Gonadal protection methods in neonatal chest radiography.

The ideal method of gonadal shielding in the neonatal unit provides the greatest radiation protection while minimizing the potential for cross-infection. This study evaluated two common methods of gonadal shielding used during neonatal chest radiography--direct shielding and shadow shielding. For direct shielding, lead was placed over the gonadal region of a phantom. For shadow shielding, lead was placed on top of the crib. Results showed that direct shielding provided a greater reduction in gonadal dose than shadow shielding.

Effects of Focus Film Distance (FFD) variation on entrance testicular dose in lumbar-pelvic radiography.

INTRODUCTION: With the steady increase in public and professional concern regarding the biological effects of ionising radiation, there is a need for both the Chiropractic and Radiography professions to improve imaging techniques for the lowering of patient radiation doses. Lumbar radiographs are essential in chiropractic general practice for biomechanical diagnosis and postural analysis. Detailed anatomical measurements are taken from spinal radiographs for the determination of various biomechanical alterations for clinical purposes. The quality of spinal radiograph is dependent on a number of factors, including Focus Film Distance (FFD), magnification ratios, penumbra, contrast and density. Variation in FFD will vary magnification factor (MF) and Penumbra. OBJECTIVES: The study aims to investigate the relationship between FFD and received radiation dose to patients, where the radiation dose to the testes may be significantly lowered whilst still maintaining acceptable image quality. METHODS: Radiographic images and dosimetry were obtained with a Seimans wall-mounted X-ray unit. All anterior/posterior (AP) and lateral lumbar-pelvic radiographs were taken of an anthromorphological phantom that resembles human tissues, at both 100cm and 200cm FFD. Five central beam air doses were measured for all parameters to demonstrate patient entrance doses. RESULTS: For AP lumbar-pelvic radiography, increasing FFD by a factor of two resulted in an approximately 30% decrease in entrance dose to the testes. For lateral lumbar-pelvic radiography a two fold increase in FFD resulted in a 70% reduction in entrance dose. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests for the first time that an FFD of 200 cm, which is largely utilised by the chiropractic profession, is an efficient method of minimising radiation dose to patient, during lumbar radiography.

An Australian model for professional standards.

This article describes the qualitative research methodologies used to develop entry-level standards documents for the four medical radiations science professions in Australia. This Australian model features a mix of complementary research tools to validate the range and level of the professional standards. In addition to methodology, this article also describes the beneficial role played by these standards and the possibility of using the development method in other countries.

Palpable unilateral sacral prominence as a clinical sign of lower limb anisomelia: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the role of oblique-axis sacral torsion in the presence of true or apparent short leg. DESIGN: Prospective blind trial of eighteen subjects. SETTING: A suburban chiropractic practice, a hospital and a university campus. SUBJECTS: Of 33 subjects selected, 27 completed the study, 8 exhibited elimination criteria, and 1 X-ray was nondiagnostic. MAIN RESULTS: 3 x 3 contingency table showed the presence of unilateral sacral prominence as statistically significant (p > .001) in subjects with LLI. The incidence of unilateral sacral prominence on the short leg side was also significant (p > .05). Weighted kappa confirmed both (alpha > .001). CONCLUSIONS: Oblique-axis sacral torsion may play a role in intrapelvic adaptation to anisomelia of the lower limb; further examination of this prospect is warranted.

Use of verbal correction procedures with severely mentally retarded individuals: aptitude-treatment interaction?

The effects of verbal corrections on vocational training of severely mentally retarded individuals have not been clear because of lack of measures that are sensitive to differences in such persons' receptive-language skills. Using the verbal subscale of the Trainee Performance Sample, we identified trainees of high and low receptive-language skills. They were then randomly assigned to training conditions involving specific and nonspecific verbal corrections from experienced trainers. Results demonstrated that specific verbal corrections enhanced acquisition by learners with higher receptive-language skills but did not do so for learners with lower receptive-language skills. Implications of such an aptitude-treatment interaction were discussed.

Comparison of the microtitration agglutination test and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of herds affected with swine dysentery.

A method was designed to evaluate and compare the microtitration agglutination test (MAT) and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect antibodies in swine sera to Treponema hyodysenteriae and thereby establish a method for determining the prevalence of swine dysentery (SD) in herds. According to sampling criteria based on the hypergeometric distribution, sera were collected from 3 age groups of swine from farms having a history of SD on the premises (SD+) recently or being free of the disease (SD-). The highest degree of test sensitivity was obtained when sera from market age swine were evaluated with the ELISA. Of 14 SD+ herds from which sera were obtained from market-age swine, 13 were positive with the ELISA (93%); none of the 8 SD- herds was positive. The detection rates of individual swine in the SD+ herds for the 2 tests by age group were as follows: MAT--adult swine 1.4%, market-age swine 6%, and weaned pigs 0.8%; ELISA--adult swine 16%, market swine 31%, and weaned pigs 0.5%.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of antibody to Treponema hyodysenteriae antigens.

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was evaluated and compared with the microtitration agglutination test for the detection of swine antibody to Treponema hyodysenteriae lipopolysaccharide antigens. Cells of T. hyodysenteriae serotypes 1 and 2 were extracted with hot phenol-water (68 degrees C). The lipopolysaccharide fraction from the aqueous phase was coated on plastic wells at concentrations of 1 micrograms (serotype 1) and 10 micrograms (serotype 2) of carbohydrate per ml. The ELISA was serotype specific when lipopolysaccharide antigens were reacted against sera from convalescent swine. Seroconversion of infected pigs was detectable with the ELISA within 1 to 2 weeks postinoculation and with the microtitration agglutination test 2 to 3 weeks postinoculation. Antibody titers could be detected in convalescent pigs as long as 19 weeks postinoculation by the ELISA and 12 to 13 weeks postinoculation by the microtitration agglutination test. Therefore, the ELISA may be useful for the detection of asymptomatic carriers.