The effect of chemical noxae on the health status of a group of workers in the chemical industry of Săvineşti

The paper presents the study on the effect of the industrial xenobiotics against some biochemical indicators, in view to detect, precociously, the probable significant changes. There are presented the medium, minimum, maximum and median value for the following parameters: total proteins, haemoglobin and glucose for 112 workers exposed or not exposed to specific noxae--benzen, phenol, cyclohexanone. The analysis of the results shows decreased values for some workers, even at the inferior limit, in rapport with the normal values, for the parameters studied. These persons have been directed for complex investigations, in view to determine the causes and to establish the adequate treatment.     

Variations in the abundance of three Parulidae species in the southern portion of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, state of Paraná

We evaluated the distribution of abundance of three species of warblers in the southern portion of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (BAF): Tropical Parula (Parula pitiayumi), the Golden-Crowned Warbler (Basileuterus culicivorus) and the White-Rimmed Warbler (Basileuterus leucoblepharus). Three types of forests comprise this region of the Atlantic Forest: seasonal semi-deciduous forest (SF), mixed rain forest (MF) and dense rain forest (DF). These forest types occur at different elevations: SF ranging from 200 to 800 m, MF ranging from 800 to 1,200 m and DF ranging from sea level up to 2,000 m. We used point counts in fifteen study areas distributed in the three forest types. The White-Rimmed Warbler and the Tropical Parula had higher abundances in MF, and their abundance was positively correlated with the elevation. The Golden-Crowned Warbler did not present a significant difference in abundance among the forest types, and no correlation between abundance and elevation was found. We suggest that the difference in the occupancy of the forest strata by the Golden-Crowned Warbler is because this species is more generalist and thus less sensitive to variations in the vegetation structure among the forests types when compared to the other two warbler species.     

Nutrition in preschool children from Băile-Herculane

In the effected study we investigated the feeding quality in Baile-Herculane, during the period 2003-2004. The study was realised in two samples consisted in 659 preschool children (55% girls and 45% boys) and 359 children (65% girls and 35% boys) respectively, homogenous and statistical representative. The method consisted in feeding investigation using based on food lists consulting, effected 2 times in a year, in the winter season (November) and in the spring season (April). The inquiry period was 10 days consequently, in each season. We had established the nutritive value of feeding portions in two months (November and April), counted the average of the nutritive ration for the both investigated periods and compared them with nutritional necessity established for the same age group. We investigated the menu structure and diversity. In the first period of feeding investigation (November 2000) we established a decreased intake of foods which determine a small intake of calories, proteins, minerals and vitamins under the nutritional necessities. In April the nutritive value of the consumed food was less than in November. The decreased consumption of milk, cheese, eggs, vegetables and fruits determined a less intake of calories, fats, minerals and vitamins than nutritional necessities. The increased intake of bread, cereals and meat caused increased values of carbohydrates, vitamin B1 and iron. The menu was divided in two meals and a snack (breakfast - 15%, snack - 15%, lunch 50%). The menu variation and courses' succession were in line with the hygienic-sanitation rules.     

Fractures of the Proximal End of the Femur in Göteborg,Sweden, 1940–1979

A total of 3475 fractures of the proximal femur occurring in Göteborg, Sweden, in 1965, 1969, 1970, 1975, 1978 and 1979 were reviewed, and the information obtained was compared with earlier published epidemiologic data from Göteborg presented by Mårtensson (1962) for the years 1940–1959. A highly statistically significant age specific increase in fracture incidence was found for trochanteric as well as cervical fractures, and for both women and men. The fracture incidence increased from about 3 per 1000 in 1965 to 5 per 1000 in 1979, and the yearly number of fractures in this city from 104 in 1940 to 788 in 1979. With the present trend the fracture incidence will double over the next 20 years.     

Record of the genus Lycopodites in the Lower Permian of Paraná Basin, Brazil

The genus Lycopodites, which encompasses the herbaceous forms of the lycopsids, presents broad time and spacial distribution during the Paleozoic in the Northern Hemisphere, with its initial records dating from the European Devonian. As to Gondwanan Paleozoic, to this moment, only Lycopodites amazonica Dolianiti had been reported for the Amazonian Middle Devonian (Curuá Group). Thus, the specimens reported in this study such as Lycopodites sp., coming from sedimentary rocks of the Itararé Subgroup, S?o Paulo State, and Lycopodites riograndensis sp. nov., collected in Rio Bonito Formation, Rio Grande do Sul, represent the oldest fertile forms recorded for Gondwana and the first ones to be described for the Paraná Basin. Its presence in layers, deposited after the end of the Neopaleozoic Glaciation, shows the appearance of new taxa in high latitudes, as well as the diversity of the lycopsids present in the Basin, previously indicated through the abundance of spores associated to the Class Lycopsida present in the palinomorphous assemblages.     

Is kyphoplasty the standard of care for compression fractures in the spine, especially in the elderly?

Vertebral fractures, particularly if they are nonsymptomatic, are old, and have not produced kyphotic deformity, should be treated with conservative care, including appropriate medical management. Those fractures that are symptomatic, produce pain that persists over several weeks (4 out of 10 on the visual analog score), and have resulted in some kyphotic deformity should be treated with a vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty. Patients with kyphotic deformity of less than 20% can obtain pain relief from vertebroplasty that is comparable to pain relief from kyphoplasty. For patients with a greater degree of kyphosis, only kyphoplasty can offer the predictable restoration of height and realignment of the spine. Currently we treat all Colles' fractures, all hip fractures, and all tibia plateau fractures. The time has come to treat all symptomatic vertebral fractures.     

Proceedings of the consensus conference on the role of sentinel lymph node biopsy in carcinoma of the breast April 19–22, 2001, Philadelphia,PA, USA

A consensus conference on the role of sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer was held in Philadelphia in April, 2001; the participants included many highly respected American and European investigators in this area. This report summarizes the deliberations of the group and promotes its current guidelines for the integration of this new technique into contemporary clinical practice.     

Eurocer® in the filling of bone defects, especially in addition osteotomies of the knee: a preliminary study

Summary After one year, Eurocer® appears to satisfy all requirements in the case of addition osteotomies of the anterior tibial crest (ATT) and its use continues in the department. We have used Eurocer® in other applications: an addition varisation osteotomy of the lower end of the femur, the packing of traumatic losses of bone substance (10 cases), packing for bone defects of tumoral origin (1 case), revisions for loosened total hip prostheses (3 aseptic cases, 1 septic case) and for pseudarthroses of the tibia (Figs. a and 3), etc. Strictly speaking, there is no longer a problem in the use of this biomaterial; no image of sequestration has appeared in our series and no evidence of poor tolerance. In each case careful radiologic study for about one year has shown sharp lines of junction between the surrounding bone and the Eurocer®. There was no image of a demarcating sclerotic marg-in and it seems, subject to reservations, that progressive disappearance of the Eurocer® is in process of taking place. Fig. 1 shows the Eurocer® six months after insertion in a tibia and- this radiograph shows complete absence of sequestration of the product, as well the progressive lysis and smoothing-off of the contours of the Eurocer® fragments. Thus it seems that the findings are varied and multiple. Currently, no factor suggests any doubt as to the value of the use of this product.Paper presented at the 1998 meeting of GECO (Arc 1800, Bourg-Sant-Maurice, France)     

Measuring the whole or the parts? Validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand outcome measure in different regions of the upper extremity.

The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) outcome measure was developed to evaluate disability and symptoms in single or multiple disorders of the upper limb at one point or at many points in time. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the DASH in a group of diverse patients and to compare the results with those obtained with joint-specific measures. METHODS: Two hundred patients with either wrist/hand or shoulder problems were evaluated by use of questionnaires before treatment, and 172 (86%) were re-evaluated 12 weeks after treatment. Eighty-six patients also completed a test-retest questionnaire three to five days after the initial (baseline) evaluation. The questionnaire package included the DASH, the Brigham (carpal tunnel) questionnaire, the SPADI (Shoulder Pain and Disability Index), and other markers of pain and function. Correlations or t-tests between the DASH and the other measures were used to assess construct validity. Test-retest reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient and other summary statistics. Responsiveness was described using standardized response means, receiver operating characteristics curves, and correlations between change in DASH score and change in scores of other measures. Standard response means were used to compare DASH responsiveness with that of the Brigham questionnaire and the SPADI in each region. RESULTS: The DASH was found to correlate with other measures (r > 0.69) and to discriminate well, for example, between patients who were working and those who were not (p<0.0001). Test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.96) exceeded guidelines. The responsiveness of the DASH (to self-rated or expected change) was comparable with or better than that of the joint-specific measures in the whole group and in each region. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence was provided of the validity, test-retest reliability, and responsiveness of the DASH. This study also demonstrated that the DASH had validity and responsiveness in both proximal and distal disorders, confirming its usefulness across the whole extremity.     

Study on the role of the activities of β-glucuronidase in the two type of primary cholelithiasis in the common bile duct

目的 探讨内外源性β-葡萄糖醛酸酶在两类原发性胆总管结石(胆固醇结石与胆色素结石)形成中的作用.方法 应用Fishman法检测实验组、对照组胆总管胆汁中内、外源性β-G活性.结果 胆红素结石组(PS)、胆固醇结石组(CHS)与对照组(CG)比较,内、外源性β-G活性及总活性均有显著性差异;胆红素结石组与胆固醇结石组之间比较(手术当天)外源性β-G活性差异有显著性,内源性β-G活性差异无显著性.(2)实验组手术当天胆汁中内源性β-G活性与术后第七日的比较差异无显著性;而外源性β-G活性手术前、后比较差异有显著性.结论 内、外源性β-G可能是这两类原发性胆总管结石形成与再发的基本原因之一.     

Use of the laparoscopic–endoscopic approach, the so-called “rendezvous” technique, in cholecystocholedocholithiasis

Background Several studies have shown the efficacy and effectiveness of the combined endoscopic–laparoscopic “rendezvous” technique for treatment of gallbladder and bile duct stones without complications, particularly pancreatitis. The so-called rendezvous technique consists of laparoscopic cholecystectomy standards with intraoperative cholangiography followed by endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST). The sphincterotome is driven across the papilla through a guidewire inserted by the transcystic route. This method allows easier and faster cannulation, thus avoiding papillary edema and pancreatic trauma. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether this method is effective in eliminating ductal stones and to verify whether the risk of postprocedure pancreatitis is diminished. Methods From January 2002 to September 2004, we enrolled 256 patients with cholecystocholedolithiasis detected by transabdominal ultrasound and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. One hundred and twenty of these had one or more patient-related risk factors for post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis, so they were randomized into two groups of 60 patients. In group A, the patients were treated in a single step with videolaparoscopic cholecystectomy, intraoperative cholangiography, and EST during the surgical procedure with the rendezvous technique. In group B, preoperative ERCP and EST were performed by using a traditional method of bile duct cannulation. Results No cases of post-ERCP pancreatitis were observed in group A, whereas six cases of acute post-ERCP pancreatitis occurred in group B (five mild and one moderate) (p = 0.0274). No procedure-related mortality was recorded. Conclusion In cholecysthocholedocholithiasis, the combined laparoscopic–endoscopic approach prevents post-ERCP pancreatitis in cases with patient-related risk factors for this complication.     

Survival and prognostic factors of germ cell tumors of the testis in the departments of Bas-Rhin, Isère, and Somme]

The authors report a study of the prognosis of germ cell tumours of the testis in populations of the Bas-Rhin, Isère and Some departments. This study was performed on French Eurocare data (European testicular cancer register study). 247 patients diagnosed between 1987 and 1993 were studied. Estèv's method and model were used to estimate the relative survival and for prognosis analysis with reference to the French age-matched male population. 84.6% of patients were between the ages of 20 and 49 years. The 5-years relative survival was 90.1%; 95 CI% [85.5-94.8]. The 5-year relative survival was lower (63.9%) in advanced forms (stage III). Univariate analysis in 223 patients demonstrated the following significant prognostic factors: stage, metastatic sites, treatment, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and testicular vascular invasion. Multivariate analysis identified: stage, age, CNS metastases, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and treatment. This study confirms the generally good prognosis of this cancer. As reported in the literature, factors negatively influencing relative survival are those related to advanced disease. Age, a controversial factor in the literature, was correlated with relative survival in this study.     

Biochemistry of implantation in the human

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