The scope of forensic radiology

The use of x-ray in the solution of forensic problems commenced within days of R?ntgen's discovery; indeed, most of the applications of radiology to the forensic sciences were accomplished or anticipated within the next two years. The scope of forensic radiology ranges widely and includes determination of identity, evaluation of injury and death, applications in both criminal and civil litigation and in administrative proceedings, detection of abuse, investigation of gunshot wounds, medical education and research. Newer modalities and techniques afford opportunity for the expansion of forensic radiology if problems of accessibility and cost can be resolved along with improvement in interdisciplinary cooperation and understanding.     

Diagnostic radiology: its utilization in nonhuman primate medicine

Approximately 1000 radiographic examinations, including several types of special procedures were performed at the California Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA. The availability of modern x-ray equipment and radiology consultants have facilitated the utilization of radiology in primate medicine and research programs as well as in the instruction of veterinary medical students.     

Traditional medicine to DNA vaccines: the advance of medical research in West Africa

West Africa has a rich medical history. Herbal medicine has been practiced for hundreds of years and the establishment of an effective herbal pharmacopoeia was probably the first medical research carried out in West Africa. Arabic medicine was practiced in the countries of the Sahel in the 15th and 16th centuries. The coming of the Europeans focused research on infectious diseases such as malaria, yellow fever and sleeping sickness, to which Europeans were very susceptible and which caused devastating epidemics among the populations of their new colonies. The end of the colonial era saw the establishment of a few large, well-equipped teaching hospitals but these proved too expensive for the newly independent states of West Africa to run effectively, and the second generation of West African medical schools was based on more modest government hospitals. This led to a change in the focus of research away from the more unusual conditions seen in a specialist referral hospital to an interest in conditions, such as the common infectious diseases, seen more frequently in district hospitals. The advent of the primary health care movement in the 1970s was followed by an increased emphasis on community studies. Molecular biology is likely to have an enormous impact on medicine in general in the coming years. One of the main challenges facing medical researchers in West Africa is how these new technologies can be used most effectively to improve health in countries with limited resources.     

Kojic acid production by Aspergillus flavus using gelatinized and hydrolyzed sago starch as carbon sources

Radiography in an emergency setting is a demanding task, in technical as well as in logistical terms. Rapid acquisition of high quality radiographs under difficult conditions, for example severely injured patients with multi-organ trauma is important. All image data and radiological reports must be transmitted to the trauma surgeon as soon as possible. To meet these needs with the promising means of modern X-ray technology, we decided to implement a completely digital X-ray division inside the new outpatient trauma department. In the setting of an outpatient emergency department digital radiography and PACS cannot be realised without problems. We present our first experience with the installation and 10 month filmless routine in the X-ray division for traumatology outpatients at the university of Innsbruck department of radiology.     

Geographical distribution of HBs Ag in Africa

The incidence of HBs Ag carrier is high in Africa. The HBs Ag subtypes vary in 5 mean areas of the Africa continent. The subtype ayw4(a3) is the most characteristic African subtype, being found with a striking frequency in West Africa (88.8%). In North Africa ayw2(a21) is predominant as in other mediterranean countries. In Saharan area mixed types of HBs Ag are found, intermediary between North and West Africa. In Central Africa y is predominantly associated with w2(a21) or with w4(a3). In east and South Africa ad is largely predominant and the most widespread subtype is adw2(a21). No adr, nor adw4 were found in Africa.     

Segmental Post‐Tensioned Dolphin at Tagrin Point

The nature and extent of resource constraints on projects in developing countries are described in the context of the construction of the dolphin at Tagrin Point in Sierra Leone, West Africa. The interplay between what is possible and what is feasible given the constrained resources is considered in terms of various design alternatives. A new type of ship breasting structure evolving from the construction constraints proves to be functional and promising. The segmental, post‐tensioned dolphin not only meets the structural and functional requirements but, in making use of appropriate modern technologies, resolved the constructional problems on this project and in so doing, opens up a new field in the design and construction of berthing facilities, with the possibility of changing many concepts and previous constraints.     

Schistosomiasis in the Gorgol Valley of Mauritania

Schistosomiasis may be increasing in West Africa due to the development of water-resource projects which were given a strong impetus by the disastrous Sahelian drought. This report concerns the existing epidemiology of schistosomiasis in West Africa for the Fourth Region of Mauritania, along the Gorgol River. In this area two reservoirs are proposed, to supply a new rice irrigation system. During May and November 1974, field surveys were made to determine the prevalence and intensity of schistosomiasis, and the relevant species of snails. The surveys were made as a basis for designing the irrigation systems to minimize transmission. The only snails found in the area were two species of Bulinus; therefore, the human population was tested for Schistosoma haematobium. A high prevalence of schistosomiasis was found in M'Bout, the town nearest the proposed reservoir at Foum Gleita. Prevalence rates were lowest in Kaedi near the confluence of the Gorgol and Senegal rivers. During the period between the first and second survey the incidence rate among children in M'Bout became very high (68%), probably because of increased water contact related to the rains that broke the long drought in August 1974.     

Technique for reduction of bile peritonitis after T-tube removal in liver transplant patients

PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to evaluate the incidence of bile peritonitis following T-tube removal in liver transplant patients as a function of the method of T-tube removal. Removal at the bedside was compared to removal in the interventional radiology department with subsequent placement of a temporary drainage catheter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 1987 through July 1993, 1,105 patients underwent orthotopic liver transplantation at the UCLA Medical Center. Three hundred patients were randomly selected from this group and their charts were reviewed. Two hundred sixty-three patients who had choledocho-choledochostomies over a T tube, and adequate documentation of the method of T-tube removal and subsequent clinical course were included in the study. Forty-one patients had their drainage catheter removed at the bedside, and 222 patients had their T-tube removed over a wire in the interventional radiology department with subsequent placement of a temporary drainage catheter. RESULTS: Among all patients included in this study, 10.3% had bile peritonitis. Of the patients who had their T-tube removed at the bedside, 19.5% had bile peritonitis, whereas only 8.6% of the patients who had their T-tube removed in the interventional radiology department had bile peritonitis. This result is statistically significant (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Placing a temporary drain at the time of T-tube removal in the interventional radiology department results in a significant reduction in the incidence of bile peritonitis in liver transplant patients. The procedure is relatively simple, quickly mastered, and well tolerated by patients.     

Phylogenetic analysis of GB virus C: comparison of isolates from Africa, North America, and Taiwan

A group of flavi-like GB viruses (GBV-A, -B, and -C) has been discovered and partially characterized. Only GBV-C is found in humans. Nucleotide sequences of the putative helicase gene of the GBV-C genome were determined in 21 Taiwanese patients and compared with isolates from Africa and North America by phylogenetic analysis. The average similarities of Taiwanese isolates to those from West Africa, East Africa, Canada, and United States were 83%, 85%, 78%, and 82%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the NS3 region showed that 81% of the Taiwanese isolates were more closely related to the East African isolate. GBV-C isolates from Taiwan could be classified into at least 3 groups. These data suggest that GBV-C isolates cloned from different geographic areas have genetic heterogeneity.     

Mode of production and population patterns: policy implications for West African development

Recent developments in population theory have made possible a re-examination of demographic evidence from West Africa which suggests that population growth and migration are primarily responses to changes in the nature of the production system. Precolonial, colonial, and independence period data provide a series of correlations consistent with the approach and suggest a possible new synthesis of the West African data. The poorest countries of West Africa are those bordering on the Sahara Desert, known as the "Sahel" region. In response to the drought and famine in that region from 1968-1974, numerous proposals have been made for increased attention to reducing population growth. The analysis presented in this paper leads to the conclusion that population policies other than those attempting to lower the birth rate are called for. These would include relocation of populations previously displaced by colonial labor migrations and the re-integration of herding and farming production systems, both of which policies should be considered as population policies. Data are presented from specific projects underway in Senegal, Mauritania, and Mali, to illustrate the argument.     

Basic characteristics of radiology groups in the United States: results of a 1991-1992 census

OBJECTIVE: The American College of Radiology (ACR), the principal professional organization of United States radiologists, receives numerous requests for information on the characteristics of radiology groups. This report describes the basic characteristics of radiology groups in the United States. We defined radiology groups as any practice with two or more radiologists or radiation oncologists, including academic departments, units in multispecialty groups, and staff of government facilities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To collect basic information on radiology groups, the ACR conducted a mail census of all identified radiology groups in the United States during late 1991 and early 1992. Follow-up was conducted by mail and telephone. To make the responses accurately representative of all radiology groups, we weighted the approximately 2000 responses to correspond to known control totals for the number of groups of each of seven size categories in each of the four census regions (Northeast, Midwest, South, and West). These control totals were obtained from the ACR's 1990 Manpower Survey, which showed a total of approximately 3200 radiology groups. RESULTS: Approximately one fourth of all groups have two radiologists, one fourth have three or four radiologists, one fourth have five to seven radiologists, and one fourth have eight or more radiologists. Academic groups were relatively large; almost 50% had 11 or more radiologists. Nonmetropolitan areas had very few large groups, and metropolitan center cities had relatively few small groups. Ninety-two percent of all groups practiced at hospitals, and 73% of all groups practiced at nonhospital offices or centers. The median number of practice sites for all groups was three, including both hospital and nonhospital sites. Eighty-eight percent of all groups provided diagnostic radiology services, 23% provided radiation oncology, 12% offered both, and 11% were oncology-only groups. Relatively many academic groups (25%) were oncology-only groups; very few radiology groups (2%) in multispecialty practices were oncology-only groups. The diagnostic radiology techniques available from the largest percentages of groups were general radiography (plain film), sonography, mammography, and CT. One eighth of academic groups that provided diagnostic services did not report providing mammography, compared with only a few percent of all groups in the United States that provided diagnostic services. CONCLUSION: Half of all groups have two to four radiologists, and this has not changed since at least 1986. A substantial percentage of groups that perform diagnostic radiology do not provide MR, interventional, or nuclear medicine services. This is particularly true of relatively small groups. These characteristics may become the source of some problems as managed care becomes more prominent and larger groups, offering a full range of services and practicing at several sites, are favored by managed care organizations that seek to contract with one group for all their radiology services.     

Standardization of digital radiologic images

The need for uniform digital formats of radiologic images obtained from the human body by the various methods (CT, MRI, DF, DSA, NM) is felt by both the manufacturers and the radiologists since a long time. The ACR-NEMA standard was initially established to overcome this problem, however it was not fully satisfactory. Its up-dated version, DICOM 3 seems a more successful approach to the solution of the problem. The rationale on which DICOM 3 is based, the main guidelines with some reference to the various parts of the new standard, are analyzed. Its advantages as well as disadvantages are considered in view of a future complete integration of data and images of a radiology department within a hospital information system. In the appendix, a list of DICOM components and addresses where to find the original documentation are supplied.     

The Origins of Modernity: Was Autonomous Speech the Critical Factor?

Although Homo sapiens emerged in Africa some 170,000 years ago, the origins of "modern" behavior, as expressed in technology and art, are attributed to people who migrated out of Africa around 50,000 years ago, creating what has been called a human revolution in Europe and Asia. There is recent evidence that a mutation of the FOXP2 gene (forkhead box P2), important for the development of articulate speech, occurred some time within the past 100,000 years. This event may have allowed speech to become fully autonomous, so that language no longer depended on a visuomanual component. The consequent freeing of the hands and development of pedagogy may have led to the technological advances that allowed H. sapiens to dominate and eventually replace all other hominids. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Chin morphology and sexual dimorphism in the fossil hominid mandible sample from Klasies River Mouth

The site of Klasies River Mouth (KRM) in South Africa has produced a small sample of early Upper Pleistocene hominid remains that have been a focus for discussions of the origins of modern humans. Despite certain primitive characteristics exhibited by these fossils, proponents of a single recent origin have attributed them to early modern humans. Critics of this hypothesis have emphasized the significance of the archaic features evident in this sample, including the absence of pronounced chins among the mandibular specimens. This study compares the size range and chin morphology exhibited by the KRM mandibles with that of Neandertals, Upper Pleistocene humans, and recent humans. The extreme sexual dimorphism documented among the KRM fossils reflects the presence of a very small individual, and previous efforts to classify the KRM sample as archaic on the basis of their robusticity have failed to address the significance of this diminutive hominid. While each KRM fossil falls within the 95% envelope of variability established for chin development in a comparative modern sample, a similarly low frequency of pronounced chins is very unlikely to be found in any recent human population. The morphological pattern of the KRM mandibles is clearly distinct from that of Neandertals and of recent humans.     

Comparison of two nonradiographic methods of predicting permanent tooth size in the mixed dentition

Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) is known to be one of the agents that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It has been present in West Africa since the 1960s and is currently epidemic there. Compared with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), HIV-2 is genomically different. Furthermore, it is less prevalent worldwide than HIV-1. In West Africa, seropositive rates of HIV-2 are higher in urban versus rural communities, however, there are no gender differences. Sexual contact and vertical transmission are known modes of infectivity, though HIV-2 is less contagious than HIV-1.     

Can midwives reduce postpartum psychological morbidity? A randomized trial

The aim was to study the relation between risk attitude and knowledge in technical, patient-oriented, and organizationally related behavior within oral radiology. A questionnaire was mailed to 2000 randomly selected dentists listed in the register of the Swedish Dental Society, with a response rate of 69.3%. Regression analysis was used for analyzing the effects of the independent variables knowledge, risk attitude, continuing education in oral radiology, counties with specialists in oral radiology, type of practice, work experience, and sex on three categories of dependent variables: 1) technical behaviors: type of film, type of collimator, dose level, frequency of change of chemicals; 2) patient-oriented behaviors: use of patient protection barriers, strict indications for performing full-mouth X-ray examinations and bitewing radiography on new patients and recall patients; and 3) organizationally related behaviors: delegation of X-ray examinations to dental auxiliaries, influence on choice of collimator, influence on choice of film. Knowledge and education had strong direct effects for most of the dependent variables. The technical behaviors were mainly influenced by knowledge, education, and risk attitude, while organizationally related behaviors were influenced by type of practice and sex. The patient-oriented behaviors were influenced by a number of independent variables, such as education, type of practice, work experience, and sex. The present results indicate that both knowledge and the organizational context of dentists influence work.     

Carnivoran paleoguilds of Africa: implications for hominid food procurement strategies

Tool-using hominids, as carnivorous animals, would have been part of the various carnivore guilds present in Plio-Pleistocene Africa. Hominid dietary strategies must be understood within the larger context of carnivore behavior and ecology, as carnivorans could have affected the abilities of hominids to procure meat and/or marrow. The functional anatomy of extant and fossil carnivorans was examined to infer behaviors in fossil carnivorans that would have impacted on hominid dietary strategies in terms of carcass availability. Comparisons of guild structure were carried out to examine changes in carnivoran interactions and their implications for hominid behavior. Plio-Pleistocene carnivorans engaged in a wider range of behaviors than modern carnivorans. The sabertoothed felids Dinofelis and Megantereon probably did not provide much larger carcasses than modern species. Another sabertooth, Homotherium generated larger carcasses, but may have disarticulated and transported these carcasses. Fossil representatives of modern taxa may not have been equivalent ecologically within the carnivoran guild. Overall, hominids in eastern Africa probably had a greater range of scavenging opportunities than did those of southern Africa during the Plio-Pleistocene. Local and continent-wide extinction events in large-bodied carnivoran guilds from 1 to 2 Ma had a substantial effect on carcass availability and the risk to hominid scavengers. These structural changes in the carnivore guild may have provided an opportunity for hominids to widen their niche with respect to dietary behavior.     

Mitochondrial footprints of human expansions in Africa

mtDNA studies support an African origin for modern Eurasians, but expansion events within Africa have not previously been investigated. We have therefore analyzed 407 mtDNA control-region sequences from 13 African ethnic groups. A number of sequences (13%) were highly divergent and coalesced on the "mitochondrial Eve" in Africans. The remaining sequences also ultimately coalesced on this sequence but fell into four major clusters whose starlike phylogenies testify to demographic expansions. The oldest of these African expansions dates to approximately 60,000-80,000 years ago. Eurasian sequences are derived from essentially one sequence within this ancient cluster, even though a diverse mitochondrial pool was present in Africa at the time.     

A last martyr of the conquest of yellow fever

The last of six Rockefeller Foundation investigators to die studying yellow fever was Theodore B. Hayne, 31 years old and recently married. He had returned to hazardous duty in West Africa knowing of the deaths of four other investigators within the previous 3 years.     

95 years' of radiology in Sarajevo

The development of the radiology in Sarajevo from its beginning in "Zemaljska bolnica", 3-4 years after Rontgen's epochal finding of X-rays, till now has been reviewed in this paper. Equal and parallel development of the diagnostic radiology, as well as radiotherapy is given chronologically, regarding the stuff, equipment and premises. This is referred to the period before and after The Second World War till 1973, when--after stagnation--radiology started developing relatively quickly. With the integration of the service within the Sarajevo Region, building the annex, modernizing the equipment, especially by providing digital radiological techniques, current organisation of the work and necessary, adequately educated medical stuff, the development of radiology in Sarajevo was on its way up, in professional, educational and scientific aspect. At the end, present condition and the needs of premise, equipment and stuff, as well as some points of the possible further development of the radiology in Sarajevo have been summarized in this paper.