Daily mortality rates

A strong correlation has been found between increases in the daily mortality rate and acute episodes of air pollution. In such cases, high levels of particulate matter are accompanied by elevated concentrations of SO2 and other pollutants, so that any conclusions must be drawn with caution. 

Rats exposed to 500 ppm 6 hours daily for 5 days exhibited marked eye and nasal irritation, and a number of animals had corneal opacity by the end of the third day the mortality rate was 20%, and at autopsy, findings were acute purulent bronchiolitis and bronchopneumonia. Exposure to 25 ppm for 14 days caused respiratory tract epithelial hyperplasia, squamous metaplasia, and clinical rales. ... 

There has been great interest in airborne particulate matter recently due to the results of a number of epidemiological studies showing a correlation between increased mortality and levels of airborne particles. Figure 2.14 shows one such correlation reported by Dockery et al. (1993). A clear relationship between mortality rates and the concentration of fine particles PM25, as well as with particle sulfate, is seen. Since sulfate is found primarily in fine particles, these observations are not independent. Schwartz et al. (1996) report a 1.5% increase in total daily mortality with an increase of 10 pg m-3 in PM25. Deaths due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease increased by 3.3% and those to ischemic heart disease by 2.1%. 

A relationship between ambient air pollution and daily mortality and morbidity rates has been reported for many cities throughout the world (Schwela, 2000 Stieb et al., 2002 Glinianaia et al., 2004 Gordon et al., 2004). The relevant contaminants include sulfur dioxide, suspended particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, and lead (Schwela, 2000). Ambient air pollution has been declared an important health problem for developing countries. A considerable burden of disease has been reported for cities such as New Delhi, India (Pande et al., 2002) Santiago, Chile (Ostro et al.,... 

The decision to construct the crematoria of Birkenau was made in August 1942,164 at a time when the mortality rate averaged 270 inmates a day due to the typhus epidemic, and this with an average camp population of some 22,000 male and 10,000 female inmates (in August 1942). On the occasion of his inspection of the camp on July 17 and 18, 1942, Himmler had ordered that POW camp Birke-nau s initial intended capacity of 125,000 be increased to 200,000. Under these circumstances, it is clear that the 550-per-day capacity of the Birkenau crematoria (for which the memo of March 17, 1943 provides for a daily operation time of 12 hours) was by no means exaggerated in view of potential future epidemics among a three- or four-fold greater camp population. 

Chemically induced renal failure caused 100% mortality in male Wistar rats after 5 daily exposures to 237 or 1,928 mg U/kg/day as uranyl nitrate hexahydrate or ammonium uranyl tricarbonate, respectively, applied in a water-Vaseline emulsion (De Rey et al. 1983). A 60% mortality rate was also reported for other male Wistar rats that received daily applications of 1,965 mg U/kg as uranyl acetate dihydrate for 1-11 days. No deaths were reported for other Wistar rats similarly treated with 2,103 mg U/kg/day as ammonium diuranate or to an unspecified dose of uranium dioxide (De Rey et al. 1983). 

The prognosis of methotrexate-induced pulmonary toxicity is good, with a 1% or less mortality rate. Pulmonary toxicity has followed intrathecal as well as oral administration and has occurred after single doses as well as long-term daily and intermittent administration. Pneumonitis has been reported to occur up to 4 weeks following discontinuation of therapy. Numerous anecdotal reports have claimed dramatic benefit from corticosteroid therapy. It is unknown whether intermittent (weekly) dosing, as is done for rheumatoid arthritis, decreases the risk of methotrexate-induced pulmonary toxicity because pneumonitis has occurred with this form of dosing. 

Pulmonary infection with P. jiroveci is a relatively infrequent complication of HSCT. Mortality rates in this population, however, are approximately 60% and are especially high in patients with GVHD. " Prophylactic use of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (one double-strength tablet three times per week or one singlestrength tablet daily) is employed commonly in this setting. Toxoplasmosis is not a common infection in HSCT patients but is associated with mortality rates of approximately 70%. Toxoplasmosis also should be prevented by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis. ... 

EPILOG 2619 patients undergoing coronary angioplasty 325 mg daily Not reported 12 months Combined use associated with higher mortality than aspirin alone (mortality rates 3.7 vs 1.2%). 3... 

In rats administered 250 mg/kg daily of a guggul petroleum ether fraction for 3 months, a 50% mortality rate was observed a 20% morality rate was observed in the control group (Malhotra and Ahuja 1971). 

Vimses are causative agents of many human, animal, and plant diseases. AIDS, SARS, and avian flu are viral diseases, which are nearly daily covered by the headlines in papers and by the news items on radio and television. In 1917—1919 a Spanish flu pandemic killed over 50 million people. The vims involved was most probably a mutation of some avian vims. The Avian flu pandemic (caused by the H5N1 variant) was, by comparison very small, as it has caused only about 150 fatalities. The great crmcem for virologists and epidemiologists is the extremely high mortality rate (over 50 %) of infections with this vims. In the form of vaccines, vimses are inactivated or attenuated so as to prevent diseases in susceptible populations. 

Resistance to cold. Daily intragastric administration of fo-ti extract (type not specified) at a dose of 0.5 mL, (equivalent to 0.2 g cmde dmg) for 14 days markedly decreased the mortality rate in mice induced hy refrigeration at —5°C (wang). 

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