and meterology data files were used for the analysis. The revised accidents were a criticality, an explosion in a glovebox, and a tornado. The analysis concluded that risk guidelines were met with the revised plutonium mix.
... Alexandria Journal of Medicine-The Alexandria Journal of Medicine publishes concise, original articles and contributions in the broad field of medical scie ..... Alexandria Journal of Medicine - Elsevier Home Products User Resources About Us Support & Contact Elsevier Websites Advanced Product Search ...Browse Journals Alexandria Journal of Medicine Alexandria Journal of Medicine Produced and hosted on behalf of the Alexandria University Faculty of Medicine Additional Information ...for Editors Reviewers Log in as Reviewer Advertisers/Sponsors Societies ISSN: 2090-5068 Imprint: Alexandria University Faculty of Medicine Actions Submit Article ...
This file is devoted to the Chernobyl accident. It is divided in four parts. The first part concerns the accident itself and its technical management. The second part is relative to the radiation doses and the different contaminations. The third part reports the sanitary effects, the determinists ones and the stochastic ones. The fourth and last part relates the consequences for the other European countries with the case of France. Through the different parts a point is tackled with the measures taken after the accident by the other countries to manage an accident, the cooperation between the different countries and the groups of research and studies about the reactors safety, and also with the international medical cooperation, specially for the children, everything in relation with the Chernobyl accident. (N.C.)
This article describes the design and implementation of an online diabetes self-management intervention for a sample of inner-city African Americans with diabetes. Study participants were randomly assigned to the treatment (26) and control (21) conditions. The results indicate that treatment group participants were more likely to achieve positive outcomes in terms of lowered hemoglobin A1c and body mass index measurements than were control group members. These findings support the development of telehealth interventions to promote effective chronic disease management in medically underserved communities.
Abstract Telecare has become an increasingly common medical service in recent years. However, new service must be close to the market and be market-driven to have a high likelihood of success. This article analyzes the business model of a telecardiology service managed by a general hospital. The methodology of the article is as follows: (1) initially it describes the elements of the service based on the ontology of the business model, (2) then it transfers these elements into the choices for business model dynamic loops and examines their validity, and (3) finally provides an empirical financial analysis of the service to assess the profit-making possibilities.
A series of radioactive catastrophes (from 1948 to 1967) in the Southern Urals in the USSR led to intensive environmental contamination. Radioactive wastes were dispersed over the 20000 km(2) territory of four provinces-Chelyabinsk, Sverdlovsk, Tyumen' and Kurgan-due to the activity of the military facility that was built in 1948 for the production of nuclear bomb plutonium. The results of 50 years of investigations into the consequences of these disasters allow a general picture of the events that occurred to be reconstructed and allow the medical consequences of the irradiation of about half a million residents to be depicted. However, due to the atmosphere of secrecy and inadequate medical procedures, the results of medical studies of radiation victims are scant. The current protocols present a unique opportunity to study the DNA damage at the nucleotide resolution level in the genome of inhabitants of the given region, ...
The availability of reactor-produced radioisotopes in the United States for use in medical research and nuclear medicine has traditionally depended on facilities which are an integral part of the US national laboratories and a few reactors at universities. One exception is the reactor in Sterling Forest, New York, originally operated as part of the Cintichem (Union Carbide) system, which is currently in the process of permanent shutdown. Since there are no industry-run reactors in the US, the national laboratories and universities thus play a critical role in providing reactor-produced radioisotopes for medical research and clinical use. The goal of this survey is to provide a comprehensive summary of these production capabilities. With the temporary shutdown of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) in November 1986, the radioisotopes required for DOE-supported radionuclide generators were made available at ...
Since 1945, more than 1.8 x 10"2"1 Bq of artificial radionuclides have been released into the atmosphere. Approximately 2.04 x 10"1"8B, i.e. approx. 0.11%, are the result of accidents at nuclear industrial facilities. This percentage is causing increased interest among researchers. This is due to the fact that in the wake of accidental release radionuclides become distributed unevenly across the Earth's surface, and the associated exposures, fluctuating from background level to several grays, an induce both stochastic and deterministic effects in the irradiated population. A comparative analysis of the medical consequences of the twentieth century's most serious nuclear events, namely the authorized dumping of high level radioactive waste into the river Techa in 1950, the explosion of a storage tank containing long lived radioactive waste in the Southern Urals in 1957, the fire at Sellafield in 1957 and the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986, has ...
Purpose: To develop, test, evaluate and implement effective state-of-the-art teacher training in didactic skills and methods. The training concept should be designed and beneficial for medical teachers' postgraduate medical education (CME). Materials and methods: A 5-day workshop with 12 theoretical and 9 'hands-on' modules was designed and stepwise improved, according to the trainees' feedback. All trainees were trained in small groups (6 to 10 participants per workshop). The workshops consisted of mini-lectures, repeated micro teaching exercises and video-supported feedback concerning the following key-competencies: Communication of goals; methods to trigger interactivity; design of slides in power point presentations; effective feedback-techniques; and use of media, time-management, skills teaching, assessment methods (e.g. OSCE and others), evaluation and general presentation skills. The evaluation was based on two components: (A) trainees' ...
The world`s population of research reactors is growing old. Many have been adapted to serve new purposes over their lives, from testing materials for nuclear power programmes and supporting neutron physics experiments, to colouring gemstones, doping silicon and generating medical isotopes. In the first article of this survey of research reactor issues, Wilfried Krull from GKSS in Germany describes the effects on a reactor of supporting these changes in application as ``design ageing`` . Managing this and other symptoms of ageing to extend plant life is a key task for operators, and Krull discusses the efforts being made internationally to handle them. Eventually, terminal decline of one vital component can determine when a reactor has to be shutdown for refurbishment. For BR2 in Belgium, it was the beryllium matrix. Edgar Koonen from SCK-CEN explains work being done to replace it and extend reactor life for around 15 years. The Triga at the University of Austria`s ...
Radiation technology offers a very wide scope for utilisation and commercial exploitation in various field. All over the world, this technology is being favourably considered for different applications like radiation sterilisation of medical products, preservation of food by controlling the physiological processes for extending shelf-life and eradication of microbial and insect pests, radiation processing of polymeric materials and treatment of sewage sludge. Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission has taken radiation processing programmes in a big way right from its inception. This paper describes the studies carried out by various research groups in Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission mainly using Cobalt-60 gamma radiation. The investigation covers medical sterilisation, food preservation and development and modification of polymeric materials by gamma radiation. Both food preservation and radiation sterilisation of medical ...
The construction of Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC) at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences was completed in December 1993. HIMAC consists of an injector linac, two synchrotron rings, a high energy beam transport system and a beam irradiation system. Its accelerator parameters are based on the medical requirement, and helium, carbon, neon, silicon and argon were selected as the accelerated ion species. It has 3 therapy rooms (A{approx}C). Room A has a vertical irradiation system, Room C horizontal and Room B both vertical and horizontal. Two rings can supply beams independently to the vertical and horizontal irradiation systems. Clinical trial started on June 21 1994, after several basic biological and physics experiments lasting about 2 months. Cancer is the top cause of death in Japan since 1981, and people expect good treatment results at HIMAC. Proton and heavy ion radiotherapy has the advantage of dose ...
The most relevant aspects of research and service experience with environmentally-assisted cracking (EAC) of carbon (C) and low-alloy steels (LAS) in high-temperature (HT) water are reviewed, with special emphasis on the primary pressure boundary components of boiling water reactors (BWRs). The main factors controlling the susceptibility to EAC under light water reactor (LWR) conditions are discussed with respect to crack initiation and crack growth. The adequacy and conservatism of the current BWRVIP-60 stress corrosion cracking (SCC) disposition lines (DLs), ASME III fatigue design curves, and ASME XI reference fatigue crack growth curves, as well as of the GE EAC crack growth model are evaluated in the context of recent research results. The operating experience is summarized and compared to the experimental/mechanistic background knowledge. Finally, open questions and possible topics for further research are identified. Laboratory investigations revealed significant effects of ...
The GEOFLOW I experiment has been successfully performed on the International Space Sta-tion (ISS) in 2008 in the Columbus module in order to study the stability, pattern formation and transition to turbulence in a viscous incompressible fluid layer enclosed in two concentric co-rotating spheres subject to a radial temperature gradient and a radial volumetric force field. The objective of the study is the experimental investigation of large scale astrophysical and geophysical phenomena in spherical geometry stipulated by rotation, thermal convections and radial gravity fields. These systems include earth outer core or mantle convection, differen-tial rotation effects in the sun, atmosphere of gas planets as well as a variety of engineering applications. The GEOFLOW I experimental instrument consists of an experiment insert for operation in the Fluid Science Laboratory, which is part of the Columbus Module of the ISS. It was first launched in February 2008 together with Columbus Module ...
Heat transfer processes use fluids which are generally not pure and can react with transfer surfaces. These surfaces are subject to deposits which can be sediments harmful to heat transfer and to integrity of materials. For nuclear plant steam generators, sludge build-up accelerates secondary side corrosion by concentrating chemical species. A major safety problem involved with such a corrosion is the growing of circumferential cracks which are very difficult to detect and size with eddy current probes. With a view to understand and control this problem, it is necessary to develop a mathematical model for the prediction of sludge behavior in PWR steam generators. Based on fundamental principles, this work intends to use different models available in literature for the prediction of the phenomenon leading to the accumulation of sludge particles at the bottom (the tubesheet) of a PWR. For that, a three-dimensional simulation of magnetite particulate fouling with the finite elements code ...
This paper presents a prescriptive account of diagnostic problem solving, or diagnosis, in quality and process control. This paper identifies a general strategy, named branch-and-prune, whose manifestations can be found in disciplines such as medical diagnosis, troubleshooting of devices, and model-based diagnosis in artificial intelligence. The work aims to offer a clear conceptualization of this strategy, based on the notions of structures for the search space, and constraints to the cause's nature.The idea is to treat the search space of candidate explanations as a tree structure, in which general and high-level causal directions are branched into more specific and detailed explanations. Constraints eliminate all but a few branches (pruning), which are explored in more detail. We enumer...
The GSD must be considered as a quantity by means of which the risk in a given population can be described exclusively in terms of genetic risk. In cases of a simultaneous increase in the rate of examinations, the GSD may lead to a misinterpretation of the population exposure, suggesting a decreasing trend, although there is an actual increase in the somatic radiation exposure. It is recommended to indicate not only the GSD but also the amount of somatic radiation exposure of the population for each specific source when comparing and evaluating radiation exposures from different sources. Although the somatically significant dose formally would be suited as a complement to the GSD, it is recommended to use the effective per caput dose equivalent. It must be pointed out that the application of the concept of effective dose equivalent is only appropriate for comparative evaluations of the population exposure to different sources of radiation. (orig./HP).
Probable risks for the occurrence of somatic effects due to diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine are summarised. The biological background of radiation carcinogenesis and epidemiological results are discussed. At the Leiden University Medical Centre the average effective dose per examination due to diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine amount to 0.95 and 4.4 mSv, respectively. These values correspond well with the average values of 0.82 and 3.0 mSv reported for The Netherlands as a whole. Since radiological examinations are performed at a much larger frequency than nuclear medicine the relative collective dose for the first type of examinations is higher than the latter. Risk for occurency of malignancies are at least one order of magnitude lower than the hypothetical risk due to the background radiation typical of The Netherlands.
Deltombe T, Gustin T. Selective tibial neurotomy in the treatment of spastic equinovarus foot in hemiplegic patients: a 2-year longitudinal follow-up of 30 cases. Objective To assess the long-term efficacy of selective tibial neurotomy in the treatment of spastic equinovarus foot in hemiplegic patients. Design Intervention study (before-after trial) with an observational design and 2-year follow-up. Setting Spasticity group in a university hospital. Participants Hemiplegic patients (N=30) with spastic equinovarus foot. Intervention A selective neurotomy was performed at the level of the motor nerve branches of the tibial nerve. Main Outcome Measures Spasticity (Ashworth scale), muscle strength (Medical Research Council scale), passive ankle dorsiflexion, gait parameters (6 min walking test...
Premature Failure of a Riata Defibrillator Lead. A 63-year-old woman with a St. Jude Medical Riata 1570 right ventricular lead complained of intermittent hiccups 2 months after implant. Interrogation revealed elevated pacing threshold and diaphragmatic stimulation. Pacing and shock lead impedances remained stable. No inappropriate sensing was noted. Fluoroscopic examination of the lead revealed a thin radio-opaque wire seen between the 2 defibrillator coils away from the main body of the lead. After extraction, a tear in the insulation of the lead was noted allowing the inner wire to protrude. This case illustrates a novel mechanism of insulation failure without inappropriate sensing or impedance change.-(J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 22, pp. 1070-1072, September 2011)
Cuphea, a relatively unknown plant outside the scientific community, might someday provide valuable oils for manufacturing soaps, detergents, surfactants, and lubricants, and may have medical, nutritional and dietetic applications as well. Unique properties of oils found in its seed make cuphea a potentially valuable new crop for the USA. Its seeds contain large quantities of medium-chain fatty acids such as lauric acid, which is used in manufacturing soaps and detergents. Other medium-chain fatty acids in cuphea can be used for clinical treatment of rare human ailments associated with fat absorption. New uses for the fatty acids in the seed may be developed and economic conditions may change, making the crop more or less valuable.
Various control procedures have been suggested for reducing foodborne infectious diseases. Receiving considerable attention is irradiation. This report estimates the medical and wage (or productivity) benefits associated with prevention of five human diseases transmitted by beef, pork, and chicken. (These diseases can also be transmitted by other vectors, such as eggs, milk, and pets. But these sources are not included in the analysis.) All of these foodborne infectious diseases - salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, trichinosis, tapeworm, and toxoplasmosis - could be significantly reduced by irradiating meat and poultry. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just approved irradiation of pork to prevent trichinosis (50FR 29658-59) and is considering approval of irradiation of chicken to kill Salmonella. 22 references.
Culture-independent microbiological technologies that interrogate complex microbial populations without prior axenic culture, coupled with high-throughput DNA sequencing, have revolutionized the scale, speed and economics of microbial ecological studies. Their application to the medical realm has led to a highly productive merger of clinical, experimental and environmental microbiology. The functional roles played by members of the human microbiota are being actively explored through experimental manipulation of animal model systems and studies of human populations. In concert, these studies have appreciably expanded our understanding of the composition and dynamics of human-associated microbial communities (microbiota). Of note, several human diseases have been linked to alterations in th...
Context. Cardiovascular medication overdoses can be difficult to treat. Various treatment modalities are currently recommended. Objective. To describe patient outcomes and adverse events of high-dose insulin therapy in consecutive overdose patients in cardiogenic shock after implementation of a high-dose insulin protocol (1-10 U/kg/h, while avoiding or tapering off vasopressors). Methods. This is an observational consecutive case series of patients identified from a registry. Data were collected by retrospective chart review of patients treated by our toxicology service with this protocol from February 2007 until March 2010. Results. Twelve patients were treated with high-dose insulin. The mean age was 36.5 years (SD 11.7). Seven patients had pre-existing vasopressor therapy, and all were ...
Gamma-ray spectrometric analysis was employed to determine the nuclides formed in thorium by neutron irradiation. Thorium sample was irradiated by neutron from a pure thermal neutron field, neutron field of Cd ratio of about 4, and epithermal neutron field, respectively. The former irradiation was carried out in a thermal neutron column provided for medical uses of neutrons, and the latters were done in the F-ring position of TRIGA II research reactor of Musashi Institute of Technology. The gamma-ray spectra were obtained and analyzed by employing a fully automatic gamma-ray analysis system named ''GAMA: giant frog:-SYSTEM'' developped by Musashi Institute of Technology. The formation of Pa-233 (U-233) was discussed quantitatively with respect to the difference of the neutron field. (author).
Particle accelerators are constructed and operated for a wide variety of applications. In particle physics - the branch of physics that studies the elementary constituents of matter and forces between them - high energy accelerators are used to look deep into the structure of matter. Medical particle accelerators are used for example in medicine to treat tumours [31], in imaging techniques such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) [24], or for the radio-isotopes production. They also serve in many other industrial branches, e.g. geology, radiocarbon dating [39], molecular complex spectroscopy, lithography, food preservation etc. The eld of accelerator technology draws knowledge and expertise from a wide range of scientic disciplines and uses the latest technical knowledge. The incomplete list of covered disciplines includes mathematics, physics, electronics, computing, electromagnetic eld technology, microwave technology, cryogenics, vacuum technology, special ...
With the exception of the 1945 Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear weapon explosions and the 1986 Tchernobyl reactor accident, most of the radiation accidents concerns the medical and the traditional industrial sectors. The seriousness of the accident is directly function of the absorbed dose. The paper, first, gives the definition of a radiologic accident with its specific criteria and pathological manifestations. Then, some famous historical accidents are reviewed from the discovery of X-rays to recent acute irradiations due to the careless manipulation of radiation sources. From this analysis, three main causes are put forward: the dysfunction of nuclear medicine apparatuses, the victims` lack of training and knowledge of the risks, and the non-identification or the loss of radiation sources. (J.S.). 1 photo.
Objective: Analyse the difference in school careers and secondary school qualification levels between unilateral hearing aid users and bilateral hearing aid users. Study design: Retrospective questionnaire study. Setting: Postal-based questionnaire. Participants: Names of adults known to have been fitted with unilateral or bilateral hearing aids during childhood were retrieved. This resulted in 292 names. Participants were selected using the following criteria: availability of the medical record, presence of bilateral hearing loss, completed secondary school education, normal IQ and a minimum aided word-recognition score of 70% at 10 years of age. The questionnaire was sent to 50 potential participants of whom 40 responded, resulting in two groups comprising 19 unilateral and 21 bilateral ...
A compact proton accelerator for medical applications is being developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The accelerator architecture is based on the dielectric wall accelerator (DWA) concept. One critical area to consider is the switch region. Electric field simulations and thermal calculations of the switch area were performed to help determine the operating limits of rmed SiC switches. Different geometries were considered for the field simulation including the shape of the thin Indium solder meniscus between the electrodes and SiC. Electric field simulations were also utilized to demonstrate how the field stress could be reduced. Both transient and steady steady-state thermal simulations were analyzed to find the average power capability of the switches.
For 170 years, scientists have attempted to explain why consistent temporal patterns of death are observed among individuals within populations. Historical efforts to identify a {open_quotes}law of mortality{close_quotes} from these patterns ended in 1935 when it was declared that such a law did not exist. These empirical tests for a law of mortality were constructed using mortality curves based on all causes of death. We predicted that patterns of mortality consistent with the historical concept of a law would be revealed if mortality curves for species were constructed using only senescent causes of death. Using data on senescent mortality for laboratory animals and humans, we demonstrate that patterns of mortality overlap when compared on a biologically comparable time scale. These results are consistent with the existence of a law of mortality following sexual maturity as asserted by Benjamin Gompertz and Raymond Pearl. The societal, medical, and research ...
for 170 years, scientists have attempted to explain why consistent temporal patterns of death are observed among individuals within populations. Historical efforts to identify a `law of mortality` from these patterns ended in 1935 when it was declared that such a law did not exist. These empirical tests for a law of mortality were constructed using mortality curves based on all causes of death. We predicted patterns of mortality consistent with the historical concept of a law would be revealed if mortality curves for species were constructed using only senescent causes of death. Using data on senescent mortality for laboratory animals and humans, we demonstrate patterns of mortality overlap when compared on a biologically comparable time scale. The results are consistent with the existence of a law of mortality following sexual maturity. The societal, medical, and research implications of such a law are discussed.
BackgroundAlthough self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) insertion is widely used for relief of malignant colorectal obstructions, the immediate technical and clinical failure rates of SEMSs and the associated risk factors remain largely unknown. ObjectiveTo identify rates and factors predictive of technical and clinical failure of SEMSs when their use is attempted for the decompression of malignant colorectal obstruction. DesignRetrospective chart review. SettingA tertiary-care academic medical center in South Korea. PatientsThis study involved a total of 412 patients with malignant colorectal obstruction in whom SEMS insertion was attempted. InterventionPlacement of colonic SEMSs. Main Outcome MeasurementsTechnical success and immediate and long-term clinical success rates. ResultsTechnical...