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Biomedical subjects

D B Baker

Publications and source records attributed to D B Baker.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Evaluation of human exposure to the heptachlor epoxide contamination of milk in Hawaii.

The commercial milk supply on Oahu was contaminated by heptachlor epoxide for as long as 15 months during 1981-82 at levels possibly as high as 1.2 ug/g, fat basis. Following the contamination, several investigators attempted to evaluate potential adverse health outcomes, especially among infants and young children. However, results of the initial investigations are inconclusive due to lack of reliable measures of heptachlor exposure, use of non-random sampling techniques, and lack of definitive health outcomes attributable to heptachlor epoxide. The design of a current study to assess the body concentrations of heptachlor epoxide and related pesticides in Hawaii is presented. The study is designed (1) to relate these concentrations to prior exposure via the milk contamination, and (2) to assess the reliability of breast milk and serum pesticide concentrations as objective biological markers of body burden. No attempt is made to relate these data to health outcomes; instead, the findings may provide the foundation for future health studies or surveillance of environmental exposure to pesticides in Hawaii.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Cross-sectional study of platinum salts sensitization among precious metals refinery workers.

A cross-sectional medical evaluation was conducted to determine respiratory and dermatological effects of platinum salts sensitization among workers in a secondary refinery of precious metals. Fifteen of 107 current employees and eight (28%) of 29 former employees, who had been terminated from employment on average for 5 years because of respiratory symptoms, had positive skin reactivity to platinum salts. Platinum salts skin reactivity was significantly associated with average air concentrations of platinum salts in employees' present work area. Workers with positive platinum salts skin tests had significantly higher prevalences of reported rhinitis, asthma, and dermatitis than negative skin test workers. They also had increased bronchial response to cold air challenge and elevated levels of total serum IgE. Platinum salts sensitization was not associated with atopic tendency as measured by sensitivity to common aeroallergens, but was strongly associated with cigarette smoking status. The findings indicate that cigarette smoking may be a risk factor for the development of platinum salts allergy. The persistence of platinum salts sensitization and high prevalence of adverse health outcomes among former workers demonstrate the importance of regular medical monitoring so that sensitized workers can be removed from exposure before they develop long-term health problems.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Occupationally related disorders.

Occupational disease is responsible each year in the United States for 50,000 to 70,000 deaths and for approximately 350,000 new cases of illness. Occupational diseases affect all organ systems and include pulmonary disease, musculoskeletal injuries, occupational cancer, traumatic injuries, occupationally induced cardiovascular disease, disorders of reproduction, neurotoxic disorders, noise-induced hearing loss, dermatologic conditions, and psychological disorders. Occupational diseases may be very difficult to diagnose. Pathognomonic signs and symptoms are rare; most occupational diseases are clinically indistinguishable from disease of other etiologies. Diagnosis is complicated further by the long latency typical between a toxic occupational exposure and the appearance of illness. Further, there is widespread lack of information on the toxicity of most chemical substances in use in American workplaces, and workers frequently are not informed of the nature or the hazards of the materials with which they work. The occupational history is the principal clinical instrument for the diagnosis of occupational disease. All patients should undergo at least a brief occupational history that inquires about the current job, including both industry and occupation, the longest-held previous jobs, and any toxic occupational exposures to chemicals, fumes, gases, dust, noise, or radiation. Proper diagnosis of occupational disease permits proper treatment of the affected patient and also provides a basis for recognition of other similarly employed persons who may also be at risk of toxic exposure. Occupational diseases are highly preventable. Prevention is most efficiently achieved by removing hazardous materials from the workplace and replacing them with less hazardous substances. Other approaches to prevention include ventilation, alteration in work practices, and use of personal protective equipment. Physicians in the United States are for the most part not well trained to recognize occupational illness. At the same time, there is a great lack of qualified specialists in occupational medicine. The majority of care of patients with occupational disease will therefore continue to be the responsibility of primary care physicians, and these physicians must become more highly attuned to the possibility that their patients may have diseases induced by toxic exposures encountered at work. The development of a heightened sensitivity of primary care providers to occupationally induced disease is an urgent priority.

Humans↗
PubMed1990

Cold air challenge and platinum skin reactivity in platinum refinery workers. Bronchial reactivity precedes skin prick response.

An investigation of a platinum refinery operation consisted of an administered questionnaire, spirometry, skin prick testing with platinum salts and common aeroallergens, serum total IgE, radioallergosorbent test for platinum salts, and measurement of nonspecific airway hyperresponsiveness by cold air challenge testing. Among 136 employees examined, there were 107 current and 29 medically terminated workers; 23 (17 percent) subjects had a positive platinum salts prick skin test and 19 (14 percent) displayed a positive cold air challenge. RAST binding for platinum salts IgE antibodies showed a high level of agreement with platinum skin prick test results. A proportion (63 percent) of the population (74 current and 12 terminated workers) underwent repeat platinum skin testing one year later. Among current workers, there was conversion of the platinum skin test from negative to a positive test in five employees, with three conversions occurring in workers who showed only a positive cold air challenge test the year before. Platinum skin sensitivity, asthma symptoms, and nonspecific airway hyperresponsiveness persisted for years after termination of exposure in some medically terminated workers presumably because of a delay in removal from work of employees who became sensitized to platinum salts. It is suggested that proper surveillance for occupational asthma involves the use of several testing procedures. Prompt removal from work of individuals found to become sensitized to platinum salts is important in this industry.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

ICWU cancer control education and evaluation program: research design and needs assessment.

The International Chemical Workers Union is implementing a 3-year nationwide field experiment in cancer prevention education. The educational program includes three stages: generalized cancer control education, education tailored to each local union, and an interactive monitoring system designed to provide ongoing communication and reinforcement for desired cancer control behaviors among local unions and their members. These alternative educational approaches will be systematically evaluated using a randomized factorial study design involving more than 120 local unions. The need for such a program is demonstrated by the results of a needs assessment survey of 690 union members. Respondents expressed strong concern regarding possible carcinogen exposures at the work site, combined with generally low ratings of co-worker knowledge of and adherence to appropriate cancer control behaviors. Engineering controls and personal protective equipment were reported to be inadequate in many work sites.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1985

Renal toxicity in uranium mill workers.

Although the kidney is the critical organ limiting occupational exposure to soluble uranium compounds, there have been no adequate studies evaluating renal tubular dysfunction in chronically exposed workers. The present investigation evaluated kidney function among 39 uranium mill workers and 36 local cement plant workers of equivalent age, sex, and race. The uranium workers showed a significantly higher excretion of beta-2-microglobulin and five amino acids than the reference group. Although the levels of tubular proteinuria were mild, a dose-effect relation existed between the clearance of beta-2-microglobulin, relative to that of creatinine, and the length of time that the uranium workers had spent in the yellowcake drying and packaging area, the work area with the highest exposures to soluble uranium. Age did not account for this relationship. Glomerular function was significantly better among the uranium workers than among the referents, though this may have been the result of differences in the physical activity of the groups during the collection period. The data presented suggest reduced renal proximal tubular reabsorbtion of amino acids and of low molecular weight proteins, consistent with uranium nephrotoxicity.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

The effects of elevated glucose levels on the incorporation of glucose and acetate into aortic lipids of the dog.

The effect of elevated glucose concentration on the incorporation of labeled glucose and acetate into aortic lipids of the dog was studied. Increased medium glucose concentration (80 mg p. 100-300 mg p. 100) resulted in: 1. an increased incorporation of glucose into aortic total lipids, phospholipids and triglycerides; 2. an increased incorporation of acetate into each lipid fraction studied. In addition, the effect of insulin on glucose incorporation into aortic lipid was assessed. At a concentration of 100 mU/ml, insulin had no effect on glucose incorporation into aortic lipids of the dog.

Acetates↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A health study of two communities near the Stringfellow Waste Disposal site.

A health survey of 2,039 persons in 606 households located near the Stringfellow Hazardous Waste Disposal site, Riverside County, California, and in a reference community was conducted to assess whether rates of adverse health outcomes were elevated among persons living near the site. Data included a household questionnaire, medical records of reported cancers and pregnancies, and birth and death certificates. The study areas appeared similar with respect to mortality, cancer incidence, and pregnancy outcomes. In contrast, rate ratios were greater than 1.5 for 5 of 19 reported diseases, i.e., ear infections, bronchitis, asthma, angina pectoris, and skin rashes. Prevalence odds ratios for 23 symptoms were uniformly greater than 1.0, and 8 symptoms had odds ratios greater than 1.5: blurred vision, pain in ears, daily cough for more than a month, nausea, frequent diarrhea, unsteady when walking, and frequent urination. The apparent broad-based elevation in reported diseases and symptoms may reflect increased perception or recall of conditions by respondents living near the site. These results indicate that future community-based health studies should include medical and psychosocial assessment instruments sufficient to distinguish between changes in health status and effects of resident reporting tendency.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Boys with reading disabilities and/or ADHD: distinctions in early childhood.

We examined distinctions in the early childhood characteristics of boys with reading disabilities (RD) and/or attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A four-group mixed design consisting of boys identified at age 11 with reading disabilities only (RD only; n = 46), reading disabilities and ADHD (RD/ADHD; n = 16), ADHD only (n = 20), and a comparison group (n = 281) was utilized. Differences on receptive and expressive language and temperament for ages 3 and 5 were investigated. Analyses indicated that the boys from the RD-only group performed worse on measures of receptive and expressive language. The results also indicated that boys from the RD/ADHD groups consistently performed worse on measures of receptive language and exhibited more behaviors indicative of an undercontrolled temperament. In summary, we suggest that reading disabilities and ADHD represent moderately unique disorders that frequently co-occur and are characterized by distinct developmental pathways.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗