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Biomedical subjects

L Fuortes

Publications and source records attributed to L Fuortes.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

A sick house syndrome, possibly resulting from a landfill geologic effluvia.

A novel indoor air quality investigation was associated with carbon dioxide and methane accumulation, presumably from effluvia from geologic sources. Each of 6 workers in an office building complained of respiratory symptoms, and of difficulty with memory and concentration in the workplace, a tightly-sealed structure under negative pressure. No single contaminant was identified to explain the clinical syndromes. No detectable levels of carbon monoxide, methyl ethyl ketone, formaldehyde, ozone, carbon disulfide, nitric oxide, ethylene oxide, ammonia, aldehydes, trichloroethylene or similar chlorinated compounds were found. Carbon dioxide and methane were both present at above ambient outdoor air concentrations. Carbon dioxide was documented to accumulate over a weekend with no occupants in the building, suggesting a geologic source.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Arsenic poisoning. Ongoing diagnostic and social problem.

Arsenic, commonly found in insecticides, herbicides, and industrial materials, is involved in the majority of heavy metal poisonings reported in the United States. Accidental poisoning appears to be most common in the pediatric age-group, whereas intentional and covert poisonings predominate in adults. Diagnosis is often difficult. The clinical presentations of arsenic poisoning, both acute and chronic types, represent a wide spectrum, largely dependent on route of exposure, chemical form, and dose. Because the patient or others providing the history may suppress information on exposure and because toxic levels of arsenic in the system drop rapidly in the first 24 hours, swift administration of diagnostic tests is important. Physician follow-up is determined by the route of exposure to arsenic and may involve referral to a social service network or a mental health facility.

Accidents, Home↗
PubMed1988

An outbreak of acute histoplasmosis in a family.

Acute pulmonary histoplasmosis was diagnosed in three members of a New Mexico family that had recently attended a family reunion in Iowa. The treating physicians rapidly documented an outbreak of atypical pneumonia in the family. The clinical features and epidemiology of the outbreak suggest histoplasmosis was contracted during exposure in an abandoned barn. Fever, chills and myalgia were the most common symptoms; shortness of breath occurred frequently.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Occupational disease surveillance data sources, 1985.

Health department epidemiologists in 50 states, New York City, and the District of Columbia were surveyed in 1985 about seven potential data sources for occupational disease surveillance. Reported sources of occupational disease data were: automated workers' compensation claims (63 per cent of the 52 respondents); provider reports (62 per cent); death certificates with occupation or industry (60 per cent); cancer registries with occupational histories (35 per cent); birth certificates with parent's occupation (27 per cent); non-cancer disease registries (13 per cent); and hospital or insurance records (8 per cent).

Birth Certificates↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Allergenicity testing of supermethrin, phenoxyacetic acid and DNCB using in vivo and in vitro modifications of the local lymph node assays, maximization and epicutaneous testing.

The purpose of this study was to compare two methods of testing for allergenicity: in vivo and in vitro modifications of local lymph node assays (LLNA) in mice and the maximization and epicutaneous skin tests in guinea pigs as per the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (1981). Two pesticides-the synthetic pyrethroid insecticide supermethrin (SM) and the herbicide phenoxyacetic acid (PAA)-were evaluated using this testing battery. 1-Chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB) was selected as a reference allergen for the local lymph node assay. In vitro modification of LLNA proliferative response per standard cell count in lymphocyte cultures derived from treated Balb/c mice did not differ from control mice. Results of the in vivo modification showed that treatment with 50% PAA and 50% SM resulted in a lower proliferation response of lymphocytes in lymph nodes compared with control animals. The vigour of the proliferative response varied more in in vivo modification of LLNA. Stimulation indices were <3, so PAA and SM did not indicate classification as allergens. Lymphocyte proliferation in 1% DNCB-activated lymph nodes was approximately fivefold higher than in those derived from control mice. Proliferation response in vitro calculated as stimulation index was higher in DNCB-treated mice than those observed in vivo, but differences were not dramatic. Auricular lymph node weight and cellularity in mice treated with PAA and SM were similar to controls. The DNCB stimulation index for lymph node cellularity was 5.5. Lymph node weight was three times higher in comparison with controls. In the maximization test in guinea pigs SM and PAA acid resulted in 40% and 50% of animals demonstrating sensitization, respectively. Epicutaneous administration resulted in weaker reaction. Both SM and PAA are mildly strong sensitizers by this battery.

Acetates↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Surveillance and epidemiology of occupational pesticide poisonings on banana plantations in Costa Rica.

A review of one year's workers' compensation records from the Costa Rican National Insurance Institute was performed in a banana plantation region to determine rates of and risk factors for agrichemical poisonings. Review of 9,060 medical records revealed that the most commonly reported agrichemical-related injuries (n=800) were chemical burns (28%) and acute intoxications (21%). Other agrichemical-related injuries included eye injuries, chemical dermatoses, and chronic fungal infections. The incidences and types of injuries differed between male and female workers and workers of different age groups. Older female workers were more likely to report chemical dermatoses. Young male workers were more likely to experience acute intoxication. These differences seem to be attributable to divisions of labor by gender and age among plantation workers.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Factors associated with adequacy of diagnostic workup after abnormal breast cancer screening results.

BACKGROUND: Women with certain characteristics, such as those residing in rural areas, are less likely screened for breast cancer. To enhance detection of early breast cancer, it is imperative that all women who have abnormal screening results receive appropriate diagnostic procedures. This study reports differences in receipt of diagnostic services following abnormal screening results. METHODS: Screening and diagnostic data were collected as part of a breast and cervical cancer early detection program aimed at reaching women of lower socioeconomic status. Women with completed diagnostic information after having abnormal screening results were included. We based adequacy of diagnostic services on guidelines from the Society for Surgical Oncology, The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Several factors were assessed for their association with adequacy of diagnostic follow-up: income, age, race, education, health insurance status, rural-urban residence, reported breast lump, family history of breast cancer, and clinical beast examination or mammogram results. RESULTS: Overall, 14.1% of the 351 abnormal findings were considered inadequately followed up based on the algorithm used. Eighty percent involved an abnormal finding on a clinical breast examination regardless of the mammogram results. Rural women, those with abnormal clinical breast examination findings but normal or equivocal findings on mammograms, and those who self-discovered a mass were less likely to receive adequate follow-up than were their counterparts in multivariate analysis. Rural women were less likely to receive a biopsy or fine-needle aspiration, although it was indicated. One facility accounted for most of the inadequate follow-up screenings among urban women. CONCLUSIONS: Women who have specific demographic and clinical characteristics were less likely to have received adequate diagnostic services. Breast cancers could have been missed initially as a result of inappropriate follow-up. Further investigation of the clinical scenarios using chart reviews is warranted.

Algorithms↗