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S C Weller

Publications and source records attributed to S C Weller.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

OSHA gets into dirty laundry.

Second of a three-part series on the new bloodborne pathogens rule, this article covers exposure control plans, personal protective equipment for laundry workers, and compliance monitoring. In short, the rule mandates more record keeping for employers and less exposure for employees. By May 5, every laundry with employees who could "reasonably anticipate" coming into contact with blood-soiled linen and needles or sharps must establish a written exposure control plan. Turn to page 60 for information to help you get into compliance.

HIV Infections↗

Training and compliance high on OSHA's list.

This is the third in a series of three articles on OSHA's new ruling on bloodborne pathogens. It covers engineering and work practice controls, employee training, record keeping, and signs and labels.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Knowing healthcare customer needs key to profitable niche marketing.

A potential $177 million-a-year market has been opened to textile rental operators, thanks to OSHA's recent ruling on bloodborne pathogens. Healthcare providers nationwide are now searching for solutions to their protective apparel needs. Such customer needs are what drive niche markets. Whether you've been serving the healthcare market for years or are just now targeting it, here are the marketing strategies you need.

Contract Services↗

Bloodborne pathogens compliance update. Local OSHA regulations cover textile rental companies in 23 states and two U.S. territories.

The last phase of the federal OSHA standard on occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens became effective July 6. However, compliance deadlines may vary in the 23 states and two U.S. territories that have their own OSHA offices. The states and territories have the option of adopting the federal standard or drafting their own plans. Here's a status report on the OSHA-approved state programs for bloodborne pathogens.

Blood↗

Bucket-related drownings in the United States, 1984 through 1990.

The purpose of the study is to document the incidence of bucket-related drowning in the United States and to identify factors associated with this type of submersion injury. Analysis of Consumer Product Safety Commission data revealed 160 bucket-related drownings for the years 1984 through 1989, representing a mortality rate of 0.367 per 100,000 persons (younger than 2 years old) per year in the United States. Eighty-eight percent of bucket drownings occurred in toddlers aged 7 to 15 months old. Black children were six times more likely to drown in a bucket than white children of similar age (P less than .0001). Male toddlers were at significantly greater risk than females (P less than .01). A seasonal trend present in the data indicated that infants are more likely to drown in warmer than in colder months (P less than .01). States with the highest rates of bucket drowning were Vermont (2.1/100,000), Arizona (1.5/100,000), and Illinois (1.0/100,000). Through passive and active educational strategies, perhaps this fatal home injury can be prevented.

Black or African American↗

Expression and stability of amplified genes encoding 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase in glyphosate-tolerant tobacco cells.

Two distinct cDNAs for 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) were obtained from a glyphosate-tolerant tobacco cell line. The cDNAs were 89% identical and the predicted sequences of the mature proteins were greater than 83% identical with EPSPS proteins from other plants. Tobacco EPSPS proteins were more similar to those from tomato and petunia than Arabidopsis. One cDNA clone, EPSPS-1, represented a gene that was amplified in glyphosate-tolerant cells, while the gene for EPSPS-2 was unaltered in these cells. Consequently, EPSPS-1 mRNA was more abundant in tolerant than unselected cells, whereas EPSPS-2 mRNA was at relatively constant levels in these cell lines. Exposure of unselected cells and tobacco leaves to glyphosate produced a transient increase in EPSPS mRNA. However, glyphosate-tolerant cells containing amplified copies of EPSPS genes did not show a similar response following exposure to glyphosate. A significant proportion of the EPSPS gene amplification was maintained when tolerant cells were grown in the absence of glyphosate for eight months. Plants regenerated from these cells also contained amplified EPSPS genes.

3-Phosphoshikimate 1-Carboxyvinyltransferase↗

An epidemiological description of a folk illness: a study of empacho in Guatemala.

Although anthropologists have provided descriptions of many folk illnesses, few have systematically evaluated their prevalence and determined who is at greatest risk for acquiring them. This report attempts to provide a systematic description of the folk illness empacho including the symptoms that define it. Illness prevalence was estimated and subpopulations at greatest risk were identified from illness histories collected from a random sample of households in rural Guatemala. Empacho was found to constitute a distinct cluster of symptoms: diarrhea, vomiting, headache, and lack of appetite. It differed from other gastrointestinal illnesses in that headaches were more likely and stomachaches were less likely to be reported. Empacho was highly prevalent and occurred in adults and children. Further, results showed that although empacho was frequently diagnosed by residents, folk healers were rarely consulted for any illness. Nevertheless, a strong association exists between a household diagnosis of empacho and the use of folk healers by those households (p less than .001).

Adult↗

Iron status of inner-city elementary school children: lack of correlation between anemia and iron deficiency.

The iron status of 103 inner-city third and fourth graders was evaluated. These children had significantly lower hemoglobin concentrations and significantly higher serum ferritin concentrations than values previously reported. Mean erythrocyte protoporphyrin concentrations agree with previous results whereas mean corpuscular volume was significantly lower than in some previous studies. Though 11 children (10.7%) were anemic, only 1 anemic child had another abnormal measure of iron status. Three children (2.9%) had a low serum ferritin concentration along with another abnormal measure of iron status. Four children (3.9%) had at least two abnormal measurements of iron status without an elevated blood lead concentration. These results agree with recent observations of decreasing rates of anemia in preschool children. The poor utility of hemoglobin measures to identify iron-deficient children suggests the need for alternate screening methods, and the relatively high serum ferritin concentration suggests a trend of rising iron stores in school-age children.

Anemia↗

Readying for a healthcare revolution. Outpatient care: a textile rental service opportunity.

Textile rental companies are poised on the edge of a boom in the healthcare marketplace. The detonator is outpatient care. Between 1984 and 1990, outpatient visits increased from almost 233 million to more than 310 million, or about 33 percent. The shift from traditional hospital care to outpatient or ambulatory service is creating a new market opportunity for textile rental services. Innovative medical services are cropping up in suburban malls and neighborhoods, and demand is high for high-quality linen supply or contract laundry services.

Ambulatory Care↗

Are your employees protected from blood-borne pathogens? OSHA standards charge textile rental companies with responsibility for worker safety.

Congress is putting pressure on OSHA to finalize its Universal Precaution standards by December. When the standards go into effect, textile rental companies that serve medical, dental, and outpatient care facilities--including private physician and dentist offices--must take steps to protect employees from blood-borne pathogens. Soiled linens, towels, gowns, and other items from any customer in risk categories link a textile rental facility and/or commercial laundry with the OSHA regulations. Read and heed this information.

Humans↗

New cleanliness standards set for healthcare linen providers.

Healthcare facilities must pass strict standards to receive accreditation. Included on the inspection checklist are linen and laundry operations. At TRSA's 15th Annual Healthcare Seminar, a hospital accreditor provided rental operators with an inside look at scoring guidelines used to rate hospital linen and laundry operations.

Contract Services↗

A cDNA encoding 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase from Solanum tuberosum L.

A cDNA encoding potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase, the first enzyme of the shikimate pathway, was cloned into phage lambda gt11. The clone represents the first cDNA for this enzyme from any eukaryotic source. The nucleotide sequence of the cDNA was determined, and its identity was confirmed through partial amino acid sequence analysis of the encoded enzyme. The cDNA contains a 1527-base pair open reading frame that encodes a polypeptide with a calculated molecular weight of 56,153. The amino terminus of the deduced polypeptide resembles a chloroplast transit sequence. Amino acid sequence identities between the mature potato enzyme and the homologous isoenzymes from Escherichia coli are only about 22%. The potato cDNA hybridized to various plant mRNAs that are all about 2 kilobases in size.

3-Deoxy-7-Phosphoheptulonate Synthase↗

Blood lead, calcium status, and behavior in preschool children.

To determine if calcium status is associated with blood lead levels and behavior, 64 black urban children aged 18 to 47 months were studied. Twenty-seven controls (blood lead levels, less than 1.45 mumol/L) were compared with 37 cases (blood lead levels, greater than or equal to 1.45 mumol/L) with respect to four calcium measures (calcium intake, serum calcium level, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D level, and bone densitometric findings) and three behavioral scores. Levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D provided a measure of vitamin D sufficiency. As expected, blood lead level was associated with pica scores. However, none of the calcium measures differed between cases and controls. Controlling for four confounders (season, pica score, maternal education, and sex), yielded no significant differences between the two groups in the mean values of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D level. There was no interaction between blood lead level and the four covariates. No relationship could be demonstrated between calcium status and the pica scores.

Bone Density↗

Prediction of toxicological interactions in a binary mixture by using pattern recognition techniques: proposed approach with a developed model.

A model has been suggested to predict the nature of toxicological interaction in binary mixtures. The approach uses the NLM-HSDB computerized data bases, the ATSDR toxicologic profiles, and other literature for categorizing the nature (synergistic, antagonistic or no interaction) and degree of interaction. Multivariate modeling (pattern recognition techniques) is the statistical approach utilized to separate groups of compounds into those that interact synergistically or antagonistically with a given toxic compound. Preliminary results indicate 1) that there are sufficient data in the literature on interactions to permit such modeling and 2) that in the case of carbon tetrachloride those compounds that interact synergistically with it are more similar to each other than those that interact antagonistically with respect to a number of structural and toxicologic parameters. This suggested approach of utilizing pattern recognition tools will be quite useful for regulatory agencies in predicting toxicological interactions occurring in complex chemical mixtures in the environment.

Carcinogenicity Tests↗

Glyphosate Induces 3-Deoxy-d-arabino-Heptulosonate 7-Phosphate Synthase in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Cells Grown in Suspension Culture.

The activity of the first enzyme of the shikimate pathway, 3-deoxy-d-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase, varies during the growth cycle of Solanum tuberosum L. cv superior cells in suspension culture. Maximum specific enzyme activity was observed midway through the linear phase of growth. When mid-log phase cells are exposed to glyphosate, the specific activity of the enzyme increases severalfold within 24 hours. The glyphosate-induced increase in enzyme activity is due to an increase in the amount of enzyme as determined by immunoblotting. Glyphosate (up to 2 millimolar) has no effect on the enzyme activity in vitro. Dehydroquinate synthase, the second enzyme of the shikimate pathway, is not induced by glyphosate.

Journal Article↗

Glyphosate Tolerance in Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.).

A glyphosate-tolerant tobacco cell line, Nicotiana tabacum L. Indiana (I7), was selected from the glyphosate-sensitive Wisconsin 38 (W38) line through a single step exposure to the herbicide. Tolerance and growth characteristics of I7 cells were the same for cells maintained for more than 1 year in the presence or absence of glyphosate. Glyphosate tolerance levels were constant through the growth cycle. Tolerance is not due to reduced uptake of glyphosate. Shikimate levels in I7 and W38 cells maintained in glyphosate-free medium were similar, whereas W38 cells accumulated 46 times more shikimate than I7 cells, when cells of both lines were exposed to the herbicide. Glyphosate treatment caused increased levels of aromatic amino acids in W38 cells and slightly lower levels in I7 cells. Specific activities of dehydroquinate synthase, shikimate dehydrogenase, and shikimate kinase were similar in the two cell types, whereas DAHP synthase and EPSP synthase specific activities were elevated in I7 cells. Plants regenerated from I7 cells retained tolerance to glyphosate.

Journal Article↗