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PubMed1983

Some historical highlights and portents for the future of biomedical research on radium and the actinides.

Radiobiological research on the actinide elements has been a continuum since the first cryptic report by Hamilton at Berkeley, California, in February 1944. Yet certain landmarks in the work, certain people and certain organizations were responsible for the equivalent of quantum jumps in our concepts and understanding. This paper will review very briefly a few of these. Among them will be the realization of the biochemical and consequent biological differences between plutonium and radium, the first demonstration of carcinogenicity of the actinides, their behavior in bone, their relative toxicity, carcinogenesis after inhalation, the genesis of the "king-size" experiments to investigate their long-term effects, "hot particles" in lung, highlights of research with the transplutonics, and several others. To the extent possible, the review will consider not only the research findings, but their bearing on standard setting and the general operations in place at the time. Some of the past and current polemics will be touched upon.

Actinoid Series Elements↗
PubMed1984

Neon-20 depth-dose relations in water.

The dose from heavy ion beams has been calculated using a one-dimensional transport theory and evaluated for 670 MeV/ amu 20Ne beams in water. The result is presented so as to be applicable to arbitrary ions for which the necessary interaction data are known. The present evaluation is based on the Silberberg - Tsao fragmentation parameters augmented with light fragment production from intranuclear cascades, recently calculated nuclear absorption cross sections, and evaluated stopping power data. Comparison with recent experimental data obtained at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory reveals the need for more accurate fragmentation data.

Ions↗
PubMed1990

Estimation of neutron dose equivalent at the mezzanine of the Advanced Light Source and the laboratory boundary using the ORNL program MORSE.

To investigate the radiation effect of neutrons near the Advanced Light Source (ALS) at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL) with respect to the neutron dose equivalents in nearby occupied areas and at the site boundary, the neutron transport code MORSE, from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), was used. These dose equivalents result from both skyshine neutrons transported by air scattering and direct neutrons penetrating the shielding. The ALS neutron sources are a 50-MeV linear accelerator and its transfer line, a 1.5-GeV booster, a beam extraction line, and a 1.9-GeV storage ring. The most conservative total occupational-dose-equivalent rate in the center of the ALS mezzanine, 39 m from the ALS center, was found to be 1.14 X 10(-3) Sv y-1 per 2000-h "occupational" year, and the total environmental-dose-equivalent rate at the ALS boundary, 125 m from the ALS center, was found to be 3.02 X 10(-4) Sv y-1 per 8760-h calendar year. More realistic dose-equivalent rates, using the nominal (expected) storage-ring current, were calculated to be 1.0 X 10(-4) Sv y-1 and 2.65 X 10(-5) Sv y-1 occupational year and calendar year, respectively, which are much lower than the DOE reporting levels.

Laboratories↗
PubMed1994

Children exposed to disaster: I. Epidemiology of post-traumatic symptoms and symptom profiles.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the range and severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms exhibited by children after exposure to a natural disaster. METHOD: Three months after Hurricane Hugo struck Berkeley County, South Carolina, 5,687 school-aged children were surveyed about their experiences and reactions related to the storm. Self-reports of PTSD symptoms were obtained by use of a PTSD Reaction Index. RESULTS: Significant variation in the prevalence of PTSD symptoms was found across race, gender, and age groups. Self-reported symptoms were used to derive a post-traumatic stress syndrome classification according to DSM-III-R guidelines for the diagnosis of PTSD. More than 5% of the sample reported sufficient symptoms to be classified as exhibiting this post-traumatic stress syndrome. Females and younger children were more likely to receive this classification. At the symptom level, females reported more symptoms associated with emotional processing and emotional reaction to the trauma. Males were more likely to report symptoms related to cognitive and behavioral factors. Younger children were more likely to report symptoms overall. CONCLUSIONS: Children exposed to a high magnitude natural disaster report sufficient symptoms to establish a DSM-III-R derived classification of a PTSD syndrome. Differences between gender, age, and race groups appear to be related to differential risk of exposure, reporting biases, as well as a differential risk for developing post-traumatic symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

The MacArthur Three-City Outcome Study: evaluating multi-informant measures of young children's symptomatology.

OBJECTIVE: Three sites collaborated to evaluate the reliability and validity of 2 measures, developed in tandem to assess symptomatology and impairment in 4- to 8-year-old children: the Berkeley Puppet Interview Symptomatology Scales (BPI-S) and the Health and Behavior Questionnaire (HBQ). METHOD: In this case-control study, mothers, teachers, and children reported on multiple dimensions of children's mental health for 120 children (67 community and 53 clinic-referred children). RESULTS: The BPI-S and the parent and teacher versions of the HBQ demonstrated strong test-retest reliability and discriminant validity on a majority of symptom scales. Medium to strong effect sizes (Cohen d) indicated that children in the clinic-referred group were viewed by all 3 informants as experiencing significantly higher levels of symptomatology than nonreferred, community children. CONCLUSION: The availability of a set of multi-informant instruments that are psychometrically sound, developed in tandem, and developmentally appropriate for young children will enhance researchers' ability to investigate and understand symptomatology or the emergence of symptomatology in middle childhood.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed2002

Differential performance of the macarthur HBQ and DISC-IV in identifying DSM-IV internalizing psychopathology in young children.

OBJECTIVE: Three sites collaborated to evaluate the differential performance of the MacArthur Health and Behavior Questionnaire (HBQ) and the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version IV (DISC-IV) in identifying DSM-IV psychopathology in young children. METHOD: A sample of 120 four- to eight-year-old nonreferred (community) (n = 67) and referred (clinical) (n = 53) children was examined. Mothers reported on their child's mental health symptoms using the HBQ (a dimensional measure with a clinical cutoff score) and the DISC-IV. Teachers independently reported on the child's symptoms and impairment in school using the teacher HBQ. Children self-reported on their symptoms using the companion Berkeley Puppet Interview. RESULTS: On the basis of its derived clinical cutoff scores, the HBQ identified significantly more children with clinical symptoms of DSM-IVinternalizing psychopathology than the DISC-IV in both referred and nonreferred groups. There was a high level of agreement between the two measures in the identification of externalizing psychopathology. Children identified as having internalizing psychopathology by the HBQ were also rated as highly symptomatic and impaired by teachers. CONCLUSION: The findings support the general validity of the parent HBQ for the assessment of young child psychopathology and the hypothesis that it captures more internalizing psychopathology than the DISC-IV in this population.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Antithrombin(H) concentrate infusions are safe and effective in patients with thermal injuries.

An antithrombin (AT) deficiency develops in patients with thermal injuries as a result of the subclinical disseminated intravascular coagulation. We conducted a pilot study to assess AT(Human [H]) concentrate infusions for safety and efficacy in thermal injury. Nine patients with burns who received Thrombate (Bayer Corporation, Berkeley, Calif) AT(H) concentrate infusions every 8 hours to raise the plasma level to 175% in the first 72 hours after injury were compared with 9 control patients with burns. Admission AT plasma levels were 45%+/-10% in patients treated with AT(H) versus 49%+/-18% in control patients (normal, 100%+/-20%). Day-2 to day-4 levels were 120%+/-25% in patients treated with AT(H) patients versus 50%+/-12% in the control patients (P < .002). In the group treated with AT(H), the time to wound healing was shorter for all body regions and was significantly shorter for the hand (P < .02). Compared with control patients, patients treated with AT(H) had similar blood loss per grafted area. A trend toward fewer autografting procedures, a shorter meshed autograft healing time, and a decreased hospital stay was found for the patients treated with AT(H). AT(H) concentrate infusions are safe with thermal injury and are a viable option to shorten the length of hospitalization and to promote graft viability and survival. Clinical trials to confirm the benefit of this medication in the acute phase of thermal injury would be worthwhile.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Refractive error changes in law students.

We report two separate studies: a retrospective survey and a longitudinal study; both were designed to assess the changes in refractive error of a group of young adult law students. The retrospective survey compared the previous spectacle correction to the current refractive error in the ocular examination records of 87 members of the class of 1982 law students who were examined at the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry. Forty-one students (47.1% of the sample, 12.9% of the entire class of 318) increased at least -0.50D in myopia in at least one eye. In the longitudinal study, we followed 16 first year law students for 6 months, measuring refractive error. Five eyes (15.6%) became at least +0.50D more hyperopic, and 12 eyes (37.5%) became at least -0.50D more myopic. These data represent analysis of a small number of eyes over a short period of time. An adult myopic shift is nonetheless evident. A methodology for accumulation of more meaningful data on the specific ocular component changes responsible for this effect is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Optometry research. Part 3: Faculty publications.

I compared the production of faculty-produced publications among the U.S. schools and colleges of optometry and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Optometry Service. These publication rates were viewed against the schools' rankings in National Eye Institute (NEI) funding (see Part 2), student/faculty ratios, faculty salaries, and the presence of a graduate degree program. The schools and the VA grouped into three levels of publication production with five of first rank, four of middle rank, and eight of lower rank. The five leading producers in the period 1982 through 1991 were Berkeley, Alabama, Houston, VA, and State University of New York (SUNY). Since 1982 VA optometrists have authored the largest number of articles published in the Journal of the American Optometric Association and since 1985 have been the leading group of continuing education (CE) lecturers at the Academy.

Faculty↗
PubMed1995

Hyperacuity test to evaluate vision through dense cataracts; research preliminary to a clinical study. II. Initial trials of the India instrument and HASP protocol at Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, India.

BACKGROUND. Our purpose is to develop a clinical test capable of assessing vision through dense cataracts (and other advanced media opacities) before surgery. Because such anomalies are endemic in the developing world, it was desirable to conduct a clinical study of a prototype India instrument and HyperAcuity Study Protocol (HASP) in such a setting. This investigation, preliminary to a planned clinical study, was conducted at the Aravind (Free) Eye Hospital, Madurai, India. EXPERIMENTAL. The preliminary HASP protocol, developed in Berkeley, was adapted to existing clinical practices in Madurai. Included was a new test of visual acuity, the Gap "VA" test, developed as part of the revised protocol. The rational for this test, methods used, and sample data are presented. A Vernier alignment test (one of the hyperacuities) is used to assess vision through dense ocular media disorders. The task of the patient is to align vertically three high luminance, discrete visual stimuli. The revised HASP protocol and adapted India instrument were tested upon patients with advanced cataracts. The cataract grading system used in these studies (provided by Drs. N. V. Projna and G. Rohini) is defined. Patients were tested before and shortly after surgery. This investigation allowed us to refine the test protocol and instrument design preparatory for a clinical study of HASP. A much simpler/cheaper version of the India instrument will be used in the planned clinical study. Additional experiments are scheduled in order to address issues which require resolution before initiation of next-stage testing. In part, in these papers, we seek to help others understand some problems encountered when conducting research in a developing world environment, even a very good one!

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Ocular components before and after acquired, nonaccommodative esotropia.

BACKGROUND: Acquired nonaccommodative esotropia describes the sudden onset of a constant, comitant strabismus of idiopathic origin in children >6 months of age. CASE REPORT: We present a case of acquired nonaccommodative esotropia at 20 months of age in a subject participating in the Berkeley Infant Biometry Study, a longitudinal study of emmetropization and ocular component development in infants between 3 months and 3 years of age. Ocular components for this child were normal before the onset of strabismus (within 2 SD's of the mean for orthotropic study participants) for refractive error, corneal power, lens radii, lens power, and ocular axial dimensions. Refractive error postsurgically was significantly more hyperopic and crystalline lens power lower than average at +2.38 D and 37.2 D, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of abnormal ocular parameters is consistent with the idiopathic etiology of acute onset esotropia. This case suggests that ocular component values may not be useful for assessing the risk of acquired nonaccommodative esotropia.

Accommodation, Ocular↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of direct fluorescent antibody, acridine orange, wet mount, and culture for detection of Trichomonas vaginalis in women attending a public sexually transmitted diseases clinic.

To define the performance characteristics of two newer tests for Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), the authors compared direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) (mixed monoclonal antibody, Integrated Diagnostics, Inc, Berkeley, CA) and acridine orange (AO) tests to standard wet mount (WM) preparations and culture (modified Diamond medium) of vaginal wash specimens in consecutively examined women presenting to a public sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic. Cultures for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), and yeast were also performed on all patients. Of 104 women, 59 (57%) were infected with one or more pathogens. Trichomonas vaginalis was detected by WM and/or culture in 38 (37%) women and was the most prevalent infection. Of the 38 patients with TV, 95% were detected by culture, 83% by DFA, 66% by AO, and 66% by WM. An additional patient was DFA positive but negative for TV by all other methods. The sensitivity of DFA was superior to AO and WM in women with TV infection alone (96% compared to 67% and 53%, respectively). It was comparable to AO and WM in women with multiple infections (67% compared to 53% and 73%). Even in the presence of other pathogens, DFA appears to be a reasonable alternative to culture for detection of TV. In addition, DFA is rapid, easy to perform, and relatively inexpensive.

Acridine Orange↗
PubMed2001

Return to play after cervical spine injury.

STUDY DESIGN: A questionnaire survey was mailed to members of the Cervical Spine Research Society, the Herodiuus Sports Medicine Society, and to members of the authors' Department of Orthopaedics. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was to evaluate what influence, if any, factors such as published guidelines, type of sport of the patient, number of years in practice, subspecialty interest, and sports participation of the respondent held in the "return to play" decision-making process after a cervical spine injury. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The consequences of cervical spine injury are potentially catastrophic, and return to play decisions in athletes with a history of neck injury can be agonizing. Although recent publications have addressed some of the concerns regarding cervical spine injuries in the athletic population, many questions remain unanswered. Factors such as published guidelines, type of sport of the patient, number of years in practice, subspecialty interest, and sports participation of the respondent have all been suggested as having a possible role in return to play decisions. METHODS: Representative radiographs and case histories of 10 athletes who had sustained neck injury were mailed to 346 physicians. For each case physicians selected every type of play (of six categories) that they felt comfortable recommending. Type of play was divided into six categories: Type 1, collision sports; Type 2, contact sports; Type 3, noncontact, high velocity sports; Type 4, noncontact, repetitive load sports (e.g., running); Type 5, noncontact, low impact sports; Type 6, no sports. In addition, demographic data regarding board certification, subspecialty interest, number of years in practice, use of guidelines in return to play decisions, and personal participation in sports were queried from all respondents. Statistical analysis was completed with Statview (Berkeley, CA). Basic descriptive statistics, chi2, and ANOVA were used where appropriate. RESULTS: Three hundred forty-six questionnaires were mailed and 113 were returned (response rate 32.7%). One hundred ten (97%) of the respondents who completed the questionnaire were board certified. Seventy-five were subspecialists in spine, 22 were subspecialists in sportsmedicine, and 13 reported interests in both sports medicine and spine. Use of Published Guidelines. Although 49% of respondents reported using guidelines in decision-making, the use of guidelines was statistically significant in only one case (P = 0.04). Hierarchy of Risk. In general, those physicians who participated in the study followed the hierarchy of risk that we established in this study (Type 1 [collision sports; highest level of risk] through Type 6 [no sports; lowest level of risk]). Twelve (10.6%) respondents, however, deviated from it in one or more cases. Years in Practice. In three cases there was a statistically significant association between the number of years a physician was in practice and the type of play selected (P < 0.05). In each case a lower level of play tended to be recommended by more senior physicians. Subspecialty Interest. In three cases those respondents with a spine subspecialty interest recommended returned to a higher level of play (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is no consensus on the postinjury management of many cervical spine-injured patients. Further research, education, and discussion on this topic are needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Associations between behavioral/emotional difficulties in kindergarten children and the quality of their peer relationships.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between children's difficulties (conduct problems, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and emotional symptoms) and peer victimization and rejection in kindergarten. For the assessment of children's difficulties, the authors used a multi-informant approach. METHOD: A total of 153 five-year-old children were interviewed (Berkeley Puppet Interview). Teachers and parents completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Teachers reported on peer victimization. Peer nominations (rejection and acceptance) were conducted in a subgroup of 92 children. Combining teacher, parent, and self-reports of children's difficulties, three components were established: trait (degree of problems), informant differences resulting from perspective (self versus others), and context (kindergarten versus home). RESULTS: Children's difficulties were significantly associated with teacher- and self-reported victimization and peer rejection (r = 0.20-0.35), but not with peer acceptance. Conduct problems and emotional symptoms, but not hyperactivity/impulsivity, contributed independently to the variance of peer victimization and rejection. Perspective differences between children and adults according to hyperactivity/impulsivity also predicted peer rejection. CONCLUSION: Behavioral and emotional difficulties as well as a lack of self-awareness regarding hyperactive/impulsive behavior may place children at risk of peer victimization and rejection. Child psychiatric assessments and therapeutic strategies should thus take children's self-perception of symptoms and their peer relationships into account.

Affective Symptoms↗
PubMed2005

Chronic exposure to ambient ozone and lung function in young adults.

BACKGROUND: Tropospheric ozone (O3) is an oxidant, outdoor air pollutant. Chronic exposure has been associated with decreased lung function in children and adolescents. This study investigated the effects of long-term exposure to O3 on lung function in college freshmen. METHODS: We recruited University of California, Berkeley students (n=255) who were lifelong residents of the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas and who never smoked. Lifetime exposures to O3, small particulate matter (PM10), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were based on spatial interpolation of compliance monitor measurements to all residences at which students lived. Spirometry was performed between February and May, times when students would not have had recent exposure to increased levels of O3. RESULTS: Lifetime exposure to O3 was associated with decreased levels of measures of small airways (<2 mm) function (FEF75 and FEF25-75). There was an interaction with the FEF25-75/FVC ratio, a measure of intrinsic airway size. Subjects with a large ratio were less likely to have decreases in FEF75 and FEF25-75 for a given estimated lifetime exposure to O3. This association was not altered by history of chronic respiratory disease, allergy, second-hand exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, exposure to PM10 and NO2, or measurement errors in exposure assessment. CONCLUSIONS: A history of increased level of lifetime exposure to ambient O3 is associated with decreased function of airways in which O3 deposition in the lungs is the greatest. Adolescents with intrinsically smaller airways appear to be at greatest risk. Any environmental or genetic factors that lead to reduced airway size may lead to increased susceptibility to the adverse effects of ambient ozone.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Support for smoking cessation interventions in physician organizations: results from a national study.

OBJECTIVES: To document the extent to which physician organizations, defined as medical groups and independent practice associations, are providing support for smoking cessation interventions and to identify external incentives and organizational characteristics associated with this support. METHODS: This research uses data from the National Study of Physician Organizations and the Management of Chronic Illness, conducted by the University of California at Berkeley, to document the extent to which physician organizations provide support for smoking cessation interventions. Of 1587 physician organizations nationally with 20 or more physicians, 1104 participated, for a response rate of 70%. RESULTS: Overall, 70% of physician organizations offered some support for smoking cessation interventions. Specifically, 17% require physicians to provide interventions, 15% evaluate interventions, 39% of physician organizations offer smoking health promotion programs, 25% provide nicotine replacement therapy starter kits, and materials are provided on pharmacotherapy (39%), counseling (37%), and self-help (58%). Factors positively associated with organizational support include income or public recognition for quality measures, financial incentives to promote smoking cessation interventions, requirements to report HEDIS (Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set) scores, awareness of the 1996 Clinical Practice Guideline on Smoking Cessation, being a medical group, organizational size, percentage of primary care physicians, and hospital/HMO ownership of the organization. CONCLUSION: Physician organizations are providing support for smoking cessation interventions, yet the level of support might be improved with more extensive use of external incentives. Financial incentives targeted specifically at promoting smoking cessation interventions need to be explored further. Additionally, emphasis on quality measures should continue, including an expansion of HEDIS smoking cessation measures.

Group Practice↗
PubMed2005

Predicting components of closed road driving performance from vision tests.

PURPOSE: Mild cataracts can interfere with visually dependent everyday activities, although they only minimally affect static visual acuity. This study compared the effects of simulated cataracts with that of optical blur on driving performance and determined the extent to which acuity could account for variations in driving performance either alone or in combination with supplementary vision tests. METHODS: Closed road driving performance was measured in 24 young, normally sighted subjects under five binocular acuity levels, four produced by different levels of optical blur (6/4.5, 6/12, 6/30, 6/60) and one by frosted lenses simulating mild cataracts (6/12c). Driving measures included gap perception, total driving time, sign recognition, road hazard avoidance, maneuvering time, and errors. Subjects were also tested with the Pelli-Robson chart, SKILL card, and Berkeley Glare Test under comparable acuity levels. RESULTS: Total driving time, sign recognition, and hazard avoidance were linearly related to the acuity degradation produced by blur; performance in the 6/12c condition was similar to that in the 6/60 blur condition. Static acuity predicted 30% to 60% of the variance in these driving measures when the 6/12c condition was excluded from analysis; this proportion was reduced by a factor of two to three when the 6/12c condition was included. However, using any one of the three supplementary tests with visual acuity in a multiple regression analysis recaptured much of the lost variance. CONCLUSIONS: Static acuity can only predict variations in closed road driving performance measured under degraded conditions that include simulated mild cataracts when it is combined with supplementary vision tests.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

A note on correlations in single ion channel records.

General expressions are derived for the correlation coefficients between the length of an opening and that of the nth subsequent opening for a single ion channel. Analogous results are given for the correlation between shut times, and between an open time and subsequent shut times. An alternative derivation of the results of Fredkin et al. (in Proc. Berkeley Conf. in honor of Neyman & Kiefer, vol. 1, pp. 269-289 (1985] is given, and their results are extended to the case where openings occur in bursts. Expressions are given for the correlation between the first and nth opening in a burst, between the lengths of bursts, and between the number of openings per burst. Each of these sorts of correlation can give information about the connections that exist between the various states of the system; interpretations of the correlations are discussed. Expressions are derived for the distributions of the nth open time, shut time, burst length, etc. following the application of a perturbation (e.g. a voltage jump or a concentration jump). It is shown that these distributions will all be the same (namely the equilibrium distribution) only in the case where the openings, burst lengths, etc. are not correlated. Certain reaction schemes predict a component in the distribution of the number of openings per burst that has a unit mean (i.e. a component of isolated single openings). For some schemes this component is predicted to have zero amplitude, in principle, whereas in others it may be quite prominent. The presence or absence of this component can give information about the way in which the various states of the system are connected. The interpretation in terms of mechanism is discussed.

Animals↗