No abstract

Context Computer use is increasingly common among many working populations, and concern exists about possible adverse effects of computer use, such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).Objectives To estimate the prevalence and incidence of possible CTS and to evaluate the contribution of use of mouse devices and keyboards to the risk of possible CTS.Design and Setting A 1-year follow-up study with questionnaires conducted in 2000 and 2001 at 3500 workplaces in Denmark, followed on each of the 2 occasions by a clinical interview on symptom distribution and frequency.Participants The questionnaire was sent to 9480 members of a trade union, with an initial response rate of 73% (n=6943), and 82% (n=5658) at follow-up. Main Outcome MeasuresAt baseline, there were 3 outcome measures: tingling/ numbness in the right hand once a week or more as reported in the questionnaire; tingling, numbness, and pain in the median nerve in the right hand confirmed by clinical interview; and tingling, numbness, and pain in the median nerve in the right hand at night confirmed by clinical interview. At 1 year of follow-up the main outcome of interest was onset of symptoms among participants who had no or minor symptoms at baseline. ResultsThe overall self-reported prevalence of tingling/numbness in the right hand at baseline was 10.9%. The interview confirmed that prevalence of tingling/ numbness in the median nerve was 4.8%, of which about one third, corresponding to a prevalence of 1.4%, experienced symptoms at night. Onset of new symptoms in the 1-year follow-up was 5.5%. In the cross-sectional comparisons and in the follow-up analyses, there was an association between use of a mouse device for more than 20 h/wk and risk of possible CTS but no statistically significant association with keyboard use. ConclusionsThe occurrence of possible CTS in the right hand was low. The study emphasizes that computer use does not pose a severe occupational hazard for developing symptoms of CTS.

In a population-based, matched case-control study from the South Swedish Health Care Region, which has the highest risk for melanoma in Sweden, the relation between the use of sunbeds or sunlamps and malignant melanoma was investigated. Between July 1, 1988, and June 30, 1990, a total of 400 melanoma patients and 640 healthy controls aged 15-75 years answered a comprehensive questionnaire containing different epidemiologic variables. Questions regarding the use of sunbeds or sunlamps were included. The odds ratio for developing malignant melanoma after ever having used sunbeds or sunlamps was 1.3. Considering all age groups, the odds ratio was significantly elevated after exposure more than 10 times a year to sunbeds or sunlamps (odds ratio (OR) = 1.8). When the study was restricted to patients and controls younger than age 30 years because the use of tanning devices is much more common among young persons, the odds ratio was higher (OR = 7.7 for more than 10 times a year vs. none). These findings were independent of constitutional factors and factors regarding sun exposure. A dose-response relation was evident. Furthermore, among melanoma patients in this young age group, the ratio of females to males was significantly higher than in older patients. When different melanoma presentation sites were considered, only lesions of the trunk were significantly associated with sunbed or sunlamp use (OR = 4.2 for more than 10 times a year vs. none).

No abstract

The chromosome banding pattern was analyzed in bone-marrow cells and/or spleen cells of 10 patients in the blastic phase of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). It was obvious from the karyotype analysis that the chromosome aberrations occurring addition to the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1) were strictly non-random. An extra Ph1, trisomy 8 and/or trisomy for the long arm of chromosome 17 were observed in all cases. This consistent pattern of chromosome involvement in CML was confirmed in 57 cases from the literature studied with banding techniques. In 88% of the total number of cases with further changes at least one of the three main chromosomal aberrations was found ("major route" of karyotypic evolution).