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J Thornton

Publications and source records attributed to J Thornton.

164 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of exogenous androgen treatment on X-chromatin.

In studying a possible hormonal influence on X-chromatin frequency, buccal smears from two groups of women, one on androgen therapy and one not on androgen therapy, were compared. Both groups were nonmenstruating, renal dialysis patients, 41 to 69 years of age. For each patient the X-chromatin frequency was determined from 100 analyzable and intact buccal mucosa cells. In determining X-chromatin frequency, stringent selection criteria were used, and a selection ratio was derived by dividing by 100 the total number of cells that were counted in order to discover 100 analyzable and intact cells. Using the Guard's staining technique, no significant difference could be demonstrated in either the X-chromatin frequency or the selection ratio between the women receiving androgens and those not receiving them.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hospitals and plastics. Dioxin prevention and medical waste incinerators.

CHLORINATED DIOXINS and related compounds are extremely potent toxic substances, producing effects in humans and animals at extremely low doses. Because these compounds are persistent in the environment and accumulate in the food chain, they are now distributed globally, and every member of the human population is exposed to them, primarily through the food supply and mothers' milk. An emerging body of information suggests that dioxin contamination has reached a level that may pose a large-scale, long-term public health risk. Of particular concern are dioxin's effects on reproduction, development, immune system function, and carcinogenesis. Medical waste incineration is a major source of dioxins. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, as the dominant source of organically bound chlorine in the medical waste stream, is the primary cause of "iatrogenic" dioxin produced by the incineration of medical wastes. Health professionals have a responsibility to work to reduce dioxin exposure from medical sources. Health care institutions should implement policies to reduce the use of PVC plastics, thus achieving major reductions in medically related dioxin formation.

Bioethics↗