Publications by authors named "Crooks J"

Objective: Determine whether pollutants such as fire smoke-related particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM) are associated with incident rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and RA-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD).

Methods: This case-control study used Veterans Affairs data 10/1/2009-12/31/2018.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

High shear wet granulation (HSWG) is widely used in tablet manufacturing mainly because of its advantages in improving flowability, powder handling, process run time, size distribution, and preventing segregation. In-line process analytical technology measurements are essential in capturing detailed particle dynamics and presenting real-time data to uncover the complexity of the HSWG process and ultimately for process control. This study is to find relationships between Lenterra in-line measurements and granule properties and tablet properties.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Despite the utility of the beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT), distinguishing sarcoidosis, a disease of unknown etiology, from chronic beryllium disease (CBD), has long posed a diagnostic challenge. It is unclear if beryllium-exposed sarcoidosis cases (Be-exp-Sarc) are clinically distinct from CBD, or are misdiagnosed cases of CBD.

Methods: We performed a case-case study of 40 beryllium-exposed individuals diagnosed with Be-exp-Sarc compared to 40 frequency-matched CBD cases.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Objectives: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) represents an effective treatment for nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs). However, no data have yet been published regarding results of SRS on NFPAs after multiple previous resections.

Methods: Retrospective multicentric data of patients diagnosed with NFPA and who underwent multiple resections (≥2) before SRS were reviewed and analyzed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Tidal wetlands can absorb greenhouse gases, but methane emissions can vary due to environmental factors and human activities.
  • Land managers require detailed maps of methane properties in these wetlands for effective restoration and greenhouse gas inventories, yet current sampling methods don't align well with broader mapping products.
  • Research involved sampling 27 tidal wetlands, revealing that sulfate concentration is the strongest predictor of methane levels, while salinity also plays a significant role; future studies should focus on understanding local environmental influences on methane variation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - The PODCAST-IBD study aimed to evaluate disease control in IBD patients according to STRIDE-II guidelines, assessing data from 198 individuals in UK clinics from October 2022 to January 2023.
  • - Results showed that over half of the patients with Crohn's disease (52.4%) and ulcerative colitis (45.3%) experienced suboptimal disease control, largely due to impaired quality of life, which also affected fatigue and disability levels.
  • - The study highlighted significant economic burdens, revealing that suboptimal disease control led to over twice the healthcare costs and increased work productivity losses, suggesting regular quality of life assessments could enhance disease monitoring and treatment efficacy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Aims: Corticosteroids are widely used in managing inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. While adverse events [AEs] of corticosteroids are well recognised, current understanding of corticosteroid-related AE burden in IBD remains incomplete.

Methods: AE reports for prednisone/prednisolone and budesonide were extracted from the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System [FAERS] and VigiBase databases.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Evidence suggests that 61% of adults who were bereaved in the past 5 years had difficulties with at least one practical or administrative task following bereavement. We aimed to explore individual's experiences of interacting with private sector businesses following a bereavement.

Methods: Qualitative secondary analysis of data collected via an online survey within the UK Commission on Bereavement.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cross-border flow of untreated sewage from Mexico into the USA via the Tijuana River is public health issue with negative consequences for coastal communities. Here we evaluate the potential application of fluorescence-based, submersible tryptophan-like (TRP) and humic-like (CDOM) fluorescence sensors for real-time tracking of wastewater pollution in an estuarine environment. Sonde fluorescence measurements were compared with benchtop fluorescence, fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) concentrations, and real-time specific conductivity measurements in the Tijuana River Estuary during dry and wet weather conditions, and with and without cross-border flow.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Climate change is projected to increase the risk of dust storms, particularly in subtropical dryland, including the southwestern US. Research on dust storm's health impacts in the US is limited and hindered by challenges in dust storm identification. This study assesses the potential link between dust storms and cardiorespiratory emergency department (ED) visits in the southwestern US.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

High shear wet granulation (HSWG) is widely used in tablet manufacturing mainly because of its advantages in improving flowability, powder handling, process run time, size distribution, and preventing segregation. In line process analytical technology measurements are essential in capturing detailed particle dynamics and presenting real-time data to uncover the complexity of the HSWG process and ultimately for process control. This study presents an opportunity to predict the properties of the granules and tablets through torque measurement of the granulation bowl and the force exerted on a novel force probe within the powder bed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Palliative care for people experiencing homelessness is a complex field. Due to the intricate nuances and heterogeneity in the experience of palliative care for people without secure housing, it is essential that research is informed by people with lived experience of homelessness. However, as homelessness is often associated with loss, trauma and high levels of exposure to death, any co-production of research, particularly in the field of palliative and end-of-life-care, must be trauma-informed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Approximately, 1600 pupils are bereaved by a parent or sibling each year in Northern Ireland, equating to at least one child in every school class. Despite this, many children who are bereaved do not receive support from their school or college. Unsupported childhood bereavement is a risk factor for a number of social, psychological and educational difficulties.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Environmentally-mediated protozoan diseases like cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis are likely to be highly impacted by extreme weather, as climate-related conditions like temperature and precipitation have been linked to their survival, distribution, and overall transmission success. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between extreme temperature and precipitation and cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis infection using monthly weather data and case reports from Colorado counties over a twenty-one year period. Data on reportable diseases and weather among Colorado counties were collected using the Colorado Electronic Disease Reporting System (CEDRS) and the Daily Surface Weather and Climatological Summaries (Daymet) Version 3 dataset, respectively.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Immune-related cutaneous adverse events (ircAEs) affect over 50% of patients on checkpoint inhibitors, yet their mechanisms remain unclear.
  • A study examined 200 patients (139 with ircAEs and 61 controls) to identify clinical presentations and cytokine responses, leading to the discovery of eight different ircAE phenotypes, such as pruritus and eczema, each involving immune cell infiltration.
  • Analysis showed unique cytokine profiles related to specific phenotypes, revealing potential treatment strategies that could involve targeted therapies or corticosteroids for effective management of these adverse events.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: In the United States, brain metastases (BMs) affect 10% to 20% of patients with cancer, presenting a significant health care challenge and necessitating intricate, high-cost treatments. Few studies have explored the comprehensive care cost for BMs, and none have used real insurance claims data. Partnering with a northeastern health care insurer, we investigated the true costs of various brain-directed radiation methods, aiming to shed light on treatment expenses, modalities, and their efficacy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is used for the treatment of residual/recurrent nonfunctional pituitary adenoma (NFPA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors related to long-term tumor control and delayed endocrinopathies following SRS.

Methods: This retrospective, multicenter study included patients with recurrent/residual NFPA treated with single-fraction SRS; they were then divided into two arms.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Co-production of research aims to include people with lived experience of a phenomena throughout the research process. People experiencing homelessness often experience advance ill-health at a young age, yet access palliative care services at a disparately low rate to the level of palliative care need. The voices of people experiencing homelessness are infrequently heard throughout palliative care research, despite the complexities and intricacies of the area.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Due to the recognition that people experiencing homelessness (PEH) often die young and unsupported, a growing number of initiatives focusing on palliative care and homelessness are emerging across the UK. However, there has been no systematic exploration of the nature and landscape of this work.

Aims: To understand the range, aims, successes and challenges of current initiatives within the field of palliative care and homelessness in the UK, by exploring existing projects and initiatives.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Little is known about the effectiveness of, and implementation complexities associated with, service delivery models for children and young people (CYP) experiencing 'common' mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, behavioural difficulties and self-harm. This paper outlines how a model for high-quality service design for this population group was developed by identifying available services, their effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and acceptability, and the barriers and enablers to access.

Methods: Sequential, mixed-methods design, combining evidence syntheses (scoping and integrative reviews of the international literature) with primary research (a collective case study in England and Wales).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmentally acquired opportunistic pathogens that can cause chronic lung disease. Within the U.S.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is used to treat recurrent or residual nonfunctioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (NFPA). The objective of the study was to assess imaging and development of new pituitary hormone deficiency.

Methods: Patients treated with single-session SRS for a NFPA were included in this retrospective, multicenter study.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous environmental opportunistic pathogens that can cause chronic lung disease. Within the United States, Hawai'i has the highest incidence of NTM lung disease, though the precise reasons are yet to be fully elucidated. One possibility is the high prevalence of NTM in the Hawai'i environment acting as a potential reservoir for opportunistic NTM infections.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Prior studies have demonstrated improved efficacy when intra-articular (IA) therapeutics are injected using ultrasound (US) guidance. The aim of this study was to determine if clinical improvement in pain and function after IA hyaluronic acid injections using US is associated with changes in SF volumes and biomarker proteins at 3 months.

Methods: 49 subjects with symptomatic knee OA, BMI < 40, and KL radiographic grade II or III participated.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF