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Biomedical subjects

H E Bryant

Publications and source records attributed to H E Bryant.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Video display terminal use and spontaneous abortion risk.

A matched case-control study investigated the potential effects of video display terminal (VDT) use on risk of spontaneous abortion in pregnancy. Structured interviews were administered to 334 cases immediately following a miscarriage. For each case, two age and parity-matched controls were enrolled, the first being a woman still pregnant (less than 25 weeks' gestation), and the second a woman in the postpartum ward of the same participating hospital. Separate analyses were carried out for each comparison group due to potential and observed differences in recall loss and selection bias. The overall exposure to VDT's during the period of interest (three months preceding the last menstrual period [LMP] to four months post-LMP) did not indicate an increased risk for either control group comparison (OR = 1.14, p = 0.47 with postnatal controls; OR = 0.80, p = 0.20 with prenatal controls). Furthermore, when exposure data were re-classified to remove women with distant or single exposures, no significant odds ratios were found. While several socioeconomic and obstetric variables were significantly associated with VDT use, multivariate analysis did not alter the lack of association of VDT use with case-control status. Finally, evidence for recall bias in postnatal control reporting, evidenced by underreporting of trivial exposures in this group, is examined.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1989

Risk factors for Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection in an urban community.

Outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 have been attributed to meat or meat products, particularly ground meat, and to unpasteurized dairy products. However, the risk factors for sporadic cases have not been clearly delineated. Study data were collected by using a self-administered dietary and historical questionnaire on all patients whose history included bloody diarrhea and who attended one of the participating emergency departments. Designation as "case" or "control" occurred after stool culture results were known, eliminating the possibility for recall bias common to this type of study. Cases (E. coli O157:H7-positive) were further matched with one diarrheal and one healthy community control, and more detailed information on food preparation practices and other data were then taken. Of 266 presentations of bloody diarrhea, 103 (38.7%) were due to E. coli O157:H7. Unmatched analyses with bloody diarrheal controls revealed a seemingly lower risk for E. coli O157:H7 infection in fast food restaurant patrons. No increased risk could be detected for ground meat consumption despite adequate study power, although an association between ingestion of undercooked meat and infection (odds ratio = 3.5, P less than .05) was found when community controls were used. Proper food cooking (and handling) rather than the avoidance of particular food products is the preventive measure of choice.

Alberta↗
PubMed1989

Ethylene oxide sterilizer use and short-term symptoms amongst workers.

We surveyed training, the use of protective devices, personal and environmental exposure levels and self-reported short-term health complaints amongst 165 health care workers (response = 76 per cent) using ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilizers in 27 hospitals in the province of Alberta, Canada. Data were collected via self-administered questionnaires. Personal and environmental sampling was carried out during site visits to 18 hospitals. Although no detectable levels of EtO were found in environmental samples, over half of the respondents stated they could smell EtO at work. While sampling results never revealed concentrations above the provincial 15 min time weighted average short-term exposure limit (STEL; = 50 p.p.m.), personal exposure concentrations and the use of portable sterilizers were positively associated with short-term symptoms such as irritations of the mucous membranes and skins (P less than 0.05).

Environmental Exposure↗
PubMed1989

Records, recall loss, and recall bias in pregnancy: a comparison of interview and medical records data of pregnant and postnatal women.

To determine the agreement between interview-based and medical records data concerning illnesses and medications early in pregnancy, we compared the interviews of 202 women with the ongoing records collected during their pregnancies. Substantial underrecording of most transient illnesses was found. Fewer short-term illnesses were reported by postpartum women than sill-pregnant women, suggesting the potential for recall bias or loss.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Self-reported illness and risk behaviours amongst Canadian travellers while abroad.

403 travellers who attended The University of Calgary International Travel Clinic between August 1, 1987 and June 1, 1988, were asked to return a questionnaire detailing health, illness and risk factors while abroad. Of the 296 respondents, most travelled for fewer than 6 weeks time; destinations were primarily areas where chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum had been reported. Diarrhea was experienced by 57.3% of respondents; eating food purchased from street vendors was found to be a significant risk factor. Travellers who made trips exceeding 60 days' duration were significantly more likely to experience skin rashes, fevers or diarrhea, although it could not be determined whether this was due to their higher likelihood of undertaking high-risk behaviours, or to a higher number of person-days at risk. The findings of this high rate of illness while abroad underscores the need for specific advice on appropriate risk avoidance behaviours when pre-travel medical visits occur. Further prospective studies to determine effectiveness of such advice, and the patterns of illness based on person-days at risk, are required.

Adult↗