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Biomedical subjects

D G Massey

Publications and source records attributed to D G Massey.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1988

House dust mites in university dormitories.

As no published data was available, dust was collected from 102 university student dormitory rooms and 33 were selected on a random basis for analysis. Mean dust per dormitory room was 4.47 g of coarse, 0.96 g of fine, and a 24-hour sedimented volume of fine dust of 6.90 mL. The mean number of mites was 63/g of coarse dust, and 240/g and 36/mL of fine dust. They were identified as D. pteronyssinus (D.p.), 81.9%; D. farinae, 11.2%; and Cheyletus, 4.7%. Fifteen samples from homes were controls. Mean values were 0.60 g of coarse dust, and 0.20 g and 2.3 mL of fine dust. Mites numbered 985/g of coarse, and 3409/g and 244/mL of fine dust. They were D.p., 87.2%; D. farinae, 3.0%; Cheyletus, 3.7%; and Euroglyphus, 1.6%. Differences between dormitories and homes in amount of dust and number of mites were significant at P less than .001. Dust and mites were significantly less in dormitories with linoleum than those with carpets (P less than .05 and .01, respectively). In conclusion, university dormitories have significantly less mites than homes despite a greater amount of dust harvested.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

House dust mite asthma in China: a review.

House dust mites are ubiquitous but no publications on disease associated with them are readily available from China. A review of published research in China is presented. A mean of 1,328 mites/g of dust was detected in homes: D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus (D. pt.) predominated. Mixed house dust mite solution elicited a positive skin test in 78% of asthmatics but D. pt. and D. farinae antigens in only 40%. Desensitization of house dust-sensitive asthmatics has been successful in 71% with IgG blocking antibodies being predictive of a successful outcome.

China↗
PubMed1987

[Pleural plaques and an asbestos environment in Northern Corsica].

As opposed to North-West Corsica, North-East Corsica is rich in asbestos outcrops and a source of environmental pollution as can be seen in the airborne concentration of chrysotile and above all tremolite. We have composed the frequency of asbestos pleural plaques occurring in subjects in the two regions starting with a retrospective analysis of the radiological records of 1,721 patients born in Northern Corsica and having no occupational exposure to asbestos. The frequency is 3.8% in the North-East and 1.1% in the North-West (p less than 5%). The relative East-West risk, which is 3.3%, shows the existence of a link between pleural plaques and environmental exposure to asbestos in North-East Corsica.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Japanese-American pulmonary reference values: influence of environment on anthropology and physiology.

Anthropometric measurements and pulmonary function (volumes, flows, and flow-volume curves) were evaluated in a community study of 59 male and 59 female, nonsmoking, healthy Japanese-American volunteers uniformly distributed in decades from 20 to 80 years. A control group of 36 Caucasians was similarly constituted. One technologist performed all tests. Techniques and equipment matched American Thoracic Society recommendations. A cohort effect was demonstrated for anthropometric measurements in the Japanese-Americans. They were smaller and lighter than the Caucasians but taller and heavier than the Japanese of Japan. The differences from whites diminished with youth. Although the group mean volumes and flows differed little from white reference series of Crapo et al. (1981, 1982), there was a difference in the older subjects. Flow-volume curves were increased in all Japanese-Americans. Prediction equations for pulmonary function have been prepared using standing height, age, and sex. More precise formulae would need to include skinfolds, lean body weight, and span. Our Caucasians did not differ anthropometrically or in their pulmonary function from those of the mainland. In conclusion, Japanese-American anthropometry and pulmonary function in Hawaii shows a gradation from that of Japanese to Caucasians, the extent depending on the age. This is secondary to an environmental influence on anthropometry and physiology. As a consequence race-specific reference values for volumes, flows, and flow-volume curves are necessary in evaluating pulmonary function of individual Japanese-Americans.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Bilateral pleural plaques in Corsica: a non-occupational asbestos exposure marker.

The North-East quarter of Corsica being rich in asbestos deposits, we checked the chest radiographs of 1721 patients born in North Corsica, without occupational exposure to asbestos, in order to show an excess of asbestos pleural plaques in those born in the N.E. quarter. Of the 56/1710 patients with bilateral plaques, 53 were born in N.E., and three in N.W. The incidence of plaques was thus respectively 3.7% and 1.2% (p less than 0.05). The site of birth of these 56 patients was compared to that of 213 matched control patients without plaques, born in North Corsica. The percentage of patients with plaques born in villages with asbestos deposits was 94.6 per cent, versus 58.2 per cent for the control patients; the relative risk index is 12.7. This work is the first report of environmental asbestos plaques in Western Europe.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Tropical island asthma in Hawaii.

To better understand the increased morbidity and mortality of asthma in Hawaii, a profile was established from questionnaires completed by 76 asthmatics in a residential area and by 204 asthmatics attending emergency rooms. The general profile differed from profiles on other islands and mainland USA in that allergens were more important and exercise less. Variations occurred in the profile in association with ethnicity, time in Hawaii, and prescribing habits. The Chinese did not recognize infection as a trigger; the Filipinos had little familial asthma, less pollen sensitivity, and used few steroids; and the Japanese were sensitive to Kona weather but not to pollen. The newcomers (military) who were sensitive to pollen and less to emotion and exercise, rated their attacks more severe and used more nebulizers and steroids. Certain other relationships emerged such as house dust as a trigger and the increased use of steroids. Asthmatics of two civilian ERs used fewer nebulizers and steroids. In conclusion, Hawaii's increased morbidity and mortality of asthma should be examined further in terms of ethnicity, infection, house dust, and prescribing habits.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Airborne pollen sampling in Manoa Valley, Hawaii: effect of rain, humidity and wind.

Kramer-Collins pollen sampling was conducted over 24 hours for 25 consecutive months at two valley sites in Honolulu. Of 1,059 expected samples, 699 (66.0%) were collected. Only 25 were considered excellent, i.e., eight three-hour collection bands. Twenty eight were considered good, ie., two to six bands. The difficulties in the study were associated with the weather directly (17.5%), the power source (3.9%), inadequancy of the samplers (63.1%) and the inexperience of technicians (15.3%). Sampler problems were also indirectly attributable to the high humidity, rain and wind, which differed at the two sites.

Air Movements↗
PubMed1981

House dust mites in Hawaii.

Dust was collected from 41 homes distributed in valleys, on ridges, near freeways and along shorelines. Acari were found in 40 of the 41 beds of these home in high concentration; Dermatophagoides represented 92.6%; all were D. pteronyssinus.

Dust↗