Radon and progeny (Pb-214 and Bi-214) in urban water-supply systems of São Paulo State, Brazil

Many water-supply systems in South America utilize the waters of the Guarani aquifer at least as part of their networks. However, there is little present knowledge in Brazil of the factors affecting Rn presence in the water supplied for end-users, despite the economic importance of Guarani aquifer. Rn-222 analyzes of 162 water samples were performed at 8 municipalities in São Paulo State, Brazil, with the aim of investigating the major factors affecting its presence in solution. The Rn-222 activity concentration ranged from 0.04 up to 204.9 Bq/L, with three samples exceeding the World Health Organization maximum limit of 100Bq/L. Aeration was confirmed as the most important factor for Rn release, as expected due to its gaseous nature. Accumulation in pipes and stratification in the water column were other significant factors explaining the data obtained in some circumstances. The Rn daughters Ph-214 and Bi-214 were also determined in a set of selected samples and their presence was directly related to the occurrence of Rn dissolved in water. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Avaliação do espaço aéreo faríngeo por meio da tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico

INTRODUÇÃO: a avaliação do espaço aéreo superior faz parte da rotina na elaboração do diagnóstico e plano de tratamento ortodôntico. A radiografia cefalométrica em norma lateral tem sido usada rotineiramente na avaliação da permeabilidade do espaço aéreo, esbarrando na limitação de fornecer uma imagem bidimensional de uma estrutura tridimensional. A Tomografia Computadorizada de Feixe Cônico (TCFC) tem entrado na realidade ortodôntica trazendo um arsenal de informações concernentes ao espaço aéreo superior. Por fornecer uma imagem tridimensional, possibilita determinar de maneira precisa a área de maior estreitamento da faringe, que ofereceria maior resistência à passagem aérea. OBJETIVOS: o propósito deste artigo é esclarecer o ortodontista quanto aos recursos disponíveis na TCFC para o diagnóstico de possíveis barreiras físicas que possam diminuir a permeabilidade das vias aéreas superiores.

Emprego da tomografia computadorizada na detecção de alterações das adrenais em doentes com tuberculose

Neste estudo foram avaliadas, por meio de tomografia computadorizada, as adrenais em indivíduos sem tuberculose (grupo 1 - G1) e com tuberculose (grupo 2 - G2). A dimensão ântero-posterior, a espessura e o comprimento das adrenais foram comparados no G1 e no G2. Foram também avaliadas a duração da doença com a ocorrência de alteração morfológica no G2, e a distribuição segundo o sexo, a idade e a cor da pele no G1 e no G2. Neste estudo houve diferença nas dimensões ântero-posterior e espessura da adrenal direita entre o G1 e o G2. Observou-se maior ocorrência do sexo masculino e de indivíduos de pele branca no G2. Não houve associação entre a duração da doença e a ocorrência de alteração morfológica no G2. Maior ocorrência da alteração morfológica tipo alargamento foi observada no G2. Os principais achados pela tomografia computadorizada, nos pacientes com tuberculose, foram alargamento da adrenal sem calcificação, alargamento da adrenal com calcificação puntiforme e calcificação de aspecto residual da adrenal.

Transfer of radon and parent nuclides U-238 and U-234 from soils of the Mendip Hills area, England, to the water phase

Laboratory time scale experiments were conducted on soils from the Mendip Hills area, England, with the purpose of evaluating the release of Rn-222 and their parent nuclides U-238 and U-234 to the water phase and to determine the influence of parameters that can affect the geochemical behaviour of these nuclides in natural systems. The specific surface area of the samples ranged from 43.8 to 52.5 cm(2) g(-1), where the particle size for all soil horizons is lognormally distributed, with modal values of the particle radius undersize ranging from 107 up to 203 mu m. The values for the released radon were between 26 and 194 pCi, which allowed to estimate emanation coefficients for these materials between 0.1 and 0.2, within the context of other values reported elsewhere. Soils derived from Carboniferous limestone and characterized by higher pH, exchangeable calcium, and the presence of U, but with a lower U-231/U-238 activity ratio, yielded the highest values for released Rn; however, this trend was not observed for dissolved U and its respective U-234/U-238 activity ratio, when considering the less aggressive etchant. Uranium is mobilized from rock matrix to A and B horizons in the analysed soil profiles, where its enrichment is about 10 times higher in soils derived from Carboniferous limestone. These data also permitted an evaluation of a theoretical model for the generation of Rn in soils and its transfer to water, in order to interpret the radioactivity due to this gas in groundwaters from the Mendip Hills district, England. (C) 1999 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All lights reserved.

Health risk related to radon in a thermal spa utilizing waters from Guarani aquifer

This investigation was carried out within the Parana sedimentary basin, Brazil, involved the sampling of groundwater and air, and was realized with the purpose of evaluating the radioactivity, due to radon gas, in a thermal spa utilizing the waters from Guarani (Botucatu-Piramboia) aquifer. The results reported here provide additional information relative to that of previous studies focusing on the presence of radionuclides in the aquifer, which have mainly characterized those belonging to uranium and thorium series decay, such as the uranium isotopes (U-238 and U-234), radium isotopes (Ra-226 and Ra-228), radon daughters (Bi-214 and Pb-214) and radon (Rn-222) itself the results obtained were compared with the maximum permissible concentration limits in air and drinking water defined by international standards, such as the guidelines for drinking water quality established by the World Health Organization. The possible processes responsible for the presence of radon in the aquifer were also considered in order to evaluate the data obtained.

Indoor radon measurements and methodologies in Latin American countries

According to the current international guidelines concerning environmental problems, it is necessary to evaluate and to know the indoor radon levels, specially since most of the natural radiation dose to man comes from radon gas and its progeny. Several countries have established National Institutions and National Programs for the study of radon and its connection with lung cancer risk and public health. The aim of this work is to present the indoor radon measurements and the detection methods used for different regions of Latin America (LA) in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela. This study shows that the passive radon devices based on alpha particle nuclear track methodology (NTM) is one of the more generalized methods in LA for long term indoor radon measurements, CR-39, LR-115 and Makrofol being the more commonly used detector materials. The participating institutions and the radon level measurements in the different countries are presented in this contribution. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Assessment of effective doses from radon levels for tour guides at several galleries of Santana Cave, Southern Brazil, with CR-39 detectors: preliminary results

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Estudo comparativo dos métodos de ultra-sonografia, tomografia computadorizada e ressonância magnética no estadiamento e invasão das estruturas adjacentes por tumores renais.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasonography (US), Computed Tomography (CT), and Magnetic Resonance imaging (MR) were compared for the staging of renal tumors. The differences between these imaging techniques were also studied for their ability to detect adenopathies, vascular invasion, distant intra-abdominal metastases, and particularly adjacent organ invasion. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with solid or complex renal masses were prospectively studied using US, CT, and MR. Differences between the results obtained were studied using the COCHRAN G test and the McNEMAR test. The sensitivity and specificity of each diagnostic technique were compared against a gold standard of the surgical and histopathological findings. RESULTS: The following sensitivities were obtained: For the detection of adenopathy, US 63.6%, CT and MR 90.9%. For vascular invasion, US 42.8%, CT and MR 85.7%. For the adjacent organ invasion, US 28.5%, CT 85.7%, and MR 71.4%. Some of the criteria that suggest invasion of adjacent structures include: the envelopment of the adjacent structures by the tumor, tumor extension into the adjacent structures with an irregular appearance, and alterations in shape, size, and density of adjacent structures. Loss of fat planes between the tumor and adjacent structures is not a sign of tumor invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences were found in the detection capacity of US in relation to CT and MR, which were similar. All three techniques were highly sensitive and specific only in the detection of distant abdominal metastases. In addition to the accuracy of these diagnostic modalities for the detection and staging of tumors, invasiveness, risks and cost should be considered in relation to relative costs and benefits.

Indoor radon measurements in six Latin American countries

Most of the natural radiation dose to man comes from radon gas and its progeny. Several countries have established national institutions and national programs in charge of the study of radon and its connection with lung cancer risk and public health. In this paper an indoor radon measurements in Latin American countries is presented. The participants in this work were from Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela. Many different techniques are used in this common effort, and the indoor radon levels in specific locations in each of the participant countries are presented.

Avaliação da inclinação do incisivo inferior através da tomografia computadorizada

Introduction: Orthodontics has always used lateral cephalometric radiographs (LC) as the main examination in the orthodontic diagnosis and treatment plan. The determination of incisor position is part of most cephalometric analysis, including Tweed analysis. However, all radiographic images have limitations, since it is a bidimensional image of a tridimensional structure and overlapping of bone and dental structures often occurs. Computed tomography (CT) allows a trustworthy diagnostic, mainly for its tridimensional images possibility. In this situation it seems reasonable to question the classic cephalometric analysis, creating factors of comparison with computed tomography data. Aim: For this, it was considered the evaluation of the angle between the long axis of the inferior incisor and the mandibular plane (IMPA) in the lateral cephalograph and in the computed tomography. Methods: Nineteen patients, selected for orthodontic treatment, had constituted the sample of this study, 12 female and 7 male, with ages between 16 years and 4 months and 28 years and 2 months. After the collection of data made by two examiners, statistical analyses for the attainment of the errors intra and inter-examiners had been made, using level of significance of 5%. Results and Conclusion: It was concluded that IMPA can be measured in the lateral cephalometric radiographs with trustworthiness, even that its values were smaller when compared with the computed tomography.

Tomografia computadorizada de abdome normal: Estudo retrospectivo das angulações dos hilos renais

OBJECTIVE: To obtain mean angulation values for renal hila in relation to the horizontal plane traced over the right and left spinal erector muscles, considering the center of the lumbar vertebral spine as a parameter for measuring the renal hila angles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors have analyzed 250 abdominal computed tomography studies of both male and female healthy individuals (128 men with mean age 52.45 ± 17.42 years, and 122 women with mean age 54.39 ± 18.27 years), corresponding to 500 renal hila evaluated. The mean angulation of each hilum in relation to the horizontal plane was obtained taking acute angles into consideration. RESULTS: The comparative study have not found any statistically significant difference in acute angles of renal hila between male and female individuals. The statistical analysis demonstrated limits of 40.40° and 44.54° for mean right hilum angulation and 39.91° and 43.23° for mean left hilum angulation, with a confidence interval of 95% CONCLUSION: Renal hila present similar angulation independently of sex. Higher angulation values correspond to hyper-rotation or excessive rotation, and lower angulation values, to incomplete or reverse rotation. © Colégio Brasileiro de Radiologia e Diagnóstico por Imagem.

Radon emissions related to the granitic Precambrian shield in southern Brazil

The equivalent uranium (eU) activity concentration was analysed in selected granite samples at several sites in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, to obtain information on the radon (222Rn) generation by the aquifer rock matrices. Radon analyses of ground water and soil samples were also performed. Several samples exhibited a dissolved 222Rn activity concentration exceeding the World Health Organization maximum limit of 100 Bq l-1. The dissolved radon content in ground waters from the Fractured Precambrian Aquifer System exhibited a direct significant correlation with the eU in the rock matrices, which is a typical result of water-rock interactions. Variation in the soil's porosity was confirmed as an important factor for 222Rn release, as expected, due to its gaseous nature. Thus, although the calcic-alkaline to alkaline Precambrian granitoid rocks of the study area are important reservoirs for underground resources, they can release high amounts of radon gas into the liquid phase. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Quantificação de fibrose e enfisema em pacientes com paracoccidioidomicose (PCM) pulmonar, através de imagens de tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução (TCAR)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Papel da tomografia torácica e abdominal no estadiamento do carcinoma mamário localmente avançado

Pós-graduação em Cirurgia Veterinária - FCAV

Estudo pela tomografia computadorizada da infiltração gordurosa hepática em pacientes em uso de quimioterapia para linfoma

Pós-graduação em Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (Biotecnologia Médica) - FMB