Kings Counties Research Articles

Glutathlone S-Transferase M1 Genotypes and the Rismk of Vulvar Cancer: A Population-based Case-Control Study

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) facilitate the excretion of a variety of potential carcinogens. Some 50-60% of Caucasians are homozygous for the null allele of GSTM1, a gene responsible for the presence of one of these enzymes. The authors examined whether women with the GSTM1 null genotype are at altered risk of vulvar cancer. They obtained peripheral blood specimens from 18- to 79-year-old residents of King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties of western Washington who were diagnosed with vulvar cancer between April 1991 and June 1994. Blood specimens were also obtained from controls identified via random digit telephone dialing of western Washington households. The authors determined the GSTM1 genotype of 137 cases (120 in situ and 17 invasive cases) and 248 controls. The frequency of the GSTM1 null genotype was 46.7% among cases and 57.3% among controls. The age-adjusted odds ratio associated with the GSTM1 null genotype was 0.7 (95% confidence interval: 0.4, 1.0). Among current smokers of cigarettes, the age-adjusted odds ratio associated with the GSTM1 null genotype was 0.5 (95% confidence interval: 0.2, 0.9), differing little between heavy and light smokers. Our data suggest that women with the GSTM1 null genotype are not at increased risk of vulvar cancer.

What Price Water Marketing?

Abstract.We can multiply the value of output from limited natural water supplies by allocating them to higher uses. To this end we need a market in raw water, but existing markets work badly, for several reasons. Sellers are undermotivated, absent taxes or debt. Free groundwater subverts the pricing of surface water. Loss of elevation, and damage from effluents, and instream uses are not charged for. Obsolete subsidies abound; obsolete entitlements dominate allocation. Some trades extinguish public rights. Rent‐seeking distorts allocation. Needed public agencies have been subverted by organized land speculators. Recommendations are given.

Immunization Registries: Provider Recruitment and Participation

The success of an immunization registry requires inclusion of all immunization providers (public and private) within the defined community, as well as the active participation of these providers. This article shows how two different community-based All Kids Count sites gained the support of their health care provider community for their Pediatric Registry. The site in Snohomish and King counties represents a large urban area (Seattle) in Washington State, and the Savannah, Chatham County, site represents a medium-sized city in Georgia. Each site developed its marketing approach differently, reflecting an understanding of the uniqueness of its community. Yet both sites included similar procedures that are deemed necessary for a successful registry. One necessary process is assessment of the provider practices, including computer hardware, office layout, computer literacy level of both medical staff and office staff, the need for training programs and staff support, and the need to be flexible and fit easily into existing systems. Efforts to secure a successful immunization registry are dependent upon careful planning involving representatives of the entire community. It is clear that the lessons learned at the Snohomish and King counties site and the Savannah, Chatham County, site can be applied to the many newly emerging community and statewide immunization registries.

CHILD Profile: Development of an Immunization Registry

CHILD (Children’s Health, Immunization, Linkages, and Development) Profile began as a two-county-wide child health and immunization tracking project sponsored by Snohomish Health District and Seattle-King County Department of Public Health in Washington State. The project receives funds through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s All Kids Count Project, Washington State Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Immunization Action Plan. Currently, CHILD Profile mails health educational materials to the parents of all children born in King and Snohomish counties since January 1, 1993, and all children born in Island and Kittitas counties since October 1, 1995, and still residing in this project area. These four counties, with an annual birth cohort of approximately 33,000, represent over 40% of Washington State’s annual births. As of August 14, 1996, there were 694,691 pieces of mail that had been sent by CHILD Profile to the parents of 128,257 children aged 5 and under. In addition, CHILD Profile provides immunization tracking for participating health care providers, 27 medical organizations are contributing immunization information, and 110 clinic sites and over 400 individual provid ers contributed immunizations in the past 6 months. In addition, 10 medical organizations have agreed to participate but are not yet connected. The ultimate goal of CHILD Profile is to establish electronic linkages among health, educational, and social service facilities/agencies in the area, thus improving the quality and coordination of care for children and their families.

Nutrient intake in relation to bladder cancer among middle-aged men and women.

This population-based case-control study examined the association between selected nutrients, foods, and diet behaviors and bladder cancer. Bladder cancer cases (n = 262) were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program cancer registry for western Washington, and controls (n = 405) were identified through random digit dialing. Cases were diagnosed between January 1987 and June 1990, and eligible subjects were Caucasian, aged 45-65 years, and residents of King, Pierce, or Snohomish counties. Subjects completed a self-administered, 71-item food frequency questionnaire and a structured telephone interview. Analyses were conducted by logistic regression analysis and included adjustment for age, sex, smoking (current, former, never), and county. Odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals for highest versus lowest level of intake were examined. An inverse association was found between the risk of bladder cancer and dietary retinol (odds ratio (OR) across quartiles: 1.00, 1.09, 0.97, and 0.52; 95% CI 0.29-0.97; trend p value = 0.03) and dietary vitamin C (OR across quartiles: 1.00, 0.96, 0.67, and 0.50; 95% CI 0.28-0.88; trend p value = 0.009), adjusted for calories. The use of multivitamin supplements daily over the 10-year period ending 2 years before diagnosis versus no use was associated with a decreased risk of bladder cancer (OR = 0.39; 95% CI 0.24-0.63) as was use of supplemental vitamin C (OR for > 502 mg/day over the 10 years vs. none = 0.40; 95% CI 0.21-0.76). Increased intake of fruit was associated with a decreased risk of bladder cancer (OR across quartiles: 1.00, 1.24, 0.72, and 0.53; 95% CI 0.30-0.93; trend p value = 0.01, adjusted for calories), while increased use of fried foods was associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer (OR across quartiles: 1.00, 1.51, 1.81, and 2.24; 95% CI 1.25-4.03; trend p value = 0.006). This study provides modest evidence that certain nutrients, foods, and supplementation may affect the incidence of bladder cancer.

Incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in three counties in western Washington state.

We conducted a population-based study of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties in western Washington state. Between April 1, 1990 and March 31, 1995, neurologists diagnosed 235 patients with ALS, including 127 men (54%) and 108 women (46%). The incidence rate, age-adjusted to the 1990 total U.S. population, was higher for men at 2.1 per 100,000 per year (95% CI, 1.3 to 2.9) than for women at 1.9 (95% CI, 1.1, 2.7) and increased with age for both men and women. These incidence rates are consistent with other studies from northern latitudes.

Recency, duration, and progestin content of oral contraceptives in relation to the incidence of endometrial cancer (Washington, USA).

Women who have used combined oral contraceptives (COC) have a reduced risk of endometrial cancer relative to that of women who have never used oral contraceptives, but it is unclear whether the size of the reduction is influenced by the progestin content of the preparation. We analyzed data from two population-based case-control studies of endometrial cancer to investigate this question. Among women aged 40 to 59 years who were residents of King or Pierce Counties, Washington (United States), incident cases who were diagnosed during 1975-77 or 1985-87 were identified. Personal interviews were conducted with 316 such women and their responses compared with those of 501 controls who were selected by household surveys or random-digit dialing. A reduced risk of endometrial cancer associated with COC use was present only among users of five or more years' duration, and even then only in women who were not long-term users of unopposed postmenopausal estrogens. Among these women, the relative risk (RR) of endometrial cancer did not differ according to the progestin potency of the COC used: it was equally low for women who had used a COC with low progestin content (RR = 0.2, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] = 0.1-0.8) as for women who had used a COC with high progestin content (RR = 0.3, CI = 0.1-0.9). Our results argue that, if the reduced risk of endometrial cancer in long-term users of COCs is due to the progestins contained in these preparations, that amount of progestin in most COCs exceeds the threshold amount needed to produce this beneficial effect.

Notes on the Lichens of Eastern New York City: Kings and Queens Counties, Long Island, New York

Notes on the Lichens of Eastern New York City: Kings and Queens Counties, Long Island, New York

Insecticide Resistance in Field Populations of Greenhouse Whitefly (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) in the San Joaquin Valley (California) Cotton Cropping System

Susceptibility of field populations of greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood, in the San Joaquin Valley (California) cotton cropping system was tested with laboratory bioassays with acephate and dicrotophos. Approximately 9.5- fold resistance to acephate and 18.5-fold resistance to dicrotophos were detected. Results of bioassays indicated that 56.2 ppm acephate and 316 ppm dicrotophos could serve as discriminating concentrations for detecting resistant T. vaporariorum populations. Field trials demonstrated lack of control with acephate and dicrotophos in resistant T. vaporariorum . Susceptibility levels to acephate and dicrotophos of 32 T. vaporariorum field populations collected from cotton and other hosts including weeds in Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties were estimated by bioassays with discriminating concentrations. Substantial regional variability in susceptibilities to the two pesticides was found. Resistant and susceptible T. vaporariorum phenotypes occurred on cotton and other cultivated or weed hosts. Cross-resistance between acephate and dicrotophos is suggested. Implications of these results for integrated pest management of cotton system in the San Joaquin Valley are discussed.

Codling Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Control on Commercial Walnuts with a Granulosis Virus

Commercially produced, experimental lots of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), granulosis virus (CMGV) formulations were field-tested for control of codling moth larvae on commercial walnuts. Because it has little or no effect on beneficial species and probably would not disturb the control of the walnut aphid, Chromaphis juglandicola (Kaltenbach), by the parasite Trioxys pallidus (Haliday), CMGV was evaluated in 1980-1983 in Kings, Tulare, and Yolo counties in California. In 1980, control of codling moth by CMGV was similar to that of conventional insecticides (e.g., 80%). However, a maximum of 60% control was obtained in 1982. The level of control obtained in 1982 was lower than that suggested by the residue studies. In 1983, control was equivalent to that of a chemical insecticide standard, but control depended upon application timing. Field persistence of the virus was sufficient, to cause 90% larval mortality immediately after application and 80% mortality 5 d later. The addition of several concentrations of skim milk did not increase persistence. It was concluded that timing of CMGV applications to coincide with egg hatch and field persistence of formulations are critical to control of codling moth on walnuts.

Can farmers use water more effectively?: Two on-farm demonstrations compare irrigation methods

High water tables and associated high salinity now hamper farm production across 400,000 acres of farmland in Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern Counties in the San Joaquin Valley. The two following reports describe farm demonstration projects undertaken to reduce drainwater volume while maintaining profitability. Performed at different sites under differing conditions, the projects yielded different results. An analysis of the combined results appears on page 11. (Ed.)

Acalypha australis L. (Euphorbiaceae) New to New York State

DELENDICK, T. J. (Health Sciences Library, Columbia University, 701 West 168 St., New York, NY 10032). Acalypha australis L. (Euphorbiaceae) new to New York State. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 117: 291-293. 1990-Acalypha australis is reported from twenty-two sites in Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, New York (Manhattan) and Bronx counties, New York. This east Asian species is similar to the native A. rhomboidea, from which it is easily distinguished by the entire to crenate margined, cordate bracts that subtend the pistillate flowers.

Tumbleweed Delta-Lower Tannehill Point Bars, Geochemistry and Dipmeter Logs of Dickens and King Counties, Texas: ABSTRACT

The oil-prone Tannehill sandstone trend is an extensive Eastern Shelf clastic depositional system derived from an ancient uplift located several counties away to the east-northeast of Dickens and King counties. The older 100-mi-long lower Tannehill system, preceding the upper Tannehill (Frye) system, trended east-west into King and Dickens counties, where it lies in the domain of the shallow-water-shelf delta distributary, situated between the well-documented prolific point-bar (fluvial) deposits of Baylor, Knox, and eastern King counties, and the massive nonproductive slope-mouth bar (deeper water) deposits of western Kent and western Dickens counties. The individual prolific and shallow sand bodies in the shelf distributary of Dickens and King counties are shelf delta point-bars, with some reworking. Geologists for years have erroneously played the sands and interpreted dipmeter logs in this area as fluvial point-bars. Case histories illustrate the complex stratigraphic traps of varying sizes that are formed, and the problems with dipmeter interpretations. Prospecting techniques involving subsurface geology and soil-gas geochemistry have resulted in wildcat success ratios in excess of 25% and development well success in excess of 85%. Numerous fields with proven total recoverable reserves in excess of 800,000 bbl of oil have been found over the last 10 yr. Themore » premise central to modern-day geochemical soil gas prospecting is that very small amounts (parts per million) of light hydrocarbons move upward continuously (but not always vertically) over time from subsurface hydrocarbon reservoirs toward the ground surface, and such microseepage is detectable by modern instruments sensitive to parts per billion. Case histories illustrate that such unconventional techniques are very successful only in certain geologic provinces, and are to be integrated with subsurface geology and other conventional methods.« less

Selenium Levels in Biota from Irrigation Drainwater Impoundments in the San Joaquin Valley, California

ABSTRACT Waterfowl, fish, invertebrates, and plants were collected from impoundments used for evaporating subsurface irrigation drainwater in Kings and Kern counties, California. Specimens were analyzed for trace elements with emphasis on selenium. Dry weight concentrations of total selenium ranged from 2.5 to 17 μg/g in wigeongrass, Ruppia maritima; 7.6 to 30 μg/g in water boatmen, Corixidae; 12 to 40 μ/g in mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis; 86 to 100 μg/g in eared grebe, Podiceps niqricollis, livers; 14 to 120 μg/g in ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis, livers; and 6.8 to 48 μg/g in northern shoveler, Anas clypeata, livers. Concentrations of dissolved selenium ranged from less than 1 to 37 μg/L during a 12-month period for inflows to the drainwater evaporation ponds.

Residential magnetic and electric fields.

A magnetic flux density (MFD) and electric-field (E-field) data-acquisition system was built for characterizing extremely low-frequency fields in residences. Every 2 min during 24-h periods, MFD and E-field measurements were made in 43 homes in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties of Washington State. The total electrical energy used in each residence during the 24-h measurement period was also recorded, and maps were drawn to scale of the distribution wiring within 43 m (140 ft) of these homes. Finally, on a separate date, field measurements were made in each home during an epidemiological interview. The results of this study can be summarized as follows: 1) 24-h-average MFD measured at two separate points in the family room were correlated, as were a 24-h-average bedroom measurement and the mean of the two family-room measurements. 2) The 24-h-average family-room MFD and E-field measurements were uncorrelated. 3) The 24-h-average total harmonic distortions of family-room MFD and E-fields were less than about 24% and 7%, respectively. 4) Residential MFD exhibited a definite 24-h (diurnal) cycle. 5) The 24-h-average and interviewer-measured MFD were correlated. 6) Residential 24-h-average MFD were correlated with the wiring code developed by Wertheimer and Leeper. 7) An improved prediction of 24-h-average residential MFD was obtained using the total number of service drops, the distance to neighboring transmission lines, and the number of primary phase conductors.

Effects of Brush Control and Game-Bird Management on Nongame Birds

Effects of Brush Control and Game-Bird Management on Nongame Birds

Incidence of vulvar carcinoma in relation to menstrual, reproductive, and medical factors.

Fifty-seven female residents of King and Pierce Counties (Washington State) with a new diagnosis of in situ or invasive vulvar carcinoma during 1976-79 were interviewed concerning their menstrual, reproductive, and medical histories. A random sample of women residing in the same area was interviewed for comparison. A greater proportion of women with in situ vulvar tumors than control subjects were of low educational level, reported a history of oral contraceptive use, experienced early age at first birth, late age at menopause, and were current or former cigarette smokers. Menstrual and reproductive factors were similar between women with invasive vulvar cancer and controls, but a greater proportion of cases reported a history of diabetes and of cigarette smoking. The factors found in this study to be associated with in situ vulvar carcinoma are similar to those observed among women with cervical cancer. In addition, since the vulva and cervix both are derived from cloacal tissue, and neoplasms of the two sites occur together more often than would be expected by chance, in situ vulvar and cervical tumors may share some common etiologies.

Depositional History and Petroleum Potential of Permian Tannehill Sand, King and Knox Counties, Texas: ABSTRACT

Channel deposits of the lower Wolfcampian Tannehill sand are a major oil-producing interval in west-central Texas. These sand bodies represent a fluvial meander belt that was part of an extensive depositional system which shifted laterally along paleoslope toward the slowly subsiding Midland basin. Within the producing zone, stratigraphic traps commonly are formed by structural closure caused by differential compaction and updip pinch-outs against clay plugs of former channel thalwegs. Porosities range from 20 to 30%, with permeabilities of 300 to 700 md. Oil columns of approximately 5 to 30 ft (1.5 to 9 m) are reported. The abrupt erosional contacts of the channel deposits with the regionally persistent Stockwether Limestone clearly delineate the lower boundaries of the Tannehill sand. The typical Tannehill E-log signature shows a sharp basal contact, a decrease in SP amplitude upward, and a more serrate curve upward--all characteristic of point-bar sequences. However, an abnormally low resistivity value (2 ohms) is observed in the oil-saturated portions of the sand. Core analy is shows that this abnormal value does not result from high water-saturation levels. Instead, this anomalous feature is probably due to the retention of water in clay lenses found within the sand bodies. Ultimate recoverable oil in the Tannehill is estimated to average 400 bbl per acre-foot. The relatively shallow depth, 2,600 to 2,700 ft (792 to 823 m), of the Tannehill and the low cost of drilling to reach it create favorable exploration prospects. Recognition and understanding of the resistivity anomaly in the Tannehill sand could be of major economic importance. End_of_Article - Last_Page 539------------

Factors Associated With a Malignant or Benign Course of Multiple Sclerosis

Eight hundred thirty-four patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in King and Pierce Counties, Washington, and in Los Angeles County, California, with symptomatic onset between 1960 and 1969 were followed up for disability status in 1980. A higher proportion of the 375 patients who were not walking or deceased in 1980 had a late age of onset, resided in Los Angeles County, had motor or coordination symptoms at onset, and reported adverse responses to heat exposure and favorable responses to cold exposure, whereas a higher proportion of the 299 patients still walking without aids had early onset age and vision, speech, or sensory symptoms, or all three, at onset. The results suggest (1) that both host factors (age at first manifestation of symptoms and types of symptoms at onset) and environmental factors (place of residence and exposure to heat and cold) are determinants of disease course and (2) that most patients with MS should avoid exposure to heat.

Factors associated with a rapid course of multiple sclerosis.

A cohort of 886 cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) who had onset between Jan 1, 1960, and Dec 31, 1969, and who were resident in 1970 in either a low-prevalence area (Los Angeles County, California, 560 cases) or in a high-prevalence area (King and Pierce Counties, Washington, 326 cases) were followed up for changes in disability status through Dec 31, 1979. Cases had to meet the modified Schumacher criteria for definite/probable MS and to have had a diagnosis of MS or equivalent by a physician. Onset year of disease was determined by onset of the earliest reported symptom. Disability status was determined at intake by an interviewer-administered questionnaire and in subsequent years by an annual mailed questionnaire (self-reported disability status). Progression to a nonambulatory status or death was significantly greater among (1) patients with an older age at onset, (2) patients with a rapid early course, (3) males, and (4) residents of Los Angeles County.