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D Ruttenberg

Publications and source records attributed to D Ruttenberg.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Hazards associated with the boat building industry in New Zealand: an OSH audit.

AIM: To randomly audit the boat building industry in New Zealand to assess the occupational health status and level of knowledge of employees. METHODS: A survey was conducted using a nurse and inspector administered questionnaire. 151 workers from 120 randomly selected firms participated in the survey. RESULTS: 31.5% respondents thought they had had some sort of work related health problem since working in that job. 22% reported wheezing during the last twelve months. 14-16% met criteria for occupational causation, and 4% met a measure of severe wheezing related to work. 25.6% of workers had dermatitis. Only a quarter of these met criteria for occupational causation. No respondents reported symptoms suggestive of chronic solvent neurotoxicity. Solvents and epoxy resins comprised the majority of chemicals with which there was contact. Observation suggested little use of Material Safety Data Sheets as a source of knowledge about toxicity of the chemicals used. Although 94.3% reported wearing gloves, this did not correlate with numbers reporting dermatitis suggesting non-compliance or glove failure. CONCLUSION: New Zealand boat builders and their employees remain at risk for occupational health problems by virtue of their employment.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

PEG-400 excretion in patients with Crohn's disease, their first-degree relatives, and healthy volunteers.

An altered small bowel permeability may be implicated in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease. Intestinal permeability, using polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) as the orally ingested probe, was assessed in 45 patients with Crohn's disease (ileal N = 14, ileocolonic N = 9, colonic N = 10, postresection N = 12), 20 first-degree relatives, and 31 controls. PEG 400 excretion was measured using a direct injection HPLC method, and results are expressed as percent of dose recovered in urine (median and range). No quantitative differences in the recovery of PEG-400 were found [Crohn's patients 21.9% (6.1-39.9), relatives 23.7% (4.9-39.9), controls 25.0% (4.5-39.7)]. In all groups, the composition of ingested and recovered PEG-400 was similar and no selective permeability to any molecular weight species was found. Disease site did not influence probe recovery [ileal 23.8% (7.7-30.6), ileocolonic 22.6% (14.4-33.8), colonic 27.8% (9.5-33.5)]. Resected patients had significantly lower PEG-400 recovery [18.8% (8.1-39.9)] than nonresected patients [23.5% (6.1-33.8%) P less than 0.02]. The data suggest either that altered intestinal permeability is not a factor in Crohn's disease or that PEG-400 is not a suitable probe.

Cell Membrane Permeability↗
PubMed1991

Severe colonic dysplasia in a child with familial adenomatous polyposis.

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), is a genetic premalignant condition which, if untreated, will ultimately manifest with the development of colorectal carcinoma. It is a disease of young adulthood. Rectal and colonic polyps are seldom seen before 10 years of age. Screening of clinically asymptomatic relatives thus generally starts during the teenage years. Carcinoma of the colon is exceedingly rare in children with FAP. While all adult patients should be surgically treated before the appearance of any carcinoma, early detection of dysplasia is paramount. The present case history relates to an 8-year-old boy with FAP who was found to have a significant degree of dysplasia in a polyp. This case remains the exception and a uniform approach to the screening and treatment of patients with FAP is still encouraged.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗
PubMed1990

Common variable hypogammaglobulinemia. A case report.

We describe a patient with severe common variable hypogammaglobulinemia (CVH) whose clinical course was dominated by resistant giardiasis requiring prolonged hospitalization. The giardiasis was eventually controlled by initial metronidazole and subsequent mepacrine therapy, but side effects necessitated the withdrawal of both of these drugs. Replacement immunoglobulin treatment failed to restore normal serum immunoglobulin levels, but despite this, they appeared to be of value in reducing the liability to recurrent giardiasis. We discuss the use of immunoglobulin supplementation in this condition and the frequent association between CVH and pentagastrinfast achlorhydria.

Agammaglobulinemia↗
PubMed1990

Measurement of polyethylene glycol 400 in urine by direct-injection high-performance liquid chromatography.

We describe a new "high-performance" liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for estimating polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) in urine. Direct injection of diluted urine samples onto the column eliminates the necessity for lengthy preparative steps, resulting in considerable saving of both time and chemicals. High analytical recoveries (94-102%) and a rapid rate of analysis are achieved. Results vary linearly with concentrations from 0.2 to 1.6 g/L and the six major components can be individually quantified precisely at all concentrations in this range. This method shows better sample recovery, sensitivity, and reproducibility than does a previously described method. The increased sensitivity should allow the use of lower oral doses of polyethylene glycol 400 in future studies of intestinal permeability.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗