Psychotropic drugs are the second most commonly used medication by Quebec's elderly. The objective of this study is to test a theoretical model of psychotropic drug use in the elderly. The principal hypothesis is that the quality of relationships the elderly person has with others, particularly with his or her children, has a direct influence on his or her psychological well-being, which, in turn, directly affects the consumption of psychotropic agents. A survey was conducted on a sample of 500 elderly people, aged 65-84 years, living at home. Of the respondents, 31.8% used psychotropic drugs during the 3-month period preceding the interview. Path analysis led to the elaboration of a modified model for the consumption of psychotropic drugs by the elderly which indicates that the best predictors of consumption are both the psychological well-being and the state of health of the individual. The more the psychological well-being is elevated, the lower the consumption of psychotropic drugs is, whereas a poor health condition increases it. The quality of an individual's social relationships has a direct influence on his or her psychological well-being, whereas family relationships are of lesser importance. Our model accounts for 13% of the predictors of psychotropic consumption by the elderly. Further studies will consider the personality of the user, the doctor-patient relationship, the prescribing habits of physicians and the influence of advertising by pharmacological industry.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Mortality in a cohort of orchard workers exposed to lead arsenate pesticide spray.

During the period from 1890 to 1940, lead arsenate was the major pesticide used in apple orchards to control the coddling moth. In the Wenatchee area of Washington State, lead arsenate spray was used for longer periods and in larger quantities than in other areas of the United States. In 1938, a cohort of 1,231 people who lived in this area was selected for a study to determine the effects of exposure to lead arsenate spray and residue. This same cohort was re-examined to determine whether there was excess mortality that could be attributed to the lead arsenate exposure. Three levels of exposure (i.e., orchardist, intermediate, consumer) were defined, based upon the use of lead arsenate pesticide spray before and during the 1938 apple growing season. Age-adjusted hazard ratios for all causes of mortality were elevated for both male orchardists and male intermediates. The only significantly increased age-adjusted hazard ratio (1.94) was heart disease in male intermediates. No significantly elevated age-adjusted hazard ratios were observed for women in any exposure group. The lack of evidence that supported an increase in mortality from respiratory cancer in this cohort may have resulted from the lower cumulative concentration of arsenic exposure, the type of arsenical compound, and the small number of study subjects.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Giant cell carcinoma of lung: a cytologic evaluation.

Twelve cases of giant cell carcinoma of the lung are reported. These were all studied histologically and in all but one case cytologic material was examined from sputa and bronchial washings. The cytologic criteria for diagnosis are evaluated, and are considered sufficiently reproducivle as to allow confident diagnostic interpretation. Precise morphologic classification of primary lung carcinoma is important since the significance of the various types in terms of their biologic behavior and prognosis has been established.

Autopsy↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Wavy pelvis sign in CT of multiple hereditary osteochondromatosis.

We report three patients with multiple hereditary osteochondromatosis with pelvic CT findings indicating the presence of multiple small osteochondromata. Despite normal appearance of plain radiography in these cases, a characteristic wavy appearance of pelvic brim, which has not been described to date, was clearly shown in all three cases. The finding of wavy pelvis may indicate that pelvic osteochondromata are not as rare as indicated by plain radiographic studies and that malignant degeneration in pelvic osteochondromata may be related to their high incidence. One of these patients had an intracapsular hip joint loose body, originating from femoral neck osteochondroma. This complication is previously unreported.

Adult↗