A comparative study of the level of radiation protection in public and private x-ray facilities in the Kingston and St. Andrew metropolitan area

X-rays are classified as ionising radiation. All ionising radiation is harmful. This is the premise that mandates for a radiation protection policy. This study compares radiation control in public and private x-ray facilities in Kingston and St. Andrew. The study was conducted during April 1989. Data collection was through self-administered questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Findings highlighted a generally favourable state of radiation protection, with public institutions appearing to be slightly more vigilant than private institutions. There was general lack of knowledge and application of recent principles of radiation protection throughout the industry. The main issues arising were those of absence of a monitoring and regulatory body, and the absence of written legislation to govern the use of radiation sources. The main limitation of the study was its size. The sample was small but unavoidably so bearing in mind that the study population was also small. As a consequence of the sample size, some statistical analyses could not be performed (AU)

Rectal lymphogranuloma venereum in Jamaica

Lymphogranuloma venereum is a major public health problem in Jamaica. With improvement in the standard of living, better housing, better general education, a healthier sex education, and a more active programme of venereal disease control, the incidence of rectal lymphogranuloma should diminish. The early diagnosis and treatment of the proctocolitis by drugs is effective and should reduce the incidence of stricture. Major operations should be reserved for cases in which the more conservative methods of treatment are unlikely to succeed or have failed. At present, in Jamaica, operation necessitating a permanent colostomy should be considered more carefully than in this country. Unfortunately our attempts to eradicate the disease by operation and leave the patient with a functioning anus have been attended with only very limited success. Some of the failures may be attributed to insufficent experience with these operations, but involvement of the sphincter in the dense fibrotic process is probably responsible for the majority. In these fibrotic sphincters functional control is impossible. In a small number of cases intra-sphincter proctectomy in one stage by the method described by Dimitrui and Gregoresco (1933) has given promising results where the sphincter is free. The disease appears to be self-limiting. There has been no evidence of reactivation after removal of the affected gut even though this is rarely a complete en bloc excision or indeed even after colostomy only. Our follow up has been short. I have deliberately avoided the term "cure" because rarely has the compliment fixation reaction been reversed to negative. The significance of a persistently positive serological reaction in the absence of clinical evidence of disease is yet to be assessed. We have come a long way since John Hunter described the bubo 175 years ago and Frei placed the study of the disease on a firm aetiological basis 140 years later. In the past 35 years our knowledge of the lympho-granuloma venereum virus has increased, but the problem of treatment of rectal stricture, the most disabling complication of the disease, awaits solution. Morte (1933) stated: "The study of the stricture of the rectum is as fascinating as the treatment is discouraging. " In 1960 we can say: "Treatment of rectal stricture is often disappointing, but the results are encouraging" (Summary)