摘要:

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has become the industrial epidemic syndrome of the decade and its incidence is continuing to rise. Because of public awareness, CTS is being diagnosed much earlier in the course of the disease. Iontophoresis of dexamethasone sodium phosphate has been used for years in the treatment of many musculoskeletal inflammatory disorders and clinicians have reported using this modality in the treatment of CTS. Iontophoresis is a method of transdermal administration of ionized drugs in which electrically charged molecules are propelled through the skin by an external electrical field. However, conditions of treatment and evaluation have not been standardized. A prospective, nonrandomized study utilizing a standardized treatment protocol incorporating wrist splinting with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications and iontophoresis of dexamethasone sodium phosphate revealed a success rate comparable with splinting plus injection of dexamethasone into the carpal tunnel space. In a 6-month follow-up of 23 cases (hands) of early-mild CTS, 4 of 23 hands (17%) were successfully treated with splints plus nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications alone. Of those that failed this treatment program and chose to proceed with iontophoresis of dexamethasone, 11 of 19 hands (58%) had a positive response rate to iontophoresis, leaving a combined failure rate (failing both splints, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications and iontophoresis) of 35%. Iontophoresis may become an alternative become an alternative to steroid injections to the carpal tunnel region if further studies substantiate these findings. It provides an excellent complication and side-effect profile compared with other methods of delivering dexamethasone. No complications occurred (including no significant elevation of serum glucose in insulin-dependent diabetics).

ISSN:0096-1736    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Communication to workers of epidemiology study results is gaining increasing emphasis because of the need to notify study subjects and the responsibility to warn workers of potential workplace hazards. Industry has a unique responsibility in this regard both for ethical reasons and for gains in improving workers' knowledge of workplace hazards. We describe our recent efforts to notify 9648 workers potentially interested in the results of an epidemiology study that found increased rates for cancer. We found that both study and nonstudy subjects were equally interested the findings. We conclude that most workers view the notification as evidence of the company's commitment to maintain a safe workplace, and are pleased that the company undertook the study and reported the results to them. Unfavorable comments comprised less than 1% of the responses.

ISSN:0096-1736    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

To follow up earlier findings of increased colorectal cancer and polyp risk among a group of Texas polypropylene manufacturing workers, a second company-sponsored colorectal cancer screening program was conducted. Ninety-four (64%) of the 147 male workers negative for polyps in the first screening were rescreened. Age- and examiner-adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were modestly elevated for polypropylene manufacturing workers compared with patients screened at the same clinic for total (IRR = 1.31; 90% confidence interval [CI] = 0.84 to 2.03) and adenomatous (IRR = 1.80; 90% CI = 0.68 to 4.78) polyps. However, risk of adenomas among the highest exposed group (early term process/mechanical workers: IRR = 1.77; 90% CI = 0.51 to 6.18) was similar to risk in the least-exposed group (engineer/chemist/administrative workers: IRR = 2.02; 90% CI = 0.56 to 7.31). The modest, nonsignificant excesses and the similarity in risk across job categories does not suggest an occupationally related risk, although small numbers and potential biases preclude making definitive conclusions.

ISSN:0096-1736    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0096-1736    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0096-1736    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0096-1736    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID