Biomedical subjects

A Ahlbom

Publications and source records attributed to A Ahlbom.

148 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of adenoidectomy: a controlled two-year follow-up.

A prospective controlled study was made on the effect of adenoidectomy performed on 105 children. For various reasons, mainly severe long-standing nasal obstruction, 29 children were omitted from the study. The remaining 76 children were randomly divided into two groups, one adenoidectomy, and one control. Both groups were slightly reduced in number due to drop out. Thus 36 adenoidectomized children were followed during one year and 35 children during two years. The corresponding numbers for the children in the control group were 37 and 33. The incidence of common cold, purulent and serous otitis media and moderate nasal obstruction was compared in the two groups. A considerable reduction in the incidence of these variables was observed in both groups. The occurrence of moderate nasal obstruction was reduced more among the operated than among the unoperated children. The difference was only slightly significant during the first and not at all during the second year. Regarding the other variables, the differences were not significant, implying that adenoidectomy seems to have no effect on the incidence of common cold, serous and purulent otitis media.

Adenoidectomy↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Experiences from long-term research cooperation between Costa Rican, Nicaraguan, and Swedish institutions.

This paper summarizes experiences from long-term ongoing cooperation between Swedish research institutions and institutions at the National Universities in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. 24 researchers and teachers from the Central American institutions and ten Swedish research students have been trained. In addition to three full doctoral and three licentiate (two-year PhD program) theses, the two programs have so far published 15 articles in English-language, international, refereed journals and about three times as many abstracts for conferences in more than ten countries. A "sandwich" model for training is recommended, where the southern researchers come to the wealthier partner for collaborative analyses and write-ups of the publications, while spending 50-75% of their time in their home countries for data collection. Such collaboration should be planned for a time span of at least eight years and include substantial numbers of researchers and students. Means to minimize the risk of brain drain are suggested. The collaboration has been important for the globalization of the research cultures at the participating institutions and has trained international experts.

Costa Rica↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Time trends of occupational pesticide-related injuries in Costa Rica, 1982-1992.

To evaluate time trends of occupational pesticide-related injuries in Costa Rica, a survey was carried out three times over a ten-year period at a national reporting system for occupational accidents and diseases among wage-earning workers. The sample comprised the accidents reported during the months of June of the years 1982, 1987, and 1992. The overall incidence rates were 1.8, 2.7, and 2.5 per 1,000 agricultural workers, respectively. Rates among female workers increased (3.1, 3.7, 5.4) and were elevated as compared with male workers (1.7, 2.6, 2.3). The trend for topical lesions was upgoing (1.2, 1.4, 2.1), consistent with an increased use of fungicides and lack of safety measures for pesticides with low acute toxicity. Systemic poisonings peaked in 1987 (0.6, 1.2, 0.5), declining in 1992 with increased use of biologic pest control and pyrethroid insecticides less toxic than cholinesterase inhibitors, and improved safety during nematocide applications on banana plantations. In 1992, despite the largest decline of systemic poisonings in the banana-producing Atlantic Region, poisonings as well as topical injuries were still four times more frequent in this region than in the rest of the country. Restriction of highly toxic pesticides together with implementation of occupational safety measures can reduce systemic poisonings in developing countries. Such policies need to be extended to other pesticides to prevent less life threatening but often disabling skin and eye injuries.

Accidents, Occupational↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Quality of life and state of health for patients with cancer in the head and neck.

Quality of life is an important factor for patients with cancer in the head and neck region and this factor has not previously been investigated in such patients. A series of 52 patients with head and neck cancer and 104 control subjects answered a questionnaires including two questions concerning health, one question concerning quality of life and one group of questions covering the health index proposed by Grogono & Woodgate (1971). The control series consisted of subjects of the same age, sex and domiciliary district as each of the cancer patients (two for each patient). There was a very high correlation between the answers to each of the four questions. The results were evaluated with special reference to patients who reported poor health and a low quality of life and the material was classified into patients with good vs. poor prognosis. There was a very high correlation between poor prognosis and low health index/low quality of life. Among the factors in the Grogono-Woodgate index, ability to work, physical and mental well-being, ability to eat and enjoy food, hobbies and leisure activities, and communication were better among patients with a good vis-à-vis a poor prognosis. The interval from diagnosis had no effect on the results. Patients with a considerable postoperative handicap reported a comparatively good health status. Cancer patients with a good prognosis often reported better health than the control subjects, but this difference was only significant for the total Grogono-Woodgate index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗