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Biomedical subjects

R Haney

Publications and source records attributed to R Haney.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Variability of particle size-specific fractions of personal coal mine dust exposures.

This study estimated the ratio of the tracheo-bronchial dust fraction to the fraction collected by a respirable dust sampler for a variety of job classifications found in conventional, continuous, and longwall coal mining sections. The ratios could then be applied in epidemiologic studies to existing respirable dust measurements to estimate thoracic mass concentrations for evaluation of the relative importance of the respirable and thoracic dust fractions to obstructive lung disease. Data collected include particle size distributions from four U.S. underground coal mines using eight-stage personal cascade impactors. A total of 180 samples were examined by mine, occupation and occupations grouped by proximity to the mine face, and by mining technology. Several fractions--that collected by the 10-mm nylon cyclone, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists respirable and thoracic particulate mass fractions, and the estimated alveolar and tracheo-bronchial deposition fractions--were estimated. These were not significantly different when grouped by occupation, by proximity of work to the mine face, or by the type of mining technology in use. Distributions from one mine varied from the others, perhaps because it used diesel equipment in the haulage ways, which contributed to the fine aerosol fractions. Results suggest that although the tracheo-bronchial dust fraction may contribute to the development of obstructive lung disease, occupation-specific tracheo-bronchial dust fractions are not likely to produce stronger exposure-response estimates than the historically collected respirable dust concentrations.

Bronchi↗

Roentgenographic dimensions of the upper airway in snoring patients with and without obstructive sleep apnea.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether a simple test, such as routine roentgenographic views of the upper airway, is useful in identifying anatomic narrowing of the airway in patients with sleep apnea. To accomplish this, we prospectively studied a group of 117 patients (95 male and 22 female subjects) referred for evaluation of heavy snoring and possible obstructive sleep apnea. All patients had full nocturnal polysomnography, including measurements of snoring. Lateral view of the airway obtained after swallowing contrast material was used to measure pharyngeal diameters at three sites along the airway. All measurements were performed with the patients standing and supine. We used three different definitions of sleep apnea (apnea/hypopnea index of 10, 20, and 40), and compared airway diameters between the apneic and nonapneic snorers. Only when sleep apnea was defined as greater than 40 apneas plus hypopneas per hour of sleep was there a significant difference in airway diameter at the tip of the palate and 1 cm distal to it between apneic and nonapneic snorers. Both groups of patients demonstrated a significant reduction in the retropalatal distance on assumption of the supine posture. Stepwise, forward, multiple linear regression analysis showed that the retropalatal distance and airway diameter at the tip of the palate and 1 cm distal to it were significant predictors of snoring, but not apnea. We conclude that (1) airway diameters account for some of the variability in snoring, and (2) they do not differentiate between apneic and nonapneic snorers.

Adult↗

Self-selected exercise intensity is unchanged by sleep loss.

Sleep loss alters the perceptual response to exercise: subjects describe constant external work loads as more severe after sleep deprivation. However, since subjects cannot be "blind" to their sleep status and have knowledge of previous exertional ratings, it remains unknown if this increase in perceived exertion merely represents expectations of increased difficulty of exercise after sleep loss. As one approach to this problem, we asked 24 subjects to produce equivalent "very hard" efforts, once after normal sleep, and once after 30 h without sleep. This was done by allowing the subject, while walking at constant speed, to adjust treadmill grade, without knowledge of the actual elevation. We found that exercise at equal perceived exertion was associated with the choice of a nearly equal absolute work load after sleep deprivation as after normal sleep (17.1 vs. 17.5% grade; p = n.s.). In addition, after 10 min of exercise at the self-selected intensity, subjects displayed identical ventilation, oxygen uptake, and CO2 production. However, heart rate was significantly lower during exercise after sleep loss (170 +/- 3 vs. 178 +/- 3 b X min-1; p less than 0.001). These results suggest that previously measured increases in perceived exertion during constant-load exercise after sleep loss may be spurious.

Adult↗

Echocardiographic evaluation of tricuspid valve endocarditis: an M mode and two dimensional study.

Standard M mode echocardiography and a new real time two dimensional echocardiographic imaging system were utilized to follow the progressive anatomic destruction of the tricuspid valve in a patient with bacterial endocarditis. The initial two dimensional echocardiographic study revealed large vegetative masses attached to severely prolapsing tricuspid leaflets. Serial studies demonstrated eventual disruption of the chordal attachments of the anterior tricuspid leaflet resulting in frank leaflet flail. This technique was seen to complement both M mode echocardiography and cardiac angiography by providing spatial information concerning serial changes in the disordered tricuspid valve. Such findings call attention to the relative roles of various diagnostic measures, including M mode and two dimensional echocardiography, in assessing the specific anatomic and functional performance of a diseased tricuspid valve.

Adult↗

Water quality impacts of converting to a poultry litter fertilization strategy.

When improperly managed, land application of animal manures can harm the environment; however, limited watershed-scale runoff water quality data are available to research and address this issue. The water quality impacts of conversion to poultry litter fertilization on cultivated and pasture watersheds in the Texas Blackland Prairie were evaluated in this three-year study. Edge-of-field N and P concentrations and loads in surface runoff from new litter application sites were compared with losses under inorganic fertilization. The impact on downstream nutrient loss was also examined. In the fallow year with no fertilizer application, nutrient losses averaged 3 kg N ha(-1) and 0.9 kg P ha(-1) for the cultivated watersheds and were below 0.1 kg ha(-1) for the pasture watersheds. Following litter application, PO(4)-P concentrations in runoff were positively correlated to litter application rate and Mehlich-3 soil P levels. Following litter application, NO(3)-N and NH(4)-N concentrations in runoff were typically greater from cultivated watersheds, but PO(4)-P concentrations were greater for the pasture watersheds. Total N and P loads from the pasture watersheds (0.2 kg N ha(-1) and 0.7 kg P ha(-1)) were significantly lower than from the cultivated watersheds (32 kg N ha(-1) and 5 kg P ha(-1)) partly due to lower runoff volumes from the pasture watersheds. Downstream N and P concentrations and per-area loads were much lower than from edge-of-field watersheds. Results demonstrate that a properly managed annual litter application (4.5 Mg ha(-1) or less depending on litter N and P content) with supplemental N should supply necessary nutrients without detrimental water quality impacts.

Animals↗