Initial investigation OF 222Rn in the Tbilisi urban environment.

Georgia has geological formations with high uranium content, and several buildings are built with local materials. This can create potentially high radon exposures. Consequently, studies to mitigate these exposures have been started. This study presents a preliminary investigation of radon in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. An independent radiological monitoring program in Georgia has been initiated by the Radiocarbon and Low-Level Counting Section of I. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University with the cooperation of the Environmental Monitoring Laboratory of the Physics/Health Physics Department at Idaho State University. At this initial stage the E-PERM systems and GammaTRACER were used for the measurement of gamma exposure and radon concentrations in air and water. Measurements in Sololaki, a densely populated historic district of Tbilisi, revealed indoor radon (222Rn) concentrations of 1.5-2.5 times more than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency action level of 148 Bq m(-3) (4 pCi L(-1)). Moreover, radon-in-air concentrations of 440 Bq m(-3) and 3,500 Bq m(-3) were observed at surface borehole openings within the residential district. Measurements of water from various tap water supplies displayed radon concentrations of 3-5 Bq L(-1) while radon concentrations in water from the hydrogeological and thermal water boreholes were 5-19 Bq L(-1). In addition, the background gamma absorbed dose rate in air ranged of 70-115 nGy h(-1) at the radon test locations throughout the Tbilisi urban environment.

Results of surgery for ocular Toxocara canis.

It has been shown that the diagnosis of ocular Toxocara canis is highly accurate when the typical clinical findings are associated with a positive ELISA titer in the serum of 1:8 or greater. The inflammatory reaction in this disorder can be devastating and not infrequently leads to a tractional detachment of the posterior pole or a rhegmatogenous detachment and/or a progressive cyclitic membrane leading to phthisis bulbi. We have recently performed vitreoretinal surgery on 17 patients with complications secondary to ocular T canis. Fifteen patients had stability or improvement in visual acuity, and one patient had a decrease in visual acuity. There were no surgical complications present. The clinical features, operative techniques used, and postoperative course are summarized, and the indications for the used of various surgical procedures are presented.

Ocular and orbital phycomycosis.

Cerebro-rhino-orbital phycomycosis (CROP) occurs predominantly in individuals with diabetes mellitus in a state of metabolic acidosis. Other forms of metabolic acidosis, especially in infants, may predispose to phycomycotic infections. CROP has also been reported in patients with leukemia or lymphoma. CROP usually begins in the palate or paranasal sinuses and rapidly spreads to the orbital contents. Proptosis, loss of vision, and ophthalmoplegia occur and death from cerebral involvement commonly ensues. The fungus tends to invade arteries and cause thrombosis and tissue infarction. Rhizopus is the most commonly isolated genus in CROP, accounting for almost all cases. The diagnosis can be strongly suspected by the characteristic clinical manifestations. Therapy includes treatment of the underlying disease, surgical excision of the necrotic tissue containing fungal elements and the systemic administration of amphotericin-B. The effect of treatment has improved since the disease was first described, but the condition still has a high mortality, especially if it is not diagnosed early.