Indoor radon measurement with The Lucas cell technique

Rn-222 is the most important source of natural radiation and is responsible for approximately half of the received dose from all sources. Most of this dose is from inhalation of the Rn-222 progeny, especially in closed atmospheres. A Lucas cell technique, using a portable device, “PRASSI” (SILENA mod. 5S), for Rn-222 measurements inside the Centre for Radiation Protection and Radioecology (ZSR), Hannover University was used. The portable radon monitor PRASSI is suitable for radon gas continuous or grab sampling measurements with the scintillation cell technique. In recognition of the wide periodic variations in concentration, measurements were made daily for extended periods. At the same time, meteorological variables, such as temperature and humidity were observed so that their influence on radon levels could be evaluated. The radon average concentration during the year was about 55.9 Bq/m³ which gives rise to an annual effective dose 2.2 mSv y⁻¹. The radon concentration is within the limits prescribed by the International Commission for Radiation Protection. A detailed analysis of radon distribution with seasonal variation is presented.     

Mivacurium in infants and children

Mivacurium is the only available short-acting nondepolarizing muscle relaxant in clinical use. It is a bis-quaternary benzylisoquinolinium ester hydrolysed by plasma-cholinesterase into inactive compounds. The ED₅₀ and ED₉₅ in children are about 50 μg·kg^?1 and 90 μg·kg^?1 respectively. In infants, they have a tendency to be lower. A standard intubating dose of 0.25 mg·kg^?1 causes complete neuromuscular depression in 1.5–2 min, recovery to 5% in 6–10 min, and complete recovery in 15–20 min. The recent tendency is to use 0.3 mg·kg^?1 to obtain better intubating conditions with slight prolongation of effect. Since the recovery profile of mivacurium is independent of the dose and duration, it is most suitable for administration by continuous infusion. The infusion requirement in children is 10–16 μg·kg^?1 min^?1, which is about twice that of adults. Cutaneous flushes from histamine release are commonly seen with the larger doses of mivacurium; however, the associated hypotensive effects are minimal and counteracted by the tracheal intubation. The duration of action of mivacurium is prolonged in patients with cholinesterase deficiency. Mivacurium's neuromuscular effects can be satisfactorily antagonized by edrophonium or neostigmine.     

恒猴精索内注射长效局麻药后对睾丸和附睾的影响

在13只恒河猴精索内注射长效局麻药后,睾丸发生明显变化;而且给药剂量不同,睾丸曲精小管改变的程度和恢复正常的时间亦不同。睾丸间质细胞无明显变化;睾酮分泌不减少,无毒性反应。对临床男性节育应用及生殖生理研究均具有意义。     

新疆核试验场周围土壤中90Sr137Cs水平

用放射化学分析方法,对新疆核试验场周围10个调查区和远离核试验场位于上风向的5个对照区采取的土壤样品进行了⁹⁰Sr、¹³⁷Cs分析测定。核试验场周围调查区土壤中⁹⁰Sr累积平均沉降量为1.5×10³Bqm^-2,¹³⁷Cs为4.9×10³Bqm^-2;对照区⁹⁰Sr累积平均沉降量为1.3×10³Bqm^-2,¹³⁷Cs为3.9×10³Bqm^-2。调查区和对照区表层土壤中州⁹⁰Sr,¹³⁷Cs放射性平均水平无显著性差异。通过估算得出了调查区⁹⁰Sr、¹³⁷Cs对居民产生约定有效剂量当量分别为78.3μSv(集体剂量当量负担为23.9人·sv)和270μSv(集体剂量当量负担为82.3人·sv),对照区分别为70.5μSv,(集体剂量当量负担为14.1人·sv)和220μSv(集体剂量当量负担为14.1人·sv)。两个地区居民受到来自核试验产生的⁹⁰Sr和¹³⁷Cs给予人体的内照射剂量当量负担基本上是一样的。可认为⁹⁰Sr、¹³⁷Cs对新疆核试验场周围没有造成严重的局部污染。对居民的身体健康不致于产生不良影响。     

Effective pulmonary blood flow in children with acute asthma attack requiring hospitalization

In children with acute obstructive lung disease gas exchange is affected by ventilation-perfusion mismatch and the degree of bronchoconstriction. Standard lung function measurements do not reflect the impairment in gas exchange. Alternatively, the effective pulmonary blood flow (EPBF), that is, the proportion of the cardiac output that is supplying well-ventilated lung units, can give accurate and noninvasive estimates of ventilation-perfusion mismatch. We measured EPBF with the argon freon ?22 rebreathing technique in children with acute severe asthma to assess their response to nebulized salbutamol and to determine whether induced changes in the EPBF could be predicted from baseline measurements. Twenty-four children admitted with an acute asthma attack had spirometry and triplicate EPBF measurements before and after nebulized salbutamol. Eighteen patients had repeated tests 50 days later when fully recovered; 4 patients were taking methylxanthines on at least one occasion. The mean forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV₁) rose from 55% of predicted to 66% after salbutamol and to 83% with recovery. The mean coefficients of variation for EPBF measurements on the three test occasions were 11.3%, 8.2%, and 9%. Except in children on methylxanthines, the EPBF values were reduced during the acute asthma attack (median, 2.53 L/min/m²; range, 1.99–3.60 L/min/m²) compared with paired values obtained after recovery (median, 2.89 L/min/m²; range, 2.2Eb4.04 L/min/m²) (P = 0.009). Salbutamol caused a highly significant increase in EPBF from 2.88 L/min/m² (range, 1.86–3.80) before treatment to 3.34 L/min/m² (range, 2.264.65) immediately afterwards (P = 0.0003). The spirometric indices did not relate to the changes in the EPBF values. However, when the effective stroke volume index was calculated in 11 patients, the changes induced by nebulized salbutamol had a significant inverse relation with the pretreatment FEV, (P = 0.61; P = 0.02). In conclusion, the argon freon-22 rebreathing technique can be used successfully and reproducibly to measure EPBF in children with an acute asthma attack. Except in children taking methylxanthines, EPBF during the acute attack is reduced and rises significantly after salbutamol. EPBF values after recovery were significantly higher than the presalbutamol values during the attack. Spirometric indices do not relate to the EPBF changes but are inversely related to the effective stroke volume changes. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1994; 17:370–377. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

"Are You Talking to Me?" Confronting Behavioral Disturbances in Patients With Headache

The famous question, "Are you talking to me?," was coined by Robert DeNiro in his lead role as Travis Bickle in the Martin Scorsese classic, Taxi Driver . The phrase also characterizes the troubling encounters that many headache-treating professionals confront as they attempt to discuss serious matters of care and compliance with some of their headache patients. Although most headache patients are eager to take professional advice and guidance, there exists a minority of patients whose behavior undermines a collaborative relationship between doctor and patient. In these cases, the physician may need to directly confront this behavior in order to overcome behavioral barriers that interfere with desirable treatment outcomes. This article offers explicit means and strategies to engage difficult patients, increase the likelihood of program adherence and improvement, and develop a more satisfying doctor-patient relationship, based on clinical experience in a national referral center for difficult-to-manage headache patients.     

A 500‐ml plastic bottle: An effective spacer for children with asthma

Inhaled therapy using a metered‐dose inhaler (MDI) with attached spacer has been increasingly recognized as the optimal method for delivering asthma medication for acute attacks and chronic prophylaxis. However, in developing countries the cost and availability of commercially produced spacers limit the use of MDI‐spacer delivery systems. A 500‐ml plastic bottle has been recently adapted to function as a spacer. This article reviews the current data on the efficacy of this bottle‐spacer and discusses its advantages and limitations. It is concluded that a modified 500‐ml plastic bottle is an effective spacer; modification and use of this device should be incorporated into international guidelines for the management of children with asthma.     

运用现代教育理论思想 提高医学课堂教学质量

本文依据三种现代教育理论思想的有益启示,围绕医学高等专科学校课堂教学质量的提升问题,提出以加强教育理论思想研修为突破口,进而采取更新教育观念、狠抓移植应用和改进教法学法来有效提高医学高等专科学校课堂教学质量的新思路。     

氯丙醇对大鼠的毒性研究

进行氯丙醇对大鼠毒作用研究 ,并进行氯丙醇暴露对健康影响评价的生物效应标志物探讨 ,为进行人群氯丙醇暴露对健康的影响评价提供科学依据。选用健康雄性断乳SD大鼠 1 76只 ,随机分为 8组 ,经口灌胃给予 0、0 2 5、0 5、1 0、2 0、4 0、8 0、1 6 0mg kg的 3 氯 1 ,2 丙二醇 (3 MCDP) 90天 ,进行体重、食物利用率、血液学指标、血生化指标、尿液中N 乙酰 β D 氨基葡萄糖苷酶 (NAG)、γ 谷胺酰转肽酶 (GGT)和总蛋白、精子数目、精子存活率和畸形率、睾丸组织中乳酸脱氢酶 (LDH)和乳酸脱氢酶同工酶 X(LDH X)、脏体比及其病理组织学测定和分析。结果表明 ,不同暴露剂量的氯丙醇对动物体重、食物利用率、血红蛋白、红细胞、白细胞、血丙氨酸氨基转移酶 (AST)、天冬氨酸氨基转移酶 (ALT)、肌酐、尿素氮、血清碱性磷酸酶 (ALP)、乳酸脱氢酶 (LDH)、总蛋白、白蛋白、尿GGT酶和总蛋白及睾丸LDH酶均未见显著影响。在 4 0、8 0和 1 6 0mg kg剂量组 ,动物尿N 乙酰 β D 氨基葡萄糖苷酶 (NAG)活性显著增加 ,肾体比增大 ,并出现肾毒性病理改变 ,精子数目也降低。在 8 0和 1 6 0mg kg剂量组 ,精子存活率和睾丸LDH X显著降低 ,睾丸和附睾出现病理改变 ,3 MCDP无致精子畸变作用。由此可见尿液中NAG酶活性和精子