Gamma-ray activity and dose rate of brick samples from some areas of North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan

It is important to measure natural radioactivity due to gamma-rays from building materials and consequently to determine the dose rate from these materials. This helps to implement precautionary measures whenever the dose rate is found to be above the recommended limits. A knowledge of gamma radioactivity is required by the building construction association to adopt preventive measures to mitigate or minimize the harmful effects of ionizing radiation. The aim of this work was to measure the gamma activity due to 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in bricks from the Peshawar, Nowshera and Mardan districts of NWFP of Pakistan. The radiological doses to the occupants from the brick floor of a wooden house were calculated. The average gamma dose equivalent rate was calculated to be 0.14 mSv per year, which is well below the external gamma dose limit of 0.46 mSv per year as given in UNSCEAR [2].

Ulcerative colitis amongst the Saudis: six-year experience from Al-Madinah region

Ulcerative Colitis is now being recognized amongst the Arabs. After consideration of the clinical, endoscopic and histopathological data, 80 Saudi patients out of 1,182, were diagnosed as ulcerative colitis. There were 47 males and 33 females. The age ranged between two and 90 years (mean 36.5 years). Endoscopically, the disease was limited to the rectum in 22.5%, rectum and sigmoid in 30%, extended up to the splenic flexure in 27.5% and beyond the splenic flexure in 20% of the patients. Our data supports the recent observation that ulcerative colitis is not uncommon in this part of the world. There are differences in the extent of disease and the presence of local complications, between our patients and those in the high incidence areas.

Cephalobus litoralis: Biology and Tolerance to Desiccation

Cephalobus litoralis (Akhtar, 1962) Andrássy, 1984 reproduced parthenogenetically and completed its life cycle in 72-90 hours. Each female deposited 200-300 eggs. The nematodes showed synchronized movements in the rhythms of the anterior parts of the body. The nematodes were coiled when dried in culture medium or in slowly evaporating water droplets on the tops of culture plates, but in pellets they assumed irregular postures. Nematodes in pellets stored at high humidity could be reactivated after storage for 28 days.

The important sources of German cockroach allergens as determined by RAST analyses

The important sources of allergens in cockroach were investigated. Aqueous extracts were prepared from American and German cockroach whole body, cast skins, and feces as well as egg shells of German cockroach. Each extract was analyzed for protein content and characterized by electrophoretic analyses. Cockroach specific IgE in the sera of patients and controls was investigated by RAST, by use of paper discs coupled to equal amounts of protein from each extract. The results for German cockroach indicate that whole body and cast skins have equal RAST potencies, egg shells are less potent, and feces are least potent. Reactivity of the same individuals to American cockroach was much lower. RAST-inhibition studies with German cockroach extracts indicate that the same allergens are found in whole body, cast skins, egg shells, and feces. The RAST potencies obtained in the inhibition experiments, in general, agreed with the direct RAST results. The results indicate that cast skins and whole bodies of German cockroaches contain the clinically relevant allergens for this group of cockroach-sensitive patients.

Transferrin, iron, and dermatophytes. I. Serum dematophyte inhibitory component definitively identified as unsaturated transferrin

The factor present in normal human serum which inhibits growth of dematophytic fungi is characterized and identified. Serum inhibitory factor (SIF) is nondialyzable, heat stable at 56 degrees C. for 4 hours, and fungistatic. SIF was found to be an inhibitor of the dermatophyte genera Trichophyton, Microsporium, and Epidermophyton as well as the dimorphic yeast Candida albicans. SIF activity directly correlated with a serum's unbound iron-binding capacity (UIBC) in that lower UIBC'S were less inhibitory. Addition of iron to serum neutralized the inhibitory activity and this neutrilization was shown to be specific for iron since zinc, magnesium, managnese, and copper failed to alter serum inhibitory activity. Furthermore, addition of purified iron-free transferrin to a neutralized serum restored the SIF activity in parallel with the UIBC. Removal of transferrin from serum by affinity chromatography was confirmed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and iron-binding assays. Transferrin-free serum produced by this procedure was shown to lack inhibitory activity. These data indicate that SIF is unsaturated transferrin and strongly suggests that it inhibits dermatophytes by binding iron which many organisms need for growth.

Renal damage from industrial arisine poisoning

Uldall, P. R., Khan, H. A., Ennis, J. E., McCallum, R. I., and Grimson, T. A. (1970).Brit. J. industr. Med.,27, 372-377. Renal damage from industrial arsine poisoning. An incident is reported in which three men were accidentally poisoned by arsine (A_s H₃) in an industrial chemical plant. Two mildly affected individuals recovered quickly-without treatment but the third, who was severely poisoned, developed oliguric renal failure. Though this patient recovered after repeated peritoneal dialysis he was left with a legacy of chronic renal insufficiency and hypertension. This severe case drew attention to a previous incident in the same factory involving three other men, the cause of which had not hitherto been suspected. The previous reports of arsine-induced renal failure treated by dialysis have been reviewed and certain common features are apparent. Dangerous uraemia may persist long after the onset of the diuretic phase. Dialysis provides a high chance for recovery in what was previously a universally fatal condition, but permanent renal interstitial damage is a likely sequel. There are strong reasons for the prompt use of exchange transfusion in the severely affected patient with oliguria. Mild arsine poisoning unaccompanied by oliguria may remain unrecognized and should therefore be considered in the differential diagnosis of any patient presenting with haematuria or jaundice, particularly if his occupation brings him in contact with acids and metals.