Intracranial arachnoid cyst in pregnancy: case report, literature review and evaluation of neuraxial anaesthesia risk.

Choosing the type of intrapartum anaesthesia for pregnant women with intracranial arachnoid cysts can be challenging due to a lack of research. We report the intrapartum anaesthetic management of a 25-year-old woman with a known 10 cm arachnoid cyst. By means of a literature review and discussion of safety surrounding neuraxial techniques, this report will help to inform obstetric anaesthesia practice. Overall, in the absence of raised intracranial pressure, neuraxial analgesia and anaesthesia during the intrapartum period appears to be a safe option.

Studies on phenoxy acid herbicides. II. Oral and dermal uptake and elimination in urine of MCPA in humans.

Five healthy volunteers were given 15 micrograms MCPA per kg body weight. The highest concentration in plasma, 0.15 micrograms/ml, was found after 1 h. In urine the excretion during the first 6 h was 0.46 microgram/min and 40% of given dose was excreted during the first 24 h. About 1 g of MCPA emulsion was applied on the skin of the thigh and was washed away after 2 h. Plasma level slowly increased with maximum, 0.12 micrograms/ml, after 24 h. In urine a slow excretion continued for up to 5 days later with maximum 24-48 h after application. In agricultural field exposure urinary MCPA should be estimated immediately after stop of exposure as well as 24 h after exposure. Levels under 0.5 micrograms/ml of MCPA in urine might be used as a practical biological level for good work practice. In spot samples the concentration of urine must be considered.

Occupational exposure to some synthetic pyrethroids (permethrin and fenvalerate).

In a two-step study on exposure control method for occupational handling of permethrin was developed. Air sampling on a filter can be used in case of exposure to permethrin in powder form. The detection limit is 0.001 mg/m3. If biological sampling is used, the acid metabolite moiety in the urine must be monitored. However, the uptake after exposure to permethrin in forestry was too low, and no urine concentration could be found. The detection limit is 0.1 microgram/ml. Six persons in a plant nursery and six planters were studied in this way. Interviews were conducted with 139 planters. Irritative symptoms form the skin and upper respiratory tract were reported in 73% for fenvalerate, 63% for permethrin (trans/cis 75/25) and 33% for permethrin (trans/cis 60/40).

Chromosome aberrations and sister-chromatid exchange in workers in chemical laboratories and a rotoprinting factory and in children of women laboratory workers.

Cultured lymphocytes from 73 workers in chemical laboratories and the printing industry were found to have a significantly increased frequency of chromatid and isochromatid breaks, in comparison with 49 control subjects (42 adults and 7 children). An increase of the same magnitude was also found in 14 children, aged 4 days--11 yr, of 11 women laboratory workers who had worked during pregnancy. A significant correlation between age and frequency of chromosome aberrations was noted for both the exposed and control children but not for the adults. The frequency of sister-chromomatid exchange was significantly increased in 12 technicians working in laboratories performing hormone analysis. 4 children of 2 female technicians working during pregnancy also had a significnatly increased frequency of sister-chromatid exchange. The cause and biological significance of these findings are not yet known.

Problems related to shift work. A field study of Swedish railroad workers with irregular work hours.

A group of 132 engineers from the north of Sweden was included in the study. A subsample of about 50 subjects was selected for further laboratory investigations during a light and warm summer period and a dark and cold winter period. The mean for the hours of sleep noted on the sleep records was significantly lower for night work than for day work. The amount of sleep during night work was significantly less during the light period than during the dark period as was the amount of sleep during the day off. Body temperature measured during work followed a daytime pattern and had a low amplitude. Potassium excretion and the blood levels of cortisol displayed a stable circadian rhythm with a daytime pattern. Many environmental factors made the results of catecholamine data difficult to interpret. The frequency of reported peptic ulcers was higher in the engineer group than in some other groups.