Changes in the Antenatal Utilization of High-Risk Obstetric Services and Stillbirth Rate during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-related changes in the antenatal utilization of high-risk obstetric services. Our secondary objective was to characterize change in stillbirth rate during the pandemic.

Study Design: This is a retrospective, observational study performed at a single, tertiary care center.

Cancer incidence in world trade center rescue and recovery workers, 2001-2008.

Background: World Trade Center (WTC) rescue and recovery workers were exposed to a complex mix of pollutants and carcinogens.

Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate cancer incidence in responders during the first 7 years after 11 September 2001.

Methods: Cancers among 20,984 consented participants in the WTC Health Program were identified through linkage to state tumor registries in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.

Persistence of multiple illnesses in World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers: a cohort study.

Background: More than 50,000 people participated in the rescue and recovery work that followed the Sept 11, 2001 (9/11) attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC). Multiple health problems in these workers were reported in the early years after the disaster. We report incidence and prevalence rates of physical and mental health disorders during the 9 years since the attacks, examine their associations with occupational exposures, and quantify physical and mental health comorbidities.

World Trade Center disaster: assessment of responder occupations, work locations, and job tasks.

Background: To date there have been no comprehensive reports of the work performedby 9/11 World Trade Center responders.

Methods: 18,969 responders enrolled in the WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program were used to describe workers’ pre-9/11 occupations, WTC work activities and locations from September 11, 2001 to June 2002.

Results: The most common pre-9/11 occupation was protective services (47%); other common occupations included construction, telecommunications, transportation, and support services workers.

Plasma carbonyls do not correlate with lung function or computed tomography measures of lung density in older smokers.

Oxidative stress and inflammation are hallmarks of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A critical byproduct of oxidative damage is the introduction of carbonyl groups into amino acid residues. We hypothesize that plasma carbonyl content is inversely correlated with lung function and computed tomography (CT) measures of lung density among smokers and is elevated in COPD.

Impaired flow-mediated dilation is associated with low pulmonary function and emphysema in ex-smokers: the Emphysema and Cancer Action Project (EMCAP) Study.

Rationale: Basic science research suggests a causal role for endothelial dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Clinical studies examining endothelial function are lacking, particularly early in the disease. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is a physiologic measure of endothelial reactivity to endogenous nitric oxide.

The relationship of fall school opening and emergency department asthma visits in a large metropolitan area.

Background: Asthma morbidity is seasonal, with the fewest exacerbations occurring in summer and the most exacerbations in early fall.

Objective: To determine if the fall increase in pediatric asthma emergency department (ED) visits is related to the school year start.

Design: Time-series study of daily asthma ED visits taken from an administrative claims database for the years 1991 to 2002.

Age-related seasonal patterns of emergency department visits for acute asthma in an urban environment.

Study Objective: Asthma morbidity is greater in younger patients. The reasons are not fully understood, although identifying demographic patterns of seasonality may help determine causes and potential prevention. The objective of this study is to determine the relationship between age and seasonal asthma periodicity in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED).

More pharmacists in high-risk neighborhoods of New York City support selling syringes to injection drug users.

Objective: To document changes in pharmacists' opinions and practices from the time of passage to implementation of a law permitting selling syringes without a prescription (the Expanded Syringe Access Demonstration Program [ESAP]).

Design: Two cross-sectional randomized telephone surveys.

Setting: High-risk neighborhoods of New York City.

Geographic socioeconomic status, race, and advanced-stage breast cancer in New York City.

Objectives: This study examined the association between a residential area' socioeconomic status (SES), race, and advanced-stage breast cancer in New York City.

Methods: The cross-sectional study design used breast cancer information for 37 921 cases diagnosed in New York City from 1986 to 1995. Residential education and income levels were based on the 1990 census and ascribed to each case by zip code.