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Biomedical subjects

M Greenberg

Publications and source records attributed to M Greenberg.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Identification and characterization of populations living near high-voltage transmission lines: a pilot study.

Populations living close to high-voltage transmission lines often have residential magnetic field exposures in excess of 1 microT, and sometimes over 2 microT. Yet, populations studied in most epidemiologic investigations of the association between residential magnetic field exposure and cancer typically have exposures below 1 microT and frequently below 0.5 microT. To improve statistical power and precision, it would be useful to compare high exposure populations with low exposure populations rather than only studying small differences within low exposure populations. Toward this end, we have developed an automated method for identifying populations living near high-voltage transmission lines. These populations likely have more highly exposed individuals than the population at large. The method uses a geographic information system (GIS) to superimpose digitized transmission line locations on U.S. Census block location data and then extract relevant demographic data. Analysis of data from a pilot study of the populations residing within 100 m of a 29-km segment of one 230-kV line in New Jersey shows that when compared to populations in the surrounding census blocks farther than 100 m from this line, those populations close to the line have similar demographics but differ in terms of perceived housing value variables. We believe that the approach we have developed will enable investigators to rapidly identify and characterize populations living near high-voltage transmission lines on a statewide basis for considering the impact of exposures and for public policy and that these populations also can be used for epidemiologic study.

Demography↗
PubMed1993

Local health officers' views on hazardous waste remediation.

Hazardous waste sites are a priority for local health officers in New Jersey. However, most officers feel that they are not adequately briefed or consulted by federal and state officials who manage site remediation. Consequently, many local health officers tend to be neutral or negative about federal and state site remediation plans. Consultation with local health officers should be formally built into the site remediation process, and officers should directly approach their state governments to gain access.

Hazardous Waste↗
PubMed1993

Assessed diversity within a regional organization of student representatives group.

This pilot study assessed diversity within an Organization of Student Representatives (OSR) group attending the 1990 Annual Meeting of the Southern Region Group on Student Affairs. In contrast to the Southern Region medical student population, the OSR group had a higher rate of students who were older, female, non-science majors in college, and in preclinical years of medical school. While the findings suggest that barriers are being overcome, underrepresented minority students also were underrepresented in the OSR group. A larger study should be conducted to determine OSR minority representation nationwide.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Methodological problems in investigating disease clusters.

Increased reporting of disease clusters is stretching health department resources while failing to uncover many significant environmental hazards. By reviewing the methodology by which health departments respond to such reports, we argue that there is a strong bias against investigating the most hazardous situations. Failure to find serious hazards is more a reflection of the methodology used than an assessment of the existence of environmental problems. The biases arise from the selection of situations that dictate full in-house consideration, the selection of the methodology used to evaluate reported or registry-based data, and the interpretation given to anomalous observations. We argue for more rigorous evaluation of statistical cluster detection methods and for use of more objective criteria in cluster investigation protocols.

Disease Outbreaks↗
PubMed1992

Iphosphamide-induced nephrotoxicity in children.

The nephrotoxic potential of iphosphamide was evaluated in a retrospective analysis of all children receiving the drug at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. The 25 children exhibiting nephrotoxicity did not receive more cycles or higher doses per square metre than the 78 with normal renal function. Similarly, the two groups received comparable doses and number of cycles of sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulphonate, and had similar rates of exposure to nephrotoxic drugs (except for cis-platinum). Children exhibiting nephrotoxicity were significantly younger (78.1 +/- 64.1 months) than those having normal kidney function (103.8 +/- 66.6 months) (P less than 0.05). Children exhibiting nephrotoxicity were more likely to have received cis-platinum prior to the iphosphamide (10/25, 40%) than those with normal renal function (14/73, 18%) (P less than 0.05). Nephrotoxicity was associated with a significant effect on growth. Careful follow-up of renal function should take place in children receiving iphosphamide, with special attention paid to children younger than 5 years of age and those who have received cis-platinum.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1992

Impediments to basing government health policies on science in the United States.

In the U.S., there is no consistent relationship between what health scientists find and public policy. Some scientific findings are heralded and quickly incorporated into individual and political action. Other findings are ignored, and others are contradicted by policy. This paper explains this inconsistency in terms of individual reaction to hazards, media coverage of hazards, and different ability of individuals to respond to health information; political leaders' preference for high-technology science, distortion and opposition by commercial interests, bureaucratic maneuvering for power and resources; and uncertainty and asymmetry of some scientific findings.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1992

Thawing fresh frozen plasma in a microwave oven. A comparison with thawing in a 37 degrees C waterbath.

We show in this report that fresh frozen plasma (FFP) can be thawed faster using a specifically designed microwave oven (MWO) (WesLabs Plasma Defroster, Westmorland Laboratories, Inc., New Brunswick, Canada) than using 37 degrees C water bath (WB) and that the thawed product was equivalent to FFP thawed by WB. Paired plasma bags (200 mL/bag) from plasma pools were frozen, stored at -35 degrees C, and thawed in parallel, one bag in MWO, the other in WB. Mean thaw time (mean + SD) by MWO was 6.99 + 1.3 minutes; by WB the time was 17.6 + 1.7 minutes (n = 24; P less than 0.005). Rapid calorimetry of thawed plasma showed that MWO-thawed FFP temperature was 20.4 + 2.5 degrees C, whereas WB-thawed FFP was 15.4 + 3.3 degrees C (n = 24; P less than 0.005). Except for thrombin time (MWO = 20.1 seconds; WB = 19.8 seconds; n = 24; P = 0.023), no significant differences were observed in the 23 other coagulation parameters and plasma proteins studied. Faster thawing and freedom from risk of contamination may make MWO the method of choice for emergency thawing of FFP.

Blood Coagulation↗
PubMed1992

Region of birth and mortality of blacks in the United States.

Analysis of black American death rates by region of birth and region of residence showed that southern-born blacks had the highest mortality rates and western-born blacks the lowest mortality rates. Blacks born in the northeast, midwest, and outside the US had rates intermediate between southern and western-born black rates. Blacks born in one region and who died in another had age-specific and age-adjusted mortality rates similar to their region of birth rather than their region of residence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Pain perception and effectiveness of the eutectic mixture of local anesthetics in children undergoing venipuncture.

The emulsion of lidocaine and prilocaine (EMLA) is effective in preventing the pain of venipuncture in children. It is therefore important to identify children who could benefit the most from EMLA. We studied the safety and feasibility of two methods of application of EMLA (patch and cream) in a randomized, open-label trial of EMLA patch versus EMLA cream in 160 children with chronic diseases undergoing venipuncture. EMLA patch or cream was applied 60 to 120 min before puncture. Pain was assessed by the children using a visual analogue score. Children also scored the pain of their last puncture and the pain of removing the tape. EMLA patch and cream had similar efficacy (visual analogue scores for the venipuncture were 8.5 +/- 16 and 9.5 +/- 17 out of 100, respectively). Side effects occurred in similar frequencies in the two groups. Adhesiveness of the patch was less effective than that of the cream with Tegaderm. Age was a major determinant of pain perception; younger children recalled more severe pain in their previous puncture. Children recently diagnosed had higher visual analogue scores than those with a long history of chronic disease. We concluded that EMLA patch and cream have a similar efficacy in children undergoing venipuncture. Young children recently diagnosed with chronic disease are most likely to benefit from EMLA.

Adolescent↗