bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ventricular arrhythmias in congestive heart failure
Authors: Chakko S. , De Marchena E. , Kessler K. M. , Myerburg R. J.
Published: July 2009

Despite advances in the treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF), the mortality rate continues to be high. A large number of the deaths are sudden, presumably due to ventricular arrhythmias. Complex ventricular arrhythmias are recorded in as many as 80% of patients with CHF, with nonsustained ventricular tachycardia occurring in 40%. The latter appears to be an independent predictor of mortality. Chronic structural abnormalities responsible for CHF may be the basis for the capability of a ventricle to support life‐threatening arrhythmias, which are triggered by premature ventricular contractions. The pathogenesis of arrhythmias is multifactorial. Electrolyte abnormalities, ischemia, catecholamines, inotropic and antiarrhythmic drugs may worsen arrhythmias and increase susceptibility of a ventricle to sustained arrhythmias. Beta‐adrenergic blockers and angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors have a beneficial effect. The role of various drugs in the pathogenesis and treatment of ventricular arrhythmias is discussed. The efficacy of antiarrhythmic therapy targeted to asymptomatic nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, in order to prevent sudden death, is controversial. Pharmacotherapy guided by electrophysiologic testing is the treatment of choice for patients who have manifest sustained ventricular tachycardia, but patients resuscitated from ventricular fibrillation may require automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
Thermal stability studies of 5‐fluorouracil using diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Singh Parul , Tyagi Gunjan , Mehrotra Ranjana , Bakhshi A. K.
Published: July 2009

5‐Fluorouracil is one of the oldest chemotherapy drugs and it has been in use for decades. It is an active medicine against several types of cancer and effectively blocks the replication of DNA viruses. The present study assessed the potential of diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy to determine the thermal stability of 5‐fluorouracil. Infrared spectra of the drug before and after exposure to thermal radiation at different temperatures were collected in diffuse reflectance mode using a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were carried out simultaneously to confirm and support the results of infrared spectroscopy. The DRIFT spectra reveal that the drug shows good thermal stability up to 275 °C and undergoes complete thermal breakdown at about 285 °C. The results of DSC and XRD analysis also give the same information, which support the implementation of diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy for the determination of thermal stability of 5‐fluorouracil. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Subcutaneous Emphysema and Pneumomediastinum Secondary to Dental Extraction: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Yang Shih‐Chia , Chiu Tzu‐Hsuan , Lin Tzeng‐Jih , Chan Hon‐Man
Published: July 2009

Here, we present the case of a woman who suffered from acute dyspnea and right cheek and neck swelling during molar extraction. The use of a high‐speed dental drill may introduce air into the soft tissue and lead to subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum. After a review of the literature, we found that subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum are rare complications secondary to dental extraction. We report this case because physicians in the emergency department may misdiagnose the symptoms as an allergic reaction. Dentists should be more aware of air leak during dental extraction.
Psychosocial Features at Different Periods after Childbirth
Authors: Hung Chich‐Hsiu
Published: July 2009

The purpose of this study was to examine and compare first‐time mothers' postpartum stress, depression, social support, and health status over the first 6 weeks following discharge from hospital after childbirth. Four hundred and thirty‐five women were enrolled from clinics and hospitals in Kaohsiung City, southern Taiwan. The study showed that three items‐“the baby getting sick suddenly”, “the unpredictability of the baby's schedule”, and “the flabby flesh of my belly”‐were consistently perceived to be among the top five postpartum stressors by women, regardless of which postpartum week it was. Most women had minimal depression with 71.83% in the sixth week to 81.58% in the first week. Women perceived a high level of social support and their greatest amount of support was from family. A range of women from 25.71% in the fifth week to 32.39% in the second week of postpartum was categorized as having minor psychiatric morbidity. However, the results indicated that the mean scores for postpartum stress and social support did not differ significantly for the women over the 6 postpartum weeks. Women with different depression levels and health status over the 6 postpartum weeks had no significant differences either. Insight into the results of this study provides a framework for additional research that a longitudinal design is needed from immediate childbirth to 1 year postpartum in order to explore the fluctuations of women's psychosocial factors.
Improved visual sensitivity during smooth pursuit eye movements: Temporal and spatial characteristics
Authors: SCHÜTZ ALEXANDER C. , BRAUN DORIS I. , GEGENFURTNER KARL R.
Published: July 2009

Recently, we showed that contrast sensitivity for color and high–spatial frequency luminance stimuli is enhanced during smooth pursuit eye movements (Schütz et al., 2008). In this study, we investigated the enhancement over a wide range of temporal and spatial frequencies. In Experiment 1, we measured the temporal impulse response function (TIRF) for colored stimuli. The TIRF for pursuit and fixation differed mostly with respect to the gain but not with respect to the natural temporal frequency. Hence, the sensitivity enhancement seems to be rather independent of the temporal frequency of the stimuli. In Experiment 2, we measured the spatial contrast sensitivity function for luminance-defined Gabor patches with spatial frequencies ranging from 0.2 to 7 cpd. We found a sensitivity improvement during pursuit for spatial frequencies above 2–3 cpd. Between 0.5 and 3 cpd, sensitivity was impaired by smooth pursuit eye movements, but no consistent difference was observed below 0.5 cpd. The results of both experiments are consistent with an increased contrast gain of the parvocellular retinogeniculate pathway.
Realization of the CNOT quantum gate operation in six-dimensional ammonia using the OCT-MCTDH approach
Authors: Schröder Markus , Brown Alex
Published: July 2009

Comparative studies of implementations of the controlled NOT quantum gate operation using vibrational states of ammonia as the qubit states are presented. The quantum gate operations are realized using tailored laser pulses, which are calculated using a combined approach of optimal control theory and the multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree method. We compare results obtained with a reduced model of ammonia with three degrees of freedom (all N–H bond distances fixed) to those obtained with a full six-dimensional model. In our study, the optimal laser pulses of both models induce similar underlying physical mechanisms while the gate quality within the reduced model (>98%) is much higher than within the six-dimensional model (≈80%).
Neoliberalization, social reproduction and the limits to labour in Jamaica
Authors: Mullings Beverley
Published: July 2009

Since the 1980s the Jamaican state has systematically withdrawn from investments geared towards enhancing the social and psychological welfare of its citizens, shifting the responsibility and cost for the education, health care and socialization of dependent members of the society to households and communities. This shift in responsibility for social reproduction disproportionately and negatively affected women, who have traditionally assumed primary responsibility for this necessary component of capitalist systems. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Jamaicans, primarily women, successfully rendered a spatial fix to the crisis by stretching the space and scale of their everyday means of existence beyond the nation's territorial boundaries. However, as this paper demonstrates, Jamaica is approaching the limits of its population's ability to reproduce the social structures and relations needed for social stability. This situation, that I describe as the ‘limit to labour’ is increasingly manifested in declining levels of social cohesion and heightened levels of violence in at all levels of Jamaican society. Although crisis has been a defining feature of social reproduction in Jamaica throughout its history, the emerging social crisis should be distinguished in its severity because it has begun to erode the social institutions and norms upon which Jamaica's social order has historically rested. It is the economic costs of this emerging limit to labour that ultimately pose the greatest threat to the sustainability of current neoliberalization processes.
The effect of pH on the initial rate kinetics of the dimeric biliverdin‐IXα reductase from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC6803
Authors: Hayes Jerrard M. , Mantle Timothy J.
Published: July 2009

Biliverdin‐IXα reductase from Synechocystis PCC6803 (sBVR‐A) is a stable dimer and this behaviour is observed under a range of conditions. This is in contrast to all other forms of BVR‐A, which have been reported to behave as monomers, and places sBVR‐A in the dihydrodiol dehydrogenase/N‐terminally truncated glucose–fructose oxidoreductase structural family of dimers. The cyanobacterial enzyme obeys an ordered steady‐state kinetic mechanism at pH 5, with NADPH being the first to bind and NADP+ the last to dissociate. An analysis of the effect of pH on kcat with NADPH as cofactor reveals a pK of 5.4 that must be protonated for effective catalysis. Analysis of the effect of pH on kcat/KmNADPH identifies pK values of 5.1 and 6.1 in the free enzyme. Similar pK values are identified for biliverdin binding to the enzyme–NADPH complex. The lower pK values in the free enzyme (pK 5.1) and enzyme–NADPH complex (pK 4.9) are not evident when NADH is the cofactor, suggesting that this ionizable group may interact with the 2′‐phosphate of NADPH. His84 is implicated as a crucial residue for sBVR‐A activity because the H84A mutant has less than 1% of the activity of the wild‐type and exhibits small but significant changes in the protein CD spectrum. Binding of biliverdin to sBVR‐A is conveniently monitored by following the induced CD spectrum for biliverdin. Binding of biliverdin to wild‐type sBVR‐A induces a P‐type spectrum. The H84A mutant shows evidence for weak binding of biliverdin and appears to bind a variant of the P‐configuration. Intriguingly, the Y102A mutant, which is catalytically active, binds biliverdin in the M‐configuration.
Time-domain Kirchhoff model for acoustic scattering from an impedance polygon facet
Authors: Lee Keunhwa , Seong Woojae
Published: July 2009

Kirchhoff formula for an impedance polygon facet is given in the time domain. The derived formula is expressed as a summation of the transient analytic functions and generalized functions and represents an impulse response of the impedance polygon facet. Current formula can be applied to transient scattering analysis of underwater objects such as fish and submarine, or rough surface in the geometrical scattering region.
On the Appearance of a Cooper Minimum in the Photoionization Cross Sections of the Plasma-Embedded Li Atom
Authors: Sahoo Satyabrata , Ho Y. K.
Published: July 2009

The plasma screening effect is found to uncover a Cooper minimum in the photoionization cross sections from the ground state of the Li atom embedded in Debye plasma environment. The variation of the location of this minimum with Debye screening length is discussed and analyzed in terms of the instability of the ground state.
Relactation, Translactation, and Breast-Orogastric Tube as Transition Methods in Feeding Preterm Babies
Authors: de Aquino Rebeca Raposo , Osório Mônica Maria
Published: July 2009

The transition from tube feeding to exclusive breastfeeding represents an important period for preterm babies because of their clinical fragility and immature development. This study describes this transition in preterm infants in relation to different feeding approaches: relactation, translactation, and breast-orogastric (OG) tube, considering the duration of the transition, weight gain in the transition, feeding-related problems, and breastfeeding status at discharge. This is a descriptive study of a series of 432 babies using retrospective data from the medical records at the IMIP Kangaroo Mother Care Unit, in the northeast of Brazil. At discharge, the percentage of babies who were exclusively breastfed in the relactation, translactation, and breast-OG tube groups were 85%, 100%, and 100%, respectively, with a satisfactory transition time and weight gain and with 1.6% of cases with feeding-related problems. The results showed that the relactation, translactation, and breast-OG tube seem to be efficient methods in the feeding transition of preterm infants. J Hum Lact. 25(4):420-426.
Stomatal-based inference models for reconstruction of atmospheric CO2 concentration: a method assessment using a calibration and validation approach
Authors: Finsinger W. , Wagner-Cremer F.
Published: July 2009

We investigated changes in atmospheric CO2 concentration (hereafter [CO2]) over the period AD 1700—2002 as reconstructed using the inverse relationship between stomatal frequencies (SF) of Betula nana leaves from northern Europe and [CO2]. The predictive ability of SF-inference models was assessed using a method of independent validation that involves two steps: (1) a training set of leaves grown between AD 1843 and 2002 was used to generate inference models; (2) the models were then applied to a fossil SF record of leaves grown between AD 1700 and 2002 that was split into two parts, a validation period (after AD 1850) and a reconstruction period (AD 1700—1850). Although our inference models had uncertainties comparable with other SF-inference models (root mean square error (RMSE) = c. 18—19 ppmv), uncertainties arising from the independent validation were larger (RMSE = c. 31—34 ppmv). Smoothed SF-inferred [CO 2] values after AD 1850 corresponded better to the industrial [CO 2] increase observed from instrumental records and from high-resolution ice cores, corroborating the accuracy of the reconstruction method in capturing a long-term (decadal- to centennial-scale) signal. This also indicates that in our record higher-frequency signals (eg, [CO2] maxima around AD 1750) are potentially less reliable. In an attempt to estimate the maximum reconstruction uncertainty (± 67 ppmv), we considered (i) the RMSE of the validation (validation error) and (ii) the maximum difference between reconstructions obtained with different inference models during the validation period (method error). We suggest that reconstruction uncertainties may be reduced by reducing the uncertainty of our inference models, with a subfossil record characterized by lower variability in the SF time series over the validation period, and by smoothing the reconstruction. This study shows that independent validation is an important step to assess the precision and accuracy of quantitative proxy-based reconstructions.
Youth scenes, body marks and bio-sociabilities
Authors: Ferreira Vitor Sérgio
Published: July 2009

Recent research has shown that in contemporary societies, tattoos and body piercing are no longer seen as compulsory signs of collective belonging, but rather as voluntary auto-bio-graphical resources for personal identities constructed around values of individuality, difference and authenticity. More than a trend of narcissist individualism, these new symbolic investments in body marks show how new patterns of sociability among young people are constructed in a more fluid and fragmented way, in which somatic affinities take place amidst other kinds of elective affinities. This contention is underpinned by insights from post-subcultural approaches, and also by the concept of bio-sociabilities proposed by Francisco Ortega (2004). Methodologically, the present study is based on qualitative data from intensive and ethnographic fieldwork on body modification scenes in Lisbon. Indepth interviews with both working professionals and consumers of tattoos and body piercing were conducted.
Can We Be Satisfied With Our Football Team? Evidence From Spanish Professional Football
Authors: González-Gómez Francisco , Picazo-Tadeo Andrés J.
Published: July 2009

This article assesses the sporting performance of Spanish professional football teams at competition level, namely, League, King’s Cup, and European competitions (Champions League and Union of European Football Associations [UEFA] Cup). Then, the gap between the result obtained by a team at the end of a season and that expected according to its potential is used as a proxy of the degree of satisfaction that fans should feel: the narrower the gap the greater the level of satisfaction. Regarding methodology, Data Envelopment Analysis techniques and directional distance functions are used. Results reveal that most teams perform rather differently across competitions, the lower average performance corresponding to the King’s Cup.
On the Application of Uncertainty and Sensitivity Analysis with Abstract Building Performance Simulation Tools
Authors: Struck Christian , Jan Hensen  , Kotek Petr
Published: July 2009

Building performance simulation (BPS) is a powerful measure to educate the building design process. However, its use in practice is to a large extent limited to the detailed design stage dedicated to the code compliance analysis of worked out design proposals. BPS is not much used to support the conceptual design stage. To date BPS tools are regarded as pure analysis tools, which do not provide design information. It is hypothesized that, when integrating uncertainty analysis techniques to existing BPS tools, following an incremental research approach, valuable design information can be provided. The article gives an update on the process to extend the capabilities of a tool specifically developed to support the conceptual design stage about uncertainty assessment. The resulting prototype should be capable of providing information about the variation of specific building performance metrics (simulation output) based on the propagated uncertainties of the building specification (simulation input). The main focus was herby the representation of material properties and their impact on the performance uncertainty of the building concept. The results also indicate the degree of impact, sensitivity, of the building specification parameters on the variation of the performance metrics as a result of their uncertainty.
Plerixafor (AMD3100) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilize different CD34+ cell populations based on global gene and microRNA expression signatures
Authors: Donahue Robert E. , Jin Ping , Bonifacino Aylin C. , Metzger Mark E. , Ren Jiaqiang , Wang Ena , Stroncek David F.
Published: July 2009

Plerixafor (AMD3100) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilize peripheral blood stem cells by different mechanisms. A rhesus macaque model was used to compare plerixafor and G-CSF–mobilized CD34+ cells. Three peripheral blood stem cell concentrates were collected from 3 macaques treated with G-CSF, plerixafor, or plerixafor plus G-CSF. CD34+ cells were isolated by immunoselection and were analyzed by global gene and microRNA (miR) expression microarrays. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of the gene expression data separated the CD34+ cells into 3 groups based on mobilization regimen. Plerixafor-mobilized cells were enriched for B cells, T cells, and mast cell genes, and G-CSF–mobilized cells were enriched for neutrophils and mononuclear phagocyte genes. Genes up-regulated in plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized CD34+ cells included many that were not up-regulated by either agent alone. Two hematopoietic progenitor cell miR, miR-10 and miR-126, and a dendritic cell miR, miR-155, were up-regulated in G-CSF–mobilized CD34+ cells. A pre-B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia miR, miR-143-3p, and a T-cell miR, miR-143-5p, were up-regulated in plerixafor plus G-CSF–mobilized cells. The composition of CD34+ cells is dependent on the mobilization protocol. Plerixafor-mobilized CD34+ cells include more B-, T-, and mast cell precursors, whereas G-CSF–mobilized cells have more neutrophil and mononuclear phagocyte precursors.
ErratumTo: Phylogenetic placement of the enigmatic parasite, Polypodium hydriforme, within the Phylum Cnidaria
Authors: Evans Nathaniel M , Lindner Alberto , Raikova Ekaterina V , Collins Allen G , Cartwright Paulyn
Published: July 2009

Correction to Evans, N.M., Lindner, A., Raikova, E.V., Collins, A.G. and Cartwright, P. Phylogenetic placement of the enigmatic parasite, Polypodium hydriforme, within the phylum Cnidaria. BMC Evol Biol, 2008, 8:139.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Premarital Sexual Behavior among male college students of Kathmandu, Nepal
Authors: Adhikari Ramesh , Tamang Jyotsna
Published: July 2009

Background

In Nepal, as in other Asian countries, the issue of sexuality still remains a taboo. Despite this fact, an increasing number of sexual activities is being reported by Nepalese students. This trend warrants serious and timely attention. Due to the sensitivity of the topic of premarital sexuality, youth receive inadequate education, guidance and services on reproductive health. The main objectives of this paper are to explore the sexual behavior especially focusing on prevalence of premarital sex among college men and to investigate the factors surrounding premarital sexual behavior.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of college students was conducted in April-May 2006. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 573 male students. Association between premarital sex and the explanatory variables was assessed in bivariate analysis using Chi-square tests. The associations were further explored using multivariate logistic analysis.

Results

Despite the religious and cultural restrictions, about two-fifths of survey respondents (39%) reported that they have had premarital sex. The study has also shown that substantial proportions of students indulge in sexual activities as well as risky sexual behavior. Sex with commercial sex workers, multiple sex partners, and inconsistence use of condom with non-regular partner was common among the students. Less than two in five male students (57%) had used condom at the first sexual intercourse.

The prevalence of premarital sex varied on different settings. Older students aged 20 and above were more likely to have premarital sex compared with younger students aged 15–19. Men who had liberal attitude towards male virginity at marriage were almost two times more likely to have engaged in premarital sex compared to their counterparts who have conservative attitude towards male virginity at marriage. Moreover, those students who believe in Hindu religion were more than two times (OR = 2.5) more likely to have premarital sex compared with those who follow other religions. Furthermore, those men who have close unmarried friends who have experienced premarital sexual intercourse were eight times (OR = 8.4) more likely to be sexually active compared to those who did not have such sexually active friends.

Conclusion

Prevalence of premarital sexual intercourse and risky sexual behavior are not uncommon in Nepal. Young people are exposed to health hazards due to their sexual behavior; hence sex education should be provided. School or college based sexuality education could benefit even out-of-school youths, because their partners often are students.
Erratum to: Disassembled DJ-1 high molecular weight complex in cortex mitochondria from Parkinson's disease patients
Authors: Zhong Zhenyu , Nural Hikmet , He Ping , Civarella Gina , Beach Thomas , Sue Lucia , Adler Charles , Shill Holly , Caviness John , Xia Weiming , Shen Yong
Published: July 2009

Correction to Nural H, He P, Beach T, Sue L, Xia W, Shen Y. Disassembled DJ-1 high molecular weight complex in cortex mitochondria from Parkinson's disease patients Molecular Neurodegeneration 2009, 4:23.
Book reviews
Authors: Whitehouse G. H.
Published: July 2009

This short compendium on hysterosalpingography has been produced by two leading Italian exponents of the technique. There are chapters on instrumentation, contrast media, technique, radiation protection, clinical indications, contraindications, complications, normal radiological anatomy and the radiological appearances of pathological conditions. The illustrations, which are generally of good quality, are grouped together after the text. A list of recent references is cited at the end of the book.
Book reviews
Authors: Baverstock Keith
Published: July 2009

The reactor accident at Chernobyl in the USSR was, perhaps, the most significant accident in the history of nuclear power since the fire at the Windscale reactor in 1957. All those with an interest in nuclear matters, be they nuclear engineers, scientists interested in the environment and public health, or politicians, have things to learn from this accident.
Book reviews
Authors: Blake Peter
Published: July 2009

This is the proceedings of a symposium held by the International Atomic Energy Agency and World Health Organization in Vienna in September 1986. Despite the title, the scope of the book is wider than radiotherapy alone, with sections on hyperthermia and chemical modifiers of radiation response in addition to those on radiotherapy, dosimetry and the organization of services in developing countries. Particular stress is placed on the detection and treatment of cervical cancer which is the major cause of cancer death in women several areas of the world.
In-vivo measurement of spin lattice relaxation time (T
1) of liver in healthy volunteers: the effects of age, sex and oral contraceptive usage
Authors: Richards M. A. , Webb Judith A. W. , Jewell S. E. , Gregory W. M. , Reznek R. H.
Published: July 2009

Magnetic resonance imaging of 81 healthy adult volunteers has been undertaken to establish the normal range of liver spin lattice relaxation time (T  1) at 0.08 tesla. The influence of age, sex and oral contraceptive usage has been assessed. Liver T  1 decreased with age. The mean liver T  1 of subjects under 40 years of age was significantly longer than that of older subjects. A wider range of T  1 values was observed in the younger age group. No difference in T  1 was found between males and females who were not oral contraceptive users. The mean liver T  1 of females who were taking the pill was significantly longer than that of females of similar age who were not oral contraceptive users. Serial examinations of eight oral contraceptive users showed that mean liver T  1 values were significantly longer in the 3 weeks during which they were taking the pill than during the week off the pill.
The Clatterbridge high-energy neutron therapy facility: specification and performance
Authors: Bonnett D. E. , Blake S. W. , Shaw J. E. , Bewley D. K.
Published: July 2009

A new high-energy neutron therapy facility has been installed at the Douglas Cyclotron Centre, Clatterbridge Hospital, Merseyside, in order to extend the clinical trials of fast neutrons initiated by the Medical Research Council. The neutron beam is produced by bombarding a beryllium target with 62 MeV protons. The target is isocentrically mounted with the potential for 360° rotation and has a fully variable collimator. This gives a range of rectilinear field sizes from 5 cm × 5 cm to 30 cm × 30 cm. Basic neutron beam data including output, field flatness, penumbra and depth-dose data have been measured. For a 10 cm × 10 cm field, the 50% depth dose occurs at 16.2 cm in water and the output is 1.63 cGy μA−1 min−1 at the depth of dose maximum. The effectiveness of the target shielding and the neutron-induced radioactivity in the treatment head have also been measured. It is concluded that the equipment meets both the design specifications and also fully satisfies criticisms of earlier neutron therapy equipment. A full radiation survey of the centre was also carried out and it was found that radiation levels are low and present no significant hazard to staff.
Costing imaging procedures
Authors: Bretland P. M.
Published: July 2009

The existing National Health Service financial system makes comprehensive costing of any service very difficult. A method of costing using modern commercial methods has been devised, classifying costs into variable, semi-variable and fixed and using the principle of overhead absorption for expenditure not readily allocated to individual procedures. It proved possible to establish a cost spectrum over the financial year 1984–85. The cheapest examinations were plain radiographs outside normal working hours, followed by plain radiographs, ultrasound, special procedures, fluoroscopy, nuclear medicine, angiography and angiographic interventional procedures in normal working hours. This differs from some published figures, particularly those in the Körner report. There was some overlap between fluoroscopic interventional and the cheaper nuclear medicine procedures, and between some of the more expensive nuclear medicine procedures and the cheaper angiographic ones. Only angiographic and the few more expensive nuclear medicine procedures exceed the cost of the inpatient day. The total cost of the imaging service to the district was about 4% of total hospital expenditure. It is shown that where more procedures are undertaken, the semi-variable and fixed (including capital) elements of the cost decrease (and vice versa) so that careful study is required to assess the value of proposed economies. The method is initially time-consuming and requires a computer system with 512 Kb of memory, but once the basic costing system is established in a department, detailed financial monitoring should become practicable. The necessity for a standard comprehensive costing procedure of this nature, based on sound cost accounting principles, appears inescapable, particularly in view of its potential application to management budgeting.
Extending the range of sensitivity for detecting DNA strand breaks
Authors: Olive P. L. , Chan A. P. S. , Cu C. S. , MacPhail S. H.
Published: July 2009

Several sensitive methods are now available to quantify the number of DNA strand breaks produced in mammalian cells by ionizing radiation. However, with one exception, these assays are sensitive to damage over a limited radiation dose range. The exception is the alkali-unwinding assay. This method is based on the premise that DNA strand breaks serve as points of unwinding when a cell is lysed and DNA denatured in dilute alkali (Ahnstrom & Erixon, 1973). The rate of strand separation is thus a function of the molecular weight of the DNA (Ahnstrom & Edvardsson, 1974). When the DNA solution is subsequently neutralized and sonicated, both single- and double-stranded DNA pieces are produced, with a greater proportion of DNA in single-stranded form corresponding to a greater number of strand breaks. Pieces of single- and double-stranded DNA can be easily separated using hydroxyapatite chromatography, and the percentage of DNA in double-stranded form is then a measure of DNA strand breakage. The advantages of this method include ease, accuracy and sensitivity for detecting DNA damage caused by low doses of ionizing radiation.
Entrapment of renal calculi by Malecot nephrostomy tubes
Authors: Preminger Glenn M. , Miller Rudoph H. , Curry Tom
Published: July 2009

Currently, percutaneous nephrostolithotomy is a commonly performed procedure. While many perform percutaneous stone extraction in a single stage (Segura et al, 1983; Preminger et al, 1985; Reddy et al, 1985), including the establishment of a percutaneous nephrostomy tract and stone removal all in one sitting, others prefer a two-stage nephrostolithotomy (Wickham et al, 1984). In this procedure, the uroradiology team places a percutaneous nephrostomy tube within the renal pelvis and the patient subsequently returns for actual stone removal. It is customary to obtain repeat radiographs immediately before the stone extraction to confirm the position of the stone and it is disconcerting when the stone cannot be located within the renal pelvis or ureter on these pre-operative radiographs.
Computed tomography findings in disseminated paragonimiasis
Authors: Singcharoen T. , Rawd-Aree P. , Baddeley H.
Published: July 2009

Paragonimiasis is an infection caused by the lung fluke Paragonimus westermani and related species. Although the lung is the primary site of infection, other organs, notably the central nervous system, may be involved. Human disease is caused by consumption of improperly cooked crustaceae infected by a larval stage of the parasite. The parasites excyst in the small intestine, penetrate the intestinal wall and enter the peritoneal cavity. They then proceed to the diaphragm, pleural cavity and the lung (Noble & Noble, 1982). Paragonimiasis is endemic in South East Asia and the Far East and cases have occurred in Africa and South America. Recently, several cases of paragonimiasis have been found in Indo-Chinese refugees in North America (Taylor & Swett, 1982; Johnson et al, 1982; Johnson & Johnson, 1983). Radiological findings in pulmonary paragonimiasis have been well described (Miller & Walker, 1955; Suwanik & Harinsuta, 1959; Ogakwu & Nwokolo, 1973; Reeder & Palmer, 1981). The purpose of this paper is to describe computed tomography (CT) findings in a case of disseminated paragonimiasis.
Iotrolan versus iopamidol for radiculography: a randomized double-blind study
Authors: Coutinho C. , McGeorge A. , Macpherson P. , Teasdale E.
Published: July 2009

Iotrolan is a new, non-ionic, contrast medium with potential benefits for intrathecal use, having a longer opacification time and possibly less neurotoxic effect than other agents currently in use. It is on trial in different parts of the UK under licence from the Department of Health and Social Security and this series of patients is part of a current multicentre study. With approval from the Hospital Ethics Committee and the informed consent of the patients, we have conducted a doubleblind trial of its use in radiculography against iopamidol, the contrast medium currently in use in our department.
A simple graphical method for deriving kinetics of repair from fractionated and protracted irradiations
Authors: Scalliet P. , Erfmann R. K. L. , Landuyt W. , van der Schueren E.
Published: July 2009

In his recent paper, Dale (1985) proposed a new approach to the problem of the isoeffect doses in radiation therapy, for both fractionated and protracted irradiations. This approach resulted from the application of the linear quadratic dose–effect equation. With the incorporation of one additional parameter, μ, which relates to the rate of recovery of sublethal damage, he derived a more general formulation, as compared to the proposal of Barendsen (1982). This factor μ is related to the half-time of dose recovery (t  1/2) from the equation: and represents the time constant of repair, assuming first order exponential kinetics.
Low-dose total-body irradiation
Authors: Crook P. R. , Lucraft H. H. , Evans R. G. B. , Griffiths I. D.
Published: July 2009

We were interested to read the short communication by Kardamakis and Berry (1987a) on the use of low-dose total body irradiation (TBI) in refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We recently published a similar anecdotal study of six patients with refractory RA treated with low-dose TBI (Crook et al, 1986).The patients of Kardamakis and Berry and ours all received a total dose of 150 cGy, but we gave 10 fractions over 35 days, compared with their 10 or 15 fractions in 16–23 days. In both studies the patients had previously received many disease-modifying agents.
Book reviews
Authors: Goddard Paul R.
Published: July 2009

The purpose of this book is to indicate the areas in which imaging and spectroscopy may be of clinical value. This aim is stated clearly in the foreword and indeed the book succeeds admirably in this task. The main part of the book deals with imaging and this is very fitting considering that the major clinical impact has been in this area of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). There are 319 pages, 244 of which concentrate on imaging.
Book reviews
Authors: Worthington B. S.
Published: July 2009

This book represents the edited contributions from workshop on “The Evaluation of Reproductive Processes Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy”. The opening chapters give an account of the basic principles underlying imaging and spectroscopy and include a masterly summary the instrumental requirements for imaging the pelvis.
Book reviews
Authors: Hayward M. W. J.
Published: July 2009

The authors state in their preface that they aim to bridge a gap between radiological imaging and clinical medicine but rightly emphasize that there is no substitute for case discussion. The book is divided into 14 chapters on an anatomical and aetiological basis.
The appearance of the inferior thyroid veins on computed tomography
Authors: Belli Anna-Maria , Ingram Christine E. , Heron Christine W. , Husband Janet E.
Published: July 2009

Computed tomography (CT) scans of the mediastinum in 80 patients were reviewed retrospectively to determine the nature of small opacities which are identified on contiguous cuts. These structures varied in number from one to five. The pattern of enhancement, appearance on contiguous CT sections and position in the mediastinum led us to believe that these represent inferior thyroid veins. To our knowledge their appearance on CT has not been reported previously.
Treatment of choroid metastases
Authors: Dobrowsky W.
Published: July 2009

Sixteen patients with choroid secondary tumours were treated with irradiation consisting of 40–50 Gy in 3–5 weeks. There were 14 female patients with breast cancer, one male patient with prostatic cancer and one male patient with cancer of unknown origin. In four cases bilateral ocular metastases were seen. Ten out of 20 treated eyes showed complete response to treatment, seven out of 20 showed partial response and three out of 20 were not influenced by irradiation. Survival of patients, all having widespread metastatic disease, was 3–48 months (median 20 months). All patients responding to treatment showed increased quality of life.
Evidence on computed tomography of pseudotumour cerebri in hypoparathyroidism
Authors: Mor Felix , Wysenbeek Arjeh J.
Published: July 2009

The well known neuroradiological features of idiopathic hypoparathyroidism are calcifications of the basal nuclei (Litvin et al, 1981; Sachs et al, 1982; Bhimani et al, 1985), which may extend to the thalamus, cerebellum and other structures (Litvin et al, 1981; Illium & Dupont, 1985). The clinical picture of pseudotumour cerebri associated with hypoparathyroidism was reported in the era when computed tomography (CT) was not available (Palmer et al, 1959). Herein, we report a patient with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism presenting with tetany, convulsions and papilloedema, with evidence of brain oedema on CT.
Pelvic hydatid disease presenting as acute urinary retention
Authors: Ptasznik R. , Hennessy O. F.
Published: July 2009

We report a case of acute urinary retention caused by a pelvic echinococcal cyst. Although hydatid disease is common in certain countries its presentation as urinary outflow obstruction is relatively rare.
An opportunity not to be missed
Authors: Belli Anna M. , Elliott Caroline , Heron Christine W.
Published: July 2009

A 55-year-old man presented with a 10-day history of breathlessness and productive cough. A chest infection was diagnosed clinically and treated with antibiotics although the chest radiograph was normal.
Contrast media in cerebral and spinal cord angiography
Authors: Doyon D. , Lasjaunias P.
Published: July 2009

The angiographic demonstration of vascular abnormalities (aneurysms, AVMs) is roughly the same with each contrast material tested in our study.
Safety of gamma camera flood sources
Authors: Pillay M. , Cox P. H. , Schönfeld D.
Published: July 2009

Whilst Dr Jeans makes a number of pertinent comments concerning the safe handling of flooded field sources (Jeans, 1987), the introduction of lead shielding to the whole underside of the source is, in itself, questionable.
Book reviews
Authors: Hemingway A. P.
Published: July 2009

In their preface to the third edition of this book, the authors comment that it represents a compilation of their experience and their personal approach to the subject of gastrointestinal angiography. Since the second edition, they have updated the contents of the book to reflect the diminishing role of diagnostic procedures secondary to the advent of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound, and the increasing role of therapeutic vascular procedures in the gastrointestinal tract.
Ultrasonographic diagnosis of clinically non-palpable primary colonic neoplasms
Authors: Price Jeremy , Metreweli Constantine
Published: July 2009

Over a 2-year period, more than 1700 abdominal ultrasound scans were performed which included a search for bowel disease in the scanning routine. Features consistent with a primary colonic neoplasm were reported in 35 patients. In 14 patients, ultrasound indicated the possibility of a colonic neoplasm in the absence of a clinically palpable mass. An intraabdominal mass was confirmed in 12 patients (86%), and was a primary colonic neoplasm in 11 patients (79%). In one patient a metastatic malignant mass had been misinterpreted as arising from the colon. In two patients no lesion could be demonstrated to account for the ultrasonographic abnormality. In a further 21 patients in which an abdominal mass had been evident on clinical examination, ultrasound was performed for further elucidation and indicated the mass to be arising from the colon. In this group, a primary colonic neoplasm was the cause in 11 patients (52%), while other primary or metastatic malignancy was found in six patients (29%) and benign disease in four patients (19%). We conclude that ultrasound is a useful primary diagnostic technique for colonic neoplasms, with a predictive value of 79% in detecting clinically non-palpable lesions. In our experience, false positive results due to scanning artefacts are rare. We consider that examination of the bowel is a worthwhile addition to the routine scan in patients with non-specific abdominal complaints.
Dynamic monitoring of output on a superficial X-ray set using a solid-state device
Authors: Plane J. H.
Published: July 2009

A solid-state output monitor has been constructed and tested on a Philips RT100 superficial X-ray set operating at 55, 70 or 100 kVp. The device is useful to radiographers, technicians, engineers and physicists and can be easily assembled and fitted with a minimum amount of machine downtime. Recommendations concerning control of X-ray doses for superficial therapy are outlined in a Radiotherapy Apparatus Safety Measures Panel (RASMP) document (Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS), 1975). These recommendations do not require the use of a dose-rate monitor but the Code of Practice, Section 4.2.10 (ii) states that, where a monitor is not fitted, the output under standard conditions should be checked frequently, preferably at least once each working day (Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO), 1972). The latter statement is repeated in paragraph 344 of the consultative document of Draft Guidance Notes for the Protection of Persons against Ionizing Radiations Arising from Medical and Dental Use (HMSO, 1983). The Ionizing Radiations Regulations 1985 do not contradict this statement (HMSO, 1985).

The need for a dose-rate monitor in a superficial X-ray set is highlighted in a Hospital Physicists' Association (HPA) Radiation Protection Topic Group Newsheet (HPA, 1986) describing a situation in which an incorrect filter had been inserted in the beam. Routine measurement of output can be done by radiographers using locally constructed equipment (as described, for example, by Tranter et al (1978)) but will only indicate output whilst the detector is in position.
Use of a personal computer to measure gamma camera spatial resolution
Authors: Norwood H. M. , Walker A. L. , Parkin A. , Hall A. J.
Published: July 2009

The intrinsic spatial resolution of a gamma camera is specified by the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the line spread function (LSF), in the absence of a collimator, and is an important indicator of system performance. The standard method of determining the spatial resolution is to place a suitably collimated line source against the crystal face and to examine the amplitude spectrum from the camera. For a modern gamma camera with a field of view of 375 mm, the expected FWHM may be 4 mm; to measure this accurately would require a sampling frequency of 0.4 mm. Most nuclear medicine computers are able to acquire data with a maximum resolution of 256×256 pixels per frame, corresponding to a sampling frequency of about 1.5 mm, which is too coarse for measurement of the LSF. A low-cost 1024-channel multichannel analyser (MCA) for γ-ray spectrometry, interfaced to a personal computer, can be adapted to measure the LSF of the camera and calculate the FWHM with sufficient accuracy (sampling frequency better than 0.4 mm). The equipment to be described has been used on three gamma cameras in routine use.
Hypothermic hyperbaric irradiation
Authors: Sealy R. , Harrison G. , Morrell D.
Published: July 2009

Last year you were kind enough to publish an account of our experiences with hypothermic hyperbaric irradiation of advanced head and neck cancer (Sealy et al, 1986b).

Since we have had a number of enquiries about our previous report, we would now like briefly to provide further results. Thirty-nine patients were to have had hypothermic hyperbaric irradiation, but in two early patients, treatment was abandoned because of reversible hypotension or cardiac arrhythmia. Thirty-seven patients, therefore, received this treatment.
Book reviews
Authors: Savage John R. K.
Published: July 2009

This is a report from Scientific Committee 46 (Operational Radiation Safety) of the National Council on Radiological Protection (NCRP). It addresses two aspects of practical safety measures: alarm systems and access control systems, the former being those systems designed to alert individuals to a potential or actual change in the safe working environment, the latter being systems designed to prevent unauthorized or inadvertent entry to hazardous areas.
Bone scintigraphy and radiography in the early recognition of diabetic osteopathy
Authors: Tawn D. J. , O'Hare J. P. , O'Brien I. A. D. , Watt I. , Dieppe P. A. , Corrall R. J. M.
Published: July 2009

Twenty-seven diabetic patients with clinical evidence of neuropathy were investigated by foot radiography, two-phase bone scintigraphy, biothesiometryand cardiovascular autonomic function testing. Typical signs of diabetic osteopathy on radiography were found in 10 subjects (37%), the degree of radiographic abnormality correlating with the severity of neurological impairment. Furthermore, all diabetics with evidence of severe neuropathy showed some evidence of osteopathy on foot radiographs. In all 10 cases of diabetic osteopathy diagnosed radiographically, abnormalities were shown on scintigraphy. In addition, five other patients showed scintigraphic abnormalities, without corresponding changes on radiography, and in this group the neurological impairment was less severe. Although confirmatory longitudinalstudies are necessary, it seems likely that the earliest changes of diabetic neuropathic osteopathy may thus be recognized on bone scintigraphy, at a time when conventional radiographs are normal. This stage of diabetic osteopathy is associated with a lesser degree of neurological impairment.