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Biomedical subjects

C A Burnett

Publications and source records attributed to C A Burnett.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Occupational dermatitis causing days away from work in U.S. private industry, 1993.

BACKGROUND: Occupational skin disease is an important cause of disability in the workplace. The aim of this report is to estimate the incidence of occupational dermatitis cases that causes days away from work and to characterize the cases. METHODS: The Annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses from the Bureau of Labor Statistics collects employer reports on work-related dermatitis. Descriptive data are collected on a sample of the cases that result in days away from work. Estimates of the number of cases and days away from work were calculated by industry, occupation, and exposure source. RESULTS: In 1993, there were an estimated 8,835 cases of occupational dermatitis, a rate of 1.12/10,000 workers. The largest number of cases was in health services, while the highest rate was in agricultural crops. The occupation with the largest number of cases was non-construction laborers. Cleaning/polishing agents caused the largest number of cases. Calcium hydroxide and oxides caused a median of nine days away from work. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: The survey data show that the effect of occupational dermatitis is substantial in the lives of workers. These descriptive data should be used to target interventions.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1997

Gastrointestinal cancer mortality of workers in occupations with high asbestos exposures.

Asbestos, which is a well-known risk factor for lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, has also been suggested as a gastrointestinal (GI) carcinogen. This study was conducted to assess the relationship between high asbestos exposure occupations and the occurrence of G1 cancer. Death certificate data were analyzed from 4,943,566 decedents with information on occupation and industry from 28 states from 1979 through 1990. Elevated proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) for mesothelioma were used to identify occupations potentially having many workers exposed to asbestos. All PMRs were age-adjusted and sex- and race-specific. The PMRs for GI cancers in white males were then calculated for these occupations after excluding mesothelioma, lung cancer, and non-malignant respiratory disease from all deaths. We identified 15,524 cases of GI cancer in the 12 occupations with elevated PMRs for mesothelioma. When these occupations were combined, the PMRs for esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancer were significantly elevated at 108 (95% confidence interval = 107-110), 110 (106-113), and 109 (107-110), respectively. Esophageal cancer was elevated in sheet metal workers and mechanical workers. Gastric cancer was elevated in supervisors in production and managers. Colorectal cancer was elevated in mechanical and electrical and electronic engineers. However, high exposure occupations like insulation, construction painter supervisors, plumbers, furnace operators, and construction electricians showed no elevations of GI cancers. In conclusion, this death certificate study supports an association between asbestos exposure and some GI cancer, however the magnitude of this effect is very small.

Asbestos↗
PubMed1997

Cancer mortality among laundry and dry cleaning workers.

A cancer mortality study of 8,163 deaths occurring among persons formerly employed as laundering and dry cleaning workers in 28 states is described. Age-adjusted sex-race cause-specific proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) and proportionate cancer mortality ratios (PCMRs) were computed for 1979 through 1990, using the corresponding 28-state mortality as the comparison. For those aged 15-64 years, there were excesses in black men for total cancer mortality (PMR = 130, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 105-159) and cancer of the esophagus 1 (PMR = 215, 95% CI = 111-376), and in white men for cancer of the larynx (PMR = 318, 95% CI = 117-693). For those aged 65 years and over, there were statistically nonsignificant excesses for cancer of the trachea, bronchus, and lung in black women (PMR = 128, CI = 94-170) and for cancer of other and unspecified female genital organs in white women (PMR = 225, CI = 97-443). The results of this and other studies point to the need for the effective implementation of available control measures to protect laundry and dry cleaning workers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Industries and cancer.

Epidemiologic evidence on the relationship between selected industries and cancer is reviewed. This article will focus on several industries which have not been covered elsewhere in this volume, briefly describe current research on cancer in the agricultural and construction industries, and discuss surveillance data on cancer mortality in relation to industry listed on US death certificates. Employment in the rubber industry has been associated with bladder cancer, leukemia, stomach, and lung cancer and is considered by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to have 'sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans.' Studies of workers exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have reported excess mortality from gastrointestinal neoplasms, hematologic neoplasms, and skin cancer (specifically malignant melanoma); IARC considers that the evidence for carcinogenicity in humans is 'limited.' Employment in the boot and shoe industry has been associated with nasal adenocarcinomas in England and Italy ('sufficient'). Hairdressers and barbers have been found to have excess bladder cancer and less consistent evidence for several other sites ('limited'). Workers exposed to wood dust have excess mortality from cancer of the nasal sinuses and paranasal cavities; there is less consistent evidence for excess laryngeal cancer ('sufficient'). Workers employed in the petroleum industry have limited evidence for excess leukemia and other lymphatic and hematopoietic neoplasms, and skin cancer (particularly malignant melanoma) ('limited').

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1996

Neurodegenerative diseases: occupational occurrence and potential risk factors, 1982 through 1991.

OBJECTIVES: To identify potential occupational risk factors, this study examined the occupational occurrence of various neurodegenerative diseases. METHODS: Death certificates from 27 states in the National Occupational Mortality Surveillance System were evaluated for 1982 to 1991. Proportionate mortality ratios were calculated by occupation for presenile dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and motor neuron disease. RESULTS: Excess mortality was observed for all four categories in the following occupational categories: teachers; medical personnel; machinists and machine operators; scientists; writers/designers/entertainers; and support and clerical workers. Clusters of three neurodegenerative diseases were also found in occupations involving pesticides, solvents, and electromagnetic fields and in legal, library, social, and religious work. Early death from motor neuron disease was found for firefighters, janitors, military personnel, teachers, excavation machine operators, and veterinarians, among others. CONCLUSIONS: Neurodegenerative disease occurs more frequently in some occupations than in others, and this distribution, which may indicate occupational risk factors, should be further investigated.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1995

Effects of alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid on fatigue and recovery of isolated mouse muscle.

Fatigue and recovery of mouse soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles were investigated in standard saline and in saline containing the lactate + hydrogen ion transport blocker, alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (cinnamate). The fatigue protocol was a series of brief isometric tetani which reduced isometric force by about 25%. Recovery was monitored by test tetani during recovery. Both muscles recovered completely in standard saline. Soleus muscle also recovered completely in the presence of cinnamate, whereas extensor digitorum longus hardly recovered at all. Force during fatigue and recovery can be described in a mathematical simulation in which force depends on intracellular inorganic phosphate and pH, and the only effect of cinnamate is to block lactate + hydrogen ion transport. The results of the simulation suggest that during the fatiguing series of tetani pH changes are small and have a negligible effect on force, but pH is a major determinant of the timecourse of recovery in extensor digitorum longus.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

The practice of Consultants in Restorative Dentistry (UK) in routine infection control for impressions and laboratory work.

This investigation aimed to examine the practice of the members of The Consultants in Restorative Dentistry Group (UK) in relation to routine cross-infection control when handling impressions and items of prosthetic laboratory work. A questionnaire was sent to one hundred and twenty six members of the Group. A response rate of 63% was recorded. Seventy percent of respondents routinely rinsed and disinfected dental impressions. Twenty four percent routinely rinsed items of laboratory work and 44% routinely disinfected items of laboratory work. The results of this study demonstrate a lack of uniformity in the practice of members of the group in routine infection control for impressions and laboratory work.

Dental Impression Technique↗
PubMed1995

Occlusal splint prescription in the management of temporomandibular disorders.

The case records of 159 patients who had been treated for temporomandibular disorders at the School of Clinical Dentistry Queen's University of Belfast were analysed retrospectively to determine which type of occlusal splint had been prescribed. Full maxillary occlusal coverage polycarbonate vacuum formed splints were prescribed most frequently, being used in 45% of cases, whilst lower splints were rarely constructed. After treatment 54% were asymptomatic which is slightly greater than that described by others as a placebo effect in splint therapy. This low success rate was, at least, in part attributable to a poor overall management strategy. The study highlights the need for a structured management strategy in treating patients with temporomandibular disorders and suggests a need for continuing postgraduate education in the care of these patients.

Humans↗
PubMed1994

A comparison of analyses of occupational bladder cancer: death certificate vs. population-based case-control interview data.

The authors examined the utility of death certificate data for occupational health surveillance by comparing the ability of the data to identify high-risk occupations for bladder cancer with that of a population-based case-control study. Death certificate data for white males from 23 states for 1979-1987 were analyzed using proportionate mortality ratios. The case-control study used cancer registry cases for 1977-1978. Results were compared for 21 a priori suspect occupations. A broad definition of agreement resulted in agreement for 62% of the occupations; the death certificate study identified eight of 15 occupations identified by the case-control study and neither study identified five of the categories. While death certificate data have many limitations, our results indicate that death certificate data can provide clues to some potential occupational health problems. With the advantages of inexpensive data, large sample size, and industrial coverage, more refined analyses of the data should prove useful for occupational mortality surveillance and hypothesis generation.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1994

Using occupational mortality data for surveillance of work-related diseases of women.

A recently developed source of occupational mortality data from 28 states for the years 1979 through 1990 can be used to meet goals for the surveillance of women's work-related diseases. A proportionate cancer mortality ratio analysis is used to illustrate use of the data to address the goals of identifying previously unrecognized work-related disease and targeting consultation or health promotion programs to appropriate occupations. Strengths of the data include broad geographical coverage and coverage of all causes of death and numerous industries and occupations. The data set is current and very large, with annual additions. The data have certain limitations. Death certificate information collected regarding occupation and cause of death may not be accurate; furthermore, death certificates have little information on potential confounding factors, such as smoking.

Death Certificates↗
PubMed1994

Mortality patterns of US female construction workers by race, 1979-1990.

In 1990, the US construction industry employed 7.6 million workers, of whom 8% were women. Only one epidemiologic study for women employed in the construction industry was previously published. We analyzed usual occupation and industry codes on death certificates from 28 states between 1979 and 1990 to evaluate mortality patterns among both black and white female construction industry workers. Proportionate mortality for cancer and several other chronic diseases was significantly elevated among 2,273 white female and 197 black female construction workers. White women younger than age 65 at death had significantly elevated proportionate mortality ratios (PMRs) for all cancer, lung cancer, and traumatic fatalities. Black women younger than age 65 at death had a significantly elevated PMR for traumatic fatalities. Elevated mortality for specific cancer sites and other diseases was observed for white and black women employed in construction trades. These results suggest that more detailed investigations that include women and other minorities should be undertaken.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Occupation and lung cancer mortality among women: using occupation to target smoking cessation programs for women.

Lung cancer mortality rates are increasing for women, despite the fact that 90% of these deaths could be prevented by smoking cessation. Targeted workplace smoking cessation programs may increase the effectiveness of lung cancer prevention for women. This study uses proportionate mortality ratio analysis of occupationally coded death certificates, from 28 states between 1979 and 1990, to identify occupations in which women are at high risk of lung cancer mortality. The study found gender and racial variation in the results for broad occupational groups. Blue-collar occupations associated with potentially carcinogenic workplace exposures also had elevated proportionate mortality ratios, probably reflecting both occupational and tobacco exposure. For women, specific occupations such as managers and financial officers revealed significant elevations in lung cancer mortality. Cessation programs targeting women in these occupational groups may increase the effectiveness of lung cancer prevention.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Closest speaking space during the production of sibilant sounds and its value in establishing the vertical dimension of occlusion.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the production of sibilant sounds involved adopting a jaw position that corresponded to the closest vertical speaking space (CSS), by analysis of the smallest vertical excursion of the mandible during the performance of different phonetic exercises. A further objective was to establish the variability in the CSS produced by individual sibilant phonemes. Thirty young adult subjects had their CSS determined during three separate phonetic tests, using a kinesiograph (Sirognathograph, Siemens A.G., Benshiem, Germany) and a Bio-Pak (BioResearch Associates Inc., Milwaukee, WI) jaw-tracking software program. The first test was a general phonetic articulation test containing all the sounds of the English language and specifically including all six sibilant word sounds. The second phonetic test contained the six sibilant sound making up a short sentence. The third test included six single words, each expressing a different sibilant sound. No statistically significant difference among the mean CSS determined in each of three exercises was demonstrable. A phonetic test containing all sibilant sounds produced a CSS equivalent to that of a test containing all speech sounds. The vertical component of the CSS was also independent of the form or duration of the phonetic tests containing the sibilant word sounds used in this investigation. The CSS determined for 5 of the individual sibilant phonemes in the third exercise differed (p < 0.05) from that calculated for the three complete exercises. It was concluded that voicing sibilant phonemes, or word sounds, does cause the subject to adopt the CSS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Occupation as a risk identifier for breast cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer mortality may be reduced if the disease is detected early through targeted screening programs. Current screening guidelines are based solely on a woman's age. Because working populations are accessible for intervention, occupational identification may be a way of helping to define and locate risk groups and target prevention. METHODS: We used a database consisting of 2.9 million occupationally coded death certificates collected from 23 states between 1979 and 1987 to calculate age-adjusted, race-specific proportionate mortality ratios for breast cancer according to occupation. We performed case-control analyses on occupational groups and on stratifications within the teaching profession. RESULTS: We found a number of significant associations between occupation and frequency of breast cancer. For example, white female professional, managerial, and clerical workers all had high proportions of breast cancer death. High rates of breast cancer in teachers were found in both proportionate mortality ratio and case-control analyses. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may serve as in an aid in the effective targeting of work-site health promotion programs. They suggest that occupationally coded mortality data can be a useful adjunct in the difficult task of identifying groups at risk of preventable disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Effect of verbal and written education on denture wearing and cleansing habits.

This investigation aimed to examine the effect of verbal and written education on the denture wearing and cleansing regimens of a group of patients scheduled to have replacement complete dentures. Current denture habits were elicited by questionnaire prior to treatment. Each patient received verbal and written instruction on a standardised denture wearing and cleaning regimen. Six months after completion of treatment each patient was posted a repeat questionnaire. The response rate was 68%. There was no notable alteration in the denture care regimens of the patients after treatment. It was concluded that verbal and written education did not change the denture habits of the subject group.

Aged↗