Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R R Monson

Publications and source records attributed to R R Monson.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Fertility after induced abortion: a prospective follow-up study.

Abortion has been alleged to cause sterility. To address this issue, 1235 postabortal women, 912 women recently delivered, and 939 women from the authors' gynecology clinics were studied for as long as 3.5 years. Cumulative pregnancy rates were similar for abortion group patients, delivery group patients, and the previously pregnant clinic group. When pregnancy rates were examined by different assumptions as to entrance into follow-up, the abortion group differed only in a somewhat lower pregnancy rate after nine months, when the use of contraceptives was greater than that of the other two groups. Pregnancy rates for all three groups were influenced by age of subject, parity, race, marital and Medicaid status, and a history of urinary tract infections. Induced abortion status did not influence pregnancy rates except that women reporting three or more induced abortions had a higher pregnancy rate.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1983

Lack of association between contraceptive usage and congenital malformations in offspring.

Previous reports have linked the use of oral contraceptives and spermicides to the occurrence of malformations in offspring. With information from 12,440 women interviewed during the delivery hospitalization, we found no relationship between contraceptive method and the occurrence of malformations. Whereas any unnecessary drug should be avoided during pregnancy, prior contraceptive method seems to be unrelated to the risk of congenital malformations.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1983

The relationship between induced abortion and outcome of subsequent pregnancies.

We analyzed interview and record review data from 9,823 deliveries to evaluate the relationship between prior history of induced abortion and subsequent late pregnancy outcomes. Complications such as bleeding in the first and third trimesters, abnormal presentations and premature rupture of the membranes, abruptio placentae, fetal distress, low birth weight, short gestation, and major malformations occurred more often among women with a history of two or more induced abortions. A logistic regression analysis to control for multiple confounding factors showed that a history of one induced abortion was statistically significantly associated with first-trimester bleeding but with no other untoward pregnancy events, and a history of two or more induced abortions was statistically associated with first-trimester bleeding, abnormal presentations, and premature rupture of the membranes. While these relationships merit further research, the results of this study are largely reassuring. A history of one or more prior induced abortions does not appear to increase substantially the risk of adverse late outcomes of subsequent pregnancies.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1983

Mortality experience of Vermont granite workers.

The proportional mortality experience (1952-1978) of 969 deceased white male granite workers was compared with that of United States white males. Industrial hygiene information was combined with work histories to develop an estimate of lifetime granite dust exposure for each individual. Subjects were grouped into four cumulative exposure categories, and exposure-response relationships were examined. Trends of increasing silicosis and tuberculosis with increasing lifetime exposure were observed. These are consistent with earlier findings. With the exception of excess suicide among granite workers dying before 1970, there was little evidence of association between other causes of death and employment in the granite industry.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

The association of marijuana use with outcome of pregnancy.

We analyzed interview and medical record data of 12,424 women to evaluate the relationship between marijuana usage and adverse outcomes of pregnancy. Low birthweight, short gestation, and major malformations occurred more often among offspring of marijuana users. When we used logistic regression to control for demographic characteristics, habits, and medical history data, these relationships were not statistically significant. The odds ratio for the occurrence of major malformations among marijuana users was 1.36, higher than odds ratios for other exogenous variables, and the 95 per cent confidence interval was 0.97-1.91. More data are needed to establish firmly or rule out an association between marijuana usage and major malformations. Until more information is available, women should be advised not to use marijuana during pregnancy.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMed1982

Delay in conception for former 'pill' users.

Interview data from 3,214 married women having planned pregnancies and singleton deliveries who had no history of fertility treatment and who conceived more than two weeks after cessation of contraception were analyzed. The interval from cessation of contraception to conception was 13 months or greater for 24.8% of prior "pill" users vs 10.6% for former users of all other methods. As compared with former users of other methods, pill users had a notably lower monthly percentage of conceptions for the first three months and somewhat lower percentage from four to ten months. Results were not altered when potential confounding variables were controlled by logistic regression. At least 15 months of unsuccessful trials might be a more appropriate working definition of infertility for previous pill users rather than the 12-month interval generally accepted for this purpose.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

No association between coffee consumption and adverse outcomes of pregnancy.

We analyzed interview and medical-record data of 12,205 non-diabetic, non-asthmatic women to evaluate the relation between coffee consumption and adverse outcomes of pregnancy. Low birth weight and short gestation occurred more often among offspring of women who drank four or more cups of coffee a day and more often among the offspring of smokers. After controlling for smoking, other habits, demographic characteristics, and medical history by standardization and logistic regression, we found no relation between low birth weight or short gestation and heavy coffee consumption. Furthermore, there was no excess of malformations among coffee drinkers. These negative results suggest that coffee consumption has a minimal effect, if any, on the outcome of pregnancy.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Ectopic pregnancy and prior induced abortion.

We compared the prior pregnancy histories of 85 multigravid women with an ectopic pregnancy and 498 multigravid delivery comparison subjects. We found a relationship between the number of prior induced abortions and the risk of ectopic pregnancy: the crude relative risk of ectopic pregnancy was 1.6 for women with one prior induced abortion and 4.0 for women with two or more prior induced abortions; however, use of multivariate techniques to control confounding factors reduced the relative risks to 1.3 (95 per cent confidence interval, 0.6-2.7) and 2.6 (95 per cent confidence interval, 0.9-7.4), respectively. The analysis suggests that induced abortion may be one of several risk factors for ectopic pregnancy, particularly for women who have had abortions plus pelvic inflammatory disease or multiple abortions.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1982

Mortality among rubber workers: V. processing workers.

Cause-specific mortality was evaluated among 2,666 men employed in the processing division of a rubber manufacturing plant. The division was divided into two sections: front processing (compounding, mixing and milling operations) and back processing (extrusion, calendering, cement mixing and rubberized fabrics operations). Mortality rates for all processing workers combined and for men in each section were compared with rates for U.S. White males or for workers employed in other divisions of the same plant. Compared with either referent group, men in the processing division had increased mortality from leukemia, emphysema, and cancers of the stomach, large intestine, and biliary passages and liver. An excess number of deaths from stomach and larger intestine cancer was found predominantly among men in the front processing section (33 observed vs. 17.7 expected deaths, based on rates in nonprocessing workers). Increased mortality from leukemia (14 observed vs. 7.3 expected) and from emphysema (22 observed vs. 11.0 expected) was present among men employed in the back processing section. Examination of mortality from these causes according to age and the year starting work, duration of employment, and years since starting work in the relevant sections of the processing division suggested that observed excesses of stomach cancer, large intestine cancer, leukemia, and emphysema among processing workers are related to occupational exposures. These results are consistent with the findings of studies of other groups of rubber workers.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Mortality among rubber workers: VI. Men with potential exposure to acrylonitrile.

In an analysis of mortality among 327 employees of a rubber chemicals plant who had potential exposure to acrylonitrile, nine deaths from lung cancer were found in comparison to 5.9 expected based on mortality rates for U.S. white males and 4.7 expected based on mortality rates for other rubber workers from the same city. The excess was greatest among men who worked five through 14 years and who died 15 or more years after starting work in the plant (four deaths observed, 0.8 expected).

Acrylonitrile↗
PubMed1981

Screening for occupational health hazards in the rubber industry. Part I.

Multiphasic health testing (MHT) is often offered to populations of workers usually with the objective of identifying individuals who may be ill. Results are typically not analyzed in relation to estimates of workplace exposure. We describe the results of combining MHT with industrial hygiene assessment of workplace exposures as a method of identifying possible health hazards rather than merely potentially ill individuals. MHT was offered to all production and maintenance workers employed at a tire manufacturing plant. Of 954, 744 participated. We measured worker exposure to respirable particulates, solvent vapor, and noise. We computed the frequency of positive screens among workers classified by exposure and compared these frequencies with expected values adjusted for confounding variables including age, sex, race, and smoking and drinking habits. Workers exposed to higher concentrations of respirable particulates exhibited signs of respiratory and gastrointestinal morbidity. Workers exposed to emissions from heated, uncured rubber undergoing plastic deformation reported chest tightness on return to work. We conclude that combining MHT with assessment of workplace exposure is a valid method for identifying possible occupational health hazards.

Environmental Exposure↗
PubMed1981

Screening for occupational health hazards in the rubber industry. Part II: health hazards in the curing department.

Multiphasic health testing was provided to 744 rubber workers at a tire manufacturing plant. Sixty-two white males from this population had worked longest in the curing department. Personal exposure to respirable particulates was measured for curing press operators. Outcome on screening tests for curing workers was compared with that of 280 white males at this same plant who had never worked in departments known to include jobs where they could have been exposed to respiratory health hazards. Employment in the curing department is associated with shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheeze, loss of FEV-1 and FVC, decline of FEV-1/FVC, and tingling and numbness in the extremities. These associations are stronger with increased duration of employment in the curing department. This paper further demonstrates the potential for using multiphasic health testing combined with measurements of workplace exposure for identifying occupational health hazards.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Mortality and cancer morbidity among workers in the rubber tire industry.

A retrospective follow-up study was conducted to evaluate mortality and cancer incidence between 1954 and 1976 among 1,792 white male production workers employed for at least 2 years at a tire manufacturing plant. There were no marked excesses in overall or site-specific cancer deaths or incident cases. Compared to U.S. white males, men employed for at least 10 years experienced small increases in deaths from cancers of the large intestine, pancreas, and lung. Results obtained by comparing observed incident cancer cases to the numbers expected based on age- and calendar time-specific incidence rates of Connecticut males also suggested excesses of these three malignancies. These findings were based on small numbers and therefore do not necessarily indicate causal associations between cancer excesses and employment in the rubber tire industry. However, because the workers studied comprised a relatively young population that may not have experienced the full impact of carcinogenic occupational exposures, further follow-up is warranted.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Mortality among rubber workers. III. Cause-specific mortality, 1940-1978.

This report describes mortality occurring between 1940 and mid-1978 among 29,087 men and women employed in a rubber plant for at least two years. Mortality patterns for the period July 1, 1974, to July 1, 1978, were compared to previously published findings for January 1, 1940, through June 30, 1974. Expected numbers of deaths were based on U.S. general population mortality data. There were excess deaths from bladder cancer and leukemia among white male union members during both follow-up periods. During recent follow-up of white male union members employed for at least five years, there were excesses in deaths from three additional cancers: esophageal cancer (11 observed/4.8 expected), biliary and liver cancer (6 observed/3.3 expected) and lymphoma and multiple myeloma (14 observed/5.8 expected). Evidence from other studies of rubber workers suggests that observed excesses in deaths from bladder cancer and leukemia are related to work-place exposures. The present findings suggest that occupational exposures etiologically relevant to these diseases may not have been reduced in recent years or that sufficient time has not elapsed for such reductions to result in decreased mortality. Further investigation is required to clarify the contribution of occupational factors to observed excesses in deaths form cancers of the esophagus and the biliary passages and liver and from lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

A case-control study of bladder cancer in the United States rubber and tyre industry.

A case-control study of bladder cancer was conducted in five United States rubber and tyre companies to determine if there were high-risk jobs and work areas within the industry. The study included 220 male cases of bladder cancer, of whom 107 were identified from hospital record reviews and 113 from death certificates. Each case was matched individually with two industry controls by sex, race, year of birth, and company. One control was matched additionally by year of hire and duration of employment. Comparisons of cases and controls not matched by year of hire and age of hire showed no differences for those variables, which suggests that age and calendar period of first exposure to the industry were not risk determinants. When the work histories of both cases and controls were contrasted it was found that cases were more likely than controls to have worked in milling (odds ratio (OR) = 1.91) and calender operation (OR = 2.21) jobs. The relative risk estimates for milling and calender operation both exhibited linear trends of increase with duration of exposure. Milling and calender operation jobs entail potential exposures to volatilised reaction products from heated rubber stock. A better understanding of aetiological associations with job type will require more detailed characterisation of the work environment with regard to the sources and levels of aromatic amines and other suspected bladder carcinogens.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Cancer mortality in women after repeated fluoroscopic examinations of the chest.

Among 1,047 women fluoroscopically examined in average of 102 times during pneumothorax therapy for tuberculosis and followed up to 45 years (average = 27 yr), no increase in the total number of cancer deaths occurred when these women were compared to 717 women who received other treatments [relative risk (RR) = 0.8]. However, elevated risks of mortality from stomach cancer (RR = 2.3), rectal cancer (RR = 3.8), breast cancer (RR = 1.2), lung cancer (RR = 1.8), and leukemia (RR = 1.2) were observed, but none was statistically significant and all were based on very small numbers of deaths. These increases were balanced by decreases of genital cancer (RR = 0.2), pancreatic cancer (RR = 0.9), lymphoma (RR = 0.6), and all other cancers (RR = 0.1). Average cumulative absorbed doses were 110 rads for the lungs, 33 rads for the trunk, 13 rads for the active bone marrow, and 7 rads for the stomach. The following upper levels of excess risk could be excluded with 95% confidence: 3.5 deaths/10(6) woman-year (WY)-rad for lung cancer, 4.8 deaths/10(6) WY-rad for lymphoma, and 12 deaths/10(6) WY-rad for leukemia. These findings indicated that the carcinogenic effect of multiple low-dose X-ray exposures was not greater than that currently assumed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Association of induced abortion with subsequent pregnancy loss.

We compared prior pregnancy histories of two groups of multigravidas--240 women having a pregnancy loss up to 28 weeks' gestation and 1,072 women having a term delivery. Women who had had two or more prior induced abortions had a twofold to threefold increase in risk of first-trimester spontaneous abortion, loss between 14 to 19 and 20 to 27 weeks. The increased risk was present for women who had legal induced abortions since 1973. It was not explained by smoking status, history of prior spontaneous loss, prior abortion method, or degree of cervical dilatation. No increase in risk of pregnancy loss was detected among women with a single prior induced abortion. We conclude that multiple induced abortions do increase the risk of subsequent pregnancy losses up to 28 weeks' gestation.

Abortion, Induced↗