Pamela H. Wolf

Reduction of cardiovascular disease—related mortality among postmenopausal women who use hormones: Evidence from a national cohort

A national sample of 1944 white menopausal women greater than or equal to 55 years old from the epidemiologic follow-up of participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was reviewed to investigate the role of hormone therapy in altering the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Women in the study were observed for up to 16 years after the baseline survey in 1971 to 1975. By 1987 631 women had died; 347 of these deaths were due to cardiovascular disease. History of diabetes (relative risk, 2.38; 95% confidence interval 1.73 to 3.26), previous myocardial infarction (relative risk, 2.12; 95% confidence interval 1.56 to 2.86), smoking (relative risk, 2.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.69 to 2.81), and elevated blood pressure (relative risk, 1.49; 95% confidence interval, 1.14 to 1.94) were strong predictors of cardiovascular disease-related death in this cohort. After adjusting for known cardiovascular disease risk factors (smoking, cholesterol, body mass index, blood pressure, previous myocardial infarction, history of diabetes, age) and education, the use of postmenopausal hormones was associated with a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease (relative risk, 0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.48 to 0.90). The same protective effect provided by postmenopausal hormone therapy was seen in women who experienced natural menopause (relative risk, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.45 to 1.06).

Pediatric nasal resistance.

Rhinometry has provided a quantitative and objective means of assessing nasal airway patency. Previous investigators have established normal nasal resistances for adults and newborn infants. Less material and no such normal references are available for the pediatric ages. In this study, nasal airway resistance is assessed by anterior rhinometric technique in 498 children ranging from four to 16 years of age. Collected nasal resistance data are found to vary inversely with age and fall in an almost linear fashion between already established normals of infancy and adulthood. As far as we can determine, pediatric age specific nasal resistance data with calculated standard deviations and 95% confidence levels have not been previously reported. Such data provides initial age specific reference points enabling the rhinologist to more objectively evaluate concerns regarding nasal obstructive problems in children.

Mortality among automobile assembly workers. I. Spray painters

The primary objective of this study was to determine whether there was an increased mortality, especially with respect to cancer of the lung, among spray painters in the automobile manufacturing industry. The study was carried out at ten assembly plants from five participating companies and utilized both proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) and case-control analyses. Among workers with spray-painting experience, there were no statistically significant PMRs for lung cancer, either for all companies combined or for any company individually. In addition, the case-control analyses did not demonstrate a statistically significant excess risk for lung cancer mortality, adjusting for length of employment and duration in spray painting. The case-control analysis was large enough to detect approximately a two-fold increase if, in fact, an increase that large actually existed.

A Case-Control Study of Leukemia in the U.S. Rubber Industry

A matched case-control study was conducted for 72 cases of leukemia occurring among employees of four rubber and tire manufacturing companies during the period from 1964 to 1973, to determine if certain environmental exposures were related to the risk of developing leukemia. Earlier studies conducted in one company had shown an association of lymphatic leukemia with a work history of possible solvent exposure, and the results of the present study suggest that the association is weaker than previously described. However, recently acquired detailed environmental information reported elsewhere tends to support the initial finding at this company. Further studies are required to fully resolve this issue. A finding was the lack of association in the order three companies. In addition, lymphatic leukemia was found to be associated with work experience in general service jobs for the two larger companies from which a majority (89%) of the cases derive. Intervals from exposure death peaked at 27 to 38 years. No elevated risk for myeloid leukemia was found.

Pediatric nasal resistance and lower anterior vertical face height.

In an effort to determine whether nasal obstruction in the pediatric population influences craniofacial and orthodontic development, nasal resistance data were collected from 211 consecutive orthodontic patients by means of active anterior rhinometry. Age-specific nasal resistance standards had been previously accumulated from an unselected representative sample of 498 youngsters, drawn from socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds similar to those of the orthodontic group. Resistance data collected from 211 orthodontic patients were found to fall in an almost linear arrangement, varying inversely with age. Age-specific nasal resistance mean data were found to be consistently higher than comparable age-specific mean data of the unselected comparative sample. When orthodontic nasal resistance data were compared with cephalometric measurements of anterior lower vertical face height in 60 patients, there was a definitive correlation between elevation in nasal resistance and increased lower vertical face-height measurements.

Midtrimester amniotic fluid delta optical density at 450 nm in normal pregnancies.

Spectrophotometric analysis of amniotic fluid has become the standard for assessing the fetal condition in Rh-immunized pregnancies. Serial amniocentesis is usually started at 28 to 29 weeks of gestation unless the antibody titer or history indicates it should be done earlier. This study presents the values from 14 to 20 weeks in normal pregnancies, which will also assist in evaluating pathologically elevated values.