Library

Notes: Abstract In the Saitama prefecture in Japan, VMA (vanillyl manderic acid) screening spot test for detection of neuroblastoma has been performed in 173,046 infants in the years 1981–1986 and 15 infants were found to have neuroblastoma. Two infants had mediastinal tumors and the remainder 13 had intra-abdominal tumors. Only 7 infants had palpable masses. Although CT was documented to be the best imaging procedure to provide sufficient information for treatment, conventional radiographic examinations of the chest and abdomen, and abdominal ultrasonography were able, as initial imaging procedures, to detect reasonably small neuroblastomas in infants with a positive VMA screening test.

Notes: Abstract The World Health Organization (WHO) is the agency of the United Nations with primary responsibility for international health matters and public health. Through the exchange of the knowledge and experience of health professionals from 165 nations WHO promotes comprehensive health services worldwide. As a part of this effort WHO has in recent years been concerned with improving the availability and utilization of diagnostic imaging, especially as it relates to health services in developing countries. Having devised and specified suitable basic radiographic equipment (the WHO BRS) a WHO Scientific Group was convened in 1982 to study the utilization of radiographic procedures and to to recommend their more efficacious and rational use. Then in 1984, recognizing the implications of newer imaging technology on world health, a second WHO Scientific Group considered the design, impact and future use of ultrasonography and computed tomography in developing countries. The findings of these scientific groups were published as part of the WHO Technical Report Series which makes available the recommendations of such international groups of experts [1, 2]. Although some of the needs of children were considered in these previous Technical Reports, WHO felt that the size and socioeconomic importance of the paediatric population worldwide warranted a further study and report to address the particular technical and clinical problems of diagnostic imaging in the paediatric age group. Thus a third WHO Scientific Group met in Geneva from 18 to 24 November 1985 to review established practices and experience in paediatric imaging throughout the world; and to recommend rational guidelines for diagnostic imaging for children to age 14 years. The scientific group included representatives of national and international paediatric and radiological societies from 18 of the developed and developing nations, selected in accordance with WHO policy. Members served without remuneration in their personal and professional capacities rather than as representatives of governments or other political bodies. Technical advice was also provided by representatives from the U.S. Center for Devices and Radiological Health, and the International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technicians. Additional support was provided by the Radiation Medicine Section of WHO: Dr. N.T. Racoveanu, then Chief Medical Officer, Radiation Medicine, WHO served as secretary of the study group. The recommendations are contained in the recently published WHO Technical Report 757:Rational use of diagnostic imaging in paediatrics [3]. The report is available in English, French and Spanish directly from WHO, and from U.N. agencies throughout the world.

Notes: Abstract Unusually increased CT density of the liver parenchyma after administration of cis-diaminedichloro platinum (II) (CDDP) is presented. This patient has neither a history of blood transfusion nor of iron overload. Therefore, CDDP which includes the heavy metal, Platinum, in its molecule was considered to be the only agent responsible for increasing the CT density.

Notes: Abstract Upper gastrointestinal examinations with simultaneous cardiorespiratory monitoring were performed in 39 older premature infants with persistent apnea. Swallowing incoordination was documented to be causatively related to persistent apnea in such infants, especially with feeding. Direct relationship between apnea and gastroesophageal reflux wasnot documented in this study.

Notes: Abstract From a relation between the 5s (valence) electron contact density and the Mössbauer isomer shift, the contact density and the number of 5s electrons of Sn in \-Sn were evaluated to be 72.3±4.1 a.u. and 1.87±0.13, respectively, where the renormalization of solid-state effect was considered.

Notes: Abstract Radioactive125I was ion-implanted into 7 different metal matrices. Al, Au, In, Pt, Sn, Te and Zn, and internal conversion and Mössbauer spectra associated with the 35.46 keV M1 transition of125Te were measured for the same samples. A value ΔR/R=(0.853±0.115)×10−4 was derived for the relative difference of the nuclear charge radius for the 35.46 keV M1 transition of125Te.

Notes: Abstract The internal conversion electron and Mössbauer isomer shifts associated with the 35.46 keV M1 transition of125Te were observed for different metal samples into which radioactive125I as probe atoms were introduced by means of ion-implantation. From the correlation between the Mössbauer isomer shifts and intensity ratios of O shell to NI shell conversion electrons, a relation between 5s-electron contact densityp 5s(0) in a.u. and isomer shift δ in mm/s was deduced to bep 5s(0)=106+30.3 δ±4.3[(δ−0.30)2+0.069]1/2, where δ was measured relative to ZnTe in mm/s. The change of the nuclear charge radius in the 35.46 keV M1 transition of125Te was found to be ΔR/R=(0.85±0.12)×10−4 (corresponding to Δ〈r 2〉=(3.7±0.5)×10−3 fm2) when a theoretical 4s-electron contact density of 928 a.u. was used.