Toxicity of prolonged exposure to ethanol and gasoline autoengine exhaust gases

A comparative chronic inhalation exposure study was performed to investigate the potential health effects of gasoline and ethanol engine exhaust fumes. Test atmospheres of gasoline and ethanol exhaust were given to Wistar rats and Balb C mice housed in inhalation chambers for a period of 5 weeks. Gas concentration and physical parameters were continually monitored during the exposure period. Several biological parameters were assessed after the exposure including pulmonary function, mutagenicity, and hematological, biochemical, and morphological examinations. The results demonstrated that the chronic toxicity of the gasoline-fueled engine is significantly higher than that of the ethanol engine.     

Meniscal abnormalities: prospective correlation of double-contrast arthrography and arthroscopy

In a prospective study conducted over a 12-month period, 30 patients underwent double-contrast arthrography of the knee followed by arthroscopic study. An 80% correlation rate was found between results. Arthrography had a higher rate of accuracy (93%) than arthroscopy (84%) and had a 7% false-positive and 0% false-negative rate. A commonly overlooked arthrographic sign--the triple-S or stuck sail sign--was 91% accurate in the prediction of meniscal tears. The complementary nature of the two examinations is discussed.     

Tibial hemimelia: report on 37 new cases, clinical and genetic considerations

We report on 37 patients belonging to different families, who have the tibial hemimelia-split hand/foot syndrome. Genetic aspects and phenotypic manifestations are compared with previous reports of tibial hemimelia. An attempt to clinical and genetical approach is suggested.     

Patellofemoral joint: kinematic MR imaging to assess tracking abnormalities

The patellofemoral joint was imaged with magnetic resonance (MR) in the axial plane while the knee was positioned from 0 degrees to 32 degrees of flexion (nine positions). These multiple sequential images obtained within the early phases of flexion of the knee were viewed in a "cine-loop" format, producing a kinematic study that clearly demonstrated the relationship of the patella to the trochlear groove. Four healthy subjects and one patient with known bilateral subluxing patellae were studied. The preliminary results suggest that kinematic MR imaging of the patellofemoral joint is potentially useful for the evaluation of patellar tracking abnormalities.     

Effect of two different types of malnutrition on the rate of elimination of ethanol in rats

Rats were fed "3% casein" or a "calorie deficient" diet, in the form of commercial pellet diet (SDS) at 50% of the amount consumed by the control group, which was fed SDS pellets ad libitum. Both of the deficient groups showed failure of weight gain in comparison with the control group. Blood levels of ethanol were measured for 3 hr after intraperitoneal injection of 1 or 1.5 g/kg at 15, 29 and 36 days after commencement of the diet. In addition the calorie deficient group was studied immediately after feeding as well as in the fasting state. Blood levels of ethanol were measured and the apparent volume of distribution and rate of removal of ethanol from the blood were calculated. A rate of ethanol metabolism/g of liver was derived. The rate of removal of ethanol was markedly decreased in the 3% casein group to less than half of control values. Three hours after injection of ethanol circulating levels were less than 50 mg/100 ml in the control and calorie deficient groups but over 200 mg/100 ml in the group fed protein deficient diets. There were no major changes in volume of distribution and the only explanation for the finding is that there is a failure of ethanol metabolism in the rats fed the low protein diet. The implication is that protein deficient human populations who often consume considerable quantities of ethanol may have a high level of tissue exposure to ethanol though the rate of metabolite formation may be low.     

Years of potential life lost: application of an indicator for assessing premature mortality in Spain and Portugal

In this article, the authors present an analysis of causes of death in Spain and Portugal in 1984 based on a calculation of the "years of potential life lost" (YPLL) between the first and the 70th birthdays, the latter age corresponding approximately to the average life expectancy in both countries. This analysis of the YPLL led to a substantially different ranking of the main causes of death, based on what might be termed "premature mortality" compared with that obtained from more conventional mortality indices. According to this criterion, which is especially appropriate for the planning and evaluation of health interventions, the main causes of premature death (1-69 years) in the two countries of the Iberian peninsula are malignant tumours and, particularly in Portugal, violent deaths (especially motor-vehicle accidents, but also suicides). This is in contrast to the predominance of cardiovascular diseases indicated by other weightings of age-specific mortality rates. Portugal shows significantly worse YPLL rates than Spain not only for general mortality (45% higher than in Spain), but also for several major groups of causes. In Spain only malignant neoplasms, diabetes and chronic rheumatic heart diseases show higher specific mortality rates than in Portugal, based on traditional mortality indicators.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)