scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question

Showing papers in "Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine in 1967"













Book ChapterDOI
TL;DR: The most recent instrumentation used by the New York University Biomechanics Group in its continuing research in locomotion, “Elgons”, linear and angular accelerometers and circuitry associated with these, are described.
Abstract: WALKING, as the most common method of human locomotion, is analyzed. Characteristic patterns of walking are described. Conventional methods for describing gait in objective terms are discussed and illustrated. These include electrical and optical techniques for obtaining the temporal, kinematic and kinetic measures. The most recent instrumentation used by the New York University Biomechanics Group in its continuing research in locomotion, “Elgons”, linear and angular accelerometers and circuitry associated with these, are described. Analytic methods, vector and harmonic analysis, for the interpretation of the recorded data are presented. The more significant differences between normal and pathological gait are discussed. The application of these techniques to the evaluation of the more complex prosthetic devices are described and other possible applications are also reviewed.






Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Arthus-type reactions occurred approximately three hours after the inhalation of protein, and the transfer factor was reduced by 25% and was not affected by a bronchodilator.
Abstract: A case of inhalant allergy to the grain weevil is described. Provocation inhalations of the weevil protein produced immediate responses shown by falls of as much as 25% in the F.E.V. 1·0 . These changes were reversed by a bronchodilator. Arthus-type reactions also occurred approximately three hours after the inhalation of protein. In these the transfer factor was reduced by 25% and was not affected by a bronchodilator. Antihistamines were found to inhibit the immediate response but to have no effect on the Arthus reaction. Coincident with the fall in transfer factor there were rises in the temperature and pulse rate. An Arthus-type as well as an immediate skin response was demonstrated. Precipitating antibodies were detected in the serum. The similarity of these reactions to those seen in farmer9s lung and to reactions to avian protein is discussed, together with the possibility of the wider implications of sensitivity to the grain weevil.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a large group of subjects with unilateral end-organ deafness, in all of whom the presence of loudness recruitment had been verified by means of the alternate binaural loudness balancing procedure.
Abstract: In the normal‐hearing subject, a sensation of unpleasant loudness is invariably associated with intensities of the order of 100 dB within the frequency range 500–4000 cps. This is referred to as the loudness‐discomfort level (LDL). The intensity distribution of LDL has been established in a large group of subjects with unilateral end‐organ deafness, in all of whom the presence of loudness recruitment had been verified by means of the alternate binaural loudness balancing procedure. In these, the distribution was similar to that of a normal‐hearing group. By contrast, the LDL's of subjects with conductive or nerve‐fibre deafness exceeded the maximum available audiometer intensity of 120 db. The test, therefore, is of particular value in establishing the presence or absence of loudness recruitment in bilateral deafness. These findings suggest a physiological limit of loudness perception, the theoretical implications of which are discussed.



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a case report on long-term direct electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve in man is presented, supplemented by some historical facts, and by selected comments on electrophysiology, physical chemistry, and perceptual psychology.
Abstract: Introduction THIS is basically a case report on long-term direct electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve in man. The report is supplemented by some historical facts, and by selected comments on electrophysiology, physical chemistry, and perceptual psychology. These comments are sometimes injected between segments of experimental observations and thereby tend to favor one interpretation of the data over others. To counterbalance that trend it was elected to describe as many observations as possible, even though some may seem redundant and others incomplete. This sometimes makes dull reading, but I hope it also makes this report as free from experimenter bias as can be achieved. The study was initially designed to answer questions raised by our own previous experience with electrical stimulation and by the writings of others. We especially planned to study two aspects of perception: (1) the resolution obtainable by discrete stimulation of several small populations of auditory nerve


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This report concerns changes in body composition, particularly those of adipose tissue, in 2 patients with myxedema given physiologic amounts of desiccated thyroid hormone and 2 obese subjects treated with pharmacologic doses.
Abstract: AS judged by its widespread use, thyroid hormone is considered of value in the treatment of obesity by both physician and patient. In contrast to such use there are meager data concerning the effect of thyroid hormone on body composition, and no precise studies of its effects on adipose tissue in either obesity or myxedema have been reported. Materials and Methods This report concerns changes in body composition, particularly those of adipose tissue, in 2 patients with myxedema given physiologic amounts of desiccated thyroid hormone and 2 obese subjects treated with pharmacologic doses. Body fat and the fat-free body were . . .

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A cooperative study of life expectancy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been conducted in fifteen Veterans Administration Hospitals that had previously contributed to the study of pulmonary function in normal men.
Abstract: A cooperative study of life expectancy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been conducted in fifteen Veterans Administration Hospitals that had previously contributed to the study of pulmonary function in normal men [9,10]. Between October 1957 and July 1960, 487 men were selected for study on the basis of characteristic clinical manifestations of COPD and the presence of residual volume: total lung capacity (RV:TLC) ratio of 35 per cent or greater, together with a total lung capacity (TLC) larger than 80 per cent of their predicted normal value. Upon entrance into the study, clinical information was obtained for each patient and all were studied by those pulmonary function tests previously standardized among the participating hospitals. These consisted of measurements of lung volume, maximal expiratory air flow rates and maximal voluntary ventilation. In addition, arterial blood-gas contents were measured by conventional methods. At four years after entrance into the study, the mortality rate for this group of patients was 53 per cent. An excellent correlation was found between life expectancy and the degree of physiologic disturbance at the time of first study. This was true for disturbances in ventilatory function as well as alterations in gas exchange. In addition, the previously reported unfavorable influence upon prognosis of an episode of right heart failure from cor pulmonale was confirmed. In contrast to previous studies, a correlation of the vital capacity, residual volume and residual volume to total lung capacity ratio and a lack of correlation of polycythemia with survival was found. Finally, it was observed that patients with COPD who reside at moderately elevated altitudes have a significantly higher mortality rate than those who live at sea level. This difference probably results from the higher incidence of cor pulmonale among the patients residing at high altitude.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The main problem which results from exposure to soluble oils and synthetic coolants is eczematous contact dermatitis, a disease of multiple causation as mentioned in this paper, which is the most common cutaneous problems of those who work with insoluble oils.
Abstract: Although improvements in formulations of cutting and grinding fluids have been made, occupational dermatitis can still be a problem. Oil acne and folliculitis are the most common cutaneous problems of those who work with insoluble oils. Bacteria in lubricating coolants may contribute to breakdown of the coolant but are unrelated to outbreaks of folliculitis. The chief problem which results from exposure to soluble oils and synthetic coolants is eczematous contact dermatitis, a disease of multiple causation. These two important skin diseases as well as several minor ones associated with exposure to lubricating coolants can be prevented by measures designed to minimize contact and to improve personal hygiene.