Outcome of lumbar fusion in Washington State workers' compensation.

Study Design: This study covered a large, population-based cohort of workers in the Washington State workers' compensation system who received lumbar fusion between August 1, 1986 and July 31, 1987 to determine work disability status, reoperation rate, and patient satisfaction.

Objectives: To use predictors of outcome of lumbar fusion to design clearer clinical guidelines for lumbar fusion in injured workers.

Methods: Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of work disability and risk of reoperation after fusion.

Work-related traumatic brain injury in Washington State, 1988 through 1990.

Objectives: Brain trauma is a major cause of disability in the United States, especially among young adults. Work-related brain trauma cases represent a subpopulation that may be amenable to intervention efforts, but largely because of unavailability of data, this group has not previously been studied.

Methods: Washington State workers' compensation data were used to identify brain trauma cases and to describe incidence rates with respect to age, gender, and industrial classification.

Risk of breast cancer in relation to the interval since last full term pregnancy.

Objective: To examine whether the risk of breast cancer is increased by a recent term pregnancy.

Design: Population based case-control study.

Setting: Eight areas in the United States.

Birth weight and smoking during pregnancy--effect modification by maternal age.

Cigarette smoking during pregnancy is an important, avoidable factor associated with low birth weight. Maternal age is also associated with variations in birth weight. Using birth certificate data from all 347,650 singleton births for which maternal age and birth weight were recorded during 1984-1988 in Washington State, this study investigated birth weight and smoking during pregnancy (yes/no) for mothers of different ages.

The association between cholesterol and death from injury.

Purpose: To review the association between low serum cholesterol and death from injury.

Data Sources: Relevant English-language papers identified through MEDLINE and Current Contents searches and bibliographies of identified articles.

Study Selection: More than 150 articles were reviewed to identify data, meta-analyses, or important reviews of the association between low cholesterol and injuries.

Outcome of carpal tunnel surgery in Washington State workers' compensation.

All cases of occupational carpal tunnel syndrome (OCTS) who received surgery for this condition in the Washington State workers' compensation system were identified using claim and physician billing databases. One hundred ninety-one incident surgical cases were identified between July 1, 1987 and December 31, 1987, and were followed up a mean of 3 years postoperatively for clinical, disability, and return to work outcomes. Medical record and claim file review was required for clinical and employment information.

Antibiotics to prevent infection in patients with dog bite wounds: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Study Objectives: To determine whether prophylactic antibiotics prevent infection in patients with dog bite wounds.

Design: Meta-analysis of published studies.

Methods: A literature search was performed to identify published, randomized trials of prophylactic antibiotics for dog bite wounds.

Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis detecting a community-based tuberculosis outbreak among persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

Analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) was used to investigate an increase in tuberculosis (TB) among noninstitutionalized human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons in King County, Washington. Using the IS6110 insertion sequence, RFLP analysis was done on Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from 18 HIV-infected patients and 10 randomly selected patients without HIV risk factors. Six HIV-infected patients with the same M.

Mortality among workers in the diatomaceous earth industry.

A cohort mortality study was conducted among workers from two plants in the diatomaceous earth mining and processing industry in California. Diatomaceous earth consists of the skeletal remains of diatoms. Exposure to amorphous (non-crystalline) and crystalline silica in the form of quartz results from open pit mining and exposure to crystalline silica (principally cristobalite) occurs in the processing of the material.

Total serum cholesterol levels and mortality risk as a function of age. A report based on the Framingham data.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between serum cholesterol level and all-cause, coronary heart disease (CHD), and non-CHD mortality as a function of age.

Methods: The data source was the biennial examination data from 1948 through 1980 for the 5209 men and women enrolled in the Framingham Heart Study. Age-specific analyses by the Cox proportional hazards regression model were performed of survival subsequent to ages 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 years for all subjects enrolled and alive at each of the stated ages.

Hospital survival in a competitive environment: the competitive constituency model.

Organizational theory is extended to develop a method for administrators to assess hospital effectiveness in a competitive environment. First, the literature pertaining to organizational effectiveness and survival is synthesized to show the lack of consideration for the effects of competition. Second, the article integrates the effects of competition on organizational effectiveness through a competitive constituency model.

Sudden infant death syndrome in Washington State: why are Native American infants at greater risk than white infants?

Washington State reports one of the highest rates of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in the United States; within the state, Native Americans have the highest rate of any racial group. To explore this apparent genetic predisposition, we conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study. Using the state's linked birth and death certificate file for 1984 to 1988, we compared infants whose mothers were coded as "American Indian" with infants whose mothers were coded as "white.

Susceptibilities of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum to two new quinolones, sparfloxacin and WIN 57273.

Mycoplasma hominis was highly susceptible to two new quinolones, with MICs for 90% of isolates tested of 0.004 micrograms/ml for WIN 57273 and 0.063 micrograms/ml for sparfloxacin, which were activities much greater than the 1 microgram/ml found for ofloxacin and tetracycline.

Infections with Chlamydia pneumoniae strain TWAR.

Chlamydia pneumoniae has recently been recognized as an important cause of respiratory tract disease, including atypical pneumonia. Serosurveys suggest that C. pneumoniae is endemic in most countries and is capable of causing outbreaks and epidemics of pneumonia, especially in countries where the antibody prevalence is relatively low.

Susceptibility of Mycoplasma pneumoniae to several new quinolones, tetracycline, and erythromycin.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (39 strains) was most susceptible to two quinolones, WIN 57273 and sparfloxacin, with MICs for 90% of the strains (MIC90S) of 0.125 and 0.25 micrograms/ml, respectively.

Differences in accumulation of radiolabeled amino acids and polyamines by Mycoplasma and Acholeplasma species.

Four species in the order Mycoplasmatales, Mycoplasma capricolum, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma arginini, and Acholeplasma laidlawii, were compared for their ability to accumulate radiolabeled amino acids and polyamines. The use of a novel high-molecular-weight (HMW) medium, from which molecules of less than 12,000 molecular weight had been removed by extensive dialysis, allowed us to discern significant differences among the species in their relative accumulations of [3H]methionine and [3H]leucine and of [3H]spermidine and [3H]putrescine. Accumulation of radiolabeled amino acids in control low-molecular-weight (LMW) medium was small (0.

Situational and financial barriers to prenatal care in a sample of low-income, inner-city women.

The relationship between the use of prenatal care and factors that may impede access to care was examined in a sample of low-income, inner-city women. Situational and financial barriers to care were not important correlates of utilization. In unadjusted analyses, only insurance status and employment status were associated with utilization.

Immunogenicity of Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

The immunogenicity of Mycoplasma pneumoniae for New Zealand white female rabbits was studied by using an immunization scheme which employed initial intramuscular immunization with vaccine in incomplete Freund adjuvant followed 3 weeks later by a series of five intravenous injections of fluid vaccine. Small doses of immunogen (15 to 150 mug of mycoplasmic protein per rabbit) gave rise to sera which contained antilipid complement-fixing antibody, produced one to three precipitin lines, but gave poor growth-inhibition on agar. Larger doses of immunogen (1.