Duke University
Medical Center
Intercom
VOL. 25, NO. 29
JULY 21, 1978
DURHAM, N.C
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Air Force grant
UV light hazards studied
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The United States Air Force's School of
erospace Medicine has awarded a
$74,000 grant to two scientists who are
studying how ultraviolet light damages
vision.
Drs. Herbert Hacker, chairman of the
Department of Electrical Engineering,
and Bill Yamanashi, assistant professor of
ophthalmology, received the one-year
grant to investigate molecular changes in
the lens and cornea of the eye brought on
by ultraviolet radiation.
In an interview, Yamanashi said the Air
Force is supporting their research in an
effort to learn more about how accidental
exposure to UV lasers can harm eyesight
among its personnel and to protect pilots
who may be exposed to laser weapons in
war time.
Most people know that ultraviolet light
from the sun can tan skin, the scientist
said. Less well known, however, is that
too much of the radiation can cause
I
LOTS OF GLASS—Glass panels are going up on the circular core of Duke North, which will contain
the elevators for the new hospitals. The glassed-in, covered walkway is shown in both
photographs, located above the automated Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) guideways. Most of the
talk and the photographs about transportation between the north and south divisions of the
hospital have centered on the PRT system. But there's another way people will be getting back and
forth — that old stand-by, "leg power." A pedestrian way is being built and will extend from the
balcony of the Seeley G. Mudd Building over to Duke North, crossing above the PRT "tracks." In
the photograph above, the forms for the walkway from Mudd to Duke North are in place, and
concrete for the sides is expected to be poured any day. The section of the walkway visible in the
bottom right corner of the photograph angles sharply to the left to connect with the balcony of the
Mudd Building. (Photo by Parker Herring)
cataracts and other eye diseases by
creating what researchers call "free
radicals."
Yamanashi defined free radicals as
chemical species — either molecules,
parts of molecules or atoms — that
contain unpaired electrons and are
usually both short-lived and very
reactive.
Prolonged or excessive exposure to
certain wave lengths of ultraviolet
radiation causes abnormal levels of them
to form from natural eye proteins.
Eskimos, professional fishermen and
others who work in bright sunlight for
many years are especially prone to the eye
diseases that result.
"We're studying basic aspects of the
problem — what kind and how many free
radicals are produced by absorption of
various wavelengths of UV," Yamanashi
said. "We would like to find out exactly
IContinued on page 21
ONE STEP AT A TIME
— Berta Bobath works
with an infant during a
recent symposium. She
was demonstrating
therapy techniques she
and her husband, Dr.
Karel Bobath, have
developed for treating
brain-injured patients.
The Bobaths, consid
ered pioneers in their
field, conducted two
seminars and an in-
depth course here this
summer, sponsored by
the Department of
Physical Therapy.
More than 200 health
professionals from
across the country
attended the symposi
um, filling the Hospital
Amphitheater to
overflowing. fPholo hy
john Beclon)