The Contribution of Declines in Blood Lead Levels to Reductions in Blood Pressure Levels: Longitudinal Evidence in the Strong Heart Family Study.

Background: Chronic lead exposure is associated with both subclinical and clinical cardiovascular disease. We evaluated whether declines in blood lead were associated with changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in adult American Indian participants from the SHFS (Strong Heart Family Study).

Methods And Results: Lead in whole blood was measured in 285 SHFS participants in 1997 to 1999 and 2006 to 2009.

Geospatial Assessment of Racial/Ethnic Composition, Social Vulnerability, and Lead Water Service Lines in New York City.

Background: The state of New York expects to receive in 2022 alone from the U.S. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to support the replacement of lead water service lines.

Epidemiologic roadblocks in studying elongated mineral particles and mesothelioma risk.

Elongated mineral particles (EMPs) are a type of both occupational and environmental exposures that have generated interest in the scientific community due to their potential health effects. Their possible association with mesothelioma represents an area of concern. We provide an overview of the current challenges around epidemiological assessments of EMP exposure and mesothelioma risk, including methodological aspects that need to be addressed when designing and analyzing a study on EMP exposure and mesothelioma.

Assessing the Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Linkage Into Mental Health Care Program for Adults Affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Objective: Research indicates that greater exposure to Hurricane Sandy is associated with increased mental health difficulties. This study examined whether Project Restoration, a program that linked adults into mental health care (L2C), was effective in reducing post-Sandy mental health difficulties as compared to a cohort of adults matched on mental health difficulties that were not linked into post-Sandy mental health care.

Methods: Project Restoration participants (n = 52) with elevated self-reported mental health difficulties had the option to enroll into L2C.

Addressing Public Health Aspects of Cancer Center Catchment Areas.

Serving the catchment area has become an integral mission of cancer centers, and examining the geographic extent of cancer coverage is an important component aimed at efficiently maximizing care and reducing the cancer burden. In addition to cancer incidence and mortality, geographic analyses of cancer center coverage must also be measured by the need for reducing the prevalence of risk factors and increasing screening rates within communities. Here, we briefly comment on these additional parameters and their relevance to analyzing cancer coverage across the United States.

The impact of climate change on the prevalence of mental illness symptoms.

Background: The repercussions of climate change threaten the population with an increased prevalence of extreme climate events. We explored the impact of climate change induced sea level rise (SLR) and tropical cyclone (TC) exposure on mental illness symptom prevalence.

Methods: Using three datasets, TC exposure scores were calculated for each subject to determine how exposure affects posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and major depressive disorder (MDD) symptom prevalence.

Socioeconomic Disparities in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Serological Testing and Positivity in New York City.

Background: We characterized severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody test prevalence and positive test prevalence across New York City (NYC) in order to investigate disparities in testing outcomes by race and socioeconomic status (SES).

Methods: Serologic data were downloaded from the NYC Coronavirus data repository (August 2020-December 2020). Area-level characteristics for NYC neighborhoods were downloaded from United States census data and a socioeconomic vulnerability index was created.

Mental Health Effects of Hurricane Sandy on Older Adults.

Objectives: To examine whether hurricane exposure, lack of access to medical care (LAMC), and displacement during Hurricane Sandy were associated with PTSD and other mental health (MH) symptoms among older adult New York residents.

Methods: Participants ( = 411) were ≥60 years old at the time of survey data collection (1-4 years post-Sandy). Outcomes included PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms and stress.

Analyzing disparities in COVID-19 testing trends according to risk for COVID-19 severity across New York City.

Background: Given the interplay between race and comorbidities on COVID-19 morbidity and mortality, it is vital that testing be performed in areas of greatest need, where more severe cases are expected. The goal of this analysis is to evaluate COVID-19 testing data in NYC relative to risk factors for COVID-19 disease severity and demographic characteristics of NYC neighborhoods.

Methods: COVID-19 testing and the racial/ethnic composition of NYC Zip Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTA) were obtained from the NYC Coronavirus data repository and the American Community Survey, respectively.

A risk index for COVID-19 severity is associated with COVID-19 mortality in New York City.

Background: New York City (NYC) was the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, and is home to underserved populations with higher prevalence of chronic conditions that put them in danger of more serious infection. Little is known about how the presence of chronic risk factors correlates with mortality at the population level. Here we determine the relationship between these factors and COVD-19 mortality in NYC.

Mild anemia as a single independent predictor of mortality in patients with COVID-19.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to an unprecedented international health crisis. COVID-19 clinical presentations cover a wide range from asymptomatic to severe illness and death. Given the limited therapeutic resources and unexpected clinical features of the disease, readily accessible predictive biomarkers are urgently needed to improve patient care and management.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) medical students - an examination of their journey and experiences as medical students in limbo.

Background: Although the value of DACA medical students has been hypothesized, no data are available on their contribution to US healthcare. While the exact number of DACA recipients in medical school is unknown, DACA medical students are projected to represent an increasing proportion of physicians in the future. The current literature on DACA students has not analyzed the experiences of these students.

Trends in COVID-19 School Related Inquiries Using 311 New York City Open Data.

This study aimed to assess the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) school-related information New York City residents sought through the 311 Call Center. July to November inquiries were downloaded from the NYC Open Data website for 2018-2020. Calls were categorized as related to "Schools", "Access", "Food", "Hospitals", "Transportation", and "Unemployment".

Using NYC 311 Call Center Data to Assess Short- and Long-Term Needs Following Hurricane Sandy.

Objectives: Hurricane Sandy made landfall across New York City (NYC) in October 2012, but the long-term consequences of the storm are still not fully understood. We analyzed NYC data to quantify the extent of Hurricane Sandy-related concerns over time.

Methods: Data on NYC 311 Call Center inquiries were downloaded from the NYC Open Data website (October 29, 2012 to May 26, 2020) to provide information about Sandy-related calls using the keywords "Hurricane" and "Sandy".

Clinical Course of Cancer Patients With COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Complications in cancer patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have not been examined. This analysis aimed to compare characteristics of COVID-19 patients with and without cancer and assess whether cancer is associated with COVID-19 morbidity or mortality.

Methods: COVID-19-positive patients with an inpatient or emergency encounter at the Mount Sinai Health System between March 1, 2020, and May 27, 2020, were included and compared across cancer status on demographics and clinical characteristics.

Update on human exposure to glyphosate, with a complete review of exposure in children.

Background: Glyphosate, a commonly used pesticide, has been the topic of much debate. The effects of exposure to glyphosate remains a contentious topic. This paper provides an update to the existing literature regarding levels of glyphosate exposure in occupationally exposed individuals and focuses or reviewing all the available published literature regarding glyphosate exposure levels in children.

PD-L1 as a prognostic biomarker in surgically resectable non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis.

Background: PD-L1 tumor expression has been associated with poor prognosis in a variety of solid tumors, including lung cancer, and represents a validated target for immune checkpoint inhibition in advanced malignances. It remains unknown, however, if PD-L1 can be used to predict survival in early stage, surgically treated cancers. This meta-analysis compares PD-L1 tumor expression and long term survival after surgical resection in early non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).