Publications by authors named "Susan M Engelhardt"

Molecular studies that involved cDNA and genomic DNA sequencing as well as multiplex PCR of the HPRT gene were performed to determine the molecular mutational spectrum for 1,377 HPRT mutant isolates obtained from 61 Veterans of the 1991 Gulf War, most of whom were exposed to depleted uranium (DU). Mutant colonies were isolated from one to four times from each Veteran (in 2003, 2005, 2007, and/or 2009). The relative frequencies of the various types of mutations (point mutations, deletions, insertions, etc.

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A total of 70 military Veterans have been monitored for HPRT T-cell mutations in five separate studies at 2-year intervals over an 8-year period. Systemic depleted uranium (DU) levels were measured at the time of each study by determining urinary uranium (uU) excretion. Each HPRT study included 30-40 Veterans, several with retained DU-containing shrapnel.

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Article Synopsis
  • U.S. service members during the 1991 Gulf War were exposed to depleted uranium (DU) through friendly-fire and vehicle armor, with exposure routes including inhalation and wound contamination.
  • A health surveillance program by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs revealed elevated urine DU levels in veterans with embedded fragments for over 20 years, but few significant health effects were identified.
  • Renal biomarkers showed minimal effects on kidney function, while pulmonary function remained normal, and imaging techniques were used to assess tissue reactions associated with embedded DU fragments.
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Exposure to depleted uranium (DU), an alpha-emitting heavy metal, has prompted the inclusion of markers of genotoxicity in the long-term medical surveillance of a cohort of DU-exposed Gulf War veterans followed since 1994. Using urine U (uU) concentration as the measure of U body burden, the cohort has been stratified into low-u (<0.10 μg U/g creatinine) and high-u groups (≥ 0.

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Background: As part of an ongoing medical surveillance program for U.S. veterans exposed to depleted uranium (DU), biological monitoring of urine uranium (U) concentrations is offered to any veteran of the Gulf War and those serving in more recent conflicts (post-Gulf War veterans).

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Objective: To relate medical surveillance outcomes to uranium biomonitoring results in a group of depleted uranium (DU)-exposed, Gulf War I veterans.

Methods: Thirty-two veterans of Gulf War I who were victims of 'friendly fire' involving DU weapons, in whom exposure assessment can accurately be measured, had urine uranium concentrations determined using ICP-MS technology. Clinical laboratory parameters were measured and related to urine uranium concentrations.

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Biologic monitoring for total uranium in urine of Gulf War I veterans concerned about past exposure to depleted uranium (DU) has been offered by the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense since the late 1990's. DU, a component of U.S.

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A small group of Gulf War veterans have retained fragments of depleted uranium (DU) shrapnel, the long-term health consequences of which are undetermined. We evaluated the clinical health effects of DU exposure in Gulf War veterans compared with nonexposed Gulf War veterans. History and follow-up medical examinations were performed on 29 exposed veterans and 38 nonexposed veterans.

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