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Biomedical subjects

P J Peterson

Publications and source records attributed to P J Peterson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Assessment of exposure to chemical contaminants in water and food.

UNLABELLED: The main questions on the validity of the studies and routine monitoring (e.g., in the scope of the WHO/UNEP GEMS programme) assessing exposure to chemicals through water and food (i.e., through digestion) relate to the following. (a) SAMPLING: variations due to sampling strategy and approach usually exceed analytical errors. (b) MEASUREMENT: quality assessment and quality control (QA/QC) procedures are essential. However, potential limitations of measurement errors resulting from implementation of these procedures should be kept in perspective with other errors and confounding factors. (c) METHODOLOGY: which depends on the variability of the intake patterns in the population, as well on the adequacy of the information on the consumption of food of a specified type as an indicator of the intake of a specific chemical. These factors should be considered in particular in studies using 'food basket' methods. Whenever possible, structure of the population in respect to the factors determining typical diet should be registered. (d) Form of reporting: limiting possibilities for re-analysis of the exposure estimates. In conclusion, the routinely collected data on exposure through food and water should be used with care in epidemiological studies. Assessment of the exposure conducted specially for the epidemiological study should consider possible changes of the diet with time. The data on confounders are crucial for exposure estimates.

Cadmium↗
PubMed1986

Nosocomial infections in 15 rural Wisconsin hospitals--results and conclusions from 6 months of comprehensive surveillance.

Fifteen rural Wisconsin acute care community hospitals with an average approved bed size of 55 and an average daily census of 28 patients participated in a nosocomial infection control project. Each hospital Infection Control Practitioner (ICP) was trained and conducted prospective nosocomial infection surveillance on all patients admitted to the hospital for 6 consecutive months between May 1, 1984 and April 30, 1985. Two hundred twenty nosocomial infections were reported among 13,420 discharged patients for an incidence rate of 1.64 infections per 100 discharged patients. One hundred sixty-four patients had one nosocomial infection. Twenty-three patients had two or more. Infection rates were highest among gynecology--4.9% and general surgery patients--4.0%, and lowest among newborns--0.3% and pediatric patients--0%. 39.7% of the infections were of the urinary tract, 27.9% of surgical wounds, 16% pneumonia, and 1.4% primary bacteremia. The other infections were in seven additional sites. Risk factors associated with acquisition of infections included old age, urinary catheterization, and/or a surgical procedure. The overall nosocomial surgical wound infection incidence for inpatient procedures was 1.9%, with incidences of 0.4% for hernia repair, 1.3% for cholecystectomy, 3.3% for appendectomy, 4.0% for total abdominal hysterectomy, and 3.9% for cesarean sections. The incidence of nosocomial infections was 2.7 infections per 100 discharged patients age 65 years or over and 0.9 infections per 100 discharged patients less than 65 years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Infections and infection control among residents of eight rural Wisconsin nursing homes.

During 1984 and 1985, an initial prevalence survey and six consecutive months of comprehensive prospective surveillance were conducted in eight rural Wisconsin nonproprietary nursing homes managed by eight nonprofit hospitals in the same communities. Our purpose was to define the infections in the residents and the infection control programs in the nursing homes. The initial prevalence survey analyzed the records of all 403 residents of the eight nursing homes. The average resident was 83.4 years old and had 3.4 chronic diseases noted on the chart. During this initial survey, 52 (12.9%) of the residents were found to have 56 active infections of all types. During six consecutive months of comprehensive surveillance in the eight nursing homes, 265 episodes of acute infection were found for an overall incidence of 10.7 infections per 100 resident months. Clusters of infection by site, pathogen, or month of onset were quite uncommon throughout the study. Susceptibility testing of organisms recovered from infections failed to reveal any clinically important resistance patterns. Because nursing homes are different in many respects from hospitals, appropriately modified definitions and infection control strategies are required for nursing homes and their residents.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Hallucinations of widowhood.

Widowed residents of two nursing homes who were oriented to person, time, and place were interviewed to determine the extent to which they had hallucinatory experiences of their deceased spouse. Fifty-two interviews were completed with 46 widows and six widowers. Results are reported for the widows. Twenty-eight (61%) of the widows reported hallucinatory experiences of their deceased spouse. Twenty-four (86%) of the widows described the experiences as good or helpful. Thirteen (46%) reported that the experiences continue to happen. Nineteen (54%) of the widows had never discussed the experiences with anyone before this study. These results are surprisingly similar to previously published findings by Rees in Wales and suggest that these experiences are more common in the United States than has been recognized.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

Geochemistry and ecology.

This paper discusses the importance of geochemistry as a determining factor in the evolutionary development of plant assemblages. Three contrasting examples of geochemical systems are described and considered in relation to their effects on plant growth and development. Soils derived from serpentines may contain elevated and sometimes toxic concentrations of Cr and Ni depending on mineral composition and weathering processes. These conditions have so modified plant growth during the past few million years that specialized floras have evolved on particular sites. Extensive areas throughout the world contain high concentrations of Se but these have not always been accompanied by the development of specific floras. Geochemistry can help explain how Se-specific floras have developed in several Western States of America but are absent on Se-rich sites in the Republic of Ireland. Pronounced effects of As toxicity in plants have been recognized in recent years especially from areas polluted by smelter waste and fallout. As-tolerant genotypes have developed during the past 100 years and may still be evolving at the present time.

Arsenic↗