In this blog, I have mentioned a report on the incidence of tumorous lesion found by the ultrasonogram in the children in Fukushima. It was 36% whic is seemingly abnormally high. Two professional doctors, Dr. Caldicott in Australia and Dr. Haugen in the US, have commented as below;
http://www.businessinsider.com/fukushima-children-have-abnormal-thyroid-growths-2012-7#ixzz217FKkN3C
Dr. Caldicott insists them to perform biopsy in every case with the abnormal findings while Dr. Haugen tells to do so for those with nodular lesion(s) larger than 5mm in diameter. At present, it is not clear whether is right. At least, even if they follow the latter strategy, there should be dozens of children who need undergo biopsy. It is not usual to have this high percentage of children show abnormal findings in their throid gland. The article abstract I quoted in an earlier post tells those children with nodular lesion are fourfold more prone to occur thyroid gland cancer. If radiation involves in it, it could be even more probable, I am afraid. They should hasten further survey and treatment if necessary for those children.
The administrative group in Fukushima Pref Med Univ and the governmental authorities seem to be performing the same examination as those done in Fukushima for the normal control in the different areas. It should be blamed too late. In scientific survey, such normal control is required without any exception. I doubt they are serious at this issue.
The authorities won't reveal the findings to the public. Even the parents of the children with abnormal findings in screening survey were told "almost normal" by the doctors responsible for further study in Fukushima Pref Med Univ. They should publish the data and ask for the proper strategy for those children as soon as possible. The administrative agency should not be involved in this issue, which makes the problem too much complicated to be resolved.
The professionals in the field of thyroid gland medicine and radiology etc should announce any comment on this issue. Without such action, they should be blamed for non committment in the future. So far, nothing has been heard from them. I won't insist there are definite relationships between the radiation of I131 by the nuclear plant accident and the abnormal findings in the screening survey in high percentage. But it won't excuse any delay for further step for those children.
8/28/2012
Until that time
Forgetfulness is often inevitable to most of us when we get aged. In pathological condition, it is diagnosed as dementia by gerontologist. We should be ready for that when we reach certain age.
In ham radio, some aged people operate in so called rubber stamp style. No comment to those who used to talk to him on the radio in the past. I am afraid it is a symptom of dementia in some cases. I could not forget a famous ham in Hawaii, who used to be an intelligent ham with worldwide fame, operated in that style in his last years. The operation was perfect with a keyboard but lacked anything human. I won't blame him at all. But it could be due to dementia. He might try to get in touch with the past in that way even though his memory was totally lost. It is a sad fact but a reality.
We might see someone on the air, whom we have known well and shared the fond memory together. But he or she might not show any interest to you and might go on rubber stamped QSOs to anybody including us. We should leave that situation quietly just with our fond memories of the QSOs in the past which light brightly in our mind.
And we, ourselves, should be careful for that problem. We could suffer from that in the future. Maybe, some intellectual activities may slow down its progress. Reading, listening music or any social activities etc. Stimulation to our brain in various ways may be of some help.
Lastly, we should be ready for the time of dementia for ourselves. We could be helpless in that situation and may need someone's help. In that case, I would close down my station. I won't make sadden my friends realizing that I have lost memories of my friendship to them. I would tell my family to do so for me and for my friends.
Until that time, I would go on enjoying this hobby most human in the world.
In ham radio, some aged people operate in so called rubber stamp style. No comment to those who used to talk to him on the radio in the past. I am afraid it is a symptom of dementia in some cases. I could not forget a famous ham in Hawaii, who used to be an intelligent ham with worldwide fame, operated in that style in his last years. The operation was perfect with a keyboard but lacked anything human. I won't blame him at all. But it could be due to dementia. He might try to get in touch with the past in that way even though his memory was totally lost. It is a sad fact but a reality.
We might see someone on the air, whom we have known well and shared the fond memory together. But he or she might not show any interest to you and might go on rubber stamped QSOs to anybody including us. We should leave that situation quietly just with our fond memories of the QSOs in the past which light brightly in our mind.
And we, ourselves, should be careful for that problem. We could suffer from that in the future. Maybe, some intellectual activities may slow down its progress. Reading, listening music or any social activities etc. Stimulation to our brain in various ways may be of some help.
Lastly, we should be ready for the time of dementia for ourselves. We could be helpless in that situation and may need someone's help. In that case, I would close down my station. I won't make sadden my friends realizing that I have lost memories of my friendship to them. I would tell my family to do so for me and for my friends.
Until that time, I would go on enjoying this hobby most human in the world.
8/27/2012
Children in Fukushima under the risk of thyroid cancer
A recent news told that the screening test for thyroid gland tumor in Fukushima had revealed that 36% of the cases had nodule(s) or cyst(s). They urgently plan to do the same test for normal control in the other areas. So far as a report found in Pub Med tells, the incidence of thyroid gland nodule in the normal population is only less than 2% as shown below. There was another report by Prof. Yamashita responsible for the administration of the follow up for those children in Fukushima, which gave almost the same figure for the incidence of nudular lesion in the normal population of children. This figure seems epidemiologically accurate even before the on going study gives a result.
The paper quoted below says that those with nodular lesions are fourfold more prone to develop thyroid cancer. In the case of children in Fukushima, it is clear they have had radiation of I131 due to the plume immediately after the accident. I am sure they are even more susceptible for thyroid cancer. They have not made the scintilation counter exam in time to detect the ingested I131 for the children. In the exam performed in the end of March 2011, too late to detect I131, 45% of children were found to be radiated with that substance.
So far, the prefectural government et al won't give any further examinations to those with the tumorous lesions in the thyroid gland except for the planned next ultrasonogram in a couple of years. The pople won't be given any further info. It is reported that this strategy is mainly determined in the socioeconomical standpoint. I am sure they are wrong. Those children should undergo closer observation.
Pediatr Endocrinol Rev. 2008 Sep;6(1):14-23.
Thyroid nodules and cancers in children.
Josefson J, Zimmerman D.
Division of Endocrinology, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. JJosefson@childrensmemorial.org
Abstract
The incidence of thyroid nodules in children is estimated to be 1 to 1.5% based on clinical examination. Children with thyroid nodules, compared to adults with thyroid nodules, have a fourfold greater risk of developing malignant thyroid disease. Differentiated thyroid carcinoma is the most common pediatric endocrine tumor, constituting 0.5-3% of all childhood malignancies. The thyroid is one of the most frequent sites of secondary neoplasm in children who receive radiation therapy for other malignancies. Thyroid carcinoma has been studied extensively in adults. However, the pediatric literature on this subject is much less complete, owing to the rarity of its diagnosis. This article reviews the predisposing factors, genetics, pathology, pathogenesis , clinical presentation, detailed treatment and follow-up management of children with thyroid carcinoma. Additionally, a discussion regarding the controversial aspects of radioiodine therapy in children is included.
The paper quoted below says that those with nodular lesions are fourfold more prone to develop thyroid cancer. In the case of children in Fukushima, it is clear they have had radiation of I131 due to the plume immediately after the accident. I am sure they are even more susceptible for thyroid cancer. They have not made the scintilation counter exam in time to detect the ingested I131 for the children. In the exam performed in the end of March 2011, too late to detect I131, 45% of children were found to be radiated with that substance.
So far, the prefectural government et al won't give any further examinations to those with the tumorous lesions in the thyroid gland except for the planned next ultrasonogram in a couple of years. The pople won't be given any further info. It is reported that this strategy is mainly determined in the socioeconomical standpoint. I am sure they are wrong. Those children should undergo closer observation.
Pediatr Endocrinol Rev. 2008 Sep;6(1):14-23.
Thyroid nodules and cancers in children.
Josefson J, Zimmerman D.
Division of Endocrinology, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. JJosefson@childrensmemorial.org
Abstract
The incidence of thyroid nodules in children is estimated to be 1 to 1.5% based on clinical examination. Children with thyroid nodules, compared to adults with thyroid nodules, have a fourfold greater risk of developing malignant thyroid disease. Differentiated thyroid carcinoma is the most common pediatric endocrine tumor, constituting 0.5-3% of all childhood malignancies. The thyroid is one of the most frequent sites of secondary neoplasm in children who receive radiation therapy for other malignancies. Thyroid carcinoma has been studied extensively in adults. However, the pediatric literature on this subject is much less complete, owing to the rarity of its diagnosis. This article reviews the predisposing factors, genetics, pathology, pathogenesis , clinical presentation, detailed treatment and follow-up management of children with thyroid carcinoma. Additionally, a discussion regarding the controversial aspects of radioiodine therapy in children is included.
8/26/2012
JBA meeting in Tokyo
A CW club named Japan Brasspounders Association has been formed in 2008. Actually, we have not had any club activity excepr for a site/BBS for the members. There seem to be 22 members in this club. Just before the Tokyo Ham Fair being held in Tokyo, a meeting was planned for this club in Akihabara a couple of days ago. I have always felt reluctant to attend such a meeting. But since I retired and became old enough to see friends in eye ball, I decided to join it.
It has been a long time since I visited this downtown famous for electrical items, nowadays for PC and related items. In my teenage days, there used to be many tiny stores in rows there. Some in a building and the others beneath the railway truck structures. I used to go there once a month grabbing small amout of money my parents gave me. It was a real fun to see around even if I did not have any plan for shopping.
The town didn't hold any trace of those days at all. High buildings with flashy advertisements. Many restaurants as well. Young people who, I believe, look to be the last ones to be a ham were loafing or walking in a hurry on the streets. Quite different from old days. I knew there had been such a change occurring in this town. It was still a kind of disappointment to a radio nut.
At the meeting held in a nice restaurant, 14 people have gathered from all over Japan. Literally, from Hokkaido to Kyusyu. I have ever met 10 of them in person in the past. In a few minutes since I had sat on my seat for the 1st one, Takeshi JA4IIJ came in the room with full smile on the face. It was our 1st eye ball after all of nice ragchewing for the past years. He seemed to have been busy at his work. He is supposed to retire next spring. His location and antenna won't allow him enjoy radio fully at present. He seemed to dream of a remote shack in a mountain in the future. There were the others coming in around the time of opening of the meeting.
I could not omit expressing my pleasure seeing Taka JA1KIH who used to be my company since our teenage days. On his request, as he said in his speech, I have sent a circuit of an electronic keyer on a post card those days. Good electronic keyers were not available in the market yet. I guess a flip flop circuit useing a 12AT7 or something. A saw blade paddle for the keyer. The relay was often broken since it was forced to run the cathode current! He has reminded me of those good old days. He has visited me in Tokyo thosedays and later on at the dorm of the med school hospital in 1980s. He has already retired and has got a nice house in a countryside, where he operates radio for a few days in a week.
Leo JJ8KGZ, the head of the club, and Atsu JE1TRV have made some speech. Leo told us to have the same meeting once a couple of years and to activate the regular schedule on 40m very soon again. Atsu made a speech aredently to activate ourselves on the air. Do not just listen but call CQ. We all gave him amen.
Some of them like Hoz JL1IRB, Mukai JF1TTN or Isao JQ2SFZ expressed their problem that they could be embarrassed when they won't understand a single word in a sentence they receive. It makes them stop copying in head after that. This is what any operators, non native in English, often experience in CW communication. I am not an exception for this problem. But I just told them to forget it! or to ask the other what the word meant. In the context, we should try to guess what it means. If we won't reach the meaning and could guess it is not essential in the context, we could forget it. In case it seems crucially important in the contest, we should ask the other what it means etc. The other may express it in another way or explain about it in more detail.
Each of the attendants have made own speech. How deeply and seriously they have been involved in ham radio and CW! Most speakers have spent even 10 minutes or so! Maybe, some alcohol has made them so eloquent. It was a fun to hear all the stories they have told of. I was encouraged to know they had been trying to enjoy communication through CW, not just 599 QSL QSOs. It is a pity that there have been much less "elmers" on CW especially from the west coast in the US, where we could most easily work with as DX. I have posted on this paucity of elmers in the FOC reflector but no response so far. Most old timers are not seemingly interested in raising those newbies by themselves nowadays.
Some guys at the meeting told me they would like to work with Steve N6TT whom I often chat with on 40m at night. As sson as we finish a QSO, however, he often calls QRZ?. It is just to encourage those listeners to call him. But that "QRZ?" often discourages them to call him, as they said. It might be comparable to ths situation that when a boy decides to say hi to a fascinating lovely girl whom he has yearned for a long time. After hesitating for a while, he decides to say hi to her. At the moment, he hears her saying hi all of sudden. What a surprise to him! Last night, I have told this fascinating guy with beard, not a sexy girl at all, not to call QRZ? but to call those guy's call sign one from another after our QSO. It may ease or force them to answer to him. It is a kind of desensitization to them. Anyway, I hope more experienced guys would do with those newbies in CW ragchewing from now. Isn't it what they have owed to their elmers in their novice days?
I have had a couple of glasses of beer, which were too much for me. A bit staggering, I went back to a hotel in a building next to the restaurant. I was happy to have met those old friends after all. Thanks to Atsu who has organized this meeting together with a lot of his duties for the other clubs in the Ham Fair.
In front of the restaurant;
From left to right;
the back row; JQ1BWT, JA3AVO, JA4IIJ, JA4MRL, JA1NUT, JA1KIH
the intemediate row;JP1BJB, JJ1TTG, JL1IRB, JK7UST
the front row;JQ2SFZ, JF1TTN, JJ8KGZ, JE1TRV
It has been a long time since I visited this downtown famous for electrical items, nowadays for PC and related items. In my teenage days, there used to be many tiny stores in rows there. Some in a building and the others beneath the railway truck structures. I used to go there once a month grabbing small amout of money my parents gave me. It was a real fun to see around even if I did not have any plan for shopping.
The town didn't hold any trace of those days at all. High buildings with flashy advertisements. Many restaurants as well. Young people who, I believe, look to be the last ones to be a ham were loafing or walking in a hurry on the streets. Quite different from old days. I knew there had been such a change occurring in this town. It was still a kind of disappointment to a radio nut.
At the meeting held in a nice restaurant, 14 people have gathered from all over Japan. Literally, from Hokkaido to Kyusyu. I have ever met 10 of them in person in the past. In a few minutes since I had sat on my seat for the 1st one, Takeshi JA4IIJ came in the room with full smile on the face. It was our 1st eye ball after all of nice ragchewing for the past years. He seemed to have been busy at his work. He is supposed to retire next spring. His location and antenna won't allow him enjoy radio fully at present. He seemed to dream of a remote shack in a mountain in the future. There were the others coming in around the time of opening of the meeting.
I could not omit expressing my pleasure seeing Taka JA1KIH who used to be my company since our teenage days. On his request, as he said in his speech, I have sent a circuit of an electronic keyer on a post card those days. Good electronic keyers were not available in the market yet. I guess a flip flop circuit useing a 12AT7 or something. A saw blade paddle for the keyer. The relay was often broken since it was forced to run the cathode current! He has reminded me of those good old days. He has visited me in Tokyo thosedays and later on at the dorm of the med school hospital in 1980s. He has already retired and has got a nice house in a countryside, where he operates radio for a few days in a week.
Leo JJ8KGZ, the head of the club, and Atsu JE1TRV have made some speech. Leo told us to have the same meeting once a couple of years and to activate the regular schedule on 40m very soon again. Atsu made a speech aredently to activate ourselves on the air. Do not just listen but call CQ. We all gave him amen.
Some of them like Hoz JL1IRB, Mukai JF1TTN or Isao JQ2SFZ expressed their problem that they could be embarrassed when they won't understand a single word in a sentence they receive. It makes them stop copying in head after that. This is what any operators, non native in English, often experience in CW communication. I am not an exception for this problem. But I just told them to forget it! or to ask the other what the word meant. In the context, we should try to guess what it means. If we won't reach the meaning and could guess it is not essential in the context, we could forget it. In case it seems crucially important in the contest, we should ask the other what it means etc. The other may express it in another way or explain about it in more detail.
Each of the attendants have made own speech. How deeply and seriously they have been involved in ham radio and CW! Most speakers have spent even 10 minutes or so! Maybe, some alcohol has made them so eloquent. It was a fun to hear all the stories they have told of. I was encouraged to know they had been trying to enjoy communication through CW, not just 599 QSL QSOs. It is a pity that there have been much less "elmers" on CW especially from the west coast in the US, where we could most easily work with as DX. I have posted on this paucity of elmers in the FOC reflector but no response so far. Most old timers are not seemingly interested in raising those newbies by themselves nowadays.
Some guys at the meeting told me they would like to work with Steve N6TT whom I often chat with on 40m at night. As sson as we finish a QSO, however, he often calls QRZ?. It is just to encourage those listeners to call him. But that "QRZ?" often discourages them to call him, as they said. It might be comparable to ths situation that when a boy decides to say hi to a fascinating lovely girl whom he has yearned for a long time. After hesitating for a while, he decides to say hi to her. At the moment, he hears her saying hi all of sudden. What a surprise to him! Last night, I have told this fascinating guy with beard, not a sexy girl at all, not to call QRZ? but to call those guy's call sign one from another after our QSO. It may ease or force them to answer to him. It is a kind of desensitization to them. Anyway, I hope more experienced guys would do with those newbies in CW ragchewing from now. Isn't it what they have owed to their elmers in their novice days?
I have had a couple of glasses of beer, which were too much for me. A bit staggering, I went back to a hotel in a building next to the restaurant. I was happy to have met those old friends after all. Thanks to Atsu who has organized this meeting together with a lot of his duties for the other clubs in the Ham Fair.
In front of the restaurant;
From left to right;
the back row; JQ1BWT, JA3AVO, JA4IIJ, JA4MRL, JA1NUT, JA1KIH
the intemediate row;JP1BJB, JJ1TTG, JL1IRB, JK7UST
the front row;JQ2SFZ, JF1TTN, JJ8KGZ, JE1TRV
8/24/2012
PC logging thereafter
Thanks to Atsu JE1TRV, I could make an access to a variety of PC logging softwares. So many softwares available. It is difficult for me to test every one. I decided to start with Logger 32. It is pretty simple and easy to put the data in even though the remarks space is still too small for my purpose. I summarize and simplify the remarks so that I could put it into that space.
I still realized that it required me an enormous amount of efforts to make the QSO data memorized. I have got over "100 notebooks" for the paper log since I came back in 1980. I have never counted the number of QSOs yet. An astyronomical time and energy are necessary to do with all the data.
Maybe, we should put the data in real time with the QSO or, at least, as soon as finishing the QSO. It could be a problem. I always enjoy relaxing ragchews and don't feel like to touch with the PC while in QSO. A lazy operator. I don't want to be like at work with the PC.
It may take me long time to do with the PC logging. But I should start with it now. Why won't someone program a PC logging application easier to store the data? No fancy functions needed. From now on, amateur radio will be a hobby for aged people. There is a market in it.
I still realized that it required me an enormous amount of efforts to make the QSO data memorized. I have got over "100 notebooks" for the paper log since I came back in 1980. I have never counted the number of QSOs yet. An astyronomical time and energy are necessary to do with all the data.
Maybe, we should put the data in real time with the QSO or, at least, as soon as finishing the QSO. It could be a problem. I always enjoy relaxing ragchews and don't feel like to touch with the PC while in QSO. A lazy operator. I don't want to be like at work with the PC.
It may take me long time to do with the PC logging. But I should start with it now. Why won't someone program a PC logging application easier to store the data? No fancy functions needed. From now on, amateur radio will be a hobby for aged people. There is a market in it.
Radiation dose measured with a whole body counter in Fukushima
Tsubokura et al have published a paper regarding the title above in the recent issue of JAMA. I have not read that published paper yet but have already read the same content in japanese. It concludes, overall, the radiation dose in the population examined by a whole body counter have been decreasing and remain low. This is seemingly somewhat a relieving finding to us.
However, there could be a few issues in this study. First, as the author points out, the people under study voluntarily applied for the study. They could not represent the general population. Since the examinees could be radiation issue conscious, they could be careful for external as well as internal radiation exposure in their lives. There could be a bias toward low value. The study should be performed for the group statistically identical to the general population.
Secondly, IRPA published a data that the children in Chernobyl had high rate in chromosomal abnormality even though they were normal as for the radiation dose measured by a whole body counter in comparison with the normal control in Finland.
http://www.irpa.net/irpa8/cdrom/VOL.1/M1_196.PDF
This data might mean one hit by radiation could cause sequelle for the genetic as well as chromosomal abnormality which are related with carcinogenesis in the future.
There have been a few reports on the relationship of Cessium accumulation in urinary tract epithelium and possible carcinogenesis there. Here is an example;
Carcinogenesis. 2009 Nov;30(11):1821-31. Epub 2009 Jul 30
The whole body counter could not measure the content of radioactive substance in each organ. If Cessium could specifically accumulate in urinary tract epithlium, the whole body counter is not appropriate for its measurement. How do they answer about this limitation of the whole body counter? This is the 3rd question.
Since the data in Chernobyl is not complete as for these issues, we are getting into the world nobody has experienced in the past. We should not conclude the radiation issue is so serious or it is an easyproblem until we could reach any scientific conclusion. Careful and scientific observation is mandatory.
However, there could be a few issues in this study. First, as the author points out, the people under study voluntarily applied for the study. They could not represent the general population. Since the examinees could be radiation issue conscious, they could be careful for external as well as internal radiation exposure in their lives. There could be a bias toward low value. The study should be performed for the group statistically identical to the general population.
Secondly, IRPA published a data that the children in Chernobyl had high rate in chromosomal abnormality even though they were normal as for the radiation dose measured by a whole body counter in comparison with the normal control in Finland.
http://www.irpa.net/irpa8/cdrom/VOL.1/M1_196.PDF
This data might mean one hit by radiation could cause sequelle for the genetic as well as chromosomal abnormality which are related with carcinogenesis in the future.
There have been a few reports on the relationship of Cessium accumulation in urinary tract epithelium and possible carcinogenesis there. Here is an example;
Carcinogenesis. 2009 Nov;30(11):1821-31. Epub 2009 Jul 30
The whole body counter could not measure the content of radioactive substance in each organ. If Cessium could specifically accumulate in urinary tract epithlium, the whole body counter is not appropriate for its measurement. How do they answer about this limitation of the whole body counter? This is the 3rd question.
Since the data in Chernobyl is not complete as for these issues, we are getting into the world nobody has experienced in the past. We should not conclude the radiation issue is so serious or it is an easyproblem until we could reach any scientific conclusion. Careful and scientific observation is mandatory.
8/20/2012
A good PC logging info wanted
A couple of days ago, I heard WA6HJN on 40m. It was him, it lit in my mind. I gave him a call and went on QSO talking about his business trip to OKLA etc. Halfway in the QSO, he shouted again and again that it was Shell, Shell. No, he was not the person I thought I had been talking to. It was Jack WA7HJV in my mind. What a shame! I could mistake someone for another but have never gone on QSO for sometime without realizing my mistake. I apologized Shell for taking him for another person. He told me no problem and anybody made such a mistake etc. I must admit this could be a sign of aging for sure.
At night, I feel a bit less conscious than usual. It is not sleepiness but a rebound phenomenon to shallower sleep. We should accept and adapt this phenomenon by some means. We should activate our brain when awake. It might be necessary for us to have deeper and more sound sleep. But, after all, we should do with this aging procerss.
I would like to have a good PC logging to memorize the QSOs in the past. I don't need anything like award supports or contesting or linking to cluster etc. I need the QSO date and the remarks space. I always fill the remarks with what I talked in the QSO. The remarks space should be large in my case. Another point is that it should be maintained in the range of 10 years or so.
I have tried Win log 32, which turned out to be too complicated. Too many functions. Logger 32 was a simple logging soft. The only problem was that the remarks space was too short. Only several words could be put in there.
Any info regarding such soft ware will be appreciated.
At night, I feel a bit less conscious than usual. It is not sleepiness but a rebound phenomenon to shallower sleep. We should accept and adapt this phenomenon by some means. We should activate our brain when awake. It might be necessary for us to have deeper and more sound sleep. But, after all, we should do with this aging procerss.
I would like to have a good PC logging to memorize the QSOs in the past. I don't need anything like award supports or contesting or linking to cluster etc. I need the QSO date and the remarks space. I always fill the remarks with what I talked in the QSO. The remarks space should be large in my case. Another point is that it should be maintained in the range of 10 years or so.
I have tried Win log 32, which turned out to be too complicated. Too many functions. Logger 32 was a simple logging soft. The only problem was that the remarks space was too short. Only several words could be put in there.
Any info regarding such soft ware will be appreciated.
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