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Tetraploid loaches have been discovered amongst specimens recovered from fish markets in Japan. These tetraploids can be used as a source of diploid gametes to assist the further expansion of ploidy manipulation. Here, we produced a first generation neo-tetraploid strain by fertilizing eggs from a normal diploid female with diploid spermatozoa from a natural tetraploid male, followed 5 min later by heat shock (42 °C, 2 min duration) to inhibit release of the second polar body. Diploid spermatozoa from the neo-tetraploid males produced were then used to create androgenetic diploid progeny by fertilizing UV-irradiated eggs from a normal diploid female. Triploid progeny were produced by crossing a normal diploid female with a neo-tetraploid male. Tetraploid progeny were produced by cold shock (1 °C, 40 min duration), beginning 5 min after fertilizing normal eggs with diploid spermatozoa from first generation neo-tetraploid males. Reproductive performance of second generation progeny was also examined. Androgenetic diploid males generated fertile haploid spermatozoa. Triploid males were sterile, but a triploid female laid fertile haploid eggs. Second generation neo-tetraploid males were considered sterile.

The applications of interventional radiology (IVR) increasingly are being used in clinical examinations, where they tend to extend examination time. In addition, the risk of occupational exposure necessarily is increasing with this technology. In this study, the dose distributions in a sliced acrylic-acid phantom involving the bore for each irradiation condition were measured using a thermoluminescence dosimeter (TLD). Four patterns of set-up for the fluoroscopy unit were chosen as references for the conditions generally used clinically. Exposure also was measured with dose area product (DAP), and we then calculated the entrance skin dose and effective dose for the patient. The results showed that the effective dose was 7.0 mSv to 8.0 mSv at LAO45 degrees and RAO30 degrees; 100 kV, 2.3 mSv to 3.3 mSv at LAO45 degrees and RAO30 degrees; 80 kV. The effective dose is greatly influenced by the setup of fluoroscopy in IVR. The change in DAP is especially influenced. We found that the relation between DAP and effective dose was corrected with the exponential function. The effective doses were not necessarily less than those of other radiation examinations, and increase. When PCI and TAE are repeated many times in IVR, we propose that the effective dose should be taken into consideration together with the skin dose for dose control management.

The present study refers to the trial of a project of total care to premature babies and their families since its implementation. The theoretical referential was Family-Centered Care, referred to by the Institute for Family-Center Care. The project includes hospital, clinic and home care, in the following steps: contact and support at birth; individual care at a weekly basis during hospitalization; meetings with groups of parents; training on how to look after a newborn baby for his or her discharge from the hospital; home visits before and after the aforementioned discharge; reference to the Family Care Unit and nursing consultations at a clinic. Since 2007, the project has 309 children and their families under follow-up. The experiences in the project have confirmed the need of a new look at the follow-up procedures of those babies and families under this conflicted situation. We believe, through our performance evidenced in the project, we can contribute for the reduction of morbimortality of those children and families by improving their quality of life.

Excessive radiation exposure in pediatric computed tomography （CT） scanning has become a serious problem and it is difficult to select scan parameters for the scanning of small patients such as children. We investigated differences in absorbed dose and standard deviation in Hounsfield unit （HU） caused by differences in the form of the subject using a body‑type phantom with removable body parts. Using four X‑ ray CT scanners measurements were made with values from 50 mAs to 300 mAs with slices of 50 mAs using scan protocols that were assumed to perform thorough examinations. The results showed that the mAs values and absorbed doses were almost proportional and the absorbed doses in the phantom without body parts were about 1.1–2.2‑fold higher than those of the phantom with body parts at the same points. The SD values obtained indicated that the absorbed doses in the phantom with body parts were 0.3–0.6 times those of the phantom without body parts when the mAs values used were adjusted so that both SD values were the same. The absorbed doses in various patient forms can be estimated from these results and they will be‑ come critical data for the selection of appropriate scan protocols. Summary