Noise characterization of “effective quiet” areas on a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier

The purpose of this investigation was to characterize noise levels in spaces designated as “effective quiet” areas on a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. Noise dosimetry samples were collected in 15 designated spaces, representing 15 noise measurements, while at-sea during airwing carrier qualifications. Equivalent sound level (L_eq) measurements were collected during flight operations (L_{eq (flt ops)}), non-flight operations (L_{eq (non-flt ops)}), and over 24-hr periods (L_{eq (24-hr)}). These data were compared to the 70 dBA American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH^®) Threshold Limit Value (TLV^®) for “effective quiet” areas intended for temporary threshold shift recovery when personnel live and work in a potentially noise hazardous environment for periods greater than 24?hr. The monitored areas were selected based on personnel occupancy/use during off-duty time periods. Areas were classified by either (1) leisure areas that included mess (eating areas), gyms, lounges, an internet cafe, and the fantail social area or (2) berthing (sleeping) areas. The L_eq measurements in decibels “A” weighted (dBA) were compared to determine significant differences between L_{eq (flt ops)}, L_{eq (non-flt ops)}, and L_{eq (24-hr)} and were compared between leisure area and berthing area. Measured noise levels according to time period ranged as follows: (1) L_{eq (24-hr)}: 70.8–105.4 dBA; (2) L_{eq (flt ops)}: 70–101.2 dBA; and (3) L_{eq (non-flt ops)}: 39.4–104.6 dBA. All area measurements over the 24-hr period and during flight operations and 46.7% of the areas during the non-flight operation time period exceeded the “effective quiet” 70 dBA ACGIH TLV. Mean L_eqs were 15 dBA higher during flight operations compared to non-flight operations in “effective quiet” areas (p?=?0.001). The L_eqs in leisure areas were significantly higher than berthing areas by approximately 21 dBA during non-flight operation periods (p?=?0.001). Results suggest noise levels in “effective quiet” areas frequented by aircraft carrier personnel during off-duty hours when at-sea may inhibit auditory recovery from occupational noise exposures that occur on-duty.     

Melatonin treatment for rhythm disorder

Abstract We tried melatonin treatment in two patients with non-24 h sleep-wake syndrome, who did not respond to treatments by vitamin B₁₂, bright light therapy, or hypnotics. In one patient, melatonin 5–10 mg improved difficulty in falling asleep and in waking, although it failed to improve the sleep-wake rhythm. In another patient, melatonin 3 mg successfully changed the sleep-wake rhythm from free-running pattern to delayed sleep phase pattern. However, melatonin re-administration after a 4-month drug-free interval failed to improve his free-running sleep-wake rhythm. These results suggest that melatonin acted as a sleep inducer in one patient and as a phase setter in the other, although the effect on the latter patient was transient.     

人膀胱癌T24细胞及其SCID小鼠移植瘤组织中KDR的表达

目的 检测KDR在人膀胱癌T24细胞及其SCID小鼠移植瘤组织中的表达。方法 常规培养T24细胞，建立荷人膀胱癌移植瘤SCID小鼠动物模型，使用抗KDR单克隆抗体，通过免疫荧光、免疫组化检测KDR在T24细胞及瘤体组织上的表达；结果 KDR在T24细胞及瘤体组织中均呈阳性表达。结论 本研究结果为进一步研究抗KDR单抗在荷T24细胞移植瘤动物体内分布及对瘤体生长的抑制效应奠定了实验基础。     

食管癌3p24等位基因LOH及其扩增产物克隆的研究

目的；研究3p24EAβMD位点与食管癌的关系。为寻找该位点附近可能存在的抑癌基因奠定基础。方法：采用PCR—RFLP法检测45例食管癌患者3p24位点杂合缺失情况。并对该片段进行克隆。结果：在22例食管癌信息个体中共检出9例杂合缺失。并通过序列分析可知变化为点突变。结论：3p24EAβMD较高的杂合缺失率显示该位点附近可能存在潜在的抑癌基因。     

CD24 expression on human keratinocytes

Abstract: CD24 or Nectadrin is a cell surface glycoprotein expressed in pre-B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, neurons, muscle cells and carcinoma cells. Its function is not completely known, but it has been suggested that it is involved in cell adhesion and signalling. CD24 has recently been identified as the human molecule homologous to the murine heat-stable antigen (HSA). HSA is expressed by murine keratinocytes and delivers costimulatory signals in T-cell activation. Long-term cultures of normal human keratinocytes (HKC) were obtained from skin of human female breast sections and either left untreated or were treated with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) at 10–100 ng/ml, calcium 0.5–2 mM or IFN-γ 100–1000 U/ml, for 24–48 h. Using RT-PCR and flow cytometry we showed that HKC express low levels of CD24 even under basal conditions, and the treatment with calcium, PMA or IFN-γ increased levels of CD24 mRNA and protein. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to measure CD24 expression and production by cultured HKC in basal conditions and after stimulation. Further studies are needed to determine biological and therapeutical relevance of these findings.     

Detection of HLA-A*24 null alleles by DNA typing methods

Abstract: A number of cases have been identified (seven unrelated individuals from the Northern Ireland bone marrow donor registry and two family groups) where an HLA-A*24 allele fails to express the normal HLA-A24 antigen. Family information has revealed common haplotypes with respect to each non-expressed allele indicating that the occurrence of these mutations has been a recent event. Two methods for the clinical typing of these alleles have been evaluated - PCR-SSOP and PCR-SSCP analysis.     

Ambulatory 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring

If 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring is to be a useful diagnostic tool, it must reliably discriminate gastroesophageal reflux patients despite daily variations in distal esophageal acid exposure. To address this issue, we studied 53 subjects (14 healthy normals, 14 esophagitis patients, and 25 patients with atypical symptoms) with two ambulatory pH tests performed within 10 days of each other. Intrasubject reproducibility of 12 pH parameters to discriminate the presence of abnormal acid reflux was determined. As a group, the parameters of percent time with pH<4 (total, upright, recumbent) were most reproducible (80%). Therefore, a subject was defined as having gastroesophageal reflux disease if at least one of these three values were abnormal. Intrasubject reproducibility for the diagnosis of reflux disease was 89% for the entire sample. Among subsets, the reproducibility was 93% for the normals and esophagitis patients and 84% for the atypical symptom patients. Total percent time with pH<4 was the single most discriminate pH parameter (85%) and nearly equaled that of the three combined parameters (89%). The intrasubject variability of this parameter was determined by the mean ±2sd of the relative differences between the two test results for all 53 subjects. Total percent time with pH<4 may vary between tests by a factor of 3.2-fold or less (218% higher to 69% lower). We conclude: (1) ambulatory 24-hr esophageal monitoring is a reproducible test for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease; and (2) the large intrastudy variability in 24-hr total acid exposure may limit this test's usefulness as a measurement of therapeutic improvement.Supported, in part, by Public Health Services Grant AM 34200-01A1 from NIADDIK.     

基于非标准协议无线通信的个人健康监护系统设计

基于非标准协议的短距离无线通信，具有成本低、易开发、低功耗的优点，非常适用于小范围内的数据传输。提出一种基于非标准无线通信芯片nRF24L01的个人健康监护系统设计方案，并将其与现有的、基于标准协议无线通信的个人健康监护系统进行比较。结果表明：基于非标准协议无线通信的个人健康监护系统具有效率高、功耗低、通信性能好的特点。