EPA's neurotoxicity risk assessment guidelines.

The proposed Neurotoxicity Risk Assessment Guidelines (U.S. EPA, 1995c Fed.

The range of excursion of flexor tendons in Zone V: a comparison of active vs passive flexion mobilisation regimes.

A number of early postoperative mobilisation regimes have been developed in an attempt to increase tendon excursion and gliding and thereby reduce formation of adhesions following repair of flexor tendons. Early active flexion mobilisation regimes are becoming more popular, and have replaced early passive flexion regimes in many centres. The aim of the present study was: (a) to determine the range of excursion of flexor tendons in Zone V, and (b) to compare the excursion ranges between active (Belfast) and passive (modified Duran) flexion mobilisation regimes postoperatively.

Mucin-like carcinoma associated antigen (MCA) at presentation with breast cancer.

The usefulness of serum measurements of mucin-like carcinoma associated antigen (MCA) in 100 women at presentation with breast cancer was evaluated. Peripheral venous blood was drawn and MCA values determined by radioimmunoassay. Twenty women presenting with benign breast disease and 20 normal women served as controls.

A code of ethics for the medical dosimetrist--the American Association of Medical Dosimetrists experience.

The Committee on Protocol and Ethics of the American Association of Medical Dosimetrists (AAMD) has developed a Code of Ethics for a radiation oncology society of medical dosimetrists. The purpose of the code of ethics is fourfold: (1) Establish an ideal of professional conduct specific to the medical dosimetry profession; (2) Develop a statement of the moral values and commitment of the AAMD; (3) Recognize professional relationships and obligations; and (4) Define goals to which the medical dosimetrist should aspire. The Code of Ethics was adopted as AAMD policy in October 1995.

The response of tumours with Gompertzian growth characteristics to fractionated radiotherapy.

Proliferation of tumour cells during radiotherapy may be a significant factor determining response to treatment. In previous work based on the linear-quadratic (LQ) model, tumour cell proliferation was assumed to be independent of both tumour size and the temporal structure of treatment. This paper examines a form of tumour cell proliferation that is exponential at small tumour sizes and Gompertzian at larger sizes.

Calculation of integrated biological response in brachytherapy.

Purpose: To present analytical methods for calculating or estimating the integrated biological response in brachytherapy applications, and which allow for the presence of dose gradients.

Methods And Materials: The approach uses linear-quadratic (LQ) formulations to identify an equivalent biologically effective dose (BEDeq) which, if applied to a specified tissue volume, would produce the same biological effect as that achieved by a given brachytherapy application. For simple geometrical cases, BED multiplying factors have been derived which allow the equivalent BED for tumors to be estimated from a single BED value calculated at a dose reference point.

A code of ethics for the medical dosimetrist--the American Association of Medical Dosimetrists experience.

The Committee on Protocol and Ethics of the American Association of Medical Dosimetrists (AAMD) has developed a Code of Ethics for a radiation oncology society of medical dosimetrists. The purpose of the code of ethics is fourfold: (1) Establish an ideal of professional conduct specific to the medical dosimetry profession; (2) Develop a statement of the moral values and commitment of the AAMD; (3) Recognize professional relationships and obligations; and (4) Define goals to which the medical dosimetrist should aspire. The Code of Ethics was adopted as AAMD policy in October 1995.

Calcium alginate dressings promote healing of split skin graft donor sites.

A prospective controlled trial was carried out to assess the healing efficacy of calcium alginate and paraffin gauze on split skin graft donor sites. Thirty patients were randomised to the calcium alginate group and 21 to the paraffin gauze group. The donor sites were assessed at 10 days post harvesting to determine if they were completely healed (100%) or not.

Targeted radiotherapy using Auger electron emitters.

Auger-emitting radionuclides have potential for the therapy of cancer due to their high level of cytotoxicity and short-range biological effectiveness. Biological effects are critically dependent on the sub-cellular (and sub-nuclear) localization of Auger emitters. Mathematical modelling studies suggest that there are theoretical advantages in the use of radionuclides with short half-lives (such as 123I) in preference to those (such as 125I) with long half-lives.

Zimbabwe's AIDS action programme for schools: a case study.

AIDS is the leading cause of death amongst adults in Zimbabwe and the major contributor to rising rates of infant, child and maternal mortality. About 9% of the population are HIV-positive and the number of orphans due to AIDS is projected to reach 600,000 by the year 2000. Around 90% of HIV transmission in Zimbabwe happens through heterosexual intercourse.

Clinical neurologic indices of toxicity in animals.

The fundamental structures and functions of the nervous systems of animals and humans are conserved in many ways across species. These similarities provide a basis for developing common neurologic examinations for a number of species of animals and also provide a basis for developing risk assessments across species for neurologic end points. The neurologic examination requires no expensive equipment and can be conducted in the field or wherever impaired animals are identified.

Strategies for selective targeting of Auger electron emitters to tumor cells.

Unlabelled: Strategies based on the use of Auger-emitting radionuclides require the targeting of genomic DNA. Iododeoxyuridine and its analogs, which target the process of DNA synthesis, are incorporated randomly in the genome. Alternative targeting agents are likely to assume a greater role in the future.

Caustic soda burns to the extremities: difficulties in management.

Alkali burns to the extremities are unusual, but they are also a cause of significant morbidity, often because of their late presentation. Their management centres around water lavage, burn debridement and split-skin grafting; there is controversy over the timing of surgery. Three unusual cases of caustic soda burn in adults, and the difficulties encountered in their management, are described, and the literature is reviewed.

Relationships between tumor size and curability for uniformly targeted therapy with beta-emitting radionuclides.

Unlabelled: Targeted radionuclide therapy is a new form of radiotherapy that differs in some important respects from external beam irradiation. One of the most important differences is due to the finite range of ionizing beta particles emitted as a result of radionuclide disintegration. The effects of particle range have important implications for the curability of tumors.

Optimum combination of targeted 131I and total body irradiation for treatment of disseminated cancer.

Purpose: Radiobiological modeling was used to explore optimum combination strategies for treatment of disseminated malignancies of differing radiosensitivity and differing patterns of metastatic spread. The purpose of the study was to derive robust conclusions about the design of combination strategies that incorporate a targeting component. Preliminary clinical experience of a neuroblastoma treatment strategy, which is based upon general principles obtained from modelling, is briefly described.

The VEX-test for myocardial scintigraphy with thallium-201 and sestamibi: effect on abdominal background activity.

Unlabelled: High abdominal background activity of 99mTc-sestamibi may interfere with the diagnosis in studies in which a coronary vasodilator is used; supplemental dynamic exercise might reduce this problem.

Methods: Clinical and angiographic determinants of subdiaphragmatic-to-myocardial activity ratios were measured on immediate poststress left anterior oblique images and on corresponding tomographic studies 1 hr after injection in 600 sestamibi studies. Similar measurements were made in 550 historic controls with planar 201Tl imaging.

Adjunctive endoscopic brush cytology in the detection of upper gastrointestinal malignancy.

The role of exfoliative cytology as an adjunct to endoscopic biopsy in the detection of upper gastrointestinal malignancy is controversial insofar as some claim that its use is of little clinical benefit. The role of cytology in the differentiation of benign from malignant mucosal lesions in 2,183 consecutive patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy was examined. Malignancy was confirmed in 394 patients.

Multi-modality megatherapy with [131I]meta-iodobenzylguanidine, high dose melphalan and total body irradiation with bone marrow rescue: feasibility study of a new strategy for advanced neuroblastoma.

New therapeutic approaches are needed for advanced neuroblastoma as few patients are currently curable. We describe an innovative strategy combining [131I]meta-iodobenzylguanidine ([131I]mIBG) therapy with high dose chemotherapy and total body irradiation. The aim of combining these treatments is to overcome the specific limitations of each when used alone to maximise killing of neuroblastoma cells.

Mortality study of employees engaged in the manufacture and use of hydroquinone.

Mortality in a 1942-1990 cohort of 858 men and 21 women employed in the manufacture and use of hydroquinone was evaluated through 1991. Average exposure concentrations, 1949-1990, ranged from 0.1 to 6.