Pediatric Radiography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Pediatric Radiography - Essay Example This poses a challenge in pediatric radiographic investigations. Obtaining quality radiographs on pediatric patients can be a challenge. Minimizing radiation dose in pediatric imaging is a crucial issue that has been emphasized and reemphasized in recent years1. Diagnostic radiation overexposure can cause radiation skin reaction and acute radiation sickness. It can also lead to systemic reactions that may lead to disturbances of normal functional processes, such as, radiation pneumonitis. It is known to have carcinogenic effects and genetic effects2. However, it is also to be considered that the dose required to produce genetic or carcinogenic effects are virtually precluded by modern radiographic apparatus and special techniques used in imaging the patients of this age group. Although carcinogenic effects have not been demonstrated from the doses of radiation received with pediatric diagnostic radiography, children with chronic diseases who need repeated radiographic examinations, this is quite a possibility, although remote. However, there is a need to justify the safety requirements and deploy the technical measures to ensure safety in these patients. Currently, these are directed towards reduction of radiation exposure in such patients3 . ... These are justification of any particular radiographic examination by carefully considering the pros and cons of the test which involves adjustment of risk-benefit analysis. A proper training of the radiographers in handling the children can also reduce exposure considerably. Proper protection of the patient in the unexposed areas could also help. Specific Diseases Caused by Diagnostic Radiation Exposure Although the benefits of diagnostic ionizing radiation are immense and exceed the risks involved, cumulative exposure can cause increased cancers especially in the pediatric age group. By definition, ionizing radiation contains enough energy to displace electrons and break chemical bonds. X-rays are electromagnetic radiations and consist of photons that can traverse relatively large distances in tissue without interaction. They, however, can indirectly ionize cell molecular components through transfer of energy4. In 1989, Hoffman and colleagues reported a doubling in the incidence of breast cancers in a pilot study of 1030 women who had been repeatedly exposed to diagnostic radiations for evaluation of scoliosis in their childhood and adolescence5. Ronckers and others explored these results further in a US cohort study with a larger sample size, including cases of scoliosis diagnosed before age 20. The average number of examinations per patient was accounted to be 24.7 and the mean c umulated dose to the breast was 0.11 Gy, and mean age of diagnosis of scoliosis was 10.6 years. With a radiographic followup continuing over an average of 40.1 years, it was concluded that this magnitude of exposures has resulted in increased incidence of breast cancers in these groups6. This proves that there is an increased risk of incidence of breast cancers with

Federal Reserve Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Federal Reserve - Research Paper Example Monetary policy is used to control inflation by revising the reserve ratio requirement or increasing the funds rate so as to reduce the demand of goods in the economy. Monetary policy influences the money supply and by this tool it controls the inflation (The Federal Reserve System 2012). Open market operation is a tool that the Fed uses to increase or decrease the money supply. Through open market operations the fed buys or sells treasury bills, Notes or bonds. This is the way the Fed alters total reserves in the banking system. When the Fed buys $50 million of bonds from a bank, the banks reserve would increase by the same amount and eventually that money would be loaned out by the bank. The $50 million increase in bank reserves would cause an equivalent increase in their monetary base (Colorado 2011). When the Fed undertakes a stimulus program, it essentially increases the money supply in the economy. As seen in the above example, the money supply will increase by $50 million times the money multiplier. If the money multiplier is 5, the money supply will increase by $250 million and obviously that would provide big impetus to the economy (Colorado 2011). Currently, the Fed discount rates are quite low, near to 0.25% that indicates the government wants to give boost to the economy by increasing money supply. After 2008 meltdown, the government bought long-term treasury bonds and notes. This indicates that the Fed is making all efforts to increase money supply to revive the market (The Federal Reserve System