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Although the etiologic importance of tobacco in risk of upper aerodigestive malignancies is unquestioned, quantification of subsite-specific risks is less well delineated. Risk estimates from this case-control study are derived from self-administered comprehensive risk factor questionnaires distributed to newly registered patients at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston. Cases included 185 white patients with histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract. An equal number of age-frequency and sex-frequency matched patients was randomly selected from the same patient population excluding only patients with diagnoses of squamous cell carcinoma of any site. A statistically significant dose-response relationship for three categories of cigarette pack-years was evident for both males (odds ratios [OR] = 1.8, 4.0, and 7.5) and females (OR = 1.5, 9.0, and 12.0). Highest risks were documented for laryngeal cancer (OR = 15.1) and lingual cancer (OR = 14.5). There was interaction between alcohol use and smoking among men, but no independent effect of alcohol consumption among either gender. After 15 years of smoking abstinence, males no longer exhibited increased risk (OR = 1.0) whereas the risk for females after 15 years of cessation was 1.5. There were also significantly increased risks among men associated with snuff dipping, cigar, and pipe use (OR = 3.4, 2.8, and 1.8, respectively). The differences in the magnitude of the risk estimates and dose-response curves by subsite and by sex suggest a variable susceptibility to carcinogenic action.

This study is a retrospective case comparison analysis of the relationship of water-borne Na+ and toxemia of pregnancy as a part of a continuous investigation at our facility on the role of various water constituents in human chronic disease. Five hundred thirty-seven toxemic pregnant women delivered at Jefferson Davis Hospital, Houston, Texas, during 1976 were matched by age, race, obstetrical history, and month of delivery to 537 non-toxemic controls. Sodium concentration in each patient's drinking water was derived, based on her address, from earlier prepared maps of sodium distribution in Houston's water supplies. Paired t-tests were performed to compare the Na+ levels, which varied from 19 to 250 mg/l in water supplies of cases and controls. Odds ratio analysis was used to test for the presence of a gradient in occurrence of toxemia in parallel with the gradient of Na+. No significant impact of water-borne Na+ in the indicated range was observed. Further studies incorporating still higher ranges are contemplated.

Meridional profiles of OI 6300 A nightglow emission measured using a scanning photometer over Cachoeira Paulista, a low latitude station, often show propagating patches of airglow disturbances with north to south and west to east velocity components, occurring mostly in the premidnight period. 132 measurements carried out during a period of 26 months since January 1978, show significant seasonal dependence in the occurrence of these disturbances, with most of the events occurring in the spring-summer months and with very rare occurrence during the winter solstice. The north to south propagation velocities lie in the range of 150 to 350 m/s. A case by case comparison of the occurrences of these airglow disturbances with simultaneous ionograms over Cachoeira Paulista show that almost the totality of these disturbances are accompanied by strong range type echoes in the ionograms and vice versa. These results therefore support our earlier contention that these types of airglow disturbances might be manifestations of the equatorial plasma bubbles.

A system of programs which process data on a microcomputer for a case/comparison study is described. The procedures process the data from the abstracted case source records, to control selection, interview data management, and the selection of data subsets for analysis. The capabilities of various data processing modules are outlined, and cost estimates of an existing implementation are discussed. The microcomputer is presented as an alternative to mainframe data management.

I am indebted to Professor F. Krienen for this problem: work out the basic formula for transition radiation in the case of particles with spin. In deriving this formula a corresponding result is obtaind, in passing, for Cerenkov radiation. In that case comparison can and made with some results already in the literature; there is sufficient agreement, except at one point, in connection with dispersion.

Epidural abscesses of the spine generally arise from staphylococcal infections that by hematologic spread or direct invasion affect the integrity of the vertebral column or meningeal coverings of the spinal cord. A case comparison approach highlights goal-oriented nursing interventions which assist the patient in the adaptation to and recovery from this unique central nervous system infection.

IVGG has been used as an alternative to splenectomy (SPL) in children 6 months (J Peds 10/83). Decision analysis was used to compare the benefits and costs of IVGG vs. SPL in the initial management of chronic ITP. Published reports and a survey of 11 pediatric hematology centers provided data for the analysis. For IVGG, the experience of the first 25 patients treated at Cornell was used: (1) THERAPY/COSTS: induction IVGG dose of 73 grams/pt (2 gms/kg) at $40/gm=$3,000, avg maintenance IVGG dose in a subsequent 6 month period of 117 gms/pt $5,000, office visits & CBC's=$780. (2) OUTCOME/MANAGEMENT: 5 remissions, 6 stable without IVGG, 4 infrequent (