Conversion from Neoral (cyclosporine) to tacrolimus of kidney transplant recipients for gingival hyperplasia or hypertrichosis.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
P Demers
Publications and source records attributed to P Demers.
Fertility among a cohort of male sawmill workers exposed to chlorophenate fungicides.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether exposure to chlorophenate fungicides and their dioxin contaminants is associated with male infertility among sawmill workers. The study was conducted using fertility data compiled from 26,487 sawmill workers in 14 British Columbian sawmills. Our analysis was restricted to workers who had been employed for at least 1 continuous year between 1950 and 1985 and to live-births born at least 1 year after the initiation of employment in the period 1955-1988. We assessed fertility trends by internal comparison using Mantel-Haenszel rate ratios and by calculating standardized fertility ratios using an external and an internal reference population. We identified 19,684 births in the study period. Initially, both external and internal analyses showed that sawmill workers from mills using chlorophenates had lower fertility than workers employed in mills not using chlorophenates. After controlling for time since first hire, however, we found no inverse relation between cumulative exposure to chlorophenate fungicides and fertility. Based on the results of our study, there is little evidence for a reduction in fertility among chlorophenate-exposed sawmill workers in British Columbia. The analyses indicate the importance of time since hire as a potentially strong confounder in this type of investigation.
Adult↗
[Comparison of endothelial reactivity of infrarenal and suprarenal aortic segments in rodents].
OBJECT: Human infrarenal aorta is prone to develop atherosclerotic lesions. Infrarenal aortic blood flow depends on lower limb muscular activity. Blood flow variations cause shear stress variations known to influence endothelial reactivity. The purpose of this study is to compare vascular reactivity of the suprarenal and infrarenal aorta. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine (ACH) and calcium ionophore (Cal), and endothelium-independent relaxation to sodium nitroprussiate (SNP) in 3 aortic segments (thoracic, abdominal suprarenal and infrarenal) harvested from Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 12) were studied in organ chambers. RESULTS: Endothelium-dependent relaxations to ACH were similar for the 3 aortic segments. However, infrarenal aorta endothelial response to Cal was decreased compared to other segments whereas response to SNP was enhanced. Contractility to vasoconstrictor agonist (phenylephrine and KCl) was diminished compared to the suprarenal segments. CONCLUSION: Endothelial reactivity is not homogeneous throughout the rat aorta. Endothelial reactivity to Cal seems decreased in the infrarenal aorta which suggests a diminished nitric oxide synthase activity. The increased sensitivity of the infrarenal aorta to nitric oxide donor such as SNP suggests a compensatory mechanism.
Acetylcholine↗
[The vasoconstrictor effect of cyclosporine on the pulmonary vein is mediated by its vehicle: the cremophor].
OBJECT: Cyclosporin A (CyA) induced vasoconstriction and impaired relaxation to agonists has been related in some models to its vehicle: the cremophor (CRE). There is no data concerning the effect of CyA and its vehicle CRE on the pulmonary veins. Therefore, the present study was designed to characterize the effect of CyA and CRE on isolated pulmonary veins. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Third-order canine pulmonary veins (n = 6) were suspended in organ chambers for measurement of isometric force. Segments were exposed to cumulative doses (10(-9) to 10(-4) M) of CyA in its vehicle CRE, and to CRE alone. RESULTS: CyA induced an ehdothelium-independent vaasoconstriction similar to CRE, maximal constriction (Emax) were: 1.8 +/- 0.3 g versus 2.1 +/- 0.4 g respectively (p = NS). This vasoconstriction observed with CRE was not affected by indomethacine (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor), and by pinane thromboxane (a thromboxane antagonist). However, the vasoconstriction was decreased by diltiazem (10(-5) M), a calcium channel blocker, Emax were: 2.1 +/- 0.4 g and 0.8 +/- 0.04 g respectively for CRE and CRE with diltiazem (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: CyA vehicle CRE induces an endothelium-independent vasoconstriction in isolated third order pulmonary veins in the dog. This vasoconstriction is not related to a cyclooxygenase product, but is partially mediated by a calcium channel activation in vascular smooth muscle.
Animals↗
Management of silicone-induced cataract in AIDS patients treated for viral retinitis-associated retinal detachment.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of cataract surgery for patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who underwent vitrectomy and silicone tamponade for viral retinitis-associated retinal detachment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the data of five AIDS patients (five eyes) who had cataract within a mean period of 4 months following vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade for viral retinitis-associated retinal detachment. Phacoemulsification and implantation of a poly-methylmethacrylate posterior chamber intraocular lens were performed. The mean postoperative follow-up was 3 months. RESULTS: Neither silicone oil loss nor retinal redetachment were reported postoperatively. Visual acuity improved in two eyes and remained unchanged in one eye. Total blindness occurred in two eyes. CONCLUSION: Although cataract surgery in these eyes is a relative easy procedure and does not interfere with the retinal status, visual outcome remains poor because of possible postoperative optic atrophy.
AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
["The living image sign" in a patient with Alzheimer's disease].
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Aged↗
[Comparison of hemodynamic and ventilatory effects of pneumoperitoneum using carbon dioxide or abdominal suspension during laparoscopic cholecystectomy].
This study compares the cardio-respiratory effects of CO2 pneumoperitoneum to those of abdominal suspension (or laparolift) in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Between september 1993 et may 1995, 31 patients participated in this non-randomized prospective trial. They consisted of 9 males et 22 females, with a mean age of 47.0 +/- 14 years. Sixteen patients were included in the CO2 group and 15 in the laparolift group. Both groups were comparable for age and gender. All patients were submitted to the same anaesthetic protocol. Repeated measurements of the respiratory and cardiovascular function were made during the intervention. End tidal CO2, minute ventilation, peak inspiratory pressure showed superior elevations in the CO2 group. And for the hemodynamic parameters, only the mean arterial pressure and cardiac frequency differed between the two groups, other hemodynamic parameters including left ventricular ejection fraction were comparable. Also, postoperatory hospital stay, OR time, per and postoperatory complications were comparable. With its stable hemodynamic and ventilatory pattern, abdominal suspension can constitute a safe and secure alternative to CO2 pneumoperitoneum in patients with respiratory dysfunction.
Adult↗
Translation of clinical and neuropsychological instruments into French: the CERAD experience.
The increasing number of international and epidemiological studies of Alzheimer's disease points to the need for linguistically equivalent translations of measures for identifying the presence, types, and severity of dementia in cross-cultural populations. In translating the CERAD (Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease) neuropsychological instruments into French, several linguistic issues have emerged such as semantic, phonetic, and word-frequency equivalences. In verbal memory tests, these problems, though minor in appearance, can be major pitfalls in studies comparing cognitive function in populations differing in language. Description of the translation procedure and examples of problems encountered are presented, with measures taken to resolve them.
Aged↗
Neuropsychological performance among agricultural pesticide applicators.
To assess the potential effects on neuropsychiatric performance of chronic occupational exposure to organophosphate insecticides, we performed a prospective longitudinal study of a cohort of apple orchard pesticide applicators and a comparison cohort of beef slaughter-house workers. The study group consisted of 49 applicators and 40 comparison subjects who completed both an initial evaluation (preseason) prior to the onset of the approximately 6-month pesticide spraying season and a follow-up evaluation (postseason) about 1 month following the end of spraying season. The applicator cohort had a greater number (n = 22, 45%) of individuals who identified primary preference for Spanish-language testing than did the comparison cohort (n = 5, 13%). Stratification by language preference revealed no significant differences in background characteristics between the two cohorts, except for fewer years of education in the Spanish-language preference applicators versus control subgroups (5.0 +/- 3.1 vs 7.8 +/- 3.7 years, respectively). After controlling for language preference, there were no statistically significant differences between the applicators and control cohorts on neuropsychological subtests of the computerized test battery. Preseason baseline performance on individual tests was a significant predictor of postseason test performance. After controlling for baseline performance, the only statistically significant exposure related across-season changes in neuropsychological performance was for one subtest (Symbol Digit Substitution) and was confined to the Spanish language preference subgroups, with worse adjusted postseason performance among applicators versus controls (P = 0.001). This study found no clear evidence of clinically significant decrements in neuropsychological performance following one 6-month season of pesticide exposure in a cohort of applicators who were felt to have generally low, intermittent, and well-controlled organophosphate exposures.
Adult↗
Organophosphate pesticide exposure in a group of Washington State orchard applicators.
As part of a study to investigate the potential for organophosphates to cause chronic neurologic sequelae, we assessed the pesticide exposure experience of a group of Washington State apple orchard applicators. Seasonal monitoring of cholinesterase activity for 48 regular organophosphate applicators and a control group of 40 slaughterhouse workers was performed. A subset of the pesticide applicators participated in an in-depth exposure assessment. This involved observation of spraying activities during 1 spray day, as well as cholinesterase monitoring and dermal exposure assessment using a fluorescent tracer in the pesticide formulation. Comparison of seasonal red blood cell cholinesterase change in pesticide workers according to exposure level, characterized by frequency of pesticide spraying and protective equipment use, showed lower cholinesterase levels among higher exposed groups compared to lesser exposed groups. In-depth exposure assessment revealed exposure primarily on the head and hand regions. Subclinical changes (less than 15% inhibition) in red cell cholinesterase correlated well with dermal exposure calculations. This study suggests that cholinesterase monitoring may be a useful biological marker for even subclinical organophosphate pesticide effects.
Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
Opposite variations of two epididymal components and blood plasma testosterone in two breeds of rams.
1. Testicular volume (T Vol), blood plasma testosterone (T) concentration, seminal plasma alpha-glucosidase (alpha-G) specific activity, L-carnitine (L-C) concentration as well as semen characteristics were compared in eight Finnish Landrace (F) and eight Suffolk (S) rams throughout 21 months. 2. Only T Vol and T exhibited a typical seasonal variation in both breeds, whereas L-C, alpha-G and live sperm output presented a seasonal profile only in S rams. 3. L-C and alpha-G variations were opposite to those of T in S rams, while they fluctuated in F rams throughout the entire experiment, as did live sperm output. 4. Only the number of ejaculates and T were significantly higher in F rams (3.50 +/- 0.08 in 5 min and 7.62 +/- 0.40 ng/ml) than in S rams (2.30 +/- 0.05 in 5 min and 5.5 +/- 0.30 ng/ml); these two characteristics might therefore be considered as two indexes of sexual activity in rams. 5. By contrast, among all characteristics measured, only alpha-G was significantly higher in S rams than in F rams (1.33 +/- 0.04 vs 0.77 +/- 0.03 mU/mg proteins); this result, as well as seasonal alpha-G profile present in only S rams, allowed us to conclude that alpha-G might be considered as an additional index of seasonal reproduction in rams.
Animals↗
Occupational injuries and illnesses among Washington State agricultural workers.
In Washington state 29,451 workers' compensation claims were filed by farm workers between 1982 and 1986. Five percent of claimants were under 18 years of age, including 1.3% under the age of 16. Agricultural workers were found to be at higher risk than other workers in the state for fatal injury (relative risk [RR] = 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.7-3.7), sprains and strains (RR = 1.4, CI = 1.3-1.4), fractures (RR = 2.3, CI = 2.2-2.4), dislocations (RR = 1.9, CI = 1.7-2.2), concussions (RR = 1.9, CI = 1.6-2.3), amputations (RR = 2.5, CI = 2.0-3.1), dermatitis (RR = 4.3, CI = 4.0-4.7), systemic poisoning (RR = 3.4, CI = 3.1-3.7), respiratory disease (RR = 1.7, CI = 1.0-2.9), and tendonitis (RR = 1.2, CI = 1.1-1.4).
Absenteeism↗
The effects of removing a statutory barrier to workers' compensation for farm workers.
In 1983 the Washington State Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional a unique exemption that excluded farm workers from workers' compensation if they had not earned $150 in continuous work with the same employer. In order to examine the effect of removing this restriction, workers' compensation data were analyzed to examine the number of farm workers covered, the number of claims submitted, and claim acceptance rates before and after the ruling. Although the 1983 ruling appears to have had a significant impact on the treatment of claims, no increase in utilization of the workers' compensation system was observed. Further intervention is required if the objective of treating farm workers equitably is to be realized.
Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
Cohort mortality study of Seattle fire fighters: 1945-1983.
Fire fighters are known to be occupationally exposed to many toxic substances. However, the limited number of previous studies has not demonstrated any consistent excess mortality from diseases of a priori concern, such as lung cancer, non-malignant respiratory disease, and cardiovascular disease. We studied 2,289 Seattle fire fighters from 1945 through 1983, and observed 383 deaths. Excess mortality from leukemia (SMR = 503, n = 3) and multiple myeloma (SMR = 989, n = 2) was observed among fire fighters with 30 years or more fire combat duty. Lung cancer mortality was elevated (SMR = 177, n = 18) among fire fighters 65 years old or older. We also analyzed the data by considering fire fighters at risk only after 30 years from first exposure. In this analysis, a trend of increasing risk with increasing exposure was observed for diseases of the circulatory system. For this cause of death, fire fighters with 30 years or more fire combat duty had a relative risk of 1.84 compared to those with less than 15 years of fire combat duty.
Cause of Death↗
The corpus callosum and cerebral speech lateralization.
In order to specify the callosal involvement in the establishment of cerebral lateralization, a dichotic listening task was administered to six subjects with congenital absence of the corpus callosum, two callosotomized patients, and two hemispherectomized patients. The acallosal subjects were also compared to six subjects matched for age, sex, and hand dominance as well as to six subjects also matched for IQ. Our findings indicate that language functions, as assessed by dichotic listening performance, are more strongly lateralized in callosal agenesis subjects than in IQ-matched normal controls. Our results also reveal that hemispherectomized patients typically show a strong ear-advantage favoring the ear contralateral to their remaining hemisphere. Callosotomized patients, on the other hand, show a more variable pattern of results that seems to be related to the postsurgical time interval. Finally, our findings suggest that there might be a relationship between IQ and lateralization in subjects with borderline or mild deficiency.
Adolescent↗
Respiratory mortality among firefighters.
Although firefighters have been shown in some studies to suffer chronic respiratory morbidity from their occupational exposures, an increased risk for dying from non-malignant respiratory diseases has not been documented in any previous retrospective cohort mortality study. In order to assess the possibility that an unusually strong "healthy worker effect" among firefighters might mask this increased risk, a mortality analysis of firefighters was carried out in three cities in relation to the United States population and also to a comparison cohort of police officers. The firefighters were employed between 1945 and 1980 and experienced 886 deaths by 1 January 1984; compared with the United States population they had a significantly reduced risk of dying from all causes (SMR = 82, 95% confidence interval, 77-87), and from non-malignant circulatory diseases (SMR = 81, 95% confidence interval 73-89), but no significant difference in risk of non-malignant respiratory diseases (SMR = 88, 95% confidence interval 66-117). Compared with police, the firefighters experienced a trend toward improved mortality outcomes for all causes investigated (SMR = 82), but they had an excess of deaths from non-malignant respiratory diseases (SMR = 141). The results indicate that firefighters are probably at increased risk for dying from non-malignant respiratory diseases; this increased risk may have been missed in previous studies because of the limitations of using a general reference population.
Adolescent↗
Alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity in ram seminal plasma is inversely related to serum testosterone.
The epididymis of adult rams is the primary source of alpha-glucosidase in seminal plasma. Two breeds of rams were selected to ascertain whether the enzyme was under androgenic control during adult life of rams. Opposite variations between serum testosterone and alpha-glucosidase were recorded over a period of 16 months in Suffolk and Finnish Landrace. In addition, the highest percentage of sperm motility was associated with a low alpha-glucosidase content of seminal plasma. Data from this study suggest that seasonal variations of testosterone in adult rams exert a negative control on the presence of alpha-glucosidase in semen.
Animals↗
Serum cholesterol and colorectal polyps.
Colorectal cancer and hypocholesterolemia have recently been associated, and colorectal polyps have a known relationship with colorectal cancer. In order to establish further evidence regarding the nature of the serum cholesterol-colorectal cancer relationship, this study investigated the hypothesis that men with colorectal polyps would have lower serum cholesterol levels than men without polyps. Of the 1380 men screened by sigmoidoscopy for colorectal polyps, 246 had at least one polyp. The men with polyps were older than those without, and also had higher cholesterol levels, but after controlling for age, there were no serum cholesterol differences. These data suggest that low serum cholesterol is not etiologically linked to cancer. Analyses of potentially confounding variables showed smoking to be strongly related to the presence of polyps.
Adult↗