Effect of profound hearing loss on a central auditory nucleus

The present study was designed to investigate the type and extent of degeneration occurring in the human central auditory system subsequent to profound hearing loss. The authors have examined the size of one population of neurons in the ventral cochlear nucleus in seven subjects with profound hearing loss (audiometric responses poorer than 90-100 dB HL). Six normal subjects, ages 35-78, were used as controls. Cell size in the hearing-impaired subjects ranged from normal to reduced by more than 50 percent. Two factors appear to contribute to the variability in cell size reduction. The correlation coefficient (Spearman rs) of cell size with duration of profound deafness was -0.48, indicating a moderate tendency for neurons to become smaller with longer periods of deafness. The correlation coefficient of cell size with number of surviving cochlear ganglion cells was 0.73, indicating a stronger tendency for neurons to be larger with greater eighth nerve innervation of the cochlear nucleus. Two cases of Scheibe degeneration showed the most severe degenerative change in the central auditory system.     

Comparability of self-report of familial alcoholism among male and female college students

There is a general impression in the literature that women are more accurate reporters of familial psychiatric history. In this regard, this study presents data from a large cohort of young men (n = 427) and women (n = 607) who in answering a questionnaire self-reported alcohol abuse symptoms for various biological relatives. No significant gender differences emerged for any of the family history comparisons including reports for father, mother, either parent, any first- or second-degree relatives, or men or women relatives. The findings are discussed in the context of the existing literature.     

Hand-assisted laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy

Selenium is essential for humans because it protects the heart against cardiomyopathy. It may also reduce ischaemic heart disease owing to its antioxidant activity. It is known that Indian migrants in a number of countries have high incidences of ischaemic heart disease. In this study, fasting plasma selenium concentrations of Sikh migrants in Sydney (Australia) were measured to investigate whether selenium concentration is reduced in this community. The mean concentration of selenium in plasma (91.8 +/- 15.0 ng ml-1, n = 196) was within the normal range. A significantly higher plasma selenium concentration was demonstrated in males than in females (p < 0.01). This was mainly due to the difference in mean selenium concentrations between genders in vegetarians because no significant difference was observed in non-vegetarian males versus females. The mean concentration of selenium in teetotal males was similar to those who consumed alcohol. Despite significant variations with gender and diet, the selenium concentrations were within the normal range. The results suggest that selenium status is adequate in the Sikh community even though vegetarian diet is common and alcohol use is condones in males.     

Hepatic toxicity associated with fluorouracil plus levamisole adjuvant therapy

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency and nature of hepatic toxicity associated with fluorouracil (5-FU) plus levamisole adjuvant therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients had resection of stage II or stage III colon cancer and were randomized to receive observation only, levamisole alone, or 5-FU plus levamisole. Serial liver function studies were documented in 1,025 patients who did not develop recurrence during the year of therapy. RESULTS: One hundred forty-nine (39.6%) of 376 patients treated with 5-FU plus levamisole showed laboratory abnormalities consistent with hepatic toxicity, compared with 16.3% of 251 patients treated with levamisole alone and 16.1% of 398 untreated controls. Most common was elevation of alkaline phosphatase, frequently accompanied by elevations of transaminase or serum bilirubin. Characteristically, these changes were mild, not associated with symptoms, and resolved when therapy was stopped. In some instances, they were associated with elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) tests or with fatty liver seen on computed tomographic (CT) scan or liver biopsy. CONCLUSION: Mild and reversible hepatotoxicity is a common consequence of 5-FU plus levamisole adjuvant therapy, but this is only rarely symptomatic. However, the oncologist should be alert to this phenomenon, since the associated laboratory and imaging findings may simulate those associated with hepatic metastasis.     

Estimating the costs of occupational injury in the United States

This article estimates workplace injury costs in the U.S. These costs have been studied in less detail than most injury costs. Our methods, which mostly use regularly published data, produce order-of-magnitude estimates. Overall, workplace injuries cost the U.S. an estimated $140 billion annually. This estimate includes $17 billion in medical and emergency services, $60 billion in lost productivity, $5 billion in insurance costs, and $62 billion in lost quality of life. One sixth of the societal costs result from the 3% of workplace injuries in motor vehicle crashes. Motor vehicle costs per injury are almost 6 times the workplace injury average.