bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The occupational medicine consultant
Authors: Ladou Joseph 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe occupational medicine consultant emerged in a few areas of the country during the 1940s. The concept is growing in popularity, with some recent evidence indicating that it may be the dominant career path for residency trained specialists in occupational medicine. The services provided to industry, labor, and government do not appear to compete with traditional occupational medicine positions. The manpower shortage in occupational physicians promises to fuel the growth opportunity for occupational medicine consultants. The major concerns at this time are the adequacy of liability insurance carried by the consultants and the possibility that their activities will too often be related to crisis situations rather than to the development of preventive medical programs with their clients.
Pulmonary function in workers exposed to diesel exhausts: The effect of control measures
Authors: Ulfvarson Ulf , Alexandersson Rolf , Dahlqvist Monica , Ekholm Ulla , Bergström Björn 
Published: April 2007

AbstractTo assess the protective effect of exhausts pipe filters or respirators on pulmonary function, 15 workers in a tunnel construction site, truck and loading machine drivers, rock workers, and others were studied. The total and respirable dust, combustible matter in respirable dust, carbon monoxide, nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide were measured for each subject during entire work shifts. The effect of the exposure on the lung function variables was measured by dynamic spirometry, carbon monoxide single breath technique, and nitrogen single breath wash‐out.The exhaust pipe filtering had a protective effect, directly discernible in the drivers on vital capacity and FEV1.0 and for the whole group on FEV% and TLco. The dust respirators had no effect, probably because of the difficulties in correctly using personal protection under the circumstances in the tunnel. In the absence of a true exposure assessment, control measures for diesel exhausts can be tested by medical effect studies. Catalytic particle filters of diesel exhausts are one method of rendering the emissions less irritant, although they will not remove irritant gases. An indicator of diesel exhaust exposure should include the particle fraction of the diesel exhausts, but a discrimination between different sources of organic dust must be possible.
Drake chemical workers' health registry study: I. Notification and medical surveillance of a group of workers at high risk of developing bladder cancer
Authors: Marsh Gary M. , Leviton Laura C. , Talbott Evelyn O. , Callahan Catherine , Pavlock David , Hemstreet George , Logue James N. , Fox James , Schulte Paul 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA medical surveillance program and epidemiologic study of 408 former workers of the Drake Chemical Company (now a Superfund waste site) was established in 1986. The Drake Health Registry Study was initiated because these workers had probable past exposures to beta‐naphthylamine (BNA), a potent bladder carcinogen. The registry is widely viewed as a model for notification of workers at high risk of disease due to past occupational exposures. By the 40th month, 90% of the 366 living workers had been notified of the existence of the registry; 262 had been enrolled in the annual or semiannual screening for bladder cancer. Among these, 27 persons have had abnormal screening results indicating moderate to high risk of bladder cancer and have been made eligible for further diagnostic tests. While no invasive bladder tumors were found among 18 persons completing the extended diagnostic evaluation, two diagnoses of moderate to severe dysplasia have been made. The registry has also identified three living and three deceased cases of bladder cancer in the cohort; a mortality analysis showed a 20‐ to 30‐fold excess of bladder cancer. An incidence projection, based on the six identified cases, reveals that between six and ten new bladder cancer cases are likely to occur among the Drake cohort over the next 20 year period.
Workers' compensation cost shifting: An empirical study
Authors: Zwerling Craig , Ryan James , Orav E. John 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIt has been suggested that health maintenance organizations (HMOs) overdiagnose work‐related injuries and illnesses to increase their income. This study compared the Workers' Compensation experience of 2,176 Boston postal employees enrolled in a large HMO with that of 3,473 employees enrolled in a large fee‐for‐service health insurance plan. It controlled for the potential confounders of age, gender, job classification, type of injury, and duration of employment. It found no difference in the incidence of injuries: 5.93% for HMO enrollees and 6.25% for fee‐for‐service plan enrollees. Medical costs averaged $475 for HMO enrollees and $838 for fee‐for‐service plan enrollees (p = 0.018). Total costs averaged $909 for HMO enrollees and $1388 for fee‐for‐service plan enrollees (p = 0.063). In our cohort, there was no evidence of cost shifting. It appeared that the HMO provided less expensive medical care for injured postal workers.
Is brain cancer mortality increasing in industrial countries?
Authors: Davis Devra Lee , Ahlbom Anders , Hoel David , Percy Constance 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis paper analyzes age‐specific trends in brain and other central nervous system cancer mortality from 1968 to 1987 in several major industrial countries. It also examines changes in the use of diagnostic confirmation technology and trends in incidence in the U.S. National Cancer Institute, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program from 1973 to 1987 to estimate the influence of diagnostic factors on recent mortality trends. Other sources of error have not been evaluated in this paper. Agespecific analyses of brain and other nervous system cancer mortality show drastic increases in persons ages 75‐84 and consistent increases in younger age groups in most countries, although mortality declined in the U.S. in persons 0‐24 by 2% annually. In the SEER program, brain cancer incidence increased significantly by 2%, 1%, and 5% annually in persons aged 0‐44, 65‐74, and 75‐84, respectively. Throughout this time period, microscopic or radiographic confirmation occurred in at least 96% of all incident cases of brain and other central nervous system cancers diagnosed before death, with older persons receiving consistently more radiographic tests than younger persons. Changes in diagnoses across populations and over time are unlikely to account completely for these increasing trends which are occurring simultaneously in both males and females in major industrial countries. Additional studies need to be conducted, to exclude artifacts, to assist health care planners in anticipating treatment demands, and to detect preventable causes of these changing trends.
Reproductive hazards of fire fighting I. Non‐chemical hazards
Authors: Agnew Jacqueline , McDiarmid Melissa A. , Lees Peter S. J. , Duffy Richard 
Published: April 2007

AbstractFire fighters are regularly exposed to chemical and non‐chemical agents that have known or suspected adverse effects on reproductive health. Although chemical agents have received some attention, non‐chemical hazards such as heat, noise, and physical exertion have only recently been examined for their reproductive effects. There is evidence that heat, noise, and physical exertion may affect various endpoints of reproductive health, including fertility, fetal loss, and growth parameters of the offspring. In particular, hyperthermia, a major fire fighting hazard, has been shown to impair male fertility and may also be teratogenic. Further study of the potential reproductive effects of this and other common non‐chemical agents in the fire environment is needed to ensure the reproductive health of male and female fire fighters.
Acrylamide neuropathy in a South African factory: An epidemiologic investigation
Authors: Myers Jonathan E. , Macun Ian 
Published: April 2007

AbstractAerylamide monomer concentrations and peripheral neurotoxicity were investigated in workers at a factory producing polymer. Monomer levels ranged from 0.07 to 2.5 times the recommended exposure limit of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (1988). Those workers with exposure exceeding the limit had increased prevalences of acrylamide‐related abnormalities. Logistic regression showed dose‐response relationships with exposure for symptoms, abnormal sensation, decreased motor strength, abnormal gait or rombergism, and skin abnormalities. The overall prevalence of acrylamide‐related abnormality was 32% in the total work force and 67% among those exceeding the limit compared with 14% in those exposed below the limit. Environmental exposure determinations and conventional clinical approaches are relatively insensitive measures. Associations might have been stronger if a biological exposure measure had existed and if quantitative neurornetric techniques had been applied. Electrophysiological methods are not readily available in many settings; the use of the Vibratron II for quantitative field testing holds promise.
Effects of elemental mercury exposure at a thermometer plant
Authors: Ehrenberg Richard L. , Vogt Richard L. , Smith Alexander Blair , Brondum Jack , Brightwell W. Stephen , Hudson Paul J. , McManus Kevin P. , Hannon W. Harry , Phipps Frederick C. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis study compares 84 mercury‐exposed workers at a thermometer manufacturing facility with 79 unexposed workers for evidence of chronic mercury toxicity. Personal breathing‐zone air concentrations of mercury ranged from 25.6 to 270.6 μg/m3 for thermometer workers. Urinary mercury levels in the study population ranged from 1.3 to 344.5 μg/g creatinine, with eight (10%) participants exceeding 150 μg/g creatinine and three workers exceeding 300 μg/g creatinine, which indicates increased absorption of mercury among the thermometer workers. All urine mercury levels in the comparison group were compatible with normal background levels in unexposed adults (<10 μg/g creatinine). Thermometer plant workers reported more symptoms than did controls; in general, these differences were not statistically significant and could not be specifically associated with mercury exposure. Static tremor, abnormal Romberg test, dysdiadochokinesia, and difficulty with heel‐to‐toe gait were more prevalent among thermometer workers than control workers, which could not be associated with recent mercury exposure; there was some suggestion of an association with chronic exposure. There were no intergroup differences for the standard clinical tests of renal function except for a significantly higher mean specific gravity among the thermometer workers. A positive correlation was found, however, between urinary N‐acetyl‐b‐D‐glucosaminidase (NAG) and urinary mercury. There was no consistent evidence for intergroup differences in proximal renal tubule function, as measured by urinary β2‐microglobulin (B2M) or retinol binding protein (RBP).
Validity of occupational histories obtained by interview with female workers
Authors: Brisson Chantal , Vézina Michel , Bernard Paul Marie , Gingras Suzanne 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis study measured the validity of work histories obtained by interview with 84 female workers and examined specific factors which influence such validity. This is the first validation of work histories collected by interviews with women. The validity of each interview was assessed over a period of 29 years, from 1955 to 1983. The information provided by the worker was compared annually to job information registered in public and union records. On the average, interviews yielded the correct information (either employer's name or nonworking year) for 81% of the person years of these subjects. However, there was a time effect; the average validity score for recent employment (1972‐1983) was 89%, while that for employment in the more distant past (1955‐1971) was 74%. Furthermore, workers who had fewer jobs, had longer durations of employment, and were non‐French speaking had higher validity scores. Most of these findings are consistent with previous studies conducted among male respondents.
Risk and severity of non‐back occupational injuries after lumbar laminectomy for degenerative disc disease
Authors: Zwerling Craig , Ryan James 
Published: April 2007

AbstractAn increased risk, after lumbar laminectomy, for lost work time occupational back injury (odds ratio, 5.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.9‐18.8) and disability (mean 292.8 days vs. 24.8 for controls) was previously demonstrated. Such differences could be due to physical sequelae of back surgery or to psychosocial factors. Extensive literature addresses the impact of psychosocial factors on the incidence of occupational injury and severity of disability. This study assumes that psychosocial factors would affect both back and non‐back injuries, while surgery‐related physical factors would not. The odds ratio for non‐back lost work time injury for subjects in the same cohort studied previously was 1.5 (0.5‐4.5), with no significant increase in duration of disability (mean 27.0 days vs. 24.8 for controls). The increased risk for back injury in the absence of an increased risk for other injuries suggests that physiologic rather than psychosocial factors provide the more likely explanation for the differences in back injuries.
The usefulness of bronchoalveolar lavage in identifying past occupational exposure to asbestos: A light and electron microscopy study
Authors: Dodson Ronald F. , Garcia Joe G. N. , O'sullivan Michael , Corn Carolyn , Levin Jeffrey L. , Griffith David E. , Kronenberg Richard S. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractFiberoptic bronchoscopy has permitted the development of lavage procedures for the collection of lung washes. In certain disease states this material may contain large numbers of phagocytic cells (macrophages and neutrophils). Since these phagocytes are the predominant “dust scavenger cells” in the lung, the assessment of their particulate burden as well as that of the overall lavage material has been suggested as a potentially important diagnostic tool. The studies to date have shown that the presence of ferruginous bodies is an indication of past occupational exposure.In the present study, a digestion procedure was carried out on bronchoalveolar lavage material collected from individuals who were occupationally exposed to asbestos and from samples obtained from the general population. The parameters used for distinguishing the source of these samples included both light microscopy assessment of the filters for the presence of ferruginous bodies and electron microscopic screening for the presence of uncoated fibers.
Carcinoma of the colon in asbestos‐exposed workers: Analysis of asbestos content in colon tissue
Authors: Ehrlich Albert , Gordon Ronald E. , Dikman Steven H. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractEpidemiological studies have indicated an increased incidence of carcinoma of the colon in asbestos workers. The present study evaluated the colon tissue asbestos burden, by light and electron microscopic analytic techniques, in patients with a history of occupational asbestos exposure and colon cancer. Asbestos fibers and/or asbestos bodies were present in colon tissue from 14 of 44 (31.8%) asbestos workers with colon carcinoma (range 142,199 to 15,231, 543 fibers/g/wet weight, mean 2,517,823). Chrysotile was identified in 9 patients and amosite in 3 patients. Both amosite and chrysotile were found in the colonic wall in one individual. Other forms of asbestos (e.g., crocidolite, tremolite, or anthophyllite) were not found. Asbestos fibers and asbestos bodies were not found in colon tissue from 20 control patients (colon carcinoma and no asbestos exposure). Asbestos fibers frequently enter and reside in the wall of the colon and are often intimately associated with tumor tissue at the site of colon carcinoma in workers with asbestos exposure and colon carcinoma.
Acute occupational respiratory diseases in hospital discharge data
Authors: Kipen Howard M. , Gelperin Kate , Tepper Allison , Stanbury Martha 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWe investigated the feasibility of using hospital discharge diagnoses of ICD codes 506, 507, and 508, respiratory diseases from external sources, to identify occupational sentinel health events [SHE(O)]. Two hundred sixty‐nine records were reviewed and 66 (25%) were incidents where the work‐relatedness of the respiratory diseases was documented in the medical records. Twenty‐six percent of the 269 records contained no exposure information. Sixty‐four of the 66 occupational cases were from ICD codes 506.0‐506.9, with the largest number classified as ICD codes 506.0 (bronchitis and pneumonitis due to fumes and vapors) and 506.3 (other acute and subacute respiratory conditions due to fumes and vapors). We conclude that surveillance of ICD codes in the 506 series, where 39% of the cases were secondary to occupational exposures, is a valuable component of a surveillance system for preventable occupational lung disease.
The occupational cancer incidence surveillance study (OCISS): Risk of lung cancer by usual occupation and industry in the detroit metropolitan area
Authors: Burns Patricia Brissette , Swanson G. Marie 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis case‐referent study assesses occupational risk factors associated with lung cancer, utilizing colon and rectum cancer referents. Complete occupational and tobacco use histories were obtained by telephone interview for 5,935 incident lung cancer cases and 3,956 incident colon and rectum cancer referents. The analysis included 43 usual occupational groups and 48 usual industry groups comprised of at least 10 cases. Among all cases, there were significant elevated risks for excavating and mining workers (OR = 4.01), furnace workers (OR = 3.11), armed services personnel (OR = 3.10), agricultural workers (OR = 2.05), driver sales (OR = 2.21), mechanics (OR = 1.72), painters (OR = 1.96), and drivers (OR = 1.88). Industries with significant elevated lung cancer risk included farming (OR = 2.21), mining (OR = 2.98), and primary ferrous metals manufacturing (OR = 2.43). Analyses of white and black men separately revealed that the excess of lung cancer among mechanics is restricted to black males (OR = 4.16). The risk of lung cancer among armed services personnel is higher among black men (OR = 10.54) than among white men (OR = 3.06). Five of the occupations observed more often among lung cancer cases have probable exposure to diesel exhaust.
Highly variable penetrance in subjects affected with cavernous cerebral angiomas (CCM) carrying novel CCM1 and CCM2 mutations
Authors: Gianfrancesco Fernando , Cannella Milena , Martino Tiziana , Maglione Vittorio , Esposito Teresa , Innocenzi Gualtiero , Vitale Emilia , Liquori Christina L. , Marchuk Douglas A. , Squitieri Ferdinando 
Published: April 2007

AbstractCavernous vascular malformations may affect brain and out‐of‐brain tissues. In most cases, cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) involve the brain alone, and are rarely associated with skin hemangiomas, spinal cord, retinal, hepatic or vertebral lesions. CCMs can cause seizures, intracranial and spinal haemorrhages, focal neurological deficits, and migraine‐like headaches. After collecting CCM families of Italian origin and investigating the genetic basis of the disorder we disclosed two novel molecular variations in the KRIT1 and MGC4607 genes. We found a novel CCM1 gene mutation (Q66X) in a family with apparently asymptomatic old‐aged mutation carriers and patients who either had skin angiomas alone or the full association of cerebral, spinal, and skin lesions. In this family we report the highest variability in mutation penetrance so far described, including the presence of CCM in one subject since birth (surgery at 19 months of age), a condition to our knowledge so far unreported. In a CCM2 affected family, we also report a novel causative mutation, (54_55delAC) in exon 2 of the MGC4607 gene, that produces a truncated protein containing only 22 amino acids. These data describe novel CCM mutations associated with a particularly high variability of the penetrance causing, in some cases, reduced expression of clinical symptoms and sporadic cases with apparent negative family history. Hence they emphasize the importance of DNA‐based diagnostics and genetic counseling to identify unaffected mutation carriers subjects, even at advanced age. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Tachykinin receptor 1 variants associated with aggression in suicidal behavior
Authors: Giegling Ina , Rujescu Dan , Mandelli Laura , Schneider Barbara , Hartmann Annette M. , Schnabel Axel , Maurer Konrad , De Ronchi Diana , Möller Hans‐Jürgen , Serretti Alessandro 
Published: April 2007

AbstractSubstance P is involved in the modulation of depression, anxiety, and suicidal‐related behaviors. We studied gene variants of Tachykinin Receptor 1 (TACR1—rs3771810, rs3771825, rs726506, rs1477157) in 167 German suicide attempters (affective spectrum n = 107, schizophrenia spectrum n = 35, borderline personality disorder n = 25), 92 Caucasian individuals who committed suicide and 312 German healthy subjects. Single markers and haplotype analysis in relation to suicidal behaviors (suicide attempters/completers) did not reveal any significant association. The rarest rs3771825 T allele however showed a marginal association with higher Reactive Aggression scores on the Questionnaire for Measuring Factors of Aggression (FAF) (F = 9.86, df = 1; P = 0.0017). Haplotype analyses confirmed the finding. Violence or impulsivity of suicide attempt and State‐Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) scores were not associated with gene variants. In conclusion, our study suggests that TACR1 gene variants have no major influence on suicidal behavior but may modulate aggression features. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Do adolescents compromise their identity when chatting on the Internet?
Authors: Larraín M. Elena , Zegers Beatriz , Trapp Alejandro 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis research project intended to explore the relation between internet chat room use and adolescent identity. The subjects of this research project were 124 first‐year university students of the Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile. State of identity was measured by the Identity Consolidated Inventory (ICI) and identity‐compromise in chat rooms by the Phase Completion Test (TCF) scale. Gender differences were analyzed and men showed higher total scores in both instruments. The relation between identity‐integration and identity‐compromise project in chat rooms was confirmed. Some 11.3% of the subjects who had identity‐diffusion also compromised their identity while chatting. The causal relation between the two variables needs further research, and new definitions of identity require more study. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Atrazine and reproductive function: mode and mechanism of action studies
Authors: Cooper Ralph L. , Laws Susan C. , Das Parikshit C. , Narotsky Michael G. , Goldman Jerome M. , Lee Tyrey E. , Stoker Tammy E. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractAtrazine, a chlorotriazine herbicide, is used to control annual grasses and broadleaf weeds. In this review, we summarize our laboratory's work evaluating the neuroendocrine toxicity of atrazine (and related chlorotriazines) from an historic perspective. We provide the rationale for our work as we have endeavored to determine: 1) the underlying reproductive changes leading to the development of mammary gland tumors in the atrazine‐exposed female rat; 2) the cascade of physiological events that are responsible for these changes (i.e., the mode of action for mammary tumors); 3) the potential cellular mechanisms involving adverse effects of atrazine; and 4) the range of reproductive alterations associated with this pesticide. Birth Defects Res (Part B), 2007. Published 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.