An increased frequency of human sperm chromosomal abnormalities after radiotherapy

13 cancer patients were studied before radiotherapy (RT) and at regular intervals after RT to determine the effect of RT on chromosomal abnormalities in sperm. The men were 19-47 years old and received testicular radiation doses of 0.4-5.0 Gray. Human pronuclear sperm chromosomes were analysed after penetration of zona-pellucida-free hamster eggs. Unfortunately the hamster egg penetration rates were exceedingly low, both before and after RT and this limited the number of sperm chromosome complements which could be analysed. Before RT, the frequency of abnormal sperm chromosome complements was 0% (0/9). After RT, the majority of men were azoospermic for 24 months but complements could be analysed from 4 men. In the first 12 months the frequency of abnormalities was 13% (1/8) and at 24 months it was 13% (7/55). By 36 months after RT, most men had recovered sperm production and the frequency of abnormalities in 8 men was 21% (18/86), which is significantly higher than the rate in control donors (8.5%). For individual men the range was 6-67%, and there was a significant correlation between testicular radiation dose and the frequency of sperm chromosomal abnormalities. The frequencies of both numerical and structural abnormalities were significantly increased after RT. This is the first evidence that radiation may increase the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities in human gametes.

Plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in patients with bronchial carcinoma

Plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activities were measured in 58 consecutive patients presenting with bronchial carcinoma. The mean ACE activity before treatment was significantly lower than that of a control population (P less than 0.005). There was a significant and direct relationship between the initial plasma ACE activity and survival time (P less than 0.01) which could not be explained by further analysis for age, clinical staging, or respiratory function, as judged by % FEV. There was a significant increase in plasma ACE activity (P less than 0.03) in nine patients with three or more plasma samples after treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. These results suggest that low plasma ACE activity is associated with poor prognosis in bronchial carcinoma.

Comparison of visual field defects in normal-tension glaucoma and high-tension glaucoma

In a prospective comparison of visual defects in 23 patients with normal-tension glaucoma and 23 with high-tension glaucoma, the groups were matched for equal involvement of the optic disk. F profiles on the Octopus 201 Perimeter were used to quantify thresholds at 1-degree intervals from fixation to define eccentricity, depth, and slope of the scotoma. The mean eccentricity of scotomas in the normal-tension group was 4.86 degrees from fixation; in the high-tension group it was 2.96 degrees. These differences were statistically significant (P less than .01). No statistically significant differences were found between the slopes of the scotomas or depths of the scotomas in the two groups.

Plexiform neurofibromatosis of the orbit: CT evaluation

Seven patients with orbital plexiform neurofibromas (PNFs) were evaluated by computed tomography (CT). These lesions are pathognomonic of von Recklinghausen disease and manifest a spectrum of radiologic abnormalities ranging from thickening of the eyelid and periorbital soft tissues to enlargement of the bony orbit and extensive infiltration of the orbital soft tissues. In analyzing the CT features of orbital PNF, three findings that have not been previously reported were identified. Increased density of the intraconal fat present in four of seven patients was believed to represent PNF involvement of small intraconal nerves. Three patients demonstrated enhancing, irregularly nodular thickening of the optic nerve sheath complex thought to be caused by PNF of the posterior ciliary nerves surrounding the optic nerve. Three patients with buphthalmos and congenital glaucoma demonstrated thickening and enhancement of the uveal/scleral layer believed to represent PNF of these structures. Involvement of the choroid and sclera, posterior ciliary nerves, and small intraconal nerves has been recognized pathologically but has not been previously identified by CT.

Integrated exposure-monitoring : Have we been here before?

This paper outlines briefly the history of radiation protection, touches on some of the early incidents of overexposure, describes monitoring (detection and measurement) methods and the development of standards for health protection, and compares the monitoring of radioactive materials to that of nonradioactive toxic chemicals. The authors suggest that the lessons learned from the radiation experience will be helpful in dealing with the current problems of hazardous chemicals. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** AZ802019 00005.

Protein nitrogen unit precipitation procedure for allergenic extracts: collaborative study

Protein nitrogen unit (NU) determination is one of the methods used to test and label the concentration of allergenic extracts. This recently standardized method is applicable to all allergenic extracts. One PNU/mL is equivalent to 1 X 10(-5) mg nitrogen determined to be in the material precipitated from 1 mL allergenic extract by phosphotungstic acid (PTA), a protein precipitant. The nitrogen is quantitated by the Kjeldahl method or another analytical method of equivalent accuracy and precision. A collaborative study of the optimized PNU precipitation method in which 6 samples were analyzed in duplicate by 6 laboratories using the Kjeldahl method for the determination of nitrogen yielded a mean of 0.1358 mg N/mL, a repeatability standard deviation and coefficient of variation of 0.0071 mg N/mL and 5.23%, respectively, and a reproducibility standard deviation and coefficient of variation of 0.0188 mg N/mL and 13.84%, respectively. The method has been adopted official first action.

Protein Nitrogen Unit Precipitation Procedure for Allergenic Extracts: Collaborative Study

Protein nitrogen unit (PNU) determination is one of the methods used to test and label the concentration of allergenic extracts. This recently standardized method is applicable to all allergenic extracts. One PNU/mL is equivalent to 1 × 10−5 mg nitrogen determined to be in the material precipitated from 1 m l allergenic extract by phosphotungstic acid (PTA), a protein precipitant. The nitrogen is quantitated by the Kjeldahl method or another analytical method of equivalent accuracy and precision. A collaborative study of the optimized PNU precipitation method in which 6 samples were analyzed in duplicate by 6 laboratories using the Kjeldahl method for the determination of nitrogen yielded a mean of 0.1358 mg N/ml, a repeatability standard deviation and coefficient of variation of 0.0071 mg N/mL and 5.23%, respectively, and a reproducibility standard deviation and coefficient of variation of 0.0188 mg N/mL and 13.84%, respectively. The method has been adopted official first action.

Seating for children with cerebral palsy

Special seating enables children with even the most severe forms of cerebral palsy to sit comfortably. A straight spine and mobile hips are desirable. Prevention of hip dislocation by operation, or release of a hip extension contracture, is required for 40% of the younger children. Surgical correction of scoliosis is required for 20% of the older ones. Seating problems may be classified by (a) ability--hands free, hand dependent or propped--(b) the pattern of deformity--symmetrically slouched or windswept--and (c) severity of deformity--none, amenable to surgery, or beyond surgery. Each of these categories requires a different therapeutic approach.

Altitude decompression sickness: hyperbaric therapy results in 145 cases

Most cases of decompression sickness that occur at altitude resolve upon descent to lower altitudes. Before the use of hyperbaric therapy, cases that did not resolve accounted for some of the most difficult medical management problems in military aerospace medicine. On 27 March, 1941, the U.S. Navy Diving School successfully used hyperbaric therapy for a case of altitude-induced decompression sickness that did not resolve on return to ground level. Since then, over 145 such cases have been treated by hyperbaric therapy. At first, treatments involved using compressed air, with varying success. Current medical management of altitude-induced decompression sickness requires immediate compression to 2.8 ATA, equivalent to 60 ft of sea water (FSW) pressure, and a series of intermittent oxygen and air breathing periods during the subsequent slow decompression to surface. This report confirms the treatment recommendations set forth by Behnke and Downey, and crystallized by Goodman in 1964. Conclusions are based on treatment experience in the management of 120 cases in U.S. Air Force hyperbaric chambers, and a survey of hyperbaric facilities which have treated 25 other cases.

Live attenuated influenza virus vaccine trial in children

Thirty-four children received intranasally a live attenuated influenza A virus vaccine, and were then followed for six months to evaluate the vaccine safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy. All but one of the 31 children with hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers less than 64 before inoculation responded with at least a four-fold rise in antibody titer to a single dose of vaccine. One child required two doses. Seven (21%) of the vaccinees also responded with production of nasal neutralizing antibody. The vaccine was well tolerated with few clinical reactions. Two vaccinees developed fever possibly attributable to the vaccine. No transmission of the vaccine virus to any of the 25 unvaccinated contact children was demonstrable. Five months after this vaccine trial an influenza epidemic due to a heterologous influenza A strain occurred in the community. During this outbreak acute febrile and/or respiratory illness occurred in 12 or 52% of the contact controls, and in six or 19% of the vaccinees. In two of these six vaccinees, influenza A infection was confirmed by at least a four-fold increase in HI titer. This study suggests this study suggests that this vaccine is safe, easily administered, highly immunogenic in children, and is protective against a heterologous strain epidemic in the community.

A 48, XXXX female

A four-year-old mildly retarded girl with a 48,XXXX karyotype is described. Her phenotype is compared to previously reported cases.