Correction factors for determination of annual average radon concentration in dwellings of Poland resulting from seasonal variability of indoor radon.

The method for the calculation of correction factors is presented, which can be used for the assessment of the mean annual radon concentration on the basis of 1-month or 3-month indoor measurements. Annual radon concentration is an essential value for the determination of the annual dose due to radon inhalation. The measurements have been carried out in 132 houses in Poland over a period of one year. The passive method of track detectors with CR-39 foil was applied. Four thermal-precipitation regions in Poland were established and correction factors were calculated for each region, separately for houses with and without basements.

[Low-power laser in the treatment of tinnitus--a placebo-controlled study]. / Laser niskoenergetyczny w leczeniu szumów usznych--badania porównawcze z placebo.

The present study was performed on 32 patients in order to investigate the effect of low-power laser on their tinnitus. The patients were divided into two groups. One group received laser therapy and the other was given a placebo procedure. The effect was evaluated by the use of visual analogue scales. Within the patient group transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) were measured before, during and after therapy. No significant difference between laser and placebo was found in annoyance or loudness of the tinnitus and in changes of TEOAE amplitude. These results indicate that there is no relationship between the effect of low-power laser and changes in cochlear micromechanics.

Characterization of a monoclonal antibody that neutralizes the activity of prostaglandin E2.

We describe the generation of an IgG1 mAb, 2B5, that neutralizes the biologic activity of PGE2 in vitro and in vivo. The Ab was derived from a BALB/c mouse that was immunized with a PGE2-thyroglobulin conjugate. 2B5 is one of the highest affinity and specific anti-PGE2 mAbs reported to date. The Kd for PGE2 was approximately 300 pM and crossreactivity toward eicosanoids other than PGE1 was less than 1%. The addition of 2B5 to [3H]PGE2 blocked the binding of radioligand to cell membranes transfected with the murine EP3 prostaglandin receptor. In functional studies, 2B5 neutralized the capacity of PGE2 to suppress T cell proliferation induced by a mitogenic anti-CD3 Ab in vitro. In contrast, immunosuppression by the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, isobutylmethylxanthine was not affected. In an in vivo model of nociception, 2B5 substantially reduced the dorsoflexion response of mice to phenylbenzoquinone. This response is associated with prostaglandin production and is blocked by inhibitors of prostanoid synthesis. Our findings demonstrate that this nociceptive response is largely due to PGE2. In the absence of antagonists that prevent PGE2 from activating a diverse family of receptor subtypes, neutralizing Abs to PGE2 should represent useful reagents to delineate the biologic properties of this eicosanoid in vivo.