Environmental effects of natural radionuclides from coal-fired power plants

The assessment of the environmental effects of natural radionuclides contained in fly ash released from a coal-fired power plant was carried out and the following results were obtained. Mean concentrations of U, Th and K in 28 kinds of domestic and foreign coals were 1.0 ppm, 3.3 ppm and 2300 ppm, respectively. A good correlation between U and Th concentrations appears evident. Natural radionuclide concentrations of bottom and fly ashes were approximately equal in both ashes, and the values were the same as those calculated by concentration in coal divided by ash content. Release rates of 40K and radionuclides of each decay chain of U or Th were evaluated in the range of 2 to 40,000 pCi/sec for model coal-fired power plants of 1000 MW and 250 MW. The natural radionuclide concentration in air in a plume at the maximum concentration point was 5 X 10(-9) to 5 X 10(-3) pCi/m3, and these values were below 1/200 of those of natural origin.     

Neurinoma of the oculomotor nerve--case report.

Only 10 cases of oculomotor nerve neurinoma have been reported previously. The authors report the rarity of a neurinoma originating from Schwann cells of the oculomotor nerve. The diagnosis was based on the initial sign of oculomotor nerve paresis without involvement of other cranial nerves, neuroradiological and surgical findings, and histological features of the specimen obtained at surgery.     

Experimental and clinical evaluation of cefotetan in pediatrics

Basic and clinical studies on cefotetan (CTT) were carried out and the results were as follows: Absorption and excretion Two patients were given 10 mg/kg of CTT by one shot intravenous injection. At 30 minutes after injection, mean serum level was 76.5 micrograms/ml and the half-life time was 2.3 hours. Mean 6-hour urinary recovery in same patients was 57.5%. Clinical evaluation Forty-two patients were treated with CTT, in doses of 19.2-102.9 mg/kg divided 2-4 times per day for 3-10 days intravenously. Responses were excellent in 14, good in 23, fair in 1, poor in 4, and the overall efficacy rate was 88.1%. As to adverse reaction, urticaria was observed in 1 patient. Abnormal laboratory data noted were elevation of GOT in 1, GOT and GPT in 2, creatinine in 1, and eosinophilia in 3 patients.     

Red cell hypoplasia following autoimmune hemolytic anemia associated with T-CLL: report of a case and review of the literature

A 78-year-old woman, who had axillary lymphadenopathy but no hepatosplenomegaly, was admitted because of lymphocytosis. The leukocyte count was 18.1 x 10(9)/l with 72% abnormal cells. Neither anemia nor thrombocytopenia was present. Many abnormal cells and erythroblasts were seen in the bone marrow. These abnormal cells had irregular nuclei but no granules in the cytoplasm. The surface markers of these cells were positive for E-rosette, CD 2, CD 3, and Leu 7 but negative for CD 4, CD 8, CD 11 (OKM 1), CD 16 (Leu 11), and HLA-DR. The DNA analysis revealed the rearrangement of T-cell receptor beta-chain genes. Direct Coombs test was positive and red-cell life-span (51Cr) was T 1/2 = 19.5 days. The patient was diagnosed as having T-CLL with mild autoimmune hemolysis and was followed without treatment. Seven months later, the leukemia cells of peripheral blood increased to 62.6 X 10(9)/l and the frank autoimmune hemolytic anemia developed. After prednisolone, vincristine and cyclophosphamide were administered, leukemia cells of blood decreased. Anemia with reticulocytopenia, however, persisted and direct Coombs test became negative. In the bone marrow at that time, many neutrophils and megakaryocytes besides leukemia cells were preserved, but erythroblasts were hardly seen, namely a pattern of red cell hypoplasia was observed. The patient deteriorated rapidly and died 26 months after initial recognition of lymphocytosis. When complement was added, the patient's serum obtained during red cell hypoplasia but not during autoimmune hemolysis inhibited BFU-E and CFU-GM in in vitro colony assays. This case indicates that not only B-CLL but also T-CLL is accompanied by immune hematocytopenia.