Mortality among ferrous foundry workers

Mortality analyses were carried out for 278 male hourly workers who were employed for at least 10 years at a gray iron foundry and who died between January 1, 1970 and December 31, 1981. Statistically significant excess proportional mortality due to non-malignant respiratory disease (SPMR = 177), lung cancer (SPMR = 148), and leukemia (SPMR = 284) was found among the 221 white males. Among nonwhite males there was a significant excess in proportional mortality due to circulatory diseases (SPMR = 143). White males in the Finishing classification experienced a significant excess of proportional mortality due to nonmalignant respiratory disease (SPMR = 279) and lung cancer (SPMR = 179). White males in the Core Room classification experienced an excess of proportional mortality due to nonmalignant respiratory disease (SPMR = 321). Case-control studies demonstrated a significant association between nonmalignant respiratory disease and the Finishing classification after controlling for the effects of age, prior occupations in coal mining or foundries, and smoking. A positive but nonsignificant association between lung cancer and Finishing was also found after controlling for age, prior work history, and smoking in case control studies.     

Risks of neuroleptic drugs in children

We surveyed members of the Child Neurology Society to examine their attitudes about use of neuroleptic drugs in children and their experiences with neuroleptic-induced movement disorders. Sixty percent of the membership responded to our questionnaire. Of these responders, over 99% agreed that there were clinical indications for neuroleptics in children, but their criteria varied. Only a minority of the responders routinely incorporated drug holidays in the therapeutic plans of children treated with neuroleptics. The majority had not had clinical experience with patients who developed chronic movement disorders associated with neuroleptic treatment, but 35% (140/410) had encountered patients whose symptoms they considered typical of tardive dyskinesia. However, some of these patients did not meet strict criteria for diagnosis of this movement disorder. The results suggest that neuroleptic-induced movement disorders occur with significant frequency in children and that more detailed prospective studies of the risks and benefits of these drugs in children are warranted.     

Simultaneous M-mode echoesophagram and manometry in the sheep esophagus

We report the simultaneous measurement of esophageal wall layer thickness and intraluminal pressure in the sheep esophagus using a miniature suction device incorporating a high-frequency ultrasound transducer and a manometry system. Transnasal placement of the device into the distal esophagus of a conscious sheep allowed observation of 133 swallowing events during three trials, each lasting from 45 to 60 minutes. In a fourth trial, 11 sequential dry and 23 sequential wet swallows were compared. Maximum manometric pressure, esophageal wall layer thickness, and duration of contraction were measured. All swallowing events produced simultaneous increases in intraluminal pressure and esophageal wall thickness. Mean maximal pressures were lower for dry swallows (18 ± 2.1 mm Hg) than wet swallows (22 ± 3.0 mm Hg) (p < .01). Thickness of the inner (circular) muscle layer increased above baseline by 124% for dry swallows and 161% for wet swallows (p < .01). We conclude that thickening of the esophageal inner (circular) muscle layer may be important in the generation of intraluminal esophageal pressure in the sheep esophagus. (Gastrointest Endosc 1995;41:582-6.)     

A comparison of biotin and isotope-labeled ribonucleic acid probes for in situ detection of HPV-16 ribonucleic acid in genital precancers

Genital precancers were analyzed by in situ hybridization for the presence of HPV RNA using single-stranded RNA probes. To compare the sensitivity of biotin- and 35S-labeled probes, serial sections from three biopsies containing variable amounts of HPV 16 RNA were analyzed with probes containing each label. The probe template was a cloned fragment of the HPV 16 genome spanning portions of the E2, E5 and L2 orf's. When a focus contained a strong hybridization signal with 35S-labeled probes (i.e., target/background ratio greater than 40) serial sections of the same area usually demonstrated a strongly positive signal with biotin-labeled probes. When the signal with 35S in a given focus was weak (target/background ratio less than 20), serial sections contained either a very weak or no detectable signal with the biotinylated probe. From this study it appears than 35S-labeled RNA probes exceed the sensitivity of biotin-labeled probes by nearly an order of magnitude with short exposures (4 days), and with longer exposures (1 to 2 weeks), approach the sensitivity of that reported for tritiated probes and exposures of 1 month or longer.     

Behavioral treatment of nocturnal enuresis in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Examined whether a well-established treatment program for functional enuresis, the urine alarm procedure, would be useful for children with both enuresis and diabetes. 5 children between the ages of 7 and 14 whose pretreatment physical examination suggested no neurological impairment were treated. A multiple baseline design across children indicated that the urine alarm procedure was successful in stopping enuretic episodes for all 5 children with treatment gains maintained for the 4 children available for assessment at 2-month follow-up. These results suggest that if no diabetes-related organic impairment is evident, behavioral treatment for enuresis can be beneficial for children with diabetes.