Minimization and management of wastes from biomedical research.

Several committees were established by the National Association of Physicians for the Environment to investigate and report on various topics at the National Leadership Conference on Biomedical Research and the Environment held at the 1--2 November 1999 at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. This is the report of the Committee on Minimization and Management of Wastes from Biomedical Research. Biomedical research facilities contribute a small fraction of the total amount of wastes generated in the United States, and the rate of generation appears to be decreasing. Significant reductions in generation of hazardous, radioactive, and mixed wastes have recently been reported, even at facilities with rapidly expanding research programs. Changes in the focus of research, improvements in laboratory techniques, and greater emphasis on waste minimization (volume and toxicity reduction) explain the declining trend in generation. The potential for uncontrolled releases of wastes from biomedical research facilities and adverse impacts on the general environment from these wastes appears to be low. Wastes are subject to numerous regulatory requirements and are contained and managed in a manner protective of the environment. Most biohazardous agents, chemicals, and radionuclides that find significant use in research are not likely to be persistent, bioaccumulative, or toxic if they are released. Today, the primary motivations for the ongoing efforts by facilities to improve minimization and management of wastes are regulatory compliance and avoidance of the high disposal costs and liabilities associated with generation of regulated wastes. The committee concluded that there was no evidence suggesting that the anticipated increases in biomedical research will significantly increase generation of hazardous wastes or have adverse impacts on the general environment. This conclusion assumes the positive, countervailing trends of enhanced pollution prevention efforts by facilities and reductions in waste generation resulting from improvements in research methods will continue.

Reengineering a radiology department in an academic institution.

OBJECTIVE: A 1-year program was undertaken in conjunction with an outside consultant to cut nonphysician labor expenses by 15%, cut nonlabor expenses by 10%, and improve all service parameters in an academic radiology department. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A steering committee decided on five major goal teams: improve report turnaround time and improve patient throughput, increase the efficiency of performance and improve the quality of radiologic examinations, decrease the cost of each examination, improve charge capture, and improve the perception of the department. The goal teams met at least every 2 weeks, made presentations to the steering committee at midyear, and were then disbanded. The steering committee implemented changes in the second half of the year and continues to meet every 2 weeks. Data were obtained from the radiology information system, financial statements, and surveys. RESULTS: In the first year, report turnaround time decreased from 157 hr to 83 hr (and to 46 hr at 2 years), the efficiency of performing examinations (according to our criteria) improved from 64% to 80%, the quality of examinations improved, labor costs were reduced by 5% (and by 11% at 2 years), nonlabor costs were reduced by 14% (and by 31% at 2 years), cost per examination was reduced by 10% (and by 16% at 2 years), increased charge capture resulted in an annual increase in professional fees of at least $110,000, and the perception of the department by referring clinicians improved. CONCLUSION: It is possible to simultaneously cut expenses and improve service. To gauge progress, objective parameters that can be measured easily are necessary.

[Comparison of Immunobead-Binding, TAT and SIT in the diagnosis of male antisperm autoimmunization]. / Confronto tra l'Immunobead-Binding, il TAT e il SIT nella diagnosi di autoimmunizzazione antinemasperma maschile.

The results obtained in this study show that the difference between local and general autoimmunization is less remarkable with the use of Immunobead-Binding tests, than with classical tests (TAT and SIT).

Varicocele and puberty. A transversal and longitudinal survey.

The interest for varicocele in the determination of male infertility has increased during the last decades. Most researchers consider varicocele as the primary cause of male infertility, but recently another group of authors give it a secondary role in the alteration of spermatogenesis. We think that the major part of the controversy depends on an absence of a systematic approach to the problem. We give a primary importance to an accurate epidemiological evaluation which consists in a transversal and longitudinal survey of male subjects in puberal age. Our data show that left varicocele is practically inexsistent before the onset of puberty; the percentage incidence of this alteration increases progressively with puberal maturity and the tends to decrease slightly when maturity is complete. By correlating this pathology with puberty we can obtain more precise informations than when it is correlated to the regestrated age. The young patients who result suffering from varicocele, must be controlled carefully and periodically for the evaluation of the period and the opportunity of a therapeutic treatment.

Urogenital inflammations: aetiology, diagnosis and their correlation with varicocele and male infertility.

The urogenital inflammations may be considered as "apparatus pathology". We analyze only inflammatory diseases of the prostate gland, because it may be extensible to the entire male genital apparatus. Among aethiological agents of infections an important role belongs to Chlamydia and Mycoplasma; we describe various methods for diagnosis of the Chlamydia and Mycoplasma infections. When objective clinical findings are poor or absent (such in prostatosis and prostatodynia) the transrectal ultrasonography demonstrates characteristic pictures useful for diagnosis and follow-up. Our clinical data and anatomo-pathological remarks suggest a real correlation between varicocele and genital inflammations (26%). This association doesn't represent the only cause of infertility, but frequently reduces the probability of male fertility.

2-Bromo-1-hydroxyquinolizinium bromide substituted anilinium salts: a new class of anti-inflammatory agents.

A series of 2-bromo-1-hydroxyquinolizinium bromide substituted anilinium salts have been prepared by reaction of 1-acetoxy-2-bromoquinolizinium bromide with an appropriately substituted aniline. The resulting anilinium derivatives exhibited a moderate to high degree of anti-inflammatory activity in the carrageenin-induced rat paw edema assay. The most active anilinium salt of the series was evaluated for antiarthritic activity in the adjuvant induced arthritis rat model.

Endodermal sinus tumor of the ovary.

Endodermal sinus tumor (EST) of the ovary is a germ cell tumor that is now recognized more frequently than in the past. Since problems concerning natural history, prognosis and therapy of these neoplasms are not entirely resolved, it should be underlined the need to report new cases. The authors describe four cases of EST with reference to serial alphafetoprotein determination by radioimmunoassay; they also emphasize the importance of this technique as a very sensitive method in monitoring therapy and in detecting recurrences of disease even before any clinical evidence.

Synthesis and antiulcerogenic evaluation of 2-(substituted phenylimino)-2H-quinolizines.

The synthesis and antiulcerogenic evaluation of a series of 2-(substituted phenylimino)-2H-quinolizines are described. The most active compound, the 4-chlorophenylimido derivative, inhibited ulcer formation by 98%.

Imidazo[4,5-f]quinolines. 4. Synthesis and anthelmintic activity of a series of imidazo[4,5-f]quinolin-9-ols.

A series of 2-arylimidazo[4,5-f]quinolin-9-ols has been prepared by a multistep procedure from various 5-aminobenzimidazoles. These compounds possess a significant degree of anthelmintic activity against the mouse tapeworm Hymenolepis nana. The most active compound is the 2-(2-furyl) analogue. Additional anthelmintic testing is reported for this compound.

Synthesis and antibacterial evaluation of 2-(substituted phenylureido)-4-thiocyanatobenzothiazoles.

The synthesis and antibacterial evaluation of a number of 2-(substituted phenylureido)-4-thiocyanatobenzothiazoles are described. The more active compounds against the test organisms in vitro generally were those substituted with halogens on the phenyl and benzothiazole rings.

Anthelmintic 1-cinnamamido-2,4-imidazolidinediones.

A series of 1-(substituted cinnamamido)-2,4-imidazolidinediones has been prepared from the corresponding cinnamoyl chlorides and 1-amino-2,4-imidazolidinedione hydrochloride in pyridine. These compounds possess a significant degree of anthelmintic activity against the mouse pinworm Syphacia obvelata. The most active compounds are those substituted with halogen or cyano groups.

2-(3,4-Dichloroanilino)quinolizinium bromide, a unique antispasmodic, antisecretory, and antiulcerogenic agent.

2-(3,4-Dichloroanilino)quinolizinium bromide (3) was prepared by reaction of 2-bromoquinolizinium bromide with 3,4-dichloroaniline in ethanol. This compound possesses unique antispasmodic, antisecretory, and antiulcerogenic properties.