Adipose tissue levels of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls and risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

In this nested case-control study we examined the relationship between non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and organochlorine pesticide exposure. We used a data set originally collected between 1969 and 1983 in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Human Adipose Tissue Survey. Adipose samples were randomly collected from cadavers and surgical patients, and levels of organochlorine pesticide residues were determined. From the original study population, 175 NHL cases were identified and matched to 481 controls; 173 controls were selected from accident victims, and 308 from cases with a diagnosis of myocardial infarction. Cases and controls were mainly from cadavers (> 96%) and were matched on sex, age, region of residence within the United States, and race/ethnicity. Conditional logistic regression showed the organochlorine pesticide residue heptachlor epoxide to be significantly associated with NHL [compared with the lowest quartile: third quartile odds ratio (OR) = 1.82, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01-3.28; fourth quartile OR = 3.41, 95% CI, 1.89-6.16]. The highest quartile level of dieldrin was also associated with elevated NHL risk (OR = 2.70; 95% CI, 1.58-4.61), as were higher levels of oxychlordane, p,p'-DDE [p,p'-1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene], and ss-benzene hexachloride (ORs = 1.79, 1.99, and 2.47, respectively). The p-values for trends for these associations were significant. In models containing pairs of pesticides, only heptachlor epoxide and dieldrin remained significantly associated with risk of NHL. Limitations of this study include collection of samples after diagnosis and a lack of information on variables affecting organochlorine levels such as diet, occupation, and body mass index. Given the persistence of pesticides in the environment, these findings are still relevant today

Penicilinoterapia intravenosa em altas doses na neurossífilis: estudo de 62 casos II. Avaliação do líqüido cefalorraqueano

Sessenta e dois casos de neurossífilis sintomática foram tratados com penicilina G, na dose diária de 20 ou 24 milhões de UI. por via intravenosa, durante 15 a 30 dias. O tempo médio de acompanhamento foi de 30 meses. Antes do tratamento, 41 pacientes apresentavam pleocitose ao exame do LCR. Seis meses e doze ou mais meses depois, foi constatada pleocitose em 4 (9,8%) e em 3 pacientes (7,3%), respectivamente. A proteinorraquia e os títulos das reações de Wassermann do soro e do LCR reduziram-se lentamente depois do tratamento. O teor de globulinas gama do LCR e os índices de imunoprodução local do sistema LCR ainda encontravam-se elevados depois do primeiro ano após tratamento. Os resultados da penicilinoterapia intravenosa em altas doses constatados neste estudo não diferiram daqueles obtidos com penicilinoterapia intramuscular em baixas doses registrados na literatura

A mechanical predesign project in robotic fire fighting

A four student design project was formed to investigate the design of a Navy robotic fire fighter. The project goals were centered around identifying appropriate Mechanical Engineering (?'E) masters thesis topics while accomplishing a worthwhile engineering project. As an ME involvement, the project was approached as an exercise in machine preliminary design. A 13 week format was used with time equally distributed between background building and design. Lecture hours were minimized (to nine) and one-on-one and group tech leal discussions were maximized. None of the students had p. r background in robotics. Each student selected a task in robot c oign in which to become "expert". The four tasks investigated were: manipulator mechanism design; end .effector design; motion control; and man/machine interfaces . The students results^ are presented as submitted. Alternative engineering design concepts are discussed for each of the major system components. The evolution of system design requirements is discussed. A recommended system configuration is identified.prepared for: Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Californiahttp://archive.org/details/mechanicalpredes00smitN