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Over 90% of deaths in Alaska's commercial fishing industry were due to drowning, following vessel sinkings. In the early 1990's, the U.S. Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act required the implementation of safety measures for all fishing vessels. The purpose of our study was to examine the effectiveness of these measures in reducing the high fatality rate of Alaska's commercial fishermen.Alaska Occupational Injury Surveillance System and AlaskaTrauma Registry data were used to examine fishing fatalities and injuries. Demographic, risk factor, and incident data were analyzed for trend.During 1991-1998, there was a significant (p0.001) (decrease in Alaskan commercial fishing deaths. Significant progress has been made in saving lives of fishermen involved in vessel sinkings. During 1991-1997, 536 fishermen suffered severe injuries (437/100,000/year). These injuries resulted from being entangled, struck or crushed by equipment (60%) and from falls (25%).Vessel sinkings still continue to occur, placing fishermen at substantial risk. Efforts toward improving vessel stability and hull integrity and avoidance of harsh weather conditions must be made to further reduce the fatality rate. The nature of non-fatal injuries reflect that modern fishing vessels are complex industrial environments posing multiple hazards. Measures are needed to prevent falls and improve equipment handling and machinery guarding.

Aim The Biodesign® anal fistula plug was introduced as a means of obliterating the fistula tract and promoting healing through biocompatibility. The results demonstrated unexplained variations from good to bad. This report analysed the results of a retrospective multicentre study. Method All plug procedures performed in four Stockholm hospitals between June 2006 and June 2010 were identified and studied using a common protocol. The outcome after the first plug-insertion procedure was assessed by chart review performed a minimum of 8 months after plug insertion. Cox proportional-hazards models were used to assess the associations of various factors with fistula healing. Results One-hundred and twenty-six patients (mean age 47 years) were deemed suitable for the plug procedure. Eighty-five per cent of fistulae were cryptoglandular, 64% of patients were male and a mean of 2.9 previous fistulae procedures had been performed. All patients, except four, had an indwelling seton at the time of the plug procedure, which was performed in accordance with previously established principles of day surgery. After a median of 13 months, 30 (24%) fistulae had closed with no discomfort or secretion reported. The outcome in the four hospitals varied from 13% to 33% with similar numbers of patients in each hospital. A success rate of 12% was observed for patients with anterior fistula compared with 32% for those with posterior tracks [hazard ratio (HR) for successful healing = 2.98; 95% CI: 1.01–8.78) and 41% for those with a lateral internal opening (HR = 3.76; 95% CI: 1.03–13.75). Age, sex and number of previous procedures were not associated with healing. Conclusion Four independent patient groups showed low success rates after the first plug-insertion procedure. Anterior fistulae were much less likely to heal compared with fistulae in other locations.

AIMS—To find out whether the incidence of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) has changed over the past decade, and if so, to investigate possible contributory factors. METHODS—All infants undergoing pyloromyotomy for IHPS in Sweden between 1987 and 1996 were studied. Using the national patient registers the yearly incidence was determined and evaluated in relation to sex, latitude, urbanisation, and type of surroundings by use of a Poisson model. RESULTS—There was a substantial decline from 2.7/1000 to 0.85/1000 over the time period. The incidence in the south was almost three times greater than in the north. CONCLUSION—The declining incidence and geographical difference suggest that environmental factors are of importance in this disorder.

Engineering is the application of scientific and technical knowledge to solve human problems. Using imagination, judgment, and reasoning to apply science, technology, mathematics, and practical experience, engineers develop the design, production, and operation of useful objects or processes. During the 1940s, engineers dominated the ranks of CDC scientists. In fact, the first CDC director, Assistant Surgeon General Mark Hollis, was an engineer. CDC engineers were involved in malaria control through the elimination of standing water. Eventually the CDC mission expanded to include prevention and control of dengue, typhus, and other communicable diseases. The development of chlorination, water filtration, and sewage treatment were crucial to preventing waterborne illness. Beginning in the 1950s, CDC engineers began their work to improve public health while developing the fields of environmental health, industrial hygiene, and control of air pollution. Engineering disciplines represented at CDC today include biomedical, civil, chemical, electrical, industrial, mechanical, mining, and safety engineering. Most CDC engineers are located in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Engineering research at CDC has a broad stakeholder base. With the cooperation of industry, labor, trade associations, and other stakeholders and partners, current work includes studies of air contaminants, mining, safety, physical agents, ergonomics, and environmental hazards. Engineering solutions remain a cornerstone of the traditional "hierarchy of controls" approach to reducing public health hazards.

In a retrospective analysis of 125 patients and a prospective evaluation of 83 patients with terminal uremia undergoing kidney transplantation, juvenile diabetes mellitus was found to be a significant risk factor for the development of postoperative thromboembolism. We found a high frequency of objectively verified thromboembolism despite the relatively young age of the patients. Besides diabetes, no other clinical risk factor differed between patients with and without thrombosis.

A liver transplant program was established in Norway in 1984, and until March 1999 200 liver transplantations have been carried out. Data for these 200 consecutive patients are briefly outlined with emphasis on survival. Relevant data are also given from the Nordic Liver Transplant Registry (NLTR), the European Liver Transplant Registry (ELTR) and from United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). Future trends and potential advances in liver transplantation are briefly discussed. One-year and three-year survival rates for Norwegian patients have increased markedly over the years and were 85% and 75% respectively for the 1995-98 period. The number of liver transplantations per million population per year was 3.4 in Norway, 7.8 in Sweden, 5.7 in Finland and 5.4 in Denmark (1990-98). The low number of liver transplantations in Norway warrants attention. It is possible that some patients with end stage liver disease have not been offered this treatment modality. Monitoring of results and active participation in international liver transplant registries like NLTR and ELTR is an important quality control instrument.

From 1987 to 1992, 27 patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma were included in a neoadjuvant chemotherapy study prior to undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation. The results are reported. Other studies of patients involving orthotopic liver transplantation are reviewed.

Recurrent variceal bleeding in liver transplant candidates with end-stage liver disease can complicate or even prohibit a subsequent transplant procedure (OLT). Endoscopic sclerotherapy and medical therapy are considered as first-line management with surgical shunts reserved for refractory situations. Surgical shunts can be associated with a high mortality in this population and may complicate subsequent OLT. The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has been recommended in these patients as a bridge to OLT. This is a new modality that has not been compared with previously established therapies such as the distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS). In this study we report our experience with 35 liver transplant recipients who had a previous TIPS (18 patients) or DSRS (17 patients) for variceal bleeding. The TIPS group had a significantly larger proportion of critically ill and Child-Pugh C patients. Mean operating time was more prolonged in the DSRS group (P = 0.014) but transfusion requirements were similar. Intraoperative portal vein blood flow measurements averaged 2132 +/- 725 ml/min in the TIPS group compared with 1120 +/- 351 ml/min in the DSRS group (P0.001). Arterial flows were similar. Mean ICU and hospital stays were similar. There were 3 hospital mortalities in the DSRS group and none in the TIPS group (P = 0.1). We conclude that TIPS is a valuable tool in the management of recurrent variceal bleeding prior to liver transplantation. Intraoperative hemodynamic measurements suggest a theoretical advantage with TIPS. In a group of patients with advanced liver disease we report an outcome that is similar to patients treated with DSRS prior to liver transplantation. The role of TIPS in the treatment of nontransplant candidates remains to be clarified.

FK506 trough levels were measured by ELISA in paired whole-blood and plasma samples in 59 liver transplant recipients. Patients with nephrotoxicity had higher FK506 whole-blood and plasma levels (27.5 +/- 3.2 ng/ml and 1.44 +/- 0.14 ng/ml) than patients with stable liver function (15.2 +/- 2.1 ng/ml and 0.98 +/- 0.15 ng/ml, P0.05 and P0.01, respectively). Patients with acute rejection had FK506 whole-blood and plasma levels within the same range as patients with stable liver function. Patients with severe neurotoxicity had significantly higher FK506 whole-blood and plasma levels (31.3 +/- 6.8 ng/ml and 3.9 +/- 1.4 ng/ml) in comparison with patients with mild-to-moderate neurotoxicity (18.1 +/- 2.4 ng/ml and 1.1 +/- 0.13 ng/ml) (P = 0.048 and P0.001, respectively). Long-term use of FK506 was associated with a significant reduction in glomerular filtration rate at 1-year posttransplant in patients on primary FK506 treatment (33%, P0.001). The reduction in glomerular filtration rate correlated with the yearly mean FK506 plasma but not with whole-blood levels or FK506 dose. There was a correlation between FK506 whole-blood and plasma levels (r = 0.713, P0.001) but not between the levels (whole blood or plasma) and FK506 dose (mg/day or mg/kg/day). The mean FK506 whole-blood and plasma levels were 14.1 +/- 0.26 ng/ml and 0.96 +/- 0.75 ng/ml, respectively. There was a large intra- and interpatient variability in the ratio between whole-blood and plasma levels (range 1.0-73.5), with a mean ratio of 18.0 +/- 0.28 (+/- SEM). In conclusion, monitoring of FK506 trough levels is of importance to avoid nephro- and neurotoxicity, but monitoring is only of limited help to avoid acute rejection. Monitoring of FK506 levels in plasma seems to be superior to that in whole blood.

LIVING RELATED liver transplantation (LRLT) in children is well established with excellent results in elective recipients, but this procedure should not be performed in an emergency situation according to the Council of Europe recommendation no. R (97) 16. We have performed LRLT in a child following hepatectomy of the primary liver graft due to thrombosis of both the hepatic artery and the portal vein.

We have analyzed the indications and results of shunt operation versus orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in 22 patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). The underlying cause of the syndrome was similar between the two groups and was related to myeloproliferative disorders or the use of birth control pills in 18 of 22 patients. The results of biopsies of the liver showed centrilobular congestion and necrosis in all candidates who underwent shunting and the presence of fibrosis and cirrhosis in the OLT candidates. The indications for shunts included symptoms related to portal hypertension only and well-preserved synthetic hepatic function. Ten patients were treated with 12 shunt procedures, including mesoatrial (eight patients) and side to side portacaval shunt (four patients). Significant complications after shunt procedure included fulminant (one of ten patients) and progressive (one of ten patients) hepatic failure requiring urgent OLT; one death occurred because of pulmonary sepsis. Indications for OLT were signs of end stage liver expressed by severe portal hypertension and variceal bleeding (four of 14 patients), progressive encephalopathy (seven of 14 patients) and poor synthetic function (bilirubin greater than 3 milligrams per deciliter in eight of 14 patients and albumin less than 3.0 grams per liter, or both, in ten of 14 patients). Fourteen patients were treated with 16 OLT, three patients had retransplantation for primary nonfunction graft (two of 14 patients) or chronic rejection (one of 14 patients). There were two early deaths in the group. With a follow-up period between two months to five years, 12 of 14 patients undergoing OLT are alive, fully functional and have normal liver function tests. Seven of ten patients who had shunts are alive, six are able to maintain normal activity and one has progressive end stage hepatic disease and is not a candidate for OLT. However, the hepatic function continues progressively to be abnormal. Various options are available for the treatment of the syndrome. Portosystemic decompression is effective and should be considered at the early stage of the disease, prior to the development of significant hepatic failure. However, few of the patients will continue to have slow, but progressive hepatic failure and may require OLT. The only effective treatment for end stage hepatic disease secondary to the BCS is OLT.

The feasibility of extracorporeal adsorption of 1.5-3 L plasma on protein A-Sepharose was investigated in six patients with advanced cancer. Anticoagulation with heparin was associated with respiratory distress syndrome in two patients, most likely caused by complement activation as indicated by a transient leukopenia during plasma reinfusion and appearance of C3 degradation products in the extracorporeal circulation. Addition of citrate abolished the respiratory symptoms, C3 degradation, and leukopenia, and no adverse reactions were observed. No objective tumor regression was observed in any of the patients. Three patients progressed during therapy. In one of these, multifocal central tumor necrosis was observed as a possible, although unproven, therapeutic effect. Increased natural killer and/or killer cell activities were recorded in three patients and increased complement-dependent serum cytotoxicity in one patient. The level of circulating immune complexes decreased significantly (18-28%) in three patients studied. It is concluded that extracorporeal plasma adsorption on protein A-Sepharose is feasible when citrate is added to the extracorporeal system, but its therapeutic efficacy is uncertain.

In a prospective study the frequency of deep vein thrombosis during the first 3 weeks after kidney transplantation has been evaluated using the combination of thermography and strain-gauge plethysmography for objective diagnosis. 83 consecutive patients were included, 33 with juvenile diabetes mellitus. The overall frequency of thrombosis was 24.1 %, diabetes mellitus being a significant risk factor. No other risk factors were found. The transplant did not influence the venous outflow from the corresponding leg. Plasminogen activator activity in the iliac vein wall at transplantation did not differ between patients with and without thrombosis.

Plasminogen activator (PA) activity was determined with a histochemical fibrin slide technique in renal arteries, veins and ureters in 62 transplanted kidneys and again at transplantectomy in 12 transplants who later underwent irreversible rejection. At transplantation PA activity was the same whether the grafts later rejected or not. There was a significantly decreased PA activity in the vessels and ureters in rejected transplants. The role of the fibrinolytic system as a pathogenetic factor in rejected kidneys is discussed.

Cerebral angiography is used to diagnose brain death of cadaver kidney donors. Clinical and animal data suggest that angiographic contrast media may potentiate the noxious effect of renal ischemia. In order to find out if cerebral angiography of cadaveric kidney donors prior to nephrectomy interferes with function or survival of the renal grafts, two groups of cadaveric donors were compared. One group had been exposed to contrast medium from cerebral angiography in median 18 hours before nephrectomy and the other had not. There was no difference in graft survival and function between the two groups. In a previous investigation angiography was performed two hours before explantation and in that investigation there was a shorter graft survival in the angiography group than in a control group. A delay of 12 hours is suggested between cerebral angiography and explantation, to decrease the combined harmful effects of contrast media and ischemia on renal grafts.

In a case of carcinoma involving a solitary kidney renal salvage was accomplished with bench surgery and autotransplantation. This method should have clinical application in a variety of urologic problems.

Computed tomography was used in a consecutive series of 74 transplantations in the diagnosis of complications to renal allograft surgery. Thirty-nine peritransplant fluid collections were demonstrated, 13 of these were subjected to surgery. A diagnosis of the specific nature of the fluid collection was possible in cases of urine leakage and fresh hematomas. The method was sensitive in defining the size of the renal pelvis though differentiation between postrenal obstruction and large non-obstructed collecting system was not always possible. The cause of postrenal obstruction could be identified in 5 patients out of 10. Renal infarctions were diagnosed in 8 patients. Computed tomography seems to be a highly accurate method in the diagnosis of complications to renal allograft surgery. The method can be used independent of transplant function and the use of contrast medium is necessary only to verify urine leakage and infarction.

In this prospective study the frequency of deep venous thrombosis during the first three weeks after renal transplantation was determined using a combination of strain gauge plethysmography and thermography for objective diagnosis. Ninety-seven consecutive patients were studied, 30 patients having juvenile diabetes mellitus. As immunosuppression cyclosporine and low-dose steroids were used. The series was compared with a similar group of 83 patients, 33 having juvenile diabetes mellitus treated with azathioprine and high-dose steroids as immunosuppression, in which the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis was made with an identical technique. The overall frequency of thrombosis was 9.3% in the cyclosporine-treated group, which is a significant reduction in comparison with the azathioprine group (24.1%). It is concluded that the combination of cyclosporine and low-dose steroids does not increase the frequency of deep venous thrombosis in comparison with azathioprine and high-dose steroids in renal transplanted patients.

The reliability of ultrasonography in detecting complications of renal transplantation was investigated by reviewing the ultrasound examination on 78 renal transplants. The results of the ultrasound examinations were correlated with all available clinical, laboratory, radiographic, scintigraphic, and histopathologic data. With the exception of one urine leak no extrarenal complications of clinical significance, such as hydronephrosis, urine leak, lymphocele or hematoma were overlooked at ultrasonography. The exact nature of fluid collections was, however, only seldom accurately assessed unless fine needle biopsy was used. The accuracy in detecting both acute and chronic rejection was high with ultrasonography and a normal ultrasonography of a non-functioning kidney was a strong indication of acute tubular necrosis. Ultrasonography was very sensitive in detecting early acute rejection but was of less value in diagnosing repeated acute rejections with short intervals and in monitoring the response of treatment as the sonographic changes of rejection disappeared slowly.

1. In this prospective study of 613 CD and 205 one haplotype mismatched LRD transplant recipients treated with CyA, there was no influence of HLA-matching (A, B, DR or combinations) on graft survival rate at one and two years. 2. Patients who successfully received HLA-DR-matched kidneys (CD or LRD) had fewer rejection episodes during the first six months after transplantation. 3. Three factors significantly reduced the cadaveric graft survival rate: (a) presence of panel reactive T-cell antibodies in a current recipient serum, (b) cold ischemia time beyond 27 hours, and (c) recipient age above 55 years. 4. The survival rate of one haplotype mismatched LRD kidneys was excellent and is considered to be the optimal treatment for uremia also in CyA-treated patients. 5. Based on this study, exchange of well HLA-matched CD kidneys to non-sensitized patients has been terminated provisionally in Scandia-transplant. Exchange of HLA-A, B-matched kidneys will be maintained, however, for sensitized patients inasmuch as this will increase the chance of obtaining a negative cross-match and possibly improve graft survival in this high-risk patient group.

Eighty-six renal transplantations were performed in 69 patients with endstage diabetic nephropathy. Cadaveric kidneys were used in 77 of the transplantations. Most of the patients had severe retinopathy. Patients with severe cardiopathy and neuropathy were not accepted for transplantation. After one year 61% of the patients were alive, after three years 43%, all except one with functioning graft. The quality of life of the survivors was acceptable, only two requiring nursing care. It is concluded that renal transplantation in patients with diabetic nephropathy is justified in selected patients.

147 operations for renovascular hypertension were performed in 125 patients. 136 of the operations were vascular reconstructions. Aortorenal by-pass, using saphenous vein as a graft, was found to be a satisfactory technique. An aneurysmatic dilatation developed twice, which on both occasions was attributed to a stenosis proximal to the graft. Two failures also occurred among the 12 patients undergoing renal autotransplantation, both due to an illiac vein thrombosis, obstructing the renal vein. The majority of the six deaths were due to myocardial infarctions or uremia. They all occurred in the eldest patients (older than 59 years) and in patients suffering from complicating cardiac or renal disease. The results with regard to blood pressure were very good in fibrous dysplasia and in atherosclerosis affecting only one side. Operative treatment can therefore be recommended to these groups of patients even in relatively mild hypertension. The indication to operate should be restricted in elderly patients suffering from cardiac and renal complicating diseases, and in patients with bilateral atherosclerotic stenosis.

During the years 1968--1976, 115 nondiabetic primary cadaveric transplantations were performed in southern Sweden. For 95 of these patients there was an observation period of at least one year. 32% of these patients had never received a blood transfusion. These recipients had an lower one year graft survival (33%) than those who had received one or more transfusions (48%). Patients who had received more than five transfusions did not show a higher graft survival than other transfused kidney recipients. Presence of cytotoxic antibodies also decreased the one year graft survival both in the transfused and not transfused patient groups.