The transport of the so-called HZE particles (those having high charge, Z, and energy, E) through matter is crucially important both in space radiation protection and in the clinical setting where heavy ions are used for cancer treatment. HZE particles are usually considered those having Z > 1, though sometimes Z > 2 is meant. Transport physics is governed by two types of interactions, electrom...

According to the doctrine underlying the current radiation protection regulations each, no matter how small, exposure to ionizing radiation may be carcinogenic. However, numerous epidemiological observations demonstrate that cancer incidence and/or mortality are not elevated among inhabitants of the high- versus low-natural-background radiation areas and homes. Results of our own and other auth...

BACKGROUND The way in which a government chooses to finance a health intervention can affect the uptake of health interventions and consequently the extent of health gains. In addition to health gains, some policies such as public finance can insure against catastrophic health expenditures. We aimed to evaluate the health and financial risk protection benefits of selected interventions that cou...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A [HMG-CoA] reductase inhibitors) reduce stroke damage independent of lipid lowering by upregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Acute withdrawal of statin treatment may suppress endothelial NO production and impair vascular function. METHODS To test this hypothesis, we treated 129/SV mice with atorvastatin (...

Workplace performance measurement of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is fundamental to the understanding of how well wearers are protected. It forms the basis for guidance on which the selection of appropriate equipment is based. However, the measurement of this performance is open to many sources of interference and inaccuracy, reducing the value and relevance of the results, and is mos...

Azithromycin is highly effective against trachoma, but the practical difficulties of community-wide distribution often leave many individuals untreated. We demonstrate, after mass azithromycin treatment of a population in Ethiopia, an indirect protective effect that occurred among untreated children who resided in villages in which most individuals had been treated. Similarities with the indire...

Sir, I would like to provide some perspective with regard to a published comment (1) on our study of risedronate treatment in postmenopausal women with vertebral fracture (2). The author suggests that risedronate is not effective in reducing vertebral fracture risk after the first year, and that the effects of risedronate "do not compare favorably" with those of alendronate and raloxifene. This...

BACKGROUND Organophosphates are cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitors with worldwide use as insecticides. Stress response, evidenced by a dramatic and relatively long-lasting (several hours) rise in the plasma glucocorticoid concentration is an integral element of the organophosphate (OP) poisoning symptomatology. In rodents, corticosterone (CORT) is the main glucocorticoid. There are several reports...