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Biomedical subjects

P A Buffler

Publications and source records attributed to P A Buffler.

69 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Geographic patterns of multiple myeloma: racial and industrial correlates, State of Texas, 1969-71.

Age-adjusted mortality rates for multiple myeloma in Texas State economic area(s) (TSEA) were correlated with selected occupations. After control was made for the percentage of population classified as black, the positive association between the age-adjusted mortality rate from multiple myeloma and percentage of the population in each TSEA employed in beauty shops, carpentry, and agricultural industries was significant (P < 0.05). The findings emphasized the possible importance of race as a confounding variable in ecologic analyses of environmental and industrial exposure associated with mortality due to multiple myeloma. The data supported previous findings by another investigator of a strong association between farming occupations and death from multiple myeloma.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1980

Epidemiology of otitis media: a community study.

A community study of the incidence of clinically diagnosed otitis media and middle ear effusions was undertaken in the City of Galveston, Texas, based on a random sample of records of patients aged 0-8 years receiving medical care from four major sources during 1975. No overall sex or ethnic differences were observed in association with otitis media. Thirty-five per cent of the sample had at least one episode of otitis media during 1975 and, of these, one-third had two or more episodes, yielding a conservative annual incidence rate of 55.1 per cent for this age group. The overall age-specific incidence pattern indicated the highest rates for the 0-2 year age group (71 to 114 episodes per 100 children) with a steady decline in risk with increasing age. Infants who received an initial diagnosis within the first 12 months of life experienced significantly more episodes of otitis during a two-year period than did children who received an initial diagnosis after one year of age. Seasonal patterns of otitis media were comparable with those reported in other studies. Analysis by birth month of children who experienced repeated episodes of otitis indicated an increased number of children born in the late summer and fall.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1979

Sociocultural stress and the American native in Alaska: an analysis of changing patterns of psychiatric illness and alcohol abuse among Alaska natives.

This paper presents selected morbidity and mortality statistics to outline developing trends and the current status of psychiatric illness and alcohol abuse among the Aleut, Athabascan, Yupik, Inupiat, Tlingit, Haida and Tsimpshian people of Alaska. Analysis of the records of the Indian Health Service, the Community Mental Health Centers and the Alaska Psychiatric Institute, the providers of care for Alaska Natives, shows that the number of individuals treated as inpatients and outpatients for psychiatric illness and alcohol abuse has been rising steadily. Accidental injury and suicidal behavior are common. The treated prevalence rates for these diagnoses exceed recorded rates for other American Native and non-Native groups. For each category of violent death, suicide, homicide, accidents and alcohol, rates for Alaska Natives are higher than rates for Alaska non-Natives, American Indians and the U.S. (all races) and are rising. The data suggest a public health problem in which the primary elements are behavioral disturbance and violent death.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Mortality follow-up of workers exposed to 1,4-dioxane.

As a result of recent interest in the carcinogenic effect of dioxane, a mortality study was conducted on employees exposed to this compound at a major chemical company plant. Standard follow-up techniques were used to ascertain the vital status of a total of 165 employees ever exposed to dioxane since 1954. Observed deaths from overall cancer were not significantly different from the expected number of deaths. The observations were based on small numbers of deaths of employees who were apparently exposed at low levels and for relatively short exposures.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluating the health significance of hazardous air pollutants using monitoring data.

OBJECTIVE: Though many contaminants are released into the atmosphere, in the US only six air pollutants-ozone, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead-are closely monitored and carefully assessed for health significance. Other pollutants, even if highly toxic, are neither widely monitored nor routinely assessed at the national level. The goal of this study was to analyze the availability of information needed to characterize the health significance of hazardous air pollutants, focusing on urban areas in California. METHODS: The authors compared different approaches to identifying which contaminants should be considered hazardous air pollutants of potential health concern; reviewed the availability of toxicity values for these pollutants; and analyzed the usefulness of air monitoring data from California agencies for determining populations risks, by comparing method detection limits with health benchmarks. RESULTS: Approaches to identifying air contaminants of possible health concern differ. Toxicity values are not available for many hazardous air pollutants, including those identified in the Clean Air Act. In California, monitoring data are available for many, though not all, pollutants of concern. Monitoring methods for several pollutants do not have adequate sensitivity to detect all relevant concentrations. CONCLUSION: The information necessary to fully assess the health significance of hazardous air pollutants is not currently available.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lung cancer in nonsmoking women: a multicenter case-control study.

The association between exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and lung cancer in female lifetime nonsmokers was evaluated using data collected during the first 3 years of an ongoing case-control study. This large, multicenter, population-based study was designed to minimize some of the methodological problems which have been of concern in previous studies of environmental tobacco smoke and lung cancer. Both a cancer control group and a population control group were selected in order to evaluate recall bias. A uniform histopathological review of diagnostic material was conducted for case confirmation and detailed classification. Biochemical determination of current exposure to tobacco and screening of multiple sources of information to determine lifetime nonuse were utilized to minimize misclassification of smokers as nonsmokers. A 30% increased risk of lung cancer was associated with exposure to environmental tobacco smoke from a spouse, and a 50% increase was observed for adenocarcinoma of the lung. A statistically significant positive trend in risk was observed as pack-years of exposure from a spouse increased, reaching a relative risk of 1.7 for pulmonary adenocarcinoma with exposures of 80 or more pack-years. The predominant cell type of the reviewed, eligible lung cancer cases was adenocarcinoma (78%). Results were very similar when cases were compared to each control group and when separate analyses were conducted for surrogate and personal respondents. Other adult-life exposures in household, occupational, and social settings were each associated with a 40-60% increased risk of adenocarcinoma of the lung. No association was found between risk of any type of lung cancer and childhood exposures from a father, mother, or other household members.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Asbestos bodies in a general hospital/clinic population.

The presence of asbestos bodies in the sputum of individuals with known occupational asbestos exposure has been well documented. However, their prevalence and clinical implications in sputum and bronchial washings from patients not clinically known to have asbestos exposure remains controversial. From 1974 to 1979, 31,353 sputum and bronchial washing specimens were processed in the course of evaluating various pulmonary complaints of approximately 11,000 patients from the outpatient clinics and hospitals of the Harris County Hospital District in Houston, Texas. Asbestos bodies were incidentally found in five patients, and, in retrospect, each of them was discovered to have had significant occupational exposure to asbestos dust. Asbestos lung disease was also subsequently proven in four of the five patients and was felt, retrospectively, to have contributed to their presenting complaints and clinical course. It is concluded that asbestos bodies in sputum and bronchial washing specimens are highly specific markers for past asbestos exposure and reflect the presence of a significant asbestos load within the lungs. Sputum cytology is both painless and inexpensive and is recommended as a supplemental procedure to document clinically significant asbestos exposure.

Adolescent↗