Indoor Air Quality: Exploring Policy Options to Reduce Human Exposures

Deciding between the different policy approaches available for reducing human exposures to indoor pollutants is an exceptionally complex task. These options can range from waiting until more definitive information is available to enacting regulatory standards, with many variations in between. This paper presents some of the factors policy-makers must consider in establishing indoor air quality policies, and the role researchers should play in ensuring that indoor air policies are based on the best available scientific information.     

Conformal proton therapy for prostate carcinoma

The suppression of apoptosis may contribute to the carcinogenicity of the peroxisome proliferators (PPs), a class of non-genotoxic rodent hepatocarcinogens. Our previous work demonstrated that the PP nafenopin suppressed both spontaneous and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1)-induced hepatocyte apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. Here, we extend these observations by demonstrating the ability of nafenopin to suppress apoptosis induced by other major candidates for the signalling of cell death in the liver. Treatment of rat or mouse hepatocyte monolayers with TGFbeta1 or the DNA damaging drugs etoposide or hydroxyurea induced high levels of apoptosis. Western blot analysis did not support a role for either p53 or p21waf1 in etoposide-induced apoptosis in rat hepatocytes. Treatment of mouse hepatocytes with an agonistic anti-Fas antibody also resulted in an induction of high levels of apoptosis. Pre-addition and continued exposure to nafenopin suppressed apoptosis induced by all three stimuli. Overall, our studies demonstrate that the ability of nafenopin to protect hepatocytes from apoptosis is not restricted to species or apoptotic stimulus. It is possible, therefore, that the PPs may suppress apoptosis by acting on diverse signalling pathways. However, it seems more likely that nafenopin suppresses hepatocyte apoptosis elicited by each death stimulus by impinging on a core apoptotic mechanism.     

The development of Israeli children's images of Jews and Arabs and their expression in human figure drawings.

The development of images of "a Jew" and "an Arab" in Jewish Israeli children who were 4–15 years of age was investigated by means of human figure drawings followed by the administration of questionnaires. The drawings were scored on structural and thematic variables. The questionnaires assessed beliefs and intentions. The hypotheses predicted a differential perception of in- and out-groups and peaks in negativity toward the out-group at preschool age and in early adolescence. Results indicate that, irrespective of age, Jewish Israeli children have generalized images of the two ethnic groups. Preschoolers expressed both positive biases toward the in-group and negativism toward the out-group, and early adolescents manifested mainly negative biases toward the out-group. Children in middle childhood and mid-adolescents manifested reductions in both in-group favoritism and out-group negativity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Multimedia to teach urology to medical students

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that an interactive multimedia-based computer application may be used to teach urology to undergraduate medical students. METHODS: Third-year medical students rotating on their urology clerkship were studied. Student knowledge was measured with a multiple choice test administered in a pretest-post-test experimental design. The educational intervention was a multimedia-based application that presented a clinical module on hematuria, using natural language-like entries. Student attitudes toward the multimedia application were assessed by a survey. RESULTS: Twenty-three consecutive third-year medical students participated. Mean pretest and post-test scores +/- standard deviation were 35%+/-11% versus 74%+/-17%, respectively, P<0.0001. Student questionnaire responses indicated highly positive opinions that the multimedia-based module was easy to use, was fun, provided natural patient responses, had clear exercises, provided immediate feedback, was educational, and had a nonthreatening format, and that the multiple choice questions were clear and fair. CONCLUSIONS: Multimedia-based education may be used to teach urology to undergraduate medical students.     

Free electron laser ablation of urinary calculi: an experimentalstudy

Infrared laser ablation of urinary calculi was investigated as a function of wavelength to determine the relation of ablation threshold fluences, ablation depths, and optical absorption. A simple photothermal ablation model was employed to examine this relationship. Human urinary calculi composed of >95% uric acid, >95% cystine, >95% calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM), and >90% magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate (MAPH) were used. Various wavelengths between 2.1 and 6.5 μm were selected to perform threshold fluence and ablation depth measurements. The laser source for this study was the tunable pulsed infrared free electron laser (FEL) at Vanderbilt University. Experimental results indicated a correlation of threshold fluence and ablation depth to the optical absorption properties of the calculi. When calculus optical absorption increased, the threshold fluences decreased. Although the ablation depths increased with calculus optical absorption, results indicated that in certain calculi the ablation depth was affected by optical attenuation through the ablation plume. These observations were in agreement with the photothermal ablation model, but fractures in striated calculi at higher optical absorptions indicated the contribution of a photomechanical mechanism     

Initial effects of word processing on writing quality and writing anxiety of freshman writers

Eight English instructors at Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York, conducted a one-semester controlled experiment with freshman in eight randomly selected classes of College Writing to learn about the initial effects of word processing on essay-writing performance and on writing apprehension. Four classes wrote essays using terminals linked to a mainframe computer (Experimental Group), and four classes wrote essays in the traditional mode using pens, pencils or typewriters (Control Group). The eight instructors agreed upon a common syllabus and common teaching approaches for the freshman writing course. To measure writing performance, they devised an analytic scale. To measure writing apprehension, they used a writing apprehension test developed by Daly and Miller. The Experimental Group showed greater progress than the Control Group from the pre to post Essay Test but could not demonstrate superior performance on the six required essays of the course. For writing apprehension, there was no significant difference between the two groups.Marilyn Poris (Ph.D., Research Methodology, Hofstra University) is currently serving as Director of Institutional Research a Marist College, where she also teaches courses in statistics.Milton Teichman (Ph.D., English, University of Chicago) is professor of English at Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York. He has directed writing programs in freshman writing and has supervised research in the field of technology and writing. He has written on innovative approaches to the teaching of writing, as well as on a range of literary subjects from the poetry of Wordsworth to the literature of the Holocaust.     

Role and long-term results of laparoscopic decortication in solitary cystic and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

PURPOSE: Access to retroperitoneal structures via the laparoscope has become established for various conditions. This minimally invasive approach has distinct advantages over conventional open surgery. We document our experience with laparoscopic cyst decortication for diseases of the kidney, including simple and complex cysts, multiple cysts and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 17 patients who underwent a total of 20 procedures. Cases were categorized as polycystic kidney disease and nonpolycystic kidney disease. Factors analyzed were estimated blood loss, length of surgical procedure, hospital stay and complications. Followup included radiographic studies (computerized tomography and/or renal sonography) and patient subjective pain relief, as determined by clinical records and telephone interview. RESULTS: Nine and 11 procedures were done for nonpolycystic kidney disease and polycystic kidney disease, respectively. Of the 8 patients with polycystic kidney disease 3 underwent repeat procedures. Followup was 3 to 63 months (average 26). All patients with simple cysts who were treated for pain were pain-free at the latest followup. Of the 10 procedures 9 (90%) performed for pain relief in polycystic kidney disease successfully produced immediate pain relief. Pain-free status decreased with time with 7 of 8 (87.5%) pain-free after 6 months, and 5 of 7 (71.4%) at 1, 4 of 6 (66.7%) at 2 and 1 of 4 (25%) at 3 years. A repeat operation successfully relieved recurrent pain in 2 of 3 cases (66.7%). Of the 7 patients with polycystic kidney disease who underwent surgery for pain relief 5 (71%) are currently pain-free. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic renal cyst decortication is an effective minimally invasive treatment for painful simple cysts. It is also effective for short to intermediate pain relief in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Long-term followup suggests that a repeat procedure may be necessary to maintain adequate control of symptoms in polycystic kidney disease.