Research in recent years has brought a wealth of information about the important role of immune suppressive myeloid cells in cancer and other diseases. There is growing evidence suggesting that the expansion of these regulatory cells may represent a common response to all forms of inflammation. Several clinical trials target these cells with the goal of improving the immune response in cancer. ...

An earlier epidemiologic and electron microscopy study of drinking water in the Everett area of Washington State indicated large numbers of naturally occurring chrysotile asbestos fibers in the water. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether significant numbers of asbestos fiber could be demonstrated in the urine of donors residing in that area for less than 3 yr and over 20 yr...

Fluorescence, the absorption of short-wavelength electromagnetic radiation reemitted at longer wavelengths, has been suggested to play several biological roles in metazoans. This phenomenon is uncommon in tetrapods, being restricted mostly to parrots and marine turtles. We report fluorescence in amphibians, in the tree frog Hypsiboas punctatus, showing that fluorescence in living frogs is produ...

Evidence for a dualism of the porphyrins in nature has been repeatedly presented by Hans Fischer (1, 2, 3). This means that both plant and animal organisms are capable of the formation of porphyrins of two isomeric series, those corresponding to aetioporphyrin III, including hemoglobin and chlorophyll, and those of the aetioporphyrin I type, the function of whose representatives is as yet very ...

Exposure to natural occurrences of asbestos (NOA) and other potentially hazardous elongated mineral particles (EMPs) may pose a risk human health the environment. Weathering forces anthropic activities alter cohesion NOA-bearing outcrops disperse EMPs in air, water, soil. The current paradigm for fibre toxicity indicates that morphology crystal chemistry are key parameters determining toxicolog...

A review of Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory records for 1947-1987 revealed no substantiated cases of naturally occurring selenosis. However, older reports attributed thousands of animal deaths to selenium each year in this area. Beginning in August 1988, cases of suspected selenosis and selenium deficiency were solicited from veterinarians and producers by announcements in various statewide...

Over the years there have been many occasions when it was asserted that coal-fired power stations emitted more radioactivity (from NORM) than was released anywhere in the nuclear fuel cycle. While having some basis in fact the claim is generally not correct now. Today the contention regarding NORM tends to be in relation to steel and other materials released from demolished industrial facilitie...

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The main issue in view of NORM-impacted sites 1 is how such sites, e.g. radium contaminated sites, uranium liabilities, sites exploited for the mining of metals associated with NORM and wastes arising from industries processing or generating other kinds of NORM, are assessed and regulated. In view of the implementation of the new Basic Safety Standards (BSS), the regulations apply to the manage...