The investigation of 32P wire for catheter-based endovascular irradiation

The dose distribution from a 32P source has been measured and calculated in order to evaluate its application in endovascular irradiation. The source dimension was 27 mm in length and 0.3 mm in diameter and was embedded in the end of a Ni-Ti wire. Dose measurements were performed using radiochromic film in several specially designed tissue equivalent phantoms. Loevinger's point dose kernel was used for the calculation. The approximate dose rate at a radial distance of 1.5 mm from the center of the source was found to be 6.75 cGy/s per GBq (0.25 cGy/s per mCi), which allows the delivery of a therapeutic dose in a short time interval with a satisfactory homogeneity without stepping the source. However, the dose rate falls off almost exponentially along the radial distance. Therefore it may not be suitable for treating large diameter vessel from a centrally located source. The effect of a curved 32P wire source on the radial dose distribution was also investigated. The results showed that for a maximum bend of 180 degrees the dose rate was increased by as much as 20% along the inner radial distance but decreased by as much as 20% along the outer radial distance compared to the dose along a straight wire. However, for curvatures normally encountered in a clinical situation, the dose rate was changed less than 5%.     

Undesirable sensory properties of the dried pea (Pisum sativum). The rôle of saponins

The rôle of saponins in the undesirable sensory properties of the dried pea P sativum is reported. The sensory properties of isolated soyasaponin I are defined and described as bitter, astringent and metallic. The distribution of saponin in various air-classified pea flour fractions shows that the protein-rich fraction may contain sufficient saponin to cause undesirable tastes.     

The COMMIT dental model: tobacco control practices and attitudes

The National Cancer Institute's program to help dentists reduce tobacco use among their patients is part of the Community Intervention Trial for Smoking Cessation, a 22-community, randomly controlled trial of an intervention program for smoking cessation. Results of COMMIT baseline surveys of dentists in the 11 intervention communities are presented.     

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimal gland in a six-year-old girl

A 6-year-old white female was found to have an adenoid cystic carcinoma originating in a lacrimal gland. Eighteen months following diagnosis, the tumor recurred. Conservative surgery has been the sole mode of therapy. To date, after four operations and quadrimenstral imaging surveillance, there is no sign of disease progression. Our purpose is to record the unusual occurrence of an adenoid cystic carcinoma of the lacrimal gland in a child. An interim report, 32 months after diagnosis, is presented.