A cohort mortality study among cobalt and sodium workers in an electrochemical plant

We have studied the mortality between 1950 and 1980 of a cohort of 1,143 workers in an electrochemical plant producing cobalt and sodium. The mortality of the whole cohort is significantly lower than in the French population for all causes of death (SMR = 0.77), and especially for deaths from circulatory system diseases (SMR = 0.59). However, among cobalt production workers, there is a relative over-mortality, especially from lung cancers (SMR = 4.66, 4 cases). The relationship between cobalt production and lung cancer mortality was supported by a case-control study nested in the cohort study. The authenticity of the occupational origin of this risk could not be established due to the low number of cases and because the role of tobacco consumption could not be taken into account. Other studies should be carried out in plants producing or using cobalt.     

Prevalence of juvenile periodontitis in a circumpubertal population

A cross-sectional radiographic screening was performed on bite-wing pairs (BW) from 1872 10-12 year old schoolchildren in the Greater Worcester, Massachusetts area to assess the prevalence of juvenile periodontitis (JP). The 3-stage screening process entailed: (1) visual identification of possible cases based upon a visual assessment of BW for interproximal crestal bone levels greater than or equal to 2 mm from the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) on greater than or equal to 1 permanent first molar; (2) identification of probable cases based upon BW from possible cases measured with a transparent ruler calibrated in millimeters; (3) finally, clinical confirmation of JP in consenting probable cases. A total of 1038 subjects were eligible to be included in the study (greater than or equal to 3 mesial sites readable). Of the 1038 eligible subjects, 117 possible and 103 probable cases were identified in stage 1 and stage 2, respectively. A total of 99 probable cases could be contacted and 43 were examined clinically. Two cases of JP were confirmed clinically in stage 3, yielding a prevalence rate of 4.6/1000. Specifically, this report defines a rate of JP in 10-12 year-old schoolchildren for the first time. In addition, these results indicate that BW can be used to identify children with JP from large data sets. However, further studies including complete clinical and radiographic examinations are necessary to determine whether this method is adequate for large epidemiologic studies.     

Prevalence study of primary dystonia in Iceland.

In Iceland, the crude prevalence for all types of primary dystonia was 37.1/10(5) (confidence interval, 30.4-44.9). Focal dystonia had the highest prevalence (31.2/10(5)), followed by segmental (3.1/10(5)), multifocal (2.4/10(5)) and generalized dystonia (0.3/10(5)). Cervical dystonia was the most common focal dystonia (11.5/10(5)), followed by limb dystonia (8.0/10(5)), laryngeal dystonia (5.9/10(5)), blepharospasm (3.1/10(5)), and oromandibular dystonia (2.8/10(5)). The male:female ratio for all patients was 1:1.9 (P=0.0007), and females outnumbered males in all subtypes except oromandibular dystonia. Mean age of onset for all patients was 42.7 years (range, 3-82 years). This prevalence of primary dystonia is higher than in most reported studies, possibly because of more complete ascertainment but the relative frequencies of dystonia subtypes is similar.     

甘肃省天巉公路2004年交通事故伤流行病学分析

目的 探讨天巉公路交通事故伤流行病学特征，为减少天境公路交通事故的发生提供对策。方法 收集天境公路2004年发生的交通事故数据，分析交通事故伤的流行病学特征。结果 天境公路2004年共发生交通事故140起，导致55人死亡，108人受伤。伤亡人员年龄以36～40岁为多，男性为主。导致交通事故的主要原因是机动车驾驶员的过失；事故形态以侧面相撞为主，次之是尾随相撞。结论 天境公路一些特殊路段的设计及建设存在一定安全缺陷，建议公路部门对这些路段进行重新设计修建，从根本上减少交通事故的发生。另外，应建立健全各级急救医疗体系，确保事故发生后伤员能及时得到救治，以降低伤员病死率和提高救治率。     

Mortality and suicide rates of involuntarily committed patients

The mortality and suicide rates for involuntarily committed patients in Denmark are presented. Two cohorts of psychiatric patients committed to a mental hospital from January 1, 1971 to December 31, 1975 (8322 people) and January 1, 1981 to December 31, 1985 (5253 people) have been followed. The standard mortality rate (SMR) in relation to the total Danish population were 4.9 (4.5–5.4) and 5.2 (4.7–5.8), respectively, for the two cohorts, during the first year after involuntarily commitment to a mental hospital. During the same period, the SMR for suicide among the committed patients were 44.9 (37.1–53.9) and 30.9 (24.2–38.9), respectively. The crude suicide rates among the committed patients during the first year after the commitment were 14.3 and 14.0, respectively, per 1000 years, unchanged between the cohorts. Short length of stay in hospital (< 14 days), a nonpsychotic main diagnosis, male sex, and age 35 years or more were equally related to high risk of suicide in the 1971 cohort as evaluated to proportional hazard methods (Cox regression), and short length of stay and commitment on the danger indication provided the most information in relation to high suicidal risk in the 1981 cohort. Methodological problems and the reasons for the results are discussed.     

海南省钩端螺旋体病地理流行病学研究 Ⅰ.自然地理、动物地理区划和流行概况

本文简介海南岛的自然地理、啮齿动物地理区划和社会经济（包括人口数、性别年龄分布、人工植被、耕作习惯等）与钩端螺旋体病发生或流行有关的自然因素．扼要报告自1958─1991年以来各年度该病的发病率与病死率，比较了50─90年代总的发病态势是低→高→低，并略作了分析。     

Intake of unsaturated fatty acids and HDL cholesterol levels are associated with manifestations of atopy in adults

BACKGROUND: The increase in allergic diseases is still unexplained. It was hypothesized that the intake of unsaturated fatty acids is a contributing cause of this development. We investigated the relationship between serum cholesterol levels, intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and manifestations of atopy in a population-based setting. METHODS: A nested case-control study was performed within the population of the 3rd MONICA survey in Augsburg (Germany). The serum levels of total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol of 1537 adults (aged 28-78 years, response 61.4%) and the estimated intake of PUFA in a subset of 139 men were compared with the frequency of a doctor's diagnosis of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (AR), atopic eczema (AE) and allergic sensitization as measured by skin prick and Radio Allergo Sorbent Test. FINDINGS: In bivariate analyses, we obtained a negative linear association between total and LDL cholesterol levels and the frequency of AR and sensitization, which was no longer significant after adjustment for important confounders. In contrast, positive linear associations were found between HDL cholesterol levels and AR and AE and, furthermore, between the intake of PUFA and allergic sensitization in men (P<0.01). After adjustment, an increasing risk for atopic diseases with increasing levels of HDL cholesterol and an increasing risk for allergic sensitization with increasing intakes of PUFA remained statistically significant. INTERPRETATION: There is indication that HDL cholesterol also plays a role in the complex interaction of fat intake, metabolism and the manifestation of atopy in adults. These findings may contribute to the understanding of time trends and regional differences of allergies.     

Male suicides and alcohol consumption in the former USSR

A significant decline (34.5%) in the suicide rate occurred in 1984–1988 throughout the USSR. The decline was observed shortly after the introduction of strict restrictions on the sale of alcohol. We tested the hypothesis that the restrictive alcohol policy in the first years of perestroika (June 1985) caused the fall in suicide rates in the former USSR. Data on alcohol consumption, violent death caused by external injury and poisoning (n= 916,315), death due to accidental alcohol poisoning (n= 77,837), suicide (n= 192,305) and death undetermined whether accidentally or purposely (n= 54,253) were analyzed for all former Soviet republics for 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1990. Men were chosen for the analysis, since men are more prone to abuse alcohol than women. Regression analysis with alcohol consumption as the independent variable and suicide rates and violent death rates as dependent variables shows that suicide and alcohol consumption were positively correlated as were violent death and alcohol consumption. In the republics with high alcohol consumption (Slavic and Baltic), suicide rates were also high. In the Caucasian republics, low alcohol consumption was associated with low suicide rates. For most republics, alcohol seems to explain more than 50% of suicides. Alcohol also has considerable explanatory value for violent death. Thus, a restrictive alcohol policy might be a way to reduce suicide and violent death.