Factor analysis was used to assess relationships in the minimum-inhibitory concentration among 17... more Factor analysis was used to assess relationships in the minimum-inhibitory concentration among 17 antimicrobials tested on isolates of Escherichia coli isolated from 360 faecal samples obtained from feedlot cattle. Six factors were extracted using maximum-likelihood factor analysis. The factors were interpretable antimicrobial groupings based on class of antimicrobial and previously described associations. New-generation cephalosporins, older-generation beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides grouped separately as classes of antimicrobials on four of the six factors. One of the remaining factors was a grouping of antimicrobials that had been identified as being related in previous feedlot studies. The last factor was a grouping of three of the five antimicrobials that comprise the antimicrobials found in penta-resistant strains of Salmonella Typhimurium. The factor analysis described patterns in the MIC data that would not have been apparent if only antimicrobial-resistance data categorized as susceptible-resistance had been analysed.
The relation between various risk factors and adenocarcinoma of the lung was evaluated in a case-... more The relation between various risk factors and adenocarcinoma of the lung was evaluated in a case-control study. Subjects were selected from the Colorado Central Cancer Registry from 1979-1982 in the Denver metropolitan area. A total of 102 (50 males and 52 females) adenocarcinoma case interviews and 131 (65 males and 66 females) control interviews were completed. The control group consisted of persons with cancers of the colon and bone marrow. The risk estimates associated with cigarette smoking were significantly elevated among males (odds ratio (OR) = 4.49) and females (OR = 3.95) and were found to increase significantly (p less than 0.01) with increasing levels of cigarette smoking for both males and females. For adenocarcinoma in females, the age- and smoking-adjusted odds ratios at different levels of passive smoke exposure followed an increasing overall trend (p = 0.05). After additional adjustment for potential confounders, prior cigarette use remained the most significant predictor of risk of adenocarcinoma among males and females. Analysis restricted to nonsmoking females revealed a risk of adenocarcinoma of 1.68 (95% confidence interval (Cl) = 0.39-2.97) for passive smoke exposure of four or more hours per day. Neither sex showed significantly elevated risk for occupational exposures, although males bordered on significance (OR = 2.23, 95% Cl = 0.97-5.12). The results suggest the need to develop cell type-specific etiologic hypotheses.
BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.
Dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika viruses transmitted by mosquitoes are major public he... more Dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika viruses transmitted by mosquitoes are major public health threats in the tropical and subtropical world. In México, construction of large tracts of "fraccionamientos" high density housing to accommodate population growth and urbanization has provided fertile ground for -transmitted viruses. We investigated the utility of pyrethroid-treated window curtains to reduce both the abundance of and to prevent dengue virus (DENV) transmission in fraccionamiento housing. Windows and doors of fraccionamiento homes in urban/suburban areas, where pyrethroid resistance associated with the Ile1016 knock down resistance (kdr) mutation in the voltage gated sodium channel gene was high, and in rural areas, where kdr resistance was low, were fitted with either insecticide-treated curtains (ITCs) or non-treated curtains (NTCs). The homes were monitored for mosquito abundance and DENV infection. ITCs reduced the indoor abundance of and the number of ...
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, 1993
ABSTRACT Communities surrounding the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA), a Superfund site in Colorado, ... more ABSTRACT Communities surrounding the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA), a Superfund site in Colorado, were studied in order to determine whether exposures to mercury were greater among persons who resided there than among residents of a comparison area 12-15 miles distant. From a census-based stratified random sample, 469 persons were interviewed and urine samples were obtained for biomonitoring. Mercury was detected in urine from 32 (6.8%) of the 469 persons sample at a detection limit of 5 ppb. Trace levels of mercury (detectable, but nonquantifiable) were found in 80 (17.1%) of the persons sampled. Neither the frequency of detection, the arithmetic mean, nor the geometric mean value for urine mercury was found to be statistically different when persons living near the site were compared to persons from the more distant comparison area. The risk of mercury exposure associated with demographic variables, residence, occupation, hobbies, dietary habits, water supply, housing, and activity patterns was evaluated. In the second stage of the evaluation, the Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery (NCTB) is being used to assess individual functional deficits and nervous system disorders associated with exposure to mercury and other neurotoxic chemicals.
Journal of exposure analysis and environmental epidemiology, 1993
Communities surrounding the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA), a Superfund site in Colorado, were stud... more Communities surrounding the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA), a Superfund site in Colorado, were studied in order to determine whether exposures to arsenic were greater among persons who resided there than among residents of a comparison area. A census was conducted in areas adjacent to the RMA and in a comparison area 12-15 miles distant. From a stratified random sample, 469 persons were interviewed and urine samples obtained. Arsenic was detected in urine from 43 (9.2%) of the 469 persons sampled at a detection limit of 10 ppb. Trace levels of arsenic (detectable, but non-quantifiable) were found in 184 (39.2%) of those persons sampled. Neither the frequency of detection, the arithmetic mean nor the geometric mean values for urine arsenic was found to be statistically different when persons living near the site were compared to persons from the more distant comparison area. Therefore, the data were pooled across the study areas to evaluate risk factors for exposure to arsenic in this ...
A prospective study of vesicular stomatitis was conducted in two bovine herds in southeastern Mex... more A prospective study of vesicular stomatitis was conducted in two bovine herds in southeastern Mexico. In July 1987, an initial serological screening showed that 64% and 87% of the 654 cattle tested negatively to vesicular stomatitis New Jersey and Indiana antibodies, respectively, using the plaquereduction serum neutralization test. Most seropositive animals were at least 24 months of age. Based on the initial serological screening, cohorts of seronegative and seropositive cattle were monitered (January-December 1988) for the prevalence of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The serological results, using ELISA, indicated that no VSV activity occurred in the two study herds. The seronegative cohort of cattle did not yield a positive seroconversion pattern to either VSV Indiana or New Jersey. The seropositive cohort showed a variable antibody response pattern against the VSV. There were no clinical cases of vesicular stomatitis (VS) in the two herds. The data from the national surveillance program for vesicular diseases suggested that 1988 was a year of low VSV infection incidence in southeastern Mexico.
Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 1995
Immunoglobin G (IgG) quantitation was performed by a commercially available single radial immunod... more Immunoglobin G (IgG) quantitation was performed by a commercially available single radial immunodiffusion kit on 528 plasma samples obtained from llamas. Fifty samples encompassing the range of values obtained were selected for further evaluation. The IgG concentration of these samples was measured by a second commercially available single radial immunodiffusion kit and a sodium sulfite precipitation kit. γ-Globulins also were measured. IgG values predicted by the single radial immunodiffusion kits were not in agreement. Failure to appreciate this lack of agreement could result in misinterpretation of a llama's IgG level derived from one kit when clinical guidelines established using the other kit are followed.
As a potent inflammatory agent, endotoxin is a key analyte of interest for studies of lung ailmen... more As a potent inflammatory agent, endotoxin is a key analyte of interest for studies of lung ailments in domestic environments and occupational settings with organic dust. A relatively unexplored advance in endotoxin exposure assessment is the use of recombinant factor C (rFC) from the Limulus pathway in a fluorometric assay. In this study, we compared airborne endotoxin concentrations in laboratory- and field-collected parallel air samples using the kinetic Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay and the rFC assay. Air sampling was performed using paired Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) samplers, Button samplers, closed-face cassettes, and cyclone samplers. Field sampling was performed in 10 livestock production facilities, including those housing swine, chicken, turkey, dairy cows, cattle, and horses. Laboratory sampling was performed in exposure chambers using resuspended airborne dust collected in five livestock facilities. Paired samples were extracted in pyrogen-free water ...
Endotoxin exposure is a significant concern in agricultural environments due to relatively high e... more Endotoxin exposure is a significant concern in agricultural environments due to relatively high exposure levels. The goals of this study were to determine patterns of 3-hydroxy fatty acid (3-OHFA) distribution in dusts from four types of agricultural environments (dairy, cattle feedlot, grain elevator, and corn farm) and to evaluate correlations between the results of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis (total endotoxin) and biological recombinant factor C (rFC) assay (free bioactive endotoxin). An existing GC/MS-MS method (for house dust) was modified to reduce sample handling and optimized for small amount (<1 mg) of agricultural dusts using GC/EI-MS. A total of 134 breathing zone samples using Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) inhalable samplers were collected from agricultural workers in Colorado and Nebraska. Livestock dusts contained approximately two times higher concentrations of 3-OHFAs than grain dusts. Patterns of 3-OHFA distribution and proportion of each individual 3-OHFA varied by dust type. The rank order of Pearson correlations between the biological rFC assay and the modified GC/EI-MS results was feedlot (0.72) > dairy (0.53) > corn farm (0.33) > grain elevator (0.11). In livestock environments, both odd-and even-numbered carbon chain length 3-OHFAs correlated with rFC assay response. The GC/EI-MS method should be especially useful for identification of specific 3-OHFAs for endotoxins from various agricultural environments and may provide useful information for evaluating the relationship between bacterial exposure and respiratory disease among agricultural workers.
The effects of occupational 60 Hz magnetic field and ambient light exposures on the pineal hormon... more The effects of occupational 60 Hz magnetic field and ambient light exposures on the pineal hormone, melatonin, were studied in 142 male electric utility workers in Colorado, 1995-1996. Melatonin was assessed by radioimmunoassay of its metabolite, 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate (6-OHMS), in post-work shift urine samples. Personal magnetic field and light exposures were measured over 3 consecutive days using EMDEX C meters adapted with light sensors. Two independent components of magnetic field exposure, intensity (geometric time weighted average) and temporal stability (standardized rate of change metric or RCMS), were analyzed for their effects on creatinine-adjusted 6-OHMS concentrations (6-OHMS/cr) after adjustment for age, month, and light exposure. Geometric mean magnetic field exposures were not associated with 6-OHMS/cr excretion. Men in the highest quartile of temporally stable magnetic field exposure had lower 6-OHMS/cr concentrations on the second and third days compared with those in the lowest quartile. Light exposure modified the magnetic field effect. A progressive decrease in mean 6-OHMS/cr concentrations in response to temporally stable magnetic fields was observed in subjects with low workplace light exposures (predominantly office workers), whereas those with high ambient light exposure showed negligible magnetic field effects. Melatonin suppression may be useful for understanding human biologic responses to magnetic field exposures.
This study tests the impact of an in-school mediated communication campaign based on social marke... more This study tests the impact of an in-school mediated communication campaign based on social marketing principles, in combination with a participatory, community-based media effort, on marijuana, alcohol and tobacco uptake among middle-school students. Eight media treatment and eight control communities throughout the US were randomly assigned to condition. Within both media treatment and media control communities, one school received a research-based prevention curriculum and one school did not, resulting in a crossed, splitplot design. Four waves of longitudinal data were collected over 2 years in each school and were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models to account for clustering effects. Youth in intervention communities (N 5 4216) showed fewer users at final post-test for marijuana [odds ratio (OR) 5 0.50, P 5 0.019], alcohol (OR 5 0.40, P 5 0.009) and cigarettes (OR 5 0.49, P 5 0.039), one-tailed. Growth trajectory results were significant for marijuana (P 5 0.040), marginal for alcohol (P 5 0.051) and non-significant for cigarettes (P 5 0.114). Results suggest that an appropriately designed inschool and community-based media effort can reduce youth substance uptake. Effectiveness does not depend on the presence of an in-school prevention curriculum.
This guide brings together all of the freely-available study and exam preparation resources provi... more This guide brings together all of the freely-available study and exam preparation resources provided by the Loyola Law School Library for its students. The guide includes links to study aids for more than 30 Loyola courses. This page contains links to sample law school exams and links to Library resources on preparing for and improving performance on law school exams
Objective: This study aimed to determine the potential association between the dental diseases an... more Objective: This study aimed to determine the potential association between the dental diseases and self-reported history of stroke in the United States based on data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Methods: Data were extracted from NHANES III. Dental variables were carious tooth surfaces, number of missing teeth, gingival bleeding, and periodontal pockets. Multiple logistic regression modeling was used to estimate the effect of these dental diseases on the self-reported history of stroke with intent to adjust for the other potential determinants: age, sex, race, marital status, health insurance, education, exercise, body mass index, smoking, alcohol, hypertension, high serum cholesterol, and diabetes. Results: Number of missing teeth was found to be significantly associated with the selfreported history of stroke. Associations between the self-reported history of stroke and caries, gingival bleeding, or periodontal pockets were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Number of missing teeth was an independent determinant of the selfreported history of stroke.
Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, Jan 20, 2017
Dairy workers experience a high degree of bioaerosol exposure, composed of an array of biological... more Dairy workers experience a high degree of bioaerosol exposure, composed of an array of biological and chemical constituents, which have been tied to adverse health effects. A better understanding of the variation in the magnitude and composition of exposures by task is needed to inform worker protection strategies. To characterize the levels and types of exposures, 115 dairy workers grouped into three task categories on nine farms in the high plains western United States underwent personal monitoring for inhalable dust, endotoxin, 3-hydroxy fatty acids (3-OHFA), muramic acid, ergosterol, and ammonia over one work shift. Eighty nine percent of dairy workers were exposed to endotoxin at concentrations exceeding the recommended exposure guidelines (adjusted for a long workshift). The proportion of workers with exposures exceeding recommended guidelines was lower for inhalable dust (12%), and ammonia (1%). Ergosterol exposures were only measurable on 28% of samples, primarily among medi...
A pilot exposure study was undertaken in communities surrounding the RMA. The objectives of the s... more A pilot exposure study was undertaken in communities surrounding the RMA. The objectives of the study were: (1) To determine whether arsenic and mercury levels in urine were greater among residents of communities adjacent to the RMA than among residents of comparison communities located 12 to 15 miles from the RMA and presumed to be exposed. (2) To determine whether exposure to arsenic and mercury were associated with proximity to the RMA.
This is the first report investigating the usefulness of a 3D viewing technique (parallel viewing... more This is the first report investigating the usefulness of a 3D viewing technique (parallel viewing and cross-eyed viewing) for presenting clinical photography. Using the technique, we can grasp 3D structure of various lesions (e.g. tumors, wounds) or surgical procedures (e.g. lymph node dissection, flap) much more easily even without any cost and optical aids compared to 2D photos. Most recently 3D cameras started to be commercially available, but they may not be useful for presentation in scientific papers or poster sessions. To create a stereogram, two different pictures were taken from the right and left eye views using a digital camera. Then, the two pictures were placed next to one another. Using 9 stereograms, we performed a questionnairebased survey. Our survey revealed 57.7% of the doctors/students had acquired the 3D viewing technique and an additional 15.4% could learn parallel viewing with 10 minutes training. Among the subjects capable of 3D views, 73.7% used the parallel view technique whereas only 26.3% chose the cross-eyed view. There was no significant difference in the results of the questionnaire about the efficiency and usefulness of 3D views between parallel view users and cross-eyed users. Almost all subjects (94.7%) answered that the technique is useful. Lesions with multiple undulations are a good application. 3D views, especially parallel viewing, are likely to be common and easy enough to consider for practical use in doctors/students. The wide use of the technique may revolutionize presentation of clinical pictures in meetings, educational lectures, or manuscripts.
Background: Imepitoin was tested as a combination treatment with phenobarbital in an open-label m... more Background: Imepitoin was tested as a combination treatment with phenobarbital in an open-label mono-centre cohort study in dogs with drug-resistant epilepsy. Diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy was based on clinical findings, magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Three cohorts were treated. In cohort A, dogs not responding to phenobarbital with or without established add-on treatment of potassium bromide or levetiracetam were treated add-on with imepitoin, starting at 10 mg/kg BID, with titration allowed to 30 mg/kg BID. In cohort B, the only difference to cohort A was that the starting dose of imepitoin was reduced to 5 mg/kg BID. In cohort C, animals not responding to imepitoin at >20 mg/kg BID were treated with phenobarbital add-on starting at 0.5 mg/kg BID. Results: The add-on treatment resulted in a reduction in monthly seizure frequency (MSF) in all three cohorts. A reduction of ≥50% was obtained in 36-42% of all animals, without significant difference between cohorts. The lower starting dose of 5 mg/kg BID imepitoin was better tolerated, and an up-titration to on average of 15 mg/kg BID was sufficient in cohort A and B. In cohort C, a mean add-on dose of 1.5 mg/kg BID phenobarbital was sufficient to achieve a clinically meaningful effect. Six dogs developed a clinically meaningful increase in MSF of ≥ 50%, mostly in cohort A. Neither imepitoin nor phenobarbital add-on treatment was capable of suppressing cluster seizure activity, making cluster seizure activity an important predictor for drug-resistance. Conclusion: A combination treatment of imepitoin and phenobarbital is a useful treatment option for a subpopulation of dogs with drug-resistant epilepsy, a low starting dose with 5 mg/kg BID is recommended.
Factor analysis was used to assess relationships in the minimum-inhibitory concentration among 17... more Factor analysis was used to assess relationships in the minimum-inhibitory concentration among 17 antimicrobials tested on isolates of Escherichia coli isolated from 360 faecal samples obtained from feedlot cattle. Six factors were extracted using maximum-likelihood factor analysis. The factors were interpretable antimicrobial groupings based on class of antimicrobial and previously described associations. New-generation cephalosporins, older-generation beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides grouped separately as classes of antimicrobials on four of the six factors. One of the remaining factors was a grouping of antimicrobials that had been identified as being related in previous feedlot studies. The last factor was a grouping of three of the five antimicrobials that comprise the antimicrobials found in penta-resistant strains of Salmonella Typhimurium. The factor analysis described patterns in the MIC data that would not have been apparent if only antimicrobial-resistance data categorized as susceptible-resistance had been analysed.
The relation between various risk factors and adenocarcinoma of the lung was evaluated in a case-... more The relation between various risk factors and adenocarcinoma of the lung was evaluated in a case-control study. Subjects were selected from the Colorado Central Cancer Registry from 1979-1982 in the Denver metropolitan area. A total of 102 (50 males and 52 females) adenocarcinoma case interviews and 131 (65 males and 66 females) control interviews were completed. The control group consisted of persons with cancers of the colon and bone marrow. The risk estimates associated with cigarette smoking were significantly elevated among males (odds ratio (OR) = 4.49) and females (OR = 3.95) and were found to increase significantly (p less than 0.01) with increasing levels of cigarette smoking for both males and females. For adenocarcinoma in females, the age- and smoking-adjusted odds ratios at different levels of passive smoke exposure followed an increasing overall trend (p = 0.05). After additional adjustment for potential confounders, prior cigarette use remained the most significant predictor of risk of adenocarcinoma among males and females. Analysis restricted to nonsmoking females revealed a risk of adenocarcinoma of 1.68 (95% confidence interval (Cl) = 0.39-2.97) for passive smoke exposure of four or more hours per day. Neither sex showed significantly elevated risk for occupational exposures, although males bordered on significance (OR = 2.23, 95% Cl = 0.97-5.12). The results suggest the need to develop cell type-specific etiologic hypotheses.
BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.
Dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika viruses transmitted by mosquitoes are major public he... more Dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika viruses transmitted by mosquitoes are major public health threats in the tropical and subtropical world. In México, construction of large tracts of "fraccionamientos" high density housing to accommodate population growth and urbanization has provided fertile ground for -transmitted viruses. We investigated the utility of pyrethroid-treated window curtains to reduce both the abundance of and to prevent dengue virus (DENV) transmission in fraccionamiento housing. Windows and doors of fraccionamiento homes in urban/suburban areas, where pyrethroid resistance associated with the Ile1016 knock down resistance (kdr) mutation in the voltage gated sodium channel gene was high, and in rural areas, where kdr resistance was low, were fitted with either insecticide-treated curtains (ITCs) or non-treated curtains (NTCs). The homes were monitored for mosquito abundance and DENV infection. ITCs reduced the indoor abundance of and the number of ...
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, 1993
ABSTRACT Communities surrounding the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA), a Superfund site in Colorado, ... more ABSTRACT Communities surrounding the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA), a Superfund site in Colorado, were studied in order to determine whether exposures to mercury were greater among persons who resided there than among residents of a comparison area 12-15 miles distant. From a census-based stratified random sample, 469 persons were interviewed and urine samples were obtained for biomonitoring. Mercury was detected in urine from 32 (6.8%) of the 469 persons sample at a detection limit of 5 ppb. Trace levels of mercury (detectable, but nonquantifiable) were found in 80 (17.1%) of the persons sampled. Neither the frequency of detection, the arithmetic mean, nor the geometric mean value for urine mercury was found to be statistically different when persons living near the site were compared to persons from the more distant comparison area. The risk of mercury exposure associated with demographic variables, residence, occupation, hobbies, dietary habits, water supply, housing, and activity patterns was evaluated. In the second stage of the evaluation, the Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery (NCTB) is being used to assess individual functional deficits and nervous system disorders associated with exposure to mercury and other neurotoxic chemicals.
Journal of exposure analysis and environmental epidemiology, 1993
Communities surrounding the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA), a Superfund site in Colorado, were stud... more Communities surrounding the Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA), a Superfund site in Colorado, were studied in order to determine whether exposures to arsenic were greater among persons who resided there than among residents of a comparison area. A census was conducted in areas adjacent to the RMA and in a comparison area 12-15 miles distant. From a stratified random sample, 469 persons were interviewed and urine samples obtained. Arsenic was detected in urine from 43 (9.2%) of the 469 persons sampled at a detection limit of 10 ppb. Trace levels of arsenic (detectable, but non-quantifiable) were found in 184 (39.2%) of those persons sampled. Neither the frequency of detection, the arithmetic mean nor the geometric mean values for urine arsenic was found to be statistically different when persons living near the site were compared to persons from the more distant comparison area. Therefore, the data were pooled across the study areas to evaluate risk factors for exposure to arsenic in this ...
A prospective study of vesicular stomatitis was conducted in two bovine herds in southeastern Mex... more A prospective study of vesicular stomatitis was conducted in two bovine herds in southeastern Mexico. In July 1987, an initial serological screening showed that 64% and 87% of the 654 cattle tested negatively to vesicular stomatitis New Jersey and Indiana antibodies, respectively, using the plaquereduction serum neutralization test. Most seropositive animals were at least 24 months of age. Based on the initial serological screening, cohorts of seronegative and seropositive cattle were monitered (January-December 1988) for the prevalence of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The serological results, using ELISA, indicated that no VSV activity occurred in the two study herds. The seronegative cohort of cattle did not yield a positive seroconversion pattern to either VSV Indiana or New Jersey. The seropositive cohort showed a variable antibody response pattern against the VSV. There were no clinical cases of vesicular stomatitis (VS) in the two herds. The data from the national surveillance program for vesicular diseases suggested that 1988 was a year of low VSV infection incidence in southeastern Mexico.
Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 1995
Immunoglobin G (IgG) quantitation was performed by a commercially available single radial immunod... more Immunoglobin G (IgG) quantitation was performed by a commercially available single radial immunodiffusion kit on 528 plasma samples obtained from llamas. Fifty samples encompassing the range of values obtained were selected for further evaluation. The IgG concentration of these samples was measured by a second commercially available single radial immunodiffusion kit and a sodium sulfite precipitation kit. γ-Globulins also were measured. IgG values predicted by the single radial immunodiffusion kits were not in agreement. Failure to appreciate this lack of agreement could result in misinterpretation of a llama's IgG level derived from one kit when clinical guidelines established using the other kit are followed.
As a potent inflammatory agent, endotoxin is a key analyte of interest for studies of lung ailmen... more As a potent inflammatory agent, endotoxin is a key analyte of interest for studies of lung ailments in domestic environments and occupational settings with organic dust. A relatively unexplored advance in endotoxin exposure assessment is the use of recombinant factor C (rFC) from the Limulus pathway in a fluorometric assay. In this study, we compared airborne endotoxin concentrations in laboratory- and field-collected parallel air samples using the kinetic Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay and the rFC assay. Air sampling was performed using paired Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) samplers, Button samplers, closed-face cassettes, and cyclone samplers. Field sampling was performed in 10 livestock production facilities, including those housing swine, chicken, turkey, dairy cows, cattle, and horses. Laboratory sampling was performed in exposure chambers using resuspended airborne dust collected in five livestock facilities. Paired samples were extracted in pyrogen-free water ...
Endotoxin exposure is a significant concern in agricultural environments due to relatively high e... more Endotoxin exposure is a significant concern in agricultural environments due to relatively high exposure levels. The goals of this study were to determine patterns of 3-hydroxy fatty acid (3-OHFA) distribution in dusts from four types of agricultural environments (dairy, cattle feedlot, grain elevator, and corn farm) and to evaluate correlations between the results of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis (total endotoxin) and biological recombinant factor C (rFC) assay (free bioactive endotoxin). An existing GC/MS-MS method (for house dust) was modified to reduce sample handling and optimized for small amount (<1 mg) of agricultural dusts using GC/EI-MS. A total of 134 breathing zone samples using Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) inhalable samplers were collected from agricultural workers in Colorado and Nebraska. Livestock dusts contained approximately two times higher concentrations of 3-OHFAs than grain dusts. Patterns of 3-OHFA distribution and proportion of each individual 3-OHFA varied by dust type. The rank order of Pearson correlations between the biological rFC assay and the modified GC/EI-MS results was feedlot (0.72) > dairy (0.53) > corn farm (0.33) > grain elevator (0.11). In livestock environments, both odd-and even-numbered carbon chain length 3-OHFAs correlated with rFC assay response. The GC/EI-MS method should be especially useful for identification of specific 3-OHFAs for endotoxins from various agricultural environments and may provide useful information for evaluating the relationship between bacterial exposure and respiratory disease among agricultural workers.
The effects of occupational 60 Hz magnetic field and ambient light exposures on the pineal hormon... more The effects of occupational 60 Hz magnetic field and ambient light exposures on the pineal hormone, melatonin, were studied in 142 male electric utility workers in Colorado, 1995-1996. Melatonin was assessed by radioimmunoassay of its metabolite, 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate (6-OHMS), in post-work shift urine samples. Personal magnetic field and light exposures were measured over 3 consecutive days using EMDEX C meters adapted with light sensors. Two independent components of magnetic field exposure, intensity (geometric time weighted average) and temporal stability (standardized rate of change metric or RCMS), were analyzed for their effects on creatinine-adjusted 6-OHMS concentrations (6-OHMS/cr) after adjustment for age, month, and light exposure. Geometric mean magnetic field exposures were not associated with 6-OHMS/cr excretion. Men in the highest quartile of temporally stable magnetic field exposure had lower 6-OHMS/cr concentrations on the second and third days compared with those in the lowest quartile. Light exposure modified the magnetic field effect. A progressive decrease in mean 6-OHMS/cr concentrations in response to temporally stable magnetic fields was observed in subjects with low workplace light exposures (predominantly office workers), whereas those with high ambient light exposure showed negligible magnetic field effects. Melatonin suppression may be useful for understanding human biologic responses to magnetic field exposures.
This study tests the impact of an in-school mediated communication campaign based on social marke... more This study tests the impact of an in-school mediated communication campaign based on social marketing principles, in combination with a participatory, community-based media effort, on marijuana, alcohol and tobacco uptake among middle-school students. Eight media treatment and eight control communities throughout the US were randomly assigned to condition. Within both media treatment and media control communities, one school received a research-based prevention curriculum and one school did not, resulting in a crossed, splitplot design. Four waves of longitudinal data were collected over 2 years in each school and were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models to account for clustering effects. Youth in intervention communities (N 5 4216) showed fewer users at final post-test for marijuana [odds ratio (OR) 5 0.50, P 5 0.019], alcohol (OR 5 0.40, P 5 0.009) and cigarettes (OR 5 0.49, P 5 0.039), one-tailed. Growth trajectory results were significant for marijuana (P 5 0.040), marginal for alcohol (P 5 0.051) and non-significant for cigarettes (P 5 0.114). Results suggest that an appropriately designed inschool and community-based media effort can reduce youth substance uptake. Effectiveness does not depend on the presence of an in-school prevention curriculum.
This guide brings together all of the freely-available study and exam preparation resources provi... more This guide brings together all of the freely-available study and exam preparation resources provided by the Loyola Law School Library for its students. The guide includes links to study aids for more than 30 Loyola courses. This page contains links to sample law school exams and links to Library resources on preparing for and improving performance on law school exams
Objective: This study aimed to determine the potential association between the dental diseases an... more Objective: This study aimed to determine the potential association between the dental diseases and self-reported history of stroke in the United States based on data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Methods: Data were extracted from NHANES III. Dental variables were carious tooth surfaces, number of missing teeth, gingival bleeding, and periodontal pockets. Multiple logistic regression modeling was used to estimate the effect of these dental diseases on the self-reported history of stroke with intent to adjust for the other potential determinants: age, sex, race, marital status, health insurance, education, exercise, body mass index, smoking, alcohol, hypertension, high serum cholesterol, and diabetes. Results: Number of missing teeth was found to be significantly associated with the selfreported history of stroke. Associations between the self-reported history of stroke and caries, gingival bleeding, or periodontal pockets were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Number of missing teeth was an independent determinant of the selfreported history of stroke.
Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene, Jan 20, 2017
Dairy workers experience a high degree of bioaerosol exposure, composed of an array of biological... more Dairy workers experience a high degree of bioaerosol exposure, composed of an array of biological and chemical constituents, which have been tied to adverse health effects. A better understanding of the variation in the magnitude and composition of exposures by task is needed to inform worker protection strategies. To characterize the levels and types of exposures, 115 dairy workers grouped into three task categories on nine farms in the high plains western United States underwent personal monitoring for inhalable dust, endotoxin, 3-hydroxy fatty acids (3-OHFA), muramic acid, ergosterol, and ammonia over one work shift. Eighty nine percent of dairy workers were exposed to endotoxin at concentrations exceeding the recommended exposure guidelines (adjusted for a long workshift). The proportion of workers with exposures exceeding recommended guidelines was lower for inhalable dust (12%), and ammonia (1%). Ergosterol exposures were only measurable on 28% of samples, primarily among medi...
A pilot exposure study was undertaken in communities surrounding the RMA. The objectives of the s... more A pilot exposure study was undertaken in communities surrounding the RMA. The objectives of the study were: (1) To determine whether arsenic and mercury levels in urine were greater among residents of communities adjacent to the RMA than among residents of comparison communities located 12 to 15 miles from the RMA and presumed to be exposed. (2) To determine whether exposure to arsenic and mercury were associated with proximity to the RMA.
This is the first report investigating the usefulness of a 3D viewing technique (parallel viewing... more This is the first report investigating the usefulness of a 3D viewing technique (parallel viewing and cross-eyed viewing) for presenting clinical photography. Using the technique, we can grasp 3D structure of various lesions (e.g. tumors, wounds) or surgical procedures (e.g. lymph node dissection, flap) much more easily even without any cost and optical aids compared to 2D photos. Most recently 3D cameras started to be commercially available, but they may not be useful for presentation in scientific papers or poster sessions. To create a stereogram, two different pictures were taken from the right and left eye views using a digital camera. Then, the two pictures were placed next to one another. Using 9 stereograms, we performed a questionnairebased survey. Our survey revealed 57.7% of the doctors/students had acquired the 3D viewing technique and an additional 15.4% could learn parallel viewing with 10 minutes training. Among the subjects capable of 3D views, 73.7% used the parallel view technique whereas only 26.3% chose the cross-eyed view. There was no significant difference in the results of the questionnaire about the efficiency and usefulness of 3D views between parallel view users and cross-eyed users. Almost all subjects (94.7%) answered that the technique is useful. Lesions with multiple undulations are a good application. 3D views, especially parallel viewing, are likely to be common and easy enough to consider for practical use in doctors/students. The wide use of the technique may revolutionize presentation of clinical pictures in meetings, educational lectures, or manuscripts.
Background: Imepitoin was tested as a combination treatment with phenobarbital in an open-label m... more Background: Imepitoin was tested as a combination treatment with phenobarbital in an open-label mono-centre cohort study in dogs with drug-resistant epilepsy. Diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy was based on clinical findings, magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Three cohorts were treated. In cohort A, dogs not responding to phenobarbital with or without established add-on treatment of potassium bromide or levetiracetam were treated add-on with imepitoin, starting at 10 mg/kg BID, with titration allowed to 30 mg/kg BID. In cohort B, the only difference to cohort A was that the starting dose of imepitoin was reduced to 5 mg/kg BID. In cohort C, animals not responding to imepitoin at >20 mg/kg BID were treated with phenobarbital add-on starting at 0.5 mg/kg BID. Results: The add-on treatment resulted in a reduction in monthly seizure frequency (MSF) in all three cohorts. A reduction of ≥50% was obtained in 36-42% of all animals, without significant difference between cohorts. The lower starting dose of 5 mg/kg BID imepitoin was better tolerated, and an up-titration to on average of 15 mg/kg BID was sufficient in cohort A and B. In cohort C, a mean add-on dose of 1.5 mg/kg BID phenobarbital was sufficient to achieve a clinically meaningful effect. Six dogs developed a clinically meaningful increase in MSF of ≥ 50%, mostly in cohort A. Neither imepitoin nor phenobarbital add-on treatment was capable of suppressing cluster seizure activity, making cluster seizure activity an important predictor for drug-resistance. Conclusion: A combination treatment of imepitoin and phenobarbital is a useful treatment option for a subpopulation of dogs with drug-resistant epilepsy, a low starting dose with 5 mg/kg BID is recommended.
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