Ethnic differences in the incidence of leukemia

A series of 1636 patients with leukemia, representing the white residents ofBrooklyn diagnosed in the period 1943-52, is compared with selected censusdata for the population. After standardization for age differences in the twopopulations, the incidences of leukemia in the native-born and foreign-bornpopulations of the borough are 45.3 and 61.0 per million per annum, respectively. The data suggest that a high incidence of leukemia in the Russian-bornpopulation accounts for the higher rate in the foreign-born group.

Using affiliation of cemetery of burial as an index of religion, a series of 1368deaths from leukemia is compared with a systematic one in 200 samples of alldeaths in the same area. Leukemia is recorded as cause of death twice as frequently among Jews, as among others. This relationship is seen in both native-born and foreign-born groups, in males and females, at all ages and in all thecommon pathologic varieties of leukemia. No difference in leukemia incidenceis seen between predominantly Catholic and predominantly Protestant groups.

Evidence from United States vital statistics is used to show that the commonly observed difference between whites and Negroes imi leukemia death ratesis closely associated with social differences between the two groups. Little orno difference in leukemia death rate exists between these two groups in Brooklyn, when allowance is made for the apparently high rate in the white Jewishpopulation.

Submitted on March 19, 1956 Accepted on May 20, 1956     

COMPARISON OF LARGE DOSE OF VECURONIUM WITH PANCURONIUM FOR PROLONGED NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCKADE

Dose-duration relationships for vecuronium were determined andthe duration of action produced by vecuronium 0.3 mg kg^–1shown to equal that of pancuronium 0.1 mg kg^–1. Usingthese doses, the neuromuscular blocking properties and cardiovasculareffects of the two drugs were compared. With large dose administrationof vecuronium (0.3 mg kg^–1), both the onset time (mean81 s) and the 25–75% recovery index (mean 13.9 min) wereabout one-half those associated with pancuronium (means 168.5s and 29.3 min, respectively). The duration of action until25% recovery was similar with both drugs. There was no evidenceof cardiovascular instability with the large dose of vecuronium.Heart rate, however, was significantly slower (range 89.7–94.2%of control) 2–20 min after the injection of vecuronium.Vecuronium 0.3 mg kg^–1 may have more favourable neuromuscularblocking effects than pancuronium 0.1 mg kg^–1 and maybe preferable to pancuronium when prolonged neuromuscular blockadeis required.     

A comparative study of two methods for the orientation of the occlusal plane and the determination of the vertical dimension of occlusion in edentulous patients

The aim of this study was to compare two methods used to orientate the occlusal plane (OP) and to determine the vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO). In method A the VDO was established by means of the rest position, the minimal speaking distance, and the patient's profile. Method B used a newly developed registration pin assembly. The VDO was registered using a silicone occlusion rim and the swallowing technique. The results were compared to the values of the new dentures. Three standardized lateral radiographs were taken at the VDO obtained with methods A, B, and at that of the final dentures. On each radiograph the orientation of the OP to the Camper plane and the VDO were measured by two investigators independently. The results indicated no statistically significant differences between the mean VDO with method A and B compared with the new dentures (P greater than 0.05). With both methods it was not possible to orientate the OP parallel to the Camper plane. None of the occlusal planes of the new dentures were parallel either. Their OP diverged on average by 7 degrees dorso-caudally. The time spent with method B to orient the OP and to determine the VDO was significantly lower than with method A (17-50 min).