1/76. Occupational asthma and IgE sensitization to cellulase in a textile industry worker.BACKGROUND: Although there have been a few reports of occupational asthma due to cellulase in several occupational settings, this is the first case of cellulase-induced occupational asthma in an employee working in the textile industry. Its pathogenetic mechanism remains to be further clarified. OBJECTIVE: It is important to alert physicians to the possibility of occupational asthma caused by cellulase in workers of the textile industry. methods AND RESULTS: The patient had atopy and strong positive responses to cellulase extract on skin prick tests. Bronchoprovocation test showed an early asthmatic response to cellulase extract. serum specific IgE and specific IgG4 antibodies to cellulase were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In order to further characterize the allergenic component of the extract, sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and electroblotting studies were performed. Eight IgE binding components ranging from 6 to 97.5 kD were detected within the cellulase extract. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that inhalation of cellulase can induce IgE-mediated bronchoconstrictions in employees working in the textile industry.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/76. radium-induced malignant tumors of the mastoid and paranasal sinuses.In the records of 5,058 persons with therapeutic or occupational exposure to radium, 21 patients with carcinoma of the mastoid and 11 with malignant tumors of the paranasal sinuses were identified. Tumor induction times were 21-50 years for mastoid tumors (median, 33) and 19-52 years for paranasal sinus tumors (median, 34). Dosimetric data are given for the patients whose body burdens of radium have been measured. We found a high proportion of mucoepidermoid carcinoma, comprising 38% of the mastoid and 36% of the paranasal sinus tumors. Three patients had antecedent bone sarcoma at 20, 11, and 5 years, respectively, and a bone sarcoma was discovered at autopsy in a fourth patient. Radiographic changes in the mastoid and paranasal sinuses were similar to those seen in nonradium malignant tumors. More than 800 known persons exposed to radium before 1930 and another group of unknown size who received radium water or injections of radium from physicians are still alive and at risk of developing malignant tumors of the mastoid and paranasal sinuses.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/76. Outflow uropathy: occupational disorder?This paper alerts physicians, health care workers, and employers to a probable connection between voluntary, infrequent voiding and urinary dysfunction. The dysfunction includes abnormal uroflow patterns, increased urethral resistance, abnormal post-void residuals, chronic trigonitis, and urethrovesical inflammatory polyps. A review of intermittent uroflow and obstructive uroflow patterns reveals that all females in this study worked long hours without voiding.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/76. tobacco and public health.OBJECTIVES: An interactive program for physicians and surgeons was used to focus their attention on current issues of lung cancer in the united states. The issues examined were the risks for the development of lung cancer in smokers, spouses of smokers, recipients of second-hand or sidestream smoke, and the appropriate workup and treatment of patients with lung cancer. DESIGN: Case presentation with interactive questions and answers. patients: Six patients are presented whose cases demonstrate issues that are relevant and timely to the practice of thoracic surgery and oncology Interventions: Treatment for the five case presentations is used for interactive teaching purposes. CONCLUSIONS: lung cancer is epidemic in the united states, particularly among women at the present time. Physician awareness of the environmental and other factors contributing to the disease should stay current with the population variables that we are seeing in clinical practice.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/76. occipital lobe meningioma in a patient with multiple chemical sensitivities.BACKGROUND: The concurrent diagnosis of meningioma with increased intracranial pressure has not been reported previously in a patient who meets diagnostic criteria for multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS). methods: A patient who had been evaluated in an occupational medicine practice, and by several other physicians for sensitivity to chemical odors was found to have papilledema and a visual field deficit. The patient met the clinical criteria set forth by Cullen in 1987 for MCS. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan was performed. RESULTS: The MRI revealed a large occipital lobe meningioma, which was surgically resected. Removal of the meningioma had little effect on the patient's symptoms. She has been unable to return to her job as a custodian. DISCUSSION: The etiology of MCS has been disputed and is currently unresolved. Those who evaluate patients with MCS are reminded that meningiomas and other intracranial mass lesions can affect olfaction, and that patients with MCS can have treatable intracranial abnormalities.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/76. A study of post-traumatic shingles as a work related injury.BACKGROUND: After chicken pox, the herpes varicella-zoster (HVZ) virus may remain dormant in the dorsal root ganglion until later reactivation causes shingles, characterized by painful dysesthesias and cutaneous vesicular eruptions along a unilateral dermatome. Shingles as a work-related injury has not been previously addressed in the medical literature. Case history We present a 50-year old female hospital employee who, while working, sustained an acute, traumatic hyperextension injury to her right wrist, hand, and fingers. Although she initially responded to treatment for flexor tendinitis, she suddenly developed shingles in the right C5-C6 dermatomes. She was treated with famcyclovir and her skin lesions resolved, but post-herpetic neuralgia persisted. CONCLUSIONS: It was felt that her shingles was causally related to her occupational injury since trauma (previously reported to precipitate shingles) was her only risk factor and the timing and location of the lesions corresponded closely to the occupational injury. In addition to appropriately diagnosing and treating their patients, workers' compensation physicians often must determine if a particular condition was caused by the original work-related incident. Clinicians who treat trauma patients and injured workers should be aware of post-traumatic shingles and understand the causal relationship of this uncommon but clinically important phenomenon.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/76. Occupational and environmental medicine and primary care.This article introduces occupational and environmental medicine (OEM) to physicians in other specialties, and especially to primary care physicians, by highlighting the common foundations of OEM practice and primary care practice. These common foundations include careful diagnosis and treatment, appropriate use of consultants, collaboration with non-medical professionals, attention to psychosocial issues, care of the entire family, respect for confidentiality, patient education, preventing disability and maximizing function, diligent patient follow-up, epidemiological thinking, and continuing medical education.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/76. Molecular evolutionary analysis of the complete nucleotide sequence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in a case of HBV infection acquired through a needlestick accident.To elucidate needlestick transmission of hepatitis b virus (HBV), strains isolated from 1 physician who acquired HBV infection through a needlestick accident and 3 patients with chronic hepatitis B (donor patients A, B, and C) were tested using molecular evolutionary analysis based on full-length HBV genomic sequences. Nucleotide sequences of these isolates were aligned with 55 previously reported full-length genomic sequences. Genetic distances were estimated using the 6-parameter method, and phylogenetic trees were constructed using the neighbor-joining method. Strains isolated from patient A and the recipient pair were clustered within a closer range of evolutionary distances than were strains recovered from the recipient pair and patients B and C. Furthermore, strains from patient A and the recipient were also clustered on the S gene sequences of HBV. These results demonstrated that patient A alone was the source of direct transmission to the recipient. This approach can be used to investigate the transmission route of HBV.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/76. Occupational and adult lead exposure in wisconsin.Lead is a versatile metal with many industrial applications. It is among the oldest recognized occupational health hazards. lead poisoning has been a reportable disease in wisconsin since 1911. Although reportable, it was not until wisconsin established an Occupational and environmental health epidemiology program in 1979 that modern reporting levels were adopted, physician and laboratory reporting promoted and publicized, and elevated blood lead report tracking initiated. With the federal funding from the National Institute of Occupational safety and Health (NIOSH), a comprehensive adult blood lead surveillance program was created in 1987. Eleven years of surveillance trend data reveal a wisconsin success story. Most wisconsin industries have made substantial strides toward reducing occupational lead exposure. The improvement is reflected in the reduced number of elevated blood lead levels in wisconsin's adult blood lead surveillance data. However, wisconsin must remain vigilant as new and re-emerging lead exposures continue to be identified through adult blood lead surveillance. wisconsin will also need to continue with its occupational lead exposure reduction efforts if it is to achieve the Federal Healthy People 2010 goals and objectives to have no adult blood lead level greater than 25 micrograms/dL.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/76. Severe headache associated with occupational exposure to Stoddard solvent.We report a case of recurrent headaches in a woman with a workplace exposure to airborne (misted) lubricating fluid containing Stoddard solvent. For 2 months, the employee was seen by her family physician, a neurologist and an ophthalmologist. All attempted to diagnose the cause of and treat her headaches. Despite extensive testing, no etiology was discovered. Her headaches continued despite the use of medications. The employee, suspecting an occupational connection, changed the lubricating fluid at her workstation to a non-Stoddard solvent. Within 2 days she reported the complete resolution of her headaches with no further recurrences. A thorough occupational history and literature review supported exposure to Stoddard solvent as the probable source of her headaches.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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