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Biomedical subjects

D Truong

Publications and source records attributed to D Truong.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Cervical dystonia severity scale reliability study.

Cervical dystonia (CD) is characterized by sustained contractions of the neck musculature, resulting in abnormal head postures. The Cervical Dystonia Severity Scale (CDSS) was developed to provide a reliable measure of treatment response in patients with CD. The CDSS uses a protractor and wall chart to rate the severity of the head's deviation from neutral in each of three planes of motion (rotation, laterocollis, anterocollis/retrocollis), which is then scored in 5 degree intervals (1 degree to 5 degrees deviation = 1; 86 degree to 90 degrees deviation = 18). To test the reliability of the CDSS, four centers, each with two independent examiners, evaluated 42 patients with CD. At each site, each of the two examiners used the CDSS to evaluate the head position of each patient twice, on the same day, for a total of four evaluations. The kappa value for intra-examiner agreement was 0.94 (95% confidence limit of 0.900-0.972), indicating excellent intra-examiner reliability. The kappa value for interexaminer reliability was 0.79 for the first evaluation and 0.86 for the second evaluation (95% confidence limits of 0.668-0.920 and 0.790-0.920) indicating excellent interexaminer reliability. Thus, the CDSS was highly reliable in both intra-examiner and interexaminer scoring comparisons.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Environmental residues and biomonitoring estimates of human insecticide exposure from treated residential turf.

Intentional and unavoidable human exposure is a consequence of using pesticides to nurture and protect residential turf. Limited exposure studies have been conducted for assessing potential human exposure of turf residues. Exposure was measured in persons who performed a 20-minute structured activity (Jazzercise) on chlorpyrifos (CP)-treated Kentucky bluegrass (12 +/- 4 microg CP/cm(2)). CP exposure was measured by determining urine clearance of the 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP). Study participants wore either 100% cotton whole body dosimeters (union suit, gloves, and socks) or exercise suits (shorts and a sports top or one-piece suit with similar amounts of exposed skin). An average of 1.6 mg CP/person was extracted from whole body dosimeters worn by study participants. The measured residue transfer was well below the 35 mg CP/person estimated using the US EPA standard operating procedures. Biomonitoring based on urine clearance of TCP indicated that an average of 1.3 microg CP/kg was absorbed. Absorbed dosages (0.5 to 2 microg CP/kg) derived from transferable residue on cotton cloths pressed to the turf with a weighted roller were similar to estimates from biomonitoring. A very limited amount of CP applied to turf is available for transfer and absorption during intensive human contact.

Absorption↗
PubMed1996

Clinical evidence of genetic anticipation in adult-onset idiopathic dystonia.

Idiopathic dystonia occurs in both hereditary and sporadic forms. In this report, we studied the age of onset and family history of 260 patients (probands) with idiopathic adult-onset dystonia (IAD), cranial or cervical. The mean age at onset of these patients was (45.71 +/- 15.85) years. Forty-nine probands had a positive family history of dystonia or tremor in first- and second-degree relatives, and 7 had affected siblings only. The significance of tremor as a part of clinical manifestation of dystonia was evidenced by a high frequency of postural or action tremor in patients and relatives. Retrospectively, we examined the age of onset of dystonia (cervical or cranial) on successive generations in 49 families. Age of onset of clinical symptoms was earlier, by an average of 21.25 years, in the second generation than in the first generation. The mean age at onset of affected family members differed significantly between successive generations in these 49 families (p = 1.11 x 10(-8)). Our results suggest a tendency for earlier onset of dystonia and worsening of disease phenotype in succeeding generations in the same family. These findings are most compatible with genetic anticipation and suggest that an unstable trinucleotide repeat is most likely involved in adult-onset primary cranial or cervical dystonia. In addition, tremor as an integral part of dystonia needs further evaluation by molecular genetic studies.

Adult↗