Trends in environmental health education

This paper outlines the development of environmental health education from the 1970s to present. Current areas of interest in environmental health are discussed, including hazardous waste management, risk assessment and risk management. Model curricula for each of these subject areas are presented. Future employment opportunities for environmental health specialists are summarized.A. C. Anderson, Ph.D. is Professor, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112.     

Limb-length discrepancy measured with computerized axial tomographic equipment

A simple, rapid, and accurate method for measuring limb-length discrepancies with computerized axial tomographic equipment is described. With this method less irradiation is delivered and some of the errors of computation are eliminated, compared with conventional methods. The costs of the technique are comparable with those of scanograms. The method is particularly applicable in the patient who has contracture of a joint.     

Cellular kinetics of rat mammary gland terminal end bud epithelium exposed to N-methyl-N-nitrosourea in vivo.

Administration of the direct acting carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (NMU) to 50-55-day-old virgin female rats on different days of the estrous cycle yields differential breast tumor biology (T. A. Ratko and C. W. Beattie, Cancer Res., 45: 3042-3047). One basis for these estrous cycle-dependent differences may be the duration of cell cycle stages of susceptible structures such as mammary terminal end buds or the quantity and duration of repair effected following adduct formation within these structures. The terminal end bud (TEB) epithelial cell cycle was characterized using pulse injections of [3H]thymidine (0.5 mCi/g body weight). On estrus, TEB epithelial cell cycle was significantly shorter (15.5 h) than on proestrus (19.9 h) and diestrus (18.8 h). The shorter duration in TEB cell cycle on estrus was likely due to a shorter TG1 (3-4 h) (P less than 0.05) since TS and TG2 did not differ between estrous cycle days. When NMU was injected 1 h after [3H]thymidine, the labeled mitotic wave within TEB of diestrus rats recovered approximately 2-3 h sooner than those given injections during proestrus (P less than 0.01), suggesting less initial damage or a slightly faster rate of DNA adduct repair. When [3H]thymidine was injected 1-5 days after the NMU, the percentage of labeled mitoses of rats given injections during diestrus and proestrus recovered to near normal 48 h after NMU, although the proportion of all cells labeled was still low compared to non-NMU-treated rats. The percentage of labeled mitoses and labeling of cells were normal 3 and 5 days after NMU. Rats receiving a carcinogenic but sublethal dose of NMU (5 mg/100 g body weight), followed by [3H]thymidine injection within 1 min, had one-half the intensity of thymidine incorporation into the terminal end bud DNA of non-NMU-treated rats. Unscheduled DNA synthesis was not demonstrable within the first 48 h following injection of NMU. The results support and extend the finding that rat mammary epithelial cell carcinogenicity of NMU is estrous cycle dependent and appears to be correlated with a differential response in the cell cycle of TEB (shorter at estrus) or delayed recovery in response to NMU (proestrus versus diestrus).     

Cervical bruits: clinical correlates of stenosis

To analyze the relationship among characteristics of buits, degree of underlying stenosis, and neurologic symptom complexes, the authors studied 157 patients with bruits undergoing digital subtraction angiography. Symptom status assignment (definite lateralizing, possible lateralizing, vertebrobasilar, diffuse, and asymptomatic) and cervical auscultation for location, duration, and other bruit characteristics were performed independently. Bruit occurrence was associated with stenosis of greater than or equal to 50% of the underlying vessel with the association being no stronger at higher levels of stenosis (greater than or equal to 80%). No relationship existed between the side of bruit and side of symptoms in those with lateralized symptoms. The authors found more severe degrees of carotid stenosis in two symptomatic groups (vertebrobasilar insufficiency [VBI] and definite lateralized) compared with asymptomatic patients. Those with VBI had more high-grade stenosis, whereas those with lateralized symptoms had more occlusions, which tended to be ipsilateral to the symptoms.     

Deaths: leading causes for 2001.

OBJECTIVES: This report presents final 2001 data on the 10 leading causes of death in the United States by age, race, sex, and Hispanic origin. Leading causes of infant, neonatal, and postneonatal death are also presented. This report supplements the annual report of final mortality statistics. METHODS: Data in this report are based on information from all death certificates filed in the 50 States and the District of Columbia in 2001. Causes of death classified by the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision are ranked according to the number of deaths assigned to rankable causes. RESULTS: In 2001, the 10 leading causes of death were (in rank order) Diseases of heart; Malignant neoplasms; Cerebrovascular diseases; Chronic lower respiratory diseases; Accidents (unintentional injuries); Diabetes mellitus; Influenza and pneumonia; Alzheimer's disease; Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis; and Septicemia and accounted for nearly 80 percent of all deaths occurring in the United States. Differences in the rankings are evident by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin. Leading causes of infant death for 2001 were (in rank order) Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities; Disorders related to short gestation and low birth weight, not elsewhere classified; Sudden infant death syndrome; Newborn affected by maternal complications of pregnancy; Newborn affected by complications of placenta, cord and membranes; Respiratory distress of newborn; Accidents (unintentional injuries); Bacterial sepsis of newborn; Diseases of the circulatory system; and Intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia. Important variation in the leading causes of infant death is noted for the neonatal and postneonatal periods.     

The effects of formoterol on plasma exudation produced by a localized acute inflammatory response to bradykinin in the tracheal mucosa of rats in vivo.

1. The effects of formoterol, a beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, on plasma protein exudation and microvascular permeability induced by topical, i.e. applied onto the tracheal mucosal surface, bradykinin (10 nmol; 20 microM, 5 min, 0.1 ml min-1) were studied in a perfused segment of trachea prepared in situ in anaesthetized rats. 2. Bradykinin increased the amount of plasma (fluorimetric assay for protein) in the perfusate (response; 10.98 +/- 0.357 microliters, n = 69; total increase in plasma over basal during 45 min after start of bradykinin application) and 2 responses at a 90 min interval were reproducible. Carbon labelling was seen in tracheal sections from animals that received i.v. colloidal carbon, indicating that bradykinin caused tracheal microvessels to leak (increase in microvascular permeability). 3. Five minutes after topical formoterol, 5 or 30 nmol (10 or 60 microM perfused for 5 min), the bradykinin response was significantly reduced. The effects of formoterol were not dose-related, i.e. were maximal at 5 nmol. The bradykinin response was at control levels 30 min after 5 nmol formoterol. After 30 nmol formoterol, the response was still reduced 120 min later. The bradykinin response was significantly reduced 60 min after systemic formoterol (i.p., 0.029 to 870 nmol kg-1) and, for 290 nmol kg-1 i.p. formoterol, this reduction was shown to last at least 150 min.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A model for the prediction of osmolalities of modular formulas

A model is proposed for evaluation of osmolality of multicomponent formulas composed of modular ingredients. Nonlinear curve-fitting techniques applied to empirical data result in prediction of the osmolality of ingredients for any concentration desired. Osmolality of a multicomponent formula can be obtained by adding osmolalities of ingredients. Data handling is made possible by the use of simple microcomputer programs. The model is tested with products available for construction of amino acid-restricted diets.     

Infarction of the conus medullaris

We describe 5 patients who presented with an acute cauda equina syndrome, which we believe was due to infarction of the conus medullaris. In 3 patients, the onset was spontaneous, and in 2 patients it was secondary to temporary occlusion of the distal aorta during medical manipulation. Pain in the buttocks and posterior thighs was a prominent initial symptom in the 3 patients with unprovoked attacks. The main clinical features were profound impairment of bowel and bladder function and of perianal and perineal sensation (S3 to S5 segments). There was sensory and motor impairment in the legs of variable extent, most marked in the S1 and S2 segments, but extending as high as L4 in 2 patients. In 1 patient, ischemic changes in the conus medullaris were confirmed post mortem. Ischemia confined to the caudal tip of the spinal cord is rare, and an underlying anomaly of the pattern of arterial supply is a likely predisposing factor. Four patients had partial return of function over a period of weeks.