Validation of a laboratory spray generation system and its use in a comparative study of hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) evaluation methods.

Isocyanates are well-known irritants and sensitizers, and measuring their occupational airborne exposure is challenging due to their high chemical reactivity and semi-volatile nature. This study builds on a previous publication by our team that focused on comparing evaluation methods for isocyanates. The current research aims at developing, validating, and applying a laboratory generation system designed to replicate real-world conditions for spraying clear coats in autobody shops using hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI)-based products.

Impact of Sex, Serostatus, and Smoking on Risk for Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease Subtypes.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) includes multiple subtypes with varying histopathology, prognosis, and potential treatments. Limited research has investigated risk factors for different RA-ILD subtypes. Therefore, we examined demographic, serologic, and lifestyle associations with RA-ILD subtypes.

Association of preoperative anaesthesia consultation prior to elective noncardiac surgery with patient and health system outcomes: a population-based study.

Background: Surgical volumes and use of preoperative anaesthesia consultations are increasing. However, contemporary data estimating the association between preoperative anaesthesia consultation and patient (days alive and at home [DAH], mortality) and system (costs, length of stay, and readmissions) outcomes are not available.

Methods: We conducted a population-based comparative effectiveness study using linked health administrative data among patients aged ≥40 yr who underwent intermediate-risk to high-risk elective, inpatient, noncardiac surgery in Ontario, Canada (2009-17).

Interferonopathies masquerading as non-Mendelian autoimmune diseases: pattern recognition for early diagnosis.

Type I interferonopathies are a broad category of conditions associated with increased type I interferon gene expression and include monogenic autoinflammatory diseases and non-Mendelian autoimmune diseases such as dermatomyositis and systemic lupus erythematosus. While a wide range of clinical presentations among type I interferonopathies exists, these conditions often share several clinical manifestations and implications for treatment. Presenting symptoms may mimic non-Mendelian autoimmune diseases, including vasculitis and systemic lupus erythematosus, leading to delayed or missed diagnosis.

Urbanisation generates multiple trait syndromes for terrestrial animal taxa worldwide.

Cities can host significant biological diversity. Yet, urbanisation leads to the loss of habitats, species, and functional groups. Understanding how multiple taxa respond to urbanisation globally is essential to promote and conserve biodiversity in cities.

A descriptive analysis of first trimester urinary concentrations of 14 bisphenol analogues in the MIREC Canadian pregnancy cohort.

Background: Concern over the health effects of BPA, particularly for the developing fetus, has led to an increasing use of bisphenol analogues in industrial and consumer products, which may be as hormonally active as BPA. Biomonitoring data for many bisphenol analogues, especially in pregnant populations, are limited.

Methods: We measured concentrations of 14 bisphenol analogues in 1 trimester urine samples (n = 1851) from the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) Canadian pregnancy cohort (2008-2011).

Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry quantitation of o-cresol in hydrolyzed human urine to assess toluene exposure.

Rationale: Toluene is a volatile organic compound used in domestic and industrial applications. The main routes of workplace exposure to toluene are inhalation and dermal contact. As toluene exposure can cause severe nervous system damage, its quantification is crucial to prevent occupational illness.

Barriers and facilitators to participation in exercise prehabilitation before cancer surgery for older adults with frailty: a qualitative study.

Background: Older adults with frailty are at an increased risk of adverse outcomes after surgery. Exercise before surgery (exercise prehabilitation) may reduce adverse events and improve recovery after surgery. However, adherence with exercise therapy is often low, especially in older populations.

Occupational health and safety, metal exposures and multi-exposures health risk in Canadian electronic waste recycling facilities.

Electronic waste recycling (e-recycling) involves manual operations that expose workers to toxic metals. We aim to describe occupational health and safety practices and workers' exposures to metals in the Canadian formal e-recycling industry, and to estimate the health risk associated with multiple exposures. This cross-sectional study documented practices through observations and questionnaires, and assessed metal exposures using personal air samples and biomarkers.

Comprehensive methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) evaluation method comparison using a laboratory generation system.

Isocyanates are reactive semivolatile contaminants that must be assessed in occupational environments, and specific evaluation methods are required to address the challenges related to isocyanate emission characteristics. Several standard methods exist, but significant differences remain regarding the diversity of industrial isocyanate emissions. This study presents a method to establish a baseline comparison of three sampling principles.

Lung Cancer in Lung Transplant Recipients: Clinical, Radiologic, and Pathologic Characteristics and Treatment Outcome.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate clinical and radiologic characteristics of lung cancer in lung transplant recipients and evaluate the treatment course and prognosis.

Methods: The study included 448 patients who underwent lung transplant between 2005 and 2021. All patients had pretransplant chest computed tomography (CT), 429 patients had posttransplant CT, whereas 19 had no posttransplant CT (median number of posttransplant CT, 6; range, 0-24).

COVID-19 Vaccination reduced pneumonia severity.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of vaccinations and boosters on the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia on CT scans during the period of Delta and Omicron variants.

Methods: Retrospectively studied were 303 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between July 2021 and February 2022, who had obtained at least one CT scan within 6 weeks around the COVID-19 diagnosis (-2 to +4 weeks). The severity of pneumonia was evaluated with a 6-point scale Pneumonia Score.

Identifying barriers and facilitators to routine preoperative frailty assessment: a qualitative interview study.

Purpose: Preoperative frailty assessment is recommended by multiple practice guidelines and may improve outcomes, but it is not routinely performed. The barriers and facilitators of routine preoperative frailty assessment have not been formally assessed. Our objective was to perform a theory-guided evaluation of barriers and facilitators to preoperative frailty assessment.

Transconjunctival XEN45 Implantation for Glaucoma Performed at the Slit Lamp: A Pilot Study.

Prcis: This pilot study of ab externo implantation of a gel microstent is a novel, minimally invasive glaucoma surgery performed at the slit lamp that is effective for lowering intraocular pressure in patients with uncontrolled glaucoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect of gel microstent (XEN Gel Stent, Allergan, Irvine, CA) implantation using an ab externo approach in an office setting.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective, multicenter chart review examined outcomes in patients with uncontrolled glaucoma receiving maximally tolerated medical therapy, who underwent slit lamp ab externo gel stent implantation.

Development of a new SPE UPLC-MS/MS method for extraction and quantitation of toluene diamine on gloves following toluene diisocyanate exposure.

Rationale: Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is a highly reactive isocyanate commonly used as a mixture of 2,4- and 2,6- isomers in the production of flexible foams. Exposure to TDI occurs primarily through vapour inhalation in workplaces where TDI is produced or used, but dermal exposure is also possible during some tasks. To ensure workplace safety, accurate monitoring of TDI and toluene diamine (TDA) levels is required.

Home-based prehabilitation with exercise to improve postoperative recovery for older adults with frailty having cancer surgery: the PREHAB randomised clinical trial.

Background: Frailty is a state of vulnerability as a result of decreased reserves. Prehabilitation may increase reserve and improve postoperative outcomes. Our objective was to determine if home-based prehabilitation improves postoperative functional recovery in older adults with frailty having cancer surgery.

United States lung cancer screening program websites: radiology representation, multimedia and multilingual content.

Purpose: To assess radiology representation, multimedia content, and multilingual content of United States lung cancer screening (LCS) program websites.

Materials And Methods: We identified the websites of US LCS programs with the Google internet search engine using the search terms lung cancer screening, low-dose CT screening, and lung screening. We used a standardized checklist to assess and collect specific content, including information regarding LCS staff composition and references to radiologists and radiology.

Demographic, Lifestyle, and Serologic Risk Factors for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)-associated Bronchiectasis: Role of RA-related Autoantibodies.

Objective: To investigate demographic, lifestyle, and serologic risk factors for isolated rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-associated bronchiectasis (RA-BR) that is not a result of interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Methods: We performed a case-control study using patients with RA from the Mass General Brigham Biobank. We reviewed the records of all patients with RA meeting the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology criteria with computed tomography (CT) chest imaging to identify RA-BR cases and controls with RA and RA-related lung disease.

Associations of the MUC5B promoter variant with timing of interstitial lung disease and rheumatoid arthritis onset.

Objectives: To investigate the associations of the common MUC5B promoter variant with timing of RA-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) and RA onset.

Methods: We identified patients with RA meeting 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria and available genotype information in the Mass General Brigham Biobank, a multihospital biospecimen and clinical data collection research study. We determined RA-ILD presence by reviewing all RA patients who had CT imaging, lung biopsy or autopsy results.

Thoracic Imaging Manifestations of Treated Lymphomas: Response Evaluation, Posttherapeutic Sequelae, and Complications.

Lymphoma is the most common hematologic malignancy comprising a diverse group of neoplasms arising from multiple blood cell lineages. Any structure of the thorax may be involved at any stage of disease. Imaging has a central role in the initial staging, response assessment, and surveillance of lymphoma, and updated standardized assessment criteria are available to assist with imaging interpretation and reporting.