Mortality in the workers in the tire industry]

The article is concerned with a study of the mortality rates among the workers engaged at a tire-producing plant, for the 1950-1979 period. In comparison with the control population group, the contributors revealed increased mortality rates caused by cardiovascular diseases, malignant neoplasms, accidents, intoxications and traumas. Analysis of the labour conditions proved the influence of the unfavourable occupational factors on the mortality rates and mortality causes, excepting the indices of mortality caused by accidents, intoxications and traumas.     

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase deficiency in a patient with severe psychomotor retardation

A 13-year-old girl who had severe brain damage due to unknown prenatal cause presented rhabdomyolysis triggered by a mild viral infection. Her muscle biopsy revealed mild variation in fiber size and type 2 fiber atrophy without excess lipid storage. Biochemical analysis of the biopsied material showed decreased carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) activity (15% of the control). Serum and urinary carnitine levels were normal. Skeletal muscle CT scanning showed multiple low density spots. The patient was diagnosed as having CPT deficiency. She recovered from rhabdomyolysis without renal failure after a month with conservative therapy. CPT deficiency is usually found in young healthy persons. This is the first case report of CPT deficiency which presented severe psychomotor retardation since neonatal period.     

Muscle strength in patients with gastrointestinal carcinoma--an important role of muscle strength as a nutritional parameter

The relationship between nutritional status and muscle strength was examined in 73 patients with gastrointestinal carcinoma preoperatively. Nutritional status was assessed by measuring various nutritional parameters. Muscle strength was determined by measurements of %grip strength and respiratory muscle strength expressed as %maximal expiratory and inspiratory pressure (%MEP and %MIP). The results were as follows: %GS was significantly low in the patients who showed low values in body weight (%ideal body weight: %IBW), mid-arm muscle circumference (%AMC), serum albumin (Alb), serum prealbumin (PA), total peripheral lymphocyte count (TLC), and/or nutritional surgical risk index (NRI). %MEP was significantly low in the patients who showed low values in %IBW, %AMC, triceps skin fold, Alb, PA, retinol binding protein, NRI, and/or nutritional assessment index (NAI). %MIP was significantly low in the patients who showed low values in %IBW, %AMC, creatinine height index, Alb, PA, NRI, and/or NAI. %MEP and %MIP were significantly correlated with %GS. Preoperative %GS value was significantly low in the esophageal cancer patients with postoperative pulmonary complications. It was suggested that %GS was a simple and useful nutritional parameter for detecting depletion of the muscle mass and visceral proteins, for respiratory muscle strength, and for functional capacity of muscle.