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Biomedical subjects

G Fournier-Massey

Publications and source records attributed to G Fournier-Massey.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1988

House dust mites in university dormitories.

As no published data was available, dust was collected from 102 university student dormitory rooms and 33 were selected on a random basis for analysis. Mean dust per dormitory room was 4.47 g of coarse, 0.96 g of fine, and a 24-hour sedimented volume of fine dust of 6.90 mL. The mean number of mites was 63/g of coarse dust, and 240/g and 36/mL of fine dust. They were identified as D. pteronyssinus (D.p.), 81.9%; D. farinae, 11.2%; and Cheyletus, 4.7%. Fifteen samples from homes were controls. Mean values were 0.60 g of coarse dust, and 0.20 g and 2.3 mL of fine dust. Mites numbered 985/g of coarse, and 3409/g and 244/mL of fine dust. They were D.p., 87.2%; D. farinae, 3.0%; Cheyletus, 3.7%; and Euroglyphus, 1.6%. Differences between dormitories and homes in amount of dust and number of mites were significant at P less than .001. Dust and mites were significantly less in dormitories with linoleum than those with carpets (P less than .05 and .01, respectively). In conclusion, university dormitories have significantly less mites than homes despite a greater amount of dust harvested.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Japanese-American pulmonary reference values: influence of environment on anthropology and physiology.

Anthropometric measurements and pulmonary function (volumes, flows, and flow-volume curves) were evaluated in a community study of 59 male and 59 female, nonsmoking, healthy Japanese-American volunteers uniformly distributed in decades from 20 to 80 years. A control group of 36 Caucasians was similarly constituted. One technologist performed all tests. Techniques and equipment matched American Thoracic Society recommendations. A cohort effect was demonstrated for anthropometric measurements in the Japanese-Americans. They were smaller and lighter than the Caucasians but taller and heavier than the Japanese of Japan. The differences from whites diminished with youth. Although the group mean volumes and flows differed little from white reference series of Crapo et al. (1981, 1982), there was a difference in the older subjects. Flow-volume curves were increased in all Japanese-Americans. Prediction equations for pulmonary function have been prepared using standing height, age, and sex. More precise formulae would need to include skinfolds, lean body weight, and span. Our Caucasians did not differ anthropometrically or in their pulmonary function from those of the mainland. In conclusion, Japanese-American anthropometry and pulmonary function in Hawaii shows a gradation from that of Japanese to Caucasians, the extent depending on the age. This is secondary to an environmental influence on anthropometry and physiology. As a consequence race-specific reference values for volumes, flows, and flow-volume curves are necessary in evaluating pulmonary function of individual Japanese-Americans.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Tropical island asthma in Hawaii.

To better understand the increased morbidity and mortality of asthma in Hawaii, a profile was established from questionnaires completed by 76 asthmatics in a residential area and by 204 asthmatics attending emergency rooms. The general profile differed from profiles on other islands and mainland USA in that allergens were more important and exercise less. Variations occurred in the profile in association with ethnicity, time in Hawaii, and prescribing habits. The Chinese did not recognize infection as a trigger; the Filipinos had little familial asthma, less pollen sensitivity, and used few steroids; and the Japanese were sensitive to Kona weather but not to pollen. The newcomers (military) who were sensitive to pollen and less to emotion and exercise, rated their attacks more severe and used more nebulizers and steroids. Certain other relationships emerged such as house dust as a trigger and the increased use of steroids. Asthmatics of two civilian ERs used fewer nebulizers and steroids. In conclusion, Hawaii's increased morbidity and mortality of asthma should be examined further in terms of ethnicity, infection, house dust, and prescribing habits.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Retired and former asbestos workers in Hawaii.

In 1979, a pilot survey defined respiratory status and unmet health care needs of retired and former male asbestos workers in Hawaii. Of 1,401 identified subjects, 741 were contacted and 411 were interviewed. Forty-five subjects were between 39 and 54 years of age; 208, between 55 and 64; and 158, age 65 or more. They represented the main ethnic groups--Caucasian, Chinese, Filipino, Hawaiian and part-Hawaiian, and Japanese--on Oahu. Most subjects had had significant exposure to asbestos in a shipyard, and 83% were current nonsmokers (160 had never smoked, and 111 were ex-smokers for ten years or more). Taking age and ethnicity into account, our group had more chronic respiratory and gastrointestinal problems than the comparable male population of Oahu in 1979, but fewer such problems than active shipyard workers elsewhere. These problems related primarily to current smoking status and secondarily to the length of asbestos exposure. Health care was available, but former workers used it less than retirees, despite having more symptoms. Very few abnormalities were reported by the subjects on their chest X-rays, pulmonary function tests, and sputum cytology performed elsewhere. These findings are compared to those of other shipyards, and support the hypothesis that the biological effects of asbestos exposure are generally mild in Hawaii.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Airborne pollen sampling in Manoa Valley, Hawaii: effect of rain, humidity and wind.

Kramer-Collins pollen sampling was conducted over 24 hours for 25 consecutive months at two valley sites in Honolulu. Of 1,059 expected samples, 699 (66.0%) were collected. Only 25 were considered excellent, i.e., eight three-hour collection bands. Twenty eight were considered good, ie., two to six bands. The difficulties in the study were associated with the weather directly (17.5%), the power source (3.9%), inadequancy of the samplers (63.1%) and the inexperience of technicians (15.3%). Sampler problems were also indirectly attributable to the high humidity, rain and wind, which differed at the two sites.

Air Movements↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pulmonary function profiles in Quebec asbestos workers.

Lung function profiles were defined in over 1,000 Quebec chrysotile asbestos workers using five standard tests of lung function, and were related to dust exposure and smoking. Close to half the men (44.3%) had a normal lung function profile and a further 26.5% some function changes but no definite profile. Amongst the remainder restrictive and obstructive function profiles occurred with equal frequency (12.8 and 12.2% respectively). Both were associated with radiologic asbestosis; both occurred infrequently in the absence of the smoking habit. These findings suggest an association between the smoking habit and the harmful effects of asbestos exposure on lung function, and by implication on the development of lung fibrosis. A similar association has been recognized in respect of bronchogenic carcinoma. This experience, in the primary mining and milling of pure chrysotile asbestos, may not be directly applicable to secondary industries concerned with the further processing of this fibre.

Adolescent↗